Nearly three thousand years he'd walked Middle Earth and never once had he felt love. He'd felt every other emotion, most more than once. However, love had never touched the heart of the Elven prince of Mirkwood. That was, until after the Battle of Helm's Deep.

The sun had risen. The people of Rohan were victorious with the help of Gandalf and the Rorrihim. However, there was one who couldn't find it in her heart to celebrate. Iasyn was distraught over the loss of her father. Legolas had been sitting on his horse looking up at what was left of the outer wall. Near the main tower, he caught a glimpse of Iasyn. She turned her head to look down at him. Somehow, streaked in dirt and blood, tears rolling down her face and her soft red hair clumped in dredlocks, she was beautiful. He felt something in his chest lurch. He almost toppled off his horse. In an instant, she had looked away. Perhaps it was her pain. Legolas knew pain had the power to transform people. It was that morning, he understood what love was. He accompanied her to Lothlorien to bury her father, but could not convince her to leave. Galadriel had told him off shortly before he left to return to Edoras.

"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.

As Legolas stood out on the Hall's main steps, he knew Galadriel had been right. Iasyn had come back and she'd come back all the happier. Now she was off with Aragorn, storming Isengard. Aragorn...Aragorn...

Again, something lurched in his chest. They were off alone. No, that was wrong. Aragorn wouldn't betray Arwen. He wasn't that kind of man. But still, Legolas couldn't help but feel jealous. He was too late to successfully catch up with them. That left the agonizing task of waiting.

Yes, love was an odd feeling.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Legolas leaned down to kiss her. At the last second, she turned her head. He rested his cheek against hers.

"What troubles you?" he whispered.

"You know I can't do this," she said.

"I'm not asking you do anything," he said. He ran his fingers through her hair. "Iasyn…"

"There is still too much pain in my heart. Love needs room and there is not enough," she replied.

"Love needs but a pin prick. Once it gets into your heart, it will weave its way quietly until there is room for nothing but love," he told her.

"Then love must be quick, for my heart is ever mindful of intrusion," she said. Legolas felt a tear hit his hand. Tears rolled down her face. He hugged her close to his chest.

"You do not need to cry. You will find only friends here," he said. Iasyn let her cheek rest against the velvet fabric of his tunic.

"I am torn. I know not what to feel," she sniffed.

"Feel these arms protecting you and know they are always at your disposal," he kissed the top of her head and rested his face there.

"Stay with me," she pleaded.

"Always," he said.

Aragorn watched from the doorway. He had known it all along. Legolas had fallen deep into love with Iasyn. It appeared she was falling in love with him. This was not a surprise. Iasyn was that kind of woman. Few men could look upon her without feeling something. Gandalf had once said that she had pixie in her. Akin to fairies and elves, pixies had the uncanny ability to attract men, especially human men. It was extremely rare to see a human woman with pixielike qualities. Aragorn himself had to admit he'd felt something, and still felt something, when he was around her. It was almost as if he would forsake everything to have her. Obviously, he wasn't the only one. He touched the pendant around his neck and thought of Arwen. It was the only thing keeping him from moving forward and separating them.

As she rested in Legolas's arms, Iasyn could feel Aragorn's frustration. It was almost overwhelming.

Legolas said something in elvish and it was the last thing she heard before she slipped into darkness.