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xXx Chapter Fourteen
Something hard came crashed down onto his left shoulder. Whirling around in surprise, Legolas saw the horrid face of an Uruk jeering back at him. Glancing quickly at his shoulder, Legolas noticed the staff protruding through the flesh. The Elven warrior smiled fiercely, and pulled the staff out of his shoulder. The Uruk gazed back at him, unafraid. Legolas moved to draw one of his knives. The Uruk continued to gaze at him, infuriatingly.
"You'd best be fearful," Legolas murmured. The creature in front of him moved into a defense position, the staff twirling about in its hands. Legolas moved as if to stab the creature on the right side, and the Uruk responded. Quicker than lightning, Legolas spun around and dug his knife into the unattended left side. The Uruk howled in pain and anger, and brought its staff down at Legolas, hard.
The elf withdrew his other knife, and forced the blow away from his body. With his other hand, he withdrew the other knife and stabbed it once again, this time through the Uruk's heart. The beast moaned with pain, its eyes flashing. Legolas smiled grimly and pulled the knife out of the Uruk's body. He made sure not to be gentle.
A great cry arose from the mouths of the men surrounding him. Legolas looked into Mordor, where they were pointing. The Black Nazgul flew towards the battle. For a moment, Legolas was reminded of Éowyn and her defeat of the Witch King. A brief swell of pride passed over him at the thought of her. He regained his composure quickly, though. Legolas could not afford to make a mistake now.
He searched the busy fields for any sign of Aragorn. With a gasp, he saw the Ranger locked in combat with a gigantic creature, the likes of which he had never seen before. Aragorn seemed to be without his sword, as well. Crying out in the names of his forefathers, Legolas set forth a long stream of arrows. Most of them hit the creature or the Uruks around it. A brief sense of dismay passed over the Elf when he saw that the creature still lived.
Legolas pulled out his last arrow, and fit it to his bow. Concentrating sharply on the movements of the beast, he aimed. After a few breathless seconds, Legolas let go of the arrow with a twang. It sung through the air, and hit is mark right on. A quiet hush fell over the battlefield as the beast fell. Legolas rushed forward as soon as the creature hit the dirt, for he saw that Aragorn was trapped under the beast's weight. Only then, when he looked towards the East, did Legolas notice that the great tower of Mordor was falling.
A cry of victory passed briefly over his lips, as Legolas hurried to find his friend. I shall be home to you again, my dearest Éowyn, he thought happily, as he ran over to Aragorn's side.
--
Pink flowers had fallen from the trees at the foot of Ithilien, and Éowyn delighted in walking among the fallen petals. She had almost fully recovered, but was still prone to exhaustion after strenuous periods of exercise. With the help of Lord Faramir, however, she was beginning to mend.
"I can see that you enjoy the blossoms, my lady."
Éowyn turned around, her golden hair swaying as she did so. A genuine smile danced across her lips for the briefest of moments. "They remind me of the true beauty of nature," she said softly.
"Such as the beauty of the elves?" Éowyn looked up at this word from Faramir. He was gazing at her placidly, expecting an answer. Éowyn stumbled over several phrases in her mind, not sure what to say. Faramir could not possibly have known about the romance between her and Legolas.
"Tell me what you mean, my lord, for I fear that I misunderstand your meanings…" She trailed off looking expectantly at him.
Faramir shrugged. "I have not had dealings with the fairer race. It was my understanding that you had met the friend of the Heir of Elendil, who is Elf-kind. I was merely wondering if their beauty is as astounding as the stories say it is."
Éowyn stifled a sigh of relief. "Yes," she murmured, "Legolas is a most beautiful creature. His eyes sparkle with a love of life, yet wisdom that is behind my immediate comprehension. His golden hair flows in the wind, and he fights with grace and poise. Legolas is unlike anyone else I have ever met, or ever will meet… He is perfection, and perfection is him."
She turned from the view of the flowers, pained by the thought of her departed love. Faramir was gazing at her intently. "The stories are not true, then," he said. "Your heart desires not the love of Aragorn but the love of the Elven lord."
"My heart desires much," she answered shortly, "Yet not all is granted to it." Éowyn cast Faramir a shy smile. "You could not begin to imagine the workings of a woman's heart."
"And why is that, my lady?" Faramir asked, stepping closer to her.
She shifted uncomfortably. He was too close. Éowyn blinked twice, trying to clear her mind. "You are too naïve and trusting, my lord Faramir. Women are not always honest creatures."
"But neither are men," he answered, smiling slightly at her. "No one here is completely pure, fair, or wise. The evil in this world has tainted us all."
Éowyn looked up into his clear eyes. She saw the challenge there. "The elves are not tainted, or the ones that I have met are not. They are immortally pure, fair, and wise."
"It seems to be as if you forget the good qualities of your own race, Lady Éowyn." He lifted a hand and touched her cheek. Éowyn squirmed under his touch, extremely anxious. "You are so fair, yet so cold. If you would hear it, I would tell you the truth." Éowyn nodded, desperate to escape his grasp. "I am enchanted by you, Éowyn of Rohan. I am no fool; I sense that your heart belongs to another, though I know not who it truly is. I would have your hand in marriage, if you would have me."
Éowyn gasped in shock. "You barely know me!" She tried to move away from his touch, but found his grip on her to be very strong.
Faramir looked into her eyes. "There are better men than me in this world, I know that. But I promise that I would be good and honest to you. You don't have to decide now… But know that I am here." He smiled briefly at her, and leaned in to kiss Éowyn on the cheek, before she could say anything. "Think, Lady of Rohan." Faramir smiled wistfully at her once more, and then hurried from the gardens.
Éowyn touched her cheek where he had kissed her, feeling as if she had just been poisoned. She was sure that her heart belonged to Legolas. But if something evil were to befall him, could she spend the rest of her life with Lord Faramir? The thought troubled her and drove her nearly mad.
I just want my Legolas to come back to me, so all will be right in the world again.
--
Many of men who set back home from Mordor were jubilant, yet exhausted. Legolas rode at the head of the party, determined to reach the White City, so he could see Éowyn again. His heart had cried out for her during the lonely hours of battle, and she was constantly on his mind. Legolas had never felt this way about anything, or anyone, before.
"Aragorn," he cried, turning his horse back towards the tired man. "We must hurry!"
The Ranger laughed. He waved a dismissive hand at Legolas' eagerness. "She shall be there when you return, Legolas, never fear. If you take a few days, she will not forget you entirely."
Legolas smiled sheepishly, and slowed his horse's pace down, so that he was riding next to Aragorn. On his back, Gimli was complaining about the uncomfortable ride. "If you do not enjoy this ride, Master Dwarf, then I suggest that you walk your way back into Gondor. It might take some time though, for the road is long and your legs short."
Gimli huffed in anger. "You are just eager to see that young lassie again, Master Greenleaf. Did your father never teach you about the virtue of patience?"
"Your humor astounds me," Legolas replied sarcastically. He fidgeted on his horse, making Aragorn laugh harder. "Please, Estel, may I ride ahead? There is no more danger from behind, and I shall be able to face any foes that dare cross my path." He smiled slightly. "Please?"
Aragorn rode closer to Legolas, and clapped him on the back. "Let Gimli ride with me then, unless he feels comfortable going at such a fast pace." The dwarf shook his head. "It is settled. Pause a moment and allow our dwarf friend to accompany me." The blue eyes of Aragorn lingered on Legolas' shining face. The Man of Gondor frowned somewhat wistfully. "I wish you speed and safe travel. Give Éowyn my regards."
Legolas locked eyes with his friend briefly. "You have all my gratitude, Aragorn. You will never fully realize how much this means to me, mellon." With that, the Elf turned his horse towards Ithilien, and rode off into the sun.
--
Éowyn awoke early the next morning. She had not slept well; the proposal of Faramir had been haunting both her dreams and her nightmares. Her hands ached to touch her sword again, and her lips burned for the kiss of Legolas. Éowyn had been awake into the long hours of the night, hoping and praying that her love would return to her.
She walked out to the east gardens, sauntering idly through the petals. Wistfully, Éowyn looked out towards Mordor, where Legolas fought to save Middle Earth. She had had no news of his fate, and the fate of her other friends, yet. She was stuck in a dreadful limbo, unable to do or say anything to help.
There was the clomping of hooves in the distance, but Éowyn did not look up. She would not torture herself with the hopeful gazes once again. Éowyn bent over and scooped some fallen blossoms. She tucked them into her golden hair, smiling slightly to herself. If she would never be Queen, at least she could pretend she was.
The noise grew closer. Éowyn tried to shut it out of her head. She could not deal with the heartbreak one more time. The horse was alone, as well. Legolas would return with Lord Aragorn and others if he came back, not by himself.
"My lady!" A voice called out to her from the direction of the hooves. Éowyn sighed angrily.
"Do not bother me now," she called back angrily.
She heard quiet laughter. "Come, Lady Éowyn, and speak with me! Or have I wounded you in some way unimaginable? I do not think I have."
"I am dangerous with a blade, sir," Éowyn growled. The voice laughed again. Infuriated, Éowyn spun around on one heel, her hand going to her sword hilt. When she looked up however, a beautiful smile crossed her features. "Legolas," she breathed, "You have returned, unless my eyes are cheated!"
The Elven warrior smiled at her, and dismounted from his white steed. He walked quickly to her side, and gathered her thin frame into his arms. "It is so good to see you well again, my love."
"I have prayed for your return every day and night," Éowyn replied, burying her face in his neck.
Legolas kissed her brow and smiled. "I will not be leaving again soon, lirimaer."
She pressed into him, wrapping her arms around him. Éowyn rested her head on his broad chest. "I was foolish enough to think that you would never return to me… I thought that you did not love me anymore. I thought that you would either die in battle, or your heart would come to belong to another."
"Cormamin lindua ele lle, Éowyn," Legolas said softly, kissing her gently. She laughed up at him.
"You could be calling me as hideous as an Uruk, love, and I would still treasure the sound of the Elvish words on your fair tongue." Legolas smiled shyly.
"It means 'My heart sings to see thee.' And you are not nearly as hideous as an Uruk," Legolas said, ducking as she playfully reached up to swat him. "I love you, Éowyn, and I always will. Nothing can change that."
Éowyn put a finger to his lips. "Silence, my love. Now is not the time for speaking." She tilted her head up, and met his lips hungrily.
Up in the highest tower, Faramir of Gondor watched them together, a sad smile crossing his face. "If she can be happy with the Elf," he said quietly to himself, "Then I shall not hinder her love for him." Ignoring the pain that captured his heart, Faramir slowly turned from the window, under which the two lovers were still engaged.
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