DISCLAIMER: I do not own Lord of the Rings, or any of the characters within Lord of the Rings. They are all the work of the amazing J.R.R. Tolkien!!!! (Heh, and we can't forget Peter Jackson and Newline Cinemas...) I'm not earning anything from this, except maybe amusement. Please read and review. Onward to the story then....

It was a fine, warm day despite Legolas' discomfort towards lingering at the base of Amon Hen. If he had his way, the Fellowship would be on their way once again, floating down the mighty Anduin at least until they neared closer to the falls of Rauros. The sun shown brightly, lessening the Elf's growing worry. He was, nonetheless, ever watchful for any signs of more of the dreadful Uruk-hai he had encountered early that morning. And with his own injuries, however hard he tried to disregard them, he knew he would be at a disadvantage. With the wound on his arm, drawing a bow would be straining, although if the time came for him to do so, he would not hesitate. Around him the birds were singing, though not nearly as joyously as was wont for they too had noticed the unwelcome guests in these woods. Were it not for the vigilant eyes of the ever present Ranger, Legolas would have joined them in the trees. His side did ache horribly, though, and no matter how much his heart willed himself to sit up, his whole body retaliated. Besides that, every time the Elf attempted to move, Aragorn bade him sit still, seeing the pain in the Elf's eyes. Legolas shot the Ranger a glare.

"How much longer must I lie idle here? My mind grows restless."

"You will lie there until you are rested," replied Aragorn. The Elf began to sit up at hearing this.

"I am rested." Legolas' arms were shaky as he began the slow process of standing up. Upon hearing the quiet rustle of leaves behind him, Aragorn turned. Seeing Legolas getting to his feet, he walked over to the Elf, and, placing a firm hand on both shoulders, pushed him to sit once more.

"You most certainly are not."

"I most certainly am." The Elf protested, trying to get up once more, in spite of the Ranger's hands on his shoulders. Aragorn pushed him to the ground yet again and Legolas winced as his hand came to lay across the wound on his right shoulder. There was a small patch of blood on the Elf's shoulder.

"When did this start bleeding again?" Asked the Ranger, with growing agitation. Legolas shrugged, brushing aside the question. Aragorn groaned with frustration. "I will bind it again...but first....Merry, Pippin....would you assist me a moment!?" He yelled for the two Hobbits sitting a ways away. They came with identical looks of confusion.

"What's the matter, Strider?" Asked Pippin wonderingly.

"You are now in charge of making sure Legolas does not move. I am going to make a drink that will help soothe his discomfort." Said Aragorn as he walked over to his pack near the fire. Merry and Pippin grinned upon receiving their assignments for they had previously been quite without anything to do. Legolas, underestimating them, began to get up.

"Naw ah...Strider said you weren't supposed to move." Said Merry.

"Friend though he may be, it is not often that I take orders. I am fine."

"Well, he put us in charge of keeping you still, and that is what we will do." Chimed Pippin. With that, the two Hobbits plopped down across both the Elf's legs, mindful not to hurt his wound. Legolas groaned.

"This is not necessary...I am not so injured that..." Merry poked Legolas carefully in the side. The Elf cringed.

"Evidence enough for me that you should not be up and about," said Merry.

"That was not necessary either." Legolas tried to move his legs, but with the injury on his right leg and the broken rib, little could be done to displace the determined Hobbits.

"No moving." Pippin mimicked Aragorn, making himself more comfortable. The Ranger looked over his shoulder from his work with a smile.

"It seems that I have found the two best fit for the difficult task of subduing an Elf," said Aragorn as he crumpled a few leaves, adding them to a cup of heated water. Legolas shot him another fierce glare. Moments later Aragorn finished brewing the drink and brought the steaming cup over to the Elf, kneeling beside him. "Drink this." The Ranger held the cup out to the Elf. The water had gained a tint of green and smelled of herbs.

"It is unneeded," said Legolas defiantly, pushing it away.

"As a friend it would comfort me to know that you are at ease, at the very least. Drink this."

"And it would comfort me were we to persist in our journey..." Began Legolas, but before he could say another word, the Ranger poured half the contents of the cup down the Elf's throat, forcing him to swallow lest he choke.

"Victory!" Yelled Pippin happily, with a grin.

"I assume you wish to drink the rest on your own," said Aragorn, proud of his accomplishment. Legolas threw a nearby twig at the Ranger.

"Aragorn, you have done much to rile me these days of late, and if you so choose to continue, I can assure you that you will receive more than a twig as punishment!" The Ranger shook his head, frowning, and brushing the twig from his shoulder. He did not mind so long as the Elf concerned himself with resting and not resisting treatment. Indeed, it had alarmed him to know that Legolas had been sitting in the treetops one moment and being forced to lean on him for support the next. But...I should not worry so. Legolas is strong...and he was injured only just this morning. To be walking around is a great accomplishment, Elf though he be. Thought Aragorn to himself.

"Just drink it, mellon nin." Reluctantly, Legolas extended his hand and took the cup. He knew the ranger would not relent in his protests. With a sigh and a last glower in Aragorn's direction, he took a sip. It tasted much more pleasant when he drank it willingly. But there was something oddly recognizable about it, if not admonishing.

"Are you pleased?" Aragorn nodded slightly. Legolas narrowed his eyes suddenly, recognizing more fully the scent that emanated from the drink he held in his hand. "A sedative...!" Aragorn grinned.

"I knew I could not fool you for long...but I made sure to add enough of the plant to down even an Elf, if only for an hour..." Legolas gritted his teeth as his eyes became drowsy. I should have known he would do something of this sort...Thought the Elf. Indeed, Aragorn had added much more of the sleep-inducing plant than was needed, even for an Elf.

For Legolas the world around him was slowly blurring into a mass of color. The many leaves above had become a flood of shades of green. The quietly chattering birds became silent to his ears. Legolas slowly feel into a light sleep, however hard he had tried to fight it. He had been weary before the drink had been forced upon him...but with it now, sleep was inevitable. As the Elf slipped into slumber, Aragorn set to work.

He had been unsure of whether or not he should stitch Legolas' wound, but was now decided. Not only that, but he had not wished to cause any further pain by doing such while Legolas was conscious although he knew the Elf would have been more than able to cope.

Merry and Pippin watched the resting Elf with curiosity, for it was the first time they had ever seen this. Aragorn smiled as he searched through a pack for a needle and thread and upon finding them, cleaned them thoroughly. He calmly threaded the needle.

Sliding the suede jerkin and silken shirt beneath from the Elf's shoulder, the Ranger cautiously began to sew the flesh. Fresh blood from the tiny punctures slowly collected. Aragorn wiped this away with his sleeve. Legolas' quietus face winced slightly, for even in sleep, he was always alert. The two Hobbits watched this with even more fascination, although they were still hesitant about whether or not to move from where they sat.

Aragorn worked carefully, placing each stitch as neatly as could be done. Throughout this time, Legolas did not flinch again. When at last he was finished, he wiped away any more blood that had accumulated and rebandaged the wound. Before finishing, Aragorn checked the Elf's side. As long as Legolas slept, he may as well do what he could. The bruise had not lessened and if anything had grown a worse shade of purplish blue. He re-wrapped the Elf's torso after checking the damaged rib with a frown. Slowly the Elf pulled his attire back over his shoulder with a look of annoyance. Had the drink worn off? But no, Legolas' eyes did not open. Aragorn sat back upon his heels with a shake of his head.

"Merry, Pippin...stay near him. I do not want him wandering away should he awaken." The two Hobbits nodded, accepting the assignment.

Within the Elf's dreams he felt the presence of the Uruk-hai all the more. The rankness was closing in around him as he slept, and in more numbers than could be imagined. Fifteen had been troublesome enough...how many could he fend off? How many could the Fellowship fend off? He wished that they would leave here. For the Ringbearer to encounter these creatures would be disastrous, and Legolas knew so. But he felt also that danger was growing within the Fellowship as well. Already he had seen signs of the Ring's alluring effect on the Son of the Steward. How long would it be before it consumed the man? Frodo's immunity to the Ring's effect, at least thus far, had shocked the Elf...but how long would it be before this immunity crumbled as well? Sound finally broke the silence of his slumber.

Around him Legolas could hear the voices of Hobbits talking happily. Legolas became aware of a growing numbness in his legs. Had Merry and Pippin yet to take seats elsewhere then the Elf's legs? The feeling of a weight upon Legolas' legs confirmed this. There was a clatter of pots. With that, the Elf opened his eyes with a quiet groan.

"Blung pheriannath," he mumbled. Merry and Pippin turned to face the Elf.

"You are awake!" Said Pippin cheerfully upon hearing the Elf stirring. Legolas nodded his head as he rubbed the forced sleep from his eyes.

"I would have never slept had it been my choice."

"Aw, but then you would have been awake for this..." Merry said, pointing to the Elf's right shoulder. Now that he thought about, his shoulder did feel a bit odd. In curiosity, Legolas drew his clothes back to reveal his shoulder. The bandage had been changed, but something else felt different.

"Aragorn stitched you up," said Pippin, seeing the Elf's confusion. And sure enough, when Legolas pulled back the side of the bandage, there were neat stitches holding the flesh together. Legolas shrugged. He would have deeply preferred to have remained conscious.

There was another clatter of pots. Legolas looked around to find the source. Sam, putting down his precious pots and pans and walked over to the Elf.

"Did I wake you? I should have taken more care to keep quiet while you rested..." Said Sam, apologetically.

"It is most certainly alright. I am glad to be awake, for my sleep had not come willingly but forcibly and I most desired to be wakened in any case," said Legolas, shooting Aragorn a fierce glare. Sam nodded and returned to his pots and pans and began poking at the former fire with a sigh.

"We'll be needing more firewood if I am to cook anything." Aragorn was about to stand when Frodo stopped him, politely.

"If you would, Strider, I would like to get it." Aragorn pondered this a moment but did not object.

"So long as you do not stray far. Stay within yelling distance."

Frodo nodded and strode into the wood. The influence of the Ring had been growing of late. When at last he had learned of the strange creatures that Legolas had slain, he realized they were the reason for this. The Ring wanted to be found. These creatures could provide that...they could bring the Ring back to its master. Knowing that he must be careful, Frodo began his search for firewood. In truth, he wanted a chance to be alone. A chance to think. As he searched along the ground there was a rustle of leaves nearby....had someone followed?

Back at camp, Legolas fought desperately to stand, but the Hobbits were determined to keep him from doing so. Aragorn had bade him sit down once more and Sam had agreed with the Ranger. Gimli had laughed outwardly as the Elf came close to being on his feet, only to be pushed to the ground by the Hobbits and with the aide of Aragorn, they had managed to render him immobile. But one was missing....

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Translation: Blung Pheriannath = Heavy halflings.

Thanks so much for all the reviews! I really appreciate them. I'm sorry it took me a bit longer to update...but my teachers keep giving me loads of work to do. Sigh I have tests in Math, Science and an oral exam in Spanish, then a project in History, Science and English...grrr...But mind you, you shouldn't have to wait more than a day extra for me to update.....

Laurenke: Thank you!! Humor is always fun.

Ithildiel: I'm glad you like it! Thanks so much for the reviews...and I hope you get your homework done. Sigh I should start writing my essay...but I don't want to!

colagreenleaf: Ah, yes. Legolas is a wonderful fighter, and he DID slay 42 Uruk-hai at Helm's Deep...but it would be difficult for anyone to take on 15 nasty Uruks, especially if you had never encountered them before. I'm glad you think I'm realistic, that's certainly what I was aiming for. Thanks for telling me about the clip...I must watch it.

colagreenleaf: Legolas should know better than to climb a tree with a broken rib...

Evenstar: Thanks for the review! Legolas can be very stubborn. He certainly is in this chapter.

Kelsey: So glad you like it! Thanks a bunch. I'll be sure to update A.S.A.P

Orliey: A broken rib would really hurt....shiver Merry, Pippin and Aragorn finally got what they deserved for their own various pranks. I'm really happy you liked it.

Rosie: Thanks a bunch!!! Slow down? Perhaps. I'll try to do so in the next chapters.

Gershwhen: Ai, Valar! I certainly do like Legolas (he's my favorite character)!!!!!! But thank you for the comment. I am sure that I would laugh were one of my friends to fall out of a boat, assuming they did not get hurt. I love my sister but when she fell into a lake wearing a tutu I was laughing for days.

Well, I must get to work on the next chapter. See you soon!

-Jamie (Lintulinda i luvasi ello eldar)