I didn't know what to do. So many thoughts and feelings were racing around my mind that it was almost impossible to keep track of them. To tell the truth or to lie to him? Avoid the question completely? Tell him to leave me to avoid the whole thing? None of these options were particularly appealing! I did not want to lose him. I know that honesty is supposed to be the most important thing in any relationship but I wondered if in this case if it would destroy us.

"Are you angry with me? Because I would not blame you if you were. I should of got here sooner! I know it's no consolation but my guilt will live with me for the rest of my life." he said quietly.

I turned and pulled him in to my arms. I knew that it was not his fault that I was brought here and yet he felt horrible guilt so what would happen if he knew what had happened to me? I doubt he would of been able to cope with that guilt.

"It is not your fault. I'm sorry I just felt overwhelmed with relief that I was free that's all." I lied. He leaned back slightly and looked at me, trying to work out if I was telling the truth.

I think that he knew I was lying, there was doubt clouding his eyes. He did not push me on it. I think it was easier for him to fool himself in to believing I was telling the truth. That way the guilt would not consume him and we could go on being together.

"Are you ready to leave now?" he asked gently.

"Yes, definitely."

He gently kissed me on the forehead and guided me out of the tower. The subject was never really approached again. We left it between those walls and for the most part I'm happy we did but sometimes I do wonder what would of happened if I had told the truth. I may of changed the events of the following days drastically.

Hours later after we had supper and were resting before we continued on our journey Legolas asked me if I wanted to take a walk with him. I noticed that he was acting strangely. His face had gone pale and he kept fidgeting nervously.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Idril you know that I love you don't you?"

"Yes."

"When you were kidnapped I thought that I would never see you again and the thought of that was to dreadful to bear. But it did make me think. It made me think about some issues that we have conveniently avoided talking about but I realize now that we must."

"Like what?" I said nervously.

"I am an immortal you are a human. The odds are stacked against us enough as it is without us being deep in to a war."

"I know this already! Do you think that the situation is ideal for me either? I have to deal with the fact that I am going to die, possibly much sooner than either of us anticipates! Even if I don't die sooner rather than later and we do win the war and we go away together I know that I am going to die in what will seem like no time to you! You will forget that I ever existed once enough time has passed!"

I finished off shouting. I did not mean to but when you have bottled up fears, resentments and worries for so long that when they do eventually come out they explode.

He stared at me in shock. "I would never, I could never forget you or stop loving you. I can't believe you would think that of me!"

Something inside of me had snapped and now it was impossible to stop. I took a deep breath. "Fine let me point out another problem. You are still betrothed. If we do survive this what are you going to do about that?"

He stopped walking. From the look on his face I could tell that he was angry. "It's complicated." he said. I had not expected that answer.

"What do you mean it's complicated?"

"I have to tell my father. He can be a little........irrational at times and I don't know how he will react to me falling in love with a human!"

"Well why does that matter? If we love each other then--"

He groaned. "It does matter and a great deal. After the war, that is if we win of course, then I told my father I would leave with him and all my people to the western lands. I don't know what to do and it's all that I can think about! I love you so much but I love my family too."

My first reaction was anger, I wanted him to know that he should stay with me! I had another thought though. If my people were to take me back and if my family and friends were leaving and I may never see them again would I be able to make that choice? I was only involved in this because of circumstances and other people's decisions. It would not be fair to make the decision for him.

"Legolas I will not push you. We should make the most of our time together and not spend it like this." I said softly. I looked up at him and saw the pain on his face.

"Why don't we leave this war now then?"

"What? We can't just leave!"

"We could. We have suffered enough. I don't know if we will have more then a few days left together, why shouldn't I want to have as much time with you as I possibly can?"

I stood perfectly still and thought about what it was he was suggesting, I thought about my ordeal in Isenguard, I thought about how much I loved him.

"We should leave." I said finally.

He swept me up in an embrace and twirled me around.

"Let us leave now!" he said excitedly.

We made our way back to where the army was camping to collect our belongings but instead of seeing what we had left, a resting and almost peaceful campsite, we had come back to excited chatter and worried faces.

As soon as the men saw me shouts rang out. "She's back! Aragorn, Gandalf she's back!"

Aragorn made his way quickly through the crowd.

"What's happening?" I asked.

He grabbed me by the hand and started leading me through the crowd. "Idril it is your brother! He arrived ten minutes ago on a horse. He is badly wounded and will not tell us what happened to him! He said he wanted to tell you first!"

My heart jumped up in to my throat when I heard him speak those words. The crowd of men parted to let us through. I could not believe what I saw. His body was covered in blood and his face was bruised and swollen. I dropped down on to my knees next to him. He looked up at me and attempted a smile but ended up wincing in pain. "Idril." he said in a gravelly voice. I could not speak. I had never seen him like that before; I couldn't remember him ever even having a grazed knee as a child!

He seemed to want to say something else. His mouth kept opening then snapping shut again. "I-" He started to try and speak but I think the pain must have been too immense. His eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out.