Flower of War

Hope? 

Hope.

There was none to be found in his heart.

Too many.  There were too many of them to be fought, too much for these weary, unskilled Rohirrim.  

He looked in disgust as they handed each man, each boy a sword, and a measly piece of metal to protection themselves with.  To protect the women and children of Rohan with.

Anger grew.  Aragorn wanted to stand with these people, to fight alongside these people in a battle that was useless.  Fruitless.

And he expected him, son of Thranduil, to give away his life for this hopeless battle?

Impossible.  Hateful.

He lashed out at Aragorn.  Spoke of what was on his mind.  But why had his friend, his companion not heed his warning?

Instead he had bit back, stormed off.  Legolas had been held back from chasing after the fuming lord, from reasoning with this unreasonable human.

Why.  Why?  He could not understand why they were to be here, to fight here when it had become clear that it was hopeless.

"Sir?"  A voice, a timid voice of a child accompanied by a gentle tug upon his tunic. released him from the grasp of his thoughts.  Refocusing on the environment surrounding him, he noticed a young girl no more than 7 before him, in her grimy hold a bundle of mismatched flora.  The child threw him a curious look before tilting her head, the spark in her dark eyes as if undressing him.  Silence grew until she lifted a single stalk to him, waiting until he accepted it before skipping away, not allowing Legolas to put in a word.

She stared up at him.  Her.  His heart ached and his mind berated him for even forgetting.  Forgetting that back home, there stood his people, his father, his men, his lover awaiting his return to their arms.  Her arms.  The arms that had held him, the ones he had embraced, the ones that had helped mend and save his life so many times.  

The distant blast of an elvish horn alerted his ears, and Legolas rushed off to find Aragorn.  She, like always, had heard his call and sent aid.  Like always.

"Tirith, why do you not scorn?  Those men...they always want to fight! Everything!"  Legolas storms away from his companion, his mind blurred by anger and frustration.

Soft steps follow him, quickly gaining speed.  Tirith had always been swift-footed--perhaps the reason why she was the only she-elfling that had gotten this close to him. "Are you afraid my lord?"

In disbelief, he pivots back, glaring as she approaches.  

"War thrives upon greed, that which is of their nature.  We cannot change that." Legolas turns away, refusing to listen anymore.  But a gentle touch upon his hand has him paying attention again.  "We cannot change their minds, but we can fight to protect the ones we treasure, protect those who cannot fend for themselves."  His hand is unraveled, smooth fingers placing life upon his callous palm before closing. Looking down, it's a flower, a symbol of hope, a symbol that no matter the outcome, she will still be there.

And as he gazes back at her, he knows that forever she will be the only person in his heart, for whom he will do anything and everything to protect.  The girl that had never left his side, never shied from his emotions, never hesitated to mend him.  Forever.

UGH.  That took so long.  I had lost my Legolas inspiration and then gained it again the last few days out of the blue.  I think it's a bit too...wordy or superfluous, but that's what my brain is giving me right now.

I'm infatuated with the concept and possibility of Legolas having a lover.  He's so grounded and calm that it's impossible for me to believe.  There must be someone or something that he truly cares about (other than his friendship with Aragorn) that allows him to keep his composure.

The flower is not one that represent war, but to Legolas, it reminds him of his conversation with Tirith.  So to him, the flower represents the war he will always have to fight in order to protect his loved ones.

Tell me what you think, and if you have any comments or suggestions I can incorporate into my next one!  And if you have any plots that you'd like to me consider^^

-Aza