Once again thanks for the awesome feedback, so glad you like the story so far! I have ideas on how to develop it further but I have had some people send me ideas of how they'd like it to go so please do continue. Always love it when I write things people want to read :) Heres the next chapter, enjoy!

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Something Bigger

The fellowship rested for a few more days allowing Legolas to heal further and in turn, his strength began to return to him. One evening the fellowship sat around and listened as Legolas and Aragorn spoke of the many perils that they had faced together, including how Legolas had just come upon the ranger by chance even though he had been searching for him in the first place. They jested about how they did not like each other at first but when Legolas saved Aragorn from a particularly hungry warg, their friendship blossomed. As the tail ended it dawned on the group that come sunrise they would be leaving the safety of the golden wood and would once again return to their perilous journey to mount doom. Frodo had been quiet and withdrawn from the rest of the fellowship ever since the first night they had spent in Lothlorien. He often sat by himself staring at the gold ring that hung from the chain around his neck, tears falling down his porcelain cheeks. The elf knew that the hobbit blamed himself for Gandalf's death despite many members of the party telling him otherwise. The morning sun shone through the canopy above as the fellowship prepared to leave. They had been given gifts by the Lady Galadriel and her husband Celeborn. Legolas was gifted a bow of the Galadrim which was a high honor even for Mirkwood royalty. Galadriel had taken him to one side after the gifts had been exchanged, giving him words of warning.

'Be careful Legolas Thrandulion. I have seen great peril in your future if you are not wary of battle.' said the lady of the wood as she took one of his hands in hers.

'What do you mean?' he questioned as he looked at her with a quizzical expression.

'I mean that if you sense danger, do not run towards it. For it could lead to peril.' she replied as her gaze slipped away from him and towards the rest of the group who were beginning to load the boats.

She slipped away leaving Legolas to ponder what she had just told him, what could she mean by sensing danger. Was she talking of his death? He was brought back to reality by Aragorn patting him lightly on the shoulder as he walked past, bringing a small nod of acknowledgment from the elf but nothing more. The ranger noticing this grew worried for his friend, turning to look at the elf as he began assisting Merry and Pippin with packing the supplies. Once everything was loaded the fellowship hopped into the small white boats and began paddling down the calm river waters. Lady Galadriel standing at the riverbank to bid them a final farewell as they left.

They paddled for a little while until the trees no longer covered them overhead, with this Gimli let out a loud sigh.

'I have taken my worst wound at this parting, having looked my last upon that which is fairest. Henceforth I will call nothing fair unless it be her gift to me.' said Gimli suddenly, his voice cracking a little as his emotions threaten to overthrow him.

''What was her gift|?' asked Legolas softly.

'I asked her for one hair from her golden head. She gave me three.' Replied the dwarf bringing a smile to the elf's face.

The continued to travel down the river in silence, the waters becoming more choppy the further they got. After several hours the light began to fail and Aragorn motioned that they make camp for the night on the river bank. Legolas remained silent that night, taking the watch so that he could ponder Galadriel's words further. Day broke once again and they did not waste time when it came to continuing down the river, only slowing to take in the beauty of Argonath, the two mighty statues carved into the cliff face. Each holding up a powerful hand as if to force back the evil of middle-earth. As they continued on, white plumes of cloud appeared in the distance, they were fast-moving and blew wildly in the wind, they were close to the falls. Once again they paddled their boats to the shore and unpacked their supplies, the hobbits watching as Aragorn and Boromir did the brunt of the work.

'We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north.' Said the ranger as he dumped the last of the packs onto the stony ground.

'Oh, yes? It's just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil? An impassable labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks! And after that, it gets even better!… Festering, stinking marshlands far as the eye can see.' Spat Gimli, eliciting a worried expression from Pippin.

'That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf.' replied the Ranger as he tried hard to hold back a smirk.

'Recover my!… ugh paid no heed to that young hobbit.' he finished

A cold feeling came over Legolas as his eyes attempted to see through the thick dark woodland, dread filling his heart as he turned and stormed up to Aragorn.

'We should leave now.'

'No. Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness.' Replied the ranger as he returned the elf's gaze.

'It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it.' pushed the elf as he grabbed Aragorn's arm 'Galadriel warned me about this.'

'Warned you about what?'

Legolas opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by Merry as he dumped the firewood he had been tasked with finding onto the ground.

'Where's Frodo?'

Aragorn's attention was then drawn to where the Hobbit had been sat not five minutes ago and noticed that he'd been replaced by Boromir's shield. Legolas and he shared a look, both knowing what the man of Gondor would try to do.

'Come we should find them.' he said as he patted the elf on the arm and darted off into the forest.

Legolas hesitated for a moment, this must be what Galadriel had warned him about. If he left to find their two companions, would he meet his end? He thought about it a little more but decided to follow the Ranger despite the lady of the wood's warning. This quest was bigger than him, he had to find the ring-bearer and ensure he was safe from harm. With his decision made he jogged into the woods after his old friend, careful not to re-open his wound from Moria. His ears picked up the sound of swords clashing and followed it, coming to a battle that currently, only Aragorn fought. Drawing an arrow he shot an orc with lightning speed before notching another and firing it just as quickly. Orcs came at him waving their weapons above their heads but he cut them down with ease.

'Aragorn go!' he shouted as he fought off another.

The ranger did not listen and continued to fight the onslaught of orcs that appeared from over the hill. Legolas drew his blades, his fighting style to an outsider looked more like a dance as he stabbed and sliced the creatures as they threw themselves at him in the hope they'd be more successful than the last. Legolas managed to run a little away from the battle in order to shoot them down with arrows as they approached, falling like flies as he took them all down with a single shot. One Orc managed to overpower the ranger and despite several blows to the head, it did not waiver. It dragged Aragorn away from the tree that he had, had him pinned against a few moments before but little did the creature know that this was just the opportunity Legolas needed and he shot the foul creature in the back. Suddenly Legolas was knocked to the ground as another orc punched him hard in the belly, taking the wind from his lungs. The elf lay down staring up at his attacker, not allowing the fear he felt to seep into his expression. The orc raised its sword ready to deal the final blow but it never came and it fell to the floor revealing the Ranger standing behind it panting, his bloody sword in hand. Legolas fought to catch his breath as he tried to push himself up but pain once again erupted through his belly and he looked down to see that blood had started to stain his tunic.

'Oh no.' breathed the ranger as a wave of dizziness hit the elf and he fell back onto the hard earth.

A horn sound filled the air, distracting both the elf and the ranger for a moment.

'The horn of Gondor.' said Legolas weakly as he raised his head and looked in the direction the sound had come from.

'Boromir.'

'Go, find him. He may need your help more than I.' said the elf as he smiled weakly at his friend.

'I cannot leave you.' Replied the ranger.

'This quest is bigger than any one of us. Go, leave me. I shall find my feet after I catch my breath.'

They both knew that the elf's statement was not true, but Aragorn agreed and darted off in the fellow man's direction leaving the elf and the dwarf alone.

'Come now laddy, you can't be scaring us again like this.' said the dwarf as he took a few small steps towards the elf.

'I will be fine in time.' Legolas replied as he gave Gimli an awkward smile.

Darkness pulled at his mind and despite his best efforts to fight it, it was a battle he lost.

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Right I hope you enjoyed the update. I will try and get another one up the day after next :) Please let me know what you thought!