Disclaimer: not mine, don't sue
Dedication: To Maia for always being there…. and Jadey, wherever you are. ^_^
Faramir stumbled backwards in a daze, backing fearfully away from the lifeless figure on the ground.
Raising a trembling hand, he shakily wiped away the beads of sweat on his brow, his eyes filled with horrified comprehension.
"What have I done?" He whispered, anguish wrenching his heart.
Inhaling harshly, deeply, he forced himself to kneel next to the prone body and moved a dreading hand towards Eowyn's wrist.
Her wrist was stained with blood, crimson tendrils snaking their way across her fair skin, flowing endlessly from their prison.
Feeling, desperately hoping for a pulse, Faramir dropped the limp wrist as no sign of life emerged.
Hesitating briefly, he stood up hastily and swung his head violently, to spot any spark of motion near them.
After a last, torn glance at the motionless body on the ground, he dashed out of the dark, gloating dungeons, burying all the demons that were chasing his thoughts.
********
A thundering hailstorm signaled the breaking of a new day, a perfect complement to the wailing and weeping that emerged with the news of the lamented slaying of the shieldmaiden of Rohan.
A mass of people crowded around the fallen shieldmaiden, ominously silent besides the occasional heartfelt cries that erupted from the mourners.
Legolas walked respectfully behind King Theoden, silently admiring the stoic expression on his face that had greeted the news of his niece's untimely demise.
As King Theoden neared the crowd, a pathway automatically opened for him, the mourners moving away in deference.
Legolas had to stifle his gasp as his eyes fell on the horrific sight.
The blood surrounded Eowyn's fallen body, straining to escape from the caked, hard prison and spill freely once again.
The crimson liquid stained the ground, seeped into the walls.
Its musty, nauseatingly sweet scent smothered the air and Legolas felt like he was inhaling the stench of Eowyn's death, tasting the decomposing corpse.
He struggled to control his gagging reflex and held his breath, willing himself to stop breathing in the sickly sweet odor that suffused the dungeons.
A wave of dizziness shook him and he embraced it, a delightful distraction from the foul smell that was threatening to overwhelm his senses.
Legolas had met the ghastly face of death many times and yet, he was still not impervious to the horror, the finality of it.
He could not reconcile it to his own fragile immortality and he wondered how humans could bear the weight of every breath leading them one step closer towards death.
Immediately, he was struck by a memory of Haldir and voices in his head mocked him mercilessly.
How dare I deride the mortality of humans when elves are just as vulnerable to death as any human?
Shaking his head slightly, Legolas leaned closer to Faramir and slipped his hand into the human's, seeking comfort and warmth, a cocoon from the death that pervaded the place.
********
Faramir was mesmerized.
He stood silently, eyes fixed relentlessly on Eowyn's wide, startled eyes.
Eyes that were berating him, blaming him, haunting him.
He had washed his hands feverishly, painfully, rubbing them raw with his ferocity.
Yet, he could still see the blood on them, the blood that had once lived, once ran sparklingly through Eowyn.
The walls whispered of his evil, the dark deeds he had committed.
Faramir swallowed hard, trying to restrain himself from shrieking aloud, to shake Eowyn until she awoke from her slumber.
Faramir's hands tingled, itched unbearably and he yearned to escape from the accusing eyes, longed to scrub his hands raw once again.
He was startled when a warm hand grasped his tender palm, swinging his head around to gaze in surprise at the elf.
When Legolas's lips quirked up slightly in a small semblance to a smile, he could not muster the will to smile back at his beloved elf.
Faramir averted his gaze guiltily while gripping the elf's hand more tightly.
He was staining the pure, unsullied hand of the elf.
But Faramir could not stop himself, would not relinquish this source of comfort amidst this place of terror.
Lost and captured by his web of regret, he had nearly lost his senses.
And the mere touch of Legolas had brought him back.
*******
Legolas's smile slipped away from his lips as he caught sight of the intensely troubled, pleading expression in Faramir's wide eyes.
Blinking in bewilderment, his attention was diverted by a bright glint from the motionless corpse.
"No," he whispered to himself, his voice lost in the caverns.
The dagger beckoned to him teasingly, its intricately, painstakingly carved runes mocking him with their beauty.
Legolas could not mistake the gleaming pearl handle nor the shining hilt that was now almost completely buried inside Eowyn.
It was the dagger he had blushingly, tenderly entrusted to Aragorn.
"It shall be a token of my love," Legolas smiled shyly, gently pressing the handle of the dagger into an awed Aragorn's hand.
"This is my dagger," a grave, confused voice crashed into Legolas's thoughts.
A grief-stricken King Theoden looked up from his crouching position next to his dead niece, a look of shock on his face.
"Aragorn?"
Author's note: Uh-oh. Heh.
So sorry for the late update but my University semester just started and I'm swamped by tutorials, projects, extra curricula activities etc… so please don't expect to see the next update anytime soon… oh, and I just watched the FABulous "Pirates" and had to write some Jack/ Will slash.. will post them probably next week… check them out if you like the movie… *sighs dreamily* I went in a fully committed Orlando fangirl and came out a half converted Johnny Depp fangirl… he was so incredibly funny and adorable! But of course, Orlando was simply gorgeous as well! ^_^
Thanks to…
MoroTheWolfGod- Oops… my update seems to be later than expected… hee.
VaniaHepskins- *hugs* You're such a sweetheart! Thanks for being so kind… and stop putting yourself down, your grammar's fine!
Cheysuli- Hee! Legolas with a controlling Faramir… that could be arranged for your pleasure! Lol.
Fishton- *beams* Thanks for being so sweet… hope it was worth the wait!
P- *grins* You're so cute! Hope the reward was sufficient for such a kind review!
Bsxjtlg- Hope your vacation was fun! Yep, more angst on the way… as expected! Lol.
Pheonix Tears2- *shuffles feet* Um, it'll be kinda hard marrying Faramir and Eowyn since he just accidentally killed her… heh… yep, poor Haldir's death had caused many tears to flow… ^_^
Cerasi2- *beams* I also noticed how much the fic had evolved! Hee, I think it's cos I take so long to update all the time, even my writing style changed… heh… *hugs* I promise an eventual happy ending!
Lady of Legolas- *beams* Glad you read the two chapters… hope you liked the resolution to that cliffhanger!
Mako13- *grins* guess you waited another lifetime for this update… hee, on the contrary, quite a lot of people wanted to kill Eowyn too.
Tamara- *giggles* Yep, I'm evil… hope you continue to enjoy the journey!
*Dark*Angel*- Thank you so much! *blinks* um, interesting nickname for Faramir? Lol.
Sapphire17- *beams* Great prediction! Hope you like the latest chapter!
Ryan- Ooh, I had livejournal before but I was too lazy to maintain it… heh… *hugs* Thanks for continuing to be so sweet all the time!
Slowbum360- Better late than never! Lol. Thanks for being so kind… hope you're continuing to enjoy the fic!
Squire Kali- *shudders* Not the poking! Anything but the poking! Hee! Have just been mercilessly poked by my v evil friend all day… I think I have bruises from her vicious poking… heh.
Crimson Winter- *beams* Awesome that you sympathize with Eowyn… at least someone mourns her death! Thanks for being so sweet!
Yuzira- *big hugs* Sweetheart, I feel so bad for being mean to Faramir… but then when everybody seems to be against him, he will automatically run to you for comfort! Hee!
*subtly passes strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate fudge to Yuzira for some fun with her Faramir*
*winks winks* Hee!
Legolas19- Thanks and hope you liked the update!
Nibintaur Greenleaf- I'm so happy to see you back! Hee, the tale of Legolas and Aragorn will continue …in the next chapter! Lol.