Aragorn watched as a clouded figure; his movements swift and unchecked, entered the stables. The party had long since passed and for some time now the only distraction he could find from his thoughts of arwen were the crickets as they sang to the wind far out in the pasture lands. Aragorn thought it unusual that someone other than himself would brave the bitter night wind at such a late hour and he decided to investigate.

He headed down the steps and through the town streets until he reached the stables. The door creaked loudly as it opened and he knew he could not have hidden his presence now from the mysterious person even if he had wanted to.

"Aragorn."

Aragorn looked up to see legolas. His horse saddled.

"Legolas?" he said coming closer. "what are you doing out here?"

Legolas got on his horse and peered down at Aragorn. His body and face looked weary with toil, with grief and sorrow.

"you were right my friend, I was a fool." He looked out at the doorway. "I know she has a mission to complete, a purpose to fulfill. and valor help me I have tried to not stand in her way."

He looked down at aragorn once more. "I am ashamed to even think it, but a part of me is glad she is injured, and cannot fight again. Because I see how it eats away at her, the burden she carries, the things she has seen, her spirit is to bright and to good to be so darkened by war and death." He took a great pause and then closed his eyes tight, clenching his fist as tears rolled down his face. "I can feel her in my heart, it my soul, how this destroys her, this is killing her. I can feel it. She is dying in front of us all and will become a withered hollow shell of the beautiful person she once was. She cannot fight in this war anymore."

Aragorn looked up at him, seeing the anguish. "Nothing will stop her she is strong. It would be only your betrayal that would hurt her the most Legolas..."

"NO." he said angrily. "no, you promise me." He said placing a firm hand on Aragorns shoulder and peering at him intently. "you promise me that you will protect her from this evil, from the evil of souron."

Legolas kept his gaze firm as Aragorn stared back at him.

"I will do all that I can to ensure her safety." He said. "I don't understand what you are doing my friend but I trust that you do, but legolas on the battlefield I will search the crowd for your face. I hope you will be there."

Legoals looked sternly at Aragorn telling him that they would again fight side by side, his mind was made up, he had to get away to clear his head.

In an instant he was gone, his horse leaving only a trail of dust in the wind.

Sorry for the short chapter, more to come very soon, perhaps in the next two days,

Love aiko alima