- - - Grace - - -

I woke up alone. I could hear Gimli's gruff voice coming from off to my left. I guessed that they were arguing judging by the tone I could hear Aragorn using. Did I even want to ask? I don't think so, I was going to stay right there and go back to sleep. At least that was my plan until Éowyn swooped down onto me and demanded we go clean up before the caravan started on its way again.

I rubbed my eyes and tried to stay awake as she dragged me over to what looked to be what they set up as a temporary washing spot with several small barrels of water. Aragorn wandered over, looking angry about whatever him and Gimli had been fighting about. Éowyn flashed him a gigantic smile and he grinned back at her. I could see her starting to flip her gorgeous blonde hair around, so I decided to wreck the moment.

It wasn't that bad. Honestly, I'm sure it didn't even hurt him! I mean, he deserved it! Okay, so, it put him in a bad mood for several hours but really, it was so worth it. I would do it again if she started to turn on the charm and he was just flirting shamelessly. Jeeze, what a hooker.

I picked up one of the containers of water and dumped it on his head. And let me tell you, I ran as fast as I could before he could catch me.

- - - Aragorn - - -

The sun had long ago come up and almost dried all of me. We were making good time and might make it there by the middle of the sixth day if we kept up this pace. I hoped Saruman would hold off whatever he was planning until then.

I watched as Grace danced ahead of us. She hummed to herself and seemed completely happy. I shook my head at her, still slightly displeased about what she had done to me that morning. She picked several flowers and wound them into a wreath. Setting it on Gimli's head, she continued dancing and singing quietly to herself, seemingly oblivious to the looks some of the citizens of Rohan were giving her.

Gimli took off his crown of flowers and looked at it. After studying it for a while, he seemed to think it was worthy to give to Lady Éowyn. Immediately, she placed it on her fair head. My mood lightened as I watched Éowyn catch up to Grace and start a conversation. Their friendship seemed to be blossoming right in front of us all.

A small child closer to the front of the line called Éowyn and she ran off, leaving Grace by herself. Turning, Grace spotted me and started to walk towards me. I gave her a sour look but she just ignored it and fell into step with me, still smiling and humming.

"Why did you do it?" I asked her suddenly.

She looked at me, seemingly unsurprised. "Why did you do it?"

Why did I do what? I hadn't done anything! I opened my mouth to ask but she cut me off.

"She's an elf, isn't she?"

"What?! Grace, speak some sense! Who is an elf?" I was confused and she seemed to know this. Then she reached out and touched the necklace that had been a gift from Arwen. I felt a lurch in my stomach. Shaking my head slightly, I waved her hands away. "I don't - she - 'Tis nothing you need to know," I said finally.

"Well, there's the answer to your question," she said, sounding slightly bitter.

"What?" I asked again.

"You asked why I dumped water on you. Don't you see Aragorn? To you, Éowyn is like any other friend. If you were to see it from my perspective, you wouldn't see her like that again." She paused, appearing to be trying to find words. "You are just hurting her more."

I opened my mouth to ask What? again, but then Legolas broke off our conversation. He was mounted on Arod and reached a hand down to Grace.

"Arwenamin, would you come with me to scout ahead?" A childish gleam came to her face, and Grace eagerly allowed herself to pulled onto the horse in front of Legolas. I watched them ride off, the sun about to start to sink behind them. Éowyn came back just then, and again I wondered what Grace had meant as we began a conversation.

- - - Legolas - - -

As Grace and I rode farther ahead of all the people, I felt her look back. She must have seen something to anger her because she seemed to tense up and become suddenly sullen. I stopped Arod and jumped down. Offering my hand to Grace, I studied her face.

She had changed so much. No longer was she the quiet, sullen girl I had once met. Now she was full of laughter and full of life. She didn't withdraw herself from us any longer. She trusted us.

Trust. Something about that tugged at my mind. I tried to think of it while I searched the distance with my eyes. I could hear her singing the song she had been singing yesterday with Lady Éowyn.When the answer to all my dreams

Is as close as a touch away

Why am I here holding back what I'm trying to say?

Lift me up

In your eyes

If you told me this is where heaven is, well then you'd be right

Hold me close

To your heart

I would go with you to the ends of the earth and we'll fly

I've been waiting forever for this, this is the night ¹

The words were beautiful. I hadn't listened to them when I heard her singing it before. I finally remembered why trust had stirred something in me. The scars on Grace's wrists had faded more than ever. They would not be very obvious if you didn't know they were there. I remembered the cuts that had been there when I had first met her. What had looked to be knife cuts. Aragorn knew what they were and why they were there.

Grace's face looked serene and it was almost as if she had an inner light glowing. She was close to resembling an Eldar when she looked this peaceful. The song had calmed her and as I watched her standing there in the long, flowing grass, hair braided, she had never looked more beautiful. As I studied her again, I realized that she wasn't nearly as attractive as Éowyn. But yet, there was something that drew you towards her.Finally, she turned to me.

"Did you see anything?" she asked.

I shook my head at her. She wandered over to Arod and patted him on the nose. The horse blew at her and she laughed. I watched this interaction.

"Legolas, you still wonder about my scars, don't you?"

I was taken so aback, it took me several seconds to answer her. Of course I wondered! "Yes," I said simply.

"Aragorn said you had the right to know. Maybe that's true. Do you think you should know? I know you want to." Grace's face was utterly serious. But she looked calm, still serene. "But you're an elf. You love life don't you? It's different for you than for humans. You have love. I didn't have love. I had nothing left to live for. I did this to get out of life. It was selfish, I know. I don't care, I had a fresh start here. I know I didn't deserve it but I still got it."

"I don't understand," I said slowly.

"I killed myself, Legolas," she said, also slowly.

"But," I began, "but, you are alive!"

She laughed again, but it sounded different. "I know. I don't understand how, but I'm alive. And I don't deserve it." Grace was silent for a second. "We should get back," she said, closing the short conversation. I nodded and helped her onto the horse.

And as we rode back, I realized something. I knew what she had done to herself but it didn't change anything. I knew resistance was useless. There was nothing I could do. I knew that the fight was over. I knew that this was right. I knew that everything had changed, yet was still the same. I knew. I knew I was falling in love with Grace.

(A/N: And here we go! And I think this kinda gives the answer to someone's question Is this a Legomance? Yessir, yessir, it is! I think I made a mistake in one of the previous chapters. Did I call the city Rohan? I'm not sure. I think it might be Edoras but that's just a MAYBE! I'm not li'l miss genius, okay? Okay. This chapter's kinda short, sorry, I'll try n' update soon! Review, Review, Review!)

¹ Song performed by Clay Aiken on American Idol. "This Is The Night"