Not much left.. WARNING.. this is strictly Legolas/Arden from now on. All the Elise fans that are upset with me, I'm sorry.

The royal family backed away from the patio slowly and with as little noise as possible as to not disturb Legolas and Arden.

The couple never even realized they had been spotted together. Arden separated her mouth from Legolas first.

"Why did you do that?" she asked with a confused look on her face.

"What? Kiss you?"

"Yes."

"I imagine for the same reason you kissed me back," he said amused.

Arden kissed him again, and he returned it. After a few moments Arden pulled away again.

"But this can't work!" she said. "You are an Elf."

She let go of him and tried to walk away but the pain at taking a step without her cane made her stop.

"As was your mother," Legolas said and reached down for her cane and gave it back to her.

"And I am mortal."

"As is your father."

"Why did you not ask my father to find you an Elven maiden?"

"I am 2,000 years old. I have seen every Elven maiden in Middle Earth at one point or another. I have never fallen in love until now," he answered crossly.

Arden was speechless at the admission.

"Stop thinking of excuses. " he continued, but she would not answer.

"Well, perhaps it is better that you are not speaking. At least you are not fighting me," he said.

"Legolas," she said with a somber look on her face, "perhaps you should walk me to my room now.

She took his hand and led him on.

They walked back to the room in silence.

When they arrived they found everyone waiting for them inside. Aragorn and Arwen took in their downcast look, not the look of two newfound lovers. Everyone was quiet as Arden let go of Legolas' hand and went to sit on her bed.

Aragorn was the first to speak.

"I think Arden needs a rest. All of you can visit later on, Arwen and I will stay with her."

Everyone looked at each other and took the cue. No use arguing with Aragorn, and one by one they all walked out until there was no one left but Aragorn, Arwen, and Arden.

"Are you in pain Arden? You do not look well."

"No, father."

"Arden, we saw you in the patio with Legolas. All of us."

"What did you see."

"You know very well what we saw, Arden."

"Are you angry with me?"

"Angry?" he said and laughed, "Is that why you look so sorrowful? No, I think I am overjoyed."

Arden looked up at him and gave a slight smiled, but then looked down to stare at the floor with the same sad look.

"No, "Aragorn said, "It would be too easy a problem to fix if it was only fear of my anger that put that look on your face."

"Arden," Arwen began, "what is the problem? You two looked so happy together when we saw you."

"Mother, he is an Elf."

"Why is that a problem? Should I be offended?"

"No! I am not implying there is something wrong with Elves. Don't be offended. I just mean that Legolas is immortal, and I am mortal. I cannot doom him to the same fate that has befallen you, mother."

"Then perhaps it is I that should be offended," Aragorn said and stood from his chair. "Are you saying that I have wronged your mother?"

"No!" she protested. "Well, yes, I am. I mean didn't you? If it wasn't for you she would be in the Blessed Realms of her people and never have to suffer death."

"But then I would not be with Aragorn," Arwen said. "He did not condemn me, Arden. If your father had rejected me I would have surely died of a broken heart. I know that being with your father has shortened my years considerebly, but I am glad to spend a few years with the man I love than spend eternity alone. And now I am a mother as well ."

Arden stayed quiet for a moment.

"I'm sorry father."

Aragorn did not respond, and Arden would not meet his gaze. She looked positively wretched.

"Arden," Arwen ventured, "Do not refuse Legolas for these reasons if that is what you have done. If you do not love him, that is one thing. But if you do then that is a wonderful thing to have, and not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy it whether it lasts them a mortal lifetime or an Elven one."

Arwen reached for Aragorn and led him out of the room leaving Arden alone with her thoughts.

At dinnertime, Gilraen came in with a tray of food for Arden.

Arden was laying down on the bed staring at the ceiling.

"You look miserable," Gilraen said.

"When you left after bringing me my lunch to talk to father, you were referring to me weren't you? You meant to say that Legolas was in love with me."

"Yes. It was very obvious to me and I believe Elfwine as well."

"How did I not see it?"

"I do not believe even Legolas knew it. He was here every night to see you. He would ride all the way up from the front lines. I can't imagine when he got any sleep. He would sit here and just look at you."

"You saw us in the patio."

"Yes. I was very relieved actually," Gilraen sat on the bed by her sister. "I knew Legolas was in love with you, but since you always say that you don't wish to be married I was afraid you would reject him."

"I have. I think. And I have insulted father as well. I told father he had condemned our mother to death."

"Arden!"

"I know. I did not mean to. But don't you think it sometimes? Our mother will die now because of him. How could I condemn Legolas in that way?"

"He does not need to give up immortality for you. He could always stay with you and sail after your death."

"Oh yes that is so much better," Arden said sarcastically. "Me, the old hag with a husband that does not look a day over 20 years."

"So then you will reject him? This saddens me greatly. Why did you kiss him then? "

"He kissed me first. It just felt so right at the time."

"And you always say you do not want to marry. Why would you lead him on?"

"Mother was pushing me towards him as you are doing now. Is everyone against me!"

"Only because you are being foolish. Arden, we were all very happy to see you together. Legolas does not care that you are mortal. He loves you."

"I was so afraid this would happen some day. First I am wounded and can barely walk, and then some man is trying to court me. I will lose all respect in the army."

"Arden, you are a fool. Your wound will heal and you will be as strong as you ever were. And it is not some man courting you, it is Legolas and you love him too because of all your reasons not to be with him, you have not yet said that you do not love him. That is the only reason that will hold any argument."

Arden ran her hands through her hair and sighed before Gilraen started again.

"I think you should think about this long and hard before you refuse Legolas. I will leave you alone and make sure that no one else comes through that door tonight."

Gilraen got up and went to the exit and stepped out of the room.

Arden sat up in her bed to eat her meal.

"If your sister wanted you to be alone tonight, she should have guarded the window as well as the door."

Arden turned around towards the source of the voice. There by the window stood Legolas.

A/N.. One more chapter I think and that would be the end.