A smile flashed across Legolas' face as the realization hit him that his friend was indeed still living. He was not the last of the Nine Walkers to draw breath, as he had so often feared. Perhaps there was yet hope for Middle Earth, for the Fellowship could still have a chance at completing its task. But now he looked at the orcs with renewed interest, still searching for the keys. These he found on a think metal ring hanging from the belt of the orc whose heart Legolas had pierced. Dull silver keys hung from the ring, too many to count at a glance.

"Gather around me," Legolas commanded the dwarves, as he eyed the keys and the shackles binding the Naugrim together.

Obediently, the group of dwarves came forward and Legolas dropped to his knees before them. Gimli was the closest to him and he began fitting the keys into the lock that held ankle shackles firmly clasped shut. Luck, perhaps, was with him in his task, for on the third attempt he found the proper key, smiling as it slid into the hole and he heard the satisfying click as the lock sprang open. Quickly he removed Gimli's shackles and did the same for the others.

Still, the dwarves had their hands bound and the key that had worked for the ankle shackles would not work for this second set of locks. He stood now and began to test each key on the ring anew. He worked without a word, though each key he tried failed to have any effect. He made his way through half of the keys. Some, it was true, fit into the lock, but these he could not get to turn and release the lock. Others were too big or the wrong shape, but if the elf was feeling frustrated, he did not show it. He simply forged ahead, trying the next key and the next key, until at last he came to the fifth key from the end. This he fitted into the lock and, holding his breath, attempted to turn it. He felt no resistance and after a second heard the lock release, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Gimli, once again, was the first dwarf that he freed and once he was free, the dwarf hugged the elf tightly.

"Take the key and free the others," Legolas instructed him as he handed over the keys, keeping the one that was needed separate from the others. "There is something I must see to."

"Aye," came the reply as the dwarf happily accepted the proffered keys and, receiving it, turned to free the others.

As soon as the key left his hand, Legolas turned to the bodies of the orcs that lay strewn about on the ground. Grabbing them up by their tunics, he began to arrange them carefully, taking their weapons from them once they were positioned to his liking. Then he took the weapons and dipped them into the gouts of blood that stained the dead grass and placed them in the orc's hands or close by on the ground. One of the swords he took and replaced within the body of the orc he had stabbed, wrapping one of the dead hands loosely around the hilt.

"Legolas?" asked Gimli, approaching the elf now that his task was complete and the other dwarves freed. "What are you doing?"

"Creating a battle scene," he replied mysteriously. "You and the others should leave this place as fast as you can."

Gimli shook his head. "I do not see you in how many months and you think that you will be rid of me so easily? I should be insulted if I did not know you better. Come, tell me what is on your mind."

"I cannot Gimli. Not this time."

"Surly I can help you. Do you no longer trust me as you once did?"

"It is not that," Legolas replied, motioning with his eyes at the other dwarves. The motion was slight and only Gimli noticed it. "What is important now is that these people make it to safety. We have not much time. This road bears many footprints. I fear that it may be a highway of sorts that the orcs use to travel by in this land. We do not know how long it might be before others arrive here. Besides, I have an errand that will not wait," he added lowly so that only Gimli could hear.

The other dwarves had paled at the thought of other orcs coming to find them and it broke Legolas' heart to see the once proud Mountain Folk so broken. The once fiery eyes were empty and distant, much the opposite of what Legolas knew they should be.

"There is a place that I know where you will be safe," Legolas said, directing his voice at the dwarves. "Travel northwest for two, maybe three days until you come across the remains of waterfall. It is damned up now but there is a shelter there that you can use. Look for the largest stone upon the ground. Underneath there is a tunnel and a sanctuary, though I cannot say what supplies you might find there. But take caution not to travel as a group. Separate yourselves into small groups, perhaps only two or three of you together and take care not to make your trail too obvious. That way you have better hope of making it across the land. Go now and may the Valar protect you."

He raised his hand and saluted the dwarves in elven fashion and the group bowed to him, their bedraggled beards sweeping the ground as they uttered their thanks. Only one remained behind, his feet planted firmly apart with a look of defiance on his face.

"Will you not follow your kin?" Legolas asked.

"Nay," replied the dwarf. "You sent them to a long abandoned rebel shelter."

"I am sorry for that," Legolas said, his voice soft. "I do not know how much the enemy has been able to corrupt them. I could not risk sending them someplace where our allies still exist in secret. I could not put the last defense of Middle Earth in jeopardy."

"They are not corrupt! They are my kinsman!" came the reply.

"I know that Gimli, but there is more at stake then you know."

"I would know, if you would only tell me."

Legolas shook his head. "Not here. Not in this place. First we must find someplace safer."

As he spoke, he picked up one of the orc swords that still remained with one of the bodies and carefully, he eased the sheath from its owner. This he slung onto his back and hid beneath the cloak of Lothlorien. Gimli too, relieved one of the orcs of his weapon, and this was a small hatchet that Gimli hung carefully on his belt beneath a tattered brown traveling cloak. It was not quite an axe, at least not like that which Gimli was used to wielding in a battle, but it would be far more comfortable for him to use that instead of a sword.

"Where are we headed?" Gimli asked as he readjusted his cloak.

"East," Legolas replied as he turned in that direction.

"East?" Gimli repeated.

"We must head to Mordor."

Gimli felt his heart sink as Legolas uttered those words. We must head to Mordor. What in Arda could Legolas want in Mordor? Perhaps the servants of Sauron had succeeded in corrupting the elf? But then, he had saved Gimli's life and had told the other dwarves where to go to escape enemy eyes. Surly if he was under the control of the Enemy, he would not have had done so. But then again, perhaps it was only a ploy to gain their trust?

No, Gimli thought to himself. This is Legolas! No foul creature would be able to corrupt him. Gimli, you fool, you looked into his eyes. Did you see any malice within him? Nay, he is still the same elf who befriended you so long ago when hope was left in the world.

"Mordor, eh?" Gimli said to Legolas casually, as if the two had merely been planning where to take a holiday.

Legolas only nodded. "There is a reason for such apparent madness, I assure you. But I cannot speak on it yet. I feel orcs close by!"

"How close?"

Legolas did not answer right away but scanned the area with his elven eyes. "Several leagues. They are heading west and are to the south of us. But come, let us not tarry here, lest we be caught for our folly."

Gimli did not answer but grunted and began a steady pace, following the elf who jogged ahead of him, picking a trail for them to travel by. Surly to head to the East was suicide, but he had faith in Legolas. If the elf said that east was where they needed to go, then the dwarf would follow him.

Ahead of Gimli, Legolas kept up his long, swift strides, keeping alert for anything that moved. So far, he had been lucky, for not a living thing was to be seen. Except for the orcs he had slain, there had been no other encounters. No further orcs, not birds, nothing. Still, Legolas did not want to allow himself to fall into any sort of false sense of security. Despite the apparent desolation of the area, it was still enemy land that he traveled across, and until the ring was destroyed, all of Middle Earth would remain that way.