A/N:

Blondeducky77 – Great! Glad to hear it! Welcome and I hope you're still enjoying this!

IwishChan – Welcome! She will. And he still has Aragorn and Gimli to look after him!

Jebb – Absolutely! But Legolas has forgotten one VERY important detail that Aragorn will soon remind him of!

Gimli had stayed with the grieving elf until he felt his stomach rumbling. Like he had done so long ago at Helm's Deep, he fetched some food for himself and his tormented friend. Legolas had taken the bread the dwarf offered and chewed it absently as he continued to gaze longingly over the sea, his mind tormented by thoughts of "why?" and "what if?"

The dwarf sighed heavily. He knew the lass would survive. He had seen his own women survive much worse wounds but Legolas was tortured by guilt and regret, fearing that somehow he was to blame for her misfortune. No matter how Gimli tried to console him, Legolas would not hear that he was innocent of any guilt in the matter. It frustrated and frightened him that the elf could be so stricken for her when she would clearly survive.

He could understand Legolas' grief at losing his mate so quickly and violently after their first union. Eru knew that he himself would have flown into a rage as well had the same thing happened to him. It was the elf's distance that unnerved him. When Aragorn had fallen at least Legolas had spoken to him but now – now he just stared out into the sea with those silver tears trickling down his cheeks, not uttering a word.

With a grunt, he moved to Aragorn who had been watching the two of them intently.

"I do not know what is to be done with him," the dwarf grumbled helplessly. "She is a strong lass. She will recover in time."

Aragorn squeezed the dwarf's shoulder reassuringly. "I know," he answered. "Let him grieve. He will soon realize that she is not out of reach."

Gimli cocked his head curiously at the ranger, wondering just what that could mean but his friend did not answer.

The wind whipped the sails and the masts creaked in response as the ship sliced through the calm waters. Legolas was completely alone now save for the handful of men who were keeping the ship on course during the night journey.

He had not moved from his post on the rail – the same place he had stood as he watched her disappear into her watery home. Heedless of the wind and sea spray, he stood his silent vigil as he replayed the horrible scene in his mind over and over again.

"Legolas," the wind seemed to whisper to him from afar. Curiously, he turned to see if perhaps it was Gimli or Aragorn. He saw no one but he heard someone call his name again, this time a bit louder and more urgently.

"Yes!" He breathed, his heart caught in his throat. It was Annowe! He knew it!

"Annowe!" he called softly then strained his ears to hear her reply.

"Yes!" Her voice came faintly. "Ask Aragorn," were all the words he could hear before the wind blotted her out.

Without hesitation, he bounded down the stairs to where the ranger lay sleeping. Gently, he shook his friend awake.

Aragorn awoke with a start, fearing that something had gone wrong in the night.

"My friend," Legolas' eyes shone in the dim light. "I have heard Annowe's voice. She says to ask you – something," he finished, not quite sure what to ask or even if the ranger would understand.

Aragorn relaxed. "What took her so long?" He wondered out loud then realized it had been Legolas' grief that had prevented the connection.

"What? You know where she is? How to help her?" The elf was not sure if he should be thankful or angry.

"No. But I know what she wants," Aragorn sat up and calmed his distraught friend. "You two have bonded. Mated. Nothing, not even death can separate you. Remember?" He chided Legolas softly.

Legolas threw his head back and groaned at his own oblivion. "How could I have been so foolish? It was all we talked about before!" He felt like a complete dunderhead for failing to remember that one very important detail of their mating.

"Now you understand what she wants and what you need to do, yes?" Aragorn questioned, hoping that he could return to sleep and Legolas would realize that they had never actually been apart.

"Yes! Thank you!" Legolas grinned as he bounded up the stairs to the deck.

The elf made himself comfortable in a quiet corner of the deck and willed his mind to turn to their last night in Dunharrow together. It was not very difficult and his mind drifted to that magical night easily. He remembered the feel of her velvety skin on his as her soft lips caressed his neck and her hands squeezed his shoulders in passion. He remembered the smell of henna in her hair and the sounds she made as he ran his hands over her small form.

He smiled at those sweet thoughts and suddenly she was in his arms, alive and quivering next to him. With a shout, he squeezed her tightly then kissed her smooth forehead. One silver tear of happiness slid down his alabaster cheek and she smiled tenderly as she wiped it away.

"Silly!" She chided softly. "You should have remembered that once we physically mated we could never be undone without mutual consent. And I don't plan on letting you out of my sight ever again!" Here she slapped him lightly on the bottom to emphasize her point.

He laughed, giddy with the realization that she was correct. Slowly, he took her face in his hands, drinking in the sight of her as if he may never see her again. She smiled up at him for a split second before she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, never wanting to let him go.

His arms immediately slid around her and held her close as his body responded to her presence and he kissed her deeply.

"Annowe," he breathed, reluctant to break their kiss but anxious to know if she had survived the stabbing.

"I'm fine," she said, placing her small hand against his flawless cheek. "Gimli saved me. He put me into the sea before I grew too weak."

Legolas exhaled in relief and made a mental note to profusely thank his friend for his quick thinking. "Where are you now?" He asked, not sure what to expect.

"I am with my father. It may take me a while to recover but I will always be with you," she grinned. "That is, if you can remember not to let go of me."

"No," he assured her with a tight hug. "I will not let go of you. Ever."