Disclaimer: I own Telpefirith and Barithel and that's about it. Everything else is Tolkien's.

The Flight

The rain had abated somewhat as the king escorted his son down to where the wizard was waiting.

Barithel, himself, swung his son on the horse in front of Telpefirith. "May Elbereth shine his face on you."

"And you likewise." Telpefirith kicked the horse's sides and rode from the fair Elven city. With one arm, he held child to his chest.

They had gone several miles when Telpefirth first heard the grunts of the orcs. Bending low in the saddle, he urged the swift horse faster.

The rain increased and a clap of thunder echoed through the trees.

Nidelain whimpered and cowered beneath the wizard, watching through half-closed eyes as the scenery whizzed pass.

All of a sudden, there was a thunder of hoof beats and all nine of the Nazgúl broke from the trees right ahead of them, forming a line to block the horse and rider's path.

Telpefirith desperately tried to turn his horse to the side but the Nazgúl quickly sprang into his path.

A metal hand cocked in the wizard's direction. "Give us the prince," it hissed vehemently.

"No," Telpefirith raised his staff. "Leave this place!"

If it was possible, the black rider chuckled. "You command us? A wizard barely thirty years old?" The words were spit out with s's sharply accented.

Nidelain gnawed on his lower lip.

Telpefirth paused and raised his staff into the sky. "By the power vested in me by the Valar, I command you to leave this place! May the flame of stars blind your eyes from all that is good and noble!"

A blue flame burst from the staff and bathed the surrounding area in an eerie blue light that seemed to pierce the Nazgúl themselves.

A shriek came from the empty hoods and the black riders turned their horses away from the source of their discomfort, quickly riding away into the darkening forest.

Sighing in relief, Telpefirith lowered his staff and clumsily patted the small elf child's quivering head. "They have left now," he soothed.

"Have they?" asked a sharp voice from behind them. "I think not."

Telpefirith stiffened. Immediately recognizing the voice. "What…" he swallowed hard, "what are you doing here?"

A deep laughed rumbled. "Looking after my interests."

Telpefirith wheeled his horse around to face the figure clothed in white. "You have come to help us, Saruman? Somehow I find that hard to believe."

Saruman shook his head. "You were the only one, Telpefirith. The only one whoever saw through my disguise. Not even Gandalf has ever guessed I'm anything but pure." He chuckled and took a step towards the horse. "I see the potential in you! You're training is only half-through and you already are more powerful then wizards that our hundreds of years your senior. Instead of you fighting against me, we could join forces. We would be unstoppable with our combined powers. Together we could conquer and rule Middle Earth…just hand over the Elven prince."

The clouds broke loose and torrents of rain gushed down.

Telpefirith bowed his head and stared at the shaking child, who was burying his face his robes. "I cannot," he whispered.

"You cannot?"

Telpefirith raised his voice and his head. "I will not. I took an oath when I first came under your wing and I do not intend to break it."

Saruman nodded. "It as I thought." Raising his eyes to the clouds, he began to speak loudly in the Elven language.

The horse whinnied and skittered backward, recognizing the absolute evil in the chanted words.

Telpefirith murmured softly in Elvish. He knew that he could not directly attack the mighty wizard but he would try to protect him and his precious charge. Middle Earth depended on it.

A green bolt flashed towards Telpefirth and Nidelain

Fortunately, the shield Telpefirith had thrown up held; but still some of the power leaked through, most of it onto the wizard.

Crying out in pain, he fell from the horse and to the muddy ground. Twisting his body, he managed to break Nidelain's fall. Telpefirith felt something inside tear and he cried out in pain. Rain pattered on his face and washed away the blood that was dribbling out of his mouth.

Nidelain let out a sharp cry as Saruman's arms grabbed him from Telpefirith's grasp and into the air.

Summoning the last of his energy, the young wizard called out an ancient Elven spell in a last ditch effort to save his young charge's life.

Saruman let out a sharp gasp and dropped the young prince.

The prince scurried on his hands and knees towards Telpefirith, fear clearly written on his face.

Stretching out his staff, Saruman attempted to pull him back with green electricity that shot from the end.

Then something amazing happened.

Nidelain turned and instinctively held up one hand to block the fast incoming energy. Instead of passing right through his hand, the energy seemed to bounce back and be joined by blue electricity.

The force of the combined electricity knocked Saruman from his feet and through him back into a tree. Another bolt of energy sent him stumbling back the way he had come.

Nidelain watched him go before turning to Telpefirith. "He's gone," he whispered softly. "You can get up now."

The wizard pushed himself to his feet. Blood matted the front and back of his robes. He coughed weakly. "Come, Prince Nidelain." Telpefirith called to the horse in Elvish. When the horse was standing before him, he swung Nidelain onto the tall back before slowly climbing up himself.

They rode for two hours before Telpefirth collapsed off the horse from weakness caused by the blood loss.

The prince knelt beside him. "Are you well?" he asked, his face full of honest concern.

Telpefirith stroked the long blonde hair. "I will be." Reaching up, he drew the child against his chest and murmured his final spell.

"May Elbereth save you from harm

And the wiles of the enemies' charms

May protection fall upon you that day

And keep the evil ones at bay

May your mind be erased of your beginning

And only remember what is coming

What cannot be held is better off forgotten

What is lost is better off not sought…"

Telpefirith's voice trailed off. "And may the Valar grant all these requests." He looked down at the now sleeping child; and with one last gentle sigh, the young wizard closed his eyes forever.