After some while, the hope and comfort afforded by Eärendil's light, combined with the peace of Ithilien and the sweetly fragrant night air of spring, found Lómëmir falling into elven dreams. Legolas himself was nearly lulled to dreaming by the same qualities when he heard a slight sound in the trees to his right coming from the direction of the camp. He was relieved to see only Aragorn emerge.

"Finally i find you. How does she fare?"

Legolas glanced at the sleeping Lómëmir. "She has found dreams, pleasant ones it appears. Come rest, Estel. You look weary."

Aragorn sat with a sigh beside his elven companion. "I am weary, Legolas. Sam and Frodo are doing fine, that is at least one concern i am free of, but i have tended so many men this day. Not all of them are doing fine and i do not expect that i really have the power to heal each of them."

"You should have called for me, Estel. I would assist you in your task."

"I know you would, mellon-nin. You, too, need your rest though." At the look in Legolas's eye Aragorn pre-empted him. "No, you do. Even elves must rest at times. You can not mislead me, you forget i grew up in Imladris!"

Legolas merely grinned at the ranger.

"And besides, Lómëmir is your charge, she needs your care."

"She is a very self-reliant lady, Aragorn. What she needs is friendship."

"Then she had fortune in being found by us. There is no shortness of friendship among us."

"Among us, no. However, with the companies of Rohan...."

"Legolas, men of Rohan know little of elves. What they know little of they fear. What they fear, they fight."

"What is their excuse, then, for not learning?" Legolas said pointedly and rather defensively.

Aragorn sighed. "I do not know, mellon-nin. I can not know. I only do know that i am glad to have had their aid."

In a moment or two Legolas smiled again and decided to change the subject. He hated so to disturb the atmosphere of serenity in Ithilien with talk of Rohan.

"Eärendil shines again this night. Ételë ortanë tára arda," spoke the elf in the rarely-employed tongue of Quenya.

Aragorn laughed shortly. "Hope... hope indeed. I wonder how long hope can postpone a coronation."

Legolas grinned knowingly and put an arm around his friend's weary shoulders. "Thought of the coronation returns the concern that the halfling's wakening had removed."

"If i take that crown then i am admitting that i am Isildur's heir. It is his fault that we have all suffered so much."

"Aragorn, you have already done everything to correct the wrong done by Isildur. The Ring is destroyed, thanks to your courage and loyalty and keen, nigh-elven wits. Lest you forget, you have already claimed your inheritance at Erech. Think instead on the good that has come from our quest together."

Aragorn's gaze drifted to Lómëmir as he attempted to read his companion's often mysterious elven mind. This time, though, there was not as much mystery. Legolas's eyes shone in the night more than usual.

Suddenly the shine left Legolas's eyes and he sat straight, focusing in on a sound that Aragorn was not aware of. The ranger became very alert also and moved his hand toward his sword. Legolas shook his head though, signaling him to hold.

"What do you hear?" Aragorn asked barely above a whisper.

"They have followed us."

Aragorn looked acutely at Legolas, trying to read him and figure out just who had followed whom.

"Fear not, they are not after you, mellon-nin. Only Lómëmir and i are subject to the call."

"You speak of the call of the sea."

Legolas simply nodded.

"But who is come? Surely you do not mean it is gulls you hear? Ithilien is much too far from -"

"It is gulls i hear. I would know their song from all others. They are not yet far passed Emyn Arnen, but i hear them well. They are calling directly to me."

Aragorn still looked worried for his friend. "Legolas... night has not lifted. Surely they do not sing as the nightingale?"

"They do not, not to any but those who Ulmo is most determined to reach."

"Well Vala or no, Ulmo had best stop calling you until your work is finished. I heard some talk of a possible elven establishment here in Ithilien, did i not?"

Legolas smirked slightly. "Only talk, ranger. There are very few left to settle here."

"More than you give credit for, though. And since this is my realm, i would greatly love to see elves in this land. As a matter of fact, i think my first order of business, after the obviously inevitable coronation, will be to send an edict to Thranduil insisting that he send a host from his kingdom to colonize here."

Legolas's laughter filled the night. "I thought you wished not to admit to your inheritance? Furthermore, unless you wish to bring another war onto yourself, one that i would certainly and entirely abstain from, you had best clear all thoughts of edicts of any nature to my lord."

At the sound of silvan laughter, Lómëmir's eyes elucidified of the mist of elven dreams and she awoke again.

Ételë ortanë tára arda - Hope has risen on high for the world.