NOTE: Apologizing again for not updating this story in forever. I am in college and, being an education major, have a shitload of work. Also, band is taking up 3 out of my 5 days, and half my weekend. Whenever I get to go home, I just like to spend time with my family, not on my computer. I am not trying to be mean or lazy, but I appreciate it if I stopped getting private messages telling me to update my story soon. I'm glad that you all like the story that much, but please understand that my schoolwork comes first. So here is the next chapter, review please.

Translations (there are a bunch):

Man mathach? – How do you feel?

Im maer – I'm well

Hebo estel – Have hope

no ce ammaer ab lu thent – May you be better soon

Im gelhir ceni ad lin – I am happy to see you again

Avo acheno! – Don't look back!

Drego – Flee!

Avo 'ostol – Fear not

Le hannon a tholel – Thank you for coming

At the End of the Day

Aragorn sighed and looked around him. Hundreds of dead orcs littered the ground, many strewn amongst their own men. Rohan had won the battle, the castle was saved. Aragorn shielded his eyes from the setting sun as he looked for Thranduil. Spotting him by a group of elven warriors, he quickly approached him. "Lord Thranduil, man mathach?"

"Im maer, Estel," Thranduil replied, turning to face the ranger. He followed Aragorn's gaze around the fields, his expression unreadable. "Many brave men have fought today, Aragorn. They have done a fine job keeping this city safe."

Aragorn nodded. He was just about to say something when he sensed Thranduil stiffen next to him. He turned to face him, noticing his expression had to turned to one of fear and anguish. His gaze had turned toward the castle. "My lord, what troubles you?"

Thranduil turned to face Aragorn, his expression unchanging. "I fear something has gone terribly wrong within the castle."

Aragorn looked at him in confusion for a moment before it dawned on him. "Legolas," he barely whispered. He turned and quickly sprinted towards the castle, praying to the Valar he was not too late. He ran past soldiers, not even slowing when Eomer called out to him. He raced up the stairs to the castle and burst through the doors. He tore down the hallway to where Legolas's room was. He stopped short at the sight in front of him.

Merry was kneeling down on the floor, Legolas's body wrapped tightly in his arms. The elf was not moving, and Merry's body was shaking with sobs. The two were surrounded by several dead orcs. He looked up when he noticed Aragorn. "A-Aragon!"

Aragorn felt his heart drop and he rushed to Merry's side and dropped to his knees. "Merry, what happened?!" he exclaimed, practically pulling Legolas from the hobbit's arms.

Merry wiped away tears and continued to stare at Legolas's deathly pale face. "The orcs the…they killed the guards outside the door…then they just…barged in and they were going to kill me…but L-Legolas, he…he was there suddenly and he killed them…then he just…collapsed and…and he said to tell you he was…sorry." Merry looked away in shame after he had finished telling Aragorn the story.

Aragorn frowned and held Legolas's body close to his own. "Legolas, mellon-nin…wake up, please. The battle is over, we have saved the castle. It is safe for you now. Please, you must wake up." He gently shook the elf, tears welling up in his eyes when he got no response. "Legolas…no."

Merry bit his lip, looking down in shame. "Aragorn, I…I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect him," he said in a small voice. A tear escaped down his cheek and hit the floor. I'm such a failure, first I let Pippin die, now Legolas. He put his head down and cried lightly.

"Merry, it is not your fault," Aragorn said quietly. He looked up when he heard scuffling at the end of the hall. He frowned once more when Thranduil appeared around the corner. He nodded to the king, then carefully picked up Legolas and carried him into the room. He set him down once more on the bed as Thranduil's servants cleared the orc bodies from the room. He stared at Legolas's still form, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Estel?" Thranduil asked, appearing at his side.

"This cant be!" Aragorn cried out, falling to his knees. He practically threw himself onto Legolas and sobbed. "He can't be gone, he simply can't be!" He looked up at Thranduil through the tears. "Is there nothing that can be done?"

Thranduil knelt beside Aragorn and took Legolas's hand in his own. "Ion-nin," he began quietly. He closed his eyes and bowed his head, still clinging to Legolas's hand. "Hebo estel…no ce ammaer ab lu thent."

Aragorn watched Legolas as Thranduil muttered several more things in Elvish. He wanted so badly for the elf to wake up and tell him it was all a joke, that he did not die protecting the castle. He briefly peered over his shoulder at Merry, who had quietly entered the room. The hobbit looked tired and extremely miserable, and it pained him. He looked back when Thranduil put his hand on his shoulder.

"Estel, he is waking up," Thranduil said quietly, eyeing Legolas.

Aragorn held his breath as he watched Legolas. He sighed with relief when the elf stirred. He backed up a little to let Thranduil closer to his son.

Legolas slowly opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling for a moment before spotting Thranduil. "Ada," he barely whispered, his voice weak and hoarse. He clung tightly to Thranduil's hand as he struggled to move. He finally noticed Aragorn standing off in the corner, and he smiled weakly at him. "Estel," he said, almost as quietly as the first time.

Aragorn smiled lightly, tears brimming in his eyes once more. He slowly approached Legolas's bed and knelt down, taking his hand in his and squeezing it. "Mellon-nin, Im gelhir ceni ad lin." He brushed some stray hairs from Legolas's face. "I was afraid you were gone."

Legolas frowned and weakly squeezed Aragorn's hand. "I'm…ok."

Aragorn nodded and smiled a little. He leaned over and gently hugged Legolas. He then stood, turning to see Merry. The hobbit was standing in the corner, looking rather shocked. He motioned for him to come closer. "He is ok, Merry, its ok."

Merry swallowed and slowly approached the elf. He stopped at the side of the bed and stared down at Legolas's pale face. "L-Legolas?"

Legolas smiled up at him, his eyes only half open. "Merry…are you…ok?"

Merry nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving Legolas's face. "Yes. You…saved me." He looked away as if he were ashamed. "Aragorn…I…I want to go see Pippin for a while," he said quietly.

Aragorn frowned slightly at Merry's saddened mood. "Ok," he said, quietly dismissing the hobbit from the room. After he left, he turned back to Legolas. "Goheno-nin, Legolas. He has been…very upset since we discovered Pippin's body."

"He needs time," Thranduil said, noticing the look of sadness that crossed Legolas's face when Aragorn told him the news. "I shall leave you two alone for now." He stood to leave, lightly kissing Legolas's forehead quickly. "I will go and speak with King Théoden and discuss the damages done."

Aragorn nodded and watched the king leave. He took a seat next to Legolas's bed and helped the elf into a sitting position. "Do you want me to get you anything?"

Legolas shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut briefly due to the pain. He looked up at Aragon, his eyes still tired. "Just your company…tell me about the battle."

Aragorn nodded and looked down. He didn't want to see Legolas's sad and pained eyes. "We vastly outnumbered the orcs, but many of our men were killed. The castle was safe for the most part. No orcs got past your room." He looked up at Legolas, sighing slightly. "Why did you do it?"

Legolas looked at him in confusion. "Do what?"

Aragorn hesitated for a moment. "Fight the orcs," he said quietly. "You were in no shape…you have easily been killed."

Legolas frowned and leaned back against his pillows. "I have already let Pippin die, Aragorn. I was not about to let Merry die as well."

Aragorn sat up and stared out the window. "He could have protected himself, he-"

"No, Aragorn," Legolas said rather harshly. "He was outnumbered, he could have been killed." He closed his eyes and turned his head away.

"You could have been killed as well," Aragorn said. He looked back at the elf. "Legolas-"

"I'm tired, Aragorn," Legolas said quickly, frowning at his choice of words.

Aragorn took that as a hint that he was not wanted around at the moment. He nodded and turned away. "I will let you rest for now."

"Estel," Legolas said, looking to Aragorn.

"I'll return later to see how you are," Aragorn said, opening the door. He hesitated for a moment before stepping out and closing it.

Legolas frowned and sighed. He gently turned on his side facing away from the door, a tear escaping down his pale face. He hadn't meant to get angry and send Aragorn away. He wanted his company; he didn't want to be alone. "Estel…goheno-nin," he whispered before quickly drifting off into a restless sleep.

Merry once again sat alone in the room that Pippin's body rested in. He sat by the edge of the bed and stared at his cousin. He had spoken earlier that day with Eowyn about getting the body transferred back to the Shire for a proper burial. He would want to be home where we grew up. He always loved it in the Shire so much. He swallowed back tears as he sat there in silence. He had stopped talking after it finally hit him that Pippin would not be able to answer him. He was also feeling regretful for leaving so suddenly after discovering that Legolas was alive. I hope he is not angry with me. Merry was grateful that Legolas had saved him, but he was also depressed that he could not have taken the orcs on by himself.

He eventually got up and paced the room. He had it memorized, even in the dark. He also never ventured far from Pippin's bed, assuming it was out of fear of losing him once again. He thought long and hard about the day's battle, hoe Aragorn had not let him fight. Perhaps he made me stay in Legolas's room because he feared he could not protect himself? He was curious as to why Aragorn would trust a small hobbit with such a large task. He may just think I am too small and weak to fight in the fields. He frowned at the thought, and changed the direction of his pacing.

He now wondered if Aragorn was still in the room with Legolas. He wondered if he was angry at the elf for protecting himself and not letting Merry do it. I could always go and see. He turned to leave, once more looking over Pippin. He was running out of valid excuses to stay in the room longer than necessary. He closed the door behind him and strolled down the hall. He was almost at Legolas's room when he spotted Aragorn sitting on a nearby bench, a pained expression his face. Did he have a fight with Legolas? Perhaps I should not bother either of them. He turned and walked back down the hall. He spotted Eowyn in the main hall, looking over the bodies of the fallen men that had brought to the castle. "My lady?"

Eowyn looked down at him and smiled sadly. "Merry…the wives of these men must be informed of their husbands' deaths…would you please come with me?"

Merry looked around at the fallen men and found himself nodding. He felt Eowyn take his hand and pull him away gently. He was willing to do whatever it took to make himself feel useful once again.

nightfall

Aragorn walked quietly back into the castle. He had just finished helping cleaning the bloody mess of bodies and weapons from the fields. He was tired, but he had one more thing to do. He felt terrible for walking out on Legolas earlier when he knew he needed him to be there. He had to go and apologize to the elf, to make things right. At the end of the day their friendship and Legolas being ok was all that mattered to him at the moment. He walked quietly to the elf's door, hoping he would not wake him.

He quietly entered the room, dimly lit by a torch in the corner. He expected the elf to be asleep, so he was a little surprised when Legolas turned on his side. "Legolas, mellon-nin, are you awake?"

Legolas gasped suddenly, and Aragorn quickly realized the elf was having a nightmare. "No! No, please! Avo acheno! Drego!" Legolas began thrashing around in the bed, sheets flying in all directions.

Aragorn sprinted to his side and took hold of the elf. "Legolas! Avo 'ostol, I am here." He clung to the elf, repeating calming words in Elvish in the hopes of calming him down. It worked, as eventually Legolas stopping yelling and collapsed into Aragorn's arms. Aragorn held him tightly, being careful of his injured shoulder. "Legolas…are you awake?"

Legolas sniffled lightly and looked up at Aragorn. "Yes," he said quietly.

"Everything is ok now, you were having a nightmare," Aragorn said, still hugging him. He eventually set him down gently on the bed and covered him up again. "I will stay for a while if you wish."

Legolas nodded and looked up at him. "Le hannon a tholel, Estel. I am sorry I angered you earlier."

Aragorn frowned and took Legolas's hand in his own. "It was not your fault, mellon-nin. I should not have gotten angry about you fighting the orcs. I know you were protecting Merry."

Legolas looked away towards the window and frowned. "It was the only thing I could do."

Aragorn frowned at the elf. He knew he was referring to Pippin. He continued to watch Legolas, noticing when he tried to hide a yawn. "Perhaps you should sleep some more, I'll stay here for a while."

Legolas nodded slowly, leaning back against the pillows. "Thank you, Aragorn."

Aragorn smiled lightly and sat by the edge of the bed. "Sleep well, my friend," he whispered as Legolas quickly drifted back to sleep. He watched over his friend, thanking the Valar that he was ok.

TBC

Ok, so that might have been a slightly dumb way to end the chapter, but since I keep getting messages about it I kind of sped through the chapter. I don't know when the next chapter will be up, but please review.