~*~Chapter 3~*~

Legolas' eyes grew wide, his mouth agape.

- Oh great, - he thought, - no wonder he looked so upset, and after all those things I just said about his lineage! How could I not have known? Aragorn, son of Arathorn and Gilraen. I am an idiot! Why didn't Elladan and Elrohir warn me? Well I should have known! Estel… the hope of man! Duh! They still should have known that if the subject came up I would end up saying something I regret! -

Aragorn, mistaking the silence, weakly got to his feet and turned to leave. Angrily trying to blink back the tears threatening to overtake the young Ranger. Angry at his weakness, angry at his lineage.

He grabbed his pack from the ground and shouldered it on his good side. He quickly, well, as quickly as his wounded leg would let him, strode of into the early morning.

The elf sat there, dumbfounded, he did not even realize that the man had left until he went to reassure him that he did not care about his lineage, that he found him a friend no matter who his father and fore-fathers were. He jumped when he realized that he wasn't there, and when he went back to camp, all the elves were staring in the direction he had gone.

Legolas quickly went after him, for once thankful that the man's injured leg prevented him from moving quickly.

The Ranger sighed into the blue sky and said quietly, "Why me? Why did I have to be part of this line?"

"Estel!" Legolas ran up to the human, glad to have found him, "thank the Valar I found you!"

"Why?" Aragorn asked flatly.

Legolas looked at him, "Listen, I don't know why you left back there, but I came to tell you that no matter what your lineage is, you'll always be welcome as my friend, and to tell you I'm sorry for what I said."

Aragorn looked at him for a minute then started to laugh, "don't be sorry, I actually feel the same way… almost, I'm not thrilled about my lineage at all."

Legolas sighed in relief, "So you forgive me?"

Aragorn smiled, "There is nothing to forgive."

"Look, I wont tell anyone if you don't want me to, but I think that you should rest until your healed."

"I'll make you a deal," Aragorn said, "we'll get through the high pass so that we don't get stuck here before it snows and we'll wait in the forest on the other side."

"Deal," Legolas smiled, "it should only take you a day or two for the wounds to heal enough for you to use them. I believe I have some herbs to speed the healing as well."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Finally," Raenan said as they emerged out of the high pass into a meadow, it was slightly dead where they were but it got better as they went until they finally found the forest.

Aragorn sighed and sat up against a tree. His injury was getting better really fast, the herbs Legolas had given him, combined with the fact that he had some elven blood running in him, caused the injuries to be able to heal faster that usual. He was beginning to calm down when suddenly all his senses were piqued. He looked over at Legolas to see that he was listening to.

"Yrch," the man mouthed, Legolas nodded and drew his bow.

Everyone else in the camp did the same. And aimed in different directions, knowing they were surrounded. Suddenly a rustle of leaves caught their attention and they all started firing. There were screeches and yelps everywhere. Then, as quick as it started, it was finished. They all spread out to check the bodies.

A moan to the right of the human caught his attention, he swiftly notched his bow and crept up to the tree that it came from, he whirled around to the other side of the tree and just barely kept himself from shooting someone he wouldn't want to. The human snickered at the elf sitting there.

"It seems I've got you again brother," Aragorn smiled wickedly. Elrohir just made a face.

Suddenly the human caught sight of the blood running down his brother's arm and his wicked smile turned to one of concern and he dropped his bow, "Are
you okay?"

Elrohir glared at the man, "I was shot in the arm."

"Well, obviously, let me see."

The elf rolled his eyes and showed the man his arm. He had already taken out the arrow and had been putting pressure on it. Aragorn pulled a pouch out of his pocket and handed it to his brother, "Here."

The elf sniffed the contents and smiled. He pulled out a small amount of the Athelas plant and gently pushed them into the wound, then tore off a piece of his tunic and wound it around the wound, pulling it tight.

"Thanks," the elf smiled, then he frowned as he noticed Aragorn's own injuries, "what happened?"

"I was captured by orcs," the man answered, "and they probably would still have me if Legolas hadn't been tracking another group that ended up joining the one that captured me… they were searching for me," he added quietly.

Elrohir stood up and looked at his brother carefully, "You seem okay now," he said slowly, "let's get back to where Legolas is waiting for you."

Aragorn nodded, "You can go if you want, tell ada I'm okay. We should be home soon." // dad //

Elrohir looked at his younger brother for a moment then sighed, "alright,are you sure you're okay?"

Aragorn rolled his eyes, "Yes, I'm fine, just go, I'll see you in a day or two."

Elrohir nodded and walked off.

Aragorn continued checking his area, and then went back; still amused that someone managed to hit his brother.

Legolas saw his amused look and raised an eyebrow.

The Ranger smiled and walked over, "Guess what I found."

Legolas, eyebrow still raised, asked, "Do I want to know?"

"Elrohir, someone hit him with an arrow… I wonder who?" He asked with a wicked yet innocent grin.

Legolas blinked in surprise and laughed, "Where is he?"

"I sent him back to Imladris so someone can look at that wound."

The grinning elf nodded, "Come on then 'Prince Aragorn' we should pack up and head to Imladris."

Aragorn groaned, "Please do not call me that, I never called you that."

"Alright," the elf said, "I wont if you don't like it."

"If I did I would have asked you to call me that."

"Okay, I get the point."

Laughing, the human sat against a tree, "Well, pack. My stuff already was packed up… you need help?"

"I think I can pack up my own stuff," the now annoyed elf growled.

"Okay, okay, I was just joking, sheesh." The human rolled his eyes and smiled.

"There," the elf said after a couple minutes. He turned around towards where the Ranger had been but he was no longer there. He stared, confused, to where the ranger was before. The slight rustle of leaves alerted him and he looked up into the branches of the tree above him, and SPLASH! That was the last thing he'd expected, he stood there, soaked. He heard a light thump behind him and turned to look at the Ranger, who had this very guilty expression on his face.

"What happened?" Aragorn said, trying his best to keep the mirth out of his eyes and voice.

"You know well enough what happened, and you shouldn't be eager to see the consequences… in fact, I suggest you run," with that the elf jumped at the
Ranger who quickly bounced back, just barely avoiding the elf. He laughed out loud and took another step back, waiting for the elf to regain his footing, what he didn't expect was for the elf to grab his ankle and pull his foot out from under him. With a yelp the Ranger fell backwards. He jumped to his feet and as the elf did the same, the human tripped him again, but this time he danced just out of reach and laughed at the elf again.

"I am going to kill you human," the elf spat, he looked angry but the man could see the mirth in his eyes. That only made the man laugh harder and when the elf got to his feet and started towards him the human stopped his laughter and took off into the forest, heading for the clearing. When he reached it he stopped and turned around to see how far behind the elf was. Surprisingly, he could not see him. He stared into the trees when all of a sudden he was knocked over and pushed to the ground. He let out an embarrassingly loud yelp and fell to the ground. He twisted around and looked up at the elf who was smiling at him wickedly. The elf opened his mouth to speak when all of a sudden, they heard a loud whinny of distress.



A/N


LalaithoftheBruinen- Glad ya' like! Flowers?... hmmm... OH! I KNOW!
*feeds to bunnies* NOW THEY'LL STOP TRYING TO EAT MY LEGS! *whispers* thank you soooooooooo much! :) Thanx 4 the umm... preview?... anywho, I'll be sure to look it up!

Lomiothiel- ...ummmmmmmmmmmmmm... true... but... oh I give up!!!!!!!!!!!! you win!!!!! You can not hurt air!!!!!!!! *sobs* I guess *sighs* ... But... if u can't hit it... then why did u say u punched it? Ha! I take it back! U soooooooooo do not win yet! :)

marbienl- Glad ya liked my last story! *giggles* not happy wit dat at all, obviously...:):)...Hmmm... burst out laughing... that'd be a good idea if I hadn't already written the chapter... I might have used it!!!! I'll have to look into yur stories... they're probably awesome! Glad u love um!!!!!!!!!!!

feanen- Still good!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!! *grins* Reaction indeed... what'd ya think of that reaction?

*pouts* only 4????? *sighs* Oh well... maybe more this time?

I wrote this on my description, but, like, who actually reads those, right? So I'll re-write it...Anyone who is willing to help, can you PLEASE give me some ideas for pranks in your reviews. THANX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

READ AND REVIEW!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Agent of Darkness for editing and posting my stories 4 me! And good luck wit' da' new story yur workin' on!