Thank you to Jess, Aranel Mereneth, Achingly Beautiful, Trineredster, Morenia, Sailor Silvanesti and Caelhir for reviewing the last few chapters. I is great to know that you are reading and enjoying.

Rated M for violence and sexual encounters

Disclaimer: The characters all belong to the master Tolkien and this is only being written for my own enjoyment and hopefully yours. No money or profit involved

A Cage of a Different Kind

Chapter Eight

Eowyn struggled once again against the dark voices. The light shown with even more intensity as she focused all her energy on it. Slowly, as if moving through a thick bog, she inched closer to the light. All of a sudden, she felt a soft kiss on her forehead. "What was that?" her startled thoughts cried out. The light was much closer now and for the first time hope flared in her heart. She was going to survive this.

Time had no meaning for her but eventually her eyes fluttered open. She gasped and sat up in bed looking around, surprised to see she was alone. How she had hoped Legolas' beautiful face would be there to greet her but she saw no one. She lay back with a shutter remembering her ordeal but slowly her lips turned up in a smile as her hands dropped down to cradle her belly. She had survived and now she knew why. She drifted back to sleep but this time she was not lost to the darkness.

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The army rode out for the last battle making their way slowly towards Mordor. Legolas looked back one last time as something tweaked his senses. He almost expected to see his golden love waving to him from the battlements. "Silly idea" he chided himself. For some reason, his heart felt lighter, even though they all knew this was not a battle they could win and they would probably not be returning. Their hope lay with two brave hobbits. If they could but give them a chance then their sacrifice would be worth it. At least he could go to his death knowing his love would survive. All was not yet lost.

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In the days that followed, Eowyn rested and slowly regained her strength. Not one to be confined for long, she took to strolling along the battlements and exploring the castle. She could not help but be vexed at being left behind but she also understood the urgency of the coming battle, so she worried and prayed that her friends and family would return safely, one elf in particular. In her wanderings she met another soul in need of comfort and companionship, Faramir. He was the son of the steward of Gondor, but she sensed that he had a gentle soul. There was so much hurt behind his soft brown eyes and although they talked about many things, he seemed reluctant to tell her much about himself. He was a warrior, but she could tell that he was so much more than that. Together they formed a friendship that seemed to help them both heal in body and soul.

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The host from Gondor waited outside the gate of Mordor. The horses moved restlessly, aware of the battle to come. Suddenly the gates opened and the eye of Sauroman shifted towards them. They sat there as if transfixed for a moment while overwhelming hoards of orc, goblins and trolls poured from that evil gate. All of a sudden Aragorn gave a mighty yell and raced towards the enemy, his friends close behind. This roused the men and they rushed towards their destiny.

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Faramir sat staring at the golden beauty before him. He was taken by Eowyn's beauty and awed by her strength and courage. While he knew she pined for another, he basked in the attention she gave him. No one but his brother Boromir had ever shown him this much kindness. Eowyn had grown fond of the soft spoken warrior and his friendship had helped her endure the last few weeks. Both of them had lost family in this quest and even though her thoughts often turned to Legolas, Faramir's quiet humor and constant presence helped her cope with her worry and helped keep the darkest of her memories at bay.

"You are miles away today Eowyn." Faramir said as he approached her on the battlement. He had stood there just watching her before he had finally approached her. She looked so sad and beautiful as she gazed towards Mordor, her golden hair whipping about in the wind. He watched her smile and wrap her arms around herself protectively. How he wanted to replace her arms with his own.

His words seemed to startle her and she turned to him with a quick smile. "I am thinking of all the friends and loved ones that are even now fighting for all of Middle Earth. Will we ever see them again?" Her voice broke as anguish over took her and she turned back to gaze towards Mordor again. It was as though she thought she could see them if she just tried hard enough.

Faramir decided to throw caution to the wind and moved to her, gently wrapping his arms around her. She started to pull away but then allowed herself to be pulled into his embrace. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks. He knew her heart lay with someone in Mordor, but he was happy to have even this small moment with her.

"We will see them again Eowyn. We just need to have faith."

She nodded and they remained that way for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.

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The battle raged on as the evil creatures of Mordor swept over the small army from Gondor. Gandalf laid about him with his staff seeming years younger than he appeared. To Legolas' right, Gimli's familiar voice rang out his count with every swing of his lethal axe. Legolas was comforted to know that at least a few of his friends were still alive and well. He savagely beheaded the orc in front of him, glancing around hoping to catch a glimpse of Aragorn. Even if the hobbits succeeded, Aragorn needed to survive. "Where would the people of Middle Earth be without their King?" He thought fleetingly as he whipped to the right and thrust his long knife through a threatening troll.

All of a sudden a warning tugged at his awareness and he turned and finally found his friend. "By the Valar!" Ahuge troll was bearing down on the ranger. He struggled to dispatch the orcs blocking his way. He needed to reach Aragorn's side or all would be lost. Panic welled up in him as he became aware that he was never going to make it. He watched in horror as his friend was knocked to the ground and his eyes widened in terror as he realized Aragorn was going to be crushed under the weight of the enormous creature.

Without a second thought, he quickly threw down his twin blades and pulled his bow out. His own safety forgotten, he shot an arrow towards the troll. Smoothly he pulled a second arrow but just as he was about to release it, a searing pain erupted in his belly and he barely managed to shoot it before his strength started to fail him. He dropped his bow as he looked down in shock. He clutched at the sword buried deep in his abdomen but his hands could not pull it free. His knees started to buckle as the ugly orc in front of him laughed. He thought he would faint as the creature twisted the sword in his gut. "Could this be where I die?" Legolas thought as he screamed in pain. "I only hope I was fast enough to save Aragorn." Was his last coherent thought.

He was staring at his attacker waiting for the final blow when a strange look passed over the monsters face and it fell face down in front of him. Legolas barely regisgtered that Gimli's axe was buried in its back for the pain was excruciating. The dwarf cried out in panic as he saw the elf trying to pull the offending object from his body as the blood poured from the wound and made everything so slippery that he just couldn't manage it. Gimli caught his friend before he could fall completely to the ground and neither noticed the battle coming to a stand still as the eye of Sauroman started to crumble.

Quite the cliff hanger? I love threatening the life of that elf! I would also love to hear what you think so please review.

Thanks!

Alanic