Um.sorry the last chapter was kinda dumb. This one is not much better. Oh well, I'll let you decide for yourselves :)

Here it goes.

Not since the days of the Last Alliance had the hosts of Mordor received such a challenge as they did now. Knights of Gondor, Riders of Rohan and the last elf-warriors were assembled outside the Black Gate. At the head of the cavalry of Rohan were Théoden, Éomer and Éowyn. The elves were led by Elrond, Celeborn and Galadriel. Bearing the standard for the Knights of Gondor were Faramir and an unfamiliar face for many, Aragorn son of Arathorn. Around him were his friends, Gandalf, Arwen, Legolas, Gimli, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin.

From atop Barad-dûr, Sauron watched them alone, his gaze fixed on Aragorn. Below him, the orcs, men and beasts in service of him were rallying, brandishing their weapons and fixing their armour into place. Above him, nine winged creatures wheeled, bearing the Ringwraiths.

"My Lord?"

Sauron looked over his shoulder and saw Saruman, wearied after climbing the steps of Barad-dûr.

"We are ready for war".

Sauron nodded, turned and headed down the steps of Barad-dûr.

***

Gandalf, Elrond, Aragorn and Galadriel were conferring on the matter of how to attack the Black Gate when startled cries went up from the army behind them. Lumbering their way forward were the ents of Fangorn Forest. Leading them was one particularly wizened and ancient one.

Gandalf smiled as he saw him coming, "I was rather relying on your arrival Treebeard, my old friend".

The ent nodded slowly, "The ents are going to the land of fire. It is likely none shall ever emerge. But if our destiny is to break down the gate of Mordor, then it shall be done as.", he gave a wry smile, "*hastily* as possible".

Another wild cry went up. A figure had appeared on the Black Gate. Sauron.

The Dark Lord spoke, but not with is voice of deep terror that was associated with him. He talked in a slow, pleasing manner of great charisma.

"Well, this is indeed an honour", he began, "All these strange and wonderous folk of the West have done me the greatest of favours. They have allowed me to gaze upon such dignity and strangeness that has not been seen in the East for a very long time. Why, I see many different races! Elves. Men. Dwarves. Halflings. Wizards. I even have the privilege of meeting the magnificent ents!"

A great hush fell upon the army assembled before him. They listened in silence as Sauron went on. "But tell me, o wonderous folk", he said gently, "What business do you have at the gate of my home? Surely it is not just for my entertainment?"

"Your words are wasted, Dark One!" Gandalf answered harshly, "You know our purpose. We are here to defeat the villains of Mordor".

"Villains? Villains? My dear wizard", Sauron opened his palms in a placating gesture, "I would have thought you would have researched the matter more deeply. My homeland has made no attack! Only defence. Gondor has threatened us for some time, merely because they do not trust the orcs".

The Gondorian men yelled in protest, but Sauron cut them all of in a voice that was quiet and soft yet deafening and commanding to the mind.

"And the attack on the Hornburg? Not of my doing, I assure you! That was the work of Saruman!"

"Whom you now shelter!" Elrond declared.

"I wish no hurt to any living thing, even one so treacherous and vile as the fallen wizard of Isengard! You have hunted him down, and now I protect him until more suitable arrangements can be made. Such as the one I offer now.

"My friends, long have we feuded and fought. And now I say it should come to an end. Are you not sick of the bloodshed? My orc friends are! Enough of their kind has been slain. Why not end the conflict?

"The power of the Ring is not in malice and destruction as foolish legends say it is, but in unity and knowledge. I can lead you all to futures brighter, my Ring and I. What say you? Or do you need time to think it over?"

No answer came for some time. No word was uttered amongst the ranks of the West. Until at last Aragorn stepped forward.

"I speak for all when I say that your speech has deeply affected us, Lord of Mordor. But it is only a thin veil that covers your evil! Are we to trust one such as you, a leader of murderers, pillagers and cannibals! Are we to trust a servant of Morgoth?"

At once, Sauron became dark and terrible once more, his voice deep and bellowing. Lightning flashed and Mount Doom spewed molten lava.

"Servant? SERVANT OF MORGOTH? I am nobody's servant; I am greater than Morgoth in every way! I can see now I've over estimated the Westerners. Clearly they are as stupid as they are naïve! So be it! The forces of Mordor will destroy you, and my orcs will feast of your flesh and my trolls crack your bones! Let it be so!"

With that, he turned and was gone from the gate. There was a great creaking, amounting to a roar, and the gate began to open. Arwen looked at Aragorn and whispered, "Now it ends. We will fight and die together".

The soldiers of the West rallied to the blowing of the horns of their houses. At that moment the beasts of Mordor were revealed as the gate was fully opened.

Orcs, thousands and thousands of orcs, backed up by nearly as many uruk- hai, Easterlings and Southrons. Mounted wargs bounded forward, bearing their orc riders with ease. Oliphants crashed forth; each with a citadel on it's back. And trolls bellowed and roared at the sight of the enemy.

The Ringwraiths circled above, but in their spirals they were getting lower and lower, closer to their foes.

Hails of arrows came from the orc and Southron ranks, but the Westerners raised their shields and most of the projectiles bounced off harmlessly. Then they returned fire, elven and men archers loosening their bowstrings. Orcs dropped, and a great troll staggered forward and crashed down dead, an arrow in between its eyes.

Gimli watched it collapse, and then turned to the one who had fired and yelled, "One for the Lady of the Wood!"

Galadriel smiled back at him, then resumed her firing, this time at wargs. The giant wolf-like creatures were charging at the Riders of Rohan, both the rider and the steed lusting for the blood of its foe. Spears were thrown by the Riders, skewering orcs and wargs alike, before they met in a horrendous clash of swinging swords, braying horses and gnashing wargs.

Next, infantry clashed with infantry. Whilst the orcs of Mordor were not immensely dangerous, there were many thousands of them, and when one was destroyed more took its place. The Southrons were grim and determined, thrusting at the opposing army with their spears. War-hardened and cunning, the Easterlings fought with the savagery of trolls as they bought their heavy axes down onto helm and shield, cracking both. The uruk-hai were armed with broad bladed swords with a hooked end and broad shields, and they were also stronger than even the Easterlings. Snarling and bellowing as they attacked, it was obvious they enjoyed the battle.

But help came from another quarter. The Ents attacked, swinging their long limbs in an un-coordinated but powerful manner. Orcs and men broke like matchsticks once struck, the front line demolished by these most unlikely of foes. Given heart by this aid, the men and elves cheered and fought alongside the Ents, far more organized and supple in their fighting than the orcs.

Trolls attacked, swinging heavy hammers manically. The Ents rushed to intercept them, and the fighting was brutal and exhausting. There were many more trolls than Ents, but they were smaller and their hammers had little effect on the tree-herders of Fangorn Forest.

Merry, although he was ordered to keep back and hide behind a rocky hill with the other hobbits by Gandalf, caught a glimpse of Treebeard. He was wrestling with three trolls bare-knuckled, grunting under the great strain as the creatures of Mordor grabbed hold of him. As Merry watched, Treebeard prised the knotted hand of one troll off him, and then seized the beast and hurled it at the orc ranks, crushing many. One arm now free, he swung a punch into the face of another assailant. The troll went down and did not get back up.

The last troll, confused by his opponent's strength, faltered for a moment. It was his undoing. Treebeard's long-fingered hands seized him by the throat, then hoisted him off the ground and hurled him at an oliphant, which trumpeted, stumbled and fell onto its Southron allies.

***

Sauron watched the battle's progress from his perch in Barad-dûr. It was not going as well as he might have hoped. The folk of the west were hearty and bold, as well as incredibly skilled, driving the lines of orcs back.

But Sauron had more pressing matters on his black mind. A winged Nazgûl approached, hovering just outside the platform on which Sauron was. It was the Witch-king.

"You called, master?" it hissed in a low voice.

"I did. Bring me the she-elf of Rivendell, daughter of Elrond at once. Alive and unspoiled".

The Witch-king's steed wheeled about at once and headed back towards the battle.

***

Aragorn thrust his sword into the chest of an orc, and then yanked it out quickly to parry a blow coming from an Easterling axe. The two men traded blows quickly, until Aragorn decapitated the evil being with a powerful swipe.

Although he was fighting like he had never fought before, out of the corner of his eye he was keeping watch over Arwen. She was gracefully swinging her elven sword in wide arcs, shearing down rows of orcs and men with ease. But Aragorn had vowed never again to let her out of his sight for more than a few minutes at a time, so whilst he grappled with a ferocious uruk-hai he still watched her.

Above the hideous clanging and cries of war, a shrill scream sounded, and a winged Nazgûl descended onto the ash plains. Both soldiers of the west and east backed away as the fell beast flexed its talons and bellowed. With a cry, the Witch-king and its steed swooped down towards Arwen.

Aragorn called out her name and rushed to protect her, but many orcs, including uruk-hai, barred his way, gnashing and snarling as they leapt on him, knocking him back and forcing him to halt his charge.

Arwen swiped at the winged creature, and it recoiled slightly. Then it lunged at her and knocked her down, and the Witch-king's iron hand reached out to seize her.

Suddenly, its mount began to wail and shudder. Elrond had thrust his sword deep into its flesh, and it screeched in pain. The Ringwraith turned in his saddle to face this new threat. He stabbed at Elrond with his sword. Elrond parried, leapt nimbly aside another slash and attacked the Black Captain. They fought sword-to-sword, and it seemed neither could win, until the fell beast snapped its neck around to face Elrond and seized him in its jaws.

Arwen screamed. Aragorn watched in horror as the monster bit down. There was the ghastly crunching of bones, and then Elrond lay still. The winged reptile swung its head back and forth, and Elrond was shaken like a rag doll until the great jaws released him and his lifeless form was tossed away.

Arwen watched her father's corpse sail past and land amidst a crowd of cheering orcs. She collapsed to her knees and cried. The grief was strong and unbearable, it made her feel useless and weak, too weak to even lift her head. She put her face in her hands and wept.

The Nazgûl, with a cry of triumph, reached out for her and seized her. He got no resistance as he flung her onto the back of the saddle and yanked on the reins he held. His steed rose up, beating its giant wings rapidly. Aragorn watched in despair as it rode off with it's captive to the tower of Barad-dûr.

***

Sauron and Saruman were conferring on the battle in the Dark Lord's throne room.

"It does not go well", Saruman insisted, "My Lord, we should draw back and defend closer to the tower. Although victory is certain, we could keep more of our forces alive if we withdraw for a short distance".

Sauron was about to reply when he saw the Witch-king approaching outside, so he said, "You are right, Saruman. Direct the battle as you see fit. I have other matters to attend to". Saruman bowed and began to descend the steps of Barad-dûr. As he did, the Witch-king's steed perched on a rail. The Ringwraith hoisted Arwen's limp form up and passed her to Sauron, who flung her over his shoulder.

"I have done as you requested, my Lord", the Nazgûl hissed.

"Return to battle", Sauron commanded.

The wraith turned tail and sped back towards the war.

Arwen was still sobbing. The Dark Lord treaded over to his throne and eased her slowly into it. Then with his hand he gently caressed her face, stroking her cheeks almost tenderly.

The effect on Arwen was instant. She jerked back and cried out. Sauron withdrew his hand and watched her as she quivered before him, cold tears still meandering down her smooth face.

Arwen was stunned. It was said in lore that Sauron's black hand was as scalding as flame, yet she had felt nothing aside the surprisingly gentle brush of his fingers.

What is he doing? Arwen asked herself as Sauron watched her thoughtfully, his armoured head a few feet away from her.

"I know your thoughts", the Dark Lord told her.

She swallowed, fighting back more tears, "I know".

"You are grieving the death of your father".

Arwen could do nothing but nod slowly.

Sauron reared up to his full height, pulling away from her, "A most tragic event".

A hot blaze burned inside Arwen. She wanted to strike the Dark Lord and didn't care if he killed her. She leapt up and hurled herself at him, but he seized her shoulder and held her back. She beat her fists upon his torso plate, wailing.

"You killed him! You killed him! You sent out your Ringwraith friend to kill him!"

Sauron did not flinch or relax her grip on her, "Friend? I do not make friends of my minions, despite what they or others may think. In my years of warring, I have made no friends. And you misunderstand my goal. I did not appoint the Nazgûl to slay Lord Elrond. I did it to bring you to me".

Arwen stopped struggling and looked up at the Dark Lord in a mix of horror and wonder. He laughed, "You are curious, I see? I will tell you more. Come, sit. Rest yourself. You are weary with much toil and sorrow".

He gently eased her back onto his throne. She never took his eyes of him, like a stalked rabbit never takes its eyes off the fox.

"I make no secrets of my past. And I no longer make secrets of my intentions with this war", Sauron gestured out towards the balcony, from which the battle could be clearly seen, "My forces shall conquer Middle- Earth and I will rule it. I will drive the machine of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fist of the orc".

He seemed to grow even larger, filling the room, broad shoulders stretching from wall to wall. Arwen gasped in terror and edged back in her seat. He extended his right arm and held his hand before his face, glaring at the Ring.

But then he became quiet once more, slow and gentle in his movements.

Arwen shuddered as he gingerly reached out with his hand again and stroked her face tenderly, "What do you want from me?"

Sauron did nit answer at once, but continued to caress her face, until he eventually murmured, "Jacashore".

***

Under Saruman's direction, orc squadrons wheeled out large catapults and loaded them with bombs. Lurtz roared and swung his sword, and they fired. The blazing projectiles were flung into the ranks of the West and decimated many.

The wood trolls, hill trolls and olog-hai that were hammering at the enemy foot soldiers suddenly gave way, and a number of larger, broader trolls lumbered forward. Their hide was a deep grey and was cracked, and their arms long and burly. Wielding either a hammer or spear, they began to pulverise men and elves by the dozen. The cave trolls roared and bellowed, worked up by the heat of the battle.

But they were forced back as the Riders of Rohan charged forward, led by Théoden and Éomer. Their swords flashed in unison, and a cave troll fell back, clutching at its stomach in a vain attempt to hold back the black blood gushing out.

Uruk-hai crossbowmen fired, and a rain of bolts fell upon the Knights of Gondor. Many fell, but they responded with their longbows.

A group of armoured oliphants charged onwards, trumpeting and swinging their great heads from right to left. Gandalf the White stepped forward and pointed his staff in their direction. He uttered a low spell, and then there was a blinding white light. The behemoths squealed and wheeled about, rushing in blind terror back the way they had came, crushing many Southrons, Easterlings, uruk-hai and orcs on the way.

As a huge catapult was loaded, Legolas notched an arrow quickly. He stared at it intently from his perch, a small rock. He measured the distance, the timing and the power he needed to do his task. As the catapult's string was stretched and the bomb ignited, he fired. The arrow whistled for several hundred meters before it struck the trigger rope, rendering it impossible to fire. The orc operators squealed in fright, and then the bomb detonated, annihilating them.

Gimli swung his great axe at a crowd of orcs. They fell back, bleeding profusely and twitching in their death throes. A warg got the same treatment, then its rider, and even a troll fell before the might of the stout axe and its stouter wielder.

Legolas turned to Gimli and grinned, "Never have I seen such axe-work, Master dwarf!"

Gimli nodded back at him as he yanked his weapon out of the troll's thick hide, "And I such bow skill".

"What of Aragorn?" Legolas glanced about hurriedly, "He was not so far away a minute ago".

The dwarf mirrored his concern, "I haven't seen him since the fell beast attacked".

"I hope he's alright".

"I wouldn't worry, laddy. He can look after himself better than you or I. I'd be more worried about us".

Even as he spoke, a great platoon of uruk-hai, led by Lurtz and Uglùk, rushed at them, brandishing their swords and roaring.

As elf and dwarf fought on, Aragorn son of Arathorn dashed away from the battle, heading for Barad-dûr.