Of Futures Past (Legolas)

35

Many hours had passed, and Alana felt as if she could vomit at any moment from the stress. The noises above continued, and the walls of the caves shook; all Alana could do was stare at the doors and wait.

The temptation to try to check the future gnawed at her, teasing her with knowledge, and she finally gave in. As she saw the ruins of the battlefield around her, she watched herself kneel next to a bloody figure with long blonde hair, and as the image started to move closer, she cut it off, not wanting to know with certainty that Legolas was dead. Because he couldn't die. He couldn't.

Alana felt the tears streaming down her face numbly as she tried to forget the scene, hoping beyond hope that it was a lie. She hadn't seen his face, there were many elves that had fought. The wish she held in her heart that it was someone else filled her with revulsion. How could she wish one of her people to die? But she did not, could not, care when there was the possibility of Legolas being alive. He had to survive. He had to.

The wish fizzled out as she remembered the way she had been kneeling next to his body. It was someone she cared about, and who else would it be but Legolas? Doing her best to quiet her sobs, Alana felt her chest constricting as she hyperventilated, her vision blurring.

Warm arms wrapped around her, a gentle voice hushing her. 

"Lady Alana, do not despair. The battle is not over yet." Eowyn's voice reassured her.

Alana melted into her embrace, hiccuping slightly. "But I... I saw..."

"Shhh." Eowyn rubbed her back, glancing around to make sure no others were watching.

Alana forced her breathing to even out, listening to the rhythm of Eowyn's heartbeat.

"Thank you, Eowyn. You are right." Alana murmured, relaxing in the young woman's hold.

Within a few moments, Eowyn began to smile at something. "Listen, the battle has quieted."

Alana perked up anxiously, eyes burning through the door once more.

An hour passed, then there was the click of a lock. Eowyn and Alana stood up at once, standing in front of the doors with swords drawn, exchanging hopeful glances.

As the door opened, Gamling made his way in.

"The battle is finished." As Gamling opened his mouth to continue, he was interrupted by all the women rushing out past him, all looking for their husbands, fathers, and sons.

Alana was frozen, and only after all the others had left did she slowly start to made her way out of the caves. Taking in all the destruction around her numbly, Alana walked towards the exploded wall of the keep, where she had seen the body in her vision.

As she searched each of the faces of all the fallen elves, she found one which she recognized plainer than the others. Haldir lay dead with his eyes closed and face filthy with mud and blood. Alana fell to her knees. Haldir, the Marchwarden of Lorien, was dead, one of the most faithful servants of Lothlorien. Haldir, who had taught her to wield a bow and arrow when she was still a child.

Alana's eyes expressed their sorrow painfully, seeming darker and deeper than their usual forest green. A great friend had died, and Alana was the one who had sent for his aid.

Alana wiped off the muck from Haldir's face and began carrying him towards the keep dismally. As she lay him down in front of the gates, she realized. Haldir was the one she had seen in her vision. Legolas may yet be alive.

Wiping the tears from her face, Alana felt a desperate hope unfurl in her chest as she began running towards the crowd of riders and women that had formed on the battlefield. She first ran into Eowyn, and she grabbed her shoulders harshly.

"Eowyn! Have you seen Legolas?" She demanded.

Eowyn shook her head nervously. "Not yet."

Alana let go of her, and began running through the crowd, checking every face, to no avail.

"Alana." 

Alana turned around quickly, seeing Aragorn staring at her concernedly. "Aragorn." Aragorn took her wildly shaking hands in his. "Where is Legolas?"

"He's alive." Aragorn said lowly, squeezing her hands. Alana felt her breathing even out slightly as Aragorn pulled her in some direction she wasn't sure of, before he called out Legolas's name.

Alana's head shot up, and the second she caught sight of him, she was running, heart hammering in her ears. Without hesitation, Alana launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he took a step back to balance himself.

"You're alive." Alana breathed out, tightening her embrace. "I was... I saw... I thought you were dead."

Alana listened carefully to the steady beating of his heart, pressing her face into his chest as much as she could as her body trembled with relief.

"I saw myself kneeling next to a body, I was so scared that it was you." Alana's voice shook as she held on to him for dear life, not willing to let go even for a second.

"I'm alive, Alana." Legolas murmured in her ear. "It's alright."

Alana's body stilled as Legolas's voice reached her and she pulled away, staring him down somewhat angrily. "I am never staying behind ever again. Understand?"

Legolas chuckled, pressing a light kiss to her forehead.

"And what are we? Old meat?" A gruff voice huffed behind her. "She certainly has a favourite, eh, Aragorn? Doesn't even care whether we're alive or dead!"

Alana burst into relieved giggles as the kind reality finally set in, turning around in Legolas's arms. "I'm sorry Gimli, of course I care about you as well."

Leaving Legolas's arms, Alana rushed to hug both Gimli and Aragorn as well. "You know I care about you both deeply."

Gimli scoffed, shaking his head. "Sure, I believe ya."

As Alana playfully nudged his shoulder with her own, Gimli grinned and laughed boisterously. 

Legolas came closer to her then, wrapping his arm around her shoulder as she leaned into his side automatically.

"Disgusting. Can't even be apart for a half a minute without getting possessive." Gimli muttered. "Ridiculous elf."

"Oh please, no one's jealous." Alana rolled her eyes, reaching over to hit Gimli's shoulder gently. Aragorn was laughing under his breath, looking between his companions. "Something to say, Aragorn?"

Aragorn shook his head, exchanging amused glances with Gimli while Alana observed confusedly. Legolas only tightened his grip around Alana's shoulders, smiling smugly at the laughing pair.