A/N: Hello! I know I left you with a cliffy last chapter, then you had to wait an entire day to see what happens...I think I've spoiled you with updating every day...but anyway, that doesn't matter because I'm back! So...let's see what happened...

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings.

Chapter 18

Anariel ducked as an orc tried to take her head off. Her sword lay a few meters away at her feet, but she could not get to it. She was weaponless. Then, to her relief she saw Legolas. She watched as he drew an arrow, and immediately pointed it towards one of the orcs that surrounded her. However, she saw him glance to his right and freeze.

Anariel quickly glanced in that direction and gasped. Aragorn was being choked by an orc, and was slowly losing fight. Anariel looked back at Legolas and saw how torn he was. Anariel didn't know what she wanted him to do. She wanted him to shoot one of the orcs that was attacking her, yet she couldn't bear to be the cause of Aragorn's death. Not to mention that Aragorn was far more important than she was. The was the future king! He had a prohecy about him! Unimportant people are not a part of prohecies!

This was just what Anariel had feared would happen. Anariel saw Legolas look at her once more, as Anariel ducked a mortal blow again. Then she saw him turn…and kill the orc that held Aragorn. Anariel gritted her teeth. She did not need Legolas to save her. She was Anariel of Rivendell, and she could take care of herself!

One of the orcs to her right charged at her just as another brought down his sword. Anariel grabbed the orc to her right, and pushed him in front of her. The sword stroke that was meant for her came right down over his head. Anariel jumped back as an orc swung its blade towards her stomach. However when she landed, she slipped on a pool of blood and fell back. As she fell back, the orc jumped towards her. In the split second she had before she landed on the ground, she reached into her belt and drew the small dagger that her grandmother had given her. How could she have forgotten? Right as she hit the ground, she raised the dagger in front of her just as the orc landed on top of her, impaling him.

Legolas released the arrow, and ran to Aragorn's side as the man dropped to the ground. Aragorn spluttered and coughed, but quickly stood as if nothing had happened. He picked up his sword and Legolas looked around to see that the Mumakil were fleeing in fear of the Army of the Dead, who descended upon them mercilessly. Thousands of orcs were fleeing in fright, and the sickly green ghosts entered the city of Minas Tirith, killing every orc they came across.

"Where is Anariel?" Aragorn asked curiously as his eyes scanned the battlefield.

Legolas tensed and his stomach dropped. Had he made the right decision? What if he'd been wrong…what if she was gone forever? Legolas quickly looked to where he had last seen her, and panicked when he didn't see her anywhere in sight.

Slowly, he began to walk to where he'd last seen her. He picked up her sword and saw one of her boots underneath an orc. He watched as the boot moved, and the carcass rolled to the left, revealing an annoyed Anariel beneath.

Anariel sat up and looked about her, but soon all she could see was blonde hair. Legolas picked her up off the ground and spun her in a circle before crushing his lips to hers. Surprised, it took Anariel a second before she kissed him back. Legolas clung to her like his life depended on it, and Anariel didn't have any notions of moving just yet.

"I made the right choice," Legolas whispered relieved.

"What?" Anariel asked confused as she pulled back a little to look at him.

"The Lady Galadriel foresaw that I would have to choose between you and another. I would have to choose which one of you to save," Legolas explained softly.

"So by saving Aragorn, you actually saved us both?" Anariel asked and Legolas nodded, relief plain on his face. Anariel smiled and kissed him softly, "Smart elf," she grinned as she pulled back.

Legolas smiled and looked past her seeing Aragorn and Gimli walking towards the King of the Dead. He quickly sat Anariel on her feet, and took her hand before coming to stand beside Aragorn.

"Release us," the King of the Dead hissed.

"Bad idea," Gimli said quietly. "Very handy in a tight spot, these lads—despite the fact they're dead!"

"You gave us your word!" the ghost exclaimed angrily.

"I hold your oath fulfilled. Go…be at peace," Aragorn answered quietly and the ghost almost seemed to smile before he turned to dust and floated away on the wind.

"Where's Merry?" Pippin asked Anariel.

"I didn't know he came…," Anariel said confused before it all clicked. "Eowyn…Merry must have come with her to battle." Seeing Pippin's anxious face, Anariel smiled reassuringly, "Come, we will find him."

They began to walk amongst the bodies that were strewn about everywhere along the fields. With every step, Anariel's stomach began to clinch into tighter knots. She should have known that Eowyn would have gone to battle. She'd seen the sword under her blanket. Anariel had just hoped that the young maiden would have seen the subtle wisdom in her words. And Eowyn had dragged Merry into all of this…though Anariel doubted the hobbit had needed encouraging.

Suddenly, Pippin saw something and took off across the fields. Anariel was quick to follow him, and stopped as she knelt beside the hobbit.

"Merry?" Pippin whispered quietly as he looked at the horror struck hobbit. Pippin began to cry as Merry looked at him in shock, "Merry it's me…it's Pippin…"

"It's going to be alright Pippin," Anariel soothed. She looked Merry over and the hobbit didn't seem to have any major injuries. "He's just in shock," she said comfortingly.

"I knew you'd find me," Merry said groggily. "Are you going to leave me?"

Pippin shook his head, "No, I'm going to look after you," the hobbit promised as he covered his friend with a blanket.

Anariel put a comforting hand on Pippin's shoulders, "Let's take him to the healers," Anariel suggested softly as she picked Merry up off the ground and began to carry the hobbit.

Legolas approached them and looked at Merry worriedly, "How is he?"

Anariel smiled, "He'll be fine. I think he's just in shock mainly."

Suddenly, an anguished cry rang in the air, and Anariel spun to see Eomer clutching a seemingly lifeless Eowyn to his chest. Anariel looked to Legolas with a pleading look in her eye. "Give him to me," Legolas offered. "I shall take him to the Healers," Legolas said and Anariel gave him a grateful look before gently handing over the hobbit.

"I will see you soon," Anariel promised before she hurried over to where Eomer knelt on the ground. Aragorn was already there, and Anariel dropped to her knees beside him.

"She is still alive," Aragorn said quietly. "Her arm is broken."

"You can heal her?" Eomer asked, though it sounded like desperate plea.

"He will," Anariel reassured. "I've seen him heal far worse."

Anariel followed Eowyn to the healers and made sure she was well taken care of. To her annoyance, Legolas had made sure she'd gotten the cut on her arm treated. After some coaxing, she'd given in, however, she still thought that there were more important things to be done, than bandage a cut. Eventually she went to the throne room. Aragorn and Eomer followed her and when they went through the doors, they saw that Gandalf and Gimli stood waiting for them.

Anariel followed Legolas and he put an arm around her waist and pulled her close. They both watched as Gandalf paced thoughtfully, yet Anariel could see the worry in the wizard's eyes. Finally, he spoke.

"Frodo has passed beyond my sight," Gandalf announced quietly. "The darkness is deepening."

"If Sauron had the ring, we would know it," Aragorn assured, however Gandalf still retained the worried expression he wore.

"It's only a matter of time," Gandalf began. "He's suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping."

Gimli huffed from his seat in the Steward's chair, "Let him stay there. Let him rot. Why should we care?"

Gandalf looked at the dwarf, his face ashen, "Because ten thousand orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom…I've sent him to his death…"

"No," Anariel said firmly and Gandalf looked sharply at her. "I'm not giving up on Frodo."

"There is still hope for Frodo," Aragorn argued. "He needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."

"How?" Gandalf asked curiously.

"Draw out Sauron's armies—empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate," Aragorn answered firmly.

Anariel's eyes widened at this statement, and Gimli choked on his pipe. Eomer stepped forward, "We cannot achieve victory from strength of arms."

"Not for ourselves…but we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's eyes fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves," Aragorn explained.

"A diversion," Legolas murmured.

Gandalf looked at Aragorn doubtfully, "Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait!"

"Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?" Gimli asked beginning to grin.

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