Disclaimer: I do not own any of the LotR characters. They belong to the wonderful J. R. R. Tolkien. Idea and all the people that did not appear in LotR are mine, along with Aeterna Forest, which is completely made up and is somewhere between Lorien and Mirkwood, in my world :) Aeterna is Latin for eternal.

This was originally PG-13, but I think it only needs to be rated PG. There's nothing bad in it...no swearing, gore, sex, and minimal fighting and death.

This is an Aragorn/Legolas friendship story.

Author's Note: Story takes place after the One Ring was destroyed; however; it is very AU. For some reason or another, Aragorn/Estel is not king, but still a ranger (maybe Faramir got the job :D). Elrond, Galadriel, Celeborn, Thranduil, and the twins are in their kingdoms, as is Legolas. Gandalf is around. And, Haldir was killed at Helm's Deep.

Since I only know a handful of Elvish phrases, let's just pretend that when the elves are talking, that they are talking in whatever Elvish language they usually speak in.

This has been rewritten. Yay. Because, I went back and read it to my sister (who wanted to hear it again), and realized that some parts were really lame. If you read it before, you can admit that I'm right :D Some stuff's the same, though. Um...and what's up with all these stories where Thranduil's the most evil elf in Middle-Earth?? lol I always thought of him as being as nice as Elrond...however nice that is :P And Legolas has blue eyes, and Aragorn has grey eyes...really, they do. I do not know where Arwen is...she's floating around somewhere.

'..' means thoughts

".." means speech

means change of scene, time, or both

And when guilt threatens

To swallow us up as Cronus

Unto his offspring,

Then tis when our friends

We need closest,

Our Hope we need near,

Loyal and strong,

Lest our foes

Should strike and beat

Us down with fiery, charcoal wings.

To Make It Through

A flash of silver caught Legolas's attention. Moving swiftly and deathly silent, the Mirkwood prince strode forward, constantly scanning the forest around him. He knew he could move quicker up in the trees, but he loathed touching one. The trees of this forest were darkened and cold.

A sense of foreboding twisted in his stomach, sending shots of pain throughout him. His lithe body was growing weary, but Legolas refused to stop and rest. He had to get there before it was too late...

The underbrush seemed to thicken, hindering the elf's movements. Frustrated, he was forced to slow so he could fight his way through. Moments later his motions turned desperate. Legolas frantically chopped at the weeds and vines with his knifes until he managed to free himself.

Racing onward, Legolas found himself standing in a bare circle. Tall, menacing trees loomed around the area as if guarding it. Legolas started to cross the circle, knowing he could not lose sight of the silver as he had all the other times. He had to end this before someone was really hurt.

Legolas tripped as an unnoticed, gnarled root slithered into his path, and his boot caught on it. He landed roughly, his hands taking the impact. Then he let them slide out to avoid breaking his wrists. His chin connected with the frozen ground, stunning him. Groaning, Legolas raised his throbbing hand to rub his chin. Sticky wetness smeared on his face. Slowly, he pulled his hand away from his face. Legolas stared in horror, blue eyes wide.

He jerked himself off the ground as repulsion and terror spread through him like a wild fire. Blood covered him and the ground. His boots slipped, and he landed in the puddle again. But the blood was not his...

As if he had lost all control over his muscles, his head rose to stare in front of him. His cerulean eyes locked onto a figure lying perfectly still yards away from him. Familiar grey eyes stared lifelessly at him as Legolas started to scream in denial and misery.

"Legolas! Awake, my son."

A gasp ripped passed his lips as Legolas abruptly returned to the conscious world. King Thranduil stood over his son, his hands on Legolas's shoulders. The king gazed down in concern as his son fought to control his raging emotions.

"Did you have another nightmare, Greenleaf?" Thranduil inquired, keeping his voice low and soothing.

Legolas nodded once. Then he moved to sit up. His father backed away and studied the younger elf. Frowning, Legolas met his father's gaze. "Why are you here?" At times it was rare for Legolas to be able to see his father at morning meal because the king was needed elsewhere. Usually, a servant came for him, if he was not already up and about.

Thranduil paused, choosing his words carefully. "Things have not been so hectic lately. I was passing by your room and decided to see if you wanted to walk with me to the meal room. I knocked, but you did not answer."

Legolas remained quiet. He did not doubt his father's words, but he knew he was probably leaving some stuff out. For example, Thranduil did not just happen to be passing by, but he came by Legolas's room to check on him. Thranduil had noticed his son's increasingly strange behavior, and he has been keeping an eye on his son.

"I apologize, Father. I will need a few moments before heading down."

Thranduil nodded and headed to the door. "Are you all right, Legolas?"

"Aye, Father."

"Perhaps you should consider visiting the healer today," Thranduil suggested evenly.

Legolas sighed. "Perhaps, Father. I have patrol duty." He had absolutely no intention of seeing the healer, and he knew his father knew it also from the look of resignation in his ice-blue eyes. For the last week or so, Thranduil had pressed his son to seek the counsel of the castle's eldest and wisest healer. And, for the last week or so, Legolas avoided doing just that.

Once the king was gone, Legolas closed his eyes and rested his head in his hands. 'What is wrong with me?' he thought. This was not a new thought. He wondered the same thing two weeks ago, when he first was plagued by what would become a chain of nightmares. Worse, his dream began to seep into the day, dancing behind his eyes and distracting him. These were something Prince Legolas could not afford to be suffering from, especially not whilst partaking in the patrolling of Mirkwood.

Even after the One Ring was destroyed, darkness still threatened Mirkwood. Although the evil was lessening every day, daily and nightly patrols and watches were still held. Soon, everyone hoped the forest would be purged. But right now, bands of orcs, now leaderless, still lurked about. Spiders continued to weave webs and lay eggs.

Legolas was at a loss as to why this was happening to him. It did not make sense. And, much to Legolas's dismay, the visions/dreams became bloodier and worse as time went on. The theme of them was always the same: someone from the Fellowship was murdered, left for Legolas to find. Each member had played their part several times, but Aragorn held the most positions. Which made sense, since he was one of Legolas's closest friends.

'Estel...What if he could help me? But how? They are dreams, figments of my imagination. I just need to focus.' Mind made up for the moment, the fair prince stood up and stretched, walking to his closet to pick out a clean outfit. If he did not show for breakfast, his father might force him to see the healer.

Thranduil was aware of Legolas's recurring nightmares, though Legolas refused to discuss them. He was embarrassed his father knew about them; he was a warrior and hated to appear weak like that. 'Besides, Father has enough on his mind as it is. I will not give him any more reasons to worry. This will go away on its own.'

However, something inside of him told him he was foolish to believe that. The same voice convinced him that no healer would be able to help him. A time ago, Legolas stopped trying to come up with logical reasons why he dreamed what he dreamed. That voice mocked every word.

The day drug on for Legolas. It was all the elf could do to keep his body from falling asleep. The visions would not trouble him quite as much if it was not for the fact that his energy seemed to dissipate as the days passed, and his attention span began to lack.

The sun was hot, but it was not uncomfortable. Above him, the sky was serene and picturesque, azure dappled with wispy clouds. The forest was quiet today. Lately, there has not been much trouble.

Legolas forced himself to stay alert, although his pace was leisurely. None of his fellow warriors were sight, but Legolas knew they were close, should anything turn up amiss. Today, one of his closer friends, Methrall, was on duty with him. Legolas headed in the direction he had seen his friend disappear in.

A flash of silver brushed passed the trees beside him, nothing to his sharp eyes but a blur. Legolas spun around and dashed to the trees, searching wildly for what was no longer there. 'Or had never been there,' he added bitterly. 'This cannot continue, or else I will be driven mad.'

"Legolas!"

He turned to see Methrall standing some distance away from him. The elf was frowning in worriment. "Is everything all right? I saw you run, looking as if you heard something, but I detect nothing wrong."

"Tis nothing," Legolas answered in what he hoped was a reassuring voice. Although, he could not keep the irritable edge out of his tone. "Everything is as it should be."

"If you are sure. But is everything all right with you?" Methrall continued in a neutral voice. "Mayhap you should take a break, my prince. Things are quiet; your presence will not be missed."

"I am fine," Legolas protested sharply.

Methrall looked at his friend doubtfully. He, along with a handful of others, had taken notice of the prince's change. None had spoken of it to Legolas, knowing that it was not their place to do so and that it would only upset him. They agreed to wait until necessary to question their prince's health. But Methrall was prepared to argue this one; Legolas appeared to be sleeping standing upright.

"I do not care if you think you are fine. You are completely drained."

Legolas opened his mouth in outrage, but Methrall cut him off. "Forgive my bluntness, my prince. I am merely concerned for you, as I have known you all my life. Now, please take a break. You push yourself too hard sometimes. Besides, are you not more of a liability than a help being here in such a condition?" Methrall added that last argument, knowing that would persuade Legolas.

Anger, swift and burning, flared up in Legolas, but he pushed it down. Methrall was voicing only the truth, he knew. There was no sense in arguing any longer or pretending everything was fine. "It is I who should apologize, my friend. You are correct."

Methrall smiled softly as he walked briskly over to the smaller elf. Clasping his shoulder, Methrall whispered, "You should always listen to your elders, Little Greenleaf."

"Five years, Methrall!" Legolas shouted, but he was not angry anymore. That was a common joke between the two. Although, it never failed to rile Legolas up when he heard the nickname he received when he was an elfling and never managed to bury.

Methrall only laughed, eyes sparkling with amusement. Then he stepped away and sternly glared at Legolas. Rolling his eyes, the prince admitted defeat and started back to his home. There was nowhere else he felt like going, although he feared he would run into his father.

'Hopefully, he will be meeting with his advisors or locked away in his study. If he sees that I was forced to return home from patrol this early, he will probably drag me to the healer. It will not be the first time.' Legolas smiled in brief mirth. Soon, his smile faded as his steps began to drag.

It was a bit of a walk back to his home. By the time Legolas arrived, he was barely lifting his feet. Once he began the journey to his bedroom, Legolas watched and listened for his father or anyone who would report to his father. There was only one hallway left to go down when Legolas found his father.

Thranduil was standing right on the other side of a particularly sharp corner. Legolas was barely able to avoid running into him. For a moment, they stared at each other in surprise until Legolas glanced away. He saw Lord Glorfindel standing beside his father. Legolas sighed inwardly, deciding that the Valor were punishing him.

Glorfindel had arrived in Mirkwood a few days ago. He was delivering an important letter from Lord Elrond of Imladris. While Thranduil was writing up a response, the elven lord wandered around Mirkwood or aided Thranduil. Legolas liked the elf's company, but he knew Glorfindel assisted Lord Elrond with healing patients; Legolas also knew that Glorfindel had probably already discussed concern over him to his father.

"Legolas, what are you doing back here so early?"

Glorfindel peered closely at the younger elf. "Are you ill? You look pale."

Thranduil frowned, moving to study his son's weary countenance. "I want you to see the he--"

"Father, I do not need to see the healer!" Legolas exclaimed, fed up with everyone fussing over him. "I am just tired. Sleep has eluded me these last few nights," he admitted quietly, his eyes downcast. He felt ashamed to be admitting that to his father and Lord Glorfindel, but he figured they knew anyhow.

Thranduil sighed. For a moment, Legolas thought perhaps he would be allowed to go on without any lectures. Then his father said, "How about this? You are to rest in your room for the remainder of the day. I will have food sent up to you in a while. Tomorrow, I want you to travel to Imladris."

Legolas started to protest. Thranduil held up a hand to silence him. "Let me finish. I want you to accompany Glorfindel back to Imladris with my letter to Lord Elrond. You might as well stay there for a while and spend time with the twins. Elrond will not mind. Mayhap Estel will be there--"

"Nay, he is visiting in Rohan, I believe," Legolas interrupted flatly.

"Well, the twins anyhow," he conceded.

"Glorfindel is capable of going himself," Legolas grumbled.

"I am glad you are excited to be spending time with me," Glorfindel remarked dryly.

A slight blush crept onto Legolas's cheeks and ears. "I did not mean it like that."

"I know. Tis all right, princeling," Glorfindel assured him, smiling. "Even though I may be 'capable of going' myself, it is still safer and more entertaining to travel with someone else."

Legolas nodded. He was without satisfaction, since this was the second defeat this day. He wrote it off, saying he was too tired and preoccupied to concentrate.

"Now, go rest," Thranduil commanded.

"Yes, Father," Legolas submitted meekly. As he hurried away, his thoughts drifted to Estel and his morning idea that maybe the ranger could help him. 'Perhaps he will return to Imladris while I am there. It will be nice to see him again. Although, I would like to spend time with him when I do not need help or the world is on the brink of ending,' Legolas thought ruefully. He missed the days long ago when Estel was still young and mostly carefree, and he had been able to forget his problems for a while.

Legolas and Estel had formed a fast friendship when they had met. Estel had barely been out of his teens. Shaking his head, Legolas reached his door and went inside.