This is the second to last chapter. Thank you for all the reviews once again. I love leaving cliffies!

Deana: Yup, Leggy's in a figh. With a broken rib. Heehee...Oh I mean poor Elf.

Me: I won't give anythin away...you maybe right, you may not be...

Chapter 11

Legolas stared at the two men who stood in front of him. Tándil holding a blade to Estel's throat, it seemed like hours passed before Legolas found his voice "Let him go. You have no use for him" he stepped backwards a plan forming in his mind.
"We'll let him go when we have you as our prisoner" Sannyn replied
"How do I know you won't kill him?" Legolas replied, taking another step back to where he could reach his sword, "Let him go first then you can take me prisoner"
"No" replied Sannyn walking towards Legolas, the elf prince staggered backwards, wishing for a distraction. His prayers were answered. A blinding flash of light lit the sky; dazed Tándil and he loosened his hold on Estel, allowing the mortal to duck away from him, and Sannyn to staggered back, stunned momentarily. This is what Legolas had wanted, as rain started to fall from the sky he snatched up Edhel-Naur and swung it at Sannyn, who at the last moment ducked away from it and pulled out his own sword. As Legolas swung the sword at his enemy again he noticed that Estel was defending himself against Tándil.

Sannyn blocked Legolas every move, but he was getting slightly tired whereas the elf seemed to be able to fight forever, around them the storm raged on. Lightning illuminating their battleground every few seconds and thunder rumbled ominously in the sky. It was one of the more violent storms Legolas had witnessed. One of the few that would have surely sent him was running for his Father in a matter of seconds had he been an elfling still...

FLASHBACK

"Ada!" Legolas cried running into his Father's chamber. The elf-king woke at his son's terrified voice. "Ada! There's a monster outside and he is scaring me!" the thunder rumbled again "that's its voice" cried the terrified elfling, as he huddled closer to his Father "It's alright little Greenleaf." Thranduil said soothingly "Nothing will hurt you while you are here with me"

FLASHBACK ENDS

The blades clashed again, the sound echoing of the great rock wall; Sannyn had now given up trying to kill Legolas with his sword and was attempting to cause the elf to fall off the rock ledge.

Estel too was struggling to defeat his opponent; the man was twice his size and was obviously twice his strength.

Elladan and Elrohir ran across the plain, when they chanced to glance up as a flash of lightning graced the skies. They looked in horror at the figures fighting, and then when the light faded they glanced at each other, "That was Legolas and Estel" Elladan said "or was it not?"
"I think you are right" responded Elrohir. It took no more words the two set off running once more.

"Legolas, why don't you give in?" taunted Sannyn
"Why would I want to do that" replied Legolas blocking a particularly vicious blow to the head with Edhel-Naur, wincing as it aggravated his broken rib.
"I knew you would say that" Sannyn replied "but the Lady wants you"
"And why is that? So she can rule Middle Earth!" Legolas replied "It's not going to happen"

"Why don't you give up?" Tándil taunted as Estel swept blindly at him,
"I'm going to kill you and why you helping him anyway? He's an elf!" Estel stared at him
"He's my friend. Do you have friends?"
"I don't need friends. I got Sannyn!" replied Tándil
"Oh and he's not going to kill you if it suits him?" Estel shot back "I meant someone who would die for you! That's what a friend does. I'm going to die for him if I must!"
"You think he'll care? You think he's not just using you for his own needs?" Estel flinched
"He will care!" Estel replied caught off his guard as the man swung his sword through the air and sank into Estel's shoulder. The mortal cried out in agony as Tándil twisted the sword laughing manically. Estel distinctly heard Legolas yell out his name before staggering to his feet
"he does care!" he replied blocking the blow that would have finished him, fighting with renewed energy he swiped at the man forcing him backwards to the edge of the rocks, Tándil staggered on backwards and realised he was in trouble, Estel swung his sword down at the man, who failed to block it, the sword cut through his arm and made him fall, but there was no hard ground to meet him. Instead he was falling to his death, falling through the air Tándil had one thought. 'Better at the hands of an enemy than at the hands of one I believed was a friend'
Estel watched him fall then turned he felt lightheaded 'blood loss' he thought before collapsing on the ground.

The twins reached the bottom of the cliff wall to find a man lying at the bottom, their first though was to leave him. But the healing instinct in them caused them to go over to his broken body. Placing one hand on his neck Elladan discovered the man no longer lived. After intoning a prayer to the valar the two carried back on up the mountain.

Legolas saw Sannyn fall to his death and then he saw Estel collapse, this gave him renewed energy, but as he swung his sword at Sannyn, the mortal sidestepped and sank his sword into Legolas' side and laughed, evilly. Legolas fell to the ground, clutching is side and watched as the man raised his sword 'it's not going to end so easily' he thought rolling away at the last moment, the man roared in anger. And took a step forward, intent on killing the elf, it was then, however that the lightning struck an outcrop of rock, causing a terrible landslide, Sannyn looked up in surprise as a mountain of rocks came crashing down on him. His screams were cut off by a crash of thunder.

The twins on hearing the screams hurried forward around the corner to see a terrible sight a mountain of rocks covered the path, Estel lay still nearby the twins, and Legolas was lying next to the rocks. It only took Elladan a moment to snap into action, "You see to Legolas" he told his brother, who instantly rushed over to the golden haired elf.
"He's alive!" yelled Elrohir a moment later as he began to bandage Legolas' wounds,
"So is Estel!" shouted back Elladan relief evident in his voice.
"Thank the valar" Elrohir muttered
"How are we going to get them back?" asked Elladan suddenly
"I guess we'll have to carry them" replied Elrohir. "But we can sit out the storm first" he gestured a small cave in the rock that they could rest in"
"Good idea" replied Elladan after finishing treating Estel's wound. Picking the mortal up he carried him into the small cave. Elrohir soon followed with Legolas.

A morning sun rose early, the weather was considerably warm, and he twins woke to find their companions already awake. "How are you?" they both asked them at once
"Well enough" replied Estel.
"I've had worse," added Legolas with a smile "and I think I have seen enough of this place"
"I agree" said Estel "I wish to return to Rivendell"
"You both could do with returning to Rivendell" Elrohir added looking a Legolas in particular. Legolas stood at this point and walked out into the sun's warmth
"we had better leave then" he said looking back at his friends, they too stood and the four began their way slowly down the cliff.

On reaching the bottom of the cliff Legolas stopped. "The men! They left the encampment on horseback" he exclaimed and looked down, sure enough hoof prints led to the side of the path and in a small cave stood two horses, ridding them of their saddles, the twins took one each, and seated one of their injured companions in front of them. Then they began the long road back to Rivendell, hoping that nothing ill would befall them on their way home.

A single figure stood on the cliff staring into the distance, watching the four elves ride off. She stood; as if waiting for something or someone. She was The Lady, once an elf by name of Vanyamíre, one of the most beautiful of her race. But Melkor had captured her long ago, and when no one came to release her, he turned her against all she had held dear. The elves and the valar, he had wished to rule Middle Earth, and Valinor. But had failed, she would not.
Not long after he had turned her to his side, she had taken an item of magical power... It gave and took away life and now she was powerful. She would be the one to rule this middle earth.
"Vanyamíre" a soft voice interrupted her thought. She turned and before her stood one whom she detested.
"Elbereth" she replied, ignoring the lady's title, long had this lady of the valar been trying to convince her to return to the path of righteousness
"The elf you speak of is dead. I am Lady Morévende."
"You do not have to be. Come back to the light, Vanyamíre"
"And abandon my values? No" came the terse reply "I shall one day rule this land. And then I will crush you Lady Elbereth. I shall destroy your precious firstborn. The valar shall pay. I will receive rewards aplenty."
"You will fail. You forget you need the blessing of the valar. You do no have that. You are a betrayer. You were not planning on rewarding Sannyn. You shall betray him like you betrayed your master" with that the Lady of the Valar left the elf-witch to her thoughts
"Curse you Elbereth! Curse you!" she cried her face twisted in to one of fury.

TBC...

Translations

Elvish (All Sindarin unless stated) English

Vanyamíre Beautiful Jewel

Morévende Dark Maiden

I'll be back tomorrow with the final chapter!