Title: "After the Wars"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 7, "Painless"

A/N: Thanks for reading, and your continued support. Please read and review.

Aragorn entered the room quietly. The light colored veils over the bed hid Legolas from him. Perhaps it was for the better, at least for now, because his voice was stuck in the back of his throat. Silent, he came closer to the bed. Sitting down on a well-positioned chair, Aragorn let his eyes wander over Legolas, who was lying with his eyes closed. His breathing was faint, his lips slightly opened, and his hands positioned as if he were already perhaps dead.

Legolas drew in a sudden breath, louder than the rest, and opened his eyes. Swallowing, he turned to face Aragorn. His body relaxed, and he reached out with a hand. Aragorn took his hand and held it, desperately wishing his hands would be warmer. His cerulean eyes no longer held fear, but rather, let Aragorn see it as bright as day.

"How long," the elf asked quietly, knowing no other way to phrase the question. It was hard to ask. However, it was harder for Aragorn to try to answer. He dipped his head, letting a lock of hair fall in front of his face, and then glanced back up. Tears already were beginning to fill his eyes.

"You will be fine," Aragorn lied. "You just need rest, and some herbs, and everything will clear up."

"You were in the gardens," Legolas spoke in a whisper. "I can smell the nectar on your clothing. Aragorn, you never used to go in the gardens of any palace, none. When you brought me here, you did not smell of nectar. Why did you promenade through the gardens on this day Aragorn, if not but to let go?"

"I will not let go," Aragorn insisted. He held Legolas' hand tighter and leaned forward. He kissed Legolas' forehead, leaving his lips there for some time, and let a tear fall from the corner of his eye. "Rest for me Legolas, and get well, for without you I will be nothing."

Legolas let a smile cross his lips. It was not because his mood had changed. He still felt the same as before. It was not for him, but for Aragorn, who needed all the hope he could be given. He closed his eyes, and pretended to fall back to a state of sleep.

He did not sleep though. Instead, he concentrated on the world around him, and on his breathing. Beside him he could hear the tired breathing of the king of men. It was not hard to listen to this. Aragorn breathed so loud Legolas wondered how long it would take before he could stand listening to him no more. His own breathing was faint, and pressure fell on his left lung. There was liquid filling his lung, and for some reason, he felt as if he could feel his body bleeding internally. Yet he knew he could feel no such thing, just knew about it.

After a long while he stopped listening to what was going on around him. He knew that Aragorn, as hard as he had tried, had already fallen asleep beside him. As the world around him fell away he stopped listening to his own breathing. Instead he let his mind wander into blackness. As soon as darkness enveloped him he felt peace. Dying, he thought at that moment, would not be so bad.

What had he done in life, he began to wonder, that would be worth leaving behind. The truth was, nothing. He could not think of one thing that would be left in his legacy. This is what caused him to open his eyes. He turned to slowly look at Aragorn, who slept soundly in his chair, and then began to push himself up. He was in a sitting position when Aragorn suddenly awoke.

"What are you doing," Aragorn asked as he moved to help stable the weak prince. "You should not be moving so. It could injure you further."

Legolas smiled softly, "Aragorn, the sea calls for me. I know that my time is approaching. You need not lie to me. I am not afraid of death, but rather, of life I suppose."

"Don't speak so," the king pleaded. "Things will be fine. You just need to rest. Do not give up so easily, prince of Mirkwood, my love."

"Aragorn," Legolas asked. "When I pass on, will you remember me as I was…and will you be able to think of at least one thing that I have done in life that has made me worthy?"

Aragorn nodded, "Legolas, you have done so much. Do not worry about what will happen just yet though. Syratelas says that you will be fine, that you are strong, and will be back to yourself in a few days. By the end of the season you will be back to riding, and I will take you to the stable with me, and we will ride across my lands. You must see the woods with me, and there is a brook that meets a great tree with white bark, and it is so magnificent in all of its valor that only you will be able to appreciate it as it should be."

"A tree with white bark," Legolas said with a smile, "in your lands?"

"The only one Legolas," the king responded, glad to change the subject away from death. "It made me think of you when first I saw it. The brook sits at its side, and a stream forks around the tree, making a small isle. And then, once past the tree, the stream becomes one again. The tree is secluded, and only I have been there."

"You took not Arwen?"

Aragorn shook his head, "No. I found it while she was visiting her father, and all of Rivendell. I could not take her there. I knew, in my heart, that it was meant for only you. Because you are the one that I thought of when I took my walk there."

"Aragorn," Legolas said as he felt a pain grip his chest, "can I ask something of you?"

"Of course."

"I have long missed the taste of fruit juice. Would you mind going and getting me a glass?"

Aragorn nodded. He then got up and kissed Legolas on the forehead. After that he got up and left the room. Legolas knew that it would be the last time that he would see him. He could feel it in his veins. Silently, as the door shut, he let out a breath of pained air. A small cry escaped his lips as he clutched his chest. Then, it hurt no longer. He glanced at the light that filled the room, glad that he was not in shadows, and let his eyes slowly close.

Aragorn entered the room with a smile on his lips. He crossed the room, placing the drink down on the table, and then turned his eyes to see Legolas. He sat down, not wishing to disturb the sleeping prince. He sat back, glad that Legolas was sleeping, and crossed his arms. But realization hit him hard across the face.

"Legolas," Aragorn said as he leaned forward, grabbing Legolas' hand with his own. It was as cold as ice, colder than he had been before. Aragorn shook him lightly. "Legolas."

He let the tears begin to fall even as he put a hand on Legolas' neck. Knowing that he could now do nothing, he put his forehead on Legolas' chest. He gripped at his shirt, and screamed into his chest. The king lifted his head, and placed his lips on Legolas', putting hands on both sides of his face.

"Legolas," Aragorn whispered, "wake up."

It was a failed request though. For Legolas, the prince of Mirkwood, would never again open his eyes. The seas had called him home. His soul left him, letting only his body remain, and for the first time he was completely free of pain.

xxviii