For Disclaimer Please view Chapter 1.
Author's Note: Here's another chapter to make up for the lack of posting during the holiday season, thank you for all your reviews and I hope you keep enjoying this fic.Kersi
Chapter 19: The Nature Between Us
I do not care if he becomes angered. , thought Aurel, grabbing a hold of Legolas's shoulders and shaking him until he woke.
Legolas woke up with a shout that sounded like he was pleading for something. It made Aurel jump back and distance herself from him. He looked as if he was in pain as he took in his surroundings.
Legolas?
The connection with Aurel went straight to him and it was he now that jumped in surprise at hearing her in his head, he looked around to find her. When his eyes connected with hers he gave her a look she had never before seen. As if it was the first time that he was looking at her, tears began to form in the corners of his eyes. "You are alive?" He kept mumbling to himself, shaking his head, not understanding. He quickly wiped away his tears and rushed over to a very frightened Aurel. He cupped her face and caressed it with his thumbs. "You are alive." He said to himself. He inspected her neck and her clothing, there were no wounds, there was no blood. Aurel did nothing but stand there; letting Legolas continue rambling. The tears streamed down his face as he realized he must have been dreaming. When he stopped, and regained his composure, Aurel brought him a cool drink.
Drink this.
"What is it?"
Water. You are dehydrated. When is the last time you ate or drank?
"I do not remember." He took a sip of the water and put it down. "I never left this room?" Although his composure was normal, he was still confused.
No. You told me to sleep and then you went to sleep yourself. She looked at him. What happened in your dream?
Legolas frowned.
You were crying. I have never seen such expressions from you.
He sighed, "I dreamt of death."
It is a bad omen to dream of things such as those.
"It was just a dream, it means nothing."
It means something.
A knock came to the door, interrupting them. Legolas reached for the door before Aurel could get there. As he opened the door his eyes widened in surprise, he realized that it was the same woman from his dream, with her bloody hands. "Is the healing elf here? We need her."
Aurel immediately stepped out the door.
"Thank goodness my lady, we are in desperate need of help! Please come quickly!" She hurried down the corridor.
"I will come as well." said Legolas.
You shouldn't.
"Neither should you."
Aurel did not bother to argue with him, and only followed the woman down the corridor to the houses of healing. Legolas trailed them, not far behind.
Legolas and Aurel went their separate ways when they reached the houses. Legolas was weary, for the same wails and moans he had heard from the injured and mourning, he was hearing again. He wondered if he was dreaming once more.
Aurel had gone to Lothluin straight away, to check how her health was. She was surprised to find Lothluin with her eyes open. She placed her hands on Lothluin's head. "Who are you?" Her voice was but a whisper. Aurel only smiled slightly and sent waves of calm and reassurance through her being. "I feel strange." Lothluin began to close her eyes as she began to feel sleep come upon her. Aurel took the opportunity to undo her dressings and check on her wounds. As she was checking on the wounds on her leg, Aurel began to feel uneasy; nothing was in a better state than when she had left Lothluin hours before. She was not healing, and she certainly did not want to tell Legolas of this news. She put new dressings on all her wounds, and as she was leaving, she felt Lothluin's small hands wrap around her wrist. "Do not leave me….please." Aurel felt compelled to stay, but she could not, especially not with all the wounded that were left to tend to, she softly pulled her wrist away. It was not difficult to do so, as Lothluin was so weak. She felt sad to leave her, especially as nothing Aurel did could calm her, she still mumbled, pleading for her not to leave.
"How is she?" asked Legolas.
Aurel kept quiet and shook her head slowly.
Legolas looked away towards the other wounded.
I am sorry.
"Such a foolish Elleth she is!" He closed his fists in anger.
Aurel did not know what to do, but she would not stand there. She would give him the privacy she thought he needed at the moment. Legolas at the moment could not bear to see Lothluin, and continued on helping others in any way that he could.
"We leave for Isengard in the morn." said Gandalf.
Aragorn nodded.
"I will come with you as well, Saruman has greatly betrayed us." said Theoden.
"Your people need the assurance of their leader, you must go out to them." said Aragorn.
"We lost so many, and those before them…mourning never ends here."
"But they fought bravely, and for hope of a better day." said Gandalf.
Theoden nodded, "Lord Aragorn, your Elven friends helped greatly, I am sorry for the loss of the March Warden." When Aragorn did not respond, Theoden continued. "I have not seen the Master Elf or Lady Aurel since the end of the battle here, and I would like to speak with Lady Aurel, do you know where I could find her?"
"The last time I saw her, she was in the houses of healing, perhaps you will find her there."
Gimli had been searching for Legolas for a long time, and when at last he found him in the houses of healing, he was relieved. "Elf! Where have you been? I have been searching for you everywhere!"
Legolas, who was tending to a man, only looked Gimli's way for a brief moment, "Quiet your voice! There are injured here and the sound of your loud voice surely will not help them!"
Gimli walked closer, "We go to Isengard in the morn to speak to that treacherous wizard, will you be coming with us?"
"Yes, I will go. Though I presume that Aragorn was going to tell me about this himself."
"No need now that I have told you." He stared at Legolas for a while. Legolas was still tending to the wounded man. "You do not look well friend."
Legolas whispered a prayer to the wounded man, who had begun to moan. "Have you noticed where you have entered? No one looks well here." He said to Gimli.
Gimli left Legolas alone as he went on to search for Aurel.
After looking after many other persons, Aurel trailed her way back to Lothluin who had fallen into a deep sleep once more, and Aurel was grateful, at least the frail Elf was receiving some sort of rest. She carefully fixed Lothluin's hair, placing most of it behind her ears, so that she could get a better look at her face. It was her fading that attracted Aurel to Lothluin, her curiosity as to what could have caused it, why her love was not returned, and who this person was. She stared at her for a long while before noticing that Lothluin now had something in her hand, but where had it come from? In her hand she held a ring, with the symbol of the Mirkwood Elves upon a green stone and a silver band. Aurel carefully took it out of Lothluin's hand and observed it. Perhaps she was of royal blood, but why would Legolas not mention that?
"Where did you find that?" asked Legolas, who had walked to see Lothluin, only to find Aurel staring at a ring.
In her hand, I do not know where she kept it; it was not with her before. She handed the ring over to Legolas; It is a beautiful ring.
Legolas stared at the ring and said nothing.
I think perhaps it would do her well if you stayed with her for a little while, she was reluctant to let me leave before when she was awake, she was afraid to be alone, petrified almost.
"She spoke?"
Only words of desperation Legolas, nothing that would alleviate your worries.
"Gimli has told me that there are some that head towards Isengard tomorrow morn to speak with Saruman."
Speak with Saruman? What for? He should die for what he has done. His betrayal was of the highest kind.
"No doubt that Aragorn will come to you and ask you to come along."
We will see. Aurel looked at Lothluin once more. Will you stay with her then?
Legolas nodded.
"Lady Aurel." Theoden came walking in with Aragorn. "Master Elf." He looked at Legolas and bowed his head slightly. "It is good that I find you both here. I have wanted to thank you for all that you have done for my people, and to give my condolences for the loss of your friends."
"You would have done the same for us." Said Legolas, knowing it was not the truth. "It was an honour to be able to fight along side you."
Aurel bowed her head in recognition of his thanks and sorrows.
"My lady, I wish to speak to you for a moment in private." said Theoden, waving his hand for them to go outdoors. She looked at Aragorn for a moment before leading the way out.
Aragorn stayed behind with Legolas. "How is she doing?"
"Not well. She is not expected to survive." Legolas put the ring away in a pouch he had.
Aragorn look genuinely surprised. "Is there nothing that can be done for her?"
"Not here, and we cannot move her, she is too weak."
"I am sorry Legolas."
"Are you?" He asked and gave a smirk, not believing him.
"Of course I am. I am not heartless."
"You did not seem too concerned for her when you found out who she was."
"You mistake my worries for Aurel with indifference towards Lady Lothluin. That is not true."
"If she dies I will never be able to forgive myself, it is my fault that she is here, my fault that she is dying."
"Why do you blame yourself? There is no use for that."
"I know that she came looking for me; there is no other explanation for her being here."
Aragorn placed a hand on Legolas's shoulder. "You do not know why she is here."
"You are right, I do not know, and it seems I never will."
"You shed no tears Legolas, there is no emotion shown coming from you, even for an Elf that is quite reserved. She is your betrothed; perhaps you can help her more than any other person could."
"There is no way I can help her. She is fading Aragorn. I separated myself from her and ignored her; I told her that I could not marry her. Not with a broken spirit, I would be no good for her. She pleaded with me to stay, but I left, I left without a word to her. I used my father's worries about his kingdom as an excuse to present myself at the council in Imladris. And now my selfishness has brought her to her death bed."
"You are too harsh on yourself."
"Am I? The only way to save her is to love her, and that is something I cannot do, that is a lie that I cannot allow myself to make."
"I should know that a fading Elf can only be saved if they want to be saved. It is not your fault she is fading, or that she is here. She has made her own choices, she is grown and decides whether she lives or dies now. If you say you cannot love her, then show there are other reasons for living Legolas, if she loves you, she will listen to you, and perhaps that is all she needs."
"Thank you Estel." said Legolas.
"I will understand if you do not come to Isengard tomorrow Friend, I must leave you now, but if you do decide to come, we leave at dawn."
Legolas nodded his head and Aragorn left his side. Aragorn passed Aurel who was walking back in. "Will you come tomorrow, sister?"
Aurel nodded her head and Aragorn smiled.
"Watch over Legolas, he is not well, do not let him fall into despair."
Aurel looked over to where Legolas was. She took a hold of Aragorn's hand and turned it over, it was badly cut. Aragorn quickly pulled it away. "I will tend to it, I promise, get some rest yourself before we head out….you look like you've been through battle!" He jested as he walked out.
Still very much human. She thought to herself as she walked back towards Legolas.
"What did Theoden King have to say to you?" asked Legolas.
What makes you think that is of your concern? She smirked.
"I know it's not, but you will tell me none the less, that is the nature between us, is it not?"
She smiled as she took a hold of his hand and for the first time since the battle felt that his burden had lessened.
