Legolas

Every breath hurt, and I wished I would just go unconscious. But with Adar's energy running through my veins, busily healing my side, I could scarcely close my eyes without bouncing off the table and running out to Aragorn.

"Legolas." Adar sat in the Steward's chair beside my table. "Why did you throw yourself between me and that blade?"

I dislike uncomfortable conversations, and his opening sentence already has me itching to hide. "Dead dignitaries are incredibly bad for alliance discussions, as well as morale."

"Indeed." He crossed his arms. "There's a body out there beside the White Tree, it's just not mine. I want to know why."

"Maybe I don't want to be King again," I hissed. "Maybe the first time was bad enough, and I've learned that even with all your problems, you're still the better ruler. I'm happier not having to deal with a kingdom."

Adar stared at me for a long moment, rubbing his chin with his thumb and forefinger. Then he shook his head. "Lachiel would happily take the throne if you let her. Eda would keep you sane through what politics you'd absolutely have to face. No...if you were being selfish, I'd be dead. I know how you despise me at times."

I hate it when he gets perceptive. "I don't know why I did it. It doesn't even matter."

He scoffed. "Yes it does, and yes you do. Tell me, Legolas. At least admit it once."

Swallowing hard, I stared at the ceiling. He won't let go until I gave him what he wanted. "I saved you because I didn't want you to die."

A pause. "Why?"

I cringed and rubbed my eyes. "Because...Eru, do I have to say it?"

"Unless you know another means for me to hear it from your lips, yes."

Sighing heavily, I let my arm drop to the table beside me. "I did it because I love you." My words hung between us, quiet, but earthshattering.

Then, "You do?" The honest doubt in his tone crushed something within me—had our relationship truly gone that cold?

"Yes." I swallowed hard and met his gaze.

Adar blinked a couple of times and looked away. "I thought you would never forgive me."

"I haven't." The words jumped out before I could think about them. Feeling guilty, I added, "At least...not yet."

He rubbed his forehead, still trying to blink away the telltale shine in his eyes. "I know I hurt you when I left. It was remarkably immature of me Legolas, and I am sorry."

I shook my head, frowning. "No, Ada, it wasn't just that. All the way back when Naneth died. I was so afraid...I barely knew you, I barely knew anyone other than her. At first I thought you'd take care of me, but whenever I saw you...you were just crying. Or you were too busy to comfort me." These memories, though old, started bringing fresh tears to my own eyes.

Adar sniffed as a tear slipped out. He brushed it onto a knuckle and cleared his throat. "I thought you were too young to remember that."

I rubbed my eyes with my knuckles. "No. I remember it quite vividly."

He met my gaze. "Losing your naneth is the hardest thing I've ever endured. I should've sailed west then...I would have, except you were too young to rule, and to give the throne to someone else would be to throw away my adar's life work."

"Surely losing Lachiel's naneth was harder?" Watching him fall apart and attempting to piece him back together was one of the hardest things I've ever endured.

Adar shook his head. "I spent centuries with your naneth. Think about it Legolas...a year of turmoil to memorize your mate, or hundreds of years during peacetime?"

My stomach twisted with a bit more understanding.

A moment of silence passed, then he added, "You are so like her, you know. Quiet. Passionate. Wise beyond your years." He studied me with an affection I found foreign. "Even the way you look at me when you think I'm lying. Trying to discern my truthfulness. Sometimes Legolas, when you remind me so much of her, it physically hurts to look at you."

"What of Lachiel's naneth?" I questioned. His failures, though disappointing, weren't so grievous until he disappeared.

Adar pursed his lips, then shook his head.

I scowled. "Talk to me, Adar. Keeping all these secrets does nothing for our relationship, as time has well proven."

He sighed heavily. "Lachiel's naneth was a dangerous distraction. That is all I am willing to disclose on the matter." Meeting my gaze, he added, "I've learned my lesson, though."

"What lesson is that?"

Adar folded his hands. "I can't escape my title. Trying to escape only hurt the people I care about, and embarrassed me."

I nodded. I felt something new for Adar—compassion. He didn't have all the answers. He didn't know everything, and most of what he did know, he learned the hard way. Underneath the cold exterior, the witty remarks, and political prowess, Adar was just a person that learned to swim when the world expected him to sink.

"I forgive you," I blurted. But I meant it. "I forgive you for your absence after Naneth's death. For mishandling your grief. For running from your responsibilities in search of love. For returning and upending my life again. For loving my sister more openly than you loved me. For all the pain you've caused me over the years." I gritted my teeth and met his gaze. "I consider the slate clean. And I ask that you would forgive me for holding a grudge for so long."

Adar stared at me, tears brimming in his eyes. One overflowed, then the other. He did nothing to stop it. "Of course I forgive you, Legolas...Valar above, I've begged Eru for this for so long." He swiped his tears away, then clasped my hand in both of his.

Unused to this kind of emotion from him, I squeezed his hand and withdrew. "Rest, Adar...I think you gave up too much energy healing me."

He nodded and gave me a tight smile. "Thank you, ion nin." Sitting back in his seat, he closed his eyes and pretended to rest. But the tears kept slipping between his eyelashes.

* * *

Eda

Worry gnawed at my stomach. It took everything within me to keep from dashing back to my husband and begging him to be okay. Staying focused on the immediate problem was harder still.

Long minutes passed before Gondor's ambassador, whom Gandalf informed us was named Imrahil, stepped forward, ready to speak again. Aragorn took a few steps toward him, hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "What conclusion have you reached?" he called.

"If Aragorn the heir of Isildur has returned to us, we will crown him King of Gondor and fight his wars."

The rascals began to clap and cheer. Gimli chuckled, and we all exchanged smiles of relief. Aragorn bowed his head, as though already the weight of Gondor had settled onto his shoulders.

Gandalf cleared his throat. "You may be hoping for a ceremony, but don't have a moment to spare before Mordor attacks us again. Any ceremony should wait until after the war."

Uneasy glances went around the group of Gondorians.

Aragorn flashed Gandalf a grateful glance. "He's right. We have a plan to make a preemptive attack on Mordor and cripple Sauron—if not immediately overcome them."

Ambassador Imrahil nodded. "You shared this with Lord Denethor." He paused, started to say something, then stopped and shook his head. "Do we truly have the numbers for such an attack to be productive? Losses will be heavy."

Aragorn nodded slowly and met the man's gaze. "I rely on the bravery and strength of our armies to compensate for the difference in numbers." He paused. "Though I am reluctant to march on Mordor without Prince Legolas by my side."

Imrahil dipped his head. "Allow me to apologize for Lord Denethor's behavior. It was unbefitting of a Gondorian, and I assure you, an inaccurate representation of the rest of us. Any such behavior under my command will be swiftly dealt with."

"Good," Èomer retorted. "When my allies get stabbed, the Rohirrim are stirred to action."

Èowyn elbowed him in the ribs—hard.

Smiling, Imrahil said, "It is very good to be allied with the Rohirrim, for you are both honorable and quick to end a battle."

Èomer gave a proud nod, but he couldn't hide his chest puffing with pride.

Aragorn clapped him on the shoulder and said to Imrahil, "Gather your captains, we will meet in the throne room to discuss the attack. While we strategize, send out heralds to announce the change of leadership."

Imrahil nodded and began giving orders to the Gondorians.

Aragorn looked to me. "Eda, would you check on Legolas and King Thranduil?"

I all but flew back into the throne room. Seeing that Thranduil's eyes were closed and his head bowed, I slowed to quiet my footsteps.

Legolas's head turned as I approached, and a weary smile lifted his mouth. Raising an eyebrow toward Thranduil, he slowly pressed a finger to his lips.

I nodded and placed a hand on his cheek. Warm and smooth, his pulse thrummed under my fingers, and gratefulness—that he was still alive, that he was mending, that I could still talk to him.

Leaning close, I whispered something he knew, but that I couldn't say enough to show him how true it was. "I love you."

His smile widened, and he kissed my jaw. "I know you do. And I love you just as much."

Thranduil grunted and opened his eyes, shooting us a frown. "I have children, and I'm getting uncomfortable."

One of Legolas's eyebrows went up. "Is that a fact, Adar? Watch this." He kissed a line down my throat, then nipped at the skin just above my neckline.

A blush stained Thranduil's face, and he stood. "Playing on my sensitivity...shame on you Legolas."

I flushed also. "All right, you two. Aragorn is bringing the men of Gondor in for a meeting—they agreed to swear fealty."

Thranduil stood and pushed his fingers through his hair. "Thank Eru—maybe my son will behave himself."

Giggling, I rubbed noses with my husband. "Don't count on it, Adar-in-law."

Legolas smirked and kissed me. "Help me up, melleth?" He took my hands, and I gently pulled him into a sitting position. He touched the thick bandage around his middle and winced. "Could you find me a shirt?"

I glanced around, but it wasn't as though a stack of neatly-folded shirts would be awaiting my gaze to fall upon them.

Footsteps entered the room—Aragorn leading many men in for a discussion. Our own party members filed in also.

Sighing, Legolas carefully slid off the table, wincing as he found his feet. He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin, not a trace of pain showing on his face.

My gut twinged with worry.

Aragorn smiled and came over to us, clasping Legolas's shoulder. "Good to see you up."

The spine-prickling ring of a sword being drawn made half the room flinch. Thranduil casually examined his blade. "Before all else, I think every captain of Gondor should swear his fealty to King Aragorn. It would, after all, be a shame if there were a miscommunication regarding motives or allegiances. Accidents do happen, occasionally." He gave a feral swoop of his sword, slicing the air before him.

Aragorn smirked ever so slightly. "I concur."

An uncomfortable silence ensued, and the men of Gondor glanced around. At the front of the group, Imrahil cleared his throat. "I would prefer waiting until the coronation—"

Thranduil raised his sword, pointing it at the leader. "I said, kneel!"

Imrahil tensed, but reluctantly strode over to Aragorn and knelt. As he swore fealty, the other captains shuffled into a line. One by one, they swore their allegiance to the King.

Smiling, I looped my arm in Legolas's. But he pulled his arm free and wound it around my waist, pulling me close to his chest. He kissed the top of my head, then slid his lips down to my ear. "I love you," he whispered, and kissed my tiny eartip.

I bit my lip and struggled not to blush. "I love you more," I whispered back.

He grinned wide enough for me to feel it against the side of my head. "Absolutely impossible," he breathed.

I laid my hand over his, desperately trying to memorize every detail of this stolen moment. Perhaps it was only fear—but something told me these priceless moments were drawing rapidly to an end.

***Author's Note***

Eeep...we're getting so close!!!

How are you guys? I know for me, personally, I'm glad to be starting a new week. I hope that's the case for y'all as well. And hopefully this chapter brightened your Monday a little, also. :)

As always, I'm planning on updating again next Monday, so stay tuned!