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Chapter 5: The Bet



The Fellowship once again set off for another day of travel. Merry and Pippin, like always, were walking side by side.

"You know, I think Legolas likes me!" Pippin exclaimed.

"Yeah, you wish, Pip." Merry replied with a snort.

"NO REALLY! I think he does!"

Merry gave him a look and Pippin was angered by this. "WHAT? You think he likes you better?" Pippin asked.

"Well, yes if you must know. I think Legolas happens to have a soft spot for Brandybuck's. Add in the fact that I'm a hobbit, and I'm sure he finds me irresistible."

"Dream on, Merry. Everyone knows the Took family is much more desirable than you Brandybuck's. Besides, I happened to catch Legolas staring at my rear end yesterday. How do you explain that? I doubt he's ever stared at your rear end."

"I'm sure he was just looking at the floor, you twit. Legolas would much rather me than you."

"Sure. Keep lying to yourself. You'll be even more heartbroken when you walk in on him and me kissing."

"What makes you think he would kiss you?"

"I told you, he fancies me."

"I bet that I could get him to kiss me first."

Pippin laughed. "A bet? I always love bets. You're on my friend. Now what are the terms of this bet?"

"First one to get Legolas to kiss them, wins. Whoever loses has to carry the winners bag until we reach Mordor."

"Yes that's good, but the winner also gets all the pipeweed that's left!"

"Yes Pip, that's a fair bet. I would love some extra pipeweed."

"Who says you're going to win Merry?"

Merry sighed, "Haven't we already been through this Pip, Legolas likes me not you, wants to kiss me not you, overall prefers me not you. So taking those facts, the pipeweed is as good as mine."

Pippin laughed at Merry's confidence, "We'll see Merry, we'll see," he said quietly and turned his attention back to the rest of the fellowship.

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When they stopped for a brief break, which the hobbits were complaining that they needed, Aragorn saw his chance.

*That's it. It's now or never. I have to tell him. He has to know how I feel. I can't keep on pretending. Here I go.*

Once again, he approached the elf who was in a light conversation with Gandalf. "Um… Legolas, oh I see you're busy now. I'll - um, come back later." Aragorn fumbled and began backing away.

"No, nonsense. I was just on my way to help Sam with the stew. Those hobbits are hungry creatures, you know." Gandalf said with a smile as he patted Legolas on the shoulder and walked away.

"What was it that you wanted, Aragorn?" Legolas asked while he sharpened his white knives.

*I just wanted you to know that you're always on my mind. You're the reason I can't eat or sleep. I spend every minute of every day thinking of you and only you. I am completely and utterly in love with you and I have been for years. I fear if I don't kiss you I will die!* Aragorn thought to himself.

"Um…well…its nothing really," Aragorn began, deciding to give Legolas the shorter version of the truth.

"You and I have been friends for a long time. Close friends." he continued.

"Yes. Yes Aragorn, we…established that before we left Rivendell." Legolas said, raising an eyebrow at his friend.

"Well, yes, we did, but you see I never got a chance to tell you what I was going to tell you because everyone interrupted, and you ran out of the room, and then I tried to give you some space because you looked like you needed it, and then…" Aragorn began babbling uncontrollably.

Legolas cut him off, " Ok, I get the point. But I fear you will never get a chance to tell me what you wanted to if you continue at this pace, Aragorn, what do you want?" He tried hard not to raise his voice but he was getting mildly annoyed.

"Oh, yes, well, you see…"

Just then, he was interrupted by a very unwelcome voice…

"Aragorn, Legolas, will you not have any of Sam's stew it really is delicious," Boromir said with a smile.

"Boromir your timing is impeccable as always," Aragorn said sarcastically.

"Well I just wanted to offer you some lunch," Boromir said stepping towards Legolas.

Suddenly, Legolas was very aware of his surroundings *I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit creeped out right now. I'm hungry, but Boromir is making me feel very claustrophobic, and I want to know what Aragorn has to tell me, but at the same time, he's really scaring me.* Legolas thought

"Thank you both, but I think it's time we continue on our journey. I will speak with you later, Aragorn." he said, moving away from the two men.

As soon as the elf was out of hearing range, Boromir turned to Aragorn and commanded, "I know what you want, I know what you're thinking and I warn you this - Stay away from the elf, or suffer the consequences."

Aragorn was not intimidated by this at all. "Oh I'm scared now." He said with sarcasm. "You have no say in my affairs with Legolas. It is not your business nor your concern so I suggest you stay out of it."

Before Boromir could reply, they saw Gandalf motioning for the Fellowship to continue on.

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They did not stop again until nightfall and they were all very restless. Legolas decided that he would get some sleep tonight because he had not slept in days. After unpacking and setting up camp, the Fellowship quickly retreated to sleep.

Legolas, as he said he would, slept under the stars.

After an hour or two, Pippin decided that everyone was asleep and it was a perfect time to make his move. He snuck out of his tent, careful not to make any noises and wake Merry. He noticed Gandalf, who was supposed to be on watch, was snoring quite loudly now.

*I'll just tip toe over to him, and place a kiss on those gorgeous lips. Then I win the bet and plenty of pipeweed. AND a kiss from the most beautiful creature in all of Middle Earth.* Pippin thought with a smile.

He quietly snuck past the other two tents and to the tree under which Legolas was sleeping. He knelt down next to Legolas, not being able to take his eyes off of the sleeping beauty in front of him. *He looks like an angel when he sleeps* Pippin thought to himself.

Just as he was about to lean in for the kiss, he was halted by Merry's voice.

"Pippin!" he shouted.

With that, Legolas shot up quickly, grabbing his arrow and nearly knocking Pippin over.

"Merry! Pippin! I could've killed you! What's going on? Are you both all right?"

Legolas asked, leaning back when he noticed the closeness between him and Pippin.

"Yeah, Pip. What was going on?" Merry asked.

"Well, you see… I was… Um.. There… there was a … a … snake! It was um, huge, and it was right by your head, Legolas. I um, came out and saw it and thought I should get it away from you. So I knelt down to pick it up, but then Merry came and shouted and he scared it away. I probably would have done that in the first place except I didn't want to wake you."

Legolas didn't really buy this excuse but was too tired to argue. He just wanted some sleep. He thanked Pippin and laid back down after the hobbits went back to their tent.

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When Pippin and Merry got back to the tent, Merry looked very annoyed.

"And just what do you think you were doing?" Merry asked, tapping his foot on the floor.

"I was about to win the bet!" Pippin replied hastily.

"I'm not sure if I made this clear to you, Pip, but Legolas actually has to be CONSCIOUS when you kiss him!" Merry said angrily.

"NO! That wasn't in the rules. In fact, there were no specific rules! The only rule was that we kiss him. You're just jealous 'cause I was about to win!"

"In your dreams. The bet is still on, Pip. And this time, no trying to cheat. It's a fair match. No trickery… I mean it."

"Fine." Pippin said and laid back down to sleep.

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Gandalf awoke from his 'nap' after Merry and Pippin had already gone back to their tent and Legolas had fallen back to sleep.

*Goodness, I didn't mean to fall asleep. Thank the valor that nothing happened. Some leader I am, good thing orcs don't have good timing* Gandalf thought.

He got up from his spot and moved over to where Legolas was sleeping.

*I think that this seat, next to such a fine creature, will be much more comfortable and will keep me awake.*

He sat dangerously close to Legolas and hoped he would not wake him, for no one liked to wake a sleeping elf. Especially one with a bow and arrows right by his side.

Legolas was in for a looooong journey.

a/n We're so sorry we haven't updated in like a month. We've been really busy. We'll try to get the next chapter up soon. We already have an idea formulating. Hope you liked this one. The action is still to come. Read and Review for quicker updates.