Disclaimer: not mine, don't sue
Dedication: Maia, Jadey and all my lovely reviewers… esp the impatient ones… ya know who ya are! This chapter took an especially long time because I went on a gorgeous backpacking trip to Cambodia and then embarked on a terribly indulgent cruise with my friends… so to make up for the lateness, I wrote an extra-long chapter… hope you guys like! ^_^
Aragorn was drenched in moonlight, luminous and surreal.
He was as untouchable as he appeared, sitting on the crumbling turrets that encircled Helm's Deep, his hands caressing a dagger.
Always the dagger.
He shared her chamber but not her bed.
And she possessed neither his body nor his heart.
Standing silently behind a pillar, Eowyn ignored the vicious whipping of her skirt. Closing her eyes, she yearned to be the frigid, biting wind… the wind that stroked Aragorn's face, kissed his eyelashes.
Softly treading towards him, she willed him to look up, to gaze upon her.
Eowyn immediately regretted her wish.
Flames licked in his eyes, daring her to come closer, to be devoured by them.
She wilted before the fire.
And she ran.
*******
Aragorn felt completely useless, lethargic.
He could not focus, could not concentrate amidst the thoughts that plagued his mind and mocked him.
Aragorn stared at the dagger, running his fingers over the intricate carvings, memorizing the swirls beneath his fingers.
And his heart ached to know that this was the closest he would ever be to Legolas again.
*******
Faramir was eager in his haste to please, effervescent in the joy of his triumph.
He beamed as he bestowed a simple gift of a single unknown flower onto Legolas, a mere bud that was beginning to extend its ivory white petals towards the world.
His fingers curling around the fragile bloom, a tendril of warmth snaked around Legolas's heart, lighting up his eyes.
The gladness overflowed inside Faramir as he inhaled the sweet scent of Legolas, witnessed the bashful smile quirking up his luscious lips.
Contentedly, delirious happy.
Faramir could not remember ever existing in such a moment of perfection.
He wanted to grasp onto it, to capture it and hoard it greedily in a secret hiding place, for he was afraid such a surfeit of happiness would consume him.
He was lost in the glow of the elf, he was utterly, completely absorbed by every movement the elf made, every emotion that danced in his shimmering eyes.
Legolas did not see the insidious darkness that resided in him.
He could not, as he was cloaked in the pure radiance of the sun, the innocence of new born babes.
And for that, Faramir was grateful.
Legolas banished the cold, clammy darkness inside him to an invisible place, he made Faramir believe that he was honorable, worthy of being loved.
When he gazed at his reflection in the translucent mirror of the elf's eyes, he felt cleansed, untainted, the goodness that characterized Legolas surrounding him as well.
The pure essence of Legolas quenched the raging fires in Faramir's soul, melted the ice in his heart.
And he prayed the fearful, haunting shadows would never return.
*******
Crumpling onto the gritty ground, Eowyn gnashed her teeth, clenched her fists.
She wondered which was better, the flames or the ice.
Before tonight, she had seemed to be invisible to Aragorn.
The only time he displayed any emotion was when she touched him. Aragorn would shudder, a deep horror and repulsion horribly evident in his eyes.
She could see the effort it took for him to not recoil from her touch, a poisonous and insidious touch. She felt like she had been burnt, a sudden jerking pain that made her snatch her hand back.
Pure, miserable loathing emanated from Aragorn in waves, directed at the both of them, enveloping them in a burning, stinging shame.
And she tried to pretend she did not exist… for her existence was nothing but gut-wrenching, glittering pain.
*******
Legolas was roused from his sleep suddenly.
Tensing up, he stayed motionless, not allowing any emotion to flicker over his glazed, previously slumbering eyes.
Warm, inquisitive fingertips trailed over his face, brushing his eyelashes like fluttering moths.
He shivered imperceptibly, feeling like he was being memorized, like his thoughts themselves were being absorbed.
"You are like a star," a wondering voice stated.
Legolas's musings were interrupted by a soft, lingering kiss, like fragile snowflakes melting in the heat of Faramir's words.
Even as Legolas wondered if he should pretend to stir, he continued to be enthralled by Faramir's words.
Like a star.
Etched in the sky, free of pain and hurt and lies.
I wished I were a star.
*******
It was an insane desire to fill herself with more anguish, to explore how much more grief she could handle before the inevitable bitter end.
Trudging towards her destination, Eowyn peeked cautiously, her eyes widening in surprise.
She had surmised that even in his sleep, he would have a death grip on that dagger.
She was insanely jealous of the dagger.
A deep longing gnawed at her, ravenous in its thirst to destroy every shred of memory Aragorn had of the elf.
And so, instinctively, she purposefully walked towards him and lifted the dagger from the ground with trembling fingers, her breathing labored and irregular.
She distractedly wiped her face, surprised when her hand returned glistening with tears.
This was not what she had desired, what she had envisioned.
This was torture.
Contemptible torture.
*******
Faramir slipped out of the room, a sated smile lingering on his lips.
His hands resting jauntily on his hips, he wandered through the maze of tunnels, his carefree, joyful thoughts putting a spring into his every step.
Distracted by the euphoria he was feeling, he failed to notice a stumbling figure swerving from the corner and collided with it, landing painfully onto the ground.
A glint of silver flashed before his eyes as a familiar dagger landed on the ground.
Smoothly snatching it from the ground, Faramir drawled, "I thought this belonged to our favorite ranger."
Glaring at him, Eowyn made a fierce swipe at the dagger, only for Faramir to feint to the side.
With that one provocative action, Eowyn snapped.
Her life had been destroyed by him.
Now she would destroy his.
Smiling disturbingly, Eowyn smirked, "Are you enjoying life now? You should enjoy it while you are still able to."
Narrowing his eyes in suspicion, Faramir replied tightly, "What are you saying?"
"I have decided I will not carry on with this charade anymore."
Throwing one last mocking smile in Faramir's direction, Eowyn haughtily turned in the opposite direction.
"Stop!" Faramir grabbed Eowyn frantically by her shoulder, wrenching it painfully.
"Let go of me!" Eowyn screamed, throwing a hard punch at Faramir's chest.
A stifled gasp escaping through Faramir's gritted teeth, he retaliated fiercely, wrestling Eowyn to the ground.
Tussling wildly, Eowyn tried to grab the dagger in Faramir's hand.
Twisting his wrist in the opposite direction, Faramir was shocked by the sudden blow from Eowyn and his hand fell uselessly.
The glittering blade sliced into Eowyn, disappearing before their eyes.
Eowyn's eyes grew wide, startled and her lips trembled, parting slightly in a soft hiss of pain.
Crimson tendrils extended from the hilt of the dagger, as Eowyn's eyes glazed over with pain.
"No," Faramir whispered, closing his eyes.
It was a dream.
This was not real.
It could not be real.
And the swirling petals blossomed amidst the lurking shadows.
Author's note: *beams* am pretty happy with the last imagery… Thanks to everybody who reviewed and don't worry, your reviews didn't get eaten up cos I had the review alert feature and I managed to get the reviews in emails before ff.net devoured them…
Cheysuli- *giggles* Gimli needn't be sad… he's having lots of fun in your wonderfully funny drabbles!
Bsxjtlg- Thanks for your impatience! *hugs* That was v sweet!
Vuaryn- *beams* Hope you like the latest extra long chapter!
Lomelinde- *hugs* I'm so glad that you're back! And heh, it's definitely getting more soap-operaish!
[ - Thank you so much for being so kind! I'm glad you like it so far… and *whispers* don't worry, I'm an A/L fan too! *grins*
Yuzira- *hugs* Sorry about what just happened! But Eowyn kinda brought it upon herself… so Faramir isn't the totally bad guy… I hope you still like the fic… Love ya! ^_^
VaniaHepskins- *gives tissue* awwww, don't be so sad… and your english is pretty good… I can understand you anyways! Lol.
Ryan- *sniffles* I read your blog but I couldn't reply… cos I had to register or something… anyways, you are so skinny! I am so envious… heh, am becoming another Eowyn…
LadyIsabelle- *giggles* yep, I have dirty, nasty thoughts about the lovely Legolas too…
Redrose2310- Enough angst yet? *grins*
Ami Winner- Heh, I'm glad you think angst is good… cos there's no ending in sight for our heroes yet! ^_^
Slowbum360- *beams* I hope the wait was worth it!
*Dark*Angel*- Was the fight scene an all right substitute for what you had in mind? Lol.
Sapphire17- *grins* I wrote more… and wasn't that a scary thing Faramir did?! Hee!
MisstikalElf- Oops! Don't fall and hurt yourself! I wouldn't want any harm to come to such a sweet reviewer… ^_^
Squire Kali- Ow! I got poked! *gasps* hee! *pokes Kali back* There's your update!
WarGirl666- Thank you! *beams* I hope you like what happened!
Mako- *giggles* no, I wouldn't want your friends to drown the Sahara desert… hope you like the update!
Goddess of Death- heh, yes, evil does rock sometimes… evil guys are just so sexy sometimes huh? Hee.
' – Thank you! I'm sorry that A & L is kinda on hold at the moment… ^_^
OrlibloomedMe- *smirks* Freudian slip! *giggles* but that's all right, it's normal to have those thoughts about the lovely Legolas chained to your bed.
Lady of Legolas- *grins* let's just continue to explore what the fic wants huh? Thanks for being so sweet!
Corliamat- *hugs* oh, don't cry! Things will get better! Just don't ask me when… lol.
Asylum- Thanks for liking it! Heh, I don't think "An eternity too late" is extendable… sorry!