บท 15: Storm of the Heart
The victory at Helm's Deep had left Maedhros with a bitter taste in his mouth, despite the cheers and praise that rang through the air. The people of Rohan were victorious, and the riders were reveling in the triumph, but something gnawed at him from within. As the battle raged into the night, Maedhros had found himself at the forefront, striking down foes with lightning and might. His powers had proven invaluable in the fight, and yet, despite all of his actions, his mind was clouded.
Maedhros stood off to the side, looking down over the aftermath of the battle, his fingers twitching slightly, still holding the remnants of the storm that had just passed. His silver hair was matted with sweat and grime, and the gleam of his armor was dulled by the mud that had accumulated in the chaos of the fight. The thunderous energy that he had unleashed was beginning to fade, and the quiet aftermath left his thoughts to settle into darker territories.
He'd saved many lives that night. Rohan was free from the siege of Saruman's forces, but one life in particular weighed heavily on him.
Haldir.
The elf had fought alongside Maedhros with a quiet grace, his movements fluid and precise, a warrior through and through. The two had exchanged more than a glance in the heat of battle—they had shared a silent bond, forged in the storm of battle. Maedhros had been unable to ignore the pull he felt towards the elf, but it had not been until later, when the fighting had ceased, that Haldir's presence truly affected him.
As Maedhros stood atop the wall, gazing into the distance, Haldir approached him, his steps light, his silver armor still glinting faintly in the torchlight. The elf's face was weary but calm, a look of sincere gratitude in his eyes.
"Maedhros," Haldir began, his voice soft but strong, "I owe you my life. If not for you, I would have fallen in that last charge. Your lightning cut through the battlefield like a storm."
Maedhros turned toward him, his face unreadable. "It was my duty," he replied, his voice tight. He could feel the flicker of jealousy stirring inside him at the elf's presence, but he quelled it with a sharp breath.
"You fight with honor," Haldir continued, his smile faint but genuine. "And for that, I am thankful."
Maedhros nodded stiffly, the words not quite reaching him. "It was nothing."
Haldir hesitated for a moment, before his gaze softened. "You should know, Maedhros, that there is someone else I hold dear." His voice dropped to a whisper, as though he were sharing a secret with the night air.
Maedhros blinked, his heart skipping a beat. He had been too caught up in his own thoughts, too absorbed by his own pain to see the truth.
"I know," Haldir said, sensing Maedhros's confusion. "Azura."
The name struck Maedhros like a bolt of lightning, and he recoiled slightly. He had heard of Azura, of course—Lady Galadriel's second daughter, a beauty whose silver hair and striking eyes had left many entranced. But it wasn't just her beauty that made her stand out. Azura had something that had always called to Maedhros—the same something that had called to him when he first saw her. She was a vision of strength and grace, a being of light in a world shrouded in darkness.
Azura.
And now, she was with Haldir.
The revelation cut deeper than Maedhros had anticipated. He found himself staring at Haldir, his mind racing. The idea of Azura with another—someone he had just fought beside, someone he had come to respect, even admire—twisted inside him. His jaw clenched, and his fists tightened at his sides. Why would she choose him? What did Haldir have that Maedhros lacked?
The jealousy flared inside him, irrational and furious. He wanted to ask Haldir what he had that Maedhros didn't. He wanted to shout, to demand why Azura had never chosen him, why she had chosen the elf instead of the Storm King. Why had she walked away from him in Lothlórien? Why had she rejected him?
But the words never came.
Instead, Maedhros was gripped by the darkness of his thoughts. He imagined what it would have been like if he had not intervened in the fight. If he had let Haldir fall—if the elf had died in the chaos—then maybe Azura would have been his. She would have had no one else, and he would have been the one standing beside her.
His fingers flexed, and he fought to stop himself. The idea made him sick to his core, but it didn't stop the twisting ache in his chest. What was wrong with him? How could he entertain such thoughts? He had fought for good, for honor, and yet here he was, contemplating something so vile.
Before he could dwell too long on the darkness in his mind, Haldir's voice broke through the fog of jealousy.
"I understand your silence, Maedhros," Haldir said, his voice low, almost apologetic. "But I would never think less of you. You fought beside us like a true warrior. I have great respect for you."
Maedhros swallowed, fighting to regain control of his emotions. He glanced at Haldir, his gaze hardening. "I know," he said, the words rough. "I know."
But inside, his heart burned with the unspoken desire for something that would never be his.
Haldir nodded, his face softening, but he did not press further. He understood that there were things Maedhros was not yet ready to speak of.
The silence stretched between them for a long moment before Haldir finally stepped back, his expression becoming more somber. "Thank you again, Maedhros. And remember, there is more to life than what we can hold in our grasp."
Maedhros watched him walk away, his words lingering in the air. "More to life…" The words were distant, but they resonated with him nonetheless. What else was there for him, if not Azura?
It was the thought of Azura that haunted him as he walked away, his mind still reeling with emotions he didn't fully understand. The storm inside him still raged. He had come to Helm's Deep seeking redemption, hoping to find some semblance of peace. Instead, he found himself grappling with jealousy, anger, and the pain of a love unrequited.
He knew, deep down, that he would never forget Azura. He had been captivated by her—by her beauty, her strength, and the spark in her that had called to him like nothing else. But he would never have her, not in the way he had hoped.
And that was something he would have to learn to live with.
For now, though, all Maedhros could do was walk into the night, his mind a swirl of conflicted emotions.
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