Translations: Post: stop; Lasbelin: autumn leaf (all translations are Sindarin-English, btw)

Howdy all. Wahahah! Omg, I'm tired. NEWAYS I'm glad you all like the first chapter. -()-/^_^\-()- AAAWWWWW!!! Lolz… So, I'm on crack… tell me something I dunno! Hehe… ok, here's the deal… I'm really close to failing this huge Spanish final I have, and I really need to work on it, so chapters might not appear for... two weeks. I know, I just got started on it, but if I fail this class there will be no more chapters. =/ Which would murder me. Really, it would. So, I'm sorry.

~Hoshiko

To Learn Tolerance

The two left the next morning on horses. As Elladan and Elrohir waved them off with Elrond and Glorfindel, they turned in unison and walked off the other way.

'They're going to kill themselves…' Elladan said, shaking his head.

'Or each other,' Elrohir added, making Elrond look at them sharply. They did not seem to notice, though, and they kept walking. Glorfindel put a hand on Elrond's shoulder, giving him a look that said I-told-you-so.

'They will work things out,' Elrond pushed, and Glorfindel shook his head with out a word, going to get something to eat. Elrond rubbed his temples before going back into his study.

The two companions rode silently to the High Pass. Both had packs heavy with food and provisions. Day fell into night, and both thought it proper to stop. They did so, and started a fire, Strider insisting he go and hunt. Legolas did not care either way, he would be alone. Strider took out his hunting bow and went out into the forest, going quietly. Legolas was rather surprised, for from his understanding, men did not trod ground softly. He shrugged it off, though, and ate a lembas quietly.

Strider looked closely at the ground. There were newly-made deer tracks imprinted into the rain-softened earth, and they were going north. One year on his own had given him the needed tracking skills he had. Many more were skills were to be earned as the years multiplied. He followed them quickly and quietly until he could see his prize grazing in a patch of grass. He took careful aim, shot, and hit it square in the chest. It gave out a strange cry and fell to the ground. To tell the truth, that was a rare shot for him, for his skills with a bow were limited greatly.

Strider went over to it and slit its throat to make sure it was dead, and picked it up. It was a younger deer, but would give extra meat, and he carried it back to camp. When he returned Legolas raised an eyebrow at his return, and looked at the deer.

'That was quick.' He said shortly, and Strider nodded.

'He was easily tracked.' He said just as shortly, and went to cutting it up. This he did quickly, and Legolas looked the other way in distaste when blood started to cover Strider's hands. Strider saw his look and smirked before putting out a hand.

'Don't like the blood do we?' he asked, and Legolas moved over before Strider took back his hand and wrapped the meat they weren't going to eat in some extra parchment he had brought. He put the rest in a pot to boil, and went to wash off his hands.

'You know, you're just like Elrohir. Afraid to get his hands dirty with a little bit of animal blood.' He said, and Legolas squinted to the young Ranger in the darkness.

'I'm not afraid of the blood, I would just rather-'

'Not stain your clothes? Too dirty for you, your fair skin too handle?' he asked, Legolas' face now red with anger. He saw this and chuckled. 'Calm down, I was merely joking.'

'You were a riot.' Legolas said bitterly, and Strider sighed, watching the meat in the kettle turn brown. He was not used to this kind of hostility from an elf, and he for the life of him could not figure it out.

'Did I unknowingly do something thing to you?' he asked finally, and Legolas looked at him.

'No.' he said, and was so final that Strider did not say more. They ate in silence, and slept in silence, got up the next morning in silence, and went through the day in none other than silence. They were through the Pass by the end of the next day, and the clouds covered the sky.

'It's going to rain tonight.' Legolas muttered, and looked at the sky. 'I will try and see if we may find shelter. That is a questionable thing, though.' Strider nodded, not in the mood to get wet, and said shortly 'I will help you search.'

They went to the side of the mountain, where they were closest too, and Legolas found a rock jutting out from the side of the hill. It was small, but would fit the both of them, though the horses would have to be in the rain. 'They will find shelter under the trees.' He said to himself, and called to the young man fifty yards off. 'Strider, I have found a spot!' Strider joined him, and looked it over; making sure it was not a possible trap by goblins.

'It was here, in this pass, that Bilbo and thirteen dwarves were taken captive by goblins. Elrond told me the story when I was merely eleven years of age, right after it happened.' Strider said as he took the packs and saddle off of his horse.

'Yes, I remember that… they were held by my father weeks later, and after that Mithrandir told my father what really happened. But it is strange you were in Rivendell at such a young age!' Legolas said, helping Strider with his things. Strider lifted an eyebrow at the sudden show of kindness and started a fire.

'I was raised in Rivendell.' He said, it was Legolas' time to be surprised.

'You were raised in the Last Homely Houses?'

'Yes, why do you think I walk so quietly? Elrond's sons, Elrohir and Elladan taught me many of my skills.' Legolas suddenly could remember Elrohir referring to Strider as his 'younger brother.' It seemed they had counted him as if of kin.

'I seem to have forgotten Elrohir had spoken of you as such yesterday. I was still upset at…' he trailed off, not wanting to insult Lord Elrond in any way.

'That we were sent to deliver a letter?' Strider asked, holding it in his hands, grinning. 'Yes, I was surprised at that too. He had a purpose for it, though, in some odd form or another.' They talked no more as their food cooked, until with a flash and rumble, the rain started. Legolas seemed to be thinking of something, so Strider let him be until there was another large crash and flash of lighting. In a shot, the horses became frightened, and bolted in opposite directions.

'Lasbelin!' Legolas cried for his favorite horse, and jumped up, running in the cold after him. Strider did the same with his horse and they each ran to get it. 'For the sake of the Valar…' Legolas mumbled while he hurried through the forest. The horse easily gave a better chase, and he had to stop, calling out to it instead. 'Lasbelin, post!' he cried, but it did nothing, and in defeat he put his hands down. 'This is idiotic…' he said, and turned in anger back to the camp. He found Strider there, coming back as well.

'Did you get him?' Strider asked, and Legolas shot him a look of death.

'Do you even suppose I did?' He asked, and Strider rolled his eyes. Legolas' contempt was getting on his nerves. He decided against saying anything more, and threw his things on the ground. He was rather wet now, as was Legolas, but he knew he was more at risk of getting sick. He wrapped his cloak tightly around himself and took out his pipe, lighting it.

'You smoke?' Legolas asked, and Strider looked at him.

'No.' he answered, and Legolas huffed, staring into the fire. He eventually lay down and went to sleep, Strider doing the same. 'This is going to be a long few weeks.'

And indeed they were.

Something the man did always seemed to annoy the elf. Strider would burp; Legolas would sigh and mutter the rudeness of humans in Sindarin.

Strider was surprised that they had yet to encounter any orcs. They were, after all, following the Misty Mountains. Ah, well, he should not complain; the less the better. But their pace was slow now that they were horseless, and they were an easy target.

One day, as they were heading south, Legolas perched himself onto a large rock, looking south. There his eyes could see the small outline of a large forest. He let a smile creep onto his face.

'Lothlorien…' he said, 'I have not been in those fair borders for a great time.'

'I have not been in those borders at all. Lord Elrond had told me of them as a child… about the way it glows in its own light during the day and night.'

'It is the fairest forest in the world, as Mirkwood had once been.' Legolas said, and hopped down. 'Yet a day away. Let us hope our luck runs to actually getting there.'

'That is the first time you have referred to anything as luck.' Strider said, and Legolas shrugged.

'I can not deny that something has kept the orcs away.' He said, and Strider nodded.

'Yes, we should be thankful.' He said, and they kept walking.

'I was particularly worried when we were in the High Pass. The war between the Dwarves and Orcs has been raging through there for years.' Legolas admitted, and the Ranger looked at him.

'Legolas Greenleaf? The great son of Thranduil, worried? You surprise me.' Strider said, and Legolas chuckled.

'Yes, though my aim is legendary, I was worried. I have yet to see how skilled you are with that sword.'

'It is nice to know you worry about me.' Aragorn said, and looked at the sky through the clouds. 'Night will fall soon; we should wait to get to Lorien tomorrow.' He said, and put down his pack. Legolas followed his lead, and put his down, starting the fire. The deer meat they had gotten had long-since spoiled, and they had only a small supply of lembas left. Strider had left to go hunt, but came back a little while later empty handed.

'There is simply no game to be found around here.' He said, and sat down.

'Thankfully we're near Lothlorien. I can do with out eating for a day.' Legolas said, and Strider nodded. His stomach turned in hunger, for he had not eaten the night before and at all today, but he would not let the elf get the better of him.

During these long weeks Legolas had decided that there was no point in being hostile to the young ranger, and had decided to put his hatred aside. If you gave the man a chance, he really was quite tolerable. Legolas was still not sure if he could trust him totally, and had decided that Strider would have to earn that trust.

'The stars are bright tonight, it should be a safe night.' Strider said, and Legolas looked at him in surprise. Men did not normally take time to study the stars.

'How long have you been in the Wild alone?' Legolas asked absentmindedly, and Strider took a bite out of his lembas before replying.

'I have been in the Wild for a year. If I was alone is questionable. Much of the time I was with other Rangers of the North, but when I was not I have a feeling Elladan was looking after me. He had yet to trust me completely on my own.'

'Well, you are twenty years of age. I believe that's rather young, even for a man.'