A/N: This... this is long overdue. Like, two and a half years too late. Courtesy of our dear friend Covid, I've had a lot of time on my hands. The fact I got this done in a couple of days blows my mind. Why couldn't I have done it sooner!

For anyone still reading, please note that this is how - if I had actually done it - the second story would have gone. What happens here was always intended. If you want a 'happy' ending for Fili, then the previous chapter is the end of the story. If you'd like to seen Amber's ending... have 12k+ words :D

For everyone who read, for everyone who commented - for anyone still reading. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. You've all been amazing.

The next time Fíli saw Amber, he didn't recognise her straight away.

It had been over twelve years since his ordeal, and as time is wont to do, the trauma faded into memories; then the dark memories became replaced by pleasant ones until just a glimmer of them remained – a dark wisp of smoke on the horizon.

Life had moved on, and so had he. In the dead of the night, during one of the rare occasions where the wisp seeped through the cracks and into the forefront of his mind, he'd find himself thinking about her - wondering where she might be... what she might be doing...

Realising she was a prisoner of the Goblin King, severely beaten and barely conscious was like reliving a bad dream - like looking through a window to the past. In fact, the damage was so severe, her clothing so dirty and torn he didn't even recognise her – the damage now far worse than when they'd first met.

When the Company was first dragged in front of the beast, he hadn't listened to most of what had been said, if he were honest – the Goblin having blathered on and on for most of his monologue to the point his attention had wandered. It hadn't wandered enough to be caught off guard, but enough that he hadn't seen where they'd dragged Amber out from – although considering the structure they were standing on, there were very few places she could've been kept.

The Goblin ranted and raved about having an ally of theirs – then grew angrier the longer they denied knowing her. She was tossed back behind his chair before he started threatening Thorin with Azog and death, and just as Fíli began to fear for Thorin's life, Gandalf arrived – blasting the goblins with a blinding light and roaring at them to run.

Chaos broke out around him – weapons tossed back and forth as they grabbed what they could while ducking swords and maces – before he took off at a run after his companions. The fact that the woman was suddenly running beside them, unassisted and looking like she had more life in her than she did a moment ago confused him; but then a brief conversation between her and Gandalf in elvish made him realise that her sudden energy boost was likely his doing.

They ran, then they fell, then they sprinted for the opening in the mountain. It was only once they were free, that they were trying to work out where the Hobbit was that Gandalf crouched in front of the woman – muttered a few words and suddenly, it was like the world had fallen out from under him.

"Amber," he breathed, stumbling forward until he was kneeling in front of her, his mouth dry in disbelief. "Amber."

"Aye," she replied, her smile as warm as it had been all those years ago. Gandalf's magic worked quickly, and he watched, fascinated, as the swelling and bruising faded away to little more than dark smudges.

He lunged forwards, wrapped his arms around her and held tight. Oh, he had missed her.

Kíli and Thorin both moved closer, their greeting of a hand on her shoulder more sedate than his – but then again, they didn't have the same connection with her that he did.

He wanted to ask her what had happened, how she had ended up there – but then Bilbo arrived, and Thorin questioned his reason for returning. The howl of the wargs gaining on them broke up their reunion, and they were once again fleeing for their lives.

The battle against Azog had been too much for Amber's body to cope with.

She had been the last taken off the cliff – and had been dropped into Gandalf's lap. Fíli looked over, and found his friend unconscious, slumped against the wizard and deathly pale. It was only Kíli's hand on his shoulder and a muttered reassurance in his ear that Gandalf would look out for her that stopped him from yelling out for her.

But then he spotted Thorin, and his stomach had dropped. They couldn't lose Thorin, not now. Please Mahal, please let him be alive.

Amber didn't regain consciousness on the Carrick, and Gandalf muttered a word in his eagle's ear before he slid off, dragging her with him and Fíli watched in sinking horror as the eagle scooped her up before taking flight.

"No need to panic, Master Fíli," Gandalf reassured him as he passed. "We will see her again soon."

The wizard hadn't led them astray yet, so he took a deep breath and held Gandalf at his word.

Much to his relief, Gandalf had been telling the truth.

The only reason Beorn didn't throw them out the next morning was because Amber arrived from wherever he'd housed her for her recovery, and told him that the Company were friends of hers. It was there, gathered around the table and enjoying their first proper meal in who knew how long – and he didn't care to even try and remember, because it was too depressing by that point – that they learned just how Amber had come to be a prisoner of the Goblin King.

As it turned out, she was supposed to have been at Bag End when the rest of them arrived. Gandalf had sent word of the quest to her after Thorin had approached him for help, and she'd planned on being there to offer her services. But her journey had resulted in one skirmish after another, and by the time she'd gotten to the Shire she'd missed them by a week.

Rather than give up, she took a shortcut to Rivendell so she could be there when they arrived – but when she arrived a message had been waiting for her from the Rangers she travelled with. Trouble was brewing on the mountain pass – a travelling merchant and his family had been attacked and barely escaped with their lives.

Amber knew that if the Company were to cross it after Rivendell, she needed to deal with the threat.

Unfortunately, after the loss of their prize the goblins were vicious, and cunning. They did to her what they'd done to the dwarves – set a false floor in the only decent cave to be found and attacked when she'd least expected it.

Reputations were a nasty thing, Amber pointed out. Hers was big, despite her best efforts to avoid it, and the Goblin King knew exactly who she was and who she was meant to help. How he knew of her intentions to join Thorin's quest, she didn't know – but he probably found out from the same person who'd told him about Thorin's plan in the first place.

She'd been with them three days, maybe four until the dwarves had arrived – and the beatings and torture she'd been subjected too had been relentless enough that she hadn't been able to do much beyond heal what she could.

Besides, escaping was pointless if all she had to do was wait for their company to be caught, then she'd finally be with them as she was meant to be. It was a crude plan, but the best she had with the limited knowledge of their whereabouts.

Gandalf, unsurprisingly, didn't agree with her decisions – but there was nothing he could do about it now. What mattered was that with her now there, the next stages of their trip should be somewhat easier.

Beorn disagreed.

"Not so," he rumbled before handing her a note. "This came for you this morning."

Amber read it, then sighed. "There is a group of Rangers camped halfway along the edge of the forest waiting for me," she muttered. "They need my help. There is a particularly nasty infestation that must be dealt with, and they've not gone up against it before."

Thorin asked if it was an infestation they should be concerned about. After a brief consultation between them, Amber and Gandalf agreed that they had no need to worry – while Mirkwood had its issues, there was no way the elves would allow this particular issue to come so close to the borders of the castle.

It wasn't the most reassuring answer, but like most of the scenarios of their journey so far, Fíli knew it'd have to do.

Plans were made for Amber to meet them in Lake Town in a week's time.

Apparently, she was a regular at Beorn's - in fact several of the Rangers were – because she had a chest of gear kept in a loft for times like this when she needed to resupply. A new outfit and a restocking of weapons, Amber took off at a run the day before they too set out – her warning sitting heavy on their shoulders.

Be careful of the forest.

Watch your backs, do not touch the water – do not kill anything that shouldn't be killed. If you run into the elves – try not to anger them. And whatever you do, do not mention my name; Thranduil will throw a fit if he knows I'm involved. But tell his son I said hi!

When they got to the forest's edge, things went downhill a little more with Gandalf's sudden departure. Unhelpfully, his warning was exactly the same as Amber's had been – minus saying hi to the Elf King's son.

Bombur was the first to do what they were warned against. He fell into the water, and it was then they learned of the dark magic that permeated the forest.

Hauling their sleeping kin's dead weight, it wasn't long before they were attacked by giant spiders - Fíli wondered briefly if they were a part of the infestation Amber was supposed to be dealing with, because if so then she and her friends had missed a pretty big spot. Bilbo got them free, then they found themselves face to face with dead spiders and angry elves.

Wonderful.

As he had no idea what Thranduil looked like, he didn't know that the blond who'd grabbed them was his son until Kíli muttered in his ear if he'd worked out who Amber wanted them to say hi to. The elf – Legolas, he'd gathered from passing conversation – grabbed them both, pulled them aside.

"You know Amber?"

The elf's expression made him wary. He wasn't angry, but there was a look of hope in his eye that Fíli decided he didn't like.

"Perhaps. Who is she to you?"

The red headed elf cleared her throat, looked at her companion pointedly. Apparently, they were all waiting on them so they could continue on into the castle, and apparently Legolas didn't care.

"She's a... friend. One I haven't seen for a while. How do you know her?"

"We were taken prisoner, some years back," he admitted. "An Orc had taken her long before they caught me – she helped me survive for a year before we were eventually rescued."

Legolas looked at him, eyes narrowed in thought. "She told me about that – wouldn't say much except for similar to what you said. Thank you, for being there for her."

Fíli nodded, albeit awkwardly before he was nudged forwards. If he didn't know any better, he'd say this elf... cared for her, a great deal.

He frowned. He didn't like that at all.

As promised, Amber caught up with them in Lake Town.

Well, not exactly in Lake Town – she happened to be a bit further down the shoreline and saw Bard sneak up on them before they were all introduced. Thankfully, they were known to each other – not well, but Bard knew enough about her that he could trust her, and Amber knew he only wanted what was best for his family and his town.

Their mutual dislike of the Master of Lake Town was palpable, and exactly what they needed.

The plan to smuggle them into the Town in barrels was not one he agreed with – none of the Company did, for that matter – but Amber gave his shoulder a squeeze and asked him if he still trusted her. His trust in her was indestructible – he would follow her into the heart of Mt Doom itself; and he told her as much.

His admission resulted in a brief kiss on his forehead – and no Kíli, he was not blushing – before she told him that if that were the case, then he had to trust her now. With no small amount of grumbling, he was the first into the barrel and barked at the rest of them to do the same. Which they did – but not a single dwarf was happy about it.

The reason for their disguise became evident the moment they reached the gates to the town.

Some snivelling human tried to bar their access – claiming Bard didn't have permission to bring the fish, nor the elf into the town.

There was the loud unsheathing of a knife, and sudden restlessness. Through a small hole in his barrel, he could see Amber behind the man with a blade pressed firmly against his neck and a scowl on her face as she looked at him.

"Now now, Alfred," Bard drawled, leaning on his bargepole and smirking at the whimpering wreck at Amber's mercy. "Is that any way to talk to a lady?"

"S-she d-does-sn't h-ha-ve perm-mission to be h-here!"

"Really?" Amber replied, smirking back at Bard. "Tell me Alfred, do you know why Lake Town still stands? Has never had any raids?" When the man didn't answer, she tutted. "It's simple; your Town still stands because I've let it remain that way."

"The M-master -"

"Is one well-placed knife away from being permanently removed from office," Amber snapped, her humour melting away. "Believe me when I say there are a number of Rangers looking forward to his early retirement. Despite our personal desires, we've stopped looters, murderers and rapists from descending on this town for years – a protection we can remove any time."

"You lie!"

"Removing this town's protection is as easy as removing your head. Would you like a demonstration?"

Fíli bit his lip to keep from gasping. He'd never seen Amber in her element before – and now that he could it was a bit terrifying. Apparently, Alfred thought so too.

The barrels were left untouched, and Amber was ordered to stay unseen and to leave at sunrise before the man and his guards stormed off.

"That was close," Bard muttered as the gate lifted. Amber nodded, but remained silent.

"Fíli, you belong with the Company."

He glowered at his Uncle. "I belong with my brother."

Thorin looked at Amber, and Amber placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll look after them," she promised.

It seemed to be what his Uncle hoped for. The tension lines around Thorin's eyes faded, and with a final glance their way he climbed into the boat.

"When I said I'd look after you, helping you fight off a dragon was not quite what I thought I'd be referring too," Amber shouted as she herded her companions down the boardwalks. "Run!"

Fíli threw himself into the boat as the dragon soared overhead, the tips of his wings slicing through the taller buildings. Satisfied Kíli was next to him he grabbed an oar, and began to steer their boat clear of the burning city.

As they made their way towards the mountain, Amber slowed down and tugged on one of his braids. Kíli, who was leaning on Bofur for support when needed, turned when he dropped behind, but he waved him on.

"Amber, is everything alright?"

When she looked at him, Amber's eyes looked... different. "Amber?"

"Fíli, I need you to know... no matter what we find, what happens from this point forward... my allegiance is to you."

He nodded. "You swore to protect us -"

"No Fíli," she said quietly. "You. And Kíli, yes – but my allegiance is to you, Fíli - not to your company. Do you understand? I will stand by you all, help you all – yes. But you are the one I will protect."

He nodded, his concern growing.

Amber looked haunted, scared. He didn't know the cause of it, but whatever it was, it would happen soon.

"I understand," he replied, taking her hand and squeezing tight.

As promised, Amber stood beside him.

When it was obvious Thorin had succumbed to the gold sickness, she stood by him.

When he shored up the mountain, denied entry to Gandalf, Bard, Thranduil... Bilbo... she was there. To the side, looking angry, but she did not abandon them.

Then the Orcs came.

The orcs came, and it was then Fíli began to understand a little of what her life was.

Amber had told him once, many years ago that her unusual magic was the result of a blessing – that she was to join the fight against the most accursed of evil.

While this might not be a fight against the Dark Lord – if he still existed as she suspected he did – her very soul would drive her to help those on the battlefield below.

Drive her to join the fight. Drive her away from him.

He hoped that she'd stay behind the wall with him, where it was – for the moment – safe. But his hope was in vain.

"I'm sorry," she told them all as she checked her weapons. "While I swore to protect you, I cannot leave my kin, my charges – to die when I can help them. I truly am sorry."

He pushed forwards, hugged her around the waist. After a moment, Amber crouched and hugged him back fiercely. "Please don't go," he begged her. "Stay."

Amber pressed a long, firm kiss to his forehead before drawing back. "I cannot, I'm so sorry. Know this Fíli - you are my dearest friend, and I will always love you." Then she pressed a fleeting, soft kiss to his lips before drawing away and leaping over the wall.

The next time she saw Fíli, it was also the last.

She'd joined up with Bilbo and Gandalf, helped fight off the hoards that were swarming Dale.

Then Bilbo spotted movement on the cliffs, called for her and Gandalf. She decapitated three orcs in quick succession before following Gandalf to the edge of the town.

"It's Thorin!"

"And Fíli and Kíli. And Dwalin. He's taking his best warriors."

She gasped quietly, felt her stomach drop. No.

"To do what?" Bilbo asked, breathlessly.

"To cut the head off the snake."

She needed to get up there – ensure they had the help they'd desperately need. But then a horse charged towards them, carrying Legolas and Tauriel.

"Gandalf!"

"Legolas," Gandalf uttered, shocked at the sight of the blond. "Legolas Greenleaf!"

Unwittingly, she found herself drawing closer, rather than running in the opposite direction – to the cliffs and away from the elf she had fallen for many years ago.

It was an unrequited love, or so Thranduil had told her before he cast her from Mirkwood the last time she'd been there. She had seen Legolas since, several times in fact during her time with the Rangers – and it appeared the Elven King was right.

She hadn't detected anything from Legolas beyond his friendship.

It hurt greatly. But at least she knew where she stood with him.

Or she thought she did. It came as a surprise when he headed straight for her and pulled her into a tight hug. Before she had a chance to register what had happened, he was drawing away and refocusing on the wizard.

But one of his hands took hers.

"There is a second army! Bolg leads a force of Gundabarg Orcs – they are almost upon us."

"Gundabarg?" Gandalf muttered, before his eyes widened in realisation. "This was their plan all along. Azog engages our forces then Bolg sweeps in from the North."

Bilbo spluttered. "The - the North?! Where is the North, exactly?!"

"Ravenhill," she breathed, pulling away – barely noticing as Legolas tried to hold onto her hand but couldn't. Likely on account of the Orc blood that slicked her skin.

"Ravenhill?" Bilbo echoed. "Thorin is up there. And Fíli and Kíli; they're all up there!"

Yes, they were. And so she would be, also.

"I'm going to give them a hand!" She told her companions, before turning to go do exactly that.

"Wait!" Bilbo yelled. "I'm coming too!"

"Don't be ridiculous," Gandalf snapped. "You'll never make it." Amber spun on her heel, looked at the wizard disbelievingly.

"Why not?" Bilbo countered.

"Because they will see you coming, and kill you."

"I'll protect him," she said, irritably – narrowing her eyes when Gandalf looked at her. "What? You believe me incapable?"

"You need to get to them quickly – protecting him will slow you down."

"No, it won't," Bilbo argued. "They won't see me."

"It's out of the question; I won't allow it."

"I'm not asking you to allow it, Gandalf." Bilbo smiled sadly, and despite her impatience – Amber couldn't help the swell of pride that filled her at the Halfling's bravery. She nodded to both Gandalf and Legolas, then turned on her heel and ran.

"Keep up Master Hobbit!" She yelled over her shoulder, slicing her way through orcs as they charged her – but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop.

She reached the ruins of Ravenhill – saw orcs pouring over the side.

Drawing her bow, Amber began to cut them down one by one. A quick glance around, but she couldn't see Bilbo – she knew he was there though, because she could hear his panicked breathing. She couldn't see Fíli or Kíli, either; only Thorin and Dwalin.

The two older dwarves had made a good dent in the hoard attacking them, and she made quick work of the stragglers.

"Bilbo!" she hissed, looking around, her eyes looking not for the Halfling, but signs of Bolg's location. "Get down there and warn them!"

The panicked breathing drew away. Confused about why she couldn't see the Halfling, and the ill feeling that had settled over her like a cloud but disappeared when Bilbo drew away, she shook it off when she spotted movement. Instead she kept her eyes trained on the horizon, and her ears trained below.

"Thorin!"

"Bilbo!"

"You have to leave here, now!" Bilbo panted. "Azog has another army, attacking from the North. This watchtower will be completely surrounded – there'll be no way out!"

"We are so close!" Dwalin growled, and Amber rolled her eyes. "That Orc scum is there – I say we push on, and -"

"No! No, that's what he wants. He wants to draw us in... this is a trap." The dread in Thorin's voice made her turn, and she felt the ice-cold ropes of horror settle in her veins when she realised both dwarves were looking at the tower. Please, please no.

"Find Fíli and Kíli - call them back!"

"Thorin," Dwalin muttered. "Are you sure about this?"

"Do it. We'll live to fight another day."

A single drum beat rung out. Then another. Then many.

She looked to the tower, felt her heart seize in her chest as she saw a figure appear in the smoke. Fíli...

The gasps of her friends below echoed across the ice. Thorin's broken, wounded, "No!" as he hurried forwards stolen by the wind.

Raising her bow, Amber trained her arrow on Azog – but she couldn't get a clear shot. Not without killing Fíli, or risking the Orc using him as a shield.

Tears pricked her eyes, made them burn and sting.

There was nothing she could do. The distance between them too great.

Fíli... I'm so sorry.

"This one dies first!" Azog snarled in black speech. "Then the brother."

A single tear rolled down her cheek when she realised Fíli was looking at her. A second tear fell when he mouthed, "It's okay. It's not your fault. I love you, mellon-nin." Her hands shook, but her aim never wavered.

"Then you, Oakenshield. You will die last."

"Go," Fíli begged them all. "RUN!"

Amber bit her lip to keep from crying out as the blade was driven into her dwarf's chest.

"Here ends your filthy bloodline!"

She barely registered Thorin's tearful gasp, Dwalin's choked sob. She flew from the cliff towards the tower the moment Azog dropped Fíli; arrived moments after he'd hit the ground, missed stopping Kíli by a hair's width. She wouldn't know he had been there – forced to watch as his brother landed at his feet. She wouldn't know that he'd gone after the orc with grief and vengeance in his heart.

If she had, she would have stopped him; sent him with his brother's body back to the mountain where he'd be safe, as Fíli would've wanted.

But she didn't see him, so she didn't know.

When Amber got there, she knew immediately that Fíli was gone. Even if the blade hadn't killed him straight away – the impact of his head against the rocks would've; his blue eyes lifeless and blood pooling beneath him quickly.

She scooped Fíli into her arms, pressed her forehead against his as her tears fell freely.

If only she could die of her grief like the rest of her kind – it would end the paralysing, all-encompassing agony that gripped her. "I'm so sorry," she sobbed, squeezing her eyes shut to try and stem the burning. "I'm so sorry Fíli, forgive me."

And for the first time since her family had left for the West, she prayed. She prayed to the Valar, and Mahal – prayed that they would take the soul of this loving, brave, strong warrior and would protect him until the world was re-forged.

Then she pressed a soft, lingering kiss to chilled lips, before setting her friend down.

Anger engulfed her, and she knew exactly who would suffer her wrath.

The end of the battle came, and she was sitting at the top of the tower, staring at nothing.

Below her, Bilbo mourned Thorin's death, while Tauriel mourned Kíli's. There was no one with Fíli, but she knew it wouldn't be long until that changed.

Amber looked at her hands, her torso – saw both coated in blood; the blood of Orcs, the blood of her friend. And she was numb to it all.

If it would've helped, she would've pitched herself from the tower – if only so she could feel something. But it wouldn't result in her death. It'd result in a broken leg – a broken back. Maybe.

There was the soft scuff of a boot behind her, but she didn't turn. She knew who it was.

"I'm sorry," Legolas murmured, leaning against the opposite wall and sliding down so he could look at her. He placed a hand on her ankle, held onto it gently. "Are you okay?"

"He was one of the few people who loved me for me. Not for what I am," she replied, sniffing wetly. "I swore to look out for him, and I failed him. What kind of creature does that make me?"

Legolas shuffled closer, slid his hand up her leg and moved it to her shoulder as he drew her in for a hug. He pressed his face into her hair, held her tight.

Amber let the tears fall, but no sound escape.

"You cannot save everyone," he breathed, tugging her away from the edge and into his lap. "The dwarf wouldn't have blamed you, so you can't blame yourself."

She drew back enough so she could look at her friend, although it was hard with the moisture clouding her vision. "I was supposed to keep him safe," she sobbed. She squeezed her eyes shut, felt the tears roll down her cheeks.

Tears Legolas wiped away.

She opened her eyes again, confused by the gesture. Then realised she was in his lap.

Sniffing, Amber tried to draw back, but Legolas wouldn't let her. "You shouldn't do this – if your father finds out -"

"My father has had far more say in my life than he ever should have," he interrupted softly, stroking another gentle thumb over her cheek. "Including who I can and can't have as a friend."

Although she knew Legolas expected her to be happy with his little declaration, it was the declaration of the wrong kind. Giving him a small smile, she removed herself from his lap. "Well I'm glad to hear I don't have to worry about bringing his wrath down upon me if we ever get caught drinking in the tavern again," she sniffed, trying for light-hearted but well aware it fell flat.

"Oh no," he countered cheerily. "That would still bring his anger down on us. Especially if there was a repeat of the last time."

She rolled her eyes, before pushing to her feet. Moving to the edge of the tower, she watched as the dwarves below grieved over their wounded – collected them for burial. Gandalf was there, a hand on Bilbo's shoulder in support – and when the wizard looked up at her, she nodded.

Turning, Amber headed down to the glacier below.

"What will you do now?" Legolas asked, half a step behind. Oddly, despite wishing to be alone his presence was comforting. "Where will you go?"

"I'm going to stay behind for the funerals. Then Gandalf and I are going to escort Bilbo home. After that – who knows."

"Will you rejoin the Rangers?"

They'd reached the entrance, and she turned to face her friend. "Eventually, yes. But not for some time, I don't think. I just... need to get away from everything. Everyone."

Legolas nodded, and Amber could've sworn he looked... disappointed. "My father told me to go north – to find the Dúnedain."

She frowned. "You're not going home?"

"I can't," he replied, the firmness in his tone making it clear he didn't want to talk about it.

Amber wasn't sure what that meant, and her mind and body ached too much for her to try and figure it out. There was movement from the corner of her eye, and she knew without looking it was Gandalf.

Leaning up, she pressed a soft kiss to Legolas' cheek, and when she pulled away, she gave him a sad smile; ignoring the pain his surprise and confusion of her action caused. "No matter what, I will always be here for you," she told him. "We will see each other again soon."

And with that, she walked away.

The funerals were a blur – mostly because her eyes hadn't left the bodies of those she'd failed.

Thorin. Kíli. Fíli. Her beloved Fili.

With every mourner that wept over the bodies of her fallen friends, her heart broke a little more. They were too young, all three of them. Thorin's life had been filled with trials and pain – he should've had the chance to enjoy his return home; enjoy the victory that had been hard won.

It wasn't right.

Kíli had barely begun his life – his wide-eyed wonder at the world around them had often made her smile when she saw it. If only she could see things the way he did. His laughter and his smile had been bright enough to light up a room; now, many would remain dark and lonely without him there.

It wasn't fair.

Fíli... her dearest, most beloved friend. One she had a bond with no other could hope to understand.

Every year, on the anniversary of their escape she had made her way to Ered Luin, watched over Fíli's family from afar. As much as she'd wanted to get closer, to say hello – hold him close... she couldn't bring herself to do it.

He'd looked so happy. His face alight with laughter, more often than not – his smile wide and untroubled.

She'd feared what her return would do to him. If it would bring back the nightmares he'd fought so hard move on from. She couldn't do it to him.

Seeing him from afar, happy and free – it had been enough.

Balin was the one who pulled her from her thoughts, made her realise that she was the only one remaining in the tomb. His hand wrapped around hers; and he looked at her – his smile watery and understanding.

Nodding once, she allowed the dwarf to lead her from the chamber, but not before she pressed a final kiss to the brows of her fallen friends – once again asking the Valar to watch over them.

When they were outside the chamber, Balin stopped – removing a small pouch from his pocket and handing it over. Amber took it, but didn't look inside. "What is it?" she asked quietly, noting the weight and the feel of the objects inside.

"They're beads, from one from each of the lads' braids," Balin replied, and Amber felt her heart miss a beat; knowing full well the value a dwarf held for their beads – even after death. As though reading her mind, Balin curled her hand over the pouch and gave her an understanding smile. "They would've wanted you to have them. Besides, they should always be remembered, beyond the tales of our people; I know you will carry their memory with you – that you won't let them be forgotten."

Amber crouched and pulled the older dwarf into a hug, felt tears sting her eyes once again. "Would you add them to one of my braids?" she asked quietly. "As a symbol of your blessing for me to carry them."

"It would be my honour," the older dwarf choked out.

Nodding once, Amber tipped the pouches contents into her hand – and frowned at the golden bead amongst the three silver ones. "What is this?"

"I found it," Balin replied, smiling as he took all four from her and added them to the braids' she held out. "We used to give them to our allies in the days of old; a tradition which stopped when the mountain was taken." He capped off the final braid, before placing his hands on her shoulders. "It is my gift to you, so that you know you will always have a home here, a place with our people."

"Thank you, Balin," she whispered, pulling the dwarf into a hug once again.

"No Amber, thank you."

Time moved on, and history faded into legend and song.

Erebor thrived under Dain's rule. Most of the company returned to Ered Luin; unable to live with the reminder of who they'd lost. The battle for Ravenhill became a distant memory; the pain of the loss suffered that day faded, but not entirely forgotten for those involved.

Legolas saw Amber many times over the years – spent months travelling with her and the Dúnedain before she'd part ways on some other quest; and every time she left he felt like something was missing. He struggled to make sense of it; she was a dear friend, one he cared deeply for – so why did he feel like her departure from his life was like cutting off a limb?

Aragorn had laughed at him, said he was still young – still new to love. That had made him startle.

Love.

Surely not?

The next time he saw her, he tried to look at her objectively – see if what Aragorn saw as a devotion on his part was exactly that.

And it was.

He was happier, when she was there. Laughed more freely, talked with her for hours, even when the rest of their party was asleep. It frightened him, in a way; because how could he love someone if he hadn't even known that's what it was?

He'd asked Aragorn about it one night, a few days after she headed south. Asked him how he'd known Arwen was the one for him.

"There's no sign, exactly. No sudden realisation. All I have ever wanted, was to see Arwen happy. To spend my days with her, no matter what those days will bring. Being with her is as easy as breathing. If that's how you feel about Amber, you should tell her."

"She does not feel the same. If anything, she is growing distant from me."

Aragorn placed a hand on his shoulder, his expression troubled. "Darkness is coming," he said quietly. "I have felt it growing for some time; and if I can feel it? It must be suffocating her senses."

He looked at his friend in alarm. "You think that the Darkness she was destined to fight is coming?"

"I do." He pulled a note out of his pocket, handed it over. "Gandalf sent a message to me, as well as Amber. Things are about to change, and not in a good way. I leave for Bree tomorrow – Mithrandir told me to meet him there. I need you to head for Rivendell once you've sent word to your father; ensure his lands, Dale and Erebor are secure. I would feel a lot better marching into whatever is coming knowing we weren't going to lose our foothold there as well."

"Mirkwood is a week's ride away," he said thoughtfully. "I shall go there myself, see what the situation is."

"You need to be in Rivendell by the month's end. Make sure you're there on time."

He nodded. It was three weeks away – if he avoided trouble on the road he could easily make it.

The Fellowship had been chosen. But Gandalf worried, for they were one short.

Standing at the balcony, looking out over the many waterfalls that made up Rivendell, Elrond joined him. "She should have been here," he said in way of greeting. "Amber had assured me should would be here for the gathering."

Elrond handed over a note. He read it, and the tension left his shoulders. Amber had been held up by an Orc party intending to raid a nearby town. She would meet them on the road instead.

"She will be a member of the Fellowship," Elrond said quietly, watching as the others prepared to leave. "She will be there when Sauron is defeated, once and for all."

"You have seen this?"

"It is one of the many fates I've seen," Elrond replied sadly. "Farewell Mithrandir, I wish you good fortune, and good speed."

He nodded before making his way down the stairs to join his companions. Taking one last look around, he knew it was the last time he'd see this kingdom, and felt a small part of him grieve the fact.

As expected, they met Amber just before they climbed the passes. The evident joy he saw on Legolas, Aragorn and – interestingly – Boromir's faces when she suddenly appeared on the edge of their clearing was reassuring.

"Master Hobbits, Master Gimli," Aragorn said, after greeting her with a hug. "I'd like to introduce Amber, a dear friend and the final member of our Fellowship."

Gandalf watched as Sam, Merry and Pippin all hurried forwards to shake her hand; watched curiously as Frodo approached more slowly.

"Amber?" Frodo repeated, frowning in thought before his eyes widened. "You're the one in Bilbo's tales – the elf that was on Thorin's quest with him."

To his surprise, Gimli gasped too. It appeared Gloin had told his son about their Elven companion after all.

"I am," she replied, extending her hand so that Frodo could shake it. "I am sorry I couldn't get to Rivendell on time, I had other matters to take care of – but I would like to offer my services to your quest, nonetheless."

"And I am glad to have you," Frodo replied, before sighing. "It's a pity you didn't get to Rivendell; Uncle Bilbo has retired there and I'm sure he would've loved to see you."

"A pity indeed," she replied, giving him a small smile. "Perhaps when this is all over."

"He'd like that."

"As would I."

Restless and unable to sleep, Aragorn left the hall to get some air.

Unsurprisingly, he found Legolas standing on the edge of the wall, looking out over the vast plains of Rohan. As he got closer to his friend, he realised that wasn't quite the case.

While he was looking out into the distance, his attention was also down below; where Amber groomed her horse; her attention evidently elsewhere as well.

After she'd been taken by the same Uruk-hai that took Merry and Pippin, he had feared what her capture would do to Legolas – his friend having since realised what it was he felt for her. Thankfully, Legolas remained somewhat calm - enough that his abilities as a tracker weren't compromised and driven by anger that ensured he never strayed from their path.

When they'd crossed paths with the Rohirrim, and they'd been told about the ambush... numbness had washed over him. They'd been too late.

The grief he'd felt at the loss of the Halflings had been nothing in comparison to the realisation they'd lost Amber. She hadn't just been a friend – she'd been a sister. Honest and steadfast, loyal to a fault; she had been there for him through some of his hardest challenges, and his greatest triumphs. But she also never hesitated to poke fun at him, ridicule and tease to snap him from whatever mood she was dragging him from.

She was a soul he had always expected to be by his side; with blind faith always believed she'd be there. Instead she'd been so incapacitated that she had been accidentally slaughtered by the Horse Lords – if the Uruk-hai hadn't done it instead.

Their grief had alarmed the horse-men, but when Eomer learned that Amber had been with the Halfling's all colour had drained from his face, and murmurs of denial rippled through the ranks. It turned out Amber was a dear friend to the Rohirrim; her friendship with the royal family going back generations and – similar to his own relationship with her – Amber was considered family to Eomer and his sister. Aragorn wanted to believe they hadn't killed her, but knew in the heat of battle, and at night, it may have meant no one realised who she was.

To find her not only alive and well, but in Fangorn Forest by Gandalf's side had come as a huge shock; but then – they were both beings with incredible power, and perhaps one day he'd learn not to be as surprised by things that happened to them. Gandalf's ascension, let alone still being alive, was unexpected to everyone (Gandalf included) except, apparently – Amber. It explained why she hadn't grieved his fall as much as the rest of them in Moria, and had spoken as though he wasn't truly gone.

Reuniting with them both, and finding out Merry and Pippin were alive and well bolstered their trio, in spirit and numbers. After a brief stop in Rohan; where they learned the situation they were about to face was worse than they expected, both Gandalf and Amber left again. Both had promised to return quickly, but his heart was heavy with their departures all the same.

"There is no way out of that ravine," Gandalf told their group as they entered the stables. Théoden had given the order to evacuate to Helm's Deep – a decision none of their group agreed with. While it was defendable, it also meant no escape if Saruman sent an army their way. "Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety; what they will get is a massacre." He entered Shadowfax's stable, gave the horse a pat before turning back to him.

"Théoden has a strong will, but I fear for him; I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. Their defences have to hold."

He nodded, aware of what Gandalf was asking of him. The battle would not happen as Théoden expected – which meant he had to ensure they made it out alive. "They will hold," he promised.

Gandalf looked at him pointedly, before turning to Amber. "My dear, you know what you must do."

Everyone turned to look at her – Aragorn knew Legolas' visible surprise matched his own. Gandalf's departure he had expected – Amber's he had not. "You're leaving us?"

"I'm sorry," she murmured, moving to his side and placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm needed elsewhere right now – but I will return."

"We need you here," he muttered, looking at her intently. "The Rohirrim are good fighters, but they cannot stand up to what may be coming. It is up to the four of us to ensure they survive this."

"I know," she replied, and the smirk she gave him confused him. "I will be by your side for the coming fight – but there is something I must do first to ensure we win." Her eyes darted to Gandalf, and he couldn't help but wonder if her departure had something to do with the conversation the pair had had the night before – a conversation that happened after she'd disappeared for an hour or so.

Disappointed, but unable to stop her, Aragorn gave her a small smile. "You've yet to lie to me. If you say you'll be there, then I trust you will be. Be safe, be quick."

Amber winked before turning to her horse. Out of the corner of his eye, Aragorn saw Legolas follow her into the stable – knew he'd be saying his own goodbye, even if it was only a temporary one. He turned back to Gandalf, smiled when the wizard spoke to his steed.

"The Grey Pilgrim; that's what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men, I've walked this earth – and now I have no time."

He opened gate, nodded once.

"With luck, my search will not be in vain," Gandalf told him. "Look to my coming; at first light on the fifth day. At dawn – look to the east."

"Go."

Both wizard and elf had hurtled out of the stable; one to fetch aid – the other to do whatever it was she had to do.

His attention quickly moved from his friends to the warg attack – then to surviving the river and the ride to Helm's Deep so he could warn them of what was coming. It had been there, exhausted, bruised and sore that he realised they had no hope of victory; that three hundred men – and not even soldiers at that – would be decimated. He knew, but he planned to fight until the last man fell.

Legolas was not so optimistic.

It was rare they butted heads; usually they were on the same page – something that occurred because of the many years they'd fought side by side. But the fragile hope he'd kept in his heart that they'd be able to pull something off was shattered by his friend's pointed comments.

Three hundred against ten thousand. They were outnumbered.

There was no hope.

He'd stormed off to stew in his hopelessness alone; quietly glad that Amber and Gandalf weren't there with them. That they could pick up the fight when they fell.

The sound of an elvish horn when Legolas came to apologise was not something he expected.

What he didn't expect even more, was the army of elves that entered the gates; a rather smug Amber, and quietly amused Haldir at the front.

"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between elves and men; long ago we fought and died together," Haldir told Théoden before looking up, his smirk growing at the sight of Legolas and him further up the steps. "We come to honour that allegiance."

"It's good to see you," he told the elf in Sindarin, before switching to common. But not before giving Haldir a hug; so strong was his relief at the reinforcements. They might actually survive this. "You are most welcome."

Legolas grasped arms with his kin, before standing behind Haldir to further drive home his statement. "We are proud to fight alongside men once more.

I told you I'd be back," Amber said, her expression smug as the Théoden and Haldir assigned their troops; Legolas and Gimli assisting as needed but staying close by. Her horse had been sent to join theirs, and she was now lounging on box as she inspected her weapons.

He turned to her, narrowing his eyes curiously. "Did you know they were coming? That Elrond was sending aid?"

Amber shook her head, which surprised him greatly. "All I knew was that I was needed elsewhere. Galadriel contacted me the night before I left Rohan, said that war was coming and that I would be needed as a guide. Of course, I had no idea who I was meant to be guiding, only that I had to be there to do so. Imagine my surprise several days later when I came across Haldir leading a group to assist Rohan's coming fight."

The weird mental connection Amber shared with the Elven Rulers was something he'd never understood. While it was handy for her to communicate with them over vast distances without the use of a bird or messenger, watching her eyes go blank was disturbing.

Especially when it happened to her mid-conversation. He suddenly understood why she started disappearing at random; it meant that she could talk to her kin freely without scaring whoever was around her.

"Haldir has never been to the lands of Men before – at least not for many years. I was to take them on the quickest route to ensure we were here before Saruman's army was. I'm glad we made it in time."

"Yet Lady Galadriel never told you she had sent an army to help us."

Amber shrugged. "It's hard for her to catch me off-guard most of the time. This was probably the only chance she'd get for a long while."

He shook his head, exasperated. Watching the pair in Lothlórien had been as amusing as it had been confusing – Amber was like a daughter to the Lady Galadriel; she and Celeborn having opted to watch over her when Amber's family left for the Grey Havens. But while there was an obvious affection between them, it didn't mean that Amber hadn't dragged her heels when Galadriel and Celeborn asked to speak with her. She'd gone to them, but not before muttering something about meddlesome guardians under her breath.

"Well, I'm glad she sent the help all the same," he said, motioning for his companions to follow him. He knew exactly where he wanted to be when the fight came, and it was best to prepare now – if his eyes weren't deceiving him, the horizon was starting to take on an odd glow.

They were nearly upon them.

The Battle for Helm's Deep had been bloody, and painful.

Legolas, Gimli and Amber had fought fiercely – held the Uruk-hai back when the men around them had fallen.

Despite warning him, he'd known Haldir was going to fall, had seen it coming from his position below. Amber had also seen it, had arrived by her friend's side moments after him. The anger that filled him at the loss was nothing like the fury that overcame Amber.

It was the first time in his life he'd been afraid of her.

Amber had slaughtered any Uruk that stood in her way. Any man or elf nearby quickly headed the opposite direction to avoid her wrath. She was brutal, and cruel; and she grinned ferally through it all as she mowed the enemy down.

At the end, after Gandalf had arrived with Eomer and his men – after they had helped turn the tide of the battle in their favour, Aragorn had found Amber passed out in Legolas' arms. Legolas and Gimli were sitting on the steps to the keep arguing about the number of kills they each had; while Amber was in Legolas' lap, her head leaning on his shoulder and completely out cold.

Alarmed, he crouched next to them; rested his hand on her cheek, allowed the small amount of power gained from his Elvish ancestors to wash over her in search of injury. He found nothing more than bone-deep exhaustion; as further confirmed by Gandalf when he joined them.

She had ripped through the ranks of the Uruk-hai without stopping, without any care for her wellbeing. Considering she couldn't die, she had used the strength of her abilities to lay waste to their enemies.

It had been incredible to see, but also terrifying – if the wide berth many of Théoden's people were giving them now was any indication.

"We need to head to Isengard," Gandalf told them, looking at Amber regretfully. "She must come with us."

"She's exhausted, Gandalf," he argued, but it was half-hearted at best. Even he knew she'd need to be there.

Gandalf nodded in acknowledgement, but sat beside Legolas and placed his hand on her forehead. "She can rest when we return," he told them, muttering under his breath to draw her from her rest.

Amber blinked and looked around groggily; and nearly fell out of Legolas' lap in shock when she realised where she was. Before she could say anything, she realised Gandalf was beside her, and she smiled at the wizard. "There's always more to be done," she said in way of greeting.

"I truly am sorry," the wizard apologised.

Amber waved him off. "As long as I don't fall off my horse, I can rest on the way. No celebrating for me afterwards though – not until I've had the chance to sleep."

"And here I'd hoped you'd join us drinking again," Eomer replied, his smile haunted as he looked at her. Aragorn realised that this was the first time he would've seen her since thinking he or his men had accidentally killed her.

Knowing the story – Aragorn had filled her in on their trip from Fangorn to Rohan, Amber gave the man a grin – stood to give him a hug which was returned strongly.

Aragorn smirked at the flicker of jealousy on Legolas' face.

"I'm so sorry," Eomer continued. "If I'd known you were with those orcs -"

"And how would you have known?" Amber countered, rolling her eyes. "It's not like I booked my capture in advance so I could warn you, my friend. All's well that ends well."

They had defeated Saruman. They had destroyed his Uruk-hai with the help of the Ents – and with the help of Merry and Pippin who were once again with them.

The celebrations back at Rohan had been loud and raucous – an honour to their fallen brothers. Amber had drunken any man that challenged her under the table, and had leaned against Eomer as they both watched Gimli and Legolas try to outdrink the other.

For a second, it had looked as though Amber would kiss Legolas in congratulations – but she caught herself at the last minute. The disappointment in Legolas' face was something he shared for his friend. He could see they both felt the same for each other, but neither of them seemed to know that the feelings they both harboured were mutual.

He rolled his eyes. Children. Experts in war, inexperienced in matters of the heart.

Amber had disappeared some time later, and he hadn't seen her again when he went to sleep.

Apparently, she hadn't gone all that far – or at least she'd returned to where she was now with her horse.

The night was still, quiet. Too quiet – he realised. And that's when he realised why his two friends were outside.

They could feel it too.

He wandered over to Legolas' side – finished cleaning his pipe; the thought of smoking it gone.

"The stars are veiled," Legolas whispered, his eyes on the horizon. "Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice." They looked at each other, confirming each other's suspicions. "The eye of the enemy is moving."

Down below, Amber went rigid; her hand frozen mid brush. Even from here Aragorn could tell she had picked up on something; watched as she stepped back once, twice – turned her head so she was looking in the direction of Mordor. It would've been presumptuous of him to assume that's where she was looking, but combined with Legolas' comments, he would've bet money on it. His suspicions were confirmed when Legolas went still before looking at him in alarm.

"He is here."

Amber had gone with Gandalf and Pippin to Gondor – said she was needed there more than they'd need her here. Frustrating once again, but this time he couldn't deny it. Her friendship with Boromir and his younger brother was hopefully a friendship Gandalf could use to ensure Gondor called for aid.

Without it, Rohan would not go as they needed too – Théoden's bitterness at their abandonment still too fresh for him to send his already battle weary troops out again.

A week after they'd left – the beacons were lit; and Rohan answered the call.

Little did he know his path would take him down the Dimholt Road; to summon the army of the Dead. Little did he know that when they arrived, the fight for Gondor would already be hours into the battle. He didn't know Théoden had fallen – he didn't know Éowyn had joined them and defeated one of the Nazgûl Sauron had sent to destroy them.

All he knew was that he had the army of the Dead – and that they were going to win.

Win they did; but their victory had come at a great cost. Friends dead and injured, their troops decimated – but they'd won.

In the Halls of Healing – after visiting Éowyn he'd gone to Amber's room; found Legolas sitting in a chair beside her as he watched her sleep.

Amber had been in the thick of the battle; had taken down the other Nazgûl that had been sent from Mordor. She'd helped kill the trolls that entered the city, before heading for Pelennor Fields to help take down the Mûmakil that ran rampant and slaughtered their troops. She'd been badly injured, but kept fighting – and it was only by chance that he and Legolas had come across her at the tail end of the battle.

It was the speed of the elves that had Legolas at her side, catching her as she collapsed from blood loss and exhaustion.

Once Aragorn had released the Dead, he and Gimli accompanied Legolas to the Healing Halls, ensuring their friend was comfortable as she recovered. They'd passed Gandalf on the way, the wizard promising he'd tend to her as soon as he could - once he'd confirmed there were no serious injuries he needed to worry about for her.

He entered the room, laid a hand on Legolas' shoulder as he looked over them both. "She'll be okay," he murmured, looking at the still form of his friend.

She looked awful; pale and bruised – more blood and dirt covering her than not. Legolas had waved away anyone who came to tend to her – said there were others in need of their help more. There was a knock on the door – a woman brought in a steaming basin and a cloth. He took it from her, nodded his thanks and carried it to the other side of the bed; started washing away what he could.

Legolas grabbed a spare cloth and did the same.

"I know she will," Legolas told him, focusing on washing the blood from her hair. "Every fight she gets into – every battle she runs towards; I know she'll walk away. Aragorn; we are getting closer and closer to our fight with Sauron – what if that battle is one she doesn't walk away from."

"She's strong," he replied, focusing on her face and neck; rubbing the cloth gently over damaged skin. "She's powerful. She'll be okay."

"That's not what I mean." Aragorn looked up, and for the first time in his life saw fear on his friend's face. "Amber is destined to be in that fight – but what if it's not her destiny to walk away from that fight alive. What if… what if that's where her story ends? Before Mordor's gate?"

He froze.

Amber's fate, her story – he'd known it since he was a child; known that their fates were linked together. But what if Legolas was right? What if, when Sauron died, she wasn't supposed to walk away from that battle? What if that was where she drew her last breath?

"No," he breathed, dread filling him. "No – she is meant to walk away from this. She must. She has too – for us."

"Have… to… what…" Amber rasped, her face scrunching in pain before she opened her eyes. She looked around, her brows furrowed in confusion. "What happened? Where… where are we?"

"We're in Gondor," he replied, voice gentle as he cupped her cheek to make her focus on him. "We won the battle."

"Oh good," she breathed, eyes slipping shut. "Glad this pain… wasn't for nothing…"

"Sleep," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Sleep."

When Amber's expression smoothed out, unconsciousness pulling her under, he turned to Legolas. "When Gandalf comes to check on her, we'll ask him. See what he knows of her prophecy." He placed a hand on the back of Legolas' neck and drew him in so their foreheads were pressed together. "We will not lose her. I won't let that happen."

When Sauron fell, the relief Legolas felt was overwhelming.

They'd done it. The evil that had lingered in Middle Earth for centuries was finally gone. Thousands of Orcs had escaped – but they wouldn't be able to hide for long; the realms of Middle Earth wouldn't allow it.

He watched in joy, then horror as the tower fell – as Mt Doom blew; realised it meant they'd lost Frodo and Sam. There was a gasp of pain beside him, and he turned – caught Aragorn's eye as he turned to the noise as well and they both watched as Amber collapsed to her knees; both catching her before she fell completely to the ground.

Gimli's call to Gandalf was barely heard, nor was the order from Eomer for everyone to step back. All he registered was his and Aragorn's arms around Amber – holding her as she convulsed; her eyes wide and locked on Sauron's tower.

It was then he realised what was happening – she could feel Sauron dying.

"Mithrandir," he begged, looking at the wizard as he crouched in front of her. "You have to do something – please."

"Amber," Gandalf said urgently, taking her face in his hands and forcing her to look at him. "Amber, you must fight him!"

"Fight him?" he said, looking at the wizard before looking back at Amber. Then he saw the ring of fire in her eyes – nearly dropped her in his horror when he realised Sauron was trying to cling to life. Through her. "No. Amber, no – fight him; you must stay with us."

Amber recoiled, face writ with pain as she shrieked. He and Aragorn held her tighter – he was dimly aware when Eomer dropped to his knees beside her, placed a hand on her knee. Aragorn and Gandalf started muttering in Sindarin; summoned the magic they both possessed to help keep her with them.

He placed his mouth near her ear, pressed his forehead against her temple. "Fight him and stay with me, love. Fight him and stay with me."

There was a yell from Pippin about the eagles, but he barely registered it. All that mattered to him right now was the woman in his arms; the woman that was fighting the last thread of Sauron's evil.

Gandalf's voice boomed around them – Amber roared in anger, the sound turning to a scream before going completely limp. He looked at the wizard, saw the tired satisfaction in his eyes.

"She fought him off," Gandalf told them. "I kept her anchored so she could destroy his hold on her. Sauron is no more. We won."

At Aragorn's coronation, the pride Legolas felt for his friend and the joy that he was finally back where he belonged was something he knew he'd never be able to put into words.

Aragorn had wandered for so long, afraid of accepting who he was for the fear of what it could bring – but evil was gone, and the kingdoms of Middle Earth united in their joy for him. Strider had made friends with the rulers of each realm over the years – but as King; he had the ability to unite them. And unite them he had.

Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits and Men – all had sworn allegiance to the New King not out of the sense of duty, but out of the respect for the man who knew what it was to have nothing, but to give everything in the fight for peace. It was dubbed the start of the Golden Age; and what a Golden age it would be.

When they returned to Gondor, Legolas hadn't left Amber's side. He'd stuck with her, unable to tear himself away for fear of never finding her again.

She hadn't commented on his behaviour – if anything, she'd welcomed it with patience and a smile. The outfit she wore for the ceremony had nearly knocked him senseless; he'd never seen her in anything beyond her Ranger garb, and seeing her in a dress, looking every bit the Elven Princess she was…

He had no words.

Something Aragorn hadn't been able to stop laughing about when they were getting ready and she'd left after checking on them both.

When the ceremony ended, when everyone had spent several days recovering and just… revelling in being alive, he discovered Amber once again packing her bags.

"You're leaving?" he said, his heart falling at the sight of her gear laid out on the bed.

Amber looked up, smiled at the sight of him. "I'm accompanying the hobbits back to the Shire tomorrow," she replied. "Well, Bree at least. From there I'll head to Lorien – although I plan to take the long way there. It'll be nice to actually enjoy nature without worrying about what the future may hold."

"You could run into trouble on the road – a lot of orcs and Uruk-hai escaped when Sauron fell."

Her smile turned wicked. "And I look forward to saying hello if we meet again."

Amber and the hobbits set out the next day; leaving at sunrise with the friends they'd made along the way to see them off.

He'd hugged her tightly – felt like he should ask her to stay; tell her how he truly felt. He didn't want to do it when there was an audience, so instead he told her to be safe – that he'd see her again soon.

He didn't miss flash of disappointment in her eyes as he pulled back – and it was then he realised the mistake he'd made. Legolas vowed to make it up to her when they next saw each other; no matter where they were, he was going to tell her.

He didn't see Amber again for three years.

In fact if it hadn't been for Aragorn, he never would have seen her again.

After the Fellowship went their separate ways, he'd returned home to Mirkwood – taking the time to accompany Gimli to Rohan then Erebor on his way back to see the caves his friend had been so excited to show him. His arrival in Erebor had been a surprise to Dain's son, Thorin; but he'd been welcomed all the same. There was a niggle of memory at the name, but the fall of the line of Durin had happened a lifetime ago; too much had happened since then for him to want to dive back into that time.

When he returned home, he spent months reconnecting with his father and his people before Thranduil decided it was time to pass the throne to him so he could journey to the Grey Havens. The move had come as a surprise; but finally – he'd felt ready to take his father's place.

He stayed in regular contact with his friends – ravens coming and going from Rohan, Erebor and Gondor; even a few from the Shire. A rare one came from Amber, wherever she was in the world at the time – her letters he treasured each time they arrived.

It was the raven from Gondor that ensured he reunited with Amber; because it was Aragorn's note that told him of Amber's plans to leave Middle Earth.

He'd had to read the note three times before Aragorn's words sunk in, and when they did he organised for his bags to be packed and his horse brought immediately, the note tucked securely in his pocket so he didn't lose it.

Legolas,

I received word from Gandalf that he, Bilbo and Frodo will be joining Galadriel, Elrond and Celeborn on the last ship to the Grey Havens. He also said that Amber intends to go with them. If you truly love her, you need to be in Rivendell in three weeks' time on the 17th.

She still thinks her love for you is unrequited. You need to tell her it's not – or you'll never get another chance.

Fair winds, Mellon-nin. And good luck.

He rode into Rivendell, found it uncomfortably quiet.

Most of the elves that had lived there had since moved on to the Grey Havens – others, like Elrohir and Elladan had moved to a different kingdom. The twins had joined their sister in Gondor, but many had joined the Lorien elves, or his own people – content to spend the rest of their days in Middle Earth.

The clatter of his horse's hooves through the streets echoed loudly as he raced to the docks. When he reached it, he saw Elrond, Celeborn, Galadriel and Amber standing beside the boat. He dismounted, and hurried on silent feet down the stairs; nodding to Galadriel when she looked across the way and spotted him. Her eyes lit up at the sight of him before she turned to the hobbits.

"The power of the Three Rings has ended," she told them. "The time has come, for the dominion of Men."

"The sea calls us home," Elrond added in Sindarin, before opening his arms.

"I think I'm quite ready for another adventure," Bilbo replied, his voice shaky in its excitement. As the hobbit made his way over, so too did Legolas.

It was then that Amber saw him, her expression going from surprised to guilty to calm in the blink of an eye. She didn't move – not until Galadriel nudged her and muttered something in her ear.

With an apologetic smile to her guardians, and to the hobbits and Gandalf, she made her way over. For a moment, she just looked at him, her eyes moving over his face as though memorising it. He realised he was doing the same.

"What are you doing here?" She eventually asked, her voice soft to avoid drawing attention.

"I think the question is what are you doing here?" he replied, looking at her intently. "Aragorn told me you're sailing to the Grey Havens – tell me he's wrong."

Amber closed her eyes, irritation flashing across her face. Evidently, she hadn't wanted him to say anything and that hurt even more. "He's not wrong."

"Why wouldn't you tell me? Why keep it a secret?" He asked, trying and failing to keep the hurt out of his voice. Even if they'd both been uncertain of their feelings for the other, they had always been best friends; so why wouldn't she have told him?

"Because you would have tried to stop me," Amber replied, smiling sadly. "As I suppose you're here to do now." She took his hands in hers, squeezed gently. "I'm tired, Legolas. My whole life has been one fight after another; all driven by one purpose. We defeated Sauron – and now with him gone, and my family leaving; there is no reason for me to remain. I can finally rest."

Legolas was certain his heart was going to beat out of his chest. He realised what Amber meant. She thought she had no one who loved her, that gave her no reason to stay – and with her guardian's leaving, she feared being alone.

How could he have been so blind?

"You have a reason to stay," he told her; intimately aware of the eyes on his back. Oh how he wished this could be done in private. "Me."

Amber frowned, but didn't pull away. "I don't understand."

"I have loved you from the moment I met you," he breathed, allowing the barriers he'd placed around his heart to fall so he could lay himself bare. "I didn't know that's what it was at first; assumed that the connection I felt for you was friendship. I had never been in love before, and my father certainly didn't help me work out what it was I felt – I think he feared losing me to you. So he ensured that I believed it was friendship, before keeping us apart."

His hands were dropped, but it wasn't in disgust; it was in shock. Taking one of Amber's hands in his, he used the other to cup her cheek.

"It wasn't until the night you left at Gandalf's summons; before the Quest for the Ring began that I realised what I felt wasn't friendship, but love. That, and Aragorn may have had a thing or two to say when I asked him. I love you, Amber; I always have – and I don't want to live a life without you any longer."

"Why have you not said something sooner?" she breathed, her mouth slack in shock. "Why wait till now?"

"Fear," he said immediately. "I had thought my feelings unrequited. Something Aragorn may also have had a thing or two to say about. I had also hoped to tell you in a more… secluded setting; rather than with an audience."

"I wish for this boat to leave today," Elrond grumbled from where he now stood on the ship, but even Legolas could hear the amusement in his voice. He nodded at the elf apologetically, before looking back a her.

"So will you? Stay, I mean?" Amber didn't reply, her eyes searching his face for any hint of a lie.

Slowly telegraphing his movement, he curled his fingers around her cheek and slowly pulled her into a kiss, keeping it soft and gentle; everything he'd ever wanted for his first with her.

"Finally," Celeborn muttered, before grumbling when Galadriel smacked him on the shoulder. "What? They've been dancing around each other for decades."

Amber broke the kiss first, looked at her guardians in embarrassed exasperation.

"And now they will dance together for centuries," Galadriel replied. She waved Amber over, and so Amber went to her; her hand in Legolas' as they both walked over. "I am pleased for both of you," the Lady of Lorien told them, hugging Amber tightly. "You deserve to be happy, my love. And I've known since I met you, you'd be happy with him."

Amber gave her guardian a shy smile. "You've known all this time?"

"Since you were a child."

"Then why not say anything?"

Galadriel cupped Amber's chin, stroked it with her thumb. "Because things needed to work themselves out in their own time; and now this has. You both shall go with the blessing of the Valar; may your happiness and good fortune remain until the end of days."

Amber turned to Celeborn, who pulled her into a hug. "I'm happy for you, little Dandelion."

"Thank you," she whispered back, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Taking one last look at her guardians, she turned away and went to Gandalf; the wizard and the hobbits watching the unexpected turn of events with rapt attention.

"I guess I'm not going with you, Mithrandir," she told the wizard, holding him tightly when he pulled her into a hug. "It appears I have one final adventure ahead of me, also."

"While our paths diverge here, we will meet again at the re-forging of the world," Gandalf replied, pressing a kiss to her brow. "You are loved by the Istari, you will always return to us."

"Farewell, Mellon-nin," she replied, stepping back.

Legolas grasped Gandalf's forearm, allowing the sadness he felt at his friend's departure to pass through him. He had known the wizard for a long time, longer than any of the Fellowship – he would miss him dearly. "Farewell Gandalf," he murmured. "I'll look out for her, I swear it."

"I know you will," the wizard replied, winking. "Take good care of each other, you both deserve to be happy."

With a nod, Legolas and Amber withdrew to the rear of the group – watched as Gandalf, then Frodo said their goodbye's to their companions.

Once the ship had disappeared into the sunset, he and Amber said goodbye to the Halflings; watched as they departed with the wagon back to the Shire.

Soon, it was just the two of them standing on the docks, the sound of the ocean and the cry of the gulls all that could be heard. He turned to Amber, pulled her into another kiss; luxuriated in the feel of her mouth pressed to his, the warmth of her body against him.

Eventually he broke the contact, but he only went far enough so he could rest their foreheads together. Amber's eyes were closed, but when she opened them they were the most beautiful things he'd ever seen.

"What now?" she breathed, her voice as soft as her lips had been.

Driven by temptation, he kissed her again; softly so he didn't get carried away just yet.

"Now, we start this next adventure together."