A/N: More of the movie than book here.

Early the next morning after finding some food, Gimli went back to the battlements to check on Legolas. Eowyn was also there standing apart from the elf and watching him patiently.

Gimli approached the shield maiden.

"How is he doing?" He asked in a low voice.

Eowyn actually smiled at him. "Much better. He ate and drank last night but he did not sleep. We had a bit of a chat," she said.

Gimli raised a bushy eyebrow curiously at her. "Aye? A chat? Hmmm. I see."

"He asks the most odd questions," she shook her head at the memory. Not actually "odd", just very difficult to answer, she mentally corrected herself.

Gimli grunted and looked toward his friend. "Aye, he would. Confounded searching for meaning in everything. That's what he was asking about, I'll warrant," the dwarf shook his bushy head at the futility of it all. Who were they to demand answers to the Great Questions of Life?

Eowyn smiled despite her somber mood. The dwarf had a way of cutting right to the heart of matters. "You would be correct," she admitted.

"You set him to rights, I hope," the dwarf turned his piercing gaze back to her and she raised an eyebrow at him.

"I tried. I answered him as truthfully as I could, all things considered," she said.

Gimli's beard formed into a grin. "Good. He needed a bit of grounding. Mind wandering about like that – he's liable to forget he's even here."

After watching him in silence for a few moments, they left him standing on the battlements, gazing out at the horizon and holding the Evenstar tightly in his hand.

Preparations for the inevitable attack were well underway and they were both needed elsewhere. Eowyn felt a bit more heartened that Legolas would soon recover from his grief and Gimli, too, felt that the elf would be relatively safe for the time being.

When the rains came later that morning and continued into the early afternoon Legolas remained steadfastly at his vigil, heedless of the weather.

It was late afternoon when Legolas finally left his post at the wall and walked down to the gate. Both Eowyn and Gimli noticed that he had changed his location although neither one of them knew exactly why.

Eowyn thought that he had finally succumbed to the rain and cold but Gimli suspected that he had seen Aragorn on the horizon. He and Eowyn remained near the elf to see who or what he was waiting for. They did not have a long wait.

As if by some miracle, Aragorn came lurching through the gates, soaking wet and looking like death warmed over. Eowyn smiled broadly at the waterlogged ranger, nearly weak with relief and joy at seeing him alive. She took several steps toward him before she remembered her station and remained where she was until he had finished greeting his long-time companions.

Gimli sighed deeply, releasing his pent up tension and worry. Although he had been just as concerned as Legolas over their friend's fate, he knew that he could not simply stand about and brood when so much more was at stake. Besides, keeping himself busy kept him from falling too deeply into despair and melancholy.

Legolas walked toward Aragorn determinedly. "You're late," he said flatly and held out the Evenstar to his bedraggled friend.

Aragorn smiled ruefully as he gently took the necklace from Legolas' hand and held it in his own. Then he hugged the elf tightly and clapped him on the back. He was so glad to be alive and to see his friends again. Legolas returned the clasp and gave thanks to Eru that his friend had been spared.

"Thank you," Aragorn murmured as he hugged his friend. Somehow he knew that the elf would be waiting for him. Just as Arwen had waited for him, so would Legolas. One of these days, he told himself, I will deserve such devotion and loyalty. I owe it to them.

He pulled back and grinned broadly at his friend. Legolas returned his smile and the ranger moved to greet Gimli under the elf's watchful eyes.

When he had first seen the spot moving on the horizon, he had actually felt his heart stop in his chest until the figure came into focus. Immediately, he recognized the silhouette as Aragorn's and one lone tear of happiness escaped his eye as he gave a cry of relief. At that moment, he completely understood what Eowyn had told him about never knowing joy.

He could see his own happiness mirrored in Eowyn's face and he felt an intense pity for the lady. Her own propriety would not allow her to overtly pursue Aragorn but her face and her actions betrayed her heart. She was almost as easy to read as Annowe at times.

The shield maiden knew the object of her desire was betrothed to another but her heart did not care. As he watched her greet Aragorn, he realized that it was much easier for humans to show affection for each other or to him than it was for elves. He considered this for a moment.

Perhaps their short mortal lives were indeed a gift in an odd way. They never knew when they could die and therefore must always live each day. Elves tended to see things as never-ending since they themselves were immortal. Would he live his life any different if he were mortal? If Annowe were mortal? Yes, yes he would. He would forgive more quickly and laugh more often. He would be more aware that time was fleeting and limited.

A revelation dawned on him as he considered these things. That's why Annowe behaves like she does. Although she is immortal, she understands mortality. How could she not after all the death she has seen?

The more he learned of life outside Mirkwood, the more he grew to admire and understand his long time friend. She had seen and endured many things but it had not made her cynical or angry. Instead she had become playful and optimistic, hiding her pain and fear beneath her bright smile.

It made him more determined than ever to find her and win her.