Chapter 1
Legolas
sat in a tree, thinking. He remembered the final battle. It
was burned forever into his mind.
The
day had dawned crisp and clear, a beautiful spring day in mid-march.
Legolas had woken early and having washed and dressed, headed
down to the stables. He was staying in Gondor for week with
Aragorn, while Faramir looked after Ithilien. Gimli was also
there, taking a holiday from the Glittering Caves. All were
in high spirits, it had been some time since they were all together
and they were planning to make the most of the time. That day
they were going hunting and since he was up early, Legolas had
gone to ready their horses.
As
he placed the saddle on Aragorn’s horse, he became aware
of another presence behind him. Turning, he saw Arwen just coming
through the stable doors, already dressed for riding. Legolas
smiled. “Good morning My Lady.” He said politely.
She glared at him.
“Good
morning - Legolas.” She said pointedly. She hated formalities
between them, especially as they were of the same status, but
Legolas always acted as if she were above him. Even after all
these centuries, she had yet to figure out if he really thought
that, of if he did it simply to annoy her. She strongly suspected
the latter.
Ignoring
her pointed use of his name, the Prince changed the subject.
“The hunting should be good today. The fine weather will
draw the prey into the open.” Arwen smiled.
“I have no wish to hunt today. I just wish to enjoy the
ride.” She opened the stall door and led her horse out
before swinging gracefully onto the mare’s back. Legolas
nodded.
“Have a good ride then, My Lady.” Arwen sighed.
“I
will - Legolas.” Nudging her horse, she rode out of the
stables. Legolas returned to preparing the horses for the day’s
hunt. His own horse had neither saddle nor bridle, but Aragorn
had both and Gimli - Gimli had everything possible to help him
remain on the back of his small, gentle horse.
He
had just finished when Aragorn entered the stables, with Gimli
in tow. The dwarf was grumbling about the hour, the sun was
up, but it was not yet seven in the morning. “This was
supposed to be a holiday.” He muttered under his breath.
Legolas laughed and handed each of his friends their mounts.
Minutes
later they were riding into the forests south of Gondor. As
the morning went on, the sun rose higher into the sky and though
there was a slight chill they were not unduly cold. Even Gimli
could find no cause for complaint. It was a perfect day.
They
returned several hours later, after a very successful hunt.
No less than three deer, four partridge and two rabbits had
fallen to their weapons, dinner that night would be something
special indeed. They had just returned their horses to the stables
when they heard a commotion near by. A moment later, Arwen rushed
in. “Estel!" She cried. “Thank the Valar you’re
back!” The King rushed to her.
“What
is it?!” He asked urgently. “What’s wrong?!”
“Soldiers!”
She said. “The renegades we thought we were rid of! They
have returned!” Aragorn swore loudly. Had the situation
been less severe, Arwen would have chastised him for his language.
But this was not the time. Thankfully, due to the day’s
activities, all three of them were armed. The King looked at
his long-time friends, who nodded in reply to his unspoken and
unnecessary question.
“Stay
here.” Aragorn told his wife. “If the fighting comes
near you, take your horse and ride away!” Arwen was not
pleased at having to hide away during battle, but as Queen,
she could not risk herself. Valar forbid that something should
happen to Estel, somebody had to be around to rule the kingdom.
“Be
careful.” She told him, her worry evident in her voice.
“I
will be.” He replied gently before rushing out of the
stables, Legolas and Gimli close behind.
The
scene that met their eyes when they got to the front of the
palace was one of total chaos. Gondorian soldiers battled the
renegades as far as he could see and there were signs that the
battle had been going on for some time. Many bodies littered
the battlefield, mostly of the enemy, but some were Aragorn’s
own men. The King’s face set in a grim line. They would
pay for this. With a ringing battle cry, he charged into the
fray.
The wrath of the King and his friends was a terrible thing to
behold. In minutes, no less than fourteen enemy soldiers lay
dead. But many more still remained.
Legolas
spun as two soldiers came at him. He drew his knives and twirled
them around in his hands, so the blades appeared as whirling
silver discs. The two soldiers tried to dodge, but they were
no match for the elf’s skill. One of the blades sliced
into the closest man’s shoulder, incapacitating him, the
other died instantly when the second blade slit his throat.
With
the two men down, Legolas turned his attention to the rest of
the fight. Spotting several of the renegades attacking a group
of Gondorian soldiers, he raised his bow and loosed several
shots in quick succession. The renegades fell and Aragorn’s
men nodded their thanks to the elf before returning to the battle.
Looking
round for his friends, Legolas quickly spotted Aragorn, doing
fine against three of the enemy. Legolas smiled. He needed no
help. He looked instead for Gimli. He found the dwarf a moment
later, fighting off a soldier twice his size and struggling
slightly, but he could do nothing to help him as he was then
attacked by four men who seemed very determined to take him
down. He was unimpressed and dispatched them quickly with his
knives, moving then to Gimli’s side. Gimli laughed as
he brandished his axe at another soldier. “Go on!”
He yelled. “Get out of here you sons of orcs!”
By
now, many of the enemy were dead, injured, or had retreated.
But a few still remained, determined to do as much damage as
they could before they fell. Legolas turned to speak to Gimli,
but stopped as he saw a soldier to his left, armed with a bow,
the arrow aimed directly at him. He raised his own bow, knowing
that he could easily get the other before he got him, but as
he went to shoot, his eyes glimpsed a movement to his right.
A feeling of dread rose within him as he saw that there was
another soldier, also with a bow, this one’s arrow aimed
at Gimli. Legolas was an incredibly fast shot, but not even
he could shoot in two different directions at once. He would
only have time for one shot.
Swinging
his bow around, he released the arrow at the soldier to the
right, killing the man instantly. But the other soldier’s
arrow had also been released.
Gimli
realised the danger too late. But as fear of death grew within
him, an elven arrow felled the man where he stood. Gimli breathed
a sigh of relief and turned around to thank his friend - just
in time to see the second soldier's arrow strike the elf just
left of his chest. “LEGOLAS!” Gimli cried out in
horror as the elven prince fell.
Legolas
felt the arrow strike. He gasped as pain overwhelmed him and
he fell to his knees. His bow fell from his hands and his vision
started to blur.
Aragorn’s
head shot up as he heard Gimli cry out. Quickly finishing off
the soldier he was still dealing with, he rushed to where Gimli
stood. As he neared, he could see Legolas, on his knees, an
arrow protruding from his chest. “NO!” Dread washed
over him. It couldn’t be! He ran to his old friend's side,
slaughtering any that got in his way.
With
a cry of rage, Gimli leapt at the man who had shot his friend.
The soldier never stood a chance against the enraged dwarf and
Gimli’s axe took his head from his shoulders almost before
he knew what was happening.
All
around, the remaining renegades were stunned at what they’d
done. Not wishing to face the King or the dwarf, those that
still lived, left.
Aragorn
reached Legolas and pulled the Prince into his arms. “Legolas.”
He whispered his friend’s name.
The elf blinked as he became aware of Aragorn’s presence.
“Estel.”
His voice was faint. Everything was very fuzzy now, but he knew
who it was that held him. He tried to focus on the man’s
face. But everything was fading, even the pain in his chest
was now nothing more than a dull ache.
Arwen
ran from the stables. She could feel Aragorn’s pain, she
had to get to him. Racing to the scene of the fight she saw
Aragorn kneeling on the ground, Gimli standing beside him. Aragorn
was cradling Legolas in his arms. Her breath caught. “Please,
Ilutivar, no.” She rushed to where her husband was desperately
trying to save his oldest friend.
Aragorn
forced himself to remain calm. He quickly checked his friend’s
wound - and his worst fears were realised. The arrow had pierced
Legolas’ heart. There was nothing he could do. “Legolas.”
He choked back a sob. “Please, don’t die.”
The elf forced a pained smile.
“I
am sorry, mellon nin.” He whispered. “I do not wish
to go - but I fear I must. Forgive me.”
“Nooo!” Gimli dropped to his knees beside his friend.
“Why Legolas?” He asked. “Why did you do it?
My life isn’t worth it, you damn stupid elf!” Unbidden
tears fell from the dwarf’s eyes. Legolas reached out
and weakly grasped his friend’s hand.
“It
was to me.” He said softly. He looked up and saw Arwen
standing by Gimli and Aragorn. “Arwen.” He breathed
her name. Just her name, nothing more. The she-elf fought to
maintain her composure. “Look after Estel?” He asked.
She nodded.
“Forever
- My Lord.” A slight laugh escaped his lips as his old
joke was finally reversed.
“Thank you.” Knowing that he had very little time
left, he turned his attention to the others. “Gimli. Estel.
You have been the best friends I could ever have wished for.
I will miss you.” He gave one last, weak smile and then
his heart stopped beating and his spirit fled the shores of
Middle-Earth.
“LEGOLAS!”
Aragorn screamed his friend’s name and buried his face
in the elf’s shoulder, sobs wracking his body. Gimli sat
beside him, still gripping Legolas’ hand, crying silently.
Arwen could only stand and stare, numb with shock.
They
stayed that way for a long, long time.
