When the light of the sun bled through the sky and turned it pink and gold Legolas woke Aragorn. "Estel," he murmured, "wake up."
Aragorn stirred and blinked up at his friend sleepily. "Good morning Mellon-nin. (my friend.)
"Good morning Estel. Come now, we must start moving if we wish to reach Rivendell in three days time."
"Must we?" Aragorn asked, looking sleep around. "What is for breakfast?"
Legolas smiled and handed him half a lemba. "Yes we must keep moving. Now hurry, get your pack."
Aragorn took the lemba gratefully.
As the sun reached it highest point in the sky and the two walked on, sometimes in silence and sometimes speaking.
They had reached the summit of a tall hill that marked them as 1/6 the Rivendell. Aragorn had sat for a moment, fixing his pack when he noticed Legolas.
The elf stood stock still, staring down at the outline of a dark, dead looking forest that lay just as the hill evened out on to flat ground.
"Legolas? What is wrong Mellon-nin?" Aragorn asked.
Legolas pointed at the forest. "They are all dead Estel."
Aragorn knew how much Legolas loved the trees and knew this sight pained his friend. "It is alright. Perhaps we do not have to go through them."
The elf shook his head. "There is no way around."
"Let us go then."
Legolas looked wary and did not move. "I do not want to walk through a graveyard of trees. Something dark is in there."
Aragorn took his friends hand. "Legolas, do you trust me?"
"With my life," he replied automatically.
"Then believe me when I say that the trees will be fine if we journey through them. Trees love you Legolas, and they would not like to stop you from reaching Rivendell. They would not object."
Legolas nodded and did not speak. He started down the hill towards the dead forest. Aragorn followed him and they continued in silence until the forest was only feet in front of them.
Legolas shuddered. "I do not want to go in."
Aragorn placed a comforting hand on Legolas's shoulder and together they entered.
The forest was dark, it completely blocked out the sun light and there was something eery. It wasn't that Legolas and Aragorn were surrounded by dead trees...there was something else...dark magic.
"Legolas?"
"Yes Estel?"
"Are you alright?"
"Yes."
Aragorn didn't believe it.
"Estel!"
"What is it Legolas?" The elf sounded urgent.
"I hear something."
"What do you hear?"
"I do not know."
They fell silent, fear beating in their hearts. Aragorn could hear something now, black, evil whispers that sliced through the trees.
Something grabbed his arm, pulling him into the trees.
"Estel?" Legolas called, chills running through him when he got no answer.
He leaned against a tree, wishing it was still alive so he could speak with it, ask it were Aragorn had gone, ask the trees to show him.
"Estel!" He called out again, louder. Again there was no response and the elf felt his worry grow.
The trees shuddered as someone-or something- pushed their way through their dead branches. Legolas froze, his hands knocked an arrow and drew it back, almost instinctively.
"Legolas!" The voice from the trees called.
"Estel! Are you alright?"
The man pushed his way from the trees. "I am fine."
"Where were you?"
"I fell. Do not worry."
Legolas frowned. Aragorn is acting slightly off, he thought. "Let us continue then."
"Let's."
The man walked behind the elf. His footsteps in time with Legolas's. Aragorn looked around with a smile, a sneer at the dead trees. His mind was set on one goal. He must kill Legolas. The elf must die.
