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brooklymeyer9- Thanks for reviewing!

Sneaker Boots- Thank you! If the suspense is killing you, that means I am writing this story well enough to get in to. Unfortunately, the battle scene is in the next chapter so you are going to have to wait some more.

soulsistersinaslan- I don't think that's a good idea. That would totally ruin the whole story. Don't worry, everything will get better.

Gwilwillith- Thank you! And yes, Rose is very stubborn and very good at valid points.

AquaDiamond-Girl- The battle is going to be in the next chapter, but at least I updated.

SamCarter121314- Boys will always be confusing and stupid when it comes to girls. They can't help it.

Chaney-Led-Thorney-all-good- Things will be cleared up in this chapter actually.

Pixiecropse- Yes, he is a bad elfie. But he will learn.

wonderpanda10- I hope you like the scene between Rose and Legolas in this chapter. This is how I was planning on doing it for a while.

narniaandharrypotter4ever- Don't worry don't worry. I have a plan.

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Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings.

Chapter 26

The ride to the next sight of battle was much shorter than the previous ones. I could still feel weakness from my punishment, but there was nothing I could do about that. Amareth was well rested and as strong as ever. We would share strength.

I rode towards the front of the army where Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Éomer stayed. I did not start this adventure with them, but I would finish it with them.

A common saying is that the journey is more important than the destination. There are exceptions, of course, and I believed that this was one of them. The journey we had all endured had been full of every emotion, but the end, the destination, determined the life of every creature in Middle Earth.

When we arrived at the Black Gate, I am going to be completely honest, it was terrifying. I knew that if I ever slept again, this gate would creep into my dreams and turn them to nightmares.

No one spoke a word. The silence made the gate seem even more menacing. After waiting for a while, nothing happened. A few whispers began to cut through the soldiers. Where were Sauron's forces?

"Where are they?" Pippin voiced everyone's thoughts.

Aragorn was the brave one to approach the gate first closely followed by Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, and Éomer. I stayed where I was.

"Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Let justice be done upon him!" Aragorn would have looked silly yelling at gates, but they began to open.

A single rider came out. Even from where I was, I could see how absolutely disgusting it was with my elf eyes. It spoke, and I could hear that as well.

"My master Sauron the Great bids thee welcome." Everyone looked at it in surprise and disgust. "Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?"

Gandalf was the first to come to his senses. "We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed. Tell your master this. The armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return."

"Aha! Old Greybeard! I have a token I was bidden to show thee." It tossed a white metal shirt at Gandalf. Everyone seemed to recognize it because they all responded with despair on their faces, but I had no idea what it was.

"Frodo!" Pippin quietly exclaimed.

"Silence!"

"No!" was Merry's reaction.

"Silence!" Gandalf tried to keep the hobbits quiet with little success.

The ugly creature spoke again, "The Halfling was dear to thee I see. Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. Who would've thought one so small could endure so much pain? And he did Gandalf, he did." Everyone was silent at this news, unsure of its truth. Aragorn kicked his horse into a walk towards the disgusting thing. It spoke again, "And who is this? Isildur's heir? It takes more to make a king than a broken Elvish blade." That is all that it was able to say, for Aragorn swiftly pulled out his blade and cut its head off.

"I guess that concludes negotiations." Gimli tried to lighten the mood.

"I do not believe it. I will not." Aragorn had a determined look on his face.

The gates began to open, revealing the true number of Sauron's forces.

"Pull back! Pull back!" They all began to race back to our army at Aragorn's command.

I could feel the uncertainty and fear in the air from the army of men behind me. Aragorn began to speak to the men. "Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers. 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 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 that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand! Men of the West! " They all pulled out their swords. The fear in the air was muted by the courage that Aragorn's speech created.

Sauron's army began to surround us. This would be quite a fight. Neither side would back down.

I felt Legolas pull his horse up next to me. "I need you to know that everything I did, I did to protect you."

"I did not need protecting. I do not need protecting."

"Perhaps this is a fault of mine. I feel the need to protect the ones that I love even though they may not need protecting."

"Perhaps."

"Rose, please forgive me."

"Considering that we are most likely going to die today, I do not see how it will matter."

"I will not die thinking you hate me. I will not die without telling you that I love you."

I actually looked at him when he said those three words. His eyes were pleading, sincere, and absolutely beautiful. "I forgive you." A faint smile graced his lips. "As for finally admitting to loving me, I suppose I love you too."

"You suppose?!"

I laughed and leaned over to kiss him. It was the most meaningful kiss I had ever shared with Legolas. It also was the least private kiss. Some of the soldiers cheered. Gimli, who was sitting behind Legolas, said, "Well it's about time you two!"

Gimli was right. It was time.

We were being surrounded by an army full of the foulest creatures in Middle Earth. What better time to confess your love to someone?