Disclaimer: I don't own LotR. I wish I did, but unfortunatly for me, I don't...................Gah.

I own Saali, Theomir, Elondrir, and Aelon, but only because I made em up :p

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And I know this chapter has taken me AGES, but I kinda lost interest because I just couldn't think what to write next for it. But I made this chapter slightly longer than the rest in an attempt to make up for it,

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Two days later, Aragorn dismounted his horse as the group approached the halls of the Elven King, and, another Elf dropped to gather his mount's rein. He approached the horse that Theomir was sitting on, while taking all of Legolas' weight, and holding the younger elf upright with one arm. There was no doubt that the youngest Elf needed rest, and he helped Theomir get him off the horse. Legolas staggered, all of his Elvish grace disappearing from him, and the Human carefully steadied him, pulling one of his arms around his shoulder, helping him stay upright as Theomir dismounted also, and secured the other arm. Elondrir edged his horse through the group, and stopped momentarily at his brothers and Aragorn.

"I will send for help, as Legolas is too tired, even with your help. I will tell Ada he is home as well ," he said, nodding, and his horse sprung forward gracefully, after being given almost invisible commands. It was only minutes after he had been gone, several elves came out with a stretcher for Legolas to lie on. Both Theomir and Aragorn frowned as the youngest Prince barely put up a fight at being helpless so helpless, as a blanket was drawn up to his neck, covering the worst of his injuries from sight, and then he was taken up inside the palace to be tended to. Aragorn turned to Theomir, not bothering to hide the mixture of relief and concern from his face.

"I will go and collect Aelon," he said, "She must be terribly worried about him,"

"Of course," he nodded, the other elf replied, "I will go with Legolas."

With that, Aragorn turned and the pair went their separate ways, Theomir following the Elves who were taking his brother away. The King of men sighed, and ruffled his hair a little, before going to search out Aelon.

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Legolas looked to the side as he heard small footsteps into the room, his normally sharp blue eyes glazed over, to see Aelon. She was every bit as worried as Theomir had told him. She was as pale as a ghost, and looked visibly relieved to see he was alive. He watched numbly as his brother pulled a chair for her, which she collapsed in, and he felt her take his bloodied hand in both of her smaller ones, caressing it gently. She didn't even seem to flinch at his now exposed injuries, but focussed herself on his face.

"I think we will leave you two alone with the healers," he heard his brother say, and then both he and Aragorn disappeared from the room He smiled weakly at his wife, closing his eyes briefly in pain as he felt the healer cut the bandages from his side, probing the wound a little..

"Are you okay?," Aelon asked softly, leaning over and unfastening one of his braids that had half come undone, smoothing the crinkled hair out afterwards. He moved his head to the other side at her will, and she carefully picked that one out as well.

"You're a mess," she kissed his forehead gently before sitting back in her chair, a hand resting against his cheek. He flinched at the pain in his side as the healer drew a cloth with a stinging liquid over the wound, but composed himself as a mixture of herbs were pushed inside, even though it hurt. It would not do for Aelon to see him in pain, she was already worried enough as it was, he didn't need to make her worse.

"Im okay," he said softly, "Nothing a few days rest will not cure," she was not convinced, however, but she moved aside to let the healer treat his shoulder, nonetheless. This time it hurt as the elf cleaned the arrow wound, and pained him even more when she stuffed it with the same herbs that had been forced into his side, and he fought not to cry out in pain. The rest of his minor cuts were checked and cleaned thoroughly, and then re-bound. He felt Aelon help him sit up, and the healer bound lengths of bandages around both his waist and his shoulder, tucking them deftly so they didn't loosen and unravel when he slept. He was only vaguely aware as a soft silver shirt was slid over his head, and brought carefully down to cover his injured torso. Then he was laid back down, and the healer handed him a glass flask of liquid.

"Drink this," he said in a deep, but friendly voice, "It will ease the pain," he smiled, "You just need to get some rest and you will be fine again," he finished, and collected up his things. As Legolas downed the contents of the bottle, the Healer left the room, leaving the couple on their own. Aelon took the empty bottle from his hands as he lay down, and set it on a table as he shifted uncomfortably, trying to find somewhere to lie. He looked up, and seeing Aelon's sad face, he patted the bed beside him, on his good side, gently.

"Come here," he said gently, motioning her to lie down at his side, and she quietly did so, curling up at his side, her head resting against his good shoulder. He protectively wrapped an arm around her body, and she smiled a little.

"I was so worried about you," she murmured, toying absently with the long blonde hair that lay over his shoulder. Unbeknownst to him, she had un-braided the plait at the back of his head while the healer had replaced his shirt and bandages, but he merely tightened his slightly sore arm around her, and uncomfortably shifted to kiss her forehead.

"I shouldn't have gone, im sorry," he apologized, lying back down again, feeling her move against his neck.

"It's okay," she whispered, "Theomir said if you had not gone to head them off, they would have been too close," her eyelids drooped, and she sighed in content.

"The Uruik-Hai are getting smarter," he laughed softly, "They climbed up a tree after me, and pulled me down," he paused, "We may yet have to watch them more closely."

"It's a miracle you weren't killed," she frowned, "You're never this badly injured when you come back from fights," she clung to him, burying her face in his neck. He stroked her back soothingly, even though it pained him to move his arm more than a little at a time. But at this time he didn't care, Aelon was considerably upset, and he knew it was his fault.

"How's Saali?" He asked, changing the subject.

"She is terribly upset," the female elf looked up at him, her very pale blue eyes filled with sadness, "She kept asking me if you were going to die," she whispered, a tear streaking down her pale cheek. Moving his other arm, with great difficulty due to the arrow wound in his shoulder, he carefully wiped the tear from her face with his thumb, and she closed her eyes briefly at his touch, not moving.

"It's okay now," he said "Im home ," He felt her slide an arm around his neck, avoiding his injured shoulder, and gently clasping some of his hair in her hand.

"I know," she said sleepily, "I just find it so un-nerving to see you in so much pain. You have never had more than a small cut and a few bruises, ever, and you are a good warrior- one of the best."

"There were many more Uruik-Hai than there were of me," he chuckled softly, "I was trying to hide, and they caught me. Fortunately, I provided a small distraction for them," he smiled.

"And they nearly killed you," she interjected.

"Better than having them get back here, and kill you," he said, closing his eyes, "I do not know what I would do if you were not here," he opened his eyes again, and looked over his wife.

"You look tired," he said gently, "maybe you should get some rest,"

"That sounds like a good idea," she murmured, and settled down. She had not slept well since her husband had left to ward the Orcs away from the halls, and that had been a few nights ago. Now she was completely exhausted, and as she began to relax, she slowly drifted away into what humans called 'sleep'.

Legolas smiled as he heard Aelon drift off, and contemplated a few thoughts. He was happy to be home, and for once, safe, in a relatively non-exciting environment. He knew his father and brothers would have laughed if they had heard him even think that, as they knew that although he was dutiful, if he had nothing exciting to do, he got bored quickly, in his free time. It was then that Thranduil himself appeared in the doorway, carefully making his way into the room, smiling in relief as he saw his youngest son, a little more tired, and a little more injured than he would have liked, but nonetheless safe and sound, once again. The King made his way over to Legolas, and smiled warmly when he saw Aelon tucked in the younger elf's arms. He looked over the intricately carved balconies, into the coolness of the coming night, and sighed.

"I see you are looking better than when I watched them bring you in earlier today," he commented, and Legolas' eyes widened slightly, he also felt Aelon stir slightly at his side, but she settled again, and did not wake.

"You saw?" he asked, slightly in awe, but also in disappointment.

"I did indeed, but it was a good cause. I am merely here to make sure you are alright," he said, not bothering to attempt to hide a look of concern on his face, "You did not look entirely well when you returned with your brothers. Elondrir was most distressed at the treatment you received from the Uruik-Hai, he said that Theomir was more so,"

"I am alright now Ada," Legolas said, smiling sleepily, "Estel did not give them any sympathy,"

"And for that I am thankful," Thranduil replied, looking at his son, "You are weary, I will leave you to sleep," He walked back to the doorway.

"Goodnight Legolas," he said quietly.

"Goodnight Ada," Legolas replied sleepily. He suddenly felt very tired, barely able to keep himself from retreating into a slumber. He sighed happily, and listened to Aelon's short, soft breathing, that he, as an elf could hear with his sharp hearing.

"I love you Aelon," he murmured softly, before he too retreated to his rest.

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The next morning, Theomir, carrying Saali, went to Aelon's rooms, searching out the female elf, the elfling on his shoulder squirming slightly. When he got there, he gingerly pushed the door open that led him into their main room, that had a balcony, giving them a beautiful view over the forest, and looked around the room. His sharp eyes could not see her anywhere, and although he could not hear her sleeping in the next room, he decided he would check in the sleeping chamber. He let Saali down, who ran to the room where she took residence, a smile crossing his face as she returned with an arrow, that was a little off what the elves would normally make, but nonetheless perfectly crafted, trimmed, and there was a small carving in the shaft. The little girl handed it to her uncle, who looked it over with immense interest.

"Where did you get this?" he asked her, looking at her curiously.

"I made it," she replied in a shy voice, "It's for Ada," she continued.

"You made this all by yourself?" he asked her, slightly in awe, yet he expected nothing less from his brothers daughter. He knew Legolas had taught her to shoot and craft her own weapons since she had been old enough to hold a knife. This was by far her best work though. He saw the proud look that was growing on her face, and smiled.

"It was a present," she explained, "I was going to give it to him now,"

"Then I think maybe we should visit him, after breakfast. I would say he is still asleep with your mother," he said, handing her the arrow, which she put back in her room. He waited for her, and then picked her up again, sitting her on his shoulder. She giggled slightly as the pair departed from the room, and off to the breakfast hall. Theomir could not help but notice that the young girl seemed a lot happier now, and he himself felt relieved also. He had not seen the Elfling in distress as Aragorn had told him after he had spoken to Aelon, but he could imagine she would have been most upset, as he knew how attached she was to her father. Sighing happily, he allowed himself to relax. Everything was already getting back to normal. He grinned as he saw many Elves, including his own father seated at the breakfast table, and headed towards the King.

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When Aelon woke the next morning, the sun was already well up in the sky, and she looked up to her husband, who was sleeping soundly, his breathing slowed considerably due to him sleeping but nonetheless still there. She smiled, and lay back down against him, sighing into his neck. She had been so incredibly worried for his safety, and now he was back all she wanted to do was make sure that he never went away from her again. Yet she knew this was not easily possible. She was sure her father in law would grant Legolas some time to rest, and they could spend some time together, and this made her feel slightly happier.

He stirred slightly beneath her, and slowly readjusted to his surroundings, and the pain he was in, smiling down at her when he realised where he was, and who was tucked against his side. He ran a hand through her soft hair, and hugged her tighter. Aelon stirred slightly, trying to get up, but his voice stopped her.

"It is okay," he said softly, "You are not hurting me, stay there, please?" he asked, and she stopped moving, lying back against him, feeling instantly comfortable once more.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked softly, as she could hear his breathing was shallow, and sounded painful due to the fact that several of his ribs were broken. But it did not seem to bother him a lot, or as much as it should have.

"I am fine, you don't need to move," he smiled, "You are light enough," he looked up as he heard footsteps, and saw his brother and daughter, and Theomir moved lightly across the floor, taking a seat in the chair Aelon had used the night before, seating Saali on his knee gently, but she crawled onto the bed, next to her father.

"I see you are okay now," Theomir said, smiling slightly at the couple.

Legolas, however, was concentrating on his daughter, who was gently tracing a painful looking bruise on his face with one of her small fingers. Theomir watched her intently, and heard her whisper, almost inaudibly to even the three adults.

"They hurt you," she said softly, and slightly scared, and then she crawled back to Theomir.

"Do you still have it?" she asked, looking up at him with big puppy dog eyes, making him grin broadly at her.

"Of course I do, little one," he said, and took a small cloth wrapped item from his tunic, and passed it to her. She quickly unwrapped it, and tucked the material away as she crawled back to the bed with the arrow she had made earlier. She sat down next to Legolas, and, with Aelon's help, he shifted, so he was sitting up.

"I made this for you," she said, shyly, "It's a present," She handed him the intricately designed arrow, and he took it from her, looking over it closely, a look of awe slowly creeping onto his face as he saw how well it had been made. While it was not perfect as the ones that were in his own quiver, the girl had obviously put many hours into making it as perfect as her skill enabled her to, and by the look of it, she had spent a lot of time on it.

"You made this all by your self?" he asked softly, and she nodded meekly, "This is perfect," he said, and put the arrow aside to pull her into a careful hug.

"I love you," he murmured to her, and she hugged him tightly, while being careful of his injuries.

"I love you too Ada," she said, burying her head against his good shoulder, and Legolas carefully picked her up, letting her sit on his stomach, just above the arrow wound on his side, lying back a little, so he was sitting, propped up with a few pillows once again.

"How would you like to come with me to test it out when I am allowed to get up?" he asked gently, and the young elf nodded enthusiastically. Aelon smiled up at him, and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear that had fallen in his face.

"We need to get you cleaned up," she said softly, "And I will plait your hair up again, it is falling in your face,"

"Of course," he smiled to her, aware that Theomir was amused with this, "Maybe you could also do something with Theomir, his hair always looks messy when I see him," The older elf wiped the amused look from his face, and Legolas smiled innocently at him.

"Only because whenever you see me, I am getting you out of some element of trouble," he smiled,

and Aelon laughed, looking at her husband.

"I would have to say, that unfortunately, Theomir would have to be right," she looked to his brother, "but at the moment, I think that he could fetch us some breakfast," she raised an eyebrow, and Theomir laughed.

"Alright, I get the point, you would like to be left alone," he grinned, "I will get your breakfast," he got up, and left the room, leaving the three alone together.

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Woot. Finished. Hopefully everyone liked that, as I said, I wasn't sure how to write this chapter, but yeah, LOL, R/R much appreciated.

~RTT