Savina reached her house and threw the door open, glanced around, but didn't see anyone, so she guessed that they were all upstairs. She flew up the stairs and grabbed onto the doorframe of the room she had made up for Aragorn, she looked in and saw Gimli and Aragorn sitting on the bed, studying the map.
They both looked up at her silently.
"She caved, I'm going," Savina announced as she caught her breath.
Aragorn gave her a half-smile, looking relieved and disappointed at the same time. "We may leave tomorrow, you should pack."
She turned to go, then paused, "what should I bring?"
"We travel quickly and lightly," Aragorn looked back down at the map, "bring one extra set of clothes, a warm cloak, a blanket, and," he looked back up at her, "do you know how to handle a sword?"
"I'm not bad," Savina replied, "my father taught all of his children basic swordplay. Marc's the best, being the oldest and all, but I think I can hold my own."
Aragorn looked a little doubtful, "well, then find a sword, you have enough of them. Find the one that feels…" he trailed off, "find the one that feels like it was made to be in your hands." Then he added, "don't forget to bring a few daggers, you can never have enough of those."
Savina turned and started to walk down the hall to her room. She passed the room she had prepared for Legolas and paused, wondering if he needed anything. She knocked softly on the door, then pushed it open.
Legolas was leaning back on the pillows, his eyes closed. He was wearing the white tunic Savina had left for him and she guessed, by the pile of clothes on the floor, that he was wearing the pants as well.
Savina made her way to the edge of his bed and looked down, realizing how attractive he was. She wasn't sure how long she stood there, admiring him, but suddenly she blushed, feeling foolish. She turned to pick up the pile of clothes and found someone holding her wrist. Startled, she looked down at Legolas.
He was awake, his cerulean eyes looking at her earnestly and his hand, which was delicate and smooth, wrapped around her wrist.
"Are you ok?" Savina asked worriedly.
"It doesn't really hurt anymore," he replied, not letting go of her wrist.
Savina looked down at his hand, then back up at him, confused.
Looking awkward, Legolas let go of her wrist and let his hand fall back down on the bed.
"Do you need anything? Are you hungry?" Savina inquired, thinking of bringing some fresh baked bread back from the tavern for him.
"No, thank you."
Savina stood awkwardly for a moment, then knelt, picked up his dirty clothes and said, "I'll wash these for you."
"Thank you."
She made her way to the door when suddenly Legolas spoke in a panicky voice, "don't leave me!"
Savina turned around, astonished, "Prince Legolas-"
"Please, just call me Legolas."
She was silent for a moment, standing uncertainly near the door.
He motioned for her to sit at the foot of his bed, "it's just that…I've been sort of torn from everything I know. I'm on this quest to destroy a ring in the bowels of Mount Doom," he gave a soft, nervous laugh, "if I know anything, I know I'm not making it back from Mordor."
"Are you sorry you joined the Fellowship?" Savina asked softly, sitting down on the foot of his bed.
"No," he said instantly, "I would do it all over again in a second. But…" Legolas' eyes darkened a little, "maybe this is hard to understand, but, sometimes, I feel so alone."
"Your lonely," Savina murmured sympathetically.
Legolas nodded, "I love Aragorn as a brother, and Gimli too, despite being so…Gimli, and I would follow them both to hell," he paused, "which is pretty much where we're going, but sometimes I feel like…I don't know. I'm sorry for taking up your time." He looked down at his hands.
Savina gazed at him, "I don't claim to understand what you're going through, but I do know loneliness." Without thinking, she blurted out, "I'm not lonely when I'm with you."
Legolas looked up at her surprised, a smile formed on his lips, "I didn't realize until just now, but I'm not lonely around you. Aragorn says we will leave as soon as I'm ready," he rested his hand on his wounded shoulder, "I think that will be tomorrow, I'll miss of you after we leave."
Savina raised her eyebrows, "Aragorn hasn't told you." It was more of a statement than a question. She told him about the hooded creature giving her the map and about the detail of Mordor the map showed. She told him about the map being written in MoonElf and how Aragorn and her mother had given her permission to go with them to Mordor. Then she said, "there's nothing for me in Dubbin, and I want to look for my father, maybe he was taken to Mordor."
"I don't deny that I am pleased that you will be joining us, but it is a tiring and dangerous road that we walk, are you sure you want to come?"
"Yes," Savina looked straight into his blue eyes, "my heart has waited for this opportunity for over two years. I am going."
Legolas nodded, "you are brave, Savina. Thank you for," he chuckled, "saving my life, convincing your mother to let us rest here, feeding us, inviting us into your home, talking with me, and joining us on our quest."
Savina stood up and picked up his dirty clothes again, "if you'll excuse, Prin-" she paused, "Legolas, you should rest and I should get ready to go."
He nodded and settled back against the pillows, closing his eyes and getting comfortable.
Savina pulled the door open and looked over her shoulder at him for a moment, then she slipped out into the hall and shut the door softly behind her.
"Is Prince Legolas well?"
"Hmm?" Savina turned and found her mother standing in the hall, holding what appeared to be Aragorn and Gimli's clothes.
Relinot motioned to the door, "is the Prince well?"
"Oh, yes, he's much better," Savina pointed to the clothes in her mother's arms, "I can wash those, Mother."
"Nonsense," her mother snatched Legolas' clothes away and piled them on top of the rest, "you have packing to do and rest to catch up on."