Chapter 27

"Ethrin…long have I waited to meet you. I suppose you are here to see me," the Old Crone said, smiling, thin lips stretched.

"Then I suspect you know why I'm here," Ethrin replied coldly.

"Oh, but your motives don't mean a thing. You could be so much more if you were to join me."

"I will not. I clearly understand why I want you dead!" Ethrin raised her arms up quickly, but then the Crone put up her hands too. Ethrin didn't know why, but she suddenly let her hands fall.

"My dear, you do not know how much I can help you. We both have power, and we both have strength. With me you could have all that you've ever desired. I can train you to use your power more wisely," the Old Crone whispered, hissing like a snake.

"Dina Be silent! I know why I am here, and nothing can stop me!" Ethrin shouted, but her voice wavered. Doubt began to fill her mind.

"You already feel it, dear. Your courage falters, and you know that what I say is right. You belong with me, and I can teach you so much more than those Konlor friends can teach you. They live by strict rules, but with me you are free." The Old Crone held up her hand, beckoning Ethrin forward.

Ethrin felt her heart beating up against her chest, and she found herself thinking, "why oppose such a valuable ally? With her I will be able to achieve my purposes, and I will not have to lie anymore." She slowly took a step forward towards the Crone, mesmerized by the enchanting words.

"That's it my dear, come to me, and you will find your destiny," the Old Crone hissed.

"Ethrin! What are you doing! Get yourself out of that trance right now! You've got work to do, and if I have to I will go and stab you if I must!" Diamond shouted.

Suddenly Ethrin felt herself jerk awake, and she felt all doubts leave her again. Stepping back, she whispered, "Crone, you have tricked me for the last time!" Holding up her hands once more, she was about to chant when suddenly the Old Crone started laughing.

"Do you laugh at your death?" Ethrin asked, her hands starting to shake.

"Legolas is nearing this forest, the Qualin Taure Dead Forest. I have already sent out one of my demons to him, and he will die," the Crone said.

"You lie! I have already seen to it he will stay away."

"I do not lie, child. You know that, I can see it in your eyes, as you can see it in mine. But I will call the demon back, if you will join our side. Legolas will be safe."

Ethrin felt her heart beat against her chest; felt the pain in her soul. She knew it was right for her to fight the Crone now, but thinking of Legolas ripped apart was too much.

"What is your decision?" the Old Crone asked with a hiss.

Legolas raced on, not caring anymore to keep Whiteshadow rested. His hurt drove him mad; his anger drove him on. Whiteshadow raced with all his strength, galloping as if trying to escape an enemy. Suddenly he reared, nearly throwing Legolas off. Pawing the air, Whiteshadow bellowed such a sound that nearly left Legolas deaf. Out from the trees came a demon.

"Legolas, Legolas, such a foolish being you are. Still coming here where you aren't wanted, trying to save someone who hates you," the thing hissed, waving its snake-like tail around.

"I know nothing for a fact. I come here to seek the truth, and I will not leave until I know it," Legolas replied, his fury nearly overpowering him.

"Ah, but the truth is in your eyes, your soul. I see it within you that you already know the truth, but are unwilling to accept it. You grasp a false thread of hope."

"Stay away from me or you will find your death here!" Legolas drew an arrow and pulled back the string of his bow. His eyes were wild, his soul nearly absolutely corrupted by betrayal, hate, pain, and a broken heart.

The creature laughed and sprang at Legolas just as he loosed his arrow. It shot the demon in the throat. The demon dropped, but was on his feet in less than a second. Legolas was about to launch another arrow when suddenly he felt himself jerk forward. Apparently, Whiteshadow had kept his sense and knew that he could outrun the demon. Speeding into the forest he left the demon behind.

While Legolas was conversing with the demon, the Crone was waiting for Ethrin's answer. It came quickly.

"You will die tonight! For when you die your creatures will die with you, or at least be forced away from the face of Middle-Earth! Prepare for your peril!" Ethrin screamed, sending a blaze of white light into the Crone's face.

The Old Crone reacted immediately, bringing up all her power and launched it at Ethrin. Instead of slaying Ethrin, as it should have done, the spell connected with the necklace that was upon Ethrin's neck. Connected in what seemed like a thread of light, the Old Crone and Ethrin rose into the air slowly.

"That is your mistake there, witch. I will now travel to ultimate death, not meant to be reborn like the other elves. But I am strong enough to bind you to me so I will take you there with me. I am female, just as you are, and so this binds us in a way that no other Konlor could. Meet your doom," Ethrin declared. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a small figure rise from the ground, a charm also floating and connecting to the thread.

"Diamond!" Ethrin thought, gritting her teeth.

"I have chosen this, Ethrin," Diamond said. She rose until the charm around her neck was also aligned with the thread. Suddenly the three started to spin; the light radiating from them was blinding.

"Aragorn, look!" Arlena said, pointing to the light in the distance. They had entered Mordor earlier that day, and were traveling as fast as they could towards Barad-dûr. Glorfindel and the rest were also looking at the light that made the night seem like day.

"Lortil has met with the Master," Aragorn whispered.

Whiteshadow sped into the clearing where Ethrin and the rest were. Legolas looked up, horrified. He dismounted Whiteshadow unconsciously, and walked towards the three spinning figures. He felt a tug on his sleeve and turned to find Frodo with tears in his eyes, gazing at the shapes in front and above them. Suddenly, there was a bright flash and then all that was left was dust. The dust sparkled like a million stars, falling to the ground. Legolas spotted something falling and quickly ran and caught it. Opening his hands, he found he was holding Ethrin's necklace, the Konlor's necklace.

Just then Aragorn and company appeared in the clearing. The stardust was nearly gone, and soon only the moon and stars lit the night.

"Ethrin couldn't tell you. Diamond only told me right before she left," Frodo said. Legolas was only a melancholy shadow standing in the middle of the clearing. Nobody spoke. All of a sudden all around them there exploded a blast of screams and cries. The cries stayed loud and shrill until slowly they faded away. There was no sign of demons anywhere.

"Where did Uumeawen go?" Frodo asked.

"She fled when her master was destroyed, and now she is nothing but a wandering spirit," Legolas answered. His voice was flat and possessed no feeling.

"Ethrin chose to go," Frodo said, "just as my Diamond did." He burst into a new flood of tears, and nothing could be heard for a long while except for the soft sniffing that Frodo unconstrained when each new tear was freed. Slowly Aragorn walked up to Legolas.

"Ethrin probably knew her fate. She did love you…" Aragorn's voice caught in his throat.

"She should have told me," Legolas said.

"You wouldn't have let her go, you know that. At least now you have memory of her." Legolas refused to move, his hand clenched around the charm so hard he felt blood starting to seep out.

"Let's go. We will go to Lothlórien, and there the Lady Galadriel might tell the rest. She will only be back in Middle-Earth for a little while," Aragorn said, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. Legolas turned to him, smiling. He kneeled down and gave Frodo a hug. After helping Frodo mount the young horse, Legolas mounted Whiteshadow. The rest were silent still as they got on their own mounts. Soon they were out of the Dead Forest. Legolas's hand gripped the necklace; tears flowed generously now.