The White Tree of Gondor adorned Aragorn's chest as the row of Riders of Rohan and Warriors of Gondor alike rode from the gates of Minas Tirith, spears and banners flying in the wind standing. I rode on Niethen again, as I had called him out in the head of the line as I had grown accustomed to doing... thinking.

What does this mean for me? I thought... How are we to defeat them? How will Sauron try to take me? I could remember Aragorn and I standing in Minas Tirith, I helping Aragorn strap on his armor, making all the others who had started doing so leave.

"Promise me something." I said quietly. He looked at me, raising his eyebrows.

"Alright."

"If I need you to... you will do as I tell you." I said. Aragorn looked down at my face, tears swimming in my eyes. He looked down.
"What is it you plan?" he asked. I shook my head.

"I plan nothing." I had replied and finished tying the back of his armor. "Only as a precaution." Aragorn turned to me.

"Please..." I begged, "I cannot ask Legolas to do this... he is too blinded by love to do what is best for Middle Earth by hurting me."

"Hurting you?" he had demanded and I sighed exasperatedly.

"I've said too much already." I said, running my hand down one side of my face... "Just... promise me alright?" I asked, my nostrils widening as I tried not to cry... I couldnt cry. Aragorn bowed his head.

"Alright Rhasslairiel." He said, putting his hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him. "I promise." I blinked back tears, wiping them off my cheeks.

"Alright then." I said and smiled, pulling on my helm, coming down on my brow like a headdress and my hair weaving in and out through it. The very top of my head was not covered, but only my brow and the back of my head. Indeed it did look like a headdress, just larger and thicker. The designs flowed through the helm like vines on a branch.

Now I rode beside my friend, one of the few that I had ever had, staring straight ahead.

"Rhasslairiel." Aragorn said, turning to me as we rode. I looked at him. "Do not fear. There will be no need to fulfill my promise." I shook my head.

Less than a day later we came to the Black Gate of Mordor, a tower on either side of the gate a tower. The gate itself wide and thick. My eyes widened at the eye, visible over the top of the gate. Aragorn looked at me and reached out to touch my arm reassuringly, only managing to reach my hand.

The armies stood in rows and lines, facing the gate, the King of Gondor and his companions, his friends, beside him.

"Where are they?" Merry asked quietly. Aragorn, the guard beside him, Legolas and Gimli, Gandalf and Pippin, Eomer and Merry, and I rode forward, approaching the gate. The men stood quiet behind us as we approached the gate.

"Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth!" Aragorn called out to the Gate. My eyes widened and I tightened my grip on my sword at my belt. "Let justice be done upon him!" I licked my lips... which had suddenly become dry... nothing was happening... until suddenly, the sides of the Black Gate parted. An army of tens of thousands was to be seen. But one orc left the shelter of Mordor to step out.

"Lord Sauron commands that the Elf Rhasslairiel Analas to come forth to him... and he will spare all that he will." The orc cried out. I breathed a choppy breath, and Aragorn looked at me.

"Speak!" Aragorn looked at me.

"Lau, Rhasslairiel" (No, Rhasslairiel) he said. I looked at him.

"But he said that"

"Do you really believe that if you give yourself to Sauron that he will grant us the right to go?" Gandalf asked. Legolas was still looking at me confusedly.

"He will kill us all." Aragorn said, "because we will never stop fighting to get you back." I gave him one last pleading look before realizing that he was right. I turned and could see the armies of Mordor serging forward in a march... the march of death.

"Fall back..." Aragorn whispered, "Fall back! Fall back!" The company rode back to the armies, the Eye shining behind us. I will fight for those I love. I thought.

"Hold your ground!" Aragorn commanded the army, nervously fidgeting, "Hold your ground." I looked at Aragorn, "Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers!" he cried, "I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship..." He was looking at us, "But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of Men comes crashing down. But it is not this day! THIS DAY WE FIGHT!" I raised my head up... the only woman in this entire army... and I was not afraid. "By all that you hold dear on this good earth I bid you stand, Men of the West!" There was a sound of swords being pulled from their sheaths and I pulled out my bow and arrows, readying them. Soon our little army was surrounded by a thick layer of orcs.

"Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an Elf." Gimli said, looking at Legolas. We were off our horses now, "Let alone two."

"What about standing side by side with a friend?" Legolas asked, looking down at him.

There was a pause, "Aye," Gimli said, "I could do that." Legolas looked at me and put his arm around my waist in the few moment we had left with each other and put his lips to mine.

"I love you Legolas." I said, putting my arms around his neck. "Meleth nin."

He smiled and pulled me close for one last instant before letting me go.

"We're going to get out of this alive." He said, "Do you understand me?" I nodded at the armies ahead of us.

"Yes, Legolas." I said, "I understand you."

There was a long moment of silence.

I looked into the Eye unwillingly, the light reflecting in it. "Rhasslairiel... Analas..." It seemed to whisper. Aragorn turned to us, tears seeming to be in his eyes.

"For Frodo." He said and turned, his sword held with both hands, running toward the army.

"Yes..." I whispered, "For Frodo" and ran after him, the rest of our company right behind us, yelling.

It was I that struck the first orc, pulling the string of my bow and hitting it in the head.

On and on the battle went, all the while more and more orcs came. Would they never stop coming from the Black Land? I struck all around me, my sword black with the blood of orc... but my mind was somewhere else.

"Fifty seven..." I counted even though we werent playing. It was habit now.

A blow to my back made me curl my spine backwards. Screaming in rage I turned around and ran the orc through with my sword.

Blood covered my face from a blow to my cheek, having been slit down to my teeth as I stumbled as best I could, killing every orc that came near me the best way I could think of, depending on the position I was in.

Suddenly, above us I could see the Nazgul... their eyes on me...

One was flying right for me and I could see Gandalf look over and his eyes widen. I held my sword aloft, waiting for the blow from the creature that may take my life.

"The Eagles are coming!" Pippin's voice rang out. My eyes widened in surprise as an Eagle attacked the Nazgul that came for me. I turned from my trance and killed another orc... my arms sore but care not in my heart.

"Legolas!" I cried through the chaos around me, "Gimli! Aragorn!" I could not see any of them. "Please, Valar, dont let them be dead." I whispered, "LEGOLAS! GIMLI! ARAGORN!" I screamed again and turned around, killing another orc, stabbing its heart with my knife. I turned at the sound of Aragorn's "Ah!" through clenched teeth, thanking whatever force there was beyond this world that he wasnt dead... but my thanks were not long answered as a small cave troll, though twice our size, came for him.

"Aragorn!" I cried and ran forward, killing every orc in my way and pulling out my sword, fighting side by side with my friend. My eyes widened and I screamed "NO!" as Aragorn was thrown to the side, flying a few feet, landing on the ground. Its hand collided with my face and I flew, landing on my back beside him. The troll came for him, and I could year Legolas yelling.

"No! Aragorn! Rhasslairiel! No!" he shouted. Aragorn's face was kicked and he fell on his back the troll's foot on him. Aragorn pulled out his hunting knife and dug it into the trolls foot just as I shot an arrow at the troll's head. The troll looked down at Aragorn for a moment... but something drew its gaze. The creature turned to face Mordor suddenly and it's small eyes widened before turning and running from the Gate! I turned to where he had and looked upon the Black Land... I could see the fires of Mount Doom exploding and with a smile I knew what had happened.

"Frodo!" I exclaimed and pulled Aragorn up... the Ring was destroyed... but, as I looked up, why was the Eye not falling?

In a split second I knew... I turned to Aragorn sadly.

"I hold you to your promise Aragorn." I said, tears in my eyes. My cloak blew around me in the wind that suddenly came from Mordor. Aragorn shook his head.

"No." he whispered.

"The tower will not fall unless I am seen dead." I said. Aragorn continued to shake his head.

"No!"

"I hold you to your promise!" I shouted. "Do it now or all die!" Aragorn pulled out his hunting knife off of the ground, shaking his head. He held it above his head.

"No! Aragorn what are you doing?" I could hear Legolas scream. I looked directly into Legolas's eyes and in that instant I knew that he knew...

I reached up... and grabbed Aragorn's hand with both of mine and thrusted it down, the knife digging into my chest. I screamed loudest I ever had and fell to the ground, leaving Aragorn to fall back and drop the knife in his hand. I screamed again and Gandalf turned, his face disbelieving and sad. His mouth formed an "o" as no doubt he was yelling "No!" but I couldnt hear... the sounds all around me were nothing but people moving their mouths and Aragorn fell to his knees beside me. I smiled up at him as the Eye of Sauron crashed down behind him... and the enemies of Mordor ran from the Black Land all around us as the ground caved in and the Gate fell. For the first time in a long time... I smiled a true smile... the smile of true peace and happiness.

Behind Aragorn as he fell beside me, my body sprawled out on the ground not ungracefully, blood spilling down my chest and onto the ground around me, staining it red. I could see Mount Doom behind him, exploding, lava running down the mountain... could Frodo be alive... I smiled again... yes.

"Hannon le." I whispered and smiled, a single tear running down my cheek as Legolas fell beside Aragorn... and my eyes closed. Three tears fell onto my face...

And all was over. . .