Gimli continued to tell Eowyn tales of his people and Legolas smiled at his friend. The lady was enjoying his enthusiasm and seemed to be learning quite a bit about dwarves.
The two slowed and allowed Legolas to catch up with them. Gimli could not resist pulling him into the conversation.
"Have you ever seen an elf, m'lady?" The dwarf smiled at her.
Eowyn shook her head. "Nay, this is the first elf I have seen. My mother told me they were merely legends." She examined Legolas keenly as he wondered what Gimli was up to. He shot the dwarf a warning look but Gimli ignored him.
"Aye! Legends! And yet here one is, right before your very eyes!" Gimli said.
"Yes," Eowyn agreed.
"I wonder if you are aware of another legend," he mused.
Legolas squirmed uncomfortably under Eowyn's questioning gaze. What was that confounded dwarf up to? He wondered and gave Gimli the look that Annowe had given him on several occasions. From her, that look could have frozen Mount Doom, but coming from him it had no effect.
"I am speaking of a naiad, a water nymph," Gimli confided to the wide-eyed shield maiden.
"A water nymph? I do not believe it!" Eowyn said in surprise. "Where have you seen one?" She demanded.
Gimli said nothing but pointed stealthily to Legolas. Eowyn turned toward the elf.
"You have seen a water nymph?" She asked curiously. What a strange and interesting world she lived in! She had heard of elves, dwarves and nymphs but she had never actually seen any until earlier today when the strange visitors had come to Edoras and released her uncle from the evil spell.
Which one of them was the nymph? She wondered. Could it be the handsome yet unkempt ranger? Her curiosity was getting the best of her and she pressed Legolas for an answer.
The embarrassed elf cleared his throat. "Yes, I know a water nymph," he admitted.
Gimli watched grinning as the tips of his friend's ears turned pink. Eowyn, too, saw the change in the normally aloof elf and giggled.
"Master elf, I do believe that this must be a female nymph to elicit such a response from you," Eowyn said with a gentle smile in her voice.
Legolas tried to hide a grin but was unsuccessful. "Yes," he said. "I fear that Master Dwarf will not let me rest until I declare myself to the lady."
Eowyn smiled. "As well he should! If the lady returns your affection, why not tell her how you feel?"
"Aye, my thoughts exactly," agreed Gimli.
Legolas laughed. They were right, of course.
"I plan to, actually. As soon as I can," he admitted, more determined than ever to find Annowe again.
Both Eowyn and Gimli grinned with satisfaction.
"Good," said Eowyn and patted Legolas on the arm. If they shared the same feeling, what was there to fear? She wondered.
The march was uneventful until the late afternoon when they were spotted by a group of Uruk-hai scouts who wasted no time in alerting the vanguard that the Rohirrim were on the move.
Legolas swiftly brought down the first two scouts but it was too late – the rest of the enemy had been alerted and charged full-force over the hills to attack the Rohirrim in the open.
Panic quickly ensued as the men tried to put themselves between the attackers and the unarmed. People scattered in all directions yelling for family and friends as they ran toward the fortress. The quiet march had lulled them all into a false sense of security and the unexpected attack had startled and terrified them.
The Uruk-hai had made much better time toward Edoras than even Gandalf had anticipated. The Rohirrim were caught in the open with no shelter in sight. The enemy could not have planned their attack better. Fortunately for the Rohirrim, this was only an advance guard of Uruk-hai and not the full army. The rest of the enemy would certainly come later once they discovered Edoras deserted.
Theoden urged Eowyn to lead the people to Helm's Deep while he and the other men stayed to cover their retreat. The people would need someone to lead them since he would stay and fight against the enemy.
Hesitantly, she obeyed. Live today, fight tomorrow, her brother had often told her. Her day of battle would come soon enough but it was not today. Shouting encouragement and trying to corral everyone into an orderly retreat, she led as many of the women and children as she could to their stronghold to anxiously await the outcome of the fight.
Uruk-hai surrounded them in waves. Legolas was shooting arrows as fast as he could at the attackers but they were unrelenting and he quickly emptied his quiver on the advancing horde. Nimbly, he hopped from body to body, retrieving arrows here and there, using his sword to clear himself a path. Once he had a handful of arrows, he again fired into the onslaught.
As the fight progressed, Legolas cast glances about to see where Gimli and Aragorn were so they did not get separated. Gimli's distinct throaty growl was easy to hear over the din of battle but the elf only caught a few glimpses of Aragorn before the ranger completely disappeared from his sight.
The smaller force of the Rohirrim was overwhelmed but they managed to hold their ground and finally drove the attackers back. Several of the horse riders began to chase down the remaining Uruk-hai and Legolas took the opportunity to begin hunting in earnest for his friends.
Disgusted at the carnage, he carefully picked his way through the twisted wreckage of the battle and spotted Gimli with Theoden but there was no sign of Aragorn. Legolas was glad to see the king was still alive but he worried for Aragorn. Where was he? Was he lying wounded somewhere?
"Where is Aragorn?" He asked them anxiously.
Gimli's eyes grew wide with worry and the three of them frantically searched for the missing ranger among the dead and wounded. Their distressed shouts were overheard by one of the mortally wounded Uruk-hai who smugly informed them that their friend had been pulled over the nearby cliff.
The three of them moved over to the hateful being and Gimli snarled menacingly at the fell creature. He would not suffer a lie from one of these foul things, especially regarding the fate of Aragorn.
"You lie!" Hissed Legolas defiantly. He could not – would not – believe that Aragorn was gone. He could not die! So much depended on him. He was the last king of Gondor and if he died, all hope of uniting men would die with him.
As proof of his vile words, the filthy creature held out Arwen's precious Evenstar that she had given to Aragorn when they were betrothed. Legolas snatched the cherished object from the gloating enemy as he shook with rage and fear.
This could not be! No! It was impossible! What would he do? What would they do? Who would break the news to Arwen? The last thought tore a hole in his heart and he could not bear to think of the Lady's pain. His own was bad enough.
The three of them ran to look over the cliff where the ranger must have fallen. They saw no trace of him – not a boot or a strip of cloth – nothing. The only thing in sight was the muddy and rapidly flowing river far below.
Legolas stood at the edge of the cliff and refused to believe what he was seeing. Aragorn was not there. He must have fallen into the river and been swept away by the swift current. The foul creature had told the truth! His friend was gone. Numbly, he clutched the Evenstar in his hand as his mind tried to grasp what happened. Never in his life had someone so dear to him been taken in such a manner.
His mind just refused to wrap around the idea that his friend was gone. Confusion, fear, pain, and disbelief numbed his mind and heart. Even seeing Gandalf fall in Moria had not affected him so deeply. He and Aragorn had been friends for years and now he was gone. Gone! His mind screamed as he stared into the brown river below.
Theoden sighed but realized they must go on for that is what men do – pick up the pieces and go on with life. The king urged the others to make for Helm's Deep. There was nothing they could do for Aragorn now and the rest of the army would quickly follow them.
Stung by his seemingly callous remarks, Legolas scowled but turned away from the river and walked with Gimli toward the stronghold.
The dwarf sighed heavily. He was just as upset about Aragorn as Legolas was but the elf seemed to be taking it much harder.
"You knew him before you joined The Fellowship, yes?" Gimli asked quietly as they continued to make their way to Helm's Deep.
Legolas nodded but said nothing. The pain was too intense and he did not trust his voice.
Gimli squeezed his friend's arm to let him know he understood. If the elf wanted to talk, he would listen but he would not force the issue. Legolas had withdrawn into himself and Gimli hoped that he would not completely pull away from him. There was still a long road ahead for them.