Authors notes: Thanks to all my reviewers. I am very sorry that I have not thanked you all individually but I will endeavour to do so. Anyone wanting to read the whole story up till this chapter will find it posted on under my pen name M.J.Emery. Enjoy!

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Gandalf charged through the passages taking little heed to notice if there were any enemies in his path. Luckily for him those orcs that they did run across were too startled to see the wizard hurry past them and before they had time to react the others dispatched them swiftly.

As they hurried deeper into the tower they began to here screams.

"Azian! Legolas!" Thranduil exclaimed and the elf king now matched Gandalf for speed. Their forward rush didn't stop until they reached the doors to the inner sanctum. Gandalf barely paused for breath as he pushed them open before coming to a complete halt causing the others to run into each other. A Nazgul turned at their entrance. The creature was stood over a crumpled form and Thranduil's heart leapt into his mouth.

"Father!" a relieved voice cried and he turned to see Azian hurrying towards them. It was at that point that the others noticed the frozen figures in the centre of the room.

"Oh Legolas!" Elrond exclaimed as he stepped towards the pair.

The Nazgul started towards them but was immediately prevented from reaching his goal by Kiren and Aragorn. With swords drawn they charged the creature intent on destroying him or at the very least distracting it.

Thranduil quickly embraced Azian clutching him desperately.

"You ever do anything like this again I will lock you up and throw away the key." He exclaimed. Azian grinned.

"You shall have my whole hearted support." The elf king turned to his other son.

"Legolas?" Thranduil whispered in a frightened tone of voice.

"I don't know. He and Sauron were fighting…it was amazing father he had Sauron on the defensive!" Azian's face glowed with sibling pride. Thranduil's displayed a different emotion, one of parental horror. Seeing it Azian hurried on.

"Anyway Legolas suddenly charged him and as soon as he grabbed Sauron they both froze. They didn't move, blink or anything. I didn't want to touch them and then the Nazgul bursts in leading that wizard."

"Gandalf what happened?" The elf king demanded. The wizard was stood next to the pair studying them intently.

"Something that Legolas is not strong enough to control. Elrond my friend I will need your help."

The two stepped forward and linked hands; they then placed their other hands on Legolas. Instantly they were drawn into the frozen state leaving the two with no further explanation.

A cry of pain drew their attention to the battle on the other side of the room. Aragorn had just staggered backwards with a wound to his thigh leaving Kiren alone. Thranduil and Azian looked at each other before moving to engage the Nazgul.

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Shaking off the disorientation Gandalf quickly took in the scene before him. It was as he expected. Sauron was stood over a knelt Legolas, the latter looking exhausted but defiant. Just as he was about to drop the killing blow Elrond stepped in and the swords clashed.

"The little elf prince cannot defeat me and neither can you lord of the elves."

"On our own we cannot but together you will fall." Gandalf stated as Legolas rose to his feet.

"Lovely little speech wizard but can you back up your actions with words?" Sauron sneered. "What with an old and weakened elf lord and a pathetic princeling who I have had at my knees begging for mercy?"

Legolas face darkened and he stepped forward.

"Let's see if I can return the favour or are you afraid of a pathetic princeling?"

The battle continued with Elrond and Legolas forcing a violent exchange of blows inflicting as many wounds as they received. Gandalf in the meantime waited patiently for his opportunity to strike. It came quickly as in one blow Sauron knocked both of the elves to the ground.

"Is that all you are capable of?" the dark lord taunted.

"I did not take you as stupid Sauron." Gandalf calmly replied moving forward. "We are just warming up!"

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Just as Eomer was beginning to doubt that Aeolian was lost the elf stopped in front of a door

"I bet you thought I was lost."

Eomer shook his head in denial but Aeolian laughed.

"Elves don't get lost…well in their own homes. Now this…" the elf said with a flourish as he pushed open the doors. "Is where we keep our poisons."

"Poisons? What do you mean poisons?" Eomer said alarmed and keeping near the door.

"Most of them are designed to put the victim to sleep. We do not delight in causing suffering. They are used when hunting with young elves as a way to put down creatures that they had only wounded severely and we could not get to and save them. We rarely needed them."

"Right and they will aid our current situation how?" the man questioned.

"Well a lot of this on arrows may be able to bring down those creatures and then flaming arrows for the Nazgul. Do you think it will work?" Aeolian asked.

Eomer thought it over and shrugged his shoulders. He had no idea if it would work, they had no other plans and though it sounded a bit hopeful rather than practical they had nothing to lose.

Aeolian was practically gleeful as he collected as many pots as he could. Eomer lunged forward as a couple escaped Aeolian's grip and were headed for the ground. He caught them as he fell to his knees breathing deeply.

"Good catch!" Aeolian said with an amused glance. "My hero! Although I should point at that they are not airborne and would not overcome us in seconds leaving us to suffer an agonised death. They are liquids and unless you have an open wound for it to enter we will be safe."

Eomer rose to his feet, his cheeks reddening with embarrassment. Aeolian smiled broadly at the man.

"The keen enthusiasm to save my life has been noted and if I were a maiden I would swoon with delight!"

Aeolian broke into laughter and Eomer joined him as they hurried out back to the walls.

'Legolas's family are wonderful creatures' Eomer thought. 'If they lived through this he would definitely take the time to get to know them better.'

They quickly reappeared in the court to a scene of chaos.

"Looking at this makes me wonder how we win anything!" Aeolian said as he weaved in and out of the various groups of people heading over to the archers.

"Chaos is our speciality." Eomer replied.

"Wynean!" Aeolian called pleased to see the elder elf alive and well.

"Sir?"

"Gather as many archers together as you can. Coat the arrows with this and bring down those creatures. Then use flaming arrows for the Nazgul. They are not retaking this Citadel if I am still living!"

Wynean nodded reassuringly at his commander. "They will not sir." The elf then started issuing orders that had elves scurrying around like ants.

"Laddies it is good to see you alive. And you…" Gimli said pointing a finger at the elf. "are too much like Legolas for your own good. Damned heroics!"

"I have already told him that Gimli."

"You two should have children so your mother henning would be put to some use." Aeolian muttered as he glanced over the walls to see the orcs massing.

"Gimli I want your dwarfs to position yourselves on the walls over the gate and hail down as many big rocks as you can find on anyone attempting entry. Eomer I will need archers, we must stop any attempt at breaking the walls. And if you see any orcs running towards the wall with a flaming torch fire everything at it."

"Good luck!" Eomer stated as he hurried off to set his men to work. Gimli echoed his sentiments and did the same. Aeolian swiftly rejoined his archers. With steely determination he picked up a bow and readied his arrows.

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