Chapter 4

A/N: Apologies for the delay but eh..thanks to Helen's consistent bugging, and here is chapter 4!

Just as Aragorn had expected, Legolas was thoroughly miserable when he awoke about twenty minutes later, rather angry that he was still on top of the horse. He would snap at anyone who tried to cheer him up, and demanded that Aragorn hand over the reins for the time being. Aragorn knew that it was better to do as Legolas asked, rather than have to deal with his sharp tongue. His stress-level was not ready to deal with that, so the ranger handed the Elf the straps of leather, placing a hand on either side of Legolas' waist so that he would not fall off himself.

"Isengard is not far now at all," Gandalf announced. "We ought to approach the river of Isen by late evening. By then I think it will be time for us to set up camp. We have had a very long day."

Legolas could not disagree with Gandalf, for he ached everywhere and could not wait to get a good night's sleep. "Would you care for some water, Legolas?" Aragorn asked cautiously, after having taken a sip from the cateen himself. Legolas looked over his shoulder and accepted it, finally sighing.

"I am sorry I have been so ill-tempered today, Aragorn." He apologized, after taking a few big sips and handing the cateen back to the ranger. Aragorn put the canteen back into his bag and repositioned himself behind Legolas.

"It is not your fault. You are in a lot of pain and have every right to feel the way you are feeling."

"But I should not take my pain out on you," Legolas continued, grimacing as a sharp pain shot through his injured arm, and he released the reins, squeezing his eyes shut as he grasped his shoulder.

"Are you all right?" asked Gandalf with concern as he noticed the Elf gritting his teeth, trying desparately not to cry out. When the pain diminished, Legolas let out a deep breath, feeling faint again.

"It was my shoulder. The pain is not always there but when it comes it can almost become unbearable."

Aragorn shook his head. "I think when we stop to camp I will heat some towels and see if that does not help ease your discomfort, Legolas."

Legolas nodded. "Thank you, Aragorn, for putting up with me." He teased lightly, attempting to take up the reins, but his arm hurt too much to grip the leather even a tiny bit, so he passed them back to Aragorn.

They continued riding swiftly until they came upon an ancient highway that ran down from Isengard to the crossings. For a bit of the way it ran along the river and at last it turned away and went straight towards the gates of Isengard, and these were underneath the mountain-sidein the west of the valley. They followed this rode for a while, until they came to the feet of the Misty Mountains around midnight, unable to ride further, because the pain in Legolas' arm intensified with every movement of the horse. Also, even Theoden was becoming weary, so Gandalf agreed that the company should set up camp for the night.

Aragorn wrapped the Elf in a warm blanket and allowed him to sit and rest while the rest of the group performed the duties of setting up camp: collecting firewood, laying out sleeping rolls and rationing the food from their packs. Once they had a decent fire going, many of Theoden's men began settling down, some even trying their best to fall asleep, despite the circumstances they were under. Legolas, now lying in his sleeping roll, accepted a mug of athelas tea and a piece of fresh bread, cheese and dried meat for supper. Gimli sat beside Legolas eating as well and trying to take his companion's mind off of his discomfort by telling jokes and stories passed on from generation to generation of dwarves.

Gandalf sat down beside Theoden who was watching Legolas with concern etched in his weathered face.

"Legolas is in so much pain," Theoden began. "Is there naught we can do for him to ease it?"

Gandalf shook his head as he watched Legolas weakly sip from the mug of tea he held, his long blonde hair blowing gently in the wind. "I am afraid there is not," he replied sadly. "The pain he is feeling is an after- effect of the poison. I fear he will be in great pain for a long time."

"At least there is no fever present," Theoden added.

"Aye." Gandalf agreed. "You ought to rest for now. We have quite a bit of riding to do tomorrow."

Eventually Theoden heeded Gandalf's advice, as did the rest of his men. Legolas lay down as well, but he was actually to exhausted to fall asleep himself. He gazed up at the star-lit sky, watching as the whispy gray clouds moved past.

Aragorn, unable to sleep, sat a bit a part from the rest of the group, a slight frown on his face as he listened to Legolas singing quietly,

A Elbereth Gilthoniel

Silverin penna miriel

O menel aglar elenath

Na-chaered palan-diriel

O galadhremmin ennorath

Fanuilos le linnathon

Nef aear, si nef aearon

(J.R.R. Tolkien)

Gimli seemed to have dozed off at that point, and much to Aragorn's amusement, was snoring loudly. Legolas grinned softly before standing up with a grimace and going over to sit beside the ranger.

"Can not sleep either?" he asked thoughtfully.

"No," Aragorn sighed. "I can find no comfort here I am afraid. Not when there is darkness all around." He smiled at the Elf. "What about you? I thought you were exhausted earlier."

"I was, but the pain is too great to enjoy much sleep." Legolas replied, sighing.

Aragorn nodded. "Would you like some athelas tea? That usually relaxes you."

"If it would not be much trouble," Legolas replied thoughtfully.

"No trouble at all, my friend. Try to lay down and I'll gather the herbs from my pack."

Legolas did as he was told, and lay down on his sleeping roll, gazing up at the dark sky. One thing he did not expect happened within a few moments, and caused a few of Theoden's men to cry out and draw arms. A darkness, deeper than the night itself, began to cover the sky over them. Gandalf stood up and told the men to lower their weapons and to allow the darkness to pass over them. With the darkness came voices, whisperings and groanings and an endless rustling sigh and the earth shook under them. All were relieved when the darkness passed, only no one was able to go back to sleep.

Aragorn finally returned to Legolas with the steaming mug of tea and a towel bathed in athelas oil he had also kept in his pack. "I was wondering what kept you," Legolas grunted, struggling to sit up as he accepted the mug. "What is that for?" he asked, nodding towards the towel.

"This should ease the pain a little in your shoulder," Aragorn explained. "I am going to wrap it around your arm."

"Ah. Carry on, then." Legolas encouraged, having to take on the task of drinking the tea with one hand. Aragorn shook his head with a smirk as he gently began to wrap the heavily scented towel around the Elf's injured arm. Legolas cried out when pressure was put on it, and everyone whirled around, expecting to see an attacker.

"Sorry," Aragorn called and the group went back to their own business.

"Must you tie it so tightly?" Legolas snapped, setting his mug of tea on the ground.

"I did not tie it tightly at all, Legolas," Aragorn replied just as harshly. "I do wish you would stop jumping down my throat with everything an."

Legolas stared at him, wide-eyed. "Have I been?" he asked softly.

Aragorn gave him a look. "Yes, you have. I am not going to lie to you, Legolas, but you have been thoroughly miserable for the past two days to the rest of us.

Legolas did not know what to say so he just allowed Aragorn to continue working, feeling deeply bruised. Eomer, who had heard the arguments, pulled Aragorn aside once the towel had been wrapped around Legolas' arm and the Elf had attempted to go back to sleep.

"Why did you tell him off, Aragorn?" Eomer asked. "You know he is ill."

Aragorn nodded. "I do, yes." He leaned towards the man and added, "I used reverse psychology on Legolas. Tell him what he does not wish to hear and he will give it some thought, and perhaps change his ways a bit. Just because he is ill does not give him the right to refuse help."

Eomer laughed. "I see. Well, I am off to try and sleep while we still have time. The sun should be up within the next hour or so. I would advise the same for you, Aragorn." He added.

"All right, Eomer." Aragorn watched Theoden's nephew go over to his sleeping roll and lay down, before going over to his own and lying down himself. He wondered if he had done the right thing, but then decided he probably had. 'Leave the matter till morning,' Aragorn thought silently before drifing off in an uneasy doze.