Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings despite how much I want to, Tolkien does however!

A/N: Just wanted to say a huge THANKYOU to everyone that has been reviewing, got some really nice comments from the last chapter, so yeah, you guys all rock! There's a little bit of violence in this chapter, not much though, but you have been warned! Anyway, on we go!

Chapter 19: Edge of the Blade

Legolas, up to this point, had been right. The guards, after so many uneventful nights had become slack, and he was surprised at how easy it had been to get to this point. All three had made it through the gates, after spending an agonising amount of time watching the patterns in which the guards moved and timing when and where they would run to, each wondering if each second spent crouch out side the gates was the second they lost Aranel forever.

It was when they were just past halfway that they made their first mistake. Up until then they had had luck on their side, and each out crop of the black stone that inhabited the desolate landscape had been large enough to hide all three. This time however they had misjudged. Running in the order they had been using, Legolas making the first dash, followed by Illindor and lastly Evandar, they had been split up. Legolas and Illindor had made it to their safe haven, however, there was no cover left for Evandar, he would be exposed to watchful eyes.

Illindor, desperately trying to signal not run to them had made the mistake of exaggerating his signals a little to obviously, Legolas dragging him back behind the rock as he saw one of the guards on the outer wall squint into the darkness and point down in their direction. His sharp eyes watched as the guard was joined by another, who eventually shrugged, and moved back to his post. Luck, he thought had not left them. He was wrong.

Evandar had spotted another hiding place not far from them, and going by the guard's original patrol pattern made a dash for it. However, the disturbance had alerted the guards enough for their attention to be drawn away from outside the walls to within. He was completely exposed when they cry went up, the spell cast from the guards above only just missing him as he dived for cover.

They didn't need Elven hearing to hear the footsteps running and the voices gradually growing closer as the guards closed in on them. It was a split second decision, Illindor stood, yelling to Legolas and Evandar to make a run for it, Legolas not hesitating, at odds with the power that seemed to be swirling around him that he was defenceless against, Evandar glancing back, bright flashes of light spring up out of the chaos as lightning flashed and struck what it could, giving Illindor the advantage.

The two ran, hoping the third would soon find them as they headed for the back servants entrance they had planned to use before being spotted.

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Orenar strode into the room, followed by a pair of servant scuttling hurriedly behind him, one carrying a basin and the other a long black gown.

Aranel looked up, not at all surprised to see them, she couldn't remember why but she knew she had been expecting them. Her mind was clearer now than it had been in days and she felt stronger and far more confident than she could remember ever feeling.

She stood with ease as Orenar approached her, smiling as he saw her rise and coming to stand closely before her, not bothering to keep his distance, though the servants stood well back. He ran a hand lightly down the side of her face, cupping her chin and lifting it so their eyes locked. His smile broadened at what he saw.

"You approve?" Aranel murmured, a ghost of a smile reflecting Orenar's own, though something was nagging at her in the back of her mind as if something was horribly wrong but she pushed the feeling away, dismissing it as a feeling of awe to be in his presents.

Orenar nodded, taking in the image before him, "Very much." He replied, Aranel's smile strengthening slightly at his words.

She knew she had changed, though she wasn't sure how much and couldn't remember exactly why but she had not felt this powerful and in control in a very long time. In truth, anyone that saw her now would have a hard time of recognising her at first glance. She seemed to have an awesome strength around her now, one that when coupled with her current appearance, become quite terrifying.

She was very pale, almost ghostly and thinner than she had been from days without food, however this just seemed to add to the menacing image she now held. Over all, her appearance was quite similar except for one thing, She was unmistakably evil, darkness seemed to cling to her very being like a veil, her eyes once blue, now reflected Orenar's exactly, black and all consuming. She glanced at one of the servants who coward back from her gaze, Aranel's smile broadening into a sinister grin, enjoying her new found power.

Orenar's poison had run its course. The light that had once been Aranel's being had now been extinguished, leaving a gaping empty darkness in its wake.

"Come my dear, it is time to bind you to me completely." The chain around her ankle fell away at his words and Aranel stepped away from the wall for the first time since she had got there, all thoughts of escape however, fleeing her mind as she did so.

"I will let you get cleaned up and then one of the servants will bring you to me." He continued, taking her hand and leading her to the middle of the room.

"Of course…my Lord." Aranel said quietly, tilting her head slightly to him as he left her, the nagging feeling struggling desperately to be heard at her words of obedience, Aranel stubbornly ignoring it, to thrilled by this new feeling of power and the freedom she now thought she had.

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Legolas and Evandar had hidden themselves within the kitchens, urgent to get moving but unwilling to move to far from their planned meeting point, not wanting to leave Illindor to far behind.
"We cannot stay here much longer." Legolas urged, desperate to get Aranel out.

"A little longer…"Evandar murmured back, reluctant to abandon a life long friend. "He will come."

Legolas did not reply, doubtful of ever seeing the Fay Lord again. A few more minutes past in a stretched silence, Legolas again being the first to speak.

"The longer we stay here the more we put Aranel at risk, we know he can defend himself, Aranel on the other hand…" he trailed off, not wanting to voice what both were thinking.

Evandar looked doubtfully at him, opening his mouth to reply when both were distracted by a slight noise from the doorway.

"Someone's there." Evandar murmured. Legolas nodded in reply.

They waited in deathly silence for who ever it was to either show themselves or identify themselves, the figure moving cautiously to the centre of the room.

"Evandar…" The voice was barely even a whisper, but Evandar immediately stood and crossed to the centre of the room, Legolas hesitating, unwilling to give himself away in case of some strange trick the Fay may have devised.

"Where you followed?" he heard Evandar ask quietly.

"For the moment no, they are distracted with a diversion but it will not take them long to work out where we have gone. We must move now." The reply came hurriedly and Legolas stood slowly satisfied that it was indeed Illindor, but hand on his weapons just in case.

"Are you planning on using those Legolas?" Illindor asked, giving him a quizzical look.

Legolas smiled vaguely and moved out from his hiding place, no guard of this place would know his name, he thought, this was indeed Illindor.

"Lets get moving shall we?" he murmured, all three heading quickly for the door to make their way deeper into darkness.

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She entered the room, dress flowing out behind her, flanked by to guards who remained a respectful distance behind her. Orenar stood from his throne and walked down to a platform just beneath the throne, elevated over the rest of the room. He extended a hand and Aranel walked confidently up the stairs, placing her hands lightly in his.

His eyes followed her figure, taking in her appearance, nodding his approval. The dress she wore was fairly low cut, and clung to her body, a long train flowing out behind her. The black, of course, matching her eyes perfectly.

He kept hold of her hands, moving to the opposite side of a bowl placed on a plinth in the middle of the platform, an ornate dagger with a strange curling script engraved into the blade placed on a low table next to it.

They faced each other, hands raised over the bowl, and Orenar nodded over Aranel's shoulder and she heard the guards leave closing the door firmly behind them, leaving them alone.

Orenar smiled at her and Aranel smiled back. "Shall we?" he queried, Aranel nodding confidently back, turning her palms up to him.

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They had heard footsteps fast approaching and had hidden themselves behind a series of pillars leading up to the throne room. Two guards already stood in front of the doors and they were soon joined by another, who hurried up to them, talking urgently to them.

"He cannot be disturbed." One of the guards finally said, shaking his head. "He binds the girl to him tonight, if there is a problem they will deal with it after."

Legolas went pale at his words, sick with worry and fear for Aranel, he wasn't sure what binding Aranel to Orenar would entail but his imagination made up for the lack of knowledge. He looked over at Illindor and Evandar who both nodded simultaneously at him, and he looked back at the three guards now arguing with each other. He decided to go for the one with his back to him, he hoped his speed would allow him to attack before the guard could turn and confront him.

He looked back at Illindor and nodded, only hesitating a second before throwing himself out of his hiding spot and drawing the daggers on his back.

The two Fay confronted the first two guards, their spells hitting them before they knew what was happening and the guards dropped with a dull thud to the floor. The third, distracted by his fallen comrades didn't even register Legolas behind him, dieing silently as Legolas's blades found his neck.

All three looked at each other and seeing that they were all unharmed moved to the throne room doors and pulled them open. All froze at what confronted them.

Aranel stood palms raised to Orenar who stood with a dagger in his hands. At the interruption both turned, Aranel smiling sinisterly and turning he black eyes on them.

"How very good of you to join us." She said confidently, "You're just in time." And with that she turned to Orenar who brought the dagger down onto her palm, when he raised it again, all three could see the glint of blood on it.

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I know it just keeps getting darker! I didn't really mean it to but it just happened. Promise things will get better from here if everything goes to plan.

Anyway, you all know the drill, any reviews (Except flames) are much appreciated!

Oh Oh! And Happy Australia day for yesterday to any Aussies reading this! Hope you had a good one!