Ok, listen, I've already had one flamer who seems to be taking this too seriously writing me emails with such things as 'this is so gay coz this forest doesn't exist' ITS FAN FICTION so don't read this if your gunna complain about my IMAGINATION!! To all those who actually can deal with me having my own story line sorry for wasting your time and thank you for reading, have a good day J

SailorSlytherin

Putting down his lembas' bread, Aragorn sighed loudly. Standing up and stretching he gazed in wonder at the clear skies and clusters of stars that led like a twisted pathway through the ebony heavens. He thought about their quest, 'to rescue Merry and Pippin,' he mused to himself; slowly blowing smoke rings with his pipe. The three companions (Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn) had been travelling on foot for three straight days now with little or no sign at all of the whereabouts of their captured friends.

The path they now lay on was on the edge of the kingdom of Rohan and Aragorn had a feeling deep in his heart that they would not be welcomed warmly.

The blond elf next to him stirred and rose from his slumber, "what is it Legolas?"

"The earth is moaning, the uruk-hai are gaining speed," he said after a small silence, the pine-scented woods towering over him. The pair sat quietly, lost in memory. Suddenly, their thoughts were interrupted but the sound of horse hooves.

'Clip clop clip clop.'

They roused Gimli and took shelter away from the path, in a large bush covered in honey scented blue flowers. Soon the noise grew louder until they saw a dark, misty figure of horse and rider emerge from the inky night. As it approached they saw that atop the pitch black horse sat a cloaked figure, it's face hidden from view. It stopped short of the hidden trio and swiftly dismounted, hardly making a noise as it hit the earth. Two small, slumped figures sat asleep on the horse.

Gimli rubbed his eyes and whispered, "unless my eyes are fooled by some trick or spell, I think those figures are those of our captured friends."

Instantly the figure whipped out a large bow and arrow and aimed it at the bush.

'* Who goes there? *' it spoke in elvish tongue.

'* It be friends of the hobbits, Aragorn son of Arathorn, Gimli son of Gloin and Legolas son of Thuranduil, *' Aragorn answered as well as he could.

Still the figure didn't lower its weapons, "show yourselves," it spoke this time in common language.

The three stepped cautiously from their hidden space. The figure aimed its bow at them and in a flash Legolas had his aimed point-to-point with the stranger.

'* Silly blond elf wishes to play? *' it snarled under its' breath.

"We did not mean to alarm you," Aragorn said, bowing low, "but the hobbits you carry are our companions."

Gimli stepped forward and slowly pulled Legolas' bow downwards, "come, come, and let's settle this over a snack," his stomach growled.

"I'm sorry, but not many pass through these woods," the hooded one spoke, reluctantly withdrawing its' bow as if standing unprotected was unwise, "what are you doing in these woods?"

"Reveal yourself and we shall answer…." Aragorn bargained.