Sorry this took so long to update and I apologize beforehand for any mistakes. I typed this up in twenty minutes. Thanks for all the reviews for the last chapter.

emily

Eowyn sighed tiredly as she ran the brush through her hair. One half of an hour had passed since she had parted with Legolas and a nagging worry beckoned to her from the back of her mind. She would have expected him back by now but then again; he was an elf, she thought absently. They do not rush things like mortals do… " Why am I so impatient suddenly?" These words were spoken aloud as she stood. Her eyes wandered to the mirror on their own accord and she found herself evaluating her appearance for the first time since the battle had begun those nights ago.

By all means her face had an exhaustive appearance to it. Dark circles encompassed her eyes and her expression was drawn out and forced. The bed seemed very inviting but try as she might she could not picture herself going and laying down to sleep, not with Legolas on his way. She shook her head to clear her mind and went to a small cabinet that stood against the easternmost wall. Crouching down she pulled open one of the doors and began to remove the things she'd brought from the healing rooms earlier. A bowl, fresh bandages and another small bundle of plants. She'd had them as a precaution incase she herself became injured or if Eomer somehow came to harm and didn't want the people to know. 'Yea gods it has happened before, stubborn imbecile…" She laid them out gently across the floor and sat back on her haunches, surveying everything and taking inventory in her mind. She took on the task of naming each plant from memory, ensuring the bandages were infact fresh and then checking to see if her water pitcher was indeed filled, which to her relief it was. She loathed the thought of venturing out once more and having another confrontation with her brother. All this she did in an abysmal attempt to distract her mind from the cursed elf. "…has no idea of what he speaks." She said bitterly of Eomer before rising to her feet. Her hair caught the candlelight and she hastily brushed it back over her shoulders.

Small riffs of conversation managed to make their way to her ears and she sighed, hands automatically fiddling with the material of her dress on their own accord.

Eowyn's head tilted sideways at a sharp knock on the door. Trying to suppress a smile she calmly collected herself and took a step forwards, hands smoothing out clothing and hair while she made her way towards the door. " Who is it?" She called casting one last glance in the mirror.

" Legolas…" The voice was shaky at best and immediately the smile disappeared from Eowyn's fair face. Quickly she unbolted the door and swung it open to find Legolas leaning heavily against the stone wall outside.

" What has happened?" She questioned hastily ignoring his protests as she slipped an arm around his shoulders to support him.

" I perhaps used more exertion then I should have upon returning." He answered. Eowyn did not believe a word as she pulled him into the room, kicking the door closed behind them.

Legolas was determined, she realized, to support himself and as she tugged him towards the bed there was little if no weight at all laid against her. She could feel the heat radiating from his body as if she were coming into contact with the very fire of his soul. She nearly drew back but stopped herself in time to push him down onto the mattress with perhaps more force than she intended.

A soft moan escaped Legolas' lips without the elf's permission and his cheeks flushed a darker red than they already were.

" Lie still." She instructed and then hastily retreated to fetch the things she'd laid out before his arrival.

Slowly Legolas eased himself back so that he lay flat across the mattress. Drops of sweat rolled down the back of neck and down his temples. He wanted to wipe them away but he couldn't move, not for all trees in middle earth.

" What happened?" Eowyn's voice was soft but commanding and he felt the mattress sink to his left. Swallowing back a wince he closed his eyes for a moment before answering.

" I already told you." He mumbled. He heard her sigh and then a cool hand rested on his forehead before pushing the hair back from his face.

" And I don't believe a word of it…" The hand then made its way behind his head and gently tilted it upwards. " Drink this…" A cup was pressed to his lips and he swallowed back the water greedily. The hand was ever patient and he could feel her thumb stoking his hair.

" Thank you…" He said softly.

Eowyn nodded though his eyes were closed and poured some water into the bowl. As before she mixed in some of the crushed herbs and waited. " I've been watching the elves, they seem to heal far more quickly than men…" She said before letting her voice trail off. There was a comfortable silence before she continued. " Yet you do not do so…I'm no master healer Legolas. Perhaps Aragorn has some knowledge of what ails you. He was raised by your people, of course you know all of this." She broke off to dip a cloth into the water pitcher. "I do remember Lord Aragorn saying that elves do not become ill and you have a fever." She pointed out bathing his face with the cool water. Legolas did not answer at first and Eowyn did not press him further. She did not want him to become defensive because then he would refuse treatment at all. She bit down on her bottom lip thoughtfully. Legolas' eyes remained closed.

Once more her thoughts strayed to those moments in the field and a blush rose to her pale cheeks. It was as if she could feel the wind in her hair once more and she remembered the exact feel of his lips against hers.

Her hand rose of its own accord and a finger ghosted across her lips. She nearly shivered but swallowed back the action instead. A hand captured hers and she glanced down to find Legolas watching her intently, his fingers intertwined with her own.

A soft smile graced Eowyn's lips and she leaned down to place a kiss against his forehead. " Lie still…" she instructed. He nodded and then let his hand fall back against the coverlet with a soft 'oof'. "How very un-elf like…" She whispered gathering to bowl into her lap and wrapping a fresh rag around her right hand while the other worked at pushing Legolas' tunic upwards.

" You are very kind." There was an amused sarcasm to Legolas' words followed by a soft grunt when the fabric rubbed up against the gash. Eowyn offered a whispered apology and then frowned when her eyes fell onto the said wound.

Confusion swirled in their pale depths and she reached down to gingerly place a finger against the stitching. "What is wrong?" Legolas inquired tilting his head upward in an attempt to see but Eowyn refused to allow it and blocked the path of his sight with her arm.

She could not remember there being such extensive bruising nor could she remember it being so swollen. " But I bathed it with herbs and bandaged it…" She mused to herself, unmindful of Legolas' stare. "This should not be…"

" What should not be?" Legolas once again asked and tried in vain to see the problem. Eowyn ignored his questions, brow fixed in concentration.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

" Aragorn, Aragorn wake up, he's gone again!" Gimli shook the Ranger's arm roughly.

" Gimli what is it that you speak of?" He mumbled, voice laden with exhaustion as his eyes slowly began to open.

" The elf! That fool elf has left us again!" At these words Aragorn bolted up, nearly striking Gimli in the process. The dwarf took an ungraceful step back to avoid the arc of Aragorn's arm with a grunt. "Easy there." He warned as Aragorn scrambled out from the mess of blankets and sheets. "I don't know where he's gone." The man stopped for a moment, eyes sweeping the room for any clue Legolas might have left as to where he had gone but could see nothing that would help his quest.

" How long do you think he's been missing?" Aragorn approached the rumpled bedsheets where he'd left Legolas earlier and laid a hand against the mattress. " It is cold, he's been gone for some time."

" Leave it to Legolas to go gallivanting around a fortress as injured as he was. If he weren't hurt already I'd-"

" Gimli calm yourself, I believe I have a fair idea of where our friend has gone." He strode over to the door, uncaring that he was clad only in leggings and a loose tunic. Opening the door a crack he glanced back at Gimli. " Are you coming or not?"

The dwarf nodded and followed Aragorn out into the hall.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

" Legolas…I've prepared a sleeping draught for you, to aid you in your rest." Eowyn held out the goblet but Legolas shook his head.

" I do not want it…I want you to lie beside me." At this request Eowyn felt her blush returning with the intensity of a hundred suns. Legolas just smiled softly and shifted onto his side, the new bandages catching the light of the candles. The tiniest of grimaces creased his face momentarily and then he stilled, eyes seeking her out immediately.

" Legolas…I-"

" Please?" Eowyn hesitated in her answer again, body faltering in its step as if she were caught. Legolas stared back at her silently, face beautiful with its imploring gaze, porcelain skin glowing in the lamplight. Eowyn's breath caught in her throat and she did not move for a long time. " Eowyn?" Legolas repeated his question and held out a slender hand towards her.

" Of course." She finally answered in defeat and climbed onto the mattress next to him. It still held the warmth of his body and she nestled closer into the pillow. Something touched her shoulder, its touch almost feather light and she tilted her head back and found that Legolas had laid an arm around her. She smiled softly and the lay like that for several minutes.

It was as if all of the exhaustion from the past few days came crashing down on her at once and she struggled to stay awake. Limbs that moments ago had carried her across the room seemed to be made of lead and it was near impossible to keep her eyes open.

" Just sleep." Legolas soothed, his fingers brushing her hair. She mumbled something unintelligible and Legolas pulled the blanket over her, ignoring the small burst of pain it caused. All that mattered for the time being was that he was with her, they were together and no one was there to disturb them.

From somewhere within her sleep filled haze Eowyn sensed him slowly relaxing and then finally gave into the exhaustion allowing the depths of sleep to enfold her and embrace her.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

" Aragorn where are we going?" Gimli whispered as Aragorn turned another corner. They were entering into a part of Helm's Deep that he didn't recognize or recall ever visiting.

" We are going to the Lady Eowyn's chamber." Was the man's reply and Gimli's eyes widened.

" You know how she feels about you…I do not think appearing in her rooms at this hour would do anything to deter those feelings!" Gimli hissed and reached out a hand to tug on Aragorn's sleeve. The action did nothing to stop him however and Gimli chased after him muttering curses under his breath.

" Legolas is there." Aragorn said over his shoulder. Gimli's eyes widened further.

" What is he doing? Does he want to be killed? Eomer will-"

" Hush Gimli." Aragorn whispered placing a hand over the dwarf's mouth. " You'll rouse the dead if you keep your voice as it is." Gimli's face reddened in anger but he swallowed back whatever retort came to his lips. " Legolas is there because she tended his injury earlier…and I believe he is in need of further help."

" Why did he not come to you?"

" That is not important now."

" How can you say its not important now? Aragorn he is in a lady's chamber in the dead of night, how can this be good for-" But both had fallen silent, watching as a shadow slowly fell into their path.

Eomer met Aragorn's gaze evenly. " So Legolas is in my sister's chambers?"

I know I know….such a long wait for such a short chapter.