A/N Where I live we are catching some of Storm Gandalf (go check it out, it is really called Gandalf! I am now walking around cursing Gandalf xD)but here it is absolutely freezing today…I stepped outside and realized just how I evil I was to poor Legolas and Aragorn by forcing them outside in the cold!

Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter Four: Escape!

Night was falling once again before Aragorn had the chance to escape from his fellow men. Walking quickly and quietly down to the cell corridor, he prayed to Ilúvatar that no man would be there, the man did not think that he could pull off another 'my master needs to see the elf' trick. Brushing his hand along the wall, he slipped through the shadows. His heart went out to the elf, Legolas must be freezing, despite his elven ability not to feel cold. Even now Aragorn, bundled up with many layers, was cold.

All the day long he kept thinking he could hear Legolas screaming, though he wasn't sure if it was his imagination or for real. The man hated that. Hated that he hadn't been able to rescue Legolas sooner, hated that Legolas was here in the first place.

Fishing the stolen keys from his pocket, he slotted them into the lock. Ever so slowly, he turned the key and waited for the lock to click. It did, and he hesitantly pushed the door open. The hinges squeaked loudly and Aragorn winced throwing himself in and closing the door again. This time, however, he pushed a good size rock between the door and cell, it would not do to be locked in with the prince.

Rushing to Legolas's side, Aragorn fall to his knees and gently cupped the elf's cheek, bringing his head up.

"Legolas…"he whispered, brushing the tangled blonde locks away. His voice caught and he starred helplessly at his friend. The elf was covered with new busies and his face was even paler if that was possible. His breathing was hard and labored, freezing the man's blood. Legolas stirred, jerking away from his touch as if he had been burned. Aragorn exhaled slowly, the careless words he had shouted must have done more harm than he had known.

"Never." the prince muttered, eyes flashing open and staring widely around.

"Legolas, its me, Estel." Aragorn whispered a soft sob in his voice as he leaned forward and gently kissing Legolas bruised and bloody brow.

"Estel…?" Legolas asked in wonder, seeming to calm before going slack against his bonds. Aragorn's heart thudded painfully and he reached forward to shake Legolas worriedly, but the prince tensed up of his own accord. His blue eyes jerked open and he started with horror at the human. "You must leave. Now!" he hissed, his words slurred.

"Don't worry, Legolas. We are leaving right now, trust me, I am not staying a minute longer than I have too." Aragorn assured, looking the elf in the eye.

"Ara― Estel you don't understand. They cannot find you, Rhavan is looking for Isildur's heir! I've―" here Legolas was forced to brake off. Harsh coughs racked his thin form, forcing a cry of strangled pain from his abused body.

Aragorn's eyes grew wide as he realized what he meant. Legolas had been tortured so that these…these creatures could find HIM! Hate boiling within him, Aragorn ever so gently placed a hand on his friend's chest, feeling the racing heart beat.

"How does he know?" he asked, knowing that the fact that his line still existed was not common.

"He has heard stories…" Legolas rasped. "He has no idea who you are, just the Lord Elrond knows and has taken me into his confidence." He stopped for a second, sucking in his breath, his face paling a shade more.

"Shh…no more talk." Aragorn said softly, his eyes still burning with anger. Legolas nodded weakly, before shifting, trying to take the pressure off his hurting wrists. Shaking slightly with fury Aragorn slid the correct key in the shackles that held Legolas prisoner.

"No," Legolas weakly begged. "I am too weak to be able to escape, now. Leave me and go…while you have the chance." Aragorn shook his head firmly.

"It is either both of us or neither of us." he growled. As Legolas first wrist fell from the chains, Aragorn moved closer, holding Legolas up while he worked on the second one. Legolas opened his mouth to try again, but was cut off with a cry of pain as he slide imply into Aragorn's waiting arms. Moving even a inch hurt.

Aragorn caught him deftly, trying to hold the elf up without causing more damage or pain. For just a second, the human forgot about the urgency of getting out of there and just held his friend close. Pressing his cheek against Legolas hair, the human pulled the elf a little tighter against him. He frowned feeling the coolness of Legolas clammy skin.

The prince sucked in a breath as Aragorn pulled him close, it hurt, but he was willing to give the ranger the contact he needed. Closing his eyes tiredly, he rested against the man's warm shoulder. A warm cloak was draped around his bare shoulders and Legolas eyes snapped, opening his mouth to protest. However, Aragorn placed a gently finger over a split lip.

"You are freezing, mellon-nin, do not try to deny it." Legolas slowly closed his mouth. "Come let us be rid of this place!" Aragorn continued with undisguised hatred. Gently hauling Legolas to his feet, he slapped a hand over his friends mouth as a cry of pain escaped.

"Shh…I know it's hard, but silence is essential." Legolas nodded his eyes screwing up as he lent heavily against his friend, taking as much weigh as possible off of his feet.

"I'm afraid I will not get far." Legolas confessed his voice unrecognizable with pain. He used his right hand to grip the man's shoulder tightly for support, his left hand he cradled close to his chest.

"Then I will carry you!" Aragorn said with quite authority. Moving Legolas arm across his shoulder he easily supported Legolas insanely thin weight. Frowning he glanced at the elf, "When was the last time you had some proper food?" he asked. He had carried Legolas enough times to know how much he usually weighed…and this was nothing compared to what he was use to. Light though elves were, this was just not right..

Legolas just shrugged, wincing as they began to walk. He didn't want to admit that the last time he had more than just a small scrape of bread was before their fight. It was only his elven endurance that kept him alive and even that was failing.

The prince's feet were burning with agony and he was feeling more light-headed than usual. Sweat began to bead on his brow and his breathes came in gasps, He swollen hard, gagging slightly as his stomach threatened to revolute at the pain he was.

Aragorn growled slightly, if he caught one of these men, they would die! His anger immediately turned to concern when Legolas breathing suddenly hitched. Pulling the elf closer, the healer careful monitored each uneven breath, though there was nothing he could do if anything did happen. Legolas leaned his head against the man's shoulder, moaning softly into the fabric.

The injured elf let Aragorn lead him forward, his eyesight was beginning to blur and his legs felt like jelly. Aragorn suddenly picked up the pace slightly and Legolas tried to keep up, but his sluggish mind was unable to convince his feet to go any faster, if anything they slowed down. His body was failing him and he knew it.

"Estel…" Legolas gasped, so silently that the human almost missed it.

"Stay with me, Legolas Greenleaf!" the human urged, the slurred word scared him, but what scarred him more was when Legolas's head rolled limply to the side. "Legolas?" he whispered urgently. Legolas eye's flickered once before he went completely limp. Aragorn swore under his breath. This would not help things. Quickly checking his friend's pulse, he found it racing. Swinging the light elf across his shoulder, he continued on his way, knowing that he could not care for Legolas properly till they got away.

It took every skill that he possessed for Aragorn to slink from shadow to shadow without getting caught. He was a mere ghost flitting through the night. And he almost made it the whole way without been seen.

The man who caught them was a guard, one that Aragorn had seen through the day. The guard's face was one of horror when he stumbled onto the two friends. "Just what do you think you are doing?!" he hissed,

"I'm leaving." Aragorn retorted, holding his head high. The hand which wasn't wrapped around Legolas thighs closed over the pommel of his sword. The older man frowned

"One word and you will never make it two steps." he said drawing his sword. "There was something about you that I didn't like. Who are you anyone?" Aragorn's anger flared, but he knew he could never fight with Legolas hanging over his back. Watching the man carefully Aragorn crouched down, gently sliding Legolas off.

The guard took advantage of this however and charged. Aragorn dropped Legolas roughly to the ground and grabbed a hidden dagger form his coat. Legolas fell hard on the snowy ground and rolled a few feet away.

Aragorn knew that he could make no noise in this fight, so as the guard came at him, he rolled to the side. Swinging around, the ranger lunged forward, but missed as he was forced to doge the sword. The ranger had no idea why his man was staying silent, but he was glad for it.

The guard suddenly used the unconscious elf for his advantage, leaping forward towards the still being. Aragorn was forced to leap in front of his friend, throwing his body forward and knocking into the man. Freeing his hands, the other man grabbed Aragorn and smashed his head into the ground.

The movement dazed Aragorn for jus a second, long enough for the man to do it again. Head swimming, the ranger fought back, reaching up and plunging his knife into his foe's arm while using a hand to cover the guard's mouth. Yanking his knife out, he clubbed the man hard over the head.

The guard fell without a sound, crumpling atop the human. Head swimming, Aragorn did not even stopping to see if the man was dead or alive, either one was fine with him. He just needed to get Legolas out of there.

Getting a firm hold of the man he dragged him back, pushing him in a small crevice before wiping snow over the trail. Sheathing his knife, he stumbled a little ungracefully back to Legolas side. Little did he know how much he would later regret that decision.

Kneeling next to the prone figurer, the ranger was just raising him up when a breathy moan escaped his friend's lips. Freezing, he lowered him back down and covered his mouth with his hand. Bending low Aragorn whispered.

"Not a sound my friend, escape is close." Legolas screwed up his face and let out another muffled moan. "Hush, mellon-nin," he said just slightly louder. He knew that the elf could hear him, reaching up he placed a hang against the prince's cheek. Legolas stirred again, eyelids fluttering, before going completely lax, waking being too much for his wounded body.

Aragorn bit his lip frustrated that his friend was unconscious again. Carefully, the human once again throw him over his shoulder and made his way stealthy along, ignoring the pounding in his own head.

TBC…

Well, the rest of it should be easy…right?!

Review Responses:

imaginariamente: Thank you, and here is the next update! :) (THis will be fast for you!)

MarMighty: Thanks! You didn't even have to wait that long for this update!

Exotic Nightmare: He is in pretty horrible state isn't he! Yes, Aragorn was in a bit of a daze last time, it is true!

Cielshadow17: Now it two down, one to go. He rescued Legolas, but still has to get out of there!

Nearing Midnight: no, it is you guys who spoil me with awesome reviews! And if I can come up with an good reason for fighting I will put it in there. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them!

Escaped Ninja: *flicks cookie crumbs off shirt* Thank you very much!

HarmonySoundown: haha, this time there wasn't too much of a cliffe, I mean I could have stopped it when the guard found them! Thanks so much!

Guartiana: *hands over a dollar bill* To help with the blanket! I dream of cheese…and you are not random, you just think faster than everyone else! (I say this all the time about myself!) Hannon le, mellon nin!

Paris-Never-Ended22: There's a lot I could do to him…I just have to decide what next! Thanks!

Kenji Hyuga White tiger: Nothing is better than when one of them in injured, though I prefer for it to be Legolas though…thank you very much for reviewing!

Sarathestarkidranger: Thanks! They are, they defiantly are cutting it close, and that's where all the fun comes in!

ElrondofImladris: This is much worse than orcs! His disguise lasted for while, though I'm sure he would have appreciate it if it had lasting longer…

LILEVILONE96: He's saving him right now! And I wanted more angst so that would be why it didn't happen…but now it is! Let me just say…he is going to miss that bow before the story is over! And I actually have no idea what they are fighting about…I would love to hear some suggestions! Thanks!

tigerra79: He almost got caught….got a knock on the head as well to go with it! I'm sure Aragorn had a fun day…getting to work for the man torturing his friend (I wonder if he got his day's wages for it! jk)

ShadowHawq35: He didn't react very well, he kinda freaked out. Thanks!

Epic Elven Warrior Princess: Aragorn sure will need those supplies soon! And they will need a fire, it is cold out there!