Sorry this took so long to update, I had a major chemistry test and literally studied for three days straight! So, now I have been chem free for two days, and able to write more... I hope you like it!

-Part 11-

Fighting A Losing Battle

The sun was warm on Aragorn's face, but it did little to quell the biting chill that consumed him. He had felt fine after they had left Mirkwood, but as the journey went on he became fatigued and irritable. Slowly but surely the darkness was once again consuming him, and the sudden lack of conversation was not lost on his elven companion.

"Let's rest for a while." Legolas stated noticing the ranger's slouched posture. The man simply nodded and halted his horse.

It was strange. Aragorn felt so tired; an almost sick like feeling consumed him. Not a bodily illness, but mental one. He felt depressed, as if the weight of so many burdens had been unceremoniously dropped onto his shoulders. Legolas saw Aragorn's distant look and decided to voice his concern.

"Aragorn, have the voices returned?" The ranger shook his head, attempting to clear his thoughts in order to answer his friend.

"They are but whispers, mellon nin, nothing more. All is well." The man offered a weak but convincing smile. Legolas seemed satisfied, and much to Aragorn's relief, turned and busied himself with starting a fire. As soon as the elf's eyes were distracted, the ranger dropped his ruse, leaning heavily on Daerandir for support. The horse turned his head but did not shy away. His master was not well and he knew it.

"Aragorn… are you…" Aragorn interrupted the elf's question, doing his best to hide the irritated feeling that rose up in his chest.

"Legolas, I am fine… I'm just looking for something." The ranger was indeed digging violently through his pack for something. Finding it, he quickly emptied half of the contents into the palm of his hand. The flowers were dried and crushed, but they were what he needed. Aragorn greedily tipped the weed into his mouth, its clean soothing taste flooded his senses. The smell of the herb was not lost on Legolas.

"Athelas… Aragorn, why didn't you say something sooner? We could have stopped."

"Legolas, I just want to get home… I do not want any delays. The quicker we get to Rivendell…" Aragorn's voice faltered, Legolas simply stared at him from across a crackling fire. How could he explain how he felt to the elf. Legolas would have no way of understanding.

"Legolas, it is strange. I feel so… so heavy." The ranger sighed this was going to be harder than he had expected. "My mind is clouded; my thought at times do not feel like my thoughts. And, yes, the voices have returned. The athelas helps, it really does, but just like the intoxicated haze the wine provided, even the healing plant is beginning to lose potency. The amount of this weed that I have consumed over the past three days alone would be enough to drive Sauron from this very land. It suppresses… thoughts… bad thoughts. I hate it Legolas, there is something very wrong with my heart. I am not myself."

Legolas' frowned, the lines that creased his face bore a dark appearance in the glow of the fire. Aragorn's words were frightening him, he had never heard the ranger speak like this.

"I do not mean to frighten you my friend, but the darkness is everywhere." Aragorn turned away, his voice falling to a mere whisper that even the elf had trouble hearing. "The darkness is in me…"

"No, Aragorn, you are confused. We are only two days from Rivendell, the pass was easy enough to navigate, the rest of the journey will be an effortless task. Lord Elrond will…" Legolas stopped speaking. The ranger was laughing.

"You are wrong, Legolas. My mind has never been clearer." If the elf had been scared before, this new rush of emotion was almost too much to endure. Legolas rose from where he was seated. Aragorn turned his back on the elf and placed his hand on his stallion. Daerandir reared up at the touch, only causing the ranger to laugh louder. Legolas approached the human and went to grasp his friend's shoulder, but he quickly retracted his hand. Aragorn turned around, his gaze focusing on the elf. Legolas cried out at the sight as memories from Nokalen flooded his mind. The ranger's eyes were as black as night, and the look on the man's face, though barely visible in the setting sun, could only be described as dangerous. The elf stepped back as the ranger drew his dagger.

"We are not going to Rivendell, we are going back to where this all started." The man started toward the elf, who gracefully turned to hop over their camp fire. The ranger reached out and tried grabbing hold of the elf's boot. Legolas, without thinking, kicked out as he fell to avoid the flames that licked greedily at his heels, sending some of the burning soot and smoke toward the human. The thick air filled Aragorn's lungs and his oxygen starved body collapsed to the ground. Legolas, quickly crawled over and finding a pulse swiftly disarmed the ranger and retreated. He had no way of knowing the mental state the human would be in when he came around. Aragorn awoke several minutes later. His right hand and face stung harshly.

"Le…" He began to cough violently. The elf was by his side immediately.

"Shh… don't try to speak… I am sorry Aragorn, I didn't mean to do that to you." Aragorn shot up and scooted away from Legolas.

"Legolas… you need to leave me! I can't control it anymore!" He rasped out before a fit of coughing stopped his protest. He shied away as the elf crouched down next to him.

"Listen to me, I will not abandon you to this fate… just as I promised back in that hellish place, I pledge the same oath to you now! So stop your fussing, you were burnt badly and you inhaled a large amount of smoke and soot." Aragorn stilled pulled away.

"Only on one condition," The ranger rasped out and the elf eyed him suspiciously. " You need to bind my hands." Legolas looked horrified, the ranger had obviously hit his head when he passed out. "I am not jesting Legolas, I told you that I could not control it… it is the truth!"

"Aragorn, I am not going to lead you into Rivendell like a common criminal. I understand that you are not yourself, all is well. I will be fine." Legolas folded his arms across his chest, the look he gave Aragorn reminded him greatly of Thuranduil's own scowl.

"Please, if you are truly my friend you will do this simple thing. Legolas I have had thoughts… they are not mine, I swear to you, but… I see myself…" Aragorn's eyes grew dark and he stopped speaking.

"What do you see Aragorn?" The elf's voice was full of worry.

"Legolas, I see myself… killing you… it's awful. The visions are different every time, but it feels so… so real! Please, Legolas do not allow me to do these evil things… I could not bear the thought of me…" His voice broke. Tears rolled down the ranger's face, and he held out his hands, his eyes begging the elf. Legolas, despite how his own heart broke, nodded in agreement and carefully bound Aragorn's wrists with a soft elven rope.

"Thank you my friend, it is better this way, really… I know that you will be safe." Aragorn smiled despite the severity of the situation. " Besides, this will make a wonderful tale to tell the twins!"

"Aragorn, sometimes I think that you are truly crazy!" The elf said as he tended to the ranger's burns. They were minor, but Legolas could tell they would be very painful. The stars had risen overhead by the time Legolas had finished. Aragorn stiffly rose from his seat and walked over to Daerandir. The horse was nervous as the ranger approached.

"Peace, my friend, I am myself again." the stallion grew calm and Aragorn despite his bound hands mounted the horse easily enough. Legolas looked over in confusion.

"Where are you off to human?"

"Rivendell, mellon nin, to my father's house!" Aragorn spun his horse around, he was ready to go.

"Aragorn, we need to rest." The ranger could not help but laugh at the response.

"Legolas, you are an elf… are you saying you are tired. I never thought I would live to see the day."

"Keep laughing and you will not live to see tomorrow." Legolas smiled as he threatened the human. " Very well, if you are sure you are up to it." The ranger nodded, he needed help, and he knew the longer it would take them to get home, the harder it would be to control his thoughts and actions.

Legolas picked up his bag, kicked out the fire and mounted his horse. They took one final glance around the camp, that was still bathed in the glow of the dying embers, before riding off into the night. Neither of them noticed the tiny leather satchel of athelas that lay forgotten in the grass.

Oh man, Aragorn has nothing to counter the evil inside of him... I guess this is going to have to get ugly before it can get better : ) Thanks to all of my reviewers... I really appreciate all of them... So please leave some more!