/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Eleven

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." –J.R.R. Tolkien

The days passed by with Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and Merian followed the trail of the Uruk Hai. Merian still couldn't walk without support and slowing everybody down, so Legolas carried her on his back the whole day they were running and most of the night, as well, if Aragorn decided to continue through the night. But Legolas didn't mind because he knew he didn't tire easily and Merian could rest as much as she could.

One night, the four of them were sitting on the ground, huddling together. Gimli was fast asleep clutching his axe and Aragorn was sitting up, staring into the endless night. Legolas was watching him do this for the past hour and a half and still the human hadn't gone to sleep yet.

"Aragorn, mellon, kaim. You haven't all night and we have a long day tomorrow," Legolas exclaimed. (kaim-sleep)

Aragorn raised his eyes to meet the Elf's. "I would, if I could, Legolas, but my worries and concerns won't let me rest this night."

"Don't worry about Merry and Pippin, Elessar. We'll find them before the Uruks have a chance to take them to their master," Legolas assured the young human.

Aragorn smiled wearily. "I'm glad we have an optimist with us or I'm sure I would've despaired long ago."

"Sometimes I feel like I could despair about our two hobbits. But something in my heart tells me that they're going to be fine. We just have to keep following them and keep holding onto hope," Legolas said.

"Easier said than done, I'm afraid," Aragorn commented.

"But it can be done," Merian piped up.

"Blessed that we have a woman with us, also, for she has done wonders to many in the Fellowship, as well as being an optimist as our other Elf here," Aragorn said and he and Legolas's eyes caught each other gaze.

For a few moments the two of them just stared into each other's eyes, understanding passing through them. If it weren't for Merian, Legolas probably would never have recovered from his loss of Arwen, his first love. Though Legolas had resisted Merian for a while, they were now in love, though Legolas didn't like admitting it and Aragorn loved teasing his Elven friend and his Elven love.

Merian finally broke the silence. "What are you two thinking about?"

The silent conversation between Elf and human was broken apart. The two of them shook their heads.

"Nothing of importance, melamin," Legolas said. "Just thinking things of no importance."

Merian nodded and smiled. "You're always doing that, you know."

"It wouldn't be him if he didn't," Aragorn smiled.

"Of course," Merian smiled back.

The three of them fell silent and soon Aragorn nodded off to sleep sitting up with his head in his arms. Legolas smiled quietly to himself. No matter how humans tried, they could never stay awake all night. Soon his mind drifted off into elvish dreams where his mind would be well rested by the break of dawn with the warmness of Merian at his side.

Several days later, Legolas looked up at their 5-minute rest stop when he saw about 100 or more horses riding across the prairie. They had long, golden hair and dressed in human garb. Clearly they seemed to be from Rohan.

"Aragorn," Legolas said softly for just the human to hear, "there are men coming towards us."

"I can see them, too, mellon. Rohan," Aragorn said softly.

"I figured that much," Legolas said.

"Hey, stop the talking, we best be doing something about them before they do something to us!" Gimli commented.

Merian looked at the Dwarf skeptically. "If I didn't know any better, Dwarf, I would say that you were afraid."

"Afraid!" Gimli huffed. "Dwarves may be short, but they're more braver than most others put together."

"Well, then prove to me that you're brave," Merian retorted.

"I can't do anything without consent of Aragorn, missy. He's the leader of this group," Gimli shot back.

Legolas sighed. "Will you two PLEASE stop fighting? You two have been fighting since we've left Lothlorien."

"Huh, who was the one fighting with her since we left Lothlorien?" Gimli asked.

"Yeah, but I stopped it, haven't I?" Legolas asked.

"Yeah, and now you two are in LOVE, and—" Gimli began.

"Come on, let's get behind this rock and stop your bickering," Aragorn interrupted and the two Elves and Dwarf fell silent and complied.

After what seemed like forever, the Rohan riders started riding past the rock where the four of them were hiding. Legolas glanced at his human friend. It seemed like Aragorn was resisting temptation to stand and let them know that another human was also in the vicinity. As Aragorn felt the Elf's eyes on him, Aragorn glanced over at Legolas.

"If you think that's the best way, Aragorn, then do what you have to do. Whatever you feel is right," Legolas said softly so only he could hear.

Aragorn nodded and in a swift motion he stood up and walked towards the riders.

"Riders of Rohan!" he called out to them. "What news from the Mark?"

Legolas, Gimli, and Merian walked up beside Aragorn as the riders began riding back and circling the four of them. When it seemed that they all had circled the small company, one human nudged his horse up closer to the front of the circle so he could see them. Legolas hoped that they all weren't going to die because of Aragorn's actions.

"What business does do Elves, a man, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!" the man said.

Before Aragorn could say anything, Gimli spread his legs apart and leaning against his axe he said, "Give me your name, horsemaster, and I shall give you mine."

Legolas shook his head. Gimli had a bad temper and now wasn't the time to use it or they all might have spears through their hearts at the wrong thing to say. The man that had spoke to them sighed and jumped down from his horse and walked towards Gimli.

"I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground," he said sternly.

This was the final straw. Legolas picked up his bow quickly and grabbing an arrow from his quiver from behind him, he fitted it into the bow and pointed it at the man as the riders with the man put their spears into position.

"You would die before your stroke fell!" Legolas said angrily. He wasn't going to have one of his companion die because of the hotheaded Rohan human.

"Complete fools," Legolas heard Merian mutter to herself. "Always getting themselves killed." But Legolas didn't put down his bow.

Aragorn reached out and pushed Legolas's arm downward, making the arrow point downward as well. Legolas sighed and let one of his hands let go from the bow. If that's the way Aragorn wants to play the game, that's how he, Legolas, was going to play, as well.

"I'm Aragorn son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Gloin, and Legolas from the Woodland Realm. We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your King," Aragorn said strongly.

The man shifted feet. "Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe," the man said, taking his helmet off. "Not even his own kin."

Legolas gaped. It was Eomer, the nephew of Theoden and brother of Eowyn. Miracles truly happened every day.

"Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and has taken lordship over this land. My company are those loyal to Rohan and for that, we are banished," Eomer said, then lowered his voice a little, but not enough where nobody could hear him. "The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there, they say, as an old man hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."

"We are not spies," Aragorn said reassuringly. "We track a band of Uruk Hai westward across the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive."

Eomer sighed as if he was handing out some bad news. "The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night."

"But they were Hobbits! Did you see two Hobbits with them?" Gimli burst out.

"They would be small, only children to your eyes," Aragorn added hopefully.

Eomer bent his head ever so slightly. "We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them."

Gimli's face stared at the human in horror, which mirrored everybody else's.

"Dead?" he asked.

"I am sorry," Eomer said. After a moment, he turned slightly and whistled. "Hasuful! Arod!" Two horses without riders trotted foreword and Legolas immediately grabbed the reins of the white horse as if a reflex. "May these horses bear you better fortunes than their former owners. Farewell, look for your friends, but do not trust to hope. It's forsaken in these lands." He got onto his own horse and looked at his riders. "We ride north!"

And with that, the riders of Rohan started riding and soon disappeared into the distance. As they left, Aragorn turned towards his companions.

"Who shall be riding with whom?" he asked.

"Allow me to ride with you, Aragorn. That way, it will allow Merian to sit with Legolas," Gimli stated.

Aragorn nodded and soon everybody was getting on their respected horses. Legolas helped Merian up before getting up on the horse in front of her. And soon they were riding towards the burning carcasses of the Uruk Hai in hopes of seeing their beloved companions one more time.