Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not a bloody thing.
A/N: My god, this took me forever! I'm sorry, I guess I just temporarily ran out of inspiration for this story. But it's back now!


Chapter 6: Leaving

The course of true love never did run smooth.
-Lysander from Midsummer's Night Dream, by William Shakespeare


The Dream. Still it haunted her, each night slightly different, and yet still exactly the same.
Tonight she was standing on a hilltop, watching, helpless in horror, as Legolas battled with orcs in the field below. He was terribly brave, but he was one against fifty. As Éowyn watched, two orcs passed their swords through his heart, and he fell to his knees, blood pouring from his mouth. With an evil laugh, a huge orc stepped forward, and Legolas' decapitated head rolled down the hillside.
Éowyn screamed. She screamed again and again, falling to her knees, knowing that the orcs were advancing towards her, but not hearing them or seeing them, only hearing her own voice, a high screeching wail-
She gasped and sat straight up in bed, her eyes wide and her brow damp with sweat. A body beside her stirred, and she looked down to see Legolas, sleeping beside her.
She gazed at his fair face long and hard, memorizing every detail of his sleeping form. Then, not waking him, she rose from his side.

****

Legolas awoke several hours after dawn. He was immediately awake, and immediately concerned-where was Éowyn? She had slept in his bed last night, but was not beside him. He pondered this, but decided that she had probably risen earlier and was either in her chambers or in the banquet hall.
He left his rooms and made his way over to the hall her bedroom was in. He knocked on the door, calling her name softly. Frowning, he opened the door-she was not inside. And her things were gone.
Legolas felt a shiver run through him. A hand of ice clutched at his heart, and his breath came fast. He ran through the palace, asking every elf he met where Dernhelm had gone, but no one could answer him.
At last he came to the stables, to see two elves-Elnar and Keranon-unsaddling their horses and talking to each other. Elnar caught sight of Legolas and beckoned to him. Legolas! Why are you running so hard? Calm yourself!
Elnar! Elnar where is the lady-the lord Dernhelm?
Surprise crossed Elnar's face. Why, I thought you knew! Dernhelm left last night!
Legolas' face blanched white.
He left Mirkwood in the middle of the night, and Keranon and I escorted him out of this forest. We asked if you or the king had given leave, for we know he could not leave without your knowledge, and he said he had bade you farewell. He lied, then?
Legolas stared at the elf, not hearing his words, not seeing his face. She had left him. She had left him, and that left him dead.