~Thanks again sooooo much! I hope you all like this chappie, poor Aragorn, caught in my evil clutches! [Laughs maniacally] Hope you all love angst!~

Ai! Poor Estel! Nasty nasty men! Don't *smack* You *Smack* touch *smack* my *smack* Estel! *smack!! Ok, Feel better now! you get them Legolas! i think it was awesome the way that the unicorn got help for Estel like that!! Way to go Unicorn! Can't wait for the next chapter! I must know what happens, and what Legolas does to those evil nasty men!rnWell that's all for now!rnNamaarie,rn~Arwen,rnaka Vanaondoiel

Oh, this is so good! But poor Estel! You just have to make Legolas help him! I was laughing when I read that Legolas was having a bad day. That made me happy. :) But still, I'm glad he's there to help Estel! Can't wait for the next chapter! :) - Leggy-stinks

~Okay onto the next Chappie, enjoy and review, no rude critic please!~

Chapter 4

Hanging by an invisible thread

Legolas sat perched in the tree that held Aragorn's motionless body, blue eyes gazing fixed ahead at the encampment of men. They seemed to be laying back down and trying to sleep, but all seemed jittery.

The elf prince's heart broke as he listened to the soft moans and cries of his friend.

"No more please…..please-" his pain wracked sobs broke the air, Legolas felt a tear of guilt trickle down his cheek.

"Hold on Estel." he whispered softly. "Hold on!"

The golden haired prince withdrew his attention to a loud crack of a branch, he drew and arrow and strung it waiting now for whatever came.

"Stop that whimpering rat!" A whip crack and cry from Aragorn made Legolas tense and instinctively he let go of the arrow end letting soar. It flew straight and true into the heart of it's target, the man dropped to the ground. Dead!

"Oron?" One other man called from the camp fire, he ran to the man's side, and then began to weep. "Oron's dead." he cried in anguish as he searched the trees for the source. "Show yourself demon."

Legolas stayed in his position, but he decided to speak, maybe he could make a deal with them, he did not want to waste anymore precious lives. That last one had been mere instinct.

"I am no demon, I merely wish you let the man go." He snarled and drew one of his knives for safety.

"Why?" Cried the man. "What want you with him?"

"Let him go!" The blonde elf prince growled back. "He is my friend, and I want no more harm come to him, now let him go before you pull yourself in so deep you are not able to get out."

Another man, bigger than the one kneeling stepped forward sword drawn in one hand and whip in the other. "He is ours, because of him we lost valuable things, a priceless item." Malanack spoke with vengeance and had his whip drawn back over his head ready to once again strike Strider.

"I wouldn't." Legolas withdrew his bow and an arrow and pointed it once again at the heart. "You would die before that lash fell."

"Oh would I."

"You pick fights poorly edan!" The blonde elf snapped.

"Ah!" Malanack smirked. " So, I deal with a firstborn, an eldar, for the half-wits out there, an elf!"

"And now you know that you should not pick fights like such, for if I had not given you that clue, human, you would not yet assume me and elf, idiot!"

"Fine elf!" the leader of the men's eyes gleamed dangerously, "You can have your little friend. Come get him!"

"NO!" Legolas yelled. "Leave now! And you will be spared, if I do not see you all gone, I will shoot you all myself." The elf threatened.

Malanack glared up at the trees, and lifted his foot to give the ranger one last kick.

"Go!"

He lowered his foot and glared again.

"Come on boys, you heard the elf, lets go!"

With those words the men stomped off back to the camp and began to break it, packing up all their things and then burying Oron.

"We are leaving master elf." he stressed the title on purpose.

"I will know when you are far enough, now get!" Legolas kept his bow close at his side all senses alert.

When he was sure that they were gone, he slowly made his way down the tree and to Aragorn. He watched as the man's chest heaved painfully taking in slow hissing breathes.

"Oh Aragorn." he sighed, he had found that the young ranger looked even worse up close.

He unsheathed his knife and let Aragorn's head lean on his shoulder, he gently pressed another gentle hand against the humans back to keep him from falling and was worried to hear him hiss in pain.

"Shhh! I got you." Legolas comforted Aragorn as he cut the painfully tight bonds, the man fell forward and the elf prince caught him, gently lifting him into his strong arms.

"Oh Aragorn, I'm so sorry, nin mellon."

The young ranger coughed harshly and Legolas watched a blood formed on the side of his lips. 'well Legolas, he is not going to get any better here.' a voice inside his head interrupted the princes worry. Legolas repositioned the ranger in his arms and then began to walk, as he walked through the trees he could see a shimmering light, and knew exactly who it was.

"Hannad miniau." Legolas spoke his gratitude and continued his long trek toward Imladris.

~

Legolas sat next to his injured friend, a fire blazed in the middle of his makeshift camp and his weapons sat at his side all his senses alert for any sign of danger. He was gently cleaning the numerous wounds that decorated Aragorn's body. The elf prince had wrapped the wounds he could but he was running swiftly out of medicines and bandages. He had taken to tearing off some of his own tunic and using that to wrap more wounds.

He was brought back from melancholy thoughts when the man moaned and began coughing hoarsely, his burning throat begging for water. Estel opened pain fogged eyes on Legolas and tried weakly to smile.

"Legolas.." His voice was edgy and dry.

"Yes nin melon, tis I." the elf prince tried hard to keep his composure, the fact that he had not been ale to keep Aragorn from all this pain bothered him. He had done all he could and now needed to get the mortal home and fast.

"Legolas?"

His mortal friend's voice brought him hurriedly back from thought and he looked Strider over making sure his was not in to much pain.

"What Estel:? Do you hurt?" he asked somewhat worriedly as his blue eyes caught on the man's pain clouded silver ones.

"It's so cold." the human shivered despite the warm cloak that covered him and the fire that blazed next to him. "And…….and…….please Legolas, make it go away, please." he shivered again, and to Legolas he sounded much like a frightened child.

"What Aragorn? Make what go away?" the elf asked scanning the man over.

"Cold…..hurt…….so much!" was all the young man could say, he felt as if his body was falling apart, all his senses felt about to colapse. Yet, amidst all the pain and cold, his friend sat beside him comforting him, or trying at least and he was happy Legolas was there. So happy.

He turned to the elf prince once more, pain eminent in his facial expressions.

"Legolas? Would you do something?" he asked.

"Anything nin Mellon, you name it."

"Linna an nin?" he asked quietly in Sindarin.

The blonde elf smiled, and began a beautiful song in his own tongue, he sang softly but his words were strong and full of hope, beauty, and kindness.

Aragorn never heard him finish; he was lolled into a deep and comforting sleep and did not awake when the elf finished.

TBC