**Hello all… ::sniff:: this IS the final chapter… sadly, but it is… PLEASE R&R FOR A SEQUEL!**
Leaders Never Die
Final Chapter
Chapter 19
"When angels deserve to die," Amanda sang softly as she listened to her headphones. They were nearing Lothlòrien, and Amanda was getting even more nervous about seeing Durian every second.
"Lestan!" Elrohiol called from the front, "riders approach from the east!"
Lestan shielded his eyes and squinted into the distance. Far off, he could make out the distinct shape of two Lorien riders, "Lorien Elves," he reported, "two of them."
Amanda lowered her phones and looked in the direction they were gazing in. Her eyes could not see nearly as far as theirs could, so all she saw was the hazy horizon, and the fog of the cool morning.
"Why do you supposed they're out here? Have they been informed of our coming?" Elrohiol wondered aloud.
Lestan nodded, "Lord Elrond send word out a day before we departed."
Elrohiol jogged forward to meet the riders, who were nearing rapidly.
"Do you suppose the fellowship should be arriving soon?" Amanda asked Lestan. It seemed that the only thing her thoughts revolved around was Durian, the fellowship and her fear of seeing him again.
Lestan looked surprised, "I did not know they were traveling to Lothlòrien. How do you know this?"
"Did you forget that I'm their 'leader'?" Amanda laughed.
Lestan joined in with her laugher, "Aye, I forgot." He looked our over the distance once more, "Elrohiol and Lorien warriors are approaching."
Amanda gazed out and watched as the familiar figure of Elrohiol stepped out of the fog, accompanied by two tall blonde elves on horseback.
"Lady Amanda," Elrohiol called out as they quickly approached his companions. "May I present to you, Haldir of Lorien, and his brother Rúmil."
The elves jumped gracefully from their horses. They were both wearing somewhat fancy silver cloaks. Their leggings, shirts, and tunics were of bright silverfish colors. From their clothing, Amanda could tell that they were of high importance.
The one introduced as Haldir spoke first, "'Tis a pleasure to meet you Lady Amanda of Earth. We have heard much about you from the Lady."
Amanda looked confused. "How would Galadriel know who I am?"
"The Lady knows all," Rúmil said softly. He bowed his head slightly as a sign of welcoming.
"Oh… well it's a pleasure to meet you both," Amanda said as she extended her hand. She graciously shook the hands of the two elves.
"What brings you out here to welcome us?" Lestan asked.
"We are having numerous amounts of Orc attacks around Lothlòrien. We came to aid you. Also…" Haldir said, as he gave Amanda a sidelong look, "there is someone waiting for you within the boundaries of the wood."
"Durian?" Amanda asked shakily.
The elf nodded, then turned his attention back to Lestan and Elrohiol. "We mustn't waste any time. Come with me and we shall get you safely into the borders of Lothlòrien."
Haldir and Rumil turned and began walking back towards the woods, they led their horses by the reins, and walked beside Lestan to speak softly with him.
Amanda stared longingly into the woods, "Somewhere in there… an elf waits."
*~*~*~*
Lothlòrien
*~*~*~*
Durian paced around the tree nervously. Pessimistic thoughts were running through his head like crazy, What if she flipped out from my last message. What if she doesn't love me. What if she started hating me. What if…
Legolas yawned and leaned his head back against the tree. He was sitting on the ground resting, as he lazily watched his brother pace around a small tree stump. So far, he has counted 68 revolutions. He had no idea why he agreed to come with Durian to see Amanda again, the elf was older enough to do this sort of thing by himself. He later told himself that the reason he was out there was because of the many Orc attacks that were going on around Lothlorien, and he didn't want his brother to fall into being a victim of the Orcs.
"Durian, must you do that? You're making me dizzy just watching you." Legolas said to his anxiety filled brother.
Durian brought his hand up to his mouth and began biting his nails furiously, "Then cast your eyes elsewhere." He said, without slowing his pace, or lifting his eyes.
Legolas rolled his eyes and sighed. He tried to listen to the sounds of the forest, and to the creatures messing about, but no sounds came. He couldn't remember the last time the forest felt this still… too still for his comfort.
*~*~*~*~*
Elsewhere
*~*~*~*~*
"Stop!" Haldir commanded from the front of the line. He stood out in the open and listened carefully to the air.
"What is it you hear?" Rulin asked from behind.
Haldir silenced him with a quick flick of his hand. He gazed around, trying to find the source of the strange sound that was coming from the forest.
Amanda breathed heavily. She could tell from the look on the elf's face, that whatever he heard wasn't a good thing. Her heart began to beat faster as Haldir muttered his one chosen word, "Orcs…"
Lestan and Elrohiol instinctively went for their swords. They unsheathed their deadly weapons and braced themselves. "How many?" Lestan asked.
Haldir listened carefully, and froze when a quick flash of black flesh appeared in the distance. "Too many… I assume the human does not know a thing about fighting…"
Lestan looked fearfully at Haldir, "No…"
Amanda cleared her throat, and set her book bag down on the hard, clammy ground. She reached into her bag and pulled out her gun, "Will this help?"
Lestan winced at the sight of the tiny, yet lethal weapon. "Aye, that might be our greatest weapon. Haldir, how far away are Legolas and Durian?"
Amanda's eyes opened wide, "They're right here?"
Haldir studied the trees, in search of his exact location, "They are not far, if I can, I can call to them for help." He then brought his fingers up to his mouth and let out a high-pitched whistle.
*~*~*~*~
Durian and Legolas
*~*~*~*~
134… 135… Legolas counted as
he watched his brother walk around the stump. His ears perked up when a shrill
whistle sang through the air. He looked at Durian, who had stopped and was now
gazing back at Legolas.
"Haldir…" Durian muttered. "They are in need of our services I presume."
A quick smile played on Legolas' lips as he jolted up from his sitting position on the earth, and the both flew towards the whistle.
*~*~*~*~*
Amanda
*~*~*~*~*
Amanda's pulse quickened as she watched the Orcs quickly approaching. She knew that she had limited ammunition. So she wasn't going to begin shooting until they got closer.
The first Orc went right for Haldir, he brought his heavy sword and swung it at the elf, who gracefully brought his own sword up to meet the other. And the battle was on…
Amanda could hardly remember the last time when she was so scared in her life. She remembered to aim carefully, even though her hands were shaking like crazy. She watched as the elves pranced around, dodging and slicing at every random Orc they encountered.
She knew that she was at a disadvantage, she would have no protection if an Orc came up on her too quickly and if she wasn't quick enough to react to its attack. She shot one through its ugly head as it advanced on her.
The Orcs let out a deafening shriek when they heard the blast. Some cowered away in fear of the machine that the girl possessed, but others kept on coming.
*~*~*~*
Durian
*~*~*~*
Durian instantly froze as he heard the sound of the weapon going off.
Legolas stopped when he noticed that his brother halted. "Durian… what's the matter? Let's get going, they're in our need."
"That was Amanda's contraption…" Durian whispered.
*~*~*~*
Amanda
*~*~*~*
Amanda fired her last shot right between the eyes of one final Orc when she noticed another one coming up on her. But this time, when she raised the gun level with her eye and prepared to shoot… the only sound heard was the click of an empty chamber. She opened her eyes in fear as the Orc got closer, she winced and braced herself for its coming.
The sound of the Orc cry came as a shock to her. She was expecting it to loom up on her and quickly and brutally kill her, but instead, it's fate was met with an Elvish arrow piercing through it's heart.
She quickly glanced at the arrow, it's markings were all very familiar…
"Amanda!" A voice cried from her left.
She spun on her heals and met eyes with the person. She felt as though she had strayed into a dream when she saw the blond haired, blue eyed prince of Mirkwood standing in front of her. "Durian…" She whispered as a single tear fell out of her eye. The moment she saw the royal elf in front of her, she knew that she had been lying to herself the entire time when she said that she really had no feelings for him. She knew from that moment on… that she loved him.
She noticed his eyes go wide in fear as he darted as fast as he could to her. But he was not in time, for Amanda was too distracted to have noticed that the Orc that had Durian's arrow in it was not dead. She realized it too late when the foul creature brought it's dagger up and jabbed it into her leg.
Amanda screamed out in pain as her leg buckled beneath her. She fell to her knees beside the Orc, giving him the perfect position to finish his job, as he roughly removed the dagger from her leg, and ran it straight through her heart.
She gasped, as she felt the cold metal pierce her skin. Her vision blurred through her mixed tears, her eyes were fixed on the Orc as it snarled at her with sick glee. She fell backwards to the earth and lie there gasping for breath.
It all happened in a flash, Durian didn't know what to do. His mind was reeling as he saw his only love fall to the cold ground beside the foul Orc. He quickly unsheathed his dagger and slammed it thorough the grinning Orcs forehead, pinning it to the ground.
Legolas watched from the side. He had seen the whole incident with his own two eyes. And now he felt he was utterly hopeless.
Durian kneeled down beside Amanda, and placed his hand on her clammy forehead. "Amanda?" He sobbed out between tears.
Amanda's gasping breaths quickened as she painfully turned her head to look at Durian. "Durian?" She hoarsely whispered his name. The action of speaking caused great pain in her throat, she began coughing furiously.
Hot tears fell from Durians eyes as he saw the blood come from Amanda's mouth. He felt entirely hopeless as his love lie there dying. "You're going to be ok… we will get you to the Healers… they'll take good care of you."
"No," She whispered. She forced herself to smile, as the tears ran down her face. The pain was beginning to fade away, she could begin to feel the numbness taking over her body.
"I love you Amanda…" Durian said. He sucked in a shaky breath as he watched her eyes fill over with pain. His face was completely soaked from the tears that streamed down his face. He could feel the presence of his brother over his shoulder.
Amanda choked on the blood that was filling up her throat. She hastily spit it out with all the strength she could muster up. She reached up and gently grabbed hold of Durian's hand. She grasped it as tight as she could, without passing out.
"I know…" She whispered. Her breathing quickened as she began to see the darkness envelope her.
"Don't leave me…" Durian sobbed.
"I-I-I'm sorry… Durian?… I…I…lo…" Amanda couldn't find the strength to get out the last two words. Her entire body relaxed, as the icy cold grip of death caught her.
Durian stared at her lifeless body in shock, as fresh tears flowed out of his eyes. He sat there, unblinking and just letting the tears fall. He let out a final sob as he leaned over Amanda's body and cried.
Legolas' eyes filled with tears as he watched his brother. He knelt down beside the younger elf and embraced him. He comforted his little brother and let him cry on his shoulder. The sobs coming from Durian were loud enough and sad enough to bring tears to the eyes of anyone who came within distance…
Durian sobbed even harder, "It's all my fault… I wasn't fast enough… I have failed."
Legolas closed his eyes, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill down his face.
After all… A human girl from Earth… and an Elven Prince from Middle-Earth… well… it just wasn't meant to be.
THE END
**OMG… I'm so proud of myself… I actually finished the story. Sorry if this was kinda depressing ::tear::… Please review for a sequel… yes, there can be one…**