Sorry it took me all day to update. Thank you so much for the reviews, even though the last one was a short chapter. I hope you enjoy this one. Let me know!

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

Chapter 18

Aria felt Legolas' kiss, but she thought it was a dream until she heard his request. "Return to me, pen dithen (little one). Le melin (I love you)," his voice echoed in her mind. She slowly opened her eyes, and when she did, she felt no pain and slowly sat up but she was no longer in Helms Deep. She laid in a field of long grass and wild flowers that gently blew in the wind. She frowned and stood as she looked around her in confusion.

"Where am I?" she thought to herself. Aria began to walk towards a running brook but stopped in her tracks when she saw a woman and man standing with their backs to her. "Excuse me?" she asked still uncertain as to who those people were. The woman and man turned around and Aria stumbled backwards but didn't fall. "It can't be," she whispered. However, they smiled and the man stepped closer to her and took her hands into his.

"Hello, Ria," her father said as his brown eyes smiled at her and gently squeezed her hands. Tears came to Aria's eyes and she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight. David just chuckled quietly and wrapped his arms around his daughter. "You are even more beautiful than I ever imagined you'd be." Aria pulled away and looked up at him and then she bent her head slightly to look at the woman. There was her mother looking at her with a smile on her face and a sparkle in her light green eyes.

"Daddy is that . . ." she said but she trailed off and looked at David who smiled at her.

"Yes, Ria, that is your mother," he said quietly. Marwen walked over and smiled at Aria who had stepped away from her father and was now facing Marwen with wonder etched across her face. Marwen raised her hand and cupped Aria's cheek.

"Hello my daughter. Forgive me for leaving you when I did but my body could no longer carry on, but I've watched you grow into the wonderful woman, or should I say elleth, you are today," Marwen said. Her voice was soft and soothing much like Arwen's was but different. Suddenly, Aria's eyes widened.

"Am I . . . am I dead?" she asked as she looked between her parents. Marwen and David just smiled and shook their heads.

"No you're not dead Ria," David said. "However, you are in a state where your body is repairing itself." Marwen nodded.

"At this moment you are in Edoras in Rohan and under the care of Lady Eowyn," Marwen said. Aria nodded but was still very confused.

"What of Haldir, Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli, and . . . and Legolas?" she asked. Marwen smiled and took Aria's left hand into hers and looked at the ring that rested there.

"They all are fine and are returning to Edoras from Isengard after they spoke with the wizard Saruman to try and gain information about the dark lord's plans," Marwen said but then raised her eyes to meet Aria's. "You love him don't you?" Aria's eyes widened and David furrowed his brow.

"Love? Love who?" he asked and Aria looked at him.

"Legolas," Marwen said as she turned to look at David and let go of Aria's hand. "He is the son of Thranduil, King of Mirkwood." David raised an eyebrow and Marwen looked back at Aria with a smile. "He is a good ellon. I remember meeting him shortly before I . . . before I met your father." Aria smiled and nodded her head.

"I do love him, very much," Aria paused and looked at the ring that rested on her finger. "He was the one who found me when I transported to Imladris." Aria's brow furrowed and she looked up at her parents. "How can I be here with you?" Marwen smiled.

"You are in a realm between life and death so your body can heal properly," Marwen said. Aria nodded and looked at her father.

"How come you never told me? How come you never told me that mom was an elf and from another world?" David smiled and stepped over to her. He put his hand on her shoulder and shrugged.

"Would you have believed me if I told you?" he asked and Aria blushed and shook her head 'no.'

"I don't know, but I was a child. I probably would have believed anything you told me." Aria sighed and hugged him. "I've missed you so much." David wrapped his arms around his daughter.

"I have missed you too, but your mother and I have been watching over you," he said. Aria nodded and looked at her mother as she hugged her father. Marwen smiled at her and Aria pulled away from her dad.

"The powers are strong in you. You will do fine," Marwen said. Aria hugged her mother and Marwen smiled as she embraced her daughter even tighter. "I'm afraid we will never meet again, sell nîn (my daughter)." Aria sighed and nodded as she pulled away.

"Aria," David said. Aria looked at him and he smiled. "I love you Ria and take care of yourself." Aria nodded and felt like she was being pulled away. She looked down at her hands and saw herself fading away.

"Mom, dad, what's happening?" she asked.

"The poison has left your body. Remember, we are always watching over you," Marwen said. Aria blinked her eyes several times because they felt heavy. Soon she could no longer fight them and sleep overcame her.

Legolas quickly made his way up the stairs to the Golden Hall after he had helped Gimli dismount from Arod. As he entered, he spotted Eowyn speaking with a servant about the coming celebration to take place in two nights. "Lady Eowyn," Legolas said interrupting her conversation. Eowyn looked at Legolas. "As Lady Aria woken yet?" he asked. Eowyn shook her head.

"Nay milord. I have just come from her chamber and she still sleeps, but she is no longer pale. Come I will lead you," Eowyn said as she turned from the hall and led Legolas down the corridor to a room next to the healing chamber. Legolas stepped inside and stepped over to the bed where Aria laid. Eowyn had braided her hair and she was dressed in a night dress. He took her hand into his and was relieved to feel the warm of her skin had returned. "I will leave you, milord." Legolas nodded and turned his eyes back to Aria. He raised his free hand and gently ran his fingers down her cheek.

"Aria," he whispered but got no response. He sighed, let go of her hand and put his head in his hands as he laid it down on the edge of the bed. He silently prayed that she would be well. Suddenly, a hand touched his shoulder and he looked up expecting to see Aragorn or someone behind him when his eyes were captured by a pair of light green ones that looked at him tiredly.

"Legolas, it is alright," she said quietly and Legolas nearly yelled out but kept quiet as he quickly took her hand into his.

"Aria, I . . . forgive me for not speaking with you before we went into battle. I-" Aria squeezed his hand, she was still too weak to do much else.

"Legolas, you were trying to focus. I understand." Legolas shook his head.

"I should have stayed near you. I should have had you ride out with me. I shouldn't have left you to fight alone."

"I didn't fight alone. I fought along side Haldir and other soldiers. I was not alone," she said as she squeezed his hand again thinking of her mother and father. Her eyes were heavy and she felt drained once more. "Legolas, I am so tired." He moved up the bed and used his right hand to cup her cheek.

"Sleep then, meleth nîn (my love). I will not leave your side." Aria gave him a small smile.

"No, Legolas, you must go and rest yourself. You've traveled for a long time and I know you have not rested well when you should have. I promise I will not go anywhere."

"As you wish," Legolas said with a smile. "But I will not leave until you have fallen asleep." Aria nodded.

"I just have one question for you. Why did you call me little one, when I am only about an inch or two shorter than you?" Legolas frowned.

"How did you know?"

"I thought it was a dream when I felt your lips on mine, but then I heard your words and I knew it was real." Legolas smiled.

"I called you little one as a term of endearment." Aria chuckled and nodded before she slowly closed her eyes and succumbed to the sleep her body needed to rejuvenate itself. Legolas sighed and brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Garo bost vaer meleth nîn. (sleep well my love)," he whispered before he brushed his lips to hers one last time and left her room to wash and rest himself.