"Eowyn!" Arwen shouted joyfully. "What brings you to these forests so far from your home?"
"A scout brought word that Legolas and Aragorn did not return home from the battle. I set off to find you, and soon found myself following the orcs. I'm sorry I didn't kill them earlier. 13 to 1 is not good odds."
"You're telling me." Arwen's tone was serious, but her eyes sparkled with happiness.
Eowyn glanced at the two bodies in the clearing. She gasped as she recognized them to be Legolas and Aragorn.
"How did this happen?"
"It was at the battle. Anyone within miles could hear the painful sounds of battle. Swords crashed against each other. A steady stream of arrows flew everywhere." Arwen trembled as she recalled the memory.
"Legolas and Aragorn had been separated. Aragorn was down beneath, killing Orcs. His sword was flailing wildly. Legolas let arrows fly continuously. But in the midst of the battle, Aragorn's senses were dulling. The battle had been raging for hours, and though he was experienced and strong, he had begun to tire. Thus, he did not notice a few Orcs heading towards him with their daggers drawn. When he realized that, it was too late. He was badly beaten by the Orcs, the first time in his life. Legolas noticed this, and ran swiftly to Aragorn's side. Orcs began to swarm over the two." Arwen and Eowyn were silent. Eowyn knew well what Arwen was going to say.
"I found them," Arwen said weakly, "in the battlefield after the Orcs were defeated. The army had left. Aragorn and Legolas had been thought dead, and were close enough to it."
Suddenly, Aragorn stirred. Arwen practically flew to his side. His clothes were soaked with sweat. She peeled off his sticky shirt and her face darkened. There were bruises everywhere. Dried blood formed caked layers on his chest. She didn't want to imagine how his legs would be. Dark red stains had already soaked through and fouled his pants. She couldn't stop a cry from escaping her mouth. Aragorn was nearly dead.
She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She willed herself to tear her eyes from Aragorn and saw Eowyn's compassionate face before her.
"I'll leave you with-" Eowyn could not say the name of Arwen's fading love. "-him. I'll patrol what I guess is now our campgrounds."
Campgrounds, Arwen thought. These are no campgrounds. These will be burial sights.
She felt herself getting angry. Her cheeks were flushed against her pale face. Her fingers trembled, tears welled up in her eyes. She would not let them fall.
Aragorn opened his eyes slowly. He brought a bloody and battered hand to her cheek. "Angels," he said deliriously. Then his eyes snapped shut, and he was falling into the depths of unconsciousness.
Arwen gently laid a hand on his chest. He shuddered. "I'm sorry," she whispered, although she knew he couldn't hear her. She knew her everyday magic would not be enough for him. It was time for her last resort: a magic no one knew she had but herself. Things like this are best kept secret, she thought. She closed her eyes and whispered hoarsely in Elvish, "Bring him back- back to the light..." She felt her energy transferring to Aragorn's nearly lifeless body. He was emerging from the shadow...
She stood shakily, overwhelmed from how tired the healing left her. It was then she noticed the tops of the trees were getting farther away. She collapsed.
Eowyn found Arwen, Aragorn, and Legolas an hour later in an even odder form than when she had left. Legolas was awake. Aragorn looked better. She saw the drowsiness in his eyes but his open wounds had started healing. But Arwen was on the ground, her eyes eerily open, and murmuring something in Elvish. Aragorn and Legolas were sitting beside her. Aragorn looked up at her sharply.
"Where have you been?" he snapped angrily, his eyes blazing. Eowyn was taken aback.
"I was patrolling the campground," she replied stiffly, the surprise in her voice easily detectable.
Aragorn was silent. "I'm sorry," said Aragorn in a softer tone. "It's just- I would feel at fault if Arwen was hurt because of me."
"It's not your fault," said Eowyn gently. "How are you doing?" she nodded Legolas.
"Much better," said Legolas. "I'm going now to the pond." He retreated and pulled off his shirt. Eowyn gasped. His whole chest and back was covered with bruises and assorted wounds, though not as graphic as Aragorn's.
"Are you sure you're alright?" she asked, concerned. Legolas nodded firmly.
Just then, Arwen opened her eyes and moaned a little.
"Are you alright?" Eowyn asked. "You took a bit of a drop there."
"I'll be okay." Eowyn motioned for her and Arwen to sit, and she told her of everything she had seen during her patrol- nothing. Just the forest and her creatures, nothing odd. But something was amiss when an hour later, Legolas hadn't returned from the pond.
"Perhaps we should go check on him?" suggested Eowyn. Arwen nodded, and they set off for the pond. The first sight they saw was a dazzling display of light. The sun shimmered on the pond's surface, bouncing everywhere and dotting the forest with sparkles. But the one place that was not glittering was the place it would matter most- Legolas. He was face down on the ground, and seemed to have no intention of getting up.