Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even the computer I wrote this on.

Legolas looked around him once again, trying, hoping, to find some life in the empty caverns of Moria. All of his Elvin senses warned him against travelling deeper into the mines, but he could not turn back. Ever since the Fellowship had entered the mines the day before, a growing feeling of foreboding had grown in Legolas' mind. He hinted to Gandalf that the group should make haste towards the exit, but the hobbits did not have the stamina of the others; the group was forced to go at a slower pace with many breaks. Even Gimli was having trouble, though he would not have admitted it, especially in the presence of Legolas.

They had stopped again, for the night apparently. Legolas's body told him it was night, but how anyone really knew was beyond him; in these dark mines, day was like night and night was like day. His eyes darted around the cavern they were in, they had stopped in one that wasn't quite so littered with bodies, so there was more room for the group to spread without worrying of sleeping on corpses. The hobbits had gathered together, almost in a pile, in one corner and had promptly fallen asleep. Gimli and Gandalf were in deep discussion about their current location and their route out, while Boromir leaned against a wall across from the hobbits and, to all appearances, went to sleep as well. Aragorn made his rounds around the area, insuring that there were no evil creatures lurking in the shadows. Legolas curled up in another corner, away from everyone else, trying to regain his strength but failing. Yet he knew he would not be able to here, it wouldn't be until they had reached fresh air and bright sunlight could he truly rest.

Legolas sighed, it wasn't that he was terribly frightened down here, it was just that the place felt wrong. He couldn't understand how the dwarves could have lived down here for so long, nor how the others could be so much at ease, compared to him.

Gandalf and Gimli finished their talking and prepared to rest as well. They laid down were they were, and Aragorn sat down next to Legolas just as Gandalf put out his light.

The room was enclosed in darkness and Legolas shuddered involuntarily. He felt a warm hand touch his shoulder and looked over at Aragorn. The Ranger put his arm around Legolas and pulled him closer so that their sides were touching. Legolas leaned his head against Aragorn and the man softly stroked the elf's hair. They exchanged no words, for they needed none. Their gentle contact soothed both of them, and Legolas let himself be drawn onto Aragorn's lap. The man's arms circled Legolas and their lips met in a soft kiss, smooth and dainty lips against chapped and weathered ones. Legolas leaned his head against Aragorn's chest, and the two fell asleep in the deep mines of Moria.

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