Legolas lay well into the night, thinking of ways to get back to Middle-Earth without having to die. He fought of his theory, the only way to get is to die. After a lot of thought, he walked slowly to Jessi’s room. Without even knocking, he opened the door and stepped into the dark room. For a few minutes, he stood watching over the girl, sleeping peacefully. He knelt down beside her bed and gently ran his hand down her cheek. To this touch, Jessi’s eyes fluttered open, she smiled as she realised who it was.

‘Can’t you sleep?’ She asked, stiffling a yawn. Legolas said nothing, just shook his head. Jessi shuffled back and lifted up her blanket, he climbed in next to her. ‘Whats wrong?’

‘I’m sure the only way to get back to Middle-Earth is to die. I don’t know what I want Jessi, to go back, or stay.’ Jessi sighed, then placed a hand on the bear skin of his chest, over his heart.

‘Follow this.’ She whispered sleepily. ‘Follow the only thing that tells nothing but the truth. Follow your heart.’

‘To follow my heart would mean leaving you.’

‘Then you must leave me. You’re very fond of Middle-Earth. I can tell you don’t like it here. But…’

‘But what?’ Legolas asked after a pause.

‘I’ll miss you. I think..’ She took a deep breath, then continued. ‘I think I’m falling in love with you.’ He said nothing to this, he was too shocked. So Jessi sighed and turned over, resisting the temptation to cry. Just before going back to sleep, she felt Legolas’ arms slowly crep around her waist.

* * * * *

When Jessi awoke, Legolas still had his arm securely around her waist. Carefully, she eased herself out of his grip and quickly changed into shorts and a strap top. Then she went downstairs and made some breakfast. After a few moments, Legolas appeared in the door way, no smile on his face and no light in his eyes.

‘I couldn’t answer you last night.’ He whispered, sitting down beside her. ‘I don’t know how I feel about you.’ This was a lie, he knew exactly how he felt. Jessi didn’t say anything, she just stood and walked into the lounge. As if she hadn’t heard a word he had said. Legolas followed her silently, and stood just inside the room. ‘If you want to know, I’m afraid to love. After what happened last time, I don’t want to loose you, Jessi.’

‘You’ve made your choice, you want to go back to Mirkwood. So you will be loosing me.’ Jessi then stood up and looked at Legolas, tears in her eyes. ‘I have to go out for a bit, I need some time alone.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘Don’t know, I’ll be back for lunch.’

‘But she wasn’t back. By late afternoon, Jessi still hadn’t returned, and Legolas began to shake with worry. He stood at the window, waiting for her car to come rolling up the drive. It never came. He began to grow frantic with worry, all he could think about was the human girl he had fallen for. As the sun began to set, the front doorbell rang. It was Rebecca, Jessi’s best friend. Her eyes were swollen from tears and there was no trace of happiness on her face.

‘Rebecca, whats wrong?’ Legolas asked in confusion.

‘It….It’s Jessi.’ She stammered, whipping her hazel eyes. ‘She’s been in a terrible accident.’ Legolas’ eyes widened in shock and he felt his stomach muscle clench. ‘I have to go to Wales to pick her parents up, I want you to stay in hospital with her.’ Rebecca chocked back tears. He needed no persuasion, he was already out of the house.

On the way to Wales, Rebecca dropped Legolas off at the hospital. He made his way to reception. ‘Excuse me. Could you tell me where Jessica Parker is please?’ He asked the nurse politely.

‘She’s in room four. May I ask who you are?’

‘Her partner.’ He replied without hesitation.

‘Ok, just down there, sir.’ She pointed down the corridor, then went back to her reception duties. Legolas walked down the corridor slowly, dreading what he might find. Though nothing could prepare him for what he saw. Jessi lay silent and still on her bed of white linen. Her eyes were closed and swollen, a blood stained bandage was tightened sercurely around her head. Both her legs were in a caste and her whole body was bruised and stractched.

Legolas slowly pushed open the door, feeling he had been hit in the stomach by a hammer. He sat in the chair next to her bed and held her hand. For a long time he sat like this, a sadness welling up inside him that cannot be explained. The only sound that travelled to his ears was that of the heart monitor, beeping away steadily. A nurse entered and handed him a glass of water.

‘Talk to her.’ She said, making sure Jessi was tucked in tightly. ‘She may unconcious but she can hear you.’ Then she left and silence descended again. Legolas thought about what she had said, then leaned closer to Jessi’s ear.

‘I’m sorry Jessi.’ He whispered, a tear rolling down his cheek. ‘For everything, if I hurt you I didn’t mean to cause any harm. I do know how I feel about you. I was just scared to admit it, I don’t want to loose you like I lost Caluviel. Yes, I am very fond of Middle-Earth and I don’t like it here. But, Jessi, I love you.’ Legolas placed his hand against her cold cheek, tears rolling down his cheeks. ‘Don’t leave me.’ He watched as the little colour that was left in her cheeks slowly drained away. The beeping in his ears began to slow. ‘No.’ he whispered. Then, he remembered a common healing spell used in Mirkwood. He closed his eyes and resited, ‘Lasto beth nin, tolo dan na Ngalad. ~Here my voice, come back to the light~.’ While he said this, Legolas used his elven power to pass energy from him into Jessi. Luckily, it worked, the beeps sped up and Jessi’s eyes flickered open. She looked at Legolas, pain in her eyes. ‘Jessi?’ He smiled down at her, whipping his eyes. ‘I’ve been so worried about you. I’m sorry.’

‘For what?’ Jessi struggled to get the words out, her head spun and every inch of her body ached.

‘If I’d have told you how I felt, none of this would have happened.’

Jessi shook her head and rubbed her thumb over Legolas’. Her eyes grew heavier and she struggled to stay concious. ‘Be strong, Jessi. Stay with me. I need you, I love you.’ He blurted out before her eyes closed completely and her hand relaxed in his. The room grew darker as night covered the world. All of a sudden, Legolas’ ears picked up faint voices from outside.

‘She has multiple wounds to the head and brain.’ A wise voice said. ‘She’ll be luckily to stay with us until morning, never mind live through this.’

‘Whats her name?’ A nurse asked.

‘Jessica Parker.’ Legolas’ heart plummeted at the sound of Jessi’s name. his brain refused to take in what he had just heard. Then the door opened and the doctor walked in. He ignored Legolas, checked the monitors, and left.

When midnight sounded in the church oppisite the hospital, Legolas gripped Jessi’s hand in both of his and tried to let his life pass into her. Only this time, it didn’t work. Instead, her heart beat slowed. Legolas pleaded with her not to let go. But suddenl;y, the small beeps were replaced by one long continuous note. All at once, doctors and nurses came running in to the room. Legolas watched in dismay as they tried to save her life.

After what seemed like years, they stopped trying and shook their heads at Legolas. He felt his life crumble into none replacable ruins. The doctors and nurses gave him a sympathetic look, then left the room.

Walking over to the bed, Legolas looked down at the girl her loved so much. Through his tears, he whispered, ‘I love you.’ And placed his lips against hers, kissing her for the first, and maybe last time. He let his tears fall onto her cheeks while he whispered ‘este mi seere ~rest in peace~’