A Half Elf's Love

Three Hearts, Two Elves, One Love

I sat by the fire, keeping Delia in my arms. We had spared any extra blankets for her and the hobbits. I kept wiping ice from her face and pulling it out of her hair. Her breathing had improved, but she had lost consciousness as we journeyed down the mountain. I had taken a piece of cloth, soaking it in warm water and placed it on her neck. She looked so incredibly small and it made my heart ache. Gandalf was watching over Frodo, Gimli was sleeping, Aragorn was watching over Sam, Boromir was switching between Merry and Pippin, and Legolas was watching all of us. After an hour, Deliadis opened her eye slowly, blinking. She did not say a word, but she maintained eye contact with me before closing her eyes again. She was sleeping peacefully in my arms, and starting to not feel like a block of ice. As the hours passed I grew bored and hummed softly. Everyone was asleep now except for Legolas I hummed the song I had taught Delia. I heard Legolas sit beside me, listening to the melody. He spoke softly in Sindarin, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

"I know that song. I heard it in my father's dungeons. It was some sixty of seventy years ago. I was not supposed to be in that dungeon, but I was." He had a sad smile on his face.

"Is Thranduil fairing well these days?" That sad smile remained plastered on his face.

"My father is fine. Just stressed is all. We had been...I am overstepping. My apologies." I looked at the elf. I knew he was a few years older than me, but he seemed small in that moment. Like a child, shoved to the side. I remembered the rumors floating around from when I was a mere elfling.

"Your mother died when you were young correct?" Legolas nodded, that sad smile finally leaving his face. "You were shoved aside in your father's grief."

"He had his reasons. He loved her." I could see the tears welling in his eyes. He silently cried. "He is the only person I have ever known. It is why I come off arrogant and rude sometimes. It is why I make assumptions about people based off what I see, because that is what I have had to do my whole life. I apologize Elladan, if I have ever hurt you." I wanted to hug him, but I had Delia in my arms and she took the more important role. "Please tell Deliadis I apologize for thinking that you and her were a couple." I nearly choked. Legolas stopped crying almost instantly and looked at me while wiping the tears from his face. I watched as a smile spread across his face.

"Do not look at me like that. We are not a couple. I..." His smile quickly dropped into something unreadable. The longer I stared the more it felt like pity.

"But you love her." I looked at the flames of the fire that were beginning to die out. I gave a small nod, staring at Delia as she slept in my arms. "Then I am almost sure she returns your affection." I stared at the flames in some sort of surprise. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "Oh...did she...did she eh...is she mortal now?" I looked at Legolas in some sort of horror, rapidly shaking my head.

"She would have told me." Legolas looked at the ground, biting his lip for a moment before speaking again.

"If she does choose that path, what do you think will happen?" I gazed at Deliadis, my grip tightening a little.

"Then I will greet the death of a broken heart gladly." Legolas cast his eyes towards me, pity mingling with a sorrow. "Do not look so sad. It is my choice." There was a brief moment of silence. "How do you know she returns my affections?" A smile spread along Legolas' face.

"When I asked her who was holding her back from making the choice of man, she choked. When you were stabbed, I noticed her eyes as she watched you hug your siblings. There was a longing. She also threatened to fire an arrow into my skull if I insinuated any longer that she harbored any affection for you."

"You are surprisingly good at reading people." He laughed, a genuine smile on his face.

"Maybe I provide something for this world after all. Goodnight Elladan. I will handle the rest of the watch tonight."