**Re-written**
Chapter 7
The following days Aragorn followed behind Legolas watching him closely like a hawk, he was worried of course. His life long friend would now suffer and have to endure the mortal life that he did wish to be part of. He quickened his pace through the snow to walk alongside him. He wanted to ask his friend questions but he did not wish to scare him, but Legolas spoke first:
"What concerns you, Aragorn?" his once elven companion asked, half watching him.
He couldn't tell him, not yet.
"Tis nothing"
To his surprise Legolas laughed, it sounding hollow and empty compared to his once cheerful true laughter.
"How many years have I know you, my friend? Yet you still think I can not tell when you are lying"
His humour has not changed.
Aragorn smiled at that, "Indeed we have know each other for many years"
"Not in the line scale of my kin"
"I worry about the quest ahead"
Legolas watched his face through the corner of his eye; he did not believe him, but held his tongue. If Aragorn wanted to tell them he would, there was not point trying to force him to say, this man is hard to break.
Ahead Sam stumbled in the snow the company stopped as Jacob picked him up and brushed the snow from his clothes and curly hair. Legolas avoid Aragorn's eyes as they began to cross examine him during the pause. He still limped though he was trying to disguise it. Aragorn knew better then to ask him for he had hated it when the Ranger insisted that his ankle should be bandaged that morning before they set off. He felt embarrassed over all the attention he was receiving, the ankle wasn't serious, just embarrassing for an elf.
Shortly after midday the company rested, for the snow was deeper here and the hobbits were struggling. They would have to be carried from here until the snow became less; the company had agreed that Legolas should not bear one, though they had not told him so.
Beside Aragorn Merry sat chatted happily to Pippin on Aragorn's other side.
"I miss the Shire Pip"
Aragorn laughed despite knowing of Legolas' peril.
"You have not been away from the Shire long my friends"
"It seems an age!" Pippin snorted.
Merry dropped his voice half glancing towards the two elves.
"Strider, what is wrong with Legolas? He dose not walk on the snow like he did before he use to be able to walk on the snow, now he walks through it."
"Its something to do with his wounds doesn't it?" Pippin asked. "I saw the look on Elrond's face."
"What did you see?" Aragorn felt his insides turn. What had his step-father seen?
"He was worried, but I don't think he really knew why" the small knot watched Cassione talk quietly in elvish to Legolas. Aragorn tried to read the blank look on his friends face.
"He will lose his ability to speak Elvish fluently…"
He rose to his feet and approached the pair and sat in between them both.
"The snow on from here is deeper and the hobbits will have to be carried plus someone needs to keep an eye on Gimli too. Though I don't want you to carry one, Legolas" he said, already Legolas opened his mouth to protest but Aragorn cut across him again. "Not until you are able to walk unhindered by your ankle. And then maybe you could carry one, until then you can keep watch on Gimli. I'm sure you don't want your dwarf friend to be buried in the snow."
Cassione hid a snigger into a sneeze, Legolas and Aragorn turned sharply at her.
"Sorry" she mouthed.
"Aright" Legolas nodded, "I'll watch Gimli, making sure we do not lose him in the snow".
"Good" Aragorn stood patting him on the shoulder. "You are welcome to bear a hobbit if you wish, Cassione"
The remained of the day passed slowly the company were warily when night began to fall. They found no proper shelter from the cold wind, but stayed under a shelf of snow and ice – better then none at all the Ranger had thought to himself. He sat on first watch as the company drifted to sleep; he longed to start straight away to help his friend. But he knew it would have to wait until Legolas admits to himself that he needs help it would be downgrading for an elf to be instructed by any mortal unless he/she has realised the need for instruction is necessarily. He must not let his emotions stand in his way for the company were headed into darkness and danger far worse then any words could speak of.
Emotions such as love for Arwen and for Legolas he would have to push aside for in battle they would only make him sluggish and unable to make decisions in the battlefield.
He smoked his pipe gently allowing the tobacco to relax his troubled mind and he allowed his wariness drift away like the smoke, caught by the winds outside. When the pipe was emptied he placed it carefully in a pocket and wrapped his cloak tighter about him. The wind had changed direction and now chilled his feet that escaped the shelter of the shelf. Turning his head around he saw the company sleeping soundly, though there were no stars he knew it would be time to wake Gimli for next watch soon.
Hugging his knees to his chest he rested his head on his knees listening to the wind whip around the shelf, each gust seemed to have a voice. A voice that he did not wish to listen to, a voice that sent him back thirty years to that night in Mirkwood...
"Estel stop that" A younger Legolas had cried as the child form of Aragorn swung from a tree branch next to him. The young Elf knew that mortals especially Men were very prone to injures especially when falling for heights – like treetops. Elrond would skin Legolas alive he something happened to his step son.
"Legolas, Estel where are you?" an Elven voice carried up the trees. Cassione was looking for them. Despite her being an Elf from Lothlórien she and her parents were here in Mirkwood to celebrate the Elven New Year. It was tradition that Elves from all countries would meet in one to celebrate the New Year each in one of the three place; Rivendell, Lothlórien or Mirkwood.
"Come on, stop this. The others are looking for you"
Legolas groaned he always found the New Years parties boring 'You will understand one day' everyone seemed to say. Estel didn't mind he just wanted to be with someone he could relate to other then his father and brothers. Aragorn sat silently beside Legolas watching Cassione below through the leaves her long brown hair flowering when she turned her head sharply looking for them.
Beside him Aragorn shifted his feet, the arc of his feet were pressing against the round branch. He shuffled them a little and branch he had been using to balance now out his reach instead he stretched out his left arm to catch hold of Legolas' shoulder but he had miss judged the distance instead his hand fell onto thin air. By this time his body had lent forward expecting the solid form of Legolas' shoulder to support him, but there was nothing there just thin air which now he plummeted through.
"Estel!" Legolas cried watching his friend disappear through the branches.
Luckily for the human child many of the branches broke his fall so when he did hit the ground his landing was slightly softer then it could have been.
Gracefully Legolas leaped down after him and Cassione swooped over him quickly checking to see if the child was injured.
"Oh! Estel, are you hurt?" she whispered running her hands over his chest checking for a pulse.
The child pushed her away; "I'm fine" he hissed standing up quickly glancing over to Legolas pretending he did not see the glint of amusement in the Elf's eye.
"It's not funny" he wined as Legolas began to laugh.
He suppressed the laughter enough to speak: "You've been through a bush backwards Estel" he laughed as the child brushed himself free of twigs and leaves much to his annoyance Cassione has started to laugh also.
Snapping out his dream a thought passed across the Ranger's mind. Cassione back then seemed so different to what she is now.
'She did not have the burdens she carries now' he thought, and yet she seemed to light and happy when he saw her in Lothlórien eight years ago.
He peered into the horizon, though aware that no answer would he find there. Sighing he rose for now after half sleeping he felt tired and he gently moved around the sleeping company to wake Gimli taking care to be sure he could not reach he axe shaft quick enough to kill. Once the dwarf had settled outside Aragorn stretched out his bed roll in the dwarfs vacant spot rolling gently over to flatten the creases Aragorn caught the glisten of Cassione brown strands of hair in the dim light given off from Gandalf's robes her right hand clutched her tunic collar in sleep. His questions remained unanswered as sleep overcome him.
"Come on this way"
"Stop Cassione, we shouldn't, father will be worried"
"Oh, stop fretting Legolas" Cassione turned to the young mortal standing beside her. "You'll go won't you Elessar?"
The boy nodded. Taking Cassione's hand they ran, Legolas not far behind.
The forest around them began to darken as the trio ran deeper into the woodland, deeper they went, the night sky becoming darker overhead and slowly a sense of fear began to descend on them. Cassione was the only one walking onwards completely unhindered by the atmosphere that shifted around them as the three passed deeper into the woodland. Beside her Legolas stopped his pale face damp with cold sweat.
"We should turn back" he whispered, his eyes unfocused on the undergrowth.
"Stop fussing" Cassione hissed pressing on.
Aragorn too felt they should turn back, "He's right, Cassione"
She turned on them, her temper flared fiercely as she raised her voice: "You can turn back if you want to," she paused, locking eyes with Aragorn "coward" she whispered. Turning back she half smiled into the shadows over her brief victory over the mortal.
Behind her Legolas' breathing became uneven, the darkness swirled around him and the sensation of being watched returned tenfold.
Something moved in the bushes. Cassione shrank back towards the pair, her brown eyes wide with fear. The movement became more violent and spread to other brushes, even the tree branches rustled.
"Keep close" Aragorn whispered gently moving petrified Legolas behind him and with Cassione the three stood back to back against the enemy, weapon less.
The darkness had swallowed them, whole and screaming.
Aragorn sat up sharply, a cold sweat clinging to his forehead and back. His eyes glanced around the camp checking that no one had seen him, or heard him. Unsure if anything escaped his mouth during sleep. He hadn't had that dream for several years. He wanted to forget them but having Cassione around was like having an irritating insect wound that needed itching.
He sighed wearily; he knew he would not sleep now for his mind feared the same images would return which filled him with uneasy energy. He rose from his bed roll to join whoever was out on watch.
The night sky had cleared, now the late evening stars shone down on the mountainside, the wind was cold against his face, dawn still some hours away.
"Go back to sleep, Aragorn, you have all ready taken watch tonight" The Ranger turned and saw Legolas sitting cross legged upon the ice shelf gazing into the distance.
A wash of compassion swept over Aragorn knowing his friend could not see into the night sky or see the stars above him.
"Nay, I cannot sleep" he walked carefully towards his friend "I find no peace listening to the howling wind" he sat gently down beside Legolas, feeling the wind snatch away his warmth and courage Aragorn sat in silence.
Legolas shifted his position raising his knees towards his chest, but resumed his pervious position quickly.
'His ankle must still hurt' Aragorn remembered.
Legolas sighed "Tis a shame the stars are not shinning" he glanced upwards sadly.
"But there are shinning"
Legolas dropped his gaze from the sky and turned to the man beside him. His face deadly serious.
"Say it"
Aragorn frowned: "Say what?"
"Don't try and hide it, you are a terrible liar, friend" Legolas' tone was patronizing. It didn't suite him.
Aragorn turned away under his friends stare.
"Tell me Estel!" Legolas raised his voice, it sounded desperate. Aragorn could not understand why his friend wanted to know the truth so much; surely it would tear him apart. "I need to know! I need to know wither I'm losing my mind or it is something else. I cannot hear the wind or the trees when I am near them. I sink in the snow like a stone through water, and here is the worst part. I a fair folk feels pain and exhaustion – I am surly losing my mind. Tell me so, please then at least I can rest in peace" Aragorn did not return his eyes to his friend; he did not have the heart to look upon such a desperate creature and tell him the truth.
"Why do you not meet my gaze? What are you hiding Estel?" Legolas quizzed, anger rising in his voice. "I need to know!"
"No, you don't" Aragorn stood sharply and pulled away, he couldn't tell him, yet he knew he needed to.
"Aragorn please!" Legolas jumped up and caught the Ranger' arm stopping him from escaping his questions. "Tell me"
"You really want to know?" Aragorn burst hotly, shaking Legolas off who stood shocked at his friend's outburst. "You really want to know?" Aragorn hissed stressing his words.
"Yes" Legolas said quickly and firmly.
Aragorn recoiled as if hit. He couldn't tell him. 'The truth will hurt you my friend' he thought. 'But he must know. Forgive me Legolas'
"You cannot hear the trees or understand Cassione' Elvish, or see the stars, or see the many leagues you had before and you feel exhaustion and pain –" He turned to face Legolas, staring deeply into his blue eyes.
"Because you are mortal"