Ok, chapter number 6 has arrived! Most of you people out there want me not to kill Haldir. Well, this is the deciding chapter! To die, or not to die, that is the question…
Sorry, just had SATS exams, including a Shakespeare paper. Got Shakespeare on the brain. Great…
Thank you for all my reviews, and replies are below as always. So, read, enjoy, and review!
Lainfaer
P.S. Thank you to everyone who gave their condolences about my great gran. The funeral's on Tuesday. L
I hate funerals! And this is my first one as well! I get a day off school, but really, I think I'd prefer school! I hate good-byes, don't you? Thanks again.
Giggles1995 – I know they deserve their happiness, that is why I am so stuck on whether to kill Haldir or not. Hmm, guess I'll have to sleep on it. Thanks for reviewing, and I'm glad you liked Living a Lie.
seeing-spots – Hmm…a challenge…I like challenges! But…I really don't know if I can be that mean to Leggy…after everything else he's been through…I'll think about it…
Thank for reviewing.
The Nameless Elf – Get hurt and PRETEND to die? How does that work? Lols, I can't give you the world, but I can let Haldir survive. I'll certainly think about it! Thanks for reviewing.
Vampiress Adora – Can I just say; what a cool name! I love it! Anyways, I do not want to kiss any readers good-bye, as I love you all! But as for not killing Haldir…sorry, you'll just have to wait and see! Heehee….
Thanks for reviewing.
Starlit Hope – I love that song! It is sooooo cool. I also have it as a ringtone on my mobile! Anyways, thanks for reviewing, and I'll think about the whole killing Haldir thing!
Haldir's Heart and Soul – I'm guessing, with a name like yours, you'll probably kill me if I killed him? gulps and backs away nervously I promise I will think it all over. grabs Legolas and holds him in front of her, so he can protect her from any angry readers
Legolas legs it
Lainfaer: Damn…scoots away in search of someone else
Anyways, thanks for reviewing!
Elerrina – Enough 'no's' in that review? You sure? Sure you're sure? I'd really like it if you didn't boycott my stories! And please keep reading. You're the reviewers who's lasted the longest I think! Though goodness knows why you've stuck by me…
Thanks for reviewing.
Chapter 6: Battle and Bereavement.
The rain pelted down on the slick, shining armour of the Lothlórien Elves. Their hair clung to their faces, strands dripping with water droplets. They were as silent as stone, their keen eyes watching the ever-approaching enemy.
The Men of Rohan stood beside them, their courage lingering just a little longer. They too, watched the nearing Army, and their hearts were filled with dread.
Legolas stood beside Gimli, his bow cradled against his chest, trails of rain travelling down his cheeks. Both warriors were silent, waiting for the fight to begin.
From his position on the Wall, Legolas could not see Haldir unless he leant right out over the Wall and to his side. But he knew he was there. And that alone was comfort enough.
Aragorn was also there...somewhere, walking amongst the assembled fighters, giving orders, and readying them for the upcoming battle. It was going to be bloody, it was going to be terrifying, but they had to be prepared for the very worst.
The Uruk-Hai stopped a short way away from the Wall, and looked up at their opponents. The men had their bows loaded, and suddenly, by accident, one let fly an arrow. It struck an Uruk in the shoulder, and he slumped to the ground, his comrades looking down at him.
Aragorn told them to hold fire, then the Uruks starting roaring and slamming their spears into the ground. Then, they charged.
Slowly at first, but as they neared the Wall, they sped up. Aragorn called the command, and flocks of arrows flew streamed over the Keep, into the oncoming Uruk-Hai. Many fell, yet there were always twice as many to replace them.
"Good luck to ya laddie," Legolas heard from down beside him.
He smiled at the Dwarf. "Good luck Gimli."
Then the fighting really began…
"Togo han dad, Legolas! Dago hon! Dago hon!"
Legolas saw the Uruk-Hai, fired, and hit him once. He fired again, and hit him once more.
The Uruk stumbled, and then flew, head first, into the small drain.
The Wall exploded. Men and Elves alike were thrown from the parapet, rocks, and boulders hurtling all over the place. The whole battle seemed to pause as everyone watched the Wall go up, and then all the separate blocks of rock and stone come crashing back down to Earth.
Then, just as it all stopped, it all started again. The Uruk-Hai bombarded their way through the newly made gap, and so everyone started running down to meet them.
Legolas, seeing his way was partially blocked, used his mind. Picking up a discarded Uruk-Hai shield, he jumped on, and 'surfed' down the steps, firing arrows as he went. Once at the bottom, he kicked the shield out from under his feet, and kicked a few heads in.
But soon, the call for retreat was heard. The Men and Elves started running back into the Keep, arrows still being fired, aims still being blocked.
"Nan Barad! Nan Barad! Haldir! Nan Barad!"
Haldir glanced down at Aragorn and nodded. He started yelling his own orders to his Elves to retreat back into the Keep.
Legolas, using his keen ears, heard his loves voice above the yelling and screaming. He looked up at the Wall, and saw, as if in slow motion, an Uruk creep up on him. He yelled to Haldir, trying desperately to warn him, but Haldir could not hear. He did the only other thing possible. He loaded his bow, and fired.
The Uruk reached Haldir just as the arrow struck him. He stabbed Haldir in the shoulder, wounding him badly. Then Haldir heard Legolas. He saw him running back up the stairs to him, closely followed by Aragorn.
"Haldir!" Legolas screamed. "Behind you!"
Haldir turned, and ducked just in time as another Uruk-Hai attempted to plunge his sword down into his back. Legolas fired another arrow, killing it.
Haldir collapsed to the ground, gripping his shoulder tightly, the blood seeping out between his fingers. Legolas reached him and held him.
"Garo-bo Haldir," he whispered. "Garo-bo melamin." (Hold on Haldir. Hold on my love.)
Haldirs' eyes fluttered shut, but Legolas could feel a pulse. "Watch my back," he told Aragorn.
As Aragorn defended him, he stripped Haldir of his armour until he was just in his normal tunic and leggings. Then carefully, so as not to damage the wound further, he lifted Haldir up, and bore him away into the Keep, Aragorn following, still guarding his friend and his precious love.
The doors were slammed shut behind them, and Men were using their body strength to keep them that way.
Legolas took Haldir to the very back of the room and lay him down. Aragorn helped the Men at the door. Legolas grabbed a nearby tablecloth, and used it to stem the blood flow a little. His heart was beating frantically as he fought to keep Haldir alive. If Haldir died, he would follow.
"You are not going to die on me now," he whispered, glancing up as crash after crash weakened the door. "You are going to pull through. You promised we would be together, you promised!"
"Legolas!"
He looked up as two Elves came running towards him. They were covered in dirt and blood, but he easily recognised them as Rumil and Orophin, Haldirs' older brothers.
"What happened?" they asked breathlessly. They had clearly been doing a lot of running.
"He was stabbed," Legolas replied, wincing as the door partially gave way. "But I don't have anything to help the wound."
"Let us look." They crouched over their brother, examining the wound with grim faces. "It is a bad injury," Rumil said with concern written all over his fair features. "We must get him someplace safe, away from the fighting."
"Legolas!" The Elf looked over as Aragorn called for him. "We are going to ride out. The Sun is rising."
"Aragorn, I can't. Haldir…"
"Please, we need your skill." Aragorn looked despairingly at him. "Saes melonin?"
Legolas looked back at Haldirs' brothers. "Go," they urged. "We shall look after him for your return."
He smiled gratefully at them, and grabbed his bow. With one last look at Haldir, he mounted Arod, and along with Théoden and Aragorn, they galloped out into the surging mass of Uruk-Hai as they rampaged through the door.
Down the causeway, swords swinging, arrows flying, banners flapping in the wind, straight into the enemy army. The Uruk-Hai were like a sea made of black and grey metal.
As the fight continued, the Sun began to rise higher and higher. Then, as it crested the top of a hill, Gandalf arrived with Éomer by his side. Their hope was restored.
"Come back to me…
Do not leave now.
Don't you understand?
I need you.
I love you."
Legolas stood anxiously to one side as Rumil and Orophin battled to save their brothers' life. The battle long forgotten, Legolas just stood; one hand clenched into a fist at his mouth, the other folded across his chest.
They were in a large room, which had been set aside for the wounded to be seen to. Haldir had been brought here, and his brothers were trying desperately to heal the stab wound, which was draining him of life every second. Legolas could only stand and watch helplessly. He knew nothing of healing, not as much as Rumil at any rate.
He stared continuously at Haldir's snow-white face, devoid of life. His grey eyes were closed, his lips pale. He had lost a lot of blood, and the wound refused to close over.
"Come on Haldir," Legolas heard Rumil say through gritted teeth. "You can't give up now. Think of everyone that loves you. Think of me, Orophin, Legolas…"
Legolas went to his side. "There must be something I can do," he said for the umpteenth time. "I cannot just stand by and watch him suffer like this."
Orophin sighed and looked at the Prince. He was still in battle gear, his quiver, and bow still strapped to his back. "Legolas, you know that all the help is welcome, but…"
"Herbs, bandages, anything! Just give me something to do!" he pleaded, his hands falling limply to his sides. "If I just stand here and watch, I'm not going to last much longer. I can feel my strength draining away already. Don't you understand? I love him, and I will do anything to get him back. I would die for him," he added in a soft voice. "You know that."
"Very well," Orophin replied, glancing at Rumil. Sweat was dripping from his brothers' face as he fought the damage done to Haldir. "Fetch Gandalf for me. He will not come on a whim, but if you go…maybe you can persuade him. As far as I can see, he is Haldirs' only hope, along with you."
Legolas nodded and ran out of the healing room. Down the passageways which were still blocked with people. He pushed his way through, not really caring anymore if he hurt anyone in the process. He had a life to save. Haldir had saved his; he must do the same for him.
The crowds grew thicker as he progressed, and soon, it had come to an almost complete standstill. He cursed under his breath, and looked around.
There were carts and baskets lining the walkway. He jumped neatly onto the nearest one, and ran neatly over them all, as if they were a solid path. He could feel people watching him, as if he was some sort of performer. He just ignored their stares.
He eventually came to the main Wall again, still littered with the dead bodies of Men, Elves, and Uruk-Hai. Not even glancing at them, as he knew the sight of his fellow kin lying dead all around him would weaken him, he carried on. He started asking people where the Wizard was, and they eventually directed him to the main hall where he was talking with Théoden, Éomer, Éowyn, and Aragorn.
He ran in, and all eyes turned to him. "Legolas, there you are!" Aragorn exclaimed, hurrying over to greet his friend. "Where have you been?"
"No time to explain," he said breathlessly. "Mithrandir," he walked around the Ranger and went up to the Wizard. "You must come with me, please. Haldir, he is mortally wounded, and I fear you are his only hope left."
Gandalf looked at Legolas with a slightly puzzled expression. He as yet, did not know the two were together. "Legolas I am sorry, but I cannot just leave. I am in the middle of a very important discussion."
"But you don't understand," Legolas whispered, his eyes stinging with tears. "Amin mela Haldir."
Gandalfs' eyes widened. "What?"
"Amin mela Haldir." Legolas sank onto his knees; his strength waning as he realised the Wizard was not going to help him. "Amin mela hon. Amin baur hon. Saes, al-cár echedi-hon belo-hi. Saes?" (I love him. I need him. Please, do not make him die now. Please?)
Aragorn and Éowyn rushed to his side as he fell to his knees. They held him, as he grew weaker. "Saes Mithrandir," he pleaded once more. "Saes-bar hon." (Please save him.) Then he slipped into unconsciousness.
Aragorn caught him as he fell sideways in a dead faint. "Gandalf!" he cried, looking up the Wizard.
Gandalf crouched down beside the comatose Elf. He felt his neck for a pulse. "We must get him to the Healers," he told the Ranger. He whistled, and Shadowfax bounded into the hallway.
Taking Legolas from Aragorn and Éowyn, he mounted Shadowfax and galloped out of the hall. The other two could only watch.
Gandalf galloped as fast as he could through the crowds. "Make way!" he yelled as he felt the life draining from the frail body held protectively against him. They had nearly lost the Prince once; they were not going to lose him again.
The people moved aside as he cantered on through the hallways. As soon as he reached the haling room, he dismounted with Legolas still in his arms and entered.
Orophin was at his side in an instant. "Over here," he said gravely. They lay Legolas down on a bed, stripping him of his armour and weapons.
"Haldir is over there," he told Gandalf. "Please, try and save him, Rumil is growing weaker, he will not last much longer."
Gandalf went in the direction pointed to him, leaving Legolas in Orophins' care. He soon found Haldir, and relieved Rumil of his healing duties. Using herbs such as athelas, he mixed a paste and rubbed it into Haldirs' shoulder. All the time, he was whispering healing charms, pleading with Haldir to come back, not just for himself, but for Legolas as well.
"Haldir, if you leave us, Legolas will too, and he is needed still in this world, as are you," he told the unresponsive Marchwarden sharply. "You cannot die, you cannot leave him!" He could see their love was strong. Legolas had been so desperate to save Haldir; he had bottled up his emotions until the very last minute. When he had found Haldir, he had acted strong to get him to a safe place to be healed. Then, to find Gandalf and get him to save Haldir, he had had to use his remaining strength. The final task was begging the Wizard to go to Haldir, yet he could not let everyone know how they were with each other. It had sapped him of all his energy, and he had then collapsed. By doing this, all the pain had flooded through him at once. Realisation had hit him. Having the knowledge that his love could die had weakened him dramatically. He was falling into darkness, following Haldir as he went.
"Please Haldir," Gandalf whispered again. "Legolas is precious to all of us. Do not be so selfish, and share him!" He laughed softly, trying to ease the discomfort around the still form in from of him.
"Come on Haldir," he urged, wrapping the shoulder in clean bandages. "Come back. There is no reason for you to leave. Think of Legolas."
Once he had finished with the Marchwarden, he left him in the care of Rumil, and went back to Legolas. The Prince was deathly pale, and his breathing was shallow. As he felt Legolas' wrist for a pulse, he was not surprised to find it beating rapidly. His heart was still in Middle-Earth; his spirit was not. His heart knew he was going to die, and was trying to save him. His spirit was already halfway to the Halls of Mandos.
"How does he fare Gandalf?"
"He is better, though very weak. I still fear for his life."
"And Haldir, what of him?"
"I am sure that with all the care his brothers are giving him, he will be fine."
Aragorn nodded and looked down at his sleeping friend. Legolas was still very pale, but much more at peace now. He sat down beside the bed and took his hand. It was ice cold. He rubbed it between his own, trying to get heat back into the frozen bones.
"He has been through so much," Gandalf said softly, placing a hand on Aragorns' shoulder. "How on Earth he managed to pull through…" He left the sentence hanging.
"It was Haldir," Aragorn told him. "Haldir saved him."
"I had heard Haldir was involved somehow, but I had no idea that they were together."
"He told me just before we met you again. They made it official when we stayed in Lothlórien." He laughed at his own words. "Made it official. You know what I mean?"
"Yes. I am happy for them."
"So am I. Legolas deserves someone to love him as much as Haldir does after everything he went through all those years ago." He brushed a stray hair out of Legolas' face, and the Elf stirred a little under his gentle touch. Aragorn smiled to himself. Legolas could obviously sense him beside him, that itself was a good sign to the Ranger.
"I'll leave you for a bit Aragorn. Call me if you or Legolas need anything."
Aragorn nodded and smiled gratefully at the old Wizard. As Gandalf walked out, he turned back to Legolas. "Now Legolas," he told the unresponsive Elf sternly. "You listen to me, and you listen hard."
"You are loved by more people than just Haldir you know. I love you, your father loves you, your brother and sisters love you…you cannot abandon us all now.
We need you Legolas. If Haldir is going to recover, he will need your help and full co-operation. I understand that seeing him get hurt like that must have been heartbreaking, but it's time that you understood. This is heartbreaking for me, seeing you lying here, and I feel as if there is nothing I can do. It is entirely up to you now Legolas. All I can do is stand by and wait. If you leave us now, and Haldir recovers to discover you have died…well, I'll leave the imagining up to you."
Heehee, will he die or not? I really don't know what to do now. And what of our dear Leggy? Will he survive?
Put your answers in a review please. Shall I kill them both, just Legolas, just Haldir, or let them both live? Hmm…I wonder…
Chapter 7 will be up in about a week's time. Now, I have to go and get ready for a funeral. stomps away, mumbling I hate funerals…
Lainfaer