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Chapter Twenty-One

That night I passed out in a room Gandalf had found for me. Legolas had been kind enough to bring me warm water so that I could clean up before sleeping. After I had washed as much of the grim of war off, I climbed in bed. I was so exhausted I didn't even wonder were Legolas was.

I hoped that my sleep would be dreamless, but I had no such luck.

I dreamed about my mother. We sat at a table looking over some maps.

"It will take us a few days to reach Saruman, but I believe that he is our best chance." My mother said.

I nodded, "And what do we tell him when we get there?"

"Everything." My mother replied. "He has to help us. At the very least he should have some advice to offer us."

Suddenly we were back in the dungeons being tortured by the very man who was supposed to help us. I thrashed in my sleep, trying to escape the dream.

Eventually, Legolas' voice broke through my dream. "Danyel! You're alright." He held me tight.

I opened my eyes that were full of tears.

I was startled to see Gandalf and Aragorn in the room also. "We could hear your screams from the throne room, my child." Gandalf said with concern in his eyes.

I sat up and wiped my tears away, "I am fine now. Thank you for your concern."

Legolas kept an arm around me.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Aragorn asked.

I sighed and shook my head, "Not really."

Gandalf sat on the edge of the bed. "Was it a dream... or a memory?"

"A memory." I replied softly.

"Are you certain?" Gandalf asked.

"Yes. My body can still remember the pain it went through. It was very real."

"Pain? What do you mean, pain?" Gandalf asked with growing concern.

I told Gandalf everything that I had been dreaming about. He sat in silence smoking his pipe, and listening intently to me. When I finished he placed a hand on shoulder. "I am sorry that you have gone through that."

"I just wish I remembered why." I replied.

"Perhaps if we find your father he may know more about all of this." Gandalf added.

"I don't even know if my father is still alive."

Gandalf embraced me, "I will help you find him. And together we will figure out why this happened to you. You must have known something very important for such extreme measures to be taken. Please, don't get me wrong, that should never have happened to you or your mother. Regardless though, you must have known some very important information."

"I just wish that I knew what it was. Perhaps then I wouldn't feel so lost." I could see the sun beginning to rise and knew that we weren't done with the war yet.

"Perhaps you would like to join us in the throne room?" Legolas offered.

I nodded eagerly wanting to just forget about the memory altogether. And if I couldn't forget about it, then the least I could to do was put my mind to something else. Legolas took my hand and we all found ourselves in the throne room.

Gimli was sitting in the steward's chair. Apparently the Steward of Gondor, who happened to be Boromir's father, had gone mad and ended up killing himself.

Eomer was there awaiting everyone. "Are you well, my lady?" He asked me.

I suddenly felt embarrassed that everyone had been able to hear my screaming. "I am fine. Thank you, Eomer." I replied, reaching for Legolas and pulling him gently closer to me. He wrapped an arm around me and held me near him.

Aragorn looked at Gandalf, "Well, we're not doen yet are we?"

"Frodo has passed beyond my sight." Gandalf said. "The darkness is deepening."

"If Sauron had the Ring we would know it." Aragorn replied.

Gandalf sighed. "It is only a matter of time. He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping."

Gimli huffed, "Let him stay there! Let him rot! Why should we care?"

Gandalf turned at looked at Gimli, "Because ten thousand Orcs now stand bwtween Frodo and Mount Doom."

Gimli lowered his head and thought about Gandalf's words.

"I've sent him to his death." Gandalf said, lowering his own head in shame.

"No, Gandalf, you didn't. I was there, Frodo chose to go. It was a decision he made and we all supported him." I said.

"Perhaps I should have said more to stop him. He stands no chance now." Gandalf added.

"No." Aragorn said. "There is still hope for Frodo. He needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."

"How?" Gimli asked.

"Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate." Aragorn added.

Gimli choked on his pipe and started coughing.

Eomer had remained silent until then, "We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms."

"Not for ourselves. But we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves." Aragorn smirked.

"A diversion." Legolas said, suddenly holding me closer.

Gimli nodded, "Certainty of death, small chance of success. What are we waiting for?"

"Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait." Gandalf interjected.

Aragorn's smile widened, "Oh, I think he will." He turned to Eomer. "Ready the willing and able soldiers."

Eomer bowed his head, "Yes, my lord."

Argorn looked at the rest of us, "I make no order for any of you to join me. You have sworn no oath to be here, if you don't wish to join me at the gates of Mordor, you are free to stay here or go where you will. I thank you for everything you have done for me this far. You are all dear friends to me, your decision now won't change that." He paused briefly, as though there was more he wanted to say, but he changed his mind. "I need to prepare, those that wish to join me should also prepare."

Legolas had moved away from me and walked toward the room where our weapons were put the night before; the room I had slept in. I followed behind him.

He stood checking his blades. Being elven blades it was highly unlikely that the blades needed sharpening. It was clear to me that he was only trying to distract himself.

I grabbed my own weapons and started buckling them on.

"Please don't do this. Don't go." Legolas finally said breaking the silence.

"You can't possibly be asking me to leave Aragorn now."

Legolas turned and faced. His eyes held sorrow, like I had never seen before. But it wasn't just sorrow, there was fear also.

"I'm not asking you to leave Aragorn. I'm asking you to... live." He reached his hand out toward me and tenderly with one finger he brushed my cheek. "We are not going to win. This is a diversion to give Frodo some time, but we know that we don't have a chance. I don't want you out there."

I looked into his eyes, "As much as you don't want me to go, I don't want you to go either." I brought my hands up and wrapped them around his neck.

He rested his forehead on mine and closed his eyes.

"You know that we will be there with our friends. We haven't left Aragorn yet and we aren't going to now." I said softly.

"I don't want to lose you." He whispered.

"And if I stay behind and you go... I lose you."

He sighed. "Is there no convincing you, my love?"

"Would we leave our friends now?"

He gave a weak smile, "No, we would not." He pulled away and collapsed in a chair behind him. Burying his face in his hands, he broke down. "I can't pretend that we are coming back from this. I can't pretend that at the end of this day I will be holding you in my arms."

I could feel his heartbreak, for it echoed within my own. I didn't know how much time we had together, alone in that room. And he was right, there was no pretending that we would make it through the day. While anything was possible, we both knew that we didn't have much of a chance to survive.

"Then don't pretend." I said standing infront of him.

He wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on my waist. He sighed against me. "I love you."

I lifted his chin up so I could look into his eyes. "I love you."

At that moment it felt like a firework went off within each of us. Like a dam breaking, we broke and let all the emotions out. He took my in his arms and eagerly brought his lips to mine. We gave into the hunger that always threatened to overwhelm us.

We knew that we didn't have much time, but we let those few moments be our good bye. We pulled away, reluctantly. Tears streaming down my face. Sorrow, fear, heartache, all written clearly on Legolas' face.

Silently we strapped our weapons. Helping eachother ready for battle. We took our time slowly buckling on our swords. When we were done he held his hand out for me, "Together?"

I blink and released the last of my tears down my cheeks. I took his hand. "Together."

We walked hand in hand to the stables. He helped me upon my horse as Gimli came in. "Thought you two weren't going to make it."

"We wouldn't leave Aragorn now." I replied.

Aragorn and Eomer had managed to muster a small army. But when that Army finally stood outside of the Gates of Mordor... It seemed even smaller.

The large black gates slowly opened and the sound of thousands of foot steps was so thunderous, I felt it within myself.

"Pull back! Pull back!" Aragorn hollared.

The horses were unsettled with the army that marched toward them.

"Hold your ground! Hold your ground!" Aragorn said. He faced the army, "Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers."

The men were silent and listening to his every word.

"I see it 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 out 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!"

The men around me looked more calm and encouraged.

"By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand! Men of the West!" Aragorn raises his blade and the men follow his lead.

I unmount my horse and stand on the ground with Aragorn, Gandalf, Eomer, Legolas, Gimli and our Hobbit friends. I unsheath my blades and grip them tightly as the enemy surrounds us.

"Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with elves." Gimli said.

Legolas smiled, "What about side by side with friends?" He looked at Gimli.

Gimli looked up at Legolas then glanced at me, "Aye! I could do that." He said with a smile.

The enemy closed in around us. I feared turning and looking at Legolas, afraid that if I did I would break down. I gripped my swords tighter, ready for a fight to the death. Or was I?

Was I ready to die?

I didn't know the answer, but for a brief moment I sighed deeply and closed my eyes. I imagined my life without the war: Living with Legolas. The two of us married and happy. Celebrating the coming of our child. A life for just us, to start our family.

That life was shattered with the war. My dreams were destroyed. I fought to allow other's to have their dreams and lives.

I exhaled and opened my eyes, ready to fight.

"For Frodo!" Aragorn yelled as he charged toward the enemy.

I heard Merry and Pippin yell the same words. In a flash the armies collided in a fierce battle.

We were surrounded by Orcs and thundering towards us were trolls as well. We fought bravely, drawing the Eye of Sauron to us.

My heart sank as I heard the screach of Nazguls from above. My blades arced around me cutting down two Orcs.

I felt a burning, stinging pain blast forth on my side. I cringed as I looked down and saw a gash on my side, bleeding. I ignored it and continued to fight. I could feel that I was bleeding too fast.

My arm on the side with my wound became weak. I tried to raise that arm to block a sword, but it was useless. My sword was knocked from my hand and the blade I was attempting to block was swung back around and landed in my shoulder. I was able to use my other blade to block the blunt of the cut, but none the less the blade met my shoulder.

I was shocked when the Orc fell. Gimli had come from behind and stuck him with his axe. Gimli held his hand down to me as I sat on the ground, with my wounded shoulder and side. "On your feet lass." He said.

I took his hand and got to my feet. I held my wounded arm close to me and with my good arm I picked up one of my blades. Above us I saw eagles join the battle, fighting with us. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Aragorn get thrown down, a troll stood over him, ready to strike him down.

"Aragorn!" I yelled, my voice lost in the fighting.

I saw Legolas trying to get to him, but to no avail. Aragorn stood alone.

I tried to fight my way toward him, but was stopped short by a blade tearing up my back. I fell forward and then rolled over. The Orc stood over me ready to finish me off.

Suddenly an arrow was in the Orcs chest and he fell backward.

I lay there alone, a battle raging around me, then suddenly it was silent. The enemy froze and looked back beyond the Black Gates. I turned and followed their gaze. The Great Eye of Sauron was collapsing. Mount Doom and all of Mordor was falling. Frodo had done it!

I smiled as I felt lightheaded and weightless. My body felt cold and the pain of my wounds was fading. I closed my eyes and let the world around me begin to fade.

I heard Eomer's voice as he fell beside me. "We won! Your little Hobbit friend did it!"

Legolas found me and knelt beside me. He looked at me with a greater fear than I had ever seen in his eyes before.

I looked up at him and forced a smile. I reached my unwounded arm up toward him. He grasped my hand in his. "You can't leave me." He said sadly. Tears formed in his eyes. "We just won, Mordor is finished. We can start our life together now."

I swallowed, my throat was dry. I was finding it hard to focus. Eomer had moved, giving Legolas and I some space. My breathing started to become shallow.

From behind Legolas I saw Gandalf, Aragorn and Gimli. Aragorn kneeled beside me opposite of Legolas. He looked at the wound on my side and shoulder.

"Her back." Legolas said, his voice barely audible. "I think she is wounded there too."

Aragorn nodded.

Gimli laid a friendly hand on Legolas' shoulder.

Aragorn gently slid his hands under me. "I am just going to lift you enough to see your back, alright?"

I nodded slightly.

"Gently now, Aragorn." Gandalf said moving behind him to be able to see the wound.

He was gentle, but pain still flared through my body. I winced in pain, my breath taken at the shock of it.

"Sorry." Aragorn said.

I couldn't see his face. Instead I looked at Legolas, whose eyes never left my face. He still held my hand.

"We need to get her inside." Aragorn said.

"Will she live?" Gimli asked the question that I could see in Legolas' eyes.

"I do not know. She has lost a lot of blood. We need to act quickly." Aragorn said laying me gently back down.

"Legolas, get on a horse." Gandalf said. "It would be easiest if you carried her."

Legolas kissed my hand and got atop a horse that Eomer brought him.

I closed my eyes and sighed, my body growing colder by the moment. All I wanted to do was sleep. I just wanted to slip away.

"Stay with me, Danyel." Aragorn said.

Pain seared through my body as Aragorn picked me up. I screamed in pain and tears fell over my cheeks.

"Sorry." Aragorn whispered in my ear as he held me close. My hand gripped his tunic as I tried to catch my breath.

Between Aragorn and Eomer, they got me into the saddle with Legolas. His arms were wrapped around me tenderly. I swayed in and out of consciousness. My body was ready to give up, but Legolas' voice kept bringing me back.

"Don't leave me, Danyel." He cooed to me. "I love you... Hold on."

The pain became too much to bare and I finally let myself slip away.