The gates of Mordor loomed over them and it felt as if they were more than just a physical barrier. The sky past them and into the dead lands beyond was grey and thunderous. The very presence of Mordor and what it contained a black shadow over them, a blot on the landscape and a ever present threat that would haunt them until everything was over. Wether that be with their deaths or with Sauron destroyed. Either way, that ended today. It had too. 

Namir slipped off of Legolas' horse as the remaining forces of Gondor and Rohan lined up to face the black gates. He pulled his sword off his back and the elf wordlessly took it and strapped it across his own. "Namir". The skin changer turned to look up at the blonde elf in the saddle. His face open as Legolas cupped his cheek in his hand. "Gi melin". 

The words caused a warm smile to grace the cat's lips as he echoed the words. "Gi melin". He had to rise on his tip toes as the elf bent down but the kiss was warm and loving despite their uncomfortable positions. Legolas tucking a stray strand of dark hair back from Namir's  face as they pulled away. Then Namir was pulling off his trousers and throwing them over the saddle. For a second he was naked then he fell into a crouch, bones reforming and skin changing until a huge black cat, panther like, was stretching on the rocky ground. 

There was some clamours from the men surrounding them at the sudden change in form but they grew silent as Aragorn sent a warning look across the ranks. "Come", he ordered as he set his horse into a canter. Gandalf with Merry on the back of his saddle, on his left and Legolas on his right. Eomer just behind with Gimli on the back of his saddle followed by Faramir with Pippin. Namir running along side their horses with ease as they drew to a stop at the base of the towering iron gates. 

"Let the lord of the black lands come forth!" Aragorn called, voice echoing off the metal. "Let justice be done upon him!"

There was a moment of silence as they waited for a response, any response. Namir's tail twitching in expectation. Then with a thunderous creaking, the gates split and began to open. It seemed that they were as thick as two men standing side by side. Metal and impenetrable. Yet as they opened, the sounds of hundreds of feet marching reached their ears. Aragorn pulled his horse around. "Pull back", he ordered. The horses retreated back to the safety of their lines, Namir following a bit slower behind, wary to turn his back on such a large force. 

"Hold your ground! Hold your ground". Aragorn's voice steadied the nervously twitching army of men who had begun to back away from the forces of Mordor with fear. They were out numbered, it was easy to see. Yet Aragorn's voice called for bravery as he rode his horse up and down their flanks. "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 out 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!" 

He hefted his sword into the air and in the light with the silver tree of Gondor on his chest he looked like the king he was meant to be. "Today we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand! Men of the west!" 

His speech emboldened them and when he held up his sword, hundreds of sounds of steel on scabbards followed and blades glinted in the light. Namir watched the armies of orcs begin to surround their smaller force. A circle of dark armour around the silver. A low growl in his throat as the orcs screeched at them. 

"Namir". He looked up at his name to see Legolas standing at his side. The elf had dismounted, sending his horse away and was now positioned at the front lines with the beast. He seemed calm but Namir could see the fear and worry in those blue eyes. They knew that this plan had little chance of success and a high chance of their deaths but it was another thing entirely to face the armies of orcs in person. 

"Could you turn back? I know you wanted to fight as a beast today but I wish to see your face". Legolas' voice was calm despite the anxiety in his gaze. Namir knew that it wasn't the anxiety of his own death but more fear for his. Just as he feared having to watch the blonde go down in battle. 

How could Namir refuse him? He let his bones reform and rose up as the elf held out his abandoned trousers. He slid them on easily and took back his sword. Bare feet on stone and the light breeze that had picked up tugging at his braid. He slid the blade across his back again and turned to face his lover with a smile as he intertwined their hands. 

"Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an elf", Gimli commented from Legolas' other side. Namir leaned around him and was met with narrowed eyes. "Nor the skin-changer who destroyed the Arkenstone". He snorted and shook his head. 

"What about side by side with friends?" Legolas smiled at him. 

Gimli didn't quite match the smile but his tone softened and his eyes twinkled. "Aye. I could do that". 

Legolas turned back to Namir and tugged him closer by their interlocked hands. He pressed their foreheads together and listened to the gentle purrs rumbling in the cat's throat. It maybe the last time he ever heard it and he would like it to be the last thing he heard. "Le I velethron e-guil nin. Radag vuin. I' ell nin".  The words were breaths between their lips as he pressed their foreheads together. Blue eyes meeting brown. 

Namir did not understand every word that his lover had just said but he got the meaning. It was with clumsy elvish, broken and unpractised but still holding weight that he replied. "Ni lassui annon i veleth nin allen. Law edelif. Galu nidhinc di ndaged ne nadgor". 

Legolas let out an amused chuff of air at the words and he pulled away slightly. "I never should have expected anything different from your words". 

Namir grinned into the kiss pressed against his lips. A quick thing but meaningful all the same. "I will not go down without a fight", he promised. 

"Nor shall I". 

Namir chirped and would have said more if a moment from Aragorn had not drawn his eye. He turned, dropping the elf's hands to watch as the man stepped away from their forces and the protective shadow of the army. He was seemingly looking far out into Mordor where the fiery eye of Sauron was watching them, almost distant as one step became two, became three. For a second it looked as if he was going to throw himself forwards onto the orc's waiting swords but then he turned and smiled at them. 

"For Frodo", he whispered. (Namir still barely knew who this Frodo was but it seemed like a well carried sentiment). Then he hefted his sword and charged. 

"For Frodo!" Merry and Pippin screamed in joint war cries and the two hobbits were the first to follow. Then the rest of them. Namir unsheathing his sword and letting out a war cry as the men of the west charged towards the orc forces. 

unedited

Getting close now. Not many chapters left. stay tuned. 

Gi melin- 'I love you'

Le I velethron e-guil nin. Radag vuin. I' ell nin - 'You are the love of my life. Beloved beastie. It was my pleasure.' 

Ni lassui annon i veleth nin allen. Law edelif. Galu nidhinc di ndaged ne nadgor-  'I am glad to give you my love. But we are not done. We must slay our enemies'.