Readers, can you hardly believe it? After 20 years this story is being worked on again. I've lost most of my hand written notes, and my notebook with all of my Sindarin Elvish phrases and words. However, I still have files on DVDs from the mid-2000s with notes and scenes. So much has changed in my life. Yet here I am, working to finish this story.

I do not have a beta reader, so please excuse any errors or typos.

To those of you who have continued to write reviews, I thank you. I still come back and read them.

For those who don't like this story, I have no problem with that. It's not everyone's cup of tea. It's certainly not canon, and I don't know everything about Tolkien's world, though I'm back studying it for future chapters.

I hope you will enjoy this next chapter. I'm already working on the next…

Chapter 38: Reality

Aragorn watched the elf warrior and mortal woman embrace in the darkness. They were oblivious to all around them. Witnessing the private moment between them, caused him to long for Arwen like never before. Had she already journeyed to the west as her father had wanted? He also had tried to persuade her to go. The pain hit him like a thousand arrows to the heart. He had tried to push her from his mind and had succeeded until now.

Sauron's war had stolen away much from many. Lives and homes. Love. Families were broken by death and treachery and deceit. He feared for the pair that he watched for only a moment. He turned his eyes away to the distance to give them the privacy they deserved. Their love was new and fragile, like a baby bird just emerged from its shell. What chance did it have to survive?

Legolas slanted his mouth against hers over and over. Kaitlyn clung to him and the soft noises that escaped her were nearly his undoing. Heat much hotter than the sun spread through him.

Eru had finally blessed him with the gift of love for a woman and with the knowledge that love was returned. Eru also cursed him with terrible timing. He tried to concentrate on the feel of Kaitlyn's warm body against his and the delightful taste of her mouth. He was stunned to realize that he was frightened. It was a strange feeling for a warrior elf. How would he ever be able to be parted from her in just a few days' time? How could he concentrate on what was expected of him, when his mind and heart were filled to brimming with thoughts of this woman?

Suddenly he felt it. The presence of someone nearby that might be watching them. As if coming out of a thick fog, awareness overtook him. They were on the steps to the Great Hall at Edoras.

As if sensing something was wrong, Kaitlyn pulled back and looked up into his eyes. Her lips were full and wet from their kissing. Her eye brow furrowed over her green eyes.

"What is it?" She asked softly. She ran the back of her fingers along his cheek. She studied him; wanting to know what could have broken his concentration from their kiss; from what felt like a perfect moment. She heard voices and laughter around them as people finished their dinner in the great hall and beyond; the sound of the wind, and horses in the distant barns.

His fingers found her dark hair, as they always seemed to and he rubbed the dark strands.

"I wonder how the world can be so cruel. To be brought together in love, during a time of terrible war." He looked deep into her beautiful green eyes, and burned them into his very soul, so that whatever happened, he would never forget them.

"I'm afraid, Legolas. More afraid than I was when Derrick attacked me or when I ended up in Moria. I have been so caught up in what I've been feeling and wondering what you might be feeling, that I have not thought about the war. I have gotten comfortable here. I think I've been trying to push it away; as if it's not happening." The magic of their admittance of love seemed lost in the realization of what was coming and what he'd told her just moments before their embrace.

"What did you mean when you said that you were leaving? You know that I'm going with you". Her hand gripped his arm and felt his muscles beneath the soft fabric of his tunic.

"For a short part of the journey, melethril and then I fear we must part ways." (beloved)

She shook her head. "Where ever you go, I will go with you!" It sounded cheesy to her ears, but she realized she meant it with every fiber of her being.

He glanced around and he remembered that they were not in a private place. The pennants with horses adorning them, whipped in the wind around them. Voices and laughter could be heard as men drank and feasted. What a sight they must have made for anyone approaching the door!

He took her hand within his.

"Tolo." (Come) "Let us talk in private without any prying ears or eyes."

Legolas could sense a presence again. He was failing with his skills. He was so entwined physically and mentally with the woman before him, that he had not heard Aragorn nearby. Whom else had he not realized could be eavesdropping or watching? He glanced at the Ranger who stood a mere 20 feet away as he looked out to the mountains. Legolas was certain he'd seen them. He was grateful that the future King was trying to give them some privacy.

Kaitlyn followed without a word, but they held hands tightly as they walked, not wanting to lose contact with one another. They went down the stairs and through the village. Most people were inside their homes as night was falling. There were not many places they could go, but Legolas took them to the tombs of the dead kings of Rohan, beyond the city walls. The dead were the only ones who could keep secrets.

Once he was certain he could sense no one, he turned so that they were facing each other. He reached for her other hand and drew her close to him. He closed his eyes for only a moment to memorize what it felt like to hold her.

He pulled back so he could see her face as he spoke. "Gandalf told Aragorn, that we will be needed. We will travel to Minas Tirith to help Gondor. King Theoden will not send men, but if the beacons are lit calling for aid, he will. Gandalf is certain they will be lit. We will travel with King Theoden and his men."

"I'll pack what little I have at Ammora's home so that I'm ready to go when the beacons are lit."

He ran his hands up and down her arms, as if helping her ward off a chill. "Not this time, melethril, though this is not by my choice."

She jerked back as if he had physically slapped her. "What do you mean, not this time? I always travel with you, Aragorn and Gimli."

"Have you forgotten that you are still healing from what happened at Helm's Deep? Gandalf said you may ride with Lady Eowyn and a small group of women who will help set up camp in the shadow of the mountains. Then you will ride back with them, here to Edoras. There is not as much danger here, now that Saurman is dead. The armies of the enemy will concentrate on Gondor."

"No!" She nearly stomped her feet, she was so angry. Then she closed her eyes and tears streamed down her cheeks. Deep down inside she realized that he was right. She was barely well enough to ride, yet alone fight. Her skills in battle were terrible. She was liable to get one of them killed, if not herself.

"Aye, mellon nin." (my love) He gently pulled her back to him, and the only reason she did not pull away, was the look of complete anguish in his blue eyes.

"Do you think I could live with myself if you fell?" He cupped her face and rubbed his thumb over the soft smooth skin, and wiped the tears away. Her eyes shuttered closed and her earlier conversation with Aragorn filled her mind. Would he anguish and fade away if she were gone?

"I took an oath just after Boromir fell that I would protect you."

Her eyes opened at his admittance. "Why did you do that? I wouldn't even speak with back in that time."

"I think even then, I felt a connection to you. I knew not how deep that connection would become."

"How long am I to wait here,… alone?" Her voice broke. She did not want to think about if he did not come back.

The sound of her voice, so small and lost made his breath catch in his throat.

"I know not. None know how this war will wage. It could be weeks, months or even years. "

He expected her to rail at him, but when she spoke, her voice was soft and frail. The sound of it nearly sent him to his knees. "Years…" She all but whispered and her voice cracked as she spoke the word."

He felt as if a Balrog was gripping his heart, squeezing it so tightly, it would burst. The pain was immense.

"I have never been without you for more than a few days," she continued, her voice full of agony. "How am I supposed to live without you for years?"

He exhaled loudly. The sound of his own breath was deafening.

"U-istan. I know not how I will live without you. I only know that I must go and fight this war if we and Middle Earth have any chance for a future." (I know not) His hand and fingers found her hair and they stroked the fine tendrils to give him comfort.

"Aragorn, has survived all these long months without the Evenstar. He misses her and yet he does his duty. He knows that he must fight and lead to help save Middle Earth. Now, I understand how he feels. I have a sworn duty to help him. To fulfill that duty I must be parted from the one my heart has chosen to love for all time. It is unimaginable and yet I must protect you as well. It is why you must return here."

His blue eyes were filled with anguish. How could he have known that the great joy that filled him when she told him that she loved him would be so short lived?

She bit her lip to hold back the tears that wanted to fall and pressed her cheek against his tunic. She wrapped her arms around him, and he embraced her.

It was silent around them, except for the wind rushing through the tall grass between the graves of the dead. It was growing very dark as night approached. Angry lightning streaked across the sky near the mountains and the crash of thunder filled their ears. A sheet of rain could be seen coming from the clouds as a storm approached. They needed to find shelter.

"Tolo a nin" (Come with me). He took her hand and pulled her after him.

To be continued…