Chapter 11: Crimson Triumph
Rivers' POV
A huge blob of silver against a sheet of black. That's all I can see. Nothing else.
"She lives!"
That voice...so sweet, innocence dripping from his very tone. "Kyler?"
"Good morning, sleepyhead!"
Sure enough, there is that carefree luster in his eyes. I wished I had believed in those eyes six months ago. From my weak position on the bed, I start to cry. I've died, and now I'm with Kyler in Heaven. Which means he's dead, to. I let him down.
He pushes my hair out of the way. "Don't cry, Rivers! I didn't do anything wrong, I even asked Tess just to make sure!"
That made me cry harder. He didn't do anything; it was my fault. I can't even tell him I'm sorry. He smiled, looked pained. "I want you to go back and help everyone. Please?"
He is his normal self. Oh, I'm so sorry....
He helps me up, letting me take a few testing steps around the unusually plain room. He smiles before letting it drop. "Are you ready?"
Legolas' POV
The door is so close to giving out. Shards are flying everywhere, accompanied by think waves of dust. I'm probably choking, but I'm still a bit peaked about that boy.
I know who he is; he was Rivers' brother. Did she summon him? Did I? Did that flute do it?
"We cannot hold much longer!"
Aragorn shouted, "How long do you need?"
Théoden took another look at the gate. Soldiers were leaning on it, firing arrows into the many holes ripped across it. "As long as you can give me!"
He nodded at Gimli, and they sprang into a stone corridor. "Timbers! Brace the gate!"
I drew my bowstring tighter and released it. The men watched as it twirled, and stopped in the hand of an orc shaking one of the gate's many holes. The hand panicked and repaired to safety. Before their heads turned to look back at me, another arrow was released. Ah, the agile pleasures of being Elvish.
Boards fell against the door to absorb the damage from the battering ram. Théoden stuck his head through a hole. "Aragorn! Get out of there!"
The thrusts against the door became more frequent. And that's when I caught a flash of blonde near the door.
It was Rivers; standing at the doors while soldier pushed themselves with all their might. She just stood there, empty and confused. I bounded over and shook her shoulder. "Rivers! How did you get here? I left down in the cavern window!"
She turned around. Those weren't her eyes. They were too empty. Her hand slid across my chest. "Legolas..." She eyes went completely blank as she collapsed against me. That's when my world fell down around me.
The board came down, woofing the breath out of him as he braced the impact. Rivers fell to the ground, allowing him to fall over her. His muscles were tensed in an attempt to save Rivers, but her stone cold corpse- like state didn't let her leave the floor.
He was over her. "Riv...Rivers," he snarled through his teeth. "Go."
Her eyes fluttered open. He almost smiled. There was that poisonous glint he knew so well. It was back, and so was she. "Oh, God! Legolas!"
An armored foot stamped dust into her face. A cackle hissed over her head. "Illicit lovers. Sleep tight."
The pressure increased, driving him lower. His muscles ached, tensed with the effort to shove. A sharp gasp for breath drew a sob from Rivers. "No! Get off!"
The pain sank him lower, gasping and pained. Rivers curled her arms under his shoulders. "Legolas, I'm so sorry... I'm sorry for everything! I never meant any of those things! I couldn't ever say that to someone like you!"
She felt him snap his arms to her sides and throw her out. The board clattered to the floor, and in a flurry of movement, Rivers found that she was clinging to the elf, feet planted firmly on the ground. He poked her with a knife. "Do the honors?"
"Thank you." She planted the knife deep in their tormentor's back. He slumped to the ground. She returned the knife to him. "Sorry to soil a nice blade."
"I like this kind of filth."
He swept her up, and sped after the retreating party of men. He placed her on her feet after they were safely sealed in the fortress' caverns. Théoden shook his head. "What can men do against such reckless hate?"
"Ride out with me. Ride out to meet them."
Théoden turned to Aragorn. "For death and glory."
"For Rohan and your people."
"The sun is rising," Gimli quipped.
Rivers shook Aragorn. "Gandalf!"
The same thought hit him at the same time. Getting a hint, Théoden said, "Yes, yes! The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound here one last time!"
A few people cheered. All were smiling. And it felt good to smile.
Rivers sighed, looking up at Aragorn fondly. The king broadened his grin. "What happens now, Green Lady Of Mirkwood?"
She blushed, but said, "And the rest, they say, is history!"