Legolas Greenleaf ached more than he cared to tell. He had no doubts that if Gimli realized how bruised he was, the Dwarf would have tied him to the bed and never allowed him to be a part of the rescue mission. Elves were quick healers, and he would be fine in a few days, but the Uruk-hai had done quite a number on him.

He knew he was lucky to be alive. If Gimli, Frodo, Orophin and Rúmil had not been outside the banquet hall when the Uruks had taken him out, he would certainly be dead. They had never gotten as far as General Raxror because they had stopped to beat him in the hallway. Perhaps trying to climb out the window had been foolhardy, but there had been no other way to make sure they did not notice the sneezing Hobbit, at least none that Legolas could think of in the moment.

The mission was successful so far, and with the weapons close at hand, he did not doubt that even the small number of Elves still remaining in Rivendell could take on the large company of Uruk-hai. A small part of him almost looked forward to the battle. Perhaps he had acquired a taste for fighting during the dark times.

He had only one worry at the moment, and that was Ciendriel. He bade Isilwen to tell her that he was still alive when she slipped into the banquet hall. He wished he knew if it were the same for Ciendriel. Still, if as Haldir had said no other Elves had been brought out, it was likely that she was fine.

Legolas could still hear her screams as they took him ringing in his ears. She had offered to give her life for his. He knew that if he had been killed, she would not suffer to live long after. He felt the same way towards her. She was everything. She had changed his very existence. Things were still occasionally prickly between her and Gimli, but the two of them seemed to have grown fond of each other as well. The two of them were the best friends he had.

And then there was Haldir. The Marchwarden had come looking for him, too, Legolas knew, when he heard from Pippin that the Uruks had taken him away. He had remained a friend despite all the accusations about the map. Haldir had suffered as much as Legolas had in this ordeal, thinking his brothers dead, yet he still had managed to organize this plan. Legolas felt a burst of affection for Haldir.

He looked at the other Elf in the dim light of the tunnel. Haldir's gaze was fixed on the tapestry. When Isilwen's hand would appear, he would fill it with a weapon. It was an arduous, dangerous project, even though the Uruks were stupid and probably tired. Haldir never wavered from his task. Erestor passed the weapons on to Haldir.

Legolas remembered well the last kiss they had shared, the night he had gone to ask Haldir about the missing map. Was that only two nights past? It seemed a lifetime. Occasionally he wished that he might have given in to Haldir's desire to be part of a trio with him and Ciendriel. Legolas was the one who had stopped it. He had been too jealous.

Why was it that he suddenly felt desire for his old lover? Legolas wondered, but as he stood there, tense and ready if the operation should fail, if suddenly became clear to him. Haldir desired someone else now. Isilwen, Erestor's sister. Legolas had noticed the way that they looked at each other, and the flash of jealousy in Haldir's eyes when she had hugged his brothers.

Now, this was interesting. Surely Erestor would not allow anything to pass between them. And the Elf maiden herself was well known to be a fancier of Elrond. Had she been seduced by Haldir's virile charms? When, and how? Why did she choose him and not Rúmil or Orophin, whose company she had always enjoyed?

Legolas shook his head. This was hardly the time for idle thoughts. Besides, Haldir's lovers were of no concern to him any more. Haldir was a friend, a very good friend, and nothing more.

Hours crept past. Legolas had no concept of how much time had passed, except that it had been excruciatingly long. Gimli shifted from foot to foot, gripping his ax tightly. It was an Uruk-hai ax, Legolas thought. Stolen from one of the dead, no doubt. It was not nearly the quality of Gimli's own weapon.

"I can't take much more of this, lad," Gimli whispered to Legolas. Legolas nodded, but Erestor motioned for them to be quiet.

Suddenly, from inside the hall came a shout. "Oi! What are you doing there, Elf? Get away from that wall!"

Legolas froze, and saw the others do the same. Isilwen's hand disappeared quickly, leaving behind the weapon Haldir had been filling it with.

"I am just resting against the wall," Isilwen said, sounding frightened. Legolas saw Haldir's hand tighten around the sword that was in it. His whole body was tense, as if he meant to leap through the tapestry.

"I think something's going on here," said the Uruk suspiciously. His voice came closer. He was approaching Isilwen. "This Elf's got herself a scar," he chuckled. "And here we was thinking they was all perfect."

"Let it be," one of the other Uruks called. "Don't talk to 'em, that's what Raxror says."

"We got to watch out for troublemakers, don't we? Like that blond one we did in earlier."

"Raxror and Tallanz are probably eating his guts right now. Couldn't share with us, could they?"

Legolas felt a wave of nausea sweep through him. That was his fate, the fate he had barely avoided.

"You ever eat a dark-haired Elf? I hear they taste better than the blond ones."

"I say we eat one now," came a third voice. "They'll never miss one… or two."

"I'm starving. Tallanz said there would be food in Rivendell. But did any of us get fed?"

A roar went up among the Uruks as they all began to agree with each other. Legolas saw the tapestry shiver as Isilwen pressed back against it. Haldir reached out and gripped the edge of the fabric with his first. He signaled the others to get ready. Legolas was not sure how many weapons had been distributed among the Elves. He simply hoped it was enough.

"Let's eat the little scarred one."

"Do not touch me!" Isilwen cried. There came a tremendous ripping sound as she fell backwards into the tapestry, tearing it and landing in the hallway next to Haldir.

"This ain't a wall!" said the Uruk who stepped through after her.

"No. It is your tomb," said Haldir as he lopped off the guard's head.

Chaos followed. The Elves who had been armed attacked the Uruk-hai. Those who hadn't flooded towards the tunnel for arms. The Uruks tried to get to the tunnel. Erestor was passing out weapons, and Haldir had hauled Isilwen off of the floor. Gimli let out a cry and charged into the banquet hall. Legolas followed him, urgently searching for Ciendriel. Haldir's brothers were behind them.

His princess had leapt on top of a table and was firing her bow from there. She took down Uruk after Uruk. Legolas skittered to the table and jumped up beside her, pulling out his own bow and taking aim. She did not turn her head to look at him as she continued to fire.

"I thought you were dead," she said.

"It is not the first time," he replied.

"I would be pleased if it were the last."

"I can make no promises. Look out!"

They had to jump off of the table as several Uruks drew their own bows and began firing at them. Legolas drew his sword, but Ciendriel had only a bow, impossible to use at close ranges. They moved back to back to protect each other. Legolas maneuvered up against the table to offer them more protection. Some of the Elves had upended tables to use as shields. Many, many Uruk-hai were already down. It was impossible to tell if any Elven lives had been lost.

One of the Uruks made it to the doorway of the hall, as if he meant to flee. If he spread the alarm, who knew how many more would come. As it was, the Elves were fighting for their lives as much as their freedom. Legolas saw that Haldir was the closest to him.

"Haldir! The door!"

"Go for Raxror!" hollered one of the other Uruks. Several of them now yanked open the door to the hall and began to flee. Legolas saw Haldir go out after them, and Isilwen after him.

Another Uruk-hai demanded Legolas' attention. He thrust his sword into its belly, and caught its sword as it fell. He handed the weapon to Ciendriel. There was nothing else they could do now but try to keep up.

***

The situation was not nearly as bad as it could have been. It was not nearly as bad as Helm's Deep, Haldir thought as he fought Uruk after Uruk. He certainly did not intend for it to have the same results. He had tried to keep in front of Isilwen at first, but she had not taken the remarks the Uruks made about her kindly and was slashing them to pieces with her sword.

She had a very fine form, and he would have liked to have stopped to watch her. This, of course, was impossible, but he could tell that his brothers had put her through her paces and trained her well. Perhaps Erestor would be thanking them later instead of constantly complaining about their poor influence on his sister when they realized that they had saved her life by bestowing these skills upon her.

He found himself near the door to the hall when Legolas called out to him. Haldir turned his head and saw the Uruks fleeing down the hall. He had to get to them before they went for reinforcements. Out the door he bolted, only vaguely aware that someone was behind him. He turned back to look and saw Isilwen.

"Come on," he motioned to her. He could use the backup. There were five Uruks running down the hall and they had a good start on him. Haldir fired an arrow and took one of them down immediately. His second shot was too far, so he began running after them. The direction they took was all too familiar.

"Elrond," Isilwen gasped. "They're heading for his room."

She was right. If the guards reported what had happened in the banquet hall, Elrond would surely be killed. The two Elves were fleet of foot, but the distance was not so far. Two of the Uruks stopped, turning to fire on them with their own arrows, but Haldir was fast enough to slice the hand of one off before he could shoot. The Uruk howled in pain, dropping the bow to the floor. The arrow clattered harmlessly aside.

The second Uruk fired his shot, but he was pushed off balance. The bolt tore through Isilwen's gown and she cried out. Still she lifted her sword and thrust it through the Uruk's chest.

"Are you hurt?" Haldir cried.

"No -- but my dress is torn."

Now there was an intriguing thought. Too bad he did not have time to think it. He leapt over the bodies and continued down the hall. He felt more than saw her running beside him. They rounded the corner to Elrond's chamber and saw the door open. Were they too late?

The two Uruks left of the five that had set out were breathlessly grunting out the situation to Raxror and Tallanz. Seven other Uruks occupied the premises. These odds were not good, especially with Elrond unarmed.

Elrond's gaze met Haldir's through the doorway. The Elf king was not be underestimated. Elrond turned and drew forth a sword hidden inside one of the posts of his bed. Haldir had not even known it was there. Good thing he had never angered Elrond when they had been lovers.

Haldir and Isilwen hurtled into the bed chamber as Elrond whirled around with his own weapon. Three strokes, three Uruk-hai fallen. Tallanz roared with rage.

"This is your fault, you worthless mongrel," he shouted at Raxror. "I gave you one little job and you could not do it."

"I told you we should have slaughtered them all," Raxror shouted back. Haldir took his head off, then jumped aside as Tallanz slashed at him.

"Didn't I see you at Helm's Deep?" the leader of the Uruk-hai sneered at him. "I could swear I put a hole in your belly."

"Elves are not so easy to kill!" Rage flooded Haldir. Could this truly be the Uruk who had nearly killed him? He thrust his sword forward but Tallanz was better than the average Uruk-hai and parried the blow.

"Goody for me. I have another chance!" Tallanz growled. "They made me leader for killing the Elf captain. Can't make fools out of my army, can I?"

Again their swords clashed together. "You can not make them much worse than they are," Haldir replied. "But have no fear -- they are nearly all dead and you will soon be joining them."

"Take this one down!" Tallanz shouted angrily. "Take him down now!"

Elrond had already brought down two of the seven remaining Uruks, and Isilwen had killed a third. The other four besides Tallanz rounded on Haldir, quickly encircling him.

"Need some help, do you?" Haldir said to Tallanz.

He felt no fear. There was only the same rush of adrenaline he had felt at Helm's Deep in the moment when he had known he was going to die. Luckily, he had been wrong then. Maybe he was wrong now…but as before he had no one at his back. He heard Isilwen utter a cry, and knew that his only regret in dying this way would be that she would never know what he had come to feel for her.

"I think you are the one in need of help," Tallanz smirked.

"He has it," Elrond said.

Elrond and Isilwen went after the Uruks behind Haldir. Haldir swung his sword in a circle. Uruk blood sprayed everywhere. Two of them staggered backwards and collapsed on top of Tallanz. Haldir turned and saw that Isilwen and Elrond had gotten both behind him. He thrust his sword into each of the other two, leaving Tallanz squirming beneath the corpses, the only Uruk-hai remaining alive.

"Haldir!" Isilwen gasped.

"I am well," he replied, nodding to her. He wanted to embrace her, but he feared that more Uruk-hai would come. Elrond pushed aside the bodies of the fallen to get to Tallanz. He thrust his sword beneath the chin of the Uruk and planted his foot in the middle of his chest. "Show him no mercy," Haldir said bitterly.

Tallanz chuckled. "You are better off to let me live than to kill me, Elrond of Rivendell."

"And why is that?"

"My warriors still surround your palace. I have over a hundred outside. You will never leave this place alive without me."

A horn sounded on the wind. Elrond did not look up from his quarry, but only smiled coldly down at him. "It seems I have friends on the outside as well."

Haldir turned his head towards the window which overlooked the garden and saw the wizard Gandalf approaching with Faramir, Prince of Ithilien and an army of several hundred men. The Uruks patrolling the garden attacked them, but this time, they were the ones outnumbered. The battle would go quickly and favorable, Haldir knew.

Tallanz let out a growl and seized the blade of Elrond's sword, twisting it out of his hand before Elrond could thrust it into his throat. He lost three fingers in the process but in a moment was back on his feet and holding his sword. Elrond was pushed backwards, falling onto the bed. Isilwen ran to his side.

Haldir acted quickly, rounding on the Uruk leader. He thrust his sword into the belly of Tallanz, then ripped upwards. Tallanz fell to his knees, his eyes glazing over as all life finally left him. Haldir drew in a deep breath. They were safe, at least for the moment.

"We should get back to the banquet hall," he gasped, turning towards the bed.

The sight that greeted his eyes hurt more than the wound he had received at Helm's Deep. Elrond held Isilwen in his arms and was kissing her with enviable passion. Haldir turned away. He knew the girl loved Elrond, always had. Could he blame the king for giving in to her passion at last?

Haldir turned and left the room silently, heading back towards the battle that no doubt still raged in the banquet hall, attempting to leave behind the one that raged inside of his heart.