I'm glad you like the twist I put there in the previous chapter. I was so worried that I was making it too over the top! Thanks, guys!

@bumper; Have I read the book? The answer is yes and no. I've read FOTR and TTT, but still halfway through ROTK.

@Goma Ryu; I won't kill Legolas. He has at least three more stories to come!

@Mcat : Yes, I'm a 'her'. LOL!!!

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Gandalf…

Tears pricked at the back of Legolas's eyes, but he kept a tight rein on his emotion. Not now, Legolas. Don't break yet, not until we reach the complete safety of Lothlorien. Not yet…

As time dragged on, his bleeding heart began to swell to bursting point. His throat was all choked up with suppressed tears, and he was barely able to swallow the escaping sobs. Stop that, do you hear me! Stay focus! We are not out of danger yet! It's not the time to be a crybaby!!

Aragorn had been keeping his concern gaze on the elf as they moved on. After walking silently for almost an hour, the ranger couldn't stand it anymore. Abandoning his position at the back of the pack, the ranger strode past the rest of the fellowship to get to Legolas. "We need to take a short break," the ranger announced.

Legolas looked back at him quizzically. "Why? Lothlorien is only several leagues away. We can have a long rest there…"

"We are resting now." Aragorn was adamant. He could clearly see that Legolas was in pain. His limp was more pronounced, and he kept grasping at his left side.

Legolas stared at the ranger, and then he shrugged. "Fine."

"Sit down before you fall on your face," Aragorn ordered.

"Excuse me?"

"Just do as I say, elf!" the man yelled and immediately regretted it. Legolas's face was deathly white and his forehead was beaded with sweat. The elf was indeed badly hurt but he had said not a word about it to the others, being infuriatingly stubborn as usual. Aragorn feared to know the extent of Legolas's injury. Legolas was incredibly known for his hardheadedness, and it had kept him alive in many occasions. But this time, it was giving him more harm than good.

As the rest of the fellowship dropped to the ground to stretch their legs, Legolas walked to a fallen log several yards away and sat down. He raised his eyebrows when Aragorn came and knelt down beside him.

"Take off your tunic," the man ordered.

Legolas stared at the ranger. "What for?"

"Just take off your blasted tunic or I'll call for Gimli and Boromir to hold you down while I cut it to shreds!"

The elf glared. "You wouldn't dare."

"Care to find out?" Aragorn held up his blade threateningly, then his voice softened, "Legolas, I know you're hurt. Don't deny it."

Legolas sighed. "But I'm fine! It's nothing, really." Still, he reluctantly unclasped the catches of his tunic and under tunic.  When he pulled his clothes off, he couldn't help wincing in agony. 

Aragorn gasped in dismay after his friend had unwrapped the bandage around his side. Legolas's skin was marred with blue and purple bruises. The ranger could also see a slight bulge right under the elf's ribcage.

"You call this nothing?" Aragorn said softly, shaking his head.

"How long do you think to hide this from us?" Gimli, who had stepped closer to the two friends, growled. He stared at Legolas's injury, and he growled again, "Of all the stupidest of the stupidest things I've ever seen, this one really tops it all! Stupid elf!!"

"Gimli," Aragorn gently admonished, smiling. He rummaged through his pack for fresh bandages.

"He is stupid! He should have told us that he's hurt a long time ago!" Gimli ranted on. He glowered at the elf. "How did you get this anyway?"

Legolas rolled his eyes in exasperation. "A rock had hit me during the avalanche."

Aragorn's hands stilled. He looked up in disbelief. "Since Caradhras? You've been hurt that long? Why didn't you tell me?!!"

Legolas winced at the man's loud yell. "I don't want to be such a spoiled little prince, that's why."

Silence reigned for a full minute. Legolas stared at his feet while Aragorn gazed at the elf in deep remorse. Gimli looked back and forth between them.

"Oops," the dwarf finally said. "Well…err…carry on, Aragorn." Gimli then escaped, walking hurriedly towards the rest of the company that was staring back at the two friends with keen interest. They were quite far away to clearly hear what Aragorn and Legolas were saying.

The ranger continued to minister his friend's injury, applying salve to the bruises before rewrapping the bandage around Legolas's sides. "So. You heard, didn't you?" he said quietly.

Legolas nodded, still not looking at the man.

"I'm sorry, Legolas. That was uncalled for."

"It's all right," the elf replied.

"No, it's not all right!" Aragorn said. He clasped Legolas's chin and tipped it up, forcing the elf to look at him straight in the eye. "We need to talk about this…thing…between us. But now it's not the good time. But I promise you, Legolas, we'll settle this. I owe you that much."

Legolas slowly smiled. "I'd like that, Aragorn."

The ranger shook his head as he helped Legolas dress, fastening the buttons of the elf's tunic. "No. To you, I'm Estel. Don't ever stop calling me that, no matter what I said."

"Very well, Estel." Legolas nodded, feeling slightly better. Then he glanced at the others and his eyes fell onto Frodo.

Aragorn saw this, so he said softly, "Frodo wants me to tell you that he is sorry for what he said to you. The ring had taken control over him just now. He didn't mean to blame you."

Legolas smiled thinly. "I understand. I know how hard it is or him to fight the ring. I can sense its power burning stronger than ever." He turned to look at the ranger. "We must destroy it fast before it take over Frodo completely."

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They began walking again half an hour later. Aragorn was never far from Legolas who still led the way to Lothlorien. The ranger frowned when he could see that the elf's condition seemed to worsen.

Legolas could feel himself trembling from pain and growing weakness. He was also feverish and light headed. The wound is not healing as it should, he thought dizzily. It is a lot worse than I thought.

He stumbled again, but was able to catch himself upright before he collapsed to his knees. Aragorn was immediately at his side. "Legolas, I think you need to sit down for a while. You don't look too good."

Legolas shook his head. "But we've already had our rest. The orcs might catch up with us if we tarry…"

"You can't go on like this! You're already dead on your feet!"

"But we must not stop! Lothlorien is not far ahead!" Legolas cried out stubbornly. He whirled around…and tripped upon his own feet. Losing his balance, he toppled down like a log and landed face down on the ground with sickening impact.

This time, he didn't get up.

"Legolas!!"

Aragorn instantly knelt down beside the prone form of his friend. After he had taken the quiver and blades off Legolas, he gently turned the elf onto his back. "Legolas? Answer me, my brother!"

Legolas's eyes fluttered open. "I…hear you…Estel…" He coughed before continuing, "I feel…uh…"

The ranger was greatly anxious as he checked Legolas's pulse. "What? Are you hurting? What is it? What do you feel?"

Grinning stupidly, Legolas replied, "I feel…like an idiot! I just tripped…on my own feet!" He chuckled, and immediately winced when the movement jarred his injured ribs.

Aragorn shook his head, smiling himself. "How you find humor in all this is beyond me!" Then his face fell when Legolas broke into a fit of wild coughing. "Legolas!!"

"Lord…it hurts…" Legolas whimpered, wrapping his arms around his sides and curling into a fetal position. He brought his hand to his mouth as he coughed again.

They all stared in horror when the elf pulled back his hand. His palm was smeared with fresh blood, and so were his lips. Legolas looked up; fear evident in his eyes. "Err…Estel…?"

TBC…

I know you guys are going to hate that! Lord Sauron himself suggested that cliffie to me!!!!