Return Of The Shadow

Chapter 37: It Is Over

The Mouth shrieked as the ring hit the lava. Frodo watched as it melted, and disappeared for good.
"Frodo!"
Sam shouted.
He turned and saw the Mouth running towards him with a dagger in his hand.
Frodo stood in terror as the Mouth was about to stab him.
A blade cut through the Mouth's neck, his head fell from his shoulders and his body crumpled to the ground.

Frodo looked up and saw Boromir, the man still had the Mouth's sword in him, and he knew that he wouldn't live much longer.
"We have to get out of here!"
Merry shouted.
Around them the mountain began to cave in on itself.
Merry and Frodo helped Boromir while Sam ran ahead, looking back to make sure they were following.

Lava began to shoot up, rocks fell from the roof of the cave and the path they walked on began to crumble.
They lost their footing several times but they never stopped.
They reached the outside of the mountain and ran to the side just as a wave of fire shot out from the entrance.

The climbed onto a boulder and watched as lava surrounded them. They were trapped.
Boromir lay on the boulder, dying.
Frodo, Sam, and Merry stayed at his side.
"Thank you Boromir."
Merry said softly.
"You saved my life."
Boromir struggled to speak.
"I- I wasn't- g-going to let- a-anyone else- die."
Boromir coughed up blood.
The hobbits watched in sorrow and grief.
"Rest now Boromir."
Frodo told him quietly.
"You do not have to fight anymore. Be at peace."
Boromir closed his eyes, he took in one last breath, and was still.

Frodo didn't stop the tears that fell from his eyes.
Merry and Sam were also mourning for their lost friend.
Frodo looked around hopelessly. There was no way for them to get off the mountain.
The lava continued to rise.

"I guess this is it."
Sam stated sadly.
Merry and Frodo said nothing.
At least the ring was destroyed.
They had done what they had been sent to do.
It was over.

Frodo heard the sound of wings flapping. He looked up and saw two eagles headed towards them. They flew down and landed on the boulder.
The hobbits wasted no time in climbing on.
The other eagle gently lifted Boromir's body in its talons.

They flew away from the mountain and back to the safety of their friends.

°°°°

Aragorn's strength was failing.
He couldn't go on for much longer.
He and Legolas fought side by side.
He didn't know where Legolas had came from but he was glad he was there but even the elf was growing weary.

Hurry Frodo!

Suddenly the ground began to shake underneath them.
The fighting stopped.
Aragorn spotted Barad-Dur in the distance.
The tower was crumbling.
The orcs and other fell things screeched in fear and ran for their lives.

Around them the free people cheered.
They had done it.
Sauron was defeated, forever.
It was over.
Aragorn smiled in relief.
He turned to Legolas, only to find the elf on his hands and knees and gasping for air.

Aragorn suddenly remembered Gandalf's words.
If the ring is destroyed, it could destroy him too.
"No!"
Aragorn raced to his friend's side.
He rolled Legolas onto his back, the elf's body was shaking as he gasped in pain.
Aragorn grabbed his shoulders.
"No! Legolas please, you can't die..."

Legolas couldn't respond, he closed his eyes and screamed in pain.
Tears fell from Aragorn's eyes.
Not Legolas, not his friend, his brother.
Thranduil appeared at his son's side, his face scarred and bloodied from the battle.
But none of the scars compared to the look of pure grief that covered his face.
Gimli came over and looked down at the elf in shock.

"What's happening?"
Aragorn couldn't reply.
Legolas continued to writhe in pain on the ground.
Thranduil knelt down beside him and grabbed his son's hand.
Legolas showed no sign of knowing that his father was there.

Aragorn didn't notice Gandalf arrive or the hobbits who immediately saw Legolas.
They all stood quietly around him, Legolas cries had silenced. He opened his eyes and stared up at the sky.

Aragorn wanted to look away, but he couldn't. He looked at his friends grey eyes.
Except, they weren't grey anymore, they were blue.
The elf lay still for a long time.
He didn't breathe, or move.

The hobbits looked at one another in grief.
Thranduil squeezed his son's hand while tears streamed down his face.
Gimli hung his head and Gandalf closed his eyes.
Aragorn continued to look at his friend.
He couldn't be gone...
He just couldn't...

A hand was placed gently on his shoulder.
Haldir looked at the sight with pain in his eyes.
He didn't want to share the news he had.
"Elladan is dead."
He said softly.

Aragorn looked up at the elf in shock.
Not Elladan, first Legolas, and now Elladan.
"Elrohir?" he asked.
"He is alive, but he is mourning."
Aragorn cast one last look at Legolas, at least Sauron's darkness had left him.

He was free.

Aragorn followed Haldir to where Elrohir was. As he passed the hobbits he heard Frodo
murmur, "Boromir's dead."
Aragorn almost collapsed.
Boromir? Dead?
Aragorn felt sick.
Boromir had begged him for forgiveness, now it was too late. He was dead.

We won, but we also lost.

Aragorn and Haldir found Elrohir kneeling beside his brother, his remaining hand gripped his fallen brother's.
Aragorn knelt down beside him.
Elladan had always been there for him.
He had taught him how to fight, he'd kept him out of trouble, he had always been there whenever Aragorn had needed someone to talk to.

But now he was gone.
Elladan's death was harder on Elrohir.
His father was dead, his sister, and now his brother.
Aragorn wanted to comfort him but he didn't know how.
His own heart was broken.

°°°°

They carried Elladan's body over to where Boromir's lay.
The other remaining men, elves, and dwarves were gathering the bodies of the dead, but Thranduil refused to let them take his son.

"He is gone Thranduil."
Gandalf told him firmly.
"You must let him go."
Thranduil still held onto his son's hand.
It was cold.
He had failed.
He had promised Legolas' mother that he would keep their sons safe. But he had failed.
He had lost the only thing he had left in this world, and now he was broken.

Thranduil sighed.
He had to let go.
His son was gone.
He released his son's hand and was about to pull away, when suddenly Legolas' hand shot out and grabbed his father's wrist.

Thranduil's eyes widened in shock as Legolas gasped for breath.
Thranduil couldn't believe it.
How?
The hobbits watched in disbelief.
When Gimli saw this he shouted,
"Aragorn! He's alive!"

Aragorn, who was standing a few feet away, looked at the dwarf in confusion.
"He's alive! Legolas is alive!"
The man raced over with Elrohir on his heels.
Haldir heard the commotion and joined them.

Legolas was sitting up and staring wide eyed at everyone around him.
"It's alright Legolas."
Thranduil looked at his son.
"What happened?"
Legolas asked, gasping and out of breath.
"What-"
Thranduil embraced his son.
At first Legolas didn't know what to do.
But then he wrapped his arms around his father while tears began to form in his eyes.

Aragorn watched in disbelief. He looked over at Gandalf who seemed just as shocked.
Aragorn walked over to him.
"You said-"
"I know what I said, and I said that there was a chance that Legolas could die."
Gandalf turned to him.
"And I will find out what happened. But for now, let's concentrate on getting out of this cursed place."

Aragorn couldn't agree more.