Aragorn drew himself nearer to Legolas and fixed his eyes upon the ground.

"He was trying to tell me that he had wanted the ring. He thought we were better off without him. But we've all thought about that ring. It plays with your mind. To have a thing of such power within your grasp would do the same to any man."

Around them the stars formed a blanket and Legolas hated that they had to start off again so soon. He had carefully wrapped Boromir in Aragorn's cloak and Aragorn had to will himself not to glance at the unmoving form as they walked. He had been especially glad that Legolas was there to lift the body when he did not think he could move from that spot. It had been his friend who suggested they give him a burial according to the customs and Aragorn had wondered for a fleeting moment what the customs of the elves were. Then he recalled that they were immortal and jealousy struck his heart.

"How does it feel, to know you won't die," he asked him quietly.

"Aragorn, I'm immortal-not invincible."

He had to focus then to see his friend's face in the darkness that was enveloping them.

"What does that mean?"

"Estel," Legolas began. His eyes showed his confusion as well as his concern for his friend. " I do not age but that does not mean I cannot die."

"But you've never even had a scratch on you," Aragorn said with half a laugh.

"That is skill, not magic," Legolas replied with pride. "And even at that, that is only in the time you have known me. I have come close on many occasions."

Aragorn realised his stupidity then and slowly the gravity of his friend's words began to sink in. Now he fully understood the risk that Legolas was taking in joining their fellowship. He had grown so accustomed to the idea that Legolas was always there. That he always had been and would continue to be for as long as he chose.

"Death is still a stranger to me in many ways. It has been many years from when I last witnessed it. Sometimes I forget that for all you children, it is different. In a way, I envy you; you have not long to wait before you rejoin the ones you love," Legolas spoke with a sadness that Aragorn was not used to hearing.

"You have lost someone?"

"Yes. Though sometimes we lose people even when we can still touch them. They simply live on the other side of a veil. And there is no ship that can take us there."

Aragorn felt annoyance at himself then, for how little he knew about the friend who was so dear to him. A friend who had followed him into darkness.

"Arwen was willing to give up her immortality for me," he confided in Legolas. He knew that they had been friends but it was still a difficult concept for him to grasp how long they had been on this earth before he was. "Would you ever give it up?"

"I do not know," he replied with a smile. "Living has become a bit of a habit."

"Oi! You two! We'd better get moving faster. We need to clear the trees before nightfall," Gimli called back to them.

"You make for a good match, Tauriel," Legolas congratulated her on hitting the target. If he was honest with himself, being around Tauriel reminded him a little of his childhood with Arwen. But where Arwen was gentle and motherly, Tauriel was lively and sarcastic. It came into his mind that she was rather like a hybrid between Arwen and his father. Tauriel was about to respond when she saw a movement in the distance.

"Legolas."

He glanced around quickly when he saw her concern.

"Orcs," she said with confusion. "They would not come here."

Legolas had begun to move forward towards the clearing but she pulled him back. "We must return," she urged him as she pulled his arm. He followed her reluctantly as they ran through the forest. Their feet were light and quick as they glided over the forest floor. The trees did their best to sway from their path. Once they had encountered members of the guard on the outskirts, Tauriel began to give them their orders. They had barely reached the gates when they heard an assault taking place behind them. Even from this distance they could see a number of the creatures slash their way through the trees.

"Close the gates," Tauriel called to the stewards at the bridge. Legolas pulled an arrow from his bow and directly hit one of the orcs closest to them but he immediately regretted that it drew attention to the bridge-way and the orc behind charged forward. The Prince was able to gain a hit to it's leg but it wasn't enough. More of them were appearing between the trees and shouts were breaking out all around them. His eyes searched for Tauriel and he saw her in combat with one. She used her dagger having not brought a sword with her. The wood of the gates splintered as the orc fought its way through; tossing the guards into the river with ease. Legolas strung his bow once more and aimed for the neck of the Orc that advanced on him. At this range he could not miss. His target landed and the orc cried out in pain. The prince backed away as the creature swayed but he was surprised to see it pull the arrow from its leg.

The creature advanced once more and Legolas drew the knife held in his quiver. Legolas was relieved when the rest of the guard appeared behind them. He feinted to the left as the orc lunged for him and he raised the knife to plunge it into the thick, greying skin. In an instant he felt the air knocked from him as the orc lifted him and he struggled to free himself. He heard, more than felt, the impact as he was thrown against the wall for more times than he could count.

"Tauriel!"

He knew that she was near but he could not turn his head to find her. He heard the yells of the guardsmen as they took down the last remaining of the pack and he felt the muscles in his shoulder contract sharply as one of his own arrows was forced through them. He fell to the ground then and presumed that someone else had taken care of the orc that now lay dead next to him. Raising himself to his feet, he ran to Tauriel to check that she was okay.

"Tauriel, are you hurt?"

"Legolas!"

"There haven't been orcs here for years," he spoke with anger as he witnessed the carnage that lay before them. He found himself short of breath and Tauriel had taken hold of his arm to steady him.

"Legolas," she said once more and looked to his shoulder. "You're hurt."

He looked down to see the splintered end of his arrow lodged in his shoulder and all at once the pain hit him. It came as more of a surprise to him and he couldn't quite process it, his fingers touched the blood as it seeped from the wound and he noted that the arrow seemed much shorter than the depth of the wound felt. He supposed the orc must have pulled it out a little and he wondered if it was intentional. He did not imagine they were smart enough to understand it would inflict more damage. Tauriel helped him up the steps to the castle, giving orders for the guards to remain in case any more orcs should arrive. With a look of confusion, the elves guarding the castle doors opened them and allowed them to enter.

"Find a healer," she asked one of them as she led Legolas to the throne room. Her heart was in her throat as they entered and the King watched them with wide eyes.

"Legolas!"

In an instant Thranduil was beside his son and forcing him to sit.

"I'm alright," the prince assured him. Legolas became increasingly concerned as Tauriel recounted what had happened. He knew that the silence of his father was only the calm before the storm.

"How could you let this happen," he asked her in a deathly quiet voice as he touched the wound on his son's shoulder.

"It wasn't her fault. If it weren't for Tauriel, we wouldn't have seen them in time to warn anyone."

Thranduil looked unconvinced but relented when one of the healers entered and began to fuss over the prince.

"It's really not as bad as it seems, sire," he said pointedly when Legolas winced at his touch. Under the King's deathly stare he took every precaution in removing the remainder of the arrow. Thranduil lifted it gingerly with his elegant fingers.

"This is one of your arrows," he commented and gave his son a quizzical look.

"The orc pulled it from its leg and used it as a weapon," Tauriel told him. She hovered by the doorway; afraid to intrude. The healer began to exclaim loudly then about the effects of Orc blood on elves and Legolas simply wished he would be silent. The pain was mounting behind his eyes and he felt weary. Pain and bloodshed was not something he experienced often and he hoped not to experience it again for a long while. The healer was chewing on different herbs before blended them into a poultice. The smell of it was earthy and a welcome distraction for the prince. Until it was applied to the wound and the pain mounted to a level that even he could not tolerate quietly.

"Ada!"

"I'm here, Legolas," he soothed and Tauriel watched with compassion when the King gently pressed his forehead to his son's.