Aragorn rode fast from the clearing, only slightly aware of the second horse following close behind him. The jolting of the horse as it galloped sent wave after wave of pain through Aragorn's entire body. He already started to feel guilty. How could he leave his truest friend, his brother, to fight alone just because he was injured? Aragorn stopped his horse and almost turned around, when he remembered Legolas' voice in his head: Don't turn back, no matter what, I'll be fine. Just then, Aragorn felt another wave of horrible pain shoot through his body, and he more fell off his horse than purposely dismounted. He dragged himself over to the base of a tree and he leaned against the trunk, breathing heavily. He felt the darkness creeping around the edges of his vision and he fought to stay conscious. No, he thought, I cannot pass out now. But as the dark depth of unconsciousness crawled forth and took him, his head slumped and he gave in to the fuzzy emptiness of the dark and passed out.

`'~,*,~'`'~,*,~'`'~,*,~'`'~,*,~'

Legolas jumped out of the way just in time to land the killing blow on one of the orcs and he spun around slicing behind him, killing two more. The large group of orcs surrounded him and he jumped straight up in the air, landing on a thick lower branch of an old tree. He took out his bow and unloaded almost his whole quiver into the group of orcs below, thinning then out considerably. He was about to notch another arrow when one of the orcs ran forward carrying a torch, obviously planning on burning down the tree to get to Legolas. Legolas looked at the dancing flame, bright and hot as it was held closer to the tree trunk. Being prince of the wood elves, Legolas couldn't bear to see an innocent tree burned because of him. He leapt down from the branch and stabbed the orc carrying the torch, sending the flame sputtering in the grass. Legolas was too busy in combat with a large group of five of six orcs that he didn't notice a small band of orcs escaping the clearing.

At last, Legolas flipped backwards and nimbly leapt forwards, plunging the tip of his right knife into the orc's chest. He stared at the dead orc on the end of his blade and withdrew his knife, yanking it out as the dead orc collapsed onto the ground. Legolas looked around at the fallen orcs all around him. He breathed heavily, very tired and he stumbled slightly as he walked over to the tree which had saved his life before. He leaned his hand against the trunk and heard the tree speaking to him.

"Young elf, you have done well. You have my thanks for leaping down to face the creatures instead of letting them burn me." The tree thought to Legolas. Legolas smiled and replied,

"Hannon le, mighty tree. But it is I who is in your dept." He replied. He swallowed and stretched out his limbs, making sure be had no injuries. He didn't, but he was immensely tired. He almost longed to rest, sit for a while and sleep, but he shook his head, clearing his mind. No, I must find Aragorn. He thought. Legolas took off running swiftly towards the direction Aragorn had gone.

`'~,*,~'`'~,*,~'`'~,*,~'`'~,*,~'

Aragorn pushed through the blackness that consumed him, struggling to emerge from the void of which he was falling deeper into.

Suddenly, he heard something. He softly moaned and tried to open his eyes. Aragorn thought he could hear a voice, but he couldn't tell what it was saying, although the tone was gentle. He blinked his eyes and found himself lying on the ground looking up into the very worried (but now less so) face of Legolas.

"Oh!" Legolas said, sighing in relief "Thank Valar you're awake! What happened after I told you to go on?" Aragorn looked at Legolas, confused for a moment, until he spoke,

"I- I must have passed out." He replied quite reasonably. Legolas nodded and stood up, offering his hand to help him up.

"Are you alright, mellon nîn?" He asked. Aragorn accepted his hand and stood up, immediately winced and put his hand to his chest.

"As much as a man could be in my circumstance." Aragorn replied. Legolas gave his friend a small smile and was about to say something else when Aragorn's eyes widened in surprise and pointed behind Legolas.

"Legolas! Watch out!" Aragorn exclaimed, but it was too late. A large metal club hit Legolas on the back of the head, sending him sprawling forward, hitting the ground hard, unconscious. He had been so caught up his concern for his friend that he hadn't sensed the small band if orcs sneaking up on them. One of the orcs punched Aragorn in the stomach, sending him down, clutching his middle in complete agony.

"Legolas-!" Aragorn shouted, trying to rouse his unconscious friend. The group of orcs tied Aragorn up and began to drag him away.

"What about the elf!" one growled.

"Leave 'Im! He's as good as dead with that blow to 'is head! We're eatin' good tonight boys! Tonight, we taste man-flesh!" the second orc sneered back. Aragorn struggled against the ropes that bound him as he was dragged off, not even caring about the horrible agony he felt as he struggled.

"Legolas! Legolas!"

Legolas pulled free of the dark long enough to see a hazy blur in front of him; Aragorn was being dragged away by some orcs. Aragorn called to him, but it sounded like he was calling from the end of a tunnel.

"Legolas! Wake! Legolas!" Aragorn shouted as he was dragged farther away. Legolas stumbled to his feet and immediately felt dizzy. Walking forward, tripping and tilting, he had to get to Aragorn, he had to help him. Legolas saw spots before his eyes, everything went blurry and the ground rushed up to meet him. No, Legolas thought. Aragorn!