For Disclaimer please view Chapter 1.

Note to the readers: New chappy in tomorrow as well, so watch out for it. :o) Sorry for the delay, no computer was kind of a downer, but now I'm back in school, hooray for computers here! Read and Enjoy.

Chapter 18: She is leaving us.

"What do you mean?" she asked in a quivering voice.

"I am sorry Lothluin."

"Has this all been a game to you?" She wiped away the tears that began to fall.

"No, of course not, I—I am not meant for you Lothluin, I could never love you in the way you deserve."

"And you tell me this now? After all the years we have spent in preparation…" She began to ring her hands, "Now I understand why you did not want our betrothal announced, you knew from the beginning!"

"No, no I did not. I tried."

"You tried?! I have given you my heart, and you have returned it to me in pieces! Oh I should have listened to what the others told me, I should have known that there was no way to change you."

Legolas did not know what to say, he did not realize what she was speaking about.

"Who is she?"

"Who?"

"Do not play with me Legolas; you have done quite enough of that. You cannot love me, then there must be another that you have given your heart to. Who is she?"

"It is more complicated than that Lothluin."

"Who is she?!"

"I am not going to answer you Lothluin, you are being unreasonable, I thought you would understand."

"Understand that you have played with my emotions since the very first day we met?"

"No, understand that you would not want me as your husband in the state that I am…do you want to marry someone who does not care for you the way a husband should? A loveless marriage? Is that what you want, as long as you get your way? I will do it Lothluin, I will marry you, but I will never love you the way a husband should, do you deserve that life?"

"You try and make it seem like you are doing me a favour, all you have done is ruin me."

Legolas shook his head in disagreement. "I have not ruined you. You are still young; you have all the time in this world to find the one you are meant to be with."

"But I love you! I do not want anyone else." She broke down in tears once more.

"Oh Lothluin..." He wrapped his arms around her and she buried her face in his chest, crying and sobbing. "I wish I could take your hurt away, you should not cry, it is not worth it."

But Lothluin continued to cry, and it seemed she never stopped.

It felt like someone began to shake Legolas.

It was then that he gained consciousness back to the reality that was his world. Aurel had tried to wake him several times, seeing his face contort into expressions of deep sadness concerned her. He shot up immediately, not really knowing where he was. Aurel flinched back a little, -Are you unwell?-

Legolas slowly turned to look at her, it was clear that she had not just woken up, she still looked so tired. "You do not look well Aurel."

-You do not look well yourself. And I am fine.-

"I feel your weariness. Do not attempt to try and lie about your state. Why did you wake me?" He was being harsh.

-You looked as if you were in distress, it worried me.-

"You should never wake someone when they are dreaming. You needn't have worried."

-Clearly, you have woken up in a foul mood! - She tossed her blanket aside and got off the bed they had been provided.

Legolas rubbed his hands over his face. "I am sorry if I was rude."

Aurel shrugged her shoulders as if not caring and went to open the door, but Legolas shot up out of bed and stood in front of her. "You haven't rested. You are tired, why didn't you try and sleep?"

-Move out of my way.-

"I will not let you leave without proper rest; do you want to collapse from exhaustion?"

-Do not treat me like a frail human; I have gone longer without rest. Now move or I am going to push you aside.-

He did not move.

-How dare you? Move Legolas!-

"No, tell me why you did not rest."

I have no time to play games with you. She tried to get past him.

Legolas froze at her words, turning cold, and Aurel felt this. It stopped her from any more attempts of leaving.

Legolas? She raised her hand to his face, but he still looked frozen. You are filled with feelings of dread and guilt, bearing it all will affect you.

He walked back to the bed and sat down, his head hanging low.

Are you worried for your friend? She went and sat next to him.

"Aurel, I cannot." He shook his head slowly.

I do not understand, the burden is affecting you, if you not share it with me, at least speak to one of the others.

"I told you it is not important."

It is important to me. Know that.

"Is that why you could not rest?"

She thought her answer carefully. Only part. Haldir's death is consuming most of my feelings, his family will be devastated, and the injured are so many. I worry that I do not have the strength. She lay back on the bed, after a moment she began to speak once more. Legolas?

Legolas turned his head to look at her, "hmm?"

If Lothluin is fading, there is a chance she will not want to wake.

"But you said she was well on her own."

Physically.

"Then I should not have left her alone."

Your presence there would not and will not make a difference. You said she fades because of unreturned love, unless that love is returned or she finds hope, her fading will take her.

"Speaking from experience?" It was meant as a sharp reply, but Aurel ignored it.

Though my fading was for a completely different reason

Legolas had never heard her speak so openly about her fading, he paid close attention. "Hope brought you back then?"

Fear brought me back into full existence…you know this.

"Fear?"

Yes, fear. She changed the subject quickly. Why was Lothluin's love not returned? That is uncommon, has her mate died?

"No, not that I know of."

I apologize for asking, I know you will speak to me when you are ready. Aurel's breathing began to slow and Legolas began to feel her calm, it emanated from her. It seemed that speaking to Legolas had lessened her worries for the moment.

"Sleep Aurel." He whispered. He looked at her, lying on the bed. He studied the way her eyes were searching for sleep, and how deeply they were filled with a sadness he would never understand.

A knock came to the door and Legolas jumped to answer it.

When he opened the door it was a woman, she looked desperate. "Is the healing elf here? We need her." She held her blood-stained hands together; trying to get a look past Legolas and into the door, but Legolas closed the door behind him.

"I will help."

The woman gave a short smile before turning around to head back to the houses of healing. Legolas followed her.

Legolas had not noticed before the cries and wails of the injured and the mourning, but he did hear it when he returned to the houses. It was no wonder that Aurel had been so exhausted, many of the men who lay in the houses were near death. He had only half the skill that Aurel possessed, maybe less. He could not help but go to check on Lothluin, he walked very slowly to her bedside.

"Oh you stupid Elleth, what were you thinking?" He said holding on to her hand and closing his eyes with regret of having left her. He felt her fingers get a grip onto his hand tightly.

"Legolas?" She barely said.

He opened his eyes. "Lothluin!"

She tried to sit up, but he stopped her.

"You are gravely injured; you must remain the way you are until you are better healed."

"I found you…." She took a deep breath, "It has taken me so long, but I have found you."

Legolas shook his head. "Try not to waste your breath speaking now. You need to rest."

"Why did you leave? Without a word?" Her grip on his hand was even tighter. "Why did you leave me?"

"I did not leave you Lothluin, there was nothing to leave."

"No.", she turned her head away.

"You are upsetting yourself, you should not think of such things now."

"Then when else?" She began to cry, she turned her face to look back at him, "Am I not worthy enough? I came all this..."

"You almost killed yourself, you foolish Elleth!"

"I would have died no matter what."

"Do not say that."

"You know I fade, you knew before, I cannot go on without you."

"But of course you can."

Her grip loosened, "It is you I need, it is you I love, if you do not love me, then I do not want to live."

"Lothluin, do you not realize that I care for you? I do not want to see you dead."

"It is not only about what you want." She turned her head away again and closed her eyes.

Legolas became desperate, "Please do not give up hope, I do love you, I --"

Legolas?

He dropped Lothluin's hand, dreading the moment, turning around to face Aurel, she looked very confused.

"How long have you been standing there?"

She looked past him to Lothluin, and realized what Aragorn had fought with Legolas about. Her face became stoic. How many fading Elleths do you promise your love to? She thought in jest.

It was clear to Legolas now that she had only just been there for a mere moment, but it was enough to uncover some of the truth.

"There is much that I need to tell you."

Aurel returned her gaze to him. There is?

"Will you listen?"

Who is she Legolas?

Legolas shook his head.

Who is she?!

The question hit him like a heavy stone to the head. "She is my betrothed."

Aurel closed her eyes for a moment.

"Please listen to what I have to say."

She held her hand up to quiet him. I have heard enough, I understand everything now.

He went to walk closer to her, but she took a step back, "You do not understand anything, Aurel…let me explain this to you."

I do not want you near me. She shook her head to stop herself from crying or expressing any emotion. I am not ready to hear you speak of this.

"Aurel…you are bleeding." He said sadly as he looked her. Her nose had begun to bleed and the droplets of blood were falling onto her lips.

She took her hand and raised it to her lips, smearing some of the blood on her face. She took another step back and it seemed she was losing balance; Legolas ran to her and caught her as she fell back. She did not seem to understand why she had lost balance, why she was bleeding and why Legolas was holding her. "You must listen to me." Almost immediately after he said that to her, he felt a cool, sharp blade held to his throat. Aurel had her dagger with her and she held it close enough for Legolas to flinch.

The human healers around them noticed what was happening and panicked, going to try and find Aragorn or someone who knew these Elves. Some of the able bodied men tried to interfere. "What's going on here? Stop this at once?!" demanded one of the men.

Legolas let Aurel go, she coolly regained her stance, still holding the dagger to his throat, he backed away slowly. Her nose still bled, and by the time she put her dagger away, Aragorn had already come into the houses, walking briskly over to where Aurel and Legolas still stood.

"What has happened to your face, why are you bleeding?"

Aurel could not hold in her emotions any longer and only latched her arms around Aragorn and sobbing, letting herself go limp as he held her in return. Aragorn was still confused.

"She knows." said Legolas.

Aragorn was about to respond, but his attention went back to Aurel when she abruptly stopped her sobbing. "Aurel?" He moved away slightly and she slumped down to the ground. "Aurel?!" He knelt down next to her. "The scars…the scars!! They are returning, she will bleed to death…" Aragorn began to panic, calling for some of the women to come and help them. The fading scars on neck and chest had once again re-opened as if they were new. "Legolas!" Her clothes were slowly turning red.

Legolas went to her, her fingers were turning blue. He tried to remember some chants of quick healing, but nothing came to mind, he too was panicking, and beginning to feel tired and unaware of what was around him.

"There is too much…" Aragorn just sobbed and stopped trying to help Aurel… "I cannot help her." He looked at Legolas, "She is leaving us."