Chapter 5:

The two elves, the Light and the Shadow sat together under the stars. Legolas spoke first.

"Why not get some rest? You have faught long and hard for a long time and you deserve it."

"Deserving or no, I cannot sleep," replied Drizzit. "I do not need much sleep and the danger is still too great. I will rest tomorrow if I am accepted."

"I do not see why you wouldn't be." Said Legolas in all honesty. "The elves of Lothlorien do not judge by skin nor race, save for dwarves. I fear Gimli will be too stubborn when we enter the wood. But you? You are elf, and therefore, brethren."

"I do hope you are right." Drizzit was unconvinced. Legolas pressed on.

"I am. If worse comes to worse I will speak for you as I will for Gimli. However, I doubt it will come to that." Drizzit simply nodded.

Silence fell between the two again. As the silence grew, however, so did the comfort between them. They conversed in silence, their understanding of each other growing by the minute. It was as if they had known each other for ages only halfway through the watch. By the time Legolas awakened Aragorn for his watch, it was as if they were two halves of the same whole. In fact, they were.

After all, what is Light if there is no Shadow, and can there be Shadow with no light? One cannot exist without the other, for one is the creator of the other. It is simply their nature.

* * *

Dawn broke on Gimli's watch and it found the dark elf watching the sunrise with rapt attention. Next to him, in the tree, sat Legolas, equally enraptured.

"What are you doing elf?" asked Gimli, teasingly.

"Well, dwarf, I would think that would be obvious, even to you." Legolas replied, easily teasing as he jumped down from his branch.

"You know very well that us sensible dwarves never take anything that you elves do at face value."

"Then your skull is as dense as the skulls you mine." Gimli's eyes widened in surprised pleasure at the banter.

"Is that a challenge?" Legolas smiled back at the dwarf.

"If you can't tell..." He let the sentence hang and Gimli laughed.

"Crazy elf."

"Stupid dwarf," Legolas shot back, automatically, causing Gimli to laugh harder. Drizzit turned from the sun as Aragorn and Boromir awoke, leaving only the hobbits asleep.

The four were huddled together in their sleep, a mass of blankets, limbs, and curly hair. When one grew closer one could tell that Merry and Pippin were tangled up n each other, while lying back to back with Frodo who was wrapped protectively in Sam's strong arms. The hobbits had only two blankets among them, which they doubled up to cover all of them, attributing to their close quarters. Gimli snuck up behind them, as quietly as he could, (which wasn't very quietly, but the hobbits could sleep through anything.) He opened his mouth and roared at them, causing Pippin to jump, get caught, and land, a tangled mass of blankets and hobbit. The other's complained.

"Off! Pippin! Get off!'

"Get your knee out of my stomach! I can't breathe!"

"That had better be your hand, Pippin, or I'll cut it off!"

Pippin, who had been clumsily struggling up till then to get free, squeaked and finally sprung free. Sam sat up, grumbling and yawning and released his hold on Frodo. Climbing to his feet he went off to start breakfast. Frodo sat where he lay, unconsciously fingering his ring and watching the other movements. Merry stood, stretched, and reached down to help Pippin to his feet and the two hobbits toddled off to get some water for Sam.

Drizzit helped the others break camp as Sam prepared breakfast. They would be moving as soon as breakfast was over. Aragorn talked as they ate.

"We should reach the woods today about midday, if we hurry. I would like to get to a safer place as soon as possible. The group set out, (for once) on schedule as planned.

TBC

Well? Did the banter work? I'll try to improve it in the future. Next time, Lothlorien!