Legolas jerked himself out of his dream-world violently.  His fingers swept over his eyes frantically.  It had been a dream, but he knew that it would be a long time before he ventured into that world again without being afraid.

He heard a loud clang as the door was unlocked and two Makwraiths entered.  They grabbed Legolas and dragged him from the room.  The Elf fought half-heartedly, glad to leave the nightmarish room, but knowing that whatever came next could not be better.

"The king wishes to see you." one of the Makwraith's said in barely-understandable Common Tongue.

Legolas made no reply as he was taken to the king.  His eyes swept the dimly lit room, seeing the king and the shadows.  And then he saw his friends.  They stood before Shadara, anger in their stances and faces.  The king's voice rang through the room.

"Here is the good Elf now."

The Company turned to him as he was dragged to the king's side.  The Makwraith's tightened their grip on his arms, forcing him to knees, obviously prepared for some attack on their king.

Shadara smiled malevolently at the Elf before addressing the Company.  "Your friend is here, and alive as you can see.  He will stay alive for a little while, longer enough to witness your deaths."

She clapped her hands, the sharp sound echoing.  Makwraiths poured into the room, all armed and without Heilres.  They charged the Company, who all instinctively drew their weapons.

Aragorn's sword flashed as he dodged one Makwraith's attack and slew his attacker, turning to drive his weapon through another one's chest.  Gimli swung his axe, sending the heavy blade crashing through two Makwraiths.  The four Hobbits formed a circle, their blades pointing outward, creating a pinwheel of steel.  Gandalf sent a Makwraith to the ground with a hard hit from his staff.

Tony and the two other Heilres burst into the room, heads lowered as they rammed into the Makwraiths that were attacking Sam and his friends.

Seeing her own creatures come to the aid of her enemies, Shadara stood up, her pale face flushed with anger. "Shadow creatures helping the Fellowship?  This cannot be!"

"But it is." Legolas said from where he was pinned to the ground beside her.  There was an unmistakable hint of satisfaction in his voice that Shadara did not miss.  She turned on him, knocking aside the two Makwraiths that held him and dragging him to his feet.

"I hear the mockery in your voice, Legolas.  And I think that you are in no position to be saying such things when I can end your life as easily as this."  Shadara threw Legolas away from her into the shadows around her throne.  The shadows latched onto the Elf as he hit them, pulling him into their darkness.

Gimli, seeing his friend being dragged into the wall, ran over to him and pulled him free.  He picked up his axe and thrust something into Legolas' hands.  It was the Elf's bow and some of his arrows.  Legolas nodded his thanks as Gimli turned back to the Makwraiths.  Scanning the room, Legolas took in the battle in a glance.  The rest of the Company was doing fairly well, keeping the number of Makwraiths in the room to a minimum.  But more of them kept coming and it was clear that the Makwraiths would win, through sheer strength of numbers. 

Legolas strung his bow, notched an arrow to the string and let it fly, straight into a Makwraith's neck.  Seeing Shadara continue to summon the Makwraiths, he aimed his next arrow at her.

"Shadara, stop the Makwraiths." he commanded.

Shadara glared at him. "If I don't, you'll shoot me with an arrow, I suppose."  She snapped her fingers and a Makwraith ran to Legolas, slashing with his sword.  Legolas dodged the attack, but the sword severed his bowstring and bit into his arm.  Wincing, Legolas ducked the Makwraith's next attack, grabbed the sword's handle and deftly turned the blade on the Makwraith, slicing the blade through the creature's head.

Pippin was busy fighting off Makwraiths when he saw a glint of metal in the shadows.  He dove for the object, recognizing it as Legolas' blade.  Closing his fingers around the handle, he drove his own sword into a Makwraith's leg as it tried to attack him, causing the creature to stumble.