Aragorn and Legolas watched as the she-elf gazed in amazement at the gargantuan building before them. Looking around to make sure there was no threat, and relieved that he could see none, he moved closer to Sythralen. Then she began walking right to the front door.

"What are you doing?" He grabbed her arm forcing her to remember his and Legolas' presence.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going inside."

"You want to walk into Minas Morgul through the front entrance, completely giving up the element of surprise? There could be an ambush of whose knows what beyond those doors." He tightened his grip, causing her to bare her teeth and yank her arm away.

"There's no other way in."

"How could you possibly know that?"

Sythralen's first answer was that 'he' had told her, the Witch-King had been appearing in her mind all day, guiding her to his fortress, however she paused a moment before she spoke, realizing how the two would take such news.

"It's in all the stories. One bridge, one door. There may be balcony or window up at the top but the way the building is constructed makes it almost impossible to scale. Our ropes, though of Elven make, would not hold." There, she sounded rational enough. Aragorn took her words and accepted them after Legolas gave comfort in saying that he too had read about the entrance to Minas Morgul.

"I cannot pretend to think it wise us entering this way. Every instinct I have tells me to turn back."

"We did not come all this way for partial information." She said bluntly, not giving a care to what his opinion or instincts had to say. "Shall we continue then?" Even as she asked the question she had already begun to walk forward. She took notice that Legolas had been painfully silent after he had backed her up about the entryway. She glanced over at him to see that his face had gone white as a ghosts. For the first time in a while she felt sympathy. What was she bringing the Elf that had been with her through her darkest times into? At least she thought those had been her darkest times...

They drew closer and the sense of foreboding danger increased into the rush of adrenaline coursing through Aragorn's veins. He could not fathom what the three would find in the foul place and parts of him didn't want to, but he was prepared for death. He felt sadness in his heart, wishing he could gaze upon the one that brought light to his life, Arwen. What would she say if she could see what her beloved niece was leading them to? How would she comment on the manner in which she was behaving? Arwen would be understanding, as he was trying to be. She knew what the elf-warrior had been through all those years ago and had always made an effort to guide her through the darkness, through the painful weeks of episodes that had racked her body, through the heartbreak of being parted with the one she loved most. But Arwen wasn't here now. It was up to Aragorn to be Sythralen's guide as best as he could, a difficult task when she herself commanded the group. As he watched her open the door to an unknown devilry he was reminded that she had faced much worse in her time and had overcome the odds. It is no easy task to go from feared assassin of her people to admired general. She had a way of conquering the impossible, and he had to cling to that. He had to have faith.

It was dark, a darkness that absorbed the senses so that it was all one could think, hear, see, or smell. Sythralen breathed in the familiar scent, one that she had known all her life, and her eyes adjusted quickly as if they had been waiting to be reunited with this black cloak that covered everything in obscurity, yet stood clear for her. However it was not so for her companions. Aragorn searched until he found a torch to light. For a moment they walked, not finding anything that stood as threat, until a presence made itself known and the flame blew out in a whisper as if it bid them farewell. Without a word passing between the three, they turned back to back, weapons drawn. It did not matter. Sythralen could see them, the Nine. To the others it was just darkness for the Wraiths were clothed in black robes from head to toe with a dark hole as faces. But she saw them. The ghostlike creatures from her nightmares, no longer just a figment of her mind, now surrounding her, silent, waiting for their leader to give command.

"Strangers of Mordor, what do you seek so desperately that you wander into my domain?"

"We have found what we seek, the truth that filth like you has arisen once more." Aragorn offered a sharp comment as reply.

"It is too bad you will not live to report it." In a flash the room was filled with green light. The shadows of the Wraiths grew large against the walls, adding to the obvious doom that was before them. "All except for you, She-Elf. I am glad to see you found your way." Sythralen could feel the shocked glares of Legolas and Aragorn. "Ah yes she has known for a while what has lurked in the darkness. Known and willingly brought you here."

"In days of the past I would have never believed this of you, but with how you have been behaving lately it comes as no surprise." Aragorn's voice was heavy with disappointment.

"How could you do this?!" She heard Legolas but didn't look at him. "I continued to defend you no matter what doubts entered my mind. And now I am proven the fool for it."

"This had nothing to do with either of you." Her gaze was fixed upon the leader of the Nine.

"The She-Elf speaks true. She has come here with questions. Ones she knows only those that live in darkness can answer."

"Why me? Why am I still suffering with darkness even after I defeated it in Lothlorien? Why did Shelob cease her attack? And why can I hear your sickening voice in my head?"

For a moment there was silence then the large corridor was filled with the menacing laughter of the Wraiths.

"The answer is not nearly as complicated as you think it to be. In fact the thought has been in the back of your mind for many years. Think back to your days under the care of the Lady of Light. You stared into the pool and a voice spoke unto you. It was the Dark Lord himself. Sauron was speaking to his chosen one."

"I don't understand."

"He created Dark Elves for one purpose, to find a mate that matched his power. For ages he has searched for the perfect Elf, searched into each of their futures to see what lies beyond. Sauron looked into your future and saw a great possibility for darkness. He has been waiting for you, Sythralen, Great Assassin, to realize your true potential and you are nearly there. You did provide a difficult set back when you defeated him in the woods of Lorien but for some strange reason you wandered right to my doorstep where he could reach you again. As for Shelob, you were right she sensed your darkness and knew who you were instantly. Everything here has strict order to keep you alive...or at least partly." Hearing the reason for everything, understanding her years of suffering was suppose to bring her peace but all she felt was bile rising in her throat.

"Every horror I have been through was because Sauron wished to court me?!"

"Think of it as an honor."

"It is a curse."

"To some. But when he rules over Middle Earth you shall not think so then."

"I will never succumb to this. Even as you spoke to me you felt me keeping you and the darkness at bay. I have light inside me now."

"Yes another unfortunate set back. Thankfully we have prepared for that." With a flick of the bones in his hand a bright green circle of smoke surrounded Aragorn and Legolas. The smoke morphed into a claw that forced its way into the bloodstream of her companions. Though it was happening quickly, causing her friends to fall to their knees, she was seeing it all go by as if time had slowed.

"What is this? What are you doing?" She said, her voice in a panic. Her friends began to cough up the green smoke as if it was possessing their entire bodies.

"A spell. It poisons the blood causing it to attack the rest of the body mimicking illness until your entire life force shuts down."

"It kills itself." She breathed out in a horrifies whisper.

"There is only one way to terminate the spell. One cure."

"Tell me! I'll get it whatever it is!"

"Self sacrifice. A willing victim must take on the curse themselves to save the afflicted." Her mind produced no thought as he said this. It was blank yet she hesitated. What was her life worth to her? Anything? All the pain she had been through, the love and loss...was it worth their lives? Something in her wanted to fight this and refuse, a selfish nature that she was equipped with since she was born.

"I'll do it." The Witch King, though his face had no expression seemed shocked. "Transfer it. Now." Such were the rules of the spell so he could not refuse her. The smoke seeped out of the elf and the man, inching it's way closer until she felt it's sting as it clawed its way into her blood. Prideful as always she refused to let it drive her to her knees. When she absorbed the last of it she felt the age of a thousands years press upon her shoulders so that she could barely stand. Aragorn and Legolas came to both realizing what had just occurred.

"Syth! What have you done?" The voice that had earlier been so upset with her was returned to one filled with concern.

"She has surprised us once again." Guilt. That was the sound in Aragorn's voice. He felt it for having doubted her but there was no need. She had not thought that she would ever sacrifice her life for anyone.

"It matters not She-Elf. You may have proven yourself worthy to them but the Dark Lord will find you soon enough. This disease starts slowly then swiftly drags you to darkness where he will be waiting."

"You have orders to leave me alive at least for now. Let us depart safely or I will end my life prematurely, going against the spell and Saurons wishes."

"Go." There was no defeat in his tone for he knew that Sythralen would be on her right path soon enough.

It took longer than usual to travel out of Mordor not only because of the dreadful conditions but also because Sythralen was getting weaker by the hour.

"Aragorn we have to take her to Saruman. He is our only hope for her." The Ranger nodded. They would never make it back to Rivendell in time for Elvish healing but the power of the Istari was a close second. After what seemed like a lifetime Sythralen's eyes fell upon the large black tower of the White Wizard. It may have been the sickness but suddenly his tower looked like it belonged in Mordor with its sharp jagged edges and menacing height.

"Hold on, Syth. We are almost there." All of her weight was split between the two of them and her feet began to drag. Her mouth was dry and her eyes were cloudy. There was an intense throbbing in her temples so she couldn't focus on anything for more than a couple of seconds. In this decaying state she heard the booming voice of the Wizard.

"By the looks if it there was something discovered in the so called abandon lands of Mordor."

"Yes, the Nine have returned which is foretold to be the return of Sauron himself." Legolas spoke quickly.

"It is as we feared." Aragorn added solemnly.

"Saurman, the Witch King, he poisoned her with a spell. She's dying. Please is there anything you can do?" She heard Legolas pleading faintly as if she was far away.

"Of course. I know exactly what must be done." There was a flash of light and Sythralen awoke in her bed with no memory of how she got there. She was dressed in a dark green silk gown and her hair was only partially pulled back out of her face. What an odd feeling she felt. It was as if something was happening inside her blood. She felt alright enough but also as though she had eaten something rotten. As though in a dream she walked out of her room and searched for Legolas or Aragorn, the two that she knew she had been at Saurman's with. Instead she found Elrond first.

"Finally she wakes." He greeted her with a smile.

"How long was I asleep?"

"A few days. Aragorn and Legolas the same. You all deserved a rest after the journey you made."

"It's strange." She scratched her head in confusion. "I do not remember coming home."

"No doubt from the exhaustion. You all returned from the tower in Isenguard with good news."

"Which was?"

"That Mordor is empty." That sounded right. She remembered traveling there and had flashes of the wasteland.

"Oh well...good. I'm going to find the others."

"I believe they are at the banquet hall."

"Thank you." She left her grandfather feeling a strange mixture of relief and uneasiness. Something was off but she couldn't place her finger on it. The two companions were eating a wonderful Elvish feast of vegetables and delicious looking bread. Sythralen greeted them and inhaled the food that she had missed so much. As the smell hit her nostrils she felt the need to gag. The stench had turned rotten.

"My appetite has flown. I think I am still in need of rest."

"It may take a while for your body to adjust back to normal conditions." Legolas commented. She left them and returned to her room. Her head began to pulse with a numbing headache. What was causing her to feel this way? And why was the memories of their trip so foggy. Both Aragorn and Legolas seemed fine.

"I just need sleep." She lay down on her soft bed but it offered her suddenly aching body no comfort. As she lay there trying to fall asleep past the pain in her head and bones she began to cough. It was small at first the grew in discomfort. Within moments her throat felt hoarse from the growing intensity of the coughs. She got up to get a drink of water from the pitcher of water in the corner of her room. As she stood the shaking of her body stopped her. She couldn't not cease coughing for a second to reach out. Then she felt a wet substance on her hands. Looking down she saw red. Blood was all in her hands and all down her dress. There was so much that she was drowning in it. Her hand reached for the water but she fell to the ground gasping for air. Her vision was getting spotty and dark as her airway was completely clogged by the blood. No matter how hard she tried to breath she just kept swallowing more of the thick red substance. Her body began to writhe on the floor from the absence of oxygen. Then suddenly it was all over. Sythralen was completely engulfed in darkness.

Legolas had finally had his fill of food and felt revived again. The journey from Mordor had drained all three of them and they had slept for a few days just to regain the ability to walk. When he had first awoken he had felt the strange feeling of memory loss which he discovered was the same for his two companions. Eventually the thoughts returned to him and he remembered returning to Rivendell with the joyful news that Mordor was as it should be...empty.

"Are you finished? I want to go and check on Syth. She wasn't looking well earlier." Aragorn took a gulp of water and nodded.

"I thought her face did look pale." They left the banquet hall and headed to the She-Elf's room. Legolas gave a soft knock at first and got no answer.

"Syth? May we come in?" Still nothing.

"She may still be asleep." Aragorn said as he pushed open the door. The breath was pushed out of his lungs as he saw Sythralen in a bloody heap on the floor. He couldn't make a move to her because he was so confused as to what he was looking at. Aragorn rushed to her side and lifted her head. He shouted to her, begging her to respond, but her head hung limp. Legolas could make no sound. His heart ceased beating as he realized that the invincible Great Assasin, his best friend, was dead. Aragorn looked up and met his eyes. Tears flowed like a waterfall from his blue pupils, a rare thing seen from the Ranger.

"She's gone." His voice came out in a faint crack as if he was a young boy. Legolas could only stand there and feel the sting of her loss. He felt it so strongly that the feeling was sent to any Elf he had ever known. Not a minute went by before Elrond and Arwen rushed in. Arwen fell to her nieces side instantly sobbing. Aragorn pulled her into an embrace as he too began to cry hysterically. Elrond could only do as Legolas was. They both stood there, their spirits broken, drowning in their sadness but with no outer movement. Finally Lord Elrond turned to Legolas.

"What happened?"

Legolas wanted to give him an explanation. He wanted to know the answer himself. As he stood there frozen in time his mouth could utter no words for he could not find a memory as to why Sythralen was sick. He shrugged his soldiers. Again he looked down at the beauty that was Sythralen. He looked hoping that again she would surprise them all and wake up, conquering death as she conquered everything else.

"She's gone." Legolas repeated Aragorn's words quietly as if he was still trying to convince himself that what was before him was truth.

"She's gone."

Ok so I am soooooo sorry it took so long to upload this chapter! One reason is because I wanted it to be perfect and also I was finishing school, starting a new business and directing a show so I've been very busy! But here it is! Tell me what you think!-LokisGeneral