Disclaimer: NOT mine!

So this is the dramatic finish here folks! There's this chapter and then there's the one that will be directly following this one two days from nowt and…let's see…three after that. So four total after this one. This is the last comment from me for the next couple since I don't want to interrupt them with random stuff from me this also being the reason why my comments are up here and not at the end like usual. (You'll understand why as we go) But yeah, believe it or not, the conclusion is almost here.

Thank you so much for reading and for reviewing! You guys are awesome! Of course this won't be the last you see of me. There will be more fan fiction coming now that this one has concluded at last. I don't know what though. Finishing other old ones maybe? Or starting a new one? If you have any requests or suggestions, now's your chance!

Thank you and enjoy!

Deana: Well I'm not sure if this counts as soon, but chapter 25 is already written and will be posted in two days and the next one a couple days after that seeing as how I imagine people will be a little mad at me otherwise.

Swasti: Thanks! grin Fight scenes are fun, but the bit coming up is something I've been waiting to post for a long time. The next chapter that is. I hope you enjoy it.

Impatient Elf: How's that for a quick response? I saw your review and since I wasn't doing anything this evening I sat down, wrote, checked and posted this chapter. Thanks for helping get this moving again!

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Legolas staggered the sky wheeling overhead, it seemed night had fallen again. He was close now. It wasn't far and he would have fulfilled his duty. His hand slipped away from his side again, his fingers loosening on the strip of cloth he had pressed there.

Blood dripped onto the yellowed grasses as he passed, running from his limp fingers. But before him the home of Rhohan's King rose, dark against the pale colored plains of his lands.

He would not fail them now.

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Virag smiled, more of a snarl really as he watched his hoards pour through the broken walls and into the small village below. Now it would be over at last. Those few who remained with knowledge of his plan would be swept from this earth.

He looked down at the sleeping child, curled in the pile of tattered blankets at his side. With this child and its heritage it would not be hard to confuse the men, turning them one against another until he had merely to take lordship of this world from them. Then the new era would truly dawn as it should have months ago.

His fist tightened on the sword sheathed at his waist. Yes, it was time at last.

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Gimli's breath came fast, it had been some time now since he had dared to rest. His axe sank into the nearest Uruk-hai. They had fallen back to lady Marja's hall now. The remaining villagers struggled with the Uruk-hai that faced them. He cursed under his breath. The elf had better hurry or there would be no one waiting for him when he finally did return.

But he remembered the look in his friend's eyes when he had made his promise to Inara. The elf would not fail them now. Gimli grinned tearing free his weapon. Indeed he could trust the elf. Not that he would say that when Legolas finally returned.

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Inara gripped the sword she had picked up from one of the smaller Uruk-hai. She had long since used her last blade. A sound to her left caught her attention. She spun catching the sword that the Uruk-hai had swung in her direction with her own blade. But the creature was far stronger than she.

She was forced back, until she ran up against the rough stone of the hall's foundation. The blade locked with hers slid down until the hilts crashed together sending a jolt of pain through her wrists.

Inara gasped, heaving with all her strength, forcing her opponent away, and swinging towards the sound of his grunt of surprise. She felt her blade connect, tearing through and pulling free again.

The metallic tang of blood filled the air. Inara swallowed, but she hefted her sword again. He would not be the last. And she could not waste time on regrets or fears. If she did not kill then it would be the same once again. She could not let it happen here. She would not allow it to happen. She would never allow it.

The Uruk-hai's eyes widened in surprise as the small woman lunged at it. She moved strangely as if she did not even see the battle around her but the short sword she held clenched in her firsts found its target.

It had not time to wonder at the source of its misfortune as its knees crumpled beneath it and it plunged to the ground.

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Legolas opened his eyes slowly. The room was bright, lit by a roaring fire. He was no longer on the plains of Rohan. He could feel the ache of his injuries but the pain was not as sharp as it had been.

He tried to sit up, but a hand restrained him. It took a moment before his eyes focused on Éomer, King of Rohan.

"I am glad to see you again Legolas, but how did you come by such injuries? And where is Gimli?" Éomer helped him into a sitting position.

Legolas swung his feet over the side of the bed, "We have no time. A band of Uruk-hai have attacked a Rohan village. Gimli is helping to defend it, but they cannot last long."

Éomer's eyes hardened. This was not the first time Uruk-hai that had escaped the dark Lord's defeat had threatened the towns of Rohan. It had been difficult but he had thought them finally defeated.

Legolas stood unsteadily, "I will accompany you."

Éomer looked back at the elf and shook his head, "You are in no condition to fight."

A strange look passed over the usually passive elf's face. Éomer's eyes widened as the elf reached over to collect his weapons from where they lay beside the bed.

"I have a promise I must keep. I will accompany you."

Éomer opened his mouth to protest again. The elf's wounds were serious. But something stopped him and he held his words in check, instead nodding unhappily.

But he would have to take care. Despite the elf's stubbornness he moved stiffly and with a definite limp. But his words were true there was no time to waste arguing. He would have to trust that the elf knew his own limits. He would not allow the Uruk-hai that had nearly destroyed Rohan during the war to harm his people now. This was an era of peace and he would see that it remained so.

His hand rested on his sword as he stormed from the room, already calling orders to his men.

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The moon passed out from behind the clouds once more, lighting the way of the horsemen below as they raced across the quiet plains through the murmuring grasses. It would not take them long to reach the embattled town at this pace.

But Legolas could only wonder as he clung grimly to his horse's reins, one hand pressed against his wounded side, would it be in time?

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Marja stood at the window. She lifted her bow once again. The woman beside her did the same but weariness was easily read in the lines of her face and in her slowing movements. But they too would defend their home. The women of Rohan were no strangers to war and they would not stand aside when those they loved were placed in harm's way.

Marja's eyes stung but whether with tears or weariness she did not know. She ignored it, aiming her arrow towards one of the seemingly endless Uruk-hai that were swarming into the town below.

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Virag grinned. The night was almost over but it mattered not. It was rather fitting that the first thing the day's new sun would see would be the foundation of a new era. The men were growing weary. Not even the dwarf could keep their courage and strength from flagging now.

It was over.

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Éomer reigned in his horse as they crested the last rise. Below he could see the swarming Uruk-hai and the ruined town. But cries and screams told him it was not too late, even now.

He raised his sword. Rage filled him at the sight of smoke rising from homes, limp bodies lying amid the ruins, and over all of it, Uruk-hai making their way towards the small village hall.

With a roar, he plunged his horse forward once more, sword upraised. The horsemen who had followed him across the plains swept after him, catching up his cry until the very air trembled.

Legolas urged his horse faster. He had made it in time. Gimli and Inara would be safe. He had kept his promise. Nodin would be saved. Even as he raced forward slowly the tight feeling that had clutched at his heart eased.

Now at last they would be safe.

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Gimli grinned as the roar swept over the small town. The elf had not failed. He lifted his axe, swinging it with renewed vigor. But instead of fleeing the Uruk-hai too seemed almost to strengthen their resolve.

He stumbled back as the creature before him swung its weapon at his head, crashing into his axe and sending shockwaves through his hands.

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Inara could feel it. It was almost dawn. The sun would be coming and in the air she could hear the pounding of hooves. The reinforcements. She smiled. Nodin would be safe now. They would all be safe now. And she…

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Gimli turned throwing the Uruk off him, seeing Inara out of the corner of his eyes. She swept up with her short sword, connecting with the Uruk-hai before her. Then almost as if she felt his eyes she turned towards him.

Gimli's breath froze in his throat and timed seemed to catch. The first light of dawn lit on her hair, shining on her stained and battered blade but it was overshadowed as a monsterous Uruk-hai rose before her.

Blood ran from its numerous wounds but it hefted it's immense sword, swinging forward. Inara brought her own sword up, but the creature swept it aside.

Gimli lunged forward, his hand outstretched.

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Inara stumbled back. He was huge. She could feel his shadow cover her, feel his immense strength in the blow that wrenched her sword aside. She could smell the odor of blood and sweat that rose off him.

She gasped, struggling to raise her sword against the onslaught.

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Pain, blossoming in the darkness and racing like fire into her mind.