BEWARE: Chapter contains a twist to the story!
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Chapter 27
Roars of anger erupted from the battle field. Eradrin glanced over to Legolas on her right. "I hope we make it through this," she muttered grimly. Legolas nodded. He glanced to his right at Gimli. I never thought my last battle would be beside an... Elf!" Gimli exclaimed. Eradrin overheard and almost bubbled over with laughter. "How about beside a friend?" Legolas asked. "That works too," Gimli replied gruffly, with a hint of humor in his voice. Legolas and Eradrin exchanged secret amused glances.
Eradrin put a hand to her eyes and scanned the battle field. Orcs surrounded them, outnumbering 100 orcs for every man. Fear and nervousness started to bubble up inside her stomach, but with a deep breath, she pushed it down. Legolas looked at her with concern. "Are you all right?" He asked, worry in his gaze.
"Yes, but I'm a tiny bit nervous..." Eradrin slowly said," So. Many. Orcs. How will we defeat them all?"
"I don't know. I really don't know." Legolas grimly replied. An unspoken message passed between them. How in Middle Earth will we survive?
Suddenly the orcs surged forward, menace slashing from their brutal swords. Out of the crowd, Aragorn ran forward, summoning the army with a sharp battle cry. Eradrin leaped in the fray, slashing with her knives and swords and pulling back her deadly bow and arrow. She jumped over one Orc, hitting him on the way, and spun around, stabbing three more. She felt determination and anger surge through her body, filling every limb. She ran forwards, faster than the wind, slashing at orcs and goblins as she went by. No evil creature was missed by her sharp blade, and she felt hope fill her heart. We actually might get out alive she thought. Then she heard a deafening screech. A small, dark, and evil shape had appeared in the sky, and was circling down, down to the battle field. "Ringwraith!" A terrified cry came from somewhere below. Dread attacked Eradrin. She stood stone still, paralyzed by the terror the creature evoked. As it landed on the ground, darkness flung from its cape and long Morgul sword. Ear piercing screams came from its unseen mouth, and its fury scared every living thing, including the orcs. Eradrin shook herself. Her head emerged from the clouds and sprang from icy water, clear and cold. She was not going to let this... thing... scare her.
She turned around and kept on fighting with all her might. Killing a goblin, she paused and looked around. About fifteen yards in front of her, Legolas was fighting an oversized Orc, slashing with his hand knives at its head. He seemed okay. A small movement made her turn her head. A scowling Orc was pulling back its brutal bow, preparing to strike... Legolas! Eradrin choked. No! Legolas, oblivious to the other Orc, kept on fighting. She at once sprang forward, sprinting with all her might to him. The Orc let go.
Legolas stared in triumph as he defeated the huge Orc, and whipped around, looking for his next opponent. To his surprise, Eradrin was racing towards him, hurtling herself over orcs and goblins. She finally reached Legolas and pushed him to the ground, shouting, "No!" Bewildered, Legolas said, "Wha...?" And struggled to get up. Then it happened. A flaming jagged black arrow flew right where Legolas had been standing, and he watched in shock as it missed its original target, hitting the thing he cared about most.
A huge thunder-like crack rang in the air as it hit Eradrin, and a blast knocked anyone who was near her over. A shriek ripped from her throat, and she flew back fifty feet, and smashed against the ground, writhing in agony.
Legolas lay on the ground, dazed. Then a pain-filled screech echoed up the battlefield, and he shook his head, clearing it. Springing to his feet, he raced up the slope, frantically looking around. Let her be okay! A giant Orc stomped up the opposite side, and stopped in front of a huddled shape, preparing to strike.
Eradrin lay on her side, eyes opened wide. Moaning, she dragged herself up to a nearby shrub, taking shallow, rapid breaths, and lay shaking against it. Blood was pooling quickly around her. Suddenly a large ugly Orc stomped up to the elf. She stared dully at it, too weak to defend herself. Its eyes gleamed triumphantly, and it raised its brutal scimitar, about to strike. Suddenly a knife stabbed through its body, and it have a shrill squeal, and fell to the ground, dead. Legolas stepped out from behind the falling body and raced to her side. Eradrin painfully drew in her breath. He knelt beside her, worry shining in his gaze. "The arrow?" He anxiously inquired. She raised her hand from her stomach, blood covering it. The arrow was embedded through her side, puncturing her body. Legolas stared in shock. "No..." He whispered. Eradrin gasped in pain. Legolas pulled her in his arms, protectively shielding her from danger. She stared up into his eyes, grief flooding her heart. She felt each breath grow shallower. "I've saved you once, don't make me save you a second time." She whispered, eyes full of love and pain.
Legolas choked. "Don't leave me!" He cried. Eradrin felt tears slip from her eyes. Legolas cradled her, sobs coming out. "Don't die!" He whispered. The she elf slowly reached for her neck, grabbed the silver leafed necklace she wore, and pulled it off . She dropped it in his hands. Legolas bowed his head in grief. "Keep it." She whispered. Eradrin felt her life start to slip away, a darkness growing on the edge of her vision. No... There's so much more to say! She fought back to the world. So little time... Gasping for air, she weakly murmured, "I love you forever and beyond." Legolas started to cry, tears softly falling on the ground. He pulled her closer. "I love you too." He whispered.
"Namaarie, melamin (Farewell, my love)." Eradrin gasped out.
They kissed, one last time.
Eradrin drew in a shuddering breath, and pulled out the arrow embedded in her stomach. The weapon slipped to the ground and melted away. She tightly clutched onto Legolas's hand, staring into his eyes, until the darkness at the edges of her vision grew, threatening to take over. A dark wave arose out of the field, wiping out everything and sweeping Eradrin away.
Her head fell back, body limp, warmth already fading. Legolas sobbed, pressing her head against his shoulder. "No..." He whispered. Then he yelled, "No! No! No!" His cries of grief echoed to the sky and back. "Eradrin!" He wailed. The elf gave no reply. Her eyes stared sightlessly up into the sky, a peaceful loving smile frozen across her lips. Legolas closed her eyelids and cradled the body, whispering, "She should not have passed. It should have been me." Tears slipped down his face, sobs wracking his body. "I would have traded places with you any day." It was too late.
A roar made him glance up. The Great Eye was falling off its crumbling tower, a throbbing red-orange light coming off of it. A dim realisation came over Legolas that they had won the battle, just as Eradrin predicted. But now she was gone. He turned back to the body.
A freezing gasp made him whip his head around again. Aralin was standing frozen, staring at Eradrin's body. Disbelief clouded her eyes. Then she let out a choking sob and ran over to her friend's body. Tears began to stream down her face. "What happened?!" She cried, grabbing Eradrin's hand.. Legolas swallowed hard on the lump in his throat, and finally managed to get out, "She... She gave her life for mine." Aralin sobbed relentlessly and buried her face in her hands. Legolas bowed his head, grief filling his heart. Why did this have to happen?!
Legolas scooped up her body and wearily brought it to the center front of the field. Everyone was gathering there, watching lava flow down from Mount Doom and the dust in the rubble finally settle around Sauron's fall. Aragorn turned to Legolas as he approached, triumph shining in his weary eyes. "We won!" He called, then stopped dead when he saw Eradrin. His eyes grew watery. "I'm so sorry, my friend." Legolas bowed his head and said nothing as Aragorn placed a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of comfort. Another wave of fresh tears spilled down his cheeks. Why did this have to happen?