"Wake up," a voice whispered in Iasyn's ear. She rolled over and looked up at Armeyn.
"What?" she grunted.
"I cannot sleep," she said.
"So you can't allow me to sleep as well? Valar, Armeyn," she snapped. Armeyn winced as if her sister had slapped her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to come out like that," she said.
"I still feel him here. I don't believe he's gone," Armeyn said softly. Iasyn pushed herself up on her elbows.
"As long as we are alive, he will be here. He's in both of us," she replied. "We are blood of his blood."
"But what are we to do without him? We have no direction, no idea of what to do," For the first time, Iasyn heard real anxiety in her younger sister's voice. Armeyn never worried about anything. She always just let things pass.
"We shall stay here. It is our home," Iasyn said.
"Legolas talks of taking you back to Rohan. I heard him talking to Galadriel as I was trying to get to sleep. I think he means to marry you," she said.
"That's silly. His task is far greater than occupying himself with me. He's got a world to help save," she said.
"I can't deny what I heard. He never said anything about me, only you," she prodded. Iasyn looked unconvinced.
"Marriage is the furthest thing from my mind right now. We have our lives to rebuild. An incomplete life is not one ready for marriage. Aside from that, I don't even love him," she said.
"Well, if he asks to take you back, don't be surprised," Armeyn said, seeing she was losing.
"He will be disappointed," Iasyn lay back down and closed her eyes. She wasn't interested in talking anymore. Armeyn crawled back over to her bed and did the same. She looked over the edge of their canopy and saw Legolas reclining by Galadriel's fountain, staring at the silver blue water. He was thinking about something, but what she couldn't tell. She decided not to invade his thoughts and she curled up in a vain attempt to sleep.
The next morning, Legolas tried to convince Iasyn to return with him to Rohan.
"We could use your help. You've proven to be skilled warrior and a wise leader," he said. She shook her head.
"My home is here. I learned at Helm's Deep that I am not made for war. Thank you for the compliments, but it just is not me. Armeyn needs me now. I am all she has left. I cannot just run off to Rohan leaving her alone. Maybe someday I will come and find you, but not today," she replied. Legolas's expression didn't change. Instead, he genuflected before her and took her hand.
"If that is your decision my lady, I will not try and sway you," Iasyn took back her hand, disturbed by what she felt when he touched her. He got up and looked into her amber eyes.
"Someday I hope you will find us again," he said.
"Trust a hope," she said softly. With that, she walked back up to her tree where Armeyn was still asleep. Galadriel came up behind Legolas as he went to find a horse. One of the guard horses stood, ready for a rider. It was then Galadriel spoke up.
"You cannot hurry mourning. She will come around in her own good time," she said.
"She clings too closely to death. She needs to be with her friends," he said.
"You cannot force her to leave. Iasyn Haldiryn will stay here as long as she needs to. I won't allow you to whisk her off," Galadriel said firmly.
"As you wish," he gave a stiff bow and promptly left. Iasyn gave her a grateful smile from up in her canopy. She watched the horse and rider disappear out of Lothlorien, back toward Rohan. For a brief moment, she wondered what would happen to him. Then she pushed him from her thoughts and went to pay her father homage on more time.