Aragorn and Gimli had ridden off with ten of Gondor's finest warriors as soon as it had been possible.  They had still had several good hours worth of sunlight, and by taking a few shortcuts that Aragorn knew of, they had managed to cover a good deal of the distance between the city and the place where Legolas had been taken.  They rode for most of the night, stopping only in brief halts to rest. 

All the while, Gimli had ridden with Aragorn, still disliking the idea of riding, but more than willing to deal with it now that his friend's life was in danger. 

Finally, as the first rays of dawn reached over the sky, they came to a point where shortcuts were no longer available to them.  They were halfway to where Gimli and the others had found traces of the elf's blood.

"We will rest here and eat before we continue on," Aragorn said, dismounting from his horse. 

He'd taken Arod, the horse that Legolas had ridden back in Rohan during the war, a gift from Eomer to Legolas.  Aragorn had taken him on the search in hopes that his strong bond with his master would prove useful if things got difficult.  The horse had heightened senses, and perhaps could find clues to Legolas' whereabouts even if the old Ranger's skills faltered.

The rest did not sit well with Gimli, who desperately wanted to press on, but it was at the same time not altogether unwelcome. 

"We should continue on.  Who knows what is happening to him?" Gimli muttered to Aragorn so that only the king would hear.

"I grudge the delay as well Gimli, but both my men and their horses are in need of rest.  They have not a dwarf's stamina."