The Houses of Healing were a mad house. There were people rushing everywhere and Leila felt overwhelmed by all of it. The noises, the people, and the stench of torn and burned flesh. Her eyes scanned the room for Soriel, hoping to see a familiar face soon. Gimli caught up to them, and informed them that Théoden had not survived. This news made Leila sad, and she whispered a prayer for him. She respected the King of Rohan very much, and she felt much sorrow for her friends, Eowyn and Eomer. It was only another moment, before she finally saw Soriel and called out to her.
"Soriel!"
She turned around, and saw Leila, gripping Legolas so hard she was sure she was breaking him. "Leila!" she returned. "You're hurt!"
"It's just a scratch," Leila lied.
Soriel cut open her shirt around the wound, poured some sort of liquid on it, and had Leila hold Legolas's hand while she sewed it up. "It is wonderful to see you, by the way. All of you," she said, looking around at Legolas and Gimli as well. "But where is Aragorn?"
"He is tending to Captain Faramir," answered Legolas.
"Oh I meant to be with him when he woke," said Soriel. "I am almost finished, Leila, and you should rest when I do."
While Soriel had been talking, Leila noticed her face. Under her eye, there was purple mark. It was clear someone had struck her, and the mark was fading now, but it was still present. "Soriel," Leila began. "Who hit you?"
"Is it bad?" Soriel asked, poking it lightly.
"Well, it is only a light purple, but who on earth did it?" Leila pressed, feeling a bit of anger rise up in her. So much so she had stopped feeling the pricks of the needle in her skin.
"It was Denethor," Soriel answered. "I inconvenienced him."
This shocked Leila. "Doesn't he know what you meant to his son?" she asked.
"Yes, and he hated me for it," Soriel continued, finishing up Leila's arm. "But I have no time to give details now and Denethor is dead. Leila, get some sleep so that gash will heal. Legolas, you are not to leave her side."
"Never," Legolas answered, and Soriel left them.
"She should be commanding armies with that attitude," Leila said, making Legolas laugh.
"You should get some rest Leila, it is nearing night fall now," Legolas answered.
"I know," Leila replied. "I just feel as if I will have a hard time sleeping here. This place makes me uneasy."
"Perhaps they have something you can take, to ward of nightmares," Legolas suggested. It was then that Aragorn approached.
"Leila," he said. "I did not know you had been hurt."
"Only a little," Leila assured him. "Soriel fixed me up."
"Aragorn, she needs something to help her sleep," Legolas said.
"I shall find her a sleeping draught after I tend to Eowyn," Aragorn replied.
Hearing Eowyn's name made Leila perk up. "Eowyn? She's hurt? Where is she?" she asked.
"I will take you to her. Follow me," Aragorn instructed.
Legolas helped Leila up and they came to Eowyn's bed. Soriel and Eomer were already there. Eowyn was not conscious, and her arm looked blue in color, and all her veins appeared black. Aragorn looked over Eowyn's arm and tried calling to her to wake her up. When she did not, he turned to Eomer, and commanded him to call her as well. After that, he left the room. Leila felt hot tears in her eyes at the sight of her friend. She was hoping against all hope that Eomer could call her from whatever darkness she was in.
Eomer, who had been stroking Eowyn's other hand, called her name. Tears formed in his eyes as he tried to wake her. "Eowyn!" he called, and after a few very tense moments, her eyes fluttered open.
Leila gasped in happy surprise. As much as she wanted to go to Eowyn, when her eyes met Soriel's, they knew they should leave the siblings alone for their moment. Not only were they reunited, but they would also be grieving the loss of their uncle together as well. Leila would come back another time to see Eowyn.
When they returned to Leila's bed, Aragorn was there with the sleeping draught he had promised. "Take this," he instructed. "You should sleep well with it. Also, I will guide you to a spare bedroom so you need not sleep here."
Leila could have kissed him. "Thank you so much," she said.
When they arrived at the room, Legolas gave her a kiss. "I will let you sleep, love," he told her.
"Are you not going to stay with me?" she asked, she was still fearful. "You need some sleep too, you know," she pointed out.
"If you wish for me to stay, I will," he said.
"Yes, I very much wish that," Leila replied quickly. "Plus, I'm going to need help getting into something comfortable to sleep in, this arm is practically useless."
Legolas chuckled. "Okay, I think I can help you with that."
They went inside, and after much struggling, and a lot of pain, Leila was finally in bed. The sleeping draught worked wonders, and she slept for two whole days. Legolas never left her side, and Aragorn, Soriel, and Gimli stopped frequently to check in on Leila. When Leila finally did wake up, the first place she wanted to go was to the Houses of Healing to see Eowyn.
Eowyn was awake when she got there. "How are you, my friend?" Leila asked, taking a seat next to her.
"I am better than I was," Eowyn said. "I am in less pain, thanks to Lord Aragorn's healing powers, and I am happy my brother and I are still alive, but I am sad for my uncle. I was with him."
"I am so sorry," Leila said, placing a comforting hand atop Eowyn's. "He was a great man."
"Yes, he was," agreed Eowyn. "How are you feeling? I heard you had been hurt as well."
"It was merely a scratch," Leila said. "I am nearly back to normal after sleeping so long," she joked.
"I am glad to hear it," Eowyn replied. Then her eyes went to the door, causing Leila to look as well. At the door was a man, and at first Leila thought she was seeing Boromir, but it was someone else. She instinctively reached for Legolas's hand, which she grabbed and he held.
"Lord Faramir," Legolas greeted. "It's good to see you." They shook hands.
"Hello," Faramir returned. "It is good to see you as well, Legolas. I was hoping I could speak with your friend," he said, gesturing to Leila.
All eyes turned to her. Leila felt heat rising in her cheeks. "What is this about?" she asked.
"It is something your friend, Soriel, told me about you," he said.
Leila's eyes went wide. She had not expected Soriel to divulge her secret, especially not to the man who was in charge of her assailants. She could feel Legolas's eyes on her as she rose from her place next to Eowyn. "Shall we go somewhere a bit more private?" she asked.
"If that is your desire," Faramir agreed, and he led her to an empty courtyard just outside the Houses of Healing, with Legolas right behind her. Before she could get to Faramir, Legolas pulled her aside.
"Do you want me to stay with you?" he asked.
Leila thought this over. She did not know if she felt totally safe around this man, who she had never met before. She also did not know if she was willing to admit to herself that she was so terrified that she needed Legolas there. "Just, stay close," she told him, and he nodded.
"I will be in earshot," he said. "If you need me-"
"I know," she told him, and he nodded at her before leaving.
Now, she approached Faramir. Her heart was racing, and her stomach felt as if it were turning within her body. She willed each foot in front of the other, her legs feeling heavy as lead, until she was standing directly in front of him. On her own. She was terrified.
"I wanted to properly introduce myself," he began. "I know you knew my brother, Boromir, but I doubt he left the best impression." He said this as if he were joking, but Leila was not sure if she should laugh or not.
"No, he was not exactly the warmest fellow I've ever met," she agreed, earning an awkward chuckle from Faramir.
"Well, I'm Faramir. I'm Boromir's younger brother," Faramir said. "I was the captain of the men in Ithilien. Soriel told me that you encountered them on your travels."
"Yes, unfortunately I did," Leila replied.
"I want to apologize on behalf of them. What they did was absolutely despicable, and had I known who they were, I would have passed harsh judgment upon them," Faramir continued, his face getting a bit darker with a deep sorrow. "I know that my words cannot undo their actions, and I do not know if it will help you heal, but I wanted to extend my deepest apologies, that they were so cruel, and that if there is anything you need, that I or Gondor can offer you in restitution, it is yours."
Leila did not know what to say. For several moments she remained silent. "You need not apologize, you committed no crime," she finally said. "I appreciate the sentiment more than you know, though," she told him, reaching out and touching his arm.
He smiled, and placed a hand over hers. "You are very kind," he said.
"So are you, clearly," she replied. "You have much kinder eyes than Boromir."
He laughed a little. "I have been told that before," he said.
"It is true," Leila continued. "I hope that one day I can come to Gondor with no fear in my heart. Your eyes will help."
This made Faramir smile. "That is a remarkable sentiment. I hope the same thing. I will do everything in my power to make sure no soldier of Gondor inflicts this pain on another woman ever again," he said.
Leila smiled in return. "Thank you," she said.
"No, thank you," he replied. "You came to the aid of Gondor in our greatest need, despite your experience. There are few who would have done the same."
Leila chuckled. "I am quite certain this is the most polite conversation I have ever had," she said.
Faramir laughed as well. "I think I could say the same," he agreed.
"I appreciate you talking to me very much," Leila said. "But for now I do wish to visit with Eowyn some more."
"That will be fine," Faramir said. "I also need to get back and rest."
"I hope to see more of you," Leila continued.
Faramir nodded. "I hope the same… Leila?" he asked.
"Yes," she told him, nodding. With that, they went back inside. Leila met up with Legolas and already she felt much safer in the White City.
A few days later, Legolas and Leila were summoned to the throne room. Gandalf and Aragorn were already there, and now they were waiting for Gimli, Eomer, and Soriel. Gimli arrived first, smoking his pipe, and he sat in the Steward's chair. Gandalf was pacing when Soriel and Eomer finally arrived.
"Frodo has passed beyond my sight," he said. "The darkness is deepening."
"If Sauron had the ring we would know it," Aragorn replied.
"It is only a matter of time," Gandalf argued. "He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor, our enemy is regrouping."
"Let him stay there," Gimli chimed in. "Let him rot! Why should we care?"
"Because ten thousand orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom," answered Gandalf. "I've sent him to his death."
"No," said Aragorn, turning and facing them, and idea in his mind. "There is still hope for Frodo. He needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."
"How?" asked Leila, who was beginning to wonder if this meeting was called just to depress everyone.
"Draw out Sauron's armies," Aragorn explained. "Empty his lands. When we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate."
Gimli seemed to choke on the smoke he had just inhaled. Leila's mouth dropped. Eomer stepped forward.
"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms," he said plainly.
"Not for ourselves," Aragorn responded. "But we can give Frodo a chance if we keep Sauron's eye fixed on us. Keep him blind to all else that moves."
"A diversion," said Legolas.
"Certainty of death, small chance of success, what are we waiting for?" joked Gimli.
"Sauron will suspect a trap," Gandalf protested. "He will not take the bait."
"Oh I think he will," replied Aragorn, a sly smile on his lips, and with that, he dismissed them.
"Well, I guess we better start preparations," Legolas said, once they were out in the hall.
"Yeah," Leila agreed, emptiness in her voice.
Legolas turned to her. "What is it?" he asked.
"Nothing," Leila lied.
"Talk to me," Legolas insisted.
Leila gave a heavy sigh. "It just seems as if Aragorn and Gandalf are very willing to offer up their own lives day in and day out. And not just their lives, our lives as well. They come up with plans and just assume we're okay with dying," she told him, exasperated.
"This has never bothered you before," Legolas pointed out. "You have fought bravely in every battle thus far."
"Legolas, think about what you just said. 'In every battle thus far'," she quoted. "Do you never tire of fighting?"
"Of course I do, but this is for the greater good," he said.
"I am perfectly aware of the greater good, but if we did everything with the greater good in mind, you would have never brought me with you down that mountain," Leila said.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I mean that what is the point of doing everything for the greater good if… at the end of all this, no one is left to enjoy it?" This made Legolas pause for a long time.
"Are you suggesting we not accompany Aragorn to the Black Gate?" he asked.
"Of course not," Leila said. "We both know we're going to go. I am merely complaining."
Legolas chuckled. "I do understand your point," he began. "I know it seems that at every turn, there is some new enemy that awaits us."
"Exactly!" Leila cried, and she could not have appreciated him more. It really felt good that he understood her so well.
"To be honest, I never really cared about sacrificing myself before," Legolas told her.
Leila rolled her eyes. "You are so heroic and selfless," she teased.
He laughed. "Listen," he told her. "I have never feared death because there was nothing in this world that I feared to lose, or that I was afraid would lose me. That is…until I met you."
Leila felt herself warm up all the way from her toes at his words. She smiled shyly and wrapped her arms around him. "Go on," she encouraged, giving him a sweet peck on the lips.
"I know that it is not likely we will survive this next battle, but we have said that about every other step of this journey, including you going up to that mountain, and yet here we are. We may not get so lucky next time, or we might be even luckier. All I know is that should we die, I have already been luckier to have met you, than I have been my whole life," he said, making heat rise to her cheeks. She was smiling so widely at him her cheeks began to hurt.
"I feel the same way," she managed to reply.
"That's why, should we survive, I want to marry you. I want to marry you as soon as possible, because I know that I have been waiting for you since the beginning of all things, and now I want to be with you until the end of all things."
Leila couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You are just saying this because we may not come back," she said, half joking.
"No, Leila, I'm not," he protested. "I have known I want to marry you for quite some time."
"Since when?" she asked.
"Since the day we passed the Argonath. You could not believe your eyes. You said they were the largest statues you had ever seen. Then you turned to me and asked, 'Are those not amazing?'" he told her, very matter of factly.
"That was it?" she asked. "That was the moment?"
"Yes," he told her honestly.
"Wow…"
"So, Leila," he started. Then he took her hands in his, and he bent down on one knee. Leila felt like her head was swimming. "I want to lead you from solitude. I want to share our long Elven lives together. Whatever it is that comes after this moment, I want to be with you." Leila felt tears of joy well up in her eyes. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Yes!" she cried, falling to her knees as well and throwing her arms around his neck, kissing him full on the mouth. "I love you."
"I love you too," he said, and he lifter her up, bridal style and brought her back to her room. "Shall I carry you across the threshold?" he asked as they approached her door. She nodded her response.
Once inside, he threw her on her bed, causing her to laugh out loud as she bounced. He joined her, leaning over her, cupping her face with his hand. He looked into eyes for several moments. Leila felt as if she were dreaming. Legolas made her happier than she ever remember being, and now she would be Princess of Mirkwood. Finally, he kissed her again. He kissed her very tenderly at first, but then he became more passionate and heated. For the first time, Legolas made love to his future wife. Leila felt more than physically naked with Legolas that night. She shed every emotional and physical boundary she ever had, becoming her most vulnerable self. It was the safest she had ever felt.