A/N: This chapter is shorter, but I promise this story is going to start picking up in the next few chapters!! REVIEWWWW!! I know you are reading it, so let me know what you think!!

Chapter 4

"Legolas!"

Somewhere in the distance Legolas heard his name being called. Where was he?

"Legolas!" the voice repeated. This time a hand gripped his shoulder. Not quite awake and acting on instinct, Legolas grabbed the hand holding his shoulder and stood, twisting it hard behind his captor's back. Instead of an enemy, he found himself chest to chest with Estel. He registered the shock and pain on the man's face.

"Estel?!" He released the man's hand and blinked a few times. Aragorn immediately recoiled and cradled his wrist in his other arm. "Estel, I am sorry. I—you can't—have you learned nothing of the ways of elves?" he said, stepping back and forcing his panicked breath to return to a normal pace. Aragorn looked up and met his eyes.

"Is your wrist okay?" Legolas asked, the surprise quickly replaced with concern. Aragorn looked down at his hand and Legolas reached out to gingerly take the injured wrist in his hands and examine it. He bent it several times, not looking at the hand itself but into Aragorn's eyes, where he knew he would find the answers to just how much pain his friend was really in. The man's eyes flashed when he moved the wrist, but nothing more. He then laced his fingers through the injured hand and ignored the speed of his heartbeat or how perfect that rough hand felt in his.

"Squeeze my hand," he said, still looking into Aragorn's eyes. Aragorn squeezed it and met Legolas' gaze with a warm smile.

"It is fine, mellonin. You have done no harm to me." Aragorn did not let go of Legolas' hand.

"I am glad. It is only a strain, but you should wrap it today so that it has time to heal for the journey." Legolas said, and Aragorn smiled again with a nod. The man pulled his hand slowly from the grasp of the elf. Legolas' fingers flexed involuntarily and he clenched his hand shut to hide the disappointment at the loss of contact.

"I think we should leave as soon as possible so that we can get to Mirkwood. Many of the riders are leaving today."

"I have not had time to unpack any of my belongings, so I can be ready as soon as I replenish my food supply and make ready my horse. We can leave today if you wish."

Aragorn moved his fingers around the air, tracing the map in his mind. "It will take two weeks to reach Mirkwood, and we will have a little time to rest after we deliver the message, but we must get back before winter makes the Misty Mountains difficult to pass."

"When do you wish to set out?" Legolas asked patiently. He already knew the path to his own home very well, and was aware of how long it would take.

"Before dawn tomorrow?" Aragorn asked. Legolas smiled and nodded once. Aragorn smiled back and then turned to leave.

"Estel!" Legolas called, and Aragorn turned back quickly. "Please take my advice and keep your wrist wrapped, if only for a few days." Aragorn tilted his head with an amused smile, letting Legolas see that he was right to press the matter. His friend walked out of the room, a grin plastered on his face.

That day and night went smoothly, and Legolas and Aragorn were on their way before Imladris had awoken the next morning. Only Elrond came to bid them good luck, farewell, and with a reminder to always keep the purpose of their journey in mind.

The companions traveled in comfortable silence for a few hours until the sunlight was shining brightly overhead through the translucent leaves, and the birds were chirping happily from all around them. They stopped to eat a small meal, and Legolas was waiting for Aragorn to confront him.

"Why did you act like that in the Council, Legolas?"

He sighed, knowing Aragorn too well. "Boromir was treating you like dirt."

"I am perfectly capable of defending myself when I feel I need defended. You had no right to speak out on my behalf like that. It was improper and uncalled for."

"Forgive me, Aragorn, I was doing what I thought was best for you." Legolas said, bowing his head shortly.

"You have been acting strange lately, mellonin. You worry me."

"I have told you before not to worry about me. You have enough to worry about as it is, Estel."

"Legolas…"

"We should go, it is past midday and I wish to reach the foot of the mountains by nightfall. We have many miles yet to travel and not so many hours as I had hoped."

Aragorn did not speak as he packed his cooking utensils and mounted his horse. While waiting for Legolas to finish his packing he turned back and looked at the Valley of Rivendell in the distance, calculating how far they had yet to go.

They continued to travel in silence for the rest of the day, but it was now a silence full of tension and unspoken words. By nightfall their steady pace brought them to the mountains. The set up camp and ate food but did not start a fire. Each settled into his own bedroll for the night.

"I will wake you before dawn. We can eat and set off by the time the sky begins to lighten," Legolas told Aragorn. The man did not acknowledge the elf's words, but Legolas knew he had heard them. He told himself that distancing himself from Aragorn was in both of their best interests, but remained sleepless. For a time, he could hear that Aragorn was still awake as well.

As soon as the man was breathing deeply in his sleep, Legolas settled closer to his friend and finally fell into reverie.