Authors notes: - Thanks again for the reviews. I appreciate every single one. This chapter is slightly shorter than the others as I wanted to get it posted before my birthday celebrations start (21 today!!) and my parents arrive for a visit. I hope you like it. Any comments would be loved!!!

OO

Drip Drip The black blood of the orc ran down the shrivelled hand, trailed over a pointed nail and onto the black stone floor.

"If you keep killing my orcs then we will have to fight by ourselves." The leader of the Nazgul stated moving to survey the cloaked wizard that entered.

"And we would still win. Although you seem to be having a problem with your Nazgul? Two dead tut tut." The wizard said twirling his hands around seemingly mesmerized by the patterns the blood had made.

"I feel them moving closer, have they been awoken by a foolish elf prince? The very one that escaped is it not? I feel his power, I must have him."

"He will do you no good if they destroy us." The Nazgul hissed.

"I have that all in hand."

"Good. The Nazgul are returning. They have reported warriors massing on the edge of the forest."

The door to the chamber slammed open and the air chilled even further. A figure taller than any man or elf and twice as broad strode into the room. He was clad in armour darker than night that seemed to absorb light. A malice radiated that no other creature could possibly hope to conjure. Sauron.

"We will attack before dawn. Bring the leaders to me and kill the rest. Do not touch the elf prince." Sauron stated his voice demanding compliance.

"He is mine!" The wizard protested and then choked as the air seemed to be sucked out of his lungs.

"You will have him after I have seen him. Never address me like that again or the fate that that elf suffers will pale into comparison to your torture. Leave now."

The wizard did not normally fear anything, but for the first time shivers crawled over his skin and his stomach turned. His legs carried him far from the room and onto a balcony overlooking the vast courtyard that held the amassing orcs and wild - men.

He left furious at his weakness and immediate compliance to Sauron.

"I have not waited for centuries to have this taken away from me now. I will have that elf! I will have Mirkwood!" he whispered as a Nazgul circled and landed on the top of one of the surrounding walls.

OO

Legolas felt the warning of the approaching Nazgul before the sound waves made by their wings reached them.

It is beginning. The tower calls he felt the whisper in his mind. The horse moved beneath him matching the pace of the others. The Nazgul flew over their heads and Legolas felt a twinge of fear as they did not move to confront them. His hands made no move towards the bow and arrow he carried, they just proceeded onwards towards the tower.

'Surely we are not going to fight them just by ourselves?" he thought slightly panicked. He could hear the cries of alarm at their departure from his friends and wished that he was now fighting with them. Even if they meant their defeat at least they would be together.

Decided he tried to pull the reins to halt the horse but his hands did not even move.

'Halt!' 'Stop!' he cried in his mind but still his mouth did not move, he just sat there riding towards the tower.

'This is not right. Something is wrong!' he thought panicked but despite every effort to move he could not even flinch.

Sheer terror rose up consuming him; it was like Sauron again, he could not control himself. As the horse sped into gallop Legolas screamed but not a sound echoed from his lips.

OO

Aeolian watched in sheer disbelief as the three pure ones went from walk into gallop and disappeared. The disbelief turned into determination and he grabbed the nearest elf that walked past.

"Call any horse that you can find. Get help, Prince Azian knows the hides well." The elf nodded and hurried off.

"Ready the lines get the archers. Move the supplies forward!" Aeolian called. Most warriors stood staring at him with dumbstruck impressions.

"NOW! We have got until dawn to get battle ready or we DIE!"

The response was instantaneous. He looked around to see the other commanders issuing orders.

"Aeolian have you seen Azian?" Thranduil asked as he came to stand beside Aeolian.

"No but that could only mean he is up to something. And from what I have seen that can only be a good thing. He is a brilliant commander."

"As are you." Thranduil stated with a smile.

"Um...my lords?" a nervous voice questioned. The two turned to see a young elf and man stood in front of them.

"Yes?" Thranduil questioned.

The two looked at each other and then back at the two elves.

"King Eomer wishes to speak with you Lord Aeolian."

"I can't find Azian or the horses my lord."

The two said at once. Aeolian sighed.

"I will deal with this father. I think both are probably related. King Eomer will need more horses and at this moment no one knows where the animals have gotten themselves to."

Thranduil nodded.

"I shall take my leave. I feel Mithrandir may be planning something that will certainly surprise the enemy, if not us as well."

Aeolian laughed. "Just remind him where to point that magic of his. I remember the last time he fought with the wood elves, the magic he created temporarily stunned the right flank into unconsciousness."

Thranduil laughed as well. "I have never seen him looking so flustered and the look Legolas gave him as he found himself with a command of unconscious warriors would have frozen the fires of Mount Doom."

"A slight miscalculation." Gandalf said appearing before them.

"I would hate to see your definition of massive miscalculation. Anyway if you two will excuse me I need to find some horses."

Aeolian followed the man and elf in search of King Eomer.

"Now my king lets organise this dragon." Gandalf moved away, talking excitedly, leaving Thranduil trailing.

"Dragon? Oh have mercy on us all." The elf king muttered.

OO