"The Return of the Light"

by AndromedaM13Titan

disclaimer: j.r.r tolkien is one of the best authors, his books are best, and all his characters are great. this fan fiction is about legolas, though i do not own him, anyo f the characters, or half of the places in this story. the only characters new to this tale is Adriel, also called Erimas, the daughter of the Elven-Warlord Eldroln; and the other is the Elvenprincess Halardrin, also called Aletia, daughter of Colodrin... and any other person they meet in Southeast Mirkwood (because i made up that kingdom); Sagorim son of Bafrog-Him; Bafrog-him and his council; and Deowar.

a/n: if you've gotten this far, you know what's going on. im too lazy to write a synopsis this time!

lord of the rings is NOT a trilogy, according to tolkien, it is ONE book with 6 books in it.

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Part VI: Battle of Temrbanil

Pippin suddenly stopped in his tracks. He saw Gandalf do the same. They both turned to look down the dark tunnel behind them, and they heard it again. There were shouts and curses, rumbles of thunder and clashings of swords. Gandalf could hear orcs, and it was then he knew that the rest of their company could not be far off.

"It must be Aragorn and the others," said Pippin after a prolonged silence. "They must be fighting orcs."

Gandalf sighed and looked stern from under his hat. "Most definitely they are," whispered the wizard. "But come, Peregrin, we must journey onward, and we must not look back. The light calls for us, whilst the darkness calls for them. Come!" So Gandalf took Pippin's small hand and the two walked out of the tunnel. Somehow the sound of battle became louder and with each step they took the rumbling and drumbeats quickened. At last they came to an enormous cave. The height was extensive, and deep below a pit of fire and hell. Bridges and stairs crossed in numerous ways above them, and on one bridge they caught sight of Aragorn. On another they saw Legolas and Gimli. Adriel was no where to be found.

"Mirthrandir!" cried Legolas. "You've come to help us?"

Gandalf removed the hat from his head, exposing his white hair. "If I can," he murmured. This made Pippin shiver; for if Gandalf was afraid of battling the orcs, what chance did Pippin have? "Whither is Adriel Woodleaf?" shouted Gandalf to Aragorn on the bridge.

"She was with us," he replied, while slaying some orcs. "But I've no idea as to where she may be now!" A tall orc lunged at him and he quickly used his sword to behead it. The orcs ran from him to fight the others, and he jumped to the bridge below him, where Gandalf and Pippin stood. He looked about him, on all the bridges, but not on one of them could he find Adriel. Despite all the swarms of black and evil, not even the white light of the Woodleaf could be seen. At last they heard a great cry. Adriel came falling from high above them, and landed swiftly on her feet on the bridge before them.

"What is wrong?" asked Gandalf. "Where were you?"

Adriel seemed out of breath and cautious of all about her. "They are sending more troops," she said, heaving many heavy breaths. "We must leave here as quickly as we can, else we shall be slain. They seek my sword, and until they can tighten their grip about its hilt we must find a way to escape. Bafrog-hir and his orcs will do all they can, whether that means my death or not, to have my sword. I fear that you are all in danger."

"We shall stand by your side," said Aragorn, "even past the darkest of days. Loyalty is stronger than any blade, and faith is stronger than evil. I will fight, Adriel Erimas, and proudly I shall. Fear not, for Isildur's heir gives you his unbreaking word." With that, Aragorn bowed and placed his sword across his chest, in respect. Legolas and Gimli put aside their weapons and did the same, whilst Gandalf was in heart. Then he heard the drumbeats becoming more frequent and more violent, and soon there were orcs appearing out of every tunnel that led into the cavern. Swarms surrounded them, and they stood back to back on the single bridge.

"It seems our plan to escape must be aborted," said Gimli.

"Fear not, Gloin's son," said Adriel, her hands on her bow and arrows. "We will find a way, even through death." Those beside her, Aragorn and Legolas, could see the sweat bead and drip down her brow, both from the heat and the excruciating fear that continuously crawled near them. It was not soon before orcs were also present upon their bridge, waiting, smiling, feeling pride for they had been victorious.

Bafrog-hir showed himself at the entrance to the bridge.

"Fool," he said, his yellow teeth glistening in the fire and his red eyes beaming. He pointed towards the company: "Kill them all!" he shouted. The orcs then gave out battle cries and those in the front lunged towards the company. With their swift swords and arrows, the company slew many smaller orcs. It was unfortunate, however, that they continuously grew larger and larger, coming closer much quicker, and in a few moments they were only feet before the company. The arrows of Legolas and Adriel were spent, and as they reached back to take more, their quivers were empty. Thus, Adriel reached for Temrbanil and Legolas for his two swords.

Adriel could see Bafrog-hir's face light up as she unsheathed her legendary sword. She could see the glisten in his eyes as she swung it about, piercing the chests of the orcs and bringing them all to their deaths. The battle went on. All about them arrows flew, all about them orcs lay dead, and about their arms were wounds. Swords had pierced their skin, arrows as well, and their feet were beginning to tire. Still, the orcs were persistent and continued foward. When at last Pippin fell to his knees in weariness, the others surrounded him.

The tireless elves still went on, whilst Aragorn and Gimli were beginning to feel the effects of weariness, and were beginning to slow their swings. But at last there was one orc that tried the strength of Aragorn son of Arathorn, and with his black sword lunged into Aragorn's shoulder. The heir of Gondor fell to his knees and gasped loudly. Adriel was so filled with rage that her friend had been harmed, at this point. Her grip tightened on Temrbanil and she sprang forth, to confront the king of the giant orcs. She passed through the crowd of his servants, all swiping their blades at her, catching her shoulder and elbow, but never once harming her much.

"You retreat, Bafrog-hir!" Adriel shouted, blood dripping from her face and arms. "I am tireless, I do not fall weary; you may as well give up else my rage will counter yours! Temrbanil will never lie in the grip of your cold, dark hands, lest I die before you! And mark me I will not die! No, my strength is ten times that of yours, and Temrbanil's will is what shall keep you from it. Go now before you die!" She stood firm and rooted into the ground, her feet apart and her sword readied before her. Her piercing blue eyes stared up at Bafrog-hir, and it seemed to him that there was almost a shimmer of green in those pure eyes. It was the first time he had witnessed the work of Celbranir's sword.

The king was hesitant to reply at first. "Tireless you may be," said Bafrog-hir, "but invincible you are not. A sword could easily destroy you. Now come, Adriel Woodleaf, do not be the fool Eldroln was. Do not be the idiot your predecessors were. Yes, fools they all were. Especially the likes of your father. You are no better than them, you of the Woodleaf know not the terrors and horrors that lay behind wielding the name of the Woodleaf. The Woodleaf is no better than the Greenleaf or any of those that belong to the forests of Mirkwood. Curses to the master of Rivendell, and to the lady and lord of the Golden Wood, and to Sauron! and to Saruman! and to Gandalf the White! I curse you all to everlasting hell, and I bid you all into darkness! Particularly you, Adriel daughter of Eldroln. If you do not meet your demise whilst I am alive, may it be by the hand of my heirs." His smile widened and his golden teeth shone brightly. His breath reaked of evil, and his eyes glistened like fire.

"Mark me," Adriel said, unwavering: "should I die, just as all elves, I shall return." With the words she had spoken she held the sword high above her in the air, "Speak your last words, evil and mighty orc king!"

Bafrog-hir laughed, "I shall make you burn."

The others, suddenly stopped to gaze at the horror before them. Adriel was risking her life for the sake of finding Frodo and Sam, for the sake of a sword and for a ring. Trinkets. Two trinkets may have caused her death; however, she did not falter, and she did not run. Then, there was a sudden, fair, soft voice heard in the minds of each of the company. It was music that moved their souls, and which repaired the wounds and sorrows in them. Aragorn's pain left him, and the thoughts that dwelled on Arwen Undomiel no longer clouded his vision. Pippin stood as well, with newfound courage and peace. They looked to Adriel and their eyes drifted to Temrbanil. It began to shine.

The soft song continued, even as Adriel stood silently with her eyes closed. The commotion about the company seemed to disappear as the song in their head clouded over it. They were heedless to the furious rampages of each orc, and kept their eyes fixed on the sword and on Adriel. They could hear the voice of Temrbanil, and they could see the beauty of the sword. Then the veil which had covered the sword for so many hundreds of years, the shadow which had passed upon it those days after Celbranir's death, began to crumble. At last, after so long the shine was returned to Celbranir's Temrbanil. At last they could witness the revealing of its master, and of Celbranir's apparent heir: Adriel Erimas daughter of Eldroln, Warlord of Mirkwood, servant of Thranduil. No longer was she simply Adriel, but Master Adriel, the master of swords.

The song which had been hidden for centuries deep within Temrbanil was sad, yet at the same time glorious. It was Temrbanil's voice crying out, saddened that Celbranir was no more, but glad that its master was that of Celbranir's blood. Its blade shone silver again; it was bright and it pierced the eyes of the orcs, and of their king and prince. The others of the company stood completely still. They were amazed at the sight before them, and of the wonderful beauty of the sword.

The song suddenly stopped and commotion of the orcs was heard again.

Adriel's voice rang out and thundered like a hundred men: "You are not its master!" and with those words she loosed the sword, which then struck the bridge beneath her. A crack followed its way to where Bafrog-hir and his son stood, causing the portion of the bridge to collapse, and the royals to be sent into the deep, hellfire chasm below. The terror of the orcs was no more, and the servants of the former king disippated.

Without exchanging words those of the company walked silently out of the room, through a tunnel, and at last into the wingspread of sunlight. Adriel walked before them, who then stopped at the cliff and stared down. Her eyes were deep and thoughtful, and Temrbanil slept soundly beside her. The others looked at her in wonder, though none sought to exchange words or glances with another.

At last the kingdom of the cavern orcs was no more, and at last their stay at Darun-him was done. Temrbanil had its master, and its voice and light returned.

Hope was restored to the hearts of the company, though the darkness of Mordor lay waiting for them.

-continue to part vii

-like? this chapter when by kind of fast, but i kept getting writer's block. its a nice chapter, once you understand really and fully what is going on. basically, they have discoveredt that the heir of celbranir's temrbanil is adriel, and that she fulfills the legend of the one to make temrbanil sing. there is yet another saga coming though; if you think the story ends here, you are wrong! very wrong!