~Heavy~

Despite an early eve before, many of the men had not slept. The Nazgul had hovered high above overnight and remained with them as they moved on in the early morning. Spirits were spiraling. It was almost palpable, the feeling of despair which lingered in these lands and from the soldiers themselves.

Bregon, to Legolas's annoyance, had approached Aerlaer as they'd prepared to leave, but he had been kind enough; thanking her for healing the steeds of the Gondor soldiers the day before. She had spoken with him of his own horse, who seemed to fare better under him since her stern talking to Imrahil and his men at the Crossroads.

Again, Elladan had accommodated Gimli astride his mare and Aerlaer rode with him astride Arod. There was an unspoken agreement between him, the twins, and Gimli, to keep her safe with him where she could not cause any trouble. Legolas suspected she realised this was the case, but she did not seem to mind and it gladdened him for the closeness, even more so after the Nazgul's threat the eve before.

The sun was midway into the afternoon and after an hour of comfortable silence, broken only by the rythmic two beat trot of the horses, Legolas and Aerlaer spoke of everything and anything—trying to lighten the air of the Nazgul's presence, with the occasional teasing comments of Gimli or the twins thrown in.

"That is the most ridiculous competition I have ever heard of." Aerlaer scoffed as he explained The Greenwood's Celebration of Warriors to her.

"Oh, Legolas, it must have destroyed you!" Elrohir chortled. "Given your reputation, you would have won all the duels and had first picks of all the lovely ellith! He waggled a finger and Legolas grinned wryly at him.

"Provided I entered, but I didn't." He laughed and then looked at Aerlaer with an even wider grin. "Although if I had thought for a moment, I would have been dueling over a certain elleth I would have taken part fully and won!"

"Oh, I do not think so, for if I were there, I would have dueled for myself and won for myself. If only to save myself the horror of enduring the presence of some jumped up Prince of the Greenwood!" She smirked at him.

"Well, if that be the case, I think if I should ever decide I wish to see my father again, I shall duel you for a kiss!" Aerlaer laughed, and Legolas grinned at her, refusing to let dark thoughts of what may well be once they reached the Black Gates bring him into despair.

"Or you could just ask for one." She replied, eyes dancing. He shook his head.

"But where is the fun in that, or the challenge?"

"And would it really be a good idea winning such a thing from me in front of your father?" She teased with a smirk and he grinned wider.

"That would make it more amusing to see the look on his face!"

"So, you will go back?" She asked casually, and he rested his chin on her head.

"I do not know. I decided I would, but after discovering he kept me from you, I am unsure."

"I think you should, and I need to go back too." She added, quieter.

"I will go with you. If you would like me to."

"I'd like that, if you will then see your father." She countered.

Legolas sighed, but he knew, if they should survive what lay ahead, he needed to home and set things right. "I miss the trees of home, although I am curious to see more of the forests of Ithilien."

"Then you shall see both. Once this is all over, we shall go wherever we please." Aerlaer was so matter-of-fact, and the weight in his heart and mind dragged at him. What if this did not end as she so sincerely hoped? What if there was no leaving Mordor for them? The other thoughts which had niggled at him since the eve at the crossroads re-entered his mind, and he pondered over those feelings again as Aerlaer struck a conversation with Pippin and Merry, trying to bring cheer to their solemn little faces.

The land was verging on barren wasteland when Aragorn signalled the army to settle for the night. The Nazgul had not bothered them as much during the long hours of the day, but Legolas could still feel their far-off presence in the skies. Much like the eve before, the host was quiet, retiring early to their bedrolls. Legolas did not mind, eager to spend all the time he had as close to Aerlaer as they could be in the heavily guarded camp.

The night was a restless one. Legolas fell into confusing dreams, waking often to have Aerlaer awake beside him, a worried frown creasing her brow in the low firelight as she asked what ailed his sleep. He did not know, for each time he awoke, his troubling dreams were mostly forgotten. All he knew, they were full of shadow and despair, and he was glad he could not remember them.

After awaking for the fourth time in confusion, Aerlaer gently pulled him into her own arms, the low, sweet notes of her voice soothing his troubled soul until he drifted off to sleep once more.

…

Elrohir was not in a pleasant mood. He'd barely slept. The Nazgul had the entire camp tense, and he could not handle such tension in the air. Legolas's restlessness had done nothing to aid the cause, and then the idiot Sinda had muttered about some elleth, who was not by the name of Aerlaer, in his sleep.

He'd saddled his mare and was ready to be on the road once more, waiting testily for Aerlaer to leave Legolas's side. It seemed unlikely that was going to happen, and he needed it to happen for her sake. If that wood-elf was playing her along, he would have no qualms with committing a kin-slaying. He called out to her.

"Tithinriel, I recall Éomer wished to speak with you before we left. I forgot to pass the message onto you earlier." She glanced up at him, face far too cheery compared to his current mood.

"Oh, do you know what it was about?"

"Horses, I imagine." He replied, naming the most obvious reason. Aerlaer nodded and turning back to Legolas, placed a quick kiss upon his lips before hurrying away. Legolas looked positively elated by the chaste kiss and Elrohir narrowed his eyes as he strode towards the fool, grabbing him roughly by the arm.

"What are you doing!" He cried out in surprise.

"Who is Laewlith?" Legolas looked at him confused.

"Who?"

"Why don't you tell me? You kept mumbling that name or something similar, maybe it was Lebethyn, or Laeraerlinn, I don't know, but it does not matter. What matters is who is she?" He demanded. Legolas stared at him, brown eyes wide.

"I do not know… I do not understand what you are talking about."

"Well, you better work it out and quickly." Elrohir let go of his arm. "I do not take kindly to ellon's who sleep in the embrace of my little cousin and mutter the name of another."

"Elrohir, I have no idea who it is, I do not even recall anyone of such a name or similar. No one I know well." Elrohir continued to glare at him.

"You told this Laera- oh whatever her name was, that you would never leave her, that you would be together soon." Legolas openly gaped at him, taking a physical step back in his shock.

"I swear, Elrohir, I have absolutely no idea what that means or who it is about. There is only one I would ever consider saying such a thing to, and that is Aerlaer." Elrohir detected he was being honest, yet it seemed strange. He gave a reluctant nod.

"I have no choice but to believe you, but I swear by the Valar; if I find you to be lying and if you hurt her, you will not find peace anywhere but the Halls of Mandos." Legolas gave a sharp nod, still bewildered as Aerlaer came loping back towards them.

"Elrohir, you have a walnut for a brain, for Éomer did not need to speak with me at all. Are you well enough, cousin?" She teased, head cocked towards him. He allowed her a half smirk.

"Of-course Tithinriel, I must have dreamt it up." He laughed lightly. "Will you run today, or ride with Legolas again and be lazy?" He added, setting down his bait. She glared at him, snatching it up like a fish after a juicy worm.

"I am not lazy, I will run today." She declared. Elrohir watched as Legolas's face fell, and he almost felt sorry for the other elf, but whoever he had dreamt of, it was not Aerlaer. Why should he have the privilege of her presence all day after that? "If I become bored with the pace, which is likely, I will join you." She gazed back adoringly to Legolas, who smiled back at her. Elrohir clenched his jaw and turned back to his mare. He'd be watching that elf.

…

Gimli rode again with Elladan, and Legolas was glad for it. While Aerlaer trotted between Brego and Shadowfax it gave him the time to figure out what he'd said in his sleep. He could only recall snippets of his dreams, and he knew they were part of the turmoil of thoughts and emotions which had been bothering him more and more the closer they came to Mordor, and of the threat given by the Nazgul.

It had been near on a week since they had left Minas Tirith, and a full week since he and Aerlaer had found one another again. Was it madness what he wished for? It was what his heart wanted completely and his soul too, and perhaps, perhaps then with the connection they would share, he could keep her safer? All he knew was he couldn't fathom if the end should come; it could all go very wrong for them. The task Galadriel had charged him with lay heavy upon his heart. Surely if he were to take her life, he could at the very least give her a part of his soul first, for there would be but only one way they would reach Valinor, if they did, and it would not be by ship. No one really knew how things worked in the Halls of Mandos, except maybe Glorfindel, but he was hardly nearby to ask.

The land remained rocky and barren as they travelled, with scarcely a tree to be seen and Legolas laughed humourlessly to himself. His grand idea had two effective flaws; a lack of anywhere, and he had no idea if it would be reciprocated. These thoughts only tormented him more and the despair of the men riding about weighed down on him heavier, and heavier with each passing hour.

…

In the early afternoon the host left the living lands, and Aerlaer surveyed the desolation which was the land before the ominous gates of the Pass of Cirith Gorgor with a stiff wariness. Stretching out towards the north and west of the far away Emyn Muil, lay mile upon mile of desert, broken up by eery, stagnant marshlands.

Not a tree or plant was in sight, and she wondered at how any could live in this land as she heard the lazy caw of crows circling in the skies above and higher, the ever present Nazgul. Scavengers, that is all that would live here.

Many of the younger and untried soldiers who knew nothing but stories of the true evils and desolation of Mordor bulked as they crossed into those dead lands. Aerlaer dropped back to trot for a while beside Taurorn's horse, Timber, and speak to them both; noticing the haunted and fearful eyes of many of the Gondor men.

Aragorn cantered slowly down the line, passing her and the rangers before wheeling and galloping towards the head of the army, calling for a halt.

"Some of these men are terrified." Aerlaer whispered to Taurorn. He nodded but said nothing. She peered at him properly, noticing for the first time the drawn look upon his usually cheerful face.

Aragorn called out to them all, "To those who cannot go a step further I bid you go, but keep what honour you may and do not flee for still you may aid your people! Take your way southwest until you come to Cair Andros, and use what strength you have left and take it back from the enemy! And hold it for Gondor and for Rohan!" he cried out and Taurorn turned to Aerlaer, who had shifted back to her elf form.

"He is giving those too afraid and despaired an out." He said incredulously, and she nodded, a smile playing on her lips.

"Truly, he will be the most compassionate King to ever rule over the race of men in Middle Earth."

"He already is; in their hearts and mine."

"And in the hearts of the elves too." She murmured. "I go back to Legolas now." Aerlaer farewelled Taurorn, making her way back to the head of the army as many of the soldiers who looked harassed before, now bore a mixture of relief and shame; retreating to form a second host who went on their way south-west.

"How many remain with us?" She asked Gandalf, reaching the rest of the Fellowship.

"I should think we shall arrive at the Black Gates with a stronghold of a little less than six-thousand. He replied. Pippin, who had been watching the men preparing to depart, looked up with worried eyes.

"Will that be enough?"

"To draw the eye from Frodo, I think so yes." Was all the wizard replied. An uneasy feeling settled in Aerlaer's stomach as she leapt up to spend the rest of the day's riding with Legolas. Strangely, he said nothing, but gazed questioningly into her eyes for a long moment as if trying to learn something from their depths.

"What is wrong?" She asked, but he did not answer. He'd heard the little hope remaining in Gandalf's words, too. But if they marched to their doom, why did she not feel the genuine despair the others did? She brushed a gentle kiss against his lips.

"Do not lose hope." She murmured, and after a moment, he softly returned the gesture, but his eyes remained troubled. With a sigh, she let him pull her securely against his chest as the army moved on again. To doom or victory, she was no longer sure.

…

As the sun lowered in the sky, Legolas blinked as he stared at the hazy horizon.

"It cannot be..." He uttered his thoughts as Aerlaer sat up alert before him.

"There are trees!" She cried out as Elladan and Elrohir both grinned at the revelation. Aragorn, who rode between them, narrowed his eyes.

"I can barely see them, but it appears you are correct, although no such copse shows on any map I have seen."

"Then they are a pleasant surprise and testament that not all good is lost in this dreary land!" Merry grinned as wide as Aerlaer.

"They are but three miles away at the least. If it is safe, we may spend our last night camped around or under them."

"Should a group of scouts ride ahead as we did at the crossroads?" Legolas asked.

"It would be wise. Will you lead them again?" Legolas nodded before Aragorn left his position to rally a party of scouts to accompany him. He returned shortly, much to Legolas's dismay, with Bregon also in tow. Reining in his personal dislike for the Gondor man, Legolas quickly spoke with the group of twenty; including the twins, Gimli and Aerlaer. They set into formation, riding forth at a steady gallop, easily covering the couple remaining miles.

...

Aerlaer had shifted to horse for the run, reveling in the chance to stretch her legs and excited to reach the trees. As neared them, she found the copse to be of a half-moon shape, deepest in the middle. How they grew and survived in these ragged lands was beyond her. She suspected the only reason they still stood proudly was for the protection they would give to travelers, and by travelers, that would be orcs. Wonders will never cease. She thought wryly to herself as she laid a hand against the nearest trunk.

"Greetings friend, are your woods safe that my companions and I may rest here the night?" She asked the tree kindly.

"You are an elf!" It exclaimed louder than she'd ever heard a tree. Internally, she winced.

"I am, and so are four of my companions." She thought back.

"There are more of you! We have not seen or heard elves in many, many long decades in these lands. You and whoever you travel with are welcome here."

"My gratitude, are we safe or do orcs patrol close?"

"No orc has passed through our midst since the moon was whole in the sky." That was over a week ago, Aerlaer realized, for the moon had been waning the past three nights.

"I am glad to hear it. There are near on sixteen-thousand soldiers I travel with; they will only use dead wood for their fires."

"They will be welcome too. Any friend of the elves shall be welcome." The tree replied. "My companions and kin, I will inform."

"Thank you." She replied and took her hand from the tree, realizing there was a presence behind her. She turned to see Bregon.

"Did you learn if we are safe here to camp?" He asked and she noticed he looked worn down, his features drawn and pale. A few paces away, Legolas watched on warily, but Aerlaer sensed the man would behave.

"Yes, we are safe to rest here." She said in reply so Legolas would also hear. He motioned for Elrohir to ride back to inform Aragorn.

"And the trees, can they be trusted? They are not those of the enemy?" Bregon pressed. Aerlaer smiled, shaking her head.

"No, they are friendly and gladdened by our non-evil presence. I assure you we are safe, although a watch guard will still need to be set." He nodded.

"I believe you; it is just this journey has been a hard one on many of my men. Their fear grows." He admitted.

"I know, and all that can be done is to have hope." Bregon nodded and then glanced slyly towards Legolas who now spoke with Elladan and Gimli, planning out fire pits while other men gathered wood.

"Have you changed your mind about that elf?" He whispered as he looked back to her with a smile playing on his lips.

"No Bregon, and I never will." Aerlaer sighed, holding in her annoyance as he chuckled, too low to alert Legolas.

"Don't you worry I'll think up something to change it." He said cheerily and strode off to help collect wood.

"Prat." She muttered under her breath, stalking away in the opposite direction to find more dead wood. Soon Bregon was far from her thoughts as she reveled in being under the friendly boughs of the tall trees.

...

Gimli was content with a half full belly of stew and bread, warmed by the nearby campfire, a complete contrast to his elf friend fidgeting a few feet away.

"Lad, what ails you?" He asked, but received no reply, as Legolas picked at the hem of his tunic, the sole of his boot drumming a soft beat upon the hard earth. "Legolas!" The elf snapped to nervy attention, his eyes wide. Had he even realised Gimli sat beside him on the log?

"Sorry, what is it?" He asked distracted.

"What ails you? You're out of sorts, lad."

"Oh, nothing." He quickly replied, raising Gimli's suspicions. He watched him, frowning.

"Then why are you fidgeting?"

"I don't fidget." Legolas scoffed.

"Then what are you doing?"

"Thinking."

"What in Arda about?" He exclaimed, about ready to shake the silly creature.

"Nothing." He replied and Gimli scowled. His friend seemed nervous about something, and he was never nervous. Suddenly he leapt up from his end of the log seat.

"What are you doing now?" Gimli asked, just about fed up with him.

"I'm going into the trees… Uh—can you tell Aerlaer that is where I am." He rushed out, and before Gimli could reply, Legolas had vanished into the night.

"There's something daft about that one." He muttered to himself, shaking his head before standing up himself and walking towards the other side of the fire, where his other companions stood.

...

Aerlaer had spent the past half-hour or preoccupied; speaking with Éomer and Imrahil about the weariness of their horses, and what to do with their steeds once they reached the gate. They ended up settling on Aerlaer commanding every horse to depart under Shadowfax's lead, and await just within earshot to either return if they won the final battle, or flee into the wild if they were not victorious.

She had spoken with the horses, and although some had wished to remain for the battle, she'd convinced them to leave with Shadowfax. She bid the large herd of assorted horses goodnight, pleased none sported any injuries and Bregon's mount was faring much better.

Legolas, who Aerlaer had intended on meeting back at the campfire, was nowhere to be seen. The Hobbits were asleep, and Aragorn and Gimli were gone too. Only Elrohir and Elladan remained by the dying fire, and Elrohir, to her annoyance, was acting vague. Narrowing her eyes at him and ignoring the open stares of some nearby Gondor men, she went in search of Legolas, or at least, someone who could tell her where he was.

Aerlaer found Aragorn and Gimli with the rangers, sharing husks of bread around one of their fires with Halbarad. Legolas was not with them, and a fissure of unease worried at her.

"Have you seen Legolas?" She asked, tugging at the ends of her loose hair. "I cannot find him anywhere." Aragorn turned to her, only driving her worry deeper by the weary frown he wore.

"No—"

"Ah, he said to tell you, he'd be in the trees." Gimli interrupted, and some of her tension eased. "Be warned, he was out of sorts."

"What do you mean?" Aragorn's attention snapped to Gimli, who shrugged.

"He was distracted before taking off. Something is bothering him." Fear crept like a vine around Aerlaer's chest.

"I will find him." She said, dashing away from the camps and into the trees.

...

Legolas had sought a large oak tree. There he sat, high in the canopy, trying to gather his thoughts, but they were in more disarray than ever. And his nerves? Ha! He'd faced orcs, trolls, spiders, the wrath of Smaug, goblins, wargs, and many other fell creatures—yet it was now he felt nervous and unsure of himself!

What would he say to her? How would he say it? What if she didn't reciprocate his intentions? Was he mad for even thinking it? Yes. He was mad, but if all did not go well, if—Legolas sensed movement. Cocking his head, peering through the long leaves, he caught sight of Aerlaer.

Starlight filtered down through the canopy, dappling her in a blue haze, as she moved silently beneath the boughs, casting about, searching. Searching for him. Thump-thump, thump-thump, his heart quickened like a drum, counting down the time he had left. Frantic, he tried to piece together what to say, what to do, but it was too late—sapphire eyes shining with stars gazed curiously up at him.

"Legolas?" Aerlaer's uncertain voice floated up to Legolas, and he swallowed back a sigh, lest she heard it. He would simply have to wing it. Pushing from the thick branch, he lithely dropped to stand before her. Elbereth, she looked ethereal, dappled in the cool light of the moon and stars.

"You came." He breathed out, smiling despite his nerves. Aerlaer reached out, placing a hand over his heart, brows furrowing.

"What is wrong?" He swallowed, all too aware she could feel the erratic pounding behind his ribs. No, he couldn't do this, but oh how he wanted to, and if something happened. Tomorrow, if it were to all go terribly wrong…

"Legolas?"

"Nothing is wrong, I am glad you found me." She cocked her head, eyes focused curiously on his. "I…" He swallowed again, pushing back his loose hair. She was smiling at him now, in that way which seemed to chase all darkness away from his mind, from his heart, and Legolas realised he didn't need to say anything at all.

…

Something in Legolas had changed, his gaze intense, near haunting; holding her in place as if she were pinned by a wolf. His hands came up, gently cupping her face, and she leaned into his touch, yet held still, waiting for, well, she did not know what. The world was silent around them, as if it held its breath along with her. And then, like a sudden clash of lightening, her fea ignited, his mouth on hers. Aerlaer barely had time to comprehend, to reciprocate, when Legolas was pulling away, his intense gaze now devoid of his earlier torment, replaced by something unknown, which sent a shiver snaking down her spine.

"Aerlaer." Her breath caught as his fingers traced her jaw, ghosting down the side of her throat, and across her exposed collarbone to rest upon her shoulder. This time, she tilted her head up, letting his lips capture hers, reveling in the intensity as one hand wrapped about her shoulders, pulling her closer until her heart thundered against his; a wild, erratic beat, an ancient dance. And then she was falling, falling, her feet swept out from beneath her. A gasp escaped her on shallow breaths, as she came to rest softly upon the leafy floor of the copse of trees. Legolas gazed down at her from where he now hovered mere inches above her. Was this okay? His eyes seemed to question, searching hers. Aerlaer did not know, enchanted as she was by his gaze, by the tingling sensation as his lips brushed over hers. Tangling her fingers about his neck, she gave herself into his kisses.

...

Legolas sighed against Aerlaer's lips as she ran her hands over his shoulders and across his back, the feeling electrifying. What had begun as a spark had turned into a raging wildfire. His right hand came to rest tangled in her hair as his left travelled down her side, tracing his fingers across her flat belly. She shivered under his touch, and he momentarily wondered if she were cold or he had done something wrong, but she kissed him back harder, fiercer, setting the blood racing even swifter through his veins. He deepened the action, his teeth grazing her bottom lip, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from her. Aerlaer's hands roamed seemingly of their own will to both sides of his torso, and a groan built up in the back of his throat as his muscles tightened beneath the barrier of his tunic, and a delicious shiver ran through him as that hand brushed just beneath his navel, before trailing back up to the safety of his shoulder.

His lower stomach tingled, and he wanted, Eru, he wanted her to do it again; he wanted her hands… he wanted his hands… He trailed one down the outside of her right leg, memorizing the feel of her before gently grazing it back up to rest upon her waist. Slowly he dragged his lips from hers, taking in ragged breaths. His heart was on fire, his fea was on fire; wishing to be consumed by more. He needed more. Aerlaer gazed up at him, and he focused on her eyes. They were dark and wild, yet a warmth radiated within their depths; flecks of golden light usually hidden deep within the blue. She was beautiful, and tonight, tonight she would be his, and he hers.

...

Aerlaer drew in shaky breaths, near overwhelmed by the smoldering intensity which was Legolas's gaze. She wondered if her own mirrored his. Her heart pounded wildly against his, creating an erratic tempo between them. Legolas was intoxicating, and Aerlaer felt as if she were drowning in him; the water deep and unknown, but oh so warm and inviting. If this was drowning, she did not want to be saved.

Threading her fingers through his hair at the nape of his neck, she pulled him into another deep kiss, losing herself to the taste of him once more. A strong leg hooked over both of hers, and Aerlaer entwined her own about it. Legolas rolled, pulling her with him so they lay facing one another. She shivered at the searing sensation of his hands now on her bare back and then that of them travelling beneath the material, to where her backless dress began at her side. Feather light fingers slipped beneath the material, dancing over her stomach, circling her navel, and all rational thought left her. She dared to let her hands roam beneath the soft fabric of his tunic, over smooth skin and taut muscle. He groaned against her mouth, uttering an unintelligible curse, as her fingers trailed curiously along the sharp V of his lower torso. With a swift motion, he'd pulled away from her. Aerlaer watched, fascinated, as he dragged his tunic over his head, flinging it aside. A breathy giggle erupted from her, and he grinned, settling back down beside her, pulling her closer, the warmth of his body infusing hers.

Legolas's kisses were different now. They still held the same intent, but it was gentler now, blissful. Aerlaer sank into each one, her cheek resting in his cupped palm, as his other hand pulled and tugged at the knot at the base of her neck, holding her dress on. It was only as the knot loosened, Aerlaer heard her own instincts shouting at her to stop.

…

One moment, Aerlaer was tangled at his side, while he worked at the bothersome knot of her dress, the next moment, he was staring up into the heat of her gaze, his breaths coming in short gasps as his mind spun, hands now trapped in hers between them. Did she not want this? Her dark eyes said otherwise, along with the sharp rise and fall of her chest as she regained her breathing. "This could be our last eve in Middle Earth." He said, removing a hand from hers to reach up and touch her cheek. She closed her eyes, leaning into his hand, and looked to be thinking over his words, chewing at her bottom lip.

"It could be." She murmured almost to herself and gave a shuddering sigh, opening her eyes to survey him from where she had him straddled beneath her.

"We cannot do this." She moved to rest a hand over his heart and with the other, brushed his hair back off his face. Her sudden reaction confused him, and the feeling of rejection seeped into his heart. Legolas struggled to find the words he needed and instead of what he intended to say, blurted out the one question now taking over all his thoughts.

"Do you no longer wish to be with me?" Aerlaer laughed humorously and lent down and slowly kissed him, driving all thoughts of rejection from his mind and heart. She broke away, a bemused smile on her lips, and quirked her head to the side as she stared down at him.

"You really are a silly elf sometimes." He grinned sheepishly.

"You've no idea." He replied, feeling an ounce of relief as her features shifted back into half seriousness.

"What I meant was, I think it would be unwise to bond just yet. I think we will win this." She breathed.

"And if we don't?" If we are caught? If Sauron,does get us? He could not say those words aloud. "If we end up wakening in the Undying Lands, in the Halls?" He added, speaking his fears. Aerlaer merely smirked at him, tracing her hand across his chest.

"Then Mandos is going to have to make an exception." She replied, and Legolas chuckled at the thought of Aerlaer persuading the guardian of the souls of the dead to allow elves to bond in his halls. He ran a hand back through her lightly sparking hair.

"Or, we could just wait and come back to Middle Earth like Glorfindel did and hope it's possibly livable again in the future." He mused as she continued running her hands over his chest and across his belly. "Although the wait will be a little infuriating." He added with a smirk.

"But worth it." She added.

"So very, very worth it." He replied and then took a sharp breath in as her hand brushed over his hipbone again. "Although if you keep driving me to distraction like that..." Legolas growled, and she laughed mischievously.

"I drive you to distraction?" She asked with a look of innocence and he grabbed her arms, pulling her down to rest against his chest

"You are such an imp." He murmured up at her and she smirked.

"You love it."

"I love you." He traced the outline of her cheekbone. "I'd do anything for you." He whispered, and she smiled, her hair sparking all the lighter where it tumbled down like a curtain to rest around him.

"And you already know I'd do anything for you, no matter how reckless." She said, and he gave her a roguish smile, intent on disarming her.

"Anything reckless? Does that mean you'll—"

"No." She laughed, shaking her head, and he let out a dejected sigh, but he couldn't keep the grin from his face. Despite everything, he felt content. She had driven the despairing thoughts from his mind and heart and replaced them with hope. All would be well.

"What happened to elves being the most patient beings?" Aerlaer teased and this time he laughed. It felt so good to laugh.

"Those elves don't know your lips." He replied. "One taste, I am addicted, and I do not care how very un-elflike that may be."

"I think that applies to us both then." Aerlaer grinned and planted a soft kiss on his lips before rolling off him to lie on her back at his side. She gazed up at the dark leaves of the old oak they laid beneath, and the stars beyond them, and for a while, Legolas simply enjoyed the quiet peace with her.

...

"We should probably head back to camp." Legolas sighed and Aerlaer's heart sank at the very thought of leaving this seemingly secret realm of theirs beneath the trees.

"Or, we could spend the eve under the trees before we must face the baron desolation and evil fire of the Black Gate." Aerlaer replied, and he rolled to his side to face her, propping his head up with his arm.

"I much prefer that idea." He pushed himslf up, reaching for his discarded tunic and finding it inside out, made to right it.

"I thought you didn't sleep in a sleep shirt?" She asked innocently, but a smirk betrayed her and he grinned down at her.

"Not around you anymore." He replied as he made a show of tossing it aside and settled back down facing her, and she laughed lightly, trying not to sound too giggly. Oh how envious the Lórien elleths would surely be.

"I guess I shall deal with it." She teased as he shuffled to lay closer to her and she rolled back over to face him. Definitely deal with it. The moon had risen higher in the sky and with its little light and the soft glow of her hair; they could easily discern each other's features. The other elf reached a hand to her and gently traced her face, the shape of her brow, the bridge of her nose, the curve of her lips and line of her jaw as she gazed into his warm eyes. It still felt surreal they had found one another. It seemed Legolas was thinking similar.

"It's still hard to believe you've been by my side all these months when I spent years searching for you." He said.

"But we have found each other now." She replied softly, and he smiled.

"Yes, I have found my heart."

...

I've found my heart, I've found Aerlaer. Manwë! Thats it! He shook his head in wonder and Aerlaer watched him, slightly baffled, and he laughed quietly and leant in and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"There is a lost-ness about you that even you do not yet understand. Nor can you fully understand until you find what is nearly lost to you. Only then will your heart be content." Legolas quoted and after a long moment, understanding filled Aerlaer's eyes.

"Galadriel's puzzle to you." She whispered. He nodded.

"It was you." He said and then quickly sat up, surprising Aerlaer and cast about for his discarded tunic and sighting it, leaned towards it and snatched it up.

"Where are you going?"

"Nowhere." He replied as he located the hidden pocket on the inside of his silver grey tunic and unbuttoned, pulling out the small pouch Galadriel had given him before they had departed the Golden Wood. It had remained hidden in this very tunic the entire time.

Curiosity had gotten the better of Aerlaer and she too sat up, folding her legs beneath her and rested her head on his shoulder, watching what he was doing.

"What is in the pouch?" She asked, intrigued.

"I've never opened it. Your grandmother gave it to me. We're about to find out together." He untied the string on the pouch and eased it open before tipping the contents out into the palm of his hand. Aerlaer gasped beside him. Legolas brought his hand closer to their faces to better see by the light of Aerlaer's hair.

Two rings of pale gold and silver entwined like two vines, with tiny, delicate leaves of emerald inlaid upon their twisted vines. On the smaller of the two, three tiny pearls were inlaid amongst the leaves; orienting warmly from a silvery indigo to a creamy white under the soft glow of Aerlaer's hair and the moonlight above.

"These were not wrought in a day or idly." He murmured as he gazed down at the two rings, shocked by the gravity of Galadriel's gift.

"She never was particularly impressed I had to remain in Lórien." Aerlaer said, picking up the larger of the two, examining the beautiful detail of the leaves.

She felt Legolas gently take her left hand in his, and gazed up at him. Love. All she saw was love in his eyes and in his boyish grin as he carefully slipped the smaller ring onto her finger. She grinned back at him, a feeling in her heart, as if it had grown wings, as she picked up his own left hand and placed the leaf ring upon his finger.

...

How did it take me so long to realise these dark, wildly warm eyes were only ever showing me love? Legolas wondered, entwining their left hands together, marvelling out how right the circle of vines about the base of his finger felt.

"My heart is yours." Aerlaer said, and his heart soared by hearing those words; a promise, a future, a hope. How his very soul did not glow like hers he did not know, for it felt as if it would burst with happiness within his heart.

"And you have my heart." He replied and lent in to kiss her, finally able to tell her where his heart lay, where it really always had.

Aerlaer broke away from him and he reached his other arm around her and, pulling her close to him, lay back down on the soft leaves with her. She rested her head against his shoulder.

"I don't want to sleep." He murmured. "To sleep will bring morning suddenly to us when we awaken and we then must leave this peace behind." Aerlaer shifted and reached up, gently touching his cheek.

"Then we won't." She whispered. "We'll watch the stars instead." He sighed as she settled in his arms once more entwined their left hands. In peaceful silence, they gazed up into the starry night, yet to Legolas, it seemed the light surrounded them and no shadow, he decided, would ever come between them.

Hello, awesome readers! How are we all?

It has been so, so long, since I have touched this story and I have missed it! This weekend is my first entire solid weekend, well two days straight where I have not worked since January, so I am taking full advantage, and smashing out some TWT edits for you guys, and for my own sanity! I have four, going on five more chapters completed, and I'll drop them weekly in the hope of not getting too far behind! To those still with me, thank you, and thank you for the previous lovely reviews, even when I'm not writing, they are such wonderful pick-me-ups!

Hope you guys like this chapter, I spent a bit of time procastinating on a certain special scene! :D

xx A