AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just as I promised! Here is the next chapter!

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~Chapter Twenty-Three~

 The Weakest Point

Gandalf stands in the gleaming white tower hall, seemingly alone as he speaks with doubt and fear at the edge of his voice. "Frodo has passed beyond my sight. The darkness is deepening."

The wizard turns and crosses the hall towards Gimli, Aragorn, Legolas, Medlinya, and Eomer. The Ranger had his arms crossed with his back turned from the worried wizard, "If Sauron had the Ring we would know it."

Gandalf spun towards the mellow Aragorn still worried and troubled. "It's only a matter of time. He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping."

The dwarf sits insolently on the steward's throne with his legs propped up on the arm of the chair, puffing on a pipe."Let him stay there. Let him rot!" Gimli voiced with venom of hatred in his gruff voice. "Why should we care?"

Gandalf slowly wheeled around to the Dwarf as his face ashen, "Because ten thousand Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom." Gimli's face immediately fell in troubling thoughts of the lack of this knowledge. Gandalf's eyes turned pale as he mumbled to himself, "I've sent him to his death."

Aragorn immediately turned around to the wizard, "No." Gandalf sharply spotted the Ranger. There's still hope for Frodo. He needs time, and safe passage across the Plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."

"How?" Gimli's voiced echoed as he held his pipe close to his lips.

"Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate."

At those plans, Gimli choked on his pipe as Eomer steps into the conversation. "We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms."

"Not for ourselves, but we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's Eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves." Aragorn glanced over to Legolas with a smile.

Legolas' eyes brightened at his revelation along with a smile, "A diversion."

Gandalf stepped closer to Aragorn, "Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait."

Aragorn grinned, "Oh, I think he will."

"Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?" Gimli's voice echoed throughout the hall. 

As the room emptied, Medlinya swallowed another biting fear as the tension of another battle approaches them swiftly set in into her mind. Legolas caught the sight of his Faenod stiffened of which is very unlike her character. Deep down he wished that she could in any possible way to stay behind in Minas Tirith while he fights at Death's gate, but it is together they stay. As his eyes studied her silent form, he gently swept a hair out of her face before her eyes met his. Her sapphire eyes were flooded with fear that nearly had the power to drown Legolas in guilt and sorrow of her condition. However his expression remained confident and smiling down at her, relieving some of the terror.

Gently he placed his forehead against hers before closing his eyes in content of her skin touching his. "Uuma dela, Melamin." [Don't worry, my love.] His eyes fluttered open to stare into her sapphire orbs, "I will protect you, no matter what." He breathed, only her ears could catch his sentimental words that made her heart lurch heavenward.

A smile, a true one, formed on her small pink lips as she stared into the eyes of her lover. "I know."

Legolas flickered between her eyes then to her lips. All of those past moments when they came so close to kissing was ruined by intruders or unfortunate bystanders. Unleashing this passion, the sands of time seemed to slowed as their lips captured each other in urgency of the time and battle they should be preparing for. Their hearts thumped rhythmically beats against their chest as their love for the other was poured into every movement of their lips in perfect harmony. In attempt to keep her stand as her knees became weak beneath her, she threw her arms around his neck. His soft yet strong calloused fingers combed through her almond brown hair, holding her face tenderly. The corners of both of their lips curved into a loving smile as their soft flesh welcomed the warmth of the other. A roaring fire passion filled the two elves that took over their ultimate fears of the upcoming battle. With one last harmonious movement of their lips, they slowly pulled apart although only a few millimeters. The two smiled at each other, through their fits of catching their breaths. Twinkles in their eyes told the other of their happiness and love for the other.

With one last peck, Legolas lead his Faenod to prepare the army. A few moments later, Aragorn wore a breastplate emblazoned with the white tree as the Ranger leads an army of five hundred Gondor and Rohan soldiers from Minas Tirith. Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, and Eomer ride beside Aragorn. The small Pippin rides behind Gandalf, Merry rides with Eomer, and Medlinya rides behind Legolas as Gimli rides with Aragorn. The Host of the West marches forth towards the Mountains of Shadow where their destination is: The Black Gate.

Medlinya leaned her weight against Legolas' back, as she awaited the arrival of the Black Gate. 'Are you alright, Medlinya? 

A smile graced itself on her lips, 'I am.' The she-elf gently nestled her head further into his back as she then wrapped her arms around his torso, losing herself in a rest of her mind and powers.

Aragorn's forces of five hundred approaches the great Black Gate of Mordor. He positions his troops a half a mile from the gates. Legolas gently gripped Medlinya's small hand, 'Medlinya, it is time.' Her eyes fluttered open to see a monstrous black gate before them. The wall, Medlinya had mentally estimated, it to be about sixty feet high and two hundred fifty feet long with each half of the great gate being 90 feet wide and set on large stone wheels. On each side on the gate were large towers that could scrap against the sky. Medlinya stared at the gate soaking in the Gates themselves may have been made of the same stone like the Eye's tower within the Mordor, so hard that even the mighty Ents could not dent it.

It wasn't to long when Aragorn and his men stand at the Black Gate, which appears to be deserted.

"Where are they?" Pippin questioned up to the wizard.

Aragorn spurs his horse towards the gate. He is followed by Eomer, Gandalf, and Legolas steering their horses after him. Medlinya watched the Ranger address the large Black Gates. "Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Let justice be done upon him!"

The gate begins the creak open causing Aragorn and his party to rear slightly back with fear. All their eyes watch the gates carefully when they see a single rider appear upon a dark horse. The only part of the rider appearing, besides a full helmet and armor, is a grotesque mouth full of grimy yellow teeth that sent chills down Medlinya's spine.

"My master, Sauron the Great, bids you welcome. Is there any in this rout with the authority to treat with me?" The Mouth of Sauron spoke.

Gandalf glowered at the rider,"We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed. Tell your master this: The armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return."

The Mouth of Sauron sneered over to the wizard, "Old Greybeard. I have a token I was bidden to show thee." From his armor, he lift a armor that shimmered brightly in the sun's rays. Medlinya's gasp was stuck in her throat as she recognized the armor.

"Frodo." Pippin whispered in sadness.

The Mouth Of Sauron tossed the Mithril shirt to Gandalf, who catches it.

"Frodo!" Pippin hollered, being overwhelmed by his misery.

"Silence." Gandalf firmed voiced to the hobbit.

Merry, who was also being overcome by his rising sadness, "No!"

"Silence!"

The Mouth of Sauron grinned at this sight in amusement, "The halfling was dear to thee, I see. Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. Who would've thought one so small could endure so much pain? And he did, Gandalf. He did."

As the mouth laughs wickedly, his eyes caught an interesting sight peering from behind an Elf. "Why, isn't it the Elemental She-elf herself. My Lord has been awaiting your demise. How ravishing to see you awaiting that."

Aragorn rides casually around to his side, catching the attention of the dark rider, "And who is this? Isildur's heir? It takes more to make a king than a broken Elvish blade."

With a quick, hard, slice, Aragorn cuts the Mouth of Sauron's head with his sword.

Gimli, like the rest of the party except for Aragorn, stared at the decapitated head. "I guess that concludes negotiations."

Aragorn's face was stern as he slid his sword back into his sheath."I do not believe it. I will not."

The Black Gate again creaks and sways open, revealing an army of a sea of marching orcs. In the fields of the lifeless, black lands of Mordor, Barad-dûr looms in the background as its Eye now staring at Aragorn. The fiery eye of Sauron, as if the sun itself sent its own beam of a blazed beam of light that illuminated the weapons and armor of the orc army. Black armor and the eerie glow troubled the men of Rohan and Gondor including the mere quantity of the army marching towards them.

"Pull back! Pull back!" Aragorn ordered his party.

Aragorn's company returns to the awaiting army of men. Uncountable amount of orcs pour out of the Black Gate, causing the men's courage to slip fast like plummeting down a slippery cliff face into an abyss. Aragorn addresses an unsettled army of men. "Hold your ground! Hold your ground."

The Men stare at him, fear and uncertainty written on their faces. Aragorn rides back and forth in front of them, trying to shore up their courage.

"Sons of Gondor! Of Rohan! My brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends, and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand!" Aragorn lofted his sword Anduril into the air, "Men of the West!"

The soldiers draw swords, ready as they would ever be to face the orcs of Mordor. Back at the battle, Aragorn and the others watch as they are surrounded by Sauron’s forces The orc masses begin to encircle the army of men. Aragorn and his company have already dismounted their horses, letting their horses escape from a horrendous demise.

All that the army of men could do was watch the Orcs surrounded them with a good few yards away all around. Legolas, Gimli, and Medlinya stood beside each other soaking the visage around them.

"Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an elf." Gimli voiced without looking up at the blonde Elf at his side.

Legolas glanced down to the Dwarf with a friendly smile, "What about side by side with a friend?"

Gimli then took a second to look at the Prince Elf and study his face with a smile. "Aye, I could do that."

Medlinya flickered between the warmness between the two and smiled brightly.

Legolas glanced over to the smiling she-elf and grasped her small hand into his big one. They both smiled at the other with their hands linking to the other. The Elf gently kissed her forehead before letting go of her hand to grab hold of his bow to ready into battle. The three quickly stepped close behind Aragorn with their weapons drawn.

Meanwhile, the Eye of Sauron is now completely focused on Aragorn.

A haunting voice echoed in the Ranger's mind, "Aragorn… Elessar…"

Aragorn appears momentarily tempted by the voice, motionless as he stared at the Eye lowering his sword to his side. Legolas and his company carefully watched their leader, afraid that Sauron would get to him. Slowly the Ranger glanced back to the wizard who held Frodo's shirt closely to him, who in return looked questionably at Aragorn.

"For Frodo." The Ranger serenely whispered. Raising his sword, Aragorn runs towards the orcs, yelling. No one followed at first. Merry and Pippin glanced to each other, as their anger fueled their courage. They raise their daggers and race after Aragorn, then the rest of the army following behind them roaring in a battle cry. 

Medlinya held her swords tightly in her grip as she sprinted towards the enemy line with Legolas at her side who fired shots into the sea of orcs.  When the Host of the West collided into the orc lines, it was like a wall running into a wall. Medlinya avoided the spear points by sending an inferno along a good stretch of the first line.

Immediate deaths.

She thrust his sword deep into an orc in her way before slicing another orc open with her other sword. With a mighty slice through the air, wind knocked another three lines of the orc army into the side of the sharp, deadly mountain face. As she took out orcs in a huge area span, at her side Legolas made sure no orcs sneaked up behind her by his trusty arrows. Keeping to Elrond's words Legolas and Medlinya stayed close to each other, always a part of their body touching the other.

Terrible familiar shrieks resound at the Black Gates as the Nazgul descend for the attacks. As Gandalf fights off an orc, a familiar moth flies in front of his face, causing the wizard to stop and stare at the fluttering creature.Gandalf's face brightens as bird cries are heard.

Several Eagles appear from the clouds above and attack the Nazgul. Pippin smiled up at the welcoming sight, "Eagles! The Eagles are coming!"

As the Eagles and Nazgul spar against each other, Medlinya continued to devastate many orcs with her unimaginable amount of power with every simple swing of her twin swords.  As time crept on and on, sweat dripped from her brow as she continued to use her power.

In the midst of sweeping her sword against another orc, her eye spot a rogue Fell-beast sweeping lower than the others.

Time slowed down as she faced the Fell-beast, unable to move.

Not because she was afraid.

She physically was bound to where she stood. That is what scared her the most.

Every breath was a lifetime and her heart rattled against her chest as she stared at this beast.

Her sapphire eyes quickly scoured the area around her for Legolas, although he was nowhere insight.

She stood in a open area where no man nor orc fought. It made her more venerable and more noticeable in the skies.

Flicking her eyes back at the approaching enemy, she knew she is gonna face the hand that has been wanting her demise since Rivendell.

With her head held high and her swords gripped tightly in her grasp, she waited for her fate deciding duel.

Either she barely lives or dies.

The beast snatched her up into the air into his nasty talons. Medlinya could only helplessly watch as the Fell-beast flung her against the rock face of the Mountain of Shadow.

Pain coursed through her every inch of her body, all her senses were clouded with her agony. Along with her swords, Medlinya plummeted towards the ground hundred of feet below. The mountain trembled and creaked from her impact, causing every face to turn to the noise. In their horror, they see a person, too tiny to identify of the person falling to their death.

As she fell, her world circled around her as she tumbled through the air. Her eyes were sealed shut, awaiting the fall and the moment of her immediate death. Medlinya was then brought back into a time warp of remembrance to the time when she almost tripped back when Legolas caught her. His cerulean eyes watched her almost amused at how long it took her to realize that she had not hit the ground. Her heart was full of love, laughter, and life as scenes of her life suddenly lay out like a picture book.

Behind her closed lids, tears welled up as a wave of sadness consumed her as she continued to tumble.

She waited and waited.

Medlinya felt the world circulating around her still, but she had not met the ground.

Snapping her eyes open, Medlinya struggled to figure what was up and what was down.

It was too late.

The she-elf slammed against the earth, stomach first. It was like someone punched through to one side all the way through to the other side. Although it was hundreds of feet, Medlinya did not hear a snap of bone only felt the shudder of her skeleton.

A pair of footsteps slowly began to approach her.

The ground beneath her was frigidly cold and hard as steel. Though despite that it was welcoming then the aura of these pair of footsteps.

'Get up... I need to get up.' Medlinya clenched her teeth as she struggled to use her pain-stricken limbs. The she-elf gasped at the sudden wrench of torment of her muscles.

The she-elf set a hand against the ground, absorbing the strength of the earth all around her. With slight shakiness, Medlinya rose to her trembling legs. Her weary head slowly rose to the approaching presence.

Fear consumed her very being as she stared agape at the figure before her.

A rush of memories protruded into her mind like a storm.

The storm of the terrible past.

Medlinya's lips parted slightly as they quivered to say the name of the figure.

A smirk formed on the familiar face as he stopped from his stalking approach towards her. His green eyes stared at the she-elf before him with his almond brown hair flowing in the wind. His skin was slate grey unlike the fleshy color she once remembered.  The tip of a large dark sword he held firmly in his grasp, his black gloved hands, dragged against the black rock ground, scraping high pitched shills.

"May, look have you grown... Lelling." [Daughter...]

Her brows lowered at this familiarity he shared, making it seem like as if he was still a father to her. Anger brewed within her as she glared at the man.

Medlinya stood unarmed and venerable to this man, she knew that. But she could not help but feel prideful and confident in her abilities in this very moment. "So... you are the one that has been after me. Did not have enough after you slaughtered my mother and nearly killed me?!" From her vision, all she could see was red as her pent in rage started clawing its way to the surface.

The smirk fell from his face as a 'fatherly' disappointed frown replaced it. "You better keep that tongue in check, girl. Or you will have to suffer the consequences."

A scoff sounded from the she-elf as her sapphire eyes rolled at the absurdity, "I think you are the one who should be watching what you say." Medlinya held out her hands off to the side and instantly her swords flew to her hands.

The man snorted silently, "Impressive, for a she-elf. You have no idea what a real elf can do."

"And so a 'real' elf is a bricon like yourself. Why... I'll be damned."

The muscles in the man's jaw clenched in anger at the insult given by the she-elf. "You are just a wench like your mother."

At the words, the earth quaked beneath his feet. Sapphire eyes sent daggers over and over into the man's head. Between her clenched teeth, the man caught a warning, "Don't. you. ever. call. my. mother. that. again."

The man smirked darkly at the sensitivity of the memory of her mother. "Do you want to know why I killed her? Why I wiped her out of existence? Why you were left alone, by yourself?"

Medlinya slowly held her head high at these questions, "I do not need to know."

Her expression was firm and full of certainty.

The man stepped back. He was not expecting her to be so... confident. He felt that everything he had ever done to scare her throughout the long journey to this point would weaken her. Recomposing himself, he began walking towards her again. He watched Medlinya carefully not seeing any hesitation or twitch of her muscles to rear back in retreat.

"Lets see if you can handle yourself." 

Medlinya rushed forward after the man, swinging her sword horizontally towards the man. Easily he caught the blow.

Tap tap cling.

Cling swish.

The 'father' swiped at his daughter. Medlinya parried and counter swiped. The man jabbed and nearly sunk his massive sword into her arm if she had not spun away. As she spun away, one of her sword found its target, slicing his leg leaving blood to splatter across the black stone.

He grunted in pain, but immediately swung his sword after her.

The she-elf ducked.

The man punched the she-elf in the jaw.

Medlinya stumbles back in shock as her jaw throbbed in pain.

Blood trickled down her chin.

Her swords glow in an inferno radiance just as the man swung his sword.

Cling-clang-cling!

Medlinya parries and catches his cheek with her fiery swords.

The man screams in pain as a surging fire stung his cheek.

Ting-tang-slash

His sword slashed a flesh wound across her stomach.

A stinging pain.

Tin-tang

Cling-clang-ting.

The man slyly kicked Medlinya's feet out from under her, before holding up his sword to finish her.

Medlinya rolls away, quickly getting to her feet when she hacked off his non-dominant arm.

"Enough!" The man hollered as his bloody stump of an arm bleed out.

An unfamiliar power surge was unleashed from him, flinging Medlinya backwards near the raging battle.

Pippin and Merry fought nearby and saw the she-elf tumble to the ground in a heap. Being so small, the hobbits quickly weaved their way to find Legolas who should have been near Medlinya. "Legolas! LEGOLAS!" The hobbits screamed over the battle, straining their voices to be heard. It was then they spotted the Elf struggling to get by a wall of orcs to aid Aragorn. Right when they thought they could get help a swarm of orcs found their way in between the hobbits and Legolas. Merry and Pippin had no choice but to fight them off desperately to get help for Medlinya.

The she-elf, unlike her earlier plummet, was able to gain her feet easier since her anger brewed heavily through her veins. Her sapphire eyes stared at the men in vengeance. The man stood many yards away although within a blink of an eye, he was right in front of the she-elf, smothered in a smirk.

"You have your powers. I have my powers."

Medlinya studied his face and glowered. "You never had that power!"

"No... I stole it... from your pathetic mother's corpse."

Her body trembled in rage at his teasing dark words, "BASTARD!"

An wave of air swept up the man off his feet, as an inferno blazed within the man's body, as water bound down the man, and earth crushed his chest. Her sapphire eyes elementally glowed brighter than the sun.

In a flash the man released himself with his stolen powers and sunk his sword through her side.

Medlinya gasped in pain as the man cackled in amusement.

A burning frenzy roared through her veins, contorting the she-elf in a soundless scream. Dark venom coursed its way through her, paralyzing her. The poison curdled her blood and rushed its way to its evil purpose.

To her heart.

Medlinya crumbled to the ground, watching the dark sword glowing red as it transfer her powers into her 'father' instead. Along with the hazy glow of the ebony black blade, her red bodily fluid trickled from her wound like a leaky pipe.

This is what her mother endured. How she could feel her very life, her life's energy, away from her soul. Medlinya realized that, as her eyes welled up in tears unwilling to spill.

With the last of her strength, she closed her eyes and connected her mind with her Faenod.

Her Legolas.

'Legolas.' Her voice cracked as she fought to control her sadness. 'I regret never saying these words to you till this very moment.'

'Medlinya?! Where are you? Hold on, okay?'  Legolas' voice was full of panic and urgency.

Tears began to trickle down her soft cheek as her voice began to weaken, 'It's too late... He has me... My powers... they are being taken from me.'

'No, Medlinya! You are going to be okay. I'm going to find you.'

Medlinya erupted in a fit of tears and sobs as she heard her Faenod's voice that used to be so strong and unwavering, now is crumbling and weak as panic truly set in. Her strength lessen causing her to cry even more, knowing that would be the last words and the last time she'll ever hear her true love ever say. Most of all she never got the chance, again, to say what was still in her heart.

"You are weak... crying... weeping... just like your mother..." The man mused with a dark smirk. "How pathetic."

Her faint sapphire eyes sought out the forest green glaring at him with pure detesting, "At least I loved someone... truly with all my heart without betraying them for power." Medlinya spat as fierce as she could muster.

Out of a fit of rage, the man ripped the sword out from the she-elf side and rose it above her head before a terrible shriek pierced the air, startling everyone. Sauron's troops look back to Mordor, then flee the battle. The man wheeled around towards the distant sight of the tower of Barad-dur to see it tumbling from its base up. Medlinya watched with a strained smile at the wonderful sight as the Eye screeched downwards in defeat. As the Eye, the very soul of Sauron, disappears, a great explosion blows out from the dying Eye.

The earth quaked as it open, swallowing all of the orc troops within the lands of Mordor. The crack of earth quickly made its way towards the man and Medlinya. His expression was inbetween anger and fear.

"Witch!" The man accused the dying she-elf.

With a mighty kick, the man struck against her wound. In response, Medlinya cried out in unbearable pain, squeezing her eyes shut. The crack of the earth opened its jaws just a few steps behind the man, ready to capture its prey. The man rose his sword again over the crying she-elf curled in fetal position who awaited her death almost in welcome to relieve herself from this agony.

Thwish.

Thunk.

An arrow struck the throat of the man.

The man coughed and wheezed causing him to rear back in pain. Blood gushed out from his throat like a mighty waterfall after a rain storm.

Thwish.

Thunk.

Another struck through the man's shoulder.

The man groaned in pain as his blood splattered to the rocky ground, staining it red.

Thwish.

Thunk. 

Another struck the man through the heart

The final thunk of the arrow was just enough to rear back the man so much, that he stumbled at the lack of no more ground. With a muffled scream, the man tumbled off the edge into the abyss of earth's jaws.

Quiet footsteps hurried to the crumbled form of the she-elf.

Warm familiar hands found her bruised up face, "Medlinya? Medlinya?!" His voice called to her panicked and worried. The she-elf felt the warm fingertips that never failed to send her heart thumping pressed against her wound, testing how injured she was. Medlinya twitched in pain as she clenched her teeth at the pressure.

Legolas felt the quiver and relief filled him. A gentle kiss pressed against her forehead as his other hand, cradled Medlinya securely in his arms.

For the she-elf, merely opening her eyes was a struggle but she forced them to anyway. Slowly her sapphire eyes painfully locked eyes with relieved and frightened cerulean orbs. "Medlinya." Legolas gently whispered as his fingers caressed her swollen cheek.

"Legolas." Her eyes watered as she stared at him, she gulped down her fears before revealing the horrible truth of her state. "I'm not going to make it."

The Elf Prince's eyes sightly watered, but he maintained a serious expression. "You are. Do not doubt, Medlinya. You are going to be fine."

Medlinya squeezed her lips into a thin line at his confidence, her eyes sought out her father's sword. "That sword." She murmured, "...holds the ability to extract powers out of one to another. It might help, but..." Her sapphire eyes flickered back to Legolas' shaking orbs, "I have to die, Legolas. Poison runs through me and it already found my heart. It's dark... and evil."

Legolas shook his head at this with firmness, "You must not die. I need you, Medlinya. You are my soul, my mind, and my heart. I will not let you die."

Medlinya's eyes leaked a few tears as her Faenod repeated promises she knew he could not keep. Her heart shuddered painfully, it was then she knew her time was nearly up. "Legolas..." Medlinya whispered as a faint smile graced itself on her pale lips, "I love you. I wish I had said it sooner."

Legolas gripped the fragile body of the she-elf, his eyes watering and threatening to unleash tears. "I love you too, Melamin." He breathed to her as he struggled to keep his composure. [My love]

Medlinya's smile brightened before she shakily wiped Legolas' stray tear trickling down his cheek with her weak thumb. "We will see each other again." The sparkle in her eye twinged an reality-darkening hope in his heart.

The she-elf blinked quietly as she smiled up at Legolas, before her eyelids became exhaustively heavy as they began to lower. It was as if she was going to sleep.

A peaceful sleep.

Sleeping beside her Faenod.

With a beautiful smile on her pale lips, the life slipped from her body.

 (End of Chapter Twenty-Three)