~ Black Gates and Revelations ~

Remaining quiet was hard. Legolas sat at a large round table, seated between Ara and Elrohir. Elrohir was charged with the task of ensuring Legolas kept his mouth shut. Legolas hated it. The ideas being discussed at this table, at this council were terrible! Currently, these leaders and advisors were talking of marching all the way to Mordor, to the Black Gate itself to have it out with Sauron. It was ludicrous! Legolas snuck a glance at Ara, trying to read her thoughts by her expression. The damn blood bond was fading, but from what he could feel, Ara was not panicked by these stupid ideas by these stupid men.

Surely…. Surely that did not mean?

"And what do you think, Lord Aragorn?" A blonde-haired man, who Legolas had learned was Lord Imrahil, asked. Legolas turned to Aragorn, who gave a slow nod.

"I believe it is our only choice. The ring of power is too close now within his reach."

"Does he know it is so close?" Éomer asked from the right side of the table.

"He does not, and we won't let him." Gandalf spoke up, his gaze sliding to Aragorn. "Word would have travelled by now to Mordor of the Return of the rightful King of Gondor. We can use Aragorn to our advantage, convince Sauron we hold the ring. Show him we are going to use it to destroy him.

"And how exactly will you communicate with him? Messenger pigeon?" Imrahil asked, sceptical. There were a few low chuckles, but Aragorn dismissed them.

"We have a Palantir. The same one used by the white wizard, Saruman, to communicate directly with Sauron. I will speak to Sauron myself."

"And he won't suspect you do not carry it?" Imrahil pressed.

"I doubt it. I am counting on his ego being so high, he expects none would dare enter the black gate without a weapon of such strength in their possession.

"Very well, are we all in agreeance?" Imrahil asked the table. Legolas was not, he couldn't believe this madness. They would go to their deaths! He began to stand, only to have Elrohir yank hard on his arm, pulling him down. He made to protest, but then Ara was holding his other hand, soothing. This mad plan was surely all wrong, surely not a part of the history? He looked at her, but she was communicating silently to Aragorn across the table.

"We will ride out at daybreak." Aragorn announced. Ara nodded, and then people were moving, and Ara was up, dropping his hand and hurrying over to Theodred, talking urgently to him. They left the chamber together.

"We best pack, brother, and help the Dunedin prepare." Elladan appeared at Elrohir's side.

"You will go too?" Legolas asked, confused.

"Of course, we are all going." Legolas shook his head.

"No, I do not think Theodred can go, and Ara will not. It is far too dangerous." The twins exchanged a look, which caused Legolas's heart to drop. Whirling, he swept out of the chamber, seeking her out. She was some distance from the door, arguing with Theodred. The new king of Rohan looked furious, but he was holding his tongue while Ara explained something in hushed tones. Legolas held back, waiting until the man stalked off before striding up to her.

"You were very well behaved." Ara teased; her smile bright. It slowly fell as she noticed Legolas saw no humour to be had.

"Are you riding to Mordor too?"

"We all are."

"No." He shook his head. "No, you can't."

"Legolas-"

"Absolutely not, are you mad? There is no way in Arda it is in the hist-" Her hand slammed over his mouth, muffling the rest of his sentence.

"Shh!"

"I will not, shush!" He seethed, tugging her hand away, but keeping his hold about her wrist. Walking now, he pulled her along to a quiet alcove away from the dispersing crowd. "It's too dangerous, please Ara, you cannot go." He tried to hold back the quavering which threatened to seep into his words. She let out a defeated sigh, pushing her loose hair off her shoulder.

"Legolas, we have to. There is no choice."

"What if something happens?" He swallowed, not wishing to tell her the indescribable fear which had begun to swamp him since the counsel had ended, that something terrible was going to happen if they went to Mordor. What if he lost her? Ara looked away, but not before he caught the flash of pain in her gaze.

"You know I can't tell you." He nodded, briefly wondering if he could borrow her secret book without her knowing. No, look where that had gotten him last time. They had both nearly died for his foolishness. Still, the unease stirred with him. No matter what, he needed to protect her, she was his… No, he realised as another emotion began to take hold; Ara wasn't his yet.

…

"Legolas, wait!" Ara had to jog to keep up with his relentless, quick strides out of the halls, and toward the part of the citadel they were staying in. One moment he had seemed reasonable, the next, he'd shot her a look, one she couldn't for the life of her figure out, and spun on his heel, leaving her to stare momentarily after him. Perhaps it was better they headed back to their quarters, at least then their conversation regarding Mordor and time-lines and whatever else she supposed he would demand to know, would be behind closed doors, away from unwanted ears.

He reached their entrance door, flinging it open and stalking inside. Taking a breath, she followed in after him, only to have said breath knocked from her very lungs. Legolas pressed her back against the door, effectively closing it. Then his mouth was on hers, urgent, brooking no discussion, just feeling. She gave in to it, arms reaching, pulling him closer and he obliged, pressing the entire length of his body against hers. Fingers tangled in her hair, and she let out a gasp when he pulled away to nip at the earlobe he had marked. His fea felt wild, reckless, and Ara shivered at the other emotions she could feel racing through him. Letting go of her ear, he stepped back, pulling her with him from the door, simultaneously picking her up. On sheer instinct, she wrapped her legs about him to keep from slipping, and he let out a throaty groan she very nearly reciprocated, except his mouth was on hers again, fierce, all consuming. Ara barely realised he'd left the main chamber until the bed came up to meet her, and then Legolas seemed to be everywhere. His tunic, frustrated her, and she warred with the few buttons to remove it, revealing the trail of leaves down to his torso. She kissed the one at his shoulder, trailing to his throat, drawing sharp breaths from him. The dress she had worn, now pooled about her hips, and as Legolas pushed her fully back onto the bed, he tugged the soft material down until she could kick it away. This time when he kissed her, he took her bottom lip between his teeth, and her breath hitched when the full weight of his hips pressed down upon hers. She needed, god, she needed to get those damn trousers off him. This was, he was… She needed him closer, her fea had never felt so restless, as if it wanted to escape its confines. She could feel Legolas's, as restless as hers; branches straining, leaves quivering. He pulled away a fraction, kicking off the trousers she hadn't even realised her own fingers had loosened, and then he was back in all his overwhelming proximity to her.

"Be mine, Ara." He breathed against her ear, gently nibbling at her mark, sending shivers rocking through her. Yes! Her fea flared with a yearning to join with his, to be encompassed by the cool, green branches. It physically hurt beneath her ribs where her heart pounded. Legolas leaned back, eyes the colour of an incoming storm; dark, electrifying. She stared up at him, wanting to say yes more than anything… It must have shown in her eyes, for he let out a long, shuddering sigh.

"I want to." She whispered, hearing the regret she felt echoing in those three words. Legolas rolled off her, sitting up. Ara pulled herself up, finding and hugging a pillow to her bare chest for comfort, trying to supress her still pounding heart.

"We do, don't we, I mean we are meant to?" Legolas asked, staring across the bedchamber, voice wary now.

"Yes, definitely yes!" Ara quickly replied, glad when he met her gaze again.

"How am I meant to know when?" He sighed, twisting his hands together. "Ugh, surely not after one of those Noldor ceremonies? Because I marked you, so technically by Silvan lore, we can do what we want." He rattled out, sounding a little petulant in Ara's opinion. She couldn't help the laugh which bubbled up.

"Yes, because you are so versed in Silvan lore." He narrowed his gaze at her .

"Beyond my point. How am I to know, will you leave me a note, give me some hint? Clearly if now is not the perfect time, then the written history must be completely abided by…" Legolas trailed off, his face paling, eyes widening in horror. "Elbereth, has your father read about it in that book?" Ara burst out laughing, earning a scowl her way.

"No, no, Ada hasn't read anything of the sort. Gosh Legolas, Lord of the Rings wasn't a romance story!"

"Then how am I to know?" His confusion was adorable, and so Ara leaned towards him, curling up at his side.

"You'll know."

"But how?" She shrugged.

"I don't know, I think it will just be right, and we'll both know." He nodded, falling into his thoughts a moment, absentmindedly untangling her hair.

"I believe you are right." He sighed. "I let my fears of what is to come control my earlier actions. I apologise, Ara, I was rash."

"Don't be sorry." She whispered, nuzzling against his neck. "I'm scared too."

…

"I hate Orcs!" Legolas spat out, enraged by the state of the northern forest of Ithilien they rode through a day later. Arod snorted, picking up on his displeasure. Many of the trees had been hewn down, burnt, all for naught but the cruelness of Orcs and all of Sauron's forces!

"You and us all, Laddy." Gimli rumbled from where he sat behind Elrohir, who rode along beside.

"Elves have not been in these parts for quite some time." Elrohir murmured, casting about at the damage done.

"If I could stay I would." Legolas sighed, brushing his hand sadly against a young, broken pine as he passed. Life still lingered, but to survive, it was Elves the forest needed. Elves to heal the damage which had been done. He'd hoped Ara would say something, tell him he would return here, but as she had been throughout the day, she remained silent. He knew why, it was too risky. All around, the army spoke of what they would do once Sauron had been defeated. Each word uttered was hollow, simply a way in which the soldiers were convincing themselves they would return, that they were not riding to their deaths. Legolas could feel the unease within the vanguard, and Ara's silence only worried him. What was going to happen?

The day dragged on, until the sun sank below the canopies of the trees, lighting the forest up in gold and then a fading purple as it sank lower. As darkness crept up, Aragorn, who led the army, signalled a stop for the night. Small fires were lit, brown and cream tents were pitched around Legolas while he tended to Arod and Aragorn's horse, a bright bay, half-mera named Brego, Theodred had lent Aragorn the fine stallion on the condition the horse was returned to Minis Tirith, along with the rest of them. Ara was with Aragorn, ensuring all plans for the next day were on track.

Night had completely fallen when she returned, and although Gimli had told him not to fret, Legolas had. He knew she was safe with Aragorn, but the unease he'd felt the day before had not let up, if anything, it had grown.

"Legolas?" Her voice floated up to him, and he realised of course she'd have no idea he sat above her in one of the older trees which had not been harmed by the enemy. Pushing himself off the branch, he landed a few paces before her, causing a startled gasp, before she scowled at him.

"Sorry." He took her hand, needing her contact as reassurance she was alright. "You were gone a while."

"Yeah, sorry, Aragorn wanted to visit all the groups, make sure their spirits are high, tell them the plan for tomorrow."

"Which is?"

"More riding. Once out of the forest, we'll stick to the edge of the range, and follow it around to the gate."

"No more trees." He sighed and she shook her head, green eyes filling with a sadness for him.

"No, no more trees." She pulled him into an embrace he gladly reciprocated, and for a while, they stood like that, feas close. He could feel her unease, her fears. He wanted to ask what bothered her, but he knew he couldn't, knew she wouldn't answer if he did.

…

The day the Nazgul started following them from the skies, Aragorn felt the weight of the task ahead tenfold. With their ominous winged beasts, and seemingly light-sucking black breath, which seemed to linger over the barren landscape of Dagorlad, the armies earlier hope began to fail. The men barely talked, save for cursed muttering if the Nazgul's flew lower. Legolas and Elladan had tried shooting at them, but they always kept just out of range. The damn things would not be deterred.

"Can you do something?" Aragorn muttered, motioning up when Gandalf looked at him with a raised, bushy white brow. "I don't know how much more some of these men will take."

"Indeed, I can." Gandalf replied, prodding at Pippin who sat before him on the great Meara, Shadowfax. "Time to stretch your lazy bones, young Took."

"Wait, no!" Aragorn turned to see Legolas and Ara fall in trot alongside him.

"No?" He stared at Ara, waiting for an explanation. Her gaze was troubled, fearful.

"We can't scare them off." She spoke lowly. Aragorn stiffened.

"Why in Arda not! Have you seen the men, my men? They are losing hope!" He hissed back.

"You know I can't say." She replied, looking away. Aragorn growled out his frustration and nudged Brego forward and away from Ara. How were they to have a chance when the army he led were mentally falling apart?

Three hours past noon, the vanguard slowed to a halt, and approximately a thousand men lay down their weapons, and discord rose. Aragorn was at a loss. He had instilled hope, yet with the presence of the Nazgul, it was a losing battle. This was Ara's doing! He found her with the other Elves, on his way back from speaking with Halbarad, and then Éomer. Thankfully the Dunedin and Rohirrim still stood with him, as too did Imrahil's men. It was the farmer turned soldiers, and young ones who feared taking another step further, terror stricken by what they might face.

"Ara, a word please." Dropping her hand from Legolas's, she levelled the Elf a look before making her way to where Aragorn waited away from the others and out of earshot.

"You know I can't tell you." She spoke before he had a chance to ask, spreading her hands out wide.

"You need to this time." He shot back, scared of the thoughts racing through his mind. Compassion verses being a strong leader, being a King.

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to defeat Sauron with as many as we can."

"Then tell them that." Aragorn stared at her, stared past her to the fear filled, hopeless eyes of those who begged him to not force them to take a step further.

"I…"

"What do you want to do?" Ara asked again, and he looked back, finding her eyes gazing into his. The answer was in their dark green depths, he was sure of it, he just needed to know he was making the right decision by them all.

"I won't force men to their deaths." He whispered.

"Then don't." She replied with a nod. Swallowing, he nodded back at her, before turning towards the waiting army.

"Men of the West hear me now! I will not force you to continue the path I take. Those who turn back, do so towards Cair Adros, for the city can be liberated yet of the evil which has sieged its waters!" He was met at first with silence, and then slowly, those that wished to return separated from the lines.

"Perfect." Ara murmured beside him, too low for anyone else to hear, and a weight lifted from Aragorn's shoulders. He hated to lose those men, they were already severely outnumbered compared to the forces awaiting them in Mordor, and now only near on six-thousand would continue on with him to the Black Gates. Yet, if Ara was content in this turn of events, all he could do was trust in her it would all work out.

"I'm sorry about earlier." He apologised to her, feeling foolish for questioning her word. Ara turned; her smile small, sad.

"I want them gone too, the Nazgul." She looked away, to the direction they travelled. "Its not long now at least." He nodded, more to himself than her. Tomorrow evening, they would be before the gates to Mordor.

…

One last night of rest, and then the battle would ensue. Gimli had a thirst for the shed of enemy blood, yet he was ready for the fight to be over. The entire army was morose, the feeling catching. Would he fall to the same fate as his brethren in Moria? Destroyed by an evil beyond them all? Gandalf had lit a small fire, and he sat close to its heat, the shadow of flames dancing across his companions drawn faces.

Gandalf spoke lowly to a weary Aragorn, and he caught Frodo's name more than once in their conversation. To Gimli's right, the Hobbits sat cross-legged, eating the elvish bread Elrohir and Elladan seemed to have a never ending supply of in their saddlebags. Across the flames, Legolas sat, legs stretched out, holding onto Ara. Both were silent, and her eyes were closed, head resting against his shoulder. Legolas stared into the fire, its light burning in his currently dark grey eyes.

"Why don't we have a game, or some cheer?" Gimli found himself asking the others. The Hobbits ceased eating, turning to him, and Ara's eyes opened, focusing on him.

"Yes, I think that's a wonderful idea." Legolas said, sending him a grateful smile. "What do you propose?"

…

This was it. The last few months all led to this moment, this battle. The moment Frodo would cast the ring into the fires of Mount Doom, ending Sauron. After all these months, Ara felt as if it were not long enough. She was not ready. The march to the Black Gate, it was over. They were here. Last night, she and the rest of the Fellowship had played the same game they had played when they'd first set out, truth and lies. It had eased her heart for a time, as had Legolas, his fea soothing about hers, but now her heart thudded in dread at the sight before her.

Legolas tensed from behind her, and Arod tossed his head, unsettling Ara further. The gate was indeed black, and it loomed before them, set into the harsh rock; hiding the evil waiting within. Ara had studied her book constantly, and the past week of travelling had gone like clockwork. It was the first time all had gone right, and it terrified her. Was the other shoe going to drop? Behind her, the Army of the West's horses shifted about, feeling the unease and tension of their riders, and likely the great evil beyond.

"Its alright." Legolas's words were meant to lighten her heavy heart, but the gate's shadow was heavier. What fate lay beyond those walls? The shadow shifted, bright green leaves unfurling, pushing its dark tendrils away from her heart. Legolas. Ara could feel his fears, they had created a blood bond only an hour earlier, but he valiantly pushed them down, instead encompassing her with hope. They could do this. They could win this. They were meant to win this.

A grinding of cogs from beyond the gate sounded, and little by little, the solid wall split apart, revealing row upon row of orc soldiers, a mass of dull armour glinting under the fiery glow of the great eye which was fixed over them all. Yet, to Ara, it felt as if the eye penetrated her very soul. She ripped her gaze away to focus on the Mouth of Sauron who awaited them at the entrance of the now gaping wide gates. A tall figure, clad in glinting black armour sat astride an enormous black war horse, the poor beast's mouth frothing at the bit, eyes rolling and bloodshot. The figure did not move, yet his gaze seemed to sweep over them all, lingering a moment on Aragorn, then Legolas, who became rigged seated behind her, and then she saw his eyes beneath his crowned helm. They locked onto hers, and the breath left her lungs. Those eyes, they were… No…

"Welcome home." A silken voice wrapped about Ara, sending a chill through her as the tall figure raised a hand, beckoning her forward with a gauntleted finger adorning a gold ring.

Are you all screaming? I'm screaming because oh my freaking gosh, I've been sitting on this secret since day one! Aghhhhhhh! Anyway, below is what I've added to all my updates but a bit modified!

I'm going to start with the obvious. I'm not dead!

So, where the flying freaking hell have you been? You demand! Welp, it's been crazy, and I could use all number of being busy excuses to say I have not been writing, but the truth is, I have been writing, and world building and all sorts. Just not on any of my fanfics. I 've missed them. So why the hell didn't you work on them if you missed them? I hear you asking! Two reasons, apart from the busy cause all round, I have not got anywhere near enough writing done this year! Reason One: I have started two original works, and I'll share how to check those out below. Reason Two: My writing has improved and looking back on my fanfics and seeing all these glaring grammar and structural issues is bloody overwhelming! I want to re-edit everything, including this again, haha, but then I'm not getting new chapters out to you guys, but I am mortified by the poor quality of early chapters I've subjected to you all, and I'm just aghhhh! So, I guess you can say I buried my head in the sand fanfic-wise. I do however promise I have not abandoned There Were Ten, Fated, or Letters to Raven. The others will be put on the backburner for a while. But there's a new There Were Ten chapt up, and I'm keen to edit through the next chapt quickly! Fated's new chapter was halfway through but I started working on it tonight and this was the best end to it! Sooo because you all get grumpy with my cliffhangers, (but come on, this one is awesome), I better start writing the next chapter pronto! New Letters to Raven chapter is also up, and I'm about a third of the way done with the next. So next question, who wants to come run my business for me and cook me food so I can just write all day every day? Haha!

Okay, exciting news: I am working on two books in the draft stages. WIPs most definitely. One is a YA Scifi, the other is a YA fantasy which is sort of a growing on idea from Sea Salt, but significantly different. I'm also in the middle of posting up a short story fantasy about Faeries which if anyone has read The Nameless Ones, will see it is a nod to that Legolas/Aerlaer fic, but also entirely different.

Without further ado, I give you my pen name, and budding author website:

All the fun though is entirely on Instagram, so if you are bored and want to check out just what my fantasy wip, Curse of Salt is about, it's: jessascott_writes and then check out the peeps I'm following, because holy hell, we are going to be seeing some amazing fantasy lit hitting shelves and amazon soon!

You guys are all amazing, and I'm so sorry it's been so long! Missed you all!

xx A

P.S. I was cheeky and didn't edit this! I'm sure it will bite me on the arse later!

P.P.S Damn, I think that's my best oohlalala fanfic scene I've written yet! Better up the anti in the next chapt of Letter to Raven! ;)