The Battle Between Us, Legolas.

04

Chapter four.

The Kingdom had stopped to rest for the night after hours and hours of walking to Helms Deep. In the dip of a valley, the Kingdom stopped, sitting around fires and talking warmly to each other. Aragorn sat with a warm bowl of stew at Eowyn had made as Gimli stood in front of children talking loudly about an adventure that made them smile widely. Ariadne turned to watch the sun settle behind the mountains, the snow littering the tops of it glisten under the amber light.

Legolas settles beside Aragorn, shaking his head gently as he offers Legolas his bowl of stew, Aragorn hums, settling the bowl by his feet , "I wouldn't recommend it, don't tell Lady Eowyn but it is not very good."

Legolas gently laughs, "Your secret is safe with me."

"So is yours."

Legolas turns his attention back to Aragorn, who looks up at Ariadne with a smile. Legolas follows his eye line to back up at the beautiful princess, "She is a strong, beautiful-"

"One that would be perfect to be a Queen,"

Legolas turns to Aragorn, "You think-"

"I am not sure," Aragorn gently interrupts, "But I believe she is strong enough to be a Queen."

Legolas gently hums, looking back up at Ariadne as he gently rubs his knuckles over his chest. Ariadne had fallen asleep for the journey and offered to take the first watch with the King's guards. She was worried, always looking over her shoulder, checking is the children and women are safe and trying to comfort the ones full of worry.

---

Ariadne held the reins as she gently lead the horse along, two children sat on the horse talking quietly as Legolas stands far on the top of the hill. Ariadne looks up at Aragorn as he trails beside her, he offers her a kind smile.

"It's only a days journey, isn't it?" Ariadne asks.

"Yes," Aragorn nods, "Getting tired?"

"Well, after months of walking and running and fighting orcs," Ariadne teases, looking back up towards Legolas, "A year of sleep is needed."

Aragorn chuckles but none-the-less nods along. Ariadne suddenly stops gently backing up the horse as cries of men echo through the valley, Aragorn rushes ahead as Ariadne gently helps the two children off the horse, rushing them quickly towards everyone else.

Climbing onto the horse, and following Aragorn quickly, Legolas runs towards her, grabbing her hand as she passes and climbing on the back of the horse.

"Orcs! We are under attack!"

Wargs; ugly creatures, snarling with yellow teeth and snouted noses, Orcs rode the back of it, holding spears and shouting angrily. Ariadne drew the horse back as Legolas sent an arrow into the Warg's chest. The two quickly jumped off the horse, Ariadne gently pushing it back towards the valley and away from the battle before she drew her sword.

Around her cries of men echoed as they fought, all desperately trying to bring down the creatures. Legolas ran into the heart of the battle taking an arrow to quickly stabbing the arrow into the heart of an Orc. Ariadne blocked a strike, the Orc snarls in her face, spit dribbling down its chin. Kicking back the Orc, she slides her sword up its chest before spinning on her heel.

"Legolas!"

The Elf's head whipped around as Ariadne runs towards him, a horrid Warg rushing behind her. Legolas draws an arrow, swallowing thickly as he takes aim. The Orc on the Warg screams in pain as an arrow is sent into its amber eye. Legolas takes his sword, Ariadne suddenly turns and both Legolas and Ariadne take out its legs.

Legolas quickly jumped over the Warg, checking over Ariadne as the battlefield had quietened as riders chased the last Wargs. Ariadne placed her sword back to her side as Legolas does the same, taking her hand in his.

"Are you okay?"

Ariadne nods, squeezing his hand as she gives him a small smile, "Are you?"

"Yes," Legolas looks around the battlefield, fallen hero's and their enemies. Legolas's eye brows pinch together making Ariadne frown.

"What is it?" Ariadne asks, taking a step towards him, looking around as her eyes widen, "Aragorn!"

Legolas shouts his name as he lets go of her hand. Ariadne quickly helps up Gimli before the two call out for Aragorn, looking out to the edge of the gorge. A chocked, horrid laugh drew her gaze, Legolas kneels down beside the Orc that was clutching a wound to its chest.

"Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing," Gimli sneered down at the Orc, pointing the end of his axe to its wheezing throat.

"He is dead."

Ariadne heart stopped, blinking in disbelief as she looked around the battlefield, "No, he was-"

"He took a little tumble off the cliff,"

Legolas clutches the Orcs armour, "You lie."

Ariadne walks to the edge of the cliff, looking down to find nothing but a harsh, fast flowing river bellow. Her shoulders drop as Legolas walks towards her, looking down at the river himself, Gimli takes Ariadne's hand as the three watch for the river for a second, hoping for something or anything.

"Get the wounded on horses, the wolves of Isengard will return," The King orders, sighing as he makes his next, "Leave the dead."

Legolas looks over at the King who pats his shoulder gently before walking away. Ariadne watches over her shoulder as the King leaves with what is left of his army, leaving the three and two horse.

"I can go down, try and find him-"

"We need to protect the people, Ari," Legolas softly argues, turning to her, "We need to do what Aragorn would of wanted, we have to go."

---

Ariadne leans back against Legolas, her head tilting back against his shoulder as he presses a kiss on the side of her head, wrapping his arms around her waist tighter as the horse follows the people up into the keep.

"We will be okay,"

"You keep telling me that," Ariadne whispers back, "I don't know if I believe it anymore, Legolas."

Legolas looks down at Ariadne, eyes softening as he gently cups her cheek, tilting her head up to his, "Believe me, Ari," His forehead rests on hers, his nose bumping hers, "I will fight for you."

Ariadne smiles softly, closing her eyes contently, "By my side?"

"Always,"