Other: I'll probably have Legolas give birth in this fic the way he did in my other fic- 'Amin Ai Olin'. Thanks for reminding me about the bond- I'd forgotten that Aragorn would feel Legolas' pain during the birthing… The shadow watching the 'Rivendell Seven' is not Gollum, though he will show up eventually.

Disclaimers: See the Author's Notes! This is an AU! The R Rating is in effect now for good reason! Aragorn and Legolas' mental speech is in *. Elvish is in ''. Shounen ai between Haldir/Glorfindel. Takes place a week after the last chapter

Reasons To Fight, Reasons To Wed

Part 26. Awakening

Boromir watched the argument between Aragorn and Legolas grow even louder. It had started off as a minor disagreement, before quickly escalating into a larger one. The Steward shook his head, as the two glared at each other, their hands on their hips. Though it was very amusing to see them doing this while they were walking.

"I do not need you to watch me like a child, Aragorn," Legolas said, scowling.

Aragorn raised an eyebrow and replied, "I will stop when you stop taking needless risks, Legolas."

Legolas pointedly asked, 'What needless risks? You haven't let me take any!' He turned his back and stalked away, passing right by Boromir. 'Stubborn human…' Legolas muttered, thinking of Aragorn.

'Legolas,' Thranduil said, catching him by the arm. 'Son, Aragorn cannot help the way he is. He loves both you and the child you carry. I was as protective of your mother when she carried you.'

'He won't let me do anything! I am not an invalid, Father,' Legolas told him, an unhappy look on his face. 'I can't even refill the water bags, because he believes that I might fall in the lake. And looking out over the cliffs to see the view is also forbidden.'

Thranduil clapped a hand on his son's shoulder. 'I know that you don't like it, but isn't it better for him to be overprotective instead of not worrying at all? His actions prove he cares.'

Legolas nodded, though he was still slightly annoyed. 'Very well, Father.' The blond Elf then slowed his pace down, walking around the middle of the group instead of the head or the back of it.

Gimli grinned and patted him on the arm. "Aragorn's as stubborn as you are," the Dwarf informed his friend.

"Gimli…" Legolas groaned. "I know that!" He looked down at the Dwarf and sighed. "I am not helpless, no matter that Aragorn seems to believe that I am." The fleet and nimble Elf took a few steps forward, when he heard a whistling sound- the sounds of arrows. "Something approaches," he said, loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Hands flew to either bows or the hilts of swords. The swords were unsheathed swiftly, and arrows were notched. Haldir, Glorfindel, and Aragorn held their bows ready, and Boromir, Legolas, and Thranduil had their swords drawn. Gimli brandished his axe threateningly.

Orcs finally came into sight, with numerous Uruk-Hai and…

"Five Nazgul," Aragorn breathed.

Gimli looked at Legolas worriedly, before turning back to face their opponents. The foul creatures were rapidly approaching them, and the shrieks came from all around. As they drew within range, the archers let loose their arrows, killing most of them before they got close enough to be killed by swords.

Legolas stabbed one directly through the heart, before dancing out of the way of another weapon being thrust at him. He was not truly surprised that most of the creatures were heading towards him- along with Glorfindel and Haldir. They were looking for him, Legolas determined, as he brought his sword up and slit a throat.

Boromir's sword decapitated one Uruk-Hai, before he whirled and blocked a blow aimed for his heart. He swung his sword to the right, directly across an Orc's throat. He narrowed his eyes when he saw that the golden-haired Elves were the ones that the minions of Sauron and Saruman were mostly targeting. So he fought his way over to Legolas' side, along with Thranduil.

'Fall back, my son, lest they realize who you are,' Thranduil said urgently, defending his only child as fiercely as he could. His sword sang as he stabbed two Orcs and beheaded another Uruk-Hai.

Legolas defiantly shook his head, as he continued parrying. Aragorn frowned and slowly edged his way over to his husband, still hitting his targets with the arrows.

'Use my bow and help Haldir and Glorfindel,' he said. 'Your father told me that you are a very good archer.'

Legolas exchanged his sword for the bow and quiver, scowling as Aragorn took his place fighting hand-to-hand, using his husband's sword to defend him.

Haldir's arrows pierced the hearts and throats of many Uruk-Hai, while Glorfindel's killed Orcs. Legolas notched an arrow and, taking the time to properly target it, easily killed another Uruk-Hai.

The Nazgul advanced on the blond Elves, and they did not seem to acknowledge the arrows or any weapons that were thrust against them.

"Legolas…" they hissed, looking at the archers.

Legolas froze at the sound of his name. He outwardly made no sign of acknowledging that it was him that the Ringwraiths sought. Haldir and Glorfindel remained silent, saying nothing. They were not going to betray the Prince.

Aragorn ducked under a blow aimed for his neck, bringing Legolas' sword up in an arc, splitting the creature he fought with down the middle. He was relieved to see that barely a handful remained of the foul creatures.

Gimli's axe tore into the Orcs, leaving many dead behind him. He used his axe to block a blow, before swung his axe straight into the Uruk-Hai's side.

Thranduil was both horrified and angered when he saw that the Nazgul were slowly forcing his son- along with Glorfindel and Haldir back towards a cliff's edge. Haldir brandished one of his Elven daggers, drawing it out of its sheath, while Glorfindel drew his own sword. The Elven blades extended towards the Ringwraiths, in a defensive gesture to protect Legolas. But for some reason, no weapons were hurting the Nazgul this time. The only other option was to use magic, and out of the entire group, only two could use magic, and it was dangerous for one of them, and the other had not cast magic for centuries- a millennia, in fact.

Legolas cupped his hands together, but Haldir knocked them apart and shook his head. The 'Lorien Elf knew that if Legolas cast a spell, the Nazgul would know that he was the one that they sought.

Glorfindel knew that it was too dangerous to let Legolas cast spells, because his magic was not stable, so he also shook his head.

'Then what do we do?' Legolas asked desperately. He fired another arrow at the Nazgul, only to see it break. Silence was the only answer he got.

***********

Rivendell

***********

Elrond was now able to use his limited healing magic on the Hobbits, to heal most of the injuries.

The majority of the Hobbits were sleeping, in chairs, on the floor, and a few were in bed. Elladan and Elrohir were carefully taking the little ones to empty beds in spare rooms.

Elrohir frowned suddenly, as he looked around. 'Elladan, have you seen Elena recently? She should not see this.'

'No…' Elladan slowly said, carefully placing a limp, sleeping Hobbit in a bed. 'Where could she have gotten to?'

'That was no battle,' Elrond said bitterly, for in spite of his efforts- and that of Mithrandir's, and his sons, more than ten Hobbits had died- all children. 'It was a massacre.'

'I know, my friend. What chance did they have against the Ringwraiths?' Mithrandir sighed, shaking his head.

Elrond whispered, 'None at all, my old friend. None at all…'

*********

Mordor

*********

The four Hobbit friends cringed when Meron stormed into the dungeons. They could tell from the way that the evil one was walking loudly that he was in a very bad mood.

Meron stomped directly over to the cells and sneered at all of them. "I've decided to be generous," he said, smirking. "One of you can go free- but the rest must stay. Decide now."

Frodo gasped, along with Merry, Sam, and Pippin. None of them could willingly choose to leave and let their friends stay behind to be tortured.

"Pippin, you or Merry should leave," Frodo said, being the brave Hobbit he always was.

Merry protested, "I won't leave you here."

"I can't," Pippin said. "You're all my friends. You go, Frodo."

Sam interjected, "Frodo's right. You leave, Pippin." He knew that Frodo wanted to get the youngest of them free."

"Yes, Pippin," Merry said, hearing a cry of protest from the younger Hobbit.

Meron smirked again. "All right, then. This… Pippin will return to Rivendell and tell Lord Elrond these exact words…"

***********

The Battle

***********

Legolas, Haldir, and Glorfindel were all the way at the edge of the cliff. The efforts of the others to draw the attention of the Nazgul away failed, for the Ringwraiths would acknowledge no one but the three in front of them.

Glorfindel and Haldir stood in front of Legolas, to keep him and the unborn child safe from the foul, evil creatures. They could not step back any further, lest they step off the cliff edge.

Legolas' azure eyes met Aragorn's brown ones worriedly. He could see that the one he loved was very afraid for him right now, and admittedly, Aragorn had a good right to be. The five black riders were about to knock not only him, but Glorfindel and Haldir off the cliff as well.

Glorfindel swung his sword at the Nazgul warningly and flinched when the keen blade broke on the hard flesh, shattering to the ground. Two of the Nazgul approached the golden-haired Elven lord, only to be threatened with a blade that appeared in front of him.

Haldir kept Legolas behind him with one hand, and his dagger was protecting Glorfindel, who stealthily reached over and grabbed the other dagger that Haldir still had sheathed. It sang as it was drawn, and the blade pointed towards the Ringwraiths as well.

Legolas wished that he still had his sword, though he knew it would have done little good. He stepped back and wavered slightly, before Haldir's hand caught a hold of him, keeping him from falling.'

The Elven Prince decided that dangerous or not, using magic would be safer than falling over a cliff. He brought his hands together again and began murmuring a spell to drive the Nazgul away.

The Nazgul detected the magic and instantly began moving towards him.

Legolas was surprised when he started feeling light-headed, and he was forced to stop casting his spell, paling slightly. Haldir and Glorfindel did their best to protect him, but they were easily shoved out of the way, as the Nazgul drew closer. The others cried out, and Aragorn tried to reach Legolas, but was held back by two of the Nazgul.

The lead Ringwraith reached a dark, twisted hand towards Legolas' pale, beautiful face when…

A surge of power erupted through the air, knocking the Nazgul off of its feet.

To be continued