"Legolas!" Pippin yelled, tossing the Elf's knife to him as Legolas looked up.
Legolas caught the weapon and killed a Makwraith who was sneaking up on Gimli. "Where is the king?" the Dwarf asked.
"I don't know." the Elf started, before spotting Shadara moving across the room. He gave chase, easily catching up to her. Legolas grabbed her around the waist, pinning her arms. She struggled wildly, her pale eyes furious, but stopped when the Elf's dagger pricked her throat.
"Stop the Makwraiths." Legolas repeated. Shadara pushed backwards angrily, sending Legolas to the ground, but he did not relinquish his hold on her and she fell as well. His blade hovered against her throat, her shadow-born skin colder than the blade.
"Are you going to kill me, Legolas?" Shadara asked. "If I don't stop the Makwraiths from destroying your friends, will you kill me?"
"Yes." the Elf replied shortly.
"Even if I looked like this?" Shadara asked. Her facial features shifted until she resembled a beautiful Elven girl.
But Legolas was looking beyond her face. He barely saw the beauty of the artificial face. "Yes." he said again.
Shadara half-turned to see his face. It was cold and pitiless and she knew she had lost this battle. "Then, the answer is no. I will not stop the Makwraiths. And you will die with the rest of your friends." Shadara spat.
"I think not." Legolas drew the knife across her throat, killing her. Shadara fell limply in his arms. And there was silence in the room.
The Makwraiths turned to see their fallen king as they began to melt into shadows again. The Company stared in shocked silence as their foes drifted away. Tony nuzzled Sam gently. The Hobbit was crying softly. He buried his face in the Heilres neck, his tears falling through the creature as Tony slowly became shadow again.
The shadows withdrew to the corners of the room, sliding like liquid silk across the floor. In the stillness that followed, Shadara joined her followers, melting into shadows and slipping through Legolas' fingers. Her pale eyes, the last trace of her, flickered brightly before darkening and becoming shadow.
The second the last bit of shadow that had been Shadara joined the other shadows, a loud rush of wings heralded the arrival of another shadow creature. This one was an old male, riding a large, black griffin.
He dismounted, his dark robes molding around him like water. The old man looked at the Company, his glance focusing on Gandalf.
"Ah, Mithrandir. I should have known that you would have something to do with Shadara's downfall." the shadow man said.
Gandalf stepped forward, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Belcray, it has been a long time since I last saw you."
Turning to the Company, Gandalf said, "This is Belcray, the Shadow-wizard."
Belcray smiled slightly, nodding a greeting as his gaze swept the room. "There will be another king, one who will not lead the shadows astray. One who is strong enough to contain them to their places. Do not worry, Mithrandir, all will be taken care of."
This time Belcray's bright green eyes lingered on Legolas, who had gotten to his feet and stood, apart from the others, where he had killed Shadara. The Elf had his hand pressed to his arm where he had been cut earlier, and blood was seeping through his fingers.
"Your wounds will be treated by shadow doctors. They are the best doctors to be had." Belcray said, seeing the suspicion in Aragorn's face. "Legolas can vouch for them"
Aragorn had sustained minor wounds, but his skill was great enough that he had deflected all of the attacks, so that they would not cut deep. Merry's sword hand had a deep cut in it, and Gimli had a small wound in his shoulder.
"They are as good as Belcray says." Legolas said. At that, the others nodded and allowed Belcray to summon the doctors.
