Ok this is getting annoying, with a few of the reviews.  Yes! I know that my story is a Mary Sue! I am aware of this fact!   I do not care if you think this story "bites" because a lot of others seem to like it.  I am going to keep writing because it is fun, so go ahead and flame, but I assure you, it will do you no good. Thank you…  *end rant*

**************************NOTE************************

This will not follow the book!! I have not seen nor read the third book, so I don't know what Mordor looks like, and I do not know if the eagles survived the 3rd book.

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Chapter 20

Disclaimer- I don't own anything but Ariel, Leona, and anything else that do not belong to Tolkien. REVIEW!!!!

"Four WEEKS!" I exclaimed. "Then, that means…" I slumped back into my chair and felt tears make their way down my cheeks. "How will I make it there in time?" I asked. "With all of the people in the Fellowship, we will all go really slow.  Only a single person could…" I left off realizing what I had to do. "I have to go alone." I whispered. Galadriel sighed.

"I am sorry, if there was another way, then I would tell you.  You will have your best chance of getting there if you leave tonight." She watched my face.

"No, it will be best if I leave now. Can you get Flame ready for me, and load her with all of my stuff?" she nodded. Then I asked.

"Galadriel, is it true that elves can die from broken hearts?" I asked. 

"Yes, why?"

"Legolas." I thought sadly.  The only way to save him was to stop this.  I felt my own heart break, as I knew what I must do. "Ariel. You don't have to do that," said Galadriel quietly. Her blue eyes held regret and sorrow but also understanding. "Yes. It is the only way to protect him." Tears ran freely down my face as I thought about it. 

"Very well.  I wish you luck, and I will tell everyone to get ready."

"Wait! I don't want anyone to know. It will be easier then. When I… tell them when I am gone." I swiped at the tears on my cheeks and she nodded. "As you wish." She nodded to me and I ran out of the room to find Legolas.  I did not notice that Pippin was running through grass to something. I saw the familiar flash of bright blond hair by the river and I slowed down.

"Legolas?" I called swiping at the tears.  He turned and I saw that Arwen was with him.  He stood and smiled at me. "A'maelamin. How are- what is wrong?" he walked up to me quickly and embraced me stroking my back. I choked back a sob.

"No! Please. Don't touch me now." I said. I jerked back. He had a stunned expression on his face. "What is wrong? What happened?" I pushed him back and he looked from me back to Arwen. Arwen had a similar expression on her face. "Ariel, tell me what is wrong." He plead.

"Legolas, I can't be with you anymore. This is… just not right." I searched for an excuse. "I was just using you. I don't love you." I gasped out with surprise when he gripped my chin in an iron fist. I looked down at the ground.

"Ariel… why are you saying this?" he asked. I tried to jerk away. "Ariel! Look at me and say that it is over. Look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't love me." He jerked my chin up to face him.  Roughly his lips claimed my own and he thrust his tongue between my lips and in to my mouth. I moaned and for a second lost the reason why I was here. He ripped his lips away from my own and growled. "Look at me and say it." His eyes bore in to mine. "Look at me and say that again." His eyes were full of fear and some anger.

"Legolas." I whispered. "I don't love you. It… it-its over." Arwen gasped and Legolas let me go. "Why?" he whispered. His brown eyes were filled with pain and hurt.

 "I have to keep you safe." I jerked away and ran backwards tears running down my face unchecked.  I ran to the stables and saw that Haldir and Galadriel were awaiting me with Flame.

"Here. I wish you all the luck in the world." Haldir gave me Flame's reins and embraced me.  I hugged him closer and whispered. "Tell Legolas that I will miss him." He nodded and pressed a fatherly kiss to my forehead.  Galadriel came up next and embraced me much as Haldir did.  "Stay safe.  Travel fast as you can.  May the Valar protect you." She stepped off to the side and I mounted.  "Goodbye!" I called. I kicked Flame to a gallop and we ran through the forest.

**Legolas's point of view**

I barely heard what she said. When she ran away I stood stunned. Arwen walked up in front of me and held me close. "Why? I don't understand." I whispered. A frantic breathing reached my Elven ears and Pippin burst through the woods. "Le-Legolas!" he gasped. "Ariel! She left.  I accidentally heard her an' the lady talkin' and she said that she was leavin'. Galadriel said that she should leave and Ariel said that she would spare your life, so you would not die. They said that the ring would kill her if it stayed on too long.  She said it was better that she left. And-" I jerked away and ran down to find Galadriel.

She was standing by the stables a single tear running down her face. "Galadriel! Where is she?" I demanded. She looked up at me. "What? How do you know?"

"It does not matter! She will die! Where did she go?" I saw that she turned her head away. "To Mordor.  Almost an hour ago." I ran to my room and began to throw all of my things into my bag. It took less than five minutes. When I was finished, I strung my bow and set my quivers on my back.  I trotted out to the stables and began to saddle Arod. Galadriel stood off to the side. "Legolas, it is too late.  She is going and you will not be able to stop her."

I whirled around furious. "You let her GO! She is alone, in a world that she has only just began to adjust to and you let her go?" I strapped the saddlebags on Arod and got ready to mount. "Here." Said the Lady. She set a large bag of rations in the bag. "Good luck." I nodded and kicked Arod in to a gallop.

**Ariel**

Ten Days Later

 Flame was tired, as was I. I knew that my time was running out and it scared me. But the only thing that comforted me was that Legolas and Middle Earth would all be safe if I succeeded. I urged her on and then something caught my eyes.  A body darted in and out of the trees.  I drew my sword and watched my surroundings. Another being darted out and back in. I halted Flame and dismounted. An arrow sung past me to lodge in the saddle. Flame neighed in fear and orcs then surrounded us.

"Give us th' ring." A tall one ordered, pointing a jagged sword at me. I spat at his feet and dodged the sword blade. I did a summersault and (silently thanked my cheer leading teacher lol) and cut his left leg.  He roared and the others charged. I knew that I had no chance and fought for as long as I could. I killed a few and one of them managed to make a large deep gash in my left arm. I cried out in pain and one of them pushed me. I curled up in a ball holding the wound.  I looked up at the crude blade about to stab into me, and screamed. Something large swooped down and knocked down the orc.

The creature flew back up and dive-bombed more.  Soon I was forgotten, when the orcs retreated. I took the spare time to bandage my wound. The creature landed before me and I realized what it was. A giant bird. It cocked his head at me and then in a ringing voice asked. "Are you the one who bears the ring?" I nodded and stood up.  "Who are you?" I asked.

"You would not be able to pronounce my name, call me Sidnarth. (That is pronounced Sid- Na- rath) the Lady of the Light sent me.  She said to take you to the Dreaded Mountain." He ruffled his wings and glanced at the horse. "Unload what you need, and let her go. She will go back to the golden woods. I will carry you to Mordor. I will be faster."  I nodded and unloaded my food and water, along with weapons, a first aid kit, and my journal. I stuffed all of it in my carry bag, and patted Flame. "Be careful." I said. She nickered and I slapped her rump softly. She trotted off and I turned to Sidnarth. "See, normally a giant flying, talking bird would have scared me." I said dryly.

"Yes, yes. Now come, we have to get there before to long. The other is on his way."  I wondered briefly what he meant and then mounted. I set my legs on either side of his neck, above his wings and he took off.  The wind rushed through my hair and I was lost in the rush. I only had four days until the ring became bound to me.

**Legolas**

The giant eagle that I rode, did not talk much except to tell me his name was Narg. We would reach Mordor in less than four days by air.

**Ariel**

4 days later.

We flew to the smoking mountain that slowly grew bigger as we neared. When we dropped sharply I held on to my pack and feathers.  We landed with a thump and I jumped off. My legs were stiff, from 2 days of sitting, sleeping, and eating on the colossal bird.  "This is where I leave you." He said. I looked up in surprise. "I can go no farther.  The other will reach you as soon as he can."

"Who is the other?" I asked. He shook his head. "I know not. Good luck." He nodded to me and took off. I shrugged and set the backpack on my back.  Then I began the long journey.  It took 3 hours, and I could fell myself going slower and slower.  The ring seemed too becoming heavier and heavier. When I stopped I was at the edge of a sharp incline.  There was a bright light coming from the top, almost a hundred feet up.  I sagged against the wall and took a swig of the water and then a small bite of the Lembas.  A slight bit of strength returned to me and I opened my eyes.

"CRAP!" I said under my breath.  An assortment of over fifty creatures was pursuing me. Seven or eight were cloaked and held bows and arrows; I assumed that they were elves. I stuffed another bite of the Lembas in to my mouth and began to walk up the steep hill. I knew that they had spotted me when I glanced back they had sped up.  I swore angrily. The hill grew steeper with each step and I climbed as fast as I could. With the combined weight of the ring and the pack I carried it was tough.

There was a set of steps that led to the cave, and then I would be at the spot to dispose of the ring.  I heard "chink" sound issued from a rock behind me and I yelped. They were close enough to be shooting arrows that they were. The eight-cloaked "elves" ran after me and I stumbled in my haste to get away. I rolled down a bit before I could right myself.  Quickly I began to run again.  They were barely fifteen feet behind me, but not shooting arrows. The ground was too steep for them to.

I reached the top and ran as fast as I could, dropping everything. In the cave there was a long bridge that stretched over the pit of lava, and the heat was almost unbearable.  Quickly I ran over to the bridge and slipped off the ring.  I was about to drop and end this, when I realized. I was bound to it. I tried to drop it, but my hand would not work. "NO!" I screamed in anger. I was so close and I could not do it.  I glanced over at the staircase and saw that the elves were coming up. I could not move.

"Give us the ring, and you will live to see another day." Came a deep voice from within one of the cloaks. He drew his bow and strung an arrow.  I laughed bitterly. "You fool. The ring is bound to me.  I will already die if the ring is destroyed. So if I give it to you, the whole world dies." I held my hand over the pit like I was going to drop it. "Come and get me." I whispered.

The leader growled and threw back his hood.  He pulled back his bowstring and aimed at me. "Have it your way elf." I saw that one of them moved to stop him, but another held him back. I caught a glimpse of blond hair and then the bow twanged. The sharp arrow did not need to be poisoned; it was lodged in my heart. I gasped in pain and felt my hand drop the ring into the fiery depths of the pit.  All of the elves turned to dust, except one.

"Ariel!" he cried. I wavered on my feet. "Legolas." I coughed into my hand and saw blood. He ran up to me and caught me as I toppled. Carefully he kneeled and cradled me in his arms. "You are… no-not supposed to be… here." I managed out.  My body was on fire, probably because the ring was melting in the lava. Tears dropped down his face and mingled with my own. "A'maelamin. Please, stay with me.  The ring is gone. You have to stay with me." His voice was thick with fear and pain. I coughed and shudders racked my body. Legolas held me so I was sitting up against him. My blood pooled around my body.

"Legolas. I… am… sor-" I screamed in pain as it felt like flames enveloped my body. My body arched in sheer pain and I fell back in to his arms, panting and gasping. "I am sorry. I was wrong… to hurt you. I do… I… love you." I knew that I did not have much time left, and I caressed his face, ignoring the pain in my chest.

"Mela! Come on! Stay with me.  You can't leave.  There has to be something, anything to help you." He looked wildly around.  "Legolas. There is nothing…. Nothing that you can do. Just… please… kiss me." I whispered.

His brown eyes melted and he bent forward and gently pressed his lips to mine. I opened my lips and kissed him back. For a second all of the pain melted away and it was complete heaven. Then my vision started to fade. "I love you." I whispered as my eyes closed. Faintly I heard him call. "No! I love you. Please… don't leave me."

**Legolas**

"No! I love you! Please… don't leave me." I shook her still body gently. Tears were running down my face as I realized. Her hand slipped from my face and fell limp to the ground. "Valar, no." I held her now limp body close and buried my face in her hair and cried.

Oh MY GOD!!  I killed her off! Ahhhhh. Oh well. Legolas is my own now! Hahaha. And don't worry. Something good will happen.

Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!