For Disclaimer please view chapter 1

Author's Note: New Character coming aboard. Thanks for all your patience and for reading this fic, this is sort of short, but the next chappie will be out sooner than you think. Love you all. Read and Enjoy! Love Kersi.

Chapter 34: Of Kin and Love Lost

She gasped for air and it seemed to escape her. She could see and hear what Gandalf was saying to her, but she was confused. Why was he saying those things to her? And where was Haldir? Where were the green trees that only a moment ago had surrounded her, and that momentary peace she felt, it was all but fleeting. She tried to mover her limbs, but found that they would not move at her command, and after several moments of forcing her limbs to move she noticed it was not she that was damaged, someone was holding her down.

"Aurel, you have to calm down!" yelled a familiar voice.

But she did not. How was she supposed to calm down when all she could feel was pain?

"Blood is pouring into your lungs, you must stop moving or you will drown! Do you understand me?" again that voice that was so familiar spoke to her, and this time with a tone of desperation mixed with frustration.

Blood was pouring into her lungs? She thought…then she lay still.

"Thank goodness." Said another voice, and this time she was able to recognize the second voice…it was Gandalf. Peace washed over her. If she was with Gandalf, then surely there was reason for all of this. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of whom it was tending to her. Rumil. Rumil? What was he doing there? Where was she?

Rumil smirked, recognizing the look of surprise in her. "So you have finally realized who I am?" He said, while working on her wounds. "Do not worry…I will take good care of you."

Those words were words he had said before. It suddenly became too much for Aurel and she let herself succumb to how tired her body was, falling into a deep healing sleep.

"Aurel." Said Haldir, distracting her from the useless wandering she had done for most of the day. "Rumil is here to accompany you today, as I know you did not wish for a stranger as a guard in these woods today."

Aurel looked at Rumil. He looked very much like Haldir, but slightly younger, his hair was tied back, and he was clad in silver and pale green. His eyes were trying to avert her scars, which made her uncomfortable. She looked over to Haldir.

"He is only worried for you, you know that, do not let his staring…" Haldir looked over to Rumil who looked somewhat embarrassed. "Bother you. He is well trained…and come now…you have been friends for ages, why this awkwardness now?"

Aurel forced a smile and nodded, looking over to Rumil who looked relieved now. Haldir having seen the exchange of smiles left them alone to walk. And walk they did, all over the forest where it was relatively safe. Rumil felt compelled to say something, but every time he went to say it, it left him.

"I am sorry about before Aurel. You know I have not seen you for a great while, and well, I had heard that you did not want anyone guarding you. Everyone was greatly worried about you after what happened. We are happy that you are in Lothlorien with your kin."

Aurel just kept walking, ignoring what he had just said.

Rumil noticed that there was no reaction to what he had said and attempted at saying something else. "You are more beautiful than I remember."

This shocked Aurel and she immediately stopped walking. She cocked her head to the side and turned around to look at him.

Rumil only smiled. "I had to say something to shock you Aurel…and it was the first thing that came to mind."

At first Aurel had been angered by his comment, she thought he was making a mock of her. How could anyone find her beautiful? She had hideous scars on her body.

"There is no possible way you could find me beautiful Rumil, but thank you for shocking me." She said simply.

Rumil dropped the quill he had held in his hand from the surprise of hearing her voice. "You can speak?"

"I was hoping it would shock you as much as you shocked me." She smiled.

"My lady…" Rumil fell to his knees. "Your voice has been given back you! We must go back and tell all immediately!"

"No." replied Aurel and continued walking.

Rumil shook his head in confusion and stood up following her. "No? Why do you not mean to say anything to anyone at all? It is a miracle that this has happened."

"It is no miracle Rumil." She stopped by a tree that seemed sick, most of its leaves had fallen and it was in the middle of the summer season. "If you are to be walking with me every day, out into the woods, I thought perhaps we should be honest with one another."

Rumil only then began to understand. "Does Haldir know of this?"

"No, and I expect you to keep it to yourself, for very seldom know, not even all of my siblings…"

"But why…I don't understand."

"And I do not expect you to understand Rumil. It is just something I must do. I am trying to heal, and am finding it difficult."

"But you are healing."

"Am I?" replied Aurel who now sat on the ground, under the tree. "I am frail, it has been several months Rumil…what Elf have you seen take this long to heal?"

"None save you, but then…I have never seen an Elf suffer from injuries such as yours." He accompanied her and sat next to her under the tree.

"I need time to heal. And keeping silent is the only way I know how. Will you keep my secret for me?"

Rumil smiled. "Do not worry. I will take good care of you Aurel."


"You are very weak Legolas. Going on a journey such as this will impede your body's healing." Pleaded Aragorn.

"And she is very weak as well, she needs me." Replied Legolas.

"She needs you alive lad!" exclaimed Gimli. "You do not even know where she is, and that is dangerous, a weakened Elf out in lands that still roam free with evil…you need to take care, that is what you need to do."

Legolas stopped his pacing, he only looked at Aragorn. "We do not doubt that you need to get to her with urgent speed, but Gandalf is with her, Legolas, he will send word as to where she is when he deems it necessary." Said Aragorn.

"Her spirit is ebbing mine….it is torture, worse than before…she is confused and I feel a failure sitting here doing nothing."

"You are no failure." Said Gimli, relieved that Legolas was not putting up any further fight.

"Rest Legolas, we will let you know if any word comes through." Aragorn and Gimli both left the chamber as Legolas dropped onto the make shift bed and fell into a deep sleep.


Gandalf patted one of Rumil's shoulders, "You have done well."

Rumil frowned, "I did nothing but chant a few words."

"You do not give yourself enough credit."

"It was Haldir that pushed her back to this world."

Gandalf shook his head, as they walked out into a clearing. "Haldir merely presented a decision, you have mended her wounds, you gave me the connection I needed to get to Haldir, and you were the only one who was able to see beyond your grief to help her, not even her mate was able to do that."

"His soul would have broken as well, how could he do anything but grieve? It is not easy to see beyond grief when the thing that you love most is dying in your arms. No doubt his soul must feel her still with us, word should be sent out."

Gandalf looked up into the sky. "And it will be. My my, it is a beautiful day in Lothlorien."

"Not as beautiful as it used to be. The wood slowly dies…our lady is to sail west soon. The attacks here were fierce, not even together with Thranduil's help could we hold back all the evil that came through."

Gandalf sat down at a nearby bench, and Rumil joined him. "You bear many scars for one so young."

"You are one to speak Gandalf, old you may look in age, but in spirit, you are nearly as "young" as you call me. And I bear little compared to others."

"And how do you live life in constant comparison! It is no use living at all then." Gandalf laughed to himself.

"Thank you for bringing her here." Said Rumil, changing the subject.

"Land of kin. I knew it best." His tone changed. "Do not give yourself false hope."

"Of what do you speak?"

"You deserve much credit for the healing you provided for her before here…You, to whom only she spoke to. That is why I brought her here. Do not rekindle the love that she denied you before, she has a mate."

"But he is not here."

"And who are you to change what fate has already determined?"

"Who is to say that her fate is not to be with me?"

"You are not that foolish, do not fight it, you will only lose in the end Rumil. Legolas is her mate, another is meant for you."

Rumil stood in anger and just walked away.

Gandalf sat there for a while, nearly falling asleep until someone woke him. At first Gandalf thought it was Legolas, for it very much looked like him, but the voice was different, so was the height, and only a few distinctions would prove him different from Legolas.

"I am sorry to disturb you Mithrandir, but when I heard that you were in Lorien, I wished to see you, for it has been a long time."

Gandalf thought about the words being said to him. "Of course! Well met to the youngest son of Thranduil!"

"Well met." He replied. "Do you wish to rest? For I know of better places than there."

"No no, here is where I wish to be. A long time it has been, and you have grown. You look very much like your older brother."

Lasneth smiled, "Yes, well do not mention that to him, he very much would like to think differently." Lasneth's smile faded. "You are here alone?"

"Do not worry, your brother is still alive."

"Oh, of that I have no doubt, but is he well?"

"He will be."

Lasneth stood there waiting for more explanation. "What does that mean?"

"Did you not hear whom I brought with me to the Golden wood?"

Lasneth shook his head.

"The youngest daughter of Elrond."

"Aurel is here?" Curiosity gleamed in his eyes.

Gandalf nodded. "Then you know of her and your brother."

"My brother and I have no secrets between us. There has been difficulty between them that I do not understand. What has happened?"

"She was gravely injured in battle…it is a long story of which I do not have the patience to tell. She is recovering. Which means that Legolas is as well"

"Is my brother here?"

"No." Gandalf smirked. "You are less tolerable than your brother."

"And you are less patient than I remember, old age must be catching up with you."

"Sharp tongue! In that I am sure Legolas would not mind your sharing of qualities."

Lasneth looked past Gandalf, towards the tree canopy where he assumed Aurel was resting. "Does this mean that the difficulty between my brother and Aurel has passed?"

"That is something only time can tell. I am not a seer of the future. And what, may I ask, are you doing in Lothlorien?"

"Celeborn came to Mirkwood's aid. I am here as a courtesy to the Golden wood, to extend my services in whichever way I can. I had hoped to hear news of my brother, my heart is relieved in his being alive."

"And your father?"

"His kingdom keeps him busy, but Legolas's rash decision to leave off on that perilous quest created much worry in my father's heart. There was not a day's moment when he would not mention Legolas."

"Sons create much worry for their father's."

Lasneth returned his attention to Gandalf. "You speak as if you have children."

"I do!" Gandalf bellowed playfully.

"Is Aurel allowed visitors?"

"You will have to ask Rumil on that matter, but what would be the purpose of your visiting Aurel?"

"I wish to see what has captivated my brother so."

"Seeing will not help you understand."

Lasneth frowned, "Thank you Mithrandir…for letting me know of how my brother fares." And just as quickly as a Lasneth had appeared before him, he seemed to disappear back into the trees.

"Well then, this is intriguing indeed." Said Gandalf to himself.