@ Kept-Secret: Can it be both? Good and bad ending? Emm.... nope, afraid not. *looooooool* thanks so much for the review... at least something to laugh about during our sad sad writing.... *g*
@ Gwyn: Hm, I'm afraid you missed something there.. Well, okay, I admit if you blink at the wrong moment in this story, you might have left out the important parts... *gg*
@ Arlen Halfelven: Thank you, we're really proud to read that.
Oh, and another huge thanks to Kiri for betaing our oh so cruel english *gg*
from Akasha @ Nyx: BIG hug klon-chan... always a pleasure to work with you... I love your style... *g*
Anyways.... now, let us introduce you to.....
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[Eomer]
He has stopped crying. Finally. He is still holding Aragorn, staring at him with shallow eyes, not moving, just staring. And he doesn't even notice what's going on around him.
The battle has ended. We won. But he lost. He lost his love, and I doubt that he will get over it. Ever.
I have to try, though, have to try to give him back hope... joy... love? I cannot get Aragorn out of my head, the look he gave me just seconds before he... before he died. He wanted me to take care of him. Of Legolas. And I will. If he lets me.
I love him. But I also know that he will never love me. Not the way he loved Aragorn. They were made for each other, and now he is the one left. What did Aragorn say? Promise you won't fade? I don't know much about elves, but if what I heard is true then Legolas will die as well.
I look at him. He is grieving, mourning. But is he dying? I don't know. But I owe it to Aragorn to see his last wish fulfilled.
He will not die. Not if I can prevent it.
It's getting dark now. But I give him time. All the time he needs to say goodbye to his love. No one dares disturb Legolas, they just watch him from a distance, murmuring words of comfort, but he doesn't even react. He just kneels there, holding the dead body in his arms.
I don't know what to say to him, so I stay there in silence, watching him, until he finally lifts his head and faces me. His eyes are empty, and it feels like he is not even looking at me, but through me. It makes me shiver, but I hold his gaze and wait until he finally whispers, "I need to ask you a favour, Eomer."
"Of course," I reply, nervously clearing my throat. "What is it?"
He looks down an Aragorn, then back at me. "I would like to take him to a special place. Only for a few hours. I..." he swallows, "I... need to say goodbye to him there. And then,... then I will bring him back to where he shall rest for time to come."
I study him, fearing the worst. But who am I to deny him the last minutes with the one he truly loved? Besides, how long does it take for an elf to fade? I reckon it takes more than hours, maybe even days. And, he said he will bring him back.
The longer I hesitate with my answer, the more the pain shows in his blue eyes. Gods, how he must suffer! And taking Aragorn away from him would surely not help him overcome the loss. What if I follow him? Just to make sure... that way, I would keep my promise and let him have the last time with Aragorn as well.
Slowly, I nod, and for a split second, I can see a flicker of hope in his eyes. Forming a silent "thank you" with his lips, he gets up and lifts the dead body to carry him away.
And I follow him.