A/N: Seeing as you are all so good, you're getting two chapters today.





Disclaimer: Everything except Celebfaer belongs to Tolkien.

Chapter 45: Ideas

The next month was torture for Celebfaer because everything she said to Legolas was answered negatively, but she refused to give up. He had no idea how much every harsh word that he said, tore into her heart, scaring and leaving a mark that she would bear for the rest of her life. She took to following him around, so she was around him for many hours of the day and he knew that she would not give up that easily.

She once followed him to the archery practice field, and she watched from afar as both Gimli and Aragorn spoke to Legolas. He seemed to respond more positively to what they were saying, but then they gave him a bow and arrow. Knowing that Legolas was hard to be beaten with the bow, she watched in amazement as Legolas looked at the bow with a pained look on his face and flinched when he was asked to aim for the target. Carefully and reluctantly Legolas aimed for the target, then released the arrow, only to miss the target by a long shot. Shocked, Celebfaer realised that maybe it was more serious than she had previously thought. Aragorn and Gimli just shook their heads, and Legolas gave the bow back then stormed off into the gardens.

So, day in and day out, Celebfaer tried everything she could think to evoke a passionate response from Legolas, but the only time she succeeded was towards the end of the month, after witnessing yet another of these archery practice sentence. This time, after seeing him storm off into the gardens, Celebfaer followed him. She tracked him, loudly for quite a while before she decided to call out to him, for he had not heard her despite her efforts to be loud.

"Legolas!" She called and he whirled around, in surprise, but anger was the dominate emotion on his face.

"What do you want?" He snapped and Celebfaer stopped where she was and looked at him.

"What has happened to you? I have been following you for ten minutes, yet you have not heard me." She exclaimed, worry on her face.

"My Elvish abilities are diminishing and it is all your fault. I cannot even shoot to save myself anymore! I'm a helpless and pathetic creature and I do not wish to live much longer. I loathe you Celebfaer." He said harshly, then he turned around and continued walking, leaving her there, tears silently falling down her face.

By the end of the first month of her attempts Legolas was getting worse. She had approached him one day and he had told her that her mere presence was making him fade even more. Celebfaer had tried everything, but as soon as he had told her that she had left him and avoided him for the next three days. She needed time to think and devise a new plan; a new approach to trying to cure him.

It took the whole three days before she another idea sprung into her head. She had been going about the curing in the completely wrong way. She had been trying to reason it out, yet she had forgotten that she was a fairy and fairies were renowned in legends and songs to bewitch even the strongest mind. So, devising a plan, she approached Arwen and Aragorn while they were eating their evening meal together in the dinning room.

"I am sorry for interrupting your dinner my Lord, my Lady." She said, bowing and Aragorn laughed.

"Celebfaer how long will it take for you to simply call me Aragorn? You knew me as that before I was King and you know me as that now. You are a friend of the court, and are therefore equal." He said and she nodded. "And do not bow, Celebfaer we are your friends, not your rulers."

"Yes Aragorn." She said and Arwen laughed.

"Husband leave the poor girl alone, she has come for counsel." Arwen said seeing the grief that covered Celebfaer's face. Arwen had noticed that Celebfaer had barely eaten or come out of her room for the past three days and she was starting to worry about her friend. She did not want to lose two friends at the same time, particularly the last two friends that were connected to her life as an Elf.

Celebfaer just looked at Arwen, wondering how she knew.

"Forgive me Celebfaer, things in the kingdom have been troubling........." Aragorn said trailing off and Arwen picked up where he left off. Not wanting her husband to be troubled with thoughts of the kingdom when their friend needed help.

"Have you eaten your evening meal yet Celebfaer?" Arwen said and Celebfaer shook her head absently.

"Nay I have not, but do not trouble your maids. I only wish to ask for permission concerning a matter, then I shall leave you two alone."

"Are you sure?" Aragorn asked and she nodded.

"Yes Elessar." She said dipping her head slightly and Aragorn sighed then nodded to her.

"What do you wish for permission on? You have my permission to do as you wish in the castle anyway and no one is to hinder you." He said and she nodded.

"Yes but I wish for permission to take Legolas out into the woods for a few days." She said and Aragorn paused, shocked and Arwen looked down at her plate, nervous.

"Legolas is ill."

"I know of his illness and I believe a few days in the woods will do him a great deal of good."

"Celebfaer, Legolas is not himself and it would not be wise for him to be out of the city walls." Aragorn said, concern on his face. "You know of his condition, yes, but I do not believe you know the true extent of the illness."

"Aragorn, believe me, I would not wish for anything to happen to him." She said, her eyes pleading with Aragorn.

"Celebfaer........" He started, but Arwen interrupted.

"Estel." Arwen said, then she waited for Aragorn to look at her before she continued. "The spirit child has good intentions and I believe you shall be able to trust her."

"I cannot allow her to take Legolas out into danger when he is in this helpless condition. He is unable to shoot properly anymore. He cannot even shoot an arrow ten paces anymore and his ability diminishes more by the day. You must understand, I would worry not only for his safety but for Celebfaer's as well."

"Aragorn, you know that I am capable of looking after myself as well as Legolas." Celebfaer said looking up at him then, as his equal and his friend.

"Yes...... I have seen your..... skill." He said and she guessed that what she had done to the cave troll had affected him also. His face showed bewilderment and disbelief still as he remembered what had happened to the cave troll.

"Aragorn, Legolas is the last person I would like to see hurt and seeing him the way he is pains me. I only wish to help him come back to us. I want to restore him to his original self." She said truthfully and Aragorn was about to speak but Arwen interrupted him.

"I shall have the kitchen make the food you will need." Arwen said and Aragorn turned to look at her. The couple shared a look that Celebfaer did not catch, before Aragorn sighed, giving in to his wife's wishes and he turned back to look at Celebfaer.

"You have my permission, but if there is any sign of trouble you are to come back to Minas Tirith immediately, is that understood Celebfaer?" He asked and she nodded, a smile spreading over her face. It was almost as though she were a child and had been told that she could go and run in the woods for the rest of the afternoon.

"I give you my word King Elessar." She said then she bowed once more before departing and leaving the King and Queen to their meal.

Now she just had to tell Legolas.

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Legolas was not that willing for a trip to the woods, and it took Celebfaer quite a few days to convince him to come with her. With the help of Arwen, telling him that the fresh air might cleanse him and bring his Elven abilities back, he finally agreed.

So, Celebfaer made the plans, gathering the food and talking to Aragorn, Arwen and Gimli about routes to take and how long they would be gone for.

Aragorn was only willing to give her four days and bade them to return by dusk on the fourth day before Aragorn would send a search party for them.

Celebfaer just hoped that what she had planned would not take longer than four days.