Elerrina: Sorry, I should have made it a little more clear about Legolas not hearing Amaris ask Aragorn to leave her behind. He was lost in his own thoughts about who could have hurt her or if it was him that did it. Sorry about that again!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings it all belons to J.R.R. Tolkien and the movie producers. I only own Amaris and any character outside Middle Earth.

Number 12: Fear of Love?

Amaris heard very very light footsteps coming from the cave and out to where she stood. She knew they belonged to Legolas and she didn't know if she should turn and run away. She felt blankets being wrapped around her body. "You should have brought these with you. It is dreadfully cold out here for you." Legolas said as he tucked them in her crossed arms. Amaris looked up at him, after all he's at least four inches taller than her. He gave her a warm smile but he saw the hurt in her eyes. "Why would you ask Aragorn to leave you behind?"

"I do not want to be the reason for the failure of the fellowship." Tears begin to fill her eyes once again. She fought to keep them in but one single tear escaped and rolled from her eye. Without even thinking Legolas wiped the tear from her cheek. Her skin was so cold to the touch that it worried him.

"Amaris, you will not cause the fellowship to fail. If anything you give all of us strength to continue. Your stories and spirit keep all of us strong." He paused as he looked upon the woman in front of him. The moonlight reflected in her eyes making them sparkle from the tears. "Please do not cry. It pains me to see you this way." He took her hands it his. She looked into his eyes and saw the same look she saw in them earlier that morning. She pulled away from him and turned her back to him. "Why do you turn from me? What have I done that has made you this way? Do you no longer wish to be friends?"

"That is one thing I do not wish." She turned and faced the elf who looked at her with a confused expression.

"Then why have you pulled away from me since this morning?" Amaris sighed and closed her eyes. She shivered and pulled the blankets tighter around her. "I heard you speak to Aragorn by the fire. Was I the one to give you the look you spoke of?" Amaris' eyes snapped open and she looked at him. He glowed in the moonlight and his eyes were pleading for her to answer him.

"You were." Legolas stepped closer to her and put his hands on her upper arms.

"I would never hurt you Amaris. You have become one of my most valued companions." She looked away from his face and towards his chest. "I could never do anything that would harm you."

"I know you would never do physical harm to me Legolas it just what I have seen in your eyes that scares me. It scares me more then the darkness that will come over me." He furrowed his brow at her.

"I do not understand." She moved away from him and out of his arms. "Amaris, please tell me what you mean." She turned to walk back into the cave.

"I will soon Legolas. I am not ready yet." She walked back into the cave and curled up on her bedroll and slowly drifted to sleep. Legolas watched her from outside for several minutes before returning to find the ranger still awake watching Amaris with concern on his face and the wizard asleep on his bedroll.

"Take rest Aragorn. I will keep watch tonight. I do not believe I could sleep if I wanted to." He sighed and sat down next to Aragorn.

"What troubles you mellonamin?" Aragorn asked as he looked upon the elf whose eyes watch the sleeping woman. "Did she ask for the same promise from you?" Legolas shook his head. (My friend)

"No she did not."

"Then what is it?" Legolas looked at Aragorn.

"She keeps pulling away from me. She told me I was the one who gave her the look that she spoke of with you and that it scared her. She said it scared her more than the darkness that will befall her. When I asked, she wouldn't tell me what she meant."

"I heard her say she will tell you when she is ready that I do not doubt." He paused as he studied the face of his friend as he watched the entrance to the cave and stole glances at Amaris. "You care for her." Legolas snapped his head towards the man.

"What do you mean?"

"I do not doubt it now. I can see it in your eyes and it is possible that she may have seen it as well. You can disguise your face well my friend but your eyes do not lie."

"Of course I care for her. We all do." Aragorn smiled at his friend and put his hand on his shoulder.

"That we do but none of us care for her the way you do. You care for her the way one cares for a lover not a friend." Legolas was speechless. He had no clue his thoughts could be read so well by just looking into his eyes. He had thought of Amaris many a night.

When in Rivendell, before the quest began, after their archery practices they would sit by one of the many waterfalls and just talk. He felt more comfortable with the mortal woman than he had any elleth in Mirkwood or any other elven realm. He had often thought of how she resembled an elven maiden but her eyes and ears were the clues of her mortality. Her eyes. Oh, how he could get lost in their green depths. Looking into her eyes he felt as if he was looking out into the forests. Her lips were the color of pink rose petals and looked just as soft. He smiled as he thought of her and the ranger couldn't help but smile as well but he knew she did not feel the same. At least, he didn't think she did. Aragorn cleared his throat to snap the elf out of his daydream. Legolas shook his head slightly and looked at Aragorn. He frowned at the ranger and bowed his head.

"Maybe that is what she fears." He raised his head and looked at the woman. He realized that he was indeed falling in love with her and the fear that she did not return the feeling was in his heart. Aragorn smiled at his friend and patted his back.

"Do not worry my friend. I know that she values your friendship greatly but only she knows what truly lies in her heart." Legolas nodded and moved to the entrance of the cave.

"Rest my friend. I will awaken all of you at dawn." Legolas sat down and looked over the vast darkness all the while making silent wishes that Amaris would wake in the night and come to him like before and tell him of her fear. Aragorn laid down on his bedroll and slowly fell asleep worrying for his old friend and his new one.