A/N: Thank you to everyone who is reading this story!

By the Anduin

The ride back to the army seemed interminably long to Aragorn and the sun had set by the time they reached the camp and the guards allowed them entry with joyous cheers. Only the feel of Eldarion sat behind him was enough to make it bearable. As they entered the camp and saw that the usual preparations had been made, they dismounted and servants led away their mounts. Bergil and his father Beregond were racing towards them and both had large grins on their faces.

"Prince Eldarion!" Bergil cried. "What joy it brings us to see you restored to us!"

Eldarion did little more than nod at Bergil or the others that had come to surround him. Aragorn watched him closely; he appeared dead on his feet. He turned to his men.

"Double the usual perimeter guard," he instructed, "and light more beacons. Once our Enemy discovers we have their prizes they will be upon us. I want no trace of shadow within ten feet of our boundary." He then turned to Legolas and the rest of his Company. "The rest of you with me until we have discussed all that needs to be said. Legolas, bring Neniel. We shall meet in the healer's tent."

Upon entry in the small but warm tent, Aragorn dismissed the army healers and prepared a cot for Neniel, setting water to boil and rooting through the packets of herbs and medicines. The others filed in behind him and by unspoken agreement made a line against the back wall of the tent and stayed out of the way as Aragorn moved swiftly around gathering supplies. Legolas had gently lain Neniel on the bed in the centre and she lay there still and pale, greatly resembling the way Eldarion had looked when he had first collapsed and lain in the Houses of Healing.

Aragorn knelt by her and tended her as best he could, and soon the sweet aroma of athelas filled the air. Though it seemed to revitalise all others in the room, for Neniel it did very little, other than to remove some of the shadow on her face. Aragorn paused in his ministrations, and sat back with a frown on his brow. There was something missing.

"She's in a fever," he mused aloud. "Elves never succumb to fever. What could cause this?"

"We fall to fever only in one instance," Elladan said. "Poison."

"The dart," Arveldir said suddenly. He moved to Neniel's side and pointed to a gash in her clothes in her abdomen. "When she was captured, they stabbed her with a poison dart."

Aragorn glanced at Eldarion who was watching nearby. "I remember," he said. He gently moved aside the cloth and revealed a wound black with festering poison which spiralled out like a spider's web into the surrounding flesh. "But this wound was caused almost two months ago. It should have killed her by now, or she should have recovered."

"It didn't affect her before," Eldarion said, who by now had sat himself down on a nearby bed, evidently trying to conceal how uncertain he was on his feet. "The fever didn't begin until this morning."

Aragorn considered for a moment, gently probing the wound with his fingers. He washed it and dressed it, smearing on some medicinal paste he produced quickly. "I have heard stories from Angband," he said as he worked. "The Orcs from the First Age had a particularly cruel way of subduing their prisoners. They'd incapacitate their foes with poisoned arrows before capture. Then, while they were in their dungeons, they would suffer the effects of their wounds. Each day when given their ration of water they would be given a weak antidote within it. Enough to keep them from dying, but not enough to cure. If they were to escape …"

"They would feel the full effects," Arveldir finished. He hung his head heavily. "I remember well those stories."

"But you can heal her now?" Legolas had turned to him, eyes eager and expectant. "You can find a cure?"

Aragorn hesitated. "Such is beyond my skill," he said, loathing the look of disappointment that had arisen on his friend's face. "But perhaps …" He turned to look at the sons of Elrond. "Your father's healing touch is legendary. What knowledge he passed unto you I ask you now to share."

The twins glanced at each other. "Our skills do not come close to Lord Elrond's," Elrohir admitted. "You received as much instruction from him as we did."

"But we shall try," Elladan added, seeing Legolas slump. "Perhaps there yet lies a power within us that can help."

The two elves knelt by the maiden and began chanting lines in Elvish too quietly to hear. Aragorn now stood and turned his attention to Eldarion who was still seated and seemed on the verge of collapse himself. He knelt by him and examined him with his eyes and hands, finding no injuries save chafing on his wrists from imprisonment and a slight dehydration and fatigue which could easily be remedied. As he treated the scrapes and bruises he forced Eldarion to look at him.

"Are you otherwise hurt?"

"No." Eldarion shook his head. "I am well."

"You are far from well," Aragorn replied, smiling. "But you are alive at least, and I am grateful."

"What about his leg?" Faramir asked. "Elboron said it had been broken."

"Neniel healed it," Eldarion said, eyes lost in memory. "She … I'm not sure exactly what she did …"

"She healed you?" Legolas asked incredulously from his position by his daughter's side. "That is what you meant then when you said she saved you?"

"Yes, she lent me her strength when Celegorm was … when he was trying to …" Eldarion trailed off, gulping and casting his eyes downwards, and he needed say no more for everyone to understand perfectly. "It healed my leg as well, though it aches still." His head shot up then and he leapt to his feet looking around swiftly. "Elboron told you about my leg? He's here then? Where? I felt him be hurt when he left!"

"He's here, and recovering, though not as swiftly as you seem to be," Éowyn said, and Elboron stood out from behind her. His face was still heavily bruised and his shoulder bandaged but he looked much better than he had even a few hours ago. He smiled at his friend and Eldarion cried out in joy and seized the other man in a warm embrace which was enthusiastically returned.

"Never will I call you a coward again, my friend," Eldarion said. "I who know how you always feared the horror of Cirith Ungol. To take on Shelob herself! I am relieved you managed to make it. I feared for you whenever I could not reach you."

"And I you," Elboron said, gripping his friend's shoulder. "When I felt what was happening to you …"

Eldarion winced, but then smiled again. "That was nothing." His eyes travelled to Elboron's shoulder. "You never were much of a climber, were you?"

Elboron laughed and pushed away. "It wasn't the climbing, rather the descent."

Eldarion laughed as well and then grew grave. "I owe you a debt. That idea of yours … I could never have come up with it. You saved us both. I was afraid when I couldn't sense you again after that. I'm relieved to see you."

"What idea?" Faramir asked sharply. He turned to his son with a furrowed brow. "You contacted him? When was this?"

Eldarion and Elboron exchanged a guilty look which Aragorn well remembered from their youth.

"The other night," Elboron admitted sheepishly. "I had an idea I thought could help the two of them escape. I had to share it."

Faramir stared at him. "That 'idea' left you in a deathlike trance, Elboron. You had not the strength to communicate with him over such a distance. It was foolhardy."

Elboron, who Aragorn would usually have expected to be cowed by such a reprimand, stood his ground and did not back down, eyeing his father with a determination that surprised him.

"I could not sit back and do nothing," Elboron said. "I had an idea, and I knew it was my duty to share it with them, no matter the cost to myself. It was the least I owed them after what they sacrificed to help me escape in Cirith Ungol. It was the right thing to do."

Faramir stood silently staring at him, his expression unreadable. Éowyn then came and stood by her husband, placing her hand on his arm and turning to Elboron, who stood waiting their response.

"Yes, it was," Éowyn said. "You demonstrated courage the match of the House of Eorl throughout this whole affair. I am proud of you."

"As am I," Éomer interjected, nodding fervently. "Men of Rohan do not abandon their friends while they have the strength to help them."

Faramir still said nothing. He breathed calmly and steadily and gave no indication of his opinion. Then, he took three steps forward and placed a hand on Elboron's uninjured shoulder. "And you showed bravery the match of your uncle Boromir's. You did well, my son."

Elboron stood still, a look of amazement on his face. Aragorn wondered whether he had ever received such direct praise from anyone before. He turned from this scene to look back at the rest of the company.

"Eldarion, you must tell us everything that happened after Elboron's escape," he said, though not relishing the thought of the finer details. "Tell us of this affair of Curufin and Celegorm, and the Silmarils."

Eldarion shot a look at Elboron. "Did you tell them about …"

Elboron nodded. "Everything," he said. "The thoughts, the magic …"

Eldarion winced, but Aragorn swiftly spoke before he could say anything. "We will pass over the reasons why you kept this from us, for that is now of no importance," he said, seeing Eldarion sigh visibly in relief. "Tell us now. Leave out no detail!"

Eldarion nodded, and then after a moment in which he seemed to be preparing, he began his tale. He spoke for an age on the Shadow Orcs in Morgul and the journey through Cirith Ungol as well as their arrival at the old watch tower. He spoke of Celegorm's introduction and his admission of desiring to reunite the Silmarils, speaking twice as loudly to cover the audible gasps as he revealed the elf's plan; it seemed he had no desire to halt once he had begun. He related Celegorm's words, and the prophecy concerning the royals and then briefly outlined his torment at the hands of his captor, the draining of magical energy. He related Neniel's assistance in restoring his strength, causing Legolas to clutch more tightly to his daughter's hand as his features softened into pride. He then told of Elboron's plan to use the light of Eärendil to escape and their perilous journey through Mordor and the tunnel to Ithilien, relating every hour almost until coming across the company in the forest. Then he stopped and slumped, worn out by the telling.

Aragorn was numb in amazement. The plan of the two undead Elves seemed impossible, yet so many had already died for it. To reunite the Silmarils; that had not been done since they had been bound together in Morgoth's crown. The sons of Fëanor had not softened over the ages. The thought of the two of them torturing his son, collecting royal youths in order to use their blood in their own personal quest for glory was sickening.

The people around him had erupted into frenzied conversation, loudly asking questions of Eldarion, lamenting their plight, cursing the Elves and more general inanity. Aragorn remained silent, thinking hard. What could be done against such an evil?

He held up his hand and immediately everyone fell silent. He looked to Eldarion and Elboron. "Whatever is to be done against this new threat, it will not be done tonight," he said. "Both of you will remain here with Neniel tonight and rest; you have more than earned it. Guards will be placed around this tent and every man in this army will be charged with their protection. Once daylight comes, we must keep moving and bring the army to Osgiliath. If Eldarion is right and Orcs cannot appear within city walls, we shall be safe there. The three of you must be removed from this fight until we know more. Once on protected ground we shall all meet in council and decide what is to be done. Emissaries must be sent to Dale to warn them of the danger to their prince."

"I can do that," Gimli said gruffly.

Aragorn looked around at the assemblage, glad to see no fear on their faces, but quiet resilience and determination that strengthened his own heart.

"Go now and do what must be done to preserve us until daylight," he said. "We have won a victory today. Caught in the plans of two madmen we may be, but we will not be taken advantage of. We now have the upper hand. Do not forget that."

One by one, the company of his closest allies bowed and left the tent, save the three youths and their immediate families. Elladan and Elrohir still worked tirelessly on Neniel with her father close by, and Elboron was sitting with his mother and father. Eldarion was on his own and looked ready to collapse into the nearest bed. Aragorn drew him aside and then pulled him into a tight embrace which made the younger man freeze in astonishment. Aragorn pulled back and saw Eldarion's shocked expression

"I am proud of you, my son," Aragorn said, cupping his face with a hand. "Welcome back."

Eldarion nodded dumbly and turned away, leaving Aragorn staring at his back. The doubts he had experienced several weeks ago came flooding back as he remembered how afraid Eldarion had been of confiding in him. Was this formality that existed between them the reason for such reluctance? From now on he resolved to never let that occur again. They had been much closer in Eldarion's youth, and he could only guess that as the duties of the royal heir increased, so too had the distance between them. Things would be different from now on.

After so much time on constant alert in captivity and on the run, Eldarion was almost bored by the slow trudge through the woods on their way to Osgiliath. He had been loaned a horse and instructed by his father not to overexert himself on their journey, though Eldarion could not see what could be so taxing about riding at a pace compatible with an entire army. They rode through the outskirts of Emyn Arnen towards the banks of the Anduin which they would follow to Osgiliath. The gently sloping hills were bare of trees and offered no shadow in which enemies could spawn, but neither did they offer any protection from prying eyes. He glanced up at the sky and was reassured by the cheerful sight of the sun high above him. A lingering fear however drove all complacency from his mind. He felt their escape had been almost too easy.

By his side Elboron rode, wincing every so often as the uneven road jolted his injured shoulder and a similar jolt hit Eldarion. The two had decided that keeping up their mental barriers was too physically draining for the present. He made no complaint however. Eldarion brought his horse closer.

"Are you alright?"

Elboron nodded with a grimace. "It's healing, though slowly. It is my own fault for being so careless."

"One can hardly blame a man for his haste while being pursued by such a monstrosity," Eldarion observed. "And you're so afraid of heights you probably did it with your eyes closed!"

"Hush," Elboron said quickly, glancing around. His fear of heights was known only to Eldarion, and the younger man had spent a long time trying to conceal it. "Do not speak so loudly. It's bad enough everyone knows how afraid I was of Shelob. That at least is a rational fear."

"And falling from a height of several hundred feet is irrational?" Eldarion pointed out. He frowned. "I felt it when you fell, you know. I feared you had been caught."

"I wonder what you would have experienced," Elboron said quietly, "if Shelob had caught and killed me. Would you have felt my death?"

Eldarion shuddered. "Let us not think of that," he said swiftly.

Elboron glanced at Eldarion's leg. "It is typical of your luck that your own injury no longer plagues you."

"I'm not sure the price was worth it," Eldarion said, glancing behind to see Neniel, who was riding in front of her father, eyes tightly closed. His uncles had tended to her all night, yet still she was in the grips of fever. "She left herself so weak."

"Could we help her?" Elboron asked. "Send her some of our own strength?"

"I've already tried," Eldarion admitted. "Her mind is like a wall to me now. I can barely sense her. Can you?"

Elboron shook his head. "Her mind has been steadily growing fainter to me. But then, you and she seem to have a stronger bond, just as I seem to have a stronger bond with this boy in Dale." he hesitated and bit his lip. "I almost fear accessing this link we all share now. It only seems to serve to weaken us."

"Not so," Eldarion said, looking at him. "Without it, we'd all still be in the clutches of Celegorm and Curufin. We need only learn to use it properly."

"That is what I fear," Elboron said. "We know nothing of this magic. It is dangerous territory."

"You are too cautious, Elboron."

"And you are not cautious enough," Elboron said, eyeing him beadily. "You know Bergil spoke to me after that first encounter with the Orcs to tell me he thought you too reckless."

"Did he indeed?" Eldarion asked, glaring at Bergil's back in front of him. "How dare he-"

"He has a point," Elboron said. "You tend not to think things through, Eldarion, and that is the reason for many of your problems. We know nothing about this power, and you are willing to plunge headlong into experimenting with it. I may be a coward, but I do not think it wise."

"You are no coward," Eldarion said, remembering with a pang the words he had spoken to Elboron before they were captured. "I welcome your caution, but without experimenting, how shall we ever learn more about this power? We must temper caution with action." He smiled softly at his friend. "You are about the only person in Middle-Earth that I would take such comments from without striking them in the face, you know that? Bergil is wise not to speak directly to me."

Elboron laughed wryly. "You've already struck me in the face," he noted, pointing to an older bruise on his jaw from their fight. "But I take your point."

It was then that Eldarion noticed Faramir close behind them, watching intently. He inched closer to Elboron and switched to Elvish, which he knew Faramir was not nearly so fluent in as his son.

"I think your father disapproves of our conspiring," he noted, and Elboron nodded with a sigh.

"He fears that we shall return to our ways of secrecy and that we shall do something foolish. He is not wrong in thinking thus apparently, considering what you intend to do."

"I think both our families will be keeping a closer eye on us now," Eldarion said, seeing his father glance back at him for the tenth time that hour. "We'll be confined like we were as children. I suppose we deserve it."

Elboron laughed out loud, making several people around them jump and stare at them.

"Sorry," Elboron said, seeing Eldarion's quizzical expression. "But that must be the first time you've ever admitted to deserving punishment!"

Eldarion frowned, but then joined his friend in laughter. Faramir watched them suspiciously a few moments, but finding no apparent cause for their hilarity seemed to dismiss it with a shake of his head. The gesture was so familiar from their youth that it only made them laugh louder. It felt good to laugh like this, he thought. He had missed such simple acts.

As they laughed, Eldarion suddenly became aware of a lightening of the furthest reaches of his mind, a brightness beginning to burn there and grow stronger. His soul was eased and a familiar presence seemed to welcomed inside, embracing his very insides with a warm glow. He stopped laughing suddenly and turned his head sharply to look at Neniel. While there was no visible sign on her body, he could sense something from her, an awakening perhaps. There was a warmth now emanating from her which had been extinguished of late. His heart leapt.

He looked to Elboron who had also turned to look at Neniel. Their eyes met.

"You felt that?" Eldarion asked, and Elboron nodded.

"Is she recovering?"

"I hope so," Eldarion said quietly, watching her a moment. "She loves laughter. Perhaps that was what stirred her so."

He became aware a second later that Elboron was staring at him with a raised eyebrow. Eldarion recognised that expression perfectly, and quickly turned back to face the front and gripped his reins tightly.

"Just how close did you and Neniel become in that dungeon?" Elboron asked, barely suppressing his knowing smile.

"Hush," Eldarion said immediately, dreading the keen ears of Legolas hearing this particular conversation. "There is nothing to say."

Elboron scoffed loudly. "I don't need this link in order to understand those thoughts, Eldarion. You're turning pink."

"I am not."

"Suit yourself," Elboron said, rolling his eyes. "Even in the midst of war you remain as ever the eternal philandering prince. They should write ballads about you."

"We were prisoners, Elboron!"

"So were Beren and Lúthien once."

Eldarion turned fully around in his saddle to face Elboron, but before he could launch into a staunch denial of all that he implied he was cut short by a sudden darkness that had come over the company. Looking up, Eldarion saw that the sun had vanished, veiled by thick clouds of shadow which had turned day into night. The world had gone cold and silent. A palpable terror hung over the scene. Eldarion froze and his pulse quickened; the foreboding in his heart which he had almost entirely dismissed now was vindicated.

"Shadow from Mordor!" Éomer called, riding up the column of soldiers to reach Aragorn. "Such as what came before the armies of Sauron to ease their passage. They are coming."

The king halted in his path and stared back across the land they had come across. "Our army has been sighted, they know where we are," he said. "They will be upon us any moment."

Even as he said these words, shouts rang out from the rear of the army, and the clanging of swords and whinnying of horses rippled up the length of the assembled soldiers. Eldarion and Elboron swung their own steeds around and drew their swords. Eldarion felt his heart beating strongly, he was eager to be back in the fight, to avenge the harsh treatment they had doled out during his captivity. It appeared however that this was not to be the case.

His father had ridden up swiftly and motioned Legolas to come as well. "The shores of the Anduin lie yonder," he said, pointing at the new bridge which was now visible just below. "Osgiliath is only a short journey thence. We cannot risk these three being captured once more."

"What are you saying?" Eldarion demanded, painfully aware of the encroaching sound of battle.

His father looked him in the eyes, his own face grey with worry. "I'm saying that you should ride on," he said. "Take Neniel and the three of you make for Osgiliath while we keep them occupied."

"No way!" Eldarion cried, and found that Elboron had also done so, staring at the king with incredulity.

"We cannot abandon you all," Elboron insisted, but the king cut across him.

"All three of you are not fit to be in battle," his father said firmly. "And Neniel the least. You must go, for if you are captured all this will be for naught. Ride now!"

"But-" Eldarion protested, not wanting to be seen to run from a fight, but his father would not hear of it.

"Forget your pride, Eldarion," he demanded, "and save yourself and your comrades. Obey me in this."

Eldarion wanted to resist, he wanted so badly to stay and prove himself, but he could not go against his father. He saw Elboron still gripping his sword, but in his weaker left hand due to his injury, and Neniel still lifeless. He knew he had a duty here, though it irked him to run.

He nodded, and Legolas immediately passed Neniel to him, resting her just before him on the saddle. Eldarion supported her with one arm, still amazed at how light she was and gripped his reins with the other. His father clapped him on the shoulder.

"Galo Anor erin râd dhîn," he said, and without waiting another moment, Eldarion leapt into action, riding his horse as hard as he dared with Elboron close behind. Every inch that took him from his father was painful. He could hear nothing but the rushing of the wind by his ears but he could imagine the fury of the fight going on behind him. Keep riding, he told him himself. Don't look back. Keep going.

Across their link he could sense Elboron's fear, as well as feel the stabbing pain he was experiencing from his many wounds. From Neniel too he could sense something now. The lightness which he had sensed before was growing stronger, even as the darkness around them increased. She began to stir in his arms and he gripped her more tightly, afraid she would fall from the saddle. Her closed barriers were now beginning to be broken down. His mind was filled now with pictures of Legolas, and he knew where her thoughts lay; she too resented being told to abandon her family. She was more aware of her surroundings than they had thought.

The shore of the Anduin was upon them now and Eldarion led the way towards the newly constructed bridge whose new stone appeared almost white in the dimness around them. They clattered across the span of the stone arch and pounded the sandy shore on the other side before Eldarion finally stopped and turned his horse for one last look before continuing on to Osgiliath. He immediately wished he had not.

The army of Shadow Orcs was greater than anything he had yet seen. Tall dark shapes with unnaturally glowing skin were falling upon the army like a swarm of cockroaches. For as many Orcs that dissolved into shadow, yet more rose to take their place ever more terrible. The weapons flashed silver at this distance as they sliced through the air sending Orcs into shadow and humans toppling to the ground. Screams of dying men filed the air.

The two men watched in horror as they saw the army being pushed to the shores by the sheer onslaught of the Enemy, outnumbered and outmanoeuvred.

"They're cut off," Elboron said in shock. "They have nowhere to go."

Unable to back up any further, and faced with the prospect of a bottleneck at the bridge, Eldarion's father had repositioned his men along the water's edge for a final defence. But Eldarion had studied enough of battle to know that this would be futile. The Orcs had every advantage. This would turn into a slaughter.

He hesitated, his hand upon his sword. He could already see himself flying back over the bride and plunging into battle to protect his father and his kingdom, winning the glory he had always dreamed of. But he also saw himself turning his back on his father and riding along the road to Osgiliath with his injured friends in tow. It would not be dishonourable to protect them, would it? It would be his duty to ensure their safety and to obey his father's last command.

And if the battle did go ill, he would become king.

Eldarion's resolve was now fixed. Gondor needed a stronger king than him, and that king was at this moment surrounded by enemies. He would best serve his kingdom by protecting him. He would be too poor a substitute.

"Elboron, take Neniel and go to Osgiliath," he commanded, turning to his friend, but Elboron pulled his horse away with anger on his face.

"I will not leave you again," Elboron said, scowling. "Do not ask it of me."

"I do not ask," Eldarion said, "I command for I am your prince and future king!"

Elboron was not swayed and remained firm. "As I am future Steward. And I have already told you, your recklessness will be your downfall."

"Elboron, we have no time-"

A horrible cry met their ears across the width of the river and they snapped their heads around to see an Orc had spotted them on the shore and was hollering at them. Near to him stood Eldarion's father, Andúril in hand waving frantically to the two of them, urging them on. But Eldarion knew it was now too late. The Orc had vanished into the shadows.

A second later, the Orc had rematerialised before them on the shores. Eldarion was ready for him. With a mighty cry he drew his sword and charged towards the Orc, his sword swinging wildly. The Orc, whether disoriented by the transfer or simply slow, did not raise his own weapon in time, and the next moment had disintegrated into shadow.

Eldarion clutched his sword tighter and glanced back over the river, seeing that other Orcs had also spotted them standing there. It was only a matter of time before they too appeared in the shadows on this side of the Anduin.

"Now we must fight," Eldarion said, but as much as he had wished for confrontation, he now was hesitant. How well could he fight with Neniel perched precariously in front of him like this? And Elboron, what would become of him with one good arm?

"Do not fear, son of Elessar," said a soft voice in his mind. "All will be well."

Eldarion looked down at Neniel, whose eyes had now opened. She laughed quietly, and immediately his heart felt lighter.

"Place me in the water," she said aloud, voice weak and raspy.

"But-"

"Do it," she said. "It … it will revive me."

Eldarion looked at Elboron who looked just as bewildered. But as strange as the request seemed, especially in the midst of battle, something in the back of his mind told him to obey, to trust this elf who was still much of a stranger to him. Every instinct in his body was screaming at him to run or to fight, but this one voice inside of him told him to wait, to follow her request.

He decided to trust it.

He swung himself off his horse and lifted Neniel down from the saddle, and carrying her stumbled towards the water's edge. She looked at him the whole time with eyes which were large and penetrating. He waded into the water, fast flowing and shockingly cold around his legs. He began to lower Neniel towards the river.

"Wait!"

Elboron had followed him into the river and was fiddling with something at his neck.

"I think you need this back," he said to Neniel, slipping a simple chain around her neck, at the end of which was a plain stone; the talisman she had loaned to him in Cirith Ungol. She smiled as the stone settled against her skin and a new sense of bliss was communicated along their shared link. The link between their three minds became stronger, flowed more powerfully than before. They became as one. Eldarion bent his knees and lowered Neniel down into the swift river.

As soon as her flesh made contact with the clear, cool water he sensed a jolt running through her body, and when she was covered entirely he gasped aloud with the sheer energy that was spilling from her. He could feel her blood tearing through her veins, her nerves tingling, her limbs restoring and her flesh healing almost as if it were his own. With a cry he stepped back, letting go of the elf maiden, seeing her body settle onto the floor of the river, though he had no fear of her drowning. His own body was trembling.

Then the dark form lying along the river bed glowed with a light so bright it seemed to entirely vanish the darkness around them. He turned away his eyes, fearing that they would be burned by the sheer force of the light, so pure and wondrous it was. The water around them became to bubble and froth, and he and Elboron hastily backed out of the river, tumbling together on the shore and looking on in awe.

A figure had arisen out of the water, shining and radiating its brilliance all around, banishing any shadow it fell upon. As Eldarion looked closer he saw that the figure was Neniel, but no longer was she sickly and frail. Now, for the first time he saw her in all her glory, an immortal elven princess, a daughter of kings. Her back was straight, her flesh unmarred and glowing, her face drained of care and the hollowness that had haunted it. Her eyes shone with vehement fervour as she looked across the river towards the army of Orcs which had frozen at this vision before them.

Eldarion forgot to breathe, so mesmerised at the sight before him. He sensed no pain from Neniel now, no suffering or weakness. What he did sense was power.

Neniel fixed her eyes on the opposite shore and raised one pale arm to shoulder height with seemingly little effort sending a rippling force across the water. Before her rose a great wave, spitting and frothing, roaring louder than dragons and with a push of her hand it rushed towards the Orcs, its roar growing ever louder and more terrible. Eldarion clapped his hands over his ears. It was the sound of approaching doom.

With an enormous crash, the wave broke upon the shore sending water flooding across the plain, lapping at the roots of trees and the bases of boulders. Up went an almighty cry, and the army of Orcs had vanished, shadowy vapours passing away like smoke and it seemed that a break appeared in the sky and light flooded through and fell upon the remaining creatures on the shore. What remained of the king's army stood amazed, transfixed by the sight of the Elvish sorceress standing alone in the water.

Eldarion and Elboron were still lying upon the beach, frozen in place. Eldarion blinked several times in disbelief, but every time he opened his eyes once more there Neniel still stood, strong and faintly glowing with the light of the Valar themselves, for who else could possess such power? It appeared as if Neniel had become as Ulmo himself, the Valar Lord of all Waters.

Recovering slightly as the glow surrounding her began to fade, he scrambled to his feet, still staring at her, barely noticing Elboron also rise beside him. Neither of them said anything.

A clattering of hooves met their ears and they turned as if waking from a dream. Eldarion's father and most of his Council were riding towards them fresh from battle, some bearing minor wounds. Foremost of them all was Legolas who had leapt from his horse even before it had come to a halt. He cast his eyes towards the water.

"Neniel!" he cried. "Mae garnen!"

It was only then that Neniel turned and faced the shore she had come from. Her face was no longer haggard or drawn, but full of vitality. The clear stone upon her breast gleamed brightly and set her face aglow. As soon as her gaze fell on him, it erupted with delight.

"Ada!" she cried, and she rushed towards him, cutting through the water as easily as if it were air and he ran to meet her, scooping her up into his arms and holding her tightly as they both laughed with joyful reunion.

She pulled back and beamed at him. "A shadow has been lifted, ada," she said, eyes roaming over his face. "I no longer founder in the darkness. I can see clearly once more. You are alive, and we are together again."

"Yes, we are," Legolas said, his hand against her cheek. "My most precious treasure. Long you have suffered, and now you are free."

She laughed again, sending ripples of joy through all those that heard that laugh. She turned her eyes to Eldarion and Elboron who were both still speechless. Eldarion froze as his eyes met hers and a new feeling went flooding through him; he did not want those eyes to ever leave him.

"Free thanks to these two," she said, smiling. "Strangers they are, yet not so, for I know them most intimately." She paused to take a step closer to the two men as everyone watched. Eldarion felt his heart beat a little quicker.

She stopped before them and frowned slightly. "I do not understand what it is that links us," she said, "but I am most grateful for it. You saved my life."

"As you just did all of ours," Elboron said, when Eldarion found he could not speak. "What you just did …"

"Is something not even I understand," Neniel said, still smiling. "Water Elves are attuned to the waters of Middle-Earth, but we have no special control over it. It was the luck of fate that the Valar in their grace allowed me such power."

"Fate, indeed," Eldarion said, causing Neniel to look at him again.

"There is much that is unexplained in recent days," Eldarion's father said then, watching the three youths with an almost wary expression. "Much suffering, toil and confusion has been endured by all. Let us ride now to Osgiliath and meet in Council. Perhaps then we may find some answers."

The Company then made ready to depart, remounting horses and issuing commands for the reorganisation of the scattered army to resume their march. As Eldarion turned to mount his own horse he sensed rather than felt Neniel staring at him. He turned his head slightly and saw Neniel riding with her father. She looked at him with a gaze so penetrating he doubted she needed their mental link to know his deepest thoughts. Something passed between them, a silent understanding, a bond of fellowship, he wasn't sure.

"It appears you were right, son of Elessar," he heard her musical voice in his mind, now stronger than ever before. "I have some role to play in this war after all."

He bowed his head to her. "Then it is unconceivable to me that we should ever lose. You are more than you realise … Lalaith."

He saw her smile, the sight sending spams of happiness through his body, before she and her father were swept away by the rapidly moving army as it prepared to depart. As he joined the procession in his usual place, he could not resist giving himself a small smile.

They had won a victory today. The Shadow was already beginning to pass.

Sindarin Elvish:

Galo Anor erin râd dhîn- May the sun shine on your path (Good luck)

Mae garnen- Well done