Epilogue
Legolas stood still for a moment, remembering what had happened here just a few hours ago; and yet so much had changed. Boromir now dead, his body taken by the river, Frodo and Sam also taken by the water, but with the Valar's protection and guidance on a very different route to their deceased friend, and Merry and Pippin...
Plucking another usable arrow from a dead Orc, Legolas remembered his mission, and hence his return to this battle ground. Aragorn and Gimli waited for their elf friend nearby while he collected some arrows to return to his dwindling stock, then off after the two dear hobbits they would go, although whether they chased hope or dread remained to be see. Legolas quickened his pace, disliking to be holding up the trio. Seeing to the remains of brave Boromir had wasted enough time but, at Great Iluvatar's mercy, they would be in time to save their little friends.
He reached for another arrow, but paused, his arm outstretched. His eyes caught those of another, jolting a spark of recognition. Yes, here was the body of the Orc archer that he had slain, too slow had it been in firing and it had paid the price. And strangely, Legolas saw the body of a large Uruk-Hai resting across the fallen Orc, a great wound searing across it's back and one shoulder mashed and bloody. Legolas resisted a smile at the exceptional work of Gimli's axe. The dwarf had done his work well.
Legolas pulled the arrow from the body with an almost brutal rip, almost delighting at causing yet more damage. No one could accuse the Prince of Mirkwood of hating unjustly, Orcs had no place on this fair earth: ugly, cruel creatures. How creatures could live without beauty, without love, without care, he would never understand. Having retrieved the arrow he turned his back on the despicable, worthless, unloved beasts.
THE END
Legolas stood still for a moment, remembering what had happened here just a few hours ago; and yet so much had changed. Boromir now dead, his body taken by the river, Frodo and Sam also taken by the water, but with the Valar's protection and guidance on a very different route to their deceased friend, and Merry and Pippin...
Plucking another usable arrow from a dead Orc, Legolas remembered his mission, and hence his return to this battle ground. Aragorn and Gimli waited for their elf friend nearby while he collected some arrows to return to his dwindling stock, then off after the two dear hobbits they would go, although whether they chased hope or dread remained to be see. Legolas quickened his pace, disliking to be holding up the trio. Seeing to the remains of brave Boromir had wasted enough time but, at Great Iluvatar's mercy, they would be in time to save their little friends.
He reached for another arrow, but paused, his arm outstretched. His eyes caught those of another, jolting a spark of recognition. Yes, here was the body of the Orc archer that he had slain, too slow had it been in firing and it had paid the price. And strangely, Legolas saw the body of a large Uruk-Hai resting across the fallen Orc, a great wound searing across it's back and one shoulder mashed and bloody. Legolas resisted a smile at the exceptional work of Gimli's axe. The dwarf had done his work well.
Legolas pulled the arrow from the body with an almost brutal rip, almost delighting at causing yet more damage. No one could accuse the Prince of Mirkwood of hating unjustly, Orcs had no place on this fair earth: ugly, cruel creatures. How creatures could live without beauty, without love, without care, he would never understand. Having retrieved the arrow he turned his back on the despicable, worthless, unloved beasts.
THE END
