Hey everyone! Thank you for the reviews! I love to hear from you guys. As promised the romance finally comes into play with Legolas and Amaris in this chapter. I hope you like it!

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

Number 16: Out of the Darkness

Legolas had broken away from the fellowship and followed another elf to the healing talan. He carried Amaris up the stairs and laid her down on the soft bed. One healer immediately came over to her limp form and touched her forehead. He smiled and looked at Legolas. "This is the woman in the fellowship, correct?" Legolas nodded at the elf. "Do not worry. She will be fine. I will suggest that you join the others. Events are about to occur that will not be comfortable to watch." Legolas hesitated and looked at the healer.

"What do you mean?" The healer stopped patting her head with a cool cloth and looked up at Legolas.

"She is changing into her true form. The physical changes will be taking place at any moment. It will not be easy to watch if you are a friend of hers." Legolas took one last look at Amaris whose face had a slight smile playing at her lips. He looked up at the healer who motioned for him to move quickly. He did as he was told and joined the others who had just left meeting with Galadriel. Aragorn came rushing to the confused looking elf.

"How does she fare?" Legolas looked up at the man and shook his head slightly. Everyone was looking at Legolas waiting for his answer. The hobbits looked worried as did Gimli and Boromir, which surprised him. He didn't think Boromir cared about Amaris.

"I do not know. The healer told me to leave as changes were going to happen and they would be hard to watch." He paused and looked up at Aragorn confusion written all over his face. "He just kept smiling."

"Changes? What kind of changes?" Pippin asked as he looked up at the elf.

"Physical changes Pippin. Exactly what we do not know. Lady Galadriel came to her in a dream not long ago and told her changes would take place. I am just thankful that we were able to get her here for them to happen." Aragorn said as he removed his weapons. Everyone nodded in agreement. Legolas sighed and walked over to his ready tent.

Legolas removed his quiver and bow and sat them inside his tent. He removed his green tunic and picked up a water picture. He went to one of the many fountains and filled it with water and then cleaned his hands and face. He walked back to the camp his thoughts focused on Amaris. When he reached the hobbits' tent he heard singing. "A lament for Gandalf." He said as his eyes scanned the trees.

"What do they say about him?" Merry asked. Legolas turned to face the small hobbit who was laying under their tent.

"I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near." The hobbit nodded and Legolas continued his way to his tent. He sighed and closed his eyes. He sat down the water pitcher when Aragorn came over to him.

"She will be alright my friend. I do not think the healer would have smiled if she will not be." Aragorn said as he put his hand on his friend's shoulder. Legolas just nodded.

"I hope y-" Legolas was cut off by an ear piercing scream that nearly shook all of Lothlorien. Legolas looked at Aragorn worry playing in his blue eyes. "That was Amaris!" He left a stunned Aragorn in his tent and took off towards the talan where he had left Amaris with a million things running through his head. Why did she scream? I should have never have left her! Why did I leave her? Oh, let her be alright! He reached the talan and knocked on the closed door. The healer from earlier smiled when he saw the prince standing there. Legolas was trying to form words but they seem to be lost from him.

"Do not worry my lord. She is well. She should be waking soon but I must ask you that you allow my assistant to wash her up and dress her. Nieanna come please." A blonde she-elf appeared beside the prince holding a bundle wrapped in a blue cloth. "Nieanna, this is a companion to the woman inside." The she-elf bowed her head and Legolas nodded. "Nieanna, please come in and clean and dress the woman. She is still asleep and will not wake for sometime." Nieanna slipped past the healer and Legolas got a glimpse of Amaris' body that laid still on the bed. Her right arm hung over the bed motionless and he saw blood on her palm. Panic once again set in.

"Please let me see her. I have to know she is alright! Why will you not let me see her?" The healer just smiled.

"My lord, she should wake soon. Once she is ready I will send her with the rest of your party. Do not worry. She will be by your side by the dawn." Legolas went to protest again but the man shut the door. Legolas sighed and walked down the stairs and towards the rest of the group when he was stopped. He looked up and saw Lady Galadriel. He immediately bowed his head to her as he placed his hand over his heart.

"Lady Galadriel." She just smiled at him.

"How do you fare young prince?" Legolas sighed.

"I am well. I fear for my friend, milady. The healer refuses to let me see her. He said I must wait until she joins us at the camp." Lady Galadriel smiled at him.

"She should be joining you soon for I was on my way to speak with her." Legolas looked into her eyes with questions and she just smiled at him. "You have nothing to fear. Her sprit has not changed."

"Then what, my lady, has changed?" Galadriel smiled at the elf before her whose face was stern and nearly unreadable, however, his eyes showed the fear he was feeling in his heart for the one he cared about more than anything.

"Just her physical presence. You will see her when I send her to you. Go and rest for you are in dire need of it. Now, I must go for she is waking and has many questions." She left the prince and walked up the stairs to the talan where Amaris sat waiting for her. Legolas watched her ascend the stairs and then turned around to head back to camp.

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Amaris slowly opened her eyes and looked up into beautiful tree tops automatically knowing she was in Lothlorien. She slowly sat up feeling a little light headed. She brought her hand to her head and sighed as she noticed the small puncture wounds on her palm from her encounter with Sauron in her vision. She looked to her right when she heard a door open. She smiled when she saw Lady Galadriel come into the room. "Welcome to Lothlorien Amaris. How do you feel?"

"I feel strange. My sight is clearer and I heard you before you even reached for the door. Why is that?" Lady Galadriel held out her hand and Amaris took it. She took a moment to steady herself but as she did she noticed she was wearing a beautiful white gown with flowing sleeves. She looked at Lady Galadriel who was smiling at her. She led Amaris over to a vanity and had Amaris look into the mirror. Amaris looked and when she did she couldn't believe her eyes. Her hair was longer and flowed down to her hips. It was pulled back in braids so she noticed her ears and nearly fell over from the shock. They were pointed. "I'm, I'm an elf?!" she asked her voice shaky as she looked at Lady Galadriel.

"You are my child. Now what were you telling me earlier about a certain elf prince?" Lady Galadriel smiled and squeezed her hand slightly as Amaris blushed but then remembered the other experiences she had in the so called darkness.

"Lady Galadriel, after you left I had a vision of some sort." Amaris said as she furrowed her brow.

"Please, do tell me." The lady smiled as she looked at the young she-elf in front of her. Amaris knew that Galadriel already knew but she told her anyway.

"I sat by the shore when Legolas appeared and my clothing had changed. Then a young elfling appeared and he called me Mama. I can only assume that the child was Legolas' and mine. Was that a dream or something that will be?" Lady Galadriel smiled.

"It could be both. One can never truly tell." Amaris sighed and swallowed hard.

"My lady, I also saw," she paused and took another breath. "I saw the eye of Sauron. He wanted me to take the ring but I stood up to him and told him I would never bring the ring to him. That I would get what I wanted when he was defeated and peace reined over Middle Earth and after that everything is blank." Once again, Lady Galadriel smiled at her.

"You are brave beyond all measures to stand up to the Dark Lord like that young one. I am proud to welcome you into my kin. Your heart is pure and you will be of great assistance in these dark times." Amaris bowed her head.

"Thank you my lady. I am honored." Lady Galadriel brought her hand to Amaris' cheek and smiled.

"The others are waiting for you. I'm certain you will be able to find them if you just follow you new senses." Amaris smiled and nodded. She left the talan not hearing the last words Lady Galadriel said. "She will make a wonderful wife, mother, and Queen one day."

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After he walked around the forest to gather his thoughts, Legolas returned to camp to find everyone asleep except for Aragorn. "Aragorn, I do not know what to do. I cannot calm myself until I see Amaris." He sighed and looked at his friend. "What is happening to me?" Aragorn smiled at him.

"You love her my friend and you will not rest until you know your loved one is well. Do not worry. I am certain she will be well and as promised by the healer will be by your side before dawn." Aragorn smiled at his friend. He had never seen Legolas act this way. He usually was so composed and kept his emotions well hidden but his worry was growing and consuming him.

"I hope you're right my friend. I truly do." He sighed and looked up into the trees and listened to the elves sing about Gandalf. Suddenly he felt a strange but familiar presence coming towards them. He sat straight up when he realized who it was.

"What is it?" Aragorn asked.

"She is coming." He stood, turned and saw her standing about seven feet behind them. His eyes widened and he took a sharp breath as she smiled at him. Her dark chestnut hair was long and flowing tied back from her face revealing two pointy ears and she wore a white gown that made her more breathtaking than he ever imagined. But her eyes were the same forest green and he knew those eyes anywhere.

"Legolas, why are you staring?" she asked with a smile. Aragorn stood when no other words were said and turned and faced her. When he did he was just as surprised as the elf standing next to him.

"Amaris? Is that you?" Aragorn asked as he walked towards the now young elleth before him. She smiled as he took her hands.

"Of course Aragorn, who else would I be?" He smiled.

"But you're an elf." She giggled a little at him.

"Is it really you?" Legolas asked with disbelief in his voice. He slowly made his way towards her, his eyes never leaving hers. Aragorn took this as a sign to sneak away so he let go of her hands and took his leave without uttering a word and never being noticed by the two elves.

"It really is Legolas." She paused as he closed the distance and took her hands. "Do you not like the change?"

He shook his head as he brought his left hand to her cheek. She closed her eyes and smiled at the contact. He was surprised she no longer fled from him. He smiled at her as she opened her eyes. "What is it Legolas? Why are you so surprised to see me this way?" He took his hand from her cheek and held onto her left hand with both of his.

"I'm not so much surprised Amaris I am just happy to see you well. I was worried that I would never see you again." She smiled and caressed his cheek with her right hand. He briefly closed his eyes savoring her touch. He opened them as her hand moved away from his cheek.

"Legolas, I didn't mean to frighten you." He smiled and so did she. "I can't believe I changed into an elf, can you?"

"I can. You have so many qualities of an elven maiden, it doesn't surprise me one bit." She smiled and if she could she would be blushing. Silence came over them as they looked at each other, until Amaris broke the silence.

"Legolas, I need to tell you something but it cannot interfere with our quest." She looked deep into his eyes her stomach flipping with nerves. Legolas furrowed his brow at her.

"What do you have to tell me that would interfere with the quest?" She sighed and looked away.

"I don't want you to treat me any different. I want things to remain the same." He gently squeezed her hands.

"Tell me Amaris. You know you can tell me anything." She took a deep breath and she looked back up at him. He smiled at her. "Tell me."

"Legolas, I-I," she stopped and sighed. "Legolas, amin mela lle.(I love you)" Legolas looked at her his eyes wide. He was speechless. Oh, God! Why did I tell him? Look at him, he's probably trying to find a nice way to tell me he just loves me like a sister. She closed her eyes and bowed her head after a few minutes of silence. "I understand Legolas. Y-" She never finished because her lips were taken by Legolas' in a passionate kiss. She was surprised but returned his kiss as he pulled her body close to his by wrapping his arms around her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck running her fingers through his silky blonde hair.

After what seemed like an eternity she slowly pulled her lips from his and smiled at him. Legolas' eyes found her lips and wanted to take them to his own once more but he restrained his temptation. He'd have all of eternity to take them. He smiled to himself when he noticed her lips were a deep pink and slightly swollen from his kisses and he knew his probably looked the same.

"Amaris, I love you too." She smiled and embraced him tightly. After a moment, she turned to him and kissed him once more on the lips only briefly. She pulled away and smiled at him. He pulled her body close to his and wrapped his arms tight around her and just held her under the moonlight. The two new lovers held each other all the while being watched by an amused ranger in the distance enjoying his pipe.