Chapter 4

'Their frightened, you can see it in their eyes' at these words spoken by the only immortal in an army of mortals. All eyes turned to him, in wonder, curiosity and fear.

Seeing this Legolas had no choose but to switch to his own tongue, it was the only way he could speak privately to Aragorn in a room full of people.

'And they should be... three hundred against ten thousand!' Aragorn had no choice to reply in the elvish tongue, while trying to explain the situation to his Elven friend. 'They have more hope of defending themselves here than at Edoras' Gimli didn't like the way this way heading, even though he couldn't understand what was being said, the tone in his friends' voices' told him enough. 'Aragorn. They cannot win this fight. They are all going to die!' Aragorn couldn't believe what his friend was saying, had he given up hope so quickly. The shock caused him to slip into the common tongue.

'Then I shall die as one of them' as soon as the words left his lips he regretted them, realising everyone around him understood, his last sentence. But more than that the look in Legolas's eyes, a look of hurt, the absence of understanding mixed with disbelief was more than he could bear, and he tuned and walk swiftly out of the room. He heard Legolas try to follow him but he was stopped by Gimli.

'Let him go lad, let him be'

Legolas mind was fraught again, Aragorn was preparing to die. No! He couldn't, not again.

Legolas, turned and ran out of the other door, he had to get out side. The stars were beginning to shine and he let their radiance take him, as he closed his eyes, a single unnoticeable tear fell from his eye, trailing a slow path down his face till it finally fell and hit the floor.

He just didn't understand, no one not even Gimli was explaining it to him. He always thought that death was something to be avoided and that humans feared it. So why was Aragorn so accepting and ready to die? Did Aragorn want to die? Was life so unimportant? And if it was, was his going to last forever?

His keen eyes, were drawn to direction in which Mirkwood lay, even though it was beyond the sight of even him, he knew it was there, and he knew that the whole of Mirkwood, would be waiting for their Prince's return.

Then it occurred to him, what if his life ended this night. That thought scared him more than anything. Was he going to die? His home, his brothers and his farther were so far away. And yet he felt more than ever, a deep need to be with them, if this was his last night, shouldn't he be allowed to say goodbye to his family. Legolas didn't want to die.

All of a sudden, he was drawn back to Helms Deep, by an unknown male voice.

'Master Elf? I was wondering if you would like some sort of armour for the coming battle' Legolas nodded, and allowed him self to be led to the armoury, where he was given a large piece of leather armour that looked like it was to go on his torso, but to be honest he wasn't really sure. So he removed his elvish cloak, then weaponry, and allowed the still unknown man to place the heavy piece of clothing over his head. This was supposed to be protective but he felt trapped. He had never worn anything like this before.

Looking round at the people surrounded him, he absorbed the emotions that were coming off them and even though he felt the fear he expected, it was drowned out, by an unexpected emotion, Pride.

Then the realisation hit him and he cursed him self for not realising it before, these humans were proud to fight for their home, to fight for something the cared about, freedom. They were willing to die, for their home and their freedom.

He began to understand what Aragorn had meant; Aragorn was willing to die for them. That didn't mean he wanted to die, just and he cared for these people and the other beings of middle earth so deeply that he was willing to lose his life if it meant survival of others. That is what will make him king one day. Legolas had to find him.

Meanwhile...

Gimli found Aragorn sitting on the stairs that led into the main chamber, and he sat next to him. Gimli spoke first 'We almost lost him Aragorn' Aragorn's surprise caused him to spin round and face Gimli. 'Yes. When you fell, the grief of your death almost claimed his soul; he only just pulled him self back'

Aragorn remained silent, he knew Legolas had dealt with unknown emotions, but he never knew how far that had taken him. And Aragorn cursed him self, remembering the joy in the Elves eyes when he had returned, then the disbelieve that replaced it when Aragorn had declared his own death.

Gimli stood up and left, to go and find some armour of his own. Aragorn was left on his own with his thoughts; he knew he would have to have a talk with Legolas before they went into battle. But his mind was distracted by the strange sight of a small young boy, holding a sword almost as big as he was, obviously not knowing what to do with it.

******

With renewed spirit Aragorn dressed for war, adding layer upon layer of chain mail, leather, and other assorted pieces of clothing and armour. Then his belt holding the Elven knife that had served him well.

For a brief moment Aragorn though he had lost his dear sword. But then it came in to his view, being held up by a long slender hand, he looked up and saw Legolas.

They locked gazes for a moment, and then Aragorn accepted his sword as he nodded to the Elf. Aragorn took in how his friend was dressed, he had never seen an Elf in Human armour and he thought the beauty in Princes features didn't really match the dark leather of the Rohan dressings.

This was the first time that Legolas had ever worn armour of any sort, and he was obviously trying to adjust to the added weight, but through the uncomfortable nature he managed to convey I look of calmness and a final understanding.

'We have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray. Forgive me I was wrong to despair.' Legolas's eyes begged for the forgiveness that he really didn't need. Yet to add some comfort, Aragorn gave his reply in the elvish tongue

'There is nothing to forgive Legolas' Legolas felt a great relief as Aragorn embraced him in the elvish manner, Legolas embraced him back, and everything felt right again, all the anguish the Elf had been feeling, lifted away and they were all ready to fight for a new day.