Théoden had gathered all able Men to ride to war in Gondor as soon as the beakers of Minas Tirith had been lit. Though the doubts and the fear were evident in the people of Rohan, it was clear that they would follow their King to death if they had to. Aragorn's influence on King Théoden was apparent since he had convinced him that this war was about more than just Gondor, but of all of Middle-Earth. Therefore when the King ordered them all to leave for war, it came as a relief that he had not given up.

They were to marshall at Dunharrow where they would meet all of the troops that had answered Gondor's call before they rode together to Minas Tirith and what would be the final battle for Gondor. Dunharrow was an encounterment at the foot of a large mountain and as Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn and Merry rode into the camp they realised that there were many men that had not shown despite Gondor's call. Though tents were set up everywhere and many men had gathered there already, it was still not enough if they were to succeed in the war against Mordor.

Legolas dismounted his horse and helped Gimli down as well.

"Well, this is a nice change of location," Gimli said and looked around him. "I thought I'd grow mad sitting in that wooden toy house of a castle for any longer. Míriel can't be having all the fun in Minas Tirith."

Legolas laughed and patted Arod on the back as he listened to Gimli. It was true that their stay in Edoras had grown boring while they waited for Gandalf, Míriel and Pippin to succeed in the mission. The fact that the beakers had been lit showed that they had indeed done what they had been asked to do, which was a relief.

Aragorn came stomping back toward his two companions, clearly, something weighing on him by the looks of it.

"What is it?" Legolas asked.

"Only 6000 men have come," Aragorn mumbled, not too loud to alert attention. "It is not even half of what we need, and we must ride at dawn."

"We've overcome greater obstacles," Gimli said and shrugged. "In Helm's deep, we won despite the odds."

"We had help in Helm's Deep," Legolas stated. "And I do not believe that we will have any more Elves on our side this time."

Aragorn looked solemn as he was thinking of what to do next. Suddenly a young Man came running toward them with a letter in his hand. Legolas turned toward the boy and furrowed his eyebrows.

"My lords," he said panting. "I have this, a letter from lady Míriel."

Legolas hurried to snatch the letter out of his hand and looked at it. At the front of the letter was small writing that said, "Open only in the presence of Merry, Gimli, Aragorn, Éowyn and Legolas."

"We will open it later when we eat," Legolas said and tucked the letter away.

The sound of horses prawning gained all of their attention and they observed as a squire and Éomer struggled to keep the horses still as they stood on their backbones. Something was scaring the horses greatly.

"The horses are restless and the Men are quiet," Legolas said quietly to Éomer.

"They grow nervous of the shadow of the mountain," Éomer explained bitterly and sighed. He had also noticed the sudden change of the ones in the camp.

Legolas and Gimli turned to the mountain in front of them. Legolas had not given it as much as a single thought since he had been so glad to see that Míriel had sent word to them. Now that his eyes roamed over the mountain he realised where they actually were. In the middle of the mountain, there was a tight road leading somewhere far away, a dark place. A mist was covering its path as far as Legolas could see.

"That road there," Gimli said and pointed towards the path in the mountain. "Where does that lead?"

"It is the road to the Dimholt," Legolas said quietly. "The door under the mountain."

"None who venture there ever return," said Éomer and shook his head. "That mountain is evil."

*

Legolas had gathered Merry, Éowyn, Aragorn and Gimli all together for dinner so that they could read Míriel's letter. He had been carrying it around anxiously all day, wishing that he could read her words to assure himself that she was safe.

"Well, open it," Gimli said and had for once not even touched his food or drunk any ale.

Legolas opened the letter carefully and quickly read it to himself before speaking up.

"My dear friends," Legolas began. "First of all, I want to write and tell you that Gandalf, Pippin and I are all well. It was Pippin who lit the beakers of Minas Tirith whilst I was away fighting in Osgiliath. I will not worry you by talking about the troubles here, for what is most important is that we are safe and awaiting your aid anxiously. Merry, I write to you now. Pippin misses you greatly and so do I of course. Pippin says that he can't wait to tell you all that he has been through here when you meet again. Éowyn, I hope that we will see each other again very soon and I urge you to follow your heart, my dear friend. And to you, Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli; I will meet you on the battlefield and you will trust that I will win the competition this time. With all my love, Lady Ilmarë."

Legolas folded the letter in his hands and looked at his companions.

"She used her real name," Éowyn said with a small smile.

Indeed, it seemed as though Míriel had embraced her true identity during her stay in Minas Tirith. For some reason this scared Legolas, and he wondered if she had embraced it enough to realise that Legolas was no longer apart of her.

"I should get some rest," Aragorn said and stood up. "And so should all of you. Have a good night."

Soon more and more of them disbanded until Legolas sat in front of the fire alone with only Gimli as his company. Legolas would never admit it but the Dwarf had grown to be one of the people he enjoyed spending time with the most, and therefore he didn't mind that Gimli stayed.

"You miss her, right laddie?" Gimli mumbled and Legolas looked at the Dwarf.

"Every moment of the day," said Legolas with a small smile. "I suppose you were right, my friend. I should have taken my chances and stopped acting like a child when she was still here. Now she's far away in the very gap of the enemy and I might not see her again until it's too late."

"You should quit worrying about what might happen," Gimli huffed. "We might die tomorrow, so what? All you have to think about it what you'll do when you see her, not if."

And again, Legolas was surprised by Gimli's romantic bits of advice as he would have never expected the Dwarf to have such a soft side. This was something he pointed out to Gimli who turned uncomfortable and mad quite quickly which made Legolas laugh.

"My Lord Legolas," a squire said suddenly, the same boy that had handed him the letter from Míriel. "The King requests your presence."

Legolas raised his eyebrows in surprise but nodded and stood up. He followed the boy toward Théoden's tent. As soon as Legolas entered he could feel a very powerful presence in the camp. By the table in Théoden's tent sat a cloaked figure. Théoden gestured for Legolas to come forward and he exited the tent with his squire.

Legolas walked toward the table and sat down in the opposite chair to the cloaked stranger. Legolas saw his face and realised that this was no stranger, but Lord Elrond of Rivendell.

"My Lord," Legolas said and stood up quickly, bowed his head deeply.

"Sit, Prince Legolas," Elrond said and his tone was cold yet not unkind.

"I am sorry to tell you that Míriel is not here," Legolas said, and it was a great shame for Míriel would have probably done anything to see her uncle again. "She travelled with Gandalf to Minas Tirith to aid the people there."

"I know," Elrond said calmly. "That is not why I have come here this night. In fact, I came to see Aragorn but from what I have heard there are reasons to speak to you as well, my Prince. It has come to my knowledge that the truth has come to the surface regarding Míriel's unfortunate incident eighty years ago."

Legolas didn't question how Elrond could possibly know this and simply accepted that he had eyes and ears everywhere. He did nod in agreement with the Elf Lord and smiled to show him that he did not hold it against Míriel anymore.

"Be that as it may, it troubles me that my niece whom I regard as my own daughter has been away for so long," Elrond said. "I failed to make Arwen leave for the Grey Havens and now I fear that I may lose the two people in this world that I care for the most."

"What of Arwen?" Legolas asked and frowned.

"She is not well," said Elrond and sighed. "Now her life is in the hands of this quest... However, that is not why I asked to speak to you. When you reunite with my niece I want you to promise that you will take care of her. I look into her future and it is dim. I no longer see what will become of her for she is of a being greater than we ever thought. Be by her side, no matter what."

"I intend to be," Legolas promised and nodded. "However, I doubt there is anyone on this earth that could be more powerful than Míriel."

Suddenly the tent opened once again and Aragorn stepped inside. One look at him made Legolas realise that he had only recently awoken since he hadn't even dressed properly. Elrond stood up from his chair and turned to Aragorn, removed his cloak and sighed.

Aragorn widened his eyes slightly and bowed deeply.

"My Lord Elrond," he said.

"I come on behalf of one whom I love," Elrond said sadly. "Arwen is dying. She will not long survive the evil that now spreads from Mordor. The light of the Evenstar is failing, as Sauron's power grows her strength wains. Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the Ring. A shadow is upon us Aragorn, the end has come."

"It will not be our end but his," said Aragorn determined. He was undoubtedly taken by all that Elrond had said about his loved one, Arwen.

"You ride to war but not to victory," Elrond said. "Sauron's army marches on Minas Tirith as you know, but in secret, he sends another force that will attack from the river. A fleet of crusade ships sails from the south. They'll be in the city in two days. You are outnumbered, Aragorn."

Legolas clenched his jaw for he knew that if they did not get to the city within two days Míriel and all those who dwelled in Minas Tirith would be lost.

"You need more men," Elrond said.

"There are none," Aragorn insisted.

"There are those who dwell in the mountain," said Elrond. What he was referring to was the undead army within the mountain that the Dimholt road leads to.

"Murderers," Aragorn whispered as he thought of the army. "Traitors... you would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing, they answer to no one."

"They will answer to the King of Gondor," Elrond said and finally revealed what he had been hiding underneath his cloak all this time. In his hands was now a blade, safe in its sheath, but not any blade. "Anduríl, the flame of the West, forged from the shards of Narsíl."

Elrond offered the blade to Aragorn who looked at it with doubt in his eyes. For long had he known that this was his destiny as the heir to the throne of Gondor, but it was hard to grasp that the day had finally come when he would have to accept his fate.

"Sauron will not have forgotten the sword of Elendil," Aragorn mumbled.

Aragorn drew the sword from the sheath and held it up in front of his face as he looked at what was inscribed in the blade.

"The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith," Aragorn read out loud.

"The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth," Elrond said. "Put aside the ranger, become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt road."

"I gave hope to the Dúnedain," said Elrond in Quenya.

"I have kept no hope for myself," Aragorn answered.

Those exact words had been the last that Aragorn had heard from his mother many years ago when he had bid her farewell for the last time. He now took them as words of encouragement of what he had to do, to follow his destiny as King.

*

As soon as Aragorn exited the tent Legolas knew that he was to leave immediately, and he was going to do so alone. Legolas could of course never let that happen, for the three hunters were not to be separated. For too long had the Fellowship been apart, ever since Frodo and Sam left and Boromir's death. And now Míriel, Gandalf and Pippin were far away which hurt Legolas more than he would have expected it to. He would not let his friend leave alone.

Legolas hurried toward Gimli to warn him that they had to pack fast before Aragorn could sneak away.

"Gimli my friend, you must stop Aragorn from leaving while I get Arod," Legolas said and grinned toward the Dwarf that was still busy eating.

Gimli raised his gaze toward Legolas and frowned, wondering why the Elf had such a strange grin on his face. Legolas was in a way, excited to get away from Dunharrow to help in another way. It would also be amusing to be out just the three of them yet again.

"Where are we going to now?" Gimli asked confused and followed him.

"In there," Legolas said and nodded toward the Dimholt Road in the mountain without a doubt in his voice. Gimli stopped walking abruptly and widened his eyes.

Legolas sighed and turned around to face the Dwarf. For being one that always bragged about his fearless manners now looked terrified to enter the mountain.

"What did you say?" Gimli said and shook his head refusing. There was no way he was going in there after what Éomer told him about it. "No, no."

"Yes, yes," Legolas said, chuckled and saddled Arod quickly. He was not giving him a choice at this, he was coming with them or he would regret it later. "Go on, stop Aragorn - he is not going by himself."

Gimli sighed reluctantly and started hurrying toward Aragorn's tent. Legolas chuckled and grabbed some of their gear. He looked at the grey cloak, the same as the one he bore across his shoulders in one of the bags. Míriel had forgotten it when she rode from Edoras and how Legolas kept it for her. He promised himself at that moment that whatever happened in the mountain, he would see her again in this world.

Legolas lead Arod toward Aragorn and soon his ears picked up a conversation between Gimli and Aragorn not far away.

"Where do you think you're off to?" Gimli said and stood up from his seat.

"Not this time," Aragorn said and shook his head at Gimli. He sighed, knowing that Gimli planned to go with him on his quest. "This time you must stay."

"Have you learned nothing about the stubbornness of Dwarves?" Legolas said and stepped closer to his two friends with a smile on his face.

"You might as well accept it," Gimli said to Aragorn and shrugged. "We are going with you laddie."

Aragorn sighed but a small smile started to play at his lips as he realised that he did indeed want his friends with him on this quest. In his heart, Aragorn knew that whatever he was to face in the Dimholt, it would be much easier with Legolas and Gimli at his side.

"It is settled then," Legolas said and smiled. "Let's go."