A/N: I am still writing 'Adventures'; this is just a brief story, also known as a one-shot. The ironic thing is, I was writing it when one of my friends called to say that another friend of ours has betrayed us. Keep that in mind as you read it. I completely sympathize with Legolas.

Please Forgive Me

The battle is done. I am resting, although I am not physically tired. Only mentally am I weary.

I look down, but glance away quickly. The piece of wall that is my seat has bloodstains on one corner of it.

I stare out instead at the sight before me. Masses of bodies lie on the ground, elf, human, orch, and Uruk alike. And all I can think as I gaze at them is, I'm sorry.

I failed them. Not the yrch and the Uruk-hai; they deserved to be destroyed. It is because of me that the elves sent by Lord Elrond and King Theoden's men are dead. Their blood was spilled because I made a foolish mistake.

I know that they will say it is not my fault. And yet is. I was the ellon who was unable to shoot the berserker.

"Togo han dad, Legolas! Dago hon! Dago hon!" Aragorn cried. "Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him! Kill him!" I fitted an arrow to my bow and shot it. I did not miss, but neither did I kill him. The arrow hit the berserker in the shoulder.

"Dago hon!" Again I loosed an arrow, but still it did not kill the berserker. He kept running straight ahead, the torch sparkling high in his hand.

And then it happened. The berserker hit the wall and the next few moments were chaotic with sound, motion, light, and color. Rock exploded across the field, intermingling with elves and men flying to land dead amidst the huge army of Saruman.

Ai, the screams I heard in those long minutes. I shall never forget them, even if I live to the end of time.

It is true that I killed forty-one of the enemy. But that is only a few leaves in a forest. Many more fell by an Orc blade than did by my hand.

It is also true that we won the battle. For the most part, Helm's Deep still stands. More of it would still be standing if I had only killed the single-most important target.

Why was I unable to kill him? I have always hit my mark before, and always with great success. Why was this one time any different? I have fought in much worse conditions than this past rainy night. Why did I allow myself to become distracted?

Aragorn is walking up to me. He asks, "What troubles you, mellon nin?"

I answer, "I have let them down. I failed them."

Thankfully, he does not disagree with me. He simply replies, "How many more would have died if you had not been there defending them?"

I stay silent, lost in thought. The sun above me is trailing higher in the azure sky. Finally I respond. "Please forgive me."

Aragorn holds out a hand covered in grime from the battle. I grasp it with my equally dirty hand. His cool gray eyes pierce through my cloud of misery. "Ú-moe edaved, Legolas," he states. "There is nothing to forgive, Legolas."

I clasp his shoulder in thanks and he returns the gesture. Aragorn then smiles and strides away to help one of the Rohirrim calm his agitated horse.

I am grateful for Aragorn's forgiveness. But his is not that which I seek. It is the dead to whom I must apologize.

In my heart, I swear to avenge their deaths. The wind gently blows the golden hair off of my face. All is forgiven. I walk away from the battlefield, my peace with the deceased finally made.

End.

X X X X X

Orch – orc

Yrch – orcs

Mellon nin – my friend

Please review. I feel deeply that this was how the poor elf would feel.