~Walnuts~
Again, Legolas did not rest during the long night. He knew Aerlaer was on her way to being well once more, but still her being so silent and unmoving bothered him. He did not feel comfortable sleeping and worried if he did, Bregon might enter in the early hours of the morning. He did not trust that man. Instead, Legolas spent the dragging hours singing various songs and laments to the other Elf in a quiet tone. He had even sung the song from the Greenwood when she had slept beside the Stone of Erech, wondering if the tune might make her hair glow but it didn't.
Elrohir entered the chamber along with Elladan. "Morning Legolas." They greeted him in unison. Elrohir placed a hand over Aerlaer's heart.
"Well that is a good sign, she has a little more lifeforce again this morning. Hopefully she awakens today." Elrohir smiled before placing his hand over Legolas's heart. "You on the other hand have not changed. You need rest Legolas." He admonished in the tone of a healer. Legolas almost laughed at how similar he sounded to Elrond.
"No, I will rest once she awakens." He replied and Elrohir huffed.
"At least clean yourself up, eat something?" Legolas shook his head.
"No, I will be fine." He assured the older Elf who rolled his eyes.
"When you drop from exhaustion, I'm not sharing my lifeforce with you." Elrohir retorted. "We'll be back in a couple hours." He said, followed an amused Elladan from the chamber.
…
The next time the twins returned to Aerlaer's chamber, Taurorn followed along with an irate Aragorn.
"Legolas for Eru's sake if you will not rest or eat then at the very least go and clean yourself up." Legolas gaped, surprised by his outburst.
"Don't give me that look. Can't you smell yourself? You stink like an orc, you're covered in dried blood, and you look a mess." The Ranger stated flatly.
"I do not." Legolas glared back.
"You do." Elrohir and Taurorn said at the same time.
"But what about Aerlaer?" He fretted, looking from face to face."
"The twins or Taurorn will stay with her until you return."
"What if she awakens and I am not here?" He asked Elrohir.
"I doubt she will be waking up in the next couple hours." He assured, and Legolas chewed on the inside of his cheek, weighing his options.
"No deciding Legolas, you are going." Aragorn commanded and tossed his pack at him, which he must have fetched for this very purpose. "Elladan will show you were the bathing houses are."
Moodily, Legolas stomped out of the chamber, following Elladan out of the building. They strode down the first narrow street before taking a left and coming to a large square building which men were coming and going from.
"Just head in there, do you want me to wait for you?" Legolas shook his head."
"I memorised my way here and I will not be long." He replied, intent on getting this over with so he could return to Aerlaer. Elladan nodded, turning to leave. He paused, turning back once more.
"Say, Legolas?" He looked at the other Elf waiting for him to continue. "Did you by chance think about those walnuts at all?" He asked with a face of nonchalance. Legolas frowned.
"I asked Aerlaer about them and she said they are used for stomach upsets. I don't get an upset stomach, so I am a little unsure why you mentioned them to me?" Elladan looked to be holding in a laugh.
"Oh, I mentioned them as a form of jogging your memory." He replied, and Legolas's frown deepened in confusion. "Aerlaer told me all the properties of black walnuts, she didn't mention anything about restoring memory."
"They don't usually restore memories, but I think in your case you will find them quite…insightful." He winked.
"Must you speak in riddles? Why not speak plainly?" Legolas muttered to which the other Elf let out a chuckle. "Where would be the fun in that? Besides, dear idiot Sinda, it is a memory you must discover on your own." He added with a white toothed grin before running off back towards the Houses of Healing.
Legolas entered the bathing house, feeling extremely confused.
…
Aerlaer became aware of the soft voices of Elrohir and Taurorn somewhere nearby, and that she lay upon something soft. Deeming herself safe, she opened her eyes, letting them adjust to her unfamiliar surroundings. They focussed onto Elladan, smiling down at her, or rather grinning like a fool.
"Welcome back, Tithinriel." Suddenly Taurorn and Elrohir were by her side, with matching grins of relief.
"About time you woke up!" Taurorn said as she pushed herself up with her hands to sit up in the bed.
"Where am I?" She looked around the white stone chamber, seeing if anyone else was also there.
"Houses of Healing in the city." Elladan answered.
"Where's Legolas?" She asked next and a look of horror crossed Elrohir's face. "What's happened to him?" She demanded, searching his face.
"Nothing he is fine, he is going to kill me though! I told him you probably would not awaken for another few hours and Aragorn convinced him to leave your side to bathe. I honestly don't know how the stench of Orc on his clothes did not wake you up sooner." He chuckled. Aerlaer let out a sigh of pure relief that he was alright. Her mind wandered back to what she last remembered she found herself grinning, remembering just what she had discovered during the battle.
"Elladan! It's Legolas!" He grinned back at her.
"I know." He chuckled, and she looked at him, wide eyed.
"How long have you known she demanded, hoping she had not been made the fool of.
"I suspected it in Edoras, but it was not until we reached the Rohirrim encampment in the mountains that I knew for sure. Didn't you understand my hint about the low population of Mirkwood nobles with brown eyes?" He asked, and she shook her head.
"Well I wondered at it, but I dismissed the idea. Besides there was only one way for me to truly know. She laughed. "He has not worked it out yet although I gave him a hint during battle." She snickered.
"What was your hint?" Elrohir asked, eyes dancing with mischief.
"Walnuts. That was your hint for him too wasn't it? He asked me about walnuts on our way to the sea." Elrohir nodded with a wide grin.
"I have absolutely no idea what you are all talking about." Laughed Taurorn. "What is Legolas supposed to know or not know and what do walnuts have to do with it?" He was clearly mystified. All three Elves sent him an impish smirk.
"The twins will explain." Aerlaer replied, spying her pack resting on a chair. "I think I'd like to wash and get out of this chamber of stone and into the sunlight. How long have I been asleep for?"
"Just over a full day and two nights." Elrohir replied. "Do you feel well enough?" He frowned in concern now, assessing her.
"Truly Elrohir, I feel completely fine." She smiled brightly at him. "I will feel even better with fresh air I think. It is stale in here, and it really is too much stone." And I wish to see Legolas more than anything. She thought to herself.
"Don't let Gimli here you say that." Taurorn warned. "He loves this white stone. I could tell you all about the structural density of this building."
"Please, no." She replied as she hung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
"You do seem to have your strength returned to you." Elladan said and Elrohir placed a hand over her heart.
"Yes, for someone who brought another elf back from the dead and then had less than half an eighth of her lifeforce left, and nearly died herself from blood-loss and lifeforce, you are in remarkable health." Elrohir stated with a raised eyebrow in her direction.
"Well I was hardly going to let him wander off to Mandos' Halls." She muttered in defence.
"Did you know what you were doing when you did it?" He asked her with frank curiosity.
"No, not exactly, if he didn't wake up when he did, breaking the connection, I would have given all of my lifeforce to him." She surmised, and he nodded. "It has never been done before has it?"
"No." Elrohir replied. "We will speak of this later. Wash up, the water was refilled maybe two hours ago so it will probably be warm still, if not it's your punishment for being reckless and scaring us all halfway to Valinor.
"One of us will be out here when you are ready to take you to fresh air and sunlight. Legolas might be back by then." Elladan added and she grinned happily as they left the room, closing the door behind her. She could not wait to see that blonde Elf!
…
Legolas couldn't believe it, he had to wait nearly half of an hour before he could use one of the bathing rooms while large tubs were emptied of water and scrubbed before being refilled with fresh, hot water. He managed to get in sooner by telling the servants he preferred half of it filled with cold water and by fetching half the buckets of water himself much to their horror, to speed things up. It was times like this he dearly missed the simple convenience of having a waterfall and pool as one's personal bathing area.
Finally, alone from them in one of the small bathing chambers he washed himself as quickly as possible which was not so quick at all. To his dismay he really was quite grimy. He was disgusted in himself, Legolas never allowed himself to get this dirty. But remaining by Aerlaer's side made it acceptable. He was glad he had washed his hair first, it was now clean, but the bathwater wasn't exactly as clear as it had started out. Deciding he no longer smelt anything resemblant to an Orc, he dragged himself out of the water and snatched up one of the towels, wrapping it around himself, using a second to dry his hair.
He began pondering Elladan's words as he dried off properly and then rummaged in his bag for his charcoal tunic and grey trousers. When Aerlaer kissed me, she told me I had to figure out something and her hint was walnuts. What is so special about walnuts? Whatever it is, Elladan must have known before we left and by her reaction, Aerlaer must have worked it out during the battle. Yet I am very much in the dark over whatever it is. He pulled his clothes quickly on and then his boots before running the towel through his still damp hair once more; untangling and straightening it out with his fingers. What had Aerlaer told me about black walnuts? They soothe upset stomachs and there was something about magnesium, no that was for normal eating walnuts. She said something else, what was it?
He peered into the small mirror on the wall, noting his hair was still slightly darkened from being damp. That was it, you can use them to darken material and hair. What relevance does any of this have to Aerlaer? He sighed in exasperation. What does Elladan wish me to remember? Was it to do with darkening one's hair? Had Aerlaer done something to her hair? I cannot remember such a thing, in Rivendell it was as Autumn leaves like it always was.
A conversation with Aragorn drifted back to him unbidden: "You know Aerlaer's herd dwelt quite close to the woodland realm, are you sure it wasn't in fact her hiding behind that mask? The colts she ran with got up to all sorts of antics." He stilled as his mind raced along with his heart. It could not be? Could it?
Her ancestors lived by the sea. Her strange reaction to my slight hazelnut and apple addiction which, if it is her, she had started. Elrohir commenting how she danced so well with me and that it wasn't like how others danced. How she kept her identity secret because she was not meant to be there, had she concealed her hair also, to hide her true self? Could it be her? Could she be that elleth I searched so desperately for? The shock ripped through him and he stumbled back against the wall, running his hands through his hair.
One thing does not add up, I should have recognised her lips when she kissed me. It is something locked into my memory and yet I did not recognise their feel, their shape. Why not? Yet she must have recognised mine? He thought back to that moment under trees before she had run away all those years ago. I kissed her that eve! That is why for during the battle she kissed me! That is of course if it truly is her and there is only one way I can be sure!
Forgetting his still not quite dried hair, Legolas snatched up his belongings, rushing from the bathing house. He raced and all the way back to the House of Healing, startling city folk and healers alike, and burst into Aerlaer's chamber. She wasn't there. Heart near stopping he panicked, spinning around wildly in time to see Elladan holding his hand up calmly from outside the doorway.
"She is well, she is awake and demanded to get out of this room and see the sun." He chuckled as Legolas let out a long sigh of relief, dropping his pack down on a chair. "She is waiting for you."
…
Aerlaer stood basking in the late morning sunlight which filtered between the white pillars of the courtyard, overlooking a small garden which joined onto the back of the Healing House. Seated nearby where both Hobbits, Gimli, Elrohir and Taurorn. Aragorn, who had given her a half-hearted stern talking to about how reckless she had been for being secretive over her wellbeing which she had smirked through, stood beside Taurorn.
Taurorn now knew about Legolas, and thought it was hilarious the other Elf had not worked it out. Gimli had teased her with a grin, saying she had caused them all much worry and fear while she had been peacefully sleeping, but when he had mentioned none more than Legolas had been more upset and fearful, she had felt guilt creep back into her heart. She did not like that she had worried any of them. Yet it had been worth it for Legolas lived.
The Hobbits were both chattering beside her about how Éowyn had slayed the Nazgul Witch King during the battle when suddenly they stopped midsentence, smiles playing on their cheeky faces as they looked now towards the entrance. She turned around and felt her heart skip and then soar as her eyes locked onto Legolas's across the distance.
The light played off his pale hair, a contrast to the charcoal tunic he wore, it flowed free of any braids behind him as he strode towards her, a purpose about him. He did not smile, but his face was a mixture of curiosity and intention as he reached her. In one swift, fluent motion, he pulled her towards him, holding her lightly by her shoulders, and brought his mouth down on hers. Sparks of energy of energy raced through her and it seemed he searched her lips with his own as she gently kissed him back.
He broke away, eyes filled with wonder and she knew he knew now too. He pressed his lips to hers again, setting her heart alight, taking her breath away from the intensity of emotions he conveyed. Aerlaer pulled him closer to her, re-memorising his lips, lost in the moment which was entirely theirs. A moment which had once been but a fleeting promise, nearly forgotten in dreams but now was new again, singing in their hearts of a certainty, of a belonging, of never being apart again. She drew in needed air as they broke apart as did he, a joyful smile lighting up his face.
"I spent years searching for you." He said breathlessly. She grinned up at him.
"And I years in Lórien, being kept from you." She whispered.
"Elladan told me a little of it." He explained, and she nodded. "Along the paths of the dead?"
"It was you. It has always been you." She smiled and reaching up, gently brushed her lips against his, feeling him sigh against them before she pulled away to gaze at him. Dark, warm brown eyes met hers steadily and she smiled. This, this was love.
Slowly their surroundings came back into focus and Aerlaer remembered they likely had an audience. Dragging her gaze from Legolas, she found Elladan's. Her cousin looked overjoyed as he smiled warmly back at her, nodding his head in content. He knew the long-ago battle which had raged within her heart, and the sorrow in her soul all those years ago. He had been there beside her in those dark days.
"Well this has been a long time coming." Aragorn grinned at them. "Possibly since the mines." He added cleverly, and Legolas shook his head, grinning at the ranger.
"Centuries longer I think you will find my friend." To which Aragorn looked at him in shock.
"You mean to say she's?"
"The very same." He confirmed turning to gaze back happily at her.
"How?" He asked.
"Walnuts." He replied as he kissed her again, a grin on his lips.
The End... ha ha just kidding! That is still a long way off!
Thanks for the reviews, guys!
thrndlwood - No worries. We'll learn more about that guard in later chaps. He's a prat.
littleMissMarie10 - Hehe, not quite there for when she opened her eyes, but hopefully you liked it anyway. :)
PrettyRecklessLaura - I'm dreading the moment I can't update frequently again!
Screaming Kittycat - Ha ha, yes he is the worst!
xKaminix - Thanks. Yeah Bregon sucks!