Thanks to Liz for betaing this chapter for me.

Chapter 36: The truth be told…

It was impossible to think clearly when the smell of him lingered everywhere. The scent of woodland pine and leather. Everything in the small room reminded her of him and it made her insane.

Kaitlyn ran her hand along the top blanket that covered the bed and she could almost feel the warmth of Legolas' Elven body. He had lay with her that night as a complete gentleman, and kept his love from her a secret until the morning. It must have been difficult for him to be so close to her without her knowing how he felt.

She quickly jerked her hand away when their heated kiss entered her mind. Those soft lips, the sweet taste of him that reminded her of forbidden honey and the warmth of his lean muscled body pressed against her as he drew her closer.

Kaitlyn shivered, remembering how Legolas had taken the initiative and her body had responded without question.

She rose to her feet, paced several lengths along the end of the bed; stopped and then chewed her fingernails. She decided she needed to leave the small house if she was ever going to get anywhere with her thoughts. She did not know where she would go, only that she had to leave.

Currently, her body wanted to do the thinking and she knew that was dangerous. In fact, if her mind had not intervened when it had, who knew how far she and Legolas might have gone. She realized they might not have preceded anywhere at all since Elves did not seem to take sex lightly. But Legolas claimed he loved her, and that could have changed things drastically. How far would she have allowed things to go? How far would Legolas have let them go? She realized she would never know.

She needed to be fair to herself and to him by thinking things through, she realized with a deep sigh. She was certain she loved Legolas as a friend and most likely more than that, but just how much? And once she decided how she felt how would their relationship change? Would it change for the better or worse? The unknown could be vicious when it wanted to be.

She felt extremely jittery as she changed from her sleeping gown to leggings and a tunic. The dull ache left from her injury was barely noticeable as she dressed. She wrapped her Lorien cloak over her shoulders to keep out the cool morning air and she stepped slowly from the room.

As she pushed back the curtain and entered the kitchen, the few soldiers that lingered stopped speaking. Two were playing some sort of game with dice and cards at the table while others sat on the floor among their blankets and bedrolls.

"Good mornin' milady," one called.

Kaitlyn swallowed and felt her face flush. She had completely forgotten that there were other people in the house. They had no doubt heard what had transpired between herself and Legolas that morning.

Ammora was nowhere to be seen, as it was still quite early, and Kaitlyn was thankful. The men didn't seem to realize Kaitlyn had been hurt and did not scold her for leaving her bed or trying to sneak from the house.

She smiled and bid good morning quickly to the soldiers and exited the house with as much speed as she could muster. She closed the main door behind her and leaned against it, letting out a sigh. Her breath caused steam in the cool air.

She suddenly felt dizzy and sick to her stomach.

"Kaitlyn, are you well?"

Kaitlyn blinked and looked to see Eowyn standing only a few yards away.

The Shield Maiden of Rohan was dressed in pants, something Kaitlyn had never seen before. Eowyn also wore a long dark brown coat with a fur collar. Her fair long hair was braided down her back.

Kaitlyn smiled weakly and Eowyn tilted her head to regard her.

"You look unwell. Are you certain you should be out of bed? You were very recently injured."

Nausea swept over Kaitlyn as her nerves went out of control. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

Eowyn took Kaitlyn's arm and helped her sit on a wooden barrel residing on the porch. "You are as pale as newly fallen winter snow. You should return to bed, your injury-"

"-It's not because of my injury," Kaitlyn snapped in annoyance and she immediately frowned at the sound of her voice. "Eowyn, I'm sorry," she apologized immediately. " I didn't mean to snap at you."

Eowyn appeared sympathetic. "You have been ill for days and locked in that house. I would be irritable as well."

Kaitlyn nodded, taking in a deep breath. "I think I'm okay now. It has passed. Where are you off to just after dawn?"

Eowyn smiled enthusiastically. "The stables. I am in need of a ride. I, too, have been kept inside and my soul demands release. I find freedom upon the back of a noble horse."

Kaitlyn's lips twitched into a grin. It amazed her how passionately these people spoke at times. "Would it be any trouble if I went with you? Maybe I could brush a horse or something."

"I am certain there are plenty of horses who would enjoy being groomed. If you are certain you are well, I would enjoy your company."

Kaitlyn stood, relieved the momentary sickness due to her nerves had passed. "I'm okay."

Eowyn's smile widened and in silence the two women walked toward the stables.

Kailtyn was surprised by the fact that there were two guards posted at each entrance to the stable until she remembered how important horses were to the people of Rohan. She was also in awe at how many people were awake and attending their horses at such an early hour. Some used a pitchfork to add straw to the stalls as bedding; others filled wooden water buckets or did the feeding.

Eowyn stopped by the stall of a bay mare that Kaitlyn recognized as the horse the Shield maiden had ridden at an earlier time. It was the same mare that Gimli had fallen off on the journey to Helm's Deep.

Kaitlyn frowned deeply as she walked along the aisle way. Helm's Deep seemed like ages ago when it had been less than a week. So much had happened in so little time and thoughts of Legolas came tumbling into her mind. What was he doing at this moment? Did his thoughts turn to her every so often as hers turned to him?

"I would not bother with the horse in that stall, milady."

Kaitlyn startled at the voice and turned to see a young man with bright blue eyes and bushy fair hair tied back from his face. She had been so lost in her thoughts, she did not realize she had walked to the far end of the barn.

She blinked at the young man who nodded his head toward the last stall.

A chestnut horse had his hindquarters facing the aisle, his weight shifted to one side and his head was so low that his muzzle touched the straw on the floor.

"Every master he has known has died and his spirit seemed to die with them. It happens sometimes and it is never pleasant to witness." The young man shook his head sadly.

Kaitlyn moved to the doorway and her mouth parted when she recognized the horse. "Hasufel," she whispered.

The horse's ears pricked at the sound of his name, but he did not turn.

"You know of him, Lady?" the man questioned.

Kaitlyn nodded, her eyes not leaving the stallion's form. "Yes. The last time I saw him was at Helm's Deep. He looks nothing like the horse I knew, " she realized sadly.

It was true. Once full of spirit, Hasufel looked as if he had given up on life. His eyes appeared dull and lifeless. Uneaten hay littered his stall and his water had not been touched. He looked as if he had been standing in the same spot for the last few days.

"Hasufel…" she called softly.

The stallion's left ear turned in her direction and slowly he peered at her.

"Do you have any oats?" Kaitlyn asked, moving to face the man.

He nodded. " Aye, though I do not think it will do any good. He has not taken food for days"

"I'd like to attempt. Please," Kaitlyn persisted. She unlatched the rope door and approached the stallion slowly, so she did not startle him.

Hasufel nickered low in his throat and Kaitlyn reached out and brushed her fingers over his flank. The stallion shifted his weight so it was distributed evenly, turned slowly and nickered again.

"Hey, boy. Why aren't you eating?" Kaitlyn asked continuing to stroke his coat. She tilted her head and smiled sadly. "You're such a pretty boy who needs to eat. A big boy," she laughed seeing how tall he was beside her, "but still pretty. I bet Aragorn wouldn't want to see you like this? Do you know he's still alive?"

The stallion pushed his nose toward her hand and she stroked his soft muzzle.

"He has ignored everyone who has entered his stall, yet he lets you near him," the young man said, confusion clear in his voice. He was leaning against the edge of the stall.

"We know each other," Kaitlyn told the man. "Did you bring any oats?"

The man nodded and lifted a small wooden bucket filled with oats over the stall door. Kaitlyn took the rope handle and placed the bucket down in front of Hasufel.

"Here, boy. Have something to eat."

Hasufel sniffed the bucket and shook his whole body, sending dust and hay in all directions.

"You're a dirty boy, too," Kaitlyn laughed.

"Here, lady."

Kaitlyn turned and took the stiff bristle brush that the man offered her. She began to move it over Hasufel's coat. More and more dirt and hay dust fell to the floor with each stroke. Slowly, she began to groom the horse and Hasufel allowed it. The stallion watched her with interest and quietly began to munch upon the oats in the wooden bucket.

"I do not believe it. He eats!" the man exclaimed.

Kaitlyn smiled, grateful that the horse was consuming food. She felt a pang of guilt for running away from him at Helm's Deep, but was pleased he seemed to have forgiven her.

Kaitlyn let her eyes fall upon the man who stood by the stall door watching her and Hasufel with a sense of wonderment. He was very handsome, tall, thin and fair, reminding her of someone else she knew, someone who claimed to love her deeply and waited for her response. Kaitlyn quickly diverted her eyes from the man and lay them upon the brush in her hand and continued to move it over Hasufel's coat.

She was no closer to knowing what she felt for Legolas than she had been when he had stunned her with his admittance of feelings at dawn.

"Are you well, lady?"

She jumped at the voice of the young man, forgetting that he stood just outside the stall door.

"I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"It is only that you seemed lost in thought."

Kaitlyn refused eye contact with the young Rohan man. "I…I'm fine. Thank you. " She smiled weakly. "Now that he is eating I'm going to clean him up. I think we'll be okay. Thank you for your help."

The young man nodded and left, wandering off down the aisle of the barn, but Kaitlyn could tell he was baffled by her sudden dismissal. Truth was that she was baffled by it herself.

She sighed deeply and forced herself to concentrate on Hasufel and not the handsome Elvish archer who kept entering her thoughts. She knew it would be a good idea to push Legolas from her mind for a short while.

Kaitlyn lost track of all time in the stables. Men, women and children came and went without her so much as acknowledging their presence. Eowyn had asked her if she wished to ride, but Kaitlyn felt she wasn't ready. Another day of rest for her injury would make her strong. Eowyn left for her ride and came back, asking if Kaitlyn wanted food, but Kaitlyn declined, instead choosing to fuss over the stallion who had finished his oats and now nibbled on his hay. The stallion shone now with her attentive care and she could tell from his behavior that Hasufel was pleased.

The soft sound of Hasufel eating, kept her calm. She knew she was avoiding her return to the house and the raw memories of Legolas' kiss. She had come to no conclusions about her own feelings and if anything she had only confused herself even more. She knew she was attracted to Legolas and she loved him as a friend, but beyond that she was not sure. The fact that she knew next to nothing about Elves certainly did not aid her.

Finally, her empty protesting stomach forced her to return to the house later in the afternoon. The men were gone from the kitchen, as they were each day, leaving to tend their duties and return for sleep at night. Ammora was nowhere to be seen and Kaitlyn thought perhaps she might have struck some luck that she would be alone to think.

She moved back the curtain to her room and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a figure by the window. Her heart pounded hard against her chest. She thought Legolas had returned, but she realized it was not Legolas who stood by the window of her room. The figure was not tall enough and far too dark to be the Elf.

It was Aragorn.

The Ranger turned and gave her a warm smile upon seeing her. "Kaitlyn, I was surprised when you were not here. I was worried something happened. "

'You do not know the half of it…' Kaitlyn thought to herself.

"I went to the stables with Lady Eowyn."

Aragorn frowned. "Did you ride?"

Kaitlyn immediately shook her head. "No, I brushed Hasufel. I think he believed we all abandoned him. He had not eaten for days, but he ate when I was there today."

Aragorn smiled. "This is good news. He is a noble horse."

Kaitlyn nodded and removed her Lorien cloak due to the spring warmth that had been carried in by the wind just after noontime. She tossed the garment onto the chair beside her bed and felt her heartbeat quicken. Legolas had sat in that chair waiting for her to awaken.

She tore her eyes away and focused on the future King of Gondor. He seemed preoccupied with gazing at the shadows on the floor created by the sun shining through the window. After a few moments he looked up into Kaitlyn's eyes.

"You look well."

"My injury is better thanks to you," she told him. 'And my heart is ripping in so many different directions because of Legolas.'

"I wished to thank you for what you did at Helm's Deep. You may very well have saved my life," Aragorn said quietly.

Kaitlyn nodded and softly replied, "You're welcome."

"And while I am thankful for what you did, I also must tell you how extremely foolish your actions were. You could have been killed and I would never have forgiven myself."

"I made the choice, not you," she shrugged.

"But you are under our protection."

Kaitlyn silently thanked him for not mentioning Legolas' name. "You can't protect everyone all the time."

Aragorn lowered his head and then raised it several moments later. "I know this, but I still try."

"I'm glad I made the decision to go fight, even though I was scared. I might not have been able to live with myself if I hadn't warned you," she admitted openly.

"However did you know? And how did you escape the caves?" Aragorn asked, his eyes full of questions.

"A fallen Elf told me."

Aragorn's dark brows lowered over his pale eyes. "Whom?"

"Thunin of Lorien."

Aragorn's brows drew together. "Thunin was at Helm's Deep? He fell?" The Ranger's voice took on a sad tone.

Kaitlyn tilted her head and regarded the Ranger thoughtfully. "You knew of him?"

"Aye. I met him long ago when I was in Lothlorien with Arwen. Thunin had just lost his wife. She had been killed by an orc attack. He was stricken with grief."

"I did not realize his wife had died. I only knew him a few minutes and then…" Kaitlyn exhaled deeply. "Then he was gone."

Aragorn closed his eyes, and spoke a silent prayer. "He is with his wife now."

Kaitlyn nodded and she and Aragorn remained in silence for a few moments in memory of the courageous Elf.

"He's the one that told me. I think he was surprised that I could speak Sindarin. I told him I was friends with you. He told me you were in danger. After he passed I hid away from everyone and…cried. I felt such…loss even though I did not know him." Kaitlyn sat on the edge of the bed as the memory filled her. The way the warmth of his body had fled him along with his life would remain with her forever

"Then I became angry with myself for wallowing in pity when people were dying outside," Kaitlyn continued. " I realized if I didn't tell you I might never see you again," she said looking directly at the man before her. "And that wasn't an option for me."

"I started collecting pieces of armor from injured men and boys who were brought to the caves. Once I was dressed in everything I found, I slipped easily out the door. The guard must have thought I was an injured soldier who had recovered enough to return to battle. And the rest you know." She pursed her lips and shrugged.

"You were incredibly foolish to do that. Disobeying the orders of the king and those of your protectors. You put yourself in grave danger to save my life. But I am forever grateful." The Ranger sounded proud and he was. Though Kaitlyn was no seasoned warrior, she had proven herself a brave woman.

Kaitlyn smiled, but the smile faded quickly as her thoughts turned to Legolas. The entire room continued to remind her of him. She wondered what he was doing right at this moment. Did he miss her as much as she was beginning to miss him? Other than at Helm's Deep, this was the longest she had been away from him. The fear at Helm's Deep was not present this time, but the anxiety of when she would see him again was.

"He told you."

Kaitlyn blinked and jumped slightly. Aragorn's voice reminded her of a gunshot on a still morning. It tore though the quiet air and echoed on the wind. There was no one else he could be speaking of. She gazed at the Ranger with mock ignorance. "Hmm?" she questioned.

"I can see the fear and confusion all over your face. Legolas told you of his feelings."

Kaitlyn's jaw lowered in disbelief. "How did you…?"

"Legolas came back alone very early this morning. Something would have happened for him to leave your side," Aragorn noted. " Normally, he talks of nothing but you and this morning he was silent, more interested in cracks on the floor or splinters in the wall. He said not a word when we met with Gandalf before breakfast and he has not uttered a sound all day." Aragorn stepped closer. "Elves are not silent for nothing."

Kaitlyn cast her eyes to the floor. "You…you're aware of how he feels about me?" she asked softly.

"Aye. Istan ned în meleth an le." ( I know of his love for you. )

Kaitlyn took a deep shuddering breath and released it. She drew her arms around herself and chanced a look at the Ranger. "I'm afraid, Aragorn," she admitted, surprised at her honesty. " I never expected this to happen. He told me he had never loved and suddenly he told me that he's in love with me, that I have his heart."

"You were blind to it as well," Aragorn said aloud, more to himself.

Kaitlyn blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Legolas had no idea he loved you until you were injured. He knew of his love for you as a friend, but only when you were wounded did everything fall into place for him. Certainly you noticed how his eyes were always upon you? How protective he grew as time passed, especially in the presence of mortal men. Was there never any tension between you? Awkward moments to alert you of his feelings?"

Kaitlyn nodded. "Yes, there were awkward moments, but I thought I was seeing things. As much as I wanted it, I never thought he would love me."

Aragorn's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You wanted him to love you?"

Kaitlyn closed her eyes and inhaled and exhaled loudly several times. "I thought about it every now and then when I would be safe in his arms. How wonderful it would be to be loved by someone like him. I even was naïve enough to think he was in love with me after his actions at Edoras upon our arrival." She laughed softly but there was no humor in it. " I had convinced myself he was jealous of Anargthed. But then Legolas told me he had never loved a woman and I felt I was being silly. I began to believe anything other than friendship would be impossible for he and I."

"Yet he fell in love with you."

Kaitlyn sank onto the edge of the bed and lowered her face into her hands. "Aragorn, he can't love me." She looked up with tear filled eyes. " I'm not an Elf. I'm not immortal. I'm going to die." Kaitlyn jumped to her feet only moments after sitting and began to pace the room. "I mean what would happen to him if we…if we allowed a relationship to happen and then I died? What would that be like for him?"

Aragorn sighed. "I know not."

"What normally happens to Elves who fall in love with mortals and then lose them?"

Aragorn paused. What was common knowledge to many in Middle Earth was not such to her. "Elves very rarely fall in love with mortals, Kaitlyn."

Kaitlyn's eyebrows rose. "They do?"

"Aye."

"What's happened to the Elves that fell in love with mortals?"

Aragorn swallowed and shifted his weight. Suddenly, he appeared uncomfortable, as if the room was shrinking in on him. "Kaitlyn, it would be best if you spoke to Legolas about this."

"No," she told the Ranger firmly. " I want to hear it from you. You're mortal and an Elf loves you."

Aragorn shifted his weight again and looked away before setting his eyes upon Kaitlyn. "Arwen is different than Legolas," he whispered, speaking his beloved's name aloud for the first time since he had left her side.

Kaitlyn frowned, her brows drawing low over her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Arwen's father is Half Elven. She has the ability to choose to remain an Elf or become mortal and die."

"Legolas doesn't have that choice?"

Aragorn shook his head. "He is a full blooded Elf of Silvan and Sindarin heritage. His can only die of a serious injury or a broken heart and even then he does not truly die. He would enter the Halls of Mandos and be given a choice to be reborn in Valinor."

Only one part of Aragorn's words mattered to Kaitlyn. "Elves can die of a broken heart?"

Aragorn sighed and silently cursed himself for saying too much. He had come here to comfort her, not distress her. "Kaitlyn, this is something you should-"

"-If I died and Legolas loved me he could die of a broken heart?" she interrupted.

"Kaitlyn…"

"Tell me, could he?" Kaitlyn demanded, her voice loud.

Aragorn glanced away. "It is a possibility."

Kaitlyn's eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand.

Aragorn watched the bewildered woman. Some part of him regretted ever mentioning Legolas. He had come here with the purpose to thank the woman and while she was distressed; she needed to know what she was getting involved in.

"Kaitlyn to be mortal and loved by an Elf is an incredible gift. Eru does not grant it to many mortals. Do not use the knowledge that Legolas could perish as the basis for your decision of your feelings for him."

"How can I not?" she spat venomously. "If I allow him to love me, he could die!" Her green eyes flashed with pain at such knowledge and her heart constricted within her chest.

Aragorn gripped her shoulders gently and gazed into her eyes. "It is beyond allowing him to love you, he already loves you. That cannot be changed."

"People can fall out of love," Kaitlyn told the Ranger stubbornly.

"Aye, mortals can. Elves cannot."

Her brows drew over her eyes again. "What are you saying?"

Aragorn bored his eyes into hers. "Regardless of the path you choose, Legolas will love you. You are the first woman he has felt this strongly for and judging by the way he looks at you and acts around you, you will be the only woman he ever loves."

"But-"

"-Even if you decide that being with him is not what you want and you marry a mortal man, Legolas will continue to love you. He will love you until the end of time. Such is the power and curse of Elven emotions."

Kaitlyn sank onto the bed and covered her mouth with her hand to choke back the sob that rose within her throat. How could something so wonderful as being loved seem to bring such an ill fated end?

Aragorn lightly squeezed her left shoulder. "Listen to your heart and let it guide you. If you love him you must tell him, but if you find you do not love him, it must be known to him. He deserves honesty, even if it hurts him."

Kaitlyn remained silent for a moment, digesting all she had been told. Then she gazed up at Aragorn as a feeling of déjà vu descended over her. "Gandalf told me I had decisions to make and that I should listen to my heart. He knew didn't he?"

"Aye."

Kaitlyn swallowed. "And he's gone?"

Aragorn's brows drew over his blue eyes. "He left this morning. How did you know?"

"I had a strange feeling with how what he said to me. Where did he go?"

"He took Pippin to Minas Tirith in Gondor."

Kaitlyn's eyes widened. "He took Pippin and Merry?"

Aragorn shook his head, his damp dark hair moving about his face and neck. "Nay, he only brought Pippin."

"Because he looked into the seeing stone?"

"Aye. How did you know he looked into the Palantir?" It was Aragorn's turn to be surprised.

"Le- Legolas told me."

Aragorn frowned at the way her voice quivered as she spoke the Elf's name. "I fear I have said too much."

Kaitlyn shook her head. "No, I'm glad we had the chance to talk. I know next to nothing about Elves, and while this information is difficult to swallow, I am glad to no longer be in the dark." She laughed though without humor. "Is there anything else I should know about Elves?"

"Only that I know Legolas well. Whether you love him in return or not, he will remain a steady protector throughout your life. He will be satisfied with friendship if that makes you happy. He is loyal and devoted and to receive his love is one of the greatest gifts you could receive from him."

Kaitlyn lowered her head and watched her fingers toy with a loose thread from her tunic. She slowly glanced up at Aragorn.

"It appears I have a great deal of thinking to do."

Aragorn nodded and leaned forward to place a gentle kiss upon Kaitlyn's brow. Seconds later Kaitlyn's stomach grumbled. They both laughed softly. "You must be hungry. Come, let us eat some food and then I will leave you to your thoughts."

Kaitlyn smiled in appreciation and nodded.

Aragorn stood, walked to the doorway and lifted back the curtain. He motioned for Kaitlyn to proceed first. She rose from the bed and exited the room with Aragorn directly behind her. Together they disappeared into the kitchen with heavy hearts for quiet a meal prepared by a future King.

To be continued…

Wow, thank you everyone for the very kind words and the aggravated ones too! lol I know it is difficult to wait a month (or more) for each chapter and I appreciate you waiting. Thank you as always to everyone for taking the time to review or e-mail me. Your words mean a lot to me.