Yes, I know I haven't posted in ages, and this will probably be my last LOTR fic up, unless I decide to upload one of my old ones. I thought I had this one up already, then I realized I had never posted it (probably because I thought it was too stupid). But I decided, What the hey? Might as well post it anyway. Maybe someone will like it. So please, enjoy.

Disclaimer: Only own Malbrith and the wording, probably not even the idea…

Warnings: Excessive character sighing. (Seriously. They sigh a lot in this fic.) Possible character death. Definite AU-ishness. Possible tissue warning at the end, for extreme softies. (I seem to underestimate my ability to make people cry.) Spoilers for LOTR. Semi-tenth Walker. (It's necessary though, really! Just read. You'll see.)

When In Need

Chapter One

A Friend in Need

It was a dream, Arwen. Nothing more.

Aragorn held the light brown riding cloak over his mouth and nose, sighing deeply into it. "Ai, my friend, I am afraid I need your counsel yet again," he murmured.

A pair of dark green boots stepped silently into his line of vision, and a smiling voice floated down to him. "What are you still doing with that old thing?"

Aragorn did not answer, merely stuffed the cloak into his pack and held his head in his hands, elbows resting on his knees. "You always come when I have need."

The other sighed lightly, settling himself next to Aragorn on the ground, back against the high wall. "What is it this time?"

"I fear I've made a grave error, Legolas, one that I cannot repair," Aragorn whispered.

"Over the course of the years, you may find that surprisingly few of our errors are irreparable."

"I told Arwen that we can no longer be together."

"Yet you still love her."

"It is for the best."

"Is it?"

"It is for her own good."

"Is it?"

Aragorn looked to his closest friend, the Elf staring back at him with one eyebrow raised. "What do you propose I do? Is it wrong for me to wish her to live forever in happiness in the Undying Lands?"

"I will not tell you 'yea' or 'nay' nor what could have happened or what you should have done," Legolas said quietly, not breaking their gaze.

"In other words, I should not have done what I did," Aragorn surmised, but the Elf did not answer. After a moment, Aragorn fisted his hand and pounded his forehead a few times. "Ai, I am such a fool! The Evenstar gave me her heart, and I threw it away. How could I be so foolish?"

Legolas lay a hand on the Man's shoulder. "Do not be so quick to condemn yourself. I have a feeling that this is not one of those irreparable mistakes."

"I should go say something to her—"

"No, Aragorn, you will only make it worse. Trust me on this one. There is plenty of time to right this, even for Mortal Man." Legolas caught his eyes and offered a smile, which Aragorn returned.

"That should not make me feel better, my wise friend, but it does." He glanced over to the group of assembled Men, Dwarves, Hobbits, Elves, and a Wizard.

"They are waiting for you," Legolas murmured.

"Come with us," Aragorn suddenly declared.

"There is already an Elf in the Fellowship," Legolas countered.

"Yes, Malbrith of Imladris, but it does not matter. The other will not mind. In fact, they will welcome the extra aid." Legolas gave the Man a look that Aragorn understood perfectly well as meaning that he was bordering insanity, but he ignored it. "Please. I will need you along the road."

Legolas paused, then nodded once. "Alright. I will come."

…………

Legolas walked most of the time at the very back of the group, careful to keep a close eye out for any dangers, even though they were still close to Imladris. After a few nights of walking, they began to set up watches during rests, taking turns in pairs. Aragorn insisted he take his alone, but Legolas always sat up with him.

It was during one of these watches that Aragorn had dozed off with his head on Legolas's shoulder, but the Elf had only smiled and let him sleep. Now he woke the ranger with a quiet word, pointing to the south sky.

Aragorn squinted at the dark sky, noting the darker patch in the midst of it, seeming to move toward them. "What is it?"

"Crebain," Legolas murmured. "Spies of Saruman."

"Should I wake the others?"

Legolas paused. "No. Just lie still and they will pass over us."

Thrice the birds wheeled silently overhead, but the night was dark and the Fellowship went unheeded, or so Aragorn hoped. In the morning, he related it to Gandalf, but they decided not to tell the others, as it would only cause unnecessary worry. Their route, however, was changed out of caution.

…………

The Fellowship huddled around the small fire, surrounded by the blinding snows of Caradhras. It had come to the point of either building a fire or risking the less hardy members perishing from the cold, enemies or no.

But the fire soon died out and the Fellowship dropped off one by one into a deep doze, gathered close together for warmth. Eventually only Aragorn remained awake to keep watch, sitting a few feet away and tightly bundled in his cloak.

He was aware of another coming and sitting beside him, wrapping a warming arm around the ranger and pulling him close. Aragorn scowled but did not resist. "It is not fair that you do not feel the cold."

Legolas smiled. "Malbrith does not feel it either."

"But that is different."

The smile turned into a grin. "Think warm thoughts."

"I left all my warm thoughts at the base of the mountain," the Human grumbled.

"Harad. Remember the time we journeyed to Harad?"

"I remember getting captured." Aragorn grimaced.

Legolas shifted so he sat behind the Human and wrapped his arms tightly about him. "Where the sun shines bright and heats the golden sands so they are still warm at night."

"And bakes the prisoners alive in their cells."

"Now you have it," Legolas laughed.

Aragorn twisted so he looked into the Elf's eyes. "I do not think I ever told you this, but…you saved my life, back in Harad. I could not have made it out alive without you. So thank you."

Legolas smiled lightly back down at him. "Just another adventure."

Aragorn leaned back against the Elf, letting Legolas chafe his freezing arms. "We have had many adventures, Legolas, haven't we?"

"Yes, we have." The Elf smiled. "Do you remember the first?"

"Aye," Aragorn laughed, interrupted by a shiver. "A herald of things to come. Only you would manage to attract Orcs while practically within sight of Rivendell."

"And only you would manage to break your leg while fighting said Orcs, then become ill from the subsequent rain and take two days to hobble home."

"Aided greatly by you, of course, who managed to receive a poisoned wound and not tell me about it, then collapse on the very steps of Rivendell." Here Aragorn dug his elbow into the Elf's ribs. "I thought you had died!"

Legolas laughed. "So you have said."

They were silent for a minute, Aragorn still shivering though not as noticeably now. Then Legolas broke the silence with his soft voice, barely to be heard above the wind. "Do you remember our last real adventure, back in the Ered Lithui?"

"Not now, Legolas," Aragorn returned just as softly.

"Someday."

"Not today. I do not want to be alone." There was a hint of desperation in the Man's voice.

"I will not leave you," Legolas told him earnestly, gripping Aragorn's shoulders. "Not until you are seated in the courtyard of the White Tree with Elendil's crown upon your head and Arwen by your side."

"That day seems so impossibly far away," Aragorn sighed.

"It will come." The Man could hear the encouraging smile in Legolas's voice.

He shuddered suddenly, pulling his cloak tighter around himself and pushing back against the Elf. "I think I would like to have another adventure in Harad, where they do not know what snow is. My nose is freezing."

Legolas just smiled.

End of chapter. More to come as soon as I type it up, or in a couple days. Review please, and don't be too terribly hard on me. I already have a bad enough opinion of this story.