Oh man I need a tissue (Wipes eyes) god this chapter even made me cry, as I was proof reading it, sorry don't wanna spoil anything for you guys! Sorry it took a while to get this chapter posted, I have been trying to think up a good theme for the chapter so I had to do a lot of revising. Thanks again for all the great reviews! (Note to Katherine) I love your story! LoL oh well hope you like and Chapter 18 will be up soon! And I am really sorry that I left a cliff hanger again, I'm so used to doing that, I swear the next chapter will be really soon!

Close your Eyes Chapter 17

'The sky is fading away from me…' Legolas thought, he was silent and was praying for a better way to go… sad and silent in his grave of watery blackness. 'Why must everything be this way? Why am I cursed to carry this heavy burden in my heart? I could never learn to love again… and I could never accept love again… why must it be this way? Won't someone tell me why…?' the elves ears heard everything around him, the crackle and hiss of flames that popped the rugged skin of tree's, the never leaving calls of Haldir, and the water all around him… tiny crystal drops falling over him from the walls that held them.

It had been an hour now, Haldir wondered if Aragorn was going to come after them? Though they had not traveled very long… they had gone some distance from Helm's deep. He wondered what kind of person could leave his only true love in his time of desperate needing… Certainly a human could not understand his fair Legolas' feelings, but then again… Haldir did not know much of Legolas himself. The elves had decided to move on, without Legolas. They could not risk the smell of blood filling the air and traveling to others. Haldir had appointed one of his remaining generals. And sent them all to Lothlorien… while he stayed with Legolas… alone and defenseless against the rest of the war torn world.

Aragorn sighed to himself, the night was impenetrable it was so thick the sharpest blade may not even cut a sliver away from it. The horse whinnied loudly as it was suddenly spooked by something, Aragorn steadied the horse and smelled the air then, it was like a blood covered mist was hovering over the grass. Aragorn could see a low fire in the distance. Lighting a crimson colored trail towards it. Not knowing what or who started the fire, Aragorn demounted his horse and slowly led it towards the fire. Keeping his sword ready at all times. He was sure it wasn't Orc's because there wasn't any noise. Still he had to be on his guard.

(At Helm's Deep)

Eomer packed some of the Orc weapons that were scavenged into the armory. He had tried to busy himself so that he would not have to confront Eowyn. He was disgusted in her, almost ashamed but still… she was his sister and he was supposed to look out for her, just like Theodred. But he had failed Theodred and he felt as if he had failed Eowyn too. She had needed someone to comfort her, but she had been selfish with her feelings and he could not forgive her for that. "It is said that a man who worries needlessly, will worry himself to the grave." Eomer turned slightly meeting Théoden's gaze. "So then you say you are not worried about Eowyn? And if this Faramir will betray you?" Theoden rubbed his hands together. "Eomer… it is the dead of night. Why do you trouble yourself with such things?"

Eomer looked away, "I couldn't watch them do that to her. I thought if I stood outside it would be alright… I thought I could handle that much, but I heard the crack of the whip as it fell over her and the screams that escaped her as she writhed against the rope that held her down… I thought I would be ok if only I did not have to watch… But when she came out of there. And I saw that her clothes had been torn to ribbons and her fair skin looked like it had been thrashed like waves against jagged stone, her eyes were so pained… I could not bear to see her… because I knew what had been done, and that vision alone scares me to death…" Theoden said nothing and put a hand on Eomer's shoulder, trying his best to be supportive. But he knew that it had been him who sent Eowyn there and it was he who would not be able to erase those thoughts from his nephews mind.

(Back in the fields)

Haldir was resting against the stone, its hard cool surface pressing into his back. He was waiting for someone to find them, to help him convince Legolas to leave the hole. Legolas had not moved from where he fell, he lay there holding his stomach he had feared if he moved his hands the bleeding would start again. The gashes weren't deep. Four long cuts that had just ripped over the surface, not far enough to cause any serious damage. Though this felt a lot worse than when he had his wrist caught. Haldir had stayed with him… he did not want him to though. Legolas' eyes burned he had been crying silently for the whole time that had passed… not just for the pain he was feeling on the outside but what was flaring within him. Like his heart was breaking and if he let go and fell asleep he would never wake.

Haldir snapped awake as he heard a noise, a horse and rider were coming towards him. If he had not been so exhausted he would have known who it was. "Haldir what's happened?" the voice of Aragorn filled his ears and to him it could be the most inviting sound of all the world at that moment. "Aragorn." he almost whispered, his voice was hoarse and his body was aching for him to sleep and heal himself. But Haldir was as stubborn as any and would not do anything until he could help Legolas.

Legolas could hear people talking and he pulled his arm around himself and staggered over to the side of the wall. The hole was deep more than fifteen feet deep he was sure, he had been thankful that the water was low where he had fallen. Closer to the walls it got almost to his waist. Legolas let his eyes travel to the light of the uncovered moon. It had left a perfect circle where you could see its reflection on the black waters surface. Legolas wondered to himself why he did not want to leave this prison. He wondered why he hated Aragorn now the way he did, Aragorn was the only person in the world he had given his full heart to… and he did not believe him when he was more serious than ever. 'Perhaps this love is not what it should have been…' he thought.

"Where is Legolas Haldir? Where are the others? What's happened?" Haldir calmed Aragorn as he waved his hand and slowly stood, "We were attacked by War Wargs… they killed most of my people… the others left for Lothlorien…" Aragorn steadied Haldir as he almost fell down, "Sorry I just felt a little light headed…" Aragorn looked at Haldir, "Where is Legolas?" Haldir let himself slump onto the ground, Aragorn fell down on his knee's as he did so. "He didn't see it coming…" Aragorn's eyes widened, "He got injured by one of the creatures and fell… he fell down into a hole." Aragorn took Haldir's head in his hands, "Haldir I need you to be rational only a moment, then I will let you sleep. I will help you with everything you need but I need to know where Legolas is. Where is this hole?" Haldir's eyes studied the man's face. "Behind… the stone." Aragorn let go of Haldir slowly and stood, "Is he alright?" Haldir shook his head.

"He doesn't want to leave the hole… I believe he feels there is some comfort there, you left him and now he wants to leave the world above him while he dies below." Aragorn didn't want to listen he climbed onto the stone, it was squared and jagged. As he looked down into the hole he could see the reflection of the full moon below. "Legolas?" he said quietly. Legolas eyes opened slowly. 'It was Aragorn… Aragorn came to find me?' Legolas winced in pain as he felt himself spill over his hands. His wound was opened again and it burned at him.

"Legolas are you there?" Aragorn could not see anything beyond the shimmering moonlit circle. Legolas eyes glinted in the light then and Aragorn could make out his profile in the binding darkness. "Legolas are you alright?" Aragorn asked afraid for his safety, Legolas eyes were cold though. There was no heart and no love in them as the frozen electric blue eyes stared up at him. "Leave me…" Legolas said in a pained tone. Aragorn's head slowly went back. He had wondered if what he had heard was really how it sounded. "Legolas…" he began, "You are not well, you are in pain I know this… let me help you, come to the light and I will help you out." Legolas laughed lightly, but stopped then as he began to cough. He tasted the tanginess of blood in his mouth and it washed down his parched throat again as he breathed heavily. "You know nothing of my pain." He gasped. Aragorn could not describe this feeling. "Legolas what are you saying?" Haldir pushed his back against the stone, sighing heavily. "He rejects you Aragorn." Aragorn turned his head swiftly at the comment.

"But why?" Haldir laughed painfully. "You humans really aren't in touch with others feelings are you?" Aragorn remembered that, and he knew it was true. He was only thinking of himself right now. He had not thought of how he had hurt Legolas. How he had crushed his feelings like the stone beneath him when he had walked away from him.

"Legolas… Legolas please come to the light so I may see you." Legolas did not move though, "Please Legolas, I would understand if you gave up your love for me, I would understand if you hated me, and I would know that I hurt you and didn't deserve to look upon you the way I have but please… will you not show me your face? Will you not let me help you?" Legolas turned his face to the wall.

"Legolas! Please you are being unfair!" Aragorn yelled, Legolas did not move though. "I will not be jilted by your comments Aragorn… they do not move me and they cannot reach any further than making another sound that fills this emptiness inside me. Nothing you can say will ever change how you have wronged me." Legolas groaned then and let himself sink against the wall. His hand was red with blood and he could feel himself getting light headed. Aragorn shook his head in protest. "You cannot stay down there Legolas, you are meant for greater things!" Legolas breath became more ragged. "He is dying Aragorn." Haldir said, his eyes closed and pained. Tears streamed down his face as he spoke. "I would let myself die as well if I knew my only love was alone and slowly passing on." Haldir winced, his heart panged with an overwhelming pain. "God… my heart is breaking." He said as he sobbed. Aragorn felt his own tears then begin to pool over and fall silently over his bronzed face.

Legolas cried then, even though he felt there could never be any more tears to shed for him he cried. 'I'm dying… I'm going to die down here and I don't even care…' he thought. Legolas did not even realize his sobs were like uncontrollable cries of pain. And he couldn't stop himself, he wanted to be silent and not show anymore pain but he was hurting and he could not hide it. Aragorn did not know what to do, Legolas was dying from his wound and his own broken heart, and now he could see that if Legolas died Haldir's heart would surly break and then he would be alone… alone and never loved again.

The sadness was over bearing, Aragorn could not stand it. He could hear Legolas trying to cover his cries with his arm, and Haldir sat rocking his head back and forth trying to keep himself awake. "Legolas! Legolas please don't die…" Legolas staggered over to the light where he could see, but he fell and he had to crawl there, blood escaping down his arm. Aragorn's tears fell fast like the rains that began to fall then. Legolas was covered in dirty water. His tunic was stained a deep red and his hair was a grey color now. His eyes were red and his face was soaked. "I died when you left me Aragorn; I died inside when you left me…" Legolas tried to stand but fell again.

Aragorn kneeled on the stone; they were so close but yet so far away. "I'm dying…" Legolas choked. "Idiot!" Aragorn yelled, "You can't die!" Legolas sobbed into his bloodied hand, "Legolas! Don't you understand? Your half is my whole self… please with all my heart I love you. Don't leave me now when I realize I need you most..." Legolas tried to smile but it hurt to even blink. "I don't want to talk… about things we've gone through…" he said, sitting down in the water then unable to stand. "Aragorn I was in your arms… I thought I belonged there… where do I belong now?"

"None of that matters Legolas! No body believes Eowyn; they have dealt with her you are welcome where I am. Please don't die…" Legolas put his hand in the cool water, holding himself up. "Arag…Aragorn… I don't… want to die…," he whispered, "I wanted us to… to be together always…" Haldir pushed himself up against the rock, "Legolas there is so much good for you in this world please you must hold on." Haldir cried Legolas welcomed the rain that spilled over him; he shivered though as it felt like tiny needles pounding against him. But he had to admit it felt much better to be numb to the pain than to feel it.

"I can't… I can't face the world now… please just leave me here… please just go…" Legolas said in almost a whisper. Aragorn jumped a little as he saw something that scared him to death. Legolas was smiling, "It's alright… I'm fine… its doesn't… it doesn't even hurt anymore…" Haldir's eyes widened as Legolas expression went blank and he toppled over into the water. "Legolas no!" Aragorn yelled, "Haldir get the rope from my saddle bag!" Aragorn yelled, as he jumped down into the hole. As he hit the ground his legs felt like nails had been pushed through him.

"Legolas!" Aragorn yelled rushing over to the fallen elf. Haldir threw down the rope, "Tie it round something!" Aragorn yelled, Haldir ran to find something to tie it to. "Legolas? Legolas?" Aragorn called to him, as he pulled the elf out of the water. And turned him over. His lips were blue, and his face was set in a pained but peaceful look. "Legolas… Legolas?" Aragorn said in disbelief, "No you can't be dead…" Aragorn's eyes felt like there were hot coals burning behind them as tears flowed down his face again. He ran his hand over the fair elves face, brushing his hair away from his eyes, but he did not move. Haldir looked down into the hole, he dreaded what he would see so he pulled back, knowing the silence wasn't a good sign.