So, I haven't written, updated or published anything in years. And I highly apologize for that. Anyway, I was re-watching the LOTR movies and this idea came to me. I decided to skip the whole "girl takes time falling in love with Legolas" thing and go straight to them being already in love and how the War of the Ring affects their relationship. Let me know if you like this idea or not. Apologies for any bad grammar or spelling. Enjoy!

Night was falling over a small campsite, hidden between large rocks. Two figures, a Dwarf and a Man, moved about in the fire light, the Dwarf unfolding bedrolls and the Man carving up apples with a knife. Everything was quiet, save for the sound of crickets in the tall grass and the campfire crackling in the slight breeze. A feminine cry pierced the air, causing the two figures to stop what they were doing. The Dwarf rolled his eyes.

"Again?" he grunted.

The Man laughed.

"Leave them, Gimli," he said, returning to the apples.

Gimli sighed and returned to the bedroll he was in the midst of unrolling. He paused for a moment.

"Aragorn," he called to the Man.

The Man looked up at him.

"I'm taking bets as to who it was who screamed," Gimli continued, holding up a small satchel filled with coins and shaking it. "I say it was Legolas."

Aragorn shook his head, shoulder length dark hair moving away from his face. His eyes were lit up with laughter. Another cry reached their ears, this one more deep and masculine. Gimli muttered some Dwarvish words and returned to his task.

~:✿:~

Not far from the campsite, two other figures were clinging to each other in the darkness, bodies heaving and drenched in sweat. Both had the same, beautifully colored hair. A shimmering blonde, with almost silver highlights. And each had piercing blue eyes which stared into each other's. These were the two elves of Mirkwood, Legolas and Anolindë, joining Aragorn and Gimli as they chased a large group of Uruk-Hai across the land. The Uruks had taken Merry and Pippin, two loveable and innocent Hobbits from the Shire, captive and the group had decided to rescue them instead of follow Frodo and Sam on their quest to destroy the Ring.

"Anolindë," Legolas breathed, looking down at his lover, the elleth he intended to marry after the Ring had been destroyed.

She looked up at him, watching the lust fade from his eyes. Her fingers trailed over his hairless skin, feeling each muscle ripple as he propped himself up above her. Her eyes wandered over his lithe body, drinking in the sight of him, gazing at his muscular chest and abdomen. His eyes did the same, sweeping over her naked body, fingers tracing every curve of her breasts and hips. They made love often, finding comfort in each other. They had known each other since they were Elflings, playing with each other in the woods or the fields, chasing butterflies and pretending to slay dragons. They had trained together, both mastering the art of bows and knives. Together, the two were a deadly force in battle. It was known throughout Mirkwood that they would be bonded. Thranduil, Legolas' father, had not been so happy with the idea of his prince son marrying her. She was not of royal blood. Anolindë's father was only a close advisor to the Elven King, definitely not royalty. Thranduil would have his son marry a princess. Despite Thranduil's feelings however, both Legolas and Anolindë knew they would bond.

"Perhaps we should join Aragorn and Gimli," Anolindë whispered, her breathing returning to normal.

She leaned up to kiss the Elf prince, sliding one hand through his hair and pushing his head into her.

"Must we?" he asked as they pulled away from each other.

"Yes meleth nîn," she giggled, pulling herself from under him. "They are our companions after all."

Legolas sighed and stood up, mindlessly pulling on his breeches and tunic while he watched the sway of her hips as she dressed herself. They tidied themselves as best they could, brushing bits of dirt and grass out of their blonde locks before they returned to the campsite. As they approached the fire, Gimli grunted a greeting as he wrapped himself in his bedroll for the night. Not another word was said between any of them.

~:✿:~

The next day found them running through the plains, as they had done for many days now, tracking the Uruk-Hai westward. Every so often, Aragorn would pause and inspect the ground for any signs of the foul creatures. Anolindë would occasionally fall back to keep the Dwarf company as he struggled to keep up.

"We're catching up. Do not fail now Gimli!" she said, trying to motivate him.

Aragorn stopped to lay his head on a rock, listening for the heavy Uruk footsteps.

"Their pace has quickened," he said, looking up. "They must have caught our scent. Hurry!"

He leapt forward, followed closely by Legolas who looked back to see his lover keeping pace with Gimli.

"Come on Gimli!" he called back.

"Three days and nights pursuit," the Dwarf grumbled. "No food. No rest. And no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell."

Anolindë laughed, reaching out and pulling Gimli forward a bit. Her Elven ears heard Aragorn pause again.

"Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall," she heard him say.

"They may yet be alive," came Legolas' reply.

At that moment, Gimli tripped and tumbled down the hill. Anolindë sped up to help her fallen companion, swiftly hauling him upright.

"Come Gimli! We are gaining on them!" Legolas called back.

"I'm wasted on cross-country!" Gimli huffed loudly. "We Dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances."

"Save your breath Gimli," Anolindë warned. "You must keep running."

Finally, Gimli was able to catch up to Aragorn and Legolas with little motivation from Anolindë. They had paused on top of a hill, looking outward over the plain.

"Rohan. Home of the horse lords," Aragorn said to the small group. "There is something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures, sets its will against us."

A large cloud of dust caught Anolindë's eye. Legolas touched her hand briefly as he moved past her, only stopping when he had reached a rock several feet ahead of them.

"Legolas!" Aragorn called to him. "What do your Elf eyes see?"

"The Uruks turn northeast," Legolas called back. "They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard!"

Anolindë suppressed a shudder. Gandalf, before he fell in Moria, had told them the White Wizard had turned to Sauron and became the Dark Lord's ally.

"Saruman," Aragorn hissed angrily.

Anolindë ran down to her love, grasping his hand as her eyes pleaded with him.

"We must get to them, meleth nîn," she whispered.

"We will," the Elf prince said quietly.

They must. Who knew what horrors lay in store for the Hobbits at Isengard.

meleth nîn - my love