Disclaimer: None of the characters, places, and events belong to me, but JRRTolkien.

Chapter 23

The Nazgul cried out words of death, and all hope the men had left was quenched. The first bitter assault on the Dunedain came like a black wave, but they fought back valiantly.

Ariel shot down orc after orc, wounded a few trolls, but it seemed to her they were outnumbered. Legolas was fighting alongside her, protecting her side, though she knew not.

She reached behind and realized her quiver was empty, so she drew her blades, and rode Phil to the foul messenger, and engaged herself in a duel with him. Legolas, seeing this, followed. So it came to be the Mouth of Sauron found himself locked in combat with two elves and was slayed by them.

Every now and then Elladhan, Elrohir and Aragorn would glance her way, making sure she was safe. Ariel busied herself with knifework, slaying those who chose to fight with her. She had no qualms about killing the orcs, but killing men was a different matter entirely. For were they not the children of Eru the one? Only turned corrupted and inflamed with lust for power by the enemy.

It was then she happened to look upon Legolas, and was momentarily distracted. He was stunningly mesmerizing, elegantly ducking to avoid a blow or swipe of the scimitar, deftly stepping aside, and displayed his potent and deadly skill with his long knife, and moved with a fluid grace that never failed to amaze her.

She did not see an orc coming towards her, was thrown off Phillifax and she hit the ground hard. The orc lifted its mace to kill, but she rolled over in time. Driving its blade into the gut, she searched for her mare, when an Easterling attacked her. She barely warded of the blow when an arrow whistled past, nicking her wrist. Crying out in pain, she let go of the blade. The Easterling disarmed her of the other weapon she had, and soon she was locked in a deadly struggle with him.

Kicking him in the groin, she despaired, for she was weaponless, and this time Legolas was nowhere near she, for a group of orcs came upon him at once. Something nudged at her hips, and she realized it was her dagger, and she had forgotten its presence entirely.

Pulling it out, she drove it into her opponent's neck slaying him at once. Blood spurted out and splattered on her tunic. She heaved him off and started to look for her blades.

Gandalf stirred and cried out," The Eagles are coming!"

Indeed, Gwaihir the Windlord and Landroval his brother with their vassals came in swift lines. The Nazgul fled and all heart lifted. Gandalf shouted again," Stand, Men of the West! Stand and wait! This is the hour of doom."

Ariel gaze in wonder, the sky South suddenly shone with a red brilliance, the Tower of the Teeth swayed and fell, and the Black Gate hurled into ruin. She watched on in awe.

"The realm of Sauron is ended. The Ringbearer has fulfilled his quest." Gandalf said.

The captains bowed their heads, but when they looked up, their enemies were flying. Some slew themselves, others ran hither and thither. But the Men of Rhun, Haradhrim, Easterlings and Southrons gathered for a last stand, being men of great pride, they rather fight ot the last than to flee.

That was when Ariel saw something that made her heart stop beating completely.

A Southron, evil intent clear on his face was heading towards the back of Legolas with a spear. She could do naught, her quiver was empty, her blades lost. She sprinted forward to intercept the Southron without a second thought or a care for her life. She hurled herself between Legolas and the Southron, protecting him.

The spear pierced her shoulder as Legolas turned in horror. Ariel screamed as hot pain seared through her shoulder like fire. The pain was unbearable, and threatened to consume her. Eru, just let me die, she pleaded in her mind.

Her last thought before slipping into blessed unconsciousness was, "Legolas is safe at least, my death was not for naught."

And her world went black.

It was as if everything stopped. Legolas clutched at Ariel's body, unable to believe his eyes. Such grief, anger, pain he had never known tore at his insides, with the knowledge that he had fallen in love with the elf he held. Even as blood spurted from her wound onto his hands he still stood motionless, stunned.

My Ariel, no, Eru, this cannot be happening.

So nightmares do come true.

Phillifax, in her wrath tore madly at the Southron and with her hindlegs kicked him, there was a terrific crack and he died of a broken neck.

Elladhan and Elrohir had came riding towards the direction of the scream, fear filling their hearts as they expected the worst.

"Bring her to Henneth Anun at once!" They shouted frantically at Legolas.

He snapped back to reality, clinging on desperately to the hope that the spear had not been poisoned and there was still a ray of hope.

Tearing off his tunic, he cleaned up her wound, soaking up the blood that seemed to pour out endlessly. Mounting Phillifax since she was a fast steed, he held Ariel gently and asked the mare to bring them to Ithilien. During the course of time he did this, he was gripped by a cold, numb fear.

Her face turned deathly pale with every league he crossed.

Ariel, sweet Eruiawien, you must not give in. 

~~~~~~~~~*

saturndragorn Thanks, hope you like this too. =)

Tap-dancing Hobbit Thanks you! All my reviewers are special to me. Hope you will find this just as action packed. Really, I sometimes think this story should be place under the genre "drama"

Nienna5 Thanks for the lovely review! Thanks again, hope you love this one.

Faenen Thank you. I try to make my stories as interesting as possible.

CityofAngel Haha, I find this chapter quite similar to your latest chapter all of a sudden. So much gore and violence, and all, plus you know what. Well, thanks for reviewing though, best of luck with your last chapter. Mine would be continuing on for a little while more.

Ling I myself am on the verge of reading the book for the fifth time. Thanks for taking the time to review.

Moon*child Haha, I took away the "7" from your name. Looks better? Anyway, thanks for the review. ::Tries to probe deeper into your mind to search for ideas:: haha…that is stupid.

Nienna Thanks you…here is the next chapter. ::dramatic flourish::

EvenstarFairy Thanks, I definitely will.

Luna The Silmarillion has it that Anar was the last fruit of Laurelin, and Arien the sun maiden guides it on its path. I think I will check on the books again. Thanks though, ::gives you a hug to cheer ya up::

Iluvien Wow…you reviewed all of my fics! Thanks! Sorry about the chess error! I do not play chess as well as some, so I vaguely described it. Mayhap you can suggest how I amend it? I once briefly had an encounter with my brother, which involved a bishop, king and queen, so I guess it came out of my head and I put it to paper. Sorry and thanks again. Hope you like this chapter.