Very sorry to all of you who have been waiting for this next chapter to be posted. I was tying up loose ends with another story, and finally decided how I was going to continue this story. Now that my other story is finished (well, kinda) I'm going to concentrate on this one. Sorry if this chapter seems kinda short, but I've been out of sync with this story for quite some time. Thank you to everyone who reviewed that last chapter (urrg, about 2 months ago), but I will no longer be posting responses to all reviewers unless and actual question is asked, because it's just too time consuming. Yes, this chapter title is derived from the title of one of my favorite fics. A cookie to whoever can name the story and author.

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." --Shakespeare

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Problems Along The Way

Chapter 15

The Care and Feeding of Elves

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~*~*~

Dark faces swirled around him. There was fire and smoke, and it blocked all of his senses, but for the smell of burning. High pitched shrieks filled the air, and he couldn't breathe. A huge black tower loomed before him, it's four sharp peaks piercing the thick black clouds above.

An incredible pounding filled his ears, and his whole body pulsed with it. He realized that the pounding was his heart, but it was irregular, now fast, now slow. He gripped his head in an effort to stay the hammer rings, and felt sharp nails dig into his scalp. The fires grew larger and swirled around him. They got into his skin, flowed in his veins and swirled inside his head. He burned...

~*~*~

Legolas awoke from his fevered dreams, and his eyes were filled with the stars above. The sky was dark through the overhead leaves, and he perceived that there was fire nearby. His eyes flicked to his right and he saw a modest campfire not too far away.

He smelled food cooking, and realized how long it had been since he had eaten. He felt weak and tired as he surveyed his surroundings. Four small shapes were huddled together for warmth on the opposite side of the fire. //The halflings.// A somewhat taller shape sat on a log next to them sharpening an axe blade. //That's a bit disturbing.// A large man with broad shoulders stared intently into the flames, next to an old man who was taking long puffs on a pipe. //Boromir and Mithrandir. But then where's...?//

His eyes searched the little camp beyond the fire for the Ranger, but did not see him. He heard a sigh close beside him that almost made him jump. His eyes flicked to his left side and saw Aragorn, huddled under a blanket and staring off into the distance. He looked worn and tired and Legolas wondered if he had slept in a while.

Legolas sighed and blinked and Aragorn was down next to him in an instant.

"Legolas?" he asked, staring into Legolas' eyes. Legolas heard the others in the camp stir as they turned their attention to him.

"Yes, Estel?" he answered thickly. His tongue felt swollen and glued to his throat. It made his voice somewhat deeper.

"How do you feel?" his friend asked, placing a hand on the Elf's forehead.

Legolas could have smacked Aragorn then, if he had had the strength. He frowned and raised an eyebrow, though it hurt to do so, and looked at the Ranger as if he had asked if he liked Gimli's beard.

The man chuckled and said, "That bad, huh?" before swiping a wet cloth over his brow. "I thought as much. Are you having trouble breathing?"

Legolas thought a moment before answering. "Not nearly as much as I was before." It was a fair answer, but Legolas couldn't help but feel as though he should say something more. He felt something besides the pain in his chest, something akin to discomfort, but he quickly found the answer to what it was. All eyes were on him, and he could feel their stare bore into him.

He moved a hand up to his face slowly and ran his fingers over his eyes. He could feel that his face was swollen and it stung at the touch. He cringed a little and lowered his hand.

There was an awkward silence for a moment as the others somewhat accurately guessed what he was thinking. It was broken by a hopeful voice off to the side.

"Are you hungry Mr. Legolas? Would you like something to eat?" There was a concerned, yet cheerful gleam in Sam's eyes as he awaited an answer, and Legolas couldn't help but smile, even if it was crooked because of his face.

He closed his eyes briefly as he chuckled and said, "Yes Sam, that would be lovely." He chuckled a little more at his own response, and missed the look Aragorn gave Gandalf as their eyes met over him.

Sam hurried over to a little pot on the fire and bustled back to where Legolas was laying. Boromir politely pretended to be uninterested in the Elf, and Gimli genuinely scoffed at how Sam rushed around for him. Frodo and Merry seemed to be the only ones who weren't just pretending not to watch him. They had quietly taken up a conversation regarding the weather and the surrounding area. Legolas could no longer see Pippin.

He tried to sit up to receive the bowl of stew Sam had proffered him, but found it was more difficult than he had first thought. With some effort, and more than a little pain, Legolas was able to prop himself up on one arm and lean against a pack for support. Strider moved to take the stew from Sam, and Legolas realized his intentions.

"I can do it myself," he snapped at the Ranger, and Aragorn looked a little taken aback., and this time Legolas did catch the look he sent Gandalf.

"Very well," Aragorn said, sounding a little hurt. He handed Legolas the bowl and sat back down cross-legged.

Legolas stared hard at the stew without seeing it. //Why did I speak so harshly, he was only trying to help. It's not as though he has not fed when I was injured before...// He stared at the stew a little more.

There was an awkward silence in which Aragorn stared at the ground, and Legolas glared at his stew. "Forgive me Estel," he said quietly, "It's just..." he drifted off. He played with his vegetables with his spoon.

"Think not on it," the Ranger answered, and their eyes met briefly. "I understand." Aragorn knew that weakness was not something Elves liked to show in front of others, especially not if those others were mortals, and most importantly one was a Dwarf. He thought he understood.

//Well I don't!// Legolas thought spitefully to himself as he took a bite. //Why would I snap at Estel like that? He is like a brother to me?// He was disturbed from his musings by an odd noise somewhere behind him.

He stopped eating and cocked his head to one side to listen for the noise again. Aragorn saw, and stood, one hand on his sword hilt. Legolas wracked his brain and tried to remember where he had heard the noise before. It was an odd tinkling noise, almost like that of a wind chime, or a necklace falling to the ground.

He heard a twig snap, and this time, Aragorn did too, for he drew his sword. Boromir stood also, but as he reached for his sword, Pippin came tumbling into the clearing. He had leaves in his hair and was breathing deeply.

"What's wrong?" he asked when he noted the two men staring at him.

Aragorn sighed and sheathed his sword. "Are you alright, Pippin?" he asked, a mixture of strained patience and relief in his voice.

"Fine. Why do you ask?" Pippin answered innocently.

Aragorn sat down in as an answer, and Boromir followed suit as Pippin made his way over to where a bemused looking Merry began pulling leaves from his hair. Aragorn and Legolas made eye contact, and the Ranger furrowed his brow as if to ask, 'Is that what you heard?' Legolas raised an eyebrow and frowned as if to answer, 'I don't know.'

Legolas finished the rest of his stew in silence.

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Sorry it's a bit on the short side, but reviews make me write faster. *evil grin*