A 'what if' fic, based on the Fellowship and Two Towers films. What if the something happened to Frodo in Moria, what if the Ring was no longer his to bear.?

Chapter 1

A lost prisoner, a gained friend

"Untie him Faramir! We need all the help we can"

"But." the young Captain protested, he soon fell silent under the eye of Copper standing in front of him. He knew he was out ranked. He's prisoner was everyone's prisoner one now he and he's men had left the woods. Extra hands were needed to defend the fortress of Osgiliath but not this one he carried something important, so very important if only he could grasp it, it could save Gondor - forever.

Copper narrowed his eyes at Faramir as his hands reached towards the black hood over the prisoner's head. He pulled.

The older man blinked at the fountain of blond hair that spilled from underneath the hood - it was an elf! Faramir face tightened as the elf bent double, kneeling on the ground blinking unstably in the dull sunshine.

"Tell me, Faramir what cause did you have to blind an elf?" Copper asked sternly watching the Captain closely.

"Nah my lord, I am not blinded" the fair being spoke form the ground.

Ignoring Faramir's splutters Copper knelt next to the elf studying his wearily and dirty face.

Silently he cut the cords binding the elf wrists and ankles allowing the blood to run to his fingers and toes once more. He held out his hand to helped the elf to his unsteadily feet, he had been carried for miles and now his feet were numb and weak.

Faramir's eyes searched the elf's collar, nothing not even the chain. But he knew the elf still had it and he knew he every word he told Copper was a lie.

"Tell me, Master elf what is your name"

"I am Legolas of the woodland realm"

Copper called for Legolas' weapons to be returned, Faramir interfiled again.

"But Sir, we can't trust him, he'll."

"Silence!" Copper's voice echoed off the stones. The colour faded from Faramir' face.

'Men are weak' Legolas remembered Elrond saying in Rivendell.

Cautiously men returned the gifts from Lórien and knives to Legolas, each keeping distance, none seemed to share the confidence Copper had of the elf. Securing the weapons to his torso Legolas felt the eyes of the men on him each half afraid of his speed, but remembering the elf's loss of concentration when he was captured.

Faramir suddenly broke the silence, unable to contain his anger any longer.

"Sir, he'll attack the men!" he threw an open hand towards Legolas idly, not expected his next move.

Catching the mans wrist easily Legolas pulled the man towards him. Men nearby drew their swords, Copper however watched clearly entertained.

"I only kill the enemy," Legolas shifted his grip to Faramir's shirt pulled him even closer, their face inches apart from one another. "Orcs" he hissed into the mans face.

All the menace the man had once now far gone. For now things were safe.

Pushing the man away other men stood still stunned and silent.

"Enough!" Copper took charge once more. "To arms!" he called each man scattered and sprung into action. The enemy was coming.

Copper turned to Legolas. "How good is your mark?" he asked.

Instantly the bow from Lórien sung, an arrow strung and released in a blink of an eye. An orc fell gurgling near by. Copper raised an eyebrow towards the blond elf. "Good enough for me"

* * *

The battle for Osgiliath had begun. Still the men needed reinforcements, however for the number there were they did well. Legolas dropped for cover as a sheet of arrows fell overhead he waited for his chance. He reached for an arrow noticing how light the quiver felt. He would to find some more soon.

"What realm are you from Legolas?" Copper asked beside, loading his own bow.

"Mirkwood"

Stand. Aim. Fire. Reload. Fire. Down.

"I remember travelling though the woods many years ago, though I doubt much has changed" Copper muttered thoughtfully.

"I have seen the leaves fall many a time with no change there"

Copper smiled, oh how he had forgotten elves were immortal. Legolas fired another arrow; the numbers of orc were thinning below.

"I am dry," he muttered to Copper before jumping down from the battlements.

He ducked and weaved through the men and falling arrows, picking up undamaged ones.

He turned sharply to the noise. Orcs their cries different to before. They were inside the fortress! Cursing Legolas swooped to pick up the remaining arrows in a fallen mans quiver, losing them as he went.

Suddenly without warned the Eye of Sauron passed over him. His strength was stripped his mind plunged into darkness. Cold, icy darkness, it choked him. The Eye returned hissing insults and promises of death and destruction. His hand felt for the Ring around his neck.

"Legolas!"

The Ring was calling him.

"Legolas"

No it couldn't be, someone was shaking him.

His eyes focused. It was Copper.

"Legolas, are you alright? Are you wounded?" Copper knelt over him.

The Eye passed once more.

Legolas sense returned.

"I am well" he lied.

* * *

"Nazgúl!"

A Winged Nazgúl attacked from the sky, huge and as black as the night. The fortress would fall in due time.

It dived dramatically knocking men from the walls. Orcs now spilled into the fortress.

"Pull back!" Copper cried jumping to his feet. "Come Legolas" Something else was calling the elf and it was not Copper. The Ring felt heavy, it tinkled in his hands. Calling to its master.

Oblivious to everyone Legolas stood facing the Nazgúl his hand clutching the Ring watching the beast - watching him.

"If you want it come and claim it!"

Without hesitation the beast charged the Rider on its back screeching with delight, the Ring was nearly in its grasps.

"Legolas no!"

The Nazgúl approached, each flap bringing what could be another darkness a little bit closer.

"No!"

Something hit Legolas in the side sending him sailing to the ground just as the Nazgúl talons scrapped the floor. The scent was dead. Legolas caught his breath and starred at Copper sitting in front of him, he had no recollection of what had just happened.

Copper's eyes darted from the orcs to the Nazgúl to the Ring now loosely hanging at the elf neck on chain. The connection - the Ring of Power around his new comrades neck.

Pride and honour disappeared form Copper's mind; this was the Ring of Power the thing the Nazgúl wanted. A voice in the mans head knew that Legolas would not give the Ring to Sauron willingly, though the last scene had worried him slightly. He searched the elf with his eyes; finally he came to a decision.

"Go"

Legolas frowned.

"Go!" Copper commanded pulling Legolas to his feet. "It is not safe here. I release you form your imprisonment"

Legolas was left slightly speechless. He shook Copper's hand.

"May Valar protect you," he whispered, slipping into Elvish. "Goodbye and thank you" he added and turned. Running over to the low walls slaying several orcs as he ran, he nimbly jumped the walls landing catlike on the ground below.

Faramir blinked at the elf below. He was escaping and the Ring with him; he loaded his bow and bending it back.

The cry of the Nazgúl pierced the air as dived once more, only this time it had caught the sent of the Ring again and dived after the fleeing elf. Faramir hesitated watching Legolas stumble and fall onto his back as the Winged Nazgúl missed its target and flew around for another attack, only this time his target lay injured below. The Rider pulled on the reins, he wouldn't miss this time, but it did miss that the elf had loaded his bow and released the arrow forth.

The beast fell like a stone from the sky crying as the ground neared, silenced by the carpet of slain orcs.

Faramir turned back to the elf, only now he was gone. And so had his chances of claiming the Ring and using it for his own.