A/N: Huge thanks to reviewers, Katherine, Maia, Cheysuli - the whole damn crowd. Apologies for making you wait so long!

Chapter 5

The three small figures struggled admirably with their cumbersome load. They edged onward before reaching Gandalf, who sat staring blankly ahead until the staggering mass entered his line of sight. He rose instantly muttering ancient curses and relieved the dwarf and hobbits of their burden.

"What happened?" He asked urgently, while laying Legolas gently upon the ground. To his surprise, he received no immediate answer and raised his head, surveying the faces of the group from the first time since their return. They each wore a mask of shocked disbelief.

"Sit, all of you." He ordered. The old Maia asked his question again with slow, deliberate emphasis. Still, he was met with no reply. Finally, Gimli mumbled.

"We don't really know Gandalf, we don't understand." The hobbits nodded vehemently in agreement.

"What don't you understand?" The voice was laced with kind, yet ebbing patience.

Merry spoke up. "He attacked him." Pippin continued, encouraged by his cousin's contribution. "Haldir attacked him."

"Haldir! Why?" Gandalf encountered the same stoic silence.

"He just attacked him." Gimli eased himself closer to the stricken elf Gandalf was trying to tend to.

"Then he will pay the price." The wizard remarked with a sigh. "Were there any witnesses to this?"

Instantly the three figures tensed, casting nervous glances in every direction.

"Speak!" The hobbits jumped, keen not to anger the trusted figure they faced and fell over each other to reply with haste.

"Aragorn!" They squeaked; Gimli's head dropped in bleak resignation.

"Ah, then Haldir would have paid his due." Gandalf went back to cleaning the bloody face of the elf. "What did the Son of Arathorn do?"

This time three tiny voices answered without hesitation. "Nothing."

Suddenly a cold, alien voice entered the fray of words from the trees.

"And he was right to do so."

Gandalf the White stood quickly, grasping his staff and placing himself between the approaching figure and the fallen elf, noting that this visitor was armed.

"In light of your actions, you are no longer welcome here, Haldir."

"How hospitality wanes here in the Golden Forest."

"You are not due such hospitality, now be gone!"

"I should have known you would side with that foul rogue." Haldir spat bitterly.

"What right have you to call him this? You are not half the elf he is!" Gimli charged forward, restrained gently by Gandalf.

"What right? He used my brother and tossed him aside, betraying him and Aragorn without a second thought." The Galadrim stepped forward and widened his stance, as if preparing for combat.

"Legolas would never do that!" The hobbits too had clambered to their feet, stood protectively ahead of the still unmoving elf.

"Would he not? Then why did Aragorn not run to his aid?" With a sneer, Haldir turned on his heel and marched away.

"You believe us, don't you Gandalf? Legolas wouldn't do that!" Merry pleaded.

"Aye, he would not, Merridoc. Something here is amiss, my friend."

Four lost figures gazed darkly into the tree line for a moment, perhaps searching for the retreating figure, or a approaching one, maybe the solution to this problem. However the emerald green yielded no answers and the reverie was broken by a moan directly behind.

Legolas stirred, an eerie flush tainting his cheeks, he was immediately surrounded but did not wake. It was clear that something ailed him. He tossed and turned violently, Gandalf commenting he appeared to be in the grip of a fever.

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Haldir stomped defiantly through the undergrowth, uncaring of what he destroyed, angry at what he had seen. He had wanted the Mirkwood Prince to suffer, and in a way he had. But even in his beaten, unconscious state, the beautiful elf stilled look peaceful, and was still surrounded by caring allies. Allies, all of which seemed not to have fully comprehended Legolas' sin. Could they not see?

A sharp noise behind alerted Haldir, who drew his bow within the blink of an eye and whirled around to face his unseen foe.

"You. . . ." Against his better judgement, Haldir lowered his weapon. He could not risk the penalty for slaying kin.

Legolas laughed back. "Yes, I have recovered fully, not a scratch, not a mark. Losing your touch Haldir?" He added with a sneering whisper.

The other did not reply, simply stood amazed as Legolas approached. Nor did he react in time when the Prince knocked the bow carelessly from the limp hands and brought a hunting knife sharply to his neck.

"Alas Haldir, you like your beloved brother, are worth so little, it would be my pleasure to rid this world of you."

"STOP!" The distraction was enough for Haldir to free himself and turn to face his rescuer.

Aragorn's body was as rigid as stone, yet Anduril wavered slightly as it was outstretched, almost in disbelief at who it might threaten.

"What has become of you Legolas?" Asked a broken voice.

"What has become of me? This is me. You surely had not fallen for my act. 'Oh, beloved!' Preposterous! Once I am finished here, I shall ride on and claim the ring for myself, I trust it will not be too difficult."

At Aragorn's gasp, the elf pressed on. "If I believed you could truly raise that sword to me, I would stand my ground and regain my weapon; but if you will excuse me, I tire of this game." The Prince moved a little too clumsily away, but in all the commotion, the critical distinction was lost.

If Haldir or Aragorn had thought to listen just that little more carefully, they might have heard a whispered thanks to Saruman for his lent strength. However, the sound was masked beneath the clatter of Anduril hitting a small rock as it was thrown angrily to the ground.

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Back at the camp, the four friends grew concerned.

"He is beyond my help." Gandalf said heavily. "I do not even know what sickens him."

"He is dying." Replied a calm, silken voice.

The gathering whirled around, bowing slightly in the presence of the Lady, who sashayed forward.

"What is killing him?" Gimli asked desperately.

"If you were shunned by your lover and beaten my your friend, for reasons beyond your comprehension, Master Dwarf, would you not suffer from a broken heart?"

A/N: I know I'm bad, I just can't help it. Review if you'd like me to be nicer, or worse (depending on what you prefer), and I'll see what I can do.