Chapter 5

 Under the forever dark sky the crowd of restless horses, flinging their heads into the air and stamping hooves and the crowd of equally restless men and elves began to file out of Minas Tirith. They trod the spiralling paths towards the gate, the pavements lined with women and children weeping softly, throwing flowers onto their path to bring good luck.

 Upon a chestnut horse Faramir recalled his feelings when his father forced him and a small band outwards to retake Osgiliath when the orcs over took the city eight years ago. Back then, the women were throwing flowers into his path, some thinking that Denethor had descended into instantly after losing his eldest son and even Gandalf pleaded Faramir to stay, but he had to prove to his father that they could not beat what Sauron had bought upon them.

 Now, however he was leading the people into battle in the absence of the King thought to be lost somewhere in the darkness. With him sharing his saddle was Pippin of the Shire, alongside them rode Éomer, King of the Mark sharing with Merry and on their other side Elrond, Lord of Rivendell. Beside Elrond was Thranduil, King of Mirkwood and behind followed the mass of their combined army tolling nearly twelve thousand. 

 Faramir was surprised by the number of women the elves had bought from Mirkwood, but he was assured by Thranduil the women of his tribe were as strong as the men in battle, the only difference was the women bore and looked after the children also. He found himself being smiled at and overly addressed to by an elven maiden who like Thranduil explained she and her other fighting brothers and sisters were able to fight was well as any solider. To demonstrate she drew her sword and playfully duelled with the nearest solider finally pinning him to the gate by his tunic. Laughing Faramir believed her and let her wonder away after freeing the shaken solider.   

 The men were equally surprised, some of them speechless at the number of elven maids that had come to fight. Faramir had caught one man staring with a dreamy look upon his face at one as she adjusted her breast plate. She fluttered her eyelashes at him when she spotted him, the solider turned red in the face and turned away as if he had been chided.

 The arrival of the elves had boosted the moral of the men and more wanted to join the effort. Faramir had to explain a number needed to stay behind should the fortress become under attack when they were abroad. He caught a small boy no more then ten years old trying to sneak into line next to Merry and Pippin, all dressed up for battle. He took the weapons from him and sent him back to his mother who swept him up and wagged a finger warningly at her son.

 Secretly he still doubted the number they had would be suffice, unlike the last time they marched to Mordor; they were going for victory not to buy time for an insider. This time they wanted freedom.

***

Slowly elf and dwarf dragged their wearily feet back along the dark tunnel where they nearly met their demise only hours ago. They could only go forwards now, forwards meant back through the dark, foul smelling tunnel which had turned into a tomb. It was not as hard as they first thought finding the path they had trodden already; it was their hesitation and fear of something leaping out of the depths of the shadows that slowed them the most. The battle to remain awake and to keep moving was becoming a marathon by the second.

Gimli shuddered in the darkness, his breath shallow and his eyes flashing, "Never will I be able to walk underground in the same way again" he said. Beside him Legolas felt the same, he had never enjoyed travelling underground but now he was sure in the future he would avoid doing so with it all his might.  

 The tunnel was thankfully still and silent, the only noise was the sound of their footfalls and the occasional whoosh of a blade cutting the thick web strands which blocked their path. They trod carefully around their fallen comrades, muttering a prayer as they went. Normally they would hold a burial for the fallen, but they did not have the luxury to do so. Time was against them, pressing upon their chests like hammer falls.

 Crunching underfoot was the small glass fragments of the mortal taking weapons Cassione and Aufstand had developed, the dry and cracked soil had soaked up the liquid inside greedily. Gimli grunted in the darkness and Legolas turned to the sound of his voice, guessing the in the dark.

"There is something here" the dwarf muttered, his hands groping for the item he was looking for. Finally after several seconds of searching he raised the item he had found, running his hands along its smooth surface, touching the broken ends sadly.

"It's Gandalf's staff," he said handing it to Legolas to inspect, "Snapped in two"

Legolas felt the white ash staff in the darkness feeling its smooth grain and the familiar curves in the wood where Gandalf's hands and wore a dent in the wood.

"I was with him when Aufstand shot him causing him to drop this" he said quietly running his hands around the area where the diamond shaped head once stood, now broken and splintered.

Gimli gently patted him upon the back, or what he could reach: "Don't blame yourself, there wasn't anything you could have done. At least you stayed with them to the end, unlike me" he smiled sadly.

 Legolas looked into his friends eyes: "It was my fault Gimli, and you said it yourself earlier. If I hadn't bought –"

"Now stop right there" Gimli cut across him with a stern tone. "If we knew then none of us would have let her go. But the point is none of knew, it doesn't matter now. What is done in none and there is nothing we can do about it"

 Legolas nodded and let the staff ends slip through his fingers landing gently on the hard ground, "I want to find them Gimli" he said with renewed strength, "I want to find them and return the pain and horror upon her, punish her for all she has done. For my people and many like me"

"Me too, me too Legolas" Gimli half smiled at his comrade who seemed lost and afraid a moment ago but now was focused and strong again.

This was the Legolas he remembered, and always did.

Now shaken free of their powerful grief and fuelled with renewed strength the pair made good time through the dark paths. The journey was shorter then they thought and mercifully much, much shorter then the path through Moria though equally as painful.

 Round the next corner and through the thick cobwebs they paused and rubbed their eyes. At the end of the tunnel was an opening leading outside, the dull light of an overcast sky was indeed a sight for sore eyes. The grins upon their faces broadened and with almost a drunken state of happiness they raced towards the opening and threw themselves outside in the open air, which in comparison to the tunnel was surprisingly sweet, even in such a horrid and hostile land. 

***

Racing hard, fuelled with fear of failure and the wrath of Sauron Aufstand ran faster and harder then she had ever run before. Even for an elf she covered land extremely fast, bowling anything in her path. Orcs were jeering and joking as she fought through them, her punishment was obviously well spread throughout the hierarchy of foes in Mordor. She did not let them stop her as she sprinted with long strides over the plains towards the borders estimating her foes progress after their battle.

 They would be wounded, tired and dishearten after finding the fate of the company with Sam and Gandalf missing and the Ring in the hands of the enemy. Had they run into trouble with another foe whilst in their run down state? She knew not, but she knew the giant spider Shelob that dwelt in the tunnel was becoming restless recently and was quick off the mark if it would earn her a meal.

Which way would they go? Would they risk the long, adjourns path homewards towards aid and the realms of men, or would they risk the more dangerous and foolish path deeper into hostile lands?

 She stopped dead suddenly kicking up a small cloud of dust and crouched down, listening hard. There was her answer – the relieved laughter of elf and dwarf on this side of the mountain.

 Sneering sinisterly she drew her throwing knives and crept closer.

Aufstand accuracy was deadly – even Legolas had admitted that.

***

In his joy Gimli knelt in the loose stones and laughed loudly, running his hands over the rocks and gazing up to the sky. Behind him Legolas' smile slide off his face quickly and he reached to silence his friend. But Gimli beat away his hand, crying out loud in his near drunken state of sleep deprivation: "Oh, we made it! Never did I think I would be so glad to see a dark and miserable sky!" he laughed.

"Hush Gimli!" Legolas whispered kicking Gimli playfully so he fell face first into the loose stones.

Instantly the laughter fell away and the dwarf growled as he rose, "What did you have –" he began but Legolas clamped a hand over his mouth.

"We are being followed, and no thanks to you they know exactly where we are" he hissed while his eyes scanned the area.

Gimli shook his head out of Legolas' grip, "You sure? How long have they been following us?" he asked, his voice whispering deeply ashamed of himself.

"No for very long. I felt them rather then saw them"
Gimli tilted his head but said nothing, knowing half well not to argue with elf-like creatures.

"Act completely normal, I don't think our friend knows we know about them. Let's just keep going, but keep on the look out in case they try to ambush us"

Gimli nodded and asked out of the corner of his mouth, "How many of them are there?"

"I think it's just a couple of scouts, but I'm not sure"

Not wanting to argue Gimli rose and silently they started their decent to flat ground at the foot of the mountains, followed by their stalker.

Little words were exchanged between elf and dwarf as they picked their way through the bare and dark land, forever eastwards.

Out of the corner of his mouth Gimli spoke: "Are we still being tailed?"

Legolas nodded slightly his eyes darting from left to right as they dashed from rock to rock attempting to hide themselves from unwanted eyes.

Gimli growled deeply, "I wish they would show themselves –" he raised his axe slightly "– then they can meet my axe".

Keeping a safe distance Aufstand sneered "You wish me to show myself, master dwarf? Very well, let us just see how long it takes you to work out who it is who is tracking you" she repositioned herself and pulled back her arm, a slim lightweight throwing knife held between her fingers.

***

Hunched against the wall of his cell Gandalf pulled his dirty robes closer, trying to block out the cold and hot flushes of a fever. Beads of sweat formed upon his knitted brow and ran down his back, pressed hard against the cell wall.  He was weak, exhausted and worst still powerless to help himself or anyone else.

 His heart ached with the unknown fate of Sam, the most innocent member of the fellowship who had seen by far the worst moments and hardships. He had witnessed Frodo spiralling out of control, broken and worn down by the Ring while it called out to him day and night, begging for the Gardner to steal it from his master and to hear the constant muttering of Gollum. Shaking his head Gandalf remembered Sam only came because he had made him. Eight years ago when Gandalf explained to Frodo the truth of Bilbo's magic Ring Sam was eavesdropping outside the open window. Too afraid to truly admit what he had heard and what Gandalf could do to him Sam begged for mercy and promised he would do anything. So Gandalf made him go with Frodo to Bree, their journey was fraught with difficulties and dangers, but they met many new and useful friends along the way. Merry and Pippin joined them, they ran into trouble in the Old Forest and befriended Tom Bombadil and later Aragorn under his mysterious disguise of the Ranger from the North called Strider.  None of this should have happened, if Saruman had not turned, if they continued to climb over Caradhras instead of turning back, taking the deep and dangerous path through the mines of Moira they would not have met the Balrog meaning Gandalf would have remained with the company when they needed him the most. Many things would have been different. But that was it, nothing could be changed, what is done is done. Nothing he could do would help him as he sat, racked with fever trapped in the darkness, alone and afraid.

 Elrond was right; when they started out from Rivendell many months ago Elrond disclosed to him that he was afraid for his family and his people. Afraid that the chain of events that had started meant more then first thought. He guessed that Gollum was not behind the rumours he had heard for was too small and weak to carry out such evil. It had to be someone else – but who would have thought it would be one of his race, or should he say two? The two treacherous sisters of Mirkwood aided Sauron to take back everything he wanted and needed everything from the rebuilding of his domain to aiding him to return to his body. They had helped the most evil thing ever done in an age.

 Even when Cassione begged to her life when the Nazgúl swooped down upon her Gandalf did not feel compassion or pity for her, nor when she lay dead did he grieve for her and similar would be his response should Aufstand be killed.  

 There was no calm and peace left in him now only anger, bitterness and deep set hate. But even that was knocked out of place by overpowering and depressing realization of his situation, trapped, beaten and broken.

 One by one he watched his mostly elven company fight and die around him. They gave their lives to protect them, yet it had all been in vain. Their bodies would rot away deep in the underground, dangerous passage of Cirith Ungol. There no one would ever find them, so even if by fortune one was still lived no aid would help him and they would fade away in the same predicament as the once grand and proud wizard. Alone, injured and ensnared in this struggle for freedom against the slavery of Mordor.

Shivering Gandalf pulled his cloak ever tighter about himself and urged himself not to give in. Once before he stood trapped and alone in hostile and dangerous territory but hope had found him in the shape of a moth which bought the eagles to his aid. Though there was no moth to help this time it did not mean help could not find him. He forced his exhausted and numb mind into work, planning, plotting and calling for aid from anything that would answer.

 An image fluttered before his eyes and he saw Elrond in Rivendell after he had voiced his fears. He stood tall with a tear shinning in his eyes, but he stood tall and strong defining Sauron.

Still shivering Gandalf sat tall with his back straight and tried to recapture his friends burning passion and powerful stance, mirroring the elven strength and heeding to their ancient words of hope, clinging onto the dream of peace and freedom.

***

Ping!

 Legolas and Gimli turned quickly, bowstring taut and axe raised, but nothing greeted them. Gimli bent and picked up the knife that had bounced off his helmet with a sharp and painful ping. He briefly looked at it then glanced sideways at Legolas who had not shown any acknowledgement of knife at all, but continued to stare ahead of him, tensely like an animal under threat.

Gimli was about to speak when another knife whipped through the air like an angry insect and with a sharp tang! Legolas jumped backwards clutching his face, his broken bow lying upon the ground. The knife had cut the taut bowstring which backfired and cut his face and right hand. Gimli had seen it done once before even that was an accident. Whoever throwing these knives had a deadly aim. He shivered suddenly, only one foe could he think of had such a deadly aim. Aufstand.

 Legolas lowered his hands Gimli could see how lucky he was not to loose his fingers or his right eye. His fingers were deeply cut which ran along the creases of all four fingers but his fore and middle finger were cut the deepest by the thin bowstring. The skin around his right eye had also cut and when he turned his head at the noise of running feet Gimli saw Legolas had lost the pointed tip on his right ear where the string had been pulled back to before it was cut. Despite the blood sliding down his face and running off his fingers Legolas was completely focused, swiftly he drew the sword at his waist and parried with the blur that leapt onto them.

 Aufstand rolled upon her shoulder and flicked her wrist sending another knife towards elf and dwarf, shortly followed by another and another. Legolas defected the first with the elven sword which rang with a clear note, Gimli was just able to dodge the second and the third struck his helmet with another sharp ping!

 Righting herself Aufstand drew her short sword and slid her arm through the various straps on the underside of her shield. 

She had expected them to be broken, exhausted and frightened but she couldn't have mean any more wrong. They were focused, determined and filled with rage. And as she looking into Legolas eyes she suddenly realised Sauron had sent her to her death, there was no way she could kill both Legolas and Gimli alone. They were driven more passionately then she was. They were driven out of anger for what she and her sister had done to them and the elves, they wanted to live, survive, save their friends and return the world to times of peace and tranquillity. She was only driven out of fear of failure and the wrath of Sauron – fear against pure anger. It was not the fight of good and evil, right and wrong but of emotion and a battle of fears.

 She made the first move, charged at them her sword angled dangerously. Her shield caught Legolas' sword as he swung it to catch her and she flicked her wrist, the sword lunged to strike him but fell short. Instead she pivoted upon her toe, her sword spinning with her at arms length. She saw Legolas take a step backwards and raise the sword to his chest to pare her blade away should it come any closer. Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement and immediately slide aside as Gimli's axe struck the ground, just where she had been. Flattening her feet she ceased spinning and put more weight behind her sword, swinging it towards her short enemy. He dwarf ducked her attack with some degree of elegancy and she had twist herself completely around to counter the swinging blade.

Gimli raised his axe and just as he was about to swing Aufstand elven made, slim sword cut through the wooden hilt with some ease. He threw her a fleeting look then as quickly as he could he reached for his smaller axes. Her sword twirled fatally above his head and before Legolas could reach them she had sent Gimli's helmet flying with the blade and cut into his scalp.

With a pained cry Legolas leapt upon her knocking her away as Gimli fell heavily  upon the ground and lay still. Aufstand had managed to refocus herself and allowed herself to be trusted along by Legolas' anger waiting for her chance. Swiftly and sharply she caught her blade with his and the pair stood with their faces inches apart their hilts intertwined above their heads.

"You want to know why?" she snapped, keeping tension upon her blade held above them both. "You want to know why we did all this? Understand this, not everyone is easily satisfied with the dull life of the forest as the soft hearted fools are." She hissed, "While everyone else was thinking me to be some silent sickly youngster I was planning something quite different."

Legolas did not speak but put focused his tired mind to keeping the tension upon his blade his arms were aching and his face throbbing.

"I was fascinated by the enemy. While you father ordered them to be killed day and night they came near I watched them from a distance and commanded them in their own tongue I had learnt after stealing a book from Elrond's study. It's amazing the things the orcs would do for you with the prospect of promotion. I befriended Nightmares using the same technique and I sent them upon you and Estel one night, unaware Cassione was with you. Silly girl"

Pushing against his blade Legolas fought to understand all this; Aufstand the King's maid was dark and deadly.

"I had to teach her what I knew to keep herself safe, but Thranduil grew suspicious of her after he had realised she was muttering Black Speech and ordered her to leave. Strange facts like that seemed to slip away from you father like water in cupped hands. The fool even forgot the family connection between the two of us. After terrorizing the elves for fun the next step was something far more dangerous. Then we heard about the Ring."

This was hard to take in. Some movement caught Legolas' attention and he stole a quick glance – Gimli was alive and awake listening to every word!

"We wanted to track the two hobbits and Gollum but they fell into the hands of men and as Sauron gained power Thranduil began to depend on me, our chance was lost. Or so we thought. Gollum was far easier to kill then the hobbits would have been"

Legolas shook his stunned mind, "You did this out of boredom!" he cried.

She laughed and added more pressure making Legolas bend backwards slightly, "Oh no, not out of boredom little Prince. Fascination at first, but now for power and purification. The lives of folk on Middle-Earth should not live as long as they are. All should be dead and their lands belong to Mordor. The only immortal life should be the Dark Lord and his minions, set to rule this world for all time."

He couldn't believe this. How could she believe such nonsense?

"Sauron cares not for your life; otherwise you would not be here fighting me. He has sent you to your death"

She laughed quietly adding more pressure and again Legolas felt his spine bend and his legs began to shake with exhaustion. "You know nothing" she whispered.

"I know that that mark upon you face was not caused by any ordinary foe of Mordor. I know you are totally alone, everyone you cared for is gone, family and friends. You slew them!"

Her eyes narrowed into slits, pushing harder against his bloody hands.

"Even when you perish you will find no rest from you life of evil and torture." Legolas continued, "The Valar will not allow to rest in peace, they will haunt you, forcing you to recall every murder you made. They will break you and cause harm until the day the world dies. That is your punishment, your fate no matter what the outcome is today. If you kill me, my death will be among the many that will haunt you forever, and if I kill you there would still be no escape from your fate."

His words had such a power affect upon Aufstand she pushed hard knocking Legolas to the ground the sword falling out of his hand.

With a roar of rage she bought her sword down upon him.

"Legolas!" Gimli shouted leaping to his feet, his head lurching horridly thrusting him back into unconsciousness where he could not hear the screams or help his friend in great need.

Reviewers:

Alida_Fruit: My die hard fan! I hope this chapter was full filling enough for you! I am very sorry for the rather late update but I've just started a new job and haven't really had the time to do much writing expect maybe when I am commuting to and fro from work on a ferry. ;)  Its rather hard to write when you are surrounded by nosy kids and your pen keeps slipping off the page! Never the less more chapter are being developed every so often! Thanks for your continuous praise.