You tossed and turned on the hard ground, trying to find a spot where a tree branch wasn't protruding into your ribs. You sighed angrily and flopped onto your back, ignoring the sharp pain of your body harshly making contact with the hard earth underneath you. You looked around to see the rest of the fellowship sleeping soundly. You huff, envious that the rest of you managed to fall asleep and yet here you are, once again awake well into the night. How were you ever going to be able to assist Frodo in this quest to destroy the One Ring if you couldn't keep your eyes open during the day? Your frown deepened. How you so dearly wanted to help on the most important mission on Middle Earth, but instead, you have become a burden. Maybe it was best if you just slipped off right now, no one would notice until you were long gone. Yes, it was almost certain you would die in these dangerous lands by yourself, but you would not want to be the cause of anyone else's deaths.
You were staring at the night sky when a voice startled you, causing you to sit up.
"Couldn't sleep?"
You cursed at yourself for being frightened. It was just Legolas. Somehow, the knowledge that elves didn't sleep much had slipped from your mind in your wallowing in self-pity.
"Legolas." You breathed, looking at the elf.
Legolas walks over to you from a nearby tree, coming to sit beside you.
"Forgive me, I did not mean to frighten you." He says sincerely.
"That's quite alright, it was my fault, I forgot you did not sleep."
Legolas looks like he's about to argue against your point but instead, his eyes soften as they meet yours.
"What ails you, (Y/N)?"
You try to smile, but instead end up grimacing. "Is it that obvious?"
Legolas smiles sheepishly. "Only to the more observant of eyes." He looks away shyly. "I know you have not gotten a good night's rest since we first left."
Your eyes widen, surprised that Legolas has noticed so much about your sleeping patterns. That thought causes your cheeks to heat up.
"I don't know how anyone could fall asleep with sticks poking into them in several places ." You say, trying to lighten up the conversation.
Legolas only looks at you, and you push down the strong impulse to shy away from his gaze that tells you he knows more about you than he's letting on.
Sensing your discomfort, Legolas softly touches your cheek, tilting his head to meet your eyes. "I also know that if you do manage to fall asleep, you wake up sweaty and out of breath shortly after."
You force a chuckle, looking away from his perceptive eyes. "I wish you were not so observant."
Legolas huffs out a laugh. "I wouldn't be a very good elf if I wasn't."
You tilt your head to the side, smiling softly but still not looking at him. "True."
The conversation dies down but you can still feel Legolas' eyes on you, and you fight the ever present urge to squirm under his watchful gaze.
You lean back against a tree and look down, eyes suddenly heavy without a conversation to serve as a distraction.
"You're tired." Legolas says.
"I always seem to be." You reply.
You brush shoulders with Legolas as he joins you at the tree.
"Legolas, I don't belong here." You blurt out after a moment of silence, suddenly turning to him.
"(Y/N)..." He says slowly before grabbing each of your hands. "You are one of the most skilled fighters I've ever seen. You have an unmatched passion and drive for any cause you're fighting, and you're smart and resourceful. If you don't belong here, I don't know who does."
You, once again, stare at Legolas in bewilderment.
"Do you really mean that? You don't have to lie to make me feel better." You say, smiling warmly.
Legolas returns the smile. "I mean it. Although..." he trails off, looking at your hair. "Your braiding skills need a little improvement." He finishes, tucking a stray hair behind your ear.
You flush in embarrassment as Legolas grins boyishly at you. You return the grin. "Good thing I've got a master braider beside me to do it for me." You tease, tracing a small braid above his ear.
Legolas looks at you deeply, still smiling. He grabs your hand that's falling away from his head and turns it. He lowers to kiss your knuckles, never breaking his stare. "I can see you fighting to keep your eyes open. Go to sleep." He says gently.
You slowly blink up at him and wipe your eyes in an attempt to wipe the sleep away. "I'm not tired."
Legolas smiles gently. "I'm not going anywhere as long as you want me to stay."
You look up at him before smiling gratefully, letting out a sigh of relief. "Good."
You lean against his chest and close your eyes, already feeling your mind slip away into unconsciousness.
As you're about to fall asleep, you feel around for Legolas' hand and grasp it tightly, not wanting him to leave. You feel Legolas' other hand wrap around your waist and a feathery-light kiss is planted on your head, sending you into the best sleep you've ever had.