Sorry for the lateness of the chapter. Pressure this week with my GCSE exams is really annoying. Only one more week of it before the posting schedule goes back to normal. Review Responses at the bottom!

NOTE: Chapter 6 references one of my other stories I've written: The Fear of Men. Aragorn's memories in this chapter refer to that. I've included several passages from that fic but it should be displayed in Italics, so it'll be easy to know that it is a memory. Aragorn is 20 in that memory.

Chapter 6

The Courage of Elessar

Stunned, Pippin was the first to recover, and he quickly gained his senses and rushed to Legolas' side. The elf had a large cut that ran down the side of his face, but it was not fatal which relieved them, however the wound on his side was still bleeding. The elf's face was pale but he still breathed.

Using a piece of cloth from Legolas' clothing they wrapped it round his side securely, then they cleaned as best they could the cut on his face.

"What we need is Athelas," Pippin moaned, "and Strider."

"But he's not is he." Merry answered, "I'm going to try and wake him. We must get Frodo and Strider back!"

Reaching down he grasped the shoulders of the elf and shook him gently, whispering: "Legolas. Wake up, please. Don not let the darkness keep you, we need you here."

Legolas felt like he was in a dream. His mind was foggy and pain seemed to travel through his whole body, tormenting him. He side ached and even in his darkness he felt a throbbing head that seemed to want to explode. Voices.

As consciousness returned, the elf Prince realised how he had come by these wounds. The Knights. He suddenly sat up even though he was barely awake but found hands restraining him. In his weakened state he fought, until he heard Pippin's voice: "Stop it, Legolas. It's us! The hobbits. Wake up slowly."

Shaking his head and albeit opening his eyes, Legolas allowed his body to grace itself with his presence. "What happened?" he asked drowsily.

"Don't you remember?" Merry asked, fear built in his voice. "You haven't hit your head too hard that it's affected you?"

Legolas winced as he shook his head every so slightly and a flaming headache seemed to bounce through his brain telling him to close his eyes and let darkness embrace him. But more urgent matters pressed to mind. He suddenly realised that neither Frodo nor Aragorn were with them. And then he knew.

"They've taken them haven't they?"

The hobbits nodded sadly. "Yes. We couldn't stop them."

"Tis my fault. If only I'd fought harder then nothing like this would have happened." Legolas groaned. What would Arwen say now? She would most likely murder him on the spot for losing Aragorn to the enemy…and for the second time in less then a year. He didn't want to face Arwen's wrath.

"It's not your fault." Pippin said adamantly.

"You couldn't help. This attack has been planned to lure Strider out of the city," Merry said, "what if the Knights faked death?"

"You can't fool a wizard." Pippin replied.

"Apparently they have." Legolas noted. "Their purpose is dark. We must save them. And we have to leave now."

"But you're injured!" exclaimed Merry pointing to the bandages he and Pippin had used to stem the bleeding of the elf's injuries.

"Aragorn would have done the same for me. I cannot abandon him. You can't stop me from going."

"He's right Merry. When an elf has made up its mind you can't change them." Pippin pointed out, smiling.

With the aid of the hobbits, the Prince of Mirkwood gained his feet. His side ached but it did not affect his walking. He knew he would have to work extra hard to fight. The side wound would have him at a disadvantage. Collecting his bow and arrows, and knives, the elf and hobbits followed the trail of destruction the Knights had left in their wake.

They only hoped they would not be too late.

Frodo and Aragorn lay on the earth inside the cave of the Knight's where their foes surrounded them. Dark words were spoken in an old language that neither understood. Both prisoners writhed trying to keep the torturous words away from their hearts, but they could not. Frodo was far more resistant and could only watch as Aragorn's life was drained from him.

Frodo's eyes widened as he realised what the Knights needed them for. Energy of the darkness that they had both suffered coursed through their veins and the Knights needed it to survive. Without it, they would die.

Frodo clenched his teeth as pain rattled through his very being. He would not let this happen to him! He would not! Straining against the agony, Frodo rolled to the side, striking out at the Knights and knocking their chanting evil off, releasing their captives from the torment.

It was not enough.

Immediately the chanting began again.

Frodo crumpled to the ground, his arms wrapped round his stomach for that was where the pain was coming from. He looked over to Aragorn, who was in relatively the same position, but it was the words the man was shouting that frightened the former Ring-bearer more:

"Legolas! Please someone help me! Mithrandir! Ada! Ada! ADA! LEGOLAS!"

Then the man's cries stopped as he fell into darkness, his body falling limp. A faint word, 'Legolas' was heard and then all went silent.

The Knights faded into the darkness leaving both prisoners alone.

In his world of fevered dreams Aragorn experienced many memories. Some that he could vividly recall, others he could not remember, but all had happened. He could recall the day when after ten years of fearing men he had forgiven the race for he had discovered that what had happened had been conducted by an elf called Sîrfalas, who had held a grudge against him.

He could recall the day when the elf had been killed, but on that day he had nearly lost his life as well:

Aragorn struggled restlessly against the elf, attempting to break away from the iron grip.

"You should ease your struggle Edain." Sîrfalas spat as he forced his captive down the dim lit corridor. "I'll even be lenient and give you a quick death."

Fear built inside Aragorn's heart.

"Just a few more steps Edain and then your struggles will cease… …permanently." The elf whispered in his ear.

The elf forced him into a room, roughly sending the young man to the stone floor. Landing right on his side, Aragorn stifled a groan. He scooted to his knees and watched as the elf approached him, a malicious gleam shining in his mad eyes.

Crawling back Aragorn leaned against the wall. He could do nothing; he was to weak to fight; to weak to attempt anything. All he could do was let Sîrfalas kill him, and he realised that he was on his own, his death at near.

The elf grabbed Aragorn by the hair and tilted it upwards, placing a knife on the man's neck. "Well it seems boy that its time to say good-bye. Lights out."

Aragorn closed his eyes, and Sîrfalas drew back the knife. A small cut was made, but not enough to kill him.

Before the elf could kill his captive he felt a knife under his chin. He stiffened.

"Remove the knife from my friend's neck," Legolas demanded as he stepped round into the light to face Sîrfalas. The elf did so.

"I'll deal with you first, Princeling! Then I'll finish what I started!" the elf growled, standing up and facing Legolas, roughly bashing Aragorn's head on the wall as he released his hand from the Edain's hair.

"Only if you can beat me." Legolas replied keeping his eyes firmly on the elf in front of him. Sîrfalas grinned, a twinkle in his eyes showed that he was planning something. He attacked with the knife he used, keeping the other on the defensive. Legolas sidestepped, back-pedalled attempting to throw the other off guard. It was to no use. Sîrfalas was a skilled and seasoned opponent; he aimed to weaken the Prince then render him dead with a quick thrust into a vital organ.

However Legolas would not give him that opportunity.

Ducking and twisting Legolas lashed out catching the other – at last! – on the leg. Sîrfalas cursed and attacked harder giving the elf Prince no time to go on the attack. Sweat beaded down the Prince's forehead. Skilled as he was, he had not chance in beating this elf. He was too good. He could see Aragorn attempting to push himself to his feet, but failed to do so as the Ranger's legs buckled beneath him.

Sîrfalas laughed taunting both Prince and Ranger. "Ah, the poor little Prince has no energy left to fight me. It's a shame, isn't it? You've done your best to save the human, but who's coming to rescue you? Hmmm? Lord Elrond and his sons are all engaged in battle with the Orcs, and there is more of them to deal with. So Princeling who is coming to save you? The weak human can't do anything. He's too frightened of me to even come close!"

"He's only frightened," Legolas shouted, as he pulled away from a blade, "because you'll give him a terrible death! And I won't allow you to harm him anymore!"

By now the Prince was losing badly. His strength had waned and his only hope was that someone would rescue them both before this mad-elf killed Aragorn. Lost in his musings the elf did not notice as Sîrfalas suddenly whirled away from him.

He was too late as Sîrfalas reached Aragorn's side and stabbed the human right in the side of the stomach.

Aragorn's surprised scream of pain, and Legolas' shout of 'Strider!' mingled together down the hallway.

Time seemed to slow in that moment. And yet the events that followed would be forever encrusted into the memories of those that had witnessed the fall of Sîrfalas.

Legolas watched as Aragorn's eyes filled with pain and tears slipped down his cheeks as he sunk to the floor falling onto his stomach; Sîrfalas' dagger still embedded in his side.

Sîrfalas stood watching the human fall. "And so my task is complete. I have done what I set out to do. I do not fear death." He whispered.

Legolas ignored the elf and ran to Aragorn's side. "Strider. Please, please, still be here. Please, mellon-nin. Please. Don't give up now." His hands covered completely in Aragorn's blood, the elf dared not move the human, but he knew that the man still lived, but not for long.

Suddenly his attention was drawn to Sîrfalas as the elf stumbled forward, and looking closely Legolas saw to his surprise two arrows in the elf's back, with another in his shoulder and a last in the hip. Determined to keep to his promise, the Prince lifted his remaining dagger and stabbed Sîrfalas in the stomach. With that final wound, the elf's eyes dimmed and he fell to the cave floor, dead.

Behind Sîrfalas stood Elladan and Elrohir holding their bows, their eyes knotted in anger. But now that the elf responsible was dead their faces returned to normal.

Before Legolas could say a word he felt blackness tipping at his vision and he fell sideways onto the floor.

"Estel! Legolas!"

Aragorn woke from his nightmarish memory. He shivered as he remembered what had been going on before.

His hands gripped his stomach. Remnants of pain were fading away but he could not forget it all. Beside him lay Frodo who was staring at him with wide eyes. He had witnessed Aragorn crying out for help and that scared him.

"Are you okay?" Frodo asked, unsure of what he should do.

Aragorn nodded weakly, managing a small smile. "Just memories. They can't harm me."

As Frodo settled down again, Aragorn closed his eyes and called to Legolas. He wished the elf was here now like had had been all those years ago. Legolas had saved him then; and he had hope the elf would save him now. He just needed to keep holding on. It was the only way.

It had taken the remainder of the night to find the Knight's camp, yet though they had left in their wake destruction and death, it had been impossible to infiltrate the camp as it had been protected by darkness.

Now that the Knights had left Legolas and the hobbits found it easy to sneak in. Obviously when the Knights were not around whatever magic they wove had no effect. Legolas crept through the bushes keeping one hand on his dagger; the hobbits held short swords.

The elf peered into the camp. A fire had been made but put out, but in the gathering darkness, Legolas caught sight of a small shape inside a cave that rouse from the ground. He motioned for the hobbits.

"I think Frodo and Strider are over there inside that cave. They are alone. If we work quickly we will be able to get them out and away from here. Then we will ride for Minas Tirith."

Pippin nodded. He was slightly afraid, but his loyalty to his King and kin was un-wavered. "I'm ready." Merry stood beside ready.

Bounding towards the cave Legolas reached it, looking inside he was met by the startled looks of Frodo and Aragorn. Quickly the elf slashed their bonds. Frodo rushed out of the cave towards Merry and Pippin who embraced their cousin, glad that he was safe.

Aragorn remained laying inside.

"Estel?"

"Just leave. Take Frodo and go." Aragorn said, turning away from the elf.

"No. You're coming with me."

"I belong to them."

"You don't. You belong to Gondor, to its people. You and Arwen belong together. Don't give up."

"They'll hunt me down."

"Not unless you fight them."

"They're too powerful." Aragorn said his grey eyes filled with pain. "No one can kill them."

"You can defeat them Estel, I know you can. Let go of the fear of the past and defeat their hold on you. If you don't you'll be ensnared forever. I cannot let that happen to you."

"I will never forget it."

Legolas finally realised what was happening. Aragorn was remembering all of what had gone on before. He feared the Knights to a point that he would never be able to be rid of them. No matter what anybody said, Aragorn would never conquer his illness. And what had made him worse? This trip. This was not meant to happen and now Legolas was going to be forced to watch his dearest friend fall into nothingness.

I will not let Aragorn go so easily!

He heaved Aragorn up onto his shoulder. The man made no move to escape. Once back with the hobbits, the company proceeded to go back, yet even as they did so, Aragorn spoke words that terrified Legolas, in a slow, drawling, fearful voice.

"They've come back."

Without being told, the Prince knew that it was the Knights that his friend spoke of. He was unaware of the dark shape behind him until Aragorn began shaking. He turned swiftly before being swept off his feet, Aragorn falling hard on the ground.

The Knights circled the companions.

Merry and Pippin held aloft their short swords in defence. Frodo rushed to Aragorn's side.

"Sought to take what was ours did you elf?" one said.

Legolas got to his feet, holding his dagger, keeping his eyes locked on the darkness that stood in front of him. "He doesn't belong to you."

The Knight attacked furiously, breaking the circle. The other six Knights attacked the hobbits. Whether or not the other six were weak, Merry and Pippin found it easy to fend them off.

It struck Frodo as strange that his cousins were able to hold them at bay. Of course! Only one has supreme power of all others! If he doesn't give them power, then they are weak. If one has all the power of the Knights then he must be killed and the others will vanquish!

Legolas ducked a blow aimed at his head. Stepping back he swung out with his dagger, managing to stab the Knight in the arm. He pulled the dagger out, triumphantly. The Knight's anger flared and the Prince found himself weakly attempting to block blow after blow.

He hit with a fist in the face sent him backwards. His dagger soured away from him, landing away from his reach. He cursed.

The Knights boot hit him in the stomach, the face, the chest, anywhere the Knight could reach. Soon the elf was bleeding and bruises were beginning to form on his fair features. He coughed blood. He was being beaten. No one could help him.

Frodo watched in concern as Legolas fought the Knight. The elf would be dead if no one came to his aid. Frodo looked around, catching sight of Legolas' dagger. He picked it up and rushed back to Aragorn.

"Strider! Please, you have to help Legolas!" If he could not help the Prince, and Merry and Pippin were tied up in defending themselves, the only person left was Aragorn. Frodo knew he had no chance of defeating the Knight.

"I can't help anyone."

Frodo glanced back at the elf. He saw him fall. "Yes you can. Aragorn, please, forget about everything just remember who you are. You are a brave courageous man, someone who I look up to. You may have changed, but in that stern heart of yours is the you that you are. You cannot hide that part of you away. One day you'll need it. Don't let Legolas suffer." Frodo was begging.

Over the sounds of swords clashing, Aragorn heard Legolas scream out for help. "Strider! Please, help me!"

Looking past the hobbit Aragorn saw the elf lay on the ground at the Knight's feet. At that point the King's heart was made. Grabbing the Knife held by Frodo, he leapt to his feet and rushed towards the elf, as the Knight brought down its sword to kill its adversary.

Aragorn fell beside Legolas covering the elf with his body. The Knight stopped its sword advancement. It had no desire to kill Aragorn as well as the elf Prince.

"You won't harm him anymore!" Aragorn bellowed, looking upwards, anger flaring in his eyes.

"I could easily kill both of you with one stroke of my sword."

"Then why don't you." Aragorn hissed back.

"I have no desire to lose my prize to a foolish act. Move away from the elf, human."

In the back of his mind, Aragorn felt darkness grappling to take control of him, but he automatically fought back. He would not let the darkness claim him.

"If you leave Legolas be I'll come quietly." Aragorn said.

"Why should I do that?"

"Because he is a dear friend of mine and he deserves to live out his immortal existence in this world and choose to leave it when he desires to. I will not let him go easily. Spare him, and I'll come with you willingly."

"No." Legolas coughed.

"Be quiet Legolas." Aragorn demanded. He kept his gaze focused on the Knight waiting for its decision. "I beg of you, spare him, let him live. I will not try to escape my fate if you allow him to live."

The Knight laughed, coldness swept throughout the clearing. Then it pronounced the doom of Legolas. "No. I will kill him anyway and still take you, human."

Aragorn felt himself being pushed back by an invisible wind. He landed flat on his back. Without thinking in what his actions would do, the King of Gondor, leapt up, rushed forward and in a quick fluid motion bringing the dagger to bear, as the Knight raised its sword, stabbed the Knight right in the middle of its armour. The powerful thrust broke armour and skin and bone. The Knight screeched in pain. A white light erupted from it. Cracks appeared: its armour was shattering, and then a loud echoing screech and nothing more.

The Knight was dead, killed by the hand of Elessar.

As the Knight left the circles of the world, Aragorn was flung back against the earth, hitting his head hard on the ground, before everything fell black.

Across the way, Merry and Pippin watched as their foes crumpled and died in the same fashion before everything fell quiet around them, save for the breathing of Legolas. His battle with the chief of the Knights had exhausted him.

TBC

Well was it what you thought it was going to be? Chapter 7 is really short. I'll see if I can post on Wed, but I'll probably won't be able to though.

REVIEW RESPONSES:

Got-lotr: I'd say the cliffy's in this story are minimal but the last one was quite evil. About the Knight hitting Legolas, after he's fallen he attempts to get back up. A slight detail I missed to add in. As he gets up the Knight lashes out and Legolas is hit hard enough so that it knocks him unconscious. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Celebdil-Galad and Tinulaure: Yes, the Leggy angst is here, though only for this chapter.

Usagipegusus: Thanks for the review.

Championangel121: My first story – Of Melkor and Telcontar explains everything of why Aragorn is like he is. But be warned if you choose to read it, it is very AU. I'm hoping that the Aragorn that we all know has made his reappearance in this chapter. He will be getting back to normal now. Thanks for the review!