Chapter 20: Waiting

A/N: Thank you Dancerljc (yeah yeah I'm going remember its me here so I've got to change things like five times before I figure it out. Oh and I told you so!) and Norie Ape (interesting name and here's an update for you)

A/N2: Hi, how are you guys? Good. Okay well summer break has been great and I've gotten really bored already so hopefully I'll figure out the ending to this story and have it posted soon. I know I said I wasn't going to update soon but since its summer, I've had more time to work on it. (look at before sentence) Have fun reading...

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Gimli shook his head behind the young Elf. Legolas had seen so much on this journey already that had never been seen by his innocent eyes before. But for him to see love, experience love, then lose it, was far worse than all the people they had lost and the horrible things they had seen along the way. The words he caught the fair being saying were too troublesome to pretend that they did not happen. For once, the Dwarf wished he had never gone to the meeting in Rivendell a year ago. He wished that he had never seen the two friends together, especially since it meant he had to see his friend in this state.

"Come Legolas we have much to do before Frodo awakens."

The two entered the camp noticed by only a few. But that was enough for Aragorn to know of their arrival. He beckoned them to his tent and wearily they went to meet him. When they entered, he looked upon them with pity and sorrow in his eyes.

"Here drink this."

He passed a cup of liquid to Legolas, who drank from it gladly. Seconds after it had touched his lips he collapsed. Aragorn walked over, removed the cup from the ground, and emptied the remaining contents.

Gimli on the other hand snorted much to his pleasure. "You drugged it!"

"Of course. He needs his rest and will not get it on his own."

"Very true. That Elf is a stubborn one."

"You returned just in time. I was ready to send Éomer out to look for you."

"I stood all night because of that stubborn Elf!" Gimli sobered and looked at Aragorn. His next statement was not one to joke about. "He loved her, didn't he?"

Aragorn nodded. "He did, yes. He still does. But I do not believe even he knew until a short while ago. This will be difficult for him. He may no longer act as we have seen before. Legolas may change; he may not be the Elf we know from now on. You'll watch him won't you?"

"Why wouldn't I? If it wasn't for me that Elf would be dead!" Then on a quieter note, "I hope she lives, for you did not hear what my ears have captured."

"What have you heard?"

"When we were walking back to camp I heard him murmur this: 'I love you Arway. I was your destruction.' There was something else before hand but I could not catch it."

Aragorn released a sign. "I had a feeling he might think this was his fault. There is nothing I can do to help him. There was something she shared with him that is of great value to this situation. All we can do is keep him in the highest spirits we can, or something will go very wrong."

"All right. I shall do my best."

Aragorn walked to the entrance of the tent and looked back at the Dwarf. "We all shall Gimli, we all shall." Then, he disappeared.

The next day the Vanguard moved into the woods of Ithilien. Legolas had awoken and though the pain in his heart was fresh, he masked what he could. There was no need to get anyone else involved with it. Nothing they could do would help. He would have to wait. Wait until he got back to Mirkwood to find the outcome.

After the camp was set up the waiting began, the waiting for the Ring- bearers. Both were in an exhausted sleep brought on both from physical and mental torment.

Legolas climbed a tree in the forest where he could see for miles. The land was beautiful and yet he wished to look upon the glistening waters of the sea. Even with the wounds to his heart in the past days, nothing had calmed the longing. His longing for the sea was not decreased with the falling of Arway. Actually, it made the longing worse. It was a longing to escape a world where pain was a common guest at anyone's table.

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"Elladan come quick!"

The twins had stopped to rest their weary horses. Neither could tell how long they had been riding but it was too long. Their horses could go no further without a small amount of rest. They had just reached the forest of Lórien, and had been riding for at least a couple of days.

"What is wrong Elrohir?"

"Her breathing. It's becoming worse."

The twins knelt next to the body of Arway. No one knew where her spirit was; all they knew was her body was alive. And ever since leaving the Morannon, she had been getting steadily worse. Nothing the two did could stable her or reduce the pain. There was always pain. It was present in her face and when she moved-which was very uncommon- it was etched in her features. Any movement meant pain radiated from her body, so the sons of Elrond could not guess what was occurring in her body.

"How much further to Imladris?"

"A fortnight or so. You know just as well as I do Elladan."

"She will never make it if we do not hurry."

"Do you want to kill the horses?"

"No Elrohir, but I do not want to let her die. There is nothing for us to do but get her to Rivendell. You must ride and warn them of our coming."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, you are the faster rider, there will be more hope if you do."

The two set Arway on Celeb. But once they did her breathing stopped.

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Legolas spent much of his time in Ithilien alone. There was no need to spend time with those in camp. They could not fill his longing. Gimli and Aragorn tried repeatedly to get him to join the men, but every time he refused. He knew they were only trying to help. But it would bring no good, no help. He was worried.

The other day bad feelings had come and left. He did not know whether to believe she was dead or alive. Nothing could satisfy him. He blamed himself partly, but he knew fate had been there also. Every fiber wanted to go search for her, to hold her, but he could not. Duty was still upon him. Frodo had not awakened and Aragorn had not yet received his crown.

In the tree that he claimed his own, he sat everyday. This time he sang to himself. It was the same song every time, the lullaby he had sung to Arway on occasion. Her face entered his mind as it had so many times in the past few days. Each was the same, recalling good and bad images. But all ended the same. With the limp body that Elladan and Elrohir had taken. And it was always haunting.

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Elrohir rode hard. He had barely stopped in days and still there were many before he reached Imladris. His riding ahead was in reluctance. True, he was not a healer and most times, he would not be the one to care for the fallen or stay with the wounded. Usually he did not take interest in them at all but this time was different he was worry about the girl. All other times there had been more time. Time to think, time to act, time to save.

Aragorn has sent them off shortly after finding the she-Elf, which, was not a good omen. There was something about her. He could not figure out what it was. Never before had he seen her, but for some reason she caused great worry within him. Thoughts of who she was, what happened, why everyone cared for her gathered in his mind. He only hoped his father could answer some.

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Legolas sat in his tree. They were still waiting for the hobbits to awaken. Pippin had the day before, but still he had not gone to see the halfling. There was still much Legolas did not understand. Being an Elf was a great blessing, but at this time, he wished to be of Mankind so that his feelings would not affect his heart as they did.

He held a dagger in his hand; a knife lay on his thigh. Neither belonged to him. They were the gifts give to Arway so long ago. Through work in the field-which the battle had occurred-, he had found them, gory, tainted with blood, and caked with dirt, but they were still hers. He had spent stretches of time cleaning and polishing the beautiful weapons. As he did this, they regained their former beauty. He only wished the same of their owner. It had been days since Elrohir and Elladan had left, but still no news had reached them. And all he wished was news.

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Elrond and Elrohir stood waiting for Elladan. Keepers of the boarders of Rivendell had informed them that he was in the area.

"When she was hurt exactly?" Elrond knew the answer but he wanted to be sure.

"Sixteen, seventeen days ago. I am not sure I have lost count of the days."

"Aragorn sent her here." He could not imagine the damage if the King could not heal her.

"Yes, he said he could do nothing."

"And the name of the she-Elf?" A new question from Elrond.

"I believe it was Arway."

Elrond blinked. He had no expected that name. Arway, he had not heard it in over two millennia.

"You know her?" Elrohir asked.

"I knew her long ago, though I thought she had passed to the Undying Lands."

Arway alive and on Middle-earth, he could not believe such a thing. Yet, it was not too great of a surprise. She loved the Wilds; she always had, even as a child. And her blood. Arway had very strong blood. Never did he think that he would lay his eyes upon his youngest child again in this world. He had no idea what she looked like. The image of her at 100 years entered his mind and he smiled at the memory. It was soon suppressed when he remembered the reason for her arrival at Rivendell.

The clamor of hooves came into the courtyards. Quickly, he left the hall and removed the young woman from his son's arms, and flew to a room. It was her room, when she had lived here. Elrond and other healers locked themselves in the room with the she-Elf. The doors did not open again for a day.

Elrohir sat in the hall waiting, waiting for any news about the mysterious girl. True, she was an Elf, but looked not older than an eighteen-year-old mortal. As he sat with his thoughts turned to the she-Elf, his father emerged. As Elrond approached, Elrohir noticed that Elrond was wearied to an extent that he had never seen. But he still smiled at the younger Elf.

"What happened?"

"She lives. It seems that the Black Shadow was on her, but also.she tried to give her life so another could live. She would have succeeded if a Nazgul had not passed over her."

"So, she tried to kill herself?" he did not quite understand.

"No, not exactly. She was giving herself up so that another being would live. Tell me, how did you find her?"

"Her fingers, they were on the halflings temples."

"See, her race were able to do such things. They could give up their lives to save another if they wished. It was unusual for them to do so. - They were regarded as impure and were pushed away from most beings, if they were known to be such an Elf. So, they did not have many they would care about so much to give up their immortal life for. - But she found a reason to give up herself. There must have been a great friendship here."

"Her race?"

Elrond let out a breath. He led Elrohir to his chambers. Here, he told his son of Arway's history. He also revealed the fact that she was his daughter.

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Legolas sat with the other men near the company. Frodo and Sam had risen and now all were being entertained by the song of the King. Aragorn's voice was soothing as it slightly echoed through Ithilien. Even the birds listened to the sound of his voice. When night fell all were led to the pavilion to drink, eat, and be merry.

He looked up at the darkening sky as if for support as he approached the pavilion. He resigned that for the night no sorrow would touch him. 'Twas a night of joy, the Ring-bearers had returned but not unscathed. He recalled then a comment that he had been told before.

'I fear the next time you see him a small piece will be missing from him.'

He sighed. She had been right. Frodo was missing a finger. And he knew to fight the sorrow this night and any other would be a difficult task, especially when he knew nothing.

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Elrond walked through the halls of Imladris. He stopped at one door and entered. In the room lay a she-Elf on a bed, seeming to be completely asleep.

"Ada! Ada!" she screamed.

Elrond moved quickly to the bedside and took hold of her hand. He checked her but she had not awakened yet. The scream reminded him of long years ago when the same girl, a little child, had called out to him.

She had been twelve at the time and playing outside when she had stumbled on a grave. Elrond had been in the garden when she had screamed out. When he approached she run into his arms. His eyes surveyed the grave that had upset the child so. On a stone where the girl had been the name, Rilya was engraved. He hugged the disturbed child to him. Gently, he carried her back to her room. Then, he laid her on the bed where exhausted she had slept like an angel.

This is what she reminded him of now, an angel that did not belong but still present. Her appearance had changed greatly since she had arrived in Rivendell. Maids had been let into Arway's room. They removed her soiled clothing and bather her in perfumed water. The grime of years and war were scrubbed from her body. Once her body was cleaned her hair was then taken care of. It had been unbraided, washed, and then dried. The she-Elf on the bed looked like a young woman. A matured Elf. Not the almost mature she had been but days before.

Elrond kissed the forehead of his child. He wished that he could know the out come of her ordeal. But he did not know, there was only one way for him to know, and that was for her to meet him in his dreams. And if that happened, he would be told of her place. And he only knew of two places she could be and that was she was either in a place of dream, or she was in the Waiting.

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A/N: Okay I promise I'm going as fast as my little fingers can type! Oh and could you tell me what you think? I accept anonymous so if you're not a member or if you don't want to log on.