Authors Notes: - Thank you to all my reviewers both new and old. Your
comments mean the world to me! I will endeavour to reply to your reviews
and thank you but Pizza Hut, where I work when I am not at university, is
giving me huge amounts of hours due to the kids holidays and I can't write
or do much of anything other than sleep and work. I hope you enjoy this
chapter. Please review, as it would make my day better.
**
The night was silent, too still and the soldiers on duty were uneasy. There was no idle chatter or joking. Eyes strained into the darkness looking for something, anything that would explain this sudden feeling of disquiet.
A fog rolled in and the damp extinguished torches along the walls. The young and inexperienced began to finger their weapons nervously while the experienced waited patiently, knowing that nothing they did would be to their advantage until the situation presented itself.
Guards from Rohan shared the guard this night. King Eomer had earlier been down to the walls to talk to them. The young King was silent, observing as he had walked the lines something he had not done since he had arrived. This added to the sense of foreboding that they felt.
'I hope the negotiations are over shortly' Tyran, one of the senior guards on duty that night, thought to himself as he peered into the darkness. 'All this strangeness arrived when they did.' Sighing almost silently to himself he began his rounds to check on the men under his command. He sensed their unease and felt it himself. It had been steadily increasing since the banishment of the Kings great friend Legolas. Granted Tyran did not feel totally comfortable with the elf, few did, but the elf had fought with them and fought well. He had Tyran's respect for that and he sensed that the banishment was a cover for something. Elves do not just attack people for no reason, of course many did not think that way but Tyran had fought alongside elves at Helms Deep and from that moment on saw them to be honourable and courageous beings.
Nodding at the men he passed sometimes placing a hand on a shoulder or arm of a particularly nervous man. He hoped this night would soon be over or one of his guards was going to jump and shoot for the wrong reason resulting in trouble. A gust of cold wind blew down the wall and he shivered and froze. There had been a sound. The man next to him also heard it. They both drew their weapons when a loud terrified scream shattered the stillness. Shouts and cries followed including the sound of weapons being drawn.
"Inside the walls!!" a desperate cry sounded. Tyran ran along the wall to try and find the source. He ordered the others to remain where they were in case this was a diversion. Soon the bells used only in emergencies echoed across the city. 'What is going on?' he thought frantically. He could see no enemy yet something was clearly inside the walls. He came to the main gate expecting to see some sort of attack but the gates stood firm and the guards looked confused.
'If there was no breach in the walls then they must have already been inside.the King!' The cries must be from the inner wall around the main residence.
"Stay here!" he said to the guards on the gate. Running down the stone steps that led up to the wall he hurried through the deserted streets. As the inner wall appeared in view he realised that he had been correct. The enemy had already been inside. Guards lay fallen and forgotten, their blood creating puddles in between the cobbles.
He could hear screams from within and screeches of creatures that sounded inhuman. Turning away he ran to the secret entrance to the east of the wall, which led into the kitchens. The passage had not been used for a long time and cobwebs coated him. Pausing at the entrance to the kitchens he listened. There was no sound and he slowly opened the door and narrowly avoided being covered with burning oil. Raising his weapon he prepared to strike but then lowered it as he caught sight of the kitchen staff frightened and armed with various items. Their fear slowly disappeared as they recognised one of their own soldiers.
"What is going on?" he demanded.
The man who had thrown oil at him stepped forward.
"Dark creatures have invaded the citadel. They have captured the king. I saw them with my own two eyes. I hurried back to try and warn the guards but they are all dead. The creatures are searching everywhere."
As if to emphasis the statement they heard the sound of something approaching.
"Quick" Tyran beckoned. "This leads out. Try to find guards and send them here. Tell them to use the back passage ways. Then go home, lock your doors and hide. GO!" he whispered harshly as they did not move. Then as if thinking as one they broke and ran down the passage. He closed it quickly behind them and then he hurried into the passage that led through the quarters of the King, which the servants used. He watched through a crack in the wall as a hooded creature walked into the kitchens through a wall. It seemed to float and glide around as it looked for people. Tyran hurried towards the main dining hall. He noticed with only a brief sense of relief that most of the servants had disappeared using the secret ways out of the buildings. As he reached the main dining hall he peered through another crack that was used to see when the guests were seated and to begin serving. He saw the guards' dead. The wizard was unconscious and both Faramir and Gimli looked injured. The advisor Urguth was holding a sword to the Kings throat and several hooded creatures stood near those who remained alive.
'We have been betrayed' he thought and he did a quick count of the enemy before hurrying back the way he came to gather guards and to come up with a plan.
* Aragorn watched frozen in horror as the guards' throats were slit, as Gandalf was struck down and the creatures attacked Faramir and Gimli. He saw Urguth draw his sword and hold it to his throat. Confused beyond all measure he looked up at Urguth's smiling face and all he could manage to say was
"What?"
"I am afraid King Elessar that my masters and I are now in charge of your fair city."
"Finally revealing your true colours." Eomer snarled. "Took you long enough"
Urguth's smile faltered briefly and he stepped back from Aragorn.
"Your manipulation failed on me. I know who you are, who they are. Legolas was stronger than you think. You may have killed him but already he has beaten you."
Aragorn looked at Eomer in shock.
"Manipulation?" he questioned and then the full extent of Eomer's words hit him.
"Legolas? He is dead?"
Eomer whirled towards Aragorn. All of his anger at the past few days coming to the fore.
"Yes Legolas is dead. You banished him from Gondor and he was captured, tortured and buried alive. For days Urguth and the Darak have manipulated you into believing everything they said. Turning you against friends and allies. Making poor decisions that has resulted in this situation now."
"How?"
"I do not know." Eomer said as he felt the anger drain from him. It was not Aragorn's fault it was all of theirs.
Urguth again smiled. "So you do not know everything."
"No Urguth we do not but we know enough." Emperor Thalos stated standing. "You have betrayed Thera but I suppose that is not a care of yours."
Urguth nodded. "Of course. I had no interest in Thera. You have to see the bigger picture."
"Then explain it!" Aragorn demanded. "Everything!"
"There is no hurry. We have plenty of time. Glass of wine anyone?"
Urguth sat down with a satisfied smile and picked up a goblet of wine.
"You murdering coward." Gimli cried angrily as he tried to reach Urguth.
"I may have killed the elf but you are the murderers. He suffered alone, unable to tell anyone. He died alone knowing no one was coming. You had betrayed him. Your best friend. You have no one to blame but yourselves."
Gimli howled in fury.
"Your city has fallen." A new voice hissed, one of the Darak. "An attack on Ithilien has already taken place and Rohan is next. I am afraid you will not live to see our reign of darkness. Place everyone but the King in the dungeons. They will executed tomorrow at midday." The Darak hissed.
Aragorn watched in horror as his friends were led away.
'How could he be so blind' Aragorn berated himself as he was grabbed and pushed forward.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked.
"Your blood needs to be spilt to complete the prophecy."
"What prophecy?"
"Darkness will come when hope falls. So that I guess would mean you Estel." Urguth sneered. Aragorn remained silent as he absorbed all the information.
Suddenly darkness enveloped him and his stomach plummeted as if he had fallen. Firm ground disappeared and then reappeared under his feet. Dizziness caused him to sway. Blinking furiously he saw that he was no longer in his dining hall but in a dark and barren cave.
"Look around." Urguth smiled "This is where your friend died. Not a noble and courageous death but one of fear. An elf afraid of the dark!"
Aragorn growled. "I will kill you." He vowed.
Urguth just continued smiling. "And for your effort you will end up in there."
Aragorn looked to where Urguth had pointed. There in the ground was a freshly dug grave and with a horrified realisation he knew it was where Legolas had died. "NO!" he screamed as he ran forward. Falling to his knees he began digging through the dirt desperate to reach his friend. He could not leave Legolas under the ground a place he hated so much. With frenzy Aragorn dug ignoring the laugh of Urguth and the Darak approaching him.
What seemed like an eternity to him but could only have been a few minutes later Aragorn came across a pale hand. With a cry that sounded like a wounded animal he grasped it. It was cut and bloodied from the desperate scratching the elf had done to try and escape. With a renewed effort Aragorn uncovered the rest of Legolas. With a small whimper he grabbed the light elf and pulled him out. Cradling him in his arms he stroked the dirty blonde hair away from the bloodied and bruised face.
"I am sorry mellon. Forgive me. I failed you." Aragorn clasped the hand of his friend and leant forward to place a light kiss on his forehead. Then Aragorn froze. His hand had been squeezed and looking down he saw Legolas's eyes open.
**
**
The night was silent, too still and the soldiers on duty were uneasy. There was no idle chatter or joking. Eyes strained into the darkness looking for something, anything that would explain this sudden feeling of disquiet.
A fog rolled in and the damp extinguished torches along the walls. The young and inexperienced began to finger their weapons nervously while the experienced waited patiently, knowing that nothing they did would be to their advantage until the situation presented itself.
Guards from Rohan shared the guard this night. King Eomer had earlier been down to the walls to talk to them. The young King was silent, observing as he had walked the lines something he had not done since he had arrived. This added to the sense of foreboding that they felt.
'I hope the negotiations are over shortly' Tyran, one of the senior guards on duty that night, thought to himself as he peered into the darkness. 'All this strangeness arrived when they did.' Sighing almost silently to himself he began his rounds to check on the men under his command. He sensed their unease and felt it himself. It had been steadily increasing since the banishment of the Kings great friend Legolas. Granted Tyran did not feel totally comfortable with the elf, few did, but the elf had fought with them and fought well. He had Tyran's respect for that and he sensed that the banishment was a cover for something. Elves do not just attack people for no reason, of course many did not think that way but Tyran had fought alongside elves at Helms Deep and from that moment on saw them to be honourable and courageous beings.
Nodding at the men he passed sometimes placing a hand on a shoulder or arm of a particularly nervous man. He hoped this night would soon be over or one of his guards was going to jump and shoot for the wrong reason resulting in trouble. A gust of cold wind blew down the wall and he shivered and froze. There had been a sound. The man next to him also heard it. They both drew their weapons when a loud terrified scream shattered the stillness. Shouts and cries followed including the sound of weapons being drawn.
"Inside the walls!!" a desperate cry sounded. Tyran ran along the wall to try and find the source. He ordered the others to remain where they were in case this was a diversion. Soon the bells used only in emergencies echoed across the city. 'What is going on?' he thought frantically. He could see no enemy yet something was clearly inside the walls. He came to the main gate expecting to see some sort of attack but the gates stood firm and the guards looked confused.
'If there was no breach in the walls then they must have already been inside.the King!' The cries must be from the inner wall around the main residence.
"Stay here!" he said to the guards on the gate. Running down the stone steps that led up to the wall he hurried through the deserted streets. As the inner wall appeared in view he realised that he had been correct. The enemy had already been inside. Guards lay fallen and forgotten, their blood creating puddles in between the cobbles.
He could hear screams from within and screeches of creatures that sounded inhuman. Turning away he ran to the secret entrance to the east of the wall, which led into the kitchens. The passage had not been used for a long time and cobwebs coated him. Pausing at the entrance to the kitchens he listened. There was no sound and he slowly opened the door and narrowly avoided being covered with burning oil. Raising his weapon he prepared to strike but then lowered it as he caught sight of the kitchen staff frightened and armed with various items. Their fear slowly disappeared as they recognised one of their own soldiers.
"What is going on?" he demanded.
The man who had thrown oil at him stepped forward.
"Dark creatures have invaded the citadel. They have captured the king. I saw them with my own two eyes. I hurried back to try and warn the guards but they are all dead. The creatures are searching everywhere."
As if to emphasis the statement they heard the sound of something approaching.
"Quick" Tyran beckoned. "This leads out. Try to find guards and send them here. Tell them to use the back passage ways. Then go home, lock your doors and hide. GO!" he whispered harshly as they did not move. Then as if thinking as one they broke and ran down the passage. He closed it quickly behind them and then he hurried into the passage that led through the quarters of the King, which the servants used. He watched through a crack in the wall as a hooded creature walked into the kitchens through a wall. It seemed to float and glide around as it looked for people. Tyran hurried towards the main dining hall. He noticed with only a brief sense of relief that most of the servants had disappeared using the secret ways out of the buildings. As he reached the main dining hall he peered through another crack that was used to see when the guests were seated and to begin serving. He saw the guards' dead. The wizard was unconscious and both Faramir and Gimli looked injured. The advisor Urguth was holding a sword to the Kings throat and several hooded creatures stood near those who remained alive.
'We have been betrayed' he thought and he did a quick count of the enemy before hurrying back the way he came to gather guards and to come up with a plan.
* Aragorn watched frozen in horror as the guards' throats were slit, as Gandalf was struck down and the creatures attacked Faramir and Gimli. He saw Urguth draw his sword and hold it to his throat. Confused beyond all measure he looked up at Urguth's smiling face and all he could manage to say was
"What?"
"I am afraid King Elessar that my masters and I are now in charge of your fair city."
"Finally revealing your true colours." Eomer snarled. "Took you long enough"
Urguth's smile faltered briefly and he stepped back from Aragorn.
"Your manipulation failed on me. I know who you are, who they are. Legolas was stronger than you think. You may have killed him but already he has beaten you."
Aragorn looked at Eomer in shock.
"Manipulation?" he questioned and then the full extent of Eomer's words hit him.
"Legolas? He is dead?"
Eomer whirled towards Aragorn. All of his anger at the past few days coming to the fore.
"Yes Legolas is dead. You banished him from Gondor and he was captured, tortured and buried alive. For days Urguth and the Darak have manipulated you into believing everything they said. Turning you against friends and allies. Making poor decisions that has resulted in this situation now."
"How?"
"I do not know." Eomer said as he felt the anger drain from him. It was not Aragorn's fault it was all of theirs.
Urguth again smiled. "So you do not know everything."
"No Urguth we do not but we know enough." Emperor Thalos stated standing. "You have betrayed Thera but I suppose that is not a care of yours."
Urguth nodded. "Of course. I had no interest in Thera. You have to see the bigger picture."
"Then explain it!" Aragorn demanded. "Everything!"
"There is no hurry. We have plenty of time. Glass of wine anyone?"
Urguth sat down with a satisfied smile and picked up a goblet of wine.
"You murdering coward." Gimli cried angrily as he tried to reach Urguth.
"I may have killed the elf but you are the murderers. He suffered alone, unable to tell anyone. He died alone knowing no one was coming. You had betrayed him. Your best friend. You have no one to blame but yourselves."
Gimli howled in fury.
"Your city has fallen." A new voice hissed, one of the Darak. "An attack on Ithilien has already taken place and Rohan is next. I am afraid you will not live to see our reign of darkness. Place everyone but the King in the dungeons. They will executed tomorrow at midday." The Darak hissed.
Aragorn watched in horror as his friends were led away.
'How could he be so blind' Aragorn berated himself as he was grabbed and pushed forward.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked.
"Your blood needs to be spilt to complete the prophecy."
"What prophecy?"
"Darkness will come when hope falls. So that I guess would mean you Estel." Urguth sneered. Aragorn remained silent as he absorbed all the information.
Suddenly darkness enveloped him and his stomach plummeted as if he had fallen. Firm ground disappeared and then reappeared under his feet. Dizziness caused him to sway. Blinking furiously he saw that he was no longer in his dining hall but in a dark and barren cave.
"Look around." Urguth smiled "This is where your friend died. Not a noble and courageous death but one of fear. An elf afraid of the dark!"
Aragorn growled. "I will kill you." He vowed.
Urguth just continued smiling. "And for your effort you will end up in there."
Aragorn looked to where Urguth had pointed. There in the ground was a freshly dug grave and with a horrified realisation he knew it was where Legolas had died. "NO!" he screamed as he ran forward. Falling to his knees he began digging through the dirt desperate to reach his friend. He could not leave Legolas under the ground a place he hated so much. With frenzy Aragorn dug ignoring the laugh of Urguth and the Darak approaching him.
What seemed like an eternity to him but could only have been a few minutes later Aragorn came across a pale hand. With a cry that sounded like a wounded animal he grasped it. It was cut and bloodied from the desperate scratching the elf had done to try and escape. With a renewed effort Aragorn uncovered the rest of Legolas. With a small whimper he grabbed the light elf and pulled him out. Cradling him in his arms he stroked the dirty blonde hair away from the bloodied and bruised face.
"I am sorry mellon. Forgive me. I failed you." Aragorn clasped the hand of his friend and leant forward to place a light kiss on his forehead. Then Aragorn froze. His hand had been squeezed and looking down he saw Legolas's eyes open.
**