As school drags on, I am loaded down with more and more homework. Ah, well, this story is the only motivation I have to keep doing my homework. I tell myself once I finish my school stuff, I can write (which is what I really want to do). So, here - on time (I think) - Is the next chapter, a result of many hard lauboring hours of homework. Enjoy, Echil pent nin.

Legolas was grateful for the fact that the cage was made of glass, for even with the black tint, light got in and he could see outside.

"How do we plan to escape from this?" Legolas tapped at the glass. Aragorn shook his head,

"I know not, mellon nin. This is-" Aragorn pulled back his knife and stabbed it into the glass. The glass only sprung back and sent the knife flying out of Aragorn's hand backwards. Legolas instinctually shot out his hand and caught it before it could do any harm and handed it soundlessly back to Aragorn.

"-impenetrable" Legolas finished Aragorn's sentence.

"Not impenetrable." Aragorn said, searching the glass for any imperfection, "There is always a weakness to every cage." Legolas sighed, doing the same but knowing that it was unlikely they were going to escape so easily.

"Let us hope that is true." said Legolas.

They travelled through the day, still searching in every possible way for imperfections. Legolas and Aragorn both tried breaking it by force of weapons multiple times, but nothing worked. Eventually, Legolas put his hands down and sat against the wall, having given up.

"Legolas, what are you doing? Help me find a way out of this!" said Aragorn, having seen Legolas give up.

"I cannot find any imperfections at all. I suggest we give up for tonight." Legolas said, dejectedly.

"We cannot give up hope." Aragorn insisted.

"I am not giving up hope, Estel." Legolas said, his voice giving away nothing, "I am merely pointing out that it is late-" Legolas glanced quickly at the stars, "-Nearly midnight, and you should rest."

"I was unconscious for half of today." Aragorn stated, in an impatient tone.

"Estel, just listen to me."

"I am."

"Just give up for today. Go to sleep."

"Legolas-"

"I will keep watch if you wish." Legolas offered. Aragorn didn't know how the elf was talking him into this. If anything, Aragorn should be keeping watch.

"I don't think-" Aragorn tried to speak, but Legolas cut him off.

"Do you trust me?" asked Legolas. Aragorn was rendered speechless at this question to which there was only one answer.

"With my life, gwador nin [My brother (sworn)]. You know that. But-" Aragorn was cut off again.

"So sleep, Estel." Legolas said. There was finality in his voice, a tone that meant 'end of conversation'. Aragorn relented, trying to find a comfortable spot on the floor of the glass sphere.

"I do not know how you always end up treating me like a child, Legolas." Aragorn grumbled.

"Because you are one to me, child." Legolas replied jokingly with a small laugh.

"I am no longer a child, Little Leaf." Aragorn joked back. Legolas only laughed quietly.

"Sedho. [Quiet.]" Aragorn said, ending the conversation. He closed his eyes, trying to listen to the annoying elf and get some rest. As Aragorn tried to rest, Legolas whispered something, trying to getting the last word.

"Good night, tithen Estel [Little Estel]." Legolas smiled.

"And to you, Little Leaf." Aragorn said, and then pretended to fall asleep to save himself another of Legolas' comebacks.

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

The night passed long and the hours dragged by. Legolas was amazed at how the shadow servants traveled through the night at a constant pace, while never seeming to tire at all. Not much of the scenery was different; there were always close packed trees and shadows. As the night wore on, Legolas doubted how long a night could be. Is this really how long night should be? Thought Legolas, It seems much longer than I recall. At one point, the elf looked up into the sky and caught a glimpse of the stars and the beautiful sky and imagined the crisp night air outside, he longed to be free of this cage, perhaps he should have let Aragorn keep searching for a way out, he didn't know...
Seeing the last view of the stars as the sphere was pulled away, Legolas realized that from the time Aragorn had fallen asleep to the approximate time of sunrise, half of it was up and even though they hadn't arranged a watch schedule, Aragorn would want to be awoken to let Legolas rest. The elf looked at the uncomfortable looking position Aragorn was sleeping in and mentally groaned, he doubted he would get any sleep in this hard glass cage. He decided to let Aragorn sleep and keep watching. He didn't know what he was watching for, as they were already in a cage, but he had told Aragorn he would keep watch, so he would.

Another hour passed, and another. Legolas caught himself letting his mind wander into dreams and he shook his head to keep himself alert. He hadn't realized how tired he was, but Legolas considered that it was natural, since he hadn't slept last night. Still, he kept awake and a few more minutes passed. Again, Legolas caught his mind wandering and his eyes started to become unfocused as they would in sleep. He shook his head and realized he couldn't keep this up for much longer.

"Aragorn." Legolas whispered. The ranger was awake in a second. He noticed Legolas sitting close to him and raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"I am surprised, Legolas." Aragorn said.

"Why would that be?" Legolas replied.

"You usually stay up all night if you can unless we have set a watch schedule." Aragorn stated. Which was true. If it was just the two of them, Legolas would always try to take over Aragorn's watch.

"Well if you wish to sleep-" Legolas started, until Aragorn looked at him in realization and cut him off.

"You are weary, mellon nin." It was a question and a statement at the same time. Legolas was about to deny it, but couldn't, for he was more tired than usual.

"I am only slightly tired. It is not-" but Aragorn was already sitting up.

"Sleep, Legolas. I will watch the rest of the night." Aragorn said. Legolas didn't protest, a rarity for him, but the elf was unusually tired and tried to get to sleep, which he found surprisingly easy despite the uncomfortable cage.

"Hannon le." Legolas said as he fell asleep. Aragorn smiled and replied;

"Just sleep, Little Leaf." Legolas scowled slightly at the name and whispered one last thing;

"Do not call me that." Aragorn smiled and rephrased what he had said;

"Sleep, Legolas, mellon nin." said Aragorn, but Legolas was already asleep.

More elvish in this chapter than usual, my new format for that will be:

Elvish words here [And then English translation here, in bold bracket thingies]

Anyway, I hope that you are enjoying this story. Please stay and review.

Naamarie, Ynnealay :P