Title: I'll get that Elf

Rating: T.

Disclaimer: Not mine. L

Note from the author: My first attempt at a long story. Should I keep going or just stop here and forget I ever tried? Please comment I'd love to know what you think.

Italics and '' signifies thought

________________________________________________________________________

'Some day I'll get that Elf back .' Thought Aragorn, wringing out his tunic. 'Of course it is completely past his capabilities to tell me I need a bath before shoving me in the water.'

He didn't dare voice his thoughts in case he was heard by the sharp eared Elf, and then he would really be in trouble.

Sighing Aragorn trudged back to their shared camp in a dull mood, to find Legolas had already set up a fire, caught a deer and was now cooking four pieces over the fire. Saying nothing to his friend he plonked himself down on the opposite side of the fire and sulked. Legolas nonchalantly passed him two pieces of the deer he had been roasting and Aragorn took it without a word sparing only a glare for his dry friend.

"Estel?"

Aragorn said nothing.

"Strider?" Legolas tried a different name.

Aragorn still said nothing.

"Aragorn?" He switched names again hoping to get a response even if it was just another death glare.

But Aragorn stayed silent, munching the deer.

Legolas sighed. "Are you going to answer or am I going to have to get a little more creative with my names?" He asked.

Aragorn choked on his piece of deer, trying to stop a laugh. Legolas smiled to himself and placed two more bits of meat over the fire. He knew the Ranger wouldn't stay mad for too much longer. It was almost impossible for one to stay mad at the other, especially when he had all the food.

"Legolas I'm not in the mood." Aragorn replied, Desperately trying to smother the smile that threatened to burst onto his face.

"Well then get in the mood! I don't want to have to drop off a gloomy son to Lord Elrond, no more than I wanted to give him a smelly one." He laughed.

Despite his attempt to stay angry at the Elf, Aragorn found himself chuckling and turning back towards his friend.

"So by that reasoning I don't smell anymore?" He asked. "Well I'll have to do something about that wont I?"

Legolas rolled his eyes but he couldn't stop the smile of relief spread across his face. He had been forgiven. A plate thrust into his hands disturbed his thoughts. He turned to Aragorn, cocking an eyebrow.

"Refill!" Aragorn half demanded.

"But I haven't even had any yet!?" Legolas exclaimed. "Plus I caught it!"

"Yes, but you're an Elf." Aragorn replied as if this answer justified everything.

Legolas sighed and placed two more hunks of deer onto his plate and watched with raised eyebrows as they disappeared, faster than he could have ever believed. Before the Ranger had a chance to ask, or demand, for the other two pieces, the Elf put them on his own plate and started to eat. Excruciatingly slowly.

Aragorn groaned. He knew what his friend planned to do.

"Come on Legolas! Hurry up I'm hungry!"

The Elf regarded him with a faked shock expression. "Why Aragorn! It's not my fault if I like to chew my food!"

"But must you do it so slowly?"

"I must." He answered, face calm and expressionless.

"Oh is that how it is?"

"It is."

"Good for you."

"I know it is."

"Fine." Aragorn said watching as the last piece went into Legolas' mouth. He immediately thrusted his plate on top of Legolas'.

The Elf looked down and opened his mouth to protest but the remark was silenced before a sound was made. Something had caught his eye. Aragorn turned to peer in the direction Legolas was looking but without his friend's sight he couldn't see anything. But he had learnt, the hard way, not to doubt his friend's abilities and senses.

"What is it?" He asked.

Legolas stared into the dark. "Orcs, but there is something else there as well. It stands in the centre of the group but, alas, I can't make it out yet."

Aragorn strained his eyes but was slightly frustrated when he could be of no help. All he saw was slight shadows in the dark.

"A human." Legolas said, his voice betraying the surprise his calm face didn't show.

Aragorn squinted into the dark as they came a little nearer to them but he still couldn't make out much more than shadows

He glanced back at his friend. "Where does he hail from?" He asked.

Legolas frowned. "It is not a he, it is a she. And she seems to be," he hesitated, shaking his head in disbelief, "She seems to be leading them."

"What? Are you sure?" Astounded Aragorn whipped his head around and was surprised to see how close they were.

Suddenly man and Elf were plunged into almost complete darkness as the fire died without a sound. Panic flared but was subdued almost immediately by common sense. Legolas would have put it out to stop the strange group catching sight of them. He crawled around the extinguished fire as quietly as he could.

"Some warning next time." He whispered to Legolas, who was now gathering their stuff as quietly as he could.

He could make nothing out of Legolas but his friends bright blue eyes staring at him through the darkness. An uneasy feeling tingled in his stomach.

"It wasn't me."