Aragorn cautiously opened one eye, the flash of light had nearly blinded him. It was completely dark now and the Ranger couldn't see anything. He bit his lip to keep himself from moaning as he tried to roll over, his wounds were still raw and bleeding and his throat was sore. Aragorn could barely see Legolas standing in the clearing; the soft glow of his skin was the only light he could see at the moment. 

Aragorn hadn't been able to see Legolas when he'd killed Dronar, but he had heard the screams. The elf was now standing poised in a defensive stance, bare chested with one hand balled tightly in a fist and the other grasping the hilt of a sword. 

A sword? How did he get a sword? That soon became the least of Aragorn's concerns when he heard movement on his right. The men around him were beginning to awake. Aragorn tried to wriggle his hands out of their bonds but the rope was too tight. Remembering the noose around his neck only added to his worry. Another light appeared, a bit brighter than Legolas' elven glow, and distracted the Ranger from working on his bonds.

The light illuminated a face, yet Aragorn could not make it out. Trying to focus on the figure only made Aragorn's head hurt, when the figure spoke however, he recognized him immediately.

"Free the others Legolas! Hurry!" Gandalf urged entering the camp. Legolas seemed to be in a daze for a moment and didn't move until Gandalf said in a much sharper tone, "Now Legolas!" The elf jumped before hurrying over to where Aragorn lay. Legolas knelt beside him and used the sword he was carrying to cut through the ropes binding Aragorn's hands.

The Ranger could have shouted for joy when Legolas lifted the sword and carefully cut the noose around his neck. Instead he settled for a quiet, "Thank you Legolas." 

"Do not thank me yet, wait until we are far away from this place." Legolas held out his sword to Aragorn who lifted his hand in refusal. "Keep it Legolas, you are more adept to using a sword now than I am."

"I would not dare use this sword when its rightful owner is present," Legolas offered him the sword again and this time he did not let Aragorn refuse it. Quick and silent, Legolas darted from Aragorn's side and towards one of the men who still remained motionless on the ground, leaving Aragorn to wonder what Legolas had meant. Studying the blade as well as he could in the dark; Aragorn was surprised and also relieved to see that it was Anduril he now carried. 

How did Legolas know that this was my sword? I have not unsheathed it since we left Rivendell, except for when I showed it to Boromir....

Aragorn stiffened and glanced in Legolas' direction, his friend was hunting for weapons of his own to use. Had Legolas overheard his conversation with Boromir? If he did, why didn't he say anything to him?

"Aragorn, the hobbits need aid." Legolas' voice snapped the Ranger from his thoughts. There would be time to ask his friend questions later, right now they needed to get out of here before the men recovered. Aragorn followed Legolas to where the hobbits were, trusting his sharp eyes to guide them through the dark. Aragorn noticed that Legolas had managed to acquire two knives from the men, his bow and dagger would have to be left behind.

The hobbits were lying on the ground when the Ranger and elf approached, they were awake, but dazed from what had just transpired.

Aragorn and Legolas knelt down beside the hobbits in less than a heartbeat, and quickly set to cutting the ropes that bound them. 

"Aragorn?" Pippin's voice shook and in the faint light from both Legolas and Gandalf's staff, Aragorn could see tears in the youngest hobbit's eyes. The Ranger's heart ached for him, for all the hobbits for that matter, they had never seen someone tortured before. 

Let alone someone they know and care about, Aragorn thought dryly as he finished cutting away the ropes. He carefully pulled Pippin into a sitting position and ignoring his injuries, managed to smile.

"I am alright Pippin, trust me. What about you? Are you well?"

"My hands hurt," Pippin whimpered tears falling freely from his eyes. The horrific events of that night had scarred the poor hobbit and Aragorn could feel his own heart breaking for him. Seeing that Legolas was taking care of the other hobbits; Aragorn took Pippin's small hands into his and gently prodded them, searching for injury. When he found nothing he reasoned that Pippin's sore hands were due to the ropes having been too tight, moving his hands over the hobbit's wrists he felt blood and silently cursed Dronar, not caring that he was dead.

"Aragorn we cannot remain here any longer," Gandalf's voice caused both man and hobbit to jump. The wizard was leaning heavily on his staff, the light hiding his face from view, on either side of him were Boromir and Gimli whom he had freed. Aragorn knew that Gandalf was right, but the healer inside of him demanded that his friend's injuries were tended to.

"You will have time to care for him properly once we are far from here." Gandalf assured him, it sounded to Aragorn that he we was doing his best to keep his voice calm, but the Ranger could sense unease in the wizard's voice. What was it that had disturbed him so much to make him act this way?

Knowing that the others were waiting for him Aragorn guided Pippin to his feet where Merry was already waiting for him. All were looking to Gandalf with wide eyes and hundreds of questions.

"I will explain everything later I promise," Gandalf made his way to the front of their small group and added, "but first we must flee, Aragorn do you know your way through the Misty Mountains?"

Confused and still bewildered by Gandalf's sudden appearance, Aragorn quickly answered, "Yes, I know of a few mountain passes, but Gimli knows those mountains better than I."

Gandalf nodded and muttered something under his breath that was lost on the others, and without as much as a word or signal he began to walk out of the camp. 

"Do we follow?" Sam asked, the poor hobbit was still shaken from what he had witnessed earlier that night. 

"Do we have a choice?" Boromir replied looking to Aragorn. The Ranger only nodded his head which was now barely visible as the light from Gandalf's torch began to fade away. However the darkness revealed something new for the companions, and it would only add to their already growing troubles. Just as they had been about to follow Gandalf Frodo noticed something out of the corner of his eye; a pale, blue, light coming over from where a man lay motionless on the ground.

The ringbearer was running towards it before his friends could react or stop him Frodo was already half way across the clearing.

"Frodo!" More than one voice called after him but their voices went unheeded. Frodo knelt down and retrieved something that Aragorn could not see; but when he turned around and held out what was in his hand the Ranger's breath caught in his throat and his hands began to shake. In Frodo's hand he held Sting, the sword that glowed blue when orcs were near, and the light was growing brighter by each passing second.

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Frodo's blood roared in his ears as he struggled to keep up with his friends. The nine were making a mad dash for the Misty Mountains, which according to Gandalf, they were nearly there. Running blindly through the dark was far from easy, in fact it was near impossible. Gandalf's staff no longer offered any light. The wizard had claimed that the light would give them away and no one had argued with him knowing that their only chance of avoiding the orcs that pursued them was to remain hidden, in fact Frodo was glad that the moon wasn't out this night.

As he ran Frodo continued to glance down at Sting hoping that the glow would fade, but it remained the same as they ran. 

At least it's not getting brighter,  Frodo thought turning his eyes back to the front. All Frodo could truly see at the moment was the dark silhouette of Gandalf in front of him and the trees that surrounded them; which were becoming sparser as they continued to run. They were almost out of the forest! Frodo's relief was dashed as a bone chilling howl cut through the heavy silence, everyone stopped in their tracks.

"Was that a wolf?" Frodo asked trying to keep a steady voice. It was Gimli who answered, "No lad, that was not a wolf." The dwarf tightened his grip on the dagger he had taken from the camp, he hadn't had time to retrieve his axe. 

"Then what was it?" Merry demanded.

"A warg," Gimli answered again, "and since Frodo's sword is glowing it can only mean that there is a pack of warg-riders coming after us."

There was a brief silence before another howl split the air, followed by three answering howls, and more followed until the night was flooded by howling wargs. That was all the encouragement the company needed to keep running.

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"We're almost to the mountains! Keep running!" Gandalf urged them on, knowing that each one of them was pushing themselves way beyond his limits. They had just emerged from the forest and the mountains were within their reach. Only a long, flat stretch of land remained between them and safety, then and only after they were safe, would Gandalf explain everything to them.

He knew they were confused and frightened, and his ancient heart wished for nothing more to assure them that everything would be alright, but first he must lead them to safety. He could not let their enemies take them; he would not. Just when Gandalf believed that they were going to make it a crash followed by howls of rage thundered from behind them.

"Gandalf!" Pippin's terrified shout nearly stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Don't look back! Keep going!" Gandalf prayed that they heeded his commands.

The sun was slowly beginning to rise offering them milky, grey light to guide them forward. The sound of the pursuing wargs intensified as they drew nearer. Snapping teeth, shouting orcs, growls and barks of frenzied excitement, but it was a cry from one of the hobbits that sent fear flying into Gandalf's heart like an arrow.

Turning around the Istar was faced with something that had once only existed in his nightmares, those whom he held closest to him caught by those who would do them harm. The wargs had cut off the four hobbits from the others, four ran around them now keeping them contained. Aragorn and Gimli had been separated as well, each gripped their weapons tightly and were trying to avoid the snapping jaws of the wargs and the jagged scimitars of the orcs. Legolas and Boromir were nowhere to be seen.

It happened so fast that it took Gandalf a moment to process what had just happened. Instead of killing them the warg-riders had forced the hobbits, Aragorn, Gimli, Boromir, and Legolas together in the midst of the wargs. Gandalf counted ten wargs, however only five had riders on them, those with orcs seemed to be there only to control the riderless wargs. The wargs circled the eight they had trapped, growling but not making a move to harm them. The hobbits were in turn surrounded by Aragorn and the others, each with weapons drawn and ready to defend themselves when the wargs attacked.

What everyone wanted to know was why they hadn't done so yet. Gandalf was already gathering what remaining energy he had hoping that he would be able to perform the same action that had freed them from the camp of men, but before he could even raise his staff a lone voice called out from the darkness; one that Gandalf knew too well.

"If you want them to live Mithrandir, then I would suggest lowering your staff."

Gandalf closed his eyes as a shudder passed through his body. Opening them he forced himself to turn towards the direction of the voice, and the being that stood before him.

Saruman.

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Frodo had thought that he knew what fear was when Dronar took them captive in the forest. He he thought that he knew fear when he saw them torturing Aragorn. That had been nothing compared to the complete, absolute terror that now had him caught in its cruel grip. The wargs seemed to be getting closer with every breath. Sam was clinging tightly to his arm, bruising it, but Frodo was in no position to complain considering that he was doing the same thing to Merry who was holding a petrified Pippin in his arms.

Their friends were doing their best to shield them, but everyone knew that if the wargs decided to attack, none of them would last long. Where was Gandalf?! Why wasn't he doing anything?! His questions were answered when a voice sounded from the darkness, "If you want them to live Mithrandir, then I would suggest lowering your staff."

Frodo didn't know who the voice belonged to; only that he feared it.

Briefly he caught a glimpse of the one who spoke. He was an old man, clothed in white and carrying a black staff in his hand. Frodo didn't have to be told, somehow he knew that this was Saruman the White; the very one that they had been trying to get to. Now, Frodo felt a knot in his stomach as he realized that they had been deceived, and judging by the faces of his friends they too had figured it out, and all of them were afraid.

Saruman held up a hand and the wargs circling them suddenly stopped, and backed away just a few paces from their prisoners. This allowed Frodo a clearer view of Saruman and the hobbit was shocked to see a smile on the wizard's face. Not an evil, or twisted smile, but one that seemed friendly and kind. And it made Frodo tremble where he stood.

When he spoke however, Frodo wished that the earth would open him up and swallow him, taking him far from the wizard.

"It is good to see you again so soon Mithrandir, and I see you have some friends of yours with you." At this Saruman gestured towards the wargs and added, "I brought have some friends of mine here as well, perhaps we should get them better acquainted?"

A warg suddenly lunged at them, snapping its jaws shut inches from Boromir's face and causing him to stumble backwards but he managed to keep his balance. The warg backed away and rejoined the rest of its kind, the warg's gaze never strayed from where Boromir stood.

With Saruman's threat hanging heavily in the air, Gandalf (who was barely keeping his own anger contained) asked a question that he already knew the answer to, "What do you want Saruman?"

"You know what I want; the item that one of the halflings carries with him," Saruman's gaze turned towards the hobbits, "the Ring."

Frodo's chest tightened to the point where it hurt for him to breathe. The four hobbits pressed even closer to one another, each of them wondering the same thing: Does Saruman know which one of us has the Ring?

"I told you Saruman the Ring cannot be wielded by anyone except Sauron," Gandalf's voice assured Frodo somewhat, just knowing that he was there was offered him the slightest bit of hope that they would get out of this alive.

"If you try to claim the Ring for yourself," Gandalf continued, "then it will only be a matter of time before Sauron sends his servants to take it; and you yourself will be destroyed."

"You have always been a doomsayer Gandalf." Saruman stated in a bored tone. "However I am willing to pardon your previous actions towards me if you would kindly give me what I desire."

"You already know that I won't."

"Not even to save them?" Saruman gestured towards his prisoners with his head, noting the brief look of uncertainty that flashed across Gandalf's face. "If the Ring is given to me they will all live. I swear that no harm shall come to them by any servant of mine."

After hearing this the Ring seemed to feel heavier around Frodo's neck. His first impulse was to reach up and grasp it as he always did when it became heavy, but he feared that if Saruman noticed it would all be over for him and his friends.

"What is your decision Mithrandir? Will you aid me or be forced to live with their blood on your hands?"

Silence followed Saruman's question save for the growling wargs. Frodo glanced up at Aragorn and wasn't surprised to see the usual mask of calm the Ranger wore in times of danger. What worried the hobbit however, was the rasping sound Aragorn made as he breathed in and out. The memory of what Dronar had done to Aragorn came back to him; he'd nearly strangled him to death while whipping him at the same time, then they'd immediately started running afterwards, how on earth was the Ranger still standing?!

"He's staring at us," Sam suddenly whispered into his ear. Frodo forced himself to look in Saruman's direction, the wizard was in fact studying those he had captive.

"You certainly do keep strange company Mithrandir." Saruman's gaze wandered over them and Frodo shuddered. Their friends quickly moved to hide the hobbits from view, which oddly caused Saruman to chuckle. 

"You four are quite determined to keep the halflings safe," Saruman addressed the four warriors who tensed with their hands on their weapons. In a voice that sent a shiver down Frodo's spine he added, "I wonder if they would do the same for you?"

There was no warning given as another warg sprang forward, only this time it did not pull back. More than one cry was heard as the beast swung a massive paw out and sent Legolas (who had been in front of Sam) flying through the air. Frodo's eyes widened in horror as Legolas' body collided with the hard earth, rolling several feet before coming to a stop. Before the elf had a chance to get up the warg was there and raising one of its paws pinned Legolas to the ground, claws pressing into his bare back.

From where he was Frodo could clearly see Legolas' face twisted in pain. His hands were curled into fists and his eyes were open, darting around frantically.

"I recognize this one Mithrandir." Saruman stalked over to where Legolas lay helpless beneath the warg that pinned him, he managed to shoot an angered glare towards the wizard, his body trembling in pain as the beast continued to slowly dig its claws into his back. "Thranduil's son correct? You have always had an interest in his youngest, I wonder why."  

Frodo looked over to where Gandalf stood and saw something he had never seen on the wizard's face before; fear. Saruman turned away from Gandalf and looked towards Frodo and the others.

"This is your chance to save him hobbits. Since Gandalf will not lift a finger it is up to you to decide what your friend's fate will be." Saruman didn't have to finish for them to know what he was asking for; he wanted whichever one of them had the Ring to step forward and give it to him. "I would advise you to be swift with your decision," Saruman continued, "my wargs have never tasted elf blood before and soon I will be unable to keep them from getting what they want."

"Don't!" Legolas gasped, sweat covered his shaking form as the warg put even more weight on him. Blood was beginning to trickle from the wounds on his back and the remaining wargs were starting to grow restless.

"His suffering will end if the one who carries the Ring steps out." Saruman called out.

He cannot have the Ring, a voice in Frodo's head warned him. If Saruman got the Ring Middle Earth would be doomed! But Legolas, he was going to be killed!

A scream tore itself from Legolas' throat as the warg slowly drew its claws down the elf's back, more blood began to flow from the wound.

This is exactly what happened with Dronar, you gave into his demands and look where it got you! You cannot do the same again, not with Saruman. But Legolas, he was dying!

"Time is running out, give me the Ring or the elf dies." Saruman warned, he was growing impatient.

The warg lowered its muzzle towards Legolas' face, the elf closed his eyes and dug his fingers into the ground as a low growl sounded in his ear, he could feel its hot breath on his the side of his face. The warg's mouth was parted slightly revealing it's jagged teeth which brushed against Legolas' head just above his ear.

Do something! Frodo's mind continued to scream, but whether the command was directed towards him or someone else he did not know. 

"Your time is up." Saruman's declaration was met with excited howls from the wargs and horror from Frodo and his friends. "You had a chance to spare yourself and your friends from death, but now you will all die. Starting with the elf."

"No!" Frodo cried as the warg pinning Legolas raised its head over the elf, jaws parted and fangs ready to dig into its prey. Only the warg never got a chance to feed on its prey as a dagger suddenly became lodged in its throat. A thick, choking sound came from the warg's throat as it flopped lifelessly onto its side. The warg's tongue hung limply from its mouth and a small stream of blood was making its way out of the mouth and onto the ground.

Frodo spun around to see Aragorn standing with his hand outstretched in the direction of the fallen warg. He must have taken Gimli's dagger and thrown it, and Saruman's glare was now set on the Ranger.

"Kill them!" He commanded the five orcs atop their wargs. "Kill them all!"

"Run hobbits!" Aragorn shouted grabbing Frodo by the arm and flinging him out of the way of a warg's jaws. Everything from then on was chaos. Frodo had never been in a situation like this before and his senses were screaming at him along with his mind. Wargs were everywhere and his friends were nowhere to be found. Growls, snarls, and the rare yelps of pain assaulted Frodo's sensitive ears.  

He was lying on his stomach on the ground, unnoticed by the wargs who ran in a frenzy around him. There had been ten wargs until Aragorn killed one, now there were nine but only five who could fight them.

No, not five, three. 

Gimli had no weapons and Legolas was wounded, would they still try to-

The ground shook underneath Frodo as a warg fell not four feet away from him. Looking up Frodo could see that Gandalf was the one who had brought it down. A howl of pain followed Gandalf's kill and Frodo watched just as Aragorn drove his sword through the side of another warg, killing it.

They'd already killed three wargs! Perhaps they would get out of this! Frodo's moment of relief did not last long as he noticed how exhausted Aragorn looked, the Ranger was swaying and hardly managing to stay on his feet. Frodo was about to call to him when the Ranger suddenly screamed in agony, his back arched, dropping his sword he fell to his hands and knees. Scarlet covered Aragorn's back as a warg towered over him, its claws covered in the man's blood.

"Aragorn!" Boromir was at his side in an instant with a sword in hand, he quickly thrust it into the warg's neck. Frodo was about to run over when another scream rose above the din and his gaze snapped in the direction of the cry. Another scream cut through the air, only this time it was Frodo, and it was not a scream of pain.

Pippin was caught in the mouth of a warg who was shaking the small body back and forth, and again Boromir was running, but before he could reach Pippin a warg with an orc riding on it charged past him. The warrior found himself tangled in a net but the orc wasn't done yet, suddenly Boromir's feet fell out from under him and he crashed onto the ground. The orc proceeded to drag him across the ground, trapped and helpless as he fought to free himself.

Pippin was still in danger and everyone who could still stand was trying to get to him. Four wargs had been killed but there were still six left, and that was enough to kill them all. Gimli reached Pippin first and using one of the knives Legolas had dropped, managed to stab the warg in the leg causing it to release the hobbit who fell onto the ground with a dull thud.

Enraged at having lost its prey the warg set its sights on the dwarf who was fortunately one step ahead of it. Before the creature could attack Gimli dashed underneath the warg and thrusted his knife upwards, digging the blade into its heart. The dwarf had just enough time to move before the creature collapsed. His victory was short lived as warg-rider came charging towards him, a cruel mace in hand. Gimli threw himself to the right but it was too late, the mace struck him in the shoulder and sent the dwarf crumbling onto the ground. 

Gandalf and Legolas were the only ones left standing. The wizard had just killed a warg-rider and was hurrying to the aid of Boromir who was still caught in the orc's net but Legolas had already thrown the knife he had recovered earlier on when the battle began. The warg collapsed crushing its rider beneath it. Inside the net Boromir, covered in blood and dirt, gasped as he struggled to catch his breath, no longer concerned with freeing himself.

There were only three wargs left but the battle was far from over. Both warg and orc could smell the blood that dripped from Legolas' back, and their hunger was  evident as the three charged towards the now defenseless elf. The warg without a rider reached him first and Legolas could nothing as the beast's fangs latched onto his arm. He screamed as the warg lifted him in the air and shook him just as Pippin himself had been earlier. Legolas felt as if his arm was about to torn from his body, which would happen if help did not come.

But it did.

Suddenly Legolas was dropped and the warg collapsed at the same time with Sting embedded in its side. Frodo gasped for breath as tears fell from his eyes. His legs gave out and he collapsed, this was all too much...

Far too much...

Everything he had feared was unfolding before his eyes...

The two remaining warg-riders slowly approached the weeping hobbit and motionless elf, they intended to make quick meals out of them. A blinding light suddenly engulfed the beasts. Frodo watched as the monsters shrieked before they too joined the rest of their kind on the ground. The light faded and silence followed.

Frodo cautiously lifted his head, all around him were the bodies of wargs and orcs. Looking to his right he saw Sam helping Boromir out of the net, Merry was holding a motionless Pippin in his arms, shouting and crying, his face red. Gimli was standing nearby with a hand clutching his left shoulder and he appeared to be favoring his right leg. Frodo could not see Aragorn. On his left Legolas was laying on his side curled in on himself, hugging his arm that was drenched in his blood close to his chest.

"Rise, all of you." Gandalf urged moving towards Frodo. The wizard gently grasped Frodo's arm and helped him to his feet. "Don't forget your sword," Gandalf reminded him before moving to help Legolas stand. Nodding absently Frodo went to retrieve Sting from where it remained inside the warg's skin. As he yanked it free his eyes caught sight of Saruman staggering to his feet, the white wizard seemed dazed at the moment, whatever Gandalf had done would only buy them a few precious moments to escape.

"Quickly now, come Frodo we do not have much time." 

Frodo turned away from Saruman and went to join the others, when he laid eyes on them it took whatever strength he had left to keep himself from collapsing again. Everyone had the appearance of one who was standing at Death's door; pale skin, blood covering their bodies, and eyes glazed over in pain. Yet they still stood, leaning on each other and fighting to breathe.

"The mountains are not far, you can make it. I know you can." Gandalf took in the fear and pain in their eyes, he knew they were exhausted, several of them were fighting just to keep their eyes open. But they would make it to safety, he knew they would. They were strong, they could hold out for just a bit longer. Legolas was standing, his arm was still bleeding heavily, but at least he was standing. Boromir had taken Pippin from Merry's arms, the youngest's eyes were closed and blood covered his chest, but he was still breathing. 

Boromir was bruised and bloody all over, but he could stand. Sam and Merry were supporting Gimli, the two hobbits had tears in their eyes and Gimli's shoulder was bleeding heavily, but they were ready to run. Aragorn was being supported by Gandalf who was swaying dangerously as blood spilt from his back, but he wasn't ready to die yet.

The grey wizard met Frodo's eyes and watched as the ringbearer nodded. As if a silent signal was given, the nine companions ran for their lives, which were slowly slipping away.