To Walk In Night

by Nili

Just before Aragorn should travel back to Rivendell, a Mirkwood patrol is attacked and Legolas captured. When Aragorn finally finds him and his captors, both come to realise that a dark force is stirring in Rhûn that might destroy all they hold dear.

5. Set Into Motion

Disclaimer: For full disclaimer, please see chapter 1.


A/N:

First of all: I am very sorry. I guess that most of you have read the note in my bio at some time or other, but for those who didn't and are still with us (you really have to be complimented for you patience, people!) I'll say it again: I wanted to update but really couldn't. It was one of these things when everything's against you: My phone company which just announced we needed a new phone number, new internet access numbers, passwords and all that and my university for going on strike and therefore preventing me from updating there - you try telling the people blocking off the buildings that you are writing this LotR story and that you really, really need to get into the library to plug in your laptop to update. *shakes head* Ignorants, the whole lot of them... *g*

Well, anyway, I'm back. I'm very sorry for keeping you waiting, and I really thank you for you patience. There was no ill intent, I swear it.

So, where were we... Yes, we'd just met Celylith's father. It's great to hear that you guys like him (*thinks about huggling the elf lord but reconsiders quickly at his deadly glare*), he's indeed just as bad off as Elrond and Thranduil. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the three needed a therapy at some point or other... *g*


Anyway, here is chapter 5, in which we finally meet the bad guys who are already eagerly awaiting their entrance! Also, we see what happens when Hithrawyn gets pushed too far, see how our favourite elf prince and ranger are doing, find out some nice little things from their immediate past and ... hmmm, have a little H/C. Everybody needs that from time to time, right? *nods* Right.

Enjoy and review, please!

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Chapter 5


The golden sunbeams danced across the carved stone tiles of the room, creating beautiful and sometimes bizarre patterns. It was a display that would have greatly fascinated Aragorn under normal circumstances, but right now he was far too busy giving Hithrawyn the look to be touched by such details.

"Three days?" he asked, his very tone of voice conveying the absurdity of the words. "You don't mean that, do you, Master Hithrawyn?"

The tall, blonde elf simply smiled benignly at him, something that awoke in the man the powerful urge to get out of here, and to get out of here now.
"Oh, I do, Master Estel. Three days is not nearly long enough, but several of my junior healers came to me and threatened to commit suicide if I let you stay longer. But I believe," he added, a dangerous gleam in his eyes, "that some of them also contemplated murder."

Aragorn simply stared at the elf, wondering for a moment wherefrom he got this kind of humou, for he knew from experience that Hithrawyn didn't possess any sense of humour whatsoever. Hithrawyn didn't mean it in a sarcastic way, he concluded after a moment, studying the other's serious face, it had probably really happened.

The young human suppressed a sigh. Ever since he had woken up earlier today in a room in the healing wing of Mirkwood, feeling as if a troll had stabbed him with a big, ugly javelin, had crushed his head half-way and had then filled his throat and chest with sharp stones and sand, and had looked into the grim face of King Thranduil's master healer, he had known he was in trouble. The look Hithrawyn had given him that promised much pain and torment when he had spoken about how Celylith had brought both him and Legolas back yesterday evening had done little to change that conviction.

"But there is no need to keep me here!" he protested, trying to sit up and freezing half-way when the elven healer's eyes seemed to catch fire at that. Grumbling under his breath, he lay back down, ignoring the pain that stabbed through his left side when his back touched the soft mattress.

He tried again and looked at the elf with wide, innocent eyes. Reasonable arguments hadn't worked, so it was time for pleading.
"Really, I feel fine! It was just a little branch!"

Hithrawyn's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and Aragorn unconsciously shrunk back a little.
"A 'little branch'?" the healer repeated. "That little branch missed your left lung by inches! I spent the batter part of an hour removing all the splinters that had remained in the wound!"

Aragorn resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the older being.
"But it missed it! It is simply a flesh wound and nothing serious…"

Before he could finish the sentence, the tickling sensation in his chest which he had been trying to fight off the past few minutes refused to be ignored any longer, and he doubled over in a coughing fit, Hithrawyn's earlier objections to him sitting up forgotten. After half a minute during which he could have sworn his lungs were trying to part company with the rest of him, the coughs finally eased a little and he was able to lie back again, his weakened body trembling with the strain and the stabbing pain that had awoken in his wound.

Still gasping for breath, Aragorn shakily reached up and gratefully took the glass of water that a smug-looking Hithrawyn provided.

"That is why," the elf told the young man who was the worst patient he had ever had the misfortune to meet in all his millennia. "In addition to the injury to your side that is slightly infected as I might add, you have sustained a human illness." He looked at the young ranger, managing to look at the same time satisfied and slightly ill at ease. "I have only limited experience with human ailments, and one can never be too careful when treating those affected. Therefore you will remain here for three more days."

Aragorn had regained his breath and put the still half-full glass of water down onto the small nightstand with a thump.
"It is a cold, Master Elf! Nothing more, nothing less! I do not need to remain abed for three days, and I certainly do not need to remain abed in the healing wing!"

"I will be the judge of that, Master Human, if you don't mind," Hithrawyn countered coldly, not at all intimidated by Aragorn's look. It appeared, the man decided inwardly, that healers were immune to it, curse it.

"Let me at least return to my room," Aragorn said finally and suppressed another cough. He looked at the blonde elf with wide, pleading eyes, doing his best to look sincere and innocent. "I will recover much better there, and I promise to stay in bed."

Hithrawyn suppressed a large smile. Here it finally was, his opportunity to get this little orc back for what he had done to him these past few months.
"No."

The man frowned and changed his tactics.
"Then allow me to get some books. Or something to occupy my time."

"No."

Aragorn felt how frustration welled up inside of him, and only the knowledge that Hithrawyn was right and that he was too weak to get farther than a few feet stopped him from lunging at the healer. He took a deep breath a looked at the elf with narrowed eyes.
"What about visitors?"

"No."

"What am I supposed to be doing then?" Aragorn exclaimed, once again doubling over in a coughing fit when his chest protested against such volumes.

Hithrawyn did smile now, and it was a smile that looked slightly malevolent. He reached out and handed the man the glass of water and waited until he had recovered sufficiently before he answered.
"Rest, Master Human. You will remain here and rest, so that means no book, no visitors, and if I hear that you have set one foot out of this bed I will personally make sure that you drink some of the potions Lord Elrond left behind, and then I'll tie you to aforementioned bed. Understood?"

The young ranger gave him a rebellious look, inwardly deciding that Hithrawyn was displaying some rather disconcerting character traits. For one, the elf seemed to be even more merciless and sadistic than he had thought, and he seemed to suffer some serious delusions of grandeur. Not even his father was this bad, for Elrond had yet to resist one of his really innocent, pleading looks.

"This is not conducive to my recovery," he stated darkly and attempted to cross his arms across his chest, an action that was nearly impossible while lying on your back and holding an empty glass of water, as he quickly found out. "You said earlier yourself that Legolas had woken long ago, was well and hasdbeen allowed to leave already, Master Elf. Why can't he come and…"

"Because," Hithrawyn simply declared, feeling happier than he had in a long, long time. To have even one of them at his mercy was actually quite a nice prospect, and the fact that he could drug him if he wanted reassured him even further. "I will not even grace that with a real answer because I absolutely refuse to remember the last time you stayed here and Prince Legolas visited you!"

"That," Aragorn injected sourly, "was a misunderstanding. We didn't try to escape, we were merely trying to … find … some more blankets."

The blonde elf merely stared at him with a raised eyebrow, disbelief emanating from his rigid form in almost palpable waves.
"And you had forgotten that the blankets are in the wardrobe in every room and not in the corridor leading to the courtyard?"

The young man blinked a few times, feeling how a sudden tiredness washed over him. He blinked again and gave the healer an innocent look that didn't fool the other for even one second.
"That detail must have slipped our minds."

Hithrawyn clenched his teeth and gave the human a dark look while he reminded himself once again that this was Lord Elrond's foster son. It went beyond his understanding why, but the Lord of Rivendell had apparently a certain … fondness for this insolent creature, and far be it from his mind to displease the Lord of Imladris by strangling the adan. Even though it was a really, really tempting idea now that he thought about it…

"Besides," Hithrawyn said before the ranger could add anything to his last statement, "I never said that the prince was well."

The indignant expression on Estel's face disappeared in the fraction of a second and was replaced with worry and concern.
"What do you mean? Is the head injury more serious than you had thought? Were there any other injuries you missed? Is there…"

"No," the elf held up his hand, inwardly deciding that he needed to get out of this room before he really lost his temper. How anyone could stand the ranger's and the prince's behaviour was beyond him. "No, I didn't miss anything, and the head injury was just as severe as I told Prince Legolas, namely a concussion that would have warranted him staying for another ten hours or so. But," he added, a dangerous sparkle in his eyes, "his Highness saw it fit to ignore my professional recommendations and insisted on leaving the healing wing on his own responsibility."

Aragorn had to suppress a grin. He was rather sure that Legolas hadn't used these rather polite words.
"So he is well?"

The elven healer nearly rolled his eyes.
"He is not, as I thought we had established already. His right arm is cut, scratched and bruised, rather badly one might add, and he has a concussion which should never be taken lightly, even for one of our kind."

The dark haired human merely gave him a blank stare.
"So he is well?" he repeated.

Hithrawyn did roll his eyes now, something he hadn't done for the past two millennia as far as he could remember. If one considered the injuries Prince Legolas and his friends usually suffered, one could probably really say that the prince was well, but that was nothing he planned on admitting to Estel.
He only gave the man a look so dark that it rivalled those his king had given his son when he had visited him earlier this morning and quickly took the empty glass from his hand when he noticed the way Strider's eyes were beginning to slide shut again.

The elf shook his head. How fragile humans were sometimes … and naïve…

"Rest," he ordered the young man who was on the verge of sleep. "And remember what I told you. All of my healers have orders to inform the palace guard should they see you out of bed."

Aragorn merely blinked tiredly at him, which Hithrawyn optimistically took as a sign of agreement. With a last, sharp nod at the man the elf whirled around and left the room, a small voice inside his head stating warningly that this had been far too easy. The blonde healer pushed that thought to the back of his mind and once again reminded himself of what Lord Celythramir had told him to cheer him up yesterday evening – or to stop him from killing his son, the prince and Estel, that was more likely. Only seven or eight more days and then he would be rid of them, Valar, that was a day he was really looking forward to…

The thin wooden door closed behind the elf with a small thud, and Aragorn stared stupidly at it for a few moments until his brain informed him of the fact that Hithrawyn was gone. It took him even more time to realise that there had probably been something in the water the elf had given him, a mild sedative judging from the way his eyelids were beginning to drop and his every thought felt as if it were stuck in quicksand. It had tasted a little bit bitter now that he thought about it, but he had been too preoccupied gulping it down to soothe his aching throat to care much about the taste…

Damn that elf, he thought sluggishly as he tried to battle the inevitable, this was low, even for Hithrawyn! To drug him like this was nothing short of evil, yes, that was the perfectly correct term for it…

Just before he lost his struggle against the unconsciousness that was laying itself over his senses, he decided that, somehow, he would get out of here. There was no way he was staying here for three days without seeing Legolas so he could tell him that he never wanted to see a sledge again in his whole life.

He would be damned if he let himself be bested by Hithrawyn, and if he knew Legolas and Celylith at all, they would be here when he awoke, no matter what the master healer had to say about it.

If Hithrawyn was truly stupid enough to want a war, he could have it.




A few hours later, the sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, bathing the lands in a soft, golden light as she seemingly touched the ground.

The palace of the Woodland king looked peaceful and quiet at this time of day when many of its inhabitants were slowly retreating into the warmth and comfort of the buildings after a long and cold day, and there were only a few elves still outside apart from the guards that were right now moving to take over their shift at the gates.

It was an almost serene picture indeed, and it was only slightly disturbed by the rather stealthy movements of two young elves who were presently trying to climb up from one balcony to another a level above it.

"Are you sure this is his room?" the blonde elf asked his companion, the fingers of a bandaged hand inconspicuously moving up his head to fiddle with another bandage that wound around his skull.

The other elf turned from where he had been feeling for handholds in the stones above their heads and gave him a cold stare.
"I have my sources."

Legolas held his hands up to appease his friend who had been more than unwilling to aid him in this little endeavour and winced when a stab of pain went through his entire right arm.
"Peace, mellon nín. I merely do not want to repeat the experience from last time."

Celylith's dark look turned into a broad smile when the remembered the incident his prince was referring to.
"That was your fault! I clearly said the right balcony, not the left!"

Now it was the fair haired prince's turn to glare at his companion.
"You said left!" he retorted heatedly as he soundlessly climbed onto the railing of the balcony they were standing on. This was obviously an argument the two of them had had a lot of times already.

The silver haired elf shook his head and motioned for his friend to precede him, fully prepared to catch him should he lose his footing due to his injured state.
"I said right, and I don't think the Lady Isáviel will smile at you ever again after you barged into her room. In the middle of the night, I might add."

Legolas grimaced and felt for a crack in the stone, slowly beginning to pull himself up with his left arm. His right arm protested under the strain it was still experiencing, and he clenched his teeth to get the pain under control.
"The Lady Isáviel was quite pleased to see me," he announced haughtily, doing his best to keep his voice light and not to betray the pain he was experincing. "She started screaming when she saw you, my friend."

Celylith simply snorted as he followed his friend up the stone wall, gratefully accepting Legolas' hand, who pulled him up the rest of the way.
"I seem to remember that quite differently, my lord," he stated and brushed his clothes off, dark blue eyes twinkling evilly when he looked at the carefully neutral face of the other elf. "The fact that you threw that pillow at her because you thought it was Estel lying in the bed did nothing to really help the situation either."

It was a rare thing to see Prince Legolas of Mirkwood actually blush, and so Celylith enormously enjoyed watching the red colour that slowly crept up the sides of his friend's face.

"Would you stop talking about that!? Or the fact that she told her brothers and they threatened to kill me on at least three occasions, prince or not?" Legolas demanded testily, furiously battling the blush that covered his entire face by now, something that made it only worse, of course.

"Of course, my lord," Celylith said smoothly. Ha, he thought gleefully, that should teach him to question his sources!

He had a hard time hiding the grin that threatened to show on his face, because Legolas' face when he had realised that the room he had been standing in wasn't Estel's, but in fact that of a very beautiful and scantily clad, but at this point swearing and spitting mad elf maiden had been priceless indeed. Legolas had been very lucky that they had managed to half convince and half bribe Isáviel to not tell the king; Celylith was sure that King Thranduil would really have killed Legolas this time had he found about their little mishap.

"Could you please stop grinning like a smug monkey!" Legolas hissed, his patience with his friend spent. Ilúvatar, he hadn't been planning to climb into Isáviel's room, for that he was far too mature, even though he had to admit that the lady in question was indeed quite beautiful…

The other elf merely ducked his head to hide his grin.
"Of course, my lord."

"And stop humouring me!"

"Of course, my lord."

Legolas hung his slightly pounding head and tried to ignore the renewed ache in his arm. It was hopeless; sometimes he was able to swear that Celylith didn't have a bit of respect for him, not a bit at all…
"Come then," he demanded tiredly, admitting defeat. "Let's go and scare Estel, shall we?"

Celylith was very tempted to repeat his previous answer once again, but both the dark look his prince gave him and the barely visible lines of pain around the other's mouth changed his mind. He had told Legolas that he wasn't well enough yet to climb onto a balcony no matter how much he wanted to visit the ranger, but the fair haired elf had of course only looked at him with that particular look that suggested that he was either a coward or an idiot, and so he had relented, knowing full well that Legolas would do what he wanted anyway, so he might as well help him and try to catch him when he fell.

The other elf had reached the door that led into the dark room adjoining the balcony, and Celylith took two quick steps forward and placed his hand on the other's arm when he was just about to open it.
"Are you well?" he asked, concerned. "I think you should rest for a while; I really do not want to return to my father bearing the news that you had suffered a relapse or something of that sort because you couldn't resist climbing onto some balconies at night!"

For a moment, Legolas' eyes flashed unwillingly, but then he smiled at the silver haired elf when he saw the sincere worry in his eyes. Besides, he really did not want to hear one of Lord Celythramir's lectures in the near future. When it had become clear that Hithrawyn didn't intend to let them see Estel in the near future – something which was simply appalling in Legolas' opinion – Celylith's father had grabbed both of them and had let them know what exactly he thought of their little "ride on the sledges". A few looks the older elf had given him had been downright murderous, and he had hinted that he would be most displeased if he saw his son hurt or in any more trouble because of Legolas – or the other way round.

"I am fine," he tried to assure his friend. Celylith merely raised an eyebrow at that statement, and so he rolled his eyes and added, "Truly, I am fine. Not Aragorn's 'fine'-fine. I am really fine, but if you insist, I will rest a little once we are inside that reckless human's room." He grinned at the other elf. "If it is his room."

"It is," Celylith stated with conviction. "The junior healer was very clear about it, for she was mortally afraid to come anywhere near it."

Legolas who was just opening the door stopped and turned, already half inside the room.
"She?"

His friend ignored the prince's raised eyebrow and brushed past him into the warm room, careful not to come too close to the other's bandaged right arm.
"Yes, the healer is a she-elf, which is a mere coincidence, of course."

"Of course," Legolas grinned.

Celylith was too intelligent to retort something to that, because he knew very well that it would only encourage the fair haired prince, and so he turned and quietly closed the door. Legolas gave him a last, smug grin before he surveyed the small, semi-dark room they had just entered. With a quick glance he made sure that Celylith's "informant" had been right and that it was indeed Aragorn's room – he truly didn't think he would survive another encounter like the one with the Lady Isáviel. His human friend had needed over an hour to calm down after that little traitor Celylith had told him about the little mix-up, and even now, more than three weeks after it had happened, Aragorn would look at him from time to time and start snickering without obvious reason.

This time, he sighed inwardly, it really was Aragon's room, thank the Valar. He quickly closed the distance to the bed that was standing in the one corner of the room, next to the fireplace where a merrily burning fire was going. Legolas nodded in satisfaction as he carefully sat down on the edge of the mattress. If the fire was still going, it meant that a healer had been in here not too long ago, and that they should therefore have a little bit of time before they were discovered of forced to hide.

Celylith's almost inaudible footsteps sounded behind him as the silver haired elf walked over the stone tiles of the floor, and a chair to the prince's right creaked softly as the elf sat down. Legolas didn't turn to look at his elven friend though, for he was far too busy studying the bed's occupant in the twilight.

The first thing that Legolas realised was that Hithrawyn had exaggerated, as was the healer's wont. At any other time this fact would have annoyed the prince, but now he found himself sending a prayer of thanks to Eru and every Valar that might be interested. The blonde healer's reason for prohibiting them to visit Aragorn had been that even though the wound caused by the branch was healing nicely and there was little sign of infection, he had contracted a human illness that was potentially very dangerous.

Had they been in Rivendell, Legolas would have seen little cause for alarm, for he knew no elven healer who knew more about human ailments than Lord Elrond, but here in Mirkwood where humans were not exactly welcome and were therefore seldom patients in the healing wing that news had filled him with a strong sense of dread. He knew little about the numerous illnesses a human could contract, and even though Aragorn had often insisted that most of them were easily cured with a few days' bed rest, he was more worried than he had thought he would be.

The fair haired elf carefully reached out and placed a hand on his sleeping friend's forehead, breathing another sigh of relief when he found his theory supported. Aragorn might have a slight fever, yes, but as far as he knew, it was nothing to be overly concerned about. The young ranger's face was still a little pale, even if not as pale as the last time Legolas had seen him, and his breathing sounded a little laboured, but from what little he knew about illnesses, it was all within acceptable parameters.

Legolas sat back a little, giving another sigh. He hadn't realised how worried he had been about that reckless man until now.

"Is it really an illness?" Celylith's soft voice asked next to him, and Legolas turned slightly to look into the rather concerned face of his elven friend, who eyed Aragorn with a mixture of worry and interest. The part of Celylith that was trained in the healing arts was obviously fascinated with the concept of illnesses that materialised without obvious reason.

"Yes," Legolas nodded. "As far as I can see, it is, but it appears to be nothing serious. Hithrawyn is exaggerating again, but I think he did it on purpose this time."

The two elves traded a relieved look that soon disappeared as a definitely wicked sparkle crept into their eyes.

"You know," Celylith began, leaning forward slightly, "I think he has slept long enough now."

"I think you are correct, mellon nín," Legolas answered, a broad grin on his face when he looked at his elven friend. "Someone should wake him, wouldn't you agree?"

Celylith nodded and returned the grin, but before he could answer, a soft, rather hoarse voice spoke up, making both their heads swivel back into the direction of the bed.

"But for that, my friends, I would have to be asleep, wouldn't I?"

Legolas stared at the face of his human friend accusingly, outrage growing on his face when he saw that Aragorn had opened one eye and was using it to give them an amused look.
"You are awake!"

The other eye was opened, and Aragorn began to grin when he saw the surprise on the two elves' faces that both of them were trying so hard to hide now. Well done, he told himself. To surprise both of them was quite hard.
"Of course I am awake," he told his friends and shook his head slightly. "Honestly, how stupid do you think I am? I knew you would come."

"And then you stay awake instead of resting as you should?" Legolas asked indignantly and graced his friend with a reproachful look. "You are sick! You need rest!"

Aragorn blinked, about to point out that there was a flaw in the elf's reasoning, namely that he had been planning himself to wake him up only moments ago, but he thought better of it after a few moments.

He rolled his eyes when he saw the dark looks both Legolas and Celylith were giving him, and said,

"So do you! What are you doing here?" When Legolas didn't answer him and merely gave him a blank stare, he added with a dark look of his own, "I am fine, honestly! You were right; Hithrawyn is really exaggerating. It is a simple cold, nothing to be worried about, really. I've had this kind of illness at least ten times in my life, and as you can see, I am still alive."

"Ten?" Celylith asked, eyeing the man with renewed interest. "Really? Tell me, how…"

"Celylith!" Legolas admonished his elven friend.

"I am merely interested, my lord," the silver haired elf tried to defend himself. "Have you told Hithrawyn that it is nothing serious, then?"

"I have," the ranger nodded darkly. "He is doing this on purpose. I never knew that he was this vengeful!" Both elves nodded their heads in agreement, an appropriate expression of disapproval on their faces, and Aragorn added, "And he drugged me!"

In unison, his friends' faces twisted into grimaces of mock outrage while they tried not to grin too openly.
"No!" both of them exclaimed. "Really?" Legolas asked. "That is disgraceful! How dare he?!"

Aragorn shot his friend a dark look, and Celylith added thoughtfully,

"Why would he do something like that? I mean, we all know what a wonderful patient you are! Always patient…"

"…obedient…" Legolas nodded.

"…reasonable…"

"…polite…"

"It is evil to insult someone who can't even sit up. It is something that only you heartless Silvan Elves would do," Aragorn declared darkly and attempted to give both of them the look, but was interrupted by a hacking coughing fit that left him breathless and clutching his injured side.

All merriment instantly disappeared from his companions' faces and they leaned forward, Celylith grabbing a glass of water from the nightstand and offering it to the young man who merely swatted it away as if it were a poisonous snake.

"Aragorn?" the elven prince asked worriedly. "Are you alright? Should we call a healer?"

The ranger gave his friend a look that openly suggested that he had lost his mind and shook his head vehemently.
"No!" He took a few deep breaths until his breathing had calmed down somewhat. "They would throw you out and I would die from boredom in the next three days."

"Three days??" Legolas and Celylith exclaimed simultaneously. They must have been practising this somewhere, Aragorn thought amusedly.

"That is exactly what I said," he nodded his head darkly, carefully shifting into a more or less sitting position. "Hithrawyn is displaying some rather negative character traits I think. Character traits that can only be found in orcs and fathers, if you ask me."

Legolas grinned at his friend's comparison while he grasped his right arm and gently helped the man to sit up.
"Three days is really a little bit too long." Another thought seemed to occur to him, and he added, "Then you will miss our dear Celylith's departure!"

"Departure?" Aragorn asked, turning surprised grey eyes onto the silver haired elf who was sitting in the chair next to his bed. "Where are you going?"

"I am delivering a message to Beorn for the king," Celylith replied sourly. "My father assured me that there is no-one else at the moment, which is complete nonsense if you ask me. In my opinion he merely wants to get me away from the two of you for a bit."

"From us?" Aragorn looked at the elf with the widest, most innocent eyes one could possibly imagine. "Why? What did we do?" He superiorly ignored Celylith's rather lethal look – with two older brothers that was something he had learned a long time ago – and continued, a little bit more seriously. "How long will you be gone?"

"I will leave the day after tomorrow and should be back in about five days, I think, unless I run into some trouble, which I don't expect since I'm not travelling with one of you."

Aragorn and Legolas traded a hurt look, which Celylith ignored just as superiorly as the ranger a moment ago. With a little sister one also learned to ignore quite a lot of things. Celylith quickly wrenched his thoughts away from Calowiël, his sister, who had taken the ships to Valinor half a millennium ago. It was never a good thing to think of her, not even when he had had a good day, and his day had been anything but until now.

"You didn't run into trouble last time," Aragorn reminded the elf. "It was only us, and only because of Legolas' wonderful idea."

"Excuse me?" both elves asked together incredulously. Here they went again, Aragorn thought with an inward snicker.

Celylith managed to speak first, looking at the man with eyes so indignant that Aragorn was sure that his hair would catch fire if the elf didn't stop it soon.
"I didn't get into trouble? Excuse me?? I had to talk to my father and the king and Hithrawyn! If that is not trouble, then what is? Besides, I had to listen to Anardir's frenzied ramblings all the time – he thought King Thranduil would throw us into the dungeons once we got back and feed us to the troll."

Legolas shook his head in irritation and divided his dark looks between both his friends now.
"There is no troll in the dungeons, Celylith, you know that."

"Yes," the elf grinned. "But he still believes what our nursemaids told us when we were twenty, and who am I to destroy his illusions?"

"And," Legolas continued, ignoring his friend's comment, "What do you mean, human? My idea was wonderful, it isn't my fault that you can't steer a sledge!"

"Neither can you, apparently," Aragorn shot back and tried to stifle a large yawn, rather unsuccessfully though. To talk to the both of them was so much better than to lie here and stare at the ceiling, wondering how to get back at Hithrawyn, but he was still rather tired...

Legolas protested some more, telling them that it was all Aragorn's clumsiness and that nothing of it was his fault, but neither he nor Celylith had missed the tiredness that had stolen over the human's face or the way his eyelids wanted to slide shut despite his obvious struggles to keep them open.

When the man's eyes closed for the third time in as many minutes, the fair haired prince laughed softly and covered the other's eyes with his left hand, forcing him to keep them closed this time.
"Sleep, you stubborn human. We shouldn't give Hithrawyn a reason to keep you here even longer, should we?"

Aragorn turned his head unwillingly to the side and opened his eyes again when his friend's hand was withdrawn.
"I am not staying here for three days without trying to escape this … prison."

"Yes, you will, human," Legolas said firmly, silver-blue eyes flashing determinedly. "I will not have you greet your brothers half-dead because you were too stubborn to admit that you needed rest!"

The man gave him a dark look.
"I am fine! You are the one wearing a bandage around your head!"

Suddenly, Legolas felt very defensive and shifted slightly to escape his human friend's reproachful look.
"It is nothing serious, believe me, mellon nín," he said, all of the sudden finding that his hands were something truly fascinating. "I … I am sorry, Aragorn. It is my fault that you were nearly killed. I shouldn't have suggested to go anywhere near the river, and I certainly shouldn't have driven against you. It is my fault that your steering cord tore. Without my foolish actions nothing like this would ever have happened."

Aragorn shook his head unwillingly, but he was not surprised. Secretly, he had already been waiting for something like this; Legolas was always more than ready to blame himself for anything that could remotely be considered his fault, stubborn elf that he was.

"Stop doing that!" he commanded firmly, looking hard at his friend until he raised his eyes to meet his searching gaze. "You are not to blame, and you know that perfectly well. It was I who started ramming into both of you, not the other way round! It truly was an accident, my friend. It could have happened to you just as easily."

"Yet it didn't," the elf retorted seriously.

"But it could have," Aragorn repeated. "No-one could have known, not even you. You were not at fault, and I do not blame you. No-one does." The man paused for a second and gave the other a bright smile, noting with some satisfaction that the other's expression was a little bit lighter already. "Nothing happened, Legolas, and I have learned a very important thing."

Legolas shook his head slightly and carefully helped the young ranger to lie down – something he didn't appreciate all that much – before he returned Aragorn's smile with a still rather hesitant one of his own.
"And what would that be, Estel?"

The dark haired human stifled another yawn, his eyelids fluttering closed again. He didn't know if it were the after-effects of Hithrawyn's insidious little drug or merely his body's way of ensuring that it had enough time to rest and fight the illness, but he was feeling so sleepy that he was sure that he wouldn't be able to remain awake for another minute.
"That I never – ever – want to see a sledge again, my friend. Never."

The elven prince exchanged a small smile with Celylith and reached out to brush a strand of sweat-soaked hair away from the man's scratched forehead.
"And you shall not have to, Strider. No more sledges for you. And now sleep, your body needs the rest to get rid of that annoying human ailment."

Aragorn smiled slightly, his body already relaxing as sleep overcame his senses.
"And … trees too … can be … dangerous … things, them…"

"Very dangerous," Legolas assured his friend, the smile on his face growing even larger. "Devious little plants. Go to sleep."

The young ranger looked as if he wanted to retort something, but before he could speak a single word sleep finally caught up with him and his head rolled a little to the side as his still rather raspy breathing evened out. The two elves remained where they were for a few moments to make sure that the man was resting as comfortably as possible before they stood to their feet, still looking down on their sleeping friend.

"You know that he will be unbearable tomorrow," Celylith predicted darkly. "He always is on the second day in bed."

"We will have to keep him occupied," Legolas shrugged as they slowly made their way back to the balcony doors, "We can help him plot against Hithrawyn, but Eru help me, I am not helping him to leave his bed before the healers allow him to!"

"Neither am I," Celylith shook his head fervently, a rather fearful look on his face. "The twins are coming; and the mere idea of having to tell them that their brother died of a human illness because we failed to keep him in bed…"

Both of them shuddered simultaneously, something that would have greatly amused Aragorn had he been able to see it, and that shudder had nothing to do with the cold that assaulted their senses when they stepped outside of the heated room. Both of the twins were incredibly protective of their little brother, and to tell them that Aragorn was hurt was something a sensible elf – or man – avoided at all cost.

"No, we should really try to avoid that," the elven prince said softly, eyes large and dark in his face.

"My thoughts exactly," his companion agreed. But I will probably be gone when they arrive, so it doesn't concern me anyway."

"You, my friend," Legolas muttered darkly as he began to lower himself down onto the balcony beneath them, "are a coward."

Celylith nodded his head firmly, an eager expression on his face. He dropped onto the railing of the balcony with a nearly inaudible thud and quickly straightened again in case his prince needed any help.
"Of course I am, my lord. But I will stay alive, while the twins will roast you on a spit because you got their little brother into trouble."

Legolas smiled tentatively and took a few deep breaths to rid himself of the headache that had taken up residence behind his forehead. He probably should have listened to Celylith; climbing around at night with a concussion was not necessarily an intelligent idea.
"They wouldn't."

His friend merely raised a dark silver eyebrow at that, and the prince conceded with a sigh.
"Alright, they would."

Celylith laughed merrily and shrugged while he turned around and opened the balcony door, and after looking at his retreating back for a few moments Legolas followed his friend, shaking his blonde head. Elladan and Elrohir would truly not be happy when they heard what had happened, and especially the older twin was known for his sometimes rather strong reactions when worried for his human brother…

Legolas shrugged inwardly. Perhaps it was time to take his father up on his offer to throw the twins into the dungeons once they arrived here. It might cause a minor diplomatic crisis between Mirkwood and Rivendell, yes, but in his opinion it would be worth it.

Oh yes, he added mentally after a second. It would definitely be worth it.




At the same time, several dozen miles to the east, a troupe of men was just preparing to make camp. They had been travelling for a long time now, for to cross the distance to here had taken them even longer than it usually would have. To journey anywhere in Wilderland was never easy or something effortlessly done, especially in the winter when snow and ice blocked the few paths that existed, but this time it had been exceptionally bad.
They had encountered several winter storms, and had got stuck in a small copse of trees for more than two days once when the storm had raged on and made travel impossible, and in addition to that they had needed to make sure that as few people as possible saw them and that they appeared inconspicuous and harmless to the few who did see them.

But, Reran decided with a rather tired shake of his head, it had been worth it. Finally, after more than two weeks' hard travelling, they had reached their goal: The dark, intimidating and somewhat menacing-looking forest of Mirkwood, the realm of the Wood-elves. If the woods suggested one thing, it was definitely "Keep out!", and had it been up to him, the man would have been more than happy to oblige.

'Exactly there lies the problem,' Reran thought darkly and turned back from the dark trees. 'It is not up to me.'

Indeed it was not, and that was the only reason why Reran had dragged twenty-five of his best men out here to the very edge of what the Elves called Rhovanion. His lord's orders had been clear, and he had heard what had happened to the last men to disappoint his liege. The man shook his head again and wiped a long strand of blonde-grey hair out of his eyes. The last of his fellows who had failed one of their lord's missions were dead, every single one of them. Those who hadn't been killed when they had been discovered had suffered some inexplicable, mysterious accidents, proving once again what Reran already knew: His lord's arm was long, even long enough to reach you in the prison of the King of Dale.

"Sir?" a voice sounded behind him, and Reran turned around and found himself hard-pressed not to scowl when he saw who was standing in front of him.

"Teonvan," he nodded in a way that could only be described as icy. "The guards are set?"

The other returned the nod, matted brown hair falling onto hollow cheeks. He would never understand how a man could look just as revolting as he actually was, Reran mused inwardly.
"Yes, sir," the other replied in a rather oily tone of voice. "No fires have been started as not to alarm anyone to our presence, as you commanded."

Reran's mouth curled into something one could have interpreted as a smile with a lot of goodwill while he inwardly cursed his luck, the commander who had been in charge of the last mission and his lord. His luck for getting him into this situation, Adruran, his ex-colleague, for failing their lord, dying and therefore landing him with this accursed mission, and his lord for insisting that Teonvan accompanied him and served as his second-in-command on this mission.

He had never like Teonvan; it had been antipathy on first sight. In addition to the fact that he couldn't stand the man, Reran was also convinced that he was a bad commander and more a burden than an asset, and the more he came to know him, the firmer this conviction became. Teonvan was a truly loathsome man, and after more than two weeks in his company, Reran had no other wish than to be allowed to kill him. He usually took little pleasure in torturing others, even though he had done it more than once when he had needed information, but with this man he was prepared to make an exception.

"Good," he ground out between gritted teeth, doing his best to remain civil. If he judged Teonvan correctly – and he was rather sure he did – he would report every single one of their conversations to their lord, and Reran was convinced he didn't want to know what exactly his liege would say if he heard that he had called the man he had chosen as his second-in-command a slimy, twisted moron. Not that Reran would say something as tame as that, but it was a good start. Somehow, and he really did not know how, Teonvan had convinced their lord that he was a cunning, tough and intelligent being and ideal for the task that lay ahead.

The blonde man eyed his companion with barely controlled disdain. He was ready to admit that Teonvan was cunning, and he might even be tough if one defined tough as willing to hurt and degrade others for one's own pleasure, but he definitely was not more intelligent than the average mountain goblin, and Reran even suspected that he might insult some mountain goblins with that assumption.

Teonvan studied his captain with his head cocked to the side, either ignoring or oblivious to his superior's thoughts.
"We will enter Mirkwood tomorrow, sir?"

Reran turned unwilling eyes on the other man from where he had been watching his men pitch the camp. Most tents were already standing, and the guards had already assumed their positions. Yes, he thought with a small inward smile, his men were good. They were even very good, nearly as good as Adruran's had been. Then again, Adruran had been the best captain they had ever had, and that informal title had passed onto Reran now that the slightly younger man was dead.

"Sir?"

That loathed voice sounded again, and the grey-blonde man forced himself to concentrate on the face in front of him, even though he really felt no wish to even acknowledge its existence.
"No," he answered coldly, "Of course we will not, Teonvan. Because if we did, we would be dead before we had taken more than a few dozen steps."

The dark haired man's face twisted into a contemptuous grimace.
"They're elves, nothing more! You do not believe the fairy tales they tell about them, do you? They die just as easily as anybody else, I've heard."

The look that Reran gave his second was just as contemptuous. That was yet another thing why Teonvan would only get his men killed if he ever got a command on his own: He had a rather overreaching idea of his own importance and abilities. Of course, he shared that trait with the majority of the men Reran knew, but the blonde man knew better than to underestimate an elf. Adruran had been a good teacher in that regard: Never underestimate your opponent. He had got himself killed as well of course, but still Reran believed that he had been right.

"You are a fool, Teonvan," he told the other man with a hard look, "And if I weren't here, you would be a dead fool very soon, and you would take your men with you." He raised a hand before the younger man could protest, and added, "I will only say this once, so I advise you to listen closely. No, we will not enter the forest tomorrow. You will choose the four stealthiest men we have and send them into the woods, with the orders not to approach anyone they meet and become invisible if they indeed meet an elf. They will report back here the day after tomorrow, and if they have found a suitable target, we will strike. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," Teonvan answered automatically. "But … but, sir, what will we do in the meantime?"

Reran who had already turned back and begun to walk back to the camp turned, the corners of his lips curling upwards in mild amusement.
"We wait, Teonvan," he told him finally. "Remember what happened to Adruran's men. They were impatient and too careless." He paused shortly and gave the other a flinty look. "I don't have to remind you of how the last of them died, do I?"

Reran didn't mention that the other commander had been highly unwilling to take this mission as well, and that he and his men had only been careless because they had been given so little time by their lord, just as he and his men now. That was nothing his men really needed to know.

The dark haired man had blanched at his captain's words and shook his head quickly.
"No, sir."

"Good."

With a last look at Teonvan the captain turned and walked back into the camp, leaving his second-in-command behind. Now that he really thought about it, they were on even a tighter schedule than Adruran had been, and he knew that Teonvan had suggested moving on partly because of that as well, but Reran knew that they would be dead tomorrow evening if they rushed things.
No, it was better to be a little late and have what your lord wanted than to be dead, or worse, to come back home with the news of your failure, which equated death as well, but a painful, slow and thoroughly uncomfortable death at that.

Reran gave an inward sigh and briefly lifted his eyes to the heavens. For a moment, he truly wished Adruran to be alive so he could kill him himself for getting him into this situation, but alas, that would not happen. But then again, if Adruran were still alive, he wouldn't have this problem in the first place and…

With a low growl that earned him a curious look from one of the younger men he shook his head. He wouldn't think about things like these; he was already having more than enough trouble thinking of a way to do his lord's bidding – which was more than a little dangerous in his opinion, and he wouldn't have tried anything like it had it been up to him.

But, unfortunately, it was not up to him, and so his only option was to put up with Teonvan and get this mission over with as quickly as possible so he could return home to have some peace. And yet, Reran knew that there would be no peace for him. Things were being set into motion, things that were far beyond his control or understanding, and he knew that this mission was merely the first step.

In the end, it would be like an avalanche that no-one would be able to stop, and he, Reran, least of all.





TBC...





adan - human, man
mellon nín - my friend




*huggles her bad guys* They're adorable, aren't they? I really have missed writing evil people - it's so much fun! *notices weird look readers give her* Well, be that as it may, the next chapter should (don't laugh back there!) be here on Thursday or Friday, depends on how much time I need to spend demonstrating this week. *shrugs* We'll see. Thanks again for your patience! Oh yes, and reviews are still appreciated! Thanks a lot in advance! *winks*

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Additional A/N:

Asha Dreamweaver - *g* Yes, Anardir won't be a very happy elf at the end of this story, that much I'm sure of... Thanks a lot for the review! I'm glad you like this!
Jazmin3 Firewing - Well, I have never been banned from the computer by my mother, but my phone company seems to it all the time, so I understand what you mean. Life's not fair, that's all one can say. *shrugs*
Mouse5 - I'm rather sure that Thranduil and Elrond have already contemplated locking them up, but the way I see it it wouldn't solve anything. They would probably manage to get themselves killed even locked in their rooms or in the dungeons/cellars/wherever... *g* A little question though: What happens on the first Thursday of November between 03.00 and 03.30 hrs.? I seriously have no idea...
Always-a-kiwi - *looks at her feet in shame* Well, I WAS going to update this soon. I swear to God that my phone company hates me. I don't know why, it just does. *g* Great you like my weird little stories though! Thanks a lot for reviewing!
LOTRFaith - Yeah, I'm not that good a doctor either. My whole family is though, so I CAN do these things if I have to (perhaps it's genetic, I don't know), but I always start shivering when I'm finished, like that one time I had to patch up my sister's hand so we could get her to the hospital. Young girls and broken glass do NOT mix, I can tell you - and cut hands bleed amazingly much... *shrugs* Whatever. And I agree with you. If I were Anardir, I would have long ago left for the Grey Havens. Probably right after I'd first met him. *g*
Red Tigress - Another lurker! Gotcha! *g* No, j/k, thanks a lot for reviewing. Usually reviews help me to post faster, even though it didn't really work this time, huh? *grimaces* No, I guess not... And about how long concussions last ... depends on how hard you hit your head. Usually, if you're a human, I mean, I guess you would have to stay in bed/rest/whatever for a few days if you'd hit your head as hard as Legolas, but since he isn't a man (Duh, I know), I really don't know. I I just decided that he didn't need to stay as long. *shrugs* I'm just guessing here. Sorry for not updating for ages, and thanks a lot for de-lurking!
Gwyn - Ah yes, Jocelyn. I know the story you're referring to, even though I don't think I have read even a third of it. But I know what you mean. Let's just say that I'm not good on the whole supernatural stuff, I just don't think it credible most of the time. That's the reason why I don't like to read fantasy either, too much magic. *grimaces* I know that sounds strange coming from a person who writes about elves and dwarves and evil Dark Lords, but that's me. I don't think I could write it and still like my story, so anything with too much possession/magic/whatever isn't for me. Sorry. But I like the CPR, and I've even done that! Yay Nili! *g*
TrinityTheSheDevil - Well, it doesn't seem as if we're going to have much snow either this year. *pouts* I wanted snow! I love snow! I always thought that if it's cold enough for you toes to freeze off you could at least get some snow as a compensation! *nods, writes a large sign and sticks it onto the side of the screen* Got it. Spaz = Freak out. Thanks a lot. You can never know too much slang, right? *gives her weird look* No, there is NO painful waking up period, and NO screaming either! *shakes head* You evil, sadistic people... But I might be able to do something about the last point! *g* Sorry for not updating so long, it wasn't MY fault!
Deana - *shifts nervously* Well, what can I say? What about: Itwasn'tmyfaultreally or UhmIgottagobye? *g* No, really, I wanted to update. I really did, but my phone company hates me. So, welcome to my life. I hate it back though, so it doesn't really matter that much to me... *g* Thanks a lot for the review!
Dha-Gal - *wide-eyed* You've never been huggled before? Really? Well, you obviously don't know Halo or Lina then - they can't spend five minutes without huggling someone, really! *g* *grabs bags of Skittles* Mine! My own! My precioussss! We lovesss Ssssskittlessss!! Great you like the 'depth put into my story', I don't really have to do anything about that. These things have a mind on their own, I never try to put these little things in... *g* And I don't like the fics either where Gandalf or even better yet, a Mary-Sue, appear and do the most amazing magic - it's laughable, that's what it is. *huggles again* Thanks for the long review! I love it!
TrustingFriendship - Great you like the fact that Legolas argues with his brain all the time since the elf in question most certainly does not! He's rather cross with me about that one, really... Prissy elf. *shrugs* Our heroes need - and get - indeed some time to recuperate, but I have to announce that the twins won't appear in the near future, sorry. Definitely not before chapter 10 the way it looks right now...
Firniswin - *g* Well, it was the obvious thing to say, right? I mean, how would YOU react if someone asked you how you felt when you were impaled on a stupid branch? I know I wouldn't have stated it so politely... Well, to be honest I don't know why so many people read my stories. This time there are more reviews than usual though since there are lots of reviews complaining about me not updating and all that, so you could say I cheated. *g* Sort of, anyway.
Calenore - It's very nice to hear that you like the bit with Sauron's garden, even though I have some to the conclusion that it's probably not canon since Sauron most likely didn't have a garden.*shrugs* Doesn't really matter though. *g* I agree with you, Celylith is a very poor elf, as is Hithrawyn and about every other resident of Mirkwood. And about Legolas' "stupid traitor friend": I don't know, to be honest. I haven't forgotten Glónduil, be assured, and I will probably put him into another story somtime. Perhaps the one after the next (if I ever get that far)? We'll see. Thanks for the review, btw!
Firnsarnien - Uhm, yes. I call that alright. You have to admit that in comparison to the shape they're in all the time this IS alright - relatively speaking, of course. *evil grin* You're right though, they have some owies, but they're not too bad off - yet! *cackles evilly* Uhm, ignore that, will you? I did NOT just cackle evilly, and NOTHING will happen to them in the future. I promise. *alter ego crosses fingers behind back* Sorry for not hurrying with this chapter, there was nothing I could do! Honestly!
Halo - Well, yes of course I missed you! There are few people here who are as insane as I am, so how could I not have missed you? *shakes head* Honestly woman... *g* Oh, and yes: It was your fault. ALL your fault, I might add. *evil grin* LOL, 'father-son-kawaiiness'? You could say that, even though I think it's an interesting description... And I guess you're right, if it were humanly, uhm, elvenly possible Thranduil and Elrond would have gone grey a long time ago. Or gone insane, no, wait, elves CAN go insane. Hmm, I guess they're too stubborn? I will ignore your weird comments since I still haven't seen the Ext. Version. I don't want to either anyway. *pouts* Who would WANT to see something as stupid as that? Not me, definitely not. *g*
Cicci - LOL, no, I wouldn't feel good either with a branch going through me! *g* But I agree with you, that injury IS funny, and no, Aragorn won't think so. He's a spoilsport, that's what he is. *g* Thanks for your very nice rewiew, it's always great to get such positive feedback! *huggles* Thanks!
Maerz - *g* Da stimme ich glatt zu. Ich nehme an, die Heiler haben schon fuer jeden ein Bett, das immer bereitzustehen hat - nur fuer den Notfall! Wuerde mich nicht im geringsten ueberraschen! Hmm, Hosentaschen? Ich glaube nicht. Kamen die nicht erst mit den Jeans und Arbeiterhosen auf? *zuckt Schultern* Weiss ich echt nicht. Vielen lieben Dank fuer deine review, auch wenn diesmal nichts aus dem zeitigen Updaten geworden ist. Ich hoffe, du verzeihst mir? Einmal noch? *g*
Alilacia - Yeah, Legolas seems to be doing that all the time. Talking to himself/the voices/whatever - that just can't be healthy... *g* LOL, yes, to be honest I would like to see Celylith and Legolas walk up to the front door of Barad-dûr to ask Sauron for the permission to dig up the plant too - it's a rather interesting picture, right? *g* I don't think that the other will kill you for your nice idea, most of them liked it, sadistic people that they are. So, if you have any more suggestions - I'd be very happy to listen to them.. *evil grin* Later, maybe. *g* Sorry, for keeping you waiting for so long, this time it wasn't my fault or FF.net's. Sorry. *hangs head*
Tarawyn - Hmm, a hard question. I think I love them to 90% and hate them the other 10 - sometimes they're too stupid and male, really. And I resent that implication! I CAN write scene where they don't get hurt - I'm sure there are some in chapter 1 or 2. Somewhere. Short ones. You just have to look for them REALLY hard... *g* I honour your opinions, of course, but the whole sledging-incident DID have another motivation, other than hurting/torturing/maiming our favourite duo: I needed to get Celylith and Aragorn away from Legolas for a while, and all I could think of to keep especially that reckless human back was injury and/or sickness. So, there WAS a reason, and I have planned all of it rather meticuously. And don't worry, there won't be any torture etc. for the next three and a half chapters, so they WILL get a break, a rather long one even. So: The injury was necessary and they do get a break. I hope that's satisfactory? *g* Thanks a lot for really telling me what you think though. It helps a lot more than the average "I like it go on update soon"-review. Thanks!
CrazyLOTRfan - Oh yeah, sorry, the MENTALLY UNSTABLE Canadian girl. Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you, of course... *g* And I don't know why your weird contrymen don't want a Nili Day either, it sure sounds like a good idea to me! *shakes head* Weird, really... And I think that Aragorn DOES recover swiftly when he has the chance to. I mean you can't really count the times when he's captured/about to be killed/etc. right? When he actually is in the healing wing and is forced to stay in bed, he heals quickly, Númenórean blood and all that. *g* I like Elrond the tap dancer though! Nice idea! *shakes her hand* Congratulations!
Tapetum Lucidum - Don't worry, it's easy to miss a post. There are tons of stories out here, after all... Hmm, what does a sledge look like? Like a really big sled, I guess, the ones that are pulled by horses. Something like that. *waves hand vaguely* I know, you NEVER ask what could possibly happen or something like that. It only invites trouble, that's my experience as well. And lots of trouble in most cases... *g* Thanks for all your reviews, btw! I really love them!
Sirithiliel - Hmm, the Legolas-gets-captured-part is in chapter 7/8, and I'm sorry to say that I don't think it very amusing, really. Well, there might be some humour, but really not that much. You'll see... Sorry for not really updating soon, but, you know, the phone company. Evil people, that's what they are. Evil.
Maranwe1 - I know what you mean, I always review later too, if I review at all, that is. I'm a terrible reviewer, but I really forget about it! I always want to, and then I get bitten by a plot bunny or something and just HAVE to write that scene and then that's it. *shakes head in digust* I'm pathetic, I know. Uhm, no. What I meant to say is that Aragorn collided with the fallen tree, got smashed against it and impaled himself on a branch in the process. Sorry if that didn't become clear, but it was only one tree. Big, fallen, dead tree. Well, I understand that you don't want Legolas to get captured, and I can tell you a little something that should make you feel better: He won't stay alone for long. Okay? That's better, right? *evil grin* Not really, I guess... And don't worry about Aragorn getting a chance to be the healer and force Legolas to drink various draughts etc.: All in due time. Just wait a little... I am very sorry that I didn't update on Thanksgiving - not my fault! Really! *g*
Lina - OMG! It's a Lina! And it's a James Bond Lina! I can't believe it! *huggles her* I _really_ missed you! And Éomer and the Rohirrim, of course! *huggles Éomer and the Rohirrim* Now I'm happy - very happy! *very happy grin* And don't worry, Estel will be fine. It was only a little branch after all - nothing serious.*evil grin* I really thought you gave Celylith quite good advice - didn't really work though, I don't really know why either... *g* *huggles her again* I'm still very happy you're back. Thanks for reviewing!
Bailey - Uhm, yes. He was impaled by a branch. LOL, I like your theory that the tree was jealous and impaled Aragorn so it could have Legolas for its own - nice idea! The tree was dead though - but there ARE a lot of others in Mirkwood, you're right there - Aragorn should be very, very careful... *g* And giving Hithrawyn your white jacket might NOT be such a good idea - you will need it in future chapters if you're already making such a fuss about a little branch... *evil grin* And thanks for recommending AEFAE to your friend! Tell Coon that I very much appreciated the review!
Cara - Hmm, lots of Rashwe? Let's say it will make a few appearances in the next few chapters, but I really cannot make any guarantees beside that. I'm still thinking about what to do with that horse - but I'll try to put it in after that as well. Promise. I don't know if that sentence made any sense at all, but what the heck... *g* Thanks a lot for reviewing!
Aratfeniel - You mean Adruran, right, from the last story? Well, I don't know yet whether he will be in this story, but I don't think so. But I WILL use him in another story, I guess, but this story might not be so good for him to make an appearance. He is, after all, a reasonable man and all that... *g* I'll get myself the Ext. Version for Christmas. No-one wants to give it to me (my family thinks I'm insane enough as it is *g*), poor Nili. Sorry for keeping you waiting. Really.
Amelie - Poor you! Asthma is definitely no fun! I am lucky enough not to have anything like that, no allergies or such, and I am not afraid of hospitals. I'm terrified of them, I really are. It's sad, I know, but I know in detail what they do to you, which is not at all reassuring. *shakes head* Not at all. Oh yeah, I had an encounter with barbed wire as well when I was younger - the stuff is bloody hard to see when you're running! It was nothing serious though, just a few scratches - Estel is definitely worse off! *evil grin* I'm not telling you any details, sorry, but the twins won't arrive for a few chapters, sorry again. Probably chapter10-nish. Okay? *g*
Shauna - *hangs head* I know. I'm unable to write a perfectly serious scene - I couldn't even do it if my life depended on it, really! It's rather sad... Well, if it makes you happy it's okay I guess. Sorry to hear that you fell out of your chair - you really have to learn to grip the edge of the table when falling. It really works! *g* Thanks a lot for all the compliments and the nice review in general! *huggles* Thanks!
Nikara - LOL, 'he isn't impaled all that often'? I'll take that as a compliment! It's indeed very hard to think of ANYTHING that hasn't been done to the both of them already - poor boys... *huggles elf and ranger* Well, I'm sorry, but I guess there was no chapter waiting for you when you came back from your vacation, huh? Sorry again. *hangs head*
Leggylover03 - I impaled him and that was SWEET? *incredulous* I really, really think that you need a therapy, mate ... there's something seriously wrong with that statement... *g* But I'll admit that you didn't ask for Estel pain for a long time! Yay you! *confetti falls* Well done!
Silvertoekee - Yeah, I guess they really have the worst posible luck. Poor them. *g* And I'm sorry to say that the twins won't arrive for a while yet, I think not before chapter 10 or something like that. Sorry. But there will be lots of angst before they arrive, don't worry. *g* Thanks for the review!
Firegirl353 - Thanks so much! It's always great to hear that someone enojoys my weird little stories! *huggles* I like the screenname you have now (are there really 353 firegirls around here, or did you chose the number yourself?), and it's nice that you like Wilwarin's name. She's adorable, isn't she? *g*
Louise_Oblique - Don't worry, your reviews don't get repetetive, and even if they did I would hardly mind. *winks* It's always nice to hear compliments, right? *Nili's head swells and bursts because of all the praise* Well, maybe it's not all THAT great... *g* I hope the homework wasn't too bad, and thanks for the review!
Seveawen - I know what you mean. I'm always right too - all the other people just don't want to admit it. Stupid, that's what they are... *g* And I don't think that Celylith was rude - he was just a little bit stressed, only too understandable if you ask me... *g* I agree with you, btw. It's all Legolas' fault, it was HIS stupid idea, after all. Anardir is not to blame! He's a very, very pitiable elf... *pats him on head*
Mary - Yup, you're right. He WAS helped up by his left hand, but only because his right one was hurt worse at the moment. You're right, the left one isn't completely well yet, but the bones have mended well enough, while the right one was bloody and bruised and cut and Valar know what else. It was only a natural reaction for Anardir to help him up by the hand that wasn't a bloody mess at the moment, right? That was my reasoning, anyway... Thanks for reviewing! I hope this has become a litle bit clearer - but then again, when do I actually make sense.. *shakes head*
Alex Mistress Squirrel - I don't know either. It's a gift, I guess... *evil grin* And I agree, Celylith must have done something TERRIBLE to deserve such a fate - hmm, what could that have been... Nothing evil enough comes to mind. *shrugs* Just bad luck then, I guess. *g*
Jenny - LOL, I like the padded room! You're right, that might stop him from getting into these messes all the time, but I'd bet you that he'd go insane in there. And what is worse: A half-dead King of Gondor or an insane King of Gondor? Right, that's what I thought, too: An insane king! *g* At least in his case...
Starlight - Nope, keine Angst, ist nicht zweimal angekommen. Alles in Buter. *g* Und du musst dich deinem Bruder gegenueber gar nicht rechtfertigen. Nach 'ner Weile ignorieren die anderen so ein Verhalten einfach, glaub mir. Mittlerweile sitze ich vor meinem PC und verfluche/rede mit ihm lautstark auf Englisch, und keiner denkt sich was dabei... *g* Danke fuer deine liebe review, aber die twins kommen leider noch nicht gleich. Dafuer aber die baddies, das ist doch was, oder?
Mystic Girl1 - Nee du, diesmal bin ich es, die richtig spaet ist. Alles die Schuld der dummen Telekom, ich schwoere es! *schuettelt Faust* Verdammt seist du, Telekom! Dummerweise beeindruckt die das gar nicht... *seufz* Uh, du bekommst also 'ne Gehaltskuerzung, wenn du mal nicht puenktlich updatest? Das ist ja richtig... Na ja. *g* Schoen, dass du Celythramir magst! Ich mag ihn auch, er ist so knuddelig! *knuddelt sich wehrenden Elben* LOL, Estel wuerde das wahrscheinlich wirklich schaffen! Das ist doch ein trauriges Leben, oder? Ach, DU warst die irre Bogenschuetzin vor 'n paar Wochen? Haett' ich mir ja denken koennen, eigentlich... *g* Danke fuer deine tollen reviews! Sind immer was tolles zu lesen, wirklich!
Iverson - I don't think you had reviewed that before. But then again, you never know with FF.net, do you? I swear it's the only webpage that hates its users.. *g* Hmm, the bruises... Well, mine always are more of a reddish colour right after I sustain them, and they need some time to turn into the blue-black we all know and love. And before you tell me: I know that black is, technically speaking, not a colour. I really did know that. *g* And I know what you mean, Legolas is NEVER sarcastic. I swear that elf doesn't even know the meaning of that word... *g* I'm glad you liked that paragraph about Sauron's garden. I was grinning very broadly myself when I wrote it, so it's great to hear that other like my insane humour as well. And they don't ALWAYS get into trouble in my stories - hey! No laughing! Hey! *g* Thanks a lot for your great review! It was very helpful - not to mention flattering... *g*
Critternut - Yup, I guess the branch thing would hurt. I don't really know of course, since I haven't been stupid enough to get into such a situation, but I imagine you're right. Poor Estel. *pats his head* Hmm, all the kidnapping bit is really in chapter 7 and mainly 8, so there're still some chapters left, sorry. Oookayyy, so you want me to break Legolas' leg? I'll think about it, but it's always very impractical if your characters can't walk - it makes the whole escape thing rather hard. Well, thanks, we don't really celebrate Thanksgiving here, but thanks nonetheless. I'm sorry I couldn't update when I said I would. Really, I am.
Salara - *g* Wem sagst du das? Immer, wenn ich eine review nochmal lese, die ich an euch geschrieben habe, ueberlege ich, auf welchem Trip ich denn DA war. Meistens auf gar keinem, was das ganze eigentlich noch schlimmer macht.... *g* Ich kann's mir lebhaft vorstellen: Wenn Elrond im Schlitten saesse, gaebe es fuer dich doch kein Halten mehr! Und ich weiss auch nicht, wie die beiden es schaffen, von Katastrophe in Katastrophe zu schlittern - muss 'ne natuerlich Begabung oder so sein.. *g* Ah, du bist also ein Wohnungsputzer? Ich bin ein Weglaufer, ich muss bei Frust immer durch die Gegend rennen, bis ich mich wieder beruhigt habe... Und ich muss zugeben, dass deine Theorien nicht ganz so weit hergeholt sind - armer Legolas... *Krokodilstraenen* Danke fuer die lange review! *knuddelt* Danke!
Karone Evertree - Thank you! And I'm glad you liked the invisible maniac - I know him very well myself! A rather stealthy, evil fellow, that one... *g* Thank you very much for your review, they really encourage me a lot! They really do!
Sabercrazy - I'm not THAT bad, am I? I mean, I don't torture them THAT much, and... *trails off as readers start laughing* Well, fine, you're right... *sulking* LOL, it makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside? Now THAT'S scary! *g* And yes, you're the resident torture junkie, I know you from my last Torture Writers Anonymous meeting - don't try to deny it! *g* Once again sorry for keeping you waiting, I didn't do it on purpose, really. Thanks a lot for your patience!
Suzi9 - Well, it certainly isn't healthy for Estel, I'll give you that. But I really hope it's not bad for the author, because I'm in serious trouble otherwise... *g* Life in Mirkwood is most definitely NOT boring when Estel and Legolas are around, and don't feed my alter ego! It makes her stronger and stronger and... *trails off in fear* You don't want to know what happens then. Trust me on this. *g*
Zam - Yup, computers are dumb. Just look at mine, no internet for two weeks! Well, stricty speaking it wasn't its fault but the phone company's ... ah, doesn't matter. They're working together to drive me insane anyway. *g* Well, Legolas doesn't listen to his brain anyway, does he? If he did he would have taken the ships a long, long time ago... *watches Celylith's Elrond-personification, wide-eyed* Uhm, okay. Very interesting. Zam, WHAT have you been giving him? The small blueish pills with 'Extasy' written on top? I told you they do weird things with elves! LOL, of course Celythramir would like you! He's your father-in-law after all! *beams* I'm so happy you two get along! *huggles both of them* Okay, so now go and perform the ritual of changing the channels. Off you go, shoo. *g*
Halfling - Good question, and the answer is that he blames Aragorn, or rather the fact that something ALWAYS happens when they're together. He hasn's really seen yet that Legolas is perfectly able of getting into trouble on his own - but he'll learn, trust me... *evil cackle* And don't worry, I won't torture them? Me? Nah...
Strider's Girl - Congrats! Exams are horrible! And yes, I agree with you: They are indeed trying to get themselves killed. Not my fault at all, nooo... *g* To answer your question: Yes, I made up the sledging. I mean, there were sledges in ME, I can honestly not think of a reason why not, considering that they knew them back in Roman Times and long before that, but I just assumed that Legolas would go sledging, you're right. And yes, it was a rather immature thing to do, but then again, Aragorn is only 22, so he has the right to rub off on him, right? Well, that's my stupid reasoning, don't pay it any heed. And you can tell your friend that the branch wasn't disgusting. It was ... different. *beams* Yes, _different_, that's what it was. *g* *huggles* Thanks a lot for the huge review! I enjoyed it a lot!
Aromene - Well, I guess it's a genetic thing, there's no other explanation, really. Either that or the two of them have been cursed by the Valar... *g* You'll find out a little bit later how the bets turned out, and you're right, stupidity _should_ have been an option. But then again, everyone would have betted on it in that case... Thanks a lot for reviewing! Reviews are just ... wonderful. Perfect. Great. Words fail me. *g*
Marbienl - LOL, you might be right there. A few more years in Aragorn's company and Legolas might indeed turn out just like Gollum. Who needs a magic ring when you have a stubborn ranger to help you become insane? *g* Yup, I knew you'd like the branch thing. I'm not at all surprised, really... I don't really think that Hithrawyn will last much longer, he's already half-mad anyway. More than that, make that three-quarters... *g* And it's not Anardir's fault! It's Legolas' fault! It was HIS stupid idea after all! *sighs tiredly* Okay, so when in July is your birthday? I could do a background story about Legolas' and Aragorn's encounter with the trolls, I think I mentioned it once or twice in the previous stories... Just tell me the exact date and I'll think about it, okay? Tell Frór "Hi!" from me as well!
Crystal-Rose15 - Wow, so you went back all the way to AEFAE? I'm very much impressed! You are VERY dedicated reader! Congratulations! *shakes her hand* Well, thank you very much or all your very nice compliments! I always try very hard not to modernise the characters, and I NEVER use okay or words like that. I just think even if Tolkien wouldn't approve of my writing it doesn't have to be even worse, right? Well, thanks a lot for the review, and sorry about the delay!
Joee1 - I KNOW! As I said, I'm very sorry. It was my phone company's fault, really. I thank you again for de-lurking, and I hope I haven't discouraged you entirely. Thanks for the reviews, and sorry again!
Tinlaure - *blushes* Thank you! It's very nice to hear that you like the stories, weird as they may be. All the compliments give me delusions of grandeur, but thanks nonetheless! This chapter's not a cliffy, don't worry, and neither are the next two. So, no worries. *g* Thanks for the review!

Once again, sorry for the delay. I thank all of you for your patience and understanding - and your reviews, of course! Thanks! *huggles readers*