Ok, I admit, I'm so excited to be near the end of this story, which, if you haven't guessed yet, is my fave that I've written, that I wrote this chapter the second that I loaded up chappie 17 yesterday! ^_^

Enelya Took; Ok then, I put the next chapter up today, how much faster is that going to make you write?! ^_^ Lol!!! *puts on really fake American accent... I gotta work on that...* Yeah, you'd better be goin' as fast as you can gurlfrieeeend!!!

Estel; ARAGORN: I don't think I deserved that... ARWEN: *slaps Aragorn* LEGOLAS: I suppose you didn't deserve that either! ARAGORN: No... no, I deserved that one... ARWEN: NEVER COME NEAR ME AGAIN!!! ARAGORN: With pleasure!!! ... Ok, guys? Calm down and get back in a) The right category, and b) The story!!! GO ON, GET OUTTA HERE YOU BUNCH O' 4 INCH.... &"%£%&$!!! ... I apologise Estel dear... Thanks! ^_^

Sirithiliel; S, s, s... I like it!!! ^_^

Deana; YEAH!!! =) Leggy lost his cure... MWUHAHAHAHA!!! ^_^ I enjoy being an evil fanfic author... LOL!!! Imagine that... "Push!!!" "I'M &%$"£*^ TRYING!!!" "NOT YOU, ME!!! OW!!!" *snorts loudly* Tee hee hee... =)

Manders1953; YAY!!! You're the only person who seems to have worked out that I'd just watched "Lion King" before writing that chapter... ^_^ Lol, was it really that obvious?! I've always loved that line; getting the chance to put it in a fic was so cool!!!

Gwyn; Well, I guess it's nice to know that this provides entertainment to people... even if it is rather, unusual, entertainment... More Elf-Torture? Funny you should say that actually... =)

Callie3; *does a Queenly wave* Thank you, thank you... I know I'm evil!!! =) Wow, was it that suspenseful?!?! ^_^ WOW!

Anarya; Ah, just wait... yes, Cayred is holding Aragorn just over the edge of the cliff, but only just... you'll have to wait and see what happens... =)

Elfmage; *gasps* YOU WOULDN'T DARE!!! *falls down and whimpers* PLEASE DON'T!!! PLEASE!!!

Mellaithwen-AngelMaiden; Why thank you Amy! Gee hun; are you giving me your life story?! LOL, only joking!!! ^_^ *huggles Amy* I got your email, I replied!!! ^_^ Ok, I'll go read your next chapter! ^_^ Yeah, that's probably the longest review I've ever got!!! LOL!

So, what's happened?! Well... let us see... JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW; THIS IS THE BIG CLIMAX... It's also probably one of my fave chapters in this whole story, if not my definite fave... read to find out why... =) *laughs manically*

.:Chapter 17:.

The arrow hit Cayred in his hand, driving straight through and piercing out the other side. Cayred screamed loudly and released Aragorn's neck.

The young King was dropped, grabbing wildly at the ledge and barely missing falling straight off the edge. He scrambled back to safety as Cayred ripped the arrow out of his hand with pure pain. The crazed man glared at the shaft irately, before directing his gaze to the Elf that had shot it.

With a cry of rage that filled the whole cavern, Cayred lifted the snake staff high into the air. As the ruby eyes glowed deeply, the arrow took on a blue-green shining aura about it, floating by itself in mid-air. As Aragorn's vision gradually returned, he found himself watching in horror as a small grin crept across Cayred's scarred face. The arrow suddenly shot off, heading straight for Legolas...

~*~*~*~

The Orc heard its master's agony-filled cry and turned to see what happened. Gimli saw this.

Swinging his axe wildly, the Dwarf hit the hulking creature in its side. The sharp blade did its task; the axe head swept straight through the Orc's body, cutting it in half. The top half fell backwards silently as black blood spurted out and spattered on Gimli's clothing.

Gimli got up, his face a picture of disgust. Then he saw it; the arrow. He froze with fear.

Cayred was going to kill him... he was going to kill the Elf...

~*~*~*~ 

"Legolas!!! WATCH OUT!" screamed a voice from out of nowhere.

Legolas only just saw his own arrow flying back at him. Unsheathing one of his knives as fast as lightning, the Elf slashed down, barely catching the arrowhead. The shaft was altered off course and did not strike his heart as it was intended to...

Instead, it drove deep into his right side.

Legolas cried out in agony as the arrow buried itself deeper into him. It ground to a halt, and the only part visible was the split feathers at the top. As time seemed to slow down completely, he stared numbly at himself, the world spinning, before his knees gave out from underneath him, and he fell in a heap to the floor...

~*~*~*~

The two friends watched in frozen horror as they saw their friend fall to the ground. It felt like an hour passed, though it was a matter of seconds. Then all hell broke loose.

Gimli rushed forward and wrenched the golden serpent staff from Cayred's hands. The taller being twirled around, gripping his staff and trying not to let it go. The Dwarf was much stronger than he though, and as Cayred's grip faltered, he swung it above his head and brought it down on the stone floor, smashing it to pieces.

Aragorn picked up Andúril from the floor again. With that, he ran forward with a holler and drove it straight through Cayred's back, the tip of the sword gleaming red as it ripped through the black tunic and poked out through his chest.

The insane gleam in Cayred's eyes faded as he gripped numbly at the gaping wound in his chest, before inhaling his last shuddering breath.

Aragorn blinked, hot furious tears spilling from his eyes. He shoved Cayred forward, and the evil man's body went tumbling over the edge into the darkness. He did not scream, but the sickening crack as he hit the floor was audible enough.

Aragorn stood stock still for a moment, breathing harshly. The adrenaline still coursed through his veins, but as he looked across the gap of darkness, the limp form of his friend on the floor made his knees quiver. And it was only now, when their biggest threat was gone, that he realized how scared he had really been.

"Aragorn!" cried Arwen. Aragorn was shaken from his grief-filled stupor by his wife. His hands began shaking as well, though he did not realize it.

"G-Gimli," he stammered fearfully. "Get to Legolas, quickly. Make sure he doesn't go to sleep; his life depends on it!!!"

~*~*~*~

Unbeknownst to those up in the Mordorian cavern, Gimli smashing the staff had more effects than they realized.

With Cayred's magic gone, the hoods and cloaks did nothing for the Orcs anymore.

Faramir turned to ask the leader what he and his people were doing out in Gondor, but instead of the human face, he saw an Orcish snout. His eyes widened.

It was only then that the Orc realized what was happening.

Faramir was quicker. "ATTACK!!!" he cried, removing his sword from its sheath. The other guards, confused by this, looked at the newcomers and saw the same thing.

The shrill ringing of metal rang in the air as swords were drawn. Armour rattled and clanked, whilst shrieks rose from Orc and Man alike as wounds were given.

Faramir dispatched of the leader with a quick lunge of his blade, whirling round to sweep the head off another that had been sneaking up behind him...

~*~*~*~

Aragorn kneeled down beside Arwen, brushing her unkempt hair back for her. Her face was flushed and tear-stained.

"A-Aragorn..." she gasped. "You're... you're alive!" She shut her eyes tightly. "I-I think... the baby's c-coming!" she cried loudly.

Aragorn gripped her pale slender hand comfortingly. "Squeeze when it hurts melath nin," he told her. Suddenly he felt the bones in his hand being scraped against each other as Arwen took his words a little too seriously...

~*~*~*~

His vision was already blurring. Legolas lay on his left side, staring at the opening he had run up. Each painful breath shuddered in his chest, rattling like chains.

There were no words to describe the agony in his side. The end of the arrow pointed toward the roof of the cavern, sticking up like some horrific trophy or monument.

He was going to die... he was sure of it... he would die, in the dark, alone...

He could see her dancing in front of him again; Death. Once again she beckoned him, calling his name...

He didn't want to go to her... but it seemed like it would be so much better, and easier, if he did...

~*~*~*~

Gimli ran up the slope after picking his way over the loose rocks. Luckily, him being a Dwarf, he could easily cross this sort of terrain; he had grown up with it.

The mouth of the tunnel opened up, and he ground to a halt.

Legolas lay perfectly still on the floor, his eyes barely open. His breath was fleeting; brief gasps that could end at any moment.

Gimli tore towards his friend and skidded down on his knees beside him. "Legolas?" He pulled the pale lifeless Elf into his lap. "Can you hear me lad?!"

Legolas' eyes fluttered slightly, opening a little wider and filling with recognition. "Gimli?"

Gimli breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank Aüle! Are you alright?!" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "How stupid of me... of course you're not..."

Legolas smiled weakly. Trust Gimli to try and make a joke in this sort of situation...

"Is it something about you or do arrows just like you?" jested the Dwarf. This time, Legolas forced himself to actually laugh aloud. The decision sent flares of pain rippling through his body, and he hissed.

"Don't make me laugh!" he gasped, trying to control it. He shut his eyes... and she was there again, twirling like a mystical curiosity that he wanted to find out more about, but was just out of reach...

"Gimli... she's there again..." he whispered. Gimli looked into the Elf's eyes, and saw the bright spark that was usually there disappearing far too rapidly for his liking.

"Who?" he asked. He tried to keep Legolas talking; he had to keep him awake! "Tell me who it is Legolas!"

"Her..." Legolas' voice was dimming; it could barely be heard.

Gimli realized what his friend was talking about. Legolas had told him what had happened when Arwen had saved his life, what he had seen. "Don't listen to her Legolas!" he near shouted, his voice dripping with desperation. He shook Legolas' shoulders gently. "You just stay here, with me, just stay awake!!!"

Legolas arched his back slightly against the pain. "Tell Aragorn..." he began, pausing for breath. He was determined to tell Gimli this. "T-tell him I'm s-sorry..."

"For what?" asked Gimli, his voice quiet. Somehow, deep inside of him, he realized; there was no way he could save Legolas. Unshed tears sparkled in his eyes. It dawned on him just how much blood the Elf had lost. It pooled underneath him, soaking Gimli's clothes and running along the dirt. Legolas used what little strength he had left to put his hand on Gimli's shoulder.

"For n-not being able... to s-see... the b-baby..."

All of a sudden, Legolas' eyes widened almost like in fear, but different somehow. The Elf gasped again, but this time, his eyes did not open again. 

"Wait... Legolas, no, you can't do that!" cried Gimli loudly. Now the tears were actually running down his face. How strange; he had not cried since he was a little Dwarf, but now seemed an apt occasion. Legolas' hand slid from his shoulder, and almost as if in slow motion, fell and hit dirt with a small thud.

"Legolas!!! LEGOLAS!!!"

~*~*~*~

"Aragorn, it hurts!" she screamed. Aragorn had sweat pouring down his face. The one thing he had no idea about; delivering children, and now he had to help with his first child. Arwen screeched again.

There was no way he would be able to get her back to Minas Tirith. He would need Brego, who was outside, and he did not dare to leave Arwen's side in case anything happened. There was also the fact that Legolas needed help; no doubt Arod was outside as well, but no one could go and get them.

They needed a miracle...

~*~*~*~

The last Orc fell to the floor with a gurgling cry, dark blood bubbling from its fanged mouth. Faramir glanced at his surroundings, at the wounded soldiers on the floor, and the others cleaning their swords off.

"Take the wounded back to the City, the dead too!" he called. The other guards began to carry out his orders. He called over Boregon, his second in command.

"Take control for a moment; I have business to take care of," he told the other. Boregon nodded.

With that, Faramir turned his horse and headed for the Mordorian cave. He had a bad feeling about it all, and he wanted to get there to possibly help.

That was, if he wasn't too late of course...

So... thoughts? =)