A/N- Um…I'm sorry? Don't kill me? Real life sucks and so this took approximately forever to touch up and post. Yes, it's been mostly written for awhile. Note the word mostly. Even the next chapter is mostly written, except for the wonderful idea that popped into my head a few weeks ago that I have to work in. (Seriously, what was I thinking getting the whole battle over with in six lines or less?)

Special thanks to seeing-spots for reminding me…repeatedly…that I was supposed to be writing this. And to everyone else who hasn't given up on me entirely.

Aragorn stood in the doorway.

"What are you doing here?" Gimli snarled. Aragorn took a half-step back in surprise.

"I- wanted to see how he was."

The Ranger's voice seemed sincere, which somehow only enraged the dwarf more. "He was better, until he saw you! You idiot, you're the one who started all this, you don't even deserve to breathe the same air, never mind be in the same room! If you would just stay away he might have a chance!" He took a deep breath and reminded himself that killing the future King would probably be a bad idea. To somebody. Somewhere. That helped, until his eye fell on Legolas again.

"Listen, you…" .

A small portion of his mind was aware that just beyond his recognition there were loud voices, shame and anger in turns. That section could be ignored, he decided, as he tried to process this contact he'd made. For a brief moment, he'd seen clearly past the shields in his mind, had recognized the voice and touch surrounding him. He'd even spoken, hadn't he?

'Gimli?'

But then… He had to force himself to continue. Then Aragorn had arrived, and the change had been too much. He knew full well he was in no shape to confront the Ranger yet, and for one of the few times in his life took the simplest method of defense, even as he cursed himself for it. This was assuredly not the actions of a warrior, and just as certainly not the way to recover.

He wanted to recover, wanted it desperately. Wanted normalcy. This shadowy half-existence was not to his taste. Almost better flee his body entirely…

The stubborn spark of duty and friendship fought down that train of thought even as it began. An elf could perish from the treatment he'd endured; he knew this, and knew that if he allowed himself to slip he could easily fade away. He clung to his outside ties, anchoring himself to the physical world.

The Fellowship…

Broken apart now, by forces outside their control, yet still working towards a common goal. That goal was enough to call to him even now. The destruction of the Ring would benefit all Middle Earth, of course, but he sought its demise with a second, more personal thought in mind: that it never again be able to drive someone so against his nature as to nearly destroy another being, especially a friend. If by his assistance no other would suffer the events he had endured, he would consider his duty well-fulfilled. No matter the cost, he would fight to give Frodo time.

The Hobbits…

He'd never before met any of that little race, but if these four were indicative of the general make, he would always hold them in high regard in the future. Frodo bore a burden he would not have chosen, one he was not even sure he could have borne. As for the others, to leave their homes and voyage into the unknown on the sole basis friendship required a great heart and tremendous courage. He could not allow them to be pulled into the unknown without trying to aid them.

Gimli

Aye, a dwarf though he was, the sturdy being was even now defending him. Legolas allowed the curtain separating them part slightly, and watched impassively as the dwarf told off an unseen third party. He suspected the identity of that individual, knew at the edge of clarity that he had seen their entrance, but could not bear to confirm it. Instead he concentrated on this oddest of comrades, and almost smiled to himself. This was truly a friendship forged in fire, and like a well-tempered blade it would endure, through battle, fire, or deep stony caves.

Through his contemplations he felt more than heard the tirade suddenly cease, and saw Gimli turn slightly, as though to face a new arrival. His stance relaxed slightly. Legolas saw him hold out a small vial to the newcomer, saw a grey-robed wrist take it. 'So Gandalf has come? Curious.'

The room came into slow focus, although he consciously remained impassive. Reacting was the quickest way to be noticed, of course, and the last thing he wanted was notice from… and his mind shied away again.

Gandalf was studying the potion he held by sight and cautious taste. He nodded and said something that seemed to reassure the dwarf, who took the vial back with a gruff nod. Aragorn stood silently in the far corner, as if trying to melt into the walls. Every inch of him screamed despair. Under normal circumstances the elf would have stopped to comfort anyone in that state.

His musings had distracted him, and he almost missed the wizard coaxing Gimli out the door. He did not miss Aragorn's timid approach, however, and his mind shrieked in fear before he was able to wrench down. He knew he was trembling, but could not spare enough control to stop it. Why had they left him alone?
.

In the hall, Gimli had a similar question for the wizard. "What are you doing?! You actually mean to leave them alone together? Haven't you been listening?"

Gandalf stopped just around the corner and looked at him mildly. "Do you truly believe I would bring further harm to our friend? We are certainly close enough to intercept any troubles, not that I believe any are likely. From your descriptions, Legolas is beginning to handle everything, and he will have to face Aragorn again eventually. Aragorn must face himself as well, which may prove just as difficult a task. He needs this. I do not think Legolas will take any harm from it, but I do think that it will help Aragorn, whom we cannot risk having distracted when the enemy arrives." He seemed ready to say more, but Aragorn's raised voice distracted them, and they turned towards the open doorway.

"I don't know if you're hearing this or not," the Ranger was saying. "Legolas, please answer me…"

Gandalf held the dwarf back as Aragorn laid his hand on the elf's shoulder.

Legolas didn't flinch. Aragorn, however, looked as though he would cry. "Legolas?" he whispered, sounding choked. "Please… Do something, say something, anything! Hit me, curse at me, just please, please…" He broke off, tears on his face, and turned away, trying to recover his composure. He leaned on the nearest wall, as if suddenly too weak to stand, taking deep, controlled breaths.

"What we did was inexcusable," he said quietly several minutes later. "I- I can't think of any way to explain it that won't make it sound as though I'm trying to dodge the blame. I can only pray that the damage we did is not irreversible." He looked at the elf with a sad half-smile, his eyes red but dry, and moved to kneel beside the chair. "I know this won't make it any easier, but I know now the touch of Mordor, and will know it in the future. Nothing like this will happen again. I swear it. We will not stop until the Ring is destroyed and all the people of Middle Earth safe." He met Legolas' unseeing eyes, searching for recognition, for any change in Legolas' face, his shoulders drooping when he found none. He rose slowly, as if weighted down beneath his anguish, and moved toward the door almost dazedly, his eyes on the elf the entire time.
.

The wizard and dwarf pulled back as the Ranger emerged, wiping clear the last visible traces of his emotional outburst. The Man did not seem to notice them, instead heading off determinedly towards the main gates.

Gimli turned to speak, moved to return to Legolas' side, but the wizard hushed him with a gesture and pulled him slightly away.

"I must depart tonight," Gandalf told him quietly. "I shall return- Never fear!- but it shall be two days, at least. Tell Theoden, and the others, at supper tonight. They would try to prevent my leaving, or else to assign a guard, which would only hinder me."

Gimli simply nodded, not even trying to guess what the wizard planned. Gandalf strode off, but turned back for a bare moment. "Do not fear so for our elven friend. He may return sooner than you think." Gimli nodded again before going back into the vacated room, wondering if it would be a true prediction.

"Legolas?" he questioned quietly. "He's gone." He could almost see the awareness return to the elf's eyes.

"Gimli?" Legolas' rasping voice was very quiet, almost child-like. His face was confused, a lost expression in his eyes.

"Why do you continue to hide from him, my friend?"

"It…I'm scared, a little," the elf admitted quietly. "It is easier this way." Gimli looked askance at him and Legolas sighed, fiddling with a stray piece of hair. The unusual nervous tic did not go unnoticed. "They…it wasn't as much fun for them if I didn't react," he said haltingly. "I- I know it was the Ring, I know he doesn't want to hurt me, but that's just my head, my heart doesn't believe it yet, and it's so hard-" he broke off, nearly in tears, then controlled himself quickly. "I was listening, you know. To you, yelling at him," he smiled slightly, "and to him, just now. He was a victim too, in a way. He was controlled too. As much as I'd like to hate him, and as much as I still fear him, I cannot help but remember the friendship we had, and long for that again."

Gimli nodded slowly. "I guess that makes sense," he admitted, taking the other chair. From the corner of his eye he saw Legolas hide a tiny grin as he literally climbed into it. He ignored this joke at the expense of his short stature, pleased that his friend could begin to laugh again. "You knew him as a friend far longer than as… anything else. And it does seem that he's trying to repair the damage he caused. But at the same time, words are cheap, and easily spent. Let his actions in the coming days speak for themselves."

Legolas nodded soberly. "I plan to. And I wanted to thank you, especially…" He stopped short as a dry cough took over his body. Gimli felt a rush of exasperation with himself as he recalled the vial in his pocket. He handed it over to Legolas, who looked at him quizzically, still coughing.

"It's to heal your throat and voice," the dwarf informed him. "That's what Aragorn came to deliver. Idiot didn't even stop to think what damage he might cause, being here. But I had Gandalf check it out, just to make sure it was what he said it was. It was."

Legolas looked at him with amusement at his choice of phrasing, and he squirmed a little in embarrassment. It certainly wasn't one of his most eloquent sentences. Still smiling, the elf drained the little glass, wrinkling his nose at the taste. There seemed to be some cooling agent involved, for his sore throat almost immediately felt better. "It certainly seems to be what he claimed," he said smoothly. His voice, they were pleased to note, sounded nearly normal again. Presumably once it worked into his system, the remaining damage would be repaired. "His…visit. It may not be how I would have liked to spend my time, but I think…it may have been for the best. A- Aragorn," he forced out past a nervous shudder, "cannot afford to be distracted at this time. Too many are depending on him.

Gimli was inwardly amused to hear this near-repetition of Gandalf's statement. Which reminded him. "Gandalf has gone off," he said abruptly. Well, it was suppertime somewhere, it counted. "He plans to return soon, I didn't bother asking any more than that. Didn't figure I'd get a straight answer anyway."

Legolas regarded him solemnly. "The day you get a straight answer from Gandalf, or entirely understand one he does give, is the day I inhabit Moria. It'll never happen."

Gimli glared for a minute, then did a double take. A joke? Good signs were just pouring down, weren't they?

As if to counter that idea, chaos erupted in the hall. Legolas froze at the unexpected flood of sound and people, then shot from his seat to the doorway. Gimli struggled down from his perch, vaguely aware that the archer was questioning one of the runners.

"What's happening?" the dwarf cried in frustration.

Legolas turned back to the room. "Armies are at the gate. We're under siege."


It's driving me nuts that the line The Hobbits wouldn't stay in italics. Or this line, evidently. Sorry, had to vent. I'll do my best not to make y'all wait another forever for the next one.