Wow, that chapter got a lot of reviews pretty fast! Hope you like what I've got planned for our favorite poncy git...can someone say 'emotional and physical anguish'? *evil laugh* Now that I have some time to breathe (waterpolo Hell Week being over and all), let's see if I can get a couple more chapters in before I die from plot-bunny bites. Those things hurt!! Anyone see Monty Python's Quest For The Holy Grail? Yeah, something like that...*shivers involuntarily* creepy little furballs...But anywho, I hope you all like this chapter. I'm tired as heck, and I almost passed out yesterday during practice because I hadn't eaten all day and used up every ounce of energy I had, but hey, when I get reviews, you get a new chapter!

Once upon a time, I got some reviews:

ElizabethBlack4: Hey you were the first to R/R chapter 7! Allayambo an le!! *gives you a cookie for being 1st* Pretty, oh so pretty? Aren't we all? :) Teary eyed was what I was going for. Yes! Desired effect achieved!* does happy dance* Luckily, Legolas lives for all eternity, so he has an eternity to be tapped.

Beguile: STOP YELLING AT ME!! Got anger issues? *sticks out tongue* Let's see what you do when I send my Dwarvish mercenaries after you! *every Elves worst nightmare taps you on the back* They ain't pretty, but they get the job done, and cheap too! Muchas gracias por la...uh...*looks in Spanish dictionary...finds nothing. 'ah screw it!') review. Your order's up! Poncy git stewing in anguish coming right up!

bunny-luver: thanx a lot! you'll have to wait and see-,o

MoroTheWolfGod: It's always 'hurry hurry hurry' with you, isn't it? Take a chill pill while I take a moment to write:)

Sanai-Sylvain: All 7 at once? I'm touched! *single tear* thanx, I'm writing as fast and as tastefully as I can:) you likey? good. me likey.

Starlit Hope: I know. Cliffies are awful imperialists. They just invade a story, and no matter how much I fight them, they always win in the end. I think that the plot bunnies are secretly aiding them *glares at plot-bunnies**plot-bunnies glare back*

Philomythus: I know, 18 days is an awful wait, isn't it? sorrie. at least this update came a lot sooner. anyway, hannad! glad you liked it! just for me? aw, thanx!

Deana: thanx, it was a completely original little eulogy that took me half an hour to think up and translate. *loves being able to do something original* There's a ways to go yet...

aronoiiel: hennaid evyr! I'm glad you like it. I've been in a blood lusty/angsty mood for some time now. It's one thing to say that this is an awesome story, but being called an awesome writer is just so touching. thanx alot!

Jamie: thanks, I had a lot of fun writing it. Hope you like this chapter too:)

Tini-angel: thanks a lot! I can promise you that I will update as soon as I possibly can, but I promise nothing concerning the welfare and general condition Legolas is in *evil grin*

Also, it occurred to me that in the last chapter I said that the Fellowship "began walking off in the direction of their new road through Hollin." Now, this story started about a week BEFORE the Fellowship reaches Hollin, and so far I've only written two days worth of 'epic tale' *grin*. So, I would like to revise that to say, "began walking off in the direction of their new road INTO Hollin". For all intents and purposes, they have yet to reach Hollin.

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Problems Along the Way

Chapter 8

Speak to Me

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Legolas would have thought his body completely frozen, if not for the waves of fire spreading across his chest. Each breath was agonizing and brought more freezing air into his struggling lungs. His head throbbed, his heart beating so loudly in his ears it felt like he was being kicked in the temple repeatedly with a steel boot. //I suppose it's good that I can hear my heart; at least I know I'm alive.//

Legolas rolled over on his back, and a fresh wave of white-hot pain ran through his chest. A moan of anguish escaped his lips. He blinked his steel-blue eyes several times to clear his vision. The sky, or what he could see of it, was a dark, forboding gray. An icy wind blew across his soaking wet form. Legolas lowered his eyes and looked himself over: he was covered in mud, and it was especially thick and red around his mid-section and chest. His feet were still in the river and were completely numb.

Another chill wind blew across Legolas' battered frame. He began to shiver intensely, and white hot pain raced up and down his leg. He made to clutch at his leg, but stopped when his broken ribs cried out in protest. He gritted his teeth and looked down at his submerged leg. The water surrounding was murky, but Legolas noticed that it was tinted red. Summoning every last ounce of strength he had, he pulled his tortured limbs out of the water. He cried out in pain as electric pain shot through his chest, and his battered body was dragged across the rocks. He lay flat on his back and struggled to breathe for a moment. The Crowned prince of Mirkwood looked with dismay at the crimson stripes trailing down his calf.

A wave of nausea hit him and his shivering redoubled. His vision started to cloud, but Legolas fought valiantly to stay awake. //I must find Estel and Mithrandir// he thought to himself. He brought his numb fingertips to his mouth, took as deep a breath as he could manage, and let out a long, piercing whistle. He strained his keen, Elvish ears for any answering call. The whistling wind was his only response. He tried once more, but his whistle was cut short when his pale frame was hit with a violent fit of racking coughs. Each was like a dagger to the chest, and he struggled and gasped with his efforts to stop them. He started choking on water he coughed up from his lungs. His mouth was filled with the taste of copper. He started to panic.

//It's blood! I'm going to drown in my own blood!// In his frenzy, he flipped onto his stomach, regretting instantly the torture spreading through his chest. He violently coughed up his own blood, and the darkness threatened once more to take over his mind. His body screamed for air, and his mind for mercy. //Please...// he thought desperately.

Slowly, his body started to calm, and the coughing lessened. He lay gasping in the mud, silently thanking the Valar. //Hennaid evyr Hîrim o i Annûn...Hennad.//* he lay there for quite some time, shivering madly. He didn't attempt to have any control over the direction of his thoughts; he was pre-occupied with trying to breathe without further upsetting his broken ribs.

His mind wandered back to the conditions of his companions. Legolas was suddenly very interested in the subject. What happened to the rest of the Fellowship? Were they alright? Were all of the wargs truly slain? Where were they? //Where am I?// Legolas realized that he needed to make a decision.

His deep blue eyes closed tightly. //I came on this quest for a reason. To protect the Ring Bearer and see to it that the Ring was destroyed.// He audibly sighed, instantly regretting it as more pain shot through his chest. //I must not give in so quickly. I must find them!//

The injured prince opened his eyes and looked at nothing in particular. //But what of my wounds? Will I not only slow them down? Suppose I cannot find them at all? Estel was far enough away that he could not hear my call...// Legolas stone-willed resolution failed him. //And what if there are other wargs scouting the area? Surly I cannot fight them off in my current condition.//

The archer was frustrated with his own weakness. //Enough of this! Dark thoughts lead to dark deeds. I must find them!//



He pushed himself up, first onto his elbows, then his hands and knees. He calmed his breathing as much as possible and mentally prepared himself for the impending pain. He put his good foot firmly onto the ground and with one great effort, raised himself into the standing position. His nerves exploded in agony, and the moment he was up, he was on the ground again, struggling against the pain for air. //Foolish...that was foolish.//

Once more, he got to his hands and knees, with somewhat more of a struggle than the previous time. His golden head hung limply on his shoulders, and he looked with dismay at his mutilated calf.

"Little elf..." Legolas' head shot up, and the punding became more powerful.

"Who's there?" he called out with as much voice as he could summon. There was no immediate answer. //I know I heard someone-//

"Little elf..." the voice cried out faintly.

"What do you want?!" he cried more frantically.

"Come...come to us..." the voice was whispy, as if a thousand were speaking at once, but their words were torn with wind.

Legolas searched the surrounding area hecticly with his keen eyes: the sky was gray, and the wind wipped through the trees, but he saw no one.

"Come...come to us, and we will protect you," the voice said.

Legolas looked into the trees but saw nothing. Then it hit him. //The trees! It is the trees that speak! Why did I not recognize their voices?// He looked at the strong trunks and dripping green leaves of the trees only a few ells before him.

With great effort, he started to crawl on all fours towards the welcoming embrace of the trees. They spoke silent encouragement and spoke comforting words.

"I'm coming," he struggled out against the pain, "I'm coming..."

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Well, how you like? I was going to write one big chapter, but decided to break it into two smaller ones. It is Thanksgiving today. I have stuff to do!

Legolas: Finally, I am in my element.

Gimli: But you managed to get the snot beaten out of you first!

Legolas: Shut up! I don't see you striving for the Fellowship!

Gimli: No, I'm basking in the fact that you are now dead to us!

Legolas: Nibin-naug. I naneth o le gar fang.

Force of Hobbit, Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen, Aragorn, Galadriel, Celeborn, Haldir, Orophin, Rumil, Thranduil, Valthorin, Ithilen, Celebrian, Erestor, Glorfindel: *rolling on the floor, laughing madly*

Gimli: *confuzzled* What did he say? What?!

Force of Hobbit: *through giggles* Nothing, nothing...

Gimli: Urrgh!

Anyways, please R/R!