Chapter
12
Elladan
looked darkly at his twin. “Do you not care what they
did to our sister?” He cried.
“Of course I do.” Elrohir replied, somewhat sharply.
“But vengeance has already been taken. Arwen hated what
we did when Nana was taken, she would not wish this. They are
dead brother, let it go.”
Elladan hung his head. “I know you are right.” He
said softly. “But it hurts so much.” Elrohir pulled
his brother into a tight embrace. “I know.” He whispered.
“I feel it too. But the best thing we can do now is to
be there for her and Estel.”
Elladan smiled sadly at his twin. “Always the wise one.”
He said. “Very well, come let us see how she fares.”
They stood and moved towards the door, but as they did so a
great tremor rocked the walls. Elrohir was thrown to the floor,
hitting his head on chair as he went down.
“Elrohir!” Elladan cried out and ran to his brother.
“I’m alright.” Elrohir said as Elladan helped
him to his feet. “It’s just a bump.” He turned
to his father. “Ada, what just happened?”
“I do not know.” Elrond replied. “But whatever
it was, it does not bode well for Gondor.”
**********************
Legolas
and Glorfindel raced outside, stopping dead when they took in
the scene. Hundreds, maybe thousands of human-shaped black forms
swarmed throughout the city, coming in ever-increasing numbers
from the dark hole that hovered at the city’s edge. “By
the Valar.” Glorfindel whispered. “It is worse than
I had ever imagined. What are we going to do now?”
Legolas shook his head. He’d had no idea before and he
certainly had none now.
From the corner of his eye, the ghost saw Elrond and his sons
run out from the palace. The twins had their swords drawn and
stood protectively in front of their father.
“Go and help the twins.” He said. “Don’t
worry about me – I’ll think of something.”
Glorfindel looked sceptically at him. “Just go.”
Legolas sighed.
Shaking his head, Glorfindel ran off, knowing that for now,
all he could do was to help in the fight.
He
hacked his way through a mass of the black creatures, noting
that they seemed mortal enough, dying upon his blade. He reached
Elrond as quickly as he could, stepping up to fight alongside.
“I thought I told you to stay in bed.” Elrond growled,
thrusting his sword into the stomach of one of the creatures.
Glorfindel never took his eyes off the battle. “I know
you think I have lost my mind.” He replied. “I have
not. But even if I had, I can still fight. I will not lie in
bed when evil threatens.”
Elrond could not dispute that. Whatever problems Glorfindel
was having, it had not affected his ability to wield a blade.
He nodded and the two elf-lords continued to fight the never-ending
stream of foes.
Having
ordered several guards to watch over the queen, Aragorn had
run towards the battle. A strange feeling washed over him, this
was the first really big battle since the one in which Legolas
had died. “Oh Valar, please don’t let anyone else
come to harm.” He prayed as he ran. He knew his brothers
had just arrived, though he knew the battle would go better
for their presence, he feared for them greatly.
Exiting the palace he surveyed the scene. The black creatures
were everywhere, his soldiers were doing their best to fight
them off but they were heavily outnumbered. Spotting his brothers
a short way away from his father and – to his surprise
– Glorfindel, he made his way to them, trying not to get
killed by the strange beings. He knew that if they were together
they stood a much better chance of surviving.
“Where’s
Arwen?” Elladan asked as soon as Aragorn was in hearing
range.
“In our room, under heavy guard.” The King responded.
“She’s as safe as she can be under the circumstances.”
“Good.” Elladan said, not wanting to waste words
in battle.
Aragorn made a signal to his father and Glorfindel, almost instantly
they began to move closer. Aragorn’s mouth was set in
a grim line. He didn’t want any of them out of sight.
He wondered where Gimli was.
The
thick blade of a dwarven axe cut through several of the creatures.
Gimli roared in defiance. “You’ll not take me!”
He cried. He was unfazed by the multiple creatures that had
surprised him in his own room. He hacked at several more dark
beings, intent on driving them back.
Suddenly a razor-sharp arm came down towards him. Gimli dodged
but the arm sliced through the handle of his axe. The blade
fell to the floor, useless. Uttering a curse, Gimli dropped
to the ground as another of the creatures came at the furious
dwarf. Moving faster than many would have expected of a dwarf,
Gimli made for the small table. His axe may be useless, but
he was not without a weapon. He grabbed one of Legolas’
knives and jabbed upwards, felling his attacker. Before any
could stop him he was out of the door. Everything in him wanted
to stay and fight, but he knew he had to find Aragorn. If he
knew the king, the man would be on the front line.
Gimli glanced at the elven knife in his hand. “Don’t
worry, Legolas. I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Legolas
fought panic. He HAD to think of something! He ran his mind
over all the recent events yet again. He was sure he was missing
something. Something vital he’d overlooked. Yet as the
darkness grew and the dark warriors increased, he still found
himself at a terrifying loss.
Glorfindel
was worried. The mass of dark warriors just kept increasing.
The possibility of defeat was becoming a very real option. The
more they killed the more there seemed to be, at this rate they
would not live to see sundown. He prayed that Legolas would
come up with a last-minute solution but in his heart, he knew
it was unlikely.
~Oh,
how wonderful this was! At last, it had the power it craved.
Sheer delight filled it as it watched the terrified beings dying
at the hands of it’s servants. It grew stronger still,
feeding off the pain, every death lending it more strength.
The portal grew steadily and it began to ease its way into the
world. The freedom was delicious and it craved the feeling it
would get when it finally took over the whole of Middle-Earth.
“Beautiful darkness. All shall be mine.”~
Aragorn
fought increasing fear as the darkness began to grow. It blocked
out the sun, casting all into shadow. “Ada… what
is this?”
Elrond, his heart heavy, gave the only response he knew.
“I fear it is our end, ion nin.”
Legolas
watched in horror as the darkness covered everything in its
path. Nothing was spared the darkness and Legolas could hear
the screams of those who could not escape. It tore at his soul
and he cried out for an answer. But as ever there was nothing
and he could only stand by as the darkness spread.
“Oh Elbereth!” He thought. “Why am I forced
to watch this horror? Ai those poor people, I feel their pain,
I remember well when that darkness ensnared me.”
‘When
the darkness ensnared me.”
Even as he thought it, he knew he had found his answer. He had
escaped that evil net, though it had almost cost him his eternal
soul. Yet significant damage had been done to the dark being
as well. He knew that to attempt to destroy the being this way
would be his end, no returning to Mandos’ halls or Valinor.
But there was no other answer. That he had found this one was
nothing short of a miracle to his mind. If his soul was the
price he had to pay for keeping those he held dear safe, then
he paid it willingly.
He
ran to Glorfindel and stepped up besides the warrior. “I
thank you for all your help, mellon nin. Please, tell the others
how much I care for them.”
Glorfindel looked at him sharply.
“What are you planning to do?” He asked; ignoring
the look Elrond gave him.
“End this.” Legolas replied simply. Before Glorfindel
could say another word he was gone, heading to the dark being
that was covering the world.
He
stood before It, ghostly eyes shining. Destiny called and he
would answer. With the knowledge that many would live from his
sacrifice, he plunged himself deep into the heart of darkness.
Aragorn’s
breath came in short gasps. He knew they were loosing badly,
but he fought on. As King Théoden had once vowed to die
a death worth remembering, so did he now. He would not run,
but face his doom bravely.
Suddenly,
the dark being screamed. It was a terrible sound filled with
pain, causing even the dark warriors to pause in their attack.
Glorfindel looked up and saw that within the darkness, a light
was shining. Dimly at first, but growing ever brighter it slowly
began to take over the darkness. As it gained in power, it became
clearer. It had a form, a face.
Besides
him, Aragorn let out a strangled cry. He couldn’t believe
what he was seeing. It had been so long, how could this be?
But the form was very clear now. He could see the blue eyes
shining and the look of determination on the once-familiar face.
He breathed the name in wonder.
“Legolas.”
END
CHAPTER 12
