Note: None of these characters belong to me, except for Aradia, the dark elves, and the unknown foe. Legolas will be a little OOC for a while, but mostly the same. Just a few things have changed; his intuition, for starters.

Return of the Fellowship,

Part 6

A.J. Matthews

Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas had been riding for hours since leaving Lothlorien. Legolas still showed no signs of being tired, in spite of what he'd gone through.

Aragorn finally called a rest stop for the night, when he himself could barely keep his eyes open. Gimli looked relieved. Legolas merely nodded in agreement.

The elf sat beside the fire as the others prepared their beds for the night.

"Aren't you sleeping tonight, Legolas?" Aragorn asked. He walked over and knelt next to the elf.

"No." The elf looked at him. "I am not tired, yet, Aragorn. I shall sleep when I do get tired. You and Gimli should rest, for you both look weary."

Aragorn nodded slowly. "Wake me when the moon is highest, Legolas," he said quietly. "My watch will start then."

Legolas nodded slowly, thinking to himself that he would not awaken Aragorn unless a battle came upon them. His silvery cloak kept him warm, as he watched Aragorn and Gimli lay down on their blankets and eventually fall asleep.

He sighed in relief. Ever since they'd started this journey together, Legolas's old feelings for Aragorn kept coming out. He needed a break from that. It was hard to be near him, sometimes. Aragorn hadn't helped much by treating him like a child. Legolas was over two thousand years old, after all.

But Legolas also knew he'd let his temper get the best of him. He should not have stormed off like that, especially without his bow and arrows. That had nearly gotten all of them killed. And he'd promised Arwen that he'd take care of Aragorn and Aradia. He couldn't afford to get distracted from that.

Legolas still loved Aragorn. He'd admitted that to himself. He already knew Aragorn still loved him, and that was why he'd fawned over him so. He'd been afraid of losing Legolas, just as he had lost Arwen. But Legolas was also afraid to give Aragorn his heart again. He'd meant it when he'd said that he wasn't sure he wanted to take that chance again. He could love Aragorn once more, but part of him still hurt.

Legolas reflected quietly through the night, and did not awaken Aragorn when the moon was high. He'd noticed that the potion he'd drank had kept his bare skin from glowing as much as it had been for the last few weeks, which made him feel more relaxed. Only a flicker of light could be seen on his bare skin.

Dawn came, and with it, the forest awoke. Birds called to each other, as Legolas sat in the same position he'd been in all night. He'd closed his eyes to shut out distracting sights, like the burning fire.

Aragorn awoke slowly and realized it was morning. Legolas had not woken him up for his shift. He looked and saw the elf sitting by the fire. His eyes were closed, however, and he appeared to be asleep. As he approached, he got the shock of his life.

Legolas could sense that someone was approaching him. In a flash, he stood, drew his short sword, and had the blade pointed at the person's throat. He opened his green eyes.

Aragorn stood there, with a look of surprise on his face. Shock was in his dark eyes. "Legolas, I merely wanted to see if you were awake. Obviously, you were."

"Indeed," Legolas said. He sheathed his short sword again. "Sorry, Aragorn. I was not certain if you were friend of foe."

Gimli had seen Legolas's lightening-fast reflexes. The elf still had it in him, even after over ten years of doing nothing but ruling an Elven Kingdom.

"It's all right, Legolas." Aragorn looked at him. "Why didn't you wake me for my shift?"

"I never got tired last night," Legolas finally said, as he started walking over to his back.

"You just now got your strength back, Legolas. Don't lose it again by not getting enough sleep," Aragorn protested.

Gimli winced. Aragorn was treating Legolas like a child again. This was not going to be good.

Legolas turned to face Aragorn slowly. "I don't need you to treat me like a child, Aragorn. I am over two thousand years old. I can take care of myself," he said quietly. The strange light which Aragorn had seen before was back again.

"I worry about you, Legolas." Aragorn looked at him.

Legolas closed his eyes briefly and opened them. "I appreciate that, Aragorn. But I will not be told what I cannot do, and what I must do." His gaze never left Aragorn's face. "That is not a team works. I am able to think for myself." He turned and continued walking over to his pack.

Gimli now looked shocked.

Aragorn looked after Legolas, sorrow and longing in his dark eyes, before he turned and looked at Gimli.

Gimli sighed. "Aragorn, you were treating him like a child again. You're lucky he didn't storm off alone again."

Aragorn nodded slowly. "I can't help it, Gimli. I'm drawn to him, and yet I feel guilty for that. I also want to protect him." Aragorn looked lost and confused.

Gimli placed his hand on Aragorn's shoulder. "It's because you still mourn for Arwen, Aragorn. You need to resolve your feelings for her before you do anything else. Because you aren't the only one hurt and confused, Aragorn." Gimli's eyes flickered to where Legolas knelt beside his pack.

Legolas had a feeling that danger was nearby. He stood, drawing an arrow from his quiver. His bow was already in his hands. "Danger," he said, loud enough for Gimli and Aragorn to hear. "We're being watched."

Gimli grabbed his axe, and Aragorn drew Anduril.

Foul, black creatures swooped down from the trees. Most headed for Legolas, but a few went after Aragorn and Gimli.

Legolas leapt into action, firing arrows with deadly accuracy. Aragorn sliced at his attackers, who fell and lay silent.

Gimli swung his axe for a second time, killing another. Aragorn kept one eye on Legolas as he killed the shadowy creatures after him.

The elf was using all of his natural abilities to avoid being trapped again. His Elven agility helped him leap into the trees, where he fired more arrows at them. His quiver was running low, as were the creatures fighting numbers. He dodged a blow and rolled forward, drawing his short knife as one of them sliced a gash along his face.

Black arrows shot straight at Aragorn. He managed to dodge all of them, except one, which was aimed straight for his heart. It struck the pendant around his neck instead, and fell to the ground. Thank you, daughter, Aragorn thought, as he stabbed the creature through the heart with Anduril.

Gimli and Aragorn finished the evil dark ones before racing over to help Legolas.

Legolas looked at them. "I can handle this," he said, as he neatly sliced another throat, before drawing his knife out and stabbing the creature behind him. Most of the creatures around him were dead.

"You aren't going to get all of the credit, elf," Gimli said. He raced forward with a battle cry. The remaining creatures were retreating back into the brush, seeking the shadows so they could recuperate.

"Are you two injured?" Aragorn asked. "I am not. I suppose it was the gift of vision again, when Aradia begged me to take her necklace, Legolas."

Legolas nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised," he said quietly. He wiped the blood off of the cut on his face.

"Hey, you're bleeding," Gimli said. He walked over and looked at the deep cut.

"I'm fine," Legolas said, and turned. Gimli caught his arm and called to Aragorn.

Aragorn walked over and looked at the cut. He was astonished to see that it had stopped bleeding already. Gandalf had warned them that Legolas's natural healing ability wouldn't be as effective at healing wounds given by the dark weapons.

"Tis naught but a scratch." Legolas jerked free. He lifted his other arm and touched the cut softly with his hand. Before Gimli and Aragorn's eyes, the cut healed over.

"See," Legolas said calmly. "All better. Shall we go now?" He picked his bag up and looked at them.

"Yes," Aragorn murmured. He and Gimli were exchanging looks of wonder.

"Good." Legolas walked over to his horse, and mounted in one move.

Gimli grabbed his own bag and climbed up behind Legolas, holding on tightly.

Aragorn climbed on his horse, as well, intending to confront the elf later. Something had definitely changed in Legolas, and he wanted to know what it was.

They began to gallop, riding hard and fast. No words were spoken for a long time.

Legolas's thoughts were his own. He knew, without knowing how he knew, that Aragorn intended to speak with him alone tonight. And to demand answers to questions which Legolas did not have an answer for.

The tension was apparent when they stopped for a short rest. Legolas took to the tallest tree he could find, seeking solitude. He stayed up there the entire break until he saw a figure riding towards them. He quickly leapt from branch to branch, heading down to the others.

"A rider is approaching, Aragorn," Legolas called.

"Well spotted," Aragorn said. He dove behind a tree, while Legolas stayed up in its branches. Gimli hid behind a rock.

The rider reached the camp and paused. He wore white robes.

"Aragorn? Legolas?" Gandalf called. "I know you're here."

"Gandalf!" Legolas said eagerly. He leapt from the tree and landed on the ground. "You're all right."

"Indeed, Legolas. Why wouldn't I be?" Gandalf asked, his eyes twinkling. Aragorn and Gimli emerged from their hiding spots.

"Ah, so they found you, Gimli. I was beginning to worry, for no-one I spoke to had." Gandalf looked at Legolas, who seemed different somehow.

A strange light flashed in Legolas's eyes when they met Gandalf's. "Would you like some food, Gandalf?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, please, Legolas." When Legolas had walked out of earshot, Gandalf turned to Aragorn, a strange expression on his face. "What has happened to him?" he asked as quietly as he could.

"The dark ones nearly ate his soul, Gandalf. Lady Galadrial used the light of Eärendil to save his life. He's changed since then," Aragorn whispered.

Gandalf looked tense. "The shadow creatures have informed their master of what Lady Galadrial did." He looked at Aragorn gravely. "If Legolas falls to the darkness, Lothlorien will perish. Such is the power of Eärendil's light."

Aragorn gasped softly. "But then the dark ones will be after him even more. That's worse news, Gandalf."

"Have you noticed changes? Legolas is stronger, perhaps? Or fleeter? A better fighter, maybe?"

Aragorn nodded. "He nearly killed two thirds of the dark elves and their friends, when they attacked us yesterday."

Legolas walked over and handed some Elvish bread to Gandalf, before announcing that he was going to refill the water bags. He walked off again, alone as always.

Aragorn reached out a hand, as if to stop him.

"Let him go, Aragorn," Gimli said quietly.

Aragorn nodded. He looked at Gandalf.

"Legolas doesn't understand the changes within him, Aragorn," Gandalf said, as he bit into the bread. "Aragorn, be there for him as much as you can. He needs you, for he is confused and lost."

Aragorn nodded slowly. Legolas came walking back with the refilled water bags. He placed them on the ground and looked at Aragorn. The air seemed to sparkle between them as they watched each other.

Fear, confusion, and longing were in Legolas's green eyes, before he turned away.

Aragorn felt pain in his heart as Legolas looked away finally. He didn't know how to help him., and he wished that he did.

To be continued