Legolas stared at the rising sun. Its bright rays basked the surrounding areas with a golden light. Somewhere he could hear the sound of a bird singing a song of new beginning. Blood still stained the ground from the battle two days ago.
He stopped and brushed against a spot of dried blood on the stone wall. Had it really been two days ago? Had it been just yesterday morning that Gandalf had charged over the hill with the rising sun?
Had it been just yesterday morning that Aragorn had enfolded Eowyn in an embrace that had not been broken for several tens of seconds? It seemed like life-times of grief ago.
A half-chuckle, half-sob tore pass his throat. So many men had died brutally, so many elves had tragically given up their immortality. And he was contemplating his best friend and his lover.
He was sure that last night Eowyn and Aragorn had been joined. How could they not? Legolas had seen the love in the young princess's eyes and the gentle tenderness in Aragorn's. He had seen it and his heart had wept. All the while, his eyes remained clear as he helped Gimli bury the many bodies.
He had maintained the act as long as he could until his emotions had finally began to leak through his weary exterior. When that had happened, he had fled, which was why he was now here on the battlement of Helm's Deep, staring at the barren country side. In the far distance, he could see the river where Aragorn had fallen.
Legolas shut his eyes tightly as that fateful day once again replayed over in his mind. "He fell..." he murmured along with the voice shouting in his head. "He fell..." But he is alive now! His thoughts whispered. "Yes but it was no thanks to me. How can I even be worthy to love Eowyn when I cannot even protect my best friend from harm?"
Footsteps sounded behind him and in a moment he had spun to face the newcomer to his grief. His elven eyes widened when he saw Eowyn standing before him, her blonde hair flowing to and forth in the breeze. Dirt smudged her face and she looked tired, but Legolas thought he had never seen someone more beautiful.
"Mi'lady," he greeted, then turned away to face the sunrise.
"Le-legolas," she choked over his name.
She does not even wish to speak my name, she despises me so much, Legolas screamed inside, feeling the grief tear through him. But his features remained lax and emotionless.
Eowyn sighed, staring at the unmoving back. "I wish to speak to you."
"Then speak," he returned quietly. "I shan't stop you."
Tossing her hair, Eowyn could feel the ire rising up in her. "Must all elves be so uncaring and heartless?"
Legolas bit his lip, but that as the only sound of his inner-turmoil. "Must all women of Rohan be so foolish and juvenile?"
Eowyn took in a deep breath, face growing pale. "Very well, master elf. I am pleased to see I was right in my earlier assessment. Even despite what I may have hoped differently. You are cruel and heartless and I have yet to see what Aragorn sees in you, you orc." She had aimed her words for pain and had succeeded.
Legolas spun, his eyes flashing. "Is that how you see me? O, Lady of Rohan? Is it?" he did not wait for an answer but plunged ahead. "At least I do not lure weary soldiers, who are missing their betrothed dearly, into my bed to take them for my own pleasure!" As soon as he said the words, he knew they were wrong and untruthful. But what is broken cannot be mended easily and an elf would never admit his mistake without a fight.
Éowyn took one step forward and struck the young prince hard on the cheek. "You are vile creature, elf! And if your entire race is of your like, I shall never wish to make their acquaintance, even though they may have helped defend us during the battle last night." Catching her breath, she turned on one heel and fled from the battlement, leaving Legolas staring after her.
The young prince reached up with one had to touch his stinging cheek before he sank to his knees on the stone floor. That was not the way he meant it to play out. She was supposed to be amazed by his character and tenderness and fall in love. Instead the opposite had happened.
What had gone on? Even Legolas was unsure. Instead of loving her like he had wished, he had lashed out. Her hurtful words ran through his mind and he felt his heart shudder within his chest.
Shifting so he was sitting with his legs folded in front of him, he rested his hot forehead against the cool stone and let the wind flow over him.
"Why, lady of Rohan, do you make me feel like this? I would do anything to be able to relinquish you to Aragorn completely." He moaned softly as he stared at the blue sky. "Why must you make my heart ache so?"
Somewhere, a crow barked out its harsh song and it rasped against Legolas' sensitive ears.
Closing his eyes, he felt the early morning breeze touch his face as if trying to soothe the Firstborn. How easy it would be to simply let his grief claim him once and for all, to slip away with the breeze and never return.
But that was for cowards. Not for a prince. Not for an elf. He straightened and opened his eyes. No, grief would not claim him. Not yet.