Well, here we are, for the last time…

I'll save my words for the end.

Here's the last chapter!

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Legolas awoke slowly. His first thought was How did I fall asleep? And where am I? He looked around the room groggily and saw Eowyn asleep in her chair, an innocent smile on her face. Ah, now he remembered. He mentally reminded himself to get revenge later.

Suddenly he recalled why he was here. Aragorn! He quickly focused his attention on the bed in front of him. Its inhabitant was sleeping peacefully. Legolas leaned over and checked his breathing. It was sure and steady, and his heartbeat was strong.

Legolas smiled. Aragorn would be alright. But now the hardest part would begin: keeping him in the bed. He found Aragorn's hand again and grasped it tightly. It was much more comforting than the freezing cold one he had grasped the night before. Thinking absently, he started to whisper to him as he always did when Aragorn was injured. Which, come to think of it, was quite often.

"Ah, mellon nin, why is it that you cannot go anywhere without getting into some kind of trouble? I swear, you must be cursed. You can find trouble everywhere! I bet you could walk in Elrond's gardens and find some insane Elf or man who is out for your blood. Maybe it's just-" Suddenly he was cut off by another weak whisper.

"Not my fault…t-trouble finds me." Silver eyes opened slowly and smiled at him.

"Aragorn! You're awake! How do you feel? Where does it hurt? I had the pain reliever here somewhere…" Legolas began to rummage around Aragorn's pack. Aragorn laughed weakly.

"Easy, Legolas. I am fine." Legolas turned all the way around and stared at his friend in disbelief.

"Fine," he repeated slowly. "Fine. You think you are 'fine'. I think I may have to disagree with you there. You see, a 'fine' person would not need over a hundred stitches just to prevent them from bleeding to death. Or several rolls of bandages to hold their broken ribs, which they chose not to mention to ANYONE! You, Estel, are not fine."

Broken ribs? Stitches? So that was why he felt like a troll had used him as a club, Aragorn mused silently.

"Well, you are not fine either, are you? What's this?" Aragorn remarked as he reached up to gently touch the bandage wrapped around Legolas's head. Legolas followed his hand there and found the bandage. He started.

"I don't remember…Eowyn! She must have done it when I was asleep! That-" He mumbled colorfully as he tried to unwrap the bandage. Aragorn was shaking on the bed in silent laughter, which quickly turned into a moan as the cut on his face made itself known. This set off a number of reactions.

Eowyn, Merry, Pippin, and Gandalf all woke up and ran to the bed. Legolas stopped tugging at his bandage and checked his temperature. Aragorn almost started laughing again at the messy group around his bed. Merry and Pippin were rubbing their eyes still. Gandalf's usually perfectly kept beard was in disarray and looked rather pointy. And Eowyn's hair looked rather like it had exploded. Even Legolas looked ridiculous, with the bandage halfway hanging off his head.

Aragorn smiled ruefully up at them.

"Um, good morning, everyone!"

Merry and Pippin immediately leapt onto the bed with cries of "Strider!" and "You're alright!" to embrace him. Aragorn only winced slightly when they put pressure on his injured chest, but warmly embraced them back. Eowyn finally snapped out of her sleepiness.

"Merry! Pippin! Be careful, you two!" she reprimanded them. Aragorn smiled his thanks at her. She grinned back, cheered by his response, and immediately began to boil water for tea. Meanwhile, Merry and Pippin got off of Aragorn, both babbling nonstop.

"Oh, Strider, we were so worried. Did you-"

"We knew you would get into trouble again, didn't we, Pip? And-"

Aragorn would have responded, but he was busy trying to sit up. Gandalf, who was closest to his head, gently laid a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down.

"You cannot possibly be thinking of getting up so soon, correct?" He said, sounding remarkably like Lord Elrond. Aragorn scowled as best he could, and carefully pushed his hand away.

"I have been lying down for so long. I just want to sit up." Eowyn came back to the bed, carrying a steaming cup.

"It's alright, Gandalf, let him sit up. He has to drink this anyway." She carefully helped Gandalf prop him up and put several pillows behind him. Satisfied, she handed Aragorn the cup.

Aragorn took it, but just before drinking it he raised it and sniffed it. His features contorted as he recognized the odor. As a final check, he looked at it and carefully noted the color. After a few seconds he smiled.

"Nice try." He smirked as he handed the cup back to Eowyn. She was astounded.

"You are in pain, don't try to hide it. Drink it!" Aragorn grinned ruefully.

"What kind of healer would I be if I couldn't tell what a sleeping draught is? I don't need any more rest."

"Aragorn," Eowyn replied. "You have to drink this. Just yesterday you were almost dead! You are better, and I thank the Valar for that, but you are not well yet. It's just for a few hours more. You need that." Again she pushed the cup toward him, and again Aragorn wouldn't take it. Eowyn grew frustrated.

"By the Valar! I give up! You are just as bad as him!" she pointed an accusing finger at Legolas, who had finally succeeded in getting the bandage off.

"Just as bad? He is the worst patient in Arda!" Legolas argued indignantly. "Just mention the name 'Strider' and 'injured' to any healer on the east side of the Misty Mountains, and they will either run for their lives, or simply jump off the nearest cliff."

"Me? And what about you? Every healer west of the mountains knows you and your reputation of being the patient from Mordor-."

"Enough of that," Eowyn interrupted. Merry and Pippin were cracking up behind her. "I have to check your wounds anyway."

She bent over Aragorn and carefully unwound the bandage around his ribs. Once the cuts were exposed, she actually jumped back.

To her surprise, all of the cuts looked almost completely healed, even the dagger wound.

"I-I don't believe this!" she exclaimed. "They are almost as good as new! Why, I could even remove the stitches this afternoon!" Aragorn laughed at her obvious astonishment.

"My elven blood enables me to heal quickly. It is the one part of my heritage I am thankful for!" Eowyn kept her surprised look even after checking his ribs, which she declared were healing well and would probably be alright after tomorrow.

Later on, Gandalf removed the stitches. It seemed that Eowyn had learned something of Aragorn's stubbornness and realized that he wouldn't be that way to Gandalf. He still refused to take a sleeping draught, though he accepted the pain relieving one. Nonetheless, removing the seemingly countless stitches was not pleasant. The ones on his face they left for the next morning.

As the shadows grew longer, they retired, each to their separate rooms this time. Even Gimli, who had slept nearly all day. He had woken only at about four, claiming he was starving. Legolas had ruefully followed him to their shared room, but not before warning Aragorn to stay in bed unless he wanted to be tied to it the next day. Aragorn had simply smiled and bid him goodnight.

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Much later, when the stars were bright overhead, Aragorn awoke. He tried to get back to sleep, but he became exceedingly restless and at last decided to just go outside to the balcony. He carefully rolled out of bed, only wincing when he put pressure on his ribs. Elvish blood or not, he still needed time to heal.

He carefully made his way to the balcony. Once outside, he felt his spirit refreshed. Aragorn looked musingly at the stars, bright and beautiful across the sky. There was no shadow above them tonight, but he could still detect a great uneasiness across the city. Minas Tirith had been won, but tomorrow they would ride out to face Sauron. Eowyn was against it for a while, but could not stop Aragorn, who at the time had been set on not being the reason to delay their only chance. Eomer had come earlier in the day, and after raging over Aragorn's state, had agreed to assemble his riders for the next day.

Aragorn took a deep breath and turned to go back inside. But in the doorway, he was face-to-face with Eowyn.

"My lady," he said after a moment. "What are you-." Eowyn caught him carefully by the arm.

"Don't you dare move those ribs anymore than you have to. I knew that you would like a midnight stroll." She said knowingly. Aragorn smiled and made his way back in. Eowyn followed. As Aragorn sat on the bed, she smiled sadly.

"Good luck tomorrow." She said softly. "I know you will go into battle, but just remember one thing." Aragorn cocked his head, wordlessly inquiring.

"If you get yourself hurt again…" She paused. "I shall be forced to get Ioreth to patch you up."

Aragorn grinned.

END

I just want to say how much of a great experience this has been for me. My ENDLESS thanks to my reviewers. You guys have encouraged me on every step of the way…

I still am at a blank regarding a sequel or anything, but I do have another story that will be posted soon: A Red Sun Rises. I can't give away the plot here, but I promise- it will have tons of angst for our favorite ranger!

Once again, thanks to everyone, and PLEASE drop a review for this! I will respond via individual emails, so PLEASE tell me how it was!

Navear, and hannon le!

QueenofFlarmphgal