Well, it's taken a while (sorry) but chapter nine is finally here. I've had lots of work from Uni recently, which has been my main reason for the slow update. Hope you enjoy!

Thank you very much to Kukabura for the chapter title!

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The next few days (and nights) carried on much as the first had. We would walk in near silence, taking only those breaks that were absolutely essential, before setting up camp. We would then either continue our silence, or argue. If we chose to do the latter, we always seemed to have a later start the next day. Damned Elf. It was all his fault. I did nothing to annoy, or irritate him; he just had to argue.

But then, I was starting to look forward to the frequent arguments. Boredom was the main ill we suffered, and for all his faults, the Elf did not lack wit. It was sometimes a struggle to best him in our squabbles. I did, of course, always win. The Elf would always disagree when I reminded him of this, but he was quite a sore loser.

However, so far things had gone well - too well. I almost wished for some pursuit, or a pack of rabid wolves perhaps, to liven things up a little. What Legolas found on the fifth day of our march was nowhere near as exciting, but at least there was now someone else to help me point out the Elf's failings to him.

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"Gimli!"

The call came from above and behind, and I had to twist round to see the disturber of my peace.

"Look, you dratted Elf, I am trying to rest! There is a reason we take breaks, and it is not so."

"I've found."

"Do I look like I care?" I took another slug of water out of my water-skin. "Elf, I have absolutely no desire to sing to any tree, or bird, or flower, or, or anything, with you."

The Elf was wearing that exaggeratedly patient look he always puts on just to annoy me. "Have you quite finished?"

It occurred to me that he was certain I'd be interested in what he'd found, or we'd already be in the middle of another full-blown argument. "What've you found?" My voice came out suspicious. Good. If the Elf was trying to trick me, that would make it easier to say I knew he'd been jesting.

"I've found a man. A human man. He was sleeping, but with all the racket you've just made he's most likely awake now."

I bristled at that, but got to me feet and headed up the hill towards the Elf anyway. On the summit, it was easy to see how close to the trees of south Greenwood we were. They started just 200 feet away, rising dark and tall, branches like fingers stretching out, ready to grab and pull you in, crush you and trap you and.

"Gimli? Gimli!" A slender hand waved impatiently in front of my face. "Gimli!"

"What?! You don't need to yell, Elf."

"You were ignoring me." The slightest hint of sulkiness in his tone. "The man's over there, hidden under some bushes. Come on."

He headed away, and I followed, not able to keep up with his loping stride. Stupid Elf. So ridiculously tall.And what had he been doing over there anyway? Even with two broken ribs he had more energy than was natural. Elves.

"Here." His voice was a whisper as he pushed some deep green leaves aside, revealing a dark-haired man lying in a sheltered hollow. He was heavily armed, and black, travel-worn clothes were stretched over lean muscles. He was healthy looking, but definitely not the cleanest man I'd ever met. But then, I wasn't looking my best either. The Elf was spotless, and I was starting to think about covering him in mud to see if it would stay on, or magically bounce off.

"What do you." That was all I could say, because Legolas clapped his hand over my mouth, preventing me from continuing. It was too late though: grey eyes had opened and were looking up at us in alarm.

"Don't you ever think?" Surprised at this new attack, I wrenched the Elf's arm away from my mouth to stare at him in surprise. "There was a reason I was whispering. We don't know if he's in alliance with the Noldor! How can we." Here the man tried to interject, but didn't get very far before being cut off. "Know that he's not going to attack us, or report our whereabouts to a patrol group, or try to imprison us, or."

"Before your fanciful imagination completely runs off with you, can I point out to you that there are two of us and only one of him!"

"How do you know he's not within signalling distance of a band of other warriors? You should never underestimate your enemy, they're always going to try and trick you."

Here the man again tried to speak, but didn't get any further than 'I'.

"I do not need you, an Elf, to lecture me on the ways of war! I am an experienced warrior, and."

"Then why did you wake the man up? You didn't know if."

"I." The man again tried to speak, and was again completely ignored.

"If you were so concerned about him waking up, why did you bring me over to look at him?"

Hah! I'd like to hear his excuse for that! "He could have escaped by now. Stop arguing with me." As if any of it was my fault!

Legolas turned to the man, who was now crouching on one knee, looking up at us with something strangely akin to fear in his eyes; almost like he was fighting a very, very strong urge to run away very, very fast. I suppose Legolas could have scared him.

"Who are you and where are you from?"

The man kept his gaze on Legolas as he slowly stood. When standing upright, he was far taller than me, and had an inch or two on Legolas. That last fact made me strangely happy.

"I am Strider, and I come from the north."

"Strider is not a real name." Legolas' voice was dismissive. "And whereabouts in the north do you come from? Vague answers will get you nowhere."

"May I ask, my good Elf, why it is you that gets to ask the questions?"

"We found you. If we were less compassionate, you would already be dead."

"Fair enough. I will not tell you my real name, for I only give it to those I trust, but I will tell you that I come from Rivendell."

I spent the next 10 minutes trying to drag Legolas off him.

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Fairylady - Aragorn is here, and I hope he is at least something like the Aragorn you know and love!

MoroTheWolfGod - Yes, slowly but surely, they're becoming friends. They can't help it - it's fate!

Dy - Well, I didn't update soon, but I did update! And I'm v.glad you think it's cute!

Nina - My brother's ok, but probably hasn't learnt his lesson. Him and friend made up on the way to the hospital, and are now arguing over who won. And I'm glad you like!

Andmetwen - Thanks, and here! More for your reading pleasure.

Lady V - You're really into HurtLegolas, aren't you? S'pose I can't complain, I am too, but sorry! Gimli is not going to be beating Legolas anytime soon. Maybe a fist-fight, I dunno.the problem now is that they've got Aragorn to split them up.

Erhothwen - Yep, Gimli is in for a long night! Glad you liked.

Ele - Legolas and Gimli just come with banter attached. Thanks for reviewing!

thefeylegolas - thanks!

Mithridates - I'm not sure how Legolas is going to convince Gimli to go to Rivendell.I do have a few ideas though! And I never thought of what Thranduil would think if his son turned up to rescue him with a dwarf.Thankyou, must go ponder. You've given me all these ideas! And Dilse might return. She might not come back, but we will find out what happens to her.

tenshiamanda - I don't actually know how big a role Thranduil will have. He'll de discussed a lot, though.

MoonFire - I wouldn't be surprised if they did! Glad you found it funny.

Kit Cloudkicker - Yeah, the dwarves are unreasonable. Or, at least, the ones in power are. Might be more Legolas POV, but it would be another interlude type chapter.

Cassandra - Yeah, I based it on me and my brother! And Legolas and Gimli are staying together, that I can promise you.

Arifel - You love my story? Wow! Honoured. Thanks for reviewing, and I'm glad you think it's interesting.

SperryDee - They won't be getting to Rivendell anytime soon, but eventually they'll get there. Thanks for reviewing!

Whitecoyote - Thanks! And here's more.

sq - glad you like, and thanks for reviewing.

Equinox - Thanks. It's always nice to hear that I can write dialogue and character interplay, and make it funny.

Mysterious Reviewer - I think naming your first-born Dilse would be a good way to earn their eternal hatred, but hey! If you like it.

killslay - Yep! Elrond and Thranduil are on their way. Glad you liked the argument!

Wow there's a lot of you! I'm so happy!