"Theirsss they aresss massster."

Gollum crouched, his yellow lamp-like eyes flickering onto Frodo. The Dead Marshes stretched before the four, small lights flickering in the water.

Frodo leaned on Sam, tired and pale. His right hand clutched at the chain holding the ring.

Sam flashed a concerned look at Frodo, followed by a look of suspiciousness onto Gollum.

Siendar stood quietly in the back of the three small hobbits, his gaze fixed on Gollum. It was obvious he didn't trust the creature more than Sam did.

"This place reeks of darkness," Siendar snorted in disgust, "But if we must cross it, then that is what fate permits."

Gollum looked blankly at Siendar, before leading the three into the marshes, "Do not looksss into the lightsss."

The marshes were wet and muddy, the slime seeming to climb up the hobbits. Siendar carried Frodo, who was too tired to walk. Even the gracefully walk of the elf faltered in the marshes.

Sam looked down to see many ghostly white faces staring up at him, each face glowing like a lantern. His gaze became transfixed, and if it weren't for Gollum, he would have been lost.

"Do not looksss into the lightsss. They only seeksss to makesss yousss sink."

Gollum's warning was followed through, and Sam did not look down again. To the company of four, the night was very long and seemed that it would never end.

                                    * * * * *

On the plains of Rohan, Legolas and Jairah rode on Arod. Gandalf led the way on Shadowfax with Gimli and Boromir and Aragorn on his left side.

King Theodain and his army ran in back of Gandalf, the King of course riding by Gandalf's right side.

"I didn't think you would make it," Legolas admitted to Jairah as the company rode on.

"Never give up hope my love," Jairah whispered back in with a smile, "Let us enjoy the time we have here, in each other's company."

Legolas smiled, maybe the ride to Isengard wouldn't be so bad,

                                    * * * * *

Water lapped at Leila and Gwen's feet as the last of the flood subsided. Treebeard was directing Quickbeam and his army of three to guard the northern part of the tower.

Leila's brow furrowed as she examined the damage. Water filled the deep mines where orcs had once worked. Nothing was alive as far as she could see, except for Saruman and Wormtongue, high in the tower of Orthanac.

"Pretty amazing, eh?" Merry's voice drifted from in back of Gwen and Leila.

The two girls turned to smile at the two hobbits.

"Serves them right,' Gwen said almost inaudibly.

Leila registered that she meant the orcs, and she nodded in agreement, "Yeah."

"Treebeard says he is expecting someone, a kin, and wants us to watch the gate," Pippin reported, "Said we could take turns if we wanted to."

The four unanimously decided to stick together, and kept watch at the gate. Leila leaned against an overturned pillar, watching the stars with little interest.

Where was Boromir? She missed the sound of his voice, the feel of his hands, the warmth of his body when he hugged her. He was the only thing she could think of now.

Every since her arrival, she had felt that she was only a burden to the fellowship. Nothing she had done seemed to go right. Looking down at her belt and tattered cloak, Hope catching her eye.

Unsheathing the blade, the moon came out from behind the clouds. Moon runes appeared on the blade, spelling out a message in elvish. Leila gazed fondly at the blade.

Colors of the morning sunrise appeared over the horizon, the moon runes fading. Pippin and Merry came back with four bowls of entwash, which they handed out. Gwen was asleep, and Leila did not take the bowl. She wasn't hungry.

Sighing, Leila looked over the plains, her sword falling to her side. Where ws Bormir? Was Frodo and Sam and Siendar all right? How about Jairah? Would she ever see them again?

A sudden speck on the horizon alerted Leila to that spot. The speck moved closer, and soon revealed to be horses.

"Horses!" Leila shouted, jumping up.

Pippin and Merry looked up, Gwen muttering something and rolling over, still asleep. As the horses came closer, Leila rubbed her eyes.

Gandalf was leading. With…

Leila threw down her sword, running up to the man from Gondor. He saw her, stopped, and almost fell of his horse.

"Boromir!"

(author : jennzah)

       Jairah's keen eyes were surveying the gate to Isengard, and the lands beyond it. She had
       broken away from the group, away from the happy tidings. She had stayed only long enough
       to let Leila know she was alright, that she had not died. She hoped that Legolas would
       recount the tale of her healing. Her heart felt uneasy, and as she looked upon the land of
       Isengard, she knew why it felt that way.

       High up in a stray tree, she stood. Her eyes did not believe what she saw. From what she
       had heard, Isengard was a land rich with trees and life. But that wasn't what she saw.
       Instead, she saw that the land had been torn apart, great roots of great trees unearthed and
       ruined, and this made her heart sad. Isengard truly was an evil place now. Even the land was
       evil, barren, black.

       The rest of the group was aflutter with chatter, as they recounted their stories and talked of
       the next day, and spoke of Frodo, and Sam, and how they might be faring. Her ears pricked
       up as she heard voices beneath her, the voices of Leila and the small girl hobbit. She looked
       down and saw Gandalf, Leila, and Gwen standing below the tree.

       "Tell Legolas i am sorry," Gwen said, as she got on a horse and set off towards the east, at
       a fast pace. Jairah knew she was leaving, bound for Mordor, and closed her eyes and
       whispered a small prayer for the small hobbit.

       Jairah leapt from the tree, landing neatly next to Gandalf. "So she has decided to pursue
       Frodo?" Jairah asked, looking at Leila.

       Gandalf nodded. "She has the heart of a man, i tell you." he said. "Let us hope that her blind
       bravery will not see her to her end."

       Jairah at him and smiled. "Love makes people strong, Gandalf. I predict that it will be alright."
       She looked towards the Gate of Isengard again and her face lost the smile. "The land beyond
       those gates is dead. I have seen it."

       Gandalf nodded. "It belongs to the Dark Lord now, of course it is dead."

       "The Ent says that the Orcs that were working in the mines, were all drowned when a flood
       went through here," came the voice of Legolas, as he walked up next to where Jairah stood.
       "Where have you been, my love? I could feel your uneasiness, but i could not see you."

       Jairah pointed to the one scraggly tree, then turned to Gandalf again. "We still must be
       careful," she said. "When the sun goes down, there could be scores of Orcs beyond that
       gate yet. We cannot expect to just walk into Isengard without a battle ensuing."

       "I have not seen any living thing come out of the Gate, nor inside the gate." Leila said. "But
       you may be right."

       "Then we will proceed with caution," Gandalf said. "We will be prepared."

       Leila went back over to Boromir, and settled herself in his arms again. Jairah smiled again,
       despite her dark thoughts. It was good to see the girl back in the arms of her lover, and
       Jairah again felt some sort of pride for Leila. She had proven herself in battle, proven herself
       to everyone. Gone were the doubts that Jairah had had about the girl. Watching the two of
       them together, she felt it had been worth it, to have her own life nearly taken from her.

       Gandalf turned and walked back over to the fire, where they were still talking. Jairah was lost
       in her thoughts, as Legolas took her arm and led her back, as well. Jairah shook herself as
       she reached the fire, feeling its warmth, feeling Legolas' arm on her back. He gently pulled
       her down to sit next to him, and she suddenly found herself quite tired. She leaned into her
       lover and rested against his shoulder, and he put one arm around her and stroked her long
       hair, after depositing a kiss on the top of her head.

       Aragorn and Boromir were talking over on the other side of the fire, and Leila looked over at
       the girl-elf again, who sat nuzzled next to Legolas, her eyes hazy and dreamy. She realized
       that she had not heard the story of how Jairah had come to be well again. She still felt guilt,
       looking at her.

        "Aragorn," she said, interrupting the conversation between the two men. "How did Jairah
       come to be well again?"

       Aragorn looked at Leila, and shook his head slightly. "None of us is quite sure, not even
       Jairah herself, it seems. We know that Gandalf did it, and at the very final moments. She
       was going to die, she chose not to go back to Lothlorien, no matter how Legolas pleaded
       with her. At night she was half dead, her mind taken. The next morning, we woke to find her
       gone, we thought she'd died, passed over to the shadow realm. But then she came riding up,
       on Shadowfax, and she was perfectly cured. She was the first to see Gandalf. He knew that
       she was not supposed to die, apparently, that she has some part to play in all of this. what it
       is, i do not know. And that is how we came to be here."

       Leila looked over at Gandalf, who was sitting with the hobbits, a smile on his face. She was
       indeed glad to see him again, and she felt a sort of peace inside now, for the fact that she
       was sitting here with her beloved, because Gandalf, the one who was their leader, had
       returned, and because Jairah was well. Optimisim ran through her.

       She moved her hand to her side, and felt the sword that Jairah had given her. Now that she
       had the blade that Siendar had given her, she felt that she should return the heirloom to the
       elf. She broke away from Boromir again, and went over quietly to where the elves sat.

       Jairah's eyes looked glassy, and she was staring off into space, her eyes fixed on nothing in
       particular. "Jairah?" Leila said timidly, for the way the elf looked scared her. She knelt down
       on the other side of Jairah.

       Legolas turned his head to look at Leila, and smiled. "She is asleep," he said, looking down
       at Jairah. "She may not be able to hear you."

       Leila's eyes were wide. "So elves really do sleep with their eyes open," she whispered to
       herself, mostly. Legolas heard her though, and nodded slightly.

       Leila looked at him, and then drew the sword from her side. "I wanted to give this back to
       her," she said, handing the shining silver blade to Legolas, who took it in his free arm. "I was
       given another blade, by the elf Siendar, and i thought Jairah might want this back,
       considering it belonged to her father. I could not keep it."

       Legolas stared at the blade for a moment before putting it down. "She will be glad to have it
       back, though she gave it to you of her own free will. Thank you." he said.

       Leila nodded, and rose to her feet again, and turned to go back to Boromir, when she heard
       Legolas speak again.

       "Lady Leila?" he said. Leila turned around to look at him. He was smiling at her.

       "Yes?" she asked.

       "I wanted to apologise, for any guilt i might have placed on you, when Jairah got hurt. I know
       it wasn't your intention for any of what happen to happen, and i judged you far too harshly. So
       i apologise. My love for her is so strong that sometimes it takes over my reason. But you
       know something of that, dont you?" he motioned towards Boromir, who was still talking to
       Aragorn.

       Leila smiled and nodded. "Of course i do. I do not blame you for your actions. I would have
       done the same." she turned again and went back to Boromir.

       The conversation with the group seemed to turn back to Frodo and Sam, and how they were
       faring. "Yes, " thought Leila. "I wonder how the hobbits are doing out there in Mordor..."

(author krissy)

Frodo sat, filthy and dirty. He was covered in mud, and dirt, and his heartached, like it had never ached before. "I can not remeber it anymore."

Sam looked up," YOu can not remeber what?"

"Bagend, I can not remeber. I can not remeber anything." Frodo closed his eyes, his fingers feeling inside his pockets," I can only remeber her eyes. If I am ever to see them again is what grieves me. Remebering them is both heaven and hell."

Boromir jumped from his horse, not caring if it ran away and never returned. He ran to Leila and took her into his arms, holding her tight to him. Tears feel from Leila's eyes as well as Boromir's.

"Leila do not ever do that again. I do not  know what to do without you," he kissed the top of her head.

She burried her face into his chest," I will never do it again I promise."

Soon the other arrived and they built a fire sitting around talking. Gwen sat off to the side, staring at the fire, her heart to heavy to speak.

"Gwen," Legolas said, looking at his friend. "What happened to you? We have all recounted our stories, yet you remain silent. Why is this? And why did you not go after Frodo? He needs you."

Gwen looked at Legolas, her voice was low,"Everyone else has left me alone why have you decided to greive my soul again?"

"Because you have always had reasons for doing things, good or bad reasons, we have yet to decide," Legolas, met her gaze evenly.

She stood up her eyes glowing brighter then the flames of the fire," I love him, despite what you think. I will give my life for him if I must. I will do anything to save him and that requires me not being with him, for the moment. I do not care what you say, Legolas, I know my heart and I will not hurt Frodo, I can not hurt him." She turned away, tears streaming from her face," I cannot hurt him." Gwen picked up her things and moved away from the fire sitting by herself in the dirt.

Gandalf got up and walked to her, the others watched as they spoke for a few minutes. Gwen got up gathering her things. Leila got up from Boromir's arms and walked to her," Where are you going?"

"To find my love. Frodo and I have been apart too long," Gwen said, looking at Leila. She hugged her,"Thank you for what you have done. Tell the other goodbye for me, and tell Legolas that I am sorry."

Leila smiled,"Of course. I hope you find him, quickly."

"Thank you," Gwen lepted onto a horse. "Farewell Leila, I ask the earth that she may bless and protect you." She road away off into the dark night, toward Morodor and her love.

(author krissy)

Gwen pulled her horse along behind her. It could bearly hold her pack. She had been chasing Frodo for a week, she had to be close, she could feel it in her heart. She was doing fairly well, but the horse was a different matter. It was dark, but she could still travel by night. She was too close to give up now, too close. In the dark she could just make out a fire. Gwen hurried her pace getting closer and closer. Her heart beat into her chest, as she pulled the horse behind her.

Frodo looked at the fire, his heartaching. He wished he could just hold Gwen, just one more time. He ached to see her, to kiss her lips, to touch her hair. He missed her laugh, her smile, that stories she told him. He looked up off into the distance, hoping to see her, to see her face, her body, coming toward him in the distance. He started to look down, but something caught his eye. He looked up, and there was a girl, pulling a horse behind her. Frodo stood up, his heart beating faster then he ever thought possible, he could bearly breathe, this was the moment he had waited for, this moment had cost him much pain and tears.
"Gwen," he wishpered, bearly able to talk.
Sam looked up at Frodo," Master, please, she is.."
"Gwen," Frodo shouted starting to run toward the figure in the distance.
 Siendar got up from the ground catching Frodo before he could leave the light of the fire.
"Let me go. Its Gwen please do not keep me from her," Frodo struggled agnest the elf's grip.
Sam came up and took Frodo holding him back, keeping him from his love.
"You do not know if she is good, how she was captured or what they have done to her, we can not allow her to be here," Siendar said, watching the figure in the distance. The elf pulled out a bow and fitted it with and arrow and pointed at the direction of the girl.
Gwen saw him, Frodo. Her heart lept, she began to run faster, dropping the reigns of the horse. "Frodo," she cried, as she heard his voice scream her name.
"NO! You can not. Please, I love her," tears streamed from Frodo's eyes as he despratly tried to get out of Sam's grip.
Sam could not look at his master, but he knew that this was right, he did not know what they had done to Gwen. He loved Gwen s dearly as Frodo, but he could not run any risks.
Gwen came into the outskirts of the fire light and stopped. An elf held and arrow pointed in her direction, anbd Sam held Frodo from comign to her. "Frodo?" said asked, looking into his eyes, pained because of the tears she found.
"Gwen," he started, but was interupted by Siendar.
"You can not come any closer. You are not welcome here."
Gwen looked at Frodo, scared and unsure," Why, what have I done? Sam? Sam, what's going on?"
Sam turned away, not able to look her in the eyes.
"You can not be trusted now leave! If you do not, I will force you too," Siendar pulled the string back farther, making his point.
"Frodo, please, I... He is my love, I would never hurt him..I can not hurt him please. I have traveled far, faced much too see him please," she pleaded crying, sobbing.
Frodo struggled angest Sam," Gwen! I love you. Please let me go." He did not understand, his heart longed to be with Gwen, nothing could stop him.
Gwen took a step foreward, it seemed like time stopped to Frodo and froze in an instant, then moved faster then he could ever have believed possible. Siendar fired, the arrow hit Gwen right above her heart. she crumpled to the ground like a doll.
"No!! Gwen!!" Frodo could bearly breathe, numb, crying and struggling. Sam looked in shock.
Gwen did not move, shocked, hurt and pained, she could not move, all she could do was cry.
Siendar picked up their things and put out the fire. Sam struggled with Frodo, who was too weak to resist any more. They left. Gwen lay on the ground, bleeding and crying.
A few hours later, Siendar and Sam set up camp. Frodo was lieing in a ball, crying, his thoughts on Gwen. He was so close, it was not right it was not fair. The other two sat by the new fire talking quietly. Frodo looked at the ring about his neck. "Just the once, just for her." He slipped on the ring, and quietly got up, running blindly in the direction of his love.
The horse was licking Gwen's face. She had long since passed out, finding solace in a dark dreamless sleep. Frodo stummbled, finally he saw the coals of what was once thier fire. He moved faster, taking the ring of his finger. He looked for her, praying she was not dead. Finally he found her. Gwen had somehow managed the strenght to pull the arrow out. She always had strength. Frodo ripped his shirt and wrapped her wound. He could feel her breath on his cheek. He held her in his lap, savoring the feel of her body again. "I love you," he wishpered. "I love you." He wiped her forehead and kissed it.
Frodo layed her down, pulled her blanket off the horse. He layed next to her wrapping his arms around her and pulled her close, hoping to keep her warm. He interlaced his fingers with hers, feeling a worn ring on her ring finger. He smiled, she had not given up or lost it, she was still his she was still his wife. He kissed her forehead again. "I love you." He pulled the blanket over them, hoping to be hidden and fell asleep, happy to be with his love.

(Author: Rhiana)

Gwen walked in darkness, pain dogging her steps. So many questions raced through her mind…Why would Sam not help her or allow Frodo to come near? And who was that horrible Elf that had shot her?

            The memory brought renewed pain throughout her body, and she shivered. Why was this happening? All she wished to do was to find Frodo, to see her true love once again…

            And then, she realized with a start, that she already had. She felt his strong arms wrapped around her form, shielding her from the cold and the pain. His soft breath against her skin set her heart to pounding, and she forced herself up out of the darkness and into reality.

            With her consciousness came searing pain, and she gasped aloud, fighting back tears. Though she had managed to pull out the arrow herself, which had not been an easy task, blood flowed from the wound, albeit not so quickly as before. Frodo had ripped his shirt and wrapped her wound, which was likely the only reason she had not bled to death.

            Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her love, and she sobbed, sobbed for what she thought she had lost, sobbed for him. She hoped she would live long enough to tell him she loved him, that the wound would not become infected.

            She had done nothing to deserve such a grave injury. She knew not who the strange Elf was with the angry, suspicious eyes, but she knew that he had no reason not to trust her.

            “Frodo, my love,” she whispered softly, her throat rusty from the shock and trauma to her body. He jumped and came instantly awake. “Gwen! Oh, Gwen…Gwen, Gwen, Gwen…” He kissed her lips, claiming them over and over, afraid to believe that she was real, yet not wanting to let her go.

            “I thought you were dead for sure,” he exclaimed, pulling her close. Remembering the ring, he quickly slipped it off his finger, and looked about anxiously. “Come, we must hide.” As gently as he could, he lifted her, grimacing as she winced and bit her lip at the small jolt to her wound. Moving silently as he could he settled her down far enough away that even Siendar would have a hard time hearing. Likely, they would come searching for him soon, but he could just…No. He must not put the Ring on again.

            Brushing back a lock of hair from her face Frodo smiled at her, his large eyes brimming with tears. Gwen smiled back, and wrapped her arms about his neck, pulling him down to her. “Oh, Frodo, I love you so much…please don’t let me go…”

            “But your wound,” he cautioned, drawing back to look into her beautiful eyes.

            “Will be fine. I need to feel your arms around me. I’ve missed you!” she cried, pressing her face to the warm hollow of his neck.

            “And I you, angel,” Frodo whispered back, kissing the top of her head, her temple. “And I you…”

(author : jennzah)

Sunset loomed on the horizon, its last warm rays spraying Jairah's face, rousing her out of her deep
slumber. She'd dreamt of the hobbits, and the strange Elf Siendar. She was troubled by the thought of him,
there was something suspicious about him. something she did not trust.

She shook herself internally, allowing herself time to wake up fully. Legolas had allowed her to sleep for
many hours, and she cursed herself secretly for it. She had not intended to fall asleep at all, but she had
become so very tired. She pushed the thoughts of the hobbits and the strange elf out of her mind, she could
do nothing for them, but hope. Mordor was leagues away, and she had to focus her thoughts here, on
Isengard.

She sat up straight, pulling away from Legolas as she did. He felt her move and looked over at her, and
smiled. "maer aduial, melethril.." he whispered. She smiled back at him as he leaned down to kiss her, just
a little small kiss. Then she stood up, pulling him up with her by his hands, and brushed herself off.

She looked disgustedly at her dress, her hands. They were all dirty. The dress in fact was torn in spots,
though she'd been able to makeshiftly fix the tear that had been put in the dress when she'd been slashed by
the Orc blade. But even that had gaps in it, and her white Elf skin was showing through.She reached up to
touch her hair, it was tangled and dirty. She sighed, and for a moment let herself think of times before all this
mayhem. Her home in Mirkwood, their home. She missed it there, missed the green woods and the peace.
She missed King Thranduil, who had become very much like her father. She missed clean clothes, and
sleeping in her own bed with Legolas by her side. She missed whiling away the days just walking in the
woods,  or long hours encased, alone, in the arms of her lover. it had been ever so long since they'd been
alone together, and....

She stopped thinking. She shook herself again. She had to keep focused, she had to. If she didnt keep
focused on the matter at hand, she might never be alone with Legolas again. Isengard could win, Mordor
could win. And she couldn't let that happen.

She released Legolas' hand and walked over to Gandalf, who was talking with Aragorn. Legolas remained
behind, talking to Gimli.

"Gandalf," she said, as she walked up to him. "It is nearly sundown. What is our plan?"

"We will go through the gates," he said. "Whatever comes out at us, we fight. We will seek out Saruman,
destroy him if need be."

Jairah looked past him where the tall Orthanc was looming over the Gates. She shuddered at the sight of it,
and looked at Gandalf and Aragorn.

"Right then," she said. "I will be ready at sundown." She turned away from them, and they continued talking.
She headed off away from the Gate, running quickly towards the west. Leila was the only one who saw her
as she ran.

"Where is she going?" she wondered aloud, but nobody heard her.

Jairah knew where she was going, and she quickened her pace as she ran. She had seen a small river
running through here, on their way from Rohan, and she was bound for it.

She reached the banks and stopped. The water ran clear, untouched by Orcs. She bent down and rested on
her knees before the slowly running water, and leaned over it. Her reflection caught in the water, and she
closed her eyes, saddened by what she saw.

Her face was dirty, and despite her Elven nature, she looked tired. Her hair was in disarray, and for the first
time, since she'd started out on this journey, her heart felt heavy and weary, and she wanted to quit. She
hated the way she looked. But it was the price of being a warrior, she reminded herself, even as she sighed.
It was the price she was willing to pay for her love.

She dipped her hands into the cool water, and washed them off, untill her skin was clean, then splashed the
water on her face, again and again, untill she was certain her face was clean. She knew that if battle was
coming, she would not stay clean for long, but she was still a girl, she wasn't all warrior. She wanted to be
clean, in some sort of order. She stood up from the bank and reached back, and released her hair from the
restraints it was in, and shook it out, furiously, untill the dirt and had been shaken out, and she combed her
fingers through it till there were no tangles, and it fell down her shoulders, and past the middle of her back.

She looked down into the water again, and was happier with what she saw this time. The shadows of who
she was before this all started stared back at her, and she smiled, in a bit of relief. Then she heard footsteps
behind her, and her hand went immedately went to the dagger she carried, hidden on her side.

As the footsteps made their way closer to her, she turned in a flash of long blonde hair and had the dagger at
the throat of the assailant behind her in a instant. But the eyes that met hers were familiar, those crystal
blue orbs that she knew so well. The one she held captive was her very own Legolas.

His eyes twinkled at her. "Quick, you are, with that dagger my father gave you," he chuckled softly. He
moved his hand up and placed it over the hand that held the dagger fast to his throat, and he closed his hand
over hers. "But you dont want to kill me..." he said softly.

Tears sprang into her eyes as he looked at her, and again she felt the toil pull on her heart. She pulled her
hand away, and placed the dagger back at her side, and stood looking at him. Neither moved for a moment,
and then he stepped up to her, and brushed a stray lock of her hair away from her face. She cast her eyes
down, away from his piercing gaze, and felt ashamed once again for the toil in her heart. She was here for
him, for the most part, and she had let herself be drawn away from it. Tears slipped down her nose and onto
her love's hand as he stroked her cheek gently.

"Why do you cry, Jairah?" he asked, though he knew the pain inside of her. She looked up at him, and she
smiled through the tears, but did not speak, just closed her eyes, and tried to collect herself. She had to be
strong, she told herself.

no. his voice came into her head, winding its way between her ears. you dont have to be strong. and you
dont have to hide from me, my love. i know the pain inside of you. it is inside of me as well. She looked up
at him again, and he was peering at her, his eyes kind, and full of love.

It was enough to make her burst into tears. He pulled her into his arms, and they embraced fiercely. "I
know..." he whispered into her ear, as she cried. "I know you are tired. I know. It is alright.." he kissed the
top of her head as she cowered in his arms, her body wracked with sobs.

She pulled a little aways from him, his arms moving down to hold her around the small of her back. "No,
Legolas," she hiccuped. "It is not alright. My heart... it wants to give up." Her pretty eyes were clouded with
tears as she looked at him.

He smiled a little and bent his forehead to hers. of course it does. he said to her in her head again. it has
been a long, and perilous journey, and hard on the hearts of all who took it. every one of the Company has
thought, at one time or another, of giving up.

Jairah shook her head, though her forehead was still pressed to Legolas'. "Mine has not. Not untill this very
day has it wanted to. Not untill today have i felt the full strain of this whole ordeal on my heart. Now, when
the battle looms so close, does my heart want to give in to its selfish desire to give up." She closed her
eyes, in shame.

you do not have to be strong, Jairah. his voice repeated. you have been strong enough for so long. right now
you do not have to be strong. tell me what is troubling you. his hands were on her ears as he spoke to her,
softly touching her hair. her arms were on his shoulders, and words failed her as she fought to keep from
crying again.

i miss our home, she said to him, using her mind for the first time. i thought of it, the peace we had before
all of this. i miss the time we used to spend together, alone, whether it be walking, in the wood, or it be in
our room. i miss it, all of it. i am tired of fighting, tired of running. i saw my reflection in the water, and i hated
it. i saw the warrior that i have become, and i hated what i saw. i am afraid that i am no longer the elf i used
to be. No longer Jairah, the one you fell in love with, long ago, but Jairah, the fighter, the one who kills. Not
the lover, just the fighter. i feel hard on the inside, Legolas, and i do not like it. I am afraid i will never be the
same.

she surprised even herself as the words were spoken in their minds. she was unaware of these fears she had
inside. she shuddered again, and he rubbed her arms.

"thats where you are wrong, my love," he whispered into her ear, as he kissed her cheek again. "That Jairah
you will always be, the lover. Always." She looked up at him, her eyes wide, wet with tears. he smiled at
her. "Yes," he said, as if she didnt believe him. "Because thats the part of you that belongs to me, and that
part of you that i refuse to let go. so you see, you will always be that Jairah, no matter how long you fight.
The warrior you are now, but the lover you always have been, and will be forever."

Jairah didn't believe her ears. She had not heard him speak this way to her in a long time, not since before
they'd come on this journey. There had been no time, so few moments. Her eyes teared up again, and she
pressed herself to him once again, and he hugged her tightly.

do you remember, Jairah, what we promised to eachother, so long ago? his voice rang through her brain. that
night, in midsummer, when i asked you to be mine? what we swore over our own blood?

her mind flashed back to that night, the woods, the stars. it had been over half a century ago, that night, she
supposed. she had worn white, she recalled, and he had worn blue. his hair shining in the moonlight as they
walked. she remembered feeling suspicious and excited, something had been looming in the air. and then
he'd asked her, and it felt as though several fireworks had gone off in her heart. but it had been her idea, the
blood, the promise. with her fathers silver dagger, she'd taken their hands and cut them open, and they'd
grasped their palms together, letting their blood mix, and sworn to bind themselves to the other, to make the
other happy, and to never let them lose heart. and above all, love eachother against all odds.

yes. he said again. and i will not let you lose heart, nor give up. because i love you, Jairah. the blood bound
us together, we have been wed since that night, many years ago.

Jairah nodded, she knew. Thats why there had been no talk of a ceremony for them, ever. They didnt need
one. And now with this recollection, and realization, she felt her heart grow light again. She drew away from
him, and put a hand on his face.

"Your love makes me strong," she said. " And my love for you fuels me. I would fight for that. It is what i have
been fighting for, through all of this. so that our love could go on." Her tears had stopped now, and she
leaned in and kissed him, on the lips, gently, and for a long moment.

Then she broke away, and went to pick up her quiver from the side of the river. "We have faced nearly
everything on this trip, even the possiblity of my death, and being seperated. We can endure this, I can
endure it. And we will come out victorious," she said, as she slung the quiver onto her back. She looked up
at the sky, and the sun was close to being all the way down, the night starting to prick through.

Quickly she started to pull her hair up and out of her face, securing the front of it behind her head, twisting it
every which way, untill she had it back. Legolas watched her admiringly. When she was finished, she picked
up her bow from the ground next to her and took his hand. "The sun has nearly set. We will be crossing the
gates very soon. Come!"

She grasped his hand and they took off running back towards the gates of Isengard. Fast they ran, for the
sun was trying to beat them, her dying embers fading as they ran. Before they reached the Company,
however, Legolas stopped her, and took both her hands in his, a serious look on his face.

"What is it?" Jairah asked, looking to the gates, seeing their friends readying themselves for the possiblity of
battle.

"I want you to be careful, Jairah." Legolas said, looking at her with his words. "I do not think i could bear it if
something happened to you, in fact i know i could not. The last time, when i thought i lost you for those few
moments, i thought i would go mad. Please, use caution. Do not get hurt. I know you are capable, but
please. Just be careful." He looked at her pleadingly.

She smiled, and leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Of course." she said. "But the same to you.
Now, lets go!" They ran again untill they were next to Gandalf and Aragorn, who were staring grimly at the
gate. They did not seem surprised to see the elves just appear at their sides.

"It is time," Gandalf announced, and all gathered around the gates door. Boromir and Leila stood next to
eachother, with Pippin, Merry, and Gimli lined up next to them.

"We will go through the gates," Gandalf said. "Do not rule out the possiblity of Orcs beyond the wall, hold
fast to your weapons. Saruman could very well send something we are not expecting. I will make my way to
the Orthanc. If battle ensues, do not worry about me. My only target is Saruman, and the Orthanc. Fight as
many as you can. If i do not return after the battle is over, return to Fangorn, to Treebeard. I will meet you
there!"

Leila exchanged a scared look with the hobbits, then looked at Boromir, who gave her an encouraging look
and kissed the top of her head. She fingered the blade at her side, and felt a bit comforted by it. Then she
watched as Gandalf started towards the door of the Gate, and pushed at it with his staff. "By the Order of
Gandalf, wielder of the Ancient Fire, i command you to open!" he bellowed, and the gates opened, creaking
and hissing as they did.

Nothing lay beyond the gates, as far as they could tell. Gandalf stepped over the threshold, and beckoned for
the rest to follow. They did, warily, not trusting the ground they walked on. It was black, and even more evil
-looking now that the moon shined down on them, illuminating the holes in the ground, the demise.

They had gone about fifty feet from the gates when an arrow sailed past Jairah's ear and sunk itself into the
ground. She pulled her bow immedately, and aimed an arrow at the direction it had come from, when another
sailed past her from the opposite direction. Legolas pulled his bow out as well, and they stood, side by side,
an arrow aimed in either direction, and when Jairah saw something move, she shot and hit it in the face. The
orc fell screeching out of a battlement, down into one of the deep trenches that was dug in the ground.
Legolas let his arrow go as well, another one fell out of a window and into the ground.

It was silent for a moment, but the elves heard the stomping of feet coming. They loaded their bows again,
and everyone pulled out their weapons, for they trusted the elves judgement. And then they came, a score of
Orcs, screaming and barreling towards the Company, coming out of the holes in the ground and from all
sides.

Gandalf ran at them, his sword drawn, and started fighting them off, making his way towards the tall black
tower in the center of Isengard. The Company surged forth, beginning to follow Gandalf's lead. The only ones
who remained behind were the elves, who were shooting at all the Orc archers hidden within the walls of
Isengard. One by one they shot them down. Jairah shot her last one, and as it fell out of the wall, she pulled
her sword and jumped in to the fight, watching as Gandalf disappeared into the tower. She barely had time to
utter a prayer for him, as an Orc came and tried to swipe at her with his curved sword.

Legolas kept shooting arrows at the ones in the mix, felling as many as he could. His bow was faster, better
than Jairah's. It had been given to him in Lothlorien and had been strung with Jairah's hair, so it might serve
him better. She'd left her quiver behind, dropping it from her back so he could have the arrows, as she'd run
into the battle. He could see her blonde head, in between the ugliness of the Orcs, and hoped she'd heed his
word.

Leila, despite the fact that they were fighting, felt a thrill go through her heart. Everytime she killed one of the
Orcs, she felt the thrill surge through her whole body. She looked over and saw Boromir decapitate one of
the foul creatures, and she smiled. But her smile faded from her face as she felt a sharp CRUNCH on her
shoulder, and she screamed in pain. One of the Orcs had jumped on her back and bitten her shoulder. She
yelled and turned about wildly, throwing him off of her, and she leaned forward and stabbed him several
times.

"Leila!" Boromir yelled, as he'd seen it happen. He fought his way through the Orcs untill he got to her. "Are
you alright?" he asked frantically. He touched the bite, it was not too deep, but vicious looking nonetheless.

Leila nodded, though she winced in pain. "I will be alright." she smiled at him despite the pain. "Come! Lets
kill these things!"

And so the Company fought, their battle raged in Isengard, untill there were no more Orcs left to be slain.
Boromir went over to Leila and picked her up and took her over the wall, and inspected the bite that she'd
sustained. Aragorn located the hobbits, then looked over to Legolas, who was surveying the black land for
Jairah, who nobody could seem to find.

"Jairah!" he called, panic running through his heart. He'd told her to be careful, and now she was nowhere to
be found. "meleth!, can heltha enni!" (love, call to me). He started running through the orc corpses nimbly,
searching for her. he looked between the bodies, but there was no sign of her.

then he heard her, in his mind. "thar si, legolas.." he looked to right, and there she was, sitting between two
Orc corpses, that she'd obviously slain. He hurried to her, afraid she was hurt. She had her head between
her knees, and was crying, tears running in rivulets through her blood-stained face. She was covered in the
Orc blood, and as he reached her, he touched her head. "Are you hurt?" he asked urgently.

she shook her head, and looked up at him. She'd cast her sword aside, and just was hugging herself on the
ground. She'd had enough, whatever strength she'd had before, it had left her. He could feel her thoughts in
her mind again, the inner battle, wondering if she was ever going to be able to be a lover again.

Aragorn came up to them. "We must go!" he said. "Gandalf will come to us when he is through with
Saruman. We cannot help him." he looked down at the crying elf, and compassion flooded his face. "Come,
we must go!" he turned and pulled up the hobbits and started to run towards Fangorn.

Legolas knelt next to Jairah. "Come, love. We must go!" She looked at him blankly, tears running down her
face, and his heart strained him. He grasped her by her small shoulders and lifted her into his arms, and
took off running after Boromir and Leila, who were following the hobbits and Aragorn.