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NOTE: Eh, for some reason the computer won't let me put my parenthesis borders on the page anymore, except for the one below highlighting the chapter. So if yall are confused by the repeating "bp" thing, just know that it's a break and I didn't make a typo or something...er. Yeah.

((((((((((((((((((Chapter 18))))))))))))))))))))

Eressa opened her eyes. As she did so, a tear spilled down the side of her face. The magical binds that held her wrists to her sides were looser now that the faceless thing had left, but even so, Eressa had no energy left to move. She was alone in this dark, tall prison.

Ithilion's presence--or whatever it was that she had seen—had disappeared completely. She grew uneasy without that comforting feeling beside her. Eressa opened her mouth and a sob found it's way out, and she began to cry once more.

Legolas…I wish you could find me and be with me now…she prayed. I just want you to be beside me…the way we belong.

Her tongue moved in her dry mouth and she tasted her own blood. She had bitten deeply into her lower lip during her contractions, and she could feel a sticky line at the corner of her mouth.

Eressa sobbed again, and her lower body twitched with the sound. She felt another prick of pain and it instantly stilled her.

What? But…but the creature isn't here…she thought with growing fright as the pain began to gather in her lower half again.

Eressa cried out as she felt the child within her shift. Valar…oh gods…please, no.

There was no spell working on her body now, Eressa realized. This was the time. The child was coming now.

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The Wraith struck with absolute accuracy, each swing perfect. Legolas was far from perfect. He struggled to defend himself.

The elf prince shielded himself with the blade of his own sword, and then gracefully spun out of the way. The Wraith brought its weapon up again and crashed it downward towards him. Legolas again blocked the blow, this time gripping the tip of the blade in his other hand in order to push the creature away from him.

"Elven filth!" The vile thing spat angrily. It backed away, it's black capes blowing in the wind, making it appear much larger than it really was. Legolas glanced around frantically as the Wraith stood in the doorway.

There is no way I'll make it in there in time to save Eressa…he realized.

"Legolas!" A sudden cry came from behind him and Legolas heard a whistling sound come past his head. The Ringwraith saw what he didn't and raised his sword in a defensive maneuver.

There was a loud clang as Hathol's staff met the Nazgul's blade. Legolas jumped back and watched as the point of the staff managed to elude the sword of the enemy and stick the Nazgul in the chest. A cloud of putrid smelling smoke escaped where the point of the spear punched through the creatures armor, and rose into the air along with its scream. Legolas whirled around to find his friend running towards him, his sword now drawn. He blinked slightly as Hathol roughly grabbed him by the shoulders.

"I'll keep the Wraith busy," He said hurriedly. "You have to get into that castle and find Eressa."

Legolas understood and nodded. Both elves turned back just in time to see their enemy rise.

"You will pay…" Hissed the Nazgul as it lifted i's free hand and removed the spear from it's chest. The weapon was thrown aside, safely away from the elf's reach. The creature raised its sword and charged.

Legolas stepped forward , wrenching himself from his friend's hands, and pretended to try to block the blow with his own sword. He stood with his arms raised and prayed to the Valar one last time. An instant before the Nazgul's blade met his, Legolas pulled away and spun to the side. He then twisted around as the Wraith passed, and slashed the creature across the back. He watched as even more smoke escaped through the folds of black fabric.

"YOU WILL DIE!!" It bellowed as it turned abruptly to face him. Legolas stepped back, ready to fight, but suddenly the creature screamed again…and the sharp tip of Hathol's sword punched right through the front of it's chest.

Legolas fell further back, under the great arch that was the entrance to Dol Guldor. He looked past the Wraith and saw Hathol. The elven general used a strong jerk of his arms to free his sword from the Ringwraith's flesh.

"Legolas, go!" He shouted as the Wraith screeched in rage yet again. It turned towards him, bent on revenge. "Go now!"

Legolas shook his head as he watched his friend's face slowly become darker as it was drawn into the Nazgul's large shadow. Hathol stood his ground.

"But you cannot fight it alone!" Legolas called in reply. "You will be killed!"

Hathol shot Legolas a fiery look as he raised his sword again. "Legolas, you must go NOW!"

"But Hathol…"

"GO!" The elf soldier shouted one last time before blocking the Wraith's first blow. He grunted as his arm shook—even injured, a Ringwraith's strength was terrible.

"Hathol…" Legolas whispered into the unforgiving night wind. Finally he turned away and ran. He wasn't sure where he was going, but he knew that now he was one step closer to finding Eressa. One step closer to winning this war.

Valar be with you, mellon nin…Legolas silently prayed for Hathol. And may they also be with me.

Legolas closed his eyes and burst through the nearest door of the fortress, sinking into the impending dark.

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Another really short one. But I wrote it in thirty minutes, ok? I'm feeling really bad for abandoning you guys…eh, forgive me? Please? My musical isover (FINALLY!!). Oh, but I did have also a sort of small but very painful medical problem too (I'm not going into details…), but I promise to return to my regular schedule right now!!

ARRRGH! DARN IT! And now this stupid site isn't letting me log on! Oh well, I'll just continue with the story. I'll get this chapter up as soon as the stupid server starts working…

I love you guys! PLEASE CONTINUE REVIEWING!