Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing of any value to anyone, especially these characters, or the movie, Lord of the Rings, or the movie, The World Trade Center, which I just mention below.
This is a short drabble I wrote just now. It's what I think Legolas might have thought after the battle at Helm's Deep, even though it really isn't like his character. It's based on the movie. I don't think the event this is centered on happened in the book. I saw the movie, The World Trade Center, today, and this scene in the movie kind of reminded me of that, so I felt like I should write something kind of about the guilt people may have had that they couldn't save everyone, or prevent the attacks. So, I hope you like it. Please read and review! I don't mind flames and like constructive criticism. And the World Trade Center is a great movie. Just wanted to say that. Now, on with the story!
All Because of Me
"Kill him! Kill him!" Aragorn had shouted at me when he saw the Uruk-hai running with the torch toward the wall. I shot arrow after arrow at him. But he still reached his goal: the drain under the wall at Helm's Deep. When he dived, it was like everything froze for a split second, then the biggest explosion I'd ever seen. People, elves, my kindred, and men went flying through the air. Chunks of the wall went everywhere. Just because I couldn't kill one Uruk-hai. I'd killed so many that were harder targets to hit than he. But I couldn't kill him. And, because of that, we could have lost. The Uruk-hai now had a clear path into the fortress, and they took it. Aragorn was in the explosion. He could have died. The king of Gondor could have died. All because I couldn't kill one Uruk-hai.
Aragorn had trusted me to kill him. I had never failed him before, and this was the most important thing of all. But I failed. The other times, it didn't matter. All because I couldn't kill that one Uruk-hai. Instead, he killed my kindred, good men, and my brothers in arms. All because of me. The other's don't blame me. But they should. If I would have killed him, I would have saved many lives. But I didn't. I failed Aragorn, Gimli, the king of Rohan, all those that had died in the explosion, and I failed myself. I'm the Prince of Mirkwood! I should have been able to kill that creature! I've had the best training my father could provide! And I still couldn't kill that thing.
Aragorn says that if I couldn't kill him, then no one could have. Even an amateur could have killed him! I've had countless years of experience! I should have killed him. I could have. But I didn't. Now Elbereth only knows how many good people are dead. No one says it's my fault. No one blames me. Why? Why don't they? They should. I could have killed that Uruk-hai. But I didn't. I failed them, yet they don't blame me! I pretend I don't blame myself, but I do. Sure, that Uruk-hai is now dead. But, when he died, he took the lives of countless people. Good people. Just because I didn't kill him when I should have.
Now, we have won. But not without paying a heavy price. A price that I could have made less. But I didn't. The explosion killed many, but the Uruk-hai that came in afterwards killed many more. They shouldn't have had a chance. The wall of Helm's Deep should still be intact. But they did. But it isn't. All because I didn't kill that cursed Uruk-hai. All because of me. Something happened that I had in my power to stop. But I didn't. I feel like I killed those people. In a way, I did. If I could have, no, would have, killed that Uruk-hai, they would be alive. So I did kill them. Some of them may have died anyway, but some would have lived. Our casualty number would be less, if not for me. Of that much I am sure. All because of me.