((Author's note: wow…I managed to write something else in between Chemistry and Algebra II. lol hopefully this is up to par…I wrote it pretty fast.))

This one is dedicated to Peter and Scott, who bugged me to write again despite the looming finals and would not stop calling my house until I did. lol

Disclaimer: Tolkien has everything. I have nothing. So don't sue.

Eowyn fled swiftly down the narrow stone steps, her blood pounding from the angry adrenaline rush she had just experienced.  Her dress flew out behind her, its brown folds billowing everywhere. 

How dare that elf assume something that he knew nothing about! He was just an arrogant, prideful elf.  Why did he even come here?  Why did he have to be so cocky, so unfeeling, so hard?

She at last came to the open courtyard and ran directly into one of the warrior elves on his way across the courtyard.

He laughed softly, catching her before they both tumbled to the floor. "Hold up, mi'lady.  Is there an orc up there I do not know about?"  The elf smiled down at her, his gray eyes lighting up with some secret amusement.

She jerked backwards, taking offense at his laughing eyes. "No orc. Just an elf, which I believe is far worse than an orc!"

He cocked his head slightly at her. "Come now, I find that hard to believe, we do not go around eating babies and women.  Though I have to admit…" He was cutoff as she turned and fled the other way.

Shrugging slightly, he peered curiously up the stairs.  With quick steps, he trotted up them, coming to the battlement that Legolas sat at.  Surprise crossed his features when he saw the prince there with his eyes closed. "Prince Legolas," he hailed softly as not to startle the prince.

Blue eyes snapped open to stare up at him.  Legolas slowly stood to his feet. "Hello, I believe I have not met you, though you seem to me."

The warrior nodded. "I am Nitrasel.  I must say that I am surprised to find you up here."

Legolas' eyes flashed with anger for a brief moment. "I am not allowed to go where I please in this place?"

Nitrasel shook his head. "Nay, I did not mean that.  I passed the lady of Rohan. I do not recall her name…"

"Eowyn," Legolas murmured.

"Yes, Eowyn.  She came running down and informed me a foe worse than orc was up here." He smiled. "I had expected one of my fellows, who had been flirting with her, for she is very beautiful for one of the mortal race."

"That she is," Legolas agreed.

"It was quite a shock when I arrived to find the youngest prince of Mirkwood sitting here, looking like the world had turned against him a few moments ago."  Nitrasel sat down on one of the walls. "Lovely view from here."

Legolas agreed.  "You came with Haldir?"

Nitrasel for the first time grew quiet. "Yes, Prince."  His eyes grew distant. "He was a great leader."

"He was. I am sorry for your lost."

Nodding, Nitrasel backed away. "Well, I should be leaving to rejoin my fellows. Farewell, Prince, perhaps fate will bring us together again."  Then he was gone down the dark steps that Eowyn had disappeared down a few moments before.

Legolas sighed heavily and after a few moments started down behind him, though his steps were heavier than the younger elf's had been.  His feet carried him through  the fortress then out the door and onto the bridge that Aragorn and Gimli had defended during the battle.

"Why is your countenance so gloomy, Tharundillion?"  a gentle voice asked from behind him.

Spinning to face the old wizard, Legolas forced his face into a smile.  "Mithandir!" he cried. "It is good to finally see you!"

Gandalf nodded slowly.  "I glimpsed you once during the aftermath of the battle but I get the feeling you have been avoiding me since that time."

Legolas had the grace to blush. "Many things were holding your attention. I did not wish to trouble you."

"I always can have time for the Prince of Mirkwood." He motioned to a small bench leaning against the stone wall. "Come, sit with me. I fear too much standing is not good for an old man such as myself."

"You are not old," Legolas said as he sat down next to him.

"Despite the many millennia you have lived, my friend, I fear it is still young compared to you."  Gandalf sighed. "What troubles you?"

Legolas made no reply but stared out at the barren plain that stretched from Helm's Deep.  "I am sick of heart and soul," he finally whispered. "Despite my attempts to cure myself, I find myself weaker by the day."

Gandalf made a comforting sound in his throat as he lay a hand on Legolas' shoulder.  "It is not over Haldir."

"Nay, though that is part of it, I fear my troubles sink deeper than that." Legolas found his gaze drawn to a young woman with blonde hair standing on the wall.

Following his gaze, Gandalf nodded. "Your heart breaks for love."

Legolas dropped his eyes. "But I will not pursue it for her heart strives after another."

Gandalf pursed his lips and studied the young elf beside him intently. "Perhaps, Tharundillion. I cannot tell you the future, for hers as well as your own is clouded before my eyes."

Fixing his startled gaze on Gandalf, Legolas whispered, "You know whom my heart yearns for, Mithandir?"

"I saw you watching her with Aragorn the other day. It would take a fool not to see what was in your eyes."  Gandalf turned to go back into the fortress. "Do not give up hope, Legolas, for who can know what tomorrow will truly bring?"

With a sigh, Legolas looked over across the plain as the wizard's strong steps faded away.  His elven eyes scanned the trees and rivers as if seeking the reason for his heartbreak there.

Then he saw something that he had not expected. Taking a step backwards, Legolas squinted to make sure of what he saw. "Orcs," he whispered and the shouted again, "Orcs!" as he spun to run back inside the palace.  "Aragorn! Eomer!"

((Author's note: YAY!!! We finally get to some action *grins madly* Warning: the next chapter is going to be a little on sad side (ok, a lot…but who counting?) but the plot is coming along just fine! Well…hope you enjoyed it!))