"I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo. 'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." ― J.R.R. Tolkien

They came in droves. Like a horde of termites ready to devour a dead tree, dried out withered and decaying. But Mirkwood was not dead yet and though it had lost some splendor of better days and days long past it still held a certain beauty and majesty about it even in these dark times. And if Orek had anything to say about it that's how it would stay. It was one of his scouts who had seen them coming. Their darkness could little be felt but no longer was it impossible to detect the wretches. Whatever dark magic they had been using, if it even was magic, it was waning or perhaps these merely did not care to suppress their darkness. Still the scout who discovered them using the twisted scarcely used paths of the Umai had found them not by sense but by ear and sight.

He ascended a tree in moments his bow out as he gave several signals to his men hidden in the treetops his eyes caught a red shock of hair as an elleth nodded towards him herself passing on several other signals to those farther to the right. The brutes had chosen their path well but not the territory. It was a clearing in the forest or the closest thing this forest had to a clearing, east of the palace, towards where its doors faced. But to get to this clearing, well that was a different story. At this a cruel smile graced his lips as his mind clamped down on past sorrows and the deaths these creatures of darkness had wrought both to himself and to his elven brethren. Today was their turn. His bow held low he waited, and waited, then as the first orc crossed the third tree from his position he twisted his bow loosening an arrow signaling the men. A torrent of arrows followed felling more than a dozen orcs. The orcs growled and hissed in the dark tongue of theirs as they sought the enemy.

Unlike the orcs the elves made no sound, their guttural screams piercing the air as some of their bowmen shot back but most of the arrows missed their mark as the elves stayed in motion after loosening their arrows, unless they were securely behind a tree. His own bow sang as the orcs now disorganized attempted to flee. A large brute rallied them however covered from head to toe in thick metal plated armor, urging them forward, their shields lifted as they finally formed into formation their leader's foul speech heard above the lesser goblin and orc as he growled and hissed in frustration at their disobedience most likely. Arrows flew but the line of orcs was endless even from his vantage point he could still see the blackness of their armor from deep within the forest. This was no scouting party, or even a semi test of their defenses, this was an army on created for slaughter.

More of his arrows were loosened until he reached and found no more arrows in his quiver. He whistled several trills, his hand at his sword his other removing the shield that had hung on his back as he waited for the battle cry. His men pulled back slowly towards the clearing flitting from tree top to treetop encircling the perimeter. The orcs no doubt thought of an easy victory overwhelming by numbers. But when his eyes raked the ranks once more his pounding heart eased for though the orcs were many their ranks were empty of the usual twelve foot beasts that took several elves to slay. This eased and confused him but only for mere moments only until he heard… the Umai…his eyes widened in horror as he flitted to a new position whistling and praying that Galion on the other side of the clearing was ready. They had thought the elves would drop down in ambush…but the new dark waves crawling coldly down his spine made it clear, that they were the ones to be ambushed…he only prayed to Eru…that it was not the whole of the Umai that had come…for though the dens of the Umai were scattered they were many, and if they all struck at once Orek was not sure they could win the battle, survive surely, but to be overrun? Cold sweat slicked down his back as his men in the trees shot downward and were shot at. Here and there he could hear an arrow hit its mark as several of his bowmen were hit. As he steadied his sword the back of his mind attempted to understand how the Umai could have been united, especially since their Queen had fled. No one could command these creatures…unless…his eyes widened but how did the shade acquire so much power in so little time?

He shook his mind, this was not the time, his sword held before him he heard the shout. It was loud and clear and though Galion's voice was not as loud and commanding as Thranduil's it filled him with battle fury. His own voice was raised as he dropped down with his men, lashing out with his shield as the droves upon droves of darkness attempted to overwhelm and overrun him.

Arrai stood by Galion's side clad in black armor as they waited for the signal, a contrast to Galion's own silver armor and to Galion's great chagrin he too had refused a helmet, but then again this seemed to be the issue among all commanders. He could feel them, not as strongly as he had that day, but he could feel the traces of their darkness. It had returned how he did not know but the darkness was there and it was sickening. His eyes flickering to Galion's focused face; he had done this times before, but this…t was different… times before he had fought these creatures, even Shelob…but these men were under his command and it was no longer a small scouting party. It was no longer he and Glorfindel or he and Elladan or Elrohir or even Orophin or Haldir, this this was an army…and they awaited his orders. It was like the time he fought Shelob they looked to him though he himself was unsure whether they even should. He had led small skirmishes before and he had fought enough orcs in Mordor to be called an army…but leading an army against this legion of orcs? He wasn't so sure…but then again it didn't much matter…they needed a leader…and Glorfindel had done it times over…

He swallowed somewhat heavily his hand hovering over the hilt of his sword, the sword Glorfindel himself had forged for him. His eyes studied the forest filled with the sound of distant arrows and echoes of brutal battle. Where was Lord Glorfindel? He had been so occupied with Mirkwood with Thranduil with the patrols and his Captains and his nightmares that he had had not the time to think of anything but Mirkwood. His fingers traced his swords hilt; it had been nearly two weeks now, how long had Lord Glorfindel expected to be gone? Surely he had returned to Lothlórien…realized his absence by now…unless…no…his eyes closed briefly as he struggled within himself. Lord Glorfindel was strong…almost nothing could hurt him…you hurt him…a voice whispered in his mind. But that had been long ago and he had vowed never to put Lord Glorfindel through something like that again…it was a fate to cruel. Fading…as Thranduil now was. Fading as he had nothing left to live for. It was so dark in Mirkwood he needed the light…needed Glorfindel to be here…He tensed as the marching drew nearer, now was not the time for such thoughts, and then something else…something elusive…little pitters reached his ears and disconnected sounds…until he recognized the tendrils of darkness causing his spine to stiffen. An image of Shelob tearing after him as the darkness enclosed him. A thin bead of sweat trickled down his brow…the Umai…they were coming. His eyes flickered to the men as realization too dawned on them. A firm hand was suddenly on his shoulder. "Captain?"

Galion smiled thinly though he could see it was forced. "It's time."

Arrai gave a nod as he drew his sword and as the first orc entered their vision in the clearing Galion let out a battle cry as the orcish legion clashed with the elfin army…the sun shone red…for much blood was to be shed that day

Elsewhere in the darkness of the cell an elf came about as a hand slapped at the face leaving a scratch mark. Eyes glowed a dim grey as they observed the dark hooded figure before them. But it did not burn as it once had…should this bother him? The darkness that had once choked and tortured his light no longer did so. It chilled him yes, but no longer did he suffocate in its presence. He did not understand why his mind was in pain…his light did not wish for this darkness…but something was cloaking it like a glove holding a glowmoth as it struggles to escape. And he needed to escape…now more than ever. The cold voice brought him from his chaosed mind. Pulling him from the fight in himself and between himself that he had not realized till now had been occurring.

"So…" It hissed as it gripped his chin. "Do you know what it is that you need to defeat me?"

"I do!" He snarled at the Nazgûl as its grip punctured his flesh tearing his face away from its metal claws. It paused as if surprised. "Well then enlighten me." It laughed the laugh growing hideous as it bounced off the walls.

His brow furrowed as he attempted to yank at the chains snarling, his heart a cold bleeding chunk of flesh, his mind on all the deaths Luminar and Orestor and every other elf that had ever fallen to the darkness. "I need strength, I need power! With this strength I can kill you! I will kill you!" The shade laughed at his snarls but his face contorted into one of pure hate.

"I see you have learned well little elfling. And I accept, you shall receive the strength you desire little elfling…in fact… I have already given it to you."

Legolas's eyes widened as his next yank pulled the chain free of the rock. He grabbed at the Nazgûl but it eluded his grasp and cold mist suddenly entering his blood. "Do no presume you can challenge me little elf, you are my soldier now!" It hissed into the walls as its disembodied presence hovered by the elf.

Legolas's eyes narrowed as he yanked free from the other chains. His mind was howling who was he? What was he light or dark? "Release me; do not think these walls will hold me!" It was his voice but it did not sound like his at all…a hand was suddenly around his neck as his body was smashed against the wall. "Perhaps not little elf"…the voice whispered at his ear… "But your kind shall accept you no longer…Or rather you can't…Even if you wanted too…" The darkness laughed as he struggled against it but it threw him against the wall once more resounding in a loud crash in the near dim and dank cell.

"You lie," He snarled rising…his back throbbed not hurting as much as he knew it should have. Confused eyes raked the Nazgûl as he lunged at it only to be grabbed by his neck once more as it dragged him out of the cell and into the air of the fortress, cold to his skin for he had been in the musty cell for so long. He struggled against the hold but the cold dug into his flesh his veins heavy, he had forgotten how little he had lived on, and nearly fell from the strain of so much walking so suddenly, but the darkness yanked him out into the open where dark grey clouds hung above the makeshift fortress shoving him nearly into the well filled to the brim with water.

"Look at yourself little elfling…or should I say Orc Commander."

Legolas's eyes widened as a hand went to his face. Grey eyes glowed back at him and though his face wasn't deformed it was a sickly grey color and here and there where the flesh was punctured a dark violet almost black seeped out. His eyes widened as he looked at his hands, nails protruding like claws.

" Eru…" But the name burned in his tongue as he fell to his knees unable to hold himself up any longer. A hand landed on his shoulder much akin the one that landed on his brothers that very moment from Galion connecting them if only for an instant but the disembodied voice held no assurances nor comfort as it neared its voice to the near fallen elf's ear. "Come now…we have much to do."

And as Legolas held his head in a crouch on his knees cold sweat overtook him as the darkness within grasped the light and though his mind was now his own it was split asunder. One in the light one in the dark no longer the epitome and bright blaze of hope…but something less…something dark an Ork Commander.

Hey been a while! And the plot thickens hehehe:) Well till next time and ty to all who reviewed you guys are awesome!

Also I said two weeks passed since Arrai came to Mirkwood but I'm not sure if that's exactly accurate so if someone actually sat down and counted feel free to pm me.

Read and Review!