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Legolas POV

Seeing Harry in the distance, charging towards the army without any back-up, had my heart in my throat. Knowing that he is okay was like a breath of fresh air, but it only lasted a few seconds as I watched as he clashed with the Uruk Hai, his spells flying and their swords clashing. It didn't take longer than a moment to know that Harry was being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the enemy. Watching him had me mesmerized, so much so that I'm only vaguely aware of those I felled with my long fighting knives. There was something about his gaze that worried me, something that said he wasn't entirely aware of his current surroundings. Part of me wonders if it has to do with what had occurred in his past? The look vanishes and is replaced with a mix of irritation and determination.

The sudden green gaze capturing mine is startling, only for it to disappear a second later, body and all. For a moment, I stop breathing, thinking that something terrible had happened. I am startled, and suddenly the anxiety disappears when a loud pop sounds right next to me.

"Later," Harry says breathily, hitting an Orc with a red-colored spell.

I don't question him and resume the action. After another three hours of battle and Gandalf's back-up finally arriving, the battle of Helm's Deep ends in our victory. Before anyone can manage to say anything, I'm turning and enveloping Harry in a hug. He lets out a pained breath, and I loosen my hold, but I don't let go. I am breathing in everything that he is, relishing in the fact that I have Harry back. Harry lets out a gentle chuckle, returning the embrace with just as much vigor. Eventually, the rest of the fellowship find us.

"Where is our celebratory embrace?" Gimli growls, his arms crossed awkwardly to accommodate the axe he still holds.

"I agree, this is a good time to celebrate," Aragorn adds, his face has an expression that is half a kind smile and half-amused.

"Well come here then, just this once," Harry says with a sigh.

I try to remove myself before the other two join in on what becomes a large group hug, but I was stopped by the sudden tightening of Harry's arms around me. Once everyone finally let's go, Harry stumbles. He only avoids collapsing to the ground by my grip on his elbow, which I refuse to lose.

"Harry, you must eat and rest." I crease my brow as I look at him standing back upright. Aside from Harry's chapped lips – which must be from lack of food and water – his eyes are heavy. Lined circles surround his green eyes, showing that he has had barely any sleep recently. It does not sit well with me to see him so worn down.

"Yeah, probably a good idea. Will you join me?" Harry tries to hide a shy smile that plays on his face.

"Of course." I nod.

I am quite comfortable not wanting to leave his side for an extended period. As we walk around Helms Deep, we notice just how much of a wreck it is; rubble and broken stone are littered everywhere. There are bodies piled against the walls, scattered everywhere — friend and foe alike. It takes too much effort to find a clear path amongst the fallen and the debris. We look for an area that has been set up to give the weary soldiers that are left standing, something to eat. I find a secluded area, somewhere hidden from the eyes of the rest of Helms Deep and that is free of rubble, and we eat the warm, hearty soup that was on offer.

Harry and I don't speak, we don't really feel the need for words, having each other's embrace is enough. Soon I notice Harry is nodding off. I gently tug him closer to me, wrapping my arms around him and resting my head against his. I listen to his faint breath as he falls deeper into his slumber. It's not long before I feel the same pull to sleep, the exhaustion of the battle catching up to me, being secure in the knowledge that we are safe — at least for the night, I drop off too.

The next morning, the fellowship gathers together and leaves Helm's Deep for Isengard. Merry and Pippin are supposed to still be staying there with the Ents. From the information that Gandalf gave us, we think that Saruman may have been defeated on that front too. Harry and I still haven't said much since the previous night. We woke wrapped in each other's arms, and since there was no time for anything other than action. I'm unsure of what to say at this point, but all I want is to have time alone — to say something. We don't stray far from one another's side, though, and this brings me some comfort, we are both too afraid to be separated again — that much is clear.

We find Merry and Pippin easily enough; they are out in the open with one of the Ents, laughing and singing. We cannot hear about what, but I do notice a wealth of food and pipes in hand.

Gimli huffed, arms crossed and a frown across his face. "You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you feasting and… and smoking!"

I swallow down a laugh, Harry also trying not to smile – though I can still see the faintest twitch of his lips. Merry grins and Pippin laughs a bit more at Gimli's reaction.

"We're terribly sorry, you're welcome to join us!" Gimli is about to respond when the Ent interrupts, looking at Gandalf as he speaks.

"The wizard is locked inside the tower. What will you have us do with him?"

"He should remain, under your watchful gaze, Treebeard," Gandalf says calmly, eyes resting upon the lone tower still standing.

"Very well," Treebeard responds, turning towards Harry.

"Hello, child of magic and death, welcome to Isengard."

Harry nods in acceptance, everyone else frowns at the greeting.

"Harry is not—!" Merry starts to say but is stopped by Aragorn.

"Thank you for taking care of Merry and Pippin." Aragorn is quiet as he speaks, his head tilting forward slightly. Treebeard simply nods in response.

It is only then that I realize that Pippin has disappeared. Soon he walks up to us again, but now he is holding a strange-looking, obsidian, glowing sphere in his hands. The orb is large and heavy, looking more so in his small hands as he looks into it with a look of awe and confusion. Harry is suddenly tense beside me, and his eyes are glued to the glowing sphere. I saw as his gaze fixed on it almost as intently as Pippin's — if not more so. A moment later, Gandalf snatches it away and wraps his robe around it, taking it out of sight. It makes me wary of what it could be – a Palantir, maybe? Harry is still tense like the orb still has his undivided attention and focus. I take his hand in my own without hesitation and gently squeeze it in reassurance. Thankfully, it seems to help as he relaxes once more and squeezes back, letting go a moment later.

I'm left thinking about how his skin felt; how his hand fits so well into my own, his fingers interlaced with my own as though puzzle pieces made to be placed together. I swallow hard, pushing the thoughts back temporarily. I cannot seem to help that my mind is completely focused on him and not the many and varied tasks at hand.

We once again set off, it's almost as if Gandalf is in a hurry to move on from this place, or maybe from what took place; his demeanor has changed since the orb, and I cannot shake that it is important. This time, we head back towards Edoras, where we will stay in Meduseld with Theoden once more.

Along the path, Harry stops suddenly, and I look over at what's caught his attention. I see a large snake curled into a ball at the base of a tree, it fills me with panic, as snakes are not really considered to be friendly creatures. I want to warn Harry against getting closer, I notice the colouring, and I know this variety to be venomous. Something in me makes me pause and watch instead.

Despite the dangerous hissing coming from the snake, Harry doesn't even flinch or back away — instead, he draws even closer. I watch as he moves his hand gently, sliding it against its scales. My panic worms it's way up my throat when the snake twitches, baring its fangs, and I expect it to strike. I begin to step forward, my hand was stretched out to pull Harry away when he turns towards me.

"It's fine, Legolas. He won't hurt me or anyone else in the fellowship," Harry says, reassuring me. I can see the certainty in his bright green eyes.

My hand drops back to my side, and I'm confused but also sure that Harry would not lie or put us in danger. At this point, everyone else has stopped to watch what's happening, to see what has held Harry and I up. The snake begins to shift, and it's making everyone tense, but then it exposes a deep cut along its side - his side?

Why did Harry call the snake 'he', and how can he be so sure of our safety?

I watch as Harry covers the wound with this tip of his wand, muttering a few different spells I can only assume are meant for healing. I know he is a wizard, but I am still filled with wonder at how Harry can get so close to such a dangerous snake. Things finally begin clicking together, I remember all the previous occurrences I've seen Harry with snakes. None of them was threatening - or threatened by anyone. They all hissed at Harry, who was never frightened, but instead seemed amused by the hissing. He used strange movements with them as though replying to their hissing even though they couldn't possibly understand.

Could they ...?

I continue watching Harry. The wound is now healed, and the snake stretches out to its full size. It's huge, and I'm once again left wondering what is really going on as it hisses again and leaves when Harry smiles and nods. The snake doesn't turn back but slithers quickly away.

At this point, the only logical conclusion is that he can communicate with the snakes; they understand one another. I watch Harry as he returns to the group, completely at ease, as though nothing is at all out of the ordinary, and again I cannot help but wonder what his world was like.

"Harry, can you…?" I tilt my head towards where the snake had just been, I wordlessly ask the question. Harry stares at me for a moment, glancing at the others, who have once more began walking away, shrugging off the strange incident. I'm completely aware of everything around me, and as Harry leans in close, his breath caresses my ear, and he hisses in a sibilant way that is far from frightening, even if the sounds are just that - sounds.

*Yess, and they wish to know why I have not bedded you as of yet, Legolas*

A shiver creeps up my spine, wondering what it is he said to me. Regardless, I can feel my body heating in response, letting out a breathy gasp. I cannot tear my gaze away from Harry, my eyes flicker down to his pink rosebud lips. My stare is heated, and I cannot help but notice Harry's swallow and the way that his tongue slips out, licking his dry lips.

I am about to ask what he said, but the moment is ruined when Aragorn clears his throat a little bit ahead of us. "As amusing as this is, we need to be going." Aragorn is smirking at Gandalf, and they both have amusement in their eyes.

By the time we reach Edoras, a sombre celebration begins. Theoden addresses his people, raising a chalice to them, "hail the victorious dead!" his voice raises high, saluting those that fought and died for their country. There is a moment of solemn quiet before cheers and repetition of their Kings sentiments are repeated. We all join in the celebrations, which quickly take a more joyful turn, then I watch as Harry makes his way outside and I slip away to follow him.

I find him easily, though he hasn't noticed me as his gaze is unfocused. He looks just like he had every time he has been elsewhere, with Death, and I am sure that is where he is now. I stand beside him and wait.

The wait isn't long, soon Harry is blinking back to awareness, immediately noticing my presence beside him. A faint smile plays on his lips and then falters, and I know he has something to say.

"There's a final battle coming quickly," he begins. "We should not be relaxed for long," Harry says, frowning. "Tonight it is going to begin, with the sphere, that will be at the center of it all."

"Death?"

I don't have to say much else, Harry is already nodding to my question. It was Death who told him everything, and I feel that much tenser because of it, after all, who can argue with Death. Though I am glad to have this time together with Harry beside me. I drink in his form, which is outlined by the stars and moon, he has a lithe but athletic frame, muscular - handsome. He turns towards me, and his green eyes capture mine instantly. We stand there like that for a few moments, and Harry begins to talk.

"Legolas, I -"

There's a ripple in the air that has both of us frozen. The darkness washes over us for only a moment, but it feels so much longer. I don't hesitate, and at once I grasp Harry's hand into my own; it is reassurance for us both.

"The eye of Evil is moving," I whisper.

"This is the beginning of the end," Harry finishes as we stand there together in the night, one more second, and then two.

Then we release the hold as we have to rush to the room the fellowship is sharing for the night, dread in our hearts.