Guilty heart

The sun was now fully raised. The colors had gone, but the blue sky was filled with some neat-looking clouds. Aragorn sat in the same spot, tears finally slowing as Legolas stayed conscious. The remaining tears were falling because of the pain the Man saw in the Elf's eyes and the guilty heart the Man still had. Legolas felt his throat healing better and would tell Aragorn that this wasn't his fault and that the pain was bearable. Lord Elrond was glad to see that the younger Elf was staying conscious, but he worried about the state Legolas was in.

Legolas' fever hadn't gotten worse, but it didn't lower either. The wounds weren't healing as fast as Elrond had hoped. The Elven Lord had given Legolas some medicines, but they hadn't kicked in. Elrond knew why, but he wouldn't tell Aragorn unless the Man really started to wonder...which meant Elrond would end up telling. Elrond stood and went over to Elrohir, who was watching for danger. "Ada? Will Legolas be alright?" Elrohir asked. Legolas had been friends with Elrond's youngest son for...ever. Elrond wouldn't lie to his son, so he told Elrohir the whole ordeal.

Elrohir looked at his father. "No, Ada! NO!" The younger twin shook his head, tears filling his eyes. Elrohir ran and Elrond followed, quickly catching his son. The Lord took his son's shoulders and then pulled his son into a hug.

Aragorn sat by Legolas, his eyes red, but the tears gone. Legolas was awake, but maybe not much longer. Legolas was deathly pale, looking VERY sick, with that high temperature and his eyes were filled with pain that he tried very hard to hide. Aragorn held his friend's hand and stroked his friend's golden hair, humming an Elven tune softly. Legolas gripped Aragorn's hand weakly and breathed like he had just run a million miles. Aragorn stopped humming and looked at his friend in concern, thinking the worst.

NO! Legolas couldn't be leaving him now! Legolas was too stubborn to die, plus Elrond had said a week! Aragorn called his father's name, wondering where his father had gone to. Legolas mouthed something, but Aragorn didn't understand. "What?" Aragorn asked then called his father's name again. Legolas mouthed it again and Aragorn got it. The man saw his father coming with Elrohir.

"Ada! Yrch!" Aragorn said. He was relieved that Legolas wasn't dying and was only warning him. Aragorn gave Legolas a look and the Elf nodded. Aragorn stood with his sword in hand. He stayed close to Legolas in case anything went wrong, as it usually did.

Elrohir had an Elven blade with him. Elrond also had a sword, but it was Elven and had a curved blade. Aragorn held a blade he had gotten for one of his birthdays, from Legolas. The metal was carved with the words, (in Elvish) 'With your skill and the power of this blade, your fight shall be successful.'

It was the best gift ever and he never used another sword, though he had many. Aragorn believed that Legolas had made it himself, but the Elf never admitted it. Aragorn didn't doubt Legolas' crafting skill.

Aragorn saw approaching Orcs and Urak-hai. Twisting his sword, Aragorn got ready for battle. There were few Orcs and even fewer Urak-hai, so Aragorn didn't believe this was a challenge. Aragorn stole a glance to Legolas, who was pretending to sleep or be deeply unconscious. The Man smiled and then stared at the battle he faced, putting on a more serious face.

Aragorn heard Elrond call out something in Elvish and Aragorn nodded, still looking straight ahead. Elrohir stood a little bit away from Elrond, holding his sword at ready. A few Orcs and some Urak-hai turned back, but a few came to fight. Aragorn guessed the plan and grimaced. They were going back for more Orcs and Urak-hai. Aragorn quickly turned to his father and saw, by the look on Elrond's face, that he knew what was happening.

Finally, weapons clashed. The two Elves and single Man were outnumbered, but not greatly. Aragorn kept them away from where Legolas hid behind some brush, but the Man figured that they hadn't seen Legolas yet. He hoped they hadn't seen Legolas yet. But all hope was lost because just then one foul beast yelled, "There's another Elf! A blonde Elf! He's behind the bush over there!"

Aragorn yelled a battle cry over the loud sounds of battle. He raced over as two Orcs loomed over Legolas with their weapons raised in the air, ready for a kill. Aragorn whipped his weapon at one of them and then ran quickly to retrieve it. It pulled it out of the heart of the dead Orc and then quickly slit the throat of the other.

Legolas continued to fake unconsciousness the whole time, never letting anyone acknowledge that he was awake. The Prince was too good at it and it scared Aragorn sometimes. Aragorn looked around to see his father dodge a blow that would have killed him and then run his blade through the Orc's heart. Elrohir was surrounded by three Orcs, which he killed skillfully.

Aragorn stood by Legolas' side and killed any threat that challenged him. One Urak-hai was being stubborn and dodged Aragorn's attempts to kill him. "If you want the Elf...you have to kill me first!" Aragorn yelled, attempting to kill the stubborn Urak-hai. 'Very stupid thing to say', Aragorn thought, 'Legolas would say something to that.'

This made the Urak-hai more motivated to kill Aragorn and the beast fought harder. "Give up, Human! Let me take the Elf! He is injured and shall die very soon! Give him to us and...we will give him a faster death!" The Urak- hai said fiercely. Aragorn shook his head, caught the beast off-guard and then killed it. "I wouldn't abandon my brother to such a lonely death. I'm with him to the end." Aragorn said, looking at the Urak-hai on the ground. 'This isn't the end', Aragorn thought.

Not much longer, Elrohir killed the last Urak-hai and ended the battle...for now. Aragorn dropped to his knees by Legolas again. "Alright, Legolas...you can open your eyes now. Battle's over." Aragorn said, taking his friend's hand again. Legolas didn't move. "Very funny...open your eyes." Aragorn said as Elrond and Elrohir approached. Legolas opened his eyes. Aragorn shook his head.

Elrohir stepped back. Legolas mouthed, 'Elrohir.' and smiled a little. Aragorn motioned for Elrohir to come. The youngest twin shook his head. "I don't want to hurt him." Elrohir said. Elrond had said what was going to happen and Elrohir thought anything would make Legolas die. Aragorn raised and eyebrow. "You won't...come, he wants to see you." Aragorn said. Elrohir looked at his Human brother. "He does?" Elrohir asked, stepping forward a bit.

Aragorn nodded and Elrohir walked to the opposite side of Aragorn and sat by Elrond. Legolas looked at Elrohir and smiled. Elrohir's heart melted at the sight. The youngest twin took Legolas' hand and let a few tears fall. Legolas frowned, loosened his hand from Elrohir's grip and weakly wiped away the tears. Aragorn helped move the bodies away from where Legolas was.

No one would take the death of the most beloved Prince of all Middle-earth very easy.