((Author's note: uhum…here it is…I hope this is sorta what everyone was hoping for.  I have a plot all in my mind, but it's gonna be complicated so I hope ya'll stay interested…lol…))

Disclaimer: If I did own Legolas and Aragorn and Faramir and Eomer…..do you think I would be spending any time on the computer? Heck no…

Dedicated to Elisabeth, who insists that Legolas is hotter then Bruh-Bruh (what a lie…)

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                                                                                                       I Held On For You

                                                                                                                  By Eck

Éowyn wrapped her fingers around Legolas' tunic, enjoying the feel of him against her.  It had been so long, too long, since she had been in his arms.  Another tear dripped gently down her face and was absorbed in Legolas' cloak.

Legolas looked down at the blonde head pressed against his chest and leaned to tenderly place a kiss on top of the golden tresses.  "I will never leave you again, my lovely one." His eyes were full of gentleness.  "This I vow to you."

She nodded into him, longing to stay like this forever.

He lifted his eyes to the heavens, feeling his eyes mist slightly. "Thank the Valar you are once again in my arms, for I missed you so."  He pulled her tighter. I never want to let go…

"Éowyn!"

Startled, she jerked backward out of Legolas' surprised arms, pushing against his chest.  Hastily wiping at her face, she tried to compose herself. No, not here…not now…not just when…

Legolas reached beseechingly for her, trying to call her back to him.  What had he done wrong? What had he said? "Éowyn…"

Trembling, she held up one hand and placed it against his chest; effectively pausing his forward momentum. "Stop, just please stop."  Another tear fell down her cheek, unbidden, at the confused pain she saw in his eyes.  "Please do not touch me. I do not think I could ever bear it."  Or I do something we both later regret…

"What is the matter?" he pleaded.  "Please, I love you."

She choked on his words, burying her face into her hands. "Do not say that, I beg of you.  Please do not love me.  I am not worthy. The things I have done…" Her shoulders shook as the sobs racked her body.

"Nothing you have done would make me stop loving you. I will love you no matter what."

"No…" she moaned.

"Éowyn!" called the voice louder.  "Where are you?"

She jerked her head up, once again trying to restore herself to composure.  Taking several deep breaths, she attempted to stop the tears and her racing heart.

Legolas looked up at the voice, searching the garden with his eyes. "Who is that?"  He whispered.  When there was no response, he turned to glance at her wide eyes.  "Éowyn?"

Her eyes bore the look of a deer caught in the hunter's crossbow.  "Legolas," she started to say more and then stopped.  "Just remember I have always loved you these long years.  But I thought you were dead…"

Legolas nodded, forcing another smile despite the fear in his heart. "I know. I love you too.  Everything will be fine," he assured, once again reaching for her.  "I am here now."  Why is she saying this…

She just shook her head silencing whatever he would have said as the footsteps drew closer to their hiding place. "I love you," she mouthed one last time, fighting desperately to keep the tears from her eyes.  Then turned.  "I am here, Faramir."

The steward of Gondor broke into the little area.  His eyes lit up when he saw Éowyn standing a few feet away.  "There you are! I have been scouring the castle for you."

The trees themselves seemed to rustle their displeasure at the entrance.

Her returned laughter seemed forced and brittle. "I have been here the entire time.  Where else would I be? You know how I love the garden."

Faramir smiled gently at her, and then his handsome face creased in worry.  "Are you alright, Éowyn?" he asked, taking in her red nose, watery eyes, and overly pale complexion.

Éowyn hastily wiped at her face again. "I am fine. The spring time always brings my allergies on, you know."

Faramir nodded but there was still a hint of concern on his face. For the first time he seemed to notice the garden's other occupant. "Ah," he cried, moving towards Legolas. "You must be the elf that Lord Aragorn was telling me of, Prince Legolas of Mirkwood."  He heartily shook the elf's hand. "I hope that your stay in Gondor will be a pleasant one.  I am Lord Faramir, Steward of Gondor."

"Please to meet you," Legolas managed.

"I assume you have already met my wife, Lady Éowyn," Faramir reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling the Lady close to his side.  "Did you not both fight together at the Battle of Helm's Deep?  If I recall correctly, that is."

Legolas felt his entire world sway in and out of focus. For a moment, he thought his heart would break into a million pieces, shattered like so much broken.  His wife? Éowyn? My Éowyn?

His troubled eyes met with Eowyn's for a pleading moment and he saw all the confusion, the despair, the pain.  Out of haze, he watched her nodding in consent and his mind was brought back to Faramir's question.

He took several deep breaths trying to calm his raging emotions, ignoring the scratchy feeling in his throat.  Calm.  Pasting a fake smile onto his face, he took a step forward offering his hand to Éowyn.  "It was a very brief acquaintance, Lord Faramir." He directed his eyes to Éowyn. "I am pleased to meet you once again, Lady Denethor."

Biting her lip to keep her tears at bay at the tone, she nodded. "And yours, Prince Legolas." It sounded so formal, so stiff, so unlike the words a few moments before.  She opened her moth to say something more but decided against it.

Legolas nodded and bowed slightly at the waist. "I should be going to prepare for breakfast. Will you two be there?"  He pulled his cloak tighter around him, shivering at the cold in his heart.

Faramir answered for the both of them. "Of course."  His eyes glanced between his wife and the Prince as if he could sense something had gone on before he had arrived.

Resisting the urge to flee the garden, Legolas turned and walked from the garden and back into the castle.  His breath seemed to come faster with every step and the dull ache would not leave his chest.  He wanted to run, he wanted to scream, he wanted to pound his head against the wall. Anything to feel alive. Anything to not feel this horrid dead feeling that was eating him from the inside out.

As soon as he was out of the garden, he broke into a run, his arms pumping up and down in a rhythmic manner and his breath heaving.

His steps carried him through the palace and out into the courtyard, then pass the guards and out into the city streets of Gondor.

There, surrounded by all humanity, he stopped his mad race to escape the pain.  Wrapping his arms around his chest, he tried to block out the pain that was stemming through his chest from his heart.

"Why?" he murmured to the clouds. "I survived for her. I lived because I would be with her again.  Was it worth it?"  His stomach clenched and ached of its own free will.  "Why?" his voice cracked and choked. "I lived for you."

All he wanted was to ride form this city and never come back. But he knew in heart that he could not.  Remember why you are here. Aragorn's life is at stake. If that is all you live for, then let it be so.

He closed his eyes, feeling his heart quicken.  Even though it was a clear day, he could still see the smoke and smell the fire…

The boards crashed around him, burying him.  Flames licked at his legs, eating away at his cotton leggings.

As the pain assaulted all his senses, he bit back the urge to scream in pain.  His legs writhed uselessly, trying to escape from the torment that was slowly devouring them alive.

Pushing through the broken boards that covered him, he managed to sit up straight even though his broken ribs screamed with the extreme effort.  Ignoring the heat, he pushed his arms through the flames, attempting to get the burning board from his legs. A trickle of blood fell down his face from where a piece of wood had cut him.

He coughed and choked on the smoke as the pain assaulted him all sides.  But his need, desire for survival overrode all those senses.  Frantically, he pulled and pushed at the unmoving wood.

Hysteria began to take over his mind and he collapsed backward, gasping for oxygen that would not come in the thick smoke.  Pain. Pain everywhere. And he was helpless to stop it. All he could do was wait for the end.

His chest pounded up and down as his lungs screamed for desperate relief.  So this is then, he thought, I am to die in a burning building in a place where few people even know who I really am.  Vision was swimming in and out as his eyes slowly began to glaze over.

As the pain once again threatened to dunk him to unconsciousness, a face flashed through his mind and a voice sounded in his ear. With his last breath, he cried the name that had kept him alive to this point and that would keep him alive this time.

"Eowyn!"

He jerked back reality with a start as a man crashed into him, mumbling an apology.  Closing his eyes, he breathed in and out several times, mentally preparing himself. Then with the air of a warrior heading towards the battle of his life, he turned and walked back to the castle.

"Arwen does not like it if you are late to a meal."

((there…that wasn't a cliffhanger…I think…owell))