Aya everybody, I'm feeling pretty proud at the moment, since I'm delivering this chapter at the promised day. Yay me. I just came back from my introduction camp and I'm feeling pretty tired at the moment for sleeping wasn't really on the agenda, hehe. But since I promised I'd update today, I was determined to do it, so Yay me. Hehe.

Anyways, the first part of the story will leave our dear Elf and human alone for a few moments, but at the end we will return to Aragorn's misery again, hehe. So keep reading for the first part is more of an explanation for what's coming. Hope you'll like it.

Here's to my reviewers:

Mornflower: Thanx for your, uhm, review, hehe. Hope every thing turned out okay. And once again, Happy Birthday.

Anastasia Who: I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations. Not very much Legolas and Aragorn though, but plenty angst as will have the next chapter.

Rangergirl: Yay a new reviewer. Thanx a lot for your kind review, I'm glad you found my little story and like it. Hope you like this one too.

On to the story:

Chapter Twelve

While you are sleeping…

While Legolas was picking berries for their meagre meal, he never suspected someone else would be out there, especially not that there would be a whole group wandering through the rain-curtained forest.

About 400 metres to the north-east of the cave a group of around the fifteen shadowy burst through the dense under-foliage, only to find themselves once again surrounded by familiar looking trees.

"We're walking in a goddamn circle!" One of the figures said in the Black Speech. Another answered in the same language; How can you tell, these trees all look the same, you maggot!" The one who had spoken first slightly cringed when he heard the tone, but he felt the need to express himself. "I really think we're lost somewhat, boss." He dared to say, while looking to the head of the group shyly. The largest one at the head immediately turned around, so swiftly that the ones who followed crashed into him. He pushed those unfortunates aside with a snarl and walked towards the one who had spoken. This one to shrink a bit with each step the other took and his eyes shifted back and forth from his surroundings to the approaching figure, as if looking for support from the others, or ways to escape. But before he could do anything, he stood eye in eye with his leader, who gave him a clear reply: We're not lost, this is our forest remember?! It's just this damn rain that makes everything look the same!"

With that he turned back around and his subject felt quite relieved, when he swung back and knocked him to the ground. "And one thing! Don't call me 'boss', understood". The other nodded while scrambling back to his feet. "Yes, okay boss, uhm …Zkarsak" he stuttered when he saw the look on the other's face.

While Zkarsak walked back to his place through his pack, which split before him as a rock splits the sea; he thought about what to do.

Though he didn't admit it, he didn't know exactly where they were. The rain had washed away all signs and clues and it had made him just as wet as the ground. He knew continuing his hunt made no sense. Seeking shelter would be his first priority now, but their old hideout behind the tangled trees of the clearing wasn't an option anymore. Not since that afternoon…

That pesky human, he has driven us out of our hiding place! He will pay for that, when I catch him. Zkarsak swore to himself, like he had done many times before. Ever since the fight with Aragorn he had been enraged, a blind fury took hold of him and he wanted to live it out on the Man.

When the orcs had started to fall around him, he soon noticed the Elven-arrows with their markings from the Royal Family. He knew about the hunting on orcs the young Princes did for fun and with them usually came the Royal Guards. He had decided he wasn't ready yet to die, even if he could kill the human in front of him first. He ordered the others to retreat, but he was glad to see one of them made the human go down, before being killed himself and falling on top of the unfortunate Man. The arrows kept flying and not many made it safely into the woods. Actually, he was one of the few who weren't hurt at all amongst his current group. They had gathered a few miles from the clearing, for going to their lair wasn't to bright with all those Elven-hunters in the neighbourhood.

After a long time, Zkarsak decided they safely could take a look and he sent out two orcs to do that, just in case. They returned swiftly, for they hadn't found what Zkarsak was looking for: the human, his prey, and his trophy. No human body was found between the piles of orcs. They had found his blood, but then his trail disappeared from the clearing. Zkarsak returned himself now and followed the scents. He smelled the human-scent combined with Elvish scents. He didn't know how many, but it smelled like two and they had taken the human. He had trailed their scent to their nightcamp and found out his prey wasn't dead yet. His anger rose to dangerously high levels and he ordered everyone to start the hunt. The orcs who protested he beat forward 'till no one dared to argue anymore. Until the rain had come, they had followed very well, but now all traces and scents were being washed away. That was five hours ago and now they were still searching for clues.

He turned to the 6 others who weren't injured either. "You go out and search for a place we can stay in!" A sigh of relief almost could be heard in the group of orcs. "You two take the east, you two the north and you two the west. Come back immediately when you find something!!" And with that he sent them off…

After a few minutes of walking, the two orcs heading west, unknowingly went in a straight line for the cave Aragorn was lying in though they approached it from the other side then where Legolas was picking berries. Normally the two orcs wouldn't have seen the perfectly hidden cave, especially not with this rainfall, but unfortunately the fire that saved Aragorn, now worked as a beacon. One of the orcs saw the light wavering through the rain and attended his companion. Though they didn't walk to quietly nor were trying to hide themselves, they walked past Legolas unnoticed, nor did they know he was there. The sizzling sound of the falling rain covered all other sounds and not even Legolas' keen hearing could detect them. The rain fell down so tight it limited far sight and because of their opposite directions they didn't see each other.

Aragorn had fallen into a deep feverish sleep before Legolas had left and his fever gave weird turns to his thoughts and made them into nightmares…

Elrond and Arwen were entering the cave in which he lay and looked round until they saw him lying on the ground next to the fire; wounded and sick. With worry written on their faces they hurried towards him. While Elrond checked his wounds, Arwen slapped Legolas, who had been next to him, in the face, while she yelled at him: "How dare you treat my beloved one like this, I'll get you for that."

The Mirkwood-Elf was stunned and stood nailed to his spot while Arwen hit him hysterically. The male Elf's face turned from utter disbelief and surprise to anger and he tried to grab Arwen's wrists. But before he could get a hold on her, she started to push him forwards with hard blows that made him stumble backwards to the entrance.

" Get out of here, you horrible Elf" she yelled at her blonde counterpart; " before you kill him" And with that, Legolas was pushed outside and suddenly disappeared.

Aragorn tried to protest, to tell them Legolas had saved him, but before he could do so, Elrond placed his hand on Aragorn's mouth. "Don't speak or scream, for it won't do you any good" he said while he stood up slowly. "You are for us now, we will take care of you."

He and Arwen smiled at Aragorn, who looked at his foster-father puzzled because of the strange choice of words; but there was nothing pleasant about those smiles.

His eyes turned wide with shock as the evil smiles upon their faces grew broader and the figures of his family slowly turned into the hurled forms of two orcs…

Aragorn squeezed his eyes shut tightly so he did not have to see it all happening and then he slowly became aware of his surroundings again. He heard the sounds of the cracking fire and the pouring down of the rain, which he hadn't noticed before and then he realised his foolishness. It had only been a bad dream.

The tension in his body slowly subsided and the feeling of fear left him almost completely. He slowly opened his eyes, fully expecting to look into the worried blue orbs of Legolas.

But when his eyes had adjusted to the light that suddenly caught them, his fear came back at lightening speed.

For in front of him, with evil and expecting grins on their faces, stood two large orcs…

Uhoh, Aragorn's in trouble, hehe. Nasty me, making a cliffie. Next chapter will be up next Sunday, so till then. For now, please review, for I was posting on time. So please review. Tell me what you think of this turn in the story, I'd love to know.