Author's Note: Thank you all for your wondrous reviews!! You're all so kind. Oh, and Orlando the fish appreciates the greetings. ;-) As of tonight, I have seen LotR four times. Such is the benefit of knowing people who work at the cinema; all the food and drink and movies one can stomach, for the low low price of...free!

Sorry for the shortness of this chapter. I'll make up for it, I promise. That is, if you don't hate me by the time it's over.

-Spike

Chapter Four: Falling into Shadow

"Legolas?" Aragorn murmured, afraid to come closer, afraid to face again what he had faced with Boromir. He faltered, his leg giving him pain, a sensation that was all but lost in the darkness that had swirled up to seize the Ranger's heart in its frigid grip. Around him the bodies of orcs lay like dead leaves where they had fallen, their weapons glinting and blood-grimed, broken and useless. The forest shuddered at the touch of their foul corpses upon its earth, but Aragorn felt nor saw any of this, his gaze fixed ahead, his nerveless fingers dropping his sword to the ground.

Gimli's head was bowed upon the shoulder of his fallen comrade, and could be heard weeping over the crackling of the stray torches that still burned. Aragorn took a breath and drew up his last reserves of strength, clenching his teeth so hard it hurt, and he forced himself to look upon Legolas' face.

The Elf's expression was one of pain and sadness as he gazed down at the grieving dwarf, who had lain his axe beside him and held the bow of Lothlórien in his hands. Legolas raised his shining eyes presently to meet those of Aragorn, who found them strangely serene, at peace in this welter of blood and filth. At length he heaved a rattling sigh.

" The orcs somehow scented us, and came up from behind in the night. I...I do not know why I discovered them so late; indeed, how they found us at all. They were upon us before I had allowed us a proper chance, and I fear they, though dead, have accomplished their mission to delay us fatally. I have failed us, Aragorn."

" Curse this traitorous forest!" howled Gimli, shaking his bloody fist at the tall guardians that surrounded them, old as time, ever watching in silence. He took up his axe, but dropped it again in resignation as Legolas' battle-grimed hand found his shoulder. He wept helplessly, as he had in Balin's tomb, but there was a note in his sorrow that spoke of something closer.

" Do not take up your axe in anger, son of Gloin," the Elf murmured softy, his breath leaving him. " Only in the name of honour must you place your judgement. Blame not the forest; it too was deceived. Come to me, Aragorn," he said suddenly, looking up from where the dwarf had slumped again at his side.

Aragorn did so as though in a trance, finding his way unseeing across the ground, his eyes blurred with grief. He knelt down beside his friend and the Elf raised his hand to find Aragorn's cheek, stroking away the blood from a cut there. The hand felt warm and strong, but the strength was fading fast, and the rattle of death was in his chest.

" Son of Arathorn, fight bravely and proudly, and lead our companions, whither you shall meet, safely to their fate. I would have liked to walk beside you on that path."

" Legolas-"

" Hush, Aragorn. Take my hand; Gimli the other; face me toward the east, if you will." His companions obeyed, and Legolas' face contorted in pain as he was shifted gently to face Eastward.

Aragorn's tears spilled forth as Legolas sighed in peaceful resignation. "What do you ask of us, friend Elf?" he whispered, his voice breaking. He steadied himself. Must be strong, must be strong as I was with Boromir...

" Hold fast to my hands, my dearest friends," the Elf whispered, " and tarry here with me awhile, till I may see the sun rise, and embark upon my last journey."

And so the three friends remained there in the woodland as the fires went out and dawn spread her rosy fingers to probe the land, touching all but the grieving travellers, and Legolas, son of Thranduil, Prince of Mirkwood, closed his sea-grey eyes and shadow took him hither to his fate. Don't worry, people- there's more to come! Don't despair quite yet!

Oh dammit...I think I just gave the next chapter away.