~ Memory or Dream ~

She swayed gently in the warm breeze, the sweet sound of music reverberating to the very tips of her being, to each gold patterned leaf. She lit up the very sky and those who danced and sang below rejoiced and beside her, ever constant, he was.

Always by her side since the very moment they had sprung as eager saplings, coaxed into the world with a song of love and of life and of joy such so that they could not help but thrive and grow and shine. She lit up the day golden, and heard and felt as the beings about her went about their lives, and he the night; a silvery light to guide the way or celebrate or sleep beneath with the stars overhead.

Together, as the world awoke or when it settled to rest, they shone for but a short while softly as one, their light mingling gently, peacefully as they felt and heard the world quietly about them. Although their light did mingle and although they stood proudly side by side as they had for the passing of much uncounted time; no matter how they stretched out their slender new branches or how their leaves unfurled onto soft breezes or their roots deepened in the earth, they could quite reach one another.

Another day came to its end, and she let her light dim and for those moments, simply glowed with him. She tried as she always did, shifting and stretching out a slender, tipped branch. He reached too but still they could not quite reach one another. Day shifted into night and his light gently bathed the land and time passed as still they tried to reach one another, taking up all the energy of the earth. A breeze stirred and she felt it, a light brushing against her furthest out-stretched leaf. It was he, finally they had reached one another and she momentarily lost control of her own light and it flared bright, eclipsing his own in her joy although he too scintillated as her single, small leaf brushed too in the breeze against his, reflecting her delight. The breeze fell away and without it she could not reach him again, nor he reach her. It saddened her for she longed, as he did, to entwine her branches with his, to truly be more than just beside one another. Still although she felt sadness, she felt joy for still their branches, and soon, surely very soon, they could finally entwine in an embrace as one.

A shadow fell, yet still his light shone softly, and then she trembled, each leaf shaking in the now still, too quiet deepening night. She knew not what, but she felt a dark, foreboding presence creeping in, surrounding them. He felt it too, she knew, and then unfathomable words, such as they had never heard leached like poison into their very beings, evil words and a hissing and clicking. A strange, unknown feeling grew in her like a darkness and she searched the presence of the one beside her for reassurance but he too was uncertain, he too felt as wrong as she felt and then his soul screamed; the sound ripping apart her own. She heard wood splintering and branches snapping and felt his pain, unbearable pain and then she screamed too, a single name; "Telperion!"

…

"Telperion!" She shot up, and a wave of dizziness hit her. Aerlaer managed to hold herself steady by propped arms and hands although she shook. It was nighttime; moonlight giving off a soft glow to see by. She gazed wildly about, uncertain where she was, this was not Valinor. She shook her head trying to clear it, her thoughts an unruly haze of confusion. It was then she saw him.

"Legolas!" She unthinkingly leapt from where she had awoken and immediately found she was weak and sank instantly to the ground in a heap. Forcefully she inched her way closer to him, almost crawling until she lay close by his side and peered down upon his face. It was as if he slept peacefully and she noticed the soft rise and fall of his chest. He was alive. With that single thought in mind, she sank down, resting a hand over his heart and her head upon his shoulder, falling into unconsciousness.

…

He became aware of voices and tried to open his eyes, tried to shift but he could not. His mind frantically put together all he could remember. They had made it, surely he was in the Halls of Mandos. He had saved Aerlaer. A great sadness suddenly washed over him for Aragorn, Gimli, the Hobbits, Taurorn, they were all dead. He would never see them again. A sudden panic eclipsed those thoughts; Aerlaer, would he see her in the Halls? Would he see her again; would he feel her presence? Know her? Another thought came to him; what of his mother? Would he see his mother or find her presence here? He could not understand the voices, they were soft and hazy to his ears, but he felt no threat by them. He was still in darkness and he did not understand why? Surely the Halls were a place of light, filled with the glow of many fëas? Why was he in darkness?

The voices still spoke, and he was sure he caught the sound of his name. perhaps he could speak to if he tried. "Aerlaer?" He automatically spoke her name and although it felt heavy; he heard his own voice. Suddenly he felt a familiar comfortable coolness mingled with warmth.

"Legolas." He knew that voice. "Open your eyes." He tried to.

"I cannot, they will not, perhaps I do not have eyes here." He replied in confusion and heard her laugh.

"You really are such an idiot Sinda." He heard another voice, Elrohir.

"Why is it dark here? I do not understand."

"Because you won't open your eyes mellon nin."

"Aragorn?" He gasped and then struggled and found himself moving now. This time with more determination, Legolas forced his eyes open. Blurry faces peered down at him curiously. "Where are we?" He uttered, his confusion growing as he blinked, trying to clarify his surroundings.

"In a tent." He heard a familiar rumbling baritone beside him and snapped his head sideways.

"Gimli!"

"Aye lad." He struggled to sit up and felt hands steadying him from doing so.

"Not yet." Warm, sapphire eyes gazed down at him cautiously and fingers brushed lightly against his face.

"Aerlaer." He breathed out, finally able to focus upon her alone.

"How do you feel?"

"Weak, confused. I do not understand, where exactly are we, and do not say a tent." He heard Gimli rumble in laughter.

"We have set camp to rest and for the wounded but a mile or so from the gates of Mordor." Aragorn replied calmly.

"Well, where the gates were." Elladan chuckled from where he stood just behind Aragorn.

"Gates, were?" He was only becoming more confused.

"We won, laddy."

"Won?" He echoed. "You mean to say, we are not dead?"

"No, we are not dead although you clearly intended you and I to be." Aerlaer bit out and he realized now he had quite a substantial amount of explaining to do.

"I had to." He replied, the memory of the pain he felt in that moment as he tried to poison her, causing pain to tear at him. "We should be dead!" He suddenly realized.

"You nearly were." Another familiar voice spoke, and he saw Gandalf move into his line of vision.

"The vial you gave me from the Lady was not Swift Death?"

"Indeed not, it was created similarly but to cause the drinker to fall into heavy unconsciousness, and gradually stop their heart." Legolas gave a slight shiver. "The Lady came upon a vision if all should fail and knew your fate if it should pass. She bade Lord Elrond devise this poison to slowly kill and an antidote should it be required to revive the drinker." Gandalf explained and he nodded mutely. "It seems the antidote certainly works, and you may tell Lord Elrond yourself."

"Our father is here?" Elrohir asked, mirroring the confusion on the others faces.

"No, but you four will be leaving once Legolas has regained his feet to return to the Golden Wood." The wizard declared.

"Leaving? Why?" Aerlaer looked utterly baffled as too did Aragorn and Gimli.

"The Lady Galadriel has summoned you back to Lórien where you are now needed."

"But we cannot simply leave." Legolas found his voice again. "I will not abandon Aragorn or Gimli. We are a Fellowship, what remains of us." He suddenly felt very unsure. "Merry and Pippin?" He hedged with dread.

"They are fine, stuffing their faces with Taurorn." Aerlaer reassured him and then a brilliant smile lit up her features. "As too are Frodo and Sam. They are unconscious but will be fine also." This news brought a huge grin to his own face.

"Then we have all made it?"

"We have." Aragorn replied but there was a wistfulness to his voice which Legolas understood. Arwen. He'd bade her sail.

"Why are we summoned back to Lórien?" Elladan asked and Gandalf shrugged.

"I cannot say, I was simply told you must return immediately."

"Can we come back? To Minas Tirith?" Legolas hedged and Gandalf nodded.

"I do not see why you could not; you will be required to return for the crowning of the realms' new King." There was a twinkle in the wizard's eyes, and Legolas turned his head to smirk at Aragorn.

"You will have to bathe daily now and wash your hair. King's don't smell like rangers do."

"And how exactly do rangers smell?" The ranger in question asked dryly.

"Like-"

"A man in need of a bath." Aerlaer grinned solely at him as she repeated his own words from a conversation held between them long ago in Edoras. Aragorn muttered something unintelligible under his breath and rolled his eyes.

"Well there is much to do." Gandalf said briskly. "Elrondion, see to it your horses and Legolas's are saddled and packed for your journey of haste. Legolas will be fit enough to ride within the hour." The wizard gestured to the twins to follow him and the three exited the tent leaving just Aerlaer, Gimli and Aragorn.

"You'll return, won't you?" Gimli asked uncertainly. "You have promises to keep, remember."

"I will return; I would not break my promise to my dear friend." Legolas replied fervently and Gimli gave a stoic nod.

"Good then, I'll stick with Aragorn until you return, keep him in line." He said gruffly. "I don't know whose more reckless now between the two of you. Come back in one piece, I won't be there to watch your pretty heads."

"We'll be safe." He promised as a lump formed in his throat. He didn't want to leave them.

"You better be; you are both turning me grey with all the stunts you pull." Aragorn muttered and Aerlaer gave him an impish smirk.

"We will be back to terrorize your new kingdom, don't you worry." She patted the ranger on the arm mischievously. Aragorn rolled his eyes as he had earlier and stood from where he had been crouching.

"Come Gimli, we should let Legolas rest a while." He urged and Gimli too stood and they both left the tent, Aragorn pausing in the entrance to gaze back at he and Aerlaer. "Emphasis on 'resting'." He warned with a half smirk playing on his lips before he disappeared into the night.

…

Once alone, Aerlaer moved to sit closer to the other elf and gently straightened his hair out around him, as she had been doing absentmindedly for the past couple hours, waiting for him to awaken. He'd taken more of the poison than she and had been slower to recover from the unconscious state shed found him in when she had awoken.

"I didn't want to do it, I thought there was no other way." He spoke quietly, his voice filled with remorse. She ran her hand over his cheek.

"I trusted you and I still do." She murmured and he gazed at her in surprise. "I admit next time you ask me to trust you I will wonder if you are about to kill me." His face paled. "But I will still trust you." She finished and he reached his hand up to touch her hair, letting it trail down her arm to take her hand.

"I'll admit I'm quite glad we are not in the Halls. I thought we were at first, and I had such confusing visions, well, dreams perhaps, and I am certain they were on Valinor." He replied and Aerlaer nodded.

"As did I, and I cannot make much sense of them, but I think they are somehow important." She remembered the overwhelming sense of pain of losing him but was it memory or dream? Aerlaer did not know. Surely it was but a dream. "Perhaps seeing my Grandmother will be a good thing. She has not been wrong so far." He nodded thoughtfully before tugging gently on her arm.

"Lay down here beside me." He murmured and she happily obliged as he turned to his side to face her. "I feel as if I have been away from you for a long time."

"It has only been some hours." She reassured him although she truly felt the same. He reached out, running his hands through her hair, touching her face gently and then leaned forward and brushed his lips against her forehead, her cheek, and finally her lips. It was like a searing energy between them and she pressed hers against his as he finally did kiss her.

"Another reason I am glad we are not in the Halls." He said breathily as he pulled slightly away with a smirk.

"I do not think this is quite what Aragorn meant by resting." She replied with a quiet, little laugh as arms encircled around her. "I'm glad we are not in the Halls too." She whispered as he rested his head against hers, peace washing over her.

…

Under Aragorn's watchful eye, Aerlaer helped Legolas to his unstable feet.

"Are you sure you are ready to leave?" Aerlaer asked him and he nodded.

"Yes, I am fine. Arod is not difficult." She nodded as he took a few, hesitant steps, testing his strength.

"He is saddled and ready, and there is quite a group outside wishing to see you both." Aragorn murmured. Legolas presumed he referred to the other members of the Fellowship, and perhaps Éomer and Taurorn. He would rather he felt more stable within himself, but Gandalf had stressed they really must be on their way. He took a few more steps and his confidence grew.

"Then let us bid our farewells for now." Legolas said, and with Aragorn leading and Aerlaer by his side, he made his way out of the tent into the moonlit night. He was surprised by the row of men who stood with the Fellowship just before the horses. Rohirrim, and men of Gondor and the Dunedain. Their battle-weary faces tuned towards them with smiles, their eyes filled with both awe and respect. He gazed at Aragorn uncertainly.

"You are the Wraith Slayers." Aragorn said simply. "You saved many lives, and these are but some." Legolas gazed back towards the line of men as too did Aerlaer as one by one they bowed their heads.

"Please don't." Aerlaer spoke up. "You all fought just as much as we, if not more."

"Nay my Lady, you both fell but moments before we won." A Gondor soldier replied, and many heads nodded in agreement.

"That may be so, but you do not need to bow." Legolas said, and the men lifted their heads to his relief.

"Will you return?" A young Rohirrim asked, pale blue eyes shining.

"Of course, we cannot let Aragorn have all the fun." The young man grinned, clearly pleased. It was then Éomer stepped forth, and Legolas paused as the man clasped his arm in comradeship.

"You are both mad, but I am glad you have remained with us until the end. You better return; I hear Lord Imrahil thinks he can best an elf at drinking." Legolas smirked at that as Aerlaer snickered at his side.

"I will be sure to show him that is not the case!" Éomer grinned and stepped back as Taurorn blocked their way.

"So, after trying to kill off my sister, you are now whisking her away." Legolas faltered, unsure if the young ranger was angry with him but he broke out into a grin. "Keep her in line." He clasped his hand and then turned and Aerlaer embraced him tightly. "No dying or pretending to die." He warned and Aerlaer whispered something in the ranger's ear Legolas could not discern before they let go of one another and Taurorn stepped away bearing a secret smile. Two small, curly heads suddenly seemed to appear from under the horses who stood patiently waiting.

"The bravest Elves we ever knew." Pippin declared solemnly and Legolas shook his head in amusement.

"Perhaps the bravest hobbits I know, who throw themselves willingly into battle." He suggested and both faces beamed up at he and Aerlaer.

"We'll wait for your return." Merry stated and they both simultaneously embraced the Aerlaer and bowed cheekily to him before stepping back to allow Aerlaer room to shift. Finally, he gazed at Gimli, Aragorn and Gandalf. There was a wistful gaze in Aragorn's grey eyes and sadness in Gimli's dark ones, but in Gandalf's there was a twinkle which Legolas wondered at. He knew better than to ask, the wizard never gave explained anything until the time was right. With farewells said and promises to return, Legolas urged Arod into a trot and then a canter to follow Elladan and Elrohir's mares; Aerlaer keeping a steady pace at his side, where she belonged.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, all you lovely readers.

xx A