Chapter 22

For a moment, fear attempted to seize Elanor's heart as she looked out at Pelennor Fields. Pandemonium reigned supreme and it was clear that the army of Gondor was losing energy as they fought valiantly against Sauron's hordes. She gripped her reins tightly, waiting for the King of Rohan to give the order, part of her eager to join the fight though the other wished to turn and ride in the opposite direction. It was folly to think that they could win this - they barely won a Helm's Deep.

She then shook her head as she straightened up in her saddle looking to the elves around her with fierce determination in her eyes.

"Strength and courage, my friends," she said calmly. "If we die today, then we die with honor doing what is right and just." She then swallowed her last bit of fear. "And if I die today, I am grateful that I die with such noble elves and strong fighters at my side."

"Strength and courage," Braen shouted, the others following suit.

She fixed her eyes ahead, already assessing the battle as she heard Theoden run his sword along the line of spears.

"Arise, arise, Riders of Theoden! Spear shall be shaken, shield shall be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now, ride! Ride for ruin and the world's ending! Death! Death! Death! Forth Eorlingas!"

Elanor felt strength surge through her as the many soldiers all shouted in one voice. She pulled out her sword, lifting it high as she glanced at Braen next to her. He nodded, towards her, silently reassuring her that he would be at her side.

She then turned her focus forward. With one word, the entire company surged forward across the field. A fierce battle cry left her lips as all thoughts of Haldir or Legolas left her and the only thing in her mind was the desire to save Middle Earth.

Elanor grunted as she landed her blade into the belly of a Southron man and then kicked him away, pain shooting up her leg, though she ignored it. She had been thrown from her horse in the early throes of the fight but had pushed through the pain like any good soldier would.

She glanced around, noting that the elven warriors were sticking close to each other, working together to down as many of the enemy as possible. Their arrival had the desired element of surprise, thanks to the Wild Men's secret road, and they were quickly gaining on them, cutting off one course of retreat.

Renewed vigor pulsed through her as she continued on, pushing her way forward towards the city walls. Though they were facing good odds at the moment, Elanor could not help but wish for Legolas and Aragorn to arrive. They would need them and the Army of the Dead if they were to have a decisive victory.

And it certainly was of no help that the longer they were separated, the more she worried about his fate. He had promised he would be here, but there truly was no predicting just what they would face on the Road Under the Mountain.

But it would not do to dwell on such thoughts while Elanor needed to focus on the battle and keep her people safe. They had lost far too many at Helm's Deep and she was unsure if she could bear losing anymore.

Without warning, the ground shook beneath her feet and an unworldly shriek pierced the air, striking fear into her heart. Elanor ducked under another sword, swiftly killed its owner and then looked to the sky, her blood starting to run cold.

"The Witch King of Angmar," she heard Braen shout. She looked over at him, the both of them wearing equally concerned looks. This did not bode well for anyone. Elanor looked over, seeing the beast flying lower to the ground, as though it had selected its first victim. The desire to protect overwhelmed her, though she could not see who was being attacked.

"Come! They will need help!" she shouted, as she started to run across the field, praying the whole time that she would not be too late.

Elanor shouted when she felt the sting in her side. She did not need to look down to know that the man currently grinning wickedly at her had landed what could be a serious blow. Though what he did not know was that it would take far more than that to kill her.

With a cry, she charged towards him, quickly dispatching of him before turning to look for others. For a moment, the blood pounded through her head as she took in the state of the battle. Earlier she had been so sure. They were fighting the enemy back. But with the arrival of the Witch-King, everything had changed, though he now lay dead on the other side of the field, killed by a soldier that Elanor could not recognize as she stood too far off. They had been unable to reach where he had landed.

The sounds of battle faded as she watched soldiers of Rohan and Gondor fall. The only thing she could hear was her own haggard breathing as she desperately prayed for a miracle. She was not sure how long any of them would be able to continue like this. She was injured and in pain and others were far worse than she.

Elanor then shook her head, coming out of her trance and once again on the move. While they may be losing ground, this was not over yet, and she still had strength to fight. Lifting her sword, she charged back into the fray, killing another Haradrim soldier just before he could take out one of her soldiers. She pushed all thoughts of defeat and even victory aside as she settled into instinct. It was kill or be killed on the battlefield. Elanor was not yet ready to die.

"Elanor!"

She looked over at Braen, who raised his bow and shot three arrows in rapid fire as the ground shook beneath her. She turned and rolled out of the way just before a Mumakil stomped her flat. Just next to her, the dead body of a Haradrim hit the ground, obviously falling from the large creatures' back thanks to Braen's quick shooting.

Braen helped her up and the two continued moving, killing as many as they could, though it felt as though where two fell, five more appeared. In the distance, Elanor could see Eomer shouting orders as he charged through on horseback, his men following.

She could feel her energy starting to ebb, but pushed forward, maintaining her form and strength as she fought side by side with the other elves.

"My lady! Look!"

Elanor paused a moment, looking towards the river, her eyes widening as her heart began sinking and nearly stopped.

"The Corsairs of Umbar!"

"We are lost!" a Gondor soldier shouted.

Elanor looked at him, disgust filling her face before turning back to the boats, determination blazing through her.

"We are not lost yet," she spat. "Elves of Lothlorien! Follow me!"

The group moved quickly through the fight, making their way to the shore where she hoped they could at least slow the new arrivals down and give Eomer time to notice their arrival and redirect.

She was about to charge when a figure jumped to the dock that had her freezing, her eyes wide. Hope began to fill her heart and course through her veins.

"Wait!" she shouted, putting her hand up.

"What is it, my lady?"

A wild grin filled Elanor's face as her eyes remained focused on the ships. Almost instantly, it was as though her pain and aches had faded away as new strength filled her.

"It is not the enemy," she said. "It is our saving grace."

The elves watched as more men leapt from the ships, beginning to engage with the enemy forces had been on the docks. She recognized the cloaks and some of the faces, wondering just how the Grey Company knew to come here.

Suddenly, there was a rush of wind. With a quiet roar, hundreds and hundreds of ghostly apparitions poured forth from the ships, gliding over Elanor and her band of soldiers. They turned watching as they attacked the field, laying waste to Sauron's forces in mere seconds. Elanor's eyes widened in shock. She turned back to the boats, one last time, this time her eyes falling on a lithe figure with golden hair.

Her feet started to pull her towards him.

"Lady Elanor?"

Her head whipped over and up as she saw two identical grins aimed at her, the owners of such grins rushing towards her small company.

"It is good to see you still here," Elladan shouted as they neared, his brother Elrohir keeping stride. "And that we have not missed the fight."

"Come, there is no time to waste," she said, already turning and running towards the battle.

"Yes, we are rather late," Elladan shouted.

"Thought it best to make a grand entrance," Elrohir added, winking at her. Elanor rolled her eyes, but then grinned.

Once again hope had returned to her heart. This was not yet over.

Legolas shouted out numbers as he fought his way across the battlefield, though he was not quite sure if Gimli was close enough to hear him. But still, it was the principle of it.

They had arrived just in the nick of time, it seemed. When they arrived at the docks, for a moment, Legolas' heart sank, seeing the mess that Sauron's troops were making of Gondor, Rohan and all those who fought with them. He worried for Elanor and her small company, knowing that they would throw themselves into the thickest of it if it meant saving others.

But then he had seen a glimpse of her. Her blue eyes wide in awe and filling with renewed purpose. However, just as quickly as she had appeared, she then disappeared, bounding back towards the battle with Elladan and Elrohir at her side and the rest of her company following.

He was determined to fight his way to her, but the field was large and the soldiers many. While no one looked like Elanor, twice now he had started towards a figure only to discover that it was not her.

Frustration was beginning to build inside him, nearly distracting him. But as he ducked at the last minute to miss an arrow to the shoulder, he re-focused. He could not find Elanor if he was dead.

He heard shouts in Sindarin coming from the other side of a large mumakil and quickly dodged through its legs, careful to zig-zag so that its riders could not hit their mark with their arrows. Upon arriving on the other side, he found Elladan and Elrohir.

"Where is she!?" he shouted, as he engaged with an orc that had been attempting to sneak up on the two brothers. "Where is Elanor?!"

Elladan looked over at him a moment before blocking a blow and then taking the orc's head off.

"We lost track of her and her company some time ago," he admitted. He glanced over at the mumakil. "I think that would be the best way to find her."

Legolas looked over at the massive creature that towered far above the field, assessing the best way to get up on top. He then smiled gratefully at Elladan and took off at a sprint. Upon reaching the creature's hide quarters, he leapt into the air, grabbing hold of a loose rope and then climbing up. He was lucky in that neither the driver nor the marksmen noticed him until it was too late. He silently took out the three closest to him on the back with his bow, then hopped onto the platform and quickly took out the rest. Running to the front to attempt and steer the animal, he frantically looked around, searching the field for her.

Finally, his eyes caught sight of a golden braid. She stood tall, taking aim at another mumakil with the rest of her company. Her mouth opened and dozens of arrows flew through the air, landing either in the animal or in its passengers. They quickly fired again and again, until the animal collapsed.

Legolas wanted nothing more than to get to her, so pulled out three arrows, firing them simultaneously into the mumakil's head, then slid down its body as it collapsed. He landed on the ground and immediately looked in the direction he had last seen Elanor in.

"That only counts as one!" Gimli shouted. Legolas looked over, his eyebrows raised, wondering just where the dwarf had come from. He then smiled and nodded, before turning and sprinting away.

He needed to get to her. And quickly.

Elanor breathed heavily, surprised that she was still able to stand as her eyes scanned the large battlefield around her. Bodies littered the ground, though there were pockets of green where the army of the dead chased down the last stragglers of Sauron's army.

It was over.

It took far more strength than usual for her to lift her sword and slide it into her sheath, but a small buzz of energy sparked as her eyes then continued to scan the field, looking for Legolas. She couldn't remember just where it was she had last seen him - it was only a glimpse as she attempted to take down a mumakil with the others - but started walking in that general direction, stumbling through the corpses and praying that he was not one of them.

"Elanor!"

She stopped for a moment as Braen and several other Lothlorien elves made their way to her. They all looked around, their faces expressionless, but Elanor could see the pain in their eyes. Now that the battle had been won, it was time to take care of their injured and their dead. For a moment, Elanor did not wish to consider that any of theirs had died, but it was necessary.

"Our numbers?" she asked, still dragging ragged breaths into her lungs, forcing herself to focus on Braen though her eyes wished to roam the battlefield. She also ignored the sting of various cuts and the piercing pain in her side.

Where was Legolas?

"I am not yet sure," Braen said. "It will take some time yet to find them all." He looked around the bodies, a pained expression upon his face. "I do know that Ceris has fallen."

Elanor stepped towards him, placing her hand on his shoulder, knowing the two were as close as brothers. Braen looked up, meeting her eyes.

"He fought bravely and died honorably," she said, squeezing his shoulder. He nodded towards her. She then looked at the others. "See to the wounded. We will attempt to locate our dead in due time."

She then turned away, her eyes scanning the landscape again as she took a deep breath, grimacing at the pain, though attempted to hide it from the others.

"You are injured, Elanor. Allow me to help you to the House of Healing. Allain is already there," Braen said.

"I am fine," she said, though she winced again as the sharp pain ran through her side. She pushed herself to start walking away.

"You are not."

"I cannot go just yet," she said firmly.

"Elanor," Braen said.

"I cannot rest until I've found him!" she shouted, whirling around to face him, her eyes alight with fire. "Once I have found him, then I will rest."

She then turned and strode away, her head looking from right to left, her eyes roaming over those still standing, not wanting to look to those on the ground to see if one was him. Legolas had to survive. There was no way he could have died in this.

She continued to think the words over and over as she desperately made her way through the field, hearing shouts and wails of pain. The armies of Gondor and Rohan were quickly going through the field, locating those still alive and carting them off within the walls of the city.

Why could she not find him?

Desperation began to fill her as she stopped and pushed her hair from her face and a strangled sob broke forth from her lips. Hot tears stung her eyes, blurring her vision.

"It cannot be," she murmured over and over. She had not yet told him that she loved him. He could not be dead.

Then, in the chaos, there was a clear, familiar chuckle. Elanor's eyes flew open as she whirled around, seeing Gimli standing not so far off with Lord Aragorn and the twins, with another's back to her. Hope bloomed in her chest as her eyes fell on his form. Even after the chaos of battle, not a tress was out of place and his back was straight. Though covered in the dust and dirt of battle, he did not appear hurt or injured.

Elanor began stumbling in his direction, her heart pounding as she moved faster, her feet suddenly finding sure footing.

He was alive.

"Legolas!"

He turned, his eyes lighting up as relief filled his face. In a moment, he too was in motion, leaping over dead bodies and running across the field until the two collided. His arms were strong as stone as they enclosed her, pulling her close to his body. Elanor could not help the tears now streaming down her face as she held onto him for dear life.

"I told you that I would meet you at Minas Tirith," he whispered in her ear. "I have been searching for you since we arrived… Thank the Valar you are safe." Elanor stepped back from him, though did not let go of him.

For a moment she only stared at him, her mind far too addled with the onslaught of emotions coursing through her. He was alive. She was alive. The battle was over and they had won. She could not seem to form words.

But then, she realized that she did not need them.

Elanor's hands went around the back of Legolas' neck and she yanked him down to her, capturing his lips in a searing kiss. She could feel his surprise as he did nothing for half a moment, but then his grip on her waist tightened as his lips moved against hers and one hand came up to rest on her cheek. Though it should have hurt, Elanor found the pain was far from her mind.

Despite her fatigue and the pain, Elanor felt as though she was soaring and could go on kissing him for the rest of her days. But it was a sharp whistle from Gimli that brought her back down to Middle Earth as their lips parted, the both of them struggling to catch their breath.

A wide grin had spread across Legolas' face as he caressed her dirty cheek. Elanor was sure that she wore a smile just as delirious.

"I love you. I've always loved you," she said, the words now easily tumbling from her lips. "Since we were young, if I am being truly honest."

"It has always been you for me," Legolas whispered. "Never any other. I love you, too, Elanor."

Elanor leaned her forehead against his and closed her eyes briefly as happy tears fell down her cheeks. But the joy and peace only lasted a moment before the pain was back in her side, reminding her that they had just been in battle. Her knees buckled, but Legolas' strong arms held her up, pulling her closer to him.

"You are injured," he said, his brow furrowed. He then lifted his hand up from her waist, finding it stained with her blood.

Without another word, Legolas lifted her up into his arms, turning towards the gates of the great city.

"Allain is in… the city… with the others," Elanor said, finding it difficult to breathe and keep her eyes open. All strength seemed to have left her body as her head fell against his chest and the pain increased.

She looked up, meeting Legolas' eyes as he continued to run.

"Do not die on me, Ella," he begged. She offered him a lopsided smile.

"Not today."

So, this chapter has a little bit of everything. Book references, movie references (you honestly didn't think I wasn't going to include the "kill the giant elephant" scene, did you?), a bit of suspense, and then FINALLY a confession of love. And a cliffhanger-ish…

Only a few more chapters to post! But feel free to pop over and check out "Bright Light in the Darkness – Original Version" if you want. Been posting a couple chapters a day or so.

Thanks for reading and following!