Authors notes: Thanks again for the reviews. I hope this story is meeting expectations and that you are enjoying it!

OO

Aeolian watched the Nazgul hover above them, mocking them.

"I want that creature taken down now!" he roared. A group of ten archers raised their bows and fired simultaneously. The creature cried its pain and faltered slightly, dropping a few feet. Despite this the beast still flew and with a scream of annoyance and anger it swept down for another attack.

The elves quickly dropped but the creature caught one unfortunate soul whose scream was cut short by the crushing of his body between its clawed feet.

"Fire. We need fire." One of the archers stated and hurriedly tried to light a small fire.

"Everybody keep down. Don't give it any opportunity to pick you off. You five get arrows together that will light." Aeolian indicated the five elves that were closet to the archer captain who had had the initial idea.

"If we are cowering because of one Nazgul what happens when the others show up?" Eyren questioned with a wry smile.

"Well the plan at the moment is to lure them into a false sense of security and then bang, out comes the heavy weaponry to knock them out of the sky." Aeolian replied scowling in the hope that looks alone would send the creature plunging to the ground.

"What heavy weaponry?"

"When I find it you'll be the first to know."

"That is reassuring."

"Ready Sir!" a voice called. Aeolian looked up to see five lighted arrows.

"FIRE!" he called and the elves let loose the burning missiles as the Nazgul moved to attack again.

Three arrows hit the creature and two struck the Nazgul. The cloak of the Nazgul went up in flames and it frantically beat its arms in an attempt to quell the flames. The creature was equally panicked and it whirled in a haphazard manner before slamming into the ground. In an effort to escape the Nazgul left the body of its ride and ran. Before it got far the Nazgul disappeared and the cloak was left burning on the ground.

"Is it dead?" Eyren asked.

"Who knows? Probably not. Those creatures have a nasty habit of reviving just at the wrong time."

"RETURN TO POSITIONS AND RESUME FIRING!" Aeolian called as he and Eyren gained their feet. He surveyed the battlefield which was much clearer now dawn was approaching. The wild men were still in disarray on the left flank but the right flank was still causing significant problems.

"Get some horses!" he demanded of Eyren. "The right flank needs to be engaged, if they continue their attack Aragorn's force will be stopped before it passes by our flanks."

Eyren bolted towards the rear of the lines returning with two horses that looked like they had run miles.

"These are not elven." Aeolian said as he mounted a grey.

"No and there are two unhappy men back there so I suggest we move."

Aeolian shook his head and urged the horse into a gallop. He was used to Eyren's strange and often bordering on physical harm method of acquiring items.

"You and I need a word when this is over."

Eyren smiled and urged his horse faster.

OO

Aragorn hissed in pain as an orc scimitar slashed his arm, for a brief moment his grip on the sword grew numb and it fell from his hand. Cursing he fell to his knees and reached for it but a blow to his head knocked him flat. Rolling swiftly to avoid the next blow he scrambled for the sword. Grasping the hilt he swung it wildly. A pained groan indicated that it had hit something and he quickly regained his feet.

Wheezing he felt exhaustion creep up.

"Are you trying to get killed Estel?" Elrond questioned moving to stand next to the King of Gondor.

"It wasn't in my plan of the day but I am always open to change." Aragorn muttered and then cursed as Elrond shoved him to the ground as he run through an orc.

Elrond reached down and hauled him to his feet.

"Stop talking and move. You are becoming too much like Legolas."

Shoving the man in front of him the two hurried towards the main body of the retreating troops. He could hear the triumphant cries of the orcs who had sensed victory.

The first wave of retreating soldiers had reached the tree line and were turning to steady themselves in an attempt to rally. Unfortunately panic had set in and a few of the troops, instead of rallying pushed through the warriors' line and opened up gaps. Before Aragorn could yell for someone to reinforce the rear a number of Mirkwood elves dropped from the trees and forcibly returned those who had panicked.

Glancing behind him he could see the orcs flooding after them. Aragorn checked the flanks and his face showed his dismay. The left seemed to be a mass of confusion; wild men who had obviously been routed were running through the lines. The right flank seemed to have been attacked from its other side. He could see Aeolian charging into the flank to join Eomer.

Looking back to his own lines he could see those at the rear had moved themselves into lines, as soon as Aragon reached the front line he turned to see the orcs charging. With a tremendous battle cry Aragorn roared his challenge. The warriors echoed it and the orcs pulled up short. Suddenly realising they had stepped into a trap the orcs tried to pull back. The war cry was the signal to close the two flanks. The right flank moved swiftly but the left faltered.

Aragorn swore. If the left did not close ranks the orcs had an escape route. Somehow he needed to reinforce it without yelling and giving away the game.

"Hold the line!" Aragorn snapped at Elrond and then retreated through the ranks. Luckily a riderless horse was trotting around in the rear ranks looking slightly frightened but still calm enough to ride. Grabbing the reins he swung himself into the saddle and urged the horse into gallop.

The little chestnut was not an elven horse but it was still very agile and darted swiftly around potential problems without slowing.

'Whoever you belong to is a lucky man.' Aragorn thought as the horse leapt over a fallen orc.

The left flank was chaotic and before he could near the centre of the fighting he was set upon by a group of orcs. With a shouted curse he charged the horse into the group slashing his sword ferociously.

OO

Legolas woke slowly and in a great deal of pain. It felt like a team of Gimli's dwarfs were trying to pick their way out of his skull. Opening his eyes was as difficult a task and after several attempts he managed a squint. The room was dark luckily; he didn't know if he could take any bright lights, his head would explode.

Moving was his next objective and with a jolt of fear he found he could not move, not even his head. He could feel cool metal wrapped around his wrists, ankles and across his throat. Even across his forehead. Struggling he attempted to loosen the bonds but to no avail.

"Struggle all you want fair one, you will not break free." Sauron hissed moving into Legolas's eye line.

"Let see how fair you are when my workers have a little fun."

Legolas tried not to show any fear but his breathing and heart betrayed him.

"Oh no need to panic just yet there are not here. I think the anticipation is always the worst part, don't you?" Sauron questioned.

"Not particularly." Legolas snapped.

"Well lets see of I can change that."

Sauron moved his hand to cover Legolas's eyes.

"What about with no sight?"

As soon as his hand was removed Legolas could not see.

"I am not afraid!" Legolas said although it sounded as if he was trying to convince himself rather than Sauron.

"Well let's see what its like without your hearing? So you cannot tell they are coming. Apparently if a creature losses one or more of its senses then the others are heightened. Let's see if the sense of touch becomes more sensitive when you can neither hear nor see."

With that Legolas could no longer hear. Straining with all his might he could no longer hear anything. Swallowing his fear he tried to breath deeply to calm himself.

Suddenly Sauron touched his leg and Legolas jumped. As soon as it was there it was gone. Then there was a ghost of a touch on his face and he again flinched.

For a good many minutes there was nothing and Legolas prayed that Sauron had left. A sharp pain in his arm made him call out in agony and he could feel his warm blood trail down his skin.

This continued for an age until Legolas was choking on his tears and in a state of sheer panic. His body tensed awaiting the next touch his nerves frayed.

'Help me' he cried in his mind. 'Please someone help me."

OO