Disclaimer: Nope. Still not mine.

A/N: I apologize for the wait...Life sucks and then you die, but that mostly applies to work for me. My job eats up most of my time...Not so much fun, ah well, it gives me money so that's okay. I'm so happy! Thank you so, so, so, so, so much for all the wonderful reviews! They made my day. Not that anyone probably cares, but this chapter was written on my new laptop! I love it! It's my precioussss...Ahem...Sorry...Despite all the good things that have happened lately, I found out that one of my co-workers, Wayne, has cancer and was given 5-7 months to live...It was really depressing because he's such a sweet guy. Please, put him in your prayers. Thanks for reading! Now, Chapter FOUR!

Prejudices

The morning dawned pale and gray. Legolas frowned when Aragorn barely stirred when he was jostled. Thinking the man merely needed rest to recover from the extra stress his body had suffered from the spider toxin, Legolas sent the contingent on and stayed with his friend, determined to make sure the man was going to be alright. Aragorn stirred around midday, moving as if stiff. He opened his eyes and blinked at his friend. Legolas leaned over him, "Strider, are you well?"

The man nodded slowly, "I-I think so..." he said hoarsely trying to sit up. Legolas helped him and handed him a container of water. The man drank deeply and then looked at his friend, "What are you still doing here?" Aragorn said, "Your contingent is gone..." Legolas smiled, "Yes, but I did not dare leave you, injured and weak as you were. You would have been easy prey for a spider or other wandering creature, ill and weary as you were..."

Aragorn shrugged slightly and then grimaced as he realized how uncomfortable it was to move stiff, sore muscles. Legolas grinned, "Here, drink." The Prince handed his friend a mug of tea. Aragorn sniffed it suspiciously, "What is it?" Legolas rolled his eyes, "Your father's tea. Now drink!" Aragorn stuck his tongue out at the Elf and then took a gulp, trying to get as much down as quickly as possible in hopes of making the experience less unpleasant. He made a face, "Why, oh why doesn't Ada put something in this to make it taste better?!" Legolas chuckled, "Alright, mellon nin, if you are rested, I think we ought to be moving on." Aragorn nodded and rose with a groan. Legolas frowned worriedly, "Are you well, Strider?"

Aragorn nodded, "Fine...I'll be just fine, Legolas. You're right, I should be on my way, I don't want to keep you, get you in trouble with your father...I'll see you later, Legolas." With that, Aragorn picked up his pack, kindly organized by the Prince, and began to walk away until a hand on his shoulder stopped him, "Where do you think you're going?"

Aragorn turned and faced his friend, confused, "What do you mean? I'm going home." Legolas let out an exasperated sigh, "Not alone. At least for now I travel with you. I'm not going to leave you, injured, recovering from spider venom to travel alone to your home through paths often crossed by wolves, wargs, and other dark creatures! Forget my father, he does not expect me any time soon. At least let me take you to the edge of the wood, perhaps a little beyond." Reluctantly, Aragorn nodded, relenting only because, in truth, he was feeling a little weak and definitely not at his best. The pair set out and began slowly traveling toward the outer edge of the wood.

Through the day, Aragorn began to feel ill. His stomach churned and gray began to encroach on the edges of his vision. His head spun and swam and his ears rang. He tasted something vile on his tongue but no amount of water or food would take it away. He hid this, not wanting his friend to worry and go farther with him which would undoubtedly make him late to report back to Thranduil, garnering the King's wrath, a thing he did not want to do any more than he already had. Unfortunately, his body was not so obedient to his will. They were only a few hours away from the edge of Mirkwood when Aragorn paused on the path.

Not hearing the man's soft footsteps, Legolas turned to see why his friend had stopped and saw Aragorn barely able to stay upright. He dashed back to the man, "Aragorn! Aragorn! What is it? What ails you?" he asked, near panic, as the color that had been staining Aragorn's cheeks retreated in a heartbeat to be replaced by a dull, ashy color. The man's lips were a dusky blue, his breathing slow and labored. Legolas reached out just as Strider's knees gave out, his eyes rolling back in his head as he fell.

Legolas caught the man and eased him to the ground, "Wh-what? Strider? Strider!" he asked frantically, shaking the man. He stirred a little, coughing, but stayed unconscious. Legolas unwrapped the spider bite and was puzzled when he found nothing amiss. He began searching for any other hidden wounds and sat back, unsure and unable to do anything for his friend for he could not find what was ailing him.

Aragorn began to tremble violently, as if from extreme cold. Legolas lifted his friend and was shocked by the heat radiating off of the man. Breaking off of the path, Legolas walked a short distance to a small clearing. Within a few moments, Strider was covered by their blankets and Legolas worked on starting a fire. Suddenly the man stilled. Fear rising in his heart, Legolas reached a hand out to his friend and breathed a sigh of relief when he found the man's breathing had become normal again and he was no longer trembling. Heat still rose from the human and Legolas frowned. Suddenly he found himself looking into his friend's gray eyes, glassy with fever.

"Strider?" Legolas asked hesitantly. The man nodded, "What ails you?" Legolas inquired. The man tried to sit up, but Legolas pushed him back down, "No. What is it?" Strider sighed and answered softly, "Nothing. I am fine." Legolas glared at him, "You are not fine! If you were fine, you would not have collapsed on the path. If you were fine, you would not have scared me halfway to Mandos as you trembled as if cold while I could feel the heat coming off of your skin—heat you still radiate! If you were fine, your lips would not have turned blue as you nearly stopped breathing! You must tell me!"

"There is nothing you can do, Legolas. I must get home, that is all!" snapped Strider. Legolas studied the man's face, "You know what it is, but you won't tell me...Why?"

Aragorn looked away, "As I said, there is nothing you can do for me and I would not have you worry...Besides, I don't need to tell you what it is, you already know..."

Legolas frowned at the man, thinking, as he said, "What do you mean I know what it is? I have never seen..." The Prince trailed off, eyes going wide, "Not..?" Aragorn met his friend's gaze and Legolas protested, "But your father healed us! How can it be that?!" Aragorn smiled wanly, "The antidote merely neutralizes it, it does not rid the body of the substance...It can be reactivated by another dose of the toxin or some other venom for many months, until the body is able to rid itself by naturally breaking it down..."

"The-the spider venom...You were bitten...For me...It is my fault..." Legolas whispered. Aragorn shook his head firmly, "No. I chose to block its path. Do not blame yourself. I have Ada's medicines, they will keep it at bay until I can get home. Then Ada can re-administer the antidote."

Legolas shook his head, "No. I will not let you go off by yourself. You are coming home with me." Aragorn shook his head, "No, I must get to my father, Legolas. You know this. He is the only one, save perhaps Mithrandir and the Lady Galadriel, who has the knowledge to create the antidote. I must get home to father."

Legolas sighed, "Strider, even were you to get home, your father would not be there." Aragorn looked at him, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Legolas looked at his friend, "Ada sent me with a contingent to rid the path of spiders, yes. He could have sent another, but he did not. He is expecting a delegation from Imladris. He told me Lord Elrond and the twins will be with the delegation. He wanted me to escort them to the halls, should we meet..." Legolas looked away and murmured, "It is part of the reason why he was so harsh on you. He-he did not want a-a man about the halls with such a distinguished delegation coming, even if Lord Elrond is friendly toward men..."

Aragorn reached up and clasped Legolas' shoulder, "Well, then, I believe I should come home with you after all...Your father will not be pleased at all, though why he would send me away when he knew my father was coming, I do not know."

Legolas looked at the man, "It is because we did not tell him, mellon nin. We did not ever get the chance to bring up your connection to Lord Elrond's family. Remember? We spoke of your connection to the Rangers and of your heritage as Isildur's Heir, but we never told him of your relation to those in Imladris." Aragorn began to chuckle and Legolas looked at him quizzically, "Imagine your father's shock when he finds out who I call family! Oh! This has to be one of the best pranks yet, if an unintentional one." Legolas smiled, "Indeed. Ada will probably be beside himself, after having thrown you out..." a pause, then Legolas said, "Well, it will serve him right. He did not let us finish our explanation." Aragorn nodded and yawned, "Thank you, Legolas..." Bemused, Legolas looked at him, "For what?" Aragorn's eyes closed as he murmured, "Everything..." Smiling, Legolas shook his head, "Good night, Strider." The man smiled and was asleep within moments. Legolas' smile faded as he took in the man's pale, unhealthy color, two spots of color stained his cheeks cherry red and sweat shone softly on his forehead in the swiftly fading sunlight. Legolas sighed. Despite his reassurances to the contrary, Legolas knew his father would be unpleased that he did not come home with the contingent. The Prince shook his head, there was no way he would leave Strider, especially now, with orc poison ravaging his system. Legolas silently prayed that Elrond would arrive soon.

The dawn broke, spilling pale, rosy light through the trees. Aragorn's fever had broken shortly after midnight, though the Legolas knew it was only the course of the poison and not Aragorn healing. Slowly, the Elf started a fire and heated some water. Searching through his own belongings, Legolas extracted a small packet of herbs and mixed them into the boiling water. He went over and rested a hand on Aragorn's shoulder, "Mellon nin...Wake, Aragorn."

The man blinked and looked at Legolas blearily, "L-Legolas?" the man asked shakily. Legolas was dismayed by how weak his friend was. Hiding his dismay, Legolas smiled and helped Aragorn to sit, "Indeed, my friend. Drink this and we can be on our way. The sooner we get you back to my home, the better." Aragorn took a sip and grimaced, "Tastes awful!" Legolas laughed, "Terrible it may taste, but it will help." Aragorn nodded, then closed his eyes. "What is it?" Legolas asked softly. Aragorn began to scramble to his feet, arm around his middle. He waved Legolas off and went into the trees. A few minutes later, Aragorn returned, looking paler than before and breathing hard. "Are you alright?" Legolas inquired. Aragorn nodded, "M-my stomach did not appreciate the tea any more than my sense of taste..." the man answered lightly. A troubled frown creased Legolas' brow, "Strider, that is not good...Your body needs the tea. You had very little to eat or drink yesterday and it will help slow the poison..."

Aragorn fixed the Elf with a glare, "You think I don't know that?! The tea is the only thing that will keep my body from succumbing to the poison! Without it, I have maybe today before I slip into a coma, after that happens I have maybe two days before my body would give out." Legolas gasped, he had not realized the poison would act so quickly. Aragorn sighed "I am sorry Legolas, I should not have become so upset with you...It is only...I-I am afraid..." the man met Legolas' gaze and the Elf saw fear there, "I do not know for how long the tea will work...If Ada does not get here soon...I may succumb anyway..." Legolas swallowed, "No. It will be alright. Strider...I-I must ask, what will happen, even with you taking the tea..."

Aragorn sighed, "I'll experience bouts of fever with chills, I may convulse at some point. There will be times when my body will reject all food and drink...I-I may pass out...My pulse and breathing will not be regular, it will speed up, slow down to the point it did yesterday, and perhaps have some times when it passes into the normal range, but it will not stay that way. My muscles will ache, my bones and joints...I-I may suffer bouts of blindness and deafness..." the man paused then continued, "Legolas, there will be times when the slightest touch will cause me great pain...You must not stop, we must not stop. We cannot afford to delay..."

Legolas swallowed, "It will be alright, Estel. I will get you to your father...Even if I have to crawl there with you on my back." Aragorn smiled faintly, "You are the best friend I could ever have asked for...I-if I d-don't make it, I want you to know how much your friendship has meant to me...You are more than a friend to me, Legolas, son of Thranduil, in my heart, I count you as a brother..."

Legolas listened to the man with increasing unease, the Prince realized the man did not expect to live through this relapse, "Strider, Estel, do not-do not give up on me! P-please...Mellon nin, I am bound to you. The day I met you I know the Valar were watching out for me...You, too, are-are more than a friend...I, also, count you as a brother...I-I do not think I would survive the grief, should you pass...Please...Do not lose hope...Ada said Lord Elrond was less than five days away...That was three days ago...Please...Fight it..." Legolas pleaded softly, urgently. Aragorn sighed, "You know I will...But it-it is so difficult..."

Legolas clasped the man's shoulder, "I will be here for you Estel...You will not be alone in this..." Aragorn smiled, "Thank you, Legolas."

With a shaky smile, Legolas handed the man his pack, "We best be on our way..." Aragorn nodded and the two set out, back toward Thranduil's halls.

PLEASE READ!!!!

A/N: Well, what did you think? I've had the week from He!! Please pardon the language. Lately it feels like the world is falling in on me and I haven't got anyone to talk to...All of my connections to my friends have all but disintegrated since we left school because I work every weekday and my parents want to do the family thing on weekends. My parents are totally stressed all the time and my siblings are worse than usual, no one is home to supervise until the afternoons and it makes things hard because even though they're all old enough to get along for a few hours, they do want mom or dad around...It feels like all my support systems have failed...I can't talk to my parents, I can't talk to my friends cause they all work and I'm always at work, I don't have time to unwind and get rid of stress, usually I write, but there's been so little time for that it's only frustrated me. You all are so wonderful! I felt like crying at work today things got so stressful, then I went through my e-mail and found reviews that were so nice! It has been the only thing keeping me going...So thank you. In the words of Jimmy Eat World, "May angels lead you in..." God bless you all.

Thanks,
Lalaith

Please Review! It's all that keeps me going...