Thank you all for your wonderful reviews! They really make my day!

I am sorry, but the next update won't cme until the middle/end of December... I have so much to do for university at the moment (essays, exams) that I just won't find the time for it. But I definitely will continue.

7. Answers

"It all began a long time ago, with the forging of the Rings of Power by the Elves. Three they made for themselves, seven for the Dwarf Lords and nine for the Lords of mortal men," Aragorn began.

Leonidas and he were standing out of hearing distance of the camp at the foot of the White City.

"The Dark Lord Sauron wanted the power of the Elven rings for himself and forged a Master Ring. One Ring to control all the others. One by one they fell under his sway, only the Elves managed to resist him. There was a long and terrible war waged against the Dark Lord and in the end it was only by shear luck that it was won and Sauron destroyed.

But the Ring was not destroyed. It continued to exist and with it, Sauron's spirit also remained in this world.

Now, the One Ring has been found again and Sauron has grown stronger over the years. He searches for the Ring, but so far he has not been able to truly find it. He believes that the Ring is here, in Gondor, which is one of the reasons why he is concentrating his forces on us, trying to destroy us.

So far we have survived, so far we have won, if only barely. But our time draws to an end, and if we fall, the rest of Middle-earth will soon follow, and all the lands will be covered in darkness."

For some time no-one said anything.

"So this Sauron must not find the Ring," Leonidas said. "Where is it then? Is it safe?"

Aragorn smiled sadly. "I believe so. Some of our allies are attempting to destroy it and it is our job now to draw Saurons attention to us so that he may be blind to other things." He was not quite sure why, but he did trust the Spartan. Even the twins had told him that they thought him trustworthy, and that was no meagre praise from them after such a short time.

"How do you plan to get his attention?", Leonidas now asked, deep in thought.

"We are gathering our armies on the morrow and will set out for Mordor, the stronghold of Sauron."

Leonidas nodded. "And I suppose he has a large army there at his command?"

He had been thinking about the things the Dunedain had told him and he had reached an decision. Now he only had to make sure it was the right one.

"Yes," Aragorn nodded. "What you have seen on the Fields of the Pelennor yesterday was only a small portion of his vast forces. It would be suicide to attack him."

"My men and I will come with you if you would allow us to. This Sauron sound too much like Xerxes for my liking - he has to be stopped."

Aragorn smiled with relief. "I had hoped you would say this. Your men are valiant fighters and will be a great asset to our forces. But there is little hope for us."

Leonidas laughed then.

"That does not matter. Honourable death on the battlefield is the greatest glory a Spartan can achieve."

'And it would not be the first suicide misson we engaged in', he thought to himself as he shook hands with the other king to seal his promise.