Author's note: I hate how I wrote chapter 3. ;

I've made up my mind. Since I've butchered up jrr tolkien's worshipful story enough, imma keep on butchering it.

Chapter 4: A Deadly Affair

As the first rays of sunlight rose up lazily over the horizon, Legolas lightly tapped Gimli on the shoulder. The Dwarf's distinct snores slowly quieted as he looked up blearily at the Elf.

"It is time to wake, friend." Legolas said softly. "Wake Aragorn so we may continue on." He turned to his small bag and began packing it, rolling his bedroll up tightly.

Gimli sat up and tiredly rubbed his eyes. "Why can't you wake him up?" Though heavy-eyed, Gimli did not fail to see the Elf's actions falter. He watched intently to see what Legolas' next response would be.

"I shall scout our area to be sure no danger awaits us." Legolas quickly stood up and left the clearing. Gimli growled under his breath but went to wake the sleeping Man. He shook Aragorn gently and Aragorn blinked his eyes open. "The sun is up, Aragorn."

Aragorn nodded and more quickly than Gimli, he fully awoke and sat up, alert. He looked around. "Where is Legolas?"

"He went to scout the area."

Aragorn sighed. "All right." He moved to grab his bag. "Pack quickly, Gimli. We will want a rapid start." With swiftness, Aragorn rolled up his bed and had his bag prepared. No sooner had he finished did Legolas appear again out of the trees. Neither Man nor Elf gave any indication they had noticed each other but in both hearts, they felt a great longing to comfort one another on this dark, cold journey. Only Gimli could see the longing that both the stoic Elf and impassive Man showed, or rather, tried to hide. Aragorn stood up and Gimli followed suit. "Are we all ready?" Aragorn asked. He received a brisk nod from Legolas and a thumbs-up from Gimli. "Let us go on."

Silently, the three companions left their area quickly. No trace of the old man from the night before was anywhere; only the deep imprints of frantic hoof prints in the ground indicated a sign of what had happened. Both Aragorn and Legolas made no sign to continue pondering on the subject of the old man so Gimli followed suit, though he wished for something to break their silence.

Suddenly, Legolas ran to the side of the pathway. Aragorn and Gimli followed him and saw at the same time, a small pile of lemba crumbs on the ground. Judging from the small, almost invisible footprints heading away from the crumbs, they could all see that some small beings, after a short rest, had gone into Fangorn. Aragorn knelt down to examine the evidence more carefully.

Gimli gulped fearfully. He looked over at Aragorn and could see the Man was thinking the same thing he was: they might have to enter the forest Celeborn had so warned them against entering.

"Shall we enter?" Legolas asked curiously. Both Aragorn and Gimli noted that no fear was in the Elf's voice, only inquisitiveness.

"I do not know," Aragorn murmured. "My mind tells me it is the wise thing to do, but my heart tells me it is too dangerous. I do not know what to decide."

"Whatever is your decision, we will follow you." Gimli said loyally. He smiled encouragingly at the grim-faced Man. "You are our leader now and to our deaths, we would follow you."

"And that is precisely what I am afraid of." Aragorn replied, sighing heavily. He stood back up and looked into the depths of the dark woods in front of them. "We shall not enter," Aragorn said decidedly, "at least not now. I need more time to think."

"Then what of Merry and Pippin?" Legolas asked, his eyebrows furrowing in discontentment at Aragorn's decision.

"Indeed I will not let them go to their deaths but I must think of you, Gimli, and myself before them." Aragorn replied. "Do not trouble me any further, Legolas."

"Then what do you wish us to do now?" Legolas pressed on, ignoring Aragorn's request.

"Rest awhile." Aragorn replied, almost irritatingly.

Legolas stared at the Man for a long time but Aragorn could not comprehend the emotions the Elf held in his cryptic blue eyes. Finally, Legolas turned away, for which Aragorn was glad. He knew he had hurt the Elf's feelings for he had never talked to his friend in such a harsh way before. He frowned as Legolas began walking hurriedly away from them.

"Hey!" Gimli called. "Where are you going, Elf?"

Legolas continued moving away. "I shall scout around. I am too restless to respite." Legolas answered without turning back. Without another word, the Elf disappeared around a turn.

Gimli sighed. He looked at Aragorn who continued to look the way Legolas had disappeared. "Perhaps you or I should go stop him. It is not safe to walk around alone."

"He can take care of himself." Aragorn replied stiffly. "He does not wish for us to disturb him and so we will comply with his wishes. You are weary, Gimli. Rest and pay no mind to Legolas' affairs."

Gimli was about to respond when suddenly, a bright white light appeared out before them. In the middle of the light, they could make out the dim shadow of a being standing ahead of them. Aragorn instinctively put his hand to his sword hilt and gripped it tightly. Gimli saw him and he also took out his axe.

"What are you waiting for, Aragorn?" Gimli cried out frantically. "It is Saruman!"

"Unarm yourselves!" a familiar, deep voice bellowed at Aragorn and Gimli. "You cannot harm me, Aragorn son of Arathorn and Gimli son of Gloin!"

Aragorn almost fell to the ground, weeping for joy. "Gandalf! You are back!"

Indeed, Gandalf had returned. The light faded away and the tall wizard stood before them but not quite the same wizard, as they had previously known. His tattered old gray clothing had been replaced by glimmering white robes. His staff was now a gleaming pearly white and he stood in front of them, not looking as though he had a great responsibility. He seemed more powerful and godly than before and a strange supremacy surrounded him.

"Where is Legolas?" Gandalf asked. Just then, they all heard the high, shrill screech pierce the deathly stillness of the air. Aragorn turned pale. Gandalf had already sprung into action, running towards the area where the sound had been heard. "Come!" he called out to Aragorn and Gimli. "We must go quickly!" The Dwarf and Man followed him, forgetting any fatigue they had felt before as the worry for their friend filled their minds. Oh, why had Aragorn been so harsh on Legolas? Aragorn only hoped that the Elf was unharmed. They slowed down as they entered a tiny clearing where Legolas stood, his bow in his hand, over a fallen being. The body was not distinct for it was covered in a black cloak. The blood from Aragorn's face drained as he saw Legolas. The Elf stood, deathly pale and still as he stared down at the body on the ground. Legolas looked extremely frail.

"Legolas," Gandalf called out. The Elf looked bleakly at him. "What happened?"

Legolas turned lethargically back to the fallen body. "It approached me and I shot it with an arrow and…" Suddenly, Legolas collapsed, barely avoiding contact with the ground as Aragorn dove to catch him.

"Legolas!" Aragorn called out in panic.

Gandalf strode over to the body and after examining it a while, he kicked the cloak aside, revealing nothing underneath.

"A Ringwraith," he muttered. He turned to Gimli and Aragorn. "Come quickly. We must enter the woods of Fangorn. I have a friend who may be able to aid us." Without another word, he disappeared into the trees to the side of them. Lacking hesitation, Aragorn rapidly followed him and so did Gimli, though the latter did so grudgingly. He followed closely behind Aragorn, eyeing each tree suspiciously, suspecting a dark foe waiting to spring out at them at any moment. "Treebeard!" Gandalf called out loudly. "Treebeard!"

As they waited, they could hear a thumping sound approach them. As the sound grew louder, Gimli's eyes widened at the sight of a tree walking towards them. But it was not a tree; it was a being closely resembling a tree. Evidently, this was Treebeard for he acknowledged Gandalf with a nod.

"Gandalf, it has been decided. We shall leave soon." Treebeard said patiently. He turned his attention to Aragorn who continued to hold Legolas in his arms. "What is this?"

"A friend of ours has fallen to a Ringwraith." Gandalf replied darkly. "Can you help us?"

Treebeard approached Aragorn and looked into Legolas' pallid face. He murmured in astonishment.

"Is this not an Elf?"

"Indeed it is," Gandalf said impatiently, "but he needs care urgently, Treebeard."

"Hoom, of course, of course." Treebeard nodded. "Follow me and you will tell me your story as we walk." And so the group followed Treebeard who walked at an agonizingly slow pace. Aragorn had come to the conclusion that Treebeard was a very patient being who was not one for hurrying. "He was attacked by a Ringwraith, you say?"

"Yes. Though I do not know the full story, we overcame him standing over a fallen Ringwraith though the wraith has disappeared. I know not where it may have escaped. There is no mark on Legolas' body, indicating a reason for his sudden illness."

"A Ringwraith needs not inflict a flesh wound to affect a person." Treebeard replied grimly. "Ringwraiths feed on one's happiness and bring grief and despair to its victim, a surely lethal combination especially to an Elf. But perhaps your friend will not have been affected so much if you say he was able to injure the wraith." He slowed as he came to a small fortress somewhere in the middle of Fangorn. Inside the small fortification, two small beings jumped out at them.

"Aragorn! Gimli! Gandalf!" They cried out eagerly.

"Merry and Pippin!" Gimli barked astonishingly. "How came you to these woods? We thought we had lost you!"

"And you almost did," Pippin agreed gravely. His brow furrowed upon sight of Legolas. "But what has happened to Legolas?"

"A Ringwraith." Aragorn answered grimly. He laid Legolas' limp body down onto a bed to the side of the house and remained by the Elf's side, looking down anxiously at his ashen face. He moved away as Treebeard came to him with a small cloth, smelling strongly of a potent medicine. Aragorn coughed as Treebeard handed the cloth to him.

"Put this over his nose and mouth." Treebeard instructed. "He must breathe this in. Do not take it away until he is coughing."

Aragorn hesitantly covered Legolas' nose and mouth with the reeking cloth. He held his breath as he watched Legolas. Suddenly, the Elf began coughing and thrashing around, trying to find air. Aragorn hurriedly took away the cloth and watched anxiously as Legolas' eyes flew open and he gasped out shuddering breaths. Treebeard put his hand on Legolas' chest and massaged it firmly. Gradually, Legolas relaxed and laid still on the bed. He looked around at his friends.

"Where am I?" he asked wearily.

"You are in the house of Treebeard in the forest of Fangorn." Gandalf replied. "You have survived a nearly fatal encounter, Legolas. Be thankful Treebeard was able to help you."

Legolas turned to look in wonder at Treebeard. "Are you an Ent?" he asked in awe.

Treebeard nodded. "Indeed I am. Do the Elves still sing of the Ents in their songs? I would think we had been long forgotten after so many years."

Legolas shook his head. "Nay, we still sing of the Ents and their glory. Long have I desired to meet one. Thank you for saving me, Master Treebeard."

Treebeard smiled and nodded. "Rest, Master Elf. You are still weak and are still vulnerable to anything."

Legolas frowned. "I do not remember what happened."

"That will all come back to you." Treebeard replied soothingly. "Just rest for now." He kindly put a hand on Legolas' shoulder. Comforted by the warmth, Legolas' eyes grew vacant as he drifted off into a reverie. Aragorn sighed in relief. Legolas was safe, at least for now.

Gandalf watched the Man intently. He read the keen emotions on Aragorn's face and mumbled softly to himself. He turned to Treebeard. "Come, Treebeard. We have much to discuss. Merry and Pippin, you take Gimli to eat. He will be famished. And then perhaps you will wish to give him a tour of Fangorn?"

"Of course," Merry replied politely. "But what of Aragorn?"

"Aragorn will stay to watch over Legolas. Am I right in believing you do not mind, Aragorn?" Gandalf asked the Man. Aragorn nodded his head and turned his attention back to Legolas. "Perhaps when you return, you can bring nourishment for Aragorn and Legolas both. Come, Treebeard." Gandalf and Treebeard quickly left, as did Gimli and the hobbits.

Aragorn silently thanked Gandalf for leaving him and Legolas alone. Though Legolas was not conscious and Aragorn could not speak with him, Aragorn was content in watching the other's face, in which its normal color was beginning to return. He hesitantly brought his hand to stroke Legolas' cheek. The skin was unbelievably soft and unblemished.

How had Aragorn come to behold such a heavenly sight? Why had fate chosen him to fall in love with this untouchable being? When would what was untouchable become tangible?

Yeah I know there's a lot of "rhetorical" questions at the ends of my chapters…. I'm just stupid like that. =P is this moving along too slow?

And as I've said….i'm going to keep on butchering "the lord of the rings" becuz…I'm a dork like that. Yeah. N/e waize thx for all the comments… I really appreciate it… *^^*