[LEGOLAS POV]

"A diversion," I stated in a monotonous tone at Estel's battle strategy. He nodded in confirmation.

"Certainty of death. Small chance of success," said Gimli in sarcasm as he smoked his pipe, "What are we waiting for?"

Leane was chuckling at the dwarf's sarcasm. She knew this suicidal idea would come out of Estel's lips ahead of any of us. Now all eyes were turned to her and she shrugged nonchalantly.

"Nothing can surprise me anymore at this point," she said lightly, lightened up the mood in the room.

These few days since the night Leane admitted her turmoil to me, she had shown significant improvement physically and mentally.

She looked so much stronger now and the color had returned to her skin. She didn't seem to be brooding so much anymore. Even today, she surprised us when she laughed at Pippin's joke about her eyes. She was returning to her old self again.

The bluish hue on her eyes, however, was still there, but it was darkened, surely but slowly returning to its usual deep, dark obsidian orbs that appeared to be twinkling lightly like stars on the dark sky.

Despite her joke, I could see her shoulders slumped slightly, fatigue seemed to came back at her again. I walked silently and approached her sitting form. 

"Melleth nin, are you alright?" I asked her in a whisper as I put a hand on her shoulder. She nodded her head, smiling and sat straighter. 

"It has been our forte, getting into a suicide mission," she said to Estel, grinning lightly. "I'm with the dwarf in this," she said as she raised her brows at Gimli, who chuckled darkly at the notion.

I shot her a disapproving look but she only smiled in amusement at me and squeezed my hand that rested on her shoulder.

Gandalf smiled warmly at me before turning to Estel.

"Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait," he stated solemnly.

Estel looked at Leane and they both exchanged a knowing look. 

"Oh, I think he will," said Estel confidently.

I looked down at Leane in concern and she gave me a sad smile. Understanding dawned on me. This battle Estel was talking about had to happen.

I closed my eyes in frustration and regret. So many emotions swirled inside of me, each one conflicting with the others.

And most of them was related with the woman sitting beside me.

I opened my eyes as I felt a pair of eyes boring into me and was met with Leane's distracting lopsided smile.

Why was that very attractive? 

My eyes fixed on her beautiful face and I instantly thought about tonight when I can get her alone, kiss her all I want after all this boring and depressing meeting over. 

Leane looked away, a blush graced her pretty face. I was caught staring at her lips, and I inwardly scolded myself. Eru knew how inappropriate my intention was, but I couldn't help it.

After the meeting and the dinner was over, I escorted Leane to her room and slipped in when nobody was around.

"Please tell me that you will not engage in this battle."

Leane turned her body at me at my sudden utterance and smiled.

"I won't. Unless I get another disturbing vision," she muttered lightly and circled her arms around my neck.

The scent of roses flooded my nostrils and I inhaled deeply as I kissed her cheek.

"You smell so good, melleth nin," I blurted out without thinking. Leane chuckled at the steep change of topic.

"It's nothing compared to you, Legolas," she whispered to my ear in a low voice and I shuddered.

Then without warning her lips nibbled at the soft flesh of my ear and a jolt of pleasure hit my whole body, sending heat straight to my lower body. I tensed and sucked my breath. My eyes snapped open as I went still completely. 

I was scared.

Not the kind of fear I felt in the battle; that was nothing compared to this. I was scared because my self control was hanging by a thread; and that thread was going to snap anytime soon. 

I battled my own self not to take her right here, right now, and make her mine at this moment. I kept my hands still on her waist as she continued tormenting me. Common sense screamed for me to pull away from her but my body refused to get away from her touch.

Leane stopped and abruptly pulled away, looking at my face intently. I thought she had brought her wall down and sensed me lusting over her, but she only looked at me in concern and worry.

"Legolas? Are you alright?" she asked with her eyes wide in alarm. Her doe eyes gazed into my blue ones innocently.

How could she not realized what she is doing to me?!

Heat crept up my neck and I swallowed hard before answering her inquiry.

"You should have not done that," I told her under my breath.

Realization dawned on her and she blushed furiously upon seeing the red that undoubtedly tinted my ears. My eyes feasted on the sight of her rosy cheeks before traveling down her lips.

The irrational urge to have her hit me again and I had to turn my back on her and close my eyes; willing myself to regain control.

Leane moved in front of me after some moment and smiled bashfully.

"Goheno nin (I'm sorry), Legolas," she said apologetically as she rubbed her neck, unsure of what to do.

I sighed. "Do not be sorry, my love. You did not know. I should've stop you right away, but I lingered. T'was my fault," I said looking down at my feet.

I was reduced to a shy elfling around her and I felt heat crept up my neck again as I peered my eyes to look at her.

She was still blushing madly and was biting her lips, trying to hide a smile that graced her pretty face. I groaned inwardly at the sight.

"I didn't know that your ears are very... sensitive to the touch," she muttered almost inaudibly and I chuckled at her reddened face.

"Aye. Now you know to stay away from my pointy ears," I told her jokingly and she brought her hands to muffle her giggle. How she looked so cute and adorable at that moment.

"Well, that at least until the night of our wedding," I added, teasing her even more, enjoying the way she blush and giggle.

Her eyes widened at the mention of wedding.

"Wedding?" she blurted.

"Aye," I replied. But seeing the surprise look on her face, I added. "I thought you have figured that out already," I said questioningly, silently cursing myself for not thinking things through before saying it.

"You plan on marrying me?" she asked in disbelief.

"Forgive me, Leane. I forgot that you are not accustomed to the ways of elves," I apologized. I proceeded to explain. "Whenever a male elf courted a female and the relationship goes smoothly, it is guaranteed that the ellon will eventually ask the hand of the female in marriage and get married within a year."

My voice calm and collected, yet worry crept in my heart. I didn't know the ways of her people and she might not desire to marry me the same way as I did.

She stood there peeking at me behind thick lashes and blushed. I smiled, my previous doubt vanished and I took her hand gently, leading her to sit on the bed.

"Tell me about the way of your people."

"Well... Usually the guy will ask the girl if she wants to marry him and give her this engagement ring if she agreed, one that she will wear until the wedding day. Then he will ask the parents or family of the female formally to marry her. On the wedding day, they will exchange marriage vows. They will also exchange wedding rings in front of their family and friends, then they become officially husband and wife. Afterwards, the celebration," she said with a shrug and I smiled wider.

A plan formed in the back of my mind as I spoke.

"Marriage vow exchange. That is beautiful," I said nodded at her. "Elves have same rituals of wedding rings exchange, but the marriage itself doesn't begin at the exchange."

Leane frowned. "Then when do they become husband and wife if it's not on the wedding day?"

"They become husband and wife when they are joined together in consummation."

Leane had a meaningful smile that I couldn't really figure out. She shook her head. "So no celebration for their wedding? You can simply marry someone without the ceremony?"

"Aye. Though they can still have celebration after the wedding," I replied with a smile as I pinched her cheek lightly.

"It really makes life easier," she commented. She paused for a moment and I wondered what went through her mind right now.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Leane asked suddenly in a low, husky tone as she linked her hands behind my neck and I could feel her upper body pressed against mine.

I swore she never talk to me in such seductive tone. It was intoxicating and I longed to hear more of it. The feeling of the curve of her body against mine; her chest heaving as she took breaths...

Aye, what was I waiting for? I could go and make sure to lock the door and then go straight to make love with her...

The thought of my adar finding out that I marry her right now without him knowing made me think twice. He will kill me if I do.

I chuckled to cover up my nervousness.

"Hm, that is indeed very inviting..." I told her in an equally husky tone to her previous one. "But nay. The humans here do not have the same marriage custom as elves, and I intend on keeping your honor intact," I said as I took her arms off of me, reluctantly forcing her to back away a bit from me.

Her shoulder slumped in disappointment and she pouted cutely as she mumbled.

"That was worth a try."

I laughed heartily and pecked her pouted lips.

"Believe me, I want the same as you do for quite some time now, but war is not a good time to do such an act."

"I can't think of a better timing," she replied. "You're going for a battle in a few days and risk your life out there. Isn't now a good time to do it while we can? Just in case..."

Leane looked down as she played with the ends of my blonde hair. I embraced her and kissed her temple.

"Worry not about me, melleth nin. You know I am going to be alright. I will come back for you and make you my wife," I promised her solemnly.

"What about I just come with you? If I do then we don't have to worry about each other–"

"Nay," I cut her in protest, shaking my head as I brushed her dark hair back.

"I can fight. I can protect myself. You don't have to worry about me," she whined.

"I know..." I pecked her lips before continuing, "I know. But I cannot help but worry about you. I'd rather have you here, in the safety of Minas Tirith when I march to Mordor along with everyone else. That will give me a peace of mind," I said truthfully, my heart saddened at the thought of leaving her behind.

Leane's eyes softened at me and she nodded before embracing me tightly.

"Alright... I'll stay. But if a vision come at me I will definitely go after you to Mordor."

Her tone was final and I sighed loudly, knowing that I couldn't object.

"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that," I prayed as I kissed her hair.

That night both our minds were too preoccupied that it slipped my mind to brew her the tea that Lord Elrond gave her.

I watched her sleep in my arms that night. She was so peaceful as she slept, her thick lashes joined together as it rimmed her closed lids. I was hopeful that nightmare won't come invading her rest.

Yet I tensed when she started to squirm in her sleep. I held her closer, unsure if I should wake her up or not. 

"Legolas..." 

My eyebrows lifted in surprise at her mumbling my name in her sleep. In an instant afterwards her body went still again and her breathing steadied. 

She was dreaming about me.

I brushed my lips to hers in a gentle kiss and lingered there for quite some time. Of course she didn't return my kiss as she slept, but I enjoyed kissing her anyway.

I couldn't help but think that I just took an advantage of her unconscious state at the moment. I pulled away at the thought and started brushing her hair instead. Still, I couldn't wipe the wide smile that threatened to split my face in two at the sight of the beautiful woman sleeping in my arms.

My thoughts wandered at the story that she ever told me before: The Sleeping Beauty. Snow White. Those characters had similar looks and personality as Leane. 

I think I might have just found a couple of new nicknames for her.

***