Author - RedT
Disclaimer- I am sorry to announce that I do not own these characters.

Thanks for the reviews peoples.
By the way, this is an AU. Many of the things in my fic do not actually happen in the books.
Thanx
Now on with the fic! Yaay!



The forest was shaded, the sun hiding behind a black cloud. The little light that penetrated the thick canopy seemed
to accentuate the shadow instead of making them vanish. The leaves had just started to fall, creating a golden
canopy on the forest floor.

Legolas was completely entranced by his surroundings. Since childhood, he had held a fascination with the trees and
animals which inhabited the woods.

Now he concentrated on the beauty surrounding them, using it to distract his mind from the man riding beside him.
An attempt that proved fruitless, for his traitorous mind kept returning to their earlier conversation.

Legolas had not realized that he was still bothered by his upbringing. It was not that he wasn't greatful for Niethel's
kindness, but her place in society had severely limited his life. He would never forget the day he had learned that
servents were below everyone
elsee.

* * * * * * * flashback * * * * * * *
Legolas was excited. It was his first day of school and he had been anticipating this for months. Smoothing down the
new tunic that Nie had made for him, he entered the schoolyard. Noticing two of his friends in the middle of the yard

Legolas headed towards them, a bright smile on his face

"Hi." He said tentatively, aware of the other strange boys surrounding them.

"'Well, well. It seems the 'lower' class has decided to join us today."

Legolas's smile faltered at the cruel words from one of his previous playmates. He glanced at the younger of the two
brothers, his face pleading with the other boy. The young elf merely shook his head and looked away.

"Look at his clothes! " another of the boys taunted. "Rags is more like it!"

Legolas felt his eyes tear up as laughs surrounded him.

* * * * * * * end flashback * * * * * * *


At that moment Legolas heard a sound coming from the nearby foliage. Motioning for Aragorn to stop, he
dismounted his horse, landing lightly on the ground.

Unsheathing one of his knives, the elf silently crept towards the source of the sound. With a yell, a figure hurtled itself
at him.

Dodging the fist coming his way, Legolas twisted himself to land on top of the figure. He placed his knife at the man's
throat
and found a steel blade pressed harshly against his ribs.

The man under him was dark and rugged. His eyes staring icily at him

Their stalemate was interrupted when Aragorn emerged into the clearing. When the Ranger beheld the scene, his
eyes widened in surprise.

"Legolas! Boromir! Don't! " When neither made to move their weapons away, Aragorn approached them. He
addressed the man first.

"Boromir, this is an elf from Rivendell. King Elrond has sent him with me to retrieve you." Hearing these words, the
man called Boromir glared at the elf before removing his sword from Legolas's ribs.

Legolas also retrieved his knife, sitting back on his heels and observing the man that was Aragorn's companion.

Ignoring the elf, Boromir made his way to the other man and they began to talk in hushed whispers. Legolas's keen

ears picked up every word of the conversation.

"I do not trust him, Aragorn. " Boromir stated gruffly, shooting a glare in Legolas's direction. Aragorn sighed at the
stubborn look on his friend's face.

"Don't speak that way." he reprimanded. "Legolas is trustworthy, he lead me to Rivendell. And he is one of the elves
in this land.We came to ask for their aid."

"That's why I don't trust him." Boromir whsipered. "Elves are unnatural creatures.

Legolas's dislike for the human increased at his arrogant words. Aragorn's words in his defense ,however, set his
heart aglow.

He was puzzled at the warm feeling which had settled in his stomach. Why should he be so glad to have this human's
approval.



They headed back to their horses, where the three encountered another problem. Boromir's horse had fled during
the storm, leaving only the two steeds from Rivendell. Remembering Boromir's distaste for the elf, Aragorn offered
to ride double with Legolas.

Now they rode back towards Rivendell. Aragorn sat with the slender elf before him, one of his arms slung around the
slim waist.

Legolas's close proximity was extremely distracting. The Ranger could feel the warmth coming from his companion
and the scent of pine laced the air near him.

As the horses sped onward, the wind blew Legolas's hair in his direction. The golden locks lightly brushed his cheek,
feeling like silk on his rough skin.

Unable to stand it any longer he reached forward and grabbed the long tresses. Aragorn leaned over and deposited
them over the startled elf's shoulder. Ignoring the questioning look from his companions, he settled back to enjoy
the rest of the ride.


TO BE CONTINUED

Whew! Another chapter done. Sorry if you think this story is going too slow, but I didn't want them to just meet and
suddenly end up together. Just like that. As always Please Review.

Till next time.