A/N: I worked for a week or so on this chapter, and it has become really long! I hope this answers all of your prayers for longer chapters. From now on I will try to write more with each chapter.

Some of you mentioned that you thought this story was getting too depressing. I think that the longer I spend on letting Legolas and Eowyn realize their true feelings, the more powerful their final choices will be. The beginning of this chapter is a bit lighter as Legolas discusses his feelings. The two should be reunited in the next chapter, so look forward to it.

Dedication: This is for all of the L/E shippers out there. You all rock.

Chapter Ten

Pelennor Fields

Aragorn turned away from the steering of his ship, and let his gaze wander to his Elven companion. Legolas of Mirkwood stood at the very beginning of the long wood ship, his blue eyes gazing out onto the sea. Aragorn could sense the turmoil within his friend, and longed to ease the Elf's pain.

The Elven warrior turned from the sea as soon as he felt Aragorn's gaze on his back. Legolas gave a small half-smile and walked over to Aragorn stood waiting.

"You have been watching me, Elessar."

The Ranger gave a low, throaty laugh. "I should have known better than to think I could spy on one of the fairer races. You have caught me."

"Why do you watch me, Aragorn?"

Aragorn cursed the Elf's stubbornness in his mind. He knew that Legolas knew perfectly well why he was concerned. "You have not been yourself lately, Legolas. I am concerned for you."

Legolas sighed, and sat down next to Aragorn on a barrel. "The calling of my heart and the calling of my soul are at opposite ends. And the call of duty interrupts both of them." He drew a jagged breath. "I am afraid that I do not have the strength to withstand this pressure much longer."

The pair sat in silence for several long moments. Finally, Aragorn sat down next to his dear friend. "Why did you not tell me, nin mellon? I would have helped you in an instant." His voice broke with emotion.

"The calling in my heart is so strong, Aragorn," Legolas said, barely speaking loud enough to be heard. "Never before have I felt this way about someone."

Aragorn reached out and put a steadying hand on Legolas' shoulder. "Is it Éowyn?"

Legolas nodded. "Aye, mellon, she is the most beautiful and amazing creature I have ever laid eyes on. She is smooth yet hard, intelligent yet stubborn. Her determination makes me concerned for her safety. I want her to be able to fight; yet I do not want her to be in the face of danger. I am so confused."

The Ranger laughed. "Love is a splendid thing, my friend. The Shield Maiden of Rohan is a wonderful woman. I admire your choice."

"My father would never approve. I dare not even mention the matter to him. He has always wanted me to make a respectable Elven marriage. But now that I have met Éowyn, I fear I cannot settle for anything besides her."

"Lord Elrond does not approve of me either, nin mellon. We have the curse of falling in love with those who are not allowed to be with us." Aragorn sighed wistfully, and stroked the necklace around his neck. "But a forbidden love is all the stronger. If you truly love her, and she loves you back, then all shall be well in the end."

Legolas raised his eyebrows in doubt, but did not question Aragorn's judgment. The Ranger clapped Legolas once more on the shoulder, and stood up. "I should go check on Gimli. I'm not sure if I trust him steering our ship." The two laughed together, and then moved on to their other tasks. They were in the middle of a war. They could not take too much time to discuss personal business.

--

Éowyn and Merry charged forward through the crowds of Uruks, stabbing and whirling their swords with all of their might. Éowyn parried a few blows that were aimed towards the head of her hobbit friend, and they both managed to avoid any serious injury. They reached the center of the lines of the enemy, and stopped for a few moments. It had all been too easy.

"Is that it?" Merry asked apprehensively.

Éowyn bit her lip in nervousness. There had to be something else coming. "I'm not sure. It feels a bit suspicious." She regretted the words as soon as they had left her mouth. Just then, a huge chorus of roars shook the entire field. Éowyn turned in the direction of the sound and saw a giant herd of oliphaunts charging toward the Riders of Rohan.

She caught sight of her Uncle gathering the remaining men to his side. Éowyn spurred her horse forward, determined to catch up with the others. As she rode, a cold wave of fear passed over her.

"How can we ever kill those?" Merry asked in awe, fear shaking his voice.

Éowyn tightened her grip on the gleaming sword. The tip of it had been bathed in red blood, and now caught the light of the sun. "We shall overcome all of our difficulties. Think of these beasts as nothing more than an overlarge foe to be killed. We shall work together to destroy them."

Merry snorted. "Speeches like that, My Lady, show me that you are much more nervous than you would like to let on."

She laughed with him, but sobered quickly. "Merry, we must prepare ourselves for everything, and be brave. It is right to be nervous, but we cannot let others see our weaknesses." Éowyn tightened her grip on her sword once more, steeling herself for what would come. She remained far back among the lines of horses, to avoid being spotted by Eomer or Theoden.

All of a sudden, there was a huge surge in the horses around her. The Riders and their horses swept forward at the same time, momentary courage giving them the strength to attack the beasts. Éowyn, remaining near the back, spurred her horse on as well. She would not be left out for this attack.

Éowyn rode her horse hard, keeping a close eye on what was happening with the riders ahead of her. She watched in horror as the beasts swung their giant trunks and knocked many horses into the air. Even more riders were trampled by the huge legs and feet of the beasts. Éowyn wanted to cry out in horror, but she knew she must be brave.

"Merry, we must be nimble and swift on the horse. Aim for the legs of the beasts, an be sure to avoid the arrows of the men on top." The little hobbit nodded nervously, clutching his tiny weapon in his hand.

Éowyn steered her horse around the legs of the oliphaunts, careful to avoid being trampled. Little Merry reached out to stab the beasts, but his arms could not reach unless they were quite close to the animal itself. Éowyn knew they would not last long if they kept going like this.

"Take the reins!" she screamed, thrusting them into Merry's hand. She felt him tense up in fear. Éowyn took her sword into both hands, and swung at the leg nearest to her. It collided with the thick skin of the animal, and she heard it yelp out in pain above her. "To the right!" she screamed again, motioning for Merry to go nearer to the next leg.

Éowyn stuck her sword out again and stabbed the next leg. The beast above her stumbled and began to fall. "Get us out of here, Merry," she said urgently, and the hobbit steered them out from under the beast. It fell to the ground as soon as they were out from under it.

The companions breathed a sigh of relief, until the beast's tail came down and smacked the hindquarters of their horse. The horse fell to the ground, throwing Éowyn in one direction and Merry in the other.

The Shield Maiden came to her senses some time later, rubbing her bruised head. She looked around in vain for Merry, calling his name but hearing no answer.

Although Éowyn was fearful for the state of her friend, she could not stop her fighting. She picked up her sword from where it lay several feet away from her, and quickly stabbed it into the belly of an Uruk who came charging.

Éowyn turned around, trying to catch her breath. Just then, a Man of the South grabbed her by the neck. She felt the air leave her and choked for breath. Éowyn firmed the sword in her hands, and stabbed at the stomach of the man behind her.

He loosened his grip. Éowyn turned around in his weakened grasp and saw coal black eyes painted with charcoal and dirt. There was pain in his eyes, but hatred as well. "Curse you," the man bit out, before falling to the ground, dead.

Éowyn felt nauseous. Killing the Uruk was so much different than killing someone of her own race. She grasped the sword and hurried away from the dead body to find her friend.

Legolas moved up from his spot and wandered around the boat for a while. His thoughts were quite muddled, but speaking to Aragorn had made him feel a bit better.

The gulls above him cried once more, yet Legolas did not feel the same pain he had when he first heard them. His thoughts at this time rested with Éowyn and her fate. He was not concerned with his own right now.

I shall be with you soon, meluiel, he thought with a smile. And once I see you again, I shall never let you go.

"Legolas! We are coming up on Gondor!" Aragorn's call broke his concentration, and he gave a small smile. Soon, he would be with Éowyn again.

"I am coming," Legolas answered, and moved off to join his friends. He would be reunited with his love soon enough.

*meluiel- lovely one

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