A Friend Among Enemies

Chapter 4: The Two Legolas'

As soon as Katie reached the dwarf's side, she knelt and gave him a quick hug. "I'm so glad to see you guys," she said truthfully.

Gimli turned pink with embarrassment. "You look like hell," he growled as she stood back up.

"I feel like it," she admitted, noticing the irritated look Legolas shot the dwarf.

He turned his attention to her and slowly looked her up and down. "Were you hurt?" he asked softly.

Katie reached up and gingerly touched her sore head. "My head is killing me," she admitted.

Legolas leaned in close to examine the wound. "It has stopped bleeding," he said in a low voice. "It will need to be cleaned."

Katie looked down at her blood and dirt matted clothes. "As will I," she muttered as she examined a nasty cut on her left arm. "Damn orcs," she growled just as Aragorn walked back over to them.

Eomer mounted his horse and turned to them. "Look for your missing friends," he said, "but do not trust to hope…it has forsaken these lands."

Then the men took off, riding out of their lives as quickly as they came in.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was quiet only about two minutes before the questions started.

Aragorn began.

"What happened?" he demanded. "Where are Merry and Pippin?"

Katie told him the whole story, starting with finding Boromir and being struck over the head with a rock. Then about how she was tied to the orcs back and how the group stopped to make camp on the third night. Next, she told them about the axe and how they cut themselves free and Merry and Pippin had run into the woods.

Finally, she told then about Eomer finding her. She left out the part about Eomer groping her.

The three men listened closely as she talked, interrupting only to ask questions.

"Why did you slap Eothain?" Aragorn asked once she had finished.

'Damn!'

"He got a little touchy," She admitted reluctantly.

Both Legolas and Gimli's heads snapped up at that but it was Aragorn who asked. "What did he do?"

"Nothing," Katie muttered, turning red with embarrassment. "He just tied my hands together because I slapped him."

"Then what?" Gimli demanded.

"Well, he did it again so I – uh – spit in his face."

"Did he touch you again?" Legolas asked softly.

She shook her head. "No, and I stayed awake all night so he wouldn't get a chance."

Aragorn raised his eyebrows. "You must be weary."

Katie nodded, and then took a closer look at the three of them. They looked even more exhausted than she felt. Even Legolas looked worn out.

"Did you guys find any time to sleep?" she asked, eying Aragorn.

"No," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "We have had little rest."

"Ay," Gimli growled, unable to hold his tongue. "Your elf here would not let us stop for more than a minute at a time."

Katie glanced at Legolas, a mixture of emotions stirring inside. Had he missed her? Had he been worried about her? She wished she knew the answers.

"We will ride to the forest and search for the hobbits," Aragorn decided.

Katie looked over at the horses and sighed. She really did love riding, but what she really wanted to do was curl up in a ball and sleep.

As if reading her mind, Legolas walked up and put a hand on her shoulder. "You will ride with me so you may rest," he stated.

Katie smiled at him gratefully and followed him over to the horses.

Without asking, the elf picked her up and gently placed her on the unsaddled horse. She felt her eyes widen in surprise as he jumped onto the horse. Instead of sitting in front of her, as he had done the last time they rode together, he placed himself directly behind her.

He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her as he reached for the reins. Katie closed her eyes, all too aware of his warm body pressing against her back.

They began to ride and she forced herself to breathe, trying not to focus on the handsome elf.

"Are you alright?" his low, silky voice whispered across the side of her face.

Katie nodded, afraid her voice would betray her feelings if she spoke. 'And what feelings they are,' she thought, lightheaded. Sitting so close to Legolas, having him pressed against her had set her emotions on fire. She felt electricity humming through her body, desire flooding her mind. A wanting ache began deep inside her and grew more and more as they rode.

Katie shook her head, trying to clear her mind.

Legolas reached up and wiped some bloody hair out of her face. "Are you sure you are alright?" he whispered, completely oblivious to the shivers his touch sent down her spine.

"Will you stop asking me that?" she said, only half-joking.

"I am sorry," he replied softly. "I was just worried about you, is all."

Katie turned to look at him, shocked by his words. "You were worried?" she asked curiously.

"Yes," His eyes turned hard. "It was my fault you were taken. I should have never let you out of my sight."

"Oh," Katie muttered.

She turned back around, feeling disappointed. 'He was only worried because he was supposed to be protecting me and I got kidnapped,' she realized with a frown.

Suddenly, Legolas put his arms around her shoulders and pulled her back against his chest. Katie laid her head back and forced herself to relax as she closed her eyes.

"And…I suppose I missed you a little," he said in a teasing voice.

"Only a little?" she smiled, not opening her eyes, glad this Legolas was back. The funny-in-a-sarcastic-kind-of-way Legolas. It was much better than the serious-and-hardly-ever-talking Legolas. Both were sexy, though.

He leaned close to her and she could feel his hot breath on her neck.

"Well, I did miss not being cursed at for three days," he teased.

Katie groaned. "You're such an ass!" she said with a laugh.

She heard Legolas chuckle softly in her ear. Katie opened her eyes, a mischievous grin on her face.

"I missed you as well."

"You did?" Legolas asked, sounding skeptical.

She turned so she could look back at him. "Well it was hard to go three whole days without being lectured by a know-it-all elf!"

She laughed at his sour expression.

Legolas wagged a finger at her and was about to scold her when he happened to notice both Aragorn and Gimli watching rather intently. He immediately dropped his hand and slid back on the blanket to put some space between their bodies.

"You should try and rest now," he said in a tight voice.

Katie just sighed, used to his sudden change of emotion and leaned back against his chest. She smiled as she closed her eyes, remembering his sour face.

Exhaustion swept over her like a wave and it was only a few minutes before she fell into a deep sleep.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX