((Author Notes: here it is…thought I must admit that some of you might not be quite happy with it as I think a lot of you got the wrong impression from the last chapter… but here it is, I did my best and I hope you enjoy. Legolas/Eowyn fights should be coming up in the next chapter so hang tight for a couple more days. Thanx for all the great reviews!!!
brghost: lol…now I will try and surprise you. there's gonna be TONS of Legolas and Eowyn as that is mainly what this little story is centered on, but for some reason my muse wants to have a nice long building up to it. But Eowyn should make her appearance in the next chapter…hopefully…if my muse agrees that is….
Elfling: of course your not annoying me!! lol….i love talking! Don't hurt the air when your punching it…
Erhothwen: Legolas as an assassin does make a very nice picture, does it not? I personally enjoy it immensely…but perhaps….yah…nevermind…keep reading. *grabs elvish dagger back* my preciousssss….
Kayo: ugh…I wanna live in the snow….*sticks tongue out*…about Legolas' fighting style…I thought about that too…but this is what I figure: Legolas fought primarily with his long knives at least according to Tolkien and the movies. In fact I can't remember a time when he didn't. So, I figure he learned sword fighting in the three years he was gone…so therefore Aragorn wouldn't fully recognize the sole reason that he had never fought Legolas with a sword before…I hope that makes sense…
Dark Phoenix: um….depends on your definition of happy…I'm not normally in the business of writing happy stories as my sister will tell you…
Mouse: it was…lol…I like doozies. Well, I hope you enjoy this part.
Tara: don't you love it when he makes an appearance? So grand and graceful and elegant and, and, and…*stops as her muse drags her off stage* Anywayz….
Lady Lenna: nothing REALLY bad will happen. At least not in the next chapter…actually, hmm…I may hafta take that back.
CassieMR: you better not take that dagger!!!! I know where you sleep…*evil laugh* lol….next time don't hang over my shoulder when I'm TRYING to write this…just becuz I couldn't get any good ideas….
Justagirl: *nods wisely* o yes…perfectly logical..perfectly logical…exactly unlike my brain…
Arwyn: becuz it is just sooooo much fun to torment the readers…lol….
Eiertae: *sniff* I'm an evil writer? *sniff* fine than…I won't write anymore…jk
Hawyn: neither can i….i mean, what was she thinking?
MissFizz: I thought it was pretty good myself. Don't worry, Legolas won't be cast into any dugeons…yet….*BWAHAHAHAHAHA*
Evenstar589: nope I wouldn't mind it at all~
Ola: it may not be a long time to an elf…but Aragorn and Eowyn are mortal…but yah, anywayz, you're right! No one should give ppl heart attacks because they look like O Bloom…especially right before your about to run the 800m race. I don't think he noticed me…but my guy friend sure did and he pinched me really hard after about 2 minutes….i'm not polish. But my friend and I went over there together and he got me it as a peace offering of sorts. Thanx for pointing out the errors!
Lisseyelen aka Lady V: wow…that's a long name..anywayz. Sorry about that, but my muse just had to, and I love cliffhangers…don't worry this chapter doesn't have one…at least…not really.
Dragon-of-the-north: yah it is a pretty good idea..but just keep reading…
Dedicated to my beautiful elvish dagger…( I'm obsessed) and to my sister, in gratefulness that she did not cut my head off before I could post this..
One More Night to Dream
Silence permeated the air for a moment as the two long-time friends locked eyes in the dim light of the room. Aragorn's sword hung limp and forgotten in his hand, his mouth forming in surprise. A long moment passed.
Finally snapping out of his daze, Aragorn knelt beside the fallen elf. "Why are you here?" He grabbed a blanket that was lying on a nearby chair and held it against the small slash on Legolas' side. "What were you…?"
"There is an assassin after you." Legolas tried to push Aragorn's hands away and stand to his feet but did not resist when Aragorn held him back.
"My guards told me earlier," he paused a moment, "I assumed you were he, the assassin that is." A hint of doubt flickered across his face. "You are not the assassin, correct?"
For the first time, Aragorn thought he saw a hint of a smile on the other's face. "No, Aragorn. Do not fear. I have not come to harm you or your wife."
"Then why are you here? And how did you know that I had become king?"
Legolas sighed heavily. "Why I am here is a story which has become too long and complicated for me to explain here and now. But I learned of your crowning while I was wandering in the Eastern Lands. I am positive that all of Middle Earth knew of it as well."
Aragorn nodded slowly with a small chuckle and then asked the next burning question that was heavy on his mind. "Why did you attack me, then? If you are not the assassin?"
Legolas ducked his head. "I had not planned to, Aragorn. But I arrived and I could not resist testing you skills after all these years. Must I say that the years have not caused you to loose any of your former prowess and, mayhap, gained a few more tricks a long the way."
Aragorn responded with a slight smile. "I could have very well killed you, my friend."
"You give yourself too much credit there. I would have never let you slay me. At worst, I would have revealed myself to you." Legolas looked around the room. "Where is my sword?"
Looking around, Aragorn spotted laying a few feet away. Crawling over, he picked it up and handed it back to Legolas. "Are you staying in Gondor?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice. "You have been gone far too long and I wish that you would consider yourself my honored guest for as long as you are able to be here in…"
Legolas laughed. "Have no fear. I am staying her for awhile. There is something very important I must do in this city before I even think of leaving again." Pushing Aragorn's hands away, he stood to his feet and swayed slightly as the blood loss began to effect him. "I am alright," he said sharply when Aragorn tried to reach for him again.
Aragorn drew back, hurt by the harsh tone.
Sighing, Legolas reached out a hand to touch Aragorn's shoulder. "I am sorry, my friend. It has been a troubled three years of my life." With nimble fingers, he undid the clasp of the cape and allowed it to fall onto the floor around his feet. "And now all I really wish to do is get some sleep in a soft, warm bed. It seems like a dream after months of sleeping on the hard ground…" Legolas trailed off. "What?"
Slowly, Aragorn reached one hand out to touch the shoulder. "You are so thin."
There was a nervous laugh. "Elves are always thin, Aragorn. You should know this quite well."
"I know this, Legolas, but you are…it looks like you have been starved for many days." Aragorn squeezed the shoulder, wincing at how the bones poked through the skin.
A shadow crossed the blue eyes briefly. "As I said, it has been a troubled three years. I am very grateful to be with my friends once more." He winked slyly at Aragorn. "I would be even more grateful if my friend would provide me with a place to sleep tonight."
Aragorn nodded. "Of course! What was I thinking? You must be exhausted." He took another look at the thin body. "Would you like to eat first or do that in the morning?"
"My stomach can wait one more day." And Aragorn thought he detected a hint of bitterness in his friend's musical voice.
"That will do, that will do," Aragorn agreed. "The hour is late or I am sure that Arwen would be up to greet you. But I think we best save that for the morning as well. Breakfast starts at 9:30 and Arwen gets worried if you are not there right on time. At least she does when I am not there on time. She seems to not mind it if Jarínu is late but that is a story for another time." Aragorn prattled on, telling about the coming and goings of Gondor since Legolas' departure, all the while trying to sneak covert glances at the hunched shoulders, and the slight limp of his friend.
They had just reached Legolas' room when the elf's quiet voice broke through Aragorn's chatter. "And what of the Lady Eowyn?"
Silence reigned in the dark hallway for a moment as the two old friends locked eyes.
Aragorn was the first to look down. "She is coming for breakfast in the morning. You should be able to see her then and all your questions will be answered." With that, Aragorn turned to go.
"Does she still love me?" Legolas' almost sounded like a small child, needing reassurance.
Aragorn sighed. "We had given up hope for you return, mellonamin. It was hard for her." He gave a weary smile. "Rest well." And then he vanished down the hallway towards his own quarters.
Legolas slipped into his room and rubbed his eyes. Tomorrow. That is what he had lived for these past three years when grief had threatened to overtake him. The promise of tomorrow and the love of the Lady Eowyn. And tomorrow, he would find both.
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