NOTE: SO SORRY THIS IS LATE!! Our satellite connection was suffering from adverse weather conditions. Put simply? We couldn't connect to the internet. :{ Hope you all will forgive us! And now: back to your regularly scheduled responses…

*Siri comes in looking on top of the world!*

Hey everybody! It's great to see everyone! I've been just thrilled with all your reviews! Thank you SO MUCH for letting us know what you think! =D

Maranwe: I think Legolas IS probably worried, hence hanging by his friend's elbow all the time, but after getting slammed into a tree I guess there's very little you can do about it ;) *laughs* Yeah! See? We aren't THAT mean! ;)

Cassia: Hi! =D *laughs* Yeah, the problem is that Sarah and I are complete OC nuts so killing off one was probably predictable ;) *smiles* What people at the beginning? ;p *giggles* Ah yes. Poor Legolas got hurt…hm. Well it wouldn't be the first time ;D *pats Cassia on the head* Glad it made you happy! =D Well we really appreciate your reviews and we completely understand if you get busy! :)

Lurker_elf: *hugs Lurker_elf* Oh thank you! Sarah and I have always liked to write an outsider's opinion of a different character…even if in this case it was Legolas ;D As for his brother's knowing, there was a short space of time between events, it's possible that Aragorn or Legolas mentioned it and in such cases you must cut so that a story doesn't get over-told. :) Get him killed? Oh my I hope not ;) Yes Erynbenn is the lad who got injured and his eyes are hazel. =) *laughs* Well have fun playing 'Spot the Villain' there!

Hiro-tyre: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy our Dunadain! We really enjoy writing OCs and Rangers are especially fun to write!

Belothien: Thank you so much! =D Oh dear, do characters you like always die? =( that's no fun! I'm really glad you like the Dunadain! I really liked them in the books as well and was really glad I got to write them!

NaughtyNat: Ah yes! Special Features…should be…interesting ;) I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Mariana Nimeneth: *avoids Mariana and her zapper* LOL! Maybe we should get one of those for Aragorn and Legolas! =D *takes chocolate Aragorn* Wow…thanks Mariana! *considers the possible barbarity of biting its head off…puts it in fridge* I'll keep it RIGHT HERE! :D It went at Legolas because in the darkness it could pick out the elven glow. Basically, because it's an evil creature it gets a very clear picture of elves in the fell world, sort of like how Frodo saw Arwen when he was falling into darkness. *laughs* Also: the Witch King created the Nwelmai to destroy the Dúnedain of Arnor — specifically their king (back when they weren't all in exile) — so it's sort of an automatic response to go after Aragorn. Fun, hm?

Anarril: Thanks! We knew that was the way WE pronounced it, but given our Sindarin knowledge, TRUST me, that could easily have been wrong! ;D

Karina: Yup! We Write Sisters dressed up as elves and proved our LoTR fandom! Yeah! Bad elf! Giving away Aragorn's position! ;D Ah well, I suppose those are the downfalls to the whole glowing-elf deal. ;) Yes the death will be one of our own! Alas! ;) Yeah it does frequently happen that the young guy is doomed doesn't it?

Lady Sandry: El and El? Well I can't tell you! *grins impishly* It's uh…a secret! =D I'm glad you like 'Our' Aragorn and Legolas! We really enjoy writing them!

sabercrazy: *laughs* Well he ADMITTED it was a foolish move ;) Yes the Rangers all know who Aragorn is, and thus they all follow him as their leader.

Laswen Silmeiel the Celtic Elf: LOL! Well we aren't TRYING to kill you with cliffies…or at least Sarah and I aren't…as for Cassia/Sio and Chloe, I'm not sure ;D

Lina Skye: *laughs* Yeah, well, we'd make LOUSY fangirls if that proves anything ;) *giggles* Well Lina, you seem to have the Nwelmai under control! Maybe we should just let you finish them ;D Except there's that whole 'plot' problem…

Well thank you everyone again SO much for reading! …sorry about the cliffy. *grins innocently* But hey! Here's your chapter!

*skedaddles*

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Darkest Night

By Sarah and Hannah (Siri)

(disclaimers, explanations, and summaries

available at the top of chapter 1)

Chapter 4

Hobbits

Almost fainting, Aragorn looked up as the monster moved towards him. Trying to galvanize his straining body into action he shifted a few more feet, his hands slipping on leaves slick with his own blood.

Slowly the beast crept ever closer to him. Its breath was like a hum of evil in the air and Aragorn felt it as it washed over his face and breezed through his hair, but the ranger was once more powerless to move. Again he had matched strength with a Nwelmai and again he had been proved the weaker.

The shadow was not a yard away from him. He watched with a strange fascination. Closer, closer… And then a new figure appeared. An elf — suddenly standing between beast and man —his hair blinding gold even in the darkness.

Aragorn felt relief pour through him, cooling the pain. Legolas. The elf stood protectively before his friend, his breath giving no sign of his wild run through the trees, his face no evidence of his horrible fear upon regaining consciousness. Lifting his weapon high, and he cried in a dreadful voice, "Back to the dark shadows from whence you came! Back and trouble us no more, implement of evil and servant of Ulund!"

The creature gave a mighty shriek and recoiled from the being before him. For to its eyes the elf rose and became a stern warrior at the height of his wrath, surrounded by glaring light — shining as the brightest star and standing tall and proud between the beast and its intended prey. For a long moment it hesitated, roiling like a cyclone, shifting upon its claws. Then it decided. With a thwarted scream it turned away, leaving the two friends where they stood, departing so swiftly it was as though it had disappeared.

Aragorn fell back against the ground the moment the creature was gone, his heart somehow throbbing very near his head and his breath coming in short gasps.

Legolas quickly dropped beside him. He was strangely weary after his stand against the Nwelmai, but gratefully he felt his strength returning; he knew he would have need of it.

"Strider, what happened?" was the first question, immediately followed by, "Are you all right?"

For once Aragorn shook his head slightly, "I do not think so, my friend… these wounds burn as they should not, I am not sure what could be held in the claws… when they delve so deep." Legolas pulled his friend up against him and examined the deep bleeding grooves in his friend's back. At the deepest point in each stab there was a spreading stain of black that worried the elf.

"I must see to these immediately," he whispered, binding his friend's back as best he could to staunch the bleeding before gaining his feet and pulling the ranger up beside him. "Come, we cannot return to the camp this night. We must find shelter outside of the wood, and we are very near the outskirts now: I can see by the thinning of the trees."

To all this Aragorn gave only a brief nod, concentrated as he was on his furiously beating heart and his weakening body. Still he held his own weight as best he could and together they swiftly left the forest.

"Look ahead Strider!" Legolas urged. He had been attempting for the past hour to keep his friend fully awake. Aragorn had begun to stumble along the path and though Legolas had paused to bandage the wounds afresh, he knew they had to get to sufficient shelter before they could stop. "It is a farm I believe."

Aragorn glanced up — wincing as the world spun with the motion — and studied the plot of land a little before them. Behind them the fringes of the Chetwood were still in view and as Legolas had said: before them lay a small farm. An area of ground had been recently tilled and it was obvious some manner of crop had been seeded. On all sides of the tilled area there was thick grass and waving wildflowers, and even in the dark Aragorn could pick out a patch of vegetables and a fruit tree. A very stout cow stood close by and it bawled softly as they passed. At the far end of the farm there was a hill that rose up against the skyline before dipping down on the other side into a small valley. And built firmly into this hill was a door and two glowing windows.

Aragorn easily recognized the dwelling but it mystified the elf.

"What manner of creature builds his home into a hill?"

"Legolas," Aragorn smiled, though it was more of a grimace, "you yourself live in hills, remember."

His friend nodded, still staring, "Yes, but not as these; it is very strange."

"Not so strange to me," Aragorn said softly.

"I will ask if we may stay until you can travel," Legolas decided.

"No," Aragorn said a little too hurriedly. Legolas frowned at him and the ranger sighed. "Trust me, Legolas, they will not be in want of our company….or my company at least."

"Aragorn, you can no longer stay out in this chill with your wounds unseen to. You're getting a fever. We *must* find shelter."

Aragorn gave up the argument but was still reluctant to approach the small house in the hill. There was a hooded expression in his eyes that the elf could not begin to read.

Legolas reached the door and was again perplexed for it was circular in shape and in the middle was a cheery design of gold leaves centering about a brass knob. The elf had not time to rap on the door before it was pushed slightly open and a pair of eyes looking out at him cautiously.

"See Dad!" a small voice piped up from within. "I *told* you it was elves!"

"What can I do for you sir?" the eyes at the door asked warily.

Legolas smiled as cordially as he could, "My friend and myself need shelter for the night and wondered if you could provide us with some."

There was a significantly long pause and for a while all Legolas could hear were whispers exchanged behind the heavy door. He caught a few words as the debate went, none of which added up to an intelligible sentence, and he had a feeling that these beings, whoever they were, derived great pleasure from simply talking.

In another moment, however, the door was opened wider and a strange creature was revealed within the small round entrance. He was very short, which Legolas realized was a necessity as the door was very short as well. He was smaller than a dwarf and much less stout; he was dressed in simple farmer's garb; his face was slim and fine-toned, but his cheeks stuck out in a way that suggested that he ate frequently; his head was capped in abundant curly locks, and Legolas almost missed the slight points that graced the little being's ears.

Legolas realized this must be a halfling, a hobbit; it was a creature he had only ever heard tell of and never before had he met one.

The hobbit was looking at him strangely too — almost as though he had never seen the like of Legolas before either, though it soon became clear that this was not the case.

"I can see you are an elf sir," the hobbit said after a moment. His arms were folded loosely in front of him and he stood with his oddly hairy feet slightly spread beneath him. Still, despite the guarded look, the hobbit seemed quite intrigued by the visitor. "I met some a' your kind once before," he spoke in a confidential tone, obviously seeming to think this meant he understood Legolas' race very well. "Don't see many of you elves in this part of the north. I'm named Jon Appledore." The hobbit gave a tilt of the head at his own introduction.

"It is good to meet you, sir," Legolas responded in kind, feeling Aragorn's body tensing in pain under his arm. Wishing to get the ranger out of the night air soon, he asked again, "Please, may my friend and I take shelter somewhere on your land?"

"Friend you say?" the hobbit's eyes shifted from Legolas to the man beside him. Aragorn met the other's gaze firmly but he could easily tell the hobbit was not impressed. Suddenly Farmer Appledore's face turned very disgusted and he turned to look at Legolas again. "You've been taking up with Outsiders, you have. Nasty lot them, always coming in and out of our lands without asking nice like; see all the north country as quite their own and mean us all to think so as well."

Legolas frowned at this but tried to keep up his friendly manner, "This ranger has been wounded and I need to get him to some manner of shelter with haste."

Jon planted his hands firmly on hips and scowled up at Legolas. "Not on my land! I know them Outsiders: they drive all sorts of ill our way — and I would know much better than you Master Elf, for I live right on the edge of Chetwood and I hear them through the trees up to all manner of commotion. Well, if they want to find trouble for themselves that's their business, but I never met one of them rangers I didn't think deserved what came on him. Serves 'em right and good I say."

Legolas was slowly losing patience with the diminutive creature and just might have acted drastically if there wasn't a sudden commotion behind Jon at that moment.

"I want to see him, Domo! Mama said I could!"

After a slight scuffle out of the two friends' view a little girl suddenly pushed out the door next to Jon. She was just about the smallest being Legolas had ever seen, clothed in a bright blue and white dress that laced up in front and back. Her feet were bare with a sparse gathering of hair like her father's and she wore a flopping red hat on top of her wild ocher toned curls. She turned a deep brown gaze up on the two companions, peering out from under her hat which had slid over her eyes. Suddenly, giving an awed gasp, she turned to Farmer Appledore. "Will they stay Dad? Please let them stay!" she begged, starting to squeeze her father's hand excitedly.

"Settle down, Pansy," Jon admonished, but his countenance changed as he turned to look at his young daughter. "I don't think they'll be staying today."

Legolas held his breath watching as the girl's face fell into the most pitiful frown. "Please Dad! Domo and I will help Mama with supper, and we'll wash up afterwards and I'll play with Bella! Please!" At that moment another figure appeared and Legolas guessed that the little lad was Domo.

He was only a little taller than his sister and his hair was a much darker hue, but it was just as curly as Pansy's, his eyes were just as brown and, at the moment, they were just as pleading.

"We will Dad! I promise!" the boy's voice melded with Pansy's in begging and Jon looked at a loss at the sudden opposition to his decision.

Legolas felt Aragorn beginning to sway beside him and sensed that if he didn't see to his friend soon it would be too late. Turning, Legolas caught sight of a small building he had not noticed before. Unlike the home in the hill, this one stood a structure on its own, and unless Legolas was much mistaken he could just guess what it was.

"Sir," Legolas interrupted the childrens' pleadings and the hobbit looked up at him again. "If we could only stay in the barn there, that would be quite sufficient." There was a pause before anyone spoke.

"Oh Jon dear, let them stay there if it will do them good!" This new voice came from a fourth hobbit; the mother, as it appeared, of Pansy and Domo, for she carried another child in her arms. "The Outsider's too wounded to cause mischief and I'm sure we couldn't refuse one of them elves now could we?" She added a winning smile to her childrens' pleading gazes and at this word of encouragement Jon finally consented.

"Very well then, if the Missis says yes, you can put up in the barn for the night." The elf's thanks were drowned out by the excited sounds of Domo and Pansy who were apparently thrilled by the prospect of such visitors.

Legolas did not give Farmer Appledore a moment to change his mind but started guiding Aragorn towards the structure at the far end of the hobbit's farm.

They had nearly reached the door when Jon's voice called after them, "Just don't be making off with my chickens, hear?"

The prince of Mirkwood could only shake his head.

Legolas gently lowered Aragorn into a mound of hay in the small barn, mindful of his friend's wounds as he turned him slightly on his side. Aragorn groaned and Legolas realized just how ragged and shallow his breath was coming.

"I do not feel very well my friend," Aragorn whispered dryly.

"Nor should you," Legolas smiled, but his concern was evident.

The elf placed one palm on his friend's forehead and pulled back at the heat. Aragorn's fever had risen swiftly and trying to stay upright while Legolas quibbled with the farmer had likely not helped the ranger's condition. The elf's glance showed what he was thinking and Aragorn put a hand on his friend's.

"They are fools," Legolas shook his head. "These people have no idea what you do for them, that you risk your own life each day to save theirs. You die so that they will live, and they treat you as though you were the reason for all their troubles."

"Legolas," Aragorn broke in with a weak smile. Legolas paused and looked down at him. "We have lived always with such disdain. The fear of our name, the suspicion of our doings, the sneers and the jibes. Each of us are fully aware of how the simple people think of us — but they *are* simple, Legolas. It is only through their ignorance that they treat us so. Lindamar was not…" he trailed off into a short bout of coughing, the strange word left unexplained.

"But why do you do all this my friend?" Legolas whispered in confusion sitting back and staring into silver eyes which were glazing with pain.

Aragorn looked about to speak when he suddenly arched his back again in pain and let out a choked cry. Legolas moved forward quickly, settling his friend down again. Aragorn was breathing hard and gripped Legolas' sleeve as a wave of pain washed over him. Suddenly, he went limp.

Legolas moved frantically as he searched for the ranger's pulse. Catching its weak beat beneath his fingers he set to work.

Acting as gently as he could, Legolas inspected the wounds on Aragorn's back. There were four groups in all and each set was very deep. The black substance that filmed the blood seemed to have spread and it made Legolas worry more than ever. Carefully he cleansed the wounds and, using what little material he had, mixed up a poultice he had learned from Elladan on a hunting trip. They had encountered orcs armed with poisoned weapons, as was not uncommon, and not everyone had escaped unscathed. Legolas nodded slightly at the memory as the smell of the mixture filled the small barn.

After an a few hours concentrated labor Legolas knew that the fever was breaking and it had become weak enough that Legolas felt safe to rest a moment. He had also been injured in the fight and now that he had time to contemplate his own hurts his bruised ribs were beginning to loudly demand his attention. It was a miracle that none had been broken, and broken or no, he knew he could not ignore them.

He saw to as many of his own wounds as he could, then leaned back keeping one hand on his friend's chest, a familiar habit he realized, to look after the human's breathing even in rest.

As the sounds of the night echoed from outside the barn, Legolas' eyes unfocussed and he drifted into an exhausted sleep.

Legolas woke suddenly at the sound of a loud creak. He recognized it as the barn door, and the moment it had opened the sweet smell of morning and the sound of squawking chickens filled the room.

The elf looked up to see who had entered in time for a floppy red hat to drop in front of him. Inside the hat were vegetables, bread, and several pieces of fruit, and he turned a smile up at the small girl who had brought it.

Pansy seemed very pleased with herself, but now that she could see the elf right up close and he was looking right at her she seemed abruptly timid. She watched him with wide eyes, her mouth slightly agape, and as soon as Legolas had removed the food she grabbed the hat and pulled it back over her head, shading her eyes from view.

Legolas couldn't help laughing and she lifted the obscuration from her eyes once more to watch him.

"You have nothing to fear from me, young one," he smiled at her. "Thank you very much for the food and hospitality. We slept well in your barn."

Pansy smiled at him shyly before speaking, "Mama said to bring it out to you, she makes really good butterbread." The girl pointed at the bread by Legolas' hand. Then she noticed Aragorn, still only half conscious and sleeping at the moment. She frowned up at Legolas. "Did he die?" she asked softly, noting the pallor of the man's face.

Legolas shook his head reassuringly, "No, he will be fine."

Pansy seemed willing to take the elf at his word and smiled again.

"Pansy!" a voice called so high that the girl leapt to her feet in a moment.

"I need to play with Bella now," she confided before waving to the elf and running from the barn holding her hat on her head as her curls tried to dislodge the covering.

Legolas laughed the moment she had gone and shook his head as he turned to the offering she had brought and ate a small amount himself. He then sat reclined slightly against the wall and inhaled the cool air of the morning that drifted in from the open door.

"That is why," a soft voice spoke from beside Legolas.

The elf turned, startled at his friend's words. "You are awake." He moved quickly to help Aragorn sit up as the man's own efforts were proving in vain. "How do you feel?" Legolas asked, handing Aragorn some of the food they had been given.

"I'm aching but I feel much better," the ranger turned to his friend and smiled. "Thanks to you, as usual."

Legolas shook his head and laughed, "The Valar know I owe you at least that much, Aragorn son of Arathorn."

Legolas checked Aragorn's wounds before he left the man alone and then both sat taking in the cool morning air with relief. After a moment's comfortable silence Aragorn nodded towards the open door. "That is why," he repeated.

"Why?" Legolas questioned, frowning at his friend.

"That is why we do it, Legolas," Aragorn replied, answering the question of the previous evening. "So that the simple people will be safe, so that the children of the north may keep their innocence. So that all the people of these lands may have peace, and may not have to know the things we know, nor face the same fears. That they may spend each day tending their fields or gathering together and feasting; that they may keep these lands alive and green. The Dúnedain are the protectors of the north and, yes, of a people that will never know what it is we do for them, and yet this is how we would have it, my friend."

Legolas nodded and after a moment he smiled, "If only the elves of Mirkwood realized that the ones which they hold in such distaste are, in many ways, far more honorable than we. I have known long now that there is much elves could stand to learn from men, if only they would have eyes to see it." The ranger smiled back and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and for a few further minutes the morning was still.

Aragorn inhaled deeply, and then inexplicably frowned at the elf, "Legolas, is that not the rank smell of that poultice Elladan taught you to prepare?" Legolas laughed by way of acknowledgment and Aragorn rolled his eyes, "I *told* him not to teach it to you!"

It had been a point of great amusement at the time of the poison wound, which had been Elrohir's, that the whole time they had tried to mend it, Aragorn had stood at Elladan's elbow telling him not to use the poultice because it smelled terrible. The complaint had lifted the tension considerably at the time. Legolas gently nudged Aragorn in the arm before replying, "Human, if you wish to teach me another such remedy then do so by all means; until then I have found this one to work efficiently!"

Their laughter carried outside as the sun rose, the yellow orb gathering heat as it lighted the sky, but it did not long pour its radiance down on the earth below. For, even as it rose, a thick shadow of pending rain began to gather over it, darkening the pleasant morning in a cover of gloom.

TBC…