Authors notes: - Thank you for the reviews. A big thank you to Kaddy for your long and wonderful email. I will reply once I've done more on this boring essay on urbanism in pre – dynastic Egypt!!!!! Its something to look forward to. Anyway on with the story. Hope you all enjoy and please review!

OO

The darkness from the tower thickened until it was almost visible. The familiar feeling of it invading his body made the panic that Legolas was experiencing all the worse.

The horses cantered up the path leading to the tower, their hooves ringing clearly announcing their presence. They were essentially walking up to the front door and handing themselves over. Legolas thought anxiously.

They slowed to a halt before the doors and as one drew their swords.

Why had no one attacked them? Or prevented them from entering? Or even made their appearance known? Legolas thought frantically.

The doors groaned open, moved by some dark magic. The horses moved into the inner courtyard, as soon as they cleared the gate it closed.

A lone Nazgul stood on the steps leading into the tower, it stood stationary but Legolas could feel its gaze on him.

They dismounted and suddenly the other two elves moved their swords, holding them to his throat.

The Nazgul moved down the steps and halted in front of him.

"You have returned to us little prince." It hissed. Legolas fell to his knees compelled to by the same force that had commanded him previously to follow these elves.

The two pure ones stepped backwards allowing the Nazgul full access but instead it too backed away.

"I imagine you are confused." A new voice stated and Legolas felt a hand grip his chin forcing him to face the new person. The man was old and clad in a cloak; he had an energy swirling that was similar to that of Gandalf's. A wizard.

"Did you father not warn you about me?" he questioned in a jovial voice.

Legolas remained silent, even if he wanted to speak his lips refused to move.

"I am the evil wizard! I am the one who will make you kneel before me willingly as a slave, while your home is invaded and your father lies dead at my feet." With a tut tut tuting sound the wizard continued. "The young are so impulsive, a word from the wise, listen to your elders."

The wizard smoothed Legolas's hair like a father would his child.

"Rise." The wizard ordered. Legolas rose to his feet.

"Let us watch the destruction together. There is nothing like misery, pain and hopelessness to make you feel so alive." The wizard continued talking as if they were going on a picnic, discussing the décor of the tower as Legolas followed, deeper into inescapable darkness.

"Sauron wants to talk to you." He said indicating a large foreboding door.

OO

With screams of glee the wild men attacked the men of Gondor and dwarfs who were grouped on the left flank. Their appearance lived up to their name. Some of them had filed their teeth into points to add to their ferocious look. Their viciousness in battle was unparalleled. They had not been bred for battle they had a natural affinity for it, which they tireless developed until they were killers with an extraordinary lust for blood.

So when the screaming and wild shouts from the forest echoed little attention was paid as they assumed more of their number was joining the battle. A mistake that would cost them dearly.

The trees parted to reveal charging horsemen who appeared to be wild wraiths. Screaming elvish challenges, their appearance was as terrifying as the wild men themselves.

"Spirits!" one of the men cried in fear. Quickly the wild men turned to face the new threat. The horses bore down on them, trampling any that got in the way. The wraiths on board slashing with weapons coated in blood. As quickly as they appeared they disappeared into the night.

The wild men looked around frantically, the men and dwarfs forgotten as these spirits taunted them. Wild men were not normally afraid of anything but vengeful spirits of those that could not rest; these were the most terrifying things they could think of, to be lost in the world between life and death was unimaginable. These were the spirits of those who they had killed come back to take their revenge.

The thunder of hooves heralded their approach and before they knew it the spirits were among them. Terror quickly spread throughout the ranks and survival and escape became their highest priority. They scattered.

O

Azian smiled a grim look of triumph spreading across his features. Letting out a scream of anger he slashed his sword across the face of a fleeing man. Channelling all his fury into his actions Azian fought as if possessed. The other elves were equally as ferocious. Elves were not all pure and light; deep down when it was their very survival at stake they were as ruthless as mortals.

The wild men were in total disorder having panicked at the appearance of the elves. Capitalising on this the elves drove them apart, their horses, well trained in battle, trampling and striking with their hooves anyone unfortunate to get too close.

The men and dwarfs who had suffered the brunt of the attack from the wild men had been in the process of falling back. They now renewed their assault forcing a full scale retreat.

Seeing that the upper hand had now been gained, Azian called a retreat.

The elves disappeared back into the shadows, a small victory gained.

OO

Feren led on the ground to the side of a well – worn trail. The group of ten men that he had taken on this scouting party were in similar positions to either side of him.

"Unless they come walking down the path I doubt we will see anything in this light." Aran whispered from his left side. Feren agreed but didn't see any other way to accomplish this mission.

"Dawn is only an hour away. We will keep moving parallel to the trail."

As quietly as possible the group stood up and moved silently through the forest.

The sounds of battle were strangely muted even though they were less than a few minutes from the fighting. They could hear the occasional cries but if they did not listen carefully they could almost forget they were in the middle of a battle.

"How accurate were these reports?" one of the younger men whispered.

"No idea, but you know how devastating an attack from the rear would be. If there is the slightest chance of that happening we have to stop it." Feren responded.

A screech of a Nazgul froze them all.

"Just a second ago I was hoping we wouldn't find a troop of orcs, now I wish we would." Aran stated with a resigned expression on his face.

Everyone fell to the ground hoping that the trees were too dense for the creature to see them.

"We should warn someone." The young soldier stated.

"I don't think that will be necessary. That scream could be heard for miles. On the other hand we seem to have found what we were looking for." Aran indicated the orcs making their way towards them.

"You!" Feren said to the nearest soldier. "Get help now!" The soldier needed no further urging and scrambled back the way they had come.

"Ready!" Feren questioned.

"Attack!" The soldiers leapt from their hiding place.

OO

Aragorn looked up at the Nazgul that circled high above them readying itself for an attack. With a screech it descended, heading straight for the centre of the attacking line.

"EVERYBODY DOWN!" he cried dropping into a crouch as the creature's feet lowered. All those within hearing distance had dropped but many more were not as fortunate, ally and foe alike. Those crushed between its claws screamed, plunging to the ground when the creature turned to make another pass.

"KEEP TOGETHER!" Aragorn cried as the forward momentum of his troops ground to a halt.

A hail of arrows met the creature's second attack, they pierced its thick hide but still the creature continued.

The second attack was as deadly as the first and the soldiers began to scatter to avoid its path. The line was breaking.

"KEEP TOGETHER!" Aragorn urged again, but as the creature descended for the third time the line broke completely.

More arrows met the creature and it turned to find the source giving them temporary respite.

"FORM THE LINES!" Aragorn heard Eomer's cry as he charged his horse towards the gap that had opened up. The orcs were pouring into the hole but they were met with heavy resistance from dwarfs.

Eomer halted his horse next to Aragorn.

"Most of the orcs are now engaged. Elrond and I have formed the right flank. Azian or at least I think it was him, has broken the wild men attacking the left. Fall back, back to the tree line and then reform."

Aragorn nodded. "Fine."

"Lets see if Legolas's plan can save us!" Eomer stated and then he was galloping away returning to his command.

"FALL BACK! TO THE TREES!" he yelled. The order passed down the lines along with the command to keep together.

If the line broke as they were retreating, it would prove devastating.

'Keep together.' Aragorn prayed as they fought back to the trees.

OO