Part 10: Chapter 2

"What was tha'?" Pippin asked when a clang was heard in the air. Legolas ran away immediately as soon as the sound was heard.

"Legolas!" Aragorn yelled at his friend. "We can not wander so!"

"It can not be helped friend! My lady may be in danger!"

"Don't be foolish elf! If it's one thing a dwarf knows it's – erm – well not ale but it's sticking together even when there's danger." Gimli hissed standing on his solid boots and picking up his axe.

"Indeed." Ami nodded in return.

"If that is your choice then let us leave quickly to scout for them." Legolas breathed.

Quite unanimously, the company went together in search for their friends though separated. Merry and Pippin were told by the others to stick together when they were told quite unceremoniously that they had to look after the camp. Both hobbits protested by Ami had given them good incentive to remain.

"If any orc comes call us with this." From a pocket within a small satchel she had tied to her waist, Ami gave them a blue bracelet made from elven twine and sapphire jewels. "When you hold the largest jewel and say my name it will give me a signal through here that you are in danger." She had touched the strange symbol upon her tunic representing the planet Mercury.

"Where?"

"I bet I know." Rei teased.

"Shush Rei. Don't want everyone to know that she's been cavorting with an elven soldier from -" Lita was quickly shut up as was the Senshi of Fire when Ami quite indignantly and out of character marched up to both young women and pulled their ears to the general direction of the woods.

The males left were confused by the sudden reactions of the females and shrugged it off to planning a means of attack. Soon after their deliberations, they went in search of their friends.

Aragorn had been tracking a set of footsteps he thought to be Frodo's. Indeed, they were and the pattern of his friend's walking was strange and erratic. As if he were running away from something. Aragorn found himself with Frodo when he witnessed the hobbit take the ring from his finger.

"Frodo?"

"You will take it!" Frodo yelled and tried to flee.

"What do you mean Frodo?" In his mind, Aragorn was in a state of confusion and more so, concern over his tiny friend's actions.

"The ring! You will take it!"

"How could I? I have entrusted my life in keeping yours safe? Do you not believe my word?"

Frodo didn't reply.

What is wrong dear friend? This is not like you. Aragorn thought and worry began filling his heart.

"Would you take the ring?" the hobbit asked finally, quietly as he held out his hand. Aragorn was shocked and fought with the power that the ring was pulling to him. A minute seemed like hours and the tension in the air was thick.

Take it. Take it, come, you could end the misery of Middle-earth. Take it…you could have your queen. Take it.

NO! I will not.

Take it!

NEVER!

TAKE IT!

NO!

Aragorn fought with himself repeatedly until at last he closed his hand over Frodo's, not touching the ring and placing them over the hobbit's heart. He saw the resolution in the hobbit's eyes.

"It is yours to bear."

"I would have followed you to the very lands of Mordor if I could." He added quietly. Backing away slowly, Aragorn didn't notice the relief that came to his friend's eyes. What he saw shocked him instead. The elven dagger given to Frodo by Bilbo glowed blue. The light warned that Orcs or danger had come near. Aragorn withdrew his own sword. An unspoken agreement between them passed and Frodo left for the boats.

The battle settled in at that moment for Aragorn. He fought against the Uruks striking wherever and whenever he could. Fast and furious were his strokes. The enemy would not win.

Legolas could feel his heart constrict when he saw his lady kill the orcs. However, the fierce sense of justice radiated from her. If she only knew that these monsters had once been elves, tortured and mutilated until there was nothing left. After fighting the beasts for close to half an hour or so, Gimli and himself found to their great surprise the sound of the horn of Gondor. The orcs fled to the sound and to give them some time, Legolas and Gimli tried to make short work of as many of the Uruks as they could. To his dismay, they found Boromir and Serena along side the child Hotaru fighting with all their might.

He shot an arrow at an Uruk that had tried to choke his lady fair with as many arrows as possible when they had first arrived to the brutal scene. Not long after the others followed. The battle got deadlier and deadlier as the more power the Senshi used, the more tired they grew.

Will this ever end?

Author's Notes: After close to a year…sweat drops…I have updated! Hurrah! Ooh…now we get to see the sacrifices that everyone makes. Thanks to all that reviewed.

Water Block: Alas, I cannot give information about the end until the end. How could I when I'm improvising from previous chapters? Hehehe, that's news for everyone. That's right all! I don't know the outcome of this fanfic! So I'm just as excited as the rest of you!

Voldie on Varsity Track: Now that's an image I had fun thinking about. Hehehehe…

Illusina: Yes…the infamous Serena with Darien. Well, I always thought that our dear Moon Princess would be better off with someone else. However, it's uncanny she could have two LEOS fall for her. Gawd, why did she want to pass off Seiya? Well then again, he's a sex changing erm person. Would that make him bi?

Mesa Juu-Chan: Yeah…sorry, kind of typed what I thought I heard. sweat drops

Kim: hehehehe, you know who I am! Indeed you do…won't say much on that subject though unless you story review the others on my profile.

That reminds me. My other Lord of the Rings fanfics are looking a little lonely. Yes shameless story plugging but since everyone has been so kind to review this, could you please go check out the others I've written? Would be very much obliged and will make sure to give you all mental hugs, cookies and manga. Then again, it's all very heady stuff.