Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess

Author's Note:

Warning: Concepts contained in this chapter are filled with blood, gore and fights! You've been forewarned!

This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)

~ XCIV: The battle of Gundabad ~

Gundabad, 3019 TA, May 19th

A heavy silence settled over them as they were walking towards the main Tents outside Mount Gundabad. The silence was thicker than the uneasy tension in the atmosphere. For weeks now, Thranduil, Bard II, Glóin and their troops were pursuing Uagz and his forces. Today they were once more debating what their next move should be. Tauriel had settled their maps and notes trying to plan their last part of the mission: Reaching Gundabad and slain Uagz.

Thranduil ignored the unsettled eyes and glanced unceremoniously around. Most of the troops were already worn out or scared, they believed it would be one mission, but it had become a continuous attack on Uagz, who had managed to keep the assault going without having to show himself. And they were not sure if he would ever reveal himself and ride out to meet them.

"The darkness is deepening," Glóin spoke first, sitting effortlessly on a seat made of stone. "The enemy knows we are here and ignore us."

"How near do you think they know we are?" Bard II scoffed as he was going through the maps. "Here we are fighting his troops but he never follows."

"We do not know where and when he will appear," Thranduil answered. "Only if his spies notify him that we are weakened and he desires to be there when the ultimate blow is delivered."

All the officers were already seated around the table inside the main tent used as now as the location they held all their meetings. Everyone was whispering to each other wondering if it was wise to start a direct fight with the orcs of Gundabad. Thranduil knew exactly what he was facing, he was Uagz prey for centuries and even longer, now it was the first time he actually decided to attack him first on his land. He could not let him win once more.

"They should find it more difficult now," Bard II said, gazing at leaders sitting around him, "If keep pushing Uagz will eventually have to take part in the battle."

"So why do not we attack the enemy on two fronts simultaneously," Glóin suggested, "Our troops are fighting close to the Gates. We can turn west and secure you the passage."

"About that," Tauriel interfered, "That could delay his forces to reach the main battle and aid our mission."

"It's only a matter of time for the enemy to bring our defences down," Thranduil said as he placed a few more troops on the map, troops that were not supposed to be there, "The enemy is regrouping as we speak; but we have not revealed all our forces.!"

"Why aren't we trying to lead our troops inside Gundabad," another dwarf asked "Why losing so many of our men by waiting for him to come out!"

A few seconds of stillness around the table. Bard II regarded the map intently as though it might provide all the answers. In a regular assault, it would be prudent to immediately attempt to breach the fort in search of Uagz. However, they were not confronting a random troop of orcs; Uagz's soldiers were well-trained, as shown by the fact that they continued to battle him.

"We would need time and safe passage across his land," said Glóin, "We and the army can give you that. Thranduil you could ride and place and attack next inside his fort."

"How?" Bard II was puzzled. "If we have to fight to reach the passage, the enemy will know."

"We could draw all our troops in the front and forget about the secondary attack," Tauriel suggested "Have him focus on the front battle; until the Elvenking could ride directly for Uagz."

"Building a trap inside their land!" Bard II understood "It could be possible."

"No," Thranduil objected with a harsher tone than usual "If we invaded the Uagz fort, we would never be able to exit that location. The only reason he is hiding inside is that it's full of traps. We will adhere to the original strategy, causing him to feel we are losing, and there is a chance he will see us lose."

Bard II agreed, "We will follow orders as planned; bring all of our available soldiers!"

Everyone agreed finally and they stepped out of the tent starting to prepare for the next attack. Although the question remained how the Elvenking had so many details about Gundabad and the traps inside. It was because Thranduil tried to creep into Gundabad many times, and only once he had succeeded to go deep enough into that fort to know that the safest way would be to stay away from that place of horror.

Meanwhile, Legolas, Xena, and Gimli continued to ride into sunset, darkness, and nightfall. They had been travelling for days and were about to arrive in Gundabad. They were only permitted a few seconds of rest before continuing their journey toward the peak. Hours passed as they continued to ride. They believed they had travelled for several days, but they were really just a few yards away.

Legolas had scouted the area in front and found the tents of the armies, most were already gone. He did not reveal himself only observed from above the tree he had leapt to spy on them. He still could not believe that his father had ridden out and placed a direct attack on the orcs of Gundabad. But that was not the only thing that surprised Legolas, as he noticed that the Elvenking had with his allies dwarves and men. He fought the urge to land in the camp and ask them if it was true. But he ignore it and returned to his trusted companions.

There were moments impossible to forget or recover, and today's mission would be one of those times. Orcs from Gundabad were amassing a large number of troops marching towards the battle that was already happening in front of them. He had returned from the camp to inform the others of what he had seen, and heard the sounds of battle further ahead. Thranduil had gathered the full forces of his armies and was attacking Gundabad, a bold move from his father's side.

"Thranduil possesses no more knowledge of a good outcome in the battle," said Legolas muttered quietly to himself, eyes darting on the battlefield ahead of them. His father cared about him, probably much more than he should sometimes. Though his recent attempts had left Legolas speechless. "Permitting Moonlight Maiden to roam freely in his halls, while going out hunting orcs. What has happened to your father?"

"If you are truly worried you should go speak with your father," Xena said as she was observing the open field in front of her and the battle that was taking place "I believe he wants his lands clean from all the darkness!"

"He never rode out, never, we always defended his halls," Legolas said holding his breath a bit longer than he should "He is only after Uagz, again he is trying to take what is mine."

Gimli placed his axe against the ground and rested on it while observing Legolas, he was used to his cold and emotionless demeanour whenever the warrior was out, but today he sounded a bit strange. Since they had left the halls of the Elvenking, Legolas had a few award moments. The elf would space out like a memory of old had found him. It was like he was dwelling in darkness and could not escape.

And the few times they had decided to rest, Legolas actually slept and dreamed. He would jump from his sleep, with drops of sweat noticeable along his forehead. His breathing was harsh and he needed a moment to respond and acknowledge his surroundings. He was trying to keep his composure and hide that something was beginning to bother him.

"Come now lad, I assume he worried about his son," Gimli offered and tapped his shoulders trying to not ask what was wrong with the elf. He had asked him many times and Legolas refused to answer and when he did he said that he was doing fine.

"Legolas something is disturbing you for a long time," Xena interrupted "Let's go and hunt Uagz and bring some peace to your trouble mind."

The forest grew thicker around Legolas, no doubt he was once again feeling the power of that darkness growing inside him. It was like old memories were trying to awake but something was not allowing them. He knew that he had a mission to capture Uagz and find his answers but the new issues kept his mind confused. Too many emotions were building up in his mind, threatening to spill over like a broken dam. He was doing his best to hold and go after Uagz.

"What are we waiting for," Gimli shouted loudly and rose his axe, Xena followed as he draw her chakram and Legolas notched an arrow against his bow and shared a faded smile with the dwarf and human.

There was no time to waste, so they accelerated their speed. They'd made it to the Gundabad's entrance passageway. It was dark since the sun had not yet risen enough to illuminate the route leading to the cliffs. When they saw the orcs swarming the battlefield and how many elves, humans, and dwarfs were dead or fighting for their lives, it was impossible for anybody to talk forcefully.

The enemy appeared to enjoy terrorising their victims, as well as preparing for an assault with their weaponry. In the grip of terror, fear was a dagger in the belly that gradually turned, and fear was an onslaught on the crown of one's head that would not let go. In no time, the command had been fulfilled, and a few more Uagz soldiers had entered the battle. Amid the commotion, the troops ducked and weaved behind their shields as their fellow soldiers' commanders were killed. Terror rose around them as they realised they were on the verge of the same end as the others. The weight of their adversity was so great on them, and there was no sign of hope in sight.

The ruins were shrouded in a thick cloud of smoke and odour; the battlefield was littered with dead corpses and rotting odours. Both sides had suffered heavy casualties, yet the conflict continued. In a battle to the death, the sky was engulfed in crimson dust clouds; blast after the blast was launched. They advanced now slowly, expecting some answer to their challenge at every hour, and they drew together, fought together old allies and new ones. The battle went on like that, hoping that eventually, the orc leader would show himself.

Thranduil's heart was a still deeper shadow. His mind pivoted around Amethyst's words. Here he was fighting for days, and Uagz was nowhere to be seen, he had forsaken his halls to take part in this mission and he would see it succeed. He had seen the horror of Mordor and could not forget it. He had watched his father and his wife perish. He lived through the darkness and the pain. The curses and all the secrets. The only son of Oropher, King of the Silvan Elves of Greenwood would not allow losing his son as well.

Whatever the cost he would pay it to keep Legolas safe.

The sky was damnation-black. And the cold hands gripped his gelid sword. Swords and spears glittered and glowed under the sun that was now hiding under the mist. Feet thundered against the rocky grounds of Gundabad as the battle continued. Tauriel commanded the archers; "Fire!" and they loosed their arrows. A blizzard of arrows buzzed and hummed into the shroud of black sky, as Thranduil had planned. The archers were one of the hiding troops.

Molten-red blood sluiced from the deadly wounds the arrows caused. Another attack followed and the orcs were suddenly decreasing in numbers. More awards were clanging, as Bard II and his men were now cornering the orcs from both sides. The orcs swarmed and swayed below them like corn in a field, yet it seemed there were more of them than hundreds.

And axes were clattering and clanking into their wooden shields under the roiling, doom forest. The dwarves remained in the middle as they were now breaking and popping the bones of the enemy crashing into them. The ground was glazed with gizzards and a vile smell rose up from it. The battle was reaching a new level of goring, and decay.

The entire battle had taken a different outcome, with the orcs now losing and Uagz noticing that it would not take long for him to be left without men. He cursed the Elvenking and felt his hunger for blood rise. He had enough hiding, Thranduil had damaged his plan and he could not have a nice summer by torturing Thranduil. Why would he want to mess with his fun? He should remain in his hall and die!

Gimli charged into the fight. He threw up his forearms and his axe was ready to cut through the orcs that surrounded him. The first orc slipped to the side, pushing his elbow down and away, caught his head, and rolled him to the ground. Third of a second once contact was made, Gimli smirked and fall down by bringing his axe directly over to the orc and cutting his throat.

Xena throw a nice stiff left clear shoot, watching as her chakram slid through the orcs as she flipped and leapt forward stroking the remaining orcs with her blade. She landed on her heels, catching her chakram and separating in two, and continued to cut orc after orc. There was no mercy in her moves, nor regret, she was fighting with only one purpose to kill as many orcs as possible, until she would watch Uagz die. How dared the orc leader inflect such worries and fears to her annoying elf.

Too many orcs fell by his arrows and the elf seemed to use his bow like never before. Speed was his friend and his mission to reach closer to the entrance of Gundabad which now was gathering all the remaining orcs with his leader suddenly showing up. By only seeing Uagz the orcs attack become wilder as they were afraid of their master.

"Who's next?" shouted Gimli as his axe had cut through three orcs as he watched a muscular orc rush toward him in slow motion ready to strike him. He jumped to avoid the first blow, but the second came too fast and if it was not for his father he would have been wounded. Father and son, shared a fast smile and were now facing back to back the orcs that surrounded them.

"Why are you here?" asked Glóin as he ducked and twisted his axe to take the life of another orc "I thought you would remain in Minas Tirith?"

Gimli tackled the orc that was now after him and broke his neck in a fast move while watching his father "I am following the Ear-pointing princely, we are in a contest who will kill most of the orcs! But why are you here?" Gimi seemed puzzled.

"Oh," Glóin gasped as his below smashed against the skull of another orc and he fall down, "The Elvenking and I," he was interrupted as Gimli aided him to stand up.

"Just do not tell me that you too are now a couple," Gimli cried out and he was sure the fighting elves around who heard him seemed shocked. He pushed his right axe down on the orc's guts and pull it up and shattered his cuts. Glóin smirked as the attack was going on.

The wrath of Uagz surrounded everything. It ate up everything in its path. It did not give any mercy as it would destroy them. Darkness suffocated their bodies like a damp, musty, thick blanket, clinging to every inch of their skin. As he was now facing his special enemy. The Elvenking was standing in front of him, his blade pointing at the orc leader and there was burning fire in his gaze.

"Have you come to put an end to the creature that will bring torture and darkness to your son?" Uagz voice was deep, shaking its surroundings with terror. "You might try, see if you can succeed."

"Who are you to speak of me?" Thranduil answered in a deadly tone glaring at the orc who brought him too much pain in his life, that one leader who had killed his wife and was responsible for his son's torture. "You'll die today!" he uttered, raising his blade and revealing no fear to the beast.

"I am the one who rules Gundabad," he moved closer; a disgusting smile was placed on his face. "Thank you for bringing me your son even if you came prepared, I was waiting for him."

Thranduil laughed as both were walking in cycles, ready to place their attack, "Before Legolas reaches you, you will have died by my hand!" he promised.

Indeed it has been a few moments ago when his son's arrow killed an orc in front of him, and Thranduil felt like losing the ground under his feet. He turned and found Legolas ignoring him as he was aiming to get closer to Uagz, but more orcs were cutting his way and the Elvenking managed to get there first. He was never as terrified of losing his son as now, and he was in a hurry to end Uagz before he would awake old memories that should remain forgotten.

"Have you come here to fight or to chat?" the orc asked, "I guess fight, it's your son who will want to do the talking!"

Finally, the Elvenking and Uagz regarded each other, their blades humming between them. Each methodically adjusted his stance, eyes locked on the other. Around them drifted flakes of fire and ash. Both of them were not in a hurry; it was as if they had already started a virtual duel inside their minds and were studying each other's abilities before engaging in a fight.

Thranduil's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword his dark gaze pinned against the enemy waiting for his attack. This time he did not attack first he gave time to the orc to take the first step. Uagz had finally placed the first attack, and Thranduil leapt out of the way and the first blow and ducked under the next. He was still studying Uagz strikes, keeping notes. The plain truth was that the orc knew how to wield a sword, and if he weren't fast enough to avoid him, he would end without a limb or, worse, the loss of his own life.

Uagz became angrier as Thranduil was not attacking him but toying with him. His attack increased in speed and power; he placed his next attack powerfully, slamming his blade against the Elevenking's. The blades were suddenly brought to bear, and they clashed, metal crackling against metal. The orc leader was powerful, not just powerful; he was only blocking his attack and felt his body bruising from the pressure. The elf gave ground; he stepped back to regain his balance and attack back.

The orc smirked; he didn't allow the elf to rest, he swapped, slammed, and stabbed, and Thranduil countered with effort. His blade twisted, slashed, and smashed against his, trying his best to keep his defence up. He couldn't attack him, his power dark and raw, the Elvenking was now keeping his defence.

Thranduil had no choice; he attacked back, striking again and again, as the orc didn't give him the time to think. The impacts shivered into his shoulders, down his spine and hips. How could he win such rough power? He was near to penetrating his blade through his head when an arrow cut his action and had him pull back. He notice that it was a familiar arrow, Legolas' arrow. It was clear that his son needed Uagz alive to find the truth about his mother's death.

And Thranduil could not allow it.

Xena observed as Legolas prevented Thranduil from murdering the orc. Though he did not halt, he launched a second offensive to eliminate Uagz. "For too long you have haunted us!" he said before delivering the fatal blow that would have killed the orc. Then, Xena concluded that Thranduil's actions were intended to protect Legolas. The orc was aware of something that would cause Legolas immense suffering. Having just seen the elf, she could comprehend this.

The last blow was struck, and Thranduil believed he could finally exhale after all the agony and turmoil when a familiar sword cut his stroke. Legolas defended against his onslaught and drove him away from Uagz. "What are you doing, Father?" Legolas growled, aiming his sword squarely at his father and king, and declaring, "I need him alive"

Thranduil cursed his son, "Do you think so little of your father that you would meddle in my battles? Step back, it's an order!" Thranduil issued a command, and his voice reverberated over the battlefield. "Uagz is mine!"

"Father don't make me..." Legolas publicly threatened Thranduil and was prepared to attack his father and king. A loud noise was heard as both parties started a fight without retaliation.

Clang!

And suddenly, the head of Uagz slid between them and down the hill, leaving them both stunned and watching at the severed head as it fell to its doom. They both turned to see Xena retrieving her chakram and replacing it in its holder. She regarded the Elvenking and perceived his unveiling. She had seen enough of their argument. The orc should already be dead. She decided that was enough and threw her chakram to terminate Uagz's life.

In this manner, the battle of Gundabad concluded. The surviving orcs either fled or were killed by elves, dwarves, or humans. As everyone progressively came to terms with what had transpired, silence descended. The moment was so dramatic that it gave everyone watching chills. It took them some time to return to reality and face the consequences. They prevailed. Perhaps some orcs still resided in the vicinity of Mirkwood, and it would need further hunting to eliminate or capture them all, but the great danger was passed.

Glóin had embraced his son and was telling him how relieved he was, but Gimli's attention was on Legolas since he had seen the unfolding of events in front of them. When Legolas discovered that Xena was responsible for Uagz's death, he became enraged and fixed his intense gaze on her. Despite turning aside and not facing him, Legolas gave his father one more look throughout the talk.

"It seems you have won, father!" As recollection awoke, Legolas mumbled and walked away, buried in his own rage and grief. A recollection of Uagz whispering in his ear when he was an elfling "Go tell your father what I did to your mother!"

((Upcoming Chapter Ninety-Five))

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