8 die/ 11 live as of this chapter. Since this is such a short chapter, I'll probably get another one up tomorrow, but then none until early January.

I have once again had a reviewer send in a suggestion for something I was already planning on doing… Is this just coincidence?

As for how much is left… I'm not really sure. Chapters are short, so I can't tell by that… but they'll be visiting for a while—a few chapters—and then we have to get to Lunian's end and find out what Legolas ends up doing. So… I don't know how much longer it will be.

Finally, just one final left! Of course, it's the worst one… I suppose I should go…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The sun draped red velvet across the land as it slipped into bed, the stars already beginning to glow on the eastern horizon. Lunian smiled to see it so clearly once more, for the setting of the sun and the appearance of the stars was something she had missed most of the time while in Mirkwood.

A pair of strong arms slid around her waist as Legolas bent his head down beside hers, rubbing his cheek to hers before kissing her shoulder, ignoring the elves around them studiously.

There were only four elves with them on this trip, but that was four too many in her opinion. She would much rather have come alone with Legolas, and only partially understood why that couldn't be. After all, he was the prince, and they couldn't let him go anywhere on his own, now could they? Never mind he had been the elf of the fellowship, one of nine who helped save the world, he was their prince, and could not possible take care of himself.

And orcs could fly.

A soft chuckle rumbled against her back, ending with a trail of kisses up her neck to behind her ear. "Patience, Milady. When we get there we can slip away from them."

She smiled faintly and closed her eyes, leaning back. She lifted one hand and touched his cheek, letting her fingers wander towards his ear. As she had expected, he caught her hand before she could touch the erogenous zone. "Good," she murmured softly in return, turning her head just enough she could smile at him and accept a quick kiss before she faced the sunset once more, glad they had paused for the evening meal so they could enjoy the colorful display.

Legolas rested his head against hers and watched longer than she was able, seeing the stars mingle with the last bloody hues. The death of another day was at hand. He mourned the passing of this day as he had the last, and all the previous ones since he had come to realize he loved a mortal.

She was half asleep on her feet, her eyes half open as she leaned against him, so he picked her up and carried her to where one of the elves had laid out her blankets. His things had been studiously placed a distance away, so he released her to retrieve them, pulling his cloak over them both after stretching out beside her. "Sleep well, my love," he murmured in her ear, not loudly enough anyone else could hear without trying to. It was their tradition, and no one else needed to bear witness to it.