I am soooo very sorry for the tremendously long wait you had to suffer, but my inspiration took a rather extended vacation without warning. Also, I finally finished this story (throws a party), but the epilogue (next chapter) is really short, so I will add the POTE Prequel preview to it instead of this one, like I promised. But I'll post the epilogue on Sunday, so you won't have to wait long!

Also, sorry if the fight scene seems a bit whooo, but it's kinda hard to write a four-against-one without the four winning right away. Guess who the hero is going to be! Go on, guess!

Princes of the Earth

Chapter 10

Now Completed

Saruman raised his staff before his foes, warily glancing at the surrounding black clouds. He snarled at Amarth. "You cannot frighten me with your petty magic. I am one of the Istar, more powerful than you could ever imagine."

"Whether that be or no, the Valar have set us a task to do, and we shall complete it," Amarth replied in a level voice. "Your time is over."

Saruman gave a cry and leapt at him, black staff raised to strike. Amarth instantly unsheathed his sword and brought the silver blade up, easily blocking. He pushed Saruman away so the Wizard stumbled back to the middle. Amarth advanced and Saruman leveled his staff at the Elf.

Nen shouted in warning and jumped forward, bow raised to shoot. Saruman snapped black eyes to him, jerking his staff around. Nen felt as though a troll had slammed into him, sending him flying back into the pillar he had been standing against. He slid down with a breathless groan, head falling forward and bow slipping from suddenly numbed fingers.

Saruman turned back to Amarth just in time to block a heavy blow. They remained locked that way for one moment that seemed to stretch forever, as Mor unsheathed his twin knives in a whirl of movement and Los shed his outer robes, revealing a long silver dagger at his side.

The White Wizard spun away from them, purposefully kicking Nen's bow over the edge as he did so, though the Elf did not seem to notice. Los leapt at Saruman with his blade drawn, forcing him away from Nen and nearly over the edge of the tower himself. Seeing himself cornered, Saruman blocked another strike from Amarth before bringing up the butt of his staff to strike Mor in the face, causing him to stumble back.

Saruman sprang through the gap in his attackers, coming around behind them before they knew what was happening. Now they stood by the edge, and Saruman pressed forward, taking advantage of this.

Mor sought to come around behind the Wizard while he was distracted by Amarth and Los, but Saruman noticed this and brought his staff up just as the dark Elf was about to attack, catching the silver blades. He gave his staff a vicious twist, sending one of the knives flying, only to land at Nen's feet.

Turning, Saruman let go of one end of his staff, bringing it across Los' neck. With one smooth movement, he stood behind the Elf, now tightly gripping the dark staff across his neck. Los was forced to drop his dagger as he brought both hands in a useless effort to pry the staff away from his throat.

Amarth and Mor started forward in alarm, but froze at their brother's pained gasp. Saruman only gave a smiling sneer. "Drop your weapons," he commanded, "or I will snap his neck where he stands."

Los cast the Wizard a sidelong glance, teeth clenched against the pain. He released his grip on the staff with one hand, bringing his elbow as forcefully as he could into Saruman's abdomen.

Saruman gasped and loosened his grip on his staff, nearly doubling over from the pain. Los pushed him away and grabbed up his dagger again. Mor held him back, noting the way he still gasped for breath, as Amarth again attacked the Wizard, trying to take advantage of his momentary pain.

The White Wizard was still nearly doubled over, but saw Amarth spring at him, sword raised and poised to strike. Unnoticed, the Istar's hand slipped to his waist and grasped a short dagger in his belt, hidden by his cloak.

As soon as Amarth was upon him, he straightened, pulling the dagger from its sheath and thrusting it forward. The Elf came to an abrupt halt, sword still in the air, and his brow furrowed. Saruman only snarled in satisfaction and thrust the blade in deeper. Amarth opened his mouth, but no sound came out. All seemed to have gone deathly quiet on the tower top. Los and Mor could only watch with widened eyes as Amarth fell back and lay there unmoving, the knife still imbedded in his abdomen up to the hilt.

"No!" Mor shouted, turning his horrified gaze to the sneering Wizard. His shock melted into anger at sight of the evil Istar, and raising his knife, rushed forward with a loud cry.

"Mor, wait!" Los cried, but in vain.

Anger fuelled the dark Elf's movements, and Saruman was hard put to stave off the flurry of movement, especially when Los joined him a moment later.

Unnoticed by any of them, Nen shook his head to clear his vision, Mor's shout having revived him. His gaze first caught the three fighting, then fell to the figure lying motionless at their feet. His eyes widened as he saw the knife hilt protruding from Amarth's stomach and the blood pooling around him. Nen immediately felt for his bow, but when he did not find it, he at last noticed the knife lying discarded at his feet.

Instantly recognizing it as Mor's, he grasped it and looked back to the three fighting just in time to see the dark-haired Elf receive a solid blow to the temple from Saruman's staff, sending him sprawling and leaving Los to fight alone.

Only hesitating a moment, Nen grasped the borrowed knife by the blade and shouted, "Los! Down!" Fortunately Los did not think twice to obey the order, as years of being a warrior had taught him. He threw himself to the ground, just as the blade cut the air above his head. He sprang up again at Saruman's cry of pain to see the Wizard clutching his shoulder, blood seeping between his fingers. The knife lay behind him.

Nen cursed at the miss, struggling to his feet. His back ached fiercely from the force of the Wizard's earlier blow.

Still, Saruman brought his staff up to block Los' attack, now wielding it with only one hand. Los saw the opening he had been waiting for and thrust his dagger forward. The Wizard twisted away just in time, however, bringing the head of his staff smashing down on Los' wrist in the process, forcing the Elf to drop his dagger. Saruman did not wait for retaliation, but quickly brought his staff up, where it met Los' jaw with a solid crack and sent him falling backwards, eyes half closed.

Saruman grinned in satisfaction at his three downed opponents, turning to the only one left standing. Eyes wide, Nen suddenly realized that he was completely weaponless.

Setting his jaw, Nen waited until the moment Saruman had raised his staff to strike, then dove under it, and rolling once, was at Amarth's side. He forced himself not to look at his wounded brother, for he knew then that he would lose all resolve. Instead, he grabbed up Amarth's long silver sword and brought it up in one swift swipe across Saruman's back.

The Wizard cried out in pain and anger again and brought his staff around to squarely meet Nen's next attack. The two stayed locked that way for long moments, matched strength for strength.

Breathing a prayer to the Valar, Nen gave an icy glare to the Wizard and stated in a level voice, "Saruman, your staff is broken." Then he pulled his sword back, swung it once above his head, and brought it crashing down on the head of the black staff.

There was a loud crack and the spiked head broke off and fell to the ground, leaving Saruman staring helplessly at his broken staff. The Wizard stumbled back a few paces, dropping the useless dark wood.

Nen advanced after him, sword ready to strike again. Now that the official business was at last concluded, he had a personal score to settle. He grabbed Saruman by the throat, sword poised above his hand. "Nobody harms my brothers and gets away with it. Nobody."

Saruman's eyes widened to a near-impossible size as he saw the gleam in his opponent's eye. He stumbled back in fear, not having noticed where he was standing. He flailed his arms and cried out as his feet met only air.

Nen watched as he went over the edge, leaning out to see what happened. He was only slightly disappointed that he had not killed the Wizard himself, but comforted by the fact that he had brought about his momentary death.

Saruman never reached the ground, however. Nen could only grimace in disgust as Saruman was impaled on one of the spiked outcroppings of the tower about a hundred feet below.

The Elf turned away from the edge, stumbling to where Amarth lay and collapsed to his knees beside him, the rush of battle beginning to wear off. Nen grabbed Los' discarded robes nearby and pressed it to the wound, not daring to remove the knife yet. There was already too much blood…

A shocked cry made him look up from his work, and he was surprised to see Legolas standing before him, holding Nen's bow. The younger Elf had rushed forward as soon as he had seen it drop to the ground from above. Recognizing it as Nen's, he had forced open the doors of Orthanc, surprised to find them unlocked. Legolas had found a staircase as quickly as he could, killing whatever Orcs along the way, until he had come to a secret trap door at the very top of the tower.

Legolas ran to Amarth, dropping to his knees beside the wounded Elf. "What happened?" he asked of Nen, quickly taking in the extent of the injury.

"Saruman," Nen replied simply with a grim frown. Legolas looked about as though he expected to see the White Wizard lying somewhere near. He found only his other two brothers and a small black and white spiked thing. "He is defeated," Nen assured. "There lies the head of his staff."

Legolas only nodded and searched through his pack for bandages, which he now was glad he had thought to bring up with him. He removed Los' cloak from around the wound and sighed deeply. Then he carefully grasped the hilt of the knife and began to slowly pull it out.

Nen sat by ready with the bandages and applied them as soon as the knife was out. Legolas gave the weapon one quick glance to make certain that nothing was amiss before angrily casting it away. "Lindil, search in my pack for some ûserg to slow the bleeding." Nen easily found what he was looking for, handing the bunch to Legolas.

"You do come prepared." He smiled slightly.

Legolas crushed the leaves and spread them into the wound, then layered on more bandages. "That is all I can do for him now."

Nen smiled encouragingly. "I am sure it will be enough. He is strong." He offered the younger the bloodied white cloak. "Los will not mind. It is already soiled."

Legolas grinned and cleaned off his bloody hands on it. "Los and Mor?"

"They are alright. Just a bad bump to the head is all. Might do them some good."

Legolas noted the way that Nen swayed even as he sat. "You should sleep now. I can see that you are weary."

"But—"

"I will watch him. Do not worry yourself. All is quiet." Nen relented and lay down where he was, asleep in seconds, eyes nearly closed in exhaustion.

Los sat up just then, groaning and shaking his head to clear his vision. Legolas was at his side in a moment, grasping his shoulder and telling him to relax. Los squinted at him. "Nen?" He blinked. "Oh, hello, Legolas. Where are the others? What has happened? Is Saruman defeated?"

"Yes, everything is fine. The others are resting, and Saruman is dead," Legolas answered, examining the forming bruise on the other's jaw. He abandoned it for Mor a moment later, however, as the darker Elf moaned and raised his fingers to his temple, which Legolas just then noticed was bloody.

"Do not move," he instructed, gently inspecting the raised gash. "You seem to have suffered a nasty knock to the head."

"Saruman did that with his staff," Los explained.

Legolas nodded. "I will get the whole story later." Then to Mor, "What is the last thing you remember?"

"Legolas…where is that from?" Los interjected, pointing to his bloody sleeves.

The youngest glanced at Amarth, lying behind Los and Mor. The white Elf followed his gaze and gasped, scrambling to his eldest brother's side. Mor pushed himself to his knees and crawled the few paces, not bothering to stand.

"Is he alright?" Los asked in concern, feeling Amarth's neck for a pulse.

"I have done all I can," Legolas answered. "I believe he will be fine."

"That demon did this," Mor ground out, fisting his hands by his sides.

On the other side of Amarth, Nen was awoken by all the noise and slowly sat up, catching the last words. "He is dead now, Ransûl. There is nothing more you can do."

"That does not change what he did," Mor muttered angrily, standing and looking about. He found the black staff head and kicked it as hard as he could, sending it flying well over the edge of the tower. He watched its descent, his eyes catching something else. "What is that?"

The other three were at his side in a moment, peering down at the tattered grey rags caught on one of the outcroppings of the black tower. "That is…that is where Saruman was," Nen murmured.

"You are certain he was dead?" Legolas asked, wondering if Nen had also suffered a head injury.

"Absolutely. He could not have survived that."

"So where did he go?" Mor asked.

"He has passed," Los answered softly, turning away in respect for the once great Istar. The others nodded in understanding and also turned away from the edge.

"You should all rest now," Legolas told them, frowning at the disagreeing spark he could see in each of their eyes. "Do not make me use sleeping herbs on you. I brought plenty."

Nen was already sifting through Legolas's pack, eyes widening in surprise. "Legolas! What are you planning to do, drug an entire colony of Dwarves?"

Legolas snatched the pack away, grinning mischievously. "Mayhap, and I would prefer to have some remaining after I am finished with you, so save me the trouble and go to sleep."

The others obediently lay down around Amarth, making themselves as comfortable as possible. "Oh, and Legolas?" Nen said tiredly. "Tell me when you are planning to take over that Dwarf colony. Father would be proud."………

………Silver eyes slowly blinked open to a lightening sky and two black stone peaks. The ground beneath him was hard, but his head was pillowed on something soft. He thought he heard a low murmuring in the Grey Tongue, but it had stopped as soon as he had opened his eyes.

"Telepsîr."

He looked up to see a pair of silver eyes identical to his own looking down at him, their owner's soft face framed by golden hair, rosy in the early morning light. "Legolas."

"Yes. How do you feel? Does it hurt much?"

As if reminded that it was there, the wound in his stomach flared up in pain. He gave a half smile. "Only when I breathe."

Legolas crushed some herbs and sprinkled them into a water skin. "Drink this. It will help to ease the pain."

"Saruman is no more," Amarth stated rather than asked as he sipped at the water.

"Yes. I still have not heard the entire tale, but I believe it was Lindil who dealt the final blow," Legolas answered.

"Lindil? He is alright then?" Amarth asked in concern. "That was a heavy blow given him by Saruman."

"He was injured?" Legolas's brows furrowed. "He did not say anything."

"Then he is probably alright," Amarth grinned. Lindil had never been one to especially trivialize his wounds. "Where are they?"

"Lying around you. I finally convinced them to sleep." Legolas smiled as at an inside joke. "It is nearing dawn. You have been asleep since yesterday afternoon."

"I am feeling much better now."

"I should think so. At least you are not still bleeding all over the top of Orthanc."

"Why, Legolas, you've developed a sense of humor!"

"Perish the thought!" Legolas laughed. "Too much time around you four, I'm afraid."

"Certainly not me or Los," Amarth replied, mock-offended.

"That is true enough." Legolas smiled and absently twisted a stray lock of silver hair around his finger. "You should get a bit more sleep before the others awake."

"Sounds good…" Amarth's eyes started drifting closed before opening once again. "Legolas, who were you talking to? I heard you speaking when I awoke."

"You," the younger answered simply.

"About what?"

"Nothing…" He waited until the eyes were half closed and his breathing was deep and even. "And everything." ………

………The other three brothers woke shortly after dawn, Mor yawning loudly and immediately stating his hunger. Legolas laughed, easing Amarth's head out of his lap. "I am afraid I shall have to go down to the horses for that."

"Be off with you, then!" Mor waved him away with a mischievous smile, earning him a smack on the back of his head from Los.

"How much longer must we stay on this tower top, anyway?" Nen asked, glaring at the offending black rock. "The stone is cold and unwelcoming."

"I do not think we should move Telepsîr for another day or two," Legolas replied.

"How is he?" Los asked quietly.

"Better. He awoke not long ago and I gave him something to help the pain."

"And you did not wake us!" Mor exclaimed.

"Nay. You needed your rest just as much as he." Legolas gave him a stern glare, though his eyes were laughing. "Now, if your highnesses will excuse me, I will go fetch them some food." He opened up a trap door in the middle of the tower, previously unnoticed by the brothers, and he disappeared through. After several minutes they saw him at the horses, selecting a couple of the packs. Then he disappeared back into the tower.

"Perhaps we should go help him," Los suggested.

"You two go on ahead," Nen declared, throwing himself dramatically backwards. "Oh, I am horribly injured!" He looked back at them a moment later, a gleam in his merry eyes. "Besides, someone must stay behind to look after our dear eldest brother."

Los rolled his eyes heavenward with a sigh, but smiled. It was not long after that Legolas reappeared with two of the food packs. He handed out a few pieces of lembas, instructing them to eat it all as he changed Amarth's bandages.

Nen rolled onto his stomach, absently munching at his wafer as he poured a little water from his water skin onto the black stone. Legolas raised an eyebrow, interested to see what he was doing.

Before his eyes, the small puddle of water morphed into tiny figures like people, equipped with little swords and shields. Los sighed as the two little men began dueling. "You are so childish, Lindil."

Nen only smiled, keeping his eyes on the fighting figures. They danced about, swinging their swords in exaggerated movements, blocking with their shields. After a minute of this, one of them plunged his sword into the other, who staggered about with the water-sword in him before exploding into a shower of droplets. The victor began to do a little dance, capering about and causing Legolas to burst out laughing.

But suddenly the little man stopped dancing, frozen through. Nen glared up accusingly at Los, but the other was merely looking innocently about at the sky and surroundings. "Envy!" Nen declared. "So childish!"………

………Another day of inactivity passed atop Orthanc before Amarth insisted he was fine enough to move. As all of them were eager to be away from the tower, they relented and started down through the trapdoor. Amarth assured his brothers that he was well enough to walk on his own, though he leaned heavily on Legolas and their progress was slow. Finally after about three score of the narrow, winding steps, the younger Elf could see that Amarth was wearying quickly and insisted he carry him, since Legolas was the only one without injury.

Finally they were outside again, the bright sun dazzling their eyes after their long descent in the dark stone tower. After making certain that Amarth was comfortable on his horse, Legolas turned back inside, explaining that something in one of the side rooms had caught his eye.

A few long minutes later he returned again, clutching two huge black keys on a massive key ring. "The keys of Orthanc," Los murmured as Legolas twisted the keys into the doors to lock them.

"Who knows what priceless treasures of ancient lore are hidden away in there," Nen sighed. "I would that I had a hundred days to search it, though that should not be enough."

"Which is exactly why these keys will be safely delivered to Mithrandir," Legolas laughed. "So plundering villains such as yourself do not take up a permanent residence here."

At the mention of returning to Gandalf and the others, a gloomy silence fell on the group. "I suppose that I am to return to the Fellowship now, and you cannot come with me," Legolas murmured. Amarth merely nodded.

"We have completed our appointed task," Los said softly. "It was the only reason we were allowed to return at all. Now our borrowed time is over."

"Will I ever see you again? In Valinor?" Legolas asked, sounding distinctly like a lost child.

"I am certain of it," Amarth spoke up. "The Valar would not part us again."

"I shall not tell Father," Legolas promised. "Not until we are all together once more."

Mor suddenly grabbed him up in a crushing hug, and Legolas could feel that he was trembling. "Stay out of trouble, baby brother."

"Aye, now that we will be here to save you no longer," Nen added, embracing Legolas in his turn.

"Until next we meet," Los murmured, grasping Legolas's shoulder.

Amarth smiled down at Legolas from atop his horse, trying in vain to hide his growing tears. "Do not be too long in coming, dear brother."

Legolas nodded. "I shall not."

The four elder brothers mounted and wheeled their horses around, not looking back. When they were but specks on the horizon, Legolas sat down and wept.

End of chapter. So, what did you think? Worth the wait? Bet ya didn't see it coming that Nen would be the hero! I think he's my favorite of the four. But that's just the way it worked out. Again, the preview for POTE prequel will be in the next chapter, the epilogue, which I think I shall post on Sunday. Hey! Here's an idea! How about everyone who reads this leaves a review! Sounds good to me. (:

Ûserg—a herb of my own invention used to slow bleeding.