Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings but if I did.....drool........Legolas.......hot elf...drool.....Elrond.....argh!!!! Elrond get out of my fantasy!!!!! All the new characters are my own creations with a few suggestions from my friend (Gilraen) thrown in.

Chapter 5

When in Lothlórien

"We should have seen it," said Gimli, "She just kept shivering."

"It is not our fault," said Aragorn, "We had other things on our minds and she didn't mention anything." They were sat at a camp in the middle of the forest of Lothlórien. Everyone was there except Legolas. He had refused to leave Tigerlily's side. She had weakened a lot by the time they had got to Lothlórien. Aragorn knew if she didn't receive proper care she and with it being only January, she could die before her twenty-seventh. Her condition had worsened over the next couple of days before she had started to recover but Legolas had remained unmoved by her side.

"Why didn't she say anything?" asked Pippin, "We could have helped. I would have given her my blanket."

"Really Pippin?" said Sam

"Well, depends how cold it was," said Pippin.

"This is no time for jokes," said Legolas' voice. He had appeared suddenly.

"Is she..." Frodo didn't want to finish his sentence.

"No," said Legolas, "Galadriel said if I didn't get some rest, I would be of no use to anyone."

"How is she?" asked Aragorn.

"Recovering slowly," said Legolas, gratefully accepting the water offered to him by Boromir, "Galadriel said she had pneumonia and was very lucky." He swallowed the water, bringing relief to his dry throat.

"Let's hope she makes a full recovery," said Boromir. Even though they had got off to a bad start, he had got on quite well with Tigerlily.

"Galadriel says you can go see her now," said Legolas. Pippin and Merry ran off towards where Tigerlily was being kept under a watchful eye. Boromir and the others followed, leaving Legolas on his own. He cradled his head in his hands. He was supposed to be just friends with Tigerlily but he had remained next to her for an entire week. He wasn't supposed to have these feelings for her. He had lived for nearly three millennia; she had barely lived three decades. But she had looked so helpless lying in the large elven bed covered in many blankets. She had still shivered. At one point this morning he was sure he had heard her mumble his name. Galadriel had said she would recover in a few days but Legolas wasn't sure if he could believe her. She had said that Tigerlily would get worse before she got better.

"Legolas." Legolas was brought from his thoughts by the sound of Haldir's voice.

"Quel Amrun Haldir," said Legolas.

"So you wandered around Lothlórien before coming back?" said Haldir.

"How did you know?" said Legolas, surprised.

"An hour after you left, Tigerlily woke up," said Haldir, "She's been asking for you."

"Really?" said Legolas.

"Yes, actually when Pippin came in she said, 'You're not Legolas'. He looked quite upset at that. Will you come see her?" said Haldir.

"Of course," said Legolas. He followed Haldir back to the room where Tigerlily was. Before he entered, Legolas heard Tigerlily's laughter. He pushed open the door. Tigerlily saw him and smiled.

"Legolas!" she cried. She pushed back her covers and tried to walk over to him but her balance was off and she fell to her knees. Legolas bent down and helped her up. She put her hands on his arms and smiled at him.

"I know you carried me here, thank you, Legolas," she said. Legolas liked the way she said his name. She put her arms around his neck and hugged him.

"You're welcome," he said. He could feel her warm skin through the elven dress she wore. Lady Galadriel appeared from the corner.

"She should be recovered enough to join you all tomorrow," she said, "She recovers quicker than most people." She watched Aragorn as she said this and read his mind. She knew that Tigerlily was solar-blessed. 'The girl is so innocent and naïve,' she thought, 'how can she be the one the Dark Lord wants as his successor? Unless it's her innocence he wishes to exploit. Legolas, son of Thranduil, prince of Mirkwood, you must protect this young woman with your life. She trusts you and loves you.' Galadriel couldn't tell if Tigerlily loved Legolas as a friend or if it was more. Tigerlily feared that everyone she loved got hurt and hid her feelings very well.

The next day, Tigerlily left her room to join the others at their camp. Lady Galadriel had informed her she had a tent there like everyone else. She wore black trousers, a white shirt and a golden tunic. Her hair was held back in a braid. She saw Legolas smile as she approached the camp. They were making something. She crossed her arms and lent against a tree.

"Starting breakfast without me?" she said, "Tut tut, I thought you had better manners than that, my friends." Everyone looked up at her.

"Tigerlily!" shouted Pippin. He got up and ran to her. She bent down and hugged the Hobbit but only for a second. She let go of him and hurried down to the others.

"You had us all worried, little one," said Boromir, "Why didn't you tell us you were ill?"

"I didn't want to worry you," said Tigerlily. She hugged Aragorn and then Legolas.

"It is good to see you well, A'mealamin," he whispered.

"Hey, don't we get a hug?" said Sam. Tigerlily turned to them and smiled.

"Of course Sam," said Tigerlily. She bent down and hugged both him and Frodo.

"How come we have to a share?" said Frodo.

"You get longer than the others," whispered Tigerlily.

"Oh," he said. Tigerlily stood up and looked around. Legolas was still smiling at her, not with happiness but with adoration. It made Tigerlily feel a little uncomfortable.

"Who have I missed?" she said, "No Pippin I've already done you."

When the Hobbits finally left her alone, Tigerlily found Legolas.

"Well, master Elf," she said, "I hear you always hit your target, is that true?"

"Yes," said Legolas. Tigerlily whispered into his ear.

"Prove it."

"The tensions killing me!!" shouted Pippin.

"It's gonna kill him!" said Merry, pointing at Gimli. The poor dwarf had been tricked into being Legolas' target. He hadn't been opposed to it until Tigerlily mentioned that Legolas would be blind-folded.

"I didn't agree to this!" he said angrily.

"Come on Gimli," said Legolas, "I promise I won't hurt you. Much." Lady Galadriel covered her eyes as Legolas lifted his bow. This was stupid. How humans found torturing others amusing she would never understand. Aragorn had his face hidden in his hands too. Legolas fired his arrow. A cheer sounded from those brave enough to keep watching. Tigerlily cheered as well. The elf was better than she thought. He had struck Gimli right above the head, exactly where he was supposed to. Galadriel parted her fingers and seeing neither blood nor tears cheered as well.

"Yes," said Legolas, surprised at his own ability. Tigerlily ran over to Legolas and wrapped her arms around him. Legolas was surprised by this but then realised there wasn't much point hugging Gimli. Poor thing had fainted when Legolas hadn't hit him. Tigerlily gently placed a kiss on Legolas' cheek, causing the elf to almost faint himself.

A few weeks later, Tigerlily was walking in the gardens of Lothlórien. She knew Legolas liked her but his smile from when she had returned had plagued her thoughts, day and night. She saw him, sitting on a rock, looking into a pond. He seemed deep in thought as he didn't move as she approached. When he did move, it was to throw a small pebble into the pond. She stood watching him, quietly. His face was full of some emotion that Tigerlily couldn't understand. His blue eyes had changed to a cold, dark brown colour. She had heard that Elves eyes changed colour to match their mood. Legolas was angry but what about?

"Hello, Tigerlily," he said in a cold voice that made Tigerlily shudder. He continued staring at the pond.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you," said Tigerlily.

"You didn't. I heard you coming a while ago," he said, in the same cold voice, "Will you come and sit with me?" Tigerlily was unsure of what to do. If Legolas was angry about something she didn't want him to get angry at her.

"You have nothing to fear," he said, "Come." His voice sounded as if he were giving an order. Tigerlily went and sat on the rock beside him.

"How are you today?" he asked.

"I'm feeling stronger," said Tigerlily.

"I'm glad to hear it," he said.

"Legolas," said Tigerlily, "You seem upset about something. What is it?"

"I can't tell you," said Legolas, looking at his feet.

"Of course you can," said Tigerlily, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"There is something, someone I greatly desire," he started, knowing he was making himself vulnerable by telling her, "Someone whom I cannot have."

"Legolas, I've heard you have every maiden in Mirkwood throwing themselves at your feet. What is so special about this one person?" said Tigerlily.

"She's different. She's stronger than any maiden I've ever met. She understands me more than anyone," said Legolas.

"Who is this special person?" asked Tigerlily. Legolas looked at her; his eyes were no longer cold or dark. They were blue again.

"It's you," he said. Tigerlily looked shocked.

"At first I thought I was just attracted to you," said Legolas, "But as I've got to know you more, I've discovered it isn't just an attraction. I'm in love with you Tigerlily." Tigerlily got up and backed away from him. He watched her.

"I knew you'd react like this," said Legolas, clenching his fists, "I shouldn't have told you." Tigerlily kept backing away. Her foot slipped on some loose earth and she fell to the ground. Legolas hurried over to her and offered her his hand. She looked up at him. She had fear in her eyes; fear of the emotion the elf had just showed her. She pushed his hand away and ran away from him. She ran through the wood and vanished from Legolas' sight.

"Tigerlily?" he said, "Tigerlily, come back!"

Tigerlily kept running. She was scared of what Legolas had just told her. She was scared she'd break his heart if she dared to love him. Everyone she had loved back in Enedwaith had suffered the day the orcs attacked. Aragorn was constantly suffering from stress because of her. Gandalf had died. She didn't want to hurt Legolas. She guessed if she didn't love him, he'd be ok. She ran back to the camp.

"Oh hello," said Merry as she ran past him, "Do you want something to eat? Tigerlily?" She ran straight into her tent and fell down on her bed. She cried as she remembered what Legolas had called her twice. 'A'mealamin,' she knew it was Elvish for 'my beloved'. Maybe it was too late for her to save Legolas from a fate of pain because he had loved her. She lay on her bed for hours, ignoring everyone, staring at nothing. There was no way she could love Legolas. She was mortal, he was not. When she died, he'd be left on his own. Aragorn heard Tigerlily cry and knew something was wrong. Legolas had been gone for hours and Tigerlily never cried. He had to see Lady Galadriel; she'd know what to do. He walked away from the camp to Galadriel's home.

"Mi lady," he said, kneeling before her.

"Mae govannen, Aragorn," she said, as he stood up.

"Mi lady, something is wrong. Tigerlily is greatly upset," said Aragorn

"I know. She is upset because she fears she has condemned another to a life of suffering."

"Who does she fear she has condemned and how?"

"Legolas, she fears he will pay for loving her."

"But Legolas is just friends with her."

"He cannot deny what his heart feels. She fears he will suffer because she is mortal."

"But after her twenty-seventh birthday..."

"I know that, you know that, Legolas knows that, but Tigerlily doesn't."

"There is nothing we can do about that. Meryn is the only one who can tell her or it will be undone!"

"No, I cannot tell her. But I can show her the future. I have seen it, Aragorn of the Dúnedain, and Legolas is a part of it. All she needs to do is look into my Mirror."

"But how can we get her to look into it? We leave tomorrow and she will not speak to anyone."

"Leave that to me. I will call her the same way I did with Frodo. In her mind."

As Aragorn returned he saw Legolas had returned to camp. His eyes were cold and dark. Tigerlily was still in her tent. She could see Legolas' shadow through the tent flap and watched as another joined him. She heard Aragorn speak to him but she didn't hear the words. She felt the sudden urge to sleep. She rolled onto her side and fell into uneasy sleep.