Chapter 3 (sorry it's short)

Legolas blew past the guards, and flew on Arod through Helm's deep to the stables, flipping of the horse and waving a last thank you to the stable boy and horse maiden, as he ran out of the stable and in to the main tower, through a quick little side door into the main hall.

Legolas, to the confusion of the others in there, just stood staring at the huge doors that were the entrance to this vast room, he could feel a hundred pairs of eyes on him but he didn't care. His breathing quickened as a sudden burst of commotion could be heard from outside. Then the doors swung open and from behind them came Aragorn!!!

The Elf just couldn't move, Aragorn hadn't seen him yet, his head was down and he was kind of limping, but he was alive. Aragorn was alive! A great happiness filled Legolas as he watched his friend walk closer to him, still he didn't move, even when Aragorn almost collided with him.

For a second Aragorn didn't know who was in his way till he looked up and saw the tired face of his Elven friend, staring at him, with joy in his eyes.

Legolas couldn't think of anything to say and his felt so overcome that he completely lost the ability to speak any language other than his own.

'Your late' was all he could manage he wasn't sure why he had spoken those words, it must have been some subconscious attempt to lighten the mood. He pulled his eyes away from the humans and looked him over.

His clearing mind finally remembered the common tongue and noticing the state his friend was in.

'You look terrible' he said in a more worried tone.

Aragorn just smiled at his Elven friend who was still doubted his own keen eyes. A small chuckle erupted from Aragorn and Legolas couldn't help but bath in the levity and as Aragorn placed his hand on the Elves shoulder in an Elven greeting, Legolas felt his heart leap and the dark cloud that was early threatening to take his soul seemed to be no more but a distant memory.

Aragorn could feel his Elven friends' joy as if it were radiating of him like sunlight. And he only began to understand what the Mirkwood prince had been feeling when his thoughts were interrupted by the production of the Evenstar jewel that he though had been lost forever to the Orc's. He couldn't comprehend how Legolas had acquired it but he knew his gratitude would last for as long as he lived, even if that may be only a few days, considering the hordes of Uruk-Hai he had just witnessed.

Taking the Jewel Aragorn couldn't help but grasp on to Legolas's fingers slim fingers, to try and give the Elf some more reassurance that he is alive and is standing before him. Yet the human couldn't help but stare at the Jewel, and then at his friend with a look of disbelieve, in all the inner torment Legolas must have been feeling, he retained the jewel, either to give it back to Arwen some day, or in the slim hope that Aragorn did survive, to do what he had just done.

Legolas finally accepted the fact that Aragorn had returned to them, and as Aragorn thanked him, in the elvish tongue, for the return of the Evenstar, Legolas nodded in the knowing that Aragorn was thanking him for much more.

As Legolas watched Aragorn head for the kings chamber he felt a hand pat him on the back, and he turned to Gimli, who had a half smile on his face,

'Feeling better now laddie, not thinking of leaving us now hey!!' 'No my friend, you are not getting rid of my that easily, now let us go and take in some refreshment that you are no doubt graving!'

The dwarf laughed a hardy laugh and continued to make his way to the pantry, his heart felt light, because even though he may act like he was none to fond of the Mirkwood Prince, inside he cared for his friend and worried about him greatly, especially in the fact that all the friends the Elf was gathering were mortal and all would leave him.

But at the moment the Elf was fine, and he would worry about it when the time came.