A/N:

Dazzler420: An excellent idea and originally how I had it written. However, I just couldn't get it to work logically (confound it!) But since you asked, I've added a bit more to explain the "logic" behind it! Thanks for the idea!

Steff7 – Me, too. Poor Legolas! Thanks!

Shadowfax – Welcome! Thank you for the review. Yes, they will get together – eventually. ;-)

Jebb – Excellent! That is exactly the sort of effect I was trying for. Thanks for letting me know I'm hitting the mark!

"Are they ever going to make a decision?" Merry groaned impatiently and sat back down on the ground near Annowe.

She sighed. "Eventually. Hopefully there will still be someone to fight," she said and nudged the anxious hobbit playfully.

He grinned. He was glad to see her again and he liked all of her cousins. Things would become pretty interesting if they could just get on with it, he thought to himself.

Deka was busily showing Pippin how to handle a bow. Rather, she was trying to show him. He seemed more interested in continuing his fighting lessons that Boromir had started. The dryad finally gave in and the two of them used sticks to simulate swordplay.

Annowe was quite impressed with the hobbit and asked Merry if he would like to play for a while. It would prepare them and also keep them occupied until the Ents made their decision. He readily agreed and the four of them fought on and off until it was too dark for them to see.

The Ents continued to talk late into the night. Occasionally, one of the hobbits or the dryads would ask Treebeard or Everleaf what they were discussing. Entish seemed to be a rather long-winded language and it took a long time to say anything in it.

Annowe curled up between Deka and the Hobbits for warmth and tried to get some sleep. She listened to the soft snores of Pippin and the quiet rustling sounds of the dryads shifting in their sleep. The Ents were still talking amongst themselves and she began to doze to the soothing sound of Entish.

Strange and disturbing scenes slowly began to play out before her as she fell into a deep sleep.

She saw Legolas in battle, besieged from all sides by dark shapes that continued to close in on him despite his frantic efforts. He was calling her name but she could not answer him – her voice would not come. She tried to run toward him but her legs were stuck to the ground. He needed her help but she could not get to him!

Desperately she opened her mouth and screamed as loud as she could but Legolas did not hear her and the darkness began to take him, slowly at first and then more quickly as it gained control of his twisting body. She struggled to move, her heart pounding in her chest and sweat soaking her brow. She would never get to him! He would die and it would all be her fault! Her breath was coming in panicked gasps now as she fought to move or speak. He thought she had abandoned him to the darkness!

Then suddenly, he was released from the shadow. Annowe sobbed with relief but Legolas was still oblivious to her presence. Just as she thought he was safe, a giant crow flew over and cast the elf in shadow. She saw him shiver as the great black bird began to circle over his head, the shadow growing darker over him. A terrible foreboding grew in her.

RUN! She screamed at Legolas but he was still deaf to her cries.

The crow circled lower and lower as it's shadow grew larger over the unsuspecting elf. Terrified, she began to scream, slap at herself, kick, roll – anything – to see if she could move or attract his attention.

With a scream on her lips, she bolted upright, her body drenched in sweat. Quivering with fear, she looked around in a daze. Where in Mordor am I? She wondered for a split second before her memories came flooding back. She gasped with relief and her body sagged from the release of tension. It was just a dream!

Shakily, she got to her feet and wiped her sweaty brow with a trembling hand. The dream seemed so real. Legolas was in danger. She must help him, but how? Where was he now? Think, dammit! She cursed herself and walked away from the sleeping company so she could pace without disturbing the others.

What did Gandalf say? Where was he going when they met him outside of Fangorn? He said he would be joining Legolas soon and that they were . . . Yes! She almost shouted. He said they were going to Edoras. She cursed again. Edoras was too far for her to walk and she did not know how long he would remain there.

Annowe paced for several moments, her mind a jumble of thoughts. She feared that Legolas was in danger. But what could she do?


Legolas stood near the entrance to the keep at Helm's Deep and refused to move for sleep or food. He was determined that Aragorn would come there. He could not believe his friend was gone. It was just not possible.

At first, Gimli and even Eowyn had tried to persuade him to eat or sleep but he had refused. Who would greet Aragorn when he returned? Legolas firmly believed that if he abandoned his post at the gate, it meant he was abandoning hope for Aragorn and he would not be deterred. Either Aragorn would come back or Legolas would stand there until he could grasp his loss.

When they realized that they could not dissuade him from his vigil, they instead took turns looking in on him to make sure he was still holding himself together. Eowyn was anxious for both the ranger and his grieving elven friend but she was not sure how to comfort the elf. Clearly he was distressed but he would take no heed of anyone. Instead, he stared out over the horizon and clutched the Evenstar tightly in his hand as if he were clinging to Aragorn himself. It pained her to see him in such agony and only increased her misery at the situation, for she had grown very fond of the ranger as well.

Gimli watched his friend for a while, debating what he should do for the forlorn elf. With a sigh, he decided that he could think much better on a full stomach and went in search of some food. The elf would not move from his post and Gimli could find him later – after he had eaten his fill and gathered his own thoughts on the matter.

Legolas gazed into the distance unblinkingly, his mind a whirl of thoughts. His time with the Fellowship had caused him more emotional turmoil than he could ever imagine. First Gandalf's death and resurrection, then the death of Boromir, the kidnapping of the hobbits and now Aragorn's fall into the river. He did not know if his heart could take much more of this chaos.

He missed Annowe and wished she were there for him. She could have quickly and easily found Aragorn in the river. But she was not there. He felt so alone and lost. Sadly, he turned the Evenstar over in his hand and wondered how he would break the news to Arwen. The lady would be devastated. He could not do it alone, he could not bear her silver tears.

Curse you, Elessar! He thought to himself. Of all the times to go for a swim without Annowe to look after you!

What would become of them if Aragorn did not return? He was not only dear to Legolas as a friend but he was the last king of Gondor and without him, there would be no one to unite men against their common enemy. Legolas lamented that all would be lost forever.

He wanted to cry but was afraid that despair would overtake him and once the tears started they would not stop. The pain in his heart and in his head was stifling. He felt as if his entire chest would collapse under the weight of losing his friend.

Who would be next? Gimli? Annowe? A soft sob escaped his parted lips and he squeezed his eyes shut against the pain. No, he could not bear it. He would do anything to keep the others safe. Annowe he could not help now. Gandalf had told him she was safe with the Ents and he believed it. He dared not consider any other option. If he lost her as well as Aragorn he would certainly give himself over to the darkness.

"How are you, lad?" Gimli's gentle rumble interrupted his thoughts.

Legolas turned slightly to see the dwarf. Gimli held out an apple and Legolas absently took it and looked at it for a few moments before biting into it. Gimli smiled thinly. At least he was eating now.

"Thank you," Legolas finally said after he had hungrily eaten the apple.

Gimli grunted and remained standing next to the elf. He sensed that Legolas wanted to talk but was not sure where or how to begin.

"It looks like rain," Gimli noticed. The weather was always a neutral subject.

Legolas looked up and sniffed the air. "Yes," he said. "Perhaps tonight or tomorrow morning."

The two of them stood there for a while in silence before Legolas spoke again.

"Do you think he could have survived the fall?" He asked in a small voice.

Gimli frowned and Legolas studied his expression. "I'm not sure. Certainly it is possible and if he fell directly into the river the chances of survival are much improved. But I do not know what happened."

Legolas sighed deeply. He knew Gimli was telling him the truth and not what he wanted to hear. None of them knew what happened but he still held out hope that Aragorn would find his way to Helm's Deep.

The dwarf laid a gnarly hand on Legolas' arm and squeezed it reassuringly. "Aragorn is a strong man," he reminded the elf gently. "And you still have the lass."

A ghost of a smile flickered across his friend's face. "I know. Thank you," he said as he gripped Gimli's hand in gratitude.

Gimli knew that life would go on and Legolas would learn to cope with it. He seemed to be coming out of his shock a bit and the dwarf was relieved. He had heard that elves could actually will themselves to die but he did not care to witness it. With one last look over his shoulder, he walked back into the keep and went in search of a warm bed.