Hello everyone!

This chapter was in part inspired by White Wolf's story "The Wrong Path". I really recommend this fic, and you can find it in my favorite story list if you are interested. In the most recent chapters there were some very touching moments between Legolas and Aragorn and I have to admit that it got my own idea's going.

Welcome to my newest reviewer Roper, and welcome back to one of my original reviewers Kaelriel!

Think that covers everything, so on with the story!

Chapter #24 ~ The Aftermath

Darkness.

It was so oppressive. Overwhelming as it negated his ability to see. It transported Legolas into a void he felt incapable of comprehending. He was a part of it. Merged somehow so that he could not sense his body; could not command his physical form. He was trapped in this state of nothingness, and his mind quaked in terror. He could not break free from it, despite his panicked desire to flee.

He was darkness.

The fear he felt was tangible enough to induce tears, and he felt them warm upon his skin, yet he had no body. The bitter salt stung at unseen wounds, to dampen his parched lips before the ebony hue licked them from his being, repulsing him further, heightening his trepidation. He was bound, both body and soul.

Lost.

He tried crying out then, his voice so tiny that it could not penetrate the void. It fell flat from his lips, had he a mouth to talk from, to be breathed in and consumed with his surrounding. There was no echo, merely a mocking muteness, a pounding silence which grew in volume, grew until Legolas was deaf to anything else but. Or so he thought.

From the depths of its recesses a voice rose from the silence, blending in with it as it developed into a language that Legolas could comprehend. It's pitch transforming into the familiar. The wizard's voice, so confident and arrogant. Whispering his foul questions soothingly.

Suddenly Legolas could feel those withered hand upon his face once again, stoking, caressing, wiping away tears with gnarled fingers, devoid of moisture, and rubbery, like something that had died and now decayed. It was like being touched by death. As the hands fondled his checks, the calming voice spoke on, bewitching and tempting him; seductive yet cruel and icy. There was no mercy or compassion here.

This is a dream!

He tried to convince his tattered sensibilities of the truth, tried to force his eyes to open, for he knew not when he had closed them, yet he could not. His mind remained unresponsive to the logic such nightmares are devoid of.

Trapped.

Closed in.

His panic mounted, and then he felt a warm breath upon his neck, regular increments of hot air as the creature in front of him breathed calmly. He could sense that the speaker, the wizard, was smiling, even though he could not see the mouth from which the noise originated. You are mine now, it chanted.

You.

Are.

Mine.

Legolas screamed, and the darkness swallowed the sound eagerly.

~*~

Aragorn sighed as he leaned back in the tub, allowing the hot water to seep into his weary body and relax his tense muscles. He had never been as fond of bathing, as his brothers, or elves in general for that matter, were, but as he lay here breathing in the scented fumes of the bath water he could not think of a place he would more prefer to be.

It was nearing midnight, and Eomer had finally insisted that his guests retire for the evening. The move would begin early, and he wanted everyone to get as much rest as possible before hand. As they were being shown to their rooms Legolas had requested the bath water. Aragorn shook his head as he remembered the conversation...

"Lady," Legolas said softly, reaching out and touching Eowyn's shoulder to attract her attention as she lead them through the corridors of Edoras. "Would it be possible at this late hour to have a bath drawn?"

"I am sure it could be arranged, Master Legolas, but you have only just bathed. Surely... I mean..." she trailed off blushing as she realized her question might be somewhat rude and intrusive, yet she was of a direct nature and continued on none the less, "Are you not yet clean, sir?"

Legolas laughed. "Lady, I myself feel quite refreshed. The bath I had in mind was not for my own person, but another."

Aragorn had then found himself confronted by three sets of eyes, and it was his turn to blush as he realized the implications of what had been said. Beside him he could hear Pippin smirk before the hobbit, too, stuck in his opnion on the subject,

"Well, Legolas is right Aragorn. You seem to attract dirt at the same capacity as Legolas seems to repel it. Which is saying something!"

Aragorn had chuckled at that. The elf had merely raised an eyebrow, but for once Aragorn found himself thanking Legolas for his fastidious nature. The bath he was currently enjoying was magnificent, and it was allowing him to unwind in such a way that he had been unable to do since leaving Rivendell.

Slowly, with a small sigh of regret, he forced his eyes to open once again. If he lay here any longer he knew he would surely fall asleep, and it would be a most undignified thing to be found in the morning in such a state. Pulling his feet up underneath him, he stood, allowing the water to run off of his body before stepping out of the basin and drying himself with the towel Legolas had left out for him. The elf had though of everything, including, Aragron noticed with smirk of amusement, clean clothes.

He pulled them on gratefully however, before slipping back into he sleeping chambers. He raised a single eyebrow when he noticed Legolas sitting, curled up on one of the sitting chairs, sound asleep. The Prince's head was tucked up upon his arms, with his long blond hair in a semi-state of disarray around him. He had pulled off his boots, and had his legs curled up underneath him. It was such an informal pose, and Aragorn relished this brief glimpse of the elf prince with all of his defenses down. Shaking his head, a fond smile on his lips, Aragorn was about to follow Legolas' example and sleep, before he noticed what was wrong with the picture.

The elf's eyes were closed as he slept.

Aragorn felt his chest tighten with concern. He stood rooted to the spot for a long moment before moving forward slowly, hoping that he would not wake Legolas with his approach. Finally, standing beside the chair, he knelt, so that he could examine the elf more closely. At this proximity Aragorn could now see the slight pained expression across his fiend's brow. It broke the ranger's heart to see the elf suffering.

Legolas shifted slightly then, a light whimpering noise escaping his throat as he did so. The elf's brow furrowed further, and he buried the side of his face down into the folds of his clothing, the sound of another choked sob breaking past his lips. He dreamed, Aragorn thought, and not of his home or the forests of Lothlorien by all appearances.

Aragorn reached out gently, trying to rouse Legolas from his sleep as gently as possible. Tenderly cupping the side of Legolas' face that he could reach, he soothed away a tear that had leaked past closed lids with the pad of his thumb.

"Hush, Legolas, you dream. Wake now," he whispered softly.

Legolas reacted violently to this action. He jerked back from Aragorn's hand, his eyes still closed tightly as he dreamed, and started to chew slightly at his bottom lip as he stifled another cry. Rough tremors shook his slight form and he trembled, twitching as if trying to avoid some presence that Aragorn could not see.

"Come Legolas," Aragorn said louder this time, reaching out a little more forcefully to shake his companion, "you do not belong in such a dream world."

With this Legolas awoke with a cry, launching out of the chair swiftly and knocking Aragorn himself off balance, so that the ranger landed undignifiedly upon his rear. Aragorn, startled, looked up to see Legolas perched upon the arm of the chair, one leg swung over and touching floor to keep him balanced, his eyes wide with fright, his breathing irregular.

"Legolas," Aragorn snapped quickly, his voice becoming commanding in his concern.

The tone seemed to have the desired effect however, and the ranger watched as the elf blinked slowly, recognition starting to once again calm him.

"Aragorn?" his voice sounded so unsure, confused.

"You dreamt," Aragorn said, allowing his voice to become comforting once again. He saw the horror enter Legolas' expression upon hearing this, he could clearly see the mortification, the ashamed blush, that made Legolas break his eye contact and look away. "We all dream, sometimes," he continued slowly, wanting desperately to say the correct thing that would prompt Legolas to confide in him. "What was it that invaded your sleep, nîn mellon?"

Legolas blinked, still trying to clear his clouded senses and to assure himself that the demons that had disturbed his slumber where ones that he had created himself, and were not in fact real. Making a conscious effort he slowed his erratic breathing, swallowing before facing Aragorn once again. He vaguely realized that some sort of reply would have to be given. "How was your bath?"

Aragorn almost sighed aloud as he realized Legolas would make nothing easy. He sat slowly, feeling weary once again as he prepared to try and out talk an elf. "Enjoyable."

"You smell better for it," Legolas teased lightly, trying desperately to lighten the atmosphere.

"I suppose I must," Aragorn stated simply, not going to let Legolas succeed in side tracking the conversation. He felt a momentary sense of success as he saw a flash of irritation light Legolas' eyes.

"You must be tired," Legolas pressed after a moment of awkward silence.

"Sleep is a secondary consideration to me at present. I have not yet seen to your injuries, as you saw to mine earlier," came the casual reply.

"Mine have already been tended."

"Not by me," Aragorn stated, not sounding arrogant over his confidence in his abilities as a healer, but merely practical.

"You need not sound so condescending, Estel," Legolas replied, raising a single challenging eyebrow.

"Then do not behave so childishly and let me help you," Aragorn stated patiently, the double meaning behind the statement not being lost on either of them.

"Darkness," Legolas said after a moment. Seeing Aragorn's incomprehension he elaborated, "You asked what invaded my dreams. Darkness."

Aragorn again paused, forming his reply carefully, knowing that at this point, if he said the wrong thing, Legolas would close up once again. This elf was one of the most private and secretive people Aragorn knew, and he also realized it was not an easy task for Legolas to confide a weakness to another.

"We are all haunted by such shadows. You need not feel ashamed by this," Aragorn offered quietly.

"Do not try to make light of my weakness!" Legolas snapped, both of his hands clasping each other in a very nervous, self-conscious gesture.

"I do not, for if I did I would be undermining my own fears and dreams as well. Do you think you are the only one to wake with fear?"

Legolas' eyes widened momentarily at hearing this confession. "No. Forgive me my arrogance, Estel."

"There is nothing to forgive, Legolas. Here, come here," Aragorn said, turning and walking over to the window on the far side of the room. Drawing back the curtains he threw the windows open widely and then stood, waiting patiently, for Legolas to join him.

The elf approached cautiously, as if trying to deduce Aragorn's plan. When he stood beside the ranger, Aragorn laid both hands upon Legolas' shoulders, so that he was now standing behind the elf. He steered him forward, until they could go forward no more. He then pointed out of the open encasement, "What do you see Legolas?"

Legolas glanced back over his shoulder for a moment, his confusion apparent on his features as he met Aragorn's gaze. The ranger merely raised his eyebrow and nodded his head forward to once again signal Legolas to look out of the window. The elf sighed and turned his attention back to the outdoors.

It was very dark outside, compared to the light of the room they were in. He answered quickly, "It is too dark to see. There is no moon this night." He heard Aragorn mumble something of an agreement before the ranger said quietly,

"Keep watching."

So the elf obeyed, trying vainly to see Aragorn's point of this exercise. His eyes gradually became accustomed to the night and, as he held his breath slightly, the first faint star became visible in the sky. It was but a flicker of light in the darkness yet, it was there, and as he looked up other stars slowly appeared. "Stars. I see the stars," Legolas muttered quietly, in reverence of the small display of beauty. He could feel tears well up in his eyes, and they dripped down his face once again, as they had in his dream, but he welcomed them this time, for they were tears of healing.

"Thank-you, nîn mellon," he said quietly as Aragorn hugged him lightly from behind.

"Think nothing of it. Just remember that with every dusk there comes a dawn to match."

Legolas sniffled lightly, the corners of his lips curling up into what resembled a genuine smile. "A grim prediction of things to come, I am afraid. Dawn will be here soon and we will be expected to have gotten some rest this night," he said lightly turning slowly as Aragorn withdrew.

The ranger yawned at this, nodding his agreement. "Goodnight," he muttered as he collapsed upon his bed, vaguely aware that Legolas blew out the candles before leaving the room to go to his own sleeping chambers.

Then he slept.

~*~

They were making much slower progress then Éomer would have liked. He supposed they moved as quickly as was possible for a group of this size, burdened as they were with the short strides of children and the elderly, yet if they wanted to reach the safety of Helm's Deep then they would have to get there soon. Éomer was no elf, to be able to sense the approach of danger, yet he was a perceptive enough man, and even he was not immune to the fact that they were rapidly running out of time.

A warm breeze blew over the plains, making the long golden and green grasses ripple like the waves upon the sea, tugging insistently at Éomer's own hair and that of his horse. The air smelled fresh, clean, and the grey tinged skies darkened in the distance over the horizon. A storm was coming. Its looming certainty could be smelled, and the horses were somewhat skittish because of it.

"I do not think my bottom will ever feel normal again," a sudden voice chirped up beside the horse lord. Turning his head he saw Legolas and the small hobbit sharing a horse, Arod, whose shining coat complimented the elf's own hair. The little furry footed being clung, rather tightly, to the elf's waist, making the scene look rather comical. "I do not think we hobbits were meant for such animals. A good sturdy pony, maybe, but this... this is torturous! How can you stand it Legolas, especially with no saddle to provide... well you know... a cushion of sorts?"

The elf looked alert. His eyes took on the same colour of the sky, as they shifted ahead of them, scanning their road. He was a long moment before replying. "I suppose it is a feeling you become accustomed too."

"Accustomed! Hah! This is worst then sleeping on the rocky ground, with something digging into your back. Could you not slow this beast down slightly?"

"Try not to think on it Pippin. Your feelings of discomfort will only increase if you dwell upon them," Legolas stated, not slowing the gait of the horse.

"Come, little hobbit," Éomer cut in at this point, "try to enjoy the beauty of your mount, and the grace of his movements. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have had the honour of riding a steed of Rohan. Our horses are fabled for their strength, endurance, and," he added, with a small wink in Legolas' direction, "speed."

"Well, I can see it is a reputation well earned, but I think that your own people's rumps are made of sterner stuff then my own is! I shall not be able to walk properly again for a week!"

Legolas snorted lightly. "Should we place a plate of mushroom's ahead of you at the end of this journey, you would run to them without any hindrance from your posterior, I am sure," Legolas teased lightly.

"Well, yes... but that is mushroom's," came Pippin's idea of a come back, making Legolas laugh.

"You will live, little one," the elf stated simply.

Éomer found himself relaxing slightly as he listened to the continued light banter between the two friends. He slowed his horse and turned the animal slightly, allowing his gaze to sweep back over the train of people who followed him. He immediately sought out the figure of his sister, but she was lost in the sea of other people, and he could not pick her out. Dispersed among the commoners, were Éomer's own soldiers, some allowing children to ride their horses while they lead them. All of his people followed him, grim, and determined. Their courage and strength amazed Eomer. These were a people worth saving.

Further down the line Aragorn walked along side of the very person whom Éomer sought. Eowyn kept pace with the king eagerly, listening to his gentle voice as he spoke of his adventures and travels. She had asked to be told of different lands and people, and Aragorn had met her challenge. He spoke of the borders of the Shire, and the people of Bree, of the northern forests and the rangers who lived there, and finally of the valley of Rivendell, haven of the elves. She listened, entranced; envious that so much should exist beyond Rohan that she would never be able to experience or see.

Aragorn for his part felt a certain amount of sympathy for the young woman. She was obviously an individual of strength and courage, aspects of character that would never be given room to blossom, as she was a human woman of noble birth. Had she even been born an elf she would have had so much more freedom. It was tragic but inevitable.

"How did you earn the love and allegiance of an elf prince?" she asked suddenly, startling Aragorn somewhat with the question.

"We have known each other for quite some years," Aragorn began hesitantly, trying to think back to a particular moment in their past which might explain Legolas' faith in him. "As for his devotion to me... well, Legolas has always been a creature of loyalty, sometimes to a fault. Still I value what he has given me. I could not ask for a better friend. Yet, Legolas is so young, and I fear he does not completely understand the consequences of befriending a mortal."

"What do you mean?" Eowyn asked.

Aragorn just offered her a small, sad smile in response, shaking his head lightly to signal he would say no more on the subject.

~*~

The remainder of the trip to Helm's Deep passed, as all journey's do. The company was attacked once, by wargs and orcs, but Eomer's men rose to the challenge and their lines proved unbreakable. It was their families the soldiers defended, and so nothing could challenge their courage or resolve.

So it was that, as the evening sun sank into the western sky, the people of Rohan trudged wearily through the gates of their destination. The fort was their last hope at survival, the point of their last stand. Its gray walls of polished stone reflected the dying light, making it glow lightly in contrast to the barren surroundings. It sat in a shroud of silence, with only the wind whistling off its lone tower to play mournfully, eerily into the dark. The refugees sat, huddled in close proximity to one another, passing out rations in relative quietness, mother's hushing the whimpers of their children; none relishing the knowledge that soon thunder would disturb this calm before the storm.

War would soon be upon them.

Ok, for everyone who was rather confused by the dream sequence, I think eLLe said it best when she wrote me, "it is hard to write about fear itself". It was a nightmare that sort of combined a verity of Legolas' own terrors, so it was suppose to be somewhat disjointed. I hope you did not all find it too chaotic. ^_^

I also have to admit something to you all, because I am starting to feel guilty over how many people are complimenting me on Gollum's portrayal. Most of his lines are ones that he spoke in the Two Towers. I mean some are my own, but because his speech is hard to make, I usually stick to the script for him. I do however enjoy writing about his body movements! You can find the Two Towers script online at a site called: "A Hobbit's Tale" which is a great Tolkien site all around and one I highly recommend.

Review Notes:

Gwyn ~ Boromir is struggling against the ring's call a little more. The incident in the Marshes really threw him for a loop and he is starting to realize that although powerful, the ring is evil as well. He sees the consequences of its use by spending time with Gollum and it has strengthened his resolve to resist the ring's call, but he is still being tested! ^_^ So don't turn your back on him yet!

Roper ~ LOL. Your review sounded so urgent and desperate that it made me laugh. I try to update weekly and usually post on the weekend sometime. I try for Friday's as I don't work that day but it does not always happen. I am pleased that you have read all of this and still want more! Must mean I am doing a good job! ^_^

merrylyn ~ eLLe and I were reading your review and we both agreed that you gave us a wonderful plot bunny (again!). We plan on using it too so thanks for your insights! LOL, I am glad you are still enjoying the Legolas/Eowyn moment. I have to admit that I went back and re-read it as well and was still happy with it… which is saying something because usually the longer I look at a piece the more I notice the mistakes, lol. Yeah, I was trying to write from Merry POV and I was like: "how would I feel" and I realized anger might be a response and with the ring in such close proximity hatred would not be far off. I also thought it added another component to the group dynamics. Yeah, I could feel Gimli's growing apprehension in that last scene too. He could feel events slipping from his control and was powerless against them. Poor dwarf. We will have to see next chapter how events unfold. I really recommend the Bored of the Rings book. It is so funny and had me crying with laughter a few times. My sister bought it for me when she was in England and brought it home for me and we both still quote parts of it too each other when we see the other. I wonder what the ring whispered to Legolas too… he said back near the beginning of the story that it was testing him but never got any more specific with me or Gimli, damn secretive elf. But again eLLe and I both liked your idea about how the rest of the fellowship is being tested and I will try to give you more insight into the other characters. Thanks for pointing that out.

randomramblings ~ LOL… that is flattering! I am glad that the entire story held your interest! And if I don't post on Friday I do on Sundays… they are the only two days I get off work so… that is when I usually have the most computer time. I am trying to figure out which character is your favorite… I mean I know for most of my reviews… I have my Legolusters and my Aragorn fanciers… I even have a couple of Pippin cravers… and I had, for a while, one genuine Boromir fan… but where do you stand in all of this, if you do not mind me asking?

MoroTheWolfGod ~ Wow… *blinks in shock* I spelled something right?! That is amazing because my spelling usually sucks big time. Well that was just pure luck then, lol. Here was a full chapter of Legolas and Aragorn and Pippin for your enjoyment and I hope it hold you over until the next chapter!

Angel of Death ~ Yeah, book Faramir did not even want to see the ring and in the movie he was just a younger version of Boromir. Faramir was suppose to be really smart and a philosopher above a warrior and it just seemed so out of character for him to all but kidnap Frodo and Sam in the movies. Anyway I want to try and portray him closer to Tolkien's original version then the movie one. As too Haldir's well being you are simply going to have to wait and see. I won't let that leak yet! ^_^ Yeah the same problem with my reviews. I am just pleased the site is working properly once again and I will not delete review from my email box until they show up on my review board here – that way I will not lose any ever again.

wellduh… ~ Interesting is a good word. It can have so many meanings. I use it a lot too, so don't apologize for describing my story as such, lol. ^_^ Yep, the two brothers with the one ring within their grasp… how will the one effect the other… the next chapter will reveal all. I am going to keep alternating between both groups so that everyone gets their fair share of attention. Yeah… Merry has a right to be upset but Frodo had to make the choice he did too… I feel bad for them both as well because their friendship is being destroyed over paths that neither could control. Very tragic.

White Wolf ~ LOL… you will only ever have to endure one chapter without Legolas because I don't think I could go for two chapters without writing about him, lol. I had to earlier in the chapter and it was painful. ^_^ I am glad you approved of Merry's feelings. I was happy when I thought of them too… I think it added another dimension to the groups tensions and will help lead up to what I have eventually planned… but I will say no more about that! Again – Gollum's lines are often right from TTT script as much as I would like to take credit for them. I find him very hard to write and so often reply on the movie's portrayal since it was so well done. Lot's of Legolas for you in this chapter!! ^_^

SpaceVixenX ~ I really like Gollum too. He is such a pathetic character. I mean you just feel so sorry for him and the movie did a wonderful job at portraying how the ring corrupted him. He was the highlight in TTT. Yes, it will be interesting to see how Faramir and Boromir will sway one another. It should make the next chapter interesting at any rate!

TrinityTheSheDevil ~ We are at complete agreement! Faramir in the movie was drop dead gorgeous but rather a jerk character wise. In this story he will still be sexy look like the movie Faramir but instead of being a jerk he will be the noble, wise and caring individual whom Tolkien wrote of. We all win this way! *grin* Yeah, poor Gimli. Now he has to try and stove off a whole company of men from the ring… next chapter will see if he is successful or not!

Kaelriel ~ Welcome back! I am impressed that you stuck with this one, but very pleased you did! ^_^ I can sympathize with your comments on school robbing you of a life. It can be hectic but thank goodness it is summer now! As for your penname… I think it is original. I mean I am sure no one else is using the same one so that is one good thing about it. Plus, it sounds musical, but if you want to change it go ahead and do so… I mean just let me know what you change it too so I can keep track of you! ^_^ Yes, ff.net gave me the scare of my life yesterday. I went back to re-read a section and when I clicked on the link it said "story does not exist". I nearly had a coronary. Anyway, they fixed it today so all is good. I am glad you like what has been written and, yes, next chapter will have lots of Faramir! Random behavior and rambling are both good things, so there is no need to apologize! Here is another chapter for you!

Elfling ~ Every second chapter now I will go back to the main fellowship. I want to give all characters as much attention as I can because they are all so wonderful. About the reviews… I saw that your new story said six but displayed none so I simply had to rewrite my review just because I felt so bad for you. I clicked on the link to my story too the other day and had it say: "this story does not exist", and I practically died right on the spot because I was so scared they had deleted my piece. Anyway, it seems to be working again so hopefully it will stay that way.