A/N: Finally! I decided to put my other stories on hold so I can update this story first since it seems to be the most popular. Okay, on to the story! Sorry for keeping you waiting so long.

I unglazed my eyes as I woke from my sleeplike state. As I woke up, I remembered the events from last night. I groaned as it all flooded back to me. Strangely however, my headache had not returned yet.

I was beginning to stand up when I felt pressure on my body. Since I was sleeping in a sitting position I looked down to see three curly-haired heads on my legs. I smiled as I watched Merry, Pippin, and Frodo sleep in such a peaceful state. Along the journey, they were always tossing and turning and sleeping fitfully. Now they slept with small smiles on their faces. With my elven hearing, I can hear Pippin whisper something about pints.

My gaze wandered to Sam. He slept loyally next to Frodo and seemed comfortable doing so. They were such close friends.

I carefully removed the heads on my legs and soundlessly stood up. I walked over to the tent next to ours. Aragorn, Boromir, and Gimli were all sleeping on the soft, lush ground. However, Legolas was no where to be seen. I assumed that he was with his elven friends.

Aragorn seemed to develop the elvish ways fast. He slept peacefully and looked as if he was dead. One hand grasped the hilt of his sword, ready to spring into action when needed. Boromir slept heavier. He was on his back with his mouth hanging open. He too seemed to be peacefully sleeping. Gimli was curled up in a ball in the corner of the tent. He was muttering in his sleep and snoring loudly.

I smiled softly as I walked away from the campsite. It finally occurred to me that I respected and admired every member of this Fellowship. I admired Aragorn and Frodo for their bravery. I admired Boromir for his nobility. I admired Gimli for his determination. I admired Sam for his loyalty to Frodo. I admired Merry and Pippin for their humor.

'What about Legolas?' a side of me asked.

By this time I was next to the river Nimrodel. I stopped dead in my tracks at the thought of his name.

'Oh yes, him.'

'Yes, him. What do you admire about Legolas?'

I looked in the river at my reflection. A brunette with round brown eyes stared back with a 'What do you see?' look.

I got fed up. "I see a baby, a coward, and a liar," I said as loudly as I could to try and block out the voice in my head.

"Really? That's not what I see," a voice behind me whispered.

I whirled around, red with embarrassment and anger. To my surprise, my brown eyes met Legolas' blue eyes.

They were filled with calmness and yet, sadness at the same time. It was almost as if it pained him to see me.

His hands were clasped behind his back as he walked coolly past me to look in the river. I turned around to face the river again as he said, "I see a beauty that surpasses all other. I see a strong, courageous female elf who is not afraid to prove herself." He turned to me. "And I see an elf who is not afraid to speak the truth no matter how much it hurts."

The last comment stunned me. I decided right then and there that I truly, REALLY loved him. That was what I admired about him. I admired the way he made people feel special. The way he made me feel special.

"Legolas, I." I started.

However, I was cut off when he held up his hand. "No, Ally. No apologies. What you did was totally necessary if you truly did not return my feelings," he said in a flat tone.

I felt like sobbing out, "No! That's not true," but instead, I stood there with an emotionless face.

When Legolas saw that I made no reaction, he sighed heavily and said, "Well, I just thought I should make that clear so you wouldn't feel like you were breaking my heart. However, I want to let you know that I will still be your friend no matter what happens." With that, Legolas turned and walked slowly away.

I stood there and soaked up every word he said.

'Ally, you broke his heart!' a voice shouted.

'Oh no, not you again,' another voice said.

'Yes it's me. You hurt him but he's too strong to admit it. Ally, he loved you and he gave you his very heart and soul and what do you do? You throw it right in the dirt and spat on it!'

Tears brimmed my eyes. 'No, that's not true.'

'Yes it is. You know very well that it is.'

As the tears ran silently down my cheeks, I whispered, "No, I did not mean to. I love him. I know I do."

'Then why are you standing here? Go tell him!' the voice shouted at me.

I ordered my legs to move and slowly made my way into the forest. As my legs regained its feelings, I moved faster until I was blindly racing through the dense forest, trying to find Legolas.

With a lot of luck, I stumbled upon a small clearing in the woods. There, a lone figure was sitting on a log, its golden head bent down. I immediately knew who it was.

"Legolas?" I asked timidly.

Legolas' head immediately shot up. When he saw that it was me, he jumped up quickly. He swiftly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand before giving me a pleasant smile.

I looked closer at his eyes. They seemed to have lost the sparkle they had days ago. Instead, they were moist, as if from crying. I noticed that Legolas' smile was a bit too pleasant, as if pasted on.

"Legolas, have you been crying?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

I saw Legolas' smile falter a bit before regaining its false gaiety. "What do you mean, Ally?" he asked.

I went up to him and took his head in my hands. I lifted my head and looked him straight in the eye. "Have I hurt you, Legolas?" I whispered softly.

Legolas' smile fell as he closed his eyes. "Yes," he whispered back. He opened his eyes slowly as he continued, "You hurt me deeply. It hurts to think about you. It hurts to look at you. It hurts to be around you."

I felt pained. Never before have I caused so much grief for one person. I closed my own eyes as I murmured, "I'm sorry." I dropped my hands to my side and turned around, feeling my tears coming once more.

I felt Legolas swiftly move in front of me and take my hands. I looked down at the forest floor as he spoke. "Ally, you did nothing wrong. I was the one who harmed us both. My intentions were wrong and unnecessary. I should never have pressured you like that," he said. My tears ran freely down my cheeks. Legolas lifted my chin. However, "I would love you even if you didn't return my feelings, a'maelamin my beloved."

This time, I lifted my eyes and stared straight into his. "Amin mela lle I love you," I whispered.

I watched as Legolas' eyes widened in astonishment. "What did you say?" he asked as he took a step back.

"Amin mela lle," I repeated louder. I noticed that Legolas was not believing a word I said so I kept going. "Legolas, I do not know what came over me last night. The answer was in front of me the whole time. I knew I loved you deep down but there was this sort of spirit inside of me that made me uncertain of my true feelings. I do love you, Legolas Greenleaf, I do!" I proclaimed loudly.

There was a moment of silence. It seemed as if the entire world was waiting for Legolas' reaction. The wind stopped blowing. The birds stopped their morning songs. The river nearby stopped its babbling.

Suddenly, Legolas asked, "You mean that, Ally?"

I nodded my head vigorously. "I meant every word I said," I said.

Legolas slowly recovered from his shock and moved closer to me until our bodies were pressed against each others. "I love you Ally," Legolas said as he smiled down at me.

"I love you too, Legolas," I said back.

Legolas slowly lowered his head until his lips hovered centimeters above mine. "I've waited so long to hear that, Ally," he whispered against my lips. Then, his mouth claimed mine.

After what seemed like hours, I finally broke the kiss. "We should get back before they send search parties to come find us," I said with a smile.

Legolas grinned back. "Of course."

Legolas offered me his arm in a mockingly regal manner and I took it happily. As we started out of the clearing, something made me turn my head to the right. I caught a glimpse of my grandmother standing in the forest, all dressed in white, smiling at me. Her voice said in my head, "Well done, little one. Well done."

A/N: Sorry it's so short! I've got homework to do! Stupid homework. By the way, I made an original fiction story and posted it on fictionpress.net under my friend's pen name. It's called "Lasting Memories" by bethygurl. Yeah, my middle name is Beth but her name is Beth too. crazy. Review please!