Well as promied, here is chapter 5 its rather long as well! A million thanks 2 all my reviewers! Hope you like it!

-Chapter 5-

Reawakened Fears

Aragorn and Legolas had just finished saddling their horses and securing their packs when Elrond and the twins came to say farewell.

The Elf Lord pulled Estel into a tight hug, and whispered into his ear. "Please, be careful Estel, and send word as soon as you reach Mirkwood."

"I will Ada. I should be back after the spring season arrives." The human replied with a smile.

"It will be so quiet with out the two of you here." Elrond said softly.

"Ada, what about us? Don't worry you two, we will keep the house in an uproar while you're gone." The twins replied in unison.

Aragorn and Legolas both laughed as they mounted their horses.

"You take care as well Legolas. I suppose that we will be seeing you in the spring also?" Elrond questioned.

"It is possible." the prince answered with a grin.

"Farewell." Aragorn said as the two spurred their horses onward.

"Farewell my Estel." Elrond whispered as he waved to the retreating figures. 'Valar protect them.'

The two friends rode off into the cover of the trees at a fast trot.

"Kelvar, It's time!" Malazack said with a sneer as he raced into their camp. "Ready the horses and start packing, we need to track them now."

Immediately Kelvar, the younger of the two douses the fire and began saddling the horses. Malazack gathered their meager supplies and their weapons and loaded them onto his horse. With their small camp dismantled, the two mounted their horses and rode off at a gallop, with Malazack leading the way.

The two friends rode in silence, happy just enjoying each other's company.

"Well, what did I tell you? This was a great idea, and you know it!" Aragorn said in triumph.

"My friend I think you are right… for once in your life." He said with a grin.

"What do you mean for once in my life? I've had many great plans and ideas." The ranger said in defense.

"Name one," Legolas retaliated playfully, "One that didn't end in disaster where we didn't get injured or captured or in trouble with someone!"

"Alright you have made your point!" the human laughed. "Besides your no better." He continued in a soft voice thinking the elf was unable to hear him.

Legolas playfully smacked the ranger upside the head. "I heard that!"

"Well its true!" Aragorn declared laughing harder than before when he saw the scowl on the Elf's face.

"Aragorn let me tell you I…" but the elf suddenly froze causing Aragorn to stop laughing.

"What is it?" He quietly questioned.

"Something is wrong. Let us leave this place quickly." The prince answered his face drawn with concern.

The two spurred their horses into a run despite the dangers of them possibly slipping on the wet mud that was a remnant from the previous days storm.

"Duck!" Legolas yelled, but was to late. Aragorn's neck caught on a rope that was suspiciously rigged across the trail between two trees, and he was viciously ripped from the back of his horse.

Aragorn saw stars dancing before his eyes as his back impacted with the ground sending his head snapping back painfully. His eyes began to water in pain from the trauma.

Legolas spun his horse around, dismounted and threw Aragorn into his saddle despite his protests of pain. Legolas remounted, kicked his horse and the two sped away into the forest.
Legolas suddenly stopped. Two men on black horses blocked the path, so he veered left into the dense trees maneuvering the horse as best he could while holding onto the ranger for dear life.

Arrows flew past his head one grazing his cheek, so he quickened his pace in an effort to out run his pursuers.

"Kelvar! Let them go." Malazack yelled above the horses pounding hoofs and labored breathing.

"No! We almost have them!" The younger man yelled back.

"Let them go!" He yelled again this time louder, and finally Kelvar slowed his horse.
He watched as Legolas disappeared into the trees and cursed loudly.

"Why did you do that? We had them!" He yelled in Malazack's face.

"Because," Malazack answered struggling to keep his temper under control, "The Ranger is injured, the rope worked. He will slow the elf. We have them right where we want them." He smiled with content.

"I see now, forgive me." Kelvar said apologetically.

"It is well I know how bad you want this. I want it as well, but we must bide our time until the moment is right. Let them think they are safe; we will be ready."

With that the two turned their horses around and retraced their steps back to their camp.

Aragorn's unconscious body sat lifeless in the saddle, butLegolas, in an effortto distance themselves from their attackersrode until his horse was too tired to continue.

He dismounted and laid his cloak on the ground. He then carefully removed Aragorn from his horse and placed him on the cloak.

He removed his tunic and saw that already a large dark bruise formed on his back and neck. Thankfully none of the deep cuts from the glass episode, that had occurred only two nights ago, had opened.

Legolas carefully turned Aragorn onto his back and winced at the sight. His neck was cut open from the cord that had knocked him from his horse. Legolas carefully treated it with herbs from his own small supply because Aragorn's horse had yet to return to them. He then wrapped it cloth he had torn from his tunic.

Aragorn moaned softly as the Elf picked up his head to get the makeshift bandage secured. This caused the elf to worry.
After several hours Aragorn slowly awoke, his head pounding.

"Legolas," He whispered, hand reaching to his throat in pain.

Legolas rose from where he was sitting by the small fire he had made. He grabbed his water skin and allowed Aragorn to drink from it before he continued.

"What happened?" He asked his crushed windpipes feeling a little better after the refreshind drink.

He started to sit up, but a sharp pain lancing through his back forced him to lie back down.

"You were knocked off your horse and…" Legolas was interrupted.

"I remember that part, what happened after you pulled me on your horse?" Aragorn asked again rephrasing his question.

"Two men on black horses caused me to leave the trail and they then chased me until suddenly they just disappeared." Legolas told the shortened tale.

"What happened to your face?" Aragorn said as he brushed the cut across Legolas' cheek.

"An arrow, it was nothing." Aragorn smiled despite his pain.

"Did you see what they looked like?" Aragorn asked patiently as the Elf tried to remember exactly.

"Yes, one of the men was tall with dark hair, he seemed older to me, and he bore a scar on his right cheek. The other was shorter with blond hair." Legolas described the two men for Aragorn, whose smile soon faded from his face.

"It can not be." He said quietly.

"What? Who are they Aragorn?" Legolas demanded as his friends face changed from one horror to confusion.

"Legolas, do you remember that one trip that you took with the Rangers and I? Into that town not to far from here?" Aragorn asked.

"Yes, but why… Aragorn it's not possible." Legolas' eyes grew wide.

"Yes, my friend I'm afraid it is." Aragorn replied gravely.

"I thought they were jailed and executed; I thought their whole group was." Legolas stated.

"As did I my friend. What they did to those people and children was monstrous. We are no longer safe in or around Rivendell's forests. We must leave. Now." Aragorn's voice held what sounded like years of unspoken fears that had been reawakened.

Dun Dun Dun! Don't worry you will find out who they are in the next chapter. Reviews Please!