Author's note: lol thx for all the replies… =P dude, I keep turning Legolas into a friggin girl. =(

Chapter 17: Testing Strength

When Aragorn awoke, he found his arms empty. He looked around and did not see Legolas anywhere. He got up and walked over to the camp where his friends were still sleeping. Legolas' bed was empty. Aragorn turned around and prepared to go look for the Elf.

"He went with Lady Galadriel."

Aragorn jumped as a voice rang out from behind him. He whirled around and saw that Elladan was now sitting up and grinning naughtily at him.

"I pray you had a good rest?"

Aragorn groaned when he heard the note of mischief in Elladan's voice. "Were you…?"

Elladan laughed. "Love is an interesting thing, Aragorn. It's especially fun to watch." He laughed again at the faint color that rose up in Aragorn's cheeks. "Do I sense embarrassment, Aragorn?"

Aragorn shook his head in disbelief. "This is why I should never befriend Elves. They're much too curious."

Elladan chuckled. "I suppose we can be curious. But you cannot argue that we are great fun to be around!" Aragorn just shook his head again.

"So you two are awake." Haldir said as he appeared from the woods. He smiled as he reached them. "I trust your rest was peaceful?" Elladan snickered but quieted down when Aragorn glared at him. Haldir slightly raised his eyebrow but didn't push on the exchange. "Are you hungry? Would you like me to bring food?"

Aragorn shook his head. "We'll wait until our companions awake. Has Legolas eaten?"

Haldir nodded. "He joined me for breakfast and then went with the Lord and Lady. Is he truly a Mage?" Haldir asked in awe.

Aragorn nodded. "Aye, he is."

Haldir inhaled a deep breath and let it out again. He still looked in a daze. "And he has kept it a secret for so long… It is amazing no one has noticed it before." Haldir shook his head and grinned at Aragorn. "Legolas is in the pavilion, Elessar." He winked discreetly and walked away. Aragorn stared as Haldir disappeared into the trees.

"Go to him." Elladan said, reading Aragorn's mind. "But be warned, Aragorn. The Lord and Lady will also be present." Aragorn turned to stare at Elladan. Elladan groaned and gave him a slight shove. "Go!" Aragorn grinned and ran off into the trees.

Aragorn reached the pavilion but made sure to stay hidden behind a tree. He peered out into the pavilion where Legolas stood with both Galadriel and Celeborn. They talked quietly in Elvish and Aragorn was unable to make out what they were discussing. He watched curiously as Legolas nodded and slowly closed his eyes. The Elf mumbled softly to himself and Aragorn watched in wonder at the bright white glow that appeared to surround Legolas. The glow circled around Legolas and then faded away as Legolas collapsed to the ground. Aragorn stepped out into the clearing in alarm before realizing his folly. He stayed rooted in his spot as Celeborn turned to look at him while Galadriel poured a cup of water into Legolas' mouth.

"King Elessar," Celeborn greeted in his quiet baritone voice, "what brings you here?"

"I…" Aragorn glanced at Legolas' still body on the ground. "I… I was… Is he all right?"

"There is no need to worry, Elessar." Galadriel replied reassuringly. "Legolas has just performed a spell to recall his powers. It is a very draining spell. He shall awaken soon." Aragorn nodded uncertainly as he frowned at the deathly pallor of Legolas' skin. "Elessar, if you worry for him now, how will you stand to watch him battle Saruman?" Galadriel asked seriously. Her grave blue eyes gazed into Aragorn's surprised gray ones. "Legolas faints now but if he succeeds in taking his power from Saruman, evil shall enter his soul. He will be much more helpless then as he battles evil within himself." She looked down as Legolas' eyes fluttered open. He looked up at them blearily. She knelt down beside him. "How do you feel, Legolas?"

"I cannot move." Legolas whispered in response.

Galadriel nodded. "Your body is exhausted. It is something you will experience during a recalling spell. You did well, Legolas." As Galadriel said these last words, Aragorn caught a hint of fear in her voice but he refused to ponder on it.

"Thank you, Lady," said Legolas who had not noticed the slight tremor in Galadriel's voice. "I expect I shall be much weaker after I confront Saruman?"

"Yes, but do not lose hope." Celeborn answered. "You are strong, Legolas Greenleaf."

"As were the other Mages killed by such evil." Legolas pointed out.

Galadriel frowned. "It is important you do not ponder on such thoughts, Legolas." She said sternly. "You cannot lose hope, no matter what the outcome may be."

"Of course, Lady." Legolas sighed deeply. He finally looked to where Aragorn was standing. "Est—Aragorn!" he exclaimed. "Are the others awake?"

Aragorn shook his head and smiled comfortingly at Legolas. "Nay, they are not, Legolas."

Legolas gave a relieved grin though Aragorn could sense resentment in Legolas' eyes. "That is a relief. I would not want them to see me lying on the ground in such a state." He groaned as he attempted to lift an arm. "My body feels as though it were made of stone."

"Do not try to move just yet, Legolas." Galadriel warned. "Your body does not need the exertion after what it has just been through. Performing a recalling spell may be much safer when done falsely but that does not mean it is any easier."

"For one who has never known Mages, you know much, Lady." Legolas said.

Galadriel smiled. "Alas, what I know does not even amount to a third of what should still be taught of Mages and their history." She watched as Legolas succeeded in sitting up. He was still ghostly pale and his eyes looked glazed. She sighed at Legolas' persistence.

Aragorn stared in concern also at Legolas' frailty. "Lady, don't you have a potion to make him stronger?" he asked.

Galadriel turned to look at him. "Nay, I do not, Elessar. But even if I had such a potion, I would not give it to him. Potions would be useless when he faces Saruman and Legolas should experience what symptoms he can to become accustomed to his state. He will be much weaker when he meets Saruman again."

"Lady, I may be weak as you say," Legolas said huffily, "but should I defeat Saruman, such ill-health could not match the honor I shall feel."

Celeborn smiled faintly. "And so you shall be such an honorable Elf, Legolas. You have the strength and will to win this battle. But you must not think so brashly of victory. It could prove to be your downfall."

"Yes, Lord." Legolas got to his feet and stood, wavering slightly from front to back as he fought to stay balanced.

Aragorn walked to Legolas and held the Elf up. Legolas gave the Man a quick glance and attempted to jerk away.

Galadriel caught the small movement and the hint of a smile formed at the edges of her lips. "I believe our lesson today has come to an end, Legolas." She and Celeborn gracefully walked away and only Legolas and Aragorn were left in the pavilion.

"Please do not act so rashly in the presence of the Lord and Lady of the Woods." Legolas said reproachfully as Aragorn held him in his arms.

"I did nothing obvious!" Aragorn exclaimed.

Legolas groaned. "Elves have much keener senses than Men. We notice things that Men do not. Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn would surely have noticed something." He sighed and looked around and then back at Aragorn, somewhat sullenly. "The lesson has ended but I am still weak. I suppose I must ask for your support in returning to the campsite."

"Gladly." Aragorn answered and grinned as he lifted Legolas easily into his arms.

"Estel!" Legolas yelped. "Put me down!" He struggled to get free.

"I would never," Aragorn whispered into the Elf's pointy ear. "I rather like the feeling of you in my arms."

"I am not a child!" Legolas grumbled crabbily.  

"Have I accused you of being one? I am merely helping you back to the camp as you asked me to."

"I did not ask to be carried! I wished only to have your shoulder to lean on!" Legolas argued.

Aragorn softly kissed Legolas on his forehead. "You argue too much, love." They entered the camp where everyone was now awake and sitting in a circle, eating breakfast. The group looked up in alarm when they saw how limp Legolas looked.

"Legolas!" Frodo exclaimed as he jumped to his feet. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Frodo." Legolas replied reassuringly. "It is nothing serious." Frodo nodded but followed Aragorn as the Man took Legolas to his bedroll and laid him down. Frodo noticed the brief look of panic in Legolas' eyes as Aragorn leaned over him but the look was quickly replaced with one of indignation. "Aragorn," Legolas protested, "I think I have enough strength to sit with my friends!"

"Rest is best for you now." Aragorn replied firmly. He stroked Legolas' hair. He stood up. "Rest, Legolas. Come Frodo, let us go eat breakfast." Aragorn led the Hobbit back to the others. He chuckled softly as he heard Legolas cursing softly in Elvish. As he and Frodo sat down, the group looked at him suspiciously.

"What happened to him, Aragorn?" Gimli asked. "I dislike seeing such a strong being in such a weak state."

"He was with the Lord and Lady, testing his magic." Aragorn explained.

"Did he perform the recalling spell?" Gandalf asked, frowning slightly.

"Well yes, Gandalf." Aragorn answered. "The Lady asked him to do so. Is something wrong?"

"I am not so sure he should do something so dangerous so soon. I suppose the Lady knows better than I do, though." Gandalf shifted his head to watch the Elf who was now sleeping peacefully. The Elf's eyes still closed as he slept and though Gandalf knew it would be so until Legolas defeated Saruman, it still disturbed him. How could such a lively, fiery being who did not deserve all this have to live through such hardship? First Frodo, and now Legolas. They were so undeserving of what they were being pitted against. But Frodo had overcome his fears and succeeded. Perhaps Legolas would be able to do the same.