Summary: Missing scene from Lord of the Rings that I wanted to put in, This is not linked to any other story, these are just scenes I wanted to keep together under a similar title.

This is a missing scene from the infamous drinking game in the Return of the King Extended Edition (if you haven't seen it search for it on YouTube) as I was writing it expanded to become the Palantir scene as well (I basically wanted to see glowy ethereal Legolas) I have taken some of it word for word from the film. I apologise for my previous version, it was written quickly at lunch while I was having a bad day at work.

This is not Slash, anything written is pure brotherly affection but if you want to read it as more I won't stop you.

I am of the fandom where Aragorn grew up in Rivendell and has known Legolas for years before the Fellowship was formed.

Legolas had toasted with the others in the hall as Theodan finished his speech, feeling sorrow pulling at his heart for his own fallen kin as well as the men who had lost their lives.

There had been heavy casualties on both sides, he could not help but feel deep down that this was only the beginning. Whilst they had won this battle the war was far from over, he sensed curious eyes upon him from where he stood leaning against the wall in a dark shadowed corner of the hall, nursing a small cup of wine, he disliked the smell of the ale the men were heartily drinking down.

The people of Rohan had little experience with the first born and it seemed as if the skills witnessed in battle had merely added to the supernatural tales. Legolas was the only elf to return to Edoras, his surviving kin had respectfully laid the dead to rest as there were too many to return home with, then returned home to complete their own journeys to the grey havens. This unfortunately meant that Legolas was now the sole focus of their curiosity.

Children were being led away to bed, staring in awe as they passed fair being, he smiled at them but the parents quickly ushered them away. It was almost like they expected him to cast a spell on them, Legolas tried not to look too put out by their behaviour. He was left surrounded by the men of Rohan, who kept shooting nervous glances at him but as the ale flowed the atmosphere gradually became accepting even if it still felt like he wasn't fully trusted. Legolas had just decided to retire for the evening when a loud brash voice came pushing its way through the celebrating men "Where is he?"

Legolas smiled as the stout being appeared, Gimli staring up at the shadowed form "There you are…" he grabbed the hem of the silken tunic and began to pull the elf through the crowd, the men watching with interest as the prince was led through them. Legolas was uncomfortably aware of the attention they were gathering but Gimli carried on talking either unaware of or ignoring the men stares "we have some unfinished business".

There was something in the Gimli's voice that made Legolas wary.

The elf realised he had been led to the middle of the room, coming to a halt next to a very large barrel of ale that stood tapped and ready. He tried not to show his discomfort as the as the sounds and smells of the men around pressed into him where they cheered at the two's arrival.

Gimli seated himself at a large table stocked with empty mugs, there was a buzzing air of excitement around that the elf did not quite understand.

Eomer smiled at Legolas' questioning gaze "It's just a bit of friendly competition, no pauses, no spills." He handed both the elf and dwarf a full mug of frothing liquid, Gimli looking excitedly at it while Legolas looked like the tankard in his hand might bite him.

The dwarf was eager to start as he firmly added "And no regurgitation."

Legolas looked around in sudden realisation "So it's a drinking game?"

Gimli gleefully answered with a smug air "Aye, Last one standing wins." He laughed as the men around began to cheer, toasting and calling out "What'll we drink to? Let's drink to victory! To victory!" he toasted the men with his mug then began to greedily guzzle the drink down.

Eomer gave Legolas a small salute with his own mug which prompted the elf to drink, watching with interest as Legolas took hesitant sniff which resulted in a look of disgust. He laughed as Legolas steeled himself the sipped which garnered more cheers from the men around. The horseman shook his head smiling as Gimli loudly slammed his empty mug down, eagerly reaching for another. Legolas finished his drink with a lot more finesse, a slight look of revulsion on his face at the taste; he then nodded his thanks as he was passed another full mug.

Eomer was pretty sure the competition would not last long, he briefly wondered how heavy the elf was as the horse lord was sure he would have to carry the fair being up to bed after a few more pints.

Gimli laughed heartily at Legolas' expression while reaching for another pint, thinking with great joy that he had already won.

Legolas was finding that after a fourth mug the brew was not as bad as he had first thought, he was keeping pace nicely with the dwarf and only reached for his next drink after Gimli had finished his, though he was making a point of not spilling any unlike his companion. Legolas was wondering if he should point out that the dwarf was spilling more of the liquid into his beard than actually getting in his mouth but the elf really didn't have anything to worry about, his father's Dorwinion wine was much stronger than this and the prince had drunk far more and stayed standing at many a celebration in Mirkwood.

Legolas neatly stacked his eighth empty cup down on the table, feeling good about this competition now. He looked over at the mound of empty tankards in front of the dwarf, realising that Gimli was ahead he quickly drained the mug, glad he didn't have any of the liquid left in his mouth as the dwarf leant forward and loudly broke wind much to the amusement of the men around who loudly cheered and crashed their mugs together. The elf feeling a small smile quirk at his lips as he and Eomer shared a look, the man of Rohan surprised by the noises coming from Gimli.

Legolas was steadily catching up when Gimli loudly laughed "Here, here. It's the dwarves that go swimming with little hairy women." The elf just barely stopped himself snorting the ale through his nose, finishing the drink while trying to ignore the other vulgar statements from the men around.

He met Eomer's impressed gaze as he took another full mug from the man but as he held it he noticed something, he raised his right hand rubbing his fingertips together with a worried expression on his face "I feel something. A slight tingling in my fingers. I think it's affecting me."

At the wide eyed confused look he was being given Eomer stifled his snort of laughter, sure that this much ale would've taken down a cave troll. Yet as he glanced down the lithe frame he was sure the elf could still drink much more.

Gimli swayed on his seat, holding up one finger to make his point "What did I say? He can't hold his liquor!"

The elf and horse lord could both guess what was about to happen, they watched the dwarf hiccup his eyes loosing focus as he slid backwards off his stool to land with a loud thump on the floor.

Legolas gave Eomer a smug look "Game over." With a small smile he raised the mug still in his hand, Eomer reaching out "I think you may have had enough." A slightly petulant expression came over the elf's face making him look very young "I am perfectly fine"

The man smiled, that was only a phrase uttered when someone was as far from fine as possible, he reached out chancing that the elf would not retaliate and took the half-drunk mug from his fingers. Legolas licked his lips as the mug was taken from him mid-drink, scowling at the man who just laughed "Truly the stamina of elves is impressive"

Legolas smiled smugly and raised his previously ignored cup of wine in a toast "The strength of men has greatly impressed me also" he drained the cup in one go causing Eomer to wince, that was mixing both the grain and the grape, the elf would have a sore head in the morning.

Legolas paused turning a serious gaze on him "I feel I must apologise for threatening to kill you"

Eomer had to think back, realisation finally making its way into his thoughts of their first meeting, he smiled "I apologise for the slight I gave your friend" he motioned to the unconscious dwarf still on the floor. Legolas looked thoughtfully down at the still form "My father will kill me for making friends with a dwarf"

Eomer laughed at the childish statement but before he could speak he noticed a large delighted smile appearing on the elf's face "Estel!" turning he found Aragorn standing staring with a slightly shocked expression on his face "I hear you have been in competition with Gimli again."

Legolas swayed slightly waving a hand dismissively "T'was no competition, my father's wines are far more potent that this" he raised his reclaimed mug of ale but Aragorn placed his hand over the top stopping the elf taking a sip "I believe you have had enough Mellon nîn" ((my friend))

The elf looked affronted "I will tell you when I have had enough Penneth" ((young one)) but then he blinked staring at his fingers again "I think I may have drunk too much"

Aragorn laughed stepping forward to support his friend as he swayed slightly "Aye, I think you have"

The elf leant against the man and it was obvious to Eomer that they shared a deep friendship that spoke of a companionship that had been forged by the sharing of many things both good and bad. He'd had a similar relationship with the King's deceased son Théodred having grown as small boys with him…he missed his self-proclaimed brother very much"

The elf was speaking slowly as he leant against Aragorn "I apologise for doubting you"

The man smiled "I could understand your worry, but you bypassed your own feelings and stood by me, that is more than I could ask"

A look of melancholy passed over the fair features "Mortal lives are too short, you burn hot and fast like the bare wick of a candle."

The ranger smiled as Legolas rested his head back against the man's shoulder "You have known me for over sixty years my friend, I would've thought you would be tired of me by now" he ignored the wide eyed stare from Eomer at the mentioning of knowing each other for such a period of time.

"You are always getting me into trouble…" came the sleepy reply "my father thinks you are a bad influence"

"Me! I will have you know that nothing interesting happened to me until I met you…" he paused smiling ruefully "I'm so very glad I did"

The elf lightly pushed the man away from him "Well nothing interesting happened to me for thousands of years before I met you, human…"

"Thousands!?" Eomer couldn't help his exclamation as he stared at them, surely they were jesting, the elf could be no more than twenty five at most.

The elf smiled leaning towards him "That is quite young for an elf" he blinked as a strange expression came over his face "Estel…I believe I am in need of some air…"

Aragorn instantly stepped forward with a worried expression on his face "Are you going to be sick?"

Legolas looked confused "No…" he blinked "I am unsure"

"That does it, I am taking you outside" he pulled the elf's arm over his shoulder and began walking towards the exterior doors.

Eomer smiled as he watched the two friends leave then looked down as a large snort came from the floor, sighing he signalled two of the more sober looking men to help him lift the dwarf and carry him to his bed.

###

Aragorn supported the light frame of his friend, out through one of the side doors and on to the large stone edge that ran around the exterior of the main hall. He breathed the fresh air in not quite realising how stuffy it had been in there, it must have been unbearable for the elf's keen senses.

The ranger leant his friend against the wall looking at his eyes to see how affected by the drink he was. Legolas swatted the man away "Estel I am fine" though he rubbed his stomach with a slightly nauseated expression on his face "how can you drink that stuff, it is vile"

The man laughed "You are not supposed to try and drink a whole barrel by yourself"

"It was not a whole barrel it was only…" the elf thought hard, confusion passing over his features as the memory evaded him "I do not remember how many…"

Aragorn patted his friend on the shoulder, stifling his laughter "I think you should stay out here in the open air for a while, wait here" Legolas nodded simply leaning his head back against the wall to look up at the stars.

The man smiled then left to fetch the elf's cloak, while Legolas was usually unaffected by the changes of temperature the man was unsure what that much alcohol would do to him.

Aragorn made his way down to the side chamber they had been given to bed down in, he could hear Gimli's powerful snores down the hallway to the room, even above the merriment still happening in the main hall. He opened the door smiling down at the prone form that had been positioned on his bedroll, he would perhaps join Legolas outside, there was no way he would sleep over that racket. He picked up Legolas' cloak and then decided to also take the green and brown belted tunic, knowing the elf would not come back inside until the morning.

He closed the door on the snoring dwarf and made his way back to the outer edge of the building, stopping dead as he exited "Legolas!" the elf was standing precariously on the very edge, swaying slightly while humming to himself, turning at the man's shout which meant the heels of his boots hung dangerously over the edge "Come away from there!"

Legolas smiled walking towards him "Do not worry, I will not fall"

The man shook his head "Normally I would believe you" he held the clothing out as the elf just stared uncomprehendingly at it, sighing Aragorn threw the tunic over the elf's head ignoring the annoyed protestations. He pulled the tunic down, Legolas watching in amusement as the future king began to dress him like an elfling, he couldn't help the small chuckle as Aragorn finished fastening the broach to his cloak which caused the man to frown at him "What?"

Legolas laughed while straightening his ruffled hair "It has been a very long time since anyone has dressed me Mellon nîn ((my friend)) I sometimes think you would have made a wonderful naneth" ((mother))

Aragorn shot him a annoyed look and pulled the elf's hood up and over his face, laughing as Legolas slapped his hands away and tugged the material back so it rested against his forehead. They both started as another cheer came from inside the building, Legolas smiling at him "You should return, they will miss you"

Aragorn looked back at the doorway, a slightly torn expression on his face "You will be alright?"

"I will be fine, it is a little constricting for me to be in there, besides…" he gave Aragorn a mischievous smile "I will not sleep with the noise the dwarf is making, I can hear him snoring from here"

The ranger laughed clapping his friend on the shoulder "I will see you later" the elf nodded stepping back to the edge to look out into the night.

Aragorn shook his head in fondness then headed back inside to the warmth.

###

The celebrations had lasted well into the early morning, the hall finally emptying as people stumbled back to their homes or simply lay down on temporary beds on the floor. Aragorn had been one of the last to leave, he laid down in his bed staring up at the ceiling, Gimli's snores grating into him from where he blissfully slept, the ranger sighed rolling onto his side bringing an arm up to cover his ear…it wasn't working. He finally stood while stretching, feeling his back pop from lying on the hard stone floor then rifled through his pack to find his pipe and weed, deciding to head outside. Unfortunately he didn't notice that his movements had disturbed Pippin's already uneasy sleep.

He silently moved through the main hall so as not to wake the sleeping occupants catching sight of Eowyn asleep on a small chaise longue out the corner of his eye. Feeling the room had become cooler now the press of bodies had gone he knelt down beside the dwindling fire to rekindle it. When he was sure the log had caught he moved over to the sleeping woman moving the hem of the cloak covering her down over her bare foot and pulling the fur collar further up over her shoulder.

Her voice was slurred with sleep as she spoke, not fully conscious and her eyes still closed "What time is it?"

Aragorn gently spoke hoping to coax her back to sleep "Not yet dawn" he turned to leave but found his hand caught in hers, she blinked still not quite fully awake "I dreamed I saw a great wave climbing over green lands and above the hills. I stood upon the brink. It was utterly dark in the abyss before my feet. A light shone behind me but I could not turn" he knelt down next to her sensing she was upset "I could only stand there, waiting."

He gently patted her hand "Night changes many thoughts. Sleep Eowyn. Sleep while you can." Her eyes blinked as she succumbed to the pull of slumber once more, her words sending a shiver through him as he stood. He was so in thought that he did not realise where his feet had taken him until he began to fill his pipe and noticed Legolas' form standing as a silent sentinel in the night.

Aragorn made his way over to his friend's side, Legolas did not acknowledge him but stayed staring out at the horizon, his eyes slightly glazed which led the ranger to believe he was drifting through elven dreams and memories. The elf spoke quietly making the man start "The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East, a sleepless malice" the blue eyes clearing as he glanced at his friend "The eye of the enemy is moving."

A shiver went down the man's spine causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up, he looked warily around beginning to feel the same oppressive change in the atmosphere that Legolas had already sensed.

Legolas gasped, his eyes searching the skies as his breathing increased, Aragorn stepped next to him questioningly as the blue eyes became impossibly wide, an ethereal glow beginning to emanate from the elf which dissipated the chill in the air around them.

An awful silence snapped into place, nothing moving in the still night. Legolas locked a frightened gaze with Aragorn "He is here!"

A sickening realisation ran through the man, chilling him "The Palantir!" he sprinted back to their room, Legolas following closely behind.

Aragorn could hear a commotion behind the closed door, Merry's voice yelling something and he slammed the door open, staring in shock at the scene before him. Pippin had his gaze locked on the Palantir, no longer was it cold and dead, it was glowing with a fiery light bringing with it an air of great malice which suffocated the room. Pippin was in pain seemingly unable to release the item in his hands as Merry cried out pleadingly to his friend.

Legolas watched in shock as Aragorn rushed forward, grabbing the stone from Pippin's grasp, there was a shift in the air, the ranger gasping as Sauron's gaze rested fully upon on him. Legolas grabbed his friend to help break the connection but as he came into contact with his friends skin an evil feeling of dread swept through his heart. He forced himself to not recoil as they fell to the floor together, the fall causing the Palatir to harmlessly roll away for Aragorn's grip.

Gandalf threw his cloak over it which instantly broke the oppression that filled the room.

Legolas could see wizard tending to the small hobbit but was distracted by worry for Aragorn, who had his eyes similarly open, no recognition in the depths of the silver eyes. The elf brushed his hand over the ranger's forehead speaking quietly in the grey tongue "Estel, do you hear me? Come back Mellon nîn, come back to the light"

Aragorn could feel warmth pulling him away from the darkness that was threatening to suffocate him, he could see a light in the distance. He turned towards it hearing a voice he trusted filling the darkness around him with hope "Lasto beth nîn, tolo dan nan galad." ((Listen to my voice, come back to the light.))

It felt like he had broken the surface of a deep pool as he blinked, gasping a deep breath of air in. He watched in wonder as Legolas' form shimmered in front of his eyes. He was fascinated as his friend's voice became low and ethereal, his blonde hair now un-braided and being gently buffeted by an invisible breeze. A white silken shirt added to the pale glow of the elf's skin, Legolas' whole body glowing brightly as it sent the darkness from Aragorn's heart. He smiled up as he glimpsed the true form of his friend, closing his eyes for a second. When he opened them the room was always as it had been, Legolas was no longer glowing and was dressed as he always had been "Are you alright?" the elf's voice was sounded the same as it usually did.

Aragorn swallowed, "Yes, thanks to you" he sat up with the elf's help looking over to Gandalf and Pippin while leaning back into his friend's supportive embrace.

They could hear Pippin speaking slowly obviously upset as Gandalf questioned him. They both rose, their movements stilling as Pippin's next words were heard "A tree, there was a white tree in a courtyard of stone. It was dead. The city was burning."

It appeared the fight would be taken to Minas Tirith.