AN: Er...yeah...not dead. I'm sorry? Really, really truly sorry and so very appreciative of all the people who have stuck with me. There is one or two more chapters to go, so not much longer. (Hopefully. My muse is a bitch and life is complicated right now. I literally have zero time and when I do...let's just say your reviews lit a fire for me to finish this that would otherwise not exist. Thank you so much. I seriously adore you guys.

As Legolas remained outwardly calm, his True Self fluctuated with concern. Kagome twined her pink with his silver and white, but was racking her brain for some way to help Thranduil. Seeing Kirara put weight on her injured leg and mew in spite of herself, Kagome was suddenly thrown back to a time when she was mortal and so frightened of everything. She remembered Sesshoumaru roaring in pain when Inuyasha had hacked off his arm. That triggered the memory of him transforming to book it out of the grave.

"Uh…" she began, shifting nervously, "I might be able to get us there."

Three sets of eyes were immediately fixed on her.

"How?" Legolas demanded. "It is too great a distance by land or sea, Tirelen."

She shrugged. "Like I said, I might be able to do it. I've never tried this before, but I've seen it done and well…it's our only shot at getting there. Only thing is, we might be a bit cramped."

Arching a brow, Gimli broke into hearty guffaws and then slapped her on the back. "Lass, that's hardly a hardship for the Elf. Go on, then. If you manage it, Kirara and I shall tell Aragorn of the happenings."

Blowing out a sharp breath, Kagome nodded and then looked to her fiancé. He studied her for a moment, as if seeing a great puzzle.

"Will this weaken you?"

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "We'll find out pretty quickly, though."

Sighing gently, he nodded. "If it saps your strength, cease at once, Tirelen-Nín."

Noting his concerned tone, she didn't snap at the command. Instead, she tightened her hand in his and closed her eyes.

"Whatever you do, don't let go!" she warned.

Gimli held Kirara and took a step back when pink wind suddenly rose in a tornado around them. When it seemed as though it would erupt in destruction, it was sucked sharply into a small, glowing pink orb with tendrils of silver and white. Gaping, the Dwarf could only watch in astonishment as it bobbed in front of him and then shot off like an arrow into the sky.

"Ah, yes, well," he cleared his throat. "Perhaps 'cramped' was a bit of an understatement."

Kirara blinked wide eyes and mewed her agreement. She had thought her mistress would attempt to teleport as Kikyo had learned to do. She should have known Kagome would cut her own path-even if it meant doing something none but youkai had done before.

…

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Thranduil flicked the dark ichor from his blade before sullying it again with another orc's innards.

"There are too many of them," Celeborn called to him as he took out his own enemy.

Gritting his teeth, the Elvenking narrowed his eyes and gave a particularly brutal strike to one of Sauron's minions. The Nazgûl screeched above them, occasionally diving to pick off those they could. With the light of dawn came awareness of the waning strength in his people. There were too few of them and Mordor had sent two legions of creatures.

"The Black Gate must stand abandoned," Thranduil returned, "for him to have launched a war on two fronts."

Grunting, Celeborn spun and cut down two orcs before gripping his bleeding arm. "Thranduil, we cannot hold them here. Let us fall back to Lórien and regroup."

Scowling, he kicked a goblin off his blade and punched the head in of another in his anger. "If we retreat to our forests, Celeborn, they will destroy them."

The two rulers' conversation cut off as two large trolls reached them. Irritated beyond belief, Thranduil whirled into action, slicing through one's knees and then the other's stomach in the space of fifteen seconds. Celeborn blinked and arched a brow.

"Alright, we'll…"

But, he was abruptly cut off when a globe of light struck the ground in front of Thranduil. The earth rose up like a glowing tidal wave that laid waste to every foe it encountered. When the two Elves could see again, they were startled to find Kagome and Legolas before them, both glowing with an Otherworldly light. Pink fire simmered in the prince's eyes, making the Elvenking's widen in shock.

"Father," Legolas greeted, releasing his arrow and destroying any orc in its path.

"We thought you could use some help," Kagome grinned, her being alight with the same pink fire.

Without waiting for a reply, she flung herself into battle, pink fire washing over the Enemy in devastating waves once more.

Looking to his long-time friend, Celeborn smiled wryly. "I see that your plans have finally born fruit."

Thranduil didn't deign to answer him as with a guttural yell, Kagome swung her blade out in front of her, sending an arc of power to decimate a squadron of advancing orcs. At the reprieve, the Elves fell back to flank their leaders. Kagome and Legolas provided cover for them as the Nazgûl shrieked and scrambled to rally their troops.

Landing in front of Mordor's army, one Rider barked an order that had all of the creatures falling into line. Turning its head, it leveled its large flail at Thranduil.

"Give us the source of the pink fire and we will spare your forest, Elven lordlings," it hissed, toxic Breath escaping with the words and polluting the air.

Thranduil's face was granite and he didn't have to look to Celeborn to know his decision. Kagome had once saved Celeborn's daughter certain torment, if not death. Had she done nothing else, that alone would have ensured the other Elf would protect her with his life.

Kagome shifted until she was standing just to his left, her bow nocked, but not drawn. Legolas was in the same position on his father's right. Celeborn was making sure the rest of the Elves had regrouped and were waiting for their orders.

"If you want her," Thranduil drawled, steel in his eyes, "come and claim her."

A dark chuckle poured from the Nazgûl as it lowered its weapon. "Very well, Thranduil, Elvenking. We will take her and level your forests such that no living thing will ever return." Shifting, the fell-beast turned its master so it was facing the Elves.

"She will curse your name when Lord Sauron is finished with her."

Mordor's forces surged forth then. The Elves had tended their wounded and refocused, however. The orcs and their ilk were met with a volley of arrows, mowing down the front line.

"Lord Thranduil?" Kagome asked quietly.

His eyes did not shift in her direction, but she knew he was listening. Swallowing, she clenched her jaw and touched the edge of his sleeve. A rush of her undiluted power sang through him, making him jolt. When his blade began glowing with the pink power, she smiled and turned back to the battle.

Though he did not show it, Thranduil felt the bonds of kinship tighten between the miko and himself. She'd very firmly stepped into his family with that action. A smirk lit with a touch of Hellfire settled on his face, and more than one orc trembled at the sight of it.

"I tire of this," the Elvenking decided.

Legolas and Kagome took that as their cue. Releasing their arrows, they destroyed the advancing forces in entire lines. Kagome's reiki soon was spent from Legolas, but together they turned the tide of the battle.

When the Elven prince shot a fell-beast from under its Rider, he'd timed it such that the creature took out its own troops as it crashed to the ground. Two Nazgûl remained aloft, circling the battle and causing devastation wherever possible. Kagome sighted one and purified it with a deft shot. She spun back to the battle in time to see Thranduil slide his blade between the fallen Nazgûl's head and its shoulders. The pink purity instantly reduced the creature to ashes. Unfortunately, that move also used all the power Kagome had leant the king. He didn't seem to be bothered by it, leaving a trail of dead Uruk-hai in his wake.

Drawing her katana, Kagome launched herself into battle, Legolas steadily covering her as she did. When he brought down the last of the fell-beasts, she came face to face with the last Nazgûl. It didn't even wait for its mount to come to a stop, leaping toward her with its flail raised.

Cursing, the miko blocked the blow and sent a palm-thrust into its sternum. Howling at the power, it stumbled back and then snarled in fury.

"The master warned of your witchcraft, sorceress."

Raising its flail, the Rider blew black breath onto the weapon, filling it with the evil of Sauron. Kagome felt dread settle on her shoulders as she watched the sinister creation hum with Darkness. If she'd learned one thing in all her years, however, it was that dramatic posturing came with a price.

Not waiting on her opponent to wield the unholy flail against her, she flung two kunai at the weapon. A half second later, she swiped her blade at the last Nazgûl, sending a wave of her power to purify him.

The Uruk-hai went mad, then, not knowing how to proceed now that their leaders were dead. Kagome found herself up to her neck in orc blood, reiki ebbing and flowing around her such that it became a constant aura. When the last foe was eradicated, she flicked her katana and then sheathed it.

Legolas watched as his betrothed faced his people. She stood, surrounded by death and battle, glowing bright as the stars above them. Pink fire-softer than that unleashed at Helm's Deep-flowed around her, through her. She was every inch Ilúvatar's vassal then. Her light purified everything it touched, and churned with a brilliance that blessed all those who saw it.

"Eru Ilúvatar," Celeborn breathed, his face slack with awe as he felt the light pass over him.

Kagome inclined her head to Celeborn respectfully and then bowed to Thranduil. "My lord."

"You linger needlessly, daughter," he told her quietly, unable to reprimand her fully when presented with her vassal status so completely.

Smiling, she held out her hand to Legolas, who took it immediately.

"Father," he acknowledged.

Reaching with her free hand, she gently touched Thranduil's arm. Immediately any injuries or battle weariness was washed away. In a blink, she and Legolas were gone; a ball of pink and white light hovering in their place. It seemed to radiate a song and then shot off into the sky, leaving vibrant life in its wake.

Celeborn came to stand beside Thranduil, wry amusement on his face. "Not even Galadriel suspected that Tirelen was Ilúvatar's vassal," he admitted. Eyeing his friend, he crossed his arms. "But, you did, didn't you? From the beginning, you've sought to bind her to your kingdom."

Thranduil met his eyes steadily, one corner of his mouth quirked in satisfaction. "She was meant for my son, Celeborn. How could I have manipulated that?"

Sweeping back to his people, he left his friend watching him with an arched brow. Reluctantly, a smile crept onto Celeborn's face as he made his way after the taller Elf.

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When Kagome landed with Legolas this time, she knew exactly what was about to happen. Aragorn had brought a contingent to the Black Gates in order to draw Sauron's attention from Frodo and Sam. The Eye had overstretched, however, when it sent the assault on the Elves. Only a rag-tag guard remained. Still, they were fighting their hardest against Aragorn's men.

Holding up her hands, Kagome saw the days and years of her life pass before her eyes as power surged through her veins. Taking a deep breath, she released it slowly and then pulled on that power. Flinging it outward, she focused on her family, her love for them and her friends. Her limits rattled and then crumbled to nothing as her reiki rose like a tidal wave and crashed into Mordor.

The fighting stopped as Kagome began to burn like the sun, her purity cleansing the land in front of them and destroying what was left of Sauron's forces. The last she saw was the great Eye swinging to her violently and then her world went dark.

Gandalf stared in amazement as Ilúvatar sent his power through Kagome, allowing her to direct it into Mordor. As it crested and began purifying the desolate land, it left life behind. Just as it reached Sauron's tower, the Eye jerked to focus on Mount Doom. With an unholy scream, the Eye was obliterated and Kagome brought down its tower.

She was a vision of divinity as she floated, her hair a halo around her head. Pink purity held her aloft as she completed her task. Once finished, the light faded and Kagome collapsed.

Legolas was quick to catch her, Elrohir and Elladan by her side as well. Aragorn nudged his horse to approach them, relieved when the Elves showed no sign of great worry.

"You know how to make an entrance, my friend," the heir stated. "How goes it with your father?"

The archer smiled. "Tirelen awed even Celeborn. She exhausted herself in doing so, however."

Gandalf leaned over Shadowfax's neck and huffed. "Asleep at the end. She has an uncanny ability to escape the tedious tasks."

He whistled to one of the Eagles that had flown near enough as the group stared at him in bewilderment. Legolas chuckled as he looked to the lush land Kagome had left Mordor. If Gandalf did not believe that task tedious…he shook his head. The wizard and the miko would only be content if they were sniping at each other.

Pippin soon found them, his amazement palpable as he reverently touched Kagome's arm. "Will she be all right?"

Elrohir patted him in reassurance. "Do not fret, Master Took, Tirelen merely exhausted herself. Father Ilúvatar would not harm her."

Aragorn watched as the Eagles set off to retrieve Frodo and Sam. A tentative easing in his chest began as he realized…they had done it. The Darkness was no more.

Pulling out a horn much like the one Boromir once carried, the heir put it to his lips and blew. The crowd fell silent as the long note echoed out across the land, sounding peace into every hollow.

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