[Author's Note: If you see this, it means I have put link to music that helps me into mood as I write this chapter. Feel free to listen to them as you read on. Let me know what you think! Happy Reading]

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I woke up sobbing for no reason in particular. My eyes were still closed when I did and I abruptly stopped sobbing as I felt a pair of hands on the sides of my face. I was met with Legolas' worried face as he spoke softly in comforting voice.

"Shhh... You are safe. You are safe. I am here for you, Leane."

Sleep was still clouding my mind, and I stared at him for a moment. I touched the hand he put on my face and I replied him in shame, suddenly feeling stupid and childish as he witnessed me crying in my sleep.

"I'm sorry. I think I had a nightmare or something, but I couldn't remember any of it," I said guiltily before I realized something and frowned, demandingly questioning him, "What are you doing in my room?"

Legolas' expression turned into pity.

"You didn't even remember how you got here," he said regretfully, "You're in the healing room in Edoras ever since you passed out two days ago."

Two days? My jaw dropped open in astonishment. I recalled what happened last. I was so happy seeing my friends again after a long walk, then Legolas was escorting me, gave me a drink... And then nothing. Legolas saw my confusion and explained.

"You fell unconscious when I was escorting you to your room. I should have seen that you weren't well," he said in remorse, "I am terribly sorry for my ignorance, I should have noticed."

"Hey, it's not your fault that I decided to take a nap in the middle of our walk out of exhaustion," I protested. "You shouldn't feel sorry. In fact I have to thank you for carrying me here. I must be heavy," I muttered. He smiled wistfully at me.

"Trust me, you weigh nothing to me. I could carry you all day," he said with a hint of mild playfulness. I laughed.

"Though, I didn't understand how I could sleep this long. I mean, two days?" I wondered, frowning at myself.

Legolas frowned even deeper at my question and stared at me disbelievingly. I blinked at his facial expression. 

"Don't you see what is happening to you?" Pain swam in his icy blue eyes before his face turned unreadable, "Why didn't you tell me that you were hurt so badly? You should never hide that kind of injuries!" he exclaimed in a low, stern voice, practically scolding me as he stood straight and looked down at me.

I swallowed, suddenly feeling nervous.

"Um, uh..." I stuttered, "I kinda d-didn't have the time to check on my injuries..." Legolas still regarding me with strong disapproval, and I cursed inwardly trying to justify my situation. "When I got the time to do just that, it was already so dark at night and I didn't want to open my clothes to check for injuries out in the cold in the middle of nowhere. Besides, I couldn't see anything since I couldn't really make a fire and alert everyone else of my presence and in the day time I had to keep walking in the crowd to blend in and everything," I ranted nervously, trying to get him to see my point of view, but his face was ever stoic and unreadable. 

"...l'm sorry," I added defeatedly with a whine.

Somehow I felt like I was back to the time when I was a teenager when I was being scolded by my mom for doing something wrong. It happened a lot back then since I was quite a rebel back in my teenage years.

Legolas looked surprised at my apology, but his jaw still clenched.

"How long had you been walking around in Edoras by yourself?"

I didn't see where he was going with this, but I answered anyway. I seriously didn't want to get on his bad side.

"Two. Almost three days, I think," I answered timidly.

"You walked around in this state of injuries for three days, without proper food and rest and without tending to your injuries?" he asked in a broken, unbelieving voice.

Pain and frustration flashed in a split second on his face before he closed his eyes for a moment. I could see Legolas clenched his fists, his whole stature tensed. Oh my. 

Behind all that facade. He wasn't mad at me– he was worried sick! I opened my mouth to answer but I was too stunned at his reaction. He sighed and took a step towards me and knelt beside my bed. I propped my head up, my eyes following his every move.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight ever again," he declared in the softest voice while brushing away a strand of my hair that stick to my damp forehead.

He placed both hands on my face and kissed my temple. A strong emotion that I couldn't put my fingers on mingled with fear and guilt, came hitting me at the contact of our skin. I thought he was going to pull away but he lingered there, I could feel his lips burning on my skin. I blushed madly at this intimate gesture. 

He pulled away after a moment too long then stared into my eyes, seemingly bore into my soul.

"I cannot afford to lose you again," he said as if in a trance as he brushed both my reddened cheeks with his thumb.

My heart soared and pounded in my chest at the words that came out of his lips and butterfly fluttered on my stomach at the proximity of our faces. We were silent for a moment. I couldn't form any kind of words.

"I can hear your heart racing at the moment," he pointed out– damn elvish perks! "Is there a chance that you feel for me the same way I feel for you?" he asked suddenly as my face grew even hotter. 

I was speechless and reduced into a shy, infatuated school girl. How I wished to see a smug smirk on his face, to know that he was joking so I could retort back in sarcasm as I always do every time, but I was met only with a serious, pleading eyes that seemed hopeful. 

"Tell me, Leane Andrews," he said again, addressing me for the first time with my full name, "Is there a chance for me to be more than just friends with you? Is there a chance for me to court you?"

I felt as if I was going to faint or have a heart attack. I was too shocked and overjoyed at his words. I couldn't believe what I heard. My heart screamed 'YESS!!!' but my mouth refused to speak. I was dumbfounded.

A wave of strong disappointment radiated off of him so suddenly before he let go of me and swallowed. He opened his mouth again to speak.

"I know that this is not a good timing for me to speak of such thing, but I cannot stop myself," he said apologetically, "The moment I realized that you were taken, that you might be gone to me forever, then I realized how much you meant for me," he admitted as he took my right hand in his hands and kissed it slowly... painfully– perfectly.

"You do not have to answer me now. But know that you already have my heart. And if you let me, then you will have my love. Whatever your answer will be, I will respect it and I promise that nothing will ever change between us," he said softly with a sad smile gracing his face. He let go of my hand and stood up.

"Now rest well, Leane. I will go and inform the healer that you are awake."

He was turning to leave but I abruptly propped my weight on my elbow to look up and in a fraction of second regretted that sudden move as headache shot on the back of my head.

"L-Legolas," I called, my heart pounded almost painfully and my breathing uneven. He turned around and I saw his eyes flooded with sadness. I braved myself.

"Kiss me," I said with a barely audible voice, but I knew he heard me.

Surprise struck his immaculate face. Without skipping a beat, he was kneeling beside me, took my face gently in his hands and let his lips melt into mine.

His lips was soft as it moved gently, tasting me for the first time. I felt his emotions and mine mingled together in our kiss. It was longing and love. I didn't realize until now how much I wanted to taste him and have him in a way that no one else does. Our lips melded perfectly together, moving in sync as if together we were a complete piece of puzzle.

Now everything made sense. The warm feeling in my heart caused by his voice. The fluttering sensation on my stomach every time he touched me. I kept on ignoring those feelings, rejecting the idea of falling for him. But now I knew, I had already fallen for him far before I even knew it.

I slide my left hand to his shoulder, up to his neck and grasp lightly at his silky golden hair. His breath hitched and he deepened the kiss. I was lost in the sensation of his touch, warmth and smell. His lips intoxicating me.

Out of the blue, Legolas broke our kiss abruptly and in an instant he was on his feet. His face impassive, but his eyes were smoldering from our kiss.

What on earth...?!

A woman came into view and her eyes widened at me.

"My lady! Oh you are awake! Thank Eru!" she exclaimed as she moved past Legolas and placed a hand on my forehead and continued, "Finally the fever left. Now we can be sure that the poison had flushed out of your body," she said smiling.

Frustration and annoyance bubbled up inside me. Who is this woman– she is interrupting the best moment of my life!

The lady looked back at Legolas who nodded at her in acknowledgement. She spoke to him. "Why, master elf, you should have told me immediately when she woke up! She needs to eat and drink the brewed potion!"

"Forgive me. I should have come to you as soon as she was awake, but I was too engrossed in catching up with her," Legolas replied cooly. His lips red and a bit swollen from our kiss.

I whined inwardly. Why?! I didn't want to eat. I wanted to kiss Legolas. And I sure as hell never drank anything brewed besides coffee. Legolas saw my frustration and a smirk pulled at his lips. He wiped his smirk in an instant as the lady turned to him again to speak.

"Master elf, if you will excuse us, I would like to tend to her injuries for a moment. You may come back later when I'm done."

"N-No, please," I said quickly, "Can he stay?" I asked the lady with hopeful eyes. Her eyes however, widened in horror at my suggestion.

"Absolutely not, young lady!" she exclaimed in a high-pitched tone, making me flinch. "That is utterly unacceptable! Do you wish me to undress you in front of him? Unless he is your husband I would never allow it!" she scolded me.

Heat crept up to my face and I stuttered as I watch Legolas bit back a laugh and smirk smugly at my stupidity. Dammit. Now he would never let me get away with this.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to– I-I didn't know the extent of my injuries," I stammered.

Her kind eyes softened at me and my slight annoyance at her dissipated. She pulled my blanket away and rolled up my sleeves gently. I gasped at the scratches decorated with blue and purple marks all over my hands. 

"More of these are on your other hand, legs and even worse around your back and chest. You broke a couple ribs and your thumb. There's a slight concussion and cuts on your head. And the arm on your left is wounded by a poisoned arrow," she listed all my injuries, making me cringe. "It looked as if several men kicked you from all sides," she said with a questioning look, silently demanding for a confirmation.

My eyes flickered to Legolas' darkened expression and I shoved my sleeves down to cover the ugly bruises and cuts. The lady noticed my uneasiness and turned to Legolas, silently asking him to leave.

"I will come back with some food and water after she is tended to," he said flatly, again, hiding his remorse and guilt behind that stoic facade. He bowed his head slightly before walking away behind the ivory curtain.

The perspective lady looked at me and smiled knowingly, but said nothing. She closed the curtain around me and gently helped me out of my dress, which would be a very slow and painful thing to do without her help. At some point I groaned in pain as I lifted my hand to get out of it. I was left only in my underwear and I could see now all the bruises all over my chest, tummy, thighs and feet. It looked awful. No wonder I ached all over. It was as if I was a victim of severe physical abuse, which I actually was. I cringed.

She cleaned the wound on my arm and bandaged it, as well as applying some cream all over my bruises, including the ones on my face, that thankfully dried up almost instantly as it was rubbed on the skin, so I didn't have to worry about messing up the bedsheets. She then helped me back into a new dress.

I thanked her before she went out for a while and back in with Legolas at her tow, carrying a tray of food.

"Are you sure you can feed her yourself, master elf?"

"Yes, I can. Thank you."

"Please make sure she drinks the brewed potion after the meal," she said as she looked at me smiling with a playful glare. I took the cup containing the suspicious brewed potion and crinkled my nose at the sight of it,"...and make sure she swallowed every single drop," she added before placing a hand on my shoulder and smiled comfortingly before disappearing behind the curtain.

Legolas smiled and put the tray on the small table beside my bed and took a seat at the edge of the bed beside me. My face grew hotter as he gazed at me and ran a hand to brush my hair.

I couldn't help my eyes that flickered from his eyes to his perfectly sculptured cheekbone and jaw, then landed at his lips. 

He shifted and leaned in, cradling my neck in his hand to place his lips on mine. My heart soared with joy and happiness at the way his soft lips moved gently grazing my lips. He cupped my face gently, careful not to touch the bruised areas as I grasped at the fabric of his tunic on his chest.

I sighed loudly as I felt his tongue teased my lips gently. Legolas paused between our kisses to catch his breath. He smirked.

"Shh... You don't want us to get caught, do you?" he whispered before he kissed me again, a little harder this time, but soon his kisses slowed down, much to my resentment. This was probably when I disliked him being way too polite and gentlemanly towards me. Before he could pull away from me, I tugged at his tunic, persisted on kissing him again and again. He gave in and kissed me again as my eagerness flamed his. He finally spoke between our kisses.

"You need to stop if you're going to eat."

I answered with another kiss and he returned it with same fervor.

"I'm not hungry–"

He kissed me again, not bothering to let me finish my sentence.

"I can't–" he kissed me, "...get enough–" more kisses, "...of you," he deepened the kiss and moved his lips over mine slowly savoring every brushes of our lips, "...melleth nin."

My heart leapt in joy and I felt as if I can sing and dance right then and there at the new nickname he had for me.

Melleth nin: My love.

I kissed him one more time before he pulled away and smiled at me.

"You have no idea how long I have wanted to kiss you," he said in a husky voice, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine.

I looked up at his lips and blushed as he smirked, noticing me staring at him. He reached for the tray of food and cleared his throat.

"You need to eat, Leane."

I sighed but taking the plate from the tray anyway.

"Alright, but I'll pass the potion," I said stubbornly, teasing him.

"That's not an option, melleth nin. You need to drink it. The healer said it will speed up the mending of your broken ribs," he said seriously.

I grinned widely at his innocence and he raised his brows, realizing my jokes before he snorted.

"I will have you drink the potion, no matter what it takes," he said in challenge before he leaned in to whisper in my ears seductively, "Even if it means making you drink it from my lips."

My eyes widened and I blushed furiously at his threat. His eyes smoldered when I glanced to look at him and I continued chewing, suddenly finding a keen interest on my plate.

I sense his smugness (if that was a real emotion) and looked up, squinted my eyes at him. The elf looked pleased with himself.

Damn elvish perks!

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[Author's Note: Melleth nin = My love. Finally all that 22 chapters of slow build come to a blissful end when they finally stole a kiss or two in the Lord Of The Rings Hospital. Tbh I wouldn't mind being hospitalized if Legolas is the nurse 🤤 Yes please, nurse. Shut up and kiss me now 😍 😂 So what do you guys think of this chapter? Is this the chapter to rule them all so far? Let me know what you think and stay tuned for more! Love y'all awesome readers! My PRECIOUSSSSS 💜💛💚💙]