WARNING: this chapter isn't beta-ed yet, for my beloved beta GothVamp is on her holiday. But I still wanted to post it, so I'll do it. So don't flame for any stupid mistakes. ;)

Here's to my wonderful reviewers:

Anastasia Who: I'm glad you liked it. I came up with the idea of Aragorn trying to hide his heritage since that's why he became a ranger after all. And about Legolas' part I had invented earlier on, glad you liked my idea. You'll find out what Legolas planned this chapter so enjoy.

Gozilla: Thanx for your review. Hope you like this chapter too.

Celebrean: Very big thanx for putting me on your favourites.

So on with the story now then, shall we?!

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Chapter eight

Journey towards trouble…

"Is this really necessary?" Aragorn asked the Elf, "Are you sure there really is no other way to do this?"

The one spoken to only smiled and gave him the same answer he had given him at least five times since they had left their camp half an hour ago: "No, there isn't and you know it as well as I do, don't you?" Legolas answered in a mocking tone. Aragorn sighed deeply and that caused the Elf's smile to widen. Aragorn knew it was the only way, but that didn't make him feel much happier about his position. He had known the Elf's smile could bring no good for him and unfortunately for him he was right. Legolas had bended forward while stating: "Since you are I no state for walking and we have not got a horse, I will have to carry you in order to get you to the King's healers." The mischievous grin had widened and he had laughed softly when he had looked at the shocked expression on Aragorn's face. He had lifted the young man in his arms, like he weighed not more then a feather, even before Aragorn had been able to protest about what was going to happen. The Elf had carefully held Aragorn in his arms and no matter what the human tried, Legolas could not be persuaded. So Aragorn reluctantly had given in to Legolas and had been complaining ever since…

This had caused the Elf's mood to rise with every minute that passed, while Aragorn's had almost dropped below freezing-point because of that. He just could stop thinking about the fact that he had to be carried around by the Elf the whole time. And though he knew Legolas was totally right with his explanation, and even though he knew very well he wasn't capable enough for riding, or even walking for that matter, at the moment, he just couldn't cope with it.

Being carried like a baby wasn't exactly the way he had planned to arrive at King Thranduil's palace; he thought. He felt undignified and his pride had much to endure.

And he did not even want to think about what might happen when the Elf would tell his Mirkwood friends about the silly human he had to drag along with him. And when the story reached Rivendell; for he knew with what speed Elven-gossips travelled through the realms; he would be in big trouble. His brothers Elladan and Elrohir would be fooled by the name Estel and they wouldn't need long to figure the whole thing out, and when that happened, his life would be forfeit; he thought dramatically. They would never stop teasing him with it for the rest of his life and there would be no way to escape it.

Aragorn sighed and looked up to the impassive face of the one who could make his life a bit more miserable. Legolas had his gaze directed straight forward and he frowned a bit. But maybe I'm lucky, he thought, Legolas doesn't look like his that much fun, so maybe he hasn't got any friends to tell it to? He shot another look at the Elf and his mood increased a bit. Oh well, as long as I have to endure this, why not use it to the better for me and he snuggled a bit deeper into the arms of Legolas to shut out the cold of the early morning and he started drifting off…

Legolas meanwhile, unaware of Aragorn's thoughts, had other problems to worry about. The wind had gained strength pretty fast during the last hour and the treetops were now swaying due to the force of it. Luckily, the wind came from behind them, so the Elf had used his body to protect Aragorn from it as much as he could while the human was sleeping in his arms. The sky too, was changing. Not to its usual blue, spattered with white flocks of clouds that came after the dark black of the nightly sky, but to a threatening dark grey, with black clouds swirling through it. The air in the forest felt tense, almost as if it was waiting for something. No birds sang and he heard no other animals wander through the forest, not even with his keen hearing. Having grown up as a child of nature and his beloved forest, Legolas knew a big storm was forming above Mirkwood. The storm would not have worried him that much if it were not for the young man in his arms. He knew the liability of humans for cold and rain and Aragorn's wounds would make him even more liable for it, especially since he had no shirt to wear anymore.

He scanned the area for a cave of some kind to seek shelter in and almost sighed with relief as he recognised the area. A few more miles east was a cave big enough for both of them to hide in. He and his brother had come here often whenever they felt like escaping the captivity of their Royal duties. He only hoped that no other creature had come to the same idea…

He turned to the right and headed forward towards their new goal.

He had taken only a few steps when the first raindrops started to fall. He heard them ticking as they hit the branches and the leaves of the canopy above him, but when the rain started to fall faster, the trees couldn't stop the drops and they fell down to the ground and the two beings walking underneath them.

A small raindrop landed on Aragorn's nose and he startled out of his snoozing, causing Legolas to smile. He looked up to the sky, only to be greeted by the sight of an inky-grey cloak and lots of raindrops.

The rain started falling faster and faster and the seize of the drops grew with the second. Legolas bent forward so the upper part of his body would catch the rain before it hit Aragorn, but it didn't help much since the rain came pouring down in blazing streams. The increased wind blew through the rain, what made the impact more and more painful.

Legolas started running, but almost fell forward because of the weight in his arms that shifted. Sliding Aragorn into a better position for him, he started running, and nimbly raced past the trees, jumped over and dove away from falling branches and ducked the ones hanging on the trees. With every jump or turn he shifted the weight of Aragorn in his arms to maintain his balance. Aragorn was being jostled around and he didn't feel at ease. The slightest miscalculation in the Elf's movements could cause them both to fall down and with this speed the landing wouldn't be softly. He bounced up and down in the arms of the Elf. He started feeling a bit nausea, because of the pounding of his head wound. Legolas had to make a sharp turn to avoid a collision with a falling branch and this made Aragorn's upper body turn along with him. A sharp pain flashed through his body as his stomach wound started bleeding again. His body tensed and he yelled out because of the unexpected pain. Legolas looked down worriedly immediately and said: "Goheno nin an sen, Estel" but then had to turn his attention back to his surroundings. (Forgive me for this, Estel)

A few moments later they entered a clearing. Though it was a small one, the other side of it could not be seen because of the grey rain curtain that fell down from the clouds.

Legolas' cloak had provided a bit of shelter from the rain and he had pulled it tight around him, so Aragorn would be protected for a part. Aragorn had his own cloak, but his feet and the lower part of his legs were left out and now almost soaked. And even their Elven-cloakes, no matter from what Elven-fabric they were made, could no longer stand up against such an amount of rain and their clothes had started to become wet too. Though the clearing was small, it definitely was an open space and without the little protection the trees had provided, they were left to the mercy of the cold rain. And as fast as the Elf was crossing the clearing, he could do nothing to stop them from getting soaked through and through. Not a single shred could be found that was still dry.

Legolas did not have much trouble with it, for Elves are not affected by warmth or cold. He only felt uneasy with the pulling of his now much heavier cape around his neck. But Aragorn felt the cold of the rain penetrate 'till deep in his body. The wind blowing past his body cooled the rain down and his fingers, toes and nose became numb. He started shivering, but he tried to suppress it, for the movement could distract Legolas' focus. The Elf's sensitiveness felt the trembling of the body in his arms and he quickened his pace a little bit more.

Aragorn's lips started to get blue and his teeth began to clicker. The blazing wind cooled him down too fast for his body to keep up.

"Garo lim, Estel! Innam-no ennas lagor; Legolas yelled at the human. (Hang on, Estel! We will be there swiftly).

After passing the clearing, he turned north-east, ran past a thick bush with berries and then skidded to a halt. They had reached the cave…

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Oh boy, THIS is the longest chapter I've written. Yay me. The next one will come tomorrow, at least when I had some reviews by then. (Hint).