Disclaimer: Go look at last chapter.

A/N: Well, this is almost it. Only one more chapter after this one. Most of your questions will be answered in this one and the last chapter will be more of an epilogue to tie up loose ends and lead you into my next story. I have a new idea all ready planned that I've been working on. So I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Here is a quick reply to people and then on with the story.

Aranna Undomiel: Yes, I know. That was very mean of Salien. Bad him! At least he's gone now and we no loner have to worry about him. So, you picked up about that little hint of Aragorn feeling lonely too. I hoped people would see the similarities. Not that it means anything, but well…read the next chapter. And yes, 3 Nazgul now. Things don't look good for Legolas or his father. Thanks for the review. Hope you continue to enjoy.

Alia G. L: Calm down! It's going to be okay! Salien is out of the picture now. You don't have to worry about him anymore. I'm glad you liked the chapter and the little plot twist. I doubt it was the work of genius, but thank you for the compliment. Hope you continue to enjoy and please don't get too mad at any more characters. I wouldn't want any of my characters getting too afraid of you and your hammer techniques and them running away. Then I'd have no more characters to write about. ;)

Deana: Good to hear from you again. Thanks for the review. Hope you continue to enjoy.

Invisigoth3: Yes, unfortunately Estel was right. Glad you liked the chapter. Thanks so much for reviewing. Enjoy these last two chapters.

Chapter 35

The Sun Rises

Why don't you let me be

Leave me alone
You start a fire inside that I could never control
You wanna see a reaction

Come on and cut me down
You've gone as far as I'll go
Now you're crossing the line
And I am letting you know
Well here's your reaction

You planted the seed
How my anger has grown
Got an feeling inside that I can't seem to control
You wanna see a reaction

Stand up
I have had enough
Walk away before I finish what you started
Face to face I will put you in your place
End this game before I finish what you started
Face to face everything will change

-Stand Up - Trapt

The dark night felt cold and haunting as Thranduil looked up at the sky. He could see a few stars overheard, but the beauty of the heavens did little to comfort his soul. He heard a scream pierce through the darkness and he gritted his teeth in horror. It was the first sound he had heard in over an hour. He knew to whom the voice belonged. Not only from the sound, but from the way that the scream penetrated his heart. Only the sound of his child in pain could cut so deep into his soul.

The cursed Nazgul had taken Legolas and separated him from his father. Thranduil was taken a short distance away and questioned. The Nazgul tortured him physically very little, but Thranduil soon realized the creatures had something else in mind, something far more horrible. When he refused to tell the Nazgul anything about Mirkwood and refused to surrender, the Nazgul threatened his son. Thranduil glared at him with fury that only a protective father could give. As he heard Legolas suppress a scream, however, his heart fell.

The Nazgul continued glaring at him with mocking eyes. Thranduil couldn't even see his dark eyes in the hood of the cloak, but he knew. The creature was gloating in his power. Thranduil let his eyes fall to the ground. There was nothing he could do for his son at the moment. No matter how much he wanted to save his son, he could not surrender Mirkwood to these evil creatures. That was simply not an option.

The Nazgul left the king after only a few minutes, but Thranduil was forced to listen to the silence of the night. He listened to try to hear his son, but for over an hour, he heard nothing. Not even a cricket chirped nor an owl hooted up above. There were no sounds. It was silent and eerie.


Legolas pressed his forehead to the cold ground. The dirt on the ground was stained a crimson red color and Legolas knew it was his blood that had been spilled. He felt weary and his mind felt like it was swimming in all different directions. Poison. Deadly poison was coursing through his veins. He could feel it. He did not know how it had entered his blood, but it had. Perhaps the knife the orcs had used was coated with the stuff.

Whatever it was, his vision was becoming blurry. For hours the Nazgul had been questioning him, pressing into his mind. And for hours, Legolas had been holding strong. The orcs kept trying to make him scream, but bravely and stubbornly, Legolas had held his tongue. He only wondered how long he could.


The Nazgul cursed in his dark language. Elves were the most stubborn race in all of Middle Earth. He hated it. Yet at the same time it was all the sweeter when they finally broke. Yet these two elves were particularly stubborn. He knew from previous experience that the Prince was stubborn. He had learned that the first time. But now, he knew where the Prince had learned it from. His father was just as stubborn. It frustrated him to no end.

He was using almost the same tactics that he had used with one of his other slaves. The elves called the elf Salien, but to the Nazgul he was only another slave. He had been so much easier to break. When his older brother's life was in danger, the foolish elf had been willing to do anything to protect him. He had given the Nazgul an opportunity to infiltrate his mind and the Nazgul took it.

But these two obstinate elves would not give him access. The king was still holding strong, despite the fact that his son was being put through hell. Perhaps a more direct route was needed. Considering his options, the Nazgul glared down at the prince.

Suddenly, he lifted his head and sniffed the air. He could smell something. Another one of his slaves was near. He could smell the marked slave and grinned wickedly. It was the human, the friend of the elf prince. He grinned with his dark evil smile. His plan was coming together. He knew the prince would never be able to resist the temptation of his friend, so blindly Legolas had taken him in. Now the human would tell the Nazgul everything he had learned. Every secret the human knew would be his. And then once again he could use the human against the elf. And this time, the king would be forced to watch. Perhaps this was the more direct approach that he needed.

He looked coldly at the human as the orcs threw his body down a few feet away from him. He could feel a slight resistance in the human's mind. He had been feeling that since the beginning from the human. At first when the Prince had brought the human back to the palace, the Nazgul had felt like he was in complete control. Then slowly, his grip began to loosen. He felt like he was loosing his power over the man. When he had called for his slaves to return to him, however, the man had responded. It had, however, taken work. The man resisted and tried to block out the power that coursed through his mind. But the Nazgul persisted. No one defied him. Eventually the human's defense dropped and the Nazgul knew he would come.

Yet even now, the human was still resisting him. In fact, he felt very little power over the human. It didn't matter, however. The human had broken once. Somewhere deep his mind, the Nazgul still had power that had been burned into the very depths of the human's soul. He would never be rid of it.


Aragorn looked up dejectedly as the orcs threw him to the ground. The pain in his mind increased and he could feel the Nazgul's eyes on him. He cringed and pushed the power of the creature from his mind. He focused his eyes on Legolas, hoping the elf would give him strength.

"Estel, what are you doing here?" Legolas asked miserably.

"I'm trying to rescue you." Aragorn spat out through gritted teeth.

Legolas looked around for a minute. "Great job." He said, though his words held a hint of laughter.

Aragorn glared at the elf. "Not a word."

Legolas smiled despite himself. He could see the pain written on the man's face and as he looked into the ranger's eyes, he knew the Nazgul still had some power over the human. Or he was at least trying to win it back. He knew the human needed the strength to resist and Legolas knew the only way to resist the Nazgul. The Wraith, powerful as he was, was not stronger than the power of friendship.

"You humans come up with the worse plans in the world." Legolas said with a grin. "Get captured so you can rescue a friend. Sounds like a great plan to me."

Aragorn smiled despite the pain in his mind. "I don't see you coming up with anything better."

Legolas gave him a mocking glare. It was working. He could see the light returning to his friend's eyes. He was gaining strength from their lighthearted humor.

Aragorn knew it, too. When he dwelt on the friendship between him and Legolas, the power of the Nazgul weakened over his body.

The Wraith knew it, too, however. He was loosing the human because of simple words exchanged between him and the elf.

"Slave!" He hissed with malice and bitterness. "Come to me."

Aragorn's breath caught in his throat. He felt the Nazgul drawing him and his whole body wanted to get up and walk straight towards the creature. It took everything he had just to stay seated.

Legolas looked at the creature and looked back at his friend. He had to act quickly. He recalled an incident not too long ago when they had been traveling towards Rivendell after his capture. He remembered the stunt he, Aragorn, Elladan and Linriel had played on Elrohir when he was the last one asleep in the morning.

"Remember when we were camping in the woods with your brothers and my sister. The one morning every one was awake except your brother. Do you remember the trick we played on him?" Legolas did not give the human time to respond. He just wanted the human to focus on his words, recall the good memories of his life, and remember his family and friends. The Nazgul could not defeat him if Aragorn didn't let him. "We collapsed his tent on him, then splashed him with water. He was so angry with us. We told him it was your idea, so he spent the morning chasing you."

Aragorn did remember and as he did, resisting the creature seemed easier. He knew what he had to do. If he kept his mind focused on his friends and his family, the Nazgul could never overcome him. No matter what happened, he had to remember that.

"Silence him!" The Nazgul sneered at the orcs.

The orcs quickly moved to do their master's bidding. One pushed a filthy rag into the elf's mouth as the others took turns ruthlessly beating the elf prince. The Nazgul turned his head back to the human. He crossed the distance between them with only a few steps. With one hand he picked the ranger up by the throat and looked deep into his eyes.

Aragorn's hands flew to his neck as he gasped for breath. His eyes began to roll into the back of his head and he began to panic. He could feel the Nazgul pressing into his mind and he felt too weak to hold back. He tried to focus on distant memories, but his only thought was his lack of breath.

Just when Aragorn thought he would pass out from lack of oxygen, the Nazgul threw him to the ground. He landed and rolled, barely missing the fire that burned in the middle of the camp. Aragorn tried to move away from the creature, but suddenly realized another Wraith was behind him. He looked at Legolas for comfort, help, anything. Legolas looked back at him with pain filled eyes, but also with eyes that burned with anger and valor. He struggled against the rope that bound him and between cringes of pain, he seemed to be trying to form words over the cruel gag in his mouth. Another wraith quickly stepped in front of Legolas, blocking Aragorn's view of the elf.

Aragorn lowered his eyes quickly, unable to meet the faces of his tormentors. He cringed as pain raced through his body and he could feel two, no, all three of the Nazgul pushing into his mind. Aragorn knew he couldn't resist. They still held some power over him and even if they didn't, the strength of all three of them was more than any mind could handle. Yet still, Aragorn tried. He thought of Rivendell and his brothers. He thought of Elrond and all the things in life that had brought countless smiles to his face.

"I erased those thoughts from your memory." The closest Nazgul sneered into his mind as he read the thoughts of the human. "You no longer posses them."

"But you couldn't destroy my soul. You couldn't destroy the things that make me who I am." Aragorn said through gritted teeth. "You might have tried to destroy me, but the power of friendship and the bond of my family was enough to restore me. And it is enough to defeat you."

The Nazgul screamed in anger, making Aragorn's ears ring. "You are weak, human. You are nothing! You have no power. I have control over you and you cannot resist!"

Aragorn screamed as his mind felt like it would explode. Despite his strong words at the creature and the courage he felt as he said them, he felt it all fall as his mind began to spiral towards darkness. He could see the darkness beginning to wrap around him and there was nothing he could do.

He opened his eyes for a moment and somehow his eyes fell on his friend. Legolas' face was filled with fear and grief. In horror, he was watching the Nazgul break his best friend for the second time. And for the second time, the elf was helpless to do anything. His eyes screamed at Aragorn to hold on, but the human hardly even noticed. His mind was becoming dark and he could barely even see the elf with his eyes. He tried to form words to the elf to apologize for failing again, or to ask him to forgive him, but no words seemed to come. He could only plead with his fading blue-gray eyes. But then, the ranger forced a few words in elvish from his mouth.

"Hold on to my secret."

Legolas' eyes filled with tears. He knew exactly what the ranger meant. Last time they had been captured, Legolas had promised to hold on to the secret of Aragorn's identity. They couldn't risk the Nazgul finding out. Legolas had held onto it and even though the Nazgul had thoroughly searched the mind of the human, he never found out the secret. It was locked away, safe in Legolas' mind. Now Aragorn's asked him to hold on to it once again and Legolas would loyally comply. But his friend's request could only mean one thing. Aragorn knew he was slipping into darkness. He knew there was no escape now. It had been his final words of freedom.

Aragorn, however, was actually not quite ready to give up. Somewhere deep in his heart, he still found a bit of strength. He wasn't going to give up this time. This time, he would die fighting. Whatever strength he had would be used to fight the evil creature and when he could no longer fight would be when he took his last breath. He felt that moment approaching all too soon. But in courage, the human closed his eyes and built his wall up around his mind stronger than ever before. He could feel his mind beginning to slip. The human mind was not able to handle so much stress and Aragorn knew once his mind broke, everything would be over. He would be left to tread the halls of Mandos.

The Nazgul was becoming agitated. It was impossible for a human to have half as much strength as this one seemed to posses. He had thought the man to be under his power or that he at least had some control over the human. But now the human was holding out even against two other wraiths. It was illogical and totally impossible. It made no sense to his corrupted mind. No one could resist him. He was Khamul. He had the ultimate power.

Forgetting everything else except the human's rebellion, the Nazgul reached down to grab the human. In anger he placed his hands on the human's head, crushing the man's skull with his strength.

"You are mine, human!" He spat. "Do not defy your master!"

Aragorn lifted his head to stare at the cursed creature. Through clenched teeth, he spat out his words, with as much courage as he could muster. "You have no power over me!"

Aragorn's head dropped to his chest as he felt his head would split. Without even given conscious thought as to what he was doing, he made one last desperate attempt for another second of life. He kicked hard at the fire near him. A few flames were sent towards the Wraith towering over him and the black cloak caught on fire.

The creature shrieked and backed away from Aragorn, flailing helplessly at his cloak to put out the flames.

Aragorn's body fell to the ground in exhaustion. His mind was finally able to have some rest. The Nazgul weren't attacking his mind at the moment and he felt grateful. He just wanted to curl up in a little ball and sleep for days. Within a matter of seconds, however, the ranger regained his senses. He knew his peace would not last long. He had to do something while he had the chance.

"Fire! They're hurt by the flames!"

Aragorn looked up as he realized Legolas was screaming at him. Somehow the elf had managed to push the gag from his mouth. He blinked his eyes and suddenly realized what the elf was saying. The fire, the flames that had caught on the Nazgul's cloak had sent him shrieking away in pain. It was the way to get rid of them.

Aragorn quickly grabbed one of the burning sticks and stumbled to his feet. He thrust the flame near the creature closest to Legolas. The Ringwraith backed away from the flame and ran in terror. Aragorn quickly knelt by his friend and untied him.

"Are you all right?"

Legolas nodded, though Aragorn could see he had many new injuries. "I'll be fine. Get rid of those cursed beings."

Aragorn anxiously agreed. He was more than ready to be rid of the creatures that had caused both him and his best friend so much pain and grief. He stood up and faced the oncoming creatures. The three of them were around him, each brandishing a sword. Aragorn ducked under the blade of one and waved his torch furiously at the creatures.

"Estel!"

Aragorn looked over at his friend for a brief moment. Legolas was holding his twin daggers in his hands. He held one up and tossed it lightly to Aragorn. The ranger caught it with his left hand and quickly used it to block the next attack of the Wraith. The sword was short and Aragorn was not as skilled with his left hand, but having no time to switch hands, he made due. He made a few more blocks before thrusting the flame at one Ringwraith's face. The creature screeched loud enough for the sound to be heard miles away.

Aragorn flinched at the ear piercing sound, but did not waste any time. Both the remaining Nazgul had evaded him for a moment and backed away, but Aragorn had no time to look for them. Orcs and spiders swarmed the area. The whole camp was filled with more of the evil creatures than Aragorn had ever seen in his life. He looked quickly for Legolas and saw that the elf was busy fighting orcs and spiders that surrounded him. Despite his injuries and the fact that he had only one of his weapons, the elf was holding his own. He was becoming weary, however, and Aragorn guessed he been bit by one of the spiders and poison was flowing through his veins.

Fury burned within Aragorn as he fought the creatures around his friend with barely controlled rage. His fighting, fueled by his anger, was more deadly than he had ever fought before.

Legolas was furious as well, and his anger was the only thing driving him on. As he saw an orc slash his friend's arm, his anger erupted. The usual calm, collected techniques the prince used while fighting, were dismissed as the elf attacked with a blind rage to protect his friend. Normally the Prince would have known how foolish his actions would be, but between the poison and the hate of the Nazgul that was growing in his heart, Legolas was not thinking clearly.

His fighting worked for a moment, until one orc caught him off guard. The Nazgul, who was watching from a distance, could see the Prince's blind rage and took advantage of the elf's foolishness. He knew the elf's defenses were down because he was not thinking clearly, so the Nazgul used his control over the orcs. While Legolas was occupied with four in front of him, one orc that lay at his feet, pretending to be dead, slashed at the prince's legs.

Habitually, Legolas would have moved, but the young elf never saw the blade moving towards him. The blade caught his ankle of his left foot, piercing deep into the skin. Legolas cried out in pain, but without thinking, his body reacted. He dove into a roll onto his left shoulder, pulling his legs away from danger. His movement was not fast enough however, for the orc scimitar had already brutally damaged his left ankle.

Legolas grabbed for his ankle, trying to stop the blood pouring from the wound and trying to stop the pain pulsing through his body. He slashed at the orcs near him, but only more as a way to keep them away, not to kill them. He sat up, trying to push the pain from his mind.

Aragorn saw Legolas go down and reacted immediately. The ranger, however, did not go towards the orcs and spiders attacking his fallen friend. Aragorn went towards the real source of the problem. He had had enough of the Nazgul. With one quick movement he flung the burning stick towards the cursed creature, hitting its face with accuracy that would rival that of an elf. The creature screeched and ran off into the woods. Aragorn looked around for the last Wraith. He was ready to finish what the Nazgul had started. The Nazgul surprised him, however, and came towards his blind side. He thrust at Aragorn with his morgal blade, missing the human's chest by mere inches. Aragorn moved and tried to make the best use of Legolas' knife. He needed to get another torch to be able to defeat the creature, but at the moment, all he could do was block the attacks from the creature. At least for the moment the wraith was too preoccupied with him and was not controlling the evil creatures around Legolas. At least he hoped so.

Chancing a look at his friend, Aragorn saw that Legolas was still being attacked, though not by as many of the creatures. In fact, most of the creatures were now fighting amongst themselves. Legolas was standing on one leg, holding on to a tree for balance. With his other hand, he fought off the orcs.

Looking at his friend, however, became a mistake as the Nazgul saw what the ranger was looking at.

"Fool." The Wraith hissed. He looked towards one of his orc archers. "Kill the elf." He hissed into the orc's mind. The orc readied an arrow, aiming it towards the almost helpless elf.

Aragorn saw the orc, however, and with no thought to his own safety, he used his last remaining defense against the Nazgul. Legolas' knife flew true, hitting the orc in the chest.

The Wraith turned back to the human. With one quick movement, he grabbed Aragorn by the neck.

"You have no more weapons. Now you must watch the elf die." The wraith lifted the human as if he weighed nothing and turned him to look at the elf. Three more orc archers were aiming their arrows at his friend.

Legolas looked up. His blue eyes met Aragorn's gray ones. He saw the orc arrows out of the corners of his eyes, but what concerned him most was the fate of his friend. He knew no man or mortal blade could hurt the Nazgul. He was helpless to protect himself and helpless to defend his friend.

"Legolas!" Aragorn screamed, watching as the orcs arrows were released.

The arrows never hit their target, however, for just as they were released a blinding white light filled the area. The orcs and spiders trembled in fear and retreated into the woods. The Nazgul screeched and dropped Aragorn.

For a moment, no one could see as the sun rose and a white light filled the area. But then the light faded and Gandalf walked from the woods, followed by many elves.

"Go back to Dol Guldur!" Gandalf commanded. "Leave these woods!"

With those words, Elladan, Elrohir and Kalen fired three burning arrows towards the creature.

Khamul cried out in pain and retreated into the woods.

"Spread out and kill the evil creatures that were under the control of the Nazgul. Leave none alive." Gandalf commanded.

The elves immediately went to do the wizard's bidding. Kalen and the twins, however, ran towards Legolas. Aragorn was already by his side, tending to his friend's wounds.

"Find my father!" Legolas said immediately to Aragorn.

Aragorn nodded, content with knowing the twins would take care of his friend and immediately went to find the king. Elladan followed him and they soon found Thranduil tied to a tree not far away. There was a knife in his side and by the looks of it, one orc had attempted to kill the king before the enemy arrived, but never had the chance to finish his duty. The king was barely conscious and his mouth was gagged, but by the looks of it, he had been forced to watch the whole battle, helpless to do anything. As Elladan untied him, Aragorn went to work on his wounds. The knife wound didn't seem life threatening as long as he got medical help quickly. As Aragorn worked to bind his injuries, the king placed a hand on the ranger's arm. Aragorn looked at him questioningly.

"I was wrong about you." He said swallowing hard in pain.

"It is all right. Save your strength." Aragorn comforted.

The king smiled slightly. "You are a good man. Thank you."

Aragorn smiled and bowed his head slightly, before continuing his work. In a few moments, Legolas and Thranduil were helped onto horses and everyone was ready to head back. The Nazgul was gone for now and the orcs and spiders had scattered and without the help of the Nazgul they would not be a mortal threat. Other plans would be discussed at the palace, plans to keep this peace and protect the borders of Mirkwood.

Aragorn breathed a small sigh as he looked around. Now that the battle was over and his adrenaline had passed, he suddenly felt very weak. His legs almost collapsed underneath him and he had to steady himself against the horse by him. His mind screamed at him for rest and for a moment the human felt like he would pass out from exhaustion. The world spun around him and he had to fight to keep his balance. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders, hoping his brothers had not seen his look of pain and weariness. He was not so lucky. Elrohir, who was already mounted on his horse, rode near his brother. He did not even speak a word, but his questioning gaze that he gave his brother was enough to speak volumes.

"I am fine." Aragorn answered habitually.

Elrohir raised an eyebrow, clearly stating that he wasn't falling for Aragorn's usual answer.

"I'm just tired. As soon as I get back to the palace, I'll get some rest. Nothing to worry about."

"Wrong answer." Aragorn sighed as Elrohir continued. "You're exhausted. Your body shows it. The Nazgul was trying to control you and your mind needs to rest. You will ride with me back to the palace."

Aragorn rolled his eyes. "I can ride on my own."

"And you will collapse along the way if you try. So either you mount willingly, or I will pick you up and throw you on my horse." The elf threatened.

Aragorn sighed, but was in no mood to argue. In truth, he thought the elf was probably right and he was thankful for the offer. Of course, he would never admit that to his brother.

"You should listen to him." Elladan suddenly spoke up. "Never take threats from an elf lightly."

Aragorn glared at them and muttered to himself. "Sai lin iest, ai neria pen." (As you wish, oh protective one.)

"I heard that." Elrohir said.

Aragorn grinned, but took the arm the elf offered him. Elrohir pulled the human up on the horse, pulling the man close to him.

Within a few minutes all the elves were riding back towards the palace. Despite the weariness that hung around them all, peace and happiness filled the air. Victory had been achieved and everyone knew it. They could feel it in their bones. It was a welcome relief to the despair that had loomed over them for so long. The darkness and shadows that had consumed not only their homes, but their hearts as well had finally lifted. Light had come!