Thanks, WickedGreene13!

Aerlaer awoke to the beginnings of bird calls and the scent of dew. Her eyes opened to the peaceful and boyish face of Legolas only inches away, still asleep. Her heart skipped a little as it had done the day before and she frowned in worry. Why does it do that? What is wrong with me? She quietly sat up, noticing the other Elf's cloak had fallen a little off him. Gently, she pulled it up to his shoulders.

His eyes fluttered a little and he stirred. "Aerlaer." He muttered still half unconscious and, smiling in amusement, she placed her hand on his forehead.

"Keep sleeping." She whispered and noticing a few strands of hair had fallen onto his face when he had moved, gently brushed them back with her hand. He sighed and his body sank back into sleep. She shook her head fondly at him and stood. Her heart seemed to tug from within her chest, causing her nervous pause as she drew in a deep breath. Maybe I am ill? She pushed the unpleasant thought to the back of her mind just as she had the eve before. Elves didn't get ill. It made no sense and, if she mentioned it to Aragorn, he would worry unnecessarily.

Quietly Aerlaer brushed both Arod and Hasufel and deftly tacked them up, carefully taking the grey's saddle from where Legolas still slept.

With then with nothing else to do, she walked back to the tent she had tried to sleep in the night before and quietly fetched her weapons and bed roll. Legolas still slept as she passed him once again and she wondered how for the entire camp was beginning to stir.

She paused, watching him a moment. He had seemed terribly out of sorts when she had accidently stumbled upon him under moonlight. He'd sounded vulnerable, almost scared and she had not been able to fathom leaving him there alone. Now he seemed peaceful.

Backing away, she put down her belongings and made her way to the food wagon she knew held a wooden box of apples. Maybe he simply missed the stars.

...

Legolas awoke and noticing the grass beside him was bare, wondered if he had also dreamt up the other Elf sleeping closely beside him. The grass was slightly flattened and dry, unlike the dew touching other fine leaves, glistening in the suns early rays. That part wasn't a dream. He sat up and caught sight of two apples resting on the arrows of his quiver.

Appreciatively, he picked one up and took a bite. Now where was Aerlaer? He did not need to gaze far, she was but mere feet away, sitting quietly beside the horses. He rose, stretching quietly and walked barefoot to kneel down beside her.

"Thank you for breakfast, although I think I better share this one." He greeted her before biting off large pieces of the apple second apple to give to the horses. "Did you sleep well?" He asked curiously, wondering why she had left the tent during the night.

I did, and clearly you did." She laughed lightly, pushing unruly tresses back from her face. "You want to know why I left a perfectly good tent full of others?"

"You missed me?" Legolas smirked and she burst into laughter but did not deny his teasing question. It made his heart swell. Perhaps she did miss me a little?

"Maybe." She grinned evasively. "I have two theories now. One; I prefer the familiarity of those I know being nearby. Or two; it is because I am only used to being nearby other Elves." She tipped her head curiously to the side at him. He supposed the later would make more sense although he doubted he could very well attribute his need for company to be as broad. No, it was disconcerting just how much he craved her presence. Today, he would try and keep his distance. He would scout.

"Why were you out here? I nearly stepped on you. Is Gimli's snoring so intolerable?" Aerlaer broke into his thoughts, a look of concern upon her features.

"Bad dream." He replied, involuntary shuddering at the memory and she eyed him with a slight frown.

"What happened?" She asked softly. Her concern was touching but there was no conceivable way he could or would explain he had dreamt her death and had been powerless to save her.

"I could not fathom to tell you. It… It was not pleasant." He finally answered and after a silent moment she nodded.

"I wonder how Sam and Frodo are getting on? I hope they are okay." Much to his relief, Aerlaer changed the subject. His mind now wandered to the two Hobbits they had separated from.

"I hope so too but I think they must be. I think if some ill befell them we would somehow feel it in our hearts." He replied, gazing away towards the direction Fangorn lay. "Gandalf never did tell us much of Merry and Pippin, I wonder how they are faring with the Ents?"

"Knowing Pippin, he probably has them feeding him like a lord." Aerlaer said dryly and Legolas laughed, feeling once again lighter of heart.

"Grab your bedroll, I'll tie it to Arod's saddle with mine." She suddenly asked and he noticed Aragorn approaching from the corner of his eye. He did as she asked, quickly rolling It up and passed it to her.

"Aerlaer, you are up early indeed, I did not even hear you rise." Éowyn called out cheerfully as she walked from the direction of the tent some of the women had slept in.

"My lady you will soon learn that elves do many things in silence. I did not hear Legolas rise either and I slept lightly." Aragorn commented as he came to stand by Hasufel's head, stroking the horse's neck in greeting. He shot Legolas an amused look which bothered him.

"You obviously do not sleep light enough." He quipped at the Ranger and received a knowing grin.

"I am pretty sure I do." He replied smugly and then noticing Aerlaer watching them curiously, turned to tie his bed roll to Hasufel. Aragorn knew then, or at least presumed he had spent the night outside with Aerlaer. Why did he have to act so smug and knowing, there was nothing to know!

"Thank you to whichever one of you tacked up." The Ranger spoke to them both.

"It was Aerlaer, I was fast asleep, blissfully unaware of anything." Legolas replied just as smugly as the Ranger had sounded. Yes, Aragorn, not so confident of your assuming's now!

"Shall I wake up Gimli?" He asked and shaking his head, Aragorn gestured for him to do so. Waking up Gimli, now that would be fun.

He entered the tent and nearly laughed aloud, a devious idea quickly forming. The Dwarf snored away blissfully, unaware of the world around him. He hated mornings, Legolas knew this, but it was time for him to be up so they could be on their way.

He stood and leaned in towards Gimli's ear, the scent of smoke and metal and rock strong to his senses and spoke urgently, as if terrified. "Dragon! There is a dragon!" With a yelp of surprise, Gimli leapt up and Legolas dodged back towards the entrance as the Dwarf swore loudly, rubbing his eyes as he looked around.

"Ah, Gimli, finally you are up and look to be raring to go." He chirped up, acting as if he had just entered the tent and found him awake.

"You, did you, dragons?" The Dwarf spluttered and he feigned confusion.

"Dragons? What in Arda are you talking about, Gimli?" He received a beady glare.

"Hmph, ruddy Elves." He muttered darkly and Legolas snickered. "Where might you have been during the night?" Gimli suddenly demanded.

"Pardon?"

"You might not realise but us Dwarves can be mighty quiet if it suits us, You got up in a hurry and left and didn't come back did yeh?"

"I um…" Gimli's accusation took Legolas by surprise. "I had an unpleasant dream."

"'Bout what?"

"Dwarves snoring, truly it was awful." He smirked and Gimli grunted.

"More likely you dreamed you'd got a knot in your hair." The Dwarf laughed at his own joke and Legolas chuckled.

"Maybe you are right?" He suggested cheekily as he took the light blanket he'd left in the tent earlier and exited, allowing Gimli to prepare for the day.

Checking and strapping his weapons on for the day, Legolas realised Aerlaer had done most their own packing up and so he made his way towards where she currently helped Éowyn and the other woman, children racing excitedly around them. Wooden stakes needed pulling from the earth, where they held each tent and so Legolas set to work nearby the others.

"Did you sleep alright Aerlaer?" He heard Éowyn ask.

"Oh, yes I did thank you, and you?" The elleth replied as she picked up the folded tent. Legolas wondered if the young woman knew that she had left the confines of the tent. By her expression, he doubted it.

"I slept quite well I believe." Éowyn replied as she stowed away a bedroll into a nearby cart.

"So did we!" An excited voice chirped as the younger of the two children Aerlaer had been carrying the day before, raced back towards the elleth, dragging her sister along.

"That is good to hear." Aerlaer said and knelt to their level. Legolas paused in idly taking out pegs from the ground to watch the interaction.

"Haddon and Walwyn have said we can ride with them today." The older sister said with a bright smile up at the elleth.

"We are going to be Riders of the Mark! Just like Lord Éomer!" The younger one exclaimed excitedly and then sighed at length. "But we do not have spears." She added despondently.

Aerlaer looked thoughtfully at the two sad faces before her. "I think I might be able to find you some very special spears." The girls' faces lit up brightly. "But you must do as your mother says today and not cause too much trouble." They nodded solemnly at her and she smiled. "Off you go now."

Excitedly they dashed away and still smiling, Aerlaer rose to her feet and caught Legolas watching her. He smiled and approached her

"They adore you." He smirked. And so, unfortunately, do I. So, I cannot laugh. He internally sighed.

"And I quite adore them." She laughed cheerily.

"You are good with them, was there..." He was about to ask if there were many Elflings in her herd but quickly stopped himself. "Was there anything I can help with here?" He tactfully asked instead.

"Well since you ask, and my hands are full, could you take two of my arrows and cut the fletches from them and present them to the two girls?" Noticing his hesitance at such a request, she laughed. "Do not worry, I promise they do not bite."

"I'm not exactly used to children." He muttered awkwardly as he pulled two arrows from her quiver and one of her two blades to cut them down.

"Neither am I. I was the youngest in my herd." She admitted as she placed the tent down with other ones in the cart. This surprised him. Although Elflings were rare among all realms. The youngest Elf who had resided in his Father's halls had been Tauriel.

The thought of the Silvan elleth reminded him just how careful he needed to be around Aerlaer. If she knew just what she was becoming to mean to him, her rejection would ruin their wonderful friendship and he could forget being close as friends with her again. There would be no more sleeping beneath the stars, closely beside her.

"Legolas?" He looked at her nervously, hoping he was not transparent. He felt transparent. "Don't worry, you will be fine."

"Perhaps." He muttered and she grinned.

"You slay Orcs and Spiders and you faced a Balrog by my side yet two little, harmless girls worry you?" She said teasingly, nudging his side.

"What if they do not like me?" He asked quietly, although it was not just the two children who worried him to question such a thing.

"You'll be fine, they are sweet, they'll like you, why wouldn't they? Your fun." She took his arm and turned him around, pushing him towards the direction they had run off. "Now go or they'll be sad." He sighed and shaking his head walked off to find them.

Legolas had no idea what he was going to say to the two young girls. Aerlaer spoke so easily to them and they really did seem to adore her. But it was Aerlaer, she was kind and loving. He was... he wasn't sure what he was. Fiercely loyal? A warrior? A hunter? Prince of the Woodland realm? He wasn't even that anymore. Not in his own heart anyway. He didn't know what he was and he had no skills to fall back on to deal with children.

He remembered his mother's love when he was an Elfling and felt a pang of loss at the memory of her. His father had raised him alone when she had died and, instead of being allowed to play and run with others Elflings, he was taught how to act as the son of a mighty King and trained how to fight. He had seldom interacted with anyone close to his own age until he had become an adult and it wasn't until he had met Aragorn and Arwen's brothers, Elrohir and Elladan that he even learnt what it was to truly have fun because he was finally able to shrug off royal expectation. Aerlaer thinks I am fun.

He saw the two girls, sitting cross-legged upon the ground with a light brown haired young boy. They were all talking excitedly, the loudest of the group the youngest girl. He realised he should probably blunt the arrow tips a bit and took Aerlaer's fighting knife, he was still holding, to them.

Knowing he could not stall any longer, he put the knife back with his own two blades and nervously approached the three children, hiding the two modified arrows behind his back. They stopped playing and watched him as he approached, the slightly older girl and boy looking shy and nervous. Exactly how I feel, oh Manwë what do I say to them? He panicked as the youngest girl's face lit up and she skipped over to him.

"You are Aerlaer's friend, Legolas." She stated boldly.

"I am." He replied nervously.

"I am Nellwyn." The girl grinned up at him. "And you saved her, didn't you?" She continued. "Aerlaer said there were five big, horrible Orcs and she couldn't kill them all and then you killed them and saved her." The little girl looked at him excitedly and the two shyer children even looked up at him with wondrous eyes.

He chuckled at that, not expecting any of it. What exactly had Aerlaer told them?

"You must be very brave." The older girl said, looking shyly up at him.

"Oh, I don't know where you heard..."

"Aerlaer told us you are." Assured Nellwyn matter-of-factly.

"Did she now?" He smiled and the two girls nodded solemnly. Maybe this was going to be okay. They seemed happy enough.

"I have something for you both." He knelt down as he had seen Aerlaer do and all three children crowded around him excitedly as he presented both Nellwyn and Fayre with their little spears. "These are from the Golden Forest of Lothlórien." He told them and their eyes grew big again in wonder.

"That's where Aerlaer said her grandmother lives and where you danced with her." The older girl said, her eyes bright as she looked at her spear. Legolas was beginning to wonder just how much Aerlaer had been telling them about him.

"Now I shall be just like Éomer!" Shouted Nellwyn excitedly.

"Thank you, Lord Legolas." Her older sister said happily.

"Fayre!" Hissed Nellwyn loudly. "You're supposed to just call him, Legolas, remember what Aerlaer said?" She reprimanded her older sister who looked a little embarrassed.

"I mean thank you Legolas." Fayre corrected peering at him shyly again.

"That is quite all right, I am glad to be of service to the young shield maidens of the mark." He replied. The two girl's faces lit up proudly at how he had addressed them and he grinned. This isn't so bad. He turned to the young boy. "What might your name be? And are you a rider of the mark also who needs a spear?" He asked gently and the boy gave him a shy grin and rushed over to where they had been playing and ran back holding a small recurve bow. Now this was more to his liking!

"I'm a horse archer. My name is Edlin." The boy said and shyly handed his bow to Legolas to show him. Legolas gently took the bow from his small hands and examined it expertly. He gently pulled back on the string to see how powerful it was, pleased to find it was designed for a child to play with and its draw was harmless.

"This is a very fine bow Edlin." He said and handed the boys bow back.

Edlin beamed proudly. "My father made it for me."

"But he lost his arrow on the way here!" Interrupted Nellwyn sadly and Legolas saw the boy's face fall a little.

"Would you like one of my own arrows?" Legolas asked and the boy's face radiated in joy. It was a strange feeling, knowing he had caused such joy by such a simple act.

"Yes please." Edlin nodded vigorously and grinning at the boy's enthusiasm, he took an arrow from his quiver and Aerlaer's knife and cut the arrow down shorter and created a safe, blunt end and handed it to the boy.

"Now I do not want any of you three hurting one another, okay? He warned them in a playful tone and they nodded seriously at him.

"We'll be good Legolas." Nellwyn promised and he nodded to her and went to rise. "Oh no! We still cannot possibly be Riders of the Mark!" She suddenly exclaimed dramatically, pulling on her hair.

"Why is that?" Legolas asked, bewildered by her outburst. What had he done wrong? She looked up at him as if it were the most obvious thing in all of Arda.

"Because our hair is not braided as a warrior's." She said disappointedly. "Mamma was too busy to braid our hair this morning." She eyed him and then grinned. "You could braid our hair, Legolas!" She shouted excitedly and Fayre and Edlin looked at him hopefully too.

"I err, I don't know..." He stumbled over his words, surprised at Nellwyn's request.

"Please?" Three voices said up to him with large sad eyes.

Oh, why must they look at me like that? It's unfair. "Alright then." He gave in and the three youngsters leapt around him excitedly. What had he gotten himself into?

He sat down on the ground, crossing his legs comfortably and Nellwyn dragged her sister to sit down before him. "Uh, what sort of braid would you like?"

"One like Éomer's." She replied shyly and Legolas thought back to how the rider had worn his hair the day he had met him upon the plains. It was three simple, intertwining braids to pull the hair off one's face and he easily worked the design into Fayre's hair.

As he worked a similar braid into Edlin's much shorter hair, Legolas felt someone's gaze and looked up. Aerlaer smirked at him, looking to be stifling laughter, alongside Aragorn as Gimli hauled himself up into Arod's saddle. He simply smiled and shrugged, before finishing off the braid.

"Your turn now, Nellwyn." He grinned and the young girl scooted over. "Can you braid my hair like Aerlaer's?" She asked eagerly.

"I think I can manage that." He replied and started separating her hair into sections as he had seen Aerlaer do many times to her own hair.

"Aerlaer's hair is so beautiful." Fayre said as she stood next to Legolas, watching him braid.

"That's because Aerlaer is beautiful." Nellwyn pointed out. "Legolas? Do you think Aerlaer is beautiful?" She asked him innocently.

"Very much so." He replied truthfully to the young girl and smiled as he looked up to see just where Aerlaer was at that moment. He saw her still next to Arod, Gimli now fully astride the grey horse. She was laughing at something the Dwarf had said and even from how far away he was he could see her face alight with mirth.

"All done." Legolas said to Nellwyn and she hopped up to her feet and touched her braid and sighed happily.

"Thank you, Legolas." She then grabbed his hand and started dragging him towards Aerlaer. "Come on, we must show Aerlaer our braids!" Edlin and Fayre agreed and three little hands dragged him by the arms towards Aerlaer and Gimli.

Gimli chortled and Aerlaer turned to see what amused him and a huge grin found its way onto her face. The youngsters and Legolas were walking towards them; or rather Legolas was being dragged over by the three children.

"What's this?" Gimli chuckled to his friend.

"They've come to show Aerlaer their braids" He explained as the youngsters let go of his arms and babbled excitedly.

"Aren't they wonderful?" Nellwyn asked happily. "Legolas did mine just like yours, Aerlaer! Do you like it?" She asked hopefully.

"They all look wonderful." She agreed, smiling at the three children.

"Oh, but Aerlaer your hair is not braided!" Nellwyn realized in shock and Aerlaer laughed lightly.

"I do not always wear it braided." She explained and seeing the crestfallen look on the young girl's face added: "I am sure I can braid it now if you would like." Nellwyn nodded eagerly, her face beaming once more.

"Legolas could braid it for you, he is very good at it." Her statement nearly made Legolas bulk.

"It's quite alri-" Nellwyn cut over what Aerlaer was trying to say.

"You'll braid Aerlaer's hair too won't you Legolas?" Nellwyn looked up to him with pleading eyes and he looked to Aerlaer unsure what to say. He wanted to, Manwë how he wanted to.

"Oh, let him Aerlaer!" The young girl exclaimed in exasperation.

Aerlaer looked at him, chewing her bottom lip nervously and he shrugged awkwardly, unsure what to say.

"Oh, for Thorin's sake! Just do as the little ones say." Exclaimed Gimli impatiently.

Aerlaer jumped a little at his outburst and nodded at Legolas. His heart leapt. He wished it hadn't, this was in no way good, but to run his fingers through that hair, to be close to her… He shrugged again, hoping to look unfazed, not the utter turmoil he really was, smiling at her. She smiled back and he beckoned to the same rock Gimli had used to clamber up onto Arod, for her to sit.

Gracefully she did so and he knelt behind her, breathing in violets. He ran his fingers tentivley through the lengths, marveling at how soft it was, how each tress fell as a twisting wave of its own, each length slightly different, but altogether long and glorious.

Remembering himself, he began separating sections, making sure to leave the strands framing her face loose. All too soon, he had completed the loose braid.

"All done." Legolas spoke softly and reluctantly pulled his hands away from her hair and stood up.

"Thank you." Aerlaer said kindly and as she stood up and faced him, he noticed there was a curious warmth to her blue eyes, turning them a dark indigo. That they could change so fascinated him, but he did not wish to be caught staring.

"Any time." He shrugged offhandedly and moved to leap up onto Arod.

"Oh it looks lovely!" Said Nellwyn and the other two youngsters agreed.

"Edlin!" A male voice called from a group of mounted guards.

"Oh that is my father! Thank you for my arrow and braids Legolas." The boy said shyly and dashed away.

"We must go too!" Cried Nellwyn and ran off dragging Fayre with her.

Aerlaer chuckled. "It looks like you have admirers." She grinned up at him.

"Just what have you been telling them?" He asked, both worried and curious.

"Oh, this and that." She said airily and shifted into horse form as Gimli rumbled with laughter.

"Nothing bad laddie I'm sure." The Dwarf consoled him. "It looks like we can finally leave. Let us find Aragorn and the Lady Éowyn." He declared and they trotted towards the slowly forming line of departing people and horses.

…

As the previous day, travelling was slow going, but King Théoden had assured them they would enter the walls of the keep well before sundown. Aerlaer walked beside Éowyn who was leading Gimli who now sat astride Windfola. Rodwen sat astride Arod who walked beside Aerlaer's shoulder. Gimli, to Éowyn's delight was speaking of his own kin, the Dwarves.

"It's true you don't see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, they are often mistaken for dwarf men." He explained to Éowyn and Aerlaer and confused, they both turned back to Aragorn who was riding just behind them and looked at him helplessly.

"It's the beards!" He mouthed to them grinning as he pointed to his own stubble and Aerlaer looked to Éowyn and they portly burst into laughter. Gimli seemed pleased by the attention and their reaction.

"And this in turn has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women. And the Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!" Gimli finished scornfully but there was a twinkle in his dark eyes. Éowyn laughed all the more as Aerlaer tried to stifle her own amusement.

"Which is of course ridiculous!" The Gimli rumbled between his own laughter and accidentally kicked Windfola, who leapt into a canter causing the Dwarf to fall, still laughing, to the ground.

"Oh no!" Éowyn gasped and rushed forward to help him up.

"It's all right! It's all right. Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was deliberate." Gimli hastily reassured them valiantly as Éowyn helped him to his feet and brushed him off.

Grinning, Aerlaer called out to Windfola and the mare came trotting sheepishly back. "No harm done, Windfola." She reassured the mare who pricked her ears back up happily to learn she was not in trouble.

"Gimli, I need to teach you to ride." Aerlaer told the Dwarf." Grinning mischievously at him; knowing exactly what his answer would be.

"You'll do no such thing. I hardly need to know as long as the Elf knows how to ride." Gimli replied firmly and Aerlaer laughed at his stubbornness.

"Alright then but you tell me when you change your mind." She replied and he nodded his head, most likely so she would leave him be. For a while they walked in silence and Aerlaer let her gaze roam until she sited Legolas, standing on a high rise where he had taken to scouting for most of the morning. Absentmindedly, she ran her fingers over the braid he had worked into her hair.

He'd been so gentle, his presence both calming and worrying. Her heart had seemed to pull again and now she worried it was her fëa, that there was something wrong with it. Was it trying to fade? Was it trying to leave to find her herd, her kin? Aerlaer missed them deeply, the pain sometimes like a coldness tearing through her heart and soul. She did not wish to leave Middle Earth though, no matter how she missed them. Whatever was happening to her made no sense whatsoever and deep down, she was scared.

"My Lord Aragorn, who is the woman who gave you that jewel?" Aerlaer turned slightly to see Eowyn addressing Aragorn, not missing the shadow of pain which crossed his face before his eyes became distant in thought. She knew he was thinking of Arwen. He must miss her terribly. She thought sadly.

"My Lord?" Éowyn asked gently, stirring Aragorn from his thoughts.

"She is sailing to the undying lands, with all that is left of her kin." Aragorn replied quietly. He truly does believe she has left him. Aerlaer realized. Maybe it is easier to believe she is in a safer place. She could not imagine the torment of falling in love with a mortal, at least Arwen had a choice to be mortal too.

Now where is Legolas? She looked around and scanned the plain and relaxed as she caught sight of him a little way ahead to her right, among rocky tors.

"I might go and see him." Aragorn said, noticing where Aerlaer gazed and she nodded as he turned Hasufel and galloped towards the other Elf.

"Aerlaer?" Éowyn asked and she turned to the woman as she now fell into step with her. "Do Elves marry as we do?"

"In a way." She replied and held in a sigh as Éowyn looked at her expectantly waiting for her to go on. "Elves join as lifemates. We have just one other we give our heart to." Aerlaer explained. Oh of all topics, why must it be the one I loathe the most?

"Oh." Éowyn replied thoughtfully and lapsed into silence.

"Do you have a lifemate, Aerlaer?"

She groaned internally. Once, perhaps she had thought such a fate to be true, but she had been wrong, her heart confused, too young to know what love was. "No Éowyn, I do not." She looked straight ahead as she spoke. "My heart is mine alone."

"I am sorry, I thought perhaps you were…" Éowyn did not get to finish her sentence as Aragorn came galloping up to them and Aerlaer used his return as a change in subject.

"What news?" She asked him.

He looked down solely at her and Aerlaer caught the slight hint of worry in his eyes. "Legolas asked me to ask you to take a quick scout to the left of us if you don't mind." He said quietly and Aerlaer caught the meaning behind his words. Legolas was uneasy about something.

"How about you come for a run with me Rodwen?" Aerlaer asked tactfully to ensure Arod was free if Legolas should suddenly need him. Hopefully he would not, hopefully his wariness was for nothing.

"My Lady it would be an honour." Rodwen replied, a smile creasing her face. Aerlaer helped her from Arod and then shifting, lowered her horse self down for the old woman to climb aboard.

"Hold on, although you won't fall." Aerlaer said and leapt into an easy canter. Once she was certain of the old woman's balance, she threw herself into a fast gallop and ran a quarter of a mile left of the travelers, carefully scanning the horizon and any folds.

She halted halfway up a rise and surveyed the travelers and then cast her gaze towards where Legolas was half a mile from her. Rodwen chuckled from above.

"He is quite a fetching young Elf." She said conversationally.

"The elleth of Lothlórien certainly think so." Aerlaer laughed lightly, unsure what Rowden's point was.

"You care for him, don't you?"

"Yes, he is my friend." She answered. Why did her heart cringe at the word 'friend'? He was her friend.

"Ahh but you are beginning to care for him more so I think." Rodwen replied a little teasingly.

"I, I don't understand what you mean." Aerlaer replied feeling a little disconcerted. "You must speak of something human for your words make no sense."

"What do you not understand?" Rodwen asked, sounding rather baffled.

"None of it really." Aerlaer laughed, still unsure of the woman's meaning and questions.

"I am speaking of feelings, of love." Rodwen replied calmly.

"I thought we were speaking of Legolas?" Aerlaer muttered, now confused.

"We are speaking of Legolas." Rodwen chuckled. "And your feelings for him."

"What in Arda are you talking about?" Aerlaer asked, shocked by the woman's words. "I do not have any feelings."

"Are you quite certain?" Rodwen asked with a chuckle. Aerlaer didn't like this conversation, it was clearly meant for Humans, not Elves.

"I think if I had these feelings I would have known the day I met him." Aerlaer replied, trying to mask her agitation to just a tail flick.

"And why would you have known then? Why not now?" Rodwen asked curiously. What was that supposed to mean?

"When one first lays eyes on the one that belongs to their heart they know in that moment." Aerlaer explained the truth she had learnt the hard way.

"Why do you think that?"

"That is how my parents fell in love." She stated matter-of-factly.

"Oh dear, sweet, young Elf, I am sorry but that is not the only way. In fact, to fall so suddenly into love is rare." Rodwen laughed good naturedly.

Aerlaer was now feeling bewildered by the older woman's words. "But, that cannot be, I think perhaps you are referring to the race of Men, not Elves."

"I think love does not discriminate across races." Rodwen replied and once again, Aerlaer flicked her tail in confusion and frustration. Why would Rodwen not understand? "Tell me Aerlaer, why do you search the location of the Woodland Elf more often than the whereabouts of your other companions? Why do you go out of your way for him? Yes, I noticed our apple supply has slightly depleted, and why do you seek out his company over others?"

"I look for him to ensure he is safe, he roams away from the group more often. Apples are his favourite fruit, like mine. Aragorn doesn't care for them and Gimli prefers meat and I seek out his company because we are both elves." She conceded, refraining from the urge to stomp her hoof down, sorely regretting asking Rodwen to ride with her.

"Then why does your heart skip sometimes when you are with him?" Rodwen whispered, leaving the question hanging in the air. Aerlaer let out a snort of surprise, feeling utterly exposed, fear building swiftly. "How, how did you know that?" She whispered. "How did you know there is something wrong with it, with me? I've told no one."

A hand came to pat her shoulder reassuringly but Aerlaer felt far from reassured.

"Do not worry so, Aerlaer." The woman chuckled. "You are not dying."

"Then what is wrong with me?" Aerlaer replied miserably. "Am I fading? I don't want to fade."

"Oh, young one, you truly do not know do you?" Rodwen murmured incredulously. Aerlaer shook her head sadly.

"You're falling for Legolas."

"P…pardon?"

"You are falling for Legolas." Rodwen repeated quietly.

Aerlaer stared at the ground before her. "But, but that cannot be. That is impossible." She slowly shook her head. It was impossible.

"Why is that?"

"We have known each other for over two months now and been in constant company. If this were true I would have fallen long ago, when I first met him." She said, once again bewildered. She couldn't be could she? She caught herself searching for him again across the plain. This goes against everything I know, everything I believe. Everything I was taught, everything I have seen to be true. Surely it cannot be?

"Not all fall so suddenly, sometimes it takes time." Rodwen said simply and Aerlaer jerked her head up.

"'Love is not always as sudden as water falling from the falls of the Nimrodel. Sometimes it is the small stream from a far-off place which flows slowly, taking it's time to build up to the rushing waterfall.' " Aerlaer repeated the words of Galadriel out loud and quivered. She had known, Laeanath had known!

"Oh goodness, I am falling for him!" She gasped, now realising the meaning of Galadriel's words. "But why? Why like this? I did not think one could fall like this?" She swung her head wildly around and looked up to Rodwen. "What do I do now?" She asked, trying not to sound as panicked as she suddenly felt. Oh Manwë what do I do! What do I do!

"There is not much you can do." The old woman replied soothingly.

"Then how does he feel about me?" She asked, casting a look in the direction of the other Elf. Perhaps that was why it was different to what she thought falling in love was, because it was only one sided? How could it even be one sided? How had this happened? How did she not know?

"I do not know. He certainly does care for you as a friend too but any more I cannot say." Rodwen said. "I should think if he does, he will tell you himself. It is a males place to declare such things." Aerlaer nodded. That made sense, Aragorn had professed his love to Arwen and her own father had professed his feelings to her mother too. That was the order of things. Except they had fallen in love at first sight. Just as she had been told it was to fall in love. Something but not be right still. Maybe Rodwen was wrong?

"What do I do?" She asked Rodwen again. "Will it go away?"

"Do you want it to go away?"

"I do not know." Aerlaer mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed.

"It could be a bit of an infatuation or you might truly love him. Just keep doing everything you have been doing. Do not fret too much over it." Infatuation, that is what her father said she had when she was younger, when she had thought she knew what it was to fall… Now she felt a coldness sweep over her. Had he lied? Or maybe this was such a thing again, an infatuation? Nothing made sense anymore.

"Well, I am glad I am not dying." She muttered. "Thank you, Rodwen. I must think over this."

"Indeed not, child!" Rodwen chortled. "You are most welcome and if you ever need advice, just ask me." She offered kindly.

"I will. Thank you." Aerlaer said and then a voice, carried on the wind, met her ears, causing them to instantly snap back in a deep-set fear and hatred.

"Wargs!"

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