Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings or anything to do with it. I only own Sky, Suiadan and Andúnë.

A/N: Wahhhh! Final chapter of this story! I'd just like to say that I really enjoyed writing this fan fiction and thank you all for your lovely lovely reviews.

Chapter 18

Final defeat

It had been seven months since he had last seen this valley but to Legolas it had seemed a lifetime. It had been seven months since he had been parted from his beloved wife, Sky, and he so looked forward to seeing her. Andúnë had been left in Mirkwood as Legolas was here on military business. An Eagle had come with news that Suiadan was planning to march on Beorn's valley. If that land came under his control then Mirkwood would be next. Legolas and his friend, Adan, entered the main hall of Beorn's house. The man himself was there and so was Serena. But there was no sign of Sky. He looked around, desperate for any clue of his wife's location. "She's not here Legolas," said Serena, "She's been missing for a couple of days now. Don't worry; I'm sure she'll be back soon. How's Andúnë?"

"Curious as to why her mother hasn't come home yet," said Legolas, "What do you mean don't worry? Has she gone missing before?"

"No more than five days at a time," said Serena, "She's not completely stupid Legolas."

"You heard what Gwaihir had to say?" asked Beorn. Legolas nodded.

"You have Mirkwood's finest camped outside," said Legolas, "Not since the Battle of the Five Armies has Mirkwood seen so many soldiers leave the forest."

"Hmmm," said Beorn.

"I'm sure they're all hungry," said Serena, "Perhaps I should make some soup or something."

"No, Serena," said Legolas, "My men have brought Lembas bread to sustain themselves on. We are already in your debt."

"No, Legolas," said Serena, "We are in yours." Suddenly there was a crash and a moan from one of the wings. "Sounds like Sky's back," said Beorn.

"I'll go see to her," said Serena, "No, Legolas. You wait here and I'll see if she wants to see you." Sky didn't want to see Legolas at that particular moment. Having been in the wild for almost four days all she wanted to do was sleep.

Legolas was awoken early the next morning by the sound of Adan yelling for him. "Legolas! Wake up! Wargs! Orcs! We're under attack!" Legolas got up and pulled on his armour. He grabbed his bow and arrows as he left his tent. He had been told Sky did not want him in her bed that night so he had slept in a tent outside. He rushed out. There was a complete panic in the elven camp. None of them had expected to be attacked so suddenly. "Order!" yelled Legolas. The elves organized themselves into lines. Legolas paced up and down the front line. "Today is our battle," he said, "Yes, it's earlier than we expected but we can do this! We fight for this land and our own! You fail and Mirkwood will fall! You are the best soldiers Mirkwood has. Today, you are not only fighting for your homes, but the lives of the people of Esgaroth! Of Rohan! Of Gondor! Of Lothlorien! You are fighting for your world! I've been here before! I've stood before a great evil and survived! So can you! Let's do this!" The soldiers all cheered and left the grounds of Beorn's home. A small army of warriors, dressed in bearskins, immediately confronted them. The Beornings. The leader stepped forward. "I am Grimbeorn," he said, "Son of Beorn, I welcome thee, brother." He offered his hand to Legolas. Legolas took it.

"Let us fight together for your sister and my wife, Sky," said Legolas.

"Oh, I think she'll be fighting for you, Legolas," said Grimbeorn. An orc horn blew. The elves and Beornings turned to face it. A mass of orcs appeared on the top of the hill. "Spears ready!" cried Grimbeorn. A group of Beornings stood in front of their fellow Beornings and the elves and held their spears out. "Archers ready!" said Legolas. The sound of bowstrings being pulled was heard. The orc horn blew again and the orcs began to stampede down the hill. "Hold your fire," said Legolas, "Let them get in range. Don't waste your arrows." He waited with bated breath. Grimbeorn's eyes kept flicking to Legolas. Legolas watched carefully. He knew how far an elven arrow could reach and drew a mental line where the range was. As soon as the first orc had stepped over that line, he cried, "Fire!" The first line of arrows sped through the air, striking the orcs right where their modified hearts were. "Volley!" shouted Legolas. The first line of archers bent down and began to reload their bows as the line behind them fired. Many of the orcs were shot down by the elves efficient firing tactics. "Swords!" cried Legolas when the arrows were no longer of use. Every elf drew his sword and the Beornings drew theirs. "Charge!" yelled Grimbeorn. The elves and Beornings ran forward and collided with the remains of the orc army. Legolas used his twin knives to slice through two orcs at a time. But he wasn't interested in orcs. What he wanted was Suiadan. He must be around somewhere. Legolas easily killed two orcs running straight at him. The Beornings certainly knew how to deal with orcs. Legolas looked around and saw his prize. Suiadan was there but it seemed a Beorning had got to Suiadan before him. Though on the small side, this fighter seemed to know what they were doing. "Legolas, look out!" cried Grimbeorn. Legolas turned to feel an orc blade slice across his cheek. He stumbled before fighting back and killing the orc. He turned back to see the Beorning fighting Suiadan. Suiadan tried to trick the Beorning by disappearing then reappearing. But it didn't work. The Beorning simply stabbed Suiadan three times in the back. With his last ounce of strength, Suiadan turned and stabbed the Beorning. Not through the heart but in the chest, before he fell down dead. As Suiadan fell dead, the orcs froze, a gentle wind blew across the valley and the orcs simply blew away as dust. All the Beornings were confused and so were the elves. How was this possible? Was Suiadan the orcs life force or were the orcs just projections in their imaginations? Legolas reached up and touched his cheek. The wound had completely healed; there was no blood, no pain. It had been some trick. Grimbeorn rushed past Legolas and over to the mysterious Beorning. He bent over them for a second before yelling in some language that Legolas didn't know. Grimbeorn lifted the Beorning up into his arms and began to hurry away. Legolas looked carefully and saw a head of black curls. "Sky," he whispered. He began to run after Grimbeorn.

"Sky!" he cried. Grimbeorn looked over his shoulder and began to run.

"No, Legolas, you can't see her," he yelled, "Not yet!"

By the time Legolas had got into the house, there were no visible signs of Grimbeorn or Sky. "Beorn!" yelled Legolas, "Where is my wife?" Beorn appeared through the door, leading to Sky's room. The sound of painful moans filtered through. Legolas rushed to get through. But Beorn caught him. "No, Legolas," said Beorn, "You can't!"

"Why not? She's my wife!" shouted Legolas.

"And she's my daughter!" said Beorn, "She's giving birth to your second child as we speak! You're not going to help by rushing in there!"

"What?" said Legolas.

"Sky's pregnant, about seven months," said Beorn, "She's gone into labor. The baby's coming early and she's hurt so she doesn't need you bursting in on her! Please lad, just calm down." Legolas stepped backwards and sat down on the bench next to the vast table. "Why didn't she tell me?" asked Legolas.

"She's had a lot on her mind," said Beorn, "She meant to, I know. All we can do is wait." He sat down beside Legolas and placed his large hand on Legolas' shoulder. Adan came running in. "Legolas, what's…" he started.

"Adan, ride back to Mirkwood as fast as you can," said Legolas, "Get Andúnë and bring her here immediately!"

"Yes, sir," said Adan and he disappeared. It was a few hours later when a baby's cry was heard. Legolas looked up. A few moments later, Serena appeared with a blanket in her arms. "Come here, Legolas," she said, "I want you to meet your son." Legolas went up to her. She gently placed her new nephew in his father's arms. Legolas looked down at his newborn son. The boy had Legolas' hair and the same eyes as Andúnë. Legolas smiled. The boy, despite being two months early, was healthy, though a little small. "Hello, little one," he said. He didn't notice that Grimbeorn looked round the door and shook his head at his father and sister. "Legolas," said Serena, "I think you ought to go see Sky. She hasn't got much time left."

"What?" asked Legolas.

"Sky is dying," said Serena. Legolas placed his son in Serena's arms and hurried to go see Sky. She was lying, pale and exhausted on her bed. The sheets stained with blood. "Sky!" said Legolas. He rushed forward. She was barely alive.

"Legolas," she said breathlessly, "I meant to tell you. I don't have much time left. I want you and Andúnë to know that I had to do this or Suiadan could come back! Tell her and our son, Nandion I have named him, that I love them both. And I love you Legolas!" She reached out to touch his face. Her hand barely touched his cheek before she breathed her final breath and her hand fell to her side. "No!" cried Legolas as he looked at his wife's dying face, "No, you can't die!" But it was useless. Sky was gone. Legolas' body shook as sobs ran through him. He picked up Sky's cold hand and kissed it. "I love you too," he said, "And I will raise our children to know what a brave, marvelous woman you were. Andúnë, our daughter and Nandion, our son." The door opened and Grimbeorn stood there. "Legolas," he said softly. The elf looked up at him.

"I err, found these early this morning," said Grimbeorn, "Sky knew she wasn't going to live past her son's birth. She wrote these because she knew she was going to die." He held in his hand three envelopes. Legolas took them. One had his name written on it, one and Andúnë on it and the final one was addressed to 'Baby'. "Did she say what she had named the boy?" asked Grimbeorn.

"Nandion," said Legolas, "It is elvish for 'son of the valley'. He must have been conceived here."

"What are you going to tell Andúnë?" he asked

"I don't know," said Legolas, "How do you tell a child, she's never going to see her mother again?"

"I guess Sky's good bye is in the letter," said Grimbeorn.

When Andúnë arrived a few days later, she cried for hours over her mother. She had to settle for Serena's comfort, as her father was so busy with her new brother, 'a gift' from her mother, he had called him. When Nandion had gone to sleep, Legolas went to his daughter. The little girl's eyes were bloodshot from crying so much she almost made herself sick. He picked up the little girl and placed her on his lap. "Your mother didn't leave without goodbye," said Legolas, "She wrote you a letter. Do you want to hear it?" Andúnë nodded. Legolas opened the letter addressed to Andúnë and read it aloud to her. Andúnë went to sleep that night with her emotions put to rest. Legolas, however was yet to read his. He opened it as moonlight drifted in and read it.

My darling Legolas,

You saved me once from Suiadan and made me realize that life is worth living. You gave me a beautiful daughter and now I am carrying your second child. Please understand why I had to do this. As much as I love you, I needed to save myself from Suiadan. As long as I am alive, Suiadan could come back. A few years, hiding in the forest, can't erase the hold he has on me. To destroy him, I have to die. I know you'll protest, you'll argue that there is another way. But listen to me, there is no other way! I have to do this and all I ask is that you care for our children. You once told me that our daughter will carry on my beauty, surely she needs someone to nurture her and make her beautiful. Only you can do that. Never ever lose hope for I shall always be there in your dreams to comfort you and help you. You were my world, and I'm doing this for you.

I promised to love you forever on the day of our wedding; I will do this even after death,

all my love Sky.