They traveled without stopping more than a few minutes the next day. That night they stayed in a large clearing.
"I guess it's my turn to get the firewood," Elsa said.
"I'll go with you, none of us should be alone," Legolas said, trying not to smile.
The two of them went into the woods together. They started off paying attention to getting wood, but soon their attention was on each other.
"Careful!" Legolas said as he pushed a branch out of Elsa's way.
"Thank you." Elsa said.
Legolas stepped closer and smiled. "Elsa, about the other night."
"Yes?" Elsa stepped closer and looked into Legolas' eyes.
"Nothing, never mind. I think we have enough wood. We should get back to the others."
The two went back to the clearing and lit a fire.
"So, what did you two talk about when you were out there?" Olaf asked Legolas.
"N,nothing."
"Oh, come on! Me and Aragorn talk when we look for firewood. For example, yesterday Aragorn said that he wondered what I think."
"And what did you tell him?" Elsa asked.
"Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale," Olaf said, smiling.
Everyone laughed. Legolas took the first watch. Elsa fell asleep next to him, Aragorn was on the other side of the fire, and Olaf was between Aragorn and Elsa. Legolas looked down at Elsa. The light from the fire danced across her face. He wanted to bend over, to kiss her, but he didn't. He wondered what would happen when they reach the lagoon. Would she stay with him? But if she did, she'd never see her sister again. Would he go with her? But he's the prince of Mirkwood, if anything happened to the king, his people would need him. No. In the end, no matter how much they love each other, it could never work. Legolas felt a tearing in his heart when he thought of having to leave Elsa.
Elsa stirred and looked up. "What?"
"Nothing," Legolas said. He turned away.
"What's wrong? You can tell me."
"Elsa, we can't be together."
"What, do you mean?"
"You couldn't stay here with me, to stay in Mirkwood. You'd miss your home, your sister. And I couldn't leave Mirkwood. If anything happened to my father, my people would need me."
Elsa sat up and lent towards Legolas. "We'll figure out something, we have to."
Elsa was about to cry. Legolas held her and kissed her forehead. "We'll have to."
He didn't believe that they could. He wanted to, but there was a part of him that couldn't. He wanted to cry. But he didn't. Elsa fell asleep, and Legolas laid her back down where she was. He was much relieved when Aragorn took watch. That night, not even the moon could be seen. Legolas imagined it looking down and sighing. He looked at Olaf, at Aragorn, and finally at Elsa. Thoughts filled his head as he closed his eyes and drifted into dream.