*Thranduil's POV*

When I receive the next letter, I only have to read the first line before I'm out the door and on my horse with a few guards around me. It's a hard journey to Rivendell, and far, but I cannot slow. That letter burns in my pocket along with the drawing and my son's words are on repeat in my mind.

She's dying. She tries to conceal it in front of those she loves, but all of us are aware and worried. What we weren't aware of is how bad she was. This past evening she was found asleep in one of her favorite places overlooking the valley, weak with skin cold as ice. Elrond carried her to her rooms and she barely ventures out. Only to see Taryn or sit on her step outside.

Adar, if you care for me at all you will not allow someone I love to die. And if, despite yourself, you can admit that you care for her then do not let her go. Perhaps there is still hope left. -Your son

Then there is the simple sketch of myself alongside Aeolin, smiling as perhaps she'd always longed to see me smile, with a little girl swinging between us and Legolas trailing behind.

*Aeolin's POV*

"No, leave the windows open please." I plead with Arwen and she nods, letting go of the windows that she was about to close. I reach out to her with my free hand as she settles onto the bed next to me. Legolas sits to my right, already holding that hand in both of his.

"But you're so cold." Arwen protests and I smile.

"The cold comes from me, sweet elleth, but the breeze from outside provides comfort for me. As do both of you." I look at both my friends who have become more like children to me. We'd filled in the holes in each other's hearts and while I fight, I'm afraid I might leave them another. "Listen to me closely. Both of you." I squeeze their hands and look between their soft eyes. "I love you both as my own children. This...this is not because of you nor could you have done anything to prevent it. Sometimes it is just the way of the world." Both are still so young, but they're also strong. They'll both weather this.

"Lin, I sent for my father," Legolas reveals and my eyes widen as his hands squeeze mine. "Hold on a while longer."

"My little sapling." I praise and sit up in the bed just a bit further for their benefit. "I have a while yet to go, but your father is not coming." Despite my words, the steel in his blue eyes does not soften.

"He may, Aeolin. He may." I'm not sure who he is trying to convince, himself or me, but either way, I nod and smile.

"Perhaps." I allow before squeezing his and Arwen's hands. "Now both of you go to your own rooms and rest." Neither move and I sigh.

"I won't be leaving your side." Legolas states stubbornly and Arwen smiles softly.

"Neither will I, Aeolin."

"You both speak as children." I chide with a soft smile and amusement in my voice. Legolas pouts.

"So be it. If acting as a child keeps you here, then I will do so gladly." A laugh slips from my lips, weakly, but audibly all the same. I reach up and skim Legolas' cheek with my hand.

"Even those as dear to me as you both could not convince my heart to stay. It must want to stay for itself and I'm afraid it's too injured." I tell them before relinquishing my hand once again. My chin gestures to the door. "Go now. I must sleep too." Reluctantly, both stand and move slowly to the door as if snowflakes fluttering down on a windless day.

"Go on then, the both of you." A voice hurries them and my head shakes slightly as he enters and takes Legolas' seat next to me. My eyes meet the soft grey of my friends.

"Must I tell you to scurry off as well, old friend?" I tease and I'm glad of the smile on his face.

"I am much harder to move than the younger sort and too wise to be frightened away by idle threats. What other strategies have you up your sleeve?" He teases right back and my heart is lifted with him near.

"Only acceptance," I reply and relish his chuckle as he takes my frail hand in both of his, thumb smoothing over it as if that movement alone will keep me. "I'm ever so sorry for bringing such sorrow to your house again, Elrond. It was never my intention." He nods slowly, firelight catching in his dark hair from the candles throughout the room.

"It is not a burden to be with you through your joys and sorrows for your love has helped me through many of my own. You have a home here, as always, Aeolin. It is a privilege to have you here no matter what your state." He assures me and I find immense comfort in his words. "Besides, you will not fade this night." He says it as if he can will the fact into existence and if anyone could it would be him.

"Then may I ask you another favor, my friend?" I ask and he leans forward instantly. "Do not send for my mother. Let her think I am frolicking in the great fields east of here or dancing on the waves of the sea." His brows furrow as he looks at me and a few moments pass before he nods.

"I will do as you ask, but you underestimate the Lady Galadriel if you think she does not know her daughter." He warns, but I sigh in relief all the same.

"Thank you, dear friend," I tell him as my eyes become harder to keep open. He smiles and leans over, gifting me a gentle kiss over my curls.

"Sleep now. You'll need strength for the morning." He bids and before I have the chance to ask what he means I've fallen asleep.

My stirring the next morning is slow. The morning sun crests over the far hills and warms my blankets, but I'm still ice cold. Carefully, I move to stretch and find a hand still holds mine. My eyes follow my arm to my hand, then to the rust orange sleeve that looks eerily familiar, then up the arm to thin, pink lips, and finally to cool blue eyes. I stare at him for a few moments, blinking as if he's only a trick of the light. My eyes go higher and find that final crown I made him sitting atop his head perfectly as if it were the only one he'd ever had.

"It seems strange to dream of you now." I murmur, my voice is soft and rough from sleep.

"Why should that be?" He asks at the same volume with his eyes trained on me.

"Is it not strange to dream of the one who broke your heart?" I ask and his fingers tighten on mine. "I could be wrong. After all, I've dreamt many times of my love's death. Perhaps it is simply the way of things to dream of the moments and people that made you feel the most, for better or for worse." He nods slowly and I note the way the sunrise makes his hair seem more gold than silver. Even after everything, he is beautiful.

"And which would I be?" I hum in amusement.

"Both, naturally. You never could limit yourself to one course, could you? Unless that course had to do with your heart." I release a deep breath as my eyes shut, but they open again when I hear him move the chair closer.

"What if I were truly here, Aeolin?" He questions and there's a strange look in his eyes, not desperation exactly, but more like a desperate hope. My eyes on his and hand caught between both of his, I think on it for a moment.

"I would tell him I understand." I postulate and tighten my grip on his hand a little. "I understand that his last words to me were from anger and that he was only trying to shield his heart. And I would apologize."

"Apologize?" He repeats, shocked. I nod.

"He was right. I goaded him at every opportunity, but not because I was trying to get a rise out of him or make him angry. Although at times that was a fun side effect." I smile lightly and his lips twitch as well. "I thought I could somehow encourage him to become a better ellon. For his son, for his kingdom, for himself. I'm not sure. But I know now that no one and nothing can convince the heart of one who is unwilling." I swallow the sad taste in my mouth before looking back at the cool eyes of the king with his brows furrowed over them.

"And what if I asked you to stay?" This question is said in a deeper tone and speaks to the deeper meaning just underneath. "What if I told you my days had been empty without you? Lacking light and flavor and life. What if I told you I sat under that accursed tree day in and day out thinking about how I held you so close while carrying you out of that forest? If I told you I wear this coat you left because it reminds me of you? Or if I said this crown never leaves my head because it was the last thing you gave me? What if I said this," He tosses a piece of paper onto my lap and I recognize it as one of mine. One of the king and what could have been our family. His eyes smolder as I look back at him. "is the future that haunts me every day. And what if I said that's what I want?" Thranduil finishes, his chest heaving with passion and his eyes blazing.

Gently, I reach out and lay my hand over the left side of his face. "You wouldn't." I whisper and run my thumb over his cheekbone. "because you would never come here."

"How can I prove it to you?" He asks and my head shakes because he can't. I follow his eyes to the door as he stands and takes the tray of food, then brings it over to me. "Fine. I will not leave your side." I sigh and my head shakes again, but this time I have a smile on my face.

"And if I wish you to?" I ask as he reclaims his spot next to me and sets the tray on my lap.

"Then you will have to regain enough strength to fight me off," Thranduil states severely and I nearly laugh. Suddenly, he sets the tray to the side and sheds his coat, then lays it over me. That same coat I'd left lying on my bed in the Greenwood. "Now that you will be warm, you will eat." I stare at him a few moments before he helps me to sit up properly. My confidence had wavered for a few moments for when he had laid the coat over me, I started to feel warm again.