Angel's Curse

By: Minyalaithien

Disclaimer: I don't own LotR or it's characters… darn. Allaina is my own fictional character.

Chapter 7: Angel's Death

They turned East onto the road towards Mordor and passed the Minas Tirith, the City of the Nazgul. They marched on and on up the Steep Stairs and the Winding Stairs. As they neared the top, both were weary and took a rest. They did not know whether it was day or night, because the sky was always black with smoke.

As the two headed on, they reached an opening in the mountain wall. Legolas grimly walked in, not knowing what to expect from inside. Because of the Elves' keen eyesight, they could see a few feet ahead in the darkness. Allaina felt her way along the wall on one side of the narrow tunnel, and Legolas slid his hand along the other. He kept his left hand on Allaina's shoulder, so she would not stray. As they went deeper into the tunnel, neither spoke. The only sound would be Legolas' heavy breathing. Allaina was sure she heard a hint of nervousness in him. She tried to look at him in the darkness, but as it got darker, her eyesight was worse. She slid her hand on top of Legolas' and held it on her shoulder.

"We'll be alright, will we not?" she asked, trying not to think of the answer he could give.

"I do not know. I have never been here," Legolas' voice was nervous and partly annoyed at her question, "But I will try to find a way to the other side." He grew quiet as if listening to something. "Do you hear that noise?"

Allaina caught her breath and listened intently as they walked slower and slower. "I hear it." She heard a rythmic tap from something unseen coming closer to them from in front. "What is it," she asked.

"Shelob. The giant queen spider. She lives here, and feeds off of the blood of Men," Legolas paused, "and Elves."

Allaina stopped in her tracks and stepped closer to Legolas, looking fearfully at him. "Let us turn back."

"Then this mission will not be accomplished. We have to find a way. To your sister and the death of that ring," Legolas took Allaina's shoulders in his strong hands. "I will not let anything near you. I will protect you, even if I am slayed while defending you. I will die fighting for you and our people." The tapping came nearer as Allaina nodded quietly. The creature, Shelob, could be seen now. She was a huge spider, with venom dripping from her fangs and many beady eyes all staring at the two. Legolas grabbed Allaina's wrist and pulled her to his right.

"When I give you a chance, run around it's body and to the other end of this tunnel. You should be able to get out quickly, I just need to keep Shelob occupied." Allaina laid against the wall to Legolas' right and watched as he shot arrow after arrow at the spiders eyes. He nodded to her and Allaina scuttled around the giant and felt her way to the opposite side where the rest of the tunnel was.

To Legolas' surprise, the spider spit its venom at his face then turned and chased after Allaina. Legolas covered his eyes and wiped the poison off with the sleeve of his cloak. He heard a distant scream as the princess was caught by Shelob.

*

Allaina raced down the tunnel as she was chased by the menacing spider. Shelob pounced on Allaina, knocking her to the ground as it quickly spun it's threads around her body.

The princess looked fearfully at the giant and screamed for Legolas again and again.

*

Legolas followed the screams down the tunnel to the spider and Allaina on the floor next to it. He took his bow in one hand and his arrow in the other and carefully aimed at the spiders eyes. As Shelob moved closer for a strike, Legolas rolled under it and took his dagger from it's sheath. He jumped onto the spiders back as it hastily turned to face him. The prince took the dagger in his hands and brang it down angrily on top of Shelob's head, making the spider silent.

He breathed a sigh of releif. "You're alright," he said softly to Allaina, who was still lying on the floor. Legolas came to her in the darkness and looked at her pale face. His heart filled with dread as he noticed her chest not moving and her silence instead of breath. As he fought the spider, it's vemon had dripped onto Allaina, making her lose herself in her subconcious.

"Allaina?" he whispered so soft only he could hear. "Allaina!" Legolas yelled louder. Allaina remained silent. Legolas took his dagger and quickly broke the threads around her. "Allaina!" She did not answer. Her lips were slightly parted but no breath came from her mouth. Her pale face seemed to lose it's beautiful glow. Anxiety rushed over Legolas as he stared at her and shook his head. "This cannot be… This cannot be!"

She is gone. A voice in the back of the elf's mind said to him pointedly.

"No!" Legolas ran his hand down her cheek and took her head in his arms. His voice wavered as he repeated himself. "No…" His body shook as silver tears slid down his cheeks.

As he cried, he heard evil laughter and a red light coming through the tunnel in the darkness. He straightened up and cursed himself angrily for not paying attention. He looked down at the pale princess and took the gold ring from the chain around her neck. Legolas slid it on his finger and gasped as the world he was used to changed. He could understand the laughs coming closer and could see clearly in the dark. Allaina lye beside him, and looked like a ghost. He did not feel invisable, but easily seen. The laughter turned into stomps and many orcs came near the two.

Legolas panicked and straightened against a rock wall. It was cold on his back. He watched as the orcs came closer to them. They laughed and stomped up the tunnel. As they neared, Legolas could hear their voices.

"Shelob is dead. Killed with an elf dagger. It's easy to tell, just look at her wound!" The orcs laughed as they talked about how the elf slayed the giant spider. "It will be easier for us to get through here now!" Legolas looked down at Allaina and cursed himself for not thinking of how to hide her body from them.

They neared Legolas and Allaina then one of the orcs screeched. "Hai! Look! A dead elf!" Legolas cringed when they described the princess lying on the ground.

"No, she's not dead, just unconcious," replied another. Legolas listened hopefully. "You idiot, elves do not die from Shelob's vemon! They would merely sleep for some time. Let's take her with us. She will wake soon and we can have some fun." The elvish prince glared at the orcs and drew his dagger. It glinted in the red glow of the orcs' torches. One of them noticed the light and hissed.

"What was that? Did you see it?" The others nodded and picked up the princess's body quickly. "Let's leave here." They walked quickly out of the tunnel, followed by Legolas.