Well. I had to change the rating of this story regarding this chapter… Get ready to dive in

Silence settled, words that could not be expressed stolen by the breeze. Frances' heart sunk in the depths of despair as the white sails shone in the sunlight. She understood that there was nothing her friends could do for her; their silence a clear testimony that they had no solution to offer. Glancing downwards, she studied the waves crashing over the cliff. The water was deep. Deep enough. Well, better be dead than sorry. She was, after all, a clone. The consequences of her death would not impair the Valar's missions, nor Frances' life on earth, the real Frances.

- "I guess I'll see you around," she said casually before taking a few steps back.

Aragorn's eyes were on her the whole time, his face immensely sad. Yet, he made no movement to come close, giving her the much needed space. Or so he thought, missing the resolve glint that shone in her eyes. How cruel! Why had the Valar granted her return, if only to witness her fading in grief? Aragorn, however, did not expect what followed. Giving him a curt nod, Frances suddenly darted forward and jumped from the cliff. There were at least fifty feet between the top of the ridge and the water, and she heard the stunned yells as she fell. Fearing that her heart might jump out of her chest, the young woman tried to stiffen in order to lessen the strain of the landing. And what a landing!

The water was ice cold after the warm spring breeze, and it took a few moments for her mind to realise that she was sinking fast. Reflexes took over, and she started swimming upwards. In a matter of seconds she had broken the surface. Aragorn was shouting frantically, pointing the shore next to the port. One look backwards was all it took before a wave crashed into her, and rolled her around. Frances emerged, gasping, facing the open sea. Already, another wave threatened to throw her on the rocks; she needed to get away from the cliff lest she finished splattered. Frances plunged into the incoming wall of water, deep enough to avoid being dragged by the roller, and emerged on the other side. With a few powerful strokes, she was facing the next one, and dived again. Fortunately, they were not the biggest she had faced, nore the more powerful. If she dove at the right time, and stayed under the roller, she had a chance to make it. It lasted a few minutes, the struggle against the current. On the hill, Aragorn and Gimil had stopped shouting, observing instead the amazing technique developed by Frances to counter the waves. Never had they seen such a feat, for they were not accustomed to the sea.

Eventually, Frances managed to make it to a quieter place, and they both sighed in relief. Would the stubborn woman eventually decide to turn around to the little beach beside the port now that she was safe? From what Aragorn had witnessed of her skills, he was confident she could reach it. And then he'd never let her out of sight again, he'd treat her like the sister she was and grant her quarters in the citadel. Arwen would be delighted ! But his assessment could not be more wrong, for the young woman turned around and started swimming in the ship's direction.

- "What is that mad woman doing?" grumbled Gimli by his side.

Stunned, Aragorn passed a hand across his face.

- "She intends to reach the boat before it sails to the high seas."

- "This is madness!"

- "I agree. She will drown before long, and we will definitely lose her."

Having had enough, Gimli advanced on the cliff side and started shouting at the top of his voice.

- "Get back there, you crazy lass!"

But of his yells Frances could hear no more, for the wind came from the sea, and the sound of the waves drowned it all in the background. The cold was difficult to withstand, her efforts bringing some welcome warmth. Trying to even her breathing and optimise her moves, Frances was slowly making her way to the elven ship. Thank God her neighbour had taught her to swim in his swimming pool, and thank her parents for loving the sea so much! Frances was a good swimmer, the top of her class in sixth grade, for a girl anyway. At the time, she had not thought much of it except that water was her element; she always felt at ease as she fended the waves. But today, it could very well be the difference between life and death. Still, a part of her felt uneasy. Being a clone, a copy of the original Frances was a lot to take in. Did she deserve to live as much as Frances did, on earth? Yet, she felt like she was her, her souvenirs in every point alike until their physical separation, a few nights ago. It was just a fork on the road, the point were both of them went separate ways.

A wave washed her face with salty water, and Frances spluttered. 'Come on, concentrate,' she thought. She needed to breathe on the other side, opposite from the wind and the droplets of foam it created. Frances lifted her head for a second, her legs dangling to keep her upright. The boat seemed a little closer. Fortunately, they had not set full sails yet. Frances smiled ; Legolas lingered whether he wanted it or not… Had he felt, depe in his Feä, the strength of their bond ? Hope blossomed in her chest; she definitely had a chance, but there was at least a mile between her and the ship, and she could not afford to slow down. Deep down she hoped that Legolas would be on the deck and spot her at some point. But if he did not, if he called for the main sail to be hoisted, she was as good as dead.

Her muscles were burning now, aching from the intense effort of pulling against the waves, and she had not covered half of the distance yet ! Swimming in the pool was easy enough compared to this, and she had never gone further than a mile and a half anyway. Indoors, the water flat enough, and she could rest whenever she needed to by sticking on the line. Here the current kept trying to cast her ashore, and the waves prevented her from breathing evenly. She could not afford to rest since that would mean allowing the waters to take her back to the cliff, and her heart was already pounding. It this was to be her last chance to get Legolas back, then so be it! The Valar had granted her to be there in time, she couldn't afford to blow it! Straightening her jaw, the young woman pushed her muscles further, stroking again and again, swallowing mouthfuls of water sometimes, desperately trying to join the bright ship. Her movements were angry, but with time they became less and less efficient. Already, her arms seemed ready to cramp.

The ship's deck welcomed the sea breeze, cooling off the warmth of the afternoon. The sun was shining, its rays playing with the sails, creating pockets of dancing lights in the waters. The deep blue of the sea should have been a relief to him, since the call of the gulls had been one of his deepest desires for so three years. Yet, Legolas still felt that his heart, though relieved, would not heal. He could not manage to feel happy in this idyllic environment, and the great ship that took him home, in the undying lands where he belonged, did not even create the happy longing elves usually felt. Truth be told Legolas felt miserable. His promise to Aragorn, and the betrayal he committed by going away so soon stirred in his soul. King Thranduil had been the one to push him out before he faded from grief in a show of fatherly love. He knew he had broken his heart, and Aragorn's sadness was no better.

But it was just too painful to stay in middle earth. Would his broken soul fnd peace in Aman ? Elrond's sons seemed to think so, but no one knew if it was just wishful thinking since none had heard of Celebrian their mother, ever since she had sailed from the grey havens. Sighing, the elf decided that it was time to bid his own friends one last goodbye. Climbing up the sails in a swift motion, the elf reached the top easily and settled on the mast. Aragorn and Gimli were nowhere to be seen in the port, and his eyes scanned the shores. They would for sure try to keep the ship in sight until the end, and he eventually spotted them on a cliff.

They were making signs in his direction. And yelling. They did not know if he could see them, but still they kept on, gesturing at something in the water. Legolas frowned; what could be so important that it had to be told now, and could not have been said when they parted? Studying the signs with attention, his brain finally acknowledged some of them. Swimming? Why would they sign such a thing when everything they had left to say was goodbye? When things suddenly clicked into place, Legolas nearly lost his legendary balance. Swirling around the mast to lift himself up, he ordered all sails to be taken down. At once the ship filled up with sailors, no one questioning the orders of the prince of Greenwood. One by one, the immaculate sheets were folded and secured on the yards, and the elf eventually got a good view over the endless sea. Legolas searched, time stretching while his chest heaved in expectation. Somehow, he knew. No one but her could have dived into the sea to reach him. No one sane enough!

At last he saw her, a little figure struggling in the waves some distance from them. The plastered hair did hide most of her face, but there was no doubt as to who she was. The fiery strands gave her away. Legolas suddenly felt light-headed, his long-lost energy returning in waves as hope permeated his soul. Could it be true? Was he not dreaming? Squeezing his eyes shut, he counted to ten before opening them again. And then, the incredible truth was revealed. Frances had come back for him! At once, Legolas shouted to the crew to turn around, showing them the lady swimming towards them. His heart threatened to leap out of his chest, his glow growing by the second. Shouts were heard on the deck while they tried to adjust the trajectory, but the elf could not hear anything while he tried to reach for her through their bond. She was exhausted, but resolved. He frowned. Would she manage to hold on until they came? There was no point jumping down; the boat would be faster than him and his efforts be wasted. But he could let her know he was there. Putting his hands beside his face, he screamed at the top of his lungs.

- "Frances! Hold on meleth!"

From the shore, Aragorn and Gimli were screaming with joy. The ship was changing course, angling to the shore to rescue the young woman. The anguish that had seized their hearts after Frances's fall from the cliff giving way to full-hearted mirth. At first thinking she wanted to die, they had been astonished to see how far she had managed to swim on her own. However it became clear that she was getting weak, and none of them were able to swim far enough to retrieve her. Now that the bright ship was coming closer, everything seemed possible.

- "She is a mad woman, I always said so," grumbled Gimli.

- "A mad woman indeed. And very much in love. How I respect her madness, master dwarf."

Legolas' voice was all it took for Frances to weep with joy. Lifting her head, she saw the sails drop, and slowly the ship changed course towards her. She would have yelled back to him, but exhausted as she was, she just laid on her back and started floating around to rest. Minutes passed, minutes that seemed like hours to her. She realised she had nearly fallen asleep in the cold water. Hypothermia was getting dangerously close; if she did not pay attention, she would be dead soon. She started moving again to restore some warmth to her frozen limbs. Lifting her head, she saw the white wood of the sailing ship coming towards her. And at the prow stood Legolas. Tall and proud, as bright as she remembered, his face glowing happiness at the sight of her. She had never doubted his feelings, but seeing how his features shone wiped any of her doubts! Taking one last sprint, the young woman began crawling her way to the ship. It took everything she had left, but soon she was fending off the waves and came in reach of the majestic vessel, panting heavily.

Legolas watched her progress with wary eyes. The amount of energy that was needed to break the waves countercurrent amazed him, and it took all of his will power not to jump into the water himself. They were getting closer.

- "Hold on, meleth nin. I will get you"

Frances stopped swimming, lifting her head up and locking eyes with him. Legolas' knees buckled such was the intensity of her gaze. Longing, love, amazement, admiration, disbelief and pure joy. All of it in one simple look.

- "I need a rope ladder."

They were almost there, and he heard his people dropping the ladder over the side. But his eyes would not leave hers. He couldn't take the risk; if her body failed her, he would jump and retrieve her in a heartbeat. As long as his eyes were strained on her, she was safe. But it was no use worrying, for Frances was steady. Exhausted, but steady.

The ship glided towards her, its speed reduced, and she swam out of the way. Legolas descended the ladder in a flash, one of his hands safely secured on the rope, his whole body angling down to retrieve her. It felt so strange to be back there, and at the same time so natural. Legolas extended one hand in her direction; she did the same. As their fingers touched Frances dove into his deep ocean eyes, and she knew that she would never leave him again. The simple contact of their intertwined fingers made her whole, she felt alive for the first time in years. But she was cold, and her muscles so tight from the effort than she could not manage to close her fingers against his.

Legolas seized her wrist and lifted her up effortlessly, bringing her slender frame flush against his. He gasped, feeling the coldness of her skin against his soaked tunic. Hypothermia was only a breath away, and only now did he realise the folly of her actions. She had nearly died to join him! She would now be sinking into the bottomless Ocean had his friends not managed to warn him. This realization made his heart stutter, and the prince crushed her shaking form his chest.

- "I have you, meleth nín, I found you again."

Warmth spread into chest; his scent surrounding her for the first time in three years. Tears of joy sprang from Frances' eyes, but she was too winded to speak. Legolas kept her locked into his side as the rope lifted them up to the quarterdeck, repeating her name as he held fast. The feel of his body against her, after so long, was an incredible experience. Everything was so familiar, and she still couldn't believe he was there. The touch of his glowing skin over hers, the pressure of his warm muscles, the subtle scent of pinewood, his silky hair floating in the wind and caressing her cheeks, it was a whole pool of sensations. She wanted to hug him so badly, but her arms were too stiff to even grab his tunic. She was absolutely spent, so helpless that they had to hoist her up like a rag doll. Legolas' grip, though, was secure around her waist. It held a promise; the promise to never let go, and Frances nearly went slack in his arms such was her exhaustion.

As they touched the ground, Frances' legs gave out, the muscles too stiff to remember how to function properly. Legolas caught her, looking down with concerned eyes.

- "Frances! Will you be allright?"

She nodded, unable to utter a word as he teeth shattered. Her body felt numb against his, the sensation lost on her cold skin. A wave of exhaustion washed over her, and Frances closed her eyes, resting her head in the crook of his neck. Legolas' heart swelled with joy. His hand came into her damp hair, pulling her close, and he started trailing kisses on her temples while she tried to regain a bit of composure.

- "Frances, meleth nín, I thought I had lost you forever…"

- "Well, that was close."

The sentence came as a mumble as Frances' teeth chattered.

- "You're frozen Frances, let me take care of you."

These words being said, the elf picked up the icy woman in his arms and strode to his cabin.

- "Bring me some blankets!", he exclaimed, his tone authoritative.

As soon as the words were uttered, a maid rushed to his cabin, the required blankets folded in her outstretched hands.

- "Do you wish for some help my lord?"

- "No, but we need to get back to port. Turn this ship around," responded Legolas, ignoring the pointed stare the woman gave him.

As he closed the wooden door with a kick of his feet, Legolas turned his gaze to the dripping wet woman lying in his arms. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips blue. It was not the first time he saw her like this, a souvenir of Caradhras quite vivid in his mind. He had no idea, at that time, what she would mean to him one day, but her apparent fragility had struck a chord. He would never let her go, not matter the difficulties of her being a human. He'd rather spend forty years at her side than eternity without her. She was watching him now, her teeth chattering in a merry dance.

- "This nightgown must be shed, do you wish me to call for a maid?"

- "T'sok," she answered, shaking her head left and right.

Legolas smiled at the long-forgotten expression, then he tugged on her dripping nightgown. Frances let Legolas' hands work for her. She was too exhausted to feel self-conscious, and still too catatonic to help him out. His eyes stayed on her face as he worked, his warm hands raising goosebumps here and there, and she was soon cuddled into the blanket he wrapped around her. Pulling the young woman in her lap, the elf rested his chin on her soaked head. Legolas frowned, this would not do. His only fear now was to lose her again, and she could very well end up with pneumonia in her sorry state.

An instant later Frances was resting against him, her hair folded in a cotton cloth. The rest of her was slowly coming back to life in the heavy blankets that surrounded her like a cocoon. It felt good to feel his chest heave up and down again under her head. The elf's arms kept her close, like a protector who had sworn never to let harm befall on her again. Time passed, the gentle rocking of the ship had them moving back and forth, a lock of his hair caressing her cheek.

- "Thank you, Legolas"

- "Meleth," he breathed while turning his face down to have a better look at her face. "I will never thank you enough for your courage. I have been a coward…"

She shushed him gently, and tilted her head upwards to contemplate his fair features, closing her eyes for a moment.

- "I do not even know how to be a coward, and I will never believe this of you, my love. Diving was our only chance, I had to take it."

Legolas' gaze turned distant, his face contorted in pain.

- "I am so glad you did! But I fear I have been weak. My oath to Aragorn was broken, and I attempted to flee to Aman instead of trusting you to get back to me."

- "Hush Legolas. I was so worried about you. If you have felt our separation as keenly as I have, I am surprised you didn't fade from grief."

- "I nearly did. This is why Aragorn released me from my promise, and my father pushed me to sail."

- "I understand"

For a moment, Frances closed her eyes, resting her head on his chest. The mere notion of his fading was enough to pinch her heart. His voice, tentative, asked:

- "How did you … how did you survive this?"

There was so much she wanted to tell him. How she had struggled to find a reason to live, how the world felt foreign without him, and insipid, how the vision of him dying in her world had terrified her. How the sheer strength of her will had kept her alive and she searched for a way to get back to him. But it was a tale better kept for later.

- "I am human after all Legolas, we are, in the end, a very resilient race."

- "And you are the toughest of all, my lovely Frances. You have changed a little, matured somehow, it shows in your eyes. But it is still you, isn't it?"

The young woman hesitated for an instant, her eyebrows scrunching slightly. That would certainly be a difficult notion for him to grasp.

- "Well … sort of"

- "Whatever do you mean, meleth?"

Legolas' face morphed into a worrisome expression, and Frances sought to ease his fears at once.

- "It is me. I am, in fact, a new Frances with a brand-new body, like a copy. An identical twin that was fabricated from the first one. She sent me in her stead, sacrificed her own happiness to continue living on earth and serve the Valar, and her planet"

Appalled, Legolas straightened.

- "So you mean to say that you are not Frances?"

- "Do not misunderstand me. I am Frances, I just have a brand-new body, which should increase my lifespan by twenty years or so. It is just that there are to of us now. Twin Franceses, so to speak, now going separate ways"

This was the most astonishing news he had ever heard, and Legolas frowned deeply. Was she, or not, the young woman he had fallen in love with? As he searched for their bond, he found it quite renewed by their proximity. His heartbeat picked up as he asked the question that burnt his lips.

- "So you will stay?"

- "Until my last breath"

As he gazed into her eyes, watching the adoration that poured out of her, and the peace that spread over her face, he knew he had his answer. She was Frances, and she was his, and he would wait until later to feel bad about the other self that stayed on earth. May she be happy as well! As for now, his heart sung the most joyful of songs, and he longed to touch her.

Legolas' warm lips pressed gently to hers, and for a moment both of them stayed very still. His pinewood scent wrapped around Frances's body and overcame her senses. She felt alive again, his gentle caress suddenly spreading warmth into her sore muscles. The kiss ended too soon, and Frances turned around to stare into his eyes once more. Dislodged by the sudden movement the blanket slid off, barely covering her chest anymore. Legolas made a movement to put it back on, but she seized his hand and rested it in the small of her back.

The elf caressed her smooth skin tentatively, trying to master his will to cover her again, but his hands had other ideas. Her warming skin called to him, and his fingers were too happy to cover every inch of her body. She was watching him with a combination of awe and hunger, and when she searched for his lips he could not prevent himself from sliding his tongue inside her mouth. She smelled like sugar and spices, and they slowly came to terms that there was no coming back to their reunion. Frances tasted him like the delicious treat he was, pressing her body against his, her hands fiddling with his soaked tunic. She needed him close, and by the movements of his hand behind her back he agreed heartily. Frances gasped when his smooth touch travelled to her hips under the cover of the blanket, then she tugged on his collar. She needed the contact of his skin as much as she needed air to breathe, the barrier of the fabric unbearable between them. Eventually, the elf helped her slide the tunic over his head, his toned chest revealed for the first time. Had she been sound of mind, Frances would have marvelled at the glow of his pale skin, or the beauty of his chiselled body. But right now, she was only interested in wrapping herself around him, the sensation of his skin on hers breathtaking. Her whole body was humming in tune with his, the glow around them intensifying by the second.

Feeling bold, Legolas dismissed the blanket with one of his hands. Naked, Frances clung to him, her body warm against his, tantalising, as he lowered her onto his bed. She was so beautiful! Her creamy skin nearly glowing in the sunlight, her curves feminines, but firm, her toned body tangling in the sheets, her red strands falling in waves over her full breasts. Frances was purring, her body totally caught in the sweet moment of intimacy with the ellon she loved more than life, and when he approached her from above she could not resist trailing kisses along his torso. Legolas moaned, melting into her caresses, her kisses setting his skin on fire. Soon she had grabbed his breeches and he found himself naked, his body tangled with hers in the silken sheets. They kissed again and again, caressing every inch of skin, exploring their bodies carefully with endless care. Frances' skin held the strong scent of the sea, and Legolas realised that by answering the call of the sea, he had found her. She was, in a way, the sea that had called her to him!

Then Frances pulled him to her, and Legolas pinned her beneath his body, relishing in the way she moulded against him. Her legs opened, surrounding him, calling him home. There were no words to describe the happiness he was feeling, and the irresistible envy to merge with her. When she pulled at him again in a sigh, the elf understood what it meant and gently entered her. An explosion of sensation greeted him, and it felt like he would lose entirely control. Overwhelmed, Legolas could only follow his instincts since his mind shut down completely. So that was it; what bonding really felt like! Elves did commit only once in their lives, and never since he was born the prince of Greenwood had felt inclined to surrender his will to any Elleth. But now, while he felt her body surround him in every possible way, lips washing down her skin and raising goose bumps on its trail, Legolas thought that there was nothing more perfect than their sacred union.

Frances was in paradise. If this wasn't her first time, the intimate moment she was sharing with Legolas held a totally different dimension of commitment. He was glowing stronger and stronger while he made love to her, and she melted in his sweet embrace, totally oblivious of the rest. She could feel the strong feelings he had for her by the way he stroked her hair, caressed her face, and held her close to him. Sighing in contentment, the young woman surrendered her body to the elf's and let him lead her into places she had truly never been in her life.

Far away from here, another Frances was meditating actively searching in the depth of her heart. But try as she might, the faint link was nowhere to be found. The young woman's eyes snapped open; her bond with Legolas was totally and irrevocably gone. Not even the dim light remained. A sad smile crept up on her face, and she whispered, 'Be happy together.' Now, she was free.

Well. 200,000 words, I certainly wasn't expecting it to be this long to be honest. I'm not so sure how far I'll go since I'm quite close to the end. Maybe one more chapter. I'm not sure if I should, this looks like a nice ending. What do you think? What would you want to know? There will be sequels though, happening a few years in the future in middle earth. Stay tuned!