Cool night breeze caressed the Uruk's forehead.

He sat outside of the gates, on top of a small hill. Théodred's tomb. Fragile white flowers, like luminous stars, shivered in the grass around him. The night was clear, the sky littered with bright constellations and an almost full moon. The Ephel Duath darkened the eastern horizon. But the Uruk's gaze was turned north. To the Misty Mountains. The distant peaks bathed in dim moonlight like silent ghosts.

Uglúk had been sitting there for hours, blending into the darkness.

His jealousy, his rage had left him long ago.

A bottomless well of sadness, he didn't know he was capable of feeling, yawned in his chest. He was staring into it with unblinking inner eyes.

A deep sigh filled Uglúk's lungs with fresh air. And with the scent of pipe weed. Old Toby?

His muscles tensed then loosened. Another breath told him that his visitor posed no threat whatsoever.

"What do you want, halfling?"

With light steps a far smaller shadow approached the brooding giant and Meriadoc Brandybuck sat down next to him. Wordlessly the hobbit held out a drinking horn. The Uruk accepted it with a snort. After a long pull he handed it back.

"What do you want?"

"I thought you could use some company."

"Yours?!"

Despite the darkness Uglúk saw the halfling shrug.

"I know it's not me you wish to be with, but…"

"What?"

The Uruk's head whipped around, his pale eyes lighting up with menace. His low, controlled voice was far more threatening than his roar.

The hobbit was unimpressed. Or just plain stupid.

"I see a lot of things. Among them is how you look at Éomer's daughter."

Uglúk bared his teeth at the brazen halfling:

"You have been here for what? A day? And you think you figured out everything?"

The halfling had the gall to nod.

"You hurt her quite badly, you know that, right?"

"How could I hurt her? She doesn't even care." (That hurt to say out loud.)

"That's where you are mistaken, my friend!"

"I am not your fucking friend!"

"And I will not allow you to make my goddaughter cry again!"

Yeah. Definitely stupid. Raising his voice at an Uruk-hai like this and thinking he'll see the light of day.

Fingers like iron grabbed the hobbit's throat, knocking the pipe out of his mouth. Claws were tearing into his skin; a voice was snarling in his ear:

"And what will you do about it if I gut you?"

"I thought,… you wanted,,, her,,, happy."

The hobbit's choked out words made Uglúk pause.

"Of course, I want her happy."

The admission softened something in Uglúk. The haze of anger lifted. Absentmindedly he released the hobbit from his grip.

Meriadoc coughed and wheezed, massaging his neck with a pained grimace. Then he picked his pipe up and put it back into his mouth. He was a tough little fellow, Uglúk had to give him that. The Uruk remembered that this little hobbit hadn't lost his courage even in the face of certain death when he had been captured during the war.

Uglúk would give respect when respect was due. That respect made him consider Meriadoc's words. Shame flooded him.

"Did I really… make her cry?"

The halfling nodded. Then slowly, as if speaking to a simpleton, he explained.

"I don't know what you had said to her, but she left the Hall with tears on her face. Clearly, she cried because you hurt her. And you managed to hurt her because she does care."

A head hung low, windswept mane obscured a brutish face. Strong shoulders sagged. Silence reigned, then in a low voice the monster asked:

"What should I do?"

With a relieved grin the hobbit sternly advised:

"First, apologize to her. Grovel, if you must. And talk to her. Just… talk."

Uglúk was a fighting Uruk-hai with pride, so the 'What should I say?' remained unspoken.

Meriadoc considered the issue resolved. He was fumbling in the grass until he found his fallen horn, sadly empty. With a disappointed shake of his head, he stood and turned to leave. After a few steps, he called back above his shoulder:

"You know, I think she could do worse than you."

A sullen voice muttered behind him:

"I should have let those Mordor rats eat you!"

Merry's merry laughter echoed over the plains.

-/-

In the early morning hours, a certain fighting Uruk-hai with pride stood in front of Elfleda's door and his palms were sweating.

He had marched against the armies of Mordor at the Black Gate without batting an eye. But now, staring at her plain oak door, he was considering retreat.

Being quite fed up with himself, Uglúk finally lifted his arm and knocked.

In a minute her door opened and Elfleda stood before him.

Her hair was tousled, her face blotchy and wan at the same time, her eyes swollen, yet she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

An irresistible force made him take a knee before her, right where he was, in the corridor.

"I'm sorry!" he blurted. „I'm sorry!"

He didn't know what his face or voice was betraying, but her dull gaze gradually brightened. In a small, hopeful voice she asked:

"Really?"

"Really. I was a fucking dickhead. I didn't want to…"

A rosy blush colored her cheeks at his language and a small smile lifted the corners of her lips. His words died in his throat when a lone, relieved tear spilled from her eyes. On its own volition his right hand lifted, and his thumb brushed the tear away with infinite tenderness.

He must have done something right, because the next moment she stepped very close to him, her dainty hands like perching little birds on his broad shoulders. They were the same height - she standing and he being down on one knee - and suddenly Elfleda's fragrant hair was spilling all over his chest. His heart stopped as she leaned her head on his shoulder and nuzzled up to him shyly. Happiness, so blindingly bright and hot lighted his whole being, he could not breathe for a moment. She was clinging to him! Her trust in him was like a cleansing fire, purging all doubt and fear out of him.

"Friends?" her whisper caressed his ear.

Uglúk had no control over his limbs this morning. His arms curled around her waist quite on their own, and with a hammering heart he pulled her tight against him.

"Friends." he rumbled.

'For now.' he thought.

There were no more words said.