“We cannot withstand another loss like that,” Gandalf said as he paced back and forth in the throne room.

At seeing their massive army defeated, the entire city had lost all hope.  King Elessar was not fairing well either, knowing that he was without his most trusted friends.  

“They‘re army is thousands larger than ours and are protected by magic,” King Elessar pointed out, the stress of everything taking its toll on him, “If you see a way of defeating them then please tell me so that it can be done with.”

“Have you lost your hope as well?” the wizard asked in disbelief.

“I’m afraid that there is no hope left in this city,” the king replied gravely.

“There is still hope,” someone called from the throne room doors.

At the sound of the voice, everyone gathered there turned from the king to the door to gaze upon the face of an old friend.  There standing with his companions at his side was none other than Legolas.

“I am glad to see you safe, my friend,” King Elessar said as he embraced the Mirkwood Prince, “I am glad to see you all safe.”

“We weren’t able to save Lienan,” Frodo said, his head bowing in grief as he said so.

“I know, I saw her on the battlefield,” the King of Gondor said grimly, “Please tell me what has happened.”

~*~

As the minutes passed by, the Uruk-hai army was marching closer and closer to Minas Tirith.  A fire burned in Lienan’s eyes as she neared the place where she would destroy all who stood against her.  

“All will fall at my feet including that fool Saruman,” Lienan mused to herself, “He has no idea what powers this Elf maid has and that I have my own plans.”

And she was not the only one with a plan.  After hearing of all that befell in Orthanc including the enslavement of the Ents, her friends in Minas Tirith were forming their own plans to save her with what they found out from the scroll that they had found in Orthanc.

“These are sad tidings, indeed.” the wizard commented when their story was told, “But you say that you know how to defeat this creature, Maelute?”

“Yes, I think I do,” the Elf from the Haven replied, “And all of Saruman’s army will fall afterwards.”

“What do you mean?” King Elessar inquired.

“The enchantment surrounding Saruman’s army is from her,” she explained, “Once the creature inside of her is defeated, the others will fall.”

“What is this thing inside of her?” Gandalf pondered.

“The creature inside of her was made in the First Age by Morgoth himself,” Maelute explained, “An evil so ancient that its name is no longer known.”

“How was Saruman able to summon such a creature?” asked the King of Gondor.

“In being the Protector of Middle-earth, Lienan was cursed with reliving the whole history of Middle-earth in her dreams and memories,” the Elf maid explained, “I believe that he searched into her memories and brought the creature forth.”

There was a pause as everyone took in the information that was presented to them.  This was an evil more ancient than Sauron and the One Ring.  This was not going to be an easy battle.

“How do we stop it?” King Elessar asked, knowing that the others could never ask such a question.

“The creature was born out of the fires of the earth,” Maelute explained hesitantly, “So the only way to stop it would be to - ”

“Extinguish the flame,” Legolas interrupted questioningly.

“Yes,” the Elf maiden replied solemnly, knowing that it was difficult for them hear such a suggestion.

“And how would we do that?” King Elessar asked, doing well to avoid looking at anyone for fear his grief would show.

“The Anduin,” Haldir said in revelation, “And the power of the Elves.”

All there knew the immense power that the Elves possessed, but they also realized the great risk they were taking in going through with this plan.  An disconcerting quiet settled among those gathered in the grand hall.

“So you aim to drown her,” Frodo stated flatly, the hurt clearly seen in his face.

“It is the only option we have,” Maelute stated.

“But it’s Lienan,” the little Hobbit protested.

“If we let her run free, all will be destroyed,” Faramir pointed out.

Unable to cope with their decision, Frodo ran out of the room, unsure as to where he would go.

“Leave him,” King Elessar called when Merry and Pippin moved to go after their friend, “He will need time to cope.”

“So, we know what we must do,” Gandalf stated somberly, “But who will do it?”

The room was silent once again as glances were exchanged among all those who remained.  

“Let me do it,” Legolas said softly.

“Are you sure?” the King of Gondor inquired, knowing how hard this was for the elf.

“She is my sister,” the Elven Prince replied as emotionlessly as he could, “Let me be the one to bring her down.”

“I’ll help you,” Maelute jumped in, “This creature is strong and you’ll need all the help that you can get.”

“Very well,” King Elessar agreed solemnly.

With the final decision made, they all left the throne room to deal with their own thoughts and grief over the matter as the sun quietly set into the west.  Maelute found her way to a secluded area of the keep to stare up at the stars which had always brought her comfort and peace during troubled times as these.

“What troubles you?” Legolas asked, interrupting her thoughts.

“Nothing,” the Haven Elf replied, knowing that he wouldn’t believe her.

“Don’t lie to me,” the Mirkwood Elf said predictably, “I know that something is bothering you.”

“If you must know, I was thinking about Lienan,” the Elf from the Haven replied with a grim sigh, “I am sorry that we could not save her.”

“My sister is already gone,” Legolas commented bitterly, “She died in Orthanc.”

“I would give anything to have her back,” Maelute said sympathetically as she stood and placed a comforting hand in his shoulder, “To take away your pain.”

The elf maiden from the Haven gently stroked his cheek in comfort as she looked into his deep blue eyes seeking assurance.  Unconsciously to him, Legolas’s hand reached up to cup the hand that was touching him, letting the sensation of the touch envelop him with bliss.

“I know and I thank you for that,” the Elf Prince said with a smile. Then as he gazed into her sparkling eyes, he said, “I’ve taken you for granted.”

“What do you mean?” a confused Maelute asked.

“There is something that I meant to tell you a long time ago,” Legolas explained, “But the time never seemed right.”

“You don‘t have to tell me, I already know,” Maelute whispered softly with a laugh, almost playfully, “And I care for you too.”

Legolas was in complete shock as Maelute leaned in for a quick kiss.  But the feeling soon passed and soon the two were quietly standing there in the light of the moon as they stared into each other’s eyes.  One could not mistake the deep affection that flowed through them.  Unfortunately their lovely moment was interrupted by the sounding of the horn of Gondor.  Casting one last loving glance at each other, the two rushed to the battlements to see what was happening as the scouts approached the front gates.

“What news do you bring good man?” King Elessar asked the scout.

“The Uruk-hai army is heading here,” the man replied as he gasped for air, “They will be here by the rising of the sun.”

“Very well,” King Elessar said gravely as Maelute and Legolas appeared at the front gate to join him, “If Saruman wishes to fight us, then let us set out to face him!”

With hesitation, the crowd of soldiers surrounding him cheered.  Everyone knew that here was little chance of winning.  Saruman had thousands of Uruk-hai that were lead by one of the oldest evils that had ever walked the face of Middle-earth while they merely had hundreds of frighten soldiers who were almost completely spent from their previous encounter with the wizard’s forces.  

Just then, another horn sounded, signaling the arrival of others to the city of Minas Tirith.  The soldiers rushed to their positions, prepared to fight if it was the Uruk-hai army.  Fortunately for them, it was not Saruman’s army, but the legions of Rohan army with the Lady Éowyn leading them.

“Lady Éowyn,” King Elessar greeted as she entered through the opened gates, “What brings you here?”

“My brother,” she replied. Then with a cheerful smile she added, “And an old alliance.”

“Welcome back to my fair city, old friend,” the King of Gondor said with an equally cheerful smile.

With a bow of her head to the King of Gondor, she moved on only to find herself face to face with Faramir.  No one took notice as the Lady stopped in her tracks at his presence as they moved inside the city walls.  There was a moment of awkward silence before the Lady Éowyn greeted her former husband.

“Faramir,” she greeted politely, “It is good to see you.”

“And you, my Lady,” he greeted in return, “How have you been?”

“Better since our last encounter,” she replied with a genuine smile.

“Thank you again for letting Rowena stay in Edoras while she carries our child,” Faramir stuttered nervously, smiling back at the Rohan maid.

“It was the least that I could do for all the trouble I have caused,” the Lady said grimly, her smile wavering for a moment, “I know now that you were not the cause for my misfortunes and that I should accept the love that you two share.”

“And what of Imrahil?” Faramir inquired.

“If he will have me, then I will be content,” the Lady replied with hope, “I did not see his men when I came in; where is he?”

“You mean you don’t know?” the Gondor soldier asked.

“Know what?” Éowyn asked suspiciously.

There was a pause as Faramir considered his next words carefully.  Éowyn had already proven once before that she could be unstable when it came to the ones that she cared about.  It was never determined when exactly Saruman was able to take control of her body.  

“Saruman has taken control of Imrahil as well as the others,” Faramir finally said, watching the Rohan maiden carefully.

“I had known about my brother and Lienan being captive to that foul wizard; but Prince Imrahil as well?” Éowyn said in disbelief mostly to herself, “Are you sure of this?”

“King Elessar saw them himself on the battlefield,” Faramir clarified grimly.

Éowyn was emotionless as she took everything in.  She was extremely good at hiding her emotions from everyone but the well trained like Lienan and was doing a good job at keeping Faramir curious as to how she was feeling.  

“Is that so?” she finally said calmly, “Then I can assure you that he won’t have them for long.”

“There you two are,” King Elessar said as he gestured for them to come inside, “Come, we need to plan what we are to do and quickly before Saruman’s forces arrive at dawn.”