As promised- next week, a new chapter! It's quite a long one so enjoy!

Evening had fallen into night and Elanor had spent most of it talking with her father. Taking the time to speak with him, putting aside her childishness, she had found out so much more about him and her family.

Now, back inside her tent, she had washed and changed for bed and her sodden riding gear had been hung on a line with the others outside the tents. Her riding pack lay open at the foot of the bed, the contents strewn across the floor. A soft rustle caught her attention and the fold of her tent saw drawn back and Elanors heart leapt as Legolas' voice was heard. Hurriedly she reached for her blanket to shawl around the thin cotton dress she now wore.

"Elanor?" he called out softly, breaking into a smile when his face appeared and saw her. "I was hoping to see you."

Legolas' voice drifted off and his eyes looked downwards in an aberrant display of nerves at the state of her undress. Elanor blushed and pulled the blanket around her. She invited him in and he stepped inside, looking around uneasily. Elanor watched him and smiled. "You are acting strangely."

Legolas looked up and gave a short laugh. "It is your fault." Elanor raised an eyebrow and Legolas walked towards her. "I have never had someone affect me the way you have."

Elanors breath caught in her throat. They were barley inches apart and he brought his face close to hers so she could feel his breath against her face when he spoke. "I had only just met you but my thoughts would never stray far from your face." His hand reached up and gently pushed her hair away from her shoulder, letting it trail down and fall beside them. Elanor followed it with her eyes letting her head drop. His other hand caught her beneath her chin and moved her to face him. "That is why I wrote you those letters." His voice was barely a whisper. "I did not want you to worry but I also wanted to be sure you would be thinking of me."

Elanor gasped audibly and Legolas seized his moment. His mouth descended upon hers and he kissed her. Elanor barely had time to register it when his hand slipped to her back and pressed her against him. The kiss was more forceful than the last and Elanor fell into it. She tried hard to concentrate on what was happening to her body but she felt herself sinking and reached up, cradling his neck with her arms to steady herself against him. She tilted her head upwards and kissed him back, feeling something strange and fiery bubbling up inside her. She had never been kissed like this before with such passion and need. All doubt she might have had about her feelings for him vanished and she lost all reason. She clung to him and kissed him back with as much strength as Legolas had shown her. A soft noise emitted from his mouth when Elanor responded. Legolas slid his hand down to her waist, resting it on her hip and the other moved down, following the curve of her spine and moving down over her rear.

Elanor gave a small squeak of surprise and pushed away suddenly. Legolas jolted, as if woken from some spell. His pale face was unusually flushed and he was breathing heavily. Elanor realised she probably looked much the same.

"Forgive me." he said quickly, "I did not mean to frighten you."

Elanor let out a nervous laugh and smiled, shaking her head. "There is nothing to forgive. It was my fault."

"I should not have…" Legolas began, mumbling nervously.

"Legolas," Elanor said softly, the warmth in her voice stopping his babbling. Elanor reached out to him and placed her hands on his arms. "You have done nothing wrong. I just was not expecting it."

She slid her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. She felt Legolas sigh softly and his arms encircled her. Elanor nestled closer and tucked her head under his chin; her eyes closed and listening to Legolas' beating heart. Legolas softly moved his hands up and down her back. The fiery feeling which had lowered itself to warm bubble deep in her stomach began to flare without warning at the simplest touch. As that feeling began grew, Elanor felt her skin begin to tingle. She lent up and pressed her mouth to his neck. She felt him jump beneath her touch and the rapid increase of his pulse under her lips. Elanor continued up and kissed under his cheek, where his jaw met his neck. She continued trailing kisses along his jaw line and up over his chin until she finally covered his mouth with hers. Legolas seemed more tentative this time, perhaps afraid of startling her again but soon his grip on her tightened and he returned the kiss with more vigour. Elanor pulled herself closer, revelling in the warmth of his embrace and the taste of his kiss. Her blanket shawl slipped from her shoulders and pooled at her feet. Elanor shivered at the sudden chill that hit her. Their kiss broke and Legolas looked at her concerned, eyes blues searching hers. "You must be freezing."

Elanor nodded weakly, once again reminded of how little she wore. Silently he led her over to the make shift bed and pulled back the heavy blankets. Nervously Elanor climbed under the covers and waited. When Legolas did not climb in beside her as she had expected, Elanor looked up confused. Legolas said nothing but pulled the covers back over her body. Gently he leaned down and kissed her brow, bidding her goodnight. The elf turned stiffly towards the door of the tent. Elanor froze, confused and startled, the thought of him leaving her now caused Elanors chest to tighten painfully and she called out suddenly,

"Wait."

"It is late I should go." He replied without looking.

"Stay, please." Elanor murmured, unable to keep the desperation from her voice.

"I cannot." He sounded weak and tired. Slowly he turned to her. "Elanor, surely you know the ways of men." As he spoke a wonderful blush spread across his pale face.

"You have… affected me."

Elanor blushed vividly as she realised what he meant, then she smiled. "I trust that you would not act inappropriately."

"I would never do something to hurt you."

Elanor smiled and shifted to one side of the bed, pulling back the covers slightly. "I know you wouldn't."

Legolas' resolve broke at the gentle trust in her voice and he walked back over to the bed. With a soft rustle of cloth, the elf removed his tunic and riding boots, leaving him in a soft silver shirt and leggings. He slipped in beside her and they moved together in a mixture of excitement and nervousness as Elanor moved into his open arms. As they lay together, Elanors head resting against his chest, lulled by the gentle thud of his heart.

"Legolas," Elanor asked softly. "Tell me about your journey."

"You already know, my love."

"From your letters, yes." She replied, shifting closer to him, "But what of the things you could not write about?"

Legolas pulled her closer to him. "What would you like to know?"

"About your home, about you, everything." She leant up and kissed him softly. Legolas smiled and kissed her back.

At some point Elanor had fallen asleep to the gently voice of her lover. Her dreams had been pleasant and uninterrupted until a faint voice called out. Blearily Elanor stirred, trying to distinguish dream from reality. The voice came again-Someone was calling. Elanor felt a movement next to her and missed the warmth as Legolas slipped out from his place beside her. She roused herself in time to catch the end of Legolas' hushed conversation. Elanor picked up one of the blankets, once again pulling it around her shoulders. She made her way to Legolas' side and startled to find Gimli staring up at them, an amused look on his face. The dwarfs eyes narrowed and a sly grin appeared beneath his beard as Elanor stepped out of the tent. "Did I interrupt something?"

Elanors eyes darted to Legolas and his arm slide around her as she felt her face flush. "About bloody time." The dwarf said gruffly, pretending to sound annoyed. "But hurry up or he'll run off without us."

"Run off?" Elanor asked. The dwarf nodded. "Aragorn's planning to leave. I overheard him talking with the King."

"Alone?"

Gimli nodded at the Elf. Elanor sighed loudly not particularly surprised by this news. "Then we'd better get after him."

Gimli looked at her and grinned. "Not it that get-up lass."

Elanor looked down and blush. She had completely forgotten her blanket shawl and cotton dress. Legolas let out a short laugh beside her and the dwarf chuckled along with him.

"You're not much better either Elf." Gimli chortled. Legolas nodded and smiled.

"Indeed I am not. We had best get changed."

"Aye, and make it quick."

The pair nodded and darted back into the tent, Elanor pausing to grab her ranger clothes. Once back inside Legolas gathered his own clothes and began to dress hurriedly. Elanor stopped and watched him for a moment before hastily looking away. As Legolas pulled his belt closed over his tunic he looked over at her and caught her eye. He smiled gently and moved over to her.

"I'll wait outside." He said, kissing her softly. Elanor nodded and watched as he left. Legolas stepped out of the tent but couldn't stop the blush when he heard the rustle as she began to undressed. Inside Elanor quickly pulled on her riding clothes, grimacing as they were still slightly damp. She clasped the sliver buckle of her cloak closed and settled it around her shoulders. With a smile she reached down and picked up her sword. Finally she felt proud to hold it, like it was finally hers. She quickly fastened it around her waist and headed out to join the others.

"We should still have time." Gimli said as they walked through the tents, stepping warily in the dark as they headed towards the Mountain. The dwarf was slightly ahead of them and Legolas walked at her side.

"I should go to my kinsmen. If Aragorn is to leave, Edain would want to know."

"They already know, as does your father." The dwarf said, "You are the last as I couldn't find the prince anywhere."

He said the last part with a smirk. Elanor was glad of the darkness to hide her blush. They quickly collected their horses from where they stood reined to some nearby trees. The number of tents lessened as approached the shadow of the mountain and Elanor could make out the dim outline of Aragorn stood next to his horse, but he wasn't alone. Beside him was another figure. From the way they were gesturing, Elanor could tell they were talking but she could not make out what they were saying. As they grew closer, Elanor saddened to see the tearful face of Éowyn as Aragorn turned away from her, leading Brego behind him. Suddenly Gimli called out to him. "Just where do you think you're off to?"

Aragorn turned slowly not surprised to find them behind him. "Not this time, Gimli." He said

"Have you heard nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?" Legolas asked, nodding towards Gimli and then to Elanor, "Let alone that of women."

Elanor shot him a glare just as Edain and the others joined them. Beside them stood Halbarad.

"You as well?" Aragorn said to her, though a smile graced his face.

"I have let you sneak away once too many times." She said, folding her arms across her chest.

"And I have fought you once too many times. I would be proud to have you ride with me." As he spoke he looked to his kinsmen. "It is only by your free will that I would have you come."

"It is our choice that we follow you." Edain said proudly. "Those that remain of our band have followed you for years; we are not going to leave you now."

Aragorn smiled and nodded. "Then Halbarad, I must ask that you take those who are left and join the King, less we are unable to accomplish our part."

Halbarad nodded left the small group to return to the rest of the dunedain. Aragorn heaved a sigh and smiled, looking to the rangers, then to what remained of the fellowship and then finally to Elrohir and Elladan. Gimli looked around them and smiled,

"You might as well accept it. We're going with you, laddie."

Yay! I'm so glad I finally got that part up! I wanted to get Elanor and Legolas moving in the right direction!

Thanks so much for all the great reviews from the last chapter, glad I'm doing something right! Hope you all like this one just as much.