Well, I finally caught Legolas. Poncy git can run... but anyways, I managed to restrain him long enough to get a good chapter going. So sorry about the long delay!! I wanted to update my other story "Young and Free" (shameless plug: go read it! Arrg! But not until you read this chapter!) and I have been exhausted lately. Girls waterpolo season started and we've been having our Hell Week. It's still going on in fact. Someone needs to tell my coach that a school week is only 5 days long...regardless, I've been going to school at 7:30am and getting home around 7:30 pm because of it. I am severely lacking in sleep, but being as today is Sunday, I have some free time to write. Now don't you all feel special?

That was kinda a long, pointless rant. Hope all of you liked the last chapter! I was reading a super-angsty X-men story before I wrote it, so that's kinda how it ended up heart wrenching. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I love hearing from you guys!!

elfmage: don't cry, I haven't decided yet. and he-he, eh...*sigh* I kinda did take a really looooong time to update, so I hope you're not dead^-^

beguile: thanx! It was really sad writing it, but you seem to have a quick fix!

MoroTheWolfGod: Good things come to those who wait:)

Philomythus: Hannad! Uh, I'd say it's been like 18 days...sorrie!

Deana: Don't we all? *evil grin*

Caunoiech: Hennaid evyr! he-he, death threats are always good motivation!:0

Sparrow Greenleaf: He's not out of the woods yet...

bulldogodiva: oh yeah? I've got my ninja-pirate army to defend me! How do you like THEM apples?!

ElizabethBlack4: Hennaid evyr! Being quoted makes me feel special :) *beams* yeah, only the second, though me and my 'tangible' friends(I get to talk to them in person *smile* so they deserve your pity) have been coming with new ways to describe him. Our current favorite is saying, "I'd tap that!"...and I would. Orlando bloom? I'd tap that! Aragorn? I'd tap that! Legolas? I'd tap that twice! And, *giggles uncontrolably* "fellowship minus gimli"? I see we do not have a Gimli fan in the house! I see your point...Gimli? I WOULDN'T TAP THAT! Not even if you paid me!

Star-Stallion: Yay! A new reviewer! Not that I don't love my old reviewers...*looks nervously at angry mob* Thanx a lot!

And now, what you've all been waiting for:

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Problems Along The Way

Chapter 7

Cold Rain, Hot Tears

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~*~*~

He was falling so rapidly that the wind tugged at his face. There was blackness all around him as he tumbled into oblivion. He tried to scream, but the air forced itself into his lungs instead of out and he choked on it. His chest felt as though it were on fire. He needed to breathe, desperately wanted to exhale, but couldn't. //My lungs are going to explode!//

At that moment he hit the bottom. He was dazed, but lay there sucking desperately at the precious air. He opened his eyes, and could've sworn that they were still closed, as all around him there was icy blackness. He felt alone, utterly and terribly alone.

The figure huddled himself into tight ball, and tears of despair fell freely from his wide, frightened eyes. A small ray of light fell on him from somewhere off in the distance. It was weak, and the figure stood up suddenly, curious as to where it was coming from. He wiped his tears from his face to better clear his vision, and gasped when he removed his hands from his eyes. They were covered in bright, glistening, crimson blood.

He hurriedly wiped his hands on his pants and began to walk slowly to where the light was coming from.

~*~*~

Pippin sat up suddenly where he lay. He was freezing cold, but covered in sweat.

"Are you alright, Pippin?" Aragorn was at his side instantly. Pippin could see in the dim light that Aragorn's eyes were red, though that was the only sign that something was wrong.

"Yes, I think so," he began, then hesitated. He already felt guilty about the emotional distress that Aragorn was going through because of the loss of Legolas. He couldn't bring himself to further burden the man that had done so much for them. "It was just a dream, Strider," he said finally.

Aragorn placed a hand on the shivering Hobbit's head and ruffled his hair affectionately. "Alright then. You may as well rise now, we will be--," his voice broke pitifully and he cleared his throat, "we will be departing soon."

Pippin nodded and Aragorn rose and walked off to his own bed roll that he was packing up. When Aragorn had returned the previous night, he and Gandalf had had a "discussion" about what was to be done now.

Aragorn had wanted desperately to search for Legolas as soon as the rain cleared up. Though the rain had all but stopped by the time that dawn approached, Gandalf firmly, yet delicately pointed out that it would take them a long time to find any sign of a trail after the rain, time that, seeing as the wargs found them, they didn't have. This greatly distressed Aragorn, and though he knew that their journey served a higher purpose, he still fought valiantly for his cause. Gandalf had won out, though, in the end, when he gingerly pointed out that Legolas probably wasn't alive anymore. Aragorn hadn't said much after that.

Pippin was torn. He blamed himself entirely for what happened, despite Merry's best efforts. He didn't want to say anything because nothing Merry or Gandalf told him made him feel any better. His dream scared and confused him. //What does it mean?// he wondered. He was disturbed from his thoughts when Merry sat up groggily next to him.

"Time to go already?" he asked.

"Almost," replied Pippin, and then they both began to wake themselves up properly and pack up their things.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun could be seen peeking through the clouds on the horizon as the remainder of the Fellowship departed from their stony hideout. The world was gray and dreary and water covered everything. The air was wet and thick, blown hard against them with a strong wind.

Aragorn was in a foul temper, and all his companions were loath to say anything to him. Gandalf noticed sadly that Aragorn no longer wore his quiver across his back; it was stowed away in his pack. In its place was Legolas' brown and gold quiver filled with what arrows of Legolas Aragorn could find mixed with Aragorn's own. Legolas' two white knives rested in their scabbards on either side of the quiver.

Aragorn looked around in every direction, seemingly looking for a place where the Fellowship may cross the river, or otherwise get back on track without having to leave Bill the Pony behind. In his heart, Aragorn was looking for any trace of Legolas anywhere.

The water was still high, and the rain had washed away everything. //Including Legolas,// Aragorn thought sadly. He looked out across the water and something caught his eye. It was sticking out of the water a few feet into the river at an odd angle, seemingly caught in the rocks that the flood engulfed. The Ranger sprinted to it when he realized what it was.

All the Fellowship turned their attention to Aragorn when he bolted into the water. They watched with mixed confusion when he bent down and pulled something from the rocks. Boromir felt grief pull at his heart when he too realized what the object was: Legolas' bow. The string had snapped and the broken pieces hung limply from either end of the delicately carven wood. Gandalf sighed audibly when realization hit him and whispered "his bow" under his breath, though the rest of the Fellowship caught it.

Aragorn bowed his head and gripped the wood so tightly in both hands that his knuckles turned white. The gold engravings were dulled by the half-light of the sky. After a tense moment of silence, the distraught Ranger raised his head and slowly started to remove the broken pieces of bow-string. Once done, he re-strung the bow with one of Legolas' own strings from his quiver and shouldered the Elvish weapon. He cleared his throat, turned so he was facing the Fellowship, and resumed searching the area.

Boromir studied the Ranger for a long while and noticed that Aragorn deliberately didn't look in the eyes of any of his companions. He stared at the river for a time, and then at the rocks leading up to the edge of the rivine, and then back again. He seemed to be having some sort of internal struggle.

"Gandalf," Aragorn said, breaking the silence, "perhaps we could ford the river and follow it to where we had originally planned on crossing, then pick up our trail from there."

Gandalf could see what he was doing. Aragorn wanted to follow the river to look for signs of Legolas. Gandalf almost felt like he betrayed Aragorn when he replied.

"The pony could not cross it so burdened, nor could the little ones fight such a current," at this, Aragorn hung his head, "we shall have to find a way up the ravine."

Aragorn sighed in defeat.

Aragorn found a place suitable enough for Bill the pony to climb, and within two hours time, the fellowship were able to look down upon the place they had stayed the night before. The sky was gray and the wind, icy. It whipped through Aragorn's hair as he looked out over the tree tops that bent and stretched in the winds grasp. His eyes shined with tears he tried desperately to hold back. //I'm so sorry...//

Pippin perked up his ears as Aragorn began to say something in Elvish.

"Ned duin ammen govannen, ned duin ammen cuio. Ernilnîn, mellonîn, muindornîn," here he stopped, covered his eyes with his hand, and took a deep calming breath before he continued, "Gwann maethor o i iaur eryn. Cuio, Legolas, cuio mellonîn. Gil-galad le men na Mandos. Nemarie."*

Pippin didn't understand what it meant, but he couldn't hold back the tears that came flooding to his eyes as he listened. He wept openly as Aragorn finished, and Merry hugged him tightly. Aragorn's eyes met his, and Pippin saw all of the sorrow and loss hidden there. Aragorn squeezed Pippin's shoulder as he passed, and began walking off in the direction of their new road through Hollin.

Somewhere in the wilderness, Legolas sapphire eyes shot open. "Estel..."

********

*It means, "In a river we met, in a river we bid farewell. My prince, my friend, my brother, departed warrior of the ancient forest. Goodbye, Legolas, goodbye my friend. May the stars light your way to Mandos. Goodbye"

So what do you think? It's considerably longer than my last chapter--

Legolas: BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO ME?!?!?!

Force of Hobbit: DON'T INTERUPT ME!

Legolas: I have to know!!

Force of Hobbit: You can wait just like everyone else*smiles smugly*

Legolas: Bloody writers...

Force of Hobbit: What's that?

Legolas:*sigh*...nothing...

So...review, review review! I've got big plans for the future!