A/N: So, just one more chapter before you'll hear about Aragorn. You see, I pay heed to your requests *g* I guess, I should have written about him sooner, but I think it'll work out quite well as I've done it till now. The mentioning of his fate before would have destroyed the mood of uncertainty I'm trying to create. I hope, that you all are still anxious to get to know about his fate!

So, enough of my ramblings. Enjoy and don't forget to review…. *g*

To Julia: I just read your review for my German story "Ewigkeit", and I hope that you'll be happy to hear that the translation of it is online also: "Eternity – Ewigkeit (engl. version)". You'll just have to look for it. I've also up another story of Aragorn and Arwen – "A cold night". *Hint hint* - you might like the two, though.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Barad-Dûr, the Dark Tower

Gandalf urged Shadowfax into a faster trot, he did not want to waste anymore time. Now they were so close to the Dark Tower where Aragorn would be lying dead or barely alive. For eleven days he had been waiting to discover his friend's fate, most of the time fearing the worst, hope just sometimes returning to his heart. But currently Gandalf indeed could hope: Since Legolas had learned how to fight the darkness, the wizard had found faith that maybe also Aragorn would have been able to resist his torturers: Having been raised by the Elves, he might have adopted some of the Elvish skills of defiance.

'After all, Legolas told me, that Aragorn truly was able to withstand the Ring's powers. He did not give in to it, although he was feeling the urge to claim it for the entire journey. Aragorn was strong and he even refused taking the Ring when Frodo wanted him to have it at Elrond's council. I have faith in my friend, one that could resist his own weaknesses, unlike his forefathers, might have been able to survive imprisonment in Barad-Dûr. And finally, Sauron did not have too much time to torture Aragorn: Despite having been caught fourteen days ago, the Orcs surely needed at least four to five days to get him to the Dark Tower. It is a long way from Tol Brandir and even after they had arrived, Sauron might have had to focus on the battle raging in front of the gates of Minas Tirith. Maybe he was not able to turn his mind to Aragorn for the whole time and my friend was left on his own, chained for sure and heavily guarded as well, but maybe without orders to torment him any further. I am certain that Sauron did not want to miss his greatest enemy dying slowly, hoping that Aragorn would scream with pain or even beg for his life. Indeed it might sound strangely, but therefore I find my greatest hope in the Dark Lord's unbelievable malice.'

"There it is," Legolas sudden whisper startled the wizard. Fear had crept back into the Elf's voice and instantly Gandalf knew, what he had meant with 'it'. Lifting his head, he saw a black tower rising into the sky about one hour away. It was built upon the westernmost hill of the Ered Lithui, the Ash Mountains. Its sides were completely smooth, no window interrupted the bare stone, at least not until a height to which no living being could climb was reached. Only there some small stones were missing in the black walls, rather looking like the entrance to perilous caves instead of spots where the rays of the sun could send its light into the dark interior. The top of the tower was shaped like a huge paw belonging to a forgotten animal of the past, reaching out for any intruders to frighten them and to tell them of the immense power of the Dark Lord dwelling inside. A single claw was pointing to the sky, as if to indicate that Sauron had also overthrown the clouds and the weather. It was not difficult to imagine blood dripping from those outstretched fingers, forming a pool of red around the base of the tower.

Legolas' hands had again begun to tremble slightly and Gandalf also looked uncomfortable. Both had halted their mounts, staring across the plain, not being able to avert their eyes.

"There he was held prisoner for fourteen long days," Legolas muttered quietly, "I do not even want to imagine what tortures, what pain and anguish he has gone through. Alas, I am still not sure whether it would truly be better for him to be alive…"

Quickly the Elf turned to look at Gandalf, almost stammering. He had forgotten that he had never told the wizard about the nights he had lain awake, thinking about the possibility whether a human soul would be able to survive such horrible experiences without being destroyed forever.

"I mean, of course, I want him to live, to be with us again, but you know…" Legolas trailed off, embarrassed.

The wizard merely shook his head. "I understand you pretty well, my friend," he said, sounding pained, "I think in the same way, and I am uncertain, either. Aragorn is sturdy, we both have seen that on many occasions, but even if he had enough strength to survive this ordeal, he might be changed so completely – in the depths of his soul – that we will not even recognize him anymore. I dreamed of lifeless eyes staring at me, or otherwise, of eyes full of anger and hate, and then I always remembered Aragorn´s gentle glances and knew, that life does not need to be a gift."

Elf nodded, sighing. "You truly are right, but despite all my doubts, I still greatly wish that we will find him alive. Yes, that truly is the only thing I want. With the care of friends and of some certain lady, even the most destroyed soul might find peace again, shall it take decades."

A soft smile flashed across the wizard's face. "Arwen," he said gently. "Never would one have been tended to better. I often had the chance to see that when Aragorn and I returned to Rivendell after some exhausting journey. I was almost forgotten but he was fussed over until he found some excuse to escape from her. Not that he did not like it, though." Gandalf chuckled for a moment ere getting serious again. "Those were good times, I may tell you. Although our deeds were perilous, we got to know each other well, becoming close friends, and that is, why it does hurt now even more. But, indeed, love and friendship can manage things which no one could dream of without them."

At these words Legolas was stunned. He almost stared at the wizard's back while following Shadowfax' trail after the horse had begun to move again. Hardly ever before had Gandalf opened up so much, had told about Aragorn´s and his journeys. The only time the Elf could remember had been about ten days ago, on the first afternoon after Gandalf's return from the shadow. There he had spoken about Aragorn's youth, but just briefly, and Legolas had thought it to be caused by the shock of his friend's capture. Now, however, he did not know who to rate it. Was it merely because they had become closer in the past days since having left Minas Tirith, or did Gandalf sense that Aragorn was not alive anymore and that he had to speak to someone to distract himself from this premonition? Legolas could not guess, but he had a sick feeling in his stomach that would not leave him.

In Legolas' mind minutes were dragging to hours as they were coming closer to the tower. Dark and high it rose in front of them, an air of hate and anger and thread engulfing their bodies. Each breath smelt foul and poisoned, but even greater was the anguish in their hearts. Hundreds of dead Orcs were covering the black stones in front of Barad-Dûr, their dark blood having pooled to small ponds. Shadowfax was walking determinedly through the bodies, but Arod was at the brink to stumble on more than one occasion. Only with great skill and faith in his heart, Legolas could protect his horse from falling. Their mounts also felt the terror coming from the Dark Tower, having been raised by the Rohirrim they were not used to such great evil.

And then, about one hour ere sunset, Gandalf and Legolas had finally reached the outer wall running around the Barad-Dûr. After two days in this horrible land Mordor, they had come to their aim: The former seat of Sauron, a fortress of unbelievable malice. Still, even after the Dark Lord had vanished, it made Legolas shiver. Not only the blackness, the Red Eye painted on the wall, caused this, but mostly the thoughts about the tortures Aragorn had gone through behind this impenetrable walls.

And indeed, the fortress could be called impregnable: A high wall of huge black stones formed the outer circle, a single gate the only entrance to the interior. Beasts, hewn out of dark and smooth rocks, piercing any trespasser with penetrating glances, sat there to frighten any intruder, and two days ago there certainly had been Orcs to guard the gate. Their bodies were still lying in the place they had stood, swords and spears still clutched in their hands. And above everything there was the Red Eye, carved out of stone, but shining with dried blood.

'Human blood,' popped into Gandalf's mind, 'Orcs are bleeding black.' A shiver ran down his spine, but nevertheless he guided Shadowfax through the high gate. He did not want to waste anymore time, ten days of uncertainty had been enough.

A vast place was opening in front of him, the Dark Tower rising in the middle, again protected by a wall. But this one was not even head-high. It seemed to have been torn down, with some protruding rocks indicating its original height of about two meters. In some places there were even small gaps, making a gate unnecessary. Everywhere were broken swords lying around, helmets with the Red Eye on it mingled with bloodstained mail. Dead Orcs wherever one's eyes turned to, arrows sticking out from backs, chests and heads. Some mouths were opened as if to scream for aid or with pain and agony. A scene of destruction and battle.

Arod snorted, seemingly uncomfortable. Legolas patted the mount's neck reassuringly, then followed Gandalf who had ridden to the second wall in front of the tower. The wizard halted Shadowfax at one of the gaps, wide enough to let a horse pass. Slowly he dismounted and waited for the Elf to come closer.

Legolas also leaped from Arod's back, grabbing his bow at the same time. Uncertain, he glanced at Gandalf who had turned to face the Dark Tower. An expression the Elf had never seen before was in the wizard's eyes: Fury, pain and anger. He lifted his hand, clenching it to a fist, and shook it with undisguised hate.

"If you had not paid yet, I would make you pay right now!" the wizard said, calmly, but with an edge in his voice that made Legolas shiver. In this moment he perceived the Istari's power, a menace that lay underneath the wise and peaceful surface. Not even he, Gandalf the White, highest in his order, was completely free of evil. The Elf did not want to guess what the wizard would have done to someone he could have blamed for his friend's suffering.

But then, this moment was gone. Gandalf was again the Gandalf Legolas had gotten to know on their journey, and the Elf sighed notably without realizing it. For long minutes he just stared at the wizard, saying nothing. If one had watched them, he would have thought that Legolas tried to read Gandalf's mind, so intent was his glare, so serene the expression on his face. The wizard just stood there, not interrupting his friend, thinking about the things going on in the Elf's mind.

Abruptly then, Legolas averted his eyes, glimpsing to the tower rising in front of him, sighing again. Not turning his eyes back to the wizard, he instead fixed them on Shadowfax.

"I will not go with you further," he said quietly but determined. "I have made up my mind, and I deem it your fate to see Aragorn first. You may understand me: It is not lack of courage that I would not go with you, but to me, it would feel wrong to come. Fate does not want me to come. Aragorn has been your friend for many years and I guess that he would not like it, if I would accompany you. Please, go these last steps on your own. I will wait here with our horses. May you return with light in your eyes!"

Gandalf watched his comrade intently ere replying. Faintly he shook his head, a gentle expression suddenly softening his features. "I do understand you fairly well, my friend. It is not your fate to enter Barad-Dûr, you shall not set foot in the darkest place in Middle-earth. I indeed would have been surprised, if you had offered to come with me, but I also deem it better like this. Fate is too important to be ignored, and destiny wants you to stay out. I shall surrender to wishes coming from a source too high above for us to understand its purpose. Never will I think ill of you, for you merely followed your heart. May lightning strike me, if I will ever do otherwise!"

For a short moment the wizard rested his palm on the other's forearm reassuringly, then Shadowfax' reins were pressed into the Elf's hand, and Gandalf disappeared through the gap in the wall out of Legolas' sight.

Taking Arod's bridle as well, the blond Elf seated himself on a huge rock of the destroyed wall, his back to the Dark Tower, facing the outer stone-circle. But when he straightened himself, Legolas was able to see beyond the barrier: Far away, Ephel Duath rose into the air, the peaks looking like broken teeth. But they were only dark silhouettes against the golden sky in the west. The sun was sinking, setting the summits in flame, bright colors were shining and they brought joy to Legolas' heart. For days he had merely seen darkness, black and gray, and although it would get dark soon, he rejoiced with the patterns of gold, red and bright orange painted on the sky.

A smile spread across his face, his eyes flashed for a moment ere he remembered the reason why they had come to Mordor after all. The minute of joy was gone, concern and worry returned to his heart. There, on that wall, he would wait for Gandalf's return, desperately wanting to see how Aragorn fared. But Legolas knew, that there were only two possibilities: Either the wizard would carry the Man in his arms, dead, or Aragorn would walk out of Barad-Dûr, with his head held high, despite how badly his injures were. Never would the Man, were he still alive, even consider leaving the Dark Tower without honor and pride, being defeated by pain and agony.

Desperately Legolas wanted to believe in the latter, but his heart knew that he should not hope too much. Death was far more likely.

A/N: Anything that I should know? Please tell me!