Disclaimer: Unfortunately, none of this is mine!! sob

Title: Strike of the Serpent

Rating: R

WOW!!!!!! I actually updated!!! Enjoy! :)

Chapter 10

"No!" Aragorn cried, pushing past Gandalf and throwing himself down beside Legolas, supporting his upper body to keep him from falling to the floor.

"Legolas?" he called softly, hoping his friend was not too far gone to hear him.

Legolas' eyes blinked open and Aragorn drew his breath in sharply at the sight. Legolas' eyes were the same clear grey they had always been--Saruman had loosened his grip, but not before the damage had been done.

Gandalf and Gimli hurried to their side, ignoring for a moment the wounded Istar in the centre of the chamber. As they kneeled in front of him, the ghost of a smile crossed the Elf's bruised face.

"I knew you would come…" He said softly.

"But we came too late!" Gimli exploded.

Gandalf hung his head. "Legolas…my old friend, I am so sorry…I--"

He was cut off as Legolas weakly reached out and put a hand beneath his chin, raising his head.

"No, my friend," Legolas said, his voice hoarse, but as warm as ever, "You are not to blame for this--" He broke off, coughing harshly, "You did what you had to do, what I expected you to do. You know in your heart it was the right thing, just as I did."

Gandalf sighed and looked away, plagued by guilt. Aragorn gently brushed some stray hair back from Legolas' forehead and looked into his eyes.

"I saw what you did, my friend…" Legolas looked away.

"You should not have taken that risk!" Aragorn chided gently, "Look at where it has got you!"

The Elf sighed, "There was nothing else to be done, Estel, kill or be killed. I would not see you all brought down because of me,"

Aragorn looked sadly at his old friend, seeing clearly, perhaps for the first time, how deeply Legolas blamed himself for everything.

Gandalf's eyes narrowed. "What happened, Aragorn? What did he do?"

Aragorn shook his head. "Saruman was using his power to hold control over Legolas…even while he was fighting you, he still had that hold over him, through some connection I do not understand…" He glanced at the Elf, who was directing his gaze to the floor, breathing heavily.

"Legolas managed to use Saruman's power against itself by somehow drawing power from the connection, from Saruman, that is what distracted him while you made your strike."

Gandalf's eyebrows shot up. "Legolas, how did you manage such a thing? It is difficult for an Istar to establish a strong lock on someone, but it is unheard of for the subject to use it against its creator."

Legolas continued to gaze silently at the floor, and Aragorn continued. "The lock was not strong enough, Gandalf… He would try and make Legolas do unspeakable things, but Legolas would break through the lock and refuse…that is why he has been so badly scourged," He said sadly, indicating Legolas' battered appearance.

If possible, Gandalf's eyebrows crept higher. "That just makes it all the more remarkable, Aragorn. But we shall discuss this later, after we are safely out of here."

They were startled by a choked laugh from behind them, reminding them of Saruman's presence in the chamber.

"I would not be so confidant in that, Gandalf…"

Aragorn, Gandalf and Gimli, distracted by Saruman's arrogant goading, did not notice their companion's eyes cloud over to a sinister black once more. Aragorn was startled when Legolas abruptly broke away from his hold, sending off a wave of dark power strong enough to send the Ranger halfway across the room. Gandalf, likewise unprepared for such an assault, was knocked to the floor.

Legolas focussed on Gimli, the only one remaining within his range of reach, grabbing the Dwarf by the beard and snatching up Gandalf's sword from the floor where it had been dropped. He held Gimli in front of him and slid the blade up under the Dwarf's chin.

Aragorn and Gandalf watched helplessly as Gimli struggled to get free--even in his weakened state, the prince was deceptively strong--but the Dwarf's struggles did little but irritate the wizard further.

"Be still, rock dweller, or I shall gut you where you stand." Saruman's voice hissed in Gimli's ear.

More than the threat itself, the racial slur shocked the Dwarf into stillness. He had not heard such a thing from Legolas' mouth since the early days of the Fellowship. Even though he knew Saruman was controlling the Elf, and it was Saruman's voice that uttered it, Gimli was deeply stung.

"Legolas!" Aragorn cried, "What are you doing? Fight him!"

Gandalf shook his head. "I am afraid the Elf we know may well be beyond our reach now, young one."

The Ranger shook his head defiantly. "No, Gandalf. I have thought that before now and always he has broken through. There must be some way to bring him back to us,"

The Istar sighed. "I can feel his link," He muttered, "It is very strong. I do not know how Legolas managed to fight it,"

A deep, cruel laugh came from Legolas' lips, making them flinch. "Nor do I, Gandalf. This being is a mystery to me…"

Gandalf's eyes narrowed. "Why do you torment him so, Saruman? It is over. You have lost,"

The sinister smile slid off the Elf's face and his eyes briefly flashed an angry red. "I have lost nothing, you old fool, this is only the beginning! You are the ones who have lost everything, my old friend."

Gandalf shook his head as he slowly stood to his feet. "We are not friends, Saruman. Your treachery and lust for power have destroyed all that. You are not fit for the title of Miar any longer,"

The sinister smile returned. "And yet there is nothing you can do about it,"

Gandalf chuckled. "I would not be so confidant of that," He muttered, glancing at the other wizard's prone form on the floor behind them. Saruman appeared to be unconscious, all his remaining energy going into maintaining his lock on the Elf.

"Ah Gandalf," Saruman's voice drew Gandalf's attention back to the possessed form of his friend, "You are not thinking what I believe you are, I hope? I am not that naïve, you cannot touch my body. It is well protected,"

Gandalf barked a harsh laugh. "I think you are bluffing, Saruman. You are too weak to possess Legolas and protect yourself as well. Your time is running out,"

Legolas' face twisted into a hideous parody of a smile. "You may be right, Gandalf, but you know as well as I that if you destroy my body, I will just remain in this one. You will never see your friend again…"

"No!" Aragorn cried, "Gandalf, you cannot! Do not doom Legolas to such a fate,"

Gimli struggled against the Elf's iron grip. "Come on lad, fight him…" He growled.

Saruman laughed. "I shall truly enjoy killing you, Gandalf. Long have I despised you, always having to choose the 'right path'…it irritated me no end. Why the Valar saw fit to send you back, I will never understand."

Aragorn growled angrily. "Damn you to hell, you filthy traitor!" He hissed, "I hope you burn with Melkor for all eternity!"

Saruman screamed in fury at the insult, shoving Gimli roughly aside and leaping at Aragorn, sword raised.

Aragorn cried out as the possessed Elf bore him to the ground and closed his eyes, awaiting the inevitable blow that would end his life. After several moments passed and no blow fell, his eyes flew open to find that the Elf had frozen, with the sword not half an inch from his neck.

Legolas' eyes were wide open, gazing at Aragorn, yet not seeing him, and the wizard's dark essence flickered across his grey eyes like clouds across the sun. An expression of intense concentration creased his ageless face.

Gandalf, Gimli and Aragorn watched in horrified disbelief as their friend fought for control of his own body, and each of their fates. The prince's face grew steadily paler and the sword wavered and fell from his grip, hitting the hard floor with a harsh metallic report.

Gimli and Gandalf pulled Aragorn back, away from the Elf, as a dark chant began to reverberate in the air around them and the floor of the chamber pitched beneath their feet.

"It is over!" Saruman's voice screamed, "You cannot continue to fight me, surrender your will to me!"

"No," Legolas voice replied; gentle as always, but firm as stone, unyielding. "I cannot let you bring harm to my friends. Be gone, Morier."

Saruman let loose a high pitched scream of fury as his essence was forcibly expelled from Legolas' body and back into his own with such force that the wizard's prone form slid several feet across the floor.

For a moment, Legolas' Elven glow grew to searing intensity, before fading to almost nothing. His eyes briefly focussed on his three companions.

"Thank you, my friends…forgive me…" He whispered.

They watched as his eyes, once more the clear grey of the Elf they loved, rolled back into his head and he collapsed.

Gandalf shot forward, with surprising agility for one so aged, catching the limp figure before he hit the floor. The dark magic that lingered around the prince was so unlike Legolas' usual gentle aura that Gandalf, badly shocked, almost dropped the Elf.

The dark chant once again grew in volume, becoming almost deafening, and the air in the chamber grew heavy. Gandalf scowled.

"Do not think you will get him again, Saruman…"

He began a chant of his own, and the room filled with light as he shielded himself and Legolas within a protective sphere of white energy. Saruman's chant grew in volume still further, and Aragorn and Gimli covered their ears to shield themselves from the evil sound.

Saruman, already weakened by Legolas initial assault, and now by Gandalf's more powerful offensive, gave another high pitched scream of rage and defiance that shook the walls, before falling silent.

Aragorn and Gimli rushed to Gandalf's side, looking anxiously down at their injured friend, cradled protectively in Gandalf's arms.

"Will he be alright, Gandalf?" Aragorn asked quietly. Gandalf shook his head gravely.

"I cannot be certain yet, young one. We must get him away from here if he is to have any chance," He paused for a moment. "We should take him to Lady Galadriel. She will be able to help him what is beyond my skill, and even yours, to do so."

Aragorn nodded. "So be it. Let us fly from here, Gandalf, this structure is no longer safe."

Gandalf glanced at Saruman's unmoving form. "You are right, young Ranger. Let us leave this place,"

Aragorn and Gimli headed for the door, but turned back to find Gandalf staring fixedly at Saruman. Gimli handed the Istar his sword.

"Come, Gandalf. He is as good as dead now, he is no threat to anyone. Leave him here to rot,"

Gandalf gently shifted Legolas' weight as he sheathed his sword. "Thank you, Master Dwarf. And, Aragorn…" He unfastened a second scabbard from around his waist, "I believe this belongs to you."

Aragorn smiled, accepting his treasured weapon. "Thank you, Gandalf. I thought it was long lost,"

"Ah…never give up, young Ranger King," Gandalf smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Come, let us be gone from this foul place."

They jumped over the remains of the Uruks in the doorway, fleeing through the twisting corridors towards their freedom as the structure shook around them. The place was almost deserted, save for a straggling group of orcs here and there, and it disturbed Gandalf greatly.

Aragorn glanced back at Gandalf as they hurried through the dark halls. "Something is not right here, Gandalf…" He muttered, "Where are all of Saruman's minions? They should be overrunning this place. We should not have been able to get so far mostly unnoticed,"

"I agree, Aragorn. Yet let us not question a good thing, let us simply flee while we are able." Gandalf replied , smiling slightly.

Aragorn nodded in agreement, jogging forward to speak with Gimli, whose keen sense of direction in dark places was keeping them from becoming lost in the labyrinth of corridors.

Legolas tugged on Gandalf's robes as he ran, alerting the wizard to the fact that the Elf had regained consciousness. Gandalf glanced down, startled by how pale and haggard his charge appeared.

"You should…leave me behind, Gandalf." Legolas said softly, "I am of no use to you…I will only slow you down,"

Gandalf laughed. "You expect me to follow your trail, fight my way in here and then leave without the very thing I came all this way to find? You must think me senile, Legolas."

Legolas shook his head, looking slightly puzzled. "You freed Estel…"

"Estel was safe enough," Gandalf interrupted him, "It was you I was worried for, Thranduillion. He very nearly destroyed you…"

Legolas closed his eyes. "I almost killed him Gandalf. I nearly killed Estel!"

The Istar nodded. "I know, my boy. We shall talk about it later, when you are yourself again."

Not paying heed to where he was going, Gandalf almost tripped over Gimli, as they turned a corner and stopped abruptly. They had reached the main door, but the entrance hall was black with Uruk Hai. Their escape was blocked.

"By the Valar…" Aragorn muttered.

Gimli scowled in frustration. "Does that twisted magician not know when he is beaten?"

Legolas struggled weakly in Gandalf's arms, trying to get free. "You need both your hands, Gandalf! I am weighing you down,"

Gandalf frowned. "I am not leaving you down, Legolas, here or anywhere."

"You must, my friend. I do not care how many years your junior I am, I am ordering you to put me down and fight for yourself and the freedom of Middle Earth!"

Gandalf's eyes widened in surprise. "I thought prince Legolas Thranduillion never pulled rank on anyone…"

Legolas glared. "The rules just changed--what we are up against is more powerful than you or me. Put me down,"

Gimli came up behind Gandalf as the wizard reluctantly lowered Legolas to the floor.

"Here, lad," He said gruffly, removing the belt that held the prince's knives at his waist, "You should not be without protection."

Legolas lovingly took his knives from Gimli's possession. "Thank you, my friend." He said sincerely. He unsheathed them swiftly as Gandalf and Gimli turned back to the problem at hand.

With a cry, Gimli launched himself into the melee, swinging his axe and swiftly clearing a space around himself amongst the throng of black creatures. Aragorn and Gandalf placed themselves between the beasts and the injured prince, letting the fight come to them. None of them saw the Elf rise unsteadily to his feet, holding his knives up defensively, eyeing the Uruks carefully as several of them attempted to push past Aragorn and Gandalf.

As the fight continued, Aragorn glanced around to find that he had been driven apart from Gandalf and Gimli, and that Legolas was no longer where they had left him. A thrill of panic ran up his spine at the absence of his friend.

As he glanced around frantically, trying to pinpoint the prince's location, he did not notice an Uruk until it was almost upon him. Turning at the last second, he started to raise his sword when the creature stilled and fell dead at his feet, a white knife lodged in its skull. Relieved his friend had come to no harm, Aragorn looked up at Legolas on the far side of the hall and nodded his thanks, silently vowing to give his friend a stern lecture about putting his own safety at risk.

As he turned to meet his next attacker, he did not see Legolas suddenly falter, falling to his knees. The archer barely managed to block a strike from an Uruk's scimitar with his remaining knife, and he growled in frustration at his current condition. Pushing aside his weakness, he struck back with such force that he almost cleaved the creature in two.

Dizziness struck him suddenly and he was caught off guard when his knife arm was grabbed from behind and he was dragged backwards, into the empty armoury. A weight descended on his chest as the weapon was forced from his hand.

Shaking his spinning head to clear it, he looked up to see Grima straddling his chest, grinning smugly down at him.

"Forget about me, pretty Elf? A foolish oversight in your current condition, do you not agree?"

Legolas swung his free hand up, striking the man on the side of the head. Grima growled with rage, slamming Legolas' head against the stone floor. The impact rang through the Elf's head, making his vision swim as the pains in his weary body flared to life once more. He came back to himself to find that Grima had firmly pinned his hands.

"Release me, worm," Legolas growled.

Grima laughed harshly. "You are mine, Elf. Saruman made me a promise, and I intend to see that he keeps it." His eyes roved over the prince's upper body and Legolas shuddered with revulsion. "I have dreamed of this moment since you first entered Meduseld's throne room…" Grima hissed.

Legolas chuckled. "You need something else to focus on, Wormtongue."

He bucked his weight upwards, painfully jarring his injured body, but managing to dislodge the man above him enough to free his hands. He wasted no time grabbing his knife, pointing it so closely at Grima's face that he nearly had to cross his eyes to focus on it.

"Remove your weight from me, snake," Legolas spat dangerously, "I have had enough of you."

The man backed away as Legolas rose carefully to his feet, a fierce fire blazing in his grey eyes.

"Never touch me again,"

Grima smirked. "You forget who has power over whom, Elf." He hissed, "Saruman and myself have an agreement. He holds power over you, therefore so do I. You are in no position to give me orders,"

Legolas shook his head. "We defeated Saruman. His hold is broken and is no more, therefore you have no claim on me."

Grima laughed, but uncertainty lingered in his eyes. "Do you really believe that the great White Wizard could actually be defeated by one half dead Elf and his misfit friends?"

"You should not be so cynical, Grima. You were not there to see how powerless he was at the end…"

"You lie!" Grima growled, "All Elves are tricksters and manipulators, and you are no different."

Legolas shrugged. "Go to his main chamber if you believe me not,"

They stood several feet apart, staring each other down. Their deadlock was abruptly broken when the body of a large Uruk flew in through the armoury door to land at their feet, courtesy of Gandalf's staff, proof that the battle still raged outside.

Legolas glanced down at the smouldering corpse, and in his split second of inattention, Grima lunged at him and knocked the knife from his grip. Legolas twisted at the last second, taking the brunt of the man's tackle on his back as Grima latched onto him.

Steeling himself for the pain to come, he put all his weight on Grima and kicked out with both his legs, pushing off the wall and propelling them across the narrow room. Grima gasped breathlessly as he was crushed painfully between the Elf and the wall.

Legolas could not help the cry of pain that escaped him as his body was jarred with the sudden impact. The Elf and the man fell heavily to the floor, but Grima was the first to his feet. He snatched up the archer's knife from where it had fallen, sliding it up under Legolas' chin.

"If I cannot have you, Elf, then no one shall." He hissed.

Legolas glared up at the man, unwilling to show fear to this pathetic minion of Saruman. He stared in confusion as Grima's eyes suddenly grew vacant and he pitched forward, landing on Legolas and pinning him to the floor.

The Elf glanced up to see the hilt of an Elven dagger protruding from Grima's back, near his right shoulder blade.

Aragorn pulled his weapon free as he hauled the man's limp weight off his friend's body. His heart skipped a beat when he saw fresh blood on the prince's neck.

"Tis alright," Legolas assured him, touching his throat gingerly, "It is but a graze, Aragorn."

He leaned over and retrieved his knife from Grima's grip. He could hear intermittent sounds of conflict outside, but they had grown much quieter.

"How did you know we were here?" He asked, accepting Aragorn's steadying arm as his head began to swim again.

"I heard you cry out," Aragorn said softly, concern flashing in his eyes at the state his friend was in. "Are you well? Did he hurt you?"

Legolas smiled at his concern. "Have your peace, Aragorn. I am well,"

Aragorn raised a critical eyebrow at his lifelong friend. "I find that hard to believe,"

Legolas muttered something under his breath, and Aragorn smiled as he caught the words "filthy Human" and "mother hen".

"Come, my friend. Let us see how the others are faring,"

As they turned to leave the small room, they almost collided with Gandalf, who was about to enter. The Wizard's keen eyes took in Grima's limp form and the Elf's dishevelled state, as well as the blood that marked him.

"Did he harm you, Thranduillion?" Legolas shook his head.

"I am well enough, old friend." He answered, "We should move on," He glanced around, seeing none of the creatures still standing, and smiled as his eyes fell on the small form of Gimli, pulling his axe free from the cloven head of an Uruk Hai.

The stout being hurried over as soon as he saw the three companions emerge from the armoury. He looked Legolas over carefully.

"Good to see you on your legs, Elf." He muttered gruffly, "Are you well?"

Legolas groaned. "If I hear that question one more time, I swear I shall--"

He faltered as another wave of dizziness assaulted him, his injuries making themselves known now that the adrenaline was leaving his system. He blinked to clear his vision, finding himself sitting on the chamber floor, his three companions surrounding him and anxiously calling his name. He raised a hand to ward off their concerns.

"Be at peace, my friends. I am merely…well I suppose I cannot argue that I am weak." Three sets of eyebrows raised at his soft confession. "I apologise for causing you concern,"

"Do not apologise, Elf," Gimli grumbled, "Unless you wish to wear my axe in a very uncomfortable place."

Legolas smiled wearily. "Very well, Master Dwarf, I shall never apologise in your presence again." With that, he stuck his foot out and knocked away the axe that the Dwarf was leaning on, sending Gimli crashing to the floor. He grinned as his friend clambered to his feet, sputtering and cursing, and turned accusing eyes on him.

"No apologies, Master Gimli, you made me promise…"

Gimli muttered some very dark sounding insults and moved away, growling to himself. Aragorn and Gandalf smiled.

"Come, young ones," Gandalf said, smiling in unconcealed amusement and relief that the archer was strong enough to joke with his friend, "Let us leave this place. It depresses me…"

Aragorn nodded in agreement, silently offering a steadying arm to Legolas, who reluctantly accepted. Aragorn frowned slightly at the uncharacteristic show of weakness, but did not comment, heading towards the entrance doors after Gandalf and Gimli.

Elf and Human both smiled as the fresh air blew past them. Even though the sky was clouded with the smoke from Saruman's concealed machinery, they could feel the free clouds and sun beyond. Gandalf smiled grimly, understanding their unspoken message. They had clearly doubted if they would ever again see the outside of the dungeon walls.

"Be careful, all of you," He muttered, scanning the landscape carefully, "The land is unstable in places. Be aware of where you step, if you do not wish to be thrown into a pit of orcs."

Legolas shuddered. "I would just as soon not, Gandalf…"

The ancient wizard nodded. "I agree wholeheartedly, young prince. You show wisdom beyond your years,"

Legolas smiled, shaking his head. He recognised that Gandalf was attempting to keep the mood light, but he had not the energy to trade jests with him. He was trying hard to push away the dark presence brushing at the edges of his mind.

The small group grew quiet as they picked their way over the uneven ground, Gandalf and Legolas periodically pointing out areas of unstable rock or debris that would pitch them into the caverns below.

They were nearly to safety when Legolas stumbled, falling to his knees and clamping his hands over his ears.

"Estel," He whispered, "Make it stop…"

TBC…

A/N: I know the ending's a bit abrupt, I actually had more written but haven't the time to type!! Thank you to every single person who reviewed and everyone who read the last chapter and thanks for not sending (too many) death threats! I'll answer you all in the next installment. Thank you for your patience!! Huggles,

.:Tithen Min:.