20th Chapter posted same time as the 19th. Valar, we're still Legolas! (though I believe Elwyn's pov is actually next).

Legolas

I woke what I could only assume was hours later. The effects of the poison and the medicine combined in a strange way had made me lose all sense of time. But a shaft of sunlight stretching across the tent's interior indicated that it was probably mid-morning. There was no one inside with me.

I glanced all over, taking in my surroundings, then, with much effort, sat up. A sharp pain shot up my side and I winced, doing my best to ignore it.

My tunic lay folded on a low table to my left and I noticed a large bandage wrapped around my stomach. Envinyata had tended the wound.

I had just made up my mind to stand-if I could-and look around outside when the tent flap was pulled back and Elwyn ducked inside. She halted upon spotting me, no doubt surprised to see me awake.

"You're up," she observed, setting down the supplies she carried nearby. "You should not be."

"I'm fine," I reassured her, trying not to flinch again as my position strained the stitches in my side.

"You're not fine," she insisted, crossing the short distance to where I sat.

"Where were you?" I asked as she sat beside me and attempted to force me to lie back down.

"There are others injured who stayed behind," she elucidated. "Envinyata needed help. I was the only one with any Elven training, despite how minimal."

"Elwyn," I grabbed her hands before she could push me again. "I'm fine," I repeated. "I have had worse injuries."

She stared at me for a moment, as if trying to decide whether or not to believe me, then leaned over and snaked her arms around my neck, sliding closer to me. My own arms encircled her waist, and I drew her closer still, inhaling her scent. "I'm just not accustomed to considering someone else's opinion about my well-being," I whispered. She pulled back to gaze at me again and her lips brushed against my jaw line, causing me to shiver.

When I could no longer resist, I leaned forward, closing the small gap left between us and captured her lips with my own, eagerly.

"Ávan mel lle," (I love you) she whispered against my mouth.

"Melamin," (My love) I groaned, pulling her into another heated kiss, the sudden realization that she was sitting in my lap and that I was only half-clothed going straight to my head. Or rather, anywhere but.

"Ávan sanannen ávan hecil lle," (I thought I lost you) she admitted and I felt a tear on my cheek that I knew was not mine.

"I'm here," I said, forcing myself to pull back before I got too carried away and was unable to stop myself from taking her right there. To bed her when I had already declared my love for her would mean to bind myself to her by Elvish ways and I knew that she was aware of this.

I stared at her, brushing her dark hair out of her face and behind her ear.

Her round ear.

My brow must have furrowed at this, for hers did as well as she watched me.

"What's wrong?" she inquired, placing another soft kiss on my lips.

I did not respond. The thought of losing her had never really been something I constantly thought about. I had never allowed myself to. But it was moments like this that I was reminded of her mortality, and my own sense of it, should I choose to love her. I very much doubted I would survive her death, and now was not the time to worry her with such things. Yet I knew it had to be discussed at some point. Seriously. I could not ignore what Aragorn had asked of me. Or rather commanded of me.

"For both of your sakes…stay away from her."

"Legolas?" her voice broke into my thoughts again, obvious concern lacing her tone. "Man ná ta? Narl mára?" (What is it? Are you alright?)

"There is something that does weigh heavy on my thoughts, melamin," (my love) I revealed, leaning forward to kiss her neck. "My father is preparing to sail," I told her and I felt her stiffen in my arms. There were several moments of silence.

"You will go with him?" she asked, hesitantly.

"He wishes me to," I replied truthfully. "But…here, with you…" I paused. "I will stay if you ask it of me."

She lifted her eyes to mine again and shook her head. "No, Legolas. Please do not make this decision mine."

"It is ultimately yours to make," I said.

"I cannot," she insisted. "It is yours. I will not keep you here while your family travels West without you, only to die. If you leave such a choice to me, I must warn you, I will choose that you go."

"Elwyn," I rested my forehead against hers. "Please, stop considering all the reasons I should go, all the reasons we should not be together, and consider that it is only being with you that will make me happy." I could see unshed tears glistening behind her eyes. "If you wish to spare me agony, then do not push me away. I could not bear it."

A lone silver tear trailed down her cheek and I deftly brushed it away with my thumb. "You would never see your family again," she persisted. "Your brothers, your father-"

"Elwyn," I moved my thumb from her cheek to her lips, cutting her off. "Do you want me to stay?" I asked bluntly.

She slid off my lap and stood, averting her gaze. "What I want is not the matter at hand."

I sighed, growing exasperated and rose to my feet as well crossing the ground to where she stood with her arms crossed over her chest. I placed my hands on her shoulders, then thought better of it and moved them up to cup her face in my hands, forcing her to look me in the eye. "I love you," I told her in her own language, allowing my tone to show how much conviction I had regarding the statement. "Sending me away will not change that. Nothing will." I paused, waiting for a reaction. "You cannot save me now."

"Legolas…" she sighed weakly in protest. Her hand drifted up to gently fondle a strand of my flaxen hair before she tugged me down to her level and brought her lips back to mine. She caught me off guard and I nearly fell to my knees in front of her at the intensity of the emotions that flooded through me. My hands fell from her face to her waist and just when I could feel the threshold of my control approaching, she flattened her palms against my chest, gently shoving me backwards. "Wait," she insisted.

"Man na ta?" (What is it?) I asked, bringing my hand up to stroke her cheek once more.

"You must make me another promise, melamin," (my love-you don't realize how many times they use this phrase till you sift through the post translating) she informed me. "Promise me that if you have the opportunity to sail to Valinor you will seize it."

"Elwyn-"

"Promise me," she said, this time more desperate.

"I won't." I shook my head. "I cannot promise that."

"Saes Legolas," (Please) she pleaded. "I…" She visibly hesitated. "There are things you do not understand."

I stared at her for a moment, but she avoided my eyes. "And what would those things be?" I inquired softly. When she did not respond I hooked a finger under her chin and raised it. "Is there something you are not telling me?"

She had just opened her mouth to answer me when I saw her eyes shift to the entrance to the tent behind me. I realized Aragorn had slipped inside and I suddenly found myself wishing I had thought to put on my tunic before Elwyn had entered in the first place.

He cleared his throat uncomfortably, glancing back and forth between the two of us. "I came to see how you were fairing," he announced, the comment directed at me.

"Better," I assured him.

"Well enough to ride?" he questioned, still monitoring my proximity to his daughter closely. "We're planning to head back to Minas Tirith at first light tomorrow."

I nodded and sending one last warning glance at Elwyn, he ducked back outside. I turned back to her, but only long enough to reach around her and snatch my shirt off the table that she was half blocking. "We'll discuss this later," I told her, following Aragorn.

* * * * *

We're actually getting close to finding out what she's not telling him guys and getting close to the point where my posts are caught up with how much I have written ahead of time!