~Where Thy Heart No Longer Rests~

He was gone. Yet Aerlaer still searched Legolas's face, and through his tears, Gimli caught the flash of warm light which stirred within the elleth's sea-green eyes. It was not a look of resignation, of defeat, he realised, but fierce conviction. He watched on as she tenderly placed a hand upon the other Elf's pale, angular cheek and rested her right over his still heart.

"Gi melin." She whispered to Legolas's still form. Although he did not know the language of the Elves, Gimli understood by the way she poured every single emotion into those two words. A pale, gold light blazed beneath her hand over Legolas's heart, and Gimli felt warmth rushing into the Elf's arm he still held. Legolas suddenly jolted and spluttered, gasping for air and coughing up water.

...

His airways burned, yet they were wet and heavy. Each gasping breath he took in did not satisfy his need for air and caused him to choke and cough out water. Strong hands held him up by the shoulders, and there was a rough and calloused hand on his right forearm. The sound of his heart pounding was all he could hear, and his eyes were gritty as he blinked, trying to see. Rain fell upon him, but he did not feel it's bite. He discerned a rumbling voice beside him as his heart began to settle.

"By Thorin, lad, I thought we'd lost you!"

"I don't believe it." That sounded like Aragorn behind him.

"Believe it!" Gimli chuckled in happiness.

"Wha...what happ...end?" Legolas tried asking through gasps for air, his voice coming out painfully raw and hoarse. There was too much energy within him, yet he was weak. He began to shake.

"You took a bit of a dip in the sea, lad." Gimli explained, his tone gravelly.

"I went back out to the rocks." He struggled, lungs aching as he tried to explain. "The waves..." He coughed up more water, lungs blazing from the effort. Aerlaer had been out there.

"Where is-"

"She's just here." Aragorn said, and Legolas looked for her, eyes still half blurry. She was sitting to his left a few feet away but could not discern her features.

"Aer..." He gasped and coughed up more water. "Aerlaer." He tried again, looking towards her and she moved towards him.

"Shh, I am here, do not speak." Soothing hands come to rest upon his chest.

"Your lungs still have sea-water in them, and if we had the time, I'd let you expel it on your own. We do not have such liberty, and I'd rather you not be slain by an orc or worse, simply because you had to stop and cough up the ocean. I can only imagine how they must burn from the salt." Aerlaer's words were as soothing as her touch. As his eyes began to refocus, she took her hands from his chest and ran a hand back through her wet hair, chewing her bottom lip. Her next words were hesitant.

"I need to get to your lungs. They are intricate, and I can't work on them through fabric." She said, but he didn't understand what she meant, gazing back at her questioningly. She looked away from him.

"I need to remove your tunic." She explained, and he made to laugh but instead coughed, again feeling the water which pooled in his airways. He nodded his head to her in acceptance. He received a brief smile before she gently took his left arm and unrolled the sleeve of his tunic, followed by his right.

Aerlaer moved to sit behind him as Aragorn had been, and grasping the sides of his tunic, worked the clinging wet and now sandy material up and over his torso, chest and then arms, with Aragorn's aid. The rain beat down upon his bared skin and finally felt the cold as the wind struck his wet skin. He began to shake in earnest.

Gimli leapt up and charged off and reappeared moments later with his cloak and handed it to Aerlaer. She cast the dry cloak over his shoulders.

"I'm going to bring the excess water you breathed in up to the top of your lungs, so you can cough it out. It might feel a little odd. When you cough, try not to take a deep breath in first or you will only pull all the water back into your lower airways. Are you ready?" Again, he nodded. He was struggling to stay upright and gratefully let the other Elf pull him back to rest against her shoulder only to hold back a gasp of surprise as her warm hands came to rest beneath his cloak, one hand against the right side of his lower chest which he figured was the bottom of his lung, and her other hand opposite it against his back.

"Okay, I'm starting now." She murmured.

...

Aerlaer pushed all other thoughts from her mind and ignoring her heart, gently placed her hands on the other Elf. He was still quite cold, and she hoped the lifeforce she used to heal him would warm him. It took more effort than usual to pool the pale golden force to her hands, but she refused to acknowledge why. Not yet. Focussing beneath soft skin and defined muscle, Aerlaer concentrated on what lie under flesh and bone, until she reached his right lung.

The lowest lobe was free of water and with her mind still focused on the lung, she gently slid her hands up higher. There. She paused, detecting a water-filled airway. Aerlaer willed the tiny, fine hairs which coated the Elf's airways to move, catching and pushing the seawater which had collected, upwards.

It was difficult as she worked against the Elf's own breathing, effectively accelerating the natural process of these tiny hairs moving back and forth, to their own beat. Moving her focus higher, she collected more water. Aerlaer, felt Legolas's breathing begin to quicken as the water built up higher and higher.

"I need you to only take very slow and light breaths, I know it's not easy with me fiddling around in them." His breathing slowed, but she could feel his shoulders were tense from the effort to stay calm.

Aerlaer moved her hands up one more time so they rested just beneath the Elf's collarbone. There, she drew the water to the area her hands rested, and Legolas quickly lent to the side and coughed and spluttered the rest of the sea-water from his right lung. She let out a semi-relieved sigh.

...

"Good." Aerlaer murmured. "Now the left one."

"Just... a moment." Legolas replied hoarsely, from the seawater still burning his throat. He leant back against her and she held him steady by the arms.

His right lung was much better, and Aerlaer even managed to take the raw and burning feeling from it, which still remained in the left. He realised the rain lessened now to a drizzle over them. Aragorn had moved away, and he returned with Aerlaer's cloak and made to drape it over her.

"U Elessar, im mae." Aerlaer said, and instead pulled his own near soaked through cloak from him and covered him up with her dry one.

"Aerlaer-" He tried to protest and instead began coughing again.

"Shh." She held him steady as he expelled more water. He had never been so physically weak. He'd never coughed like this, except during those times when he had nearly choked on a drink in mirth.

"I'm going to start now." She said, and her hands rested over the bottom of his left lung and warmth flowed from them. His shaking began to lessen now. The water began to shift, and he fought the urge to take in great breaths. This time it was worse. Before Aerlaer moved her hands higher, he flung himself to the side again, spluttering up more seawater. "Sorry." He gasped, and a rough hand come to rest on his shoulder.

"You'll be alright soon, laddy." Gimli assured with confidence.

He let Aerlaer pull him back towards her and concentrated on breathing slow while she worked the unpleasant water up and out of his airways. Her hands finally rested below his left collarbone and he leant over to expel more seawater. He took cautious breaths in and realised his lungs were no longer wet, heavy or raw. He sighed in exhausted content.

...

Aragorn watched with baited breath, as Aerlaer laid an ear to Legolas's back, listening. "It's gone. You'll be okay now" She said with a deep sigh of content. Her voice sounded calm as healers should, but Aragorn was certain she was far from fine. "You must rest, before we set off again." She added, and Aragorn handed his own cloak over to her, which he had retrieved so she could warm herself. Instead, she folded it into a pillow and placing it behind Legolas, gently pulled him back so he lay with his head propped.

Aragorn shook his head at her selflessness. He knew she was cold, soaked through from the sea and the rain. She ignored it, fussing over Legolas. He noted how gentle each of her actions were filled with, without doubt, love. Legolas turned to look up into her face when she knelt beside him.

"Thank you, Aerlaer." He said and then added sheepishly. "I shouldn't've stayed out on those rocks. I think I underestimated the sea."

At his words Aerlaer's hair began to spark copper. Not fine at all. Aragorn worried. He knew when the elleth became upset, she bit.

"Dôl gîn lost?" She growled at him and Legolas looked at her, surprised.

"What?"

"Aerlaer..." Aragorn warned, but she seemed not to hear him.

"Has the sea addled you so much, you no longer understand your own tongue?" She snapped at the Elf. "I said, is your head empty!" Her words were full of anger, but her hands were gentle as Aragorn watched her run her fingers back through the blonde Elf's wet hair, pushing it off his face.

"I didn't think-" Legolas started, eyes wide.

"No, you didn't, you stupid Elf! You nearly died out there!" She cut over, angrily. "I should be eternally mad with you but it's impossible because I-" She stopped herself, casting her eyes away towards the horizon, and Aragorn missed what emotions may have been in their blue depths.

"You must rest now." She said raggedly, and as Legolas began to ask what she had been going to say, she placed her right hand upon his forehead and sleep washed over the weary Elf, ending the conversation. She brushed her hand against his cheek and then stood up, not looking at either Aragorn or Gimli.

"When he awakens, he will be back to his usual self, make sure he drinks right away." She instructed, still facing the waves. "The sun will return soon now the storm has passed." Aragorn realised she was beginning to shake where she stood.

"Aerlaer?" He asked gently. "You also need to rest." She shook her head, and he was certain by the sharp action, she fought back tears.

"I'm going for a run, I'll return when I see sails." She turned to gaze back at the resting Elf and Aragorn caught a glimpse of many emotions in the depths of her bright eyes.

"Aerlaer?" He hedged again, but she shook her head, turning away.

"Boe annin gward" Spinning, she shifted to horse and galloped off down the beach.

"Stubborn elleth." Aragorn muttered under his breath and Gimli turned to him.

"The poor lass, she's had quite the shakeup.

"Yes, thankfully she has saved him. If she had not, I fear we would have lost them both."

Gimli gazed out at the sea in deep thought. "Elves can die of a broken heart, can't they?"

"They can." Aragorn replied softly.

…

Aerlaer ran and ran. Her heart pounding a painful tempo behind her ribs, her lungs crying for her to stop, her limbs weak, until she collapsed upon the sand. Shifting back to Elf, there she lay, breathing in gasping, ragged breaths as her body fought to recover against the labouring of her heart.

She shook uncontrollably, not from the wind which chilled her, but from what had happened, what she had done, what would have been if she had not done what she had. She closed her eyes in physical pain as she comprehended a world without the other Elf in it.

Legolas had been dead. She had nearly lost him. No, she had lost him. Somehow, she had poured her life into him; she had brought him back. She remembered deciding to give up her own life to save his, and realised the only reason she remained was because he'd broken the connection when he came back, leaving her with little lifeforce left which she had depleted further, healing his lungs.

Waves of dizziness now left her feeling weak. She wished she had not run off. It hurt more to leave his side than she thought it would, but she had come too close to speaking her heart. She couldn't return yet, she didn't have the energy to rise. She took a deep breath in, trying to calm herself, steady her still shaking body. What she had done, it was unchartered healing or was it something else? She did not know. All she knew, nowhere was it written an Elf could bring another back from death.

Searching for her lifeforce, Aerlaer found only a slim trickle within her heart. All that mattered was he was alive, he lived. Afraid if she fell asleep she would not awaken, she wearily sat up and rested her chin upon her drawn knees and watched the horizon for black sails.

…

Legolas awoke bathed in warm sunlight, wrapped warmly in a cloak which smelt of violets. He took a few deep breaths and satisfied his lungs were indeed back to normal, eased himself up and looked about him. Aragorn and Gimli were sitting ahead of him, observing the sea which had calmed again. The sound of the waves call, just a small background noise to him.

He looked around, but Aerlaer was nowhere to be seen. She'd been so angry with him before he'd fallen asleep. He felt incredibly foolish for what he'd done. She'd warned him not to turn his back on the sea, and he'd almost paid the price.

"Where is Aerlaer?" He called out to the Dwarf and Ranger, finding his voice was stronger.

"How are you feeling?" Gimli asked, hurrying over to peer down at him.

"Well, I nearly drowned and then had half my garments removed, hands placed over my bared skin and my lungs played with, all by an elleth who is now so furious with me she has vanished." He spoke his mind, and Gimli chuckled. "I'm also thirsty." He said to the Dwarf, realising he desperately needed a drink.

"Well, I can help with the thirst." Gimli replied, handing over a coconut. "Aerlaer said you had to drink as soon as you woke."

Legolas took it with gratitude, and tipped the liquid into his mouth, letting it soothe his raw throat.

"I'm surprised she didn't instruct you to knock me on the head with a coconut." He muttered.

"Well, I can if you wish it." Gimli chuckled. "I don't think Aerlaer will take kindly to that though and I do not want her hunting me down in a temper."

"Why would she do that?" He asked confused. "Oh, Manwë she must be very mad!" He realised aloud. Aragorn snorted.

"She's not mad with you laddy, you scared her. You scared all of us. We thought we'd lost you." Gimli explained quietly, looking down at his feet.

"Then, where is she?"

"She'll be back; she has gone for a run, to calm her mind." Aragorn reassured him.

"She is mad then." Legolas said mournfully, and this time Aragorn laughed.

"Why would that be?" The Ranger asked, a smile playing on his lips.

"Because I am a stupid fool with an empty head." Legolas replied, disgusted in himself.

Aragorn laughed loudly and walked a small circle to compose himself, Legolas looked at him, bewildered.

"You are a fool for doing what you did, yes." Aragorn agreed. "But perhaps you are more stupid for not realising the blatantly obvious." He smirked.

Legolas was more confused.

"Oh, for Thorin's sake lad!" Gimli said exasperated. "I didn't know Elves could be so dim, the lass cares about you." Legolas went to shoot him a scathing look but held back.

"No more than the both of you." He quipped, refusing to hope.

"Bah, much more. She certainty did not hesitate with her method of bringing you back." The Dwarf retorted.

"How exactly did she bring me back?"

"Aragorn, err you explain. I don't understand it." Gimli muttered, and Legolas saw that his cheeks darkened. What did Aerlaer do? He looked at the Ranger imploringly and received a wide grin.

"The breath of life." Legolas had no idea what he was talking about and continued waiting for an explanation.

"She breathed into your lungs to revive you." He explained.

"How did she do that?" Did it involve my nose? He preferred breathing though his nose.

"Oh, you are slow witted sometimes!" Gimli muttered. "Simply put, she kissed you, how else was she going to do it." He said as if it were so obvious.

His heart jolted hard and the world suddenly felt like it was spinning. He leaned back on his hands. "Oh." He said in shock. "But that's healing, it does not quite count." He reasoned.

"Aye that's true, but she was adamant she was not going to lose you, she cares." Gimli chuckled. "Trust me on this one, laddy." Legolas looked from the Dwarf to the Ranger, wanting to believe them.

The past few hours' events drifted through his mind and he remembered that Aerlaer told him it was impossible to stay mad with him. She'd never finished what she was going to say. Maybe she really did care more? A small bubble of hope formed, and he gave his two companions a tentative smile which slowly faltered.

"I never heard any gulls. Did either of you hear any gulls?" He asked. Both shook their heads. "No all of Galadriel's warning has been fulfilled." He worried looking towards the waves.

...

Aerlaer stood, sighting the black sails of the Corsair fleet moving towards the cove. Their timing was impeccable, for the sun was halfway through setting; its colours glowing across the now calm water. The little rest had helped. Aerlaer no longer shook but still she felt tired, so tired. She'd push through it, and she'd keep what she had done to herself.

She shifted to cover more ground and trotted back with slow, long strides in the shallows of the shore. There was no need to invoke Aragorn's concern on the matter of her state. If her cousins found out, they'd kill her themselves. As for Legolas, she did not want him feeling responsible, and she knew he would if he found out. He'd punish himself over it, like he had at Helms Deep. He could not find out.

A white object caught her eye, and she stopped. Shifting back to Elf, Aerlaer picked up the perfect, intact seashell and turned it in her hand. It was the size of her palm, and a smile tugged are mouth. Gathering up the skirt of her dress as if to keep it from getting wet again in the water, she concealed the shell in the fold she created and now held before continuing back towards the others.

Over the waves, she heard the cry of gulls. Pausing, she glanced back. On gleaming white winds, they rode the eddies of the air, before the Corsair ships. Looking forward once more, she smiled, seeing Legolas was on his feet, standing beside Aragorn. Aerlaer did not know what the gulls would mean for him, but she was certain he was now safe.

…

Fully clothed and tidied back up from his dip in the sea, Legolas stood alongside Aragorn, regarding the waves, waiting for Aerlaer to return. The sound of gulls crying reached his ears, and he whipped his head towards the noise in fear. Many white gulls circled and called out high in the skies above, and then he saw her.

It was as if she appeared from the sea itself, the water glowing in all the colours of the sunset, around her. Long hair cascaded behind her, tousled by the sea breeze as she held her long forelock off her face, looking down at the water she walked through, sending sunset-faceted drops sparkling around her as she held the hem of her dark blue dress, scrunched up to her knees to keep it from trailing in the waters. Surely she belonged to this realm of sea and wind and sand, surely if he blinked, she would disappear, another drop in the ocean. She looked up and caught his eyes, and his heart soared as she gifted him with a brilliant smile.

"If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore." Aragorn murmured at his side.

"Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more." Legolas finished and turned to his friend as he found the meaning in Galadriel's last words.

"Will you tell her now?" Aragorn asked him with a smirk.

"Yes." He said with a conviction he felt in every part of his being.

"You better, everyone is sick to death of watching the two of you trying to tread around one another's feelings." The Ranger chuckled as he turned to go and rouse the resting Dwarf, leaving Legolas to meet Aerlaer alone. Legolas nodded to his friend, not registering what he said, his full attention on Aerlaer as she came to stand before him.

"Aerlaer." He greeted her, his heart filled with joy. Should I embrace her? Maybe I should embrace her? I want to embrace her. She gazed at him a little nervously, still holding the hem of her dress despite having left the water.

"You look much better." She smiled. "Do you feel ok?" He nodded.

"My breathing is back to normal. Oh, and I've been drinking." He added, and she smirked at that but still it seemed something bothered her.

"Does your heart feel well?" She asked.

"Oh yes, it feels wonderful!" He grinned, and relief crossed her features. Should I tell her now? No, I must first make amends.

"I wanted to apologize. I was a fool to go out there, you were right. Do you forgive me?" He asked, nerves racing within as he peered at her.

"Of course, I do." She replied as she fiddled with her hair. She's worrying over something, why is she worrying?

"I should have been watching you. I knew the words as well as you did. I'm just glad you're still here. Did you hear the gulls?" She asked.

"I did, yes." He ran his hand over the back of his neck. Now, tell her now!

"They were following the ships, but I don't think you are in any more danger." She said with a more confident smile. Now I must tell her, oh Eru what do I say, how should I say it. Aerlaer twisted at where she still held the hem of her dress, looking nervous once more. "Well I better retrieve my weapons." She said casually before proceeding to dash towards where they rested now with her cloak.

Legolas turned around to follow and Aragorn looked up to him. He shot the Ranger a sheepish grin and received an eye roll and a head shake. He'd figure out how to tell her, hopefully.

Hi peeps, sorry it has taken so long again to get back to this, but it has been so worth the craziness away from writing! :D To all those waiting on Fated, I'm a third of a way through the next chapter, and the same for Letters to Raven! Hope everyone is well and had a fantastic Easter. I rate mine in my top three! :D Now to reviews!

DarkAngel2581 - Thank you! There is plenty still to go!

thrndlwood - Thanks, and I couldn't very well kill him off. okay I did technically! Glad you like the story!

Wickedgreene13 - No cliff hanger for this one or next Fated chapter. Promise :D I think Avengers Infinity War has eclipsed me though when it comes to cliff hangers... damn you Marvel!

Linds - Hey! Glad to hear you are enjoying it. Thanks, the writing improves every time I post up a new chapter. :D

Aralinn - Hehe, that was a bit mean, wasn't it! I made him all better though! I really loved writing and then re-writing the sea interactions. its probably my favorite part of the story. that and when they wake up next to each other camping the night Elrond goes to the Rohhirims camp. Oh, and drunk Legolas and also... oh wait I haven't posted that yet! ;)

twistedgrins - Nope, she doesn't! Hmmm, there might be one of those somewhere in the future chapters... :)

LadyAmazon - ha ha ha!

SighHi - Stopped, well technically started if we are talking about his heart! :D