Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the awesome reviews for chapter 1! I'm so glad that everyone is already enjoying this story! For everyone who remarked that it seemed to be the calm before the storm; you were right…sooooooo right…LOL! ;)

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The night was a cold one for Aragorn despite their campfire. He'd anticipated that, thankfully, and brought extra blankets. He lay on his side staring into the flames, waiting for sleep to claim him.

A rustling sound suddenly came to his ears, and he looked towards Legolas, who was curled up under his lone blanket, as if he too, were cold.

Aragorn sat up, concerned at the sight. Elves were not affected by the temperature unless it was bitterly cold or stifling hot…or unless they were badly injured. Elladan and Elrohir seemed perfectly content with one blanket each, as Legolas usually did. This was yet more proof that Legolas' body was still recovering, making him susceptible to the air's chill. Quickly, Aragorn stood, grabbing two of his blankets.

Legolas' eyes were closed, and he thought nothing of the sound of his friend walking about until he felt something heavy laid over him. Looking up, he saw that Aragorn had covered him with his own blankets.

"Estel!" he exclaimed. "You need those, the weather is cold." He inwardly cringed, as he knew that his words were an admission that the temperature was uncomfortable for him.

"But you need them more," Aragorn said, smiling slightly.

"Not so," said Legolas, touched by his friend's sacrifice, but concerned for his well-being, as humans didn't tolerate cold as well as elves.

"Fear not, Legolas!" Elladan suddenly exclaimed.

They watched as the older twin reached for his pack, taking yet more blankets from it. "I brought extras for Estel in case he did not."

Aragorn smiled, walking towards his brother and catching the blankets when Elladan unexpectedly threw them at him.

Legolas chuckled as his eyes attempted to drift shut once more. It troubled him that his body still wanted him to sleep that way, but he sighed contentedly when the extra blankets drove away the chill.

Aragorn passed him on the way back to his bedroll, but he stopped at the sound of the elf's sigh. "Are you all right?" he asked, kneeling beside him. "Is your wound bothering you?" he asked, feeling a stab of guilt at the memory.

Legolas looked at him, giving his friend a slight smile. "I am fine, mellon-nin. Sleep well."

Aragorn smiled back. "You also, my friend."

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The next morning dawned bright and warm. Aragorn woke to the sound of laughter from his brothers, who were both in the lake, splashing water at each other like a pair of elflings.

Smiling at the sight, Aragorn looked towards Legolas, to see that the elf was still sleeping soundly…eyes still shut. 

Aragorn sighed at the sight. He realized that it had been too soon for them to take Legolas on this trip…he'd been stabbed only a week ago and nearly died from an attempted drowning only three days ago. Shaking his head, he wished that his friend didn't persist in making everyone think him healthy when he truly wasn't.

His attention was so focused on his thoughts that he didn't hear a devious chuckle behind him. Just as he stood, he suddenly felt water make contact with his back.

Turning around, he shot a glare at his brothers, who smiled at him gleefully.

"Come into the lake!" said Elrohir. "You need a bath, you filthy human!"

Aragorn shot a mock-look of shock at them, at the insult. "You'll wish that you never said that, elf!"

With that, he took a wild leap into the water, tackling them both and knocking them off their feet.

The resulting mighty splash abruptly woke Legolas, and he was surprised to find none of his friends at the campsite.

Slowly sitting up, he looked towards the water, just in time to see three heads pop out.

"ESTEL!" the twins both yelled.

Aragorn laughed. "Quiet! Legolas is still sleeping!"

"That is no longer true, mellon-nin!" Legolas exclaimed, smiling at the sight before him.

"See what you two did?" Aragorn said.

"Us?!" the twins both exclaimed.

Aragorn laughed, walking back to the water's edge, intending to climb out.

Elladan snickered, throwing his twin a look.

Without warning, Aragorn suddenly felt himself grabbed from behind and forcefully dunked into the lake face-first.

Legolas laughed, reaching towards his pack and taking out his canteen.

Aragorn popped out of the water, sputtering. "You are going to regret that!" he told his brothers.

"Do your worst!" said Elladan, climbing out of the lake. "We'll be waiting!"

Legolas threw one of his blankets at Aragorn, who used it to wipe his face.

"Well, look," said Elrohir. "One of us is still dry. Mayhap we should remedy that?"

Legolas shook his head vehemently. "No! I was thrown into the water last evening. That was enough for me!"

Elrohir snickered, walking towards Legolas menacingly.

Legolas really didn't want to get wet again, and he quickly got to his feet, stepping back. "Elrohir…please!" he exclaimed.

Aragorn stepped forward, intent on stopping his brother, but the elf halted with a chucke.

"I shall have mercy on you this time, Prince!"

Legolas inwardly sighed with relief, as Elrohir crossed to his pack, digging out dry clothes.

Aragorn laughed at his brother's antics, walking over to his friend as Legolas sat down again. "Did you sleep well?"

Legolas nodded.

"How are you feeling today?" the human asked, sitting beside him.

"I am well," Legolas told him.

Then why do you sleep with your eyes shut? Aragorn thought.

Legolas caught his friend's skeptical look. "I am fine, mellon-nin, truly."

Aragorn nodded, reluctantly. Mayhap he was simply tired from the journey. He is not yet back to full strength.

"How far shall we ride today?" Legolas asked Elladan.

Elrohir answered before his brother could. "Until we find another river!" he said, with a smirk.

Elladan chuckled, taking some fruit out of his pack.

Legolas shot a mock-glare at the younger twin as he crossed to his bedroll and began to roll it up.

"Sit down, Legolas," said Aragorn. "We can linger long enough for you to eat."

Legolas directed a softer glare to the human, making Aragorn's sarcastic smirk widen. He tossed an apple at Legolas, who caught it and sat beside him.

Aragorn watched him carefully, trying to ascertain if the elf's wound still caused him pain.

Legolas sensed his friend's intention, and looked at him. "I am all right, you need not ask."

"Does it pain you?" Aragorn asked anyway.

Legolas inwardly sighed, as he bit into the apple. "No."

"Then why do your eyes close in sleep?"

Legolas hesitated. He couldn't admit to pain or weakness, for he despised being treated as if he were fragile. He knew that Aragorn could see through him, however, and tried to think of the best way to phrase his answer. "I am fine?" he said, but it came out more like a question.

Aragorn closed his eyes and shook his head, with a chuckle. "You are, by far, the most stubborn elf—no, the most stubborn being—that I have ever met!"

Legolas smiled, taking the statement not as an insult, but how it was meant—the truth. "Aragorn, I admit that my body has not yet regained its full strength, but I have recovered a good deal and my wound does not pain me much. Please cease your needless worry—for your sake as well as mine—and let us enjoy this…adventure," he replied, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Aragorn smiled back, realizing that Legolas must have some kind of revenge to get on Elladan and Elrohir. "All right, but I will keep an eye on you."

Legolas' eyebrows shot up. "Mayhap you best keep it for yourself, I have two of my own, thank you."

Aragorn didn't expect such words, and he laughed loudly, drawing the twins' attention.

"What is so amusing?" Elladan asked.

"Nothing," Aragorn replied, teasing his brothers.

"Hrump," said Elrohir, pretending to be annoyed. "We don't need any silly human jokes anyway."

At those words, Aragorn took the last bite of his apple, and threw the core straight at the younger twin. His aim was perfect, and it bounced right off Elrohir's head, who gave a startled gasp.

Elladan started laughing, as his brother jumped up and turned around.

"Mayhap we should be on our way," said Legolas.

Everyone nodded their heads and started breaking camp.

Aragorn shot a look of gratitude at the elf, who had probably just saved him from being dumped into the lake again.

The four friends were on their way within minutes, enjoying the warm, sunny day. It wasn't long, however, before Legolas' horse started to hasten her speed, wanting to run.

Legolas smirked to himself, kicking his mare into a gallop and quickly passing his friends.

The other three were surprised at his sudden action and quickly dashed after him.

Legolas had a head start, but not a very large one. He whispered to the horse in Elvish and she gave a sudden burst of speed, leaving his friends trailing far behind.

They watched as Legolas plunged into the woods, and quickly followed. They eventually rode into a clearing, expecting to find the blond-haired elf waiting for them.

"Legolas?" Aragorn called, concerned when he didn't spot him.

A twig suddenly bounced off the human's head, and he looked up, to see the elf sitting on a tree branch directly above him.

The twins laughed, and Legolas climbed down.

"I believe I won that race," he said, smirking.

"Of course you did!" said Elladan. "Because it was not a fair one!"

Legolas chuckled and whistled for his mare, who came out from behind some trees. "I would challenge you to another, but alas, I do not wish to tire Gwaeren."

"Right," said Elrohir, sarcastically.

Legolas chuckled, remounting his horse.

They continued to ride for the rest of the day, finally halting in the evening. They had indeed stopped at another river, but Legolas—remembering Elrohir's earlier threat—forced them to make camp a little ways beyond it.

That night was just as chilly as the previous one.

Aragorn was once more relieved at the fact that Elladan had brought more blankets, as he once again watched Legolas curl up under his. It bothered the human that his friend was still affected by the cold weather, but his concern turned to immense relief and joy when he saw Legolas fall asleep with his eyes only slightly closed.

Elladan saw the smile on his brother's face, and looked to see what had made him so happy. Smiling himself, he grabbed a pebble and threw it at his twin, not wanting to risk waking Legolas with his voice.

Elrohir turned around, looking askance at his twin.

Elladan put a finger to his lips to indicate quiet, before pointing at the blond-haired elf.

Elrohir mirrored his twin's expression and grinned at Aragorn. Now Estel can finally let go of his guilt, he thought.

He had no idea how wrong his statement would soon come to be…