I'm already on my 20th chapter *sniff* …they haven't kissed yet? Em doesn't even know he likes her yet? It's coming ever closer don't worry, not this chapter though.
Thanks for telling me how long it would take to get Lothlorien. :) Very helpful.
I won't be able to update for a while cos my exams have started and I'm…*shudder* studying most of the time… :(
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All that happened next was mostly a blur to Legolas and Em. The healers came quickly and moved the motionless Em from the bathroom floor to her bed and cleaned her cut hand and Amothien fussed over her, while Legolas was hustled into the corner where he stood watch Em. Em remained still on the bed as her hand was wrapped tightly in a bandage, looking through all the healers and Amothien, not looking at Legolas. Legolas stared in utter bewilderment at Em as she sat stock-still.
"Is…is she alright?" Legolas asked as the healers' left and Amothien walked over to him.
"Her hand is badly cut but it will be fine in time." Amothien answered.
"Why did she…do that?" Legolas asked
Amothien looked perplexedly at Legolas. "I thought you would knew why. I will go and inform King Thranduil and see what happens next."
Legolas nodded not taking anything it, until he heard the door close behind Amothien. He covered the distance between where he was standing and Em in a few steps and sat on the end of the bed by Em's curled up form. Her head was on her knees and she did not look up when Legolas sat down. Neither of them said anything. Legolas reached down, gently lifted Em's chin from her knees. Legolas didn't say anything for a while as he tried to make eye contact with her, when she finally looked him in the eye. She eventually looked into his confused face, with silent tears trickling down her face. He didn't say anything but wrapped his arms around her and sat with her for a few moments. "Why?" he asked so softly he thought she hadn't even hear him
Amothien entered the room. Legolas still held Em in his arms.
"Is she alright?" Amothien asked as she walked over to the bed.
"I don't know." Legolas answered quietly.
"We are still leaving today, in a short time. King Thranduil thinks it best to leave for Lothlorien after these events." Amothien said as she took her cloak from the end if the bed and wrapped it around herself. "We are already prepared to leave so we can make our way to the meeting point."
Legolas was still holding onto Em as she cried into his tunic. "We have no use for Thunder now. She cannot possible ride with her hand cut. She shall ride with me."
Amothien nodded and took out Em's cloak. "Come on." Amothien said to Em.
Em unsurely rose from beside Legolas and slid off the bed. She delicately placed her feet on the floor and winced as she put her weight on them. Amothien didn't see Em grimace but Legolas noticed her change in expression.
"We will catch up to you in a few moments at the deporting point." Legolas said.
Amothien nodded, straightened the cloak in Em's shoulders and left. "Don't be to long." She advised.
Legolas pulled Em back to her bed by her hand and made her sit down while he took out some bandages and a bowl of water and cloth from the bathroom and kneeled down by the edge of the bed.
"You stood on some glass." Legolas stated as he cleaned the small cuts on Em's feet.
Em winced as the cold water touched her sore skin. "It was my fault." Em muttered quietly to herself, but with his elvish hearing Legolas easily heard her.
"What was your fault?" He asked as he wrapped a small bandage on her foot and started drawing circles on her skin with his fingers.
Em pulled her feet under her long skirt and slid off the bed. "We should be going." Em answered quietly.
Much to her surprise Legolas took hold of her hand and walked by her side to the departing point.
Amothien, Thranduil, Gandalf and the rest of the party was already waiting for them with Arwen in the outdoor alcove.
Arwen ran over to greet the pair, away from the rest of the party. She gave Legolas a hug and said her goodbyes in the strange language Em had heard them talk to each other in before. Arwen turned and spoke to Em before they left. Legolas went over to his horse and the rest of the company.
"I…I… o never mind." Arwen pulled a surprised Em into a bear hug. "You gave me such a fright when Amothien told me you had got hurt. I am sorry you have to leave before we have time to get to know each other better, but we shall see each other in the not too distant future."
"I'II miss you too." Em said.
The two women walked towards the company.
"May I ask a favor?" Asked Arwen.
"If it is possible." Said Em.
"Talk to Legolas." Said Arwen.
"I will try." Em replied
"Thank you. Goodbye Em."
"Bye Arwen."
Em walked over to Legolas who was the only one not sitting on a horse. He helped Em get up onto his grey stallion and then swung up behind her. The troop was soon off on the journey. Legolas and Em were trailing at the end as they traveled among the towering trees.
"At least I'm not on the evil one." Em smiled to herself.
"Hmm?" Legolas asked confused.
"Remember the horse that wanted to eat me." Em said seriously. "Evil horse, hereafter known as Phil Dark Horse Lord of Insufficient light."
Legolas smiled slightly but it was quickly replaced by a serious frown. "How can you jest after the incident that just happened."
"It keeps me sane I guess." Em muttered as she played with the horse's mane.
"You scared me." Legolas said softly so no other member of the company could hear their discussion.
"I'm sorry." Em apologized.
"That you hurt yourself or that you scared me."
"Both, kind of." Em mumbled.
Legolas sighed deeply. "Will you not tell me what happened or at least why it happened?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"I might if you told me."
"How could you understand? You never…you wouldn't have so you couldn't possible know what I'm feeling…you wouldn't understand." Said Em as she looked at her bandaged hand on the horse mane
"I would try and understand…" Legolas said reassuringly as he put his hand on top of Em's.
Em stared at his hand for a few moments before she pulled her hand away. "You couldn't…" Legolas could not see the tears that had begun falling down her cheeks.
They talked no more as they rode nor that night or the following day or the day after that, for four days they traveled, Em had not spoken to Legolas and avoided him when he had tried to talk to her. It was late on the fourth night since they had set out from Mirkwood that Em had wandered a little from the camp to a hill so she could seen the sunset on the horizon. Gandalf was already sitting on a log at the top smoking his pipe as he contentedly watched the sky.
"A hundred thousand greetings Em. Why up so late?" Gandalf asked politely as Em sat on another of the logs near him.
"Hi Gandalf. Couldn't sleep, what's your excuse?"
"A wizard does not need an excuse for wizards only do what must be done for the greater good." Gandalf joked.
Em smiled. "It's just a saying. Why are you up anyway?"
"To watch the sunset, what other reason could I possibly have?" Gandalf asked innocently.
"Hmm…sure." Em said disbelievingly.
"You and the Prince are very quiet when you ride I noticed, back in Mirkwood you two seemed close friends." Gandalf said offhandedly
"We are…busy looking at the scenery." Em said casually.
Gandalf raised one of his busy eyebrows. "The tension between the two of you could be cut with a knife."
"You know I always hated that saying. It is a stupid saying, how can you possibly cut tension with a knife there's no logic to it." Em said trying to change the subject.
"The journey would be much more enjoyable if you and he cleared said tension." Advised Gandalf as he smoked his pipe.
"Smoking kills." Em said as she stared amazed at the smoke rings Gandalf effortlessly blew.
"Why, whatever gave you that idea?" asked Gandalf amazed.
"That's what happened where I come from. The what-it's-name in it clogs your arteries, gives you lung cancer and makes you smell. Then you die, well not from the smell but it reeks anyway." Em advised.
Gandalf looked over his shoulder and smiled slightly "I am going back to the camp. See you tomorrow morning." Gandalf said as he rose from the log and walked back in the direction of the camp.
Gandalf took the pipe from his mouth and stared at it dubiously, then shock his head and laughed, slightly nervously and walked back down to the camp. "No…it couldn't, could it?"
Em sat peacefully looking at the sun as it lower gradually down to the horizon line. She let out a serene sigh and then her eyes fell on her still bandaged hand.
She felt air past behind her but heard no footsteps. She heard a familiar voice talk to her.
"It won't be too long until the bandage will be removed and your hand fully healed." Legolas said from beside the log she was sitting on.
The pair sat in silence for a few moments before Em spoke so quietly only an elf could hear.
"You couldn't understand how I feel but I really want you to." Em said much to the surprise of the elf by her side.
Legolas moved closer to Em on the log and wrapped an arm around her, she leaned her head against Legolas' shoulder.
"Do you want to tell me now?" Legolas asked hopefully.
"Sam…she…it was my fault." Em said.
"What was your fault?"
"She faded in the black out I left her in." Em said trying to explain, as she wringed her hands. "She died…she killed herself. It was my fault."
"How was it your fault?"
"I didn't know." Em answered simply, trying to hold back her tears. "I should have seen it but I didn't even bother to look."
"You cannot blame yourself for her death. You cannot see or know everything."
"I should be able to see my best friend at least." Em said stubbornly.
"But why did you hurt yourself?" Legolas asked worriedly as he looked at her bandaged hand.
"I don't know, I couldn't look at myself, had no reason not too." Em said trying hard to explain.
"What about me?" Legolas asked.
"You're not a reason, you're a person." Em answered and froze when she realized that was what Sam had said about her.
"The world does not work they way we would have it. You cannot know all, it was not your fault." Consoled Legolas. "Ember…other people care about, people who are well, still alive and…" Legolas began but was cut off.
"There you are." It was a frustrated sounding Amothien. "It slipped your mind yet again to tell me where you were wandering off too."
"Sorry, but I thought you were asleep…and wouldn't mind?" Em said.
"I would like to know where my charge wanders off to without telling anyone." Amothien said.
"I just wanted to see the sunset, 'cos I couldn't sleep." Em explained.
"Well the sun has already set so you can come back with me to the camp." Amothien said as she waited for Em.
Much to Legolas dismay Em heaved a sigh. "Thanks for listening…"
"I do think I understand how you feel." Legolas replied.
"Yeah well…"
"Em!"
"I come." Em began walking with Amothien back to the camp.
Legolas sighed and leaned back on the log, but fell, gracefully, off the edge of the log onto the soft grassy floor. "Graceful but at least I'm getting closer." He said to himself.
Back at the camp all who were not on guard duty where fast asleep except for Amothien and Em, who were sitting, talking, by the fire.
"I made something for everyone to drink but you didn't get any because you were not present."
"That when you fingered out that I was gone?"
"Indeed it was. Would you care for something to drink, it will make you sleep better." Amothien tempted
"Sure, why not?" Em replied.
Amothien handed her a little wooden cup of liquid, which Em downed quickly and handed the mug back to Amothien.
"'Night." Em said sleepily as she wake to her tent and bedroll.
"Goodnight, Emer…" Amothien said as she watched the girl walk away.
Okay remember now Em, and Legolas, never told Amothien her full name but that's not important for a good while.
A DAY WITHOUT SUNSHINE, IS LIKE NIGHT
ImpC