Ceaseless Silence

Legolas peered into the abyss of the night. It was the same as always. The men stirred in the encampment from dusk until dawn. Sleep would not and could not come. The end was nearing, for Elrond had forseen this in his vision. Legolas didn't need visions to see this, though. He could hear it in the distance. The drums of the enemy as they paraded through life and land. He could feel it within his heart. The hope and faith in Middle-Earth was failing.

Legolas laid back up against a dead tree, who's trunk was slowly decaying into the bloodied soil below. Death...what a common element of life. It was the way of nature. A creature is born, it lives, and then it dies. Then, after it is decomposed, it is reborn into something else. It nourishes the dying Earth. And, in some twisted way, all the blood nourishes Sauron and his minions. This had to stop.

"Thinking out loud again, Legolas?" a familiar voice called from behind him.

Legolas tried to smile as Aragorn sat beside his old friend. They looked ahead at the crackling fire, watching the flames dance across the breeze.

"The days grow darker and the nights colder," Aragorn noted. His voice trailed off into the wind.

"I wonder if we will ever know warmth again," Legolas said.

"We will feel the warmth of our welcoming homes soon," Aragorn answered.

"I wish I were as certain as you," Legolas replied.

Aragorn lowered his eyes and shifted slightly.

"You must have faith, my friend," Aragorn said.

"Yes, when it is all we have," Legolas added. "But, I want so much more."

"And, you will have it," Aragorn assured. "Soon, we all will."

Aragorn pulled his pipe from his cloak pocket and began to puff on it lightly. He removed it from his lips and patted Legolas on the arm before standing.

"Tomarrow, we fight one last time," Aragorn said in almost a whisper.

Legolas rested against the tree once again, and thought of Mirkwood and freedom. He closed his elven eyes, to seek a moment of peace, but then again reopened them as cannons and sword fighting was heard. Legolas sprang to his feet and drew his bow and arrows. The men ran down the steep hill, yelling war cries. Aragorn and Gimli stumbled from their resting places, arms at hand.

"Legolas!" Aragorn called out, but Legolas was already ahead of him.

Gimli ran after the two, panting heavily. "Those blasted rogues, never giving a moment's peace."

Legolas released two arrows as Gimli came on his heels. "May the best dwarf win."

Legolas laughed slightly and drew his double daggers. The combat was now not an arm's length away. Gimli cut an orc in two, and scowled as another jumped him.

"I knew we should have kept on those dead guys!" Gimli shouted.

Aragorn jested a laugh. The battle did not last long as the small band of Sauron's attacking forces retreated into the dawn. Aragorn called together the remaining forces as he and the others met Gandalf at the gates of Minas Tirith. Dreading the final battle, but seeking it more, the remaining members of the Fellowship and their new friends sought how to help Frodo and Sam.

"Frodo has passed beyond my sight," Gandalf confessed. "The darkness is deepening."

"We'd know if Sauron had the Ring," Aragorn replied, folding his arms.

"It is only a matter of time," Gandalf said. "It was a small defeat for Sauron. The enemy is regrouping."

The group sighed deeply and shifted with uneasiness.

"Let him stay there and rot on his unruly arse!" Gimli said, smoking his pipe. He thought about it a moment and whispered to himself: "That is, if he had an arse. Why should we care?"

Gandalf folded his hands behind his back and stared down Gimli. "Because 10,000 Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom."

Gimli lowered his pipe and shook his head. Gandalf's blue eyes filled with worry. "I've sent him to death."

Disagreeing, Aragorn turned to Gandalf. "No. There is still hope for Frodo. He needs time and a safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."

"And what's that?" Gimli asked, intrigued.

Aragorn stepped forward. "We will draw out Sauron's armies and empty his lands. Then we will gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate."

Gimli choked and coughed out in disbelief.

Eomer stepped in. "We cannot achieve victory for ourselves. The fight is a loss awaiting to happen."

"But when can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's Eye toward us," replied Aragorn sternly.

"A diversion," Legolas added quietly. "It will not work."

Gandalf paced back and forth. "Legolas is right. Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait."

Legolas stood sternly from his relaxed position. "It does not matter. Whatever the outcome, it will end in death."

Aragorn placed a strong hand on Legolas's arm for reassurance. "But it will also mean life."

Legolas shook his head. "Not for me when all things around everyone is and will be death."

"It is the chance we all take," Aragorn replied. Legolas shook his head. His hair flowed across his shoulder and he stepped backward.

With his pipe still hanging from his lips, Gimli replied gruffly. "Certainty of death...small chance of success...what are we waiting for?"

Legolas slashed his arm through the air. "Maybe you all want to die, but I don't."

The others gaped at Legolas, surprised at his outburst. Aragorn motioned to let Legolas have his say.

"Maybe you all have reservations for burials. Your tombstone already picked out, Gimli? Aragorn?" Legolas lashed out. "Maybe you are all ready to die, but I have something to live for!"

Gimli pushed his barrel sized body against Legolas. "And I suppose you find yourself unique in all of this, elf!"

Aragorn separted the two before Gimli got himself hurt, and stood facing Legolas. "Gimli is right, Legolas. Now is not the time for all of this."

Legolas sneered at Aragorn. His face lit up with fury and disappointment. "You of all people should know better, Aragorn."

Becoming enraged, Aragorn slapped Legolas across the face. Everyone else including Gimli stepped back a few paces. Legolas's eyes rose from the ground to Aragorn's apologizing expression. Before Aragorn spoke again, Legolas rested his arm on Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn sighed and drapped his over Legolas's arm.

"We all have to make sacrifices. Let's change that now," Aragorn said.

"I am with you, my friend," Legolas replied.


Suited in the armor of the tree of Minas Tirith, Aragorn led the last of the fighting races into the land of Sauron. The men formed lines and held up their last hope. There broad sheilds seemed to bleed together and their swords clanked by their sides. Aragorn raised his hand to halt the men at the Black Gate. He turned toward the enemy, his hair blowing in the breeze.

"Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Let justice be done upon him!" Aragorn shouted toward the gate.

There was no response at first. Then, the gate began to creak open. The lands were swept with one giant gasp as everyone held their breath. Legolas's eyes were piercing as they searched the faces of certain doom. Sauron screeched and his Eye became fixed on the last army. His armied marched forward, fearing nothing and seeking only death.

"Legolas, I never knew I'd die side by side with an elf," Gimli said, tugging on his cloak.

"How about with a friend?" Legolas suggested.

Gimli nodded. "Aye, I can do that, mate."

Legolas gazed over at Aragorn, who rode proudly by his side. Aragorn instructed his horse to take a step forward and he drew his sword. "For Frodo and all of Middle-Earth!"

Aragorn stared at Legolas and clasped hands with him.

"To the death, my brother," Legolas said.

The men drew and raised their swords with Aragorn. Each of them shouted out the names of the loved ones they defended. Aragorn nodded and raised his sword high.

"Fall back!" Aragorn exclaimed, as now the gate fully opened. The armies of Sauron began to pour from their ghastly home. They cackled and yelled as they marched.

"Steel yourselves and regain your freedom!" Aragorn shouted to all men. The men shouted in response and ran to meet their enemies.

The battle had begun. Legolas and Gimli ran down orcs with their horse and jumped onto the ground. Legolas slashed through an orc and dodged another's blunt blade. He became back to back with Aragorn and Gimli, and all of the men. The fight seemed helpless, but was not lost as the orcs surrounded them. Swords clanked and sheilds clashed. Bows flew and axes chopped. Even the Nazgul that flew nearly overhead would not stop them now.

Gandalf paused within the fight as a moth flew past his face. Suddenly, as one of the Nazgul swooped down towards him, an eagle intercepted it.

"Eagles!" Pippin shouted out. "The eagles are coming!

Then, five and then six and seven eagles emerged from the whispy clouds. Gandalf's beloved friends had finally come to aide them in their cause. Aragorn, who had been lost in thought, was tripped and encircled by orcs and trolls. Legolas cut away at the orcs as he noticed his friend's peril. He pushed at the fighting parties in distress and ran toward where Aragorn had fallen.

Then, as Legolas was about to reach Aragorn at his unruly fate, he was struck from behind. He coughed violently as he was struck again. His blond hair became loose from its braid.

"Legolas!!" Aragorn called out his name, but everything was beginning to blur.

Legolas fell to his knees, but as the enemy behind him raised its weapon to strike Legolas down, everything seemed to stop abruptly. The orcs and men both stared at the sky in Mordor.. Suddenly, a blast of energy blew over the lands as Sauron's Eye exploded. Aragorn stood and watched as the minions retreated and the tower of Mordor fell. Aragorn raced to Legolas's side, and caught him as he fell backward from his knees.

"Legolas," he whispered to the elf. "My friend."

Legolas's eyes became dark and distant. As the tower of Mordor fell, the lands hummed in silence.

"Though eternally bound by friendship and love, my journey ends here, at the beginning of all things," Legolas said. "So, this is death."

"Legolas, hold on," Aragorn pleaded.

"It is alright; I do not fear this," Legolas replied calmly. " We all must make sacrifices. Until we meet again, King Elessar."

Legolas's eyes rolled into his head, and then they closed for the last time. Aragorn stroked Legolas's hair and face with his hand and kissed his forehead. "Be at peace in this everlasting silence, my brother. You are free now. We are all free."