Will of the Valar.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but the original characters and their adventures. The Tolkien Estate and New Line Cinema own Middle Earth and its regular denizens.

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The Elves arrived just in time to help fend off an attack by Haradrim and Easterlings on the eastern flank of the western army. The archers rode directly to positions in support of their kin who were firing on the enemy with typical Elven discipline and accuracy. Legolas was grateful for the addition of two hundred Mirkwood archers, his kinsmen, sent by his father to aid his son’s efforts. Thanks to the rain of Elven arrows, the brief charge by the eastern forces was repelled after several hours.

Legolas and his captains joined Aragorn, Eomer, Faramir and their own advisors that night. The kings of Gondor and Rohan were fast losing patience with the war. They could not maintain the peace of their kingdoms when they were constantly under attack. Eomer had his own problems with the men of Dunland who would stage brief raids on his border villages, although, thanks to Legolas’ wife, those raids had drastically fallen. The example she had made of the Dunlending leader she had come across slaughtering and raping in a village in Rohan had quickly spread and the men of Dunland had been lying low, for the most part.

“We cannot continue like this,” Eomer said. “The Southrons and Easterlings are nibbling away at us, draining us slowly, but surely.”

“We could crush them,” Faramir said, “if you wish to invade their countries.”

“I do not want to invade,” Aragorn said, tiredly. “I want peace. Why can they not leave us in peace?”

“Obviously, we have something they want,” Legolas said practically. “But what it is, could be anything. We have much in the west that those in the east might crave.”

“Such as?” Faramir had a headache and worry about his wife and the impending birth of their child, did not help him concentrate on the problem at hand.

“Prosperity, freedom, peace---victory,” Haldir replied. “The people of the east were on the losing side in the War of the Ring. They have natural resentment against the victors.”

“But what do they hope to achieve by dragging this conflict out for years?” Aragorn could not understand the suicidal hatred they seemed to have for his people.

“They hope to wear the west down, bit by bit and eat away at that prosperity, peace and wealth,” said Elrohir, brother of Aragorn’s queen. His twin, Elladan nodded in agreement.

“How does one reason with such logic?” Eomer wondered aloud. “It is madness.”

None had an answer. Only the ugly prospect of invasion remained on the table. And none truly wanted to take that course.

“It would entail the commitment of thousands of forces simply to subdue the two realms,” said Legolas. “Not counting the untold numbers more that would be needed for occupation in an attempt to keep whatever peace we might achieve.”

“And a conquered people are not the easiest to govern,” added Haldir.

“But it would bring an end to these senseless attacks,” said Eomer reasonably. “We would know where our problems lay and would have troops there to deal with them.”

Aragorn sighed. “We will get nowhere tonight, my friends. Let us rest and see what new devilment the east can send our way on the morrow.”

His tent emptied and Legolas found himself walking beside Faramir.

“How fares Lady Eowyn? Her time draws near, does it not?”

The Prince of Ithilien nodded. “She was most unhappy when I left. And pregnancy seems to turn women into … fearsome creatures.” At Legolas’ smile, he added, “Just wait until Alexandra is with child. We shall see who is laughing then.”

Although he chuckled obligingly, in his heart Legolas felt sadness. Alex would never bear a child; only with the Valar’s grace, could they be so blessed. But she had been injured before coming to Middle Earth and her womb could no longer carry a babe. She always said it was for the best, as she was not maternally inclined.

He spoke with Haldir, Glorfindel and the twins about what had occurred before he had arrived with the fresh forces. They reported small incursions by Eastern Alliance troops that were more nuisances than threats. There had been several serious battles, however, in which many of the western forces had suffered. The Corsairs, who had played a role early in the war, had disappeared from the field, so at least there was no activity on the southern coastal front.

“Do you think Aragorn will choose to invade?” Glorfindel did not think it the wisest course, but it could be the only one left.

“I sincerely hope not, my friend,” Legolas answered. “I have no appetite for killing at the moment.”

“None of us do,” Elrohir replied. “But it is the way of war.”

The prince acknowledged the truth of his words with a sad smile. “Still, if it can be avoided, I would wish to do so.”

“You wish to be at home with your lady,” teased Elladan. “There is no need to put forth your noble sentiments. We know what is in your heart.”

The Elves chuckled as Legolas allowed himself a sheepish grin. “I will not deny that thought has entered my mind as well,” he admitted.

“How fares Alexandra?” asked Orophin. “Does she still desire to visit Moria?” The last time he had been in Ithilien, Alex had been intensely curious about the famous realm of the ancient Dwarf kings.

“No,” replied Legolas resignedly. “Now she is determined to become proficient in Quenya. She spends several hours every morning locked in the library trying to translate old documents … and reading them aloud.”

There were several sharp intakes of breath and all looked upon him with sympathy. Quenya was the most difficult of the Elven languages and notoriously difficult for mortals to pronounce. It was rarely used for any but ceremonial purposes now, and few among the Elves remaining in Middle Earth were proficient. Saelbeth, who had sometimes been called upon by the lady to clarify some of the finer points of the language shook his head.

“May the Valar soon turn her mind to other pursuits, my friend.”

“Thank you. I add my prayers to yours,” the lady’s husband replied with a laugh.