~[sad sigh] I did not get many reviews! [sobs] I thought this chappie was really good! What did I do wrong? Oh well [wipes away tears] I will keep going anyway! PLEASE REVIEW! And I hope you enjoy the next chappie!~

ACK! You can't leave it there! More NOW! eep! poor poor Estel! And

poor legolas!! He is feeling all guilty! You must update! I have to

know what happens!rnGreat chapter

though!rnNamaarie,rn~ArwenrnakarnVanaondoiel

~Thanks Arwen-Evenstar, I was very happy to receive your review, I thought I had done something wrong, but I guess not! [wipes brow in relief]~

Chapter 5

Hanging by an invisible thread

Aragorn had began to shiver during his sleep, and whenever Legolas had made him drink something the man had vomited the contents in his stomach back up. The young ranger had not been able to keep even water down, which was a very bad sign.

The elf prince sighed and then carefully picked up Aragorn and held him close, the man's head next to his strongly beating heart.

The blonde elf noticed a change when Estel was held like this, he seemed to calm a little. He smiled sadly as his friend moaned softly.

"Hep apa Estel."

Aragorn coughed and wheezed a moment then lay still in the princes strong arms.

Legolas walked on all his senses once again aware of all that surrounded him, and at the moment that was nothing, only the occasional bird and creature. The trees swayed in the soft breeze and waved their branches in unison as the elf strode by.

By noon the mortal had taken yet another turn for the worst, a fever caused by the Troll wine had risen and Aragorn's brow beaded with perspiration, the beads gathered and then rolled down his face and neck.

He had regurgitated all that had been given him by the elf, and Legolas began to go faster. If Aragorn could not keep water down he would dehydrate, and that would lead to….. 'No!' he shook his head. 'he could not think of such things, not when he was so close.'

"Legolas……..…..I'm so cold….it hurts…..Aquista!" the young ranger dreamed that he was still in the camp of men.

"Shhh, Strider I am here." The elf prince gulped back the guilt that formed a bubble in his throat as a tear of worry slid down his dirty cheek, he stopped a moment to change direction.

He was relived when he looked up to see that they were only miles away, Imladris was so close they merely had two miles and Estel could get the much needed help he deserved.

Legolas looked down at his sleeping friend in his arms, the mortal's ear was next to Legolas's left side of his chest and he had a small smile on his face despite the pain, hunger, and weariness that ailed him. His breathing was still rather to raspy and heavy, but he seemed at peace for the moment at least.

Legolas continued to bear his friend he would not stop, he must get Estel to Elrond, it was already decided, he could not stop.

~

"Almost there Aragorn, Almost hold on." Legolas urged his friend to stay with him, Aragorn had awoken from unconsciousness about an hour ago and he was in so much pain he was not able to do anything but lay staring upwards in the elven princes strong arms. He could not eat or drink, because he would only expel whatever he had put in his stomach. Fever raged through his veins, sweat beaded on his brow and dripped down his neck and onto the princes hands. All of his body was in pain, he moaned softly when Legolas tripped and stumbled forward.

Despite the look of confidence Legolas was getting weary, he had carried the man a long while, and although Aragorn was loosing much weight and becoming light from the drug, he was still a man and after carrying him for hours and days on end, this was making the elf prince overly tired.

The blonde elf stopped a moment and repositioned the man, and then listened. He could hear the soft crunching of twigs from about a half a mile away, and his keen sight could make out the dim figures that were making there way closer. They were men.

Legolas cursed softly in dwarvish under his heavy breathing, he could never get away from them in time, Estel's weight was too much. And they would only quicken their pace once they saw that he had.

The elf prince was out of options, he would have to hide and pray that nothing would find them. But where? How would he hide with Aragorn?

A soft glimmer brought him back to reality, and as he looked a soft smile graced his lips. Before him, tall and proud stood the creature that had brought all this upon Aragorn yet had saved the young rangers life.

'twas not the unicorn's falt, tis those men's foolish minds.' he thought as the beast came slowly forward, her soft silver mane reflecting the small amount of setting sun.

She snorted softly, and nudged the elf. Her gentle eyes going to the beaten man in his arms. Her actions seemed to say: 'give him to me, I will get him to Imladris.'

The elf stood staring a moment, wondering what he should do. 'should I let her take him.' he mused. His thoughts were once again cut short as Aragorn cried out in pain when Legolas had unconsciously pulled the human's body closer.

"Forgive me Aragorn." Legolas could take it no longer, the pain in his friends eyes was too much for him.

"Strider?" the elf prince was glad to receive a glance from the ranger. "I am going to have you ride Silafinnel." he whispered softly.

This earned the Mirkwood elf another curious glance from the man.

"I named her that, we can not just keep calling her unicorn, my friend." the elf chuckled as his friend smiled a little, despite the weakness that was steadily overcoming him.

"So will you do what I ask?" Legolas inquired, tired blue-silver eyes locking with weary yet sparkling silver ones.

Strider nodded softly, "Prom…ise….me you…will-"

"I will not fall, I promise, as long as I can still wield a bow, I will return to Imladris." the elven prince assured looking back up at Silafinnel.

"You must bear him swiftly, he will not last."

The unicorn snorted softly and nodded her head. Her ears pricking up at the soft nearby crack of a twig.

Legolas had heard it too, and he lifted his friend upon the beasts strong back. He wrapped Aragorn's cloak closer about him and helped his friend lean against her neck so he may rest.

"Noro lim." He pointed in the direction of Rivendell and watched as the white animal swiftly and gracefully bounded through the trees, Estel clinging to her back, but he was clinging to much more than that. His life was hanging by a invisible thread.