"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! this part is the basic backbone of this story: legolas and his love for adriel. ^_^ will adriel fall for him? hm. mayhaps.

**Eressea: this is the place the ship at the Grey Havens departs to (in the end of Vol. 3: The Return of the King). The Grey Havens is a docking for a ship that the elves will use when their final days in middle-earth comes. then they'll cross the water to avallon, on the other side of the world. in the end of vol. 3, frodo goes with them, but legolas does not, for he goes off with gimli to see the world. then it is said that he dies crossing the water which his eyes had longed to see, according to lady galadriel.

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 VII: The Mountain of Doom

The company carried on for at least two fortnights more; one fortnight of journey, and half a fortnight of rest. During those days of rest, they seldom spoke to one another; for each one was weary in their own way, and each wished for nothing but to rest at home. It was Legolas who espcially desired to see his father and his kingdom, to walk beneath the trees and through the forests he loved. He had oft heard the sound of gulls and waves calling for him, but in the realm of Mordor it had no importance to him. It was not only his father for whom his heart ached.

Rest was usually shortlived for the company, though on one night, Gandalf decided that they should stop for a full night and dawn, if they were to come forth quickly before Sauron and his forces. He had faced the mouth of Sauron in Gondor, but wished not to face it again. Pippin sat cold next to a tree with Aragorn, whilst Gimli walked about the camp. Gandalf smoked his pipe, and Legolas and Adriel looked deep into the woods. Their keen eyes saw what Aragorn and Gimli and Pippin's did not: orcs, the Naz-Gul, and their enemy.

When all was quiet, Legolas spoke at last to Adriel: "Should we not speak to each other ere we walk to our deaths?" he said. "I always thought my death would come at the ocean's shore, but it now seems to me that I shall in Gondor. No more shall I walk the forests of home, that is true, but that I am so far the water... Tell me, Adriel, whither shall you go following all this havoc?"

"To dreams," she said. "To wherever my dreams take me, and to wherever my heart leads. I do not suppose I shall return to Mirkwood, for there is none there for me any longer. And I daresay that I shall enjoy the forests anymore, for they are now strongholds for the enemy. Rivendell is of no consolation to me, but perhaps I shall stay there for a few months or mayhap years. Or to Lothlorien. Or perhaps to Eressea** ((see author's note)), where I shall live peaceably until the end of my days. It is a debate, Legolas, and one that cannot be answered until later."

Legolas sighed, "Alas," he said, "Alas that you will depart to places unbeknownst to me! Alas that again we shall be departed from one another! As I was once your friend, I still am, and therefore my loyalty is still strong for thee. Haladrin may have me in her heart, but I cannot wed her, let alone admit her to be my betrothed. I pray thee, Adriel, do not leave once more; do not leave far from where we can go and walk amongst the wood we love equally!"

"Peace, Legolas!" said Adriel. "I go whither my heart wishes and whither I yearn for. What is it that drives you mad? What leads you to think that I shall leave as quickly as possible, just to rid myself of your presence? As for Haladrin, there is none you can do about or for her. I fear that she has perished, but if she hasn't she is still thy betrothed, and as thy betrothed you must love her! I told you once before, I will not repeat myself! I befriended you once, Legolas, and I see you still as my friend-brother."

"I have waited three hundred years, Adriel," Legolas said, interrupting the elf, "to see your fair face once more. I divuldge that during those years, regardless of my betrothed, I yearned for the look in your crystal blue eyes, O daughter of Eldroln! And through even the darkest nights I spent with the company, my thoughts dwelled on home, on father, and on a little girl named Adriel Woodleaf, whom I had once befriended; and very well, I must add. O Adriel, do not depart any further than you have! Through the centuries my heart has been darkened not only for the yearning of home, but for thee, Adriel. As sure as mine spirit is to the wood, it is also that mine heart is to yours."

Adriel sat silent for a few moments. "Friend-brother," she said. "That you are and nothing more. Remember that you are betrothed of Haladrin now, and that she is to you. As I am a warrior true to my word, so should you be to yours. Do not disobey the words of your father; if it is by his decree that you love thy betrothed, so be it." She glared darkly into the eyes of the elf and stood from where she sat. Legolas quickly grasped her wrist and looked up with his sad, dark blue eyes.

"So then," he said, "I am to carry out my father's wishes?"

"The will of a king," Adriel replied, "is stronger than that of a prince," and she walked away. Legolas turned back to the dark forest which lay before him and sighed. So it was that Legolas would return to Mirkwood after the defeat of Sauron, and the kingdom of Mirkwood would begin again with him.

So thus the company set off once more, into the darkness of their enemy. The horses were gone, which left Gandalf and the others on their feet, much to the dismay of Pippin. Gandalf led the company with Adriel by his side, and Pippin and Gimli behind. Legolas and Aragorn walked quietly in the very back, even under the darkest of skies. Still would the company walk in silence, for spies of Saruman and Sauron lingered in the forests they walked through. It was a long walk, and under many suns, before the company arrived to the Plateau of Gorgoroth, where Sauron had once been defeated. Barad-dur stood tall next to it and orcs swarmed about, guarding gates and doing other things.

"So here is where we meet our death," whispered Adriel to the company. "At last we shall see the faces of Master Frodo and Sam, and at last the company shall be together again. My mission is almost over, and soon I shall join my father."

"Speak not that way," said Gandalf. "You do not forsee the future, nor can you tell me what should happen tomorrow. Your father's spirit has guided you hither, and it is life that he should wish you to receive following this. Simply brace yourself, Adriel daughter of Eldroln, then shall you have the strength to step into the hells of our enemy."

Adriel nodded. "Shall we go, then?" She looekd back to the company and each of them looked down to the ground, as if they regretted going in. "Or shall I go alone?"

Suddenly Aragorn stepped foward, his sword upon his breast. "Allies we were," he said; "and may we be, even to death." It seemed that Gimli and Pippin were hesitant, but at last they stepped foward. Legolas did as well, and Adriel smiled, turning back around and walking slowly towards the gates of Orodruin. The plateau was a wide open field stained with the blood of many elves and men, from legends long past. It gave Adriel newfound courage to walk through the deathlands of her predecessors, for she felt their power fill her and Temrbanil. Adriel charged with a large battle cry.

"For Mirkwood!" she cried as she ran past the orcs, who worked and worked tirelessly, some not noticing the elf running past them. Others took heed and chased after the company, who ran swiftly but slower than Adriel behind her. Her sword was glistening and singing, and it was held high. She charged upwards and upwards, scaling the side of Orodruin as fast as she could. At last one came that could meet her strength: an Uruk-hai.

"We have been warned of your coming," said the Uruk-hai. "You are Adriel of Mirkwood, a warrior that has 'the strength of over one-hundred elves'. A warrior that has been the match of many of the Naz-gul and orcs, and Uruk-hais. So, this is the same warrior that slew hundreds of orcs in the forests outside of Mirkwood and out of Mordor? Curious. It is curious that you be a woman."

"It makes no difference who or what you are," Adriel said. "I have the will to kill you."

The Uruk-hai laughed, "Do you?" he said. "Then fight me; I would like to see you try and kill me." The Uruk-hai unsheathed the sword which hung by his side; a sword of extreme mass and size, one that seemingly overpowered Temrbanil; however, the sword in Adriel's hand did not tremble, it only sang and shimmered more loudly and brightly than ever. The light pierced the red, dark adjusted eyes of the Uruk-hai and caused it to flinch. He let out a growl and lunged towards the elf. Succesfully she dodged the blow which nearly beheaded her, and she was closer now to the top of Orodruin.

"Adriel!" cried a voice behind the warrior elf. "No! Stop!"

Adriel turned and saw two hobbits. "Frodo? Sam?" she said. Suddenly the Uruk-hai jumped to her once again and drew his sword upon her. Temrbanil clashed with the evil sword in an explosion of light and power, and it seemed for a moment that the evil sword had an advantage, as it was powered by the evergrowing powers of darkness. For the first time all could witness Adriel struggling with a fight. Even whilst the company fought on their own, they could sense that she was weary in heart and spirit, and that even wielding the power of Celbranir could not aid her.

"Come," said the Uruk-hai. "Who are you, if you cannot beat me? Surely if you were the warrior that slew all of the Dark Hand's servants, you should be able to slay me as well. I am disappointed that you are not a worthy opponent."

Adriel glared into the red eyes of her worst enemy, and her voice rang out like it never had. Even amongst the clammer and commotion about her, her voice dominated. It was low and powerful, as if it were not truly her that spoke: "I am Adriel daughter of Eldroln," she said. "I am Celbranir's heir, and I wield in my hands his sword that slew one similar to you. I am the heir to the kingdom of Agras and Acrelin, and a warrior of Thranduil king of Mirkwood. It is I who alone can make the sword shine and sing, and it is I alone who has the right to destroy the mountain. I feel it all ready, why can't you: the Ring is destroyed, the mountain is falling!" As she spoke the mountain began to tremble. It was true; Frodo had destroyed both Gollum and the Ring of Power in one swift trip, and now the only thing left was for the mountain to crumble and be destroyed.

The Uruk-hai clamped his teeth together and his grip tightened upon his sword. Even as the ground shook his lunged forth to Adriel, flailing the blade of his sword about, being blocked and outsmarted each time by Adriel. There was one moment when he pierced her shoulder, and the blade made a deep and dark wound, which nearly froze her heart it was so evil. Still, though, she raised her sword and drew it down upon the Uruk-hai. With her senses beginning to fail her, the Uruk-hai took the opportunity to pierce the other shoulder, the one which held in its hand the sword of Celbranir. She cried and dropped the sword onto the ground, kneeling in great pain. Her eyes closed and her once fair face was distressed and noticably weary.

"And I am a servant to the greatest power on Middle-Earth," said the out of breath Uruk-hai at last. "I heed no human or elf, nor am I fooled by the actions that they bring out upon me. Though the leader of the Naz-gul was destroyed by one of yours in the realm of Gondor, I, the leader of the Uruk-hais, shall never be defeated. I shall never submit to the mighty sword of my foe!" He slammed his foot against Adriel's hand, which was reaching towards Temrbanil, still glistening and singing. "Do you wish for your Temrbanil back?" He said, taunting the cringing elf. "You shall never have it!" With that he kicked the sword. It landed before Legolas.

"Legolas!" cried Adriel, her voice failing. "Take it! Fight with it! It will serve your pure heart as surely as it did for me! Fight, Master Elf!"

Legolas' hand grasped the hilt of Temrbanil, which lay light but dull in his hands. Still, however, it sang, for its master was felled and holding it was an elf with the most pure of hearts. Legolas looked darkly at the Uruk-hai before him, whose back was now turned to the warrior lying motionless on the ground. Frodo and Sam tended to the felled elf, and turned her over onto her back. They saw her face was restless and the blue eyes looking directly to the ceiling.

"Are you going to die, Adriel?" asked Sam, who though he had not ventured with Adriel, still felt for her. "Whither did he stab you?"

"It seems on her shoulders," answered Frodo for the elf. "It was not by the sword of the Naz-gul, so hopefully she will not fall ill as I had back when we were still on our way to Rivendell. Do not die, Adriel. As your spirit is strong it will serve you well, for it knows you cannot leave us yet. The mountain still must be destroyed."

Adriel began to shake violently, and her body lay restless now upon the ground. Blood came from both her shoulders and she feared the worst for herself. "Though it is not the sword of the Naz-gul," she said, trembling as she spoke. "It was evil nonetheless. And as my heart is pure, for I am an elf, I cannot withstand it much longer." Frodo and Sam looked at each other with long, sad looks, then at Legolas ahead of them, who was beginning to challene the Uruk-hai.

-continue to part viii

-eeee! getting closer and closer! ok sorry. yes, but this part was, incase you were confused, about their final arrival at orodruin and the following is the destruction of the mountain of doom. i don't do much of them in Gondor, because that is in the book, and i don't want to rewrite what was in the bookk. you should just go read it yourself! the book seems sad without adriel, but hey! tolkien writes about what he wants! and tolkien was pretty darn good at writing.