There is quite a bit of Elvish in this story. It is a mixture of Sindarin and Grey Company. All of it should be italicized and the translations are in parenthesis just after the Elvish words. Phrases used frequently will only be translated once or twice.
Morithawen lay back on the couch and reveled in the sunlight filtering through the soft, sheer curtains of her room. The healer left silently, leaving her alone with her thoughts for the first time in many hours. They swiftly went back to the meeting with Celeborn and Galadriel. She didn't know if it had gone well or not. Galadriel had been blunt in her assessment of the situation and she was right. The Fellowship stood on the edge of a knife, and its fate rested in the ability of the members to remain true to one another. She sighed softly and reached up to touch the gauzy scarf that held the bandage to her head. Trust the Galadhrim to find a way to make even bandages look beautiful.
"So, you've been ordered to rest."
Morithawen looked up and saw her betrothed. He had removed his jerkin and weapons, standing before her in his silver undershirt and leggings. His feet were bare and he had taken the braids from his hair. It fell about his shoulders like moonlit golden silk. She held out her hand to him and he came, settling on floor and laying his head on the couch. Their faces were close enough that she could feel his breath on her cheek.
"I do not wish for rest. With rest comes time for thought and reflection," she said softly, reaching out to bury one hand in his long hair, letting it slip through her fingers like a fall of gentle water.
"But with rest also comes swift healing. You are grieving for Gandalf, so it will be hindered enough, melamin," he said quietly. They had both heard and lifted their voices to join the lament that had been sung throughout the wood for the Istari. This gentle reminder brought tears to her eyes and she sighed.
"How will the Fellowship deal with this loss, Legolas? Frodo carries such a burden already and this loss has wounded his soul. When I look into his eyes, I see no hope," she said with a sigh. Legolas reached up to brush aside a tear with his thumb.
"The Lady said as long as we hold true to one another, hope still remains. I believe that, Morithawen, with all my heart. Frodo is strong, melamin. He will find his courage. Hobbits are resilient creatures. I must admit that did come as a surprise," Legolas said with a sad smile. Morithawen nodded. Of all the creatures of Middle Earth, the hobbits were the ones that she had spent no time with before this quest. She saw now that it had been an oversight on her part. As a Chronicler, she should be just as interested in the Shire as in Rohan or Gondor.
"I think once this conflict is over, I shall visit the Shire. If the tales that Merry and Pippin tell are even half true, it must be a beautiful place," she said finally. Legolas leaned in and kissed her lips tenderly.
"And peaceful," he said. She tightened her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer for another kiss, a deeper kiss. It wasn't until he slipped onto the couch beside her and skimmed one hand up her side that her body reminded her that it wasn't in top shape. Her gasp was minute, but Legolas felt it against his mouth. His hand immediately dropped to the bed and he pulled away with a wry smile.
"I'm sorry, A'maelamin. I should not," he said with a weary sigh. She shifted a little bit and fit her body against his carefully, drapping one arm over his waist.
"Oh, I think you should. In fact, I know you should. Just… Tira ten' rashwe (be careful)," she whispered softly in his ear. Then she proceeded to lick the sensitive, leaf shaped ear in front of her mouth, paying special attention to the delicate point. Legolas' gasp of surprise was laced heavily with pleasure and she felt a strong hand slide up her spine. Oh yes, this was definitely something they should do. Time was precious and they need a memory to carry them until their next meeting, something without the taste of grief or anger or pain mingled in it.
"Why aren't you going with them, Kiirar? You are as much a part of the Fellowship as Legolas. You traveled with them, fought with them, grieved with them."
Morithawen was standing on the bank of the Anduin, watching the three elven boats carry away her beloved, her brother and her friends. She heard Haldir's question but she didn't have the heart to answer him just yet. Her heart was still trembling with grief after the goodbye she had shared with Legolas this morning before the Fellowship had gathered to be gifted by the hands of Galadriel and her people. His borderline desperate kisses had seared her soul, telling her without words that he hated leaving her. He thought she would be safe here but her heart did not understand. For her, the only real safety was in his arms. As his boat retreated, she felt a chill creep into her body that had nothing to do with the late autumn morning breeze. She wrapped her mother's cloak around her body and turned away, walking swiftly back towards the comfort of Caras Galadhon, leaving Haldir to watch after her with concern in his eyes.
Morithawen's days slipped past slowly under the lights of Lothlorien. Time had always moved strangely there and she spent most of her time wandering the beautiful woods, trying to keep her thoughts on things other than the fate of the Fellowship. She had delivered the records she had brought with her to Celeborn and had carefully penned the events that had occurred on the journey from Rivendell. After that, she was at a loss. The Lothlorien records were in perfect order and she had read them all. With whispers of orcs roaming the borders of Lorien, Celeborn was loathe to send her back to Rivendell, so she had little to do but await word from beyond the borders of the land protected by the power of the elves.
"Morithawen? You are well!"
Morithawen's head came up from the flower chain she was making for her hair and she would have gaped if it had been proper for an elf to gape.
"Arwen! Mankoi naa lle sinome(Why are you here)?"
"Is that any way to greet your foster sister?" Arwen asked with a wry smile. Morithawen blinked and then rose gracefully, going to embrace the other female.
"Pardon, Arwen. I am merely surprised. The land is not safe for traveling. I hope you did not come alone," Morithawen said quietly, looking at Arwen questioningly. The other elf was silent for the longest time.
"Galadriel has called a counsel to discuss the fate of the Fellowship. I mean to be there," the dark headed elf said. Morithawen was a little startled.
"A counsel? You came with father, then?" she asked. Arwen sighed softly.
"Father does not know I am here, Mori. He thinks I am half way to the Gray Havens by now," she said. Morithawen was startled again.
"The Havens? I thought you had pledged your immortality to Estel. Have you so suddenly changed your mind?" she asked in a disapproving tone. Of all the Elves of Rivendell, those few that knew about Arwen and Aragorn's romance, only Morithawen accepted their betrothal without misgivings. She had known of their love before they had even met, through a foreseeing, and knew better than to question it. She knew Estel had loved Arwen since the moment they had met and his life had been spent trying to prove himself worthy of her. No woman, human or elf, could know the true Estel and NOT fall in love with him. Of course, being the closest thing to a proud big sister that Aragorn had made her a little biased in that respect.
"Never, Morithawen. My life belongs to Aragorn. My love for him is my only hope. My father cannot understand that. Or perhaps he will not. But he will come to accept my decision. I hope," the Evenstar said quietly, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. Morithawen drew her sister into another embrace and drew her to a cushioned bench, nestled among the roots of a tree.
"He is your father, Arwen. The thought that you will not be by his side in Valinor is not a welcome one. But he will come to accept it and I promise that he will smile at your wedding," she said, laying a hand on Arwen's thigh. At her words, Arwen seemed to relax and she sighed. They were both quiet for a moment, until Arwen spoke up again.
"Why didn't you go with the Fellowship when they left. If you did not intend to go farther than Lorien, what reason was there to accompany them? Traveling alone would have been less perilous," she stated, obviously confused by Morithawen's decision to follow the Fellowship from Rivendell with all the trouble the Ring could and did attract. Only Elrond knew of her vision. Morithawen thought, now that it was fulfilled, there was little harm in mentioning it.
"Because Legolas would have died in Moria if I hadn't been there," she said seriously. Arwen looked at her with wide eyes. Morithawen read the unspoken question in her eyes and nodded, "Foretelling. Which is why father didn't try talking me out of it."
"Did Legolas know?"
"No, and it is probably best that he does not. It is done and he survived. Now I must await word as to whether it was all in vain. The Fellowship will face worse than a small army of orcs and a cave troll, I am certain. Not to mention the corruption of the Ring. The weight of it wears on Frodo and I have seen its reflection in eyes of Boromir. I pray that the Man can hold true to his oath until the Ring is destroyed. If not, I fear all will be lost. If only Gandalf were not lost," Morithawen said, her tone laced with desperation. Arwen leaned closer to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Think on other things for now, Mori. Dwelling on the fate of Fellowship will only lead to grief and you have seen too much and we will all suffer more before the Dark Lord is destroyed. Come, let us talk about your betrothal. I will admit that it came as a surprise to me. I did not know you felt so deeply for the Prince of Mirkwood," the older elf said, trying to draw the usually bright tempered elf out of her current dark mood. The turn of conversation worked. Morithawen's face lit up with all the love she held in her heart for Legolas and the sisters spoke of nothing but their lovers for a long while, sticking to the happier memories.
"Arwen."
The two elves looked up to see Galadriel standing before them, her face and her tone impossible to read. Arwen rose after giving Morithawen a wry smile. Galadriel motioned for her to go and Arwen moved away at some unspoken direction by her grandmother. Galadriel watched her go for a moment before turning her gaze on Morithawen.
"It does my heart good to see a brightness in your eyes again, Morithawen. You have been unsure of yourself since the Fellowship left. How are your head and your side?" she asked softly. Morithawen sighed softly and then shifted almost unconsciously, testing the discomfort in her ribs.
"A little sore, but better, Lady," she said quietly. Galadriel nodded and stepped forward, leaning down to take Morithawen's chin gently in her hand. Morithawen's brown eyes met endless, light-filled blue and the Lady seemed to consider her for a long time before smiling.
"Do not despair, young Amrun'quessir. You will be with your beloved again, and sooner than you think. Now, we are having a counsel to discuss the fate of the Fellowship and of the Ring. Many things have come to pass since the boats left Lothlorien and there are decisions to be made. We would like your presence both as Chronicler and as one that knows the Fellowship as a whole better than any of us," the Lady of Light stated. Morithawen nodded and rose from her seat.
"Lead the way, Lady Galadriel."
Morithawen marched into Helm's Deep amidst a small guard escort in the middle of the marching lines. This was one time she wished the Galadhrim weren't so traditional. The Kiirar was always protected by an elite guard of four to eight warriors, depending on the size of the army. Her job was one of the most important, if not the most important, one in the course of war. Recorded history was precious to an Elf. In the study of history, mistakes could be recognized and avoided. When the column stopped, she moved out of the ranks of similarly clad elves and made her way to the front of the column, her guard breaking away to follow her.
"We are proud to fight along side men once more," Haldir was saying to the king. She stopped next to Legolas and nodded to the Ring of Rohan respectfully. It was Aragorn that reacted to her presence first, however.
"Morithawen! Muinthel, what are you doing here? Wasn't Lothlorien exciting enough for you?" he asked in a light tone, stepping up and clutching her in a tight embrace. She laughed lightly.
"Out of the frying pan and into the fire, my brother. My life will never be too exciting," she said, using the embrace as an excuse to turn her head away from Aragorn's neck to catch Legolas' eye. His expression didn't change but his eyes conveyed a great deal of confusion, joy and fear. She only had time to flash him a brief smile before she was released.
"Out of the frying pan and into the fire, Mori? Too much time in the company of hobbits for you, I think," Aragorn said with a chuckle. Then he turned her towards Theodan and introduced her to the king.
"King Theodan, this is Morithawen, Chronicler for the Elves and the last of the Sunrise Elves on Middle Earth," he said happily. Theodan bowed his head and then looked over her gold and silver mithril coat, her autumn shifting cloak, her large leather shoulder bag and her elaborately braided, uncovered head. The king had been secretly impressed by Haldir's armor, but this she-elf was absolutely breathtaking in both beauty and apparel. She was a treasure to be guarded, as was obvious by the four stern looking elves hovering behind her protectively.
"Pleasure meeting you, Morithawen. Now, I'll have two of my men escort you down to the safety of the caves. I'm sure you'll be more comfortable down there. My niece, Eowyn, can give you any details you need for your report," he said finally, motioning for two of his junior officers to come forward. Morithawen simply smiled at the King and raised one eyebrow as she glanced at Aragorn. She saw the discomfort in her foster brother's eyes as he waved the junior officers away and nodded at Theodan.
"No need, my lord. I will see that she is taken care of properly," he said. Theodan seemed torn for a moment and then he nodded, the whole matter forgotten as he, Haldir and Aragorn quickly began replanning the defense of the Keep, which now included the Elven Army. Morithawen simply walked back to her place in the marching lines. She wasn't expecting Legolas to follow her. He had plenty of opportunity to speak to her both out loud and in her mind and he hadn't as yet. She was a little worried by his silence. When he took his place amongst her elite guard, however, she looked at him expectantly.
"You have no intentions of hiding away in the caves, do you?" he asked softly. Her guard was polite enough to pretend not to be listening in on the conversation. She shook her head.
"My place is with my people, Legolas. Not only do I have an obligation to record the battle events, I am a warrior. I will not sit idly by when I can fight. What Theodan doesn't know, won't hurt him," she said just as softly. Legolas' expression became distressed. She was a little surprised by the transformation. He rarely ever showed emotion of any kind. Not on his face anyway. She had learned long ago how to read his eyes.
"This is madness," he said sharply. She saw his eyes darken to midnight blue and she reached out, putting one hand to his chest, over his heart.
"The world is changing. Madness is all around us, melamin. But I am not afraid to face the Darkness, because I know that Light must prevail. Do not fear for me. I have these fine young warriors to defend me in the thick of battle. Go, Aratoamin (my champion). I will see you at battle's end," she said. Around her, the guard seemed to stand even taller if possible. Legolas spared them a glance before covering her hand with his own and leaning in to whisper in her ear.
"Be safe, A'maelamin. May the Grace of the Valar protect you."
"Ever will I be safe, Legolas, if only in the loving embrace of your memory."
With those words they parted and the battle for Helm's Deep began.
The elves were moved to the outer wall and the barren expanse of earth behind it. Morithawen was placed with those on the ground, behind the safety of the wall. For now. She stood in with the other archers, her bow held loosely in her hand as the sound of the Uruk-hai army came to her from over the wall. She could hear Aragorn telling the Elves on the wall what to expect from Saruman's army. No mercy. His was the only voice she could hear. The rest of the army of Men and Elves as almost eeriely silent, as if waiting for a cue from the Uruk-hai. About that time, a cold rain began to fall. Mori nearly smiled at the irony of it.
It was actually the Rohan that signaled the beginning of the battle when a lone bowman released an arrow into the front ranks of the Uruk-hai, drawing first blood. The roar of the Uruk-hai commander was heard easily by all those within Helm's Deep, just before the Uruk's rushed the walls. The Elven archers took the first defense, firing from both the top of the wall and over it from the ground below. Morithawen could not tell if the arrows were successful in hitting their targets. She was unfortunate enough to watch as several Uruk crossbow bolts hit her kinsmen atop the wall, however. Their cries pierced her heart, but she didn't allow herself time to dwell on it. The Uruks soon got close enough to raise their ladders and black armor began to mix with bright Elven armor atop the wall. Time was spent trying to pick off Uruks from amongst the crowd atop the wall without hitting their own people in the process.
The only real warning that something odd was happening was Aragorn's screams at Legolas to bring someone down. When the wall in front of her company exploded, there was no time to be shocked or horrified. She found herself shoved back and under two of her elite guard as stone and bodies rained down from above. She felt the jolts of heavy blocks of stone hitting the ground.
When the rain of debris finally stopped, Mori shoved her nearest guard away and stood, looking over the damage. Her eyes closed against the carnage for a moment as she steeled herself against a scream of anger and pain. Among the dead were two of her guard and the bright armor of several elves shone with blood. Her thoughts reached out to her betrothed and she was relieved when his mind brushed hers with a mutually concerned query. That in itself made things bearable. When she opened her eyes again, however, she tried not to focus on anything but the huge rift in the wall, through which Uruks were pouring.
Morithawen couldn't help but see Aragorn, however. He was laying directly in front of the rift. For a moment, she thought that the explosion or the fall to the ground had killed him, too, but she was relieved to see movement from him. He shook his head as if to clear it and then struggled to his feet. Mori rushed forward with the rest of her kin on the ground, bows held ready as they watched a small figure leap from the wall into the crowd of Uruks with a fierce cry. Gimli.
Gimli fought well and managed to slow the first of the Uruks, but it was short lived. He was eventually forced under the pool of murky water that had gathered in the small crater created by the explosion. Aragorn took the opening to order a volley of arrows and then a charge by the Elves. Morithawen joined them, flanked by her two remaining guards. She was soon wielding her white knife in her own defense and the defense of those around her.
After what seemed like forever, Morithawen heard Theodan shout at Aragorn to pull his troops back to the Keep. As reluctant as many of the Elves were to leave the fighting, it was best to fall back and fortify the smaller area of the Keep. It would be easier to defend. She found herself quickly escorted back up the stairwell leading to the Keep. The sound of creaking wood and yelling humans greeted her ears as she ran through the main yard. The gates were shuddering and breaking under an onslaught from the Uruks' battering ram. They weren't going to last much longer.
With the gates breaking, Morithawen was ushered up another flight of stairs to the top of the higher wall that surrounded the Keep itself. From there, she could see the roiling mass of black that was Saruman's army. They stretched out over the sand flats in front of Helm's Deep like a great, smothering blanket. She suppressed a shudder when she noticed one of the younger human boys watching her with awe in his eyes. She smiled slightly at him and fought back anger. The child had no business on top of this wall. She positioned herself at the wall a few feet away from him, a grim expression on her face as she watched a few particular pockets of activity.
The first of the grappling hooks fired at the wall caught and Morithawen watched as a ladder covered with clinging Uruks was pulled up towards the wall. She pulled her bow from her back and noched an arrow, firing it with deadly aim. She was in the middle of aiming again when a bow sang at her side. She didn't have to look to know it was Legolas and she wasn't surprised when the rope holding the ladder being pulled up to her right suddenly snapped back, severed by the arrow he had fired. Those Uruks and the unfortunate ones on the ground beneath the ladder would no longer be a threat.
"Where is Aragorn?" she asked him between arrows.
"Look down," was all he said. She paused briefly and looked down over the Keep wall. There were Aragorn and Gimli, fighting the Uruk-hai that were attacking the broken doors of the Keep, giving the Men time to shore up the doors. She frowned.
"How will they get out of there?" she asked.
"See if there's a rope. We'll have to pull them out. They can't go back the way they came," Legolas said softly. For any other ears but an elf's, it would have been lost in the battle noise, but she heard him easily. She quickly fired her last arrow and turned towards the boy at her side.
"Can you find us a rope? A long one, very strong," she asked him once she had attracted his attention. She spoke as close to his ear as possible. His eyes went wide when he realized that she was addressing him.
"M…m…m'lady?" he stuttered, the sword in his hand drooping to the ground. She thought he might have been holding it up since the beginning of the seige. She sighed softly and gave him a smile.
"A thick, strong rope?" she prompted. She was relieved to see him stand up a little straighter and nod. He awkwardly sheathed his sword and scampered off. She turned then, to face the Uruks that were now flooding over the wall, her white knife drawn. As she fought back to back with Legolas, the flood of black clad creatures began to shy away from their little corner of the wall. By the time the boy arrived lugging a rope, the fighting had shifted enough to give them a break in their fighting. Legolas took the rope and stepped up on the high wall, shouting down to catch Aragorn's attention. He tossed down the rope and soon began pulling up the Man and the Dwarf, pulling them away from danger. Morithawen fended off the handful of Uruks brave enough to move towards them. The boy at her side managed to wield his sword well enough to stay alive. Once the Man and the Dwarf were over the wall, however, a retreat was immediately ordered. The gates weren't going to last long. They had just enough time to barricade themselves inside the Keep and make a few decisions about this battle. Morithawen tried not to think how bleak things were starting to look for the army of Men and Elves.
Morithawen sat outside the main gates of the Keep, watching as the King of Rohan, two of his men, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn rode off together. She wasn't sure exactly what they were going to look at, but she hadn't been invited along, so here she sat, looking out over the carnage. The few elves that had survived the battle were walking among the dead, gleening arrows. She stood suddenly, turning to walk back into the Keep. She stopped one of the men that she knew to be one of Theodan's captains.
"Excuse me, sir, but have you seen the elf, Haldir? I need to talk with him about my chronicles," she said softly, putting one hand on his arm. The man blinked at her and then stood a little straighter. His expression didn't change from the grim one he wore, though.
"I'm afraid that Captain Haldir is dead, my lady. His body lies with those of the elves in the courtyard. I am sorry," he said. Morithawen stepped back from the man with a frown. That couldn't be right. Dead? Haldir? The very concept made her head hurt and she was only able to nod before leaving the man to watch after her. She suddenly felt the walls of the Keep closing in around her and she needed to get out. She grabbed her satchel and approached the boys that were watching several horses. One of them was the young boy that she had met on top of the wall.
"My lady," he said, bowing to her when she approached, eyes a little less wide that those of the other boys around him. She gave him a distracted smile.
"Do you know if there is a horse that I could borrow, young man? I need to ride out for a while," she said. He nodded and patted the black mare at his side.
"This is Kellan. Her rider fell in battle, my lady. She would be glad to carry someone as beautiful as you," he said carefully. She nodded, trying to make her smile seem more grateful.
"Thank you…what is your name, boy?" she asked suddenly.
"Kirnas," he said brightly. She nodded again.
"Thank you, Kirnas. I will bring her back in a while. If anyone asks after me, I am writing a record of the battle and do not wish to be disturbed," she said. The boy nodded and she turned to the horse. She considered it for a moment before reaching down to undo the cinch. With the boy's help she removed the saddle and then leapt onto the horse's back with no trouble. The boys all whispered amongst themselves as she rode the horse down the stone ramp. She gave the horse her head and let her roam for a while. When she finally leaned down and whispered to the horse, she found herself in a grassy area across the valley from Helm's Deep. She dismounted and let the mare graze while she found a relatively flat rock and sat down, gazing out over the flat sandy expanse that stretched out for miles in front of and far beyond the canyon that was Helm's Deep. Luckily she was far enough away that even her Elven eyes couldn't see any of the carnage from the battle.
For a long time she sat, her eyes unfocused and seeing only fond memories as she lifted her voice on the wind and sang a lament for Haldir and those other elves that had perished the night before. Her lament included those Men killed as well. When she finally fell silent, her heart was still and she was able to pull out her book and begin working.
"Legolas is beside himself with worry, muinthel. He says your thoughts are closed him."
Morithawen looked up, for the first time in many decades startled. She had not heard Aragorn's approach. She looked at the sky and saw that it was getting dark. She had been away from the Keep for many hours.
"I did not intend to be gone so long. I needed some time," she said truthfully. Aragorn was quiet for a moment before sitting on the rock beside her. She sighed and leaned into him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she couldn't resist burying her face in his neck.
"You've bathed. The stench of death is not so close to you as it was earlier," she murmured. She felt his nod.
"I learned some good habits from you, Mori. Now, come back to the keep. I fear that after dark there will be Uruks roaming the area looking for easy targets. And please let Legolas know that we are returning. He and Gimli are looking in the other direction," he said. Morithawen nodded and whistled softly as she rose. The mare she had ridden came trotting up and she swung onto her back as Aragorn mounted Brego. As they rode back toward Helm's Deep, she reached out with her mind to find her betrothed.
"Legolas, I am sorry. You know how I get when I am working."
"There is more than just work weighing heavy on your mind, melethril (lover). It is your grief that holds your thoughts from me. I heard your song, Morithawen. It was echoed down the valley and in my heart."
"May their lives be remembered always in honor of their deaths."
"They will be, I'm certain. Now, hurry. I've missed you in this dark, unforgiving place. I need to feel your warmth beside me again."
"I would come on wings if I could, melamin. But do not fear. You have the dwarf for your company," she said with light laughter in her thoughts.
"Believe me when I say that Gimli can in no way replace my need or want for you, melamin. He can only help me delay it for a short while."
By this time, Brego and Kellan had reached the gates of the Keep and she dismounted swiftly into the arms of Legolas. He did not subscribe to typical elvish reserve, kissing her soundly in front of several women, children, men and horses. Then he whisked her away to a quiet corner. There really wasn't a place for them to be truly alone here.
"How much I wish for a cool stream for bathing and a soft bed for lying you down upon, melethril melui (sweet lover). My dreams will be of you and I in Lothlorien tonight," he said in her ear. She shivered in delight as he nuzzled the sensitive tip of her ear.
"I think I shall visit your dreams, A'maelamin, because that is exactly where I wish to be. But when the dreams are done, where will we go? What happens now?" she asked, turning the conversation to more serious matters. She wanted to know how much time she had to relax with him before the journey began again. He sighed softly.
"Some ride to Isengard. Others are still undecided, including Aragorn. I will stay with Aragorn until he makes his decision."
"Then that is my place as well. I will not let you leave me again. I would rather die beside you than live another minute wondering where you are and when I will see you again," she said softly.
"I will not complain having you at my side, Morithawen. Do not fear. I will not let you die, beside me or otherwise. We have a wedding to attend once this mess with the Dark Lord is over and I fully intend to be there, in full ceremonial dress, with my father and yours to officiate," he said quietly, looking into her eyes with a smile. She leaned forward until her forehead touched his.
"Is that a promise, melamin?"
"It is a heart vow, melamin. Believe in me."
"With everything I am, Legolas. Always and forever, until even Valinor is no more."
The End...for now.