Glorfindel Speaks-
"DO IT!" I snapped once more when I saw the doubtfulness in his eyes. The curse of having a good heart… I had not realized what part that would play in it. He reluctantly turned back to the man, casting me one last look.
I was not an ordinary elf, and I did not need help in protecting myself. My hand dug into the deep earth and scraped a hand full of dust and dirt. I could feel the trembling hand of my foe making the blade shake. When Aragorn brought the sword swishing down upon the king, I reached my hand out and flung the dust in my opponent's eyes. He stumbled in agony giving me a chance to free myself from his grasp.
Aragorn Speaks-
"Glorfindel!" I quickly turned around, ignoring the carcass that fell to my feet. The elven lord had one arm around his side and was backing away from the man trying to regain his vision.
Relief spread through me when I saw that the elf was not critically harmed.
"Estel… now!" He mouthed to me, still wincing slightly from the pain.
I nodded but as I held my sword to the stumbling man, I did not slay him. I waited until he was able to look up at me. He dropped his sword but remained silent. Glorfindel stood behind me, his sharp eyes studying my expression.
"Kill me if you must…. But I shall not bow to you…"
"… I do not ask it of you." I replied neutrally, seeing the surprised look on his face.
"What do you ask of me then?"
"… The King is dead… and you are released from your oath… go now, to wherever you desire."
"An oath cannot be broken…"
"You are not breaking it, you are simply being released from it."
His lips tightened at this but said nothing. I lowered my sword and to my surprise, he did not reach for his. "You are worthy to be King." He said softly as he began to walk away.
"He is right you know…" Glorfindel approached me. I sheathed my sword but did not show my reaction to this. "I admire you… for mercy was never taught to me…" Glorfindel said with a half smile. I shook my head gently and sighed.
"Mercy is not taught…" I replied. We walked slowly towards the palace, which now looked nothing but an abandoned past. Too much evil had been done there. The golden haired elf beside me smiled, a smile that lasted more than a few seconds.
"Aragorn…" I turned around at the voice that was calling me and a few shadows were stepping from the grove. Eomer and Haldir were approaching, both looking exhausted.
"Legolas…" I gasped as my eyes fell upon the blond elf struggling to keep consciousness in Eomer's arms. I quickly ran to him and cradled him against myself. He looked horrible; his hair was a mess, his face stained with tears and bruises were forming everywhere. No… it couldn't be. Fury swept through me as I began to understand.
"They… did they…" I tried say but my voice went hoarse at the sight of my beaten elven lover. Eomer said nothing, but his arm instinctively wrapped around Haldir. Legolas moaned softly as he brought a weak hand up to trace my face. Tears ran from his face endlessly and I could feel him shivering. How could anyone do this to someone so beautiful? Only the few strong elves can survive such an atrocity. "Fight it…" I begged him as I held Legolas as close as I could, "Please…. You can't die."
"… I… can't…" He was saying softly. No, he couldn't die… it wasn't… what have I done to him… Legolas looked up at me and tried to force a smile onto his lips, "I love you…I never thought I would ever say that to anyone… and least of all… you…"
"And I you…"I choked back everything as I lifted the blond head and pressed my lips against his tender ones.
"Aragorn… you told me of this place..." He was whispering softly to me, and I knew then that he would not make it. Oh Valar, why did I have to see this? No one deserved this sort of pain… and least of all, him. The elven beauty laid his face upon my chest and I held him gently, lowering us both towards the ground.
'
"… Yes…" I assured him, trying to guarantee him some happiness. He would be happy… not in this world… not in this lifetime… but he would be happy, and we will be together.
"Your home… what was it like there? When we were together… tell me about it again…" Legolas murmured through the last of his strength. … His hands were so cold now; it was like we sat in winter's eye.
"We would ride together towards the horizon…and no one would ever stop us… or give us a second look. We were so in love…"
"Then it was meant to be… like the old stories… you and I…"He tried to say… fighting the last of his failing strength.
"Yes… that is how it is meant to be…"
A soft cry escaped him as he tried to sit. His grief was taking him and he has already gone too far. If only I could have given him more of the happiness he deserved. Why were men so cruel?
"I'm sorry… after everything you have done for me…"
"No," I promised him, "There is nothing to be sorry for… you will be happy again…"
Haldir Speaks-
"We can finally see the havens now…" I whispered through my tears as I knelt beside my best friend. He smiled fully as he turned his only half open eyes to me.
"I knew we would…" Legolas whispered softly.
"We will go as soon as you get better…" I said as faithfully as I could. I knew that he would never get better, but it was so hard…
"No more pain… no more sadness…" Legolas said as he looked to me, his hand leaving Aragorn's cheek to grasp my own fingers. I wanted to collapse when I felt how weak his grip was.
"Only friends…" I whispered. Eomer slipped his arms around my waist as he looked to the dying elf.
Glorfindel only knelt beside the beauty. He said nothing for a while as Legolas and Aragorn immersed in each other. "Go now… in peace… perhaps we will meet again in another life." My strong friend stood just when dawn had arisen. He looked nothing short of a god.
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I held Eomer's hand, for I felt now I needed him more than ever. As happy as I was to have him in my arms, he was not Legolas, and it pained me so much to seek a dream without the closest friend to share it with. Glorfindel walked with us, for it was his time to pass to the havens and never return.
Aragorn stood in the winds, for he was to return to his world, where he belonged.
Aragorn Speaks-
I awoke in bed feeling like I have just been knocked down several times. I was so dizzy, but where had everyone gone? Glorfindel? Haldir? Eomer? I was only lying there in my bed.
I gasped as I saw that everything was back to the way it was. Rivendell… it was all there.
"Aragorn! Thank heaven… you are awake!" The golden haired beauty was hurrying towards me as he quickly set the water glass he was carrying aside.
"Legolas… how? You are alive…" I whispered taking him into my arms and kissing him long and hard. I was devastated when I saw him perish but…
"… I'm alive?" Legolas repeated looking at me "Is there any reason I shouldn't be? If I am not mistaken, you are the one who hit your head."
"I… I what?"
"You have been asleep for three days now, I was to leave that morning but how could I when you…" Legolas suddenly looked down. I began to understand what had happened.
"Legolas I have something to tell you…" I whispered. He looked to me with shaking eyes then spoke.
"It is fine… I should not have pressed you… It was foolish of me… I just really…"
I silenced him with a long kiss, carefully massaging his tongue with my own. I felt his slender body melt against mine, carefully leaning against me. "Aragorn… I don't understand…"
"I love you…" I whispered, wrapping my arms around his tiny waist, his sapphire eyes met my own and he looked a mix of happy and confused.
"You do?" Legolas said almost stuttering, his face lit up with happiness.
"I love you more than anything in the world… and I am sorry I was afraid to say it before…"
"Your… your sure." Legolas said laying his pretty blond head upon my shoulder.
"More sure than I have ever been."
He smiled, not knowing what to say just embraced me and we stayed there for a while.
"Will you get a glass of water?" I sighed as I stroked his hair.
"Get it yourself… what am I, your slave?" Legolas laughed as we kissed again.
THE END
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