A/N: Nobody is reviewing, which is fine, but I figured since I actually had this once written I might as well put up another chapter. So, here it is.

Diclaimer: Not mine. Tolkein (ien?). Whatever.

When Legolas awoke the next morning his first thought was for Aragorn. He was still very tired, but he did not care and he leapt out of bed. At first his head swam and he had to sit back down. But then the dizziness passed and he dashed out of the room only to collide headlong with Lord Elrond himself. Legolas apologized quickly, bowing low.

"Begging your pardon, my lord! I did not see you! How is Aragorn?"

"Relax, Legolas. You rode hard and long these past few days. You are weary; you must not get worked up so soon. But, yes, since I see that you will not rest until you see him, Aragorn is doing well. We are expecting him to wake very soon now. Come, I will take you to him."

"Thank you, my lord." Legolas said, following the Lord of Rivendell through many crystal-white, glittering hallways and through a set of golden double doors. There on the bed before him lay Aragorn, sleeping peacefully; Legolas noticed that his face was a much healthier color than when he last saw him. He walked quickly over to his friend and sat in the chair beside the bed.

"He looks much better; there won't even be a scar where that vile blade hit him. Thank you Lord Elrond. You have no idea how much it would have hurt my heart if he had died."

"Oh, I have some idea... But it is lucky that you caught up with him when you did, or the Uruk-hai would have killed him."

At that moment a groan came from Aragorn, Legolas whirled around in his seat and took Aragorn's hand in his own, squeezing it tight. The Ranger's eyes opened slowly and he smiled when he caught sight of Legolas.

"Good morning, my friend. You have slept late this morning," Legolas said. Aragorn laughed and pushed himself up into a sitting position. "You look very well, Aragorn."

"I feel well. But you do not look so well yourself, Legolas. You look tired and your face is very pale." Aragorn looked at him with concern.

"That is because your faithful friend here has not slept for more than a night in two weeks." Lord Elrond said, stepping forward.

"I am fine, really." Legolas lied, though his head felt thick and his handsome blue eyes burned with tiredness, they were bloodshot and red.

"You are a horrible liar, my old friend." Aragorn placed the back of his hand against Legolas' forehead and his frown lines deepened. "You burn with fever Legolas and you have dark rings under your eyes. You need to rest; you do not look well at all."

"This I cannot do. In the morning I must leave for home. I have failed the mission on which I left the trees of my home." Legolas stood up and walked over to the open window. He looked sadly out the window upon the beauty of Rivendell. His home used to be as pure as this; unhindered by evil and Shadow; but no longer.

"What is wrong, Legolas? You came looking for me, did you not?"

"I did." He did not turn his gaze from the window.

"Why?"

"To seek your help; but you are weak and injured. I can no longer in good conscience ask for your help." Legolas said firmly.

"Nonsense! Of course you can! I owe you my life, I want to help. Plus, I am better now. Tell me what is wrong."

"Shadow," Legolas answered grimly, turning to look at him.

"Has it moved further north in Mirkwood?" Aragorn asked with concern.

"Yes. Almost ten leagues in a week! This evil is taking over my home!" Legolas punched his fist into his hand and paced quickly back and forth at the end of Aragorn's bed, ignoring the stars behind his eyelids and the wave of nausea that washed over him. "My father tries to protect his people by avoiding the inevitable but he does not see! Shadow does not wait for his consent to take over! He is simply letting it run freely in our home! He lets it destroy everything we have worked so hard to keep! I-I" At that moment his strong, angry voice faltered and laid a hand on the frame of the window, trying to steady himself and failing, crumpling to the floor, unconscious, his skin had a sickly greenish tinge to it.

"Legolas!" Aragorn jumped out of bed and ran to his friends' side. He rolled the Elf onto his back and pushed his golden-blonde hair away from his face. He took Legolas' arm and swung it around his shoulder then half-dragged, half-carried the Elf over to his bed and laid him down in it. Lord Elrond bent over him, taking his pulse. "Is he okay?" Aragorn asked.

"He will be. It would seem as though sleep deprivation and anger do not go together very well. I need you to watch over him while I get him some herbs to help him sleep peacefully. Do not let him get out of bed! Even though I doubt that he will be waking any time soon, but you never know with this one." Lord Elrond walked out of the room talking to him-self in a quiet voice, "Poor lad, he collapsed yesterday, too. Aragorn has himself a very loyal friend..." Soon he was out of ear shot and Aragorn heard no more.

"Yes, he is right; I do have a loyal friend. I cannot imagine what I have done to deserve such an extraordinary companion." Aragorn spoke aloud to himself. "Sleep well my friend. Help will soon be given to your kin in Mirkwood; this I swear to you."

Many mornings after his collapse, Legolas woke up in Aragorn's bed. The first thing he noticed as he looked slowly around the room was Aragorn, sitting beside his bed, smiling at him. Legolas smiled back; somewhat weaker than usual. His eyes were red rimmed and still slightly bloodshot.

"Hello my friend. I am glad to see you awake. You look much better than you did six days ago. But you have also slept for many long hours." Aragorn laughed.

"Six days! Alas that I have slept too long! Soon must I leave for Mirkwood." Legolas tried to get out of bed but a wave of dizziness washed over his and Aragorn pushed him gently back down.

"No, Legolas, now you must rest. At least until Lord Elrond comes in to look at you and says that you are fit to travel. Besides, it will take a few more days for the rest of the Alliance fighters to get here."

"The...the what? What soldiers? What are you talking about Aragorn?" Legolas asked, perfect face wearing a confused expression.

"While you slept I called together all the warriors I could find. I sent messages far and wide. Many Elves from The Golden Woods arrived just this morning and some dwarves are on there way from The Lonely Mountain. Also, my kin from Gondor and the Riders of Rohan arrived yesterday. The have all come to help in Mirkwood's struggle."

Legolas was shocked. He opened and closed his mouth any times before any sound came out. "Aragorn, you are the most wonderful friend anyone could ever ask for. How did you get all this organized so fast?"

"No, Legolas, you are the most wonderful friend anyone could ever ask for. You saved my life and rode without sleep for two weeks without even a thought for yourself. You didn't even once stop to consider your own health, not even after you collapsed... twice. No matter how bad things get your first thought is never for yourself; always for others. You are an incredible person and I am proud to be able to fight by your side.

"And as far as the Alliance soldiers...I pulled some strings with Lord Elrond, Haldir, King Théoden, and the Lord of the Lonely Mountain." Aragorn laughed, "Let me tell you, my friend, they were not very pleased with the short notice."

"I cannot possibly imagine how they could be pleased with having to race all the way to Rivendell in six days time." Aragorn and Legolas laughed and smiled at each other.

There was a gentle knock on the door and Legolas called for whoever it was to come in. Lord Elrond entered the room looking slightly frazzled.

"Well, well, well. Don't we look better this morning." He said smiling. "I suppose I have you to thank for that rabble of miscreants in the courtyard?"

"Yes, I suppose you do." Legolas laughed in a tired but happy way. "Not to sound ungrateful, my Lord, but, can I get out of bed now?"

Lord Elrond and Aragorn laughed and Elrond gave Legolas a quick examination before pronouncing him well enough to get out of bed, but not to travel just yet. "Get dressed and come outside, my friend," Elrond said, "There is quite a sight to be seen. Oh, yes, and you will go to bed early tonight and are not to travel the way you did before ever again. That was very dangerous and I'll not have you risking your life like that again." With that the Lord of Rivendell turned and left the room, smiling as he went.

"Come, Legolas, I will help you." Aragorn said, taking Legolas' hand and pulling him out of bed, steadying him when he swayed slightly.

"My legs are stiff from lying abed for so long," Legolas laughed. Legolas got dressed quickly then allowed Aragorn to lead him outside to the courtyard. When he opened the large white double doors he was momentarily blinded by the bright sunlight. When the spots in front of his eyes cleared all he could do was gape at the sight before him.

Thousands of people; Men, Elves, and Dwarves of all kinds and from all over Middle Earth were gathered in the courtyard of the House of Elrond. It was no small wonder why Lord Elrond looked, rather angrily, across the courtyard at Aragorn, who just smiled back at him.

"Well, what do you think of our army?" Aragorn asked him quietly.

"I think it is one the most beautiful things I've ever seen," Legolas said laughing.

"Is everyone ready to go?" Aragorn asked Haldir and Legolas when they came up beside him on horses.

"Just about, Eomer just has to drag Eowyn back inside and chain her to a wall so she stays put with Arwen, then we will be ready." Legolas said and he and Aragorn laughed. Haldir looked confused.

"The Lady Eowyn is very stubborn. She is a shield-maiden of Rohan and her blood runs hot in her veins." Aragorn explained and Haldir nodded in understanding.

"It is very amusing though, is it not? She is such a trouble maker... sometimes one wonders if she does it on purpose, just to make Eomer crazy." Legolas laughed and glanced over his shoulder. "Ah, it seems he is ready now." Eomer strode out of the front doors looking slightly frazzled and shaking his head.

"That girl is going to be the death of me," Eomer stated as he mounted his horse and ran his fingers through his hair. "Arwen put a charm on the doors and windows to stop her from leaving. That should hold her for awhile. At least I hope so. She will not be pleased with me when I get home."

Aragorn and Legolas looked at each other then at the front door and burst out laughing. Haldir and Eomer's eyes shot to the door. Haldir's eyes widened in amusement and Eomer hung his head in an attempt to hide his laughter. Eowyn stood in the doorframe pounding on an invisible force field and swearing at Eomer in a loud annoyed voice.

"Come; let us go... before she melts the spell away with that look on her face." Legolas said and laughed. The company moved out at a fast pace, Eowyn's muffled shouting fading away behind them. "If looks could kill, Eomer, if looks could kill..." He laughed and Eomer shook his head in amusement.

TO BE CONTINUED...