A/N: I own nothing.

***Chapter 34***

**Saffy's POV**

Nimiwen and I were walking back into the Houses of Healing to see Di again. She had finally convinced me to get some rest sometime in the early hours of the morning, but now that I had slept we were heading back to wait by my friend's side in hopes that she would wake. I pushed open the door to DiDi's private room, as she was deemed a case that was more wait and see rather than actually needing constant supervision, and saw Legolas was still in the exact spot that he was before I left the night before.

His shoulders were slumped and his shape was hiding DiDi from sight. Hesitantly, I walked forward after releasing Nimiwen's hand and approached the silent elf. He jumped when I settled my hand on his shoulder, before he looked over at me. Dark circles were beneath his eyes, making it look like he hadn't slept in weeks instead of just the previous day by Di's side. There was a look of utter despair on his face, which made my eyes travel to the form of my sleeping friend.

Well, maybe sleeping was the wrong word for it. If there wasn't the slightest movement of her chest, I would have thought that she was a corpse. Her skin had turned a chalky white as though blood no longer flowed through her veins. The wounds on her cheek, shoulder, and side had not been bandaged as there had been no need. Instead, it was easy to see the black spreading out from the injuries, seeming to taint her from within with the evil of the Nazgul. Dark circles even worse than Legolas' surrounded her eyes making them look sunken in, but that was the only color on her face it seemed as even her lips had turned fish-belly white.

"N-no change then?" I asked, stuttering over the words as tears filled my eyes.

Legolas looked away from me and focused his eyes back on Deirdre, before shaking his head. His hand tightened on her right one and he lowered his head to rest on the bed beside her. I moved from his side so that I could take a seat on the edge of the bed beside her head. My hands brushed her hair away from her face, feeling her cool flesh. With a wince, I made sure that my hand no longer touched her bare skin and instead ran through her hair again and again.

We stayed this way for the rest of the morning and into the afternoon. Nimiwen left at one point and came back to the room with two trays of food, one for each Legolas and me. But neither of us ate much more than a few bites. Finally, when it was well into the afternoon and the sun was beginning to set on the horizon, Aragorn and Gandalf entered the room. Both wore contemplative looks on their faces, as though they had no idea how to help our companion.

Aragorn went around to the other side of the bed, wetting a cloth before attempting to clean her shoulder once more. Each time he swiped the cloth across the gash, he was rewarded with a little more of red blood. But never did the black begin to flow from her wound.

"How is Merry doing?" I asked. Finally breaking the quiet that had filled the room aside from the sounds of Aragorn dipping the cloth in the water time after time until the water was colored red.

"He woke briefly this morning, before he fell back asleep. He should be up and moving around within a few days." Aragorn responded, briefly looking away from the unconscious Deirdre. "Pippin is staying with him still."

"And Eowyn?" I questioned, my mind temporarily straying from Di before I glanced back down at her cold form.

"Resting as well, the Athelas seemed to help her. Eomer is keeping her company while she sleeps. The fever will pass her soon, but she will need to stay in bed for at least a week." Aragorn informed me, his hands kept working over Deirdre cleansing her wound repeatedly with no difference.

"When will Deirdre wake?" I questioned, hoping that Aragorn would have an answer.

Legolas looked up from Deirdre to stare at Aragorn, awaiting his friends answer. Aragorn continued staring down at Deirdre as he moved from her shoulder to her cheek where Eowyn's sword has sliced.

"I don't know, Saffron. But we shall hope that it is soon." He answered, sighing sadly as he stared down at her.

"All we can do is hope that she is strong enough of body and spirit to combat the taint of the Witch King." Gandalf commented, adding his voice to the conversation. "Never before have I heard of anyone being touched by the blood of the Nazgul. And being stabbed with a sword covered in its' blood is unheard of."

"She will wake though," I pressed hoping that they would reassure me. "We just have to wait for the infection to leave her."

Gandalf breathed out a heavy sigh and Legolas dropped his gaze back to my best friend. One of his hands left hers and caressed the side of her face.

"I don't know, Saffron. All we can do is hope and try to clean the infection away." Gandalf finally replied before he strode closer to the bed. "Tessa du, sira n'uma ner." Hold darkness, flow no more.

The last words that he spoke sounding like a spell, as he said them with his hand raised over her. Unfortunately, when I looked once more at the black stains on her flesh they appeared the same. The black was still spread from the wound like it had been for Frodo's shoulder when he was wounded by the Nazgul.

Shortly after, Aragorn and Gandalf both left the room once more, going to attend to the other people in the Houses of Healing who they could probably help. But Legolas and I stayed sitting by DiDi's side for the rest of the day, with the occasional company of Nimiwen who brought the both of us food and would stay with us for a while.

**Deirdre's POV**

Pain had left me as soon as I found myself on a familiar stretch of beach. The smile that shone across my face didn't need to be restrained. Not only was I no longer in any physical pain, but I was by the sea. The waves crashing against the shore sent a yearning in my chest to be in the cold embrace of the salty waters. And I gave in.

My skin was freezing and I had to constantly keep moving, but it was definitely worth it. Throwing myself under the waves once more, I came up and wiped the water from my eyes to reveal the same elf on the shore. I had half a mind not to bother leaving the water and staying out here, in hopes that he might give in and come play in the water. But I knew that wasn't going to happen. So, reluctantly I caught a wave and swam with it back towards the beach.

The water dripped off of my soaked nightgown, and I had to admit I was a little shocked that I wasn't still in my armor from the battle. I shrugged that off quickly and instead chose to take a seat on the sandy beach.

"Are you sure that I can't persuade you into playing in the water?" I questioned him, already wanting to return to the cold salty spray. "It's a lot of fun."

With a smile, he shook his head and chuckled slightly before responding. "I should have known not to bring you back here. But I thought you may as well enjoy the scenery."

"Well, if you aren't here to play in the wonderful water. Then what are we doing here?" I asked him, my eyes wandered away from the sandy beach and back towards the waves crashing against the shore and the occasional rock in the water.

"You're dying, Deirdre." He informed me, sounding as though he said things like that every day. Then again, maybe he did.

"Oh." I managed to get out, all other thoughts of conversation had been put on pause.

I wasn't really sure that it was fair that I was dying and spending the last of my time with him instead of the people that I loved. But apparently, I wasn't getting time for goodbyes.

"Is that really your only response?" he inquired.

A frown marred my face and I let out a heavy sigh before resting my chin on my knees, wrapping my arms around my legs as I did so. Suddenly, the waters that had been so calming weren't. Instead of wanting to be in the ocean like I always did, even when I hadn't heard the sounds of the waves crashing gently against the shores in a long time, I wanted to be back in Gondor in pain from being stabbed with my own swords and spending times with my friends.

"I'm not sure how else you expect me to respond. I don't want to die. But I suppose I should have thought of that before stabbing the Witch King." I replied, trying to sooth the ache in my chest with brave words.

"You are truly fascinating, Deirdre." He commented, his eyes must have been fixed upon me, for I could feel the sensation of being watched. "Since you were injured performing such a great act for Middle Earth, I will grant you one of your desires."

My gaze turned from the waters and fixed upon the elf sitting in the sand next to me. I could feel that I had a skeptical expression on my face, but could he really blame me. Yet, a small part of me still hoped that he was telling the truth and so I thought about what it was that I truly desired.

"Will they be alright without me?" I asked instead of giving him an answer. "I mean, will they forget about me eventually and go on living and being happy?"

"Some would, yes. However, Legolas will probably fade if he does not leave the shores of Middle Earth and find peace from his grief in Valinor." The elf responded.

I shook my head, it wasn't fair that he would have to suffer for me being stupid and going off and dying.

"I don't want any of them to suffer because of me. Can that be my desire that you grant? That all of my friends don't suffer and can continue to live happily in Middle Earth?" I questioned, my voice became light hoping that he would not deny me this.

The elf grew quiet, eyes wandering over my face as though ensuring that I was sincere in my desire now. Finally, he looked away and out over the water for the first time since we sat down to talk.

"There is only one way that your desire could be accomplished. But I must ask, are you willing to do whatever it takes for your friends and loved ones not to suffer? Even if it means that you will suffer and be in pain in their stead?" he asked, looking me straight in the eye to ensure my determination.

"Yes."

We both looked at one another with faces entirely serious, as though he was going to cast me into hell at any moment and then go and ensure that my friends would not be too grieved when I died. Suddenly a smile broke out on his face.

"Come on then. The good waves won't last forever." He announced with a grin as he stood up.

And with that he grabbed my hand and we raced into the water.

**Legolas' POV**

Night had fallen on the fifth day that we had been in Gondor and Saffron had been hauled off to rest by Nimiwen. But instead of leaving myself, I continued to sit by her side. Waiting for Deirdre to waken, and hoping that I would see her blue-green eyes once again. There was a stiffness settled throughout my body, from the denial of movement but it was easy to ignore as long as I was looking at her. The flesh of her right hand was warmed now, instead of the ice that was the rest of her flesh.

I found myself making promises to her once again, tonight. It was the only thing that it seemed I could do. Every night after Saffron left the room, I whispered any oath I could think of to get Deirdre back. Even knowing that most of these promises I could never have a chance to fulfill, I made them anyway. I couldn't bear to let Saffron hear me though. This was just between Deirdre and I.

If possible, Deirdre looked even worse than she had when we brought her in from the Pelennor Fields. Her skin had turned from the icy white and was beginning to pick up a gray tone to it. And the longer that she stayed unconscious, the thinner she got. Every time that Aragorn cleaned the wound on her side, it was possible to see her ribcage pressing against the skin. Both Aragorn and Gandalf had brought up that if she didn't recover soon, then she wasn't likely to. And that was when the fear had set it.

The fear that never before would I hold her in my arms as we both drifted off into unconsciousness. Or kiss her lips and see her bite them nervously. We wouldn't stay up talking together looking up at the stars when everyone else was asleep. I wouldn't get to hear her squeal in delight when she and Saffron had gone off to have their "girl time". I wouldn't be able to show her Mirkwood, introduce her to my father. I was so terrified of everything that I would lose if she never woke up, that I could feel myself growing ill and faint. The thought that she might not awaken tore me apart inside. I didn't want to lose her.

And because of that, I remained at her side every moment of the day. Sleep barely came to me anymore. But I was grateful when it did, for with sleep came dreams of a happy ending. Aragorn had tried to talk me into getting some rest myself, as he declared that the dark circles under my eyes were a cry for help. But I remained. Keeping my vigil and making sure that if she woke up, when she woke up, that there would be someone by her side.

Night turned into morning, the only movement in the room our breathing and when I ran my fingers through her hair. There was a slight layer of sweat covering her skin, a change from before and I was not sure if this was for the better or the worse. So instead of worrying too much about it, I hoped that it would mean she would wake soon, and I began washing her skin of the sweat.

Around mid-morning, Saffron returned to the room and took her usual seat by Deirdre's head. When she saw the sheen of sweat on Deirdre's skin a small smile graced her features and she took the cloth from my hand and began washing her face.

The cloth passed over the wound on her cheek, leaving a smear of black across her skin. Saffron's hand stopped moving and she dropped the cloth onto the bed beside Deirdre's head. We both watched the cut in silence, waiting to see what would happen.

Inky black blood oozed from the slice on her cheek, sliding across her flesh towards the fabric beneath her head, leaving a trail of black sludge behind. Immediately, Saffron sprang away from the bed, taking a step back and towards the door. While I pulled aside her shirt at the shoulder and saw that black blood was seeping from the wound on her shoulder and glancing to her side, I saw a growing black stain on her shirt.

Saffron bolted to the door, calling out for Gandalf and Aragorn as she went. I grabbed the nearest cloths and pressed them to both of her wounds, trying to staunch the blood leaking from her body. While I stood there holding the cloths and waiting for aid, the cloths both became drenched in a mixture of the black tainted blood and clean red blood.

"What's happening?" Aragorn asked in a fluster as he entered the room to see the blood.

"She started bleeding when Saffron cleaned the cut on her face. She was sweating earlier as well." I informed him, not taking my eyes off of Deirdre's still form as I watched in horror while my hands slowly became slicked in blood.

Aragorn went into his healer mode, removing the cloths from her flesh and examining the injuries underneath. After a moment of looking them over he turned to see Saffron and I standing there, waiting for him to say or do something.

"Legolas, go get Gandalf. Saffron, fetch me another of the healers. I'm afraid that I may need some assistance if we are going to stop her from bleeding out." Aragorn directed.

With one last glance at Deirdre as her breathing shuddered and she looked so lifeless on the bed, I dashed out of the room to get Gandalf, hoping that this wouldn't be the last time that I saw Deirdre still alive.

***End Chapter 34***

There it is. I should be able to get the next chapter up next Saturday, so look out for that.

Read and Review please XD