He gazed around the room in silence. Aragorn held Anduril tightly in his hand.
Beside him, Faramir and Legolas stood poised and still, wating for him to make a move.

"I'm sorry, but those won't be much use to you."
Alatar took a step forward, Legolas fired an arrow which struck Alatar in the shoulder.
The man stumbled back, he looked at the arrow protruding from his shoulder.

Faramir glanced warily at Aragorn.
Legolas had another arrow ready.
Aragorn studied Alatar, the man reached towards the arrow and yanked it out.
He inspected it in his hand for a moment, and without warning he threw it back at Legolas.

The elf wasted no time in firing the arrow in his bow at the oncoming one.
The arrows bounced off eachother and feel to the floor.
Legolas shot another arrow at Alatar, this time at his heart.
The arrow hit its mark and Alatar sank to his knees, clutching the arrow with both hands and breathing deeply.

Legolas had another arrow ready, Faramir and Aragorn exchanged a look.
He had just been shot in the heart, surely he would die.
But nothing happened.
Alatar remained crouched on the floor, in the dark Legolas could make out where the arrow had embedded into Alatar's heart.

But something was wrong, there was no blood coming from the wound.
Legolad realized with cold horror that there was no wound.
Before he could warn the others Alatar leapt to his feet and swung his arm out towards Legolas.

The elf was thrown to the ground, his arms were wrapped around his stomach and he screamed in agony.
Alatar turned his attention to Aragorn who watched his friend in horror.
Aragorn ran over to him.

"The closer you get to him," Alatar closed his hand into a fist and Legolas screamed, "The more pain you cause him."
Alatar reopened his hand and the screams stopped.
Aragorn turned away from Legolas and glared at Alatar.

"Why have you come here?"
Alatar smiled.
His eyes were dark, almost black.
He towered over all of them, he wore a long, dark robe and had a menacing gleam in his eye.
"I have come for a single purpose."
He answered slowly.
"To kill you."

Before Aragorn could react he was flung backwards, he landed hard against the wall and fell to the floor.
He gasped in pain and shock.
Faramir had been thrown to the opposite side of the room.
His hand was clasped around his forehead, which was bleeding.

Alatar stood over Aragorn with a cruel sword in his hand, he raised it over his head and was about to bring it down on him.
"Farewell Aragorn. Your death will mark the beginning of the destruction of Middle Earth."

Aragorn's mind screamed for him to move but he couldn't.
He was going to die.
Alatar hissed in pain as two knives were shoved into his back.
He spun around and saw Legolas standing there, weaponless and weak.

Alatar scoffed.
"Pitiful."
He swung his arm out and sent Legolas crumbling to the ground.
Alatar was about to finish him off when he noticed who the elf was.
"You are Legolas, the only son of Thranduil are you not?"

Legolas didn't answer but forced himself onto his hands and knees.
"I can see no better way for the Elvenking to suffer," a wicked grin spread across Alatar's face.
"Then to watch his son die in front of him."

Legolas looked up at him in defiance, Alatar's face lit up in shock when he saw the scar on his face.
"Amarth."
Aragorn couldn't believe it.
Alatar knew, or had known, Amarth.

"Where is he?"
Alatar roared.
Legolas refused to answer.
He doesn't know where he is!
Aragorn wanted to scream.
Alatar grabbed Legolas and lifted him into the air, his hand clasped firmly around his neck.

"Tell me where he is."
Alatar began to tighten his grip on the elf, Legolas reached his hands up and tried to pry the hand off but it was useless.
Aragorn could see the panic in his friends eyes.
Legolas' legs kicked frantically.
He couldn't breathe.
He needed air.

Aragorn tried to move but it felt as if a weight had been put on him, pinning him to the floor.
Legolas tried desperately to break free from Alatar's grasp.
"If you tell me where he is, I promise to kill you quickly."
Alatar tightened his grip.
"If you refuse, I will find out myself, and I will kill you anyway, but much slower."

Legolas refused to speak.
Alatar threw the elf onto the floor.
Legolas put his hand around his throat and gasped for air.
Alatar turned his attention once more on Aragorn.
He would waste no more time here.
He raised his sword and brought it down, only to have it knocked out of his hand.

And arrow was fired at Alatar, he stumbled back and ripped the arrow from his right shoulder.
Aragorn tried to turn his head and see who had come but he couldn't.
Three more arrows were fired, each one hitting Alatar in the chest.

The dark being stumbled backwards towards the door.
Someone ran towards Alatar, firing arrows as he went.
Haldir
Aragorn watched in relief and fear as Haldir continued to fire at Alatar.

He was weakening.
To Aragorn, it almost looked like Alatar was getting smaller.
Haldir switched to his sword and stood over the cowering Alatar.
"This is not over."
He spat.
His eyes burned into Aragorn's.
"You will die!"

Haldir brought his sword down but just as he did Alatar vanished.
The weight that had been on Aragorn suddenly lifted.
He sprang to his feet and immedietly faced Haldir.
"Eldarion is safe."
Haldir said before Aragorn could speak.
Aragorn sighed in relief.

Faramir stumbled to his feet and looked around in a daze.
"Faramir, are you alright?"
Aragorn asked with concern.
"I'm fine, what about him?"
Aragorn suddenly remembered Legolas.
He spun around only to find the elf on his feet rubbing his neck.

Haldir walked over to him and made sure he was alright.
"I am fine Haldir. Do not worry."
"It is my job to worry. I was charged with protecting you."
Haldir continued to inspect his injuries.
When he was assured that Legolas was fine he asked to know what had happened.

But first, Aragorn wanted to know how Alatar had gotten into Minas Tirith.
"I do not know. The guards were unaware of his arrival, or his departure."
Haldir told them grimly.
"I did not know he was here until I saw him myself."

Haldir asked about what happened.
Aragorn told him everything, about how they had tried to fight Alatar, how he had demanded to know where Amarth was, how he couldn't be killed.
"I have never seen anything like it."
Aragorn concluded.

"We must warn the other kingdoms."
Faramir announced.
"Alatar could attack any one of them at any moment."
"He seems to be weakened at the moment."
Haldir agreed.
"Now is our chance to send word to the kingdoms."

Aragorn nodded.
"I will send messengers at once."
"I will see to that Aragorn."
Faramir assured him.
"You should go see how Eldarion is faring."
Aragorn didn't argue.
"Make sure as soon as you are done to get some rest. You need it."

Faramir nodded and ran off to carry out his task.
Aragorn turned to a silent Legolas.
"Are you alright?"
The elf didn't reply.
"Legolas?"
He snapped out of his thoughts.
"Yes?"
"Are you alright."
"I am fine. Do nit worry about me."

It's too late for that.
Aragorn thought.
Haldir placed a hand gently on Legolas' shoulder and urged him to go and rest.
Seeing that his friend was fine for the time being, Aragorn went to see his son.

()()()()

Despite Haldir's wishes, Legolas went outside to get some fresh air.
Haldir walked up behind him and crossed his arms.
"I told you to rest."
"I am not tired."
"We both know you are."
"I need to think."
"About what?"

Legolas didn't reply.
Haldir sighed.
"Legolas, you do not have to hide your thoughts from me. If there is something that troubles you tell me so I can help."
Legolas conceded and spoke his thoughts aloud.

"What will my father say about this? About Amarth, Alatar, all of it."
Haldir thought about it.
Knowing Thranduil, there were a hundred differant ways he could react to the knews.
He wondered how he had taken the news of his son's sudden disappearance.

He probably figured out where he is. But why hasn't he sent anyone for him?
The answer slowly dawned on him. Thranduil probably expected him to bring Legolas back.
"Amarth said that he would come here."
Legolas said.
"When?"
"I do not know."
"Why would he have warned you about Alatar?"
Legolas shook his head.
"Alatar seemed to know him. Perhaps they have met before?"
"Perhaps."

The two stood in silence tryinf to make sense of everything.
Haldir had thought that after the destruction of the ring, everything would go back to normal. There would be no more evil to fight, he could spend the remaining days of his time in Middle Earth in peace.

It seems like that time will never come.
Legolas suddenly tensed.
Haldir looked at him in concern.
"Legolas?"
"I have to go."
"Where? Legolas? Legolas!"

Legolas ignored him as he ran through the quiet streets of Minas Tirith and disappeared into the night.
Chasing after something Haldir could not see or feel.
Now I see why Thranduil worries about him.