Read on, everyone! Keep on reading!

P/s : Kel is getting restless. He wants some of the action.  A second prequel, anyone?

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Gandalf led the rest of the fellowship up the sharp slope, marching on and climbing steadily up the path that wound higher into the mountains. As if waylaid by some evil, their way had become steeper and even more difficult. The hobbits began to feel the terrible strain in their muscles and had some trouble breathing.

Pippin was opening his mouth again to ask Gandalf to slow down the pace when, suddenly, came a loud shrieking sound from several hundred yards behind them.

"Is that the ringwraith I hear?" Sam exclaimed, quaking with fear.

"Don't stop!" Gandalf ordered. "Keep moving!"

"What about Aragorn? And…and Legolas?" Frodo asked as he tried to keep up with the wizard's longer stride.

"They are delaying the beasts and will try to kill them all if they can," Gandalf replied, leading them up higher and faster. "But we must hurry lest their effort fail."

"They might need help! I'll go and join them!" Gimli was already turning around.

Boromir instantly grabbed him. "No, Gimli!"

"Let me go, you stupid human!" the dwarf fumed, yanking at his arm but the man tightened his hold.

"Remember what Legolas said! Never leave the group no matter what you hear! It's the ring that is most important. We must protect it!"

"But…"

"Don't worry, Gimli. They can take care of the ringwraiths," Gandalf paused as he told the dwarf. "Legolas's and Aragorn's skill combined will defeat them. But I dare not linger. We are already behind time. Let's keep moving. The two will catch up with us later."

Gimli was still not fully convinced. But he resumed climbing, albeit reluctantly.

Meanwhile, the shrieking sounds behind them had become louder and wilder.

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Growling furiously, Aragorn swung his blade at the fearful creature. After several blows, the ringwraith was seriously wounded but it still didn't fall. It's like fighting with a ghost, the man thought to himself in frustration.

Legolas had already spent all his arrows and was brandishing his twin blades in a blur of movement at the other beast. There were three that emerged from the woods just now, but one had fled away when Legolas's arrows found their mark in the blank space where the ringwraith's face should have been.

Their mounts had also fled after some had been taken down by the two friends' volleys of shooting arrows. Now the area was noisy with the shrill scream of the two remaining creatures and the sound of clashing blades. 

Legolas spun and twirled with his twin blades in his hands, trying unsuccessfully to bring down the creature. Its earsplitting shriek began to grate on his nerves. The creature kept advancing on him menacingly with its gleaming sword, forcing him to take several steps back.

One of the ringwraith's powerful blows finally managed to knock Legolas down. The elf stumbled to the ground on his back, staring up in horror at the sword that came directly for his head.

Then, at the last second, Aragorn's blade came flying and hit the beast squarely in its blank face. The creature shrieked in pain on impact. Thrashing about crazily, it began to hastily retreat. The ranger ran forward and yanked his blade out with all his might. The creature screamed even louder. It rushed away and disappeared into the woods after his comrades.

Breathing heavily, Legolas looked around only to know that the ringwraith that had been fighting with Aragorn had also fled. As he got to his feet, Legolas smiled at the man. "Thank you for saving my hide. That was a great shot there! I can always rely on you to watch my back!"

Aragorn glared back at him in response. "But I'm not sure if I can rely on you to watch mine."

Legolas's smile faltered as he stared at the ranger in dismay. They both had fought together against the enemy like the way they used to do dozens of time before and he had completely forgotten about their current rift in all the excitement just now. The elf watched in silence as Aragorn whirled on his heels and ran up the trail to catch up with the rest of the fellowship.

Legolas lowered down his eyes, staring at the ground that was littered with the used arrows. He began to gather them back into his quiver, picking up the still usable arrows and tossing away the ones that were broken. While doing that, he was busily thinking. What am I to do to repair this situation? Recapture Gollum and present it to Aragorn?

Legolas abruptly straightened. Gollum! Where is that creature? I can't sense him! Has he run away?

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The others were surprised to see Aragorn return all by himself.

"Where's Legolas?" Gimli asked anxiously.

"Behind," Aragorn replied shortly.

"He's alive then?"

"Yes."

"He's not hurt?"

"No."

"What about the ringwraiths? Are they dead?"

"No."

"Then why do you leave him all alone back there?" Gimli shouted.

"What do you want me to do? Cradle him in my arms like I would a baby? Not that it made any difference; he's a spoiled little prince anyway! Everything he wants, he'll get! If he wants Gollum to be free, his father would gladly give his consent! No question asked!"

The others were incredibly stunned at his sudden outburst. Silence reigned for a full minute. They stared in astonishment at the ranger who was visibly shaking with contained fury.

Gandalf then took over before things turned ugly. "Aragorn, you lead the way up the pass. And you little hobbits, keep near to Aragorn. Don't ever lose sight of him." The wizard looked up at the darkening sky. "There's a storm coming."

Pulling at the reins, Boromir clucked to Bill the pony to get it moving. Gimli was turning around to search for the elf but Gandalf quickly put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll go get him, Gimli."

The dwarf looked up at the wizard. "What is going on between those two?"

"This is not the time to discuss this matter, Gimli. Go on now. I'll go and get Legolas."

Gimli harrumphed loudly in exasperation but he reluctantly complied. After throwing a last glance over his shoulder, the dwarf moved on to follow the others.

Gandalf had already walked back down the trail. It took him no more than ten strides when he finally came upon Legolas. The elf prince was standing perfectly still, his face pale and expressionless.

The wizard winced inwardly. Oh Lord! He heard! The stupid things that Aragorn said just now, he heard it all!

"Legolas?"

"Yes, Gandalf?" Legolas replied quietly.

"Where's Gollum?"

"He disappeared while we were fighting with the ringwraiths," Legolas answered. "But I'm sure we will see him again. He is a slave to the ring. He will not go far."

Gandalf nodded. "Let's move on then."

As they began walking, Legolas raised his eyes to look at the sky. "A storm is coming. A blizzard more likely."

The wizard's eyebrows lifted. "You feel it too?"

"Yes, but this is strange. It's not the season for blizzard."

TBC…