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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.

Note: Dialouge in bold is spoken in elvish.

Number 36: Finding Old Friends

Amaris and Legolas spent the rest of the night just talking and enjoying each other's company. They knew they wouldn't have many more moments like that and they wanted to enjoy it while they could. Dawn approached too quickly for either of their liking. "We should dress, meleth nîn," Legolas said as he ran his fingers up and down Amaris' bare back. She sighed and laid her head that rested on his chest and looked at him.

"You are right. We have much to do." Legolas smiled at her and kissed her forehead. After a few more moments they both rose form the bed and redressed. Amaris felt different as she dressed. Legolas walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her after she slid on her undershirt. Amaris smiled and placed her hands on his arms, when a thought popped into her head. "Legolas, can I ask you a question?" Legolas brought one hand up from her waist and brushed her hair away from her neck and placed a gently kiss at the base of her neck.

"Of course, meleth nîn." Amaris shivered slightly as his breath danced across her neck.

"By elvish law, our bond, doesn't that in a way already make us married?" Legolas smiled.

"In a way, but in the eyes of my people and of our friends a ceremony needs to make it official." Amaris smiled and turned around in his arms so she was facing him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She smiled at him and he at her. Legolas placed a chaste kiss on her lips before resting his forehead against hers. "We should join the others." Amaris paused and listened for a moment. She heard Gimli talking loudly with Aragorn and she smiled.

"Sounds like they are wondering what happened to you last night." Legolas raised an eyebrow and Amaris smiled. "I can hear Gimli asking Aragorn if he had seen you since you were dismissed. Something about talking over the count with you." Legolas laughed and stepped away from her to let her finish dressing. Amaris smiled and picked up her tunic and buttoned it then she slid on her boots as Legolas braided his hair. Amaris sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. She tapped Legolas on the shoulder and he turned around and faced her. "Could you braid my hair again? For some reason I can't braid my own hair." Legolas smiled and kiss her lightly once more before turning her around and braiding her hair like he did before. She turned around and smiled. "Thank you meleth nîn."

"You are welcome." Legolas paused before handing her, her sword belt and quiver. She strapped both on and smiled. "Let's go." He took her hand and led her out of the room. When Gimli spotted Legolas his voice echoed throughout the hall.

"There you are!" Gimli exclaimed as he came and grabbed Legolas by the arm and pulled him outside. Legolas' body jerked slightly when his hand was ripped from Amaris' and Gimli noticed. He turned and faced Amaris and gave her a smile. "Sorry lass. I must steal the elf; we have things to discuss before we ride." Amaris laughed quietly and nodded her head. Legolas looked at her for help but she just smiled at him. When Legolas exited the hall she could feel his apprehension but also he was laughing on the inside. Even with him away from her, she could feel his emotions and smiled. Aragorn stood and watched the elleth's expression unable to read her, which he found strange because she usually was open with her emotions.

"Amaris, are you well?" Aragorn asked as he walked up to her and placed his hand on her elbow. She looked at him and when her eyes met his he was surprised by what he saw. Her eyes were the same deep green eyes but around the pupil of her eye there was a thin blue ring. Aragorn smiled, he knew what that meant.

"I am fine Aragorn. I was just thinking," Amaris said. She paused when she noticed the smile that played across his face. "What is it Aragorn? Why are you smiling like that?" Aragorn leaned in and whispered to her in elvish.

"You are bound?" Amaris' eyes went wide.

"How can you tell?" She asked, her voice a little shaky. Aragorn let out a little laugh.

"Your eyes, Amaris." Amaris brought her hand to her eye and rested it just under her eye on her cheek. "They are still a deep green but around your pupil is a blue ring. You are bound to Legolas?" Amaris nodded.

"Would his eyes also change this way?" Aragorn laughed and nodded. "I never knew about this."

"It is a rarity. It only happens when the bond is created between matching souls." Amaris raised an eyebrow.

"You mean like soul mates?" Amaris asked confusion plainly written on her face. Aragorn smiled and nodded. Amaris went to speak again but King Theoden came out along with his nephew and Gandalf.

"We ride for Isengaurd," King Theoden said. Aragorn and Amaris nodded and followed behind them. Gandalf looked at Amaris and smiled when he noticed her eyes. Hopefully no one else knows about this rarity. Amaris thought to herself as she walked out to the stable to get Marisal and to meet up with Legolas and Gimli. As they walked Amaris remembered something.

"Aragorn, where is Haldir?" Aragorn looked at her and smiled.

"He is staying at Helms Deep. He must prepare his soldiers to head home and to inform the families of the fallen," Aragorn said with a heavy heart. Amaris nodded and didn't say any more.

Legolas was thankful that Gamling came up to him and Gimli and told him to get ready to ride for Isengaurd. He immediately went to the stables ignoring Gimli's ranting behind him. "Gimli, we have no more time to discuss that matter. Let's just say that it was a tie and we will have plenty of opportunities to have a proper competition," Legolas said trying to shut Gimli up. Thankfully it worked. Gimli made a gruff noise and nodded.

"Fine. Fine," Gimli said. He watched Legolas ready Arod and Marisal. Once Legolas was done he walked over to Gimli. Gimli looked up at the elf and noticed his eyes were different. "Lad, did you always have a green ring around the center of your eyes?" Legolas furrowed his brow and when he thought about what Gimli was saying his eyes went wide.

"What color green?" Legolas asked. Gimli looked a little harder.

"A dark green." Legolas smiled and nodded his head.

"Yes my friend. I've always had that ring. It just never really showed before." Gimli nodded and went off to fill his water skin. She truly is my match then. Her eyes must have a blue ring then. I will have to look in the light when she comes for Marisal. Legolas smiled at the thought and soon he was joined by the king, Gandalf, Eomer, Gamling, Aragorn, and Amaris. Gimli was running behind the moving group to catch up but Legolas' eyes were on Amaris. She looked up at him and smiled when she noticed the green ring around his eyes. Amaris took Marisal's reins from Legolas and smiled at him.

"Thank you meleth nîn," she said. Legolas looked at her and smiled.

"You are welcome," Legolas replied as the others mounted their horses. Legolas felt overwhelming happiness coming from Amaris and he knew she was feeling the same from him. Legolas whispered so only she could hear. "Your eyes are beautiful, Amaris." Amaris smiled at him and watched him mount Arod in front of Gimli. She mounted Marisal and urged her towards Arod. She looked at Legolas and whispered back.

"As are yours Legolas." He smiled at her and they followed behind, King Theoden, Gamling, Eomer, Gandalf, and Aragorn as well as three other guards and rode towards Isengaurd.

They were riding through Fangorn Forest and they were almost at Isengaurd. Amaris was humming to herself when Eomer looked at her. He urged his horse over to her and smiled at her.

"It is good to see you well, milady," Eomer said to her. She looked at him and smiled.

"Thank you milord. It is good to see you well also," Amaris said.

"What is that you were humming?" Amaris smiled.

"A song from where I am from." Eomer smiled.

"Perhaps at a better time you could sing it for us?"

"I'm afraid I am not that good of a singer." Eomer shook his head.

"Nonsense. Elves are said to have beautiful voices. Certainly yours matches those of other elven maids." Amaris smiled at him.

"We'll just have to wait and see milord." Eomer nodded his head and joined his uncle. Suddenly, Amaris felt a waive of jealousy hit her. It was coming from Legolas. Amaris smiled and shook her head. She urged Marisal over to Arod. Gimli was looking around and nodded his head at her. Legolas looked at her and gave her a slight smile and then turned his attention back ahead. "Legolas, there is no need to feel that way. As I told you the night we bonded, I gave you my heart and my love. They are no longer mine. They belong to you and you alone." Legolas looked back at her only to meet her eyes. The thin blue ring around her eyes shined brightly as he looked at her and now her eyes reminded him of tree tops brushing against the sky. He smiled at her and she smiled at him.

"You are right," Legolas said. Gimli huffed.

"What is she right about?" Gimli asked causing Amaris to laugh lightly.

"The forest isn't has foreboding as it was during our first travel through it," Legolas said looking at Amaris with a smile. Gimli nodded and Amaris smiled even bigger. They soon came upon a cliff with two familiar figures sitting on top.

"Welcome, my lords, to Isengaurd!" Merry exclaimed and when he saw Amaris he smile grew even bigger. Everyone but Gandalf laughed at their antics and Gimli grumbled.

"You young rascals!" Gimli exclaimed. "A merry hunt you lead us on, and here we find you feasting and smoking!" Amaris, Aragorn, and Legolas smiled. Pippin took a bite of meat and smiled.

"We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying some well earned comforts," Pippin said. He paused and smiled. "The salted pork is particularly good." Gimli smiled.

"Salted pork?" Gimli asked and Amaris laughed quietly. Gandalf sighed.

"Hobbits," Gandalf said under his breath.