Surprise! I beat the odds! Even a day early! Whoot! Go me! I'm on the road right now with nothing better to do, so I decided I could type up this chapter. No, I'm not driving. Lol. Oh yes, if any of you are having trouble keeping the brothers apart, I put a bit about them in my bio (their names, their original names, the meaning of their names, and a couple words about them.)

Princes of the Earth

Chapter 9

The Task Appointed

The following day the Company split, the five Elves directing their course to Isengard in the northwest, and the remaining Fellowship continuing on to Edoras in Rohan in the southwest.

"Good luck, my Elvish friend," Gimli told Legolas in parting from atop Gandalf's horse. "May we meet again in less troubled times."

"Have faith, friend Gimli. We shall meet again." Legolas smiled briefly and turned to Aragorn. "I am sorry I could not accompany you to whatever this Quest might have next in store for you."

"I understand. You must go with them." Aragorn smiled and grasped Legolas's arm. "Hannon le."

"Namárië." He nodded to Boromir and mounted.

"I hope you win at Isengord!" Pippin called from atop Aragorn's horse.

"It's Isengarb!" Merry corrected from behind Boromir. "And of course they're going to win! They have this Sonnaman guy outnumbered five to one!"

Legolas laughed. "Be safe yourselves, Master Hobbits."

"Farewell, sons of Thranduil," Gandalf told them. Then in a low voice he said to Legolas with an encouraging smile, "I hope you find what you are looking for."

The Elf smiled back at him. "I already have."

"Namárië!" Amarth called, his horse springing away.

Legolas nodded once more in farewell before following after his brothers. The Company watched until they had disappeared from their sight, the last great Elven princes.

……………The black walls of Isengard rose up ominously before the five riders. The gates stood open as if expecting visitors, though there were many heavy footprints all along the outgoing road, showing recent use.

"This is it, my brothers," Amarth said quietly, gazing at the tall black tower. "I feel our doom awaits us here, whether for good or for evil."

Legolas took a deep breath. "Well, there's nothing for it."

Amarth halted his brother before Legolas could move. "The Wizard cannot be defeated by strength of arms alone. I would have you remain here, out of sight and thought, for Saruman is treacherous."

"I know you just wish to protect me, but I shall not now be swayed. I would go with you, my brothers, to the very endings of the world were it the death of me. Why should we now be separated here?" Legolas replied, spurring his horse forward.

The remaining four brothers glanced at each other meaningfully and Nen nodded in understanding before following Legolas. They would have rather died than see their youngest brother come to any harm.

The sight that greeted them within the Ring of Isengard burned the Elves' hearts. They had heard tales of the beauty of Isengard, with its luscious gardens and bright trees. Now the land around Orthanc was a barren wasteland spotted with deep pits and chasms that smelt of Orc and poured forth foul smoke—the forgeries of a mad wizard.

Few of the many working Orcs seemed to notice them, and those that did remained frozen in place, following the strangers only with their eyes. Legolas glanced to Amarth, but could not tell whether he had anything to do with this or not.

"Look," Mor whispered, gesturing to the very top of the black tower. A tall figure with white hair and beard, clad in glimmering white robes and clutching a black staff, stared down at the Elves as they slowly road forward.

"Saruman," Los murmured, no emotion apparent in his soft voice.

The five halted when they came near the base of the tower, gazing up at the Wizard. "Saruman!" Amarth called up. "Will you not come down to us?"

"Why? So you may strike me down upon my very doorstep?" the White Wizard sneered. "I know who you are and why you are here, sons of the Valar! Ah, but who is this tag-along? Found a waif along the roadside and decided to take him in? Well he cannot help you now," he said, gesturing to Legolas.

Amarth pressed his lips into a tight line, but otherwise ignored the insult to his brother. "Will you not come down from your perch, Istar, and speak with us face-to-face?"

"Do not tell me you wish now for peace!" Saruman scoffed.

"Call off your armies," Amarth replied. "Call back your Orcs from this war and we shall have mercy upon you."

"I do not need anyone's mercy!" Saruman shouted, becoming wroth.

"This is your last chance," Amarth warned in a firm voice. "One way or another, we shall have peace."

Saruman cried out, raising his staff. Many Orcs suddenly appeared from the pits, screeching and running towards the five Elves. Legolas immediately drew his bow, but his brothers made no move to follow likewise. Amarth merely nodded to Nen.

Nen turned to the high dam holding off the Isen river and raised a hand, closing his eyes. There was a rush, as of a great water drawing back suddenly, then silence reigned for a long moment.

Without warning, the dam burst asunder as the waters rushed forth in a mighty wave. The water spread out as it flowed, but, as Legolas noted with widened eyes, the bulk of it was still headed straight towards them. He fought the urge to run, instead keeping his horse rooted in place, having faith in his brother.

Nen slowly brought his other hand up, and just before the rush of water could crash into them and sweep them away, it split into two, rising high around them. But they remained safely dry as the water rushed about them, rejoining again once past the five to form a protective circle.

The Orcs ran screaming from the torrent, but could not escape it. The waters filled the Ring of Isengard, drowning the Orcs and smashing their crude machines. A great steam rose from the pits, covering the sky above them in a foul haze.

Nen at last slumped forward slightly on his horse as he let his hands drop. "Lindil!" Legolas cried in alarm, grabbing his brother's arm.

"I am fine," Nen smiled in assurance. "I just…have never done anything that big before."

"Impressive," a deep voice interrupted, and they looked back up to Saruman. "But do you seek to drown me upon my high tower? I do not think you can reach me."

"I beg to differ," Nen uttered, but Amarth clapped his own hand over that of his brother's.

"No. Remember the plan," he whispered. Nen nodded, withdrawing his hand and straightening.

"Plan?" Legolas queried. "Why was I not told of this plan?"

The water, now calmer, drew back from all around the base of Orthanc, wrapping its way all around the tower. The smooth path then morphed itself into steps, making a pathway all the way to the top.

Legolas dismounted as his brothers did, moving to follow after them to the living stairs.

"You were not told," Nen said, not turning to face him, "because you are not coming."

Before Legolas could react, a small stream of water was suddenly wrapped around his wrists, as touch as chains but unbreakable. "Let me go!" he shouted in disbelief and anger.

"I am sorry, little brother," Amarth replied softly, "but this is the way it must be."

Legolas struggled vainly as his brothers quickly mounted the first of the stairs, but could not free himself. At last when the four had ascended about twenty feet, Legolas's bonds melted away, and he sprang forward to the stairs. Just before he could touch them, however, they too fell away, and continued to disappear behind the feet of Mor, who walked last.

Legolas cried out in helplessness, as all he could do now was sit back and watch.

The four brothers climbed higher and higher as they wound their way up the watery stairs. Saruman also could do little but watch as they neared him at the top of the tower. He grasped his staff tightly, nervously watching the four Elves.

They soon reached the top, Saruman standing ready to meet them. The water spread to form a circular platform all around the top of the black tower, so the brothers could easily surround him.

The last of the stairs melted away as the Elves stepped again onto solid ground, standing with their backs each to one of the pinnacles of Orthanc, forcing Saruman to stand in the middle. His hands wrung his staff, but he sneered at Amarth as the Elf spoke.

"Too long have your ways continued unchecked, Saruman of the Istari."

Legolas watched from the ground as his brothers took up their positions against the wizard, but could not see much from his point of view. Orthanc was simply too tall, enabling him to see only one edge of the very top. Perhaps if he retreated to the gates…But the way was treacherous, now covered in water; but he also wished to be close should anything happen.

Dark clouds were quickly gathering overhead, rolling towards Orthanc. Legolas cried in dismay as the peak of the tower was surrounded by the dark clouds, obscuring those within them from view. More black clouds settled over the entire sky, making all dark and grey. The wind picked up, stirring the waters all around him, and his hair whipped about his face.

But Legolas kept his eyes steadfastly fixed on the area of dark clouds around Orthanc, determined to remain there for as long as need be.

End of chapter. (winces) I apologize for the entire water thing…but oh well! MWAHA!

Um…that was the last chapter I have written. So I really will try to force myself to write the next some time this week. Actually, it's been so long, I've forgotten most of what I had planned for the rest of this story. teehee.

I think there's only gonna be a couple more chapters, maybe one more then an epilogue. I have several more stories in the making, though. But after this I was thinking of writing a short piece based around this one, sort of humourish. It will be all about the four brothers after they died and returned again, testing out their powers and such.