Disclaimer: see previous chapters

Author's Note - There's a time gap between the last chapter and this chapter! This chapter is very short, but I just had to stop here - for the story's sake...and for my artistic soul's masocistic-ness.

Chapter 9: A Bloody Mess

Legolas had to fight a wave of indescribable grief that rolled through him. He couldn't help but feel partially to blame - if only he could fight better, or run faster, or kill more orcs, Boromir might not be dead right now. This level of grief was something that was so rare, that he was unable to express it or repress it, so it lay there for all to see on his face. At least, whatever portion of it he couldn't mask as indifference.

Gimli stood at his side as they both watched Aragorn say goodbye to his kinsman. Aragorn stood, having crossed Boromir's arms across his chest, with tears streaming down his face.

"Boromir, son of Denathor, has left this place for a better one. Now we have more pressing issues - we must find the hobbits. The orcs took them." Aragorn said.

"Bah! Then all is lost if the orcs have captured the hobbits! The ring is in the enemy's hands as we speak! We have failed!" Gimli yelled.

"They have Frodo and Sam as well?" Aragorn asked surprised. "I thought that they just had Merry and Pippin."

"There! There they are!" Legolas cried, pointing to the river where his elf eyes could discern Sam and Frodo leaving the shore on the other side, and running into the woods. "We can still catch up with them!"

"No, Legolas. We must let them leave, we have failed them, but we will not fail Merry and Pippin! We will not let them be tortured to death!" Aragorn declared. "Now where is Enelya?"

Legolas looked at Aragorn with a look of horror on his face. He knew that she would have found them after the battle if she had been able. "The last time I saw her was when she left Gimli and I, right when the fighting first started. I assumed that she was with you, Aragorn."

Aragorn shook his head, "What about you Gimli - when was the last time that you saw her?"

"Same time as the laddie - I haven't seen her since then," replied Gimli.

"Enelya! Enelya!" Aragorn started yelling. Soon a soft elvish voice and a rough dwarfish voice rang out alongside the human's. Silence responded to their calls.

Legolas looked around and couldn't see any sign of the elleth anywhere. A great fear gripped his heart as panic began to set in. Suddenly a glint of silver protruding from a green leafy bush caught his eye.

"Look! Her sword," indicated Legolas. All three ran over to where Legolas was pointing and there, scattered all around a small clearing, was Enelya's various weapons alongside the bodies of a dozen orcs. One of her daggers sat stuck stubbornly inside the jugular of an orc, its mate lay inside the chest of another. Her arrows lay strewn about in a reckless manor and her beautiful majestic Galadrim bow rested snapped in half in a pool of orc blood. Her other sword was tossed carelessly aside in another bush.

"She must be around here somewhere - she wouldn't have left her weapons here," commented Aragorn. If she had the option, thought Legolas. Gimli and Aragorn began to searching the surrounding areas for Enelya, while Legolas stood staring at one of her swords on the ground. A metallic smell drew his notice and he ran further into the forest. Legolas stood there just looking down, completely blocking out his surroundings, so concentrated on what was at his feet. Aragorn, upon noticing that Legolas was fixated on something, walked over and stifled a gasp. There at their feet lay a Lothlorien cape in a pool of blood. Elf blood. A pool of elf blood that led to a trail of blood that lead deep into the woods, then stopped.

Legolas could feel a small part of him die inside. He knew the blood was Enelya's. He knew that the amount of blood that she had lost would have rendered her unconscious. He knew that once she was unconscious, she was at the orcs' mercy. He knew that orcs had no mercy. He knew that she was, or is going to be, dead. He felt Aragorn's hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently, trying as best as he could to comfort the trembling elf.

"Let's get them...for the hobbits and for Enelya," said Aragorn. Legolas looked at him, seeing the sheen of tears in his eyes, that were also in his. He nodded and Aragorn left to collect Gimli, for the three would be getting their revenge soon. Very soon.

Response to Reviewers:

Navaer Lalaith - I'll definitely check it out for my next story - thanks!

Tap Dancing Widow - Thanks so much! I'm glad someone else is enjoying this story. Actually I personally don't mind Mary-Sues so if I do make the fall, I won't be that surprised or disappointed. I like your spunk!

Please review!