I know I already wrote this. But I thought it was too quick an ending…so I improved it somewhat. I hope you like this one more that the last. Thanks as always to those of you who review. This is getting close to being your last chance to comment so drop me a line :o) either here or at eleanor_clark@blockedauthor.co.uk

Or the other address I stuck up, they both work! J

Well…That's all…enjoy!

***

As he reached the mouth of the Glittering Caves Legolas dismounted.

'Go Arod,' he told his horse softly, 'If we do not meet again then I thank you for your service.'

The horse whinnied sadly and slowly trotted away from his master. Legolas pulled his cloak over his bow and quiver and held a knife firmly in his hands. He lifted his hood so it covered his blonde hair. Then calmly, he stepped forward to face his nemesis.

'Duredhel?' he called, using his native Elven tongue, 'I have come.'

The shadow in his mind grew greater and he heard the brush of robes on the floor. He felt the presence of many men around him yet he ignored them concentrating only on keeping the darkness at bay.

'Undomiel?,' the gravelled voice called, 'you have come alone?'

Legolas saw shadows flicker on the wall as the tall elf came into view a black shape on an already dark background. He seemed to shy away from the light of the torch Legolas bore with him. Legolas hoped to use that weakness to his advantage. The walls of the cave shimmered and Legolas remembered his last visit here, his heart ached as he thought of his friends, yet when he spoke his voice was strong and steady.

'I have come alone, Duredhel, yet I am not Undomiel,' he lifted his hood shaking his blonde hair free so that it glinted in the light, 'I am Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of The Woodland Realm. I have to exact retribution for myself and for my kin, Duredhel. Your dark realm will not come to pass and the Elves of Middle Earth shall not fall to your power.'

Duredhel laughed then, a hollow and terrible sound which struck terror into the heart of all who heard it.

'You? Legolas Greenleaf, believe that you can best me? I was striking terror in the hearts of Elves before you drew breath. I have injured you once, I can kill you just as easily.'

'You failed in your first attempt Dark Elf. What makes you think you can hold sway now?' the words were brave but Legolas felt his heart as it pounded in his chest. Carefully he watched the hands of the Elf before him, overconfidence had cost him dearly the last time they had met, he would not make the same mistake twice.

Duredhel drew himself up to his full height and Legolas felt the evil emanating from him like a black fog. Its tendrils curled around his mind, cold and dark, it numbed his senses. All he could think of was the blackness, it took all his energy to concentrate on why he was here, remember who he was and remember his foe that stood laughing before him. He tried to think of something joyful, a memory from the past, a voice, anything that would give him the strength to fight against the gloom which was invading him. The dark made it difficult, so very difficult to remember what the light was like, remember the warmth of the sun on his face,  the twinkling light of stars in the velvet dark of night.

The were no stars now, the dark in his mind was not velvet like that of the night sky in his home of Mirkwood. It was an all invading darkness, cold, not soft like velvet but sharp like a thousand knives invading his mind.  Dimly he saw Duredhel drawing his sword and reached for his knife, his hand moving agonizingly slowly. He saw Duredhel's cruel, unmerciful expression and in that moment he could see what would happen. He would be struck down alone and afraid in the darkness. He would never see Arwen's gentle smile, the look of compassion in Aragorn's eyes, hear the happy laughter of the carefree Hobbits, Gimli's bellow of laughter, he would walk the paths of the dead and remain alone and in fear for all of eternity.  Duredhel lunged and he rolled, finally manging to pull his long blade free. His hand shook as clumsily he parried the blows  Duredhel rained on him; biting his lip to prevent himself from crying out  as the force of the blows thrummed up his arm and through his wounded shoulder. He tried pushed the pain to the back of his mind and continued his fight. Duredhel's blows continued and he parried them all those some only just in time, one blow he deflected too late and he felt the nick of cold steel through his skin and Legolas fell heavily to his knees fervently hoping the blade wasn't poisoned.

'So you would fight me?' Duredhel sneered, 'And yet now you kneel before me hurt and bleeding. But if you fail, who then will take up the fight?'

Legolas bowed his head in despair. He felt the trickle of crimson blood running down his arm. He didn't move to stop it, in mattered little now. The end was coming and he would walk the paths of the dead.

***

'I will.' Gimli stepped forward. Legolas did not move. The voice was not real his friends were safe. He had left them far behind in the woods of Fangorn.

'And if he falls I shall fight,' Merry stood beside Gimli.

'And then I shall battle,' Pippin's voice shook, yet bravely he stood.

'And if they fall, Anduril will be wielded against you,' Aragorn his eyes cold and hard, stood there also and behind him stood Arwen and Elrond.

'Get up Legolas,' commanded Aragorn, the Flame of the West in his hand, 'You do not stand alone anymore.'

Legolas looked up them, expecting to see the caves still dark. However before him stood his friends, there faces were stern and grim but as his grief filled eyes met theirs they softened. The sight of his friends filled Legolas with optimism and finally he realised their role.  The shadow in his mind was dispelled and his heart felt lighter, the fear although not dispelled entirely, pushed to the dim recesses of his mind. They gave him the bravery to fight the battle ahead, without them he would fail but their presence gave him a reason to battle to the end. Hope springs eternal and it was much needed in the dim caves. Determined once more he staggered to his feet, his weary face hopeful once more. Aragorn and Gimli noticed the change immediately, this was the Legolas they had feared lost,

'Will you fight us all Duredhel?' he asked, 'Do you have the courage to battle us all alone?'

'I am not alone Greenleaf. Will you fight all my followers?'

Out of the shadows stepped many men each bearing arms. The company were heavily outnumbered yet valiantly they drew their weapons. Legolas stepped back to stand alongside them still cradling his wounded arm against him. The blade was affecting him more than a normal weapon for he was weakened and the blade was full of the darkness of its wielder. His arm was cold and numb as though he had been stabbed by a blade of Mordor.

'We will discuss your method of arriving later Legolas,' Aragorn told him.

Legolas nodded mutely,  finally willing to be thinking of a future beyond these caves. He passed one of his long curved blades to Arwen, noting in amusement that Elrond held one of Gimli's axes already.

He drew forth his bow and as the first of the men advance upon them he let the arrow fly and with hands that moved faster than sight he strung another arrow and released it. Aragorn held Anduril, Flame Of The West, and prepared to engage the onrushing enemies in battle. As the first wave of men crashed over them, forcing Legolas to abandon his bow in favour of his filigreed blade, he noticed the dark shadow of Duredhel fleeing deeper into the caves.

'Are you keeping tally, Legolas?' cried Gimli.

'How could I not?' he replied, 'you shall not best me a second time Gimli.'

'Perhaps I shall best you both,' Aragorn shouted across to them.

'I think it unlikely. But whoever gets Duredhel may double their score,' Legolas promised as he engaged another man.  Gimli and Aragorn nodded. Desperately he tried to cut a path to where he had last seen Duredhel. Each impact of his blade on the armour of their aggressors sent a jarring pain from his fingers clear up to his temples. Before he had chance to pursue the Dark Elf he sought to defeat he saw the Hobbits, hugely outnumbered and struggling to hold off their numerous assailants.

'Aragorn!' he yelled, for he was closer to the struggle, 'Help Merry and Pippin, quickly!'

He saw Aragorn scan the carnage and make his way towards the two Halflings. The huge sword of Anduril seemed light in his hands as he effortlessly engaged each man who stood in his way.

Legolas vowed he would return quickly to help his friends, he would not allow them to be defeated by the insane warriors that threatened to overwhelm them.

'Khazad!' he heard Gimli yell, and the battle cry, in the lands that should be inhabited by dwarfs, swelled and filled the ears of all there.

***

Legolas stole through the caves his footsteps make no more noise than the shadow he cast. He halted at a fork in the trail unsure of which way to take; one side was lit with torches and his heart told him to go that way towards the light and the implied safety it provided and yet although his heart yearned to be free of the darkness he knew with every fibre of his being that Duredhel was not to be found there. The other way was dark and oppressive. It was this path that he chose, as he picked up a torch from the wall. It would make sense that his aggressor wished to confront him in territory which Legolas disliked. He had visited the Glittering Caves with Gimli and had disliked them then, the darkness on the trail he followed was ten times worse, yet boldly and courageously he continued his journey forward.

***

Aragorn saw Legolas leave and watched as Gimli moved to follow him.

'Gimli,' he cried, 'You are needed here. Legolas will manage alone, I am sure. So do not fear for him, he will return to us.'

Gimli did not look happy but remained. Fervently he hoped that Legolas would return quickly. Another man fell beneath his axe, tainting the caves with his blood.

Aragorn had been able to reach the side of the Hobbits before either of them had been injured, for which he was very grateful. They fought now in a triangle each one defending the other two. Arwen, Gimli and Elrond battled to their side and the circle opened up to allow them in. They stood clustered together, each trying to protect the others, an island of hope in a sea of despair.

***

Legolas felt the shadow growing in his mind once more, confirming he was heading towards Duredhel. His footsteps to him did not feel light but like weights of lead that he had to lift. Sweat trickled down his face in the oppressive air of the caves. The atmosphere was heavy with the tension of the battle to come, it almost took the breath of the Elf away and he struggled against a surge of unreasonable panic before stepping forward once more.  His instincts screamed at him to flee while he still could. However a small part of his mind rebelled, his friends could be sacrificing their lives so that he may succeed,  the least he could do for them was meet his fate. Even if he did not survive the meeting. The long narrow crevasse in the rocks opened into a wider cave he could see no passage leading form it. It appeared that his road had ended.

'Duredhel?' he called he voice stronger than his nerves, 'I know you are here. Will you stand and face me or will you run once more?'

The now familiar swish of robes on the ground once more. A shadow appeared in front of Legolas.

'You try to fight once more then. But what if the darkness assails you?' Legolas felt the cold onrush of black and saw Duredhel raise his blade. However this time he was prepared he unleashed an onslaught of memories on the blackness as he too raised his blade. Memories that helped him keep his focus on the battle ahead, he saw in his mind's eye his two young friends, Merry and Pippin, fighting, Aragorn, Gimli, Arwen and Elrond all there because they cared about him. He had promised to return to them. To that he would hold.

He parried the lunge of the Dark Elf before him, determined to be reunited with his friends. He would not be responsible for their death, he would return to help them no matter how hard his own personal battle was. He went on the offensive reigning blows on his opponent hoping to press him into making a mistake before the injuries he already received became too great a disadvantage.

Duredhel seemed amazed at this.

'The shadow will fall over you. Like an eclipse over the moon,' he told Legolas, he voice low and full of dread. Legolas refused to let mere words distract him from his goal, and he did not stop the fight, he struggled still against the shadow in his mind, feeling it press upon him, guiding him towards making a mistake. The battle continued and Duredhel, stronger in both weapon and body, flicked Legolas's blade across the cave floor. Legolas felt the prick of a blade at his neck.

'Even in an eclipse the moon remains,' Legolas pointed out breathlessly, 'and then it returns. My eclipse has passed Duredhel, you have pushed me to the brink of darkness. But I remained, now it is time for the light to return. Elen síla lumen, Duredhel. That is the greeting of our people. A star shines on us….and that is to my advantage.'

Legolas rolled away from the blade at his throat, sustaining no more hurt that a slight nick, a drop of ruby blood welled and  was quickly wiped away. His fair skin seemed luminous  in the dim torchlight of the brand which lay on the cave floor as though a light lit him from within even though to him all seemed dark. The torchlight hit the cavern walls and refracted causing tiny pinpricks of light to illuminate Duredhel.

'Light,; he gasped, 'I have not see light for many ages.'

Legolas paused drawing his opponent ever closer to the burning wood.

'Then return to it now,' he told the dark Elf, his voice compassionate, 'Prophecy tells that I am the maethor ned calad, warrior of light. But to illuminate the shadows does not necessarily mean that you should die. Stop trying to obtain the reign of terror you wish to have over your people and live amongst the Elves once more as one of us, not one that wishes to betray us.'

'My people,' Duredhel sneered, 'they left me in the dungeons of Barad Dur, to watch the torment of my friends and kin. Where were my people then? I will not rest until they pay for their crimes.'

Duredhel's amusement at Legolas's offer only served to further anger the Elf. His blue eyes blazed with barely  suppressed rage, the thought of anyone wishing to harm his people was abominable to him especially when the enemy sought to avenge himself for a offence that had never been committed.

Legolas sighed, sounding tired and regretful. He had tried his last barging and it had been spat upon. His options had diminished, now only one course of action remained open now. As it seems to have been fated since before his birth, dark and light would battle for the freedom of the Elves of Middle Earth.

'I cannot let you do that, Duredhel,' he told the Dark Elf before him, looking, almost apologetically into the black eyes that watched him, 'I gave you a chance to redeem yourself, but I will not standby and let you harm anyone else. My people did nothing wrong, you cannot be allowed to exact retribution for a crime which never took place. You were never abandoned in Barad Dur many rescue attempts took place. Yet now, with all your followers around you, you are alone. For none of your people shall come to your aid.'

Legolas stepped sideways to pick up the torch that he had lain forgotten, holding it aloft, a symbol of the light that burned within him against the darkness which struggled for dominance. Before his hands had shaken, but now at this finally meeting they were steady. Legolas knew the end of his task was nigh.

'Return to the light, or it shall return to you.'

'Never!' screamed Duredhel, rushing towards Legolas in a fit of rage his sword held aloft.

Legolas stepped aside with a nimbleness, that in his current condition he did not think he would be capable of.

'Very well,' he spoke so softly that had a mortal man been there he would not have heard it. Remorsefully, he used his torch as his weapon which ignited Duredhel's robes as he neared the Elf. Legolas turned away unable to watch as the fire burned brighter and hotter. He walked away, picking up his discarded knife as he left, away from the darkness and back to the light.

***

He returned to the cavern where the battle was still in full swing. Immediately he joined the fray thankful few of Duredhel's army remained mobile. The pain of the injuries he had received had returned with a vengeance and he tried not to let his weakness show to those who sought to defeat him.

  He turned to join the defensive circle his companions had somehow managed to maintain, their questioning looks answered by Legolas's reassuring nod. Soon the battle was over, and the company moved away from the stench of death out of the caves into the night. As soon as the moonlight touched their weary faces they plied Legolas with questions, however he had a question to ask Gimli and Aragorn.

'Twenty one.'

'Twenty,' they replied.

'Why?' asked Gimli, 'What was your score?'

'Eleven,' he replied, 'double points for Duredhel takes me to twenty two. This match is mine.'

Gimli and Aragorn smiled, just pleased to have Legolas safe and well. They stood for a moment pleased to be victorious, unharmed and in the company of each other. Legolas stumbled slightly, the struggle of fighting both mentally and physically against Duredhel, so soon after being injured had exhausted him more than he cared to admit. He felt the reassuring grip of Aragorn on his elbow, trying not to wince as his fingers brushed the sword wound he had received.

'You are hurt!' exclaimed Aragorn, concern plainly evident in his voice, 'what happened?'

'I was scratched with a blade, it is not serious. Do not worry.'

Aragorn looked as though he wished to pursue the subject but the tired look in the value eyes of his friend persuaded him otherwise.

The Elf looked around once more, surprised to see Arod stood with the other mounts, not far away from the caves exit.

'It seems that no one wished to leave you Legolas,' Aragorn pointed out. Legolas turned and looked at him, lines of weariness etched into his face.

'Thank you,' he said softly, 'I would not have survived without you.'

Then the adrenalin which had kept the Elf on his feet this long released its hold on his system and he plunged silently into the deep dreams of the Elves even as he fell backwards into the arms of his friends.

***

OK. This time Legolas didn't walk away quite so easily. It was pointed out to me, and I totally agree, that if he was hurt...or if this Dark Elf was such a big threat the whole battle wouldn't be quite so easy. Hope you liked. Slightly revised epilogue too if you're interested….

Please let me know which ending you preferred, I really want to know.