And they're off…

Legolas

Aragorn kept glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. Anytime I would look over at him to inquire about it he would face forward again.

"Man ná ta?" (What is it?) I finally asked.

"Well, it's just..." he began, turning his gaze to me again, "this is hardly the first battle we have ridden into together, and you…you seem…well, more nervous than usual." He studied me appraisingly. "Is something wrong?"

I sighed. I could not tell him the reason I was so tense, now was hardly the time to speak with him about myself and Elwyn. The truth was I was terrified of breaking my promise to her; of never kissing her or feeling her in my arms again. Why did I have to make her such a promise when there was no guarantee I could keep it?

"Legolas?" he prompted.

I knew I couldn't lie to him. We had all seen him in the same state when he was forced to leave Arwen behind during the War of the Ring. I only now realized how difficult it must have been for him. I thought that before I had understood, even when I had returned her Evenstar pendant to him after his return to Helm's Deep and I had seen the pained look on his face that he tried to mask. Though being mortal, he only did so good a job of it.

But now, faced with the well near excruciating pain of leaving Elwyn, I could finally comprehend that separation of this kind was so much more intense, went far beyond simply longing. It was a constant ache in the pit of my stomach, ever present in these past two days. It was literally as though half of me was missing, a half I could do without for the time being, but that would eventually be my end if that time were prolonged.

And Aragorn was still without Arwen-had been for decades. I shuddered at the thought of being apart from Elwyn for that long.

"Ta ná úengwe," (It's nothing) I assured him. "At least nothing I wish to share with you at the moment."

"Well if it plagues you so-"

"I'm fine, Aragorn," I said, this time more forcefully, and even if he did not believe me, which I was sure he did not, he seemed to get the implication that it was not an issue he should press. Rather he appeared taken aback by my harshness and I knew if anyone else had spoken to him that way, aside from Éowyn or possibly his daughter, they would probably be facing a rather harsh sanction. "Now is not the time to be focusing on such things," I elucidated. I pointedly nodded in the direction we were heading-west toward the Mountains of Shadow. With any luck, we would not have to travel any closer to the remains of Mordor than their boundaries. I knew the Orcs would meet us before we even reached the foothills.

"May I ask you something?" Aragorn ventured, ignoring the fact that I obviously wanted to focus on the upcoming battle rather than personal matters. He did not wait for a response. "I've been meaning to speak with you," he began. For the first time in a long time, he seemed uncomfortable, as if he were not in charge, "about Elwyn."

I stiffened at the mention of her name. "What about Elwyn?" I asked vaguely, feigning disinterest.

"She seems comfortable around you," he explained. I nodded, praying to the Valar that this wasn't going where I thought it was. "And she has been distant toward Éowyn and I as of late. I was wondering if perhaps she has mentioned why to you. I know you were speaking with her at the banquet."

I shifted in my saddle remembering the events of that evening and Arod neighed at me, annoyed. "She has said nothing to me." Except to stay away from her. Then her more recent words echoed in my mind. Ávan mel lle. Women never ceased to confound me.

"Anwave?" (Truly?) he asked, rather surprised. He sighed, frustrated with the lack of information and turned to look forward again. "There is something she is not telling me. Something she is hiding."

"She has spent much of her life in the north," I reminded him. "It will be some time before she is once again accustomed to your presence."

He gazed steadily at me and suddenly he was in charge again. A King and a father. "She seems accustomed to yours," he said, his voice going softer and I knew this tone as Aragorn at his deadliest.

I stared back at him, surprised that I could remain stoic. I had just opened my mouth to reply when Éomer rode up beside us, stealing Aragorn's attention with some matter about how many more days the journey would last. I was grateful for the distraction. I had had no answer prepared for his last statement, nothing but the truth that is. And I had no desire to distract him from our duties with something that could and should be dealt with upon our return.

I would wait.

* * * * *

Boy, Legolas just keeps getting all the chapters. Don't know why it came out this way when I wrote it guys, it just did. Elwyn will have more, just not for a little while.