Disclaimer: All people, places etc belong to Tolkien.

Thanks for all the reviews :) Just a quick note in response to a review I got, and a general assurance to everybody: It's not going to be happy all the way folks. Things will get darker, but I have my (secret) reasons for starting off so lightly. hehehe.

This is a few days after the last chapter.

......

Boromir sat up on watch, listening carefully for danger. There was none. The man found himself idly wishing for someone to talk to, to relieve the boredom.

"It's a quite night." Boromir nearly died of shock. He hadn't heard the Elf come up behind him and he cursed himself for being caught off guard. Legolas chuckled at the Man's reaction.

"Ai you walk softly Legolas."

Legolas shrugged. "All elves do. There are not many men who can hear and elf approach."

"Aragorn can." Boromir pointed out.

"No. Most elves can still startle him. But he and I are closer than brothers. He can sense, rather than hear me approach." Legolas gently corrected.

Legolas sat down beside the Man and stared off into the distance. Boromir watched him out of the corner of his eye. He was, although he would never admit it, slightly in awe of the Elf. All elves in fact. Legolas was fairly quiet still, and so Boromir didn't know much about him. Boromir realized that actually there was nothing he knew about Legolas, save that he was from Mirkwood and had known Aragorn before the quest began. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable sitting next to a complete stranger, he was startled out of his thoughts when Legolas addressed him.

"Speak, Man of Gondor." Legolas said quietly. "Say what's on your mind."

Cursing himself for being caught off guard for the second time in as many minutes, Boromir sought for something to say.

"Something has been troubling you for a few days now. I know this. What is it?"

Mildly surprised at the Elf's perceptiveness, Boromir was even more surprised when he found himself answering truthfully. "I fear for my people. While I am here they fight for their lives and their City. I fear also for my brother. My Father is not a nice man and he treats Faramir badly."

Legolas nodded in understanding. "You need not fear for your people. Men of Gondor are both courageous and strong. They will be able to deflect the enemy for long enough for us to succeed. Your Brother also will be well. If he is half as strong as you are, he has nothing to fear."

Boromir looked up in shock. He hadn't expected such compliments from Legolas.

"Forgive me for saying but I was raised to believe that Elves from Mirkwood did not look kindly on men." Even as he said it, Boromir realized how stupid it sounded. He had seen the relationship between Legolas and Aragorn so he knew the Elf didn't have a problem with men.

"This is true, for the most part. I am what you might call a rebel in that sense." Legolas sounded amused. "And now I must ask you something."

Boromir nodded, wondering what Legolas could possibly want to know.

"Do you see Aragorn as a threat?"

Whatever Boromir had been expecting, it wasn't that. His first instinct was to dismiss the comment, but something in Legolas' voice made him think.

"At first yes I did. But... In truth I've never really wanted to rule Gondor. I think Faramir would do a much better job at it that me. However, I do care deeply for my people and would do whatever they require of me. I do not see Aragorn as a threat, but I must know he is worthy of Gondor. If he proves to me that he is then I will willingly call him King."

Legolas smiled softly. "Your loyalty becomes you Boromir."

Again Boromir felt as though the conversation had taken a direction he wasn't expecting. He had been expecting Legolas to defend Aragorn, and assure him that he was a worthy man. But he hadn't.

"I think it's something you need to find out on your own." Legolas said. Boromir's mouth dropped open. "No, I can't read your mind, but your face clearly said what you were thinking. I have had an immortals lifetime to learn how to read people's expressions."

Feeling a bit more confident about talking to Legolas, Boromir said "You have known Aragorn for a long time."

"Yes. A very long time, in a mortal's eyes."

"So you must know the Lady Arwen then."

Legolas chuckled softly "Indeed I do."

"And..."

"She is indeed as fair as the stories tell her to be, both inside and out. She is the Evenstar of the Elves and most deserving of the title. I have lived for many years now and I have never met anyone as beautiful as she."

"You sound like you care deeply for her." Boromir said.

"I do. I love her very dearly."

The two continued to talk into the night, unaware that the last part of their conversation had been overheard.

...........

The next morning the Fellowship was up early and got ready to leave in a very short space of time.

"Someone needs to fill the water bottles." Aragorn said as they broke camp. "There's a stream not far from here."

"I'll go." Pippin said hastily. "Merry, why don't you come with me?"Pippin turned and practically dragged Merry away from the Fellowship.

"Alright Pip, what's going on?" Merry asked as soon as they were out of hearing.

"I have to tell you something. Last night I woke up and I heard Boromir and Legolas talking and Legolas told Boromir that he's in love with Arwen. Merry, Legolas is having an affair with Strider's fiancee."

"What? Legolas would never do that to Strider. He's his best friend." Merry exclaimed.

"I heard it from his own lips!"

"What are we going to do?" asked Merry worriedly

"I don't know." Pippin admitted. "Perhaps we should tell Frodo."

"No. He's got enough to worry about. Alright look" Merry said, reaching a decision. "We'll just try and keep Strider and Legolas apart. That way, if he finds out he wont be so hurt because he wont be such good friends with Legolas." Merry had to admit to himself it wasn't much of a plan, but it was all he had. "And we can be extra nice to Strider as well."

"Shouldn't we tell him?"

"Nooo no I don't think so. We have to concentrate of the quest."

An agreement reached the two young hobbits went to fill the water bottles before returning to the Fellowship.

That day Merry and Pippin walked close to Aragorn, joking and singing with him as they tried to keep him happy. The rest of the company were completely bemused by how taken the two hobbits were with the Ranger, but even more so by the way they prevented Legolas from two words two Aragorn all day.

By that evening Legolas was starting to get frustrated. He had tried to talk to Aragorn again, only to be rebuked once more by his small, newly acquired bodyguards. Legolas couldn't think what he'd done to upset the halflings, he'd always got on well with them up until now.

Aragorn was equally as frustrated. He was perfectly happy to amuse the hobbits, but didn't like to way they were treating Legolas. Sighing, he decided he needed to talk to the Merry and Pippin. When they stopped that night Aragorn volunteered to go and get the firewood, feeling sure that the two hobbits would follow him.

"Alright, now what's going on?" the Ranger asked as soon as they were away from their companions.

"I don't know what you mean." Merry said nervously

"Oh yes you do." Aragorn replied, not fooled. "You two haven't left my side all day and you've been very off hand with Legolas, to say the least."

"He's having an affair with Arwen." Pippin blurted out.

Merry groaned and Aragorn's eyebrows shot up.

"Really? And why do you think that?" He didn't doubt for one minute the loyalty of his betrothed or his best friend, but he wanted to know how the hobbits had come to such a conclusion.

"I heard him talking with Boromir last night and he said he loved her." Pippin explained.

The Ranger nodded thoughtfully. He had heard Legolas say he loved Arwen on many occasions, they were like brother and sister. He had also heard Legolas say he loved Elladan, Elrohir and even he himself so he wasn't shocked. Aragorn was however annoyed that the hobbits though so little of Legolas. They should know better than that.

"Well." Aragorn said ominously. "I shall have to do something about that."

He turned and walked back, leaving behind a very worried Merry and Pippin.

"You don't think he's going to hurt Legolas do you?" Pippin asked nervously.

"I don't know. You should never of told him. Come on lets get back."

...........

Later that night Aragorn and Legolas were talking through Aragorn's watch. The Ranger had his back against a tree and his legs stretched out in front of him. Legolas was laying on his back, his head in Aragorn's lap. Aragorn was undoing and replating the braids at the side of Legolas' head.

"I found out why the hobbits were ignoring you and seemed so taken with me." Aragorn said casually.

Legolas frowned. "Why?"

"It would seem that they think you are having an affair with Arwen."

Legolas sat bolt upright and turned to face his friend. His mouth fell open and he began spluttering in a very unelfly manner.

"I would never... I never...I mean...WHY?"

Aragorn chuckled.

"I know you wouldn't mellon nin. Apparently Pippin heard you talking with Boromir last night and mistook brotherly love for romance."

"Well it's nice to see the hobbits think so highly of me." Legolas said indignantly.

"Exactly what I was thinking, which is why I though it would be fun so seek a little revenge." Aragorn grinned evilly. He gestured for Legolas to lay back down so he could finish braiding his hair.

"What did you have in mind?"

......

The next morning Aragorn left the Fellowship sleeping and took Merry and Pippin to fetch some water.

"I'm going to have it out with Legolas when we get back. I must know for sure."

"You're...you're not going to hurt him are you? We didn't mean for anyone to get hurt." Pippin mumbled.

"I don't know what I'll do yet. I'm just so mad." With this Aragorn turned and strode back to the Fellowship, Merry and Pippin hurrying after him.

"Legolas" Aragorn snarled from across the campsite.

"Yes Estel?" Legolas replied mildly, glancing up.

The Human stormed across the clearing.

"Are you having an affair with Arwen?"

"What...how did you find out?" Legolas stuttered.

"So it's true then. I'm going to kill you Elf."

Before anyone could more Aragorn flew at Legolas, tackling him to the ground. They struggled on, involved in what looked to be a fight to the death. Merry and Pippin were terrified. Aragorn would kill Legolas and it would be all their fault. Well... some of it would be Legolas' fault but even so...

Recovering from the shock of the unexpected fight Boromir leapt forward and pulled Aragorn off Legolas. Legolas climbed to his feet and he two stood scowling at each other, Boromir still holding Aragorn for fear he might start fighting again.

Aragorn and Legolas continued to stare at each other until suddenly they both burst into peals of laughter. The Fellowship could only stare.

"What's going on?" Boromir asked, completely confused.

"I think we'd all like to know that." Gandalf said sternly.

"Hobbits!" Legolas gasped.

"Arwen!" Aragorn added.

"You looked..."

"so..."

"shocked!" And they were both laughing uncontrollably again, unable to say any more until they calmed down.

"Last night Pippin informed me that Legolas was having an affair with Arwen. When I told Legolas of this we hatched a plan to get back at the hobbits for doubting Legolas' honor." Aragorn finally managed to say.

"So you never believed us then?" Pippin asked.

"No. Legolas would never do that. Neither would Arwen." replied Aragorn simply.

"But...I heard him. He said he loved her."

Legolas rolled his eyes. "You should know better than to eavesdrop. I've known Arwen nearly my whole life. She's like a sister to me. Of course I love her. But in the same way I love her brothers and even Estel when he's not holing me hostage in his Father's healing wing."

"Oh." Pippin said. "So you set us up. We though you were going to kill each other."

"I hope you've learnt a very important lesson here." Aragorn told them. "It's rude to listen to other's people's conversations and it's even worse to question someone's honor without good reason. Now, apologize."

"Sorry Strider." the young Hobbits chorused.

Aragorn heard himself grown. "Not to me, to Legolas."

"Oh! Sorry Legolas."

Legolas smiled.

"You are forgiven. And I thank you for attempting to take care of Aragorn. Your hearts were in the right place."

Felling better, and lesson well learnt, the two young hobbits left to pack their belongings, ready for they day's walk.

......

Mellon nin- My friend

......

Aragorn and Legolas have a strange sense of humor, don't you think?