A kiss of fresh air

The reign folded in his tight hands. His knuckles were white. The silence made him sick to his stomach. It was a thick silence as they rode back to Helms Deep, one warrior less.

Gimli rode beside him, but Legolas could not face him. He knew his emotions must show on his face, and he never wanted the dwarf to see it. He longed for the closed doors of Helms Deep. To lock it and grief alone. Salt tears filled his eyes, but with tight lips, he refused to let them fall. Gimli was unusually quiet. It was like the whole group grieved.

Upon entering the stable, the tears had already spilled down his cheeks. If Legolas had not held onto the saddle, his knees would have buckled under him. He kept his head down as he silently gave the reigns to the stableboy.

"Laddie."

He stopped in the middle of a step, his intake of breath shuddering. Swallowing his air, he held it as he replied, "Gimli?"

Silence. Legolas could hear his own breathing and taste his own tears. He stared at the stableboy's boots, waiting for a reply.

"I'm sorry. I know...you two were close."

Not trusting his voice to not betray him, he nodded and left the stable. He hoped Gimli would understand.

He shut the door firmly. Then, before making it to the bed his knees wobbled. The bed squeaked as he sat down on it, his shoulders slumped over. The tears left dark spots on his leggings, and his hands clasped at the blanket. He rose and flung the pillow across the room, hitting a painting, and causing it to fall crashing down. Sobs tore his throat as he sunk down with the bed against his back, his neck losing all strength. His head fell back against the bed, his tears falling into his ears. His eyes aced as he looked at the ceiling. Everything hurt.

A knock on the door caused him to look over, and tears fell over his nose to mix on his left cheek. He took a shuddering breath, wiped his cheeks, and with a weak hand on the bed, he stood on shaking legs. The knocking returned, now more frantic.

He tore the door open, prepared to tell whoever it was to leave when he met Gimli's eyes. They were wide, and his breaths came quickly.

"Gimli..."

"Come with me."

"Gimli I..."

The dwarf grabbed his arm in a tight grip, and with his short legs ran down the hallway. Legolas struggled to keep up. "Gimli, I would like to be alone."

"I think you will want to see this Laddie." His voice was softer than usual. When they reached the big room, Legolas avoided the eyes of the people all around them. Then his eyes caught sight of a similar back. Fortunately, Gimli still held his arm in a tight grip, or he would've fallen to his knees. As the man turned around, sensing a gaze on him, Legolas' empty eyes filled back to the brim with tears. Aragorn caught his eyes and smiled before his eyebrows tightened. He said a few words to Eowyn, before moving toward Legolas in big strides. Legolas just watched him, and the background turned blurry. The man reached him, frowning, but smiling softly. Almost carefully, like he was unsure how to act. And Legolas, who found Aragorn always so sure, that scared him.

"Estel." He whispered. That word drained all the strength in him, like the tears in his body that were almost out.

"Legolas. How are you feeling?"

A laugh would've come out if he had the energy. Instead, he took a step up to the man and flung his arms around his steady frame. The similar scent of forest and sweat hit him, and he swallowed a sob.

Warm arms held him tight, a hand stroking over his back. "I'm alright, Legolas." He spoke softly as if comforting a small child. That made Legolas hold him harder as quiet sobs shook his body. Aragorn turned his face towards Legola's neck and raise a hand to hold his neck. The warm breath against his neck told Legolas Aragorn was alive.