Hey all! *grin* well…seems we've got mixed feelings all around. The general consensus seems to be: WILL ARAGORN MAKE UP HIS MIND ABOUT WHETHER HE'S DEAD OR ALIVE?! And to this highly popular musing, I can only answer: there is reason behind what happened to Aragorn, but until you know those reasons, it will likely seem monotonous, sure enough. But look at it this way: it was also a chance for Legolas to show he could indeed not lose hope, as he promised Aragorn he would not. That's about all the answer I can give for now, I'm afraid.

Responses:

Jazi: Thank you so much! :D

SilvanLegolas: LOL! You constantly make me laugh, you know?! :D Thanks!!

Cassia: *is still laughing* Yeeah, I'm personally hoping we don't have another INCIDENT like the whole "oh, yeah, I'm still working on Nefredal, suuure" thing we had going before. *grin* Hey- why DOESN'T Priceless Treasure count? :P LOL! Yeah, well, you and Sio lucked out, you've already got them WRITTEN. LOL! ;) *grin*

Lina: LINA YOU HAD BETTER GET YOU AND GANDALF'S HORSE BACK HERE ASAP!! Lina: *giggles from where she's hiding a few feet away* Eomer: I think you're doing this on purpose. Gandalf: Me too. Spill it, authoress. Me: *grumbles* Fine. You want me to spill it?! Lina Skye is the strangest reviewer I've EVER had and I ADORE her for it for a reason I have YET to identify! Eomer: *thinks* yeah, that sounds like Lina. Gandalf: *grumbles* Me: Yeah, well…ehm…anyway…where was I- ah yes. LINA!!!

Lady Sandry: LOL! I've been told I'm scary in the past, but it's usually been because I read Cassia and Siobhan to BEGIN with. ;) And yeah, I agree, the thing with Aragorn IS repetitive, but often times, that's the way things like near-death turn out. Also, I think later on, it will seem better, after you know WHY all this is happening, rather than the simple fact that it IS happening. I think the motive makes the result a little more believable, and hopefully, less repetitious. :)

Szhismine: Greeeat…now I've got the tuneless song: Fire to the Bengwiil ringing in my head! ;) LOL!

Tinlaure: *bug-eyed* Well THERE is an opinion one does not come across often! LOL! Well…I'm sure you can dig up a fic or two where writers kill Estel and LEAVE him there. ;)

Chrisalin: LOL! I say "oy vay" a lot myself. *grin* Yeah…it's confusing, I know…that's bound to be annoying…*contemplates* hm. ;)

Hiro-tyre: Woops! I'm constantly forgetting the "ions" and "eons" thing. *blushes* sorry! And I'm sorry my fic doesn't suit you, but I hope that this impression will be repaired once many unanswered questions are-well, answered! ;) Have a wonderful day!

Maranwe: LOL!!! *begins to type feedback* I- *is laughing too hard* LOL! Thanks for the feedback- keep up the rambling! LOVE IT! :D

Julie: Oh, I am SO glad you appreciated those- I HATE writing battle scenes. *shudder* but I'm glad it seems to have turned out okay. :)

Annabelle: Muffins?…*smiles politely at grinning reviewer* did I miss something? ;)

Laswen: You KNOW you've been complimented when you're ranked with the fabulous writers of MC- in ANY WAY. *blushes like crazy* Thank you, Laswen!!

Twinlakeshgrl: LOL!!! I'm thrilled you're enjoying these so much! You had me grinning like you WOULDN'T believe. :D

Jenny: *runs away* A A A A A A AHH!!! What'd I do?! Oh yeah…that's right. Well I- *Jenny comes tearing after her* NEVER mind… :P

Well, I'm afraid, SINCE this is so INCREDIBLY late, that's all I've got time for. :( Only one more chap after this…*sniffle* okay, here we go!

The title chapter. ;)

*****

Chapter 16

Néfredäl

Legolas ignored the panic that rose automatically in his chest at running blindly to the back of an unfamiliar cave. He had to get back there. He had to find Aragorn. "Estel! Estel, can you hear me?" The whispers to his mind had ceased. What did that mean? Was Aragorn alive or dead?

His hands were stretched out in front of him as he ran, and a vague thought in his mind told him he probably looked ridiculous, but there was nothing Legolas cared less about at this point. Finally, his hands struck rock, and he stopped. "Aragorn?" he called softly, hearing his words bounce off the wall in front of him, but with no echo. "Aragorn, are you there?"

Legolas felt along the wall, moving slowly to the left, and working his way across the cave's width. Suddenly, his foot struck a great rock. He was at the end of the cave, at the farthest corner. Reaching around in the darkness, he felt around the rock. It appeared to be fairly large and jagged.

Curious, Legolas tugged on it, jerking it slowly back away from the wall. When at last he'd pulled it a fair distance away, he clambered over it, to find he was standing by a great hole in the ground. It had been covered by the rock, and small wonder, for from the hole was emanating the orange of firelight. Heart racing, Legolas climbed down into the hole.

It was a short drop, not much longer than Legolas was tall. He found himself in a small underground pit only about four feet wide and five feet long. There were two ways to go; one way led into a damp bank of loose earth only barely visible in the restricted light. The other way was clearly the entrance to un underground room, with red firelight glowing eagerly from it. Legolas chose the obvious way, following the flickering light to its source. When he entered the tiny, dirt room, there was little to be seen in the fading light of the single torch which was nestled into the dirt floor. But despite this, Legolas' keen eyes picked up what he was afraid he'd see.

He saw Aragorn.

The human was huddled on the floor with his ankles bound and his hands bound behind him. Blood trickled from his cheek where the wounds Mornaeg had given him so many nights ago had been reopened. His shoulder was still torn and bleeding, and the wound left in his knee by Mornaeg appeared to have been opened as well.

Legolas rushed forward, falling to his knees beside the human, automatically tearing at his friend's bonds. "Estel, please wake up…" he whispered, unknotting the ropes around his wrists. "Please, Estel? Please."

A soft sigh hissed from Aragorn's lips, and his eyes fluttered open. "L-leave me alone…please, they already hurt…you needn't hurt me more- I told you…it is enough…you've won, all right? Y-you've won." His words spilled sleepily from his lips, and he was trembling all over. "You've won, I've lost…leave me alone, please."

Legolas' heart seemed to break within him. "He's just a boy. How *dare* they?" But relief flooded him at the same moment. Yes. A boy. And he'd been hurt so badly- but he was Estel. And he was alive.

"Aragorn? It is I. It is Legolas."

Aragorn's head lolled to the side, and his gaze fixed on the elf's fair face. A smile tugged at his mouth. "M-mellon…ni…nin…"

Aragorn, I'm- I'm so…I was so afraid, I was afraid I'd lost you again!" Legolas wanted to embrace his friend. "I- well…I thought-" He wanted to tell him everything he'd felt. But he knew there was no time, and overjoyed as he was, he had to keep working with Aragorn's bonds. "I- I'll get you out of here…" he promised, finishing up with the human's hands, and moving to his ankles.

Aragorn smiled. "I told them you'd come through the Bengwiil to find me." His voice sounded strange in Legolas' ears. Like he was talking around something. "They didn't believe it, but I knew…I knew you wouldn't lose hope."

"Aragorn…are you all right? You sound different…"

Aragorn thought a moment. "Oh!" He reached a now unbound hand into his mouth and pulled out a silver band with a great green gem set into it. Legolas knew at a glance that it was the ring of Barahir. "I didn't want them to take it, and I knew they would. I thought that if I kept it in my mouth, not only would they not find it…but well…I wouldn't be as prone to cry out." His breath shuddered distantly, drying the ring off on his shirt and sliding it back onto his finger.

Legolas continued to work at the human's ankles, trying not to look at the reopened gash in his knee. "Did they hurt you a lot?"

Aragorn didn't respond at first. "I'll be fine," he said at last. "Don't worry."

Legolas nodded, but felt a his heart throb with anguish. "You are free!" he announced, pulling the last of the elven rope away from Aragorn's ankles, and stowing both lengths of rope in his belt. "Can you walk?"

"If you'll help me," Aragorn responded smilingly, pressing his aching body up off the ground.

Legolas moved quickly to help him up and until the human was on his feet, leaning against his elven friend for support. "The hardest part will be getting back up that hole," Legolas murmured, looking up at the ceiling. "I can push you up and climb out, or I can climb out and pull you up. What do you think would be less painful?"

"I think if you went first and pulled me up it would be less strain on my knee, though it may hurt my shoulder."

"All right, then, that may be easiest anyway." Legolas wrapped his fingers around the edge of the hole, and pulled himself easily out of the underground pit. Lying on his stomach, he turned around and reached down into the hole again. Aragorn wasn't there. "Aragorn?"

Silence. Then the human came back into view, something clutched in his hands. Legolas sighed. "Don't do that to me."

"Sorry," Aragorn apologized sheepishly, and then pushed the object up through the hole. "Maklu hit me over the head with it and then sent it flying. In all the commotion I managed to cover it with some loose dirt and hide it. I'm afraid Maklu still has your quiver and knives, though."

Legolas ran his fingers over the smooth bow, and smiled. "Thank you, my friend. A warrior doesn't realize he is used to one weapon alone…until he must use someone else's." He slung the bow of his shoulder where Edren's bow, which had been dropped along with the torch, had once hung.

"I know," Aragorn sighed. "Which is why I plan on reclaiming my sword, once I find Gamdag."

Legolas smiled and reached down into the hole once more. "We're not out of here yet, my friend. Can you reach?"

It seemed to take a long time, and Legolas was afraid every step of the way that he was seriously hurting his friend's already bleeding wounds, but finally Aragorn knelt on the dirt beside Legolas, panting slightly, but smiling nonetheless.

"What is that light, Legolas?" Aragorn asked slowly as the two journeyed slowly down the great cave.

"Fire," Legolas murmured. "I fear I dropped my torch when I-" he glanced at Aragorn. "What is it?"

The human's eyes were big, and he was looking worriedly at Legolas. "Legolas- if Bengwiil is burned…well you know what it does to you…"

"I will be all right, Aragorn, we'll just have to go quickly." But once they came near enough, it was apparent it would be that easy.

The Bengwiil had taken well to the fire, and now the walls, ceiling and especially floor were ablaze with hungry flames. Legolas felt fear rise automatically in his chest.

"Try not to breathe, Legolas, don't breathe it in too much…" Aragorn murmured. He too had trouble with the plant, Legolas knew, but with concentration, it didn't hurt him nearly as much as Legolas. It seemed almost unfair to the elf that it should be so, and he really had to wonder why it was.

They waded through the ankle-deep sections of Bengwiil that were not burning, approaching the ones that were. Legolas wanted so badly to run, but he knew that Aragorn could never go fast enough to do that. They'd have to pick their steps carefully through the burning ones.

His lungs were starving for air. He had to breathe! He held back the erg as long as possible, but finally gasped for breath.

Legolas' body tensed completely, and he couldn't breathe. He vaguely felt Aragorn's hands tighten over his own in comfort and reassurance; a much better feeling than that of the twins who continued to hold Legolas to the bed he so desperately wished to get out of. His brain was losing oxygen, and he didn't have long. He was dieing…dieing…dieing…

"Legolas!" Legolas was on his knees, and Aragorn, having no support anymore, had fallen down beside him. They were only a few feet away from the Bengwiil that was burning, and lost in the forest of the Bengwiil that was not. Aragorn rolled over in the leafy plants, and grabbed Legolas by the shoulders as the prince went down, falling onto his elbows and then rolling over on his back. "Legolas, lasto beth nin!"

"Aragorn." He pleaded in a hoarse whisper, but there was no response. Aragorn was being held up by a hoard of Orcs, and one lifted his scimitar. Above Aragorn's head. Legolas shut his eyes to the dull thud. When he opened them, Aragorn lay on the floor, blood running down the side of his head. His eyes stared at nothing. "No!"

"No, Aragorn! N-no!"

"Legolas, lasto beth nin!" Aragorn shook the prince as he stared blankly up at the cave's ceiling, lost in his memories. For a moment, he almost focused on the human's face. Aragorn took the opportunity as quickly as he could. "Legolas! Legolas, Bengwiil shows you what you fear most. It shows your fear! You can't be afraid, don't be afraid and it cannot hurt you! Legolas!"

"It would take me, Legolas, and you would hate me. You would. As you do now. I can see it in your eyes, that you can't stand me. You can't bare being beside me."

"It is not so."

"You want to run, you want to hide, you want to leave me. I can see it."

"No."

"You despise me. You hate me. You loathe me. You detest me."

"No! No stop, Aragorn, stop! Hauta, mellon nin!"

"You hate me. You hate me."

"Aragorn, please!" Legolas was muttering to himself more than calling out to anyone. "I do *not* hate you! I am your friend, I shall always be!"

Aragorn winced at the memory as it tried to make its way into his own head on the wings of Bengwiil's overpowering fumes. He shook Legolas' shoulders. "Legolas, you cannot be afraid! Don't be afraid and Bengwiil cannot harm you!"

Legolas faintly realized he was looking at Aragorn. The human's eyes were deep blue and pleading. "Legolas, fear is of the unknown, but death is not unknown to you. You've lost me twice, you needn't fear losing me again! Legolas, don't be afraid! Don't be afraid!"

Aragorn smiled again. "I cannot see you, Legolas. But I know what you look like. I can see your face in my mind's eye. That look of determination you often wear. Never give up on that, Legolas. Never."

"Legolas, do you hear me? Legolas, don't be afraid!"

"Don't go…don't go…not- not now, Aragorn-"

"I'm going nowhere, Legolas. Don't fear, I'm going nowhere. Legolas? Legolas, nowhere! Legolas?!"

It wouldn't be hard. In fact, compared to the unfixable agony in his heart, it would be relatively painless. The dagger shone so clearly…it beckoned to him…it promised him an end to his hurt…Mandos was easier than Middle Earth to be sure…he would miss being bodily beside Aragorn, though. He'd miss him. Always.

But this was the only way.

The only thing left to do.

And it wouldn't take long.

"Aragorn…I'm sorry…I'm sorry I despaired- I gave up."

"Legolas, I don't care."

"I'm sorry…"

"Legolas!" Aragorn's words were fine and had even spaces between them, planting each salable firmly on the air. "I don't care what happened. That is friendship." Legolas' eyes swung away from him, and he began to squirm about, and groan, his fingers clawing at his tunic front. The human was at a loss. What could he do? Was there nothing? Was there truly nothing he could do to bring his friend back? He pulled the elf into his lap, and shook him. "I am alive, I am not dead! You know this! Ea le isto? Ea le isto, Legolas?!"

//do you know? Do you know, Legolas?!//

The elvish seemed to penetrate the prince's memories, and he blinked slowly.

"Ea néfredäl! Ea néfredäl!"

//be unafraid! Be unafraid!//

"N-néfredäl?" he shook his head. "Néfredäl?"

"Ea néfredäl, Bengwiil uuye le-naeg."

//be unafraid, and Bengwiil cannot hurt you.//

"I- I…"

Aragorn was being dragged back from him, the orcs were crowding about once more, and Maklu was smiling maliciously down at him. Some orc drew a knife from his belt, and another shouted. "The cave! To the cave! We'll do it there!"

"Estel…don't go, don't leave me in the shadow…I don't want to go back! I don't want to go back to despair! It's dark there- it's dark!" He started to twitch and thrash as though attempting to get away from something.

Aragorn looked up to find the flames licking away closer and closer to them. He lifted Legolas' head and shoulders up into his arms as best as he could with the prince's struggling and thrashing, but could not lift him any further without white pain biting up his wounded knee and shoulder. His friend was fighting his way away from Aragorn's arms. "Legolas! Legolas, do you hear me? Ea néfredäl! Please, Legolas!"

"D-don't leave me, Estel! No, please- take it away. Take it away! It is dark where despair lies!"

"Then do not despair!"

Legolas' head was shaking back and forth as his arms pushed rebelliously against Aragorn's chest. "Where are you?! Where are- where?"

"Legolas I am forever beside you. Know! Know that I am your friend! Isto! Ea néfredäl! Do you not remember what I have told you? Isto ea layaa mellon im, ah ea néfredäl. Please, Legolas. Remember!"

//know that I am your friend, and be unafraid.//

"Thank you, Estel. For you have saved my life in many ways."

"You are welcome, my friend. I am only glad that we are together again. That the end we long dreaded did come, but did not claim us. That you are next to me breathing, and completely yourself."

Silence…

"You will always be my friend, Legolas."

Legolas turned his head from the stars, and smiled over at the human outlined in the starlight.

"Istón."

He had Aragorn's love. Aragorn's hope. Aragorn's trust. Aragorn's forgivness. He had Aragorn's undying friendship.

"Legolas?" the voice came softly, and from far away. "What do you fear, Legolas? Tell me- what do you fear? For if indeed you are my friend, you need not fear my death. Never again."

Legolas opened his eyes. He was on his knees, his body pressed up against the cave wall. He was panting for breath and trembling head to foot. His tunic was drenched in sweat. Aragorn knelt several feet away from him, a pleading and frightened look in his eyes. Legolas blinked.

This is your second chance. The second chance you've always wanted.

"Ea néfredäl im…"

The cave seemed to go still.

"Ea néfredäl im," Legolas repeated, standing slowly, and not looking at the Bengwiil burning around him. Excitement was growing in him. For just a moment, hope was all he could feel see or understand. It was all he needed to know. "Néfredäl. Néfredäl! Néfredäl- Aragorn, quickly!" In a swift motion, Legolas had Aragorn swung up off the ground, half in his arms, half over his shoulder. With a running leap, Legolas flew headlong over the blazing Bengwiil.

He soared out of the cave's flaming mouth, and twisting in midair, landed solidly on the ground. His feet hit the dirt first, and he then flew backwards, landing eventually on his back, but managing to cushion Aragorn's fall with his own body.

Aragorn rolled off Legolas' chest, and slowly, the two sat up. "Mae pant, mellon nin," Aragorn gasped.

//well done, my friend,//

"Hannon le," Legolas responded with a slight groan as he felt along his sore body for anything broken. He appeared to be a little scratched up, but that was it.

"Do you realize," Aragorn murmured after he'd somewhat caught his breath, for his heart was still racing with emotions that he'd only just gotten over. "That this is the third time you have defeated Bengwiil?"

"Is it?" Legolas asked quietly, rubbing his sore neck.

"Remember? First you defeated it in Bodruith's underground realm of Gabil Gundu, when you shouted 'istón' against it. And then, when we rode to Rivendel, and I begged my father to heal you, you nearly died and yet- you clung to the words of friendship, and defeated it again. Now you have conquered your own fear, and by doing that, you have conquered Bengwiil again." Aragorn sighed and lay a hand on Legolas' knee. "You know, it really doesn't have any power over you."

Legolas was quiet a long moment. "It was nearly the end of me when it took you, though."

"Perhaps, but that really had nothing to do with Bengwiil itself, did it?"

"I suppose not."

"And anyway, Legolas, that's here and gone. Like a bad dream."

"Aye…" Legolas nodded slowly. "A- bad dream. Just a dream…"

"Legolas?"

He turned his head with a snap. "Hm?"

"Are- are you all right?"

"Uh, yes, I just- something you just said, it struck familiarity in me, that is all." He sighed deeply, rubbing his index fingers into closed eyes. "Oh, Aragorn, I am so *sick* of hearing the word 'Bengwiil'. There was a time I would hear it and wince, but now- I just loathe it. I just hate it. I just want it to be gone."

"I know. But- Legolas, you are much stronger than it is. It- it's just a plant, you know? Just a plant."

Legolas laughed humorlessly, flicking at a rock by his ankle. "Yes. Just a plant. Too bad that I become practically hysterical when around it, seeing it's just a weed in the ground."

"You shall conquer it, Legolas."

Legolas nodded slowly. "I believe I shall, Estel." He looked up. "Thank you."

A smile was his 'you're welcome'.

"Well, we had better get going," Aragorn sighed, doing his best to get on his knees. "As it is, I don't know how we'll get out this. Unless you've found where they are keeping Lint or have stumbled across Horthor-"

"Oh, great Valar, Horthor!" Legolas sprang to his feet, pulling Aragorn up as well.

"What?" Aragorn demanded, holding onto Legolas' shoulder for support as the elf started off as quick as he could down the dark forest path leading to the orc's encampment.

"Edren, Daurrè and Nyarin, that is what!"

"You mean you found them? What do you mean, Nyarin? I thought he-"

"More like they found me." Legolas explained his entire escape as briefly as possible as the two ran down the forest path. By the time he was saying, "You know the rest," they had reached the clearing.

Orcs were running everywhere, some fleeing, most trying to find something to fight. Arrows came non-stop from the trees around them, as well as in the clearing itself. It appeared that Edren, Daurrè and Nyarin had done pretty well for themselves, but were being steadily outnumbered.

Nyarin burst out of the trees not far from where the two friends stood. He looked over at them wide-eyed. "There you are-" his head snapped around in time to see an orc string his bow. "Legolas, get down!"

Legolas pulled Aragorn into the undergrowth just in time. The hiss of an arrow echoed above his head, and he sighed with relief. "Aragorn,' he said quickly into the human's ear. "Stay here and stay down. I'm going to help."

Aragorn looked crossly up at him. "You want me to hide while you fight." It wasn't a question. "I don't want to be any trouble, I want to help!"

"Aragorn, I would rather have extra trouble on my hands than you dead in my arms."

Aragorn couldn't help smiling. "You enjoy quoting me."

Legolas returned the look. "Aye." He gave Aragorn's shoulder a squeeze, and without another word, took off into the clearing, bow strung with Edren's arrows which still hung in a quiver at his back.

"Be careful, Legolas," Aragorn murmured, and ducked into the underbrush.