I found the time for you my lovely readers! Merry Xmas again!

Faerlain

Chapter 6: When?

"Be careful."

"I'll be fine, don't worry." He kissed her tenderly, stroking her cheek softly with one finger.

"I just want you to come back to me," she whispered.

He pulled her swiftly into his arms. "I will come back to you," he replied, burying his face in the blonde tresses. "I promise."

She clung to him like a child to its mother, biting back the tears. There were words she wanted to whisper, things she wanted to say, but couldn't find the courage. She wanted him to stay with her forever, not go off again, but…

"It'll be over before you know it," he assured her, pulling away and kissing the tip of her nose.

"Take this," she told him, reaching into her pocket and drawing out the mallorn leaf necklace. She unclipped it and placed it around his neck, letting the tiny crystal sparkle in the sunlight.

"Anaróre, I can't. Andúnë gave it to you…"

"Exactly. It is the most precious thing in the world to me, as are you. I want you to have it. Keep a piece of me wherever you go."

Legolas felt the tears stinging at the back of his eyes, and in case they fell, he pulled Anaróre in for another kiss so no one would see. "I love you Anaróre," he whispered. "And I always will." He lingered for a moment, then, wiping his eyes dry, walked over to the boat.

She stood there stunned for a second, and then tried to follow. But there were so many people; she couldn't push through. She had to tell him! She had to say those three little words that meant so much.

But by the time she had reached the shore, they had already gone. Tiny specks in the distance, gradually growing smaller and smaller. She sunk to her knees, crushed.

A hand on her shoulder brought her out of her daydream. She looked up into Haldir's face. "Come on Anaróre," he said softly. "He'll be back soon."

"I never told him," she told him a choked sob.

"Told him what?" He crouched down beside her.

She looked back at the river as the three boats disappeared completely from view.

"I never told him I loved him."

Its dark tonight. No stars out?

He sat up and walked over to the window. Looking out, he saw the sky over Edoras was more or less blank and dark. No, no stars were out tonight. He couldn't even see a moon from where he was.

Legolas turned and went back to his bed. Sitting on the edge, he pulled the necklace out from under his tunic. He undid the clasp and held it in the palm of his hand. The crystal appeared black, along with everything else in his room. He closed his fingers over it and held it to his lips. Shutting his eyes, he let his mind drift back to his days in Lothlórien, with Anaróre…

There was a knock at his door, and his eyes snapped open, the memories fading. He quickly put the necklace back on and called for whomever it was to enter.

Aragorn poked his head round the door. "Hungry?"

"No."

"Thirsty?"

"No."

"Oh well." He went in and shut the door. A bottle of wine was produced form behind his back. "I am. Gimli's gone to get some food." He went and sat on the bed beside his friend. "If anyone can persuade the cooks for extra snacks, he can."

Legolas smiled and nodded. "Aye, that he can."

"Let's have some light in here." He left the bottle in Legolas' hands and lit a few lamps. "We don't really need glasses do we?"

"Doubt it. But I won't be touching that bottle after Gimli has drunk from it."

"He'll be getting some ale. You know what he's like about wine."

At that moment, the door opened, and Gimli stomped in, kicking it to behind him. "Here we go," he said gruffly, emptying his arms onto the bed. "Haven't got a clue what's here. The cook just gave me a load of different…stuff."

There was bread, fruit, something wrapped in cloth which was probably cheese, and some slices of dried meat. Gimli sat on the other side of Legolas. "And I got myself some real drink." He pulled a bottle out from inside his tunic, grinning.

Legolas laughed lightly. "And what is all this in aid of?" He looked from one to the other. "Well?"

"We thought you needed cheering up," Aragorn replied, uncorking the bottle and handing it to the Elf. "You have seemed very despondent of late. Have a drink, let go."

Legolas raised an elegant eyebrow, and put the bottle to his lips. The wine was typical human fare, but not bad as human wines went. He handed it back to Aragorn, who took a similar amount.

"Don't know why you two even touch that stuff," Gimli commented, tilting his head to the bottle clutched in Aragorn's hand. "Ale." He raised his own bottle. "Much better for you."

"I don't think so somehow," Legolas retorted, grabbing the wine and taking another large gulp.

"How do you know?"

"Because I do. Have you ever tried wine?"

"Yes. In Rivendell, and some other places. Have you ever tried ale?"

"No."

"Well then now is the time to try it." He held out the bottle to Legolas. "Go on."

"No thanks."

"Oh go on Legolas," Aragorn urged him on. "Just try a sip."

"Now you're ganging up on me!"

"Well if you just try a bit, we won't gang up on you anymore," Gimli pointed out, still holding the bottle out.

Legolas sighed. "I take it you're planning to get me completely drunk Aragorn."

"Yes. You're funny when you're drunk. And none of us have been drunk for a long time, so it's about time we were."

"Well, after that battle, I need alcohol," Legolas agreed. He took the bottle from Gimli's outstretched hand, looked at it hesitantly for a moment, and then raised it to his lips, swallowing a little.

"That is disgusting!" he said, pulling a face and handing the ale back to Gimli.

The other two laughed, "At least you've tried it now," Aragorn reminded him, letting him have a long drink of the wine to get rid of the ale taste. "Well done Legolas."

"If you say so."

The following morning, they were seated at a small table in the main hall, after woken up rather later than usual after the drinking. Aragorn and Gimli had slight headaches, but Legolas felt fine.

"My Lord." A maid came into the hall and addressed the King. "My Lord, some wine has gone missing from the cellar."

Legolas and Gimli both looked at Aragorn. He grinned sheepishly, and turned back to the as yet untouched food on his plate. All three minds turned to the hiding place of the four empty wine bottles. In a stack of hay beside the palace. They had just dropped them out of Legolas' window so no one would find them too soon.

They spent the rest of that day outside, away from the haystack.

"But it's been so long now…"

"Don't worry, he'll be fine."

"How can you be so sure?"

"You're the one who is meant to have all the faith in him, not me. And here I am, telling you he's going to be fine! Listen to me; he's a warrior, a strong, able-bodied fighter. He won't let anything get him, I promise. And I hardly know him!"

Anaróre smiled at her friend weakly. "Maybe you're right."

"No, I am right. I know I am. I mean come on, look where he was brought up. Mirkwood. And you know how dangerous that place is. He has loads of training and experience behind him. He's in theMirkwood Army, he knows what to expect from his enemies, and he will be ready. Stop worrying."

Anaróre sighed. "I can't help it 'Dúnë. I just…" Her hand strayed to where her necklace usually hung. "I can't feel him anymore. It's as if he's gone so far…"

"He's a long way away Ana. And if anything bad had happened, you would know about it straightaway. Trust me; I was the one who gave you the leaf!"

Anaróre nodded. "It unnerves me though, not knowing whereabouts he is and if he's safe or not. I mean, he obviously is after what you just said, but I still have this…feeling, you know? That something isn't quite right."

"He'll be missing you, that's all. And fights worry everyone. No matter how many battles you have been in, no matter how many enemies you have slain, you always get butterflies before a fight. It's natural. Sure, Legolas has had a lot of experience in fighting, but he'll still be nervous about doing it all over again, know what I mean?"

"I s'pose. Like the first time we were on patrol and those Orcs attacked? That feeling."

"Exactly. It's a horrible feeling, but…" She spread her hands. "There you go."

Anaróre looked up at the sky. "When will I see him again?"

"When the War's over."

"But when will that be? A week, a month, a year, more than a year? Too long, however long." She looked back at the ground as they walked along.

Andúnë didn't say anything else. She did not know what to say anymore.

I'm not writing all that stuff out again! Merry Xmas everybody and see you all very soon.

Faerlain