Thank you for the reviews! All of you, if you haven't figured it out already, will find out what Legolas said to Aria in this chapter. I don't know if this is my best chapter, but let me know what you think. I may rework this somehow. Enjoy and let me know!

Disclaimer: I own nothing assoicated with Lord of the Rings. I only own Aria and her family.

Chapter 11

As they walked Aria could feel her insides swirling. "Am I falling in love with Legolas?" she asked herself. She mentally shook her head. "I can't fall in love with him. I just can't. Everyone I've loved is dead, my dad, my grandma, my mom, and Gandalf. I loved him like a grandfather and now he's gone too." Aria sighed and Aragorn looked at her as they walked.

"Is everything alright Aria?" he asked her. Aria glanced at the man and began to nod her head but stopped mid movement and shook her head 'no.'

"No, everything isn't alright," she said as she stopped walker. Aragorn stopped next to her and looked at her.

"What troubles you?" Aria closed her eyes to calm herself before she slowly opened them and looked at him.

"I've lost everyone I've ever truly cared about, Aragorn. I've grown to care for all you, for all of the fellowship, and what if because of that more of you die?" Aragorn frowned and put his hands on her shoulders to try and clam the clearly upset elleth down.

"Aria, Gandalf's death was not y our fault. It was no ones. He chose his own path. You did not force him to stand on the bridge and face the Balrog. He did it so we all could continue on. You could not possibly cause someone's death because you love them, Aria." Through his words he hoped he sent her the message she needed to hear. He hoped that she understood that even in dark times anything is possible. Aria wiped her eyes and nodded her head. She leaned into him and embraced him. Aragorn smiled and wrapped his arms around her. Like Legolas, he had become used to Aria's need for contact when she was upset. After a moment, Aria pulled away and gave him a small smile.

"Thanks Aragorn." Aragorn nodded and smiled before he continued to lead her to Ellewen. "Aragorn?"

"Yes?" he answered as they turned down another path.

"What does 'le bain' mean?" Aragorn looked at her and raised an eyebrow. Aria looked up at him. "What?"

"Who told you that?" he asked amusement clear in his voice, knowing full well who spoke those words to her. Aria blushed and shook her head.

"No one. I just heard some others talking and I heard an ellon say it to an elleth and I was just wondering what it meant." Aragorn smiled.

"It means 'you are beautiful.'" Aragorn's smile grew when she blushed deeper.

"Oh," she whispered and she suddenly wished that she could disappear, but Aragorn didn't say anything further and Aria just chose to forget it.

As they walked, Aria looked around the city in amazement at the homes she saw high in the trees. Aragorn stopped in front of her and because she wasn't paying attention she ran into his back. "Omph!" she said when she hit him and he turned around and raised an eyebrow at her. Aria held onto her nose and she could see Aragorn fighting to hold in his laughter. "So much for the grace of elves huh?" Aria asked as she rubbed her nose. Aragorn chuckled and shook his head before he turned to the right and pulled back a curtain like door.

"Good evening milord, milady," a soft voice said and Aria looked to the right and saw a beautiful elleth with golden blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.

"Good evening Ellewen," Aragorn said as he bowed his head. "This is Lady Aria." He motioned to Aria and Ellewen looked at Aria with a kind smile.

"Welcome to Calas Galadhon Lady Aria," Ellewen said. Aria bowed her head.

"Thank you. It is very beautiful here," Aria said. Ellewen smiled and nodded before she looked at Aragorn. Aragorn nodded and touched Aria's shoulder.

"I will see you back at the camp," he said. Aria nodded and Aragorn left the room.

"Come Lady Aria let us get you clean and comfortable so you may rest." Aria smiled at Ellewen and nodded her head before she followed the elleth into another room.

Aria slowly made her way back from the bathing area, her hair now clean and dry flowed nicely down her back and smelt of wildflowers and the cream colored dress given to by Ellewen fit comfortably, but Aria couldn't wait for her leggings and tunics back. As she stepped into the camp, she heard the others talking. "A lament for Gandalf," Legolas said. Aria stopped and listened to the beautiful voices of the elves. She smiled but could feel the great sorrow and pain in their words.

"What do they say about him?" Merry asked from where he laid on his bed. Aria looked at Legolas, waiting to see if he would tell him because she was curious as well. Legolas looked at Merry with sorrow clear on his face.

"I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near," Legolas said. Aria studied the elf. Legolas had seemed to have aged in his eyes since they left Moria. Gandalf's death was heavy on his heart and she wished she could take it all away.

Aria turned and quickly ran from the camp and through the trees along a soft grass covered path. However, she did not flee unnoticed and was followed. Aria came across a small clearing. Something felt like home there and she sat down on the soft moss below a tall tree. She clutched her mother's pendant and sighed. There was too much going through her mind.

"This place was also a sanctuary to your mother," a familiar female voice rang out. Aria stiffened and sat up straight before she turned around to look at the Lady of Light, Galadriel.

"You knew my mother?" she asked. Galadriel smiled and nodded her head.

"Your mother came to Calas Galadhon many a time with my granddaughter, Arwen." Aria's eyes widened and Galadriel smiled. "Yes, she is my granddaughter. I am much older than you believe me to be." Aria blushed and smiled. Galadriel walked over to Aria and joined Aria by sitting in the soft moss. "Your heart is heavy child. Torn between something new and the fear of what may be." Aria sighed and nodded her head. Galadriel gave her a kind smile and decided it would be best to speak to her about what she had come to speak with her about. "Your powers are almost fully developed. Have you had any difficulty controlling them?" Aria smiled at Galadriel. She figured that Galadriel knew many things, and a lot about the people and beings around her.

"Only in the beginning, but they have become easier to manipulate," Aria said. Galadriel smiled.

"There is still much you need to learn. I will be more than happy to teach you what I know of your powers. Your grandfather left scriptures in my care and I will share them with you if you would like."

"How long would it take?" Galadriel gave her a sad smile.

"For you to learn, it will take more time than the fellowship has in Lothlorien." Aria felt her heart drop. She wanted to learn of her powers more than anything, but she wanted to continue her journey with the fellowship, with Legolas. She made a pledge to help the fellowship. She was part of them. "You do not have to stay and you do not have to travel with the fellowship. The choice is purely yours." Galadriel stood and smiled down at Aria. "Let your heart guide you to your wisest choice." Aria nodded and Galadriel slowly left Aria and made her way towards the fellowship's camp. Aria sighed and stood before she slowly made her way back to camp.

Legolas was nearly pacing the camp eagerly waiting for Aria to return. He heard her soft footfalls and he looked up to see her walking towards him, she was stunning in the dress of Lothlorien but her face showed confusion and great hesitation. Once she reached her canopy and sat down on her blankets, he walked over to her. "Aria?" he asked and she looked up at him. "Where have you been?"

"I was in the forest," she said. She was trying to decide to tell him what Galadriel said and she decided to tell him. Maybe he would be able to tell her what he would do. "Legolas, Lady Galadriel came to me while I was in the forest." He kneeled down in front of her and put her clasped hands into his as they rested on her knees. "She made me an offer."

"An offer?" he asked with his brow furrowed.

"My grandfather left scriptures with her regarding my powers. She said she would teach me if I wished, however, it will take more time than we have here." Aria felt Legolas' grip on her hands tighten slightly. "She said I could stay and have her teach me or I could continue with the fellowship and I don't know what to do."

"What does your heart tell you?" he asked. Aria gave him a sad smile and shook her head.

"It's torn!" she exclaimed in a whisper. "I made a promise to Frodo," she paused and met his stare, "to all of you, but yet I want to stay and learn more of my powers and of my family. I don't know what to do Legolas." He raised his hand and wiped a tear that fell from her cheek.

"Aria," he whispered but he couldn't finish because Aria lifted her fingers and put them on his lips.

"Why did you say I was beautiful?" Legolas' eyes widened slightly and Aria lowered her hand.

"How did you know?"

"I asked Aragorn." Legolas nodded and cupped her cheek.

"I said you are beautiful because you are and it pains me to see you this way." Aria swallowed hard and willed the blush away from her cheeks. Legolas felt her skin warm under his hand and he slowly pulled it away from her.

"Do you wish me to go with you?"

"I know how important it is for you to learn of your powers and . . . if that means you staying in Lothlorien for a time then so be it." He quickly stood and turned away from her Aria stood and stepped in front of him.

"Legolas, I will not stay if you want me to. I can always learn after our journey. Legolas, please just tell me what you wish." Legolas shook his head.

"It is not my decision to make Aria. It is yours." Aria felt tears in her eyes. She just wanted him to tell her what was in his heart but he was being stubborn.

"Legolas . . . please," she whispered. Legolas wouldn't look at her, but he could hear her sorrow in her voice. It wasn't his choice and no matter how much he wanted her to continue with them, he wasn't going to tell her because he knew she would choose to go with him if he said it. However, he couldn't do that to her. She needed to learn of her powers and of her family. Galadriel knew her grandparents well and she would be the best one to teach her. Who knew if she would ever make it back to Lorien and that simple thought made his heart ache. He knew she needed to stay. Legolas took a deep breath and looked at Aria's tear filled eyes.

"Stay Aria. Learn of your powers and of your family." With that Legolas stepped aside and left Aria alone standing under her canopy. Aria's tears fell down her cheeks.

"So, he doesn't care for me," she thought. "I guess he just got caught up in the moment of being so close to me and holding me, when he was about to kiss me." A sob escaped her lips and a fierce wind spun around her and disappeared. She covered her lips with her hand and laid down on her blankets, willing the pain in her heart away and decided to tell Galadriel in the morning before the fellowship left that she would be staying.