Disclaimer: I do not own any of this... what a shame...

Summary: During the battle of Helm, nothing goes as it should. Too many losses, too many tragedies... too many unforgettable happenings for Legolas and Aragorn. Pairing: A/L, and... someone else is in love with Legolas! CHAPTER FIVE: And what it a battle takes away the greatest friendship you've ever had?

Wow, it's so long for me! Maybe then you'll forgive me for my tardiness… Enjoy it!

The battle had taken a long time to begin, but once started, everything was going very fast, at least in Legolas' mind. He only could see orcs and men and swords around him. Destruction. Death. Middle Earth was not supposed to be like this. And that was for what they were fighting for: to return to their world the beauty and the peace that had been stolen. He just hoped not so many lives were lost in the process. He hoped his love would not be lost in the process.

Legolas, a very skilled warrior, was able to concentrate on battle and, at the same time, keep an eye on Aragorn, constantly needing to reassure himself that his love was okay. So after slaying one more orc with his knife he turned around towards where he had seen Aragorn for the last time, expecting him to be fighting tirelessly. And that's what he saw. But what he didn't like was that an orc was creeping behind Aragorn's back without him even noticing.

Legolas heart skipped a beat at seeing the danger his love was exposed to. He wanted to help him, but was too far away form him to arrive in time, and even if he could, thousands of men, elves and orcs were in his way. The only thing he could do was shout at him, hoping against hope that Aragorn would hear him and keep safe.

'Aragorn!' he shouted the loudest he was able. 'Watch your back!'

Aragorn did in fact hear him. He looked at him disoriented for a second, but then he turned around on a second and sliced the orc's neck before it could do any harm.

Legolas sighed, relieved that Aragorn had escaped unscathed once again. He couldn't tear his eyes away form Aragorn; having seen him so close to danger had been almost more that what he could bear. As he looked at him, he couldn't' help but notice that battle seemed to be coming to an end, as not so many orcs were left alive around them. A flicker of hope roused in his chest, and left him off his guard for a second until he heard Gimli calling for him right at his side.

'Legolas, watch out!'

Legolas turned around immediately to look for the source of Gimli's warning, but it was too late: the only thing he could see was the awful face of an orc very close to his, and felt a sharp pain on his side followed by a trickle of blood as a sword was imbedded on his body. However he was a very strong warrior and didn't let the pain overtake him as he struggled to remain upright and kill his attacker with he knife in his hand. The orc, surprised, tried to defend himself, and he got his sword out of Legolas' side and hit him hard on the head with its hilt.

Legolas couldn't do anything this time to stop himself form falling, but he went not completely unconscious and felt himself falling backwards on the floor, unable to move. He looked up and saw his attacker holding his sword between both his hands, ready to push it down his chest. The only coherent thing that went through his mind was Aragorn, and how he hoped he had had the chance to say goodbye and to remind him that he would always love him, wherever he was. Then he closed his eyes and hoped for death to come quickly.

But the worse pain he had ever experienced was about to come, but not from the sword. As he didn't felt any new harm he opened his eyes, and what he found hurt more that any wound: Gimli, fearing for his safety, had received the attack for him putting himself between the elf prince and the orc, and fell instantly to the cold floor next to him. The orc raised his sword again against Gimli, but Legolas, strength renewed by thirst of vengeance for his friend, grabbed a spear that lied unnoticed near him and from the floor embedded it hard on the orc's heart, killing him almost immediately.

The orc forgotten and overcoming his incessant pain on both head and side, Legolas crawled towards Gimli and tenderly grabbed the dwarf's head between his hands.

'Gimli' Legolas called for him, in obvious distress. 'Gimli, please, say something.'

Gimli slowly opened his eyes in hopes of seeing his most beloved friend one last time.

'Hey, laddie' he spoke with much difficulty. 'It is over?'

'Yes, yes, it's almost over, don't worry.' Legolas looked at him straight in his eyes, with some unshed tears on his owns. 'We won'

'Aye, I knew we would. How many did you kill?'

'I'm sure that not as much as you.'

'Hey, laddie' Gimli was seeing the suffering on the young elf's eyes, and tried to make light of the situation, 'just because I'm hurt doesn't mean you have to let me win, I don't want your pitty.'

Legolas tried to smile, but it was very difficult for him seeing his friend as badly injured as he was. Gimli turned his head around a bit and coughed, and to Legolas' horror, he saw blood coming form the dwarf's mouth. That meant something was ruptured in Gimli's insides, making it obvious that his injure was even worse that Legolas had thought.

The tears that had been threatening to fall finally did at the realisation of what was about to happen.

'Why did you have to do it?' Legolas reproached, the anguish evident in his voice. He was feeling so many things at the moment: rage for not having been able to help his best friend; desolation for he was going to lose him; guiltiness for it had been his fault. Anger, sadness, desperation.

Gimli stopped smiling and looked at Legolas straight in the eye, knowing he had little time to say a lot of things that couldn't go unsaid, as he would never had the chance again.

'Because I had to. Because otherwise you would be dead.'

'I don't care! It was my fault for lowering my guard!'

'It doesn't matter. I don't regret it. I would never regret any of the moments I've spend with you.'

'But it's my fault! It should be me lying here, not you! Why did you have to do it?' Legolas repeated, completely sunken.

'Let me ask you something. Why did you lower your guard?'

Legolas took a moment before answering, trying to know where Gimli was pretending to arrive with the conversation. 'I was warning Aragorn of a peril on his back.'

'Exactly. You put yourself on danger, and you were even hurt, trying to protect him.

'Of course I did! I love him!'

'Exactly'

Silence fell between them as Legolas pondered Gimli's words. How could had he been so blind? As the truth hit him full force he buried his head on Gimli's chest, feeling ashamed and sobbing uncontrollably.

'Gimli, I'm so sorry' he said, between sobs. 'I didn't know, I'm so sorry…'

Gimli couldn't feel his own tears growing at his eyes, but didn't let them fall, for he wanted to be strong for Legolas one last time. Trying to comfort him he caressed the back of the elf's head, feeling the silkiness of his hair as he had always wanted to do.

'And what are you sorry about? For not knowing? I never told you, you could not know…'

'It's not that…'

'Then for not loving me in return?'

Legolas at that lifted his head and looked at him, unable to speak.

'We don't get to choose who we give our heart to. You love Aragorn, and he loves you back with all his heart. That is enough for me, for I only want you to be happy and I know he is going to take good care of you.'

Legolas felt new tears fall and he embraced Gimli again.

'Oh, Gimli, I'm so sorry…'

'Don't be. To have you here with me when I go is enough.'

'This is all my fault…'

'It was my decision to do it, not yours. You didn't ask for it.'

'But you did it because you love me!'

'And I would do it again.'

Silence fell again, as none of them wanted to say the words that would be the last. Legolas continued sobbing and Gimli caressing his hair.

'I do love you' Legolas whispered.

'I know'

A comfortable silence fell again between them, as they felt no words were needed, only their presence to comfort each other. Suddenly Gimli was aware of blood coming out of his mouth again and the pain on his stomach intensified greatly, making him very difficult to breath, only being able to gasp for air.

'Legolas' he mumbled, as he could. 'It's the time.'

Legolas sat up on a second and took Gimli's hand, offering the little comfort he had left in him. He looked at him, confused and obviously worried.

'No, Gimli…'

'Promise me you are going to get on with your life'

New tears run through Legolas cheeks as his mind tried to get out of the stupor and understand the situation. 'Gimli, don't talk like this, you are going to be alright, it's just…'

'Legolas, promise me'

'No, Gimli, please, don't do this to me.'

'Legolas, please, I need you to promise me or else it will all have been in vain!'

Legolas closed his eyes and sighed for a moment. 'Okay'

Gimli gasped for breath, but he managed to smile at the elf.

'Alright then. Now I can die.'

'No…'

'I love you…'

'No…'

'My laddie…'

And finally Gimli closed his eyes, stopped breathing and was able to rest as he deserved.

'Gimli!' Legolas cried with all his strength, and anguish so great in his voice that everyone who remained alive in Helm's Deep could feel a piece of his heart dying.

Ok, what do you think? No hangcliff this time, but I thought it had to end here, as Gimli's deathe deserved a chapter of its own, don't you think?

As always...

Legolas' Girl: well, it took some time, but I finally updated! This chapter is much longer, I hope you liked it. Keep reading! Thank you very much!

Sindauviel: Well, I'm sure there's going to be a lot more typos in this chapter, in fact is so much longer so there are more chances! Well, here I left the A/L for a while, but it was necessary. A lot more is coming, keep reading. Thank you again!

And for the rest of you readers… I hope you liked it!