Chapter 20: The Black Gate.
The next day, while she still held onto the love she felt from Legolas the entire afternoon and evening before, she was still terrified as she rode her own horse close to her elf as they rode to Mordor. The on coming darkness of the shadow Sauron cast on the land was unsettling, and unnerving. Her grip on the reigns made her knuckles white, but her horse was so close to Legolas' her leg brushed against his every now and then. The road to the gate wasn't as long as she would have thought, or even hoped. The closer the shadow of the clouds got, the more terrified she grew. But she could use that fear, she knew she could, use it to amplify her anger of having to do this, her anger of fighting in a war she didn't ask to be in. She grew weary of the never ending battles, the war that would never end. But she knew they had to.
As they approached the gate, she, Legolas (With Gimli), Aragorn, Gandalf (with pippin) and Eomer (with Merry) remained on their horses near the front. It was as if they were given special privileges of being in the front line. Though she wasn't sure that privilege was a word she would use to describe being in the front.
An unspoken command brought all of them forward, riding to the gate. "Let the lord of the Black Land come forth!" Aragorn called to the closed gate. "Let justice be done upon him!"
A creak, grind, and thud signaled the opening of the gate, just a crack compared to what the gate could truly open to reveal. A single rider emerged through the crack, and she could hear the stomps of Orc's behind the gate, their feet pounding the ground under them, sending a rumble through the Earth. Her eyes scanned those nearest her, Legolas' eyes held a quiet fear yet determination, though Aragorn seemed simply bored, this was his move of check mate, and they simply waited for the counter attack from Sauron.
The rider's helmet covered everything on it's head, except the mouth, which repulsed her. The creature before her was nothing, though, it still held her terrified, and sickened. The voice was deep, slightly distorted as it's cracked lips pulled back over it's brown and decaying teeth. "My master, Sauron the Great bids thee welcome." As it finished, the creature's mouth spread into a grin, that made her stomach heave, and she had to swallow bile that had risen in her throat.
As she looked at Aragorn, judging his reaction all she saw was a single raised eyebrow, as if to say 'this is what this evil sends? This is it?'
"Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?" the creature asked as it was greeted with nothing but silence.
"We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed." Gandalf said, the creature's head jerked to 'look' at the wizard. The evil she sensed within the creature was overwhelming, She almost decided to lose her meal right then and there before Legolas reached out and put his hand on her knee. "Tell your master this: the armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return."
The creature almost laughed as he spoke. "Old Greybeard." the creature's mouth opened so wide she wondered if all it consisted of was a mouth, and nothing more. "I have a token I was bidden to show thee." he pulled out a shirt, but the shirt sparked a sudden recognition in her, and brought tears to her eyes. It was Frodo's mithril shirt.
"No..." She whispered. The creature threw it to Gandalf, who caught it, and she heard Pippin whisper Frodo's name. Then call it out louder, the creature seemed pleased by their reaction.
"Silence." Gandalf ordered, then she heard Merry's loud denial, to which Gandalf repeated his order.
"The half-ling was dear to thee I see." the creature spoke. She had to swallow tears that was forming, biting her lips to keep from making a sound, though a soft whimper broke from her throat. The creature whipped it's head to 'look' at her for a moment before returning to Gandalf. "Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. Who would've thought that one so small could endure so much pain?"
Her anger rose, heat was billowing out of her, causing Legolas' horse to side step away from her, and the creature turned his head sharply to stare at her. "And he did." the creature spoke, not just to her, but to all of them, though it's unseeing stare wouldn't leave her.
She didn't believe it. Couldn't. If Frodo was dead the war would be over, they wouldn't be standing there, they would be dead. She didn't believe it. She watched as Gandalf wrapped his arm around Pipping who was beginning to cry softly.
Uncaring of what was standing in front of her, or it's connection to Sauron she urged her horse forward, unknowingly at the same time Aragorn did. Legolas reached out for her but as she looked back to him, her glare made him stop.
"And who is this?" the creature asked. "Isildur's heir, and a witch?" her anger was focused, she didn't care that Aragorn was beside her, didn't care what the consequences of her next action would be. The thing needed to die, and she was going to do it. "it takes more then a broken elvish blade to make a king, and more power then you wield..." he didn't finish as his head was separated from it's body, and burst into a pillar of flames. The flames that shot upward from it's neck was white hot, the horse, startled took off, it's headless rider falling to the ground as the flames became almost translucent as her anger grew. The thing's death wasn't helping, why wasn't it helping her anger?
The gate started to open, she didn't care, her anger wasn't diminishing! Her gaze brought up to the oncoming army in front of her, and wanted to burn them, but a rough hand, grabbing her stopped her. She glared up into Aragorn's eyes. "Alexandra, hold it in. use it for attack on the army. Pull back."
"I don't believe him, Aragorn." She said, fighting back tears.
"I do not believe it either." he said.
She nodded and turned her horse, galloping back beside Legolas. "Melamin, Frodo is not dead."
She nodded once more as he spoke to her. "I know. I'm sorry for glaring."
"I understand your anger. The both of you killed him before I could." Legolas said softly.
As they reached the line of soldiers she would see their fear, they wanted to run, but Aragorn held them as he spoke. "Hold your ground! Hold your ground." he turned his horse, moving in front of the line speaking as they stopped in front of him. "Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers! I see in your eyes, the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come, when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves, and shattered shields, when the age of Men comes crashing down. But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all you hold dear on this good earth..." Alexandra couldn't help but look up at Legolas as Aragorn spoke, her eyes misting with tears as he smiled back at her. "I bid you stand! Men of the West!"
There was a clatter of swords being drawn, and she couldn't help the few tears that escaped. Aragorn certainly knew how to give a motivational speech. Once more, her own courage had been restored, and she pulled her own sword. They dismounted as the army surrounded them, holding their weapons ready. She stood, touching shoulders with Legolas when she spoke. "I love you."
He looked down as her as he answered. "And I love you, my love, my life."
She closed her eyes and smiled willing herself to get her head back into what she was about to do and heard Gimli speak then. "I never thought I would die fighting side by side with an elf."
"How about side by side with a friend?" Legolas returned.
"Aye. I could do that." Gimli answered, a smile on his face.
Another deep breath, and she stared up at the eye seeing it with her conscious eyes instead of seeing it in her mind, it was terrifying. But there was something even more terrifying when she saw Aragorn stepping away from then, lowering his sword. She and Legolas exchanged a worried look before he turned to look at them, a soft smile coming onto his features before he spoke. "For Frodo." He then raised his sword, and charged. They stood in shock for a moment, the hobbits in front of her seeming to understand the words better then the rest of them as they suddenly held their swords in front of then and charged as well. It took only a fraction of a second longer before it registered in her mind, and the rest of them followed after, war cries coming from everyone around her, and herself.
She threw herself into the line of Orc's, using her power any chance she could, throwing orcs away from her, others bursting into flames others still she cut down with her red hot sword. She wouldn't back down, there was no way she could. Frodo was alive, she believed that with every ounce of her being. He had to be. There was no other option. She only hoped that their efforts here at this gate would buy Frodo and Sam enough time to scale the mountain and throw the damned ring into the fire that created it.
The battle wasn't waged long before Nazgul riders flew in from Mordor, her eyes widened at the sight, and she focused her anger on them, one nasty flying creature bursting into flames, throwing it's rider to the ground. Then suddenly a massive bird raised it's talons, and latched into the creature.
"The eagles!" Pippin cried. "The eagles are coming!"
'Eagles? Those massive birds are eagles?' she thought. Though she didn't care, they were on their side, and that was what mattered. The eagles and Nazgul fought and bit until the massive eye turned it's attention back onto the mountain, something was happening. "Frodo." She whispered. Her resolve to fight grew in intensity, and she turned, fighting once more she cut down three more Orc's, when she felt a sharp stab of pain. Startled, she looked down at her stomach. A blade was jabbed into her side. Her eyes widened in fear and shock, she heard her name being screamed. There was another pain and she fell backward. A brilliant light flew over her, and a scream of agony ripped into her mind. Was it her scream?
How long had gone by, what was happening to her? Her head spun as she tried to see reason through the pain. 'don't let me die. I don't want to die!' She thought. Wonderful blue eyes met hers, grief overrode everything in his gaze as he looked down at her. He was saying something. She struggled to hear it. She smiled up at him, her hand came up to cup his face. "Legolas." She felt her lips move.
"No! No! Don't leave me! Don't die on me!" He was screaming.
She frowned. She couldn't die. Not when he would be left behind without her. Right? No... she was meant to do this. She was meant to sacrifice herself for Frodo.
There was a great flash of white, the eye flared brightly. The clouds over head spun as if ready to create a tornado. Her eyes were focused on it, it was beautiful. Not more beautiful then the man holding her, no definitely not, but the explosion, the explosion that she felt wash over her, stagger the elf that normally had such good balance. Evil she had sensed around her was gone.
"FRODO!" She heard someone scream. Who screamed it? Frodo? What happened.? The tower below the eye collapsed, the fire in the mountain surged, her eyes widened in fear, he must have succeeded. That was good. She wouldn't have died in vain.
She felt her eyes flutter, and she made herself look back into the beautiful blue eyes. A bubble seemed to surround them as he looked down at her. "Legolas. It's okay..."
he shook his head, for the first time she saw tears come into his eyes. "No, Please, no."
She smiled again. "Legolas. Melamin. Let me go." She nodded as he shook his head. "This is..." her breath caught, it hurt so much. "this is how it was supposed to be..."
"NO!" She heard him scream.
"yes." she whispered. "I love you." Blackness swirled in front of her eyes. No! She had to fight, she had to stay, for him! She shook her head, suddenly angry that this was happening to her. "NO!"
he nodded. "Fight, Melamin, FIGHT! Stay with me!"
"IT HURTS!" A new found strength was keeping her with him, she couldn't let go! She couldn't! But no matter how much she fought, the blackness threatened to over take her. "Don't let me die! Please, I don't want to die, Legolas! I want to be with you, please I don't want to die!" Did she say it or did she think it? She wasn't sure. She saw the tears in his beautiful eyes, grief etched onto that flawless face before she saw nothing.
(Something I haven't done before, I'm changing POV)
"Eagles!" Pippin shouted, Legolas looked up and smiled, perhaps they had a chance after all, maybe they would win this. He had to, for her. He looked up at his love, the one woman that changed everything he'd believed in and saw her fighting. She truly was beautiful. A fascinating woman that captured his heart. Even in battle the woman was amazing. He turned, pulling his knives slicing Orc's open right and left, fighting to stay beside that woman as the enemy pushed between them.
A scream of pain pulled his gaze back to her. Her scream wasn't mistakable. Something had happened. He saw the Orc standing in front of her, his blade protruding from the back of her dress. Chain mail, why didn't she have chain mail on? He fought, pushed, wished he had her power to make the Orc's move out of his way to get to her faster. "Alexandra!" He shouted, hoping Aragorn, Gimli, Gandalf, anyone would see her and fly to her aid. 'Don't let her die!' he thought. He couldn't bear the thought of her leaving him.
He pushed harder as she fell from the blade, he pulled his bow, and shot one arrow, right into the orc's forehead. It wasn't enough. He leapt over her, and took his knife, slicing the orc's throat before turning and dropping to his knees beside her, the battled waged on. It didn't matter, It truly didn't matter if she wouldn't be in his life. He fought for her!
Her hand moved up and held his cheek. "Legolas." her lips mouthed his name, but no sound emerged.
"No! No! Don't leave me! Don't die on me!" he screamed.
She frowned at him then, and she shook her head, as if she didn't understand that that was precisely what was happening to her. Then the Great Eye flashed, The clouds above swirled as if caught in some great maelstrom the tower crumbled, Orcs and trolls ran past him to escape the coming explosion. It fell as if it had all the time in the world to fall, before the Eye diminished, shrinking to a tiny point before a flash of light, and a massive explosion rocked him backward, the ground fell under the Orc's, falling around them, missing everyone in their army, and someone started shouting Frodo's name. Other voices started shouting in joy, but there was no joy for him. Alexandra was injured, badly injured, her blood ran out of her body, staining her clothing, moving over his clothing and hands. He held onto her, staring down at her as she watched the tower fall and the explosion. But then Mount Doom flared, the volcano spilling it's contents outward, striking the Nazgul that flew around it. The cries of joy quickly turned to that of grief and despair.
He instinctively pressed his hands to her wound, hoping to keep the blood inside of her. He looked down into her eyes which were now back on his. "Legolas. It's okay." She whispered.
He shook his head, tears gathering in his eyes, he had never felt grief such as this in his life. "No, please no." he whispered back.
She smiled up at him. "Legolas, melamin, let me go." He shook his head. Let her go? Had the prospect of death made her insane? How could he let her go? "this is..." She grimaced in pain. "This is how it was supposed to be."
"NO!" He couldn't help himself, he screamed it at her, how could she leave him? He felt eyes on him, worried gazes and the presence of Gandalf and Aragorn moving behind him.
"yes." A whisper, her voice was barely a whisper, she was leaving him, how could she just let go? "I love you." She said. He shook his head, she was saying goodbye! No!
"NO!" He shouted at her again as her eyes closed. He shook her, his hands still pressed to her wound, he could still hear her heart beating she was still with him. She was a fighter, why wasn't she fighting now?
"NO!" Her eyes flew open as she screamed, suddenly realizing what she had said.
He nodded back at her, this was the Alexandra he knew. "Fight! Melamin, FIGHT stay with me!" He ordered.
"IT HURTS!" She screamed. He knew it had to hurt, she was bleeding from her front and back.
"I know, I'm going to heal you, you will leave, I won't let..." He assured her.
"Don't let me die! Please, I don't want to die, Legolas! I want to be with you, please I don't want to die!" She screamed it at him, her hands gripping him, pleading with him to not let her die. And then her hand dropped, her eyes closed.
"NO!" He yelled.
"Legolas, she's gone." Aragorn said.
He shook his head. "No! Her heart still beats!"
Gandalf nodded, then whistled. An eagle landed a short distance away. "my friend, carry these two to Elrond in Rivendell?" the eagle bowed it's head. "Make much haste, she doesn't have much time."
Legolas scooped her into his arms and climbed onto the eagle's back, he set her upright in front of him, one hand gripping the bird's feathers, the other wrapped around her waist holding the wound together as much as he possibly could. "Don't you dare die on me, Alexandra. Don't you dare."