Sorry it took so long I had mayor writers Block.

Thanks to:-

MoroTheWolfGod:- here you go some more, hope is good enough.

VaniaHepskins: -  thank you for you review, but I don't think I'm a wonderful writer but thank you for saying so, here is some more for you.

Dulca: - thank you all your help with the battle scene, love you lots. More of your story needs to be written.

Anthem: - Thank you for your review, here's some more to keep to going.

Chapter 18

The doors of the great hall swung open as women and children  poured into see if their loved ones had survived the battle, cries of sorrow and happiness mixed echoing within the hall.

Tears washing the floors where people's blood had fallen, cleansing the earth, sending the brave souls to the other world where eternal peace would greet them.

Aragorn waited patiently for a free nurse to see to his shoulder, he could have wrapped it himself but the promise he made with Legolas stayed in his mind, it had been the only way to get the elf to see nurses about his side.

-Flashback-

"but Aragorn, my side is much better" said Legolas, wiggling out of the human's arms.

"Legolas" warned Aragorn "just see what the nurses says"

"I Fine" cried Legolas, proving the fact by jumping about, " see nothing wrong. Plus you don't go to the nurses"

Aragorn sighed " how about, If I see a nurse you will see one?"

Legolas looked suspiciously at the ranger. "you promise that you will wait for the nurse to see your shoulder"

"yes I promise" swore Aragorn, looking directly into Legolas's eyes

"O.K." Legolas grudgingly agreed, "but have to make it all better later" added the elf.

"we will see, Brat. If you behave with the nurse, then we will see." Chuckled Aragorn.

So now Aragorn was sat on a make sift bed, waiting for one of the run down nurses to come and treat him, next to him lay Legolas eyes vacant as he had fell into a healing sleep.

Aragorn took the time to look at the people around him, seeing if there was anything that he could do, his ranger instincts inching to help the people around him.

He heard the grumbling of Gimli as he was treated for his head wound, but was pacified by the arrival of Bethro, who took the task of cleaning and wrapping the cut, both felt the rangers eyes of them and turned to say their hello's in nods as they saw the sleeping elf.

His eyes moved through the crowd of the injured and the medical helpers.

*so many injured, but they live to see another day. Many have fallen to the beast the seek to destroy this world, please Valar give their souls peace in the next world, for they all deserve to live eternity in paradise.*

A soft touch on his arm startled him out of his thoughts.

"excuse me sir, but what seems to be the problem with you?" asked a middle aged woman, face weary with worry and tiredness.

"I was hit on the shoulder by a sword" answered Aragorn, smiling slightly.

The woman smiled back, but set to work cleaning the wound on the rangers shoulder, cleaning the blood away to reveal a deep cut.

"I will need to stitch this" stated the nurse.

"go ahead, do what you need to do" Aragorn gritted his teeth as the needle and thread was pushed through his skin to sew his shoulder together, a dressing was applied to the wound.


"there you go, Sir, take it easy with it for a few days" ordered the nurse before turning her attention to Legolas.

"sir, what is the matter?" the nurse asked, but received no reply, so she tried again.

Aragorn chuckled. She turned to him.

"what is so funny?"

"he's asleep"

"but his eyes are open"

"an elf sleeps like that when in unfamiliar places" Stated Aragorn, before leaning over to Legolas.

"Legolas" whispered Aragorn, Legolas's eyes started to focus as he came out of his sleep. He turned on to his side, forgetting that it was wounded.

"Ow" yelped Legolas quickly moving to his back again.

"his side is hurting him, I don't exactly know what happened" said Aragorn, explaining to the nurse, who was coming out of the shock that she would be treating the elf.

"Master Elf, can you tell me what happened to your side?" questioned the nurse as she pulled Legolas tunic away from his side.

"I walked into a sword" muttered Legolas, shifting as the cloth was pulled away from the wound, revealing a bloody cut along the elf's ribs.

"this will need to be stitched and dressed" said the nurse, going to retrieve the things that she would need to treat the wound.

Aragorn took a closer look at the wound

"I thought I wasn't that bad"

"I didn't think it was, it doesn't hurt that much" replied Legolas, moving around to a more comfortable position.

The conversation was cut off by the nurse coming back with the medical equipment she needed.

"this will hurt slightly as this is a large cut, so please try not to struggling." Ordered the Nurse, then set about doing her work

Legolas gritted his teeth and looked straight a head as the needle laced through his side. The nurse re-cleaned the wound and check over the stitches before putting a dressing over the cut.

"I want you to rest of a couple of days and then take it slowly, if the pain gets worse come to me also if there is any other problems. Is that clear?" asked the nurse.

"yes" replied Legolas, getting up from the bed, to stand next to Aragorn.

"very well, off you go. Find somewhere were you can relax and recuperate."

Legolas and Aragorn walked quickly out of the hall to do what the nurse ordered.

Gimli waited silently as Bethro finished cleaning his wound, and checking to see if there were any more. He looked at his little angel, seeing the worry that lined her face, he tried to start a conversation, but was unable to find a beginning.

*so how are you? Good war we had! Sorry a lot of you people died!….. How in the hell do you start a conversation after what has just happened!*

but he did need to worry as it was Bethro who started the conversation.

"Gimli, I need to talk to you about early. Can we go for a walk?" questioned Bethro.

"Of Course" agreed Gimli adding*my angel* in thought. Checking the dressing once more, Bethro lead Gimli out of the hall towards the trees that they had sat in earlier.

Weaving through the people that held each other, the couple were silent as they walked to their destination.

*What if he doesn't still love me? What if I am making a big mistake? NO!! I need to keep courage it will always haunt me if I do not do this*

*What if she here to reject me? Tell me that there is someone else? Please Valar let me be strong if she rejects me*

The tree's that they sat near earlier came into view, but they were burned and blackened by fire only one stood with any green leaves on it, a lonely silver Birch. Bethro made her way towards the tree stopping in front of it.

*this is a sign, the silver birch, 25 years of celebration, can were really last long? Please Valar let this tree be a sign.*

"Gimli. I have something to say to you, I need to say this so can you not interrupt" started Bethro looking at Gimli's face, Gimli simply nodded in agreement, letting the woman say what she needed to say.

Bethro turned away from the dwarf and started to fidget with her sleeves.

"this morning when you said that you loved me, scared me because I didn't know what love was outside that of a family and no-one has ever said that to me, I had these emotions that I did not understand but in the caverns and the talk I had with Eowyn helped me sort them out and one thing came to me, my soul would be lonely if I did not say, that I love you, I was wrong earlier when I said that I could not say it.

Bethro turned to look at Gimli, waiting for a response. She was suddenly gathered into strong arms.

"you have made me very happy, My angel" answered Gimli gruffly he voice filled with emotion, before leaning towards her to kiss her lips gently.

"get a room" came a shout, breaking the peaceful mood surrounding the couple.

"Crazy Elf!" growled Gimli, turning to look at the amused Elf.

"Sorry had to do it, you did the same for me and Aragorn" smirked the Elf. "anyway I just came to see if you were alright"

"as you can see, you crazy Elf I am fine" said Gimli, his voice losing it's growl. "what about you?"

"nothing much wrong, a slight scratch" lied the elf.

"A slight scratch and a sore backside" came Aragorn's annoyed voice. " I told you to stay in the sleeping area and rest."

"Aragorn" yelped Legolas in surprise turning towards the man. "I thought you were talking to Gandalf and King Theoden"

"I was, then I though I would check on my injured lover, who was meant to be in the sleeping area's, and imagine my surprise when my seriously injured

lover wasn't there"

"Seriously injured?" questioned Bethro "I thought you said it was a scratch"

"It is, and I'm fine. I don't need to rest, besides I got board sat in there all on my own" pouted Legolas looking hopefully at Aragorn "I did behave myself with the nurse"

"come were going to the sleeping area" ordered the Ranger, seeing the look of hopefulness on the Elf's face he added "to sleep Legolas"

Legolas looked so down cast at that moment that it took all of Aragorn's will power not to gather the elf in his arms and smoother him with kisses.

"Go on lad, follow your human, and get some rest. And remember last time you lied to me? Well watch your self" suggested Gimli, pushing the Elf to follow Aragorn.

"yes Gimli, see you at the feast to night" Legolas said smiling sadly as he hurried after the human.

Gimli sighed "that lad is certainly pushing the rangers patience"

"Gimli You feel more than friendship towards him don't you?" questioned Bethro, turning the dwarfs attention back to her.

"what do you mean?" answered the confused Dwarf.

"I don't mean that you love him, but maybe feel parental towards him right? Because I feel the same way and I only met him two days ago" smiled Bethro " and I have to ask what did you do last time he lied to you"

Gimli chuckled "I put soap in his drink"

Bethro started to laugh at the scene it created in her mind. Calming down she was able to see Lady Eowyn walking towards the couple.

"we're about to be interrupted again"

"Bethro, Master Dwarf, I was wondering if you would join me at the feast tonight?"

"we would be delighted My Lady" the couple answered together.

"could you pass the message on to Legolas and Aragorn as I am unable to find them"

"we will, is there anything that you need help with in the fort" asked Gimli, eager to help the human's rebuild their fort.

"you could help the people set the tombs read for the funerals to night" answered the lady sadly looking mournfully at the walls of the fort.

"We will my Lady, see you tonight" the couple said as they walked off.

Eowyn smiled at the couple, seeing them walk hand in hand towards the front of the fort. *be happy me friend, may you love last forever for you certainly deserve it*

"Come on Aragorn" pleaded Legolas as he followed the human in to the sleeping area. "I'm sorry I left the bed but I needed to get out side. You know I don't like being closed in"

"But you didn't tell anyone, I didn't know where you were" said Aragorn turning to look the elf in the face, "you lost consciousness when the Ent caught you and you didn't tell me or the nurse, and then you wonder off, you could have collapsed"

Legolas looked at the ground "I didn't remember losing consciousness and I had to get out of the building. I'm sorry I didn't tell anyone but the trees were calling me."

"your name suites you my Little Greenleaf" chuckled Aragorn, seeing the nervousness on the elf's face he pulled the Elf into his arms. "how about it take that promise up and make you better" he added wickedly.

"your not angry with me?" asked Legolas in a small voice looking up at the ranger.

"I could never say mad at you," smiled the ranger, looking lovingly at the blonde bombshell that had changed his life for the better.

Aragorn reached down to capture the elf's lips in his in a gentle kiss, seeking entrance into warmth of the other's mouth, Legolas gladly granted the entrance and started to tease the rangers tongue into a game of tag. Both separated at the same time coming up for air.

"that better" asked the ranger breathlessly

"I think I will have to have another one to compare the feeling" whispered the Elf, reaching upwards to indicate another Kiss this one was filled with passion and want, Aragorn easily took charge of the kiss as he pushed the Elf towards the bed.

Legolas broke off the kiss " you wanting something?" he smirked. Looking at the way he was being pushed towards the bed.

"not now, I thought rest would be better, fun later on" answered the ranger huskily.

"O.K." answered the Elf as he walked the rest of the way to their bedding and positioned himself on the side that didn't hurt.

"Come on then" he smiled, coxing the man to come to the bed. Aragorn gentle lay himself next to the elf pulling him into his arms. "your so beautiful, Legolas promise me one thing, that when the war is over that you will be mine."

"I am yours" answered Legolas confused at the statement.

"I meant in marriage, for I know the Males can be married in the Elven world"

Legolas pulled back to look into Aragorn's eyes "you mean that? You want to be with me for eternity?"

"of course I do, I know that you are young, maybe want some freedom so please take your time on answering the question" rambled Aragorn

"yes!" said Legolas.

"I know you will want to meet more people and maybe have other lovers and……." Aragorn was cut off by Legolas's lips.

"I said YES!!" repeated Legolas "if you can stand me for the rest of time"

"I think I will be able to" smiled Aragorn, he was going to spend the rest of his life with the one that he loved *maybe Gimli will make me a ring for him, I want the rest of the world to know that this beautiful creature is mine*

"Aragorn, where are you?" asked the Elf seeing the dreamy look on the rangers face.

"with you" answered the ranger, pulling the Elf close once more into a kiss. "you have made me the happiest immortal in the world. Come on lets rest before the feast tonight." Seeing the tiredness in the elf's eyes.

"but I thought you wanted to have fun?"

"it's ok we'll wait until we have somewhere private. Come on Little Leaf get some rest, we will both need it for I feel tonight is the night to lay things to rest"

Aragorn moved so he was lay on his back then he pulled Legolas to lay his head on the ranger's chest.

"sleep well Estel" replied Legolas sleepily, before letting his eyes go vacant, Aragorn soon followed his lover into dreamland.

Hoped you like it,
More soon hopefully.

Devilburns.