10

"Are you sure this is the way?" Legolas shouted over the wind.

Aragorn turned, map in hand to confer with him. They huddled against the horse's flank, trying to stay out of the buffeting winds. The weather had turned bad when they were but a week out from the village. It was cold and grew colder every day.

"We are to turn right at this point," Aragorn shouted back. "We should come to the road in three days!"

"We must get out of this wind!" Legolas shouted again.

Aragorn nodded and together they drifted off the path, seeking shelter under the trees. They stopped within sight of the path, unwilling to go further. They slumped to the ground burning with cold.

"The old man told us not to leave the path." Aragorn reminded him.

"I remember," Legolas said. "But you will die, should we linger. Humans cannot withstand such cold." His breath turned to frost with each word he spoke.

"And you know much of humans do you?" Aragorn queried.

"I do," Legolas replied with a grin.

"And what of elves, do they not feel the cold?"

Legolas' smile faltered, "Yes we do," he said softly. "But it takes a long time."

Aragorn regretted the question. He hated seeing that look on his face. He tried for a tiny smile but Legolas just hugged his knees to his chest.

"I did not mean to upset you mellon nin." Aragorn voice was sombre.

"I know I try to forget, but it is hard sometimes." Legolas dredged up a wan smile.

………………………

The wind found and harried them, forcing them to seek shelter deeper in the woods, where the twisted limbs of the trees formed a dark and forbidding canopy overhead. Aragorn had to tie up the front of his coat and push his hands deep into its fur lined pocket to stay warm. Legolas paced in tight circles and rubbed his arms.

"Come closer, let us share what warmth we have." Aragorn suggested.

The two huddled, breathing in each other's faces, bodies pressed together.

"This is some journey you have taken me on ranger," Legolas said laughingly.

Smiling Aragorn said, "Wait till we get to the river, you will thank me then."

"We shall see." was the elf's response.

………………………

Am interminable time passed during which the mare, accustomed to such extreme weather found herself a tight spot and bedded down, legs folded beneath her, head tucked against her chest. Legolas and Aragorn wasted no time in flanking her, gratefully lying against her warm width. Many times during the wind storm Legolas thought he heard the sound of snapping twigs and voices, but he shook it off ascribing it to the howling of the wind.

…………………………

"Aragorn," a soft voice called nearby.

"Aragorn," the voice repeated sharper and louder.

Aragorn opened his eyes to see blue ones dazzlingly close.

"The wind has died down, we should be getting back," Legolas said to him.

Grunting incoherently Aragorn climbed to his feet.

Legolas cocked his head in a very bird like manner.

"Are you awake?" he asked.

Aragorn gave him a dirty look.

They had been walking steadily for about twenty minutes Aragorn leading, Legolas trailing with the mare when Aragorn stopped suddenly. He looked about them twice hands going to his hips. Legolas asked nothing for Aragorn's face clearly showed that he was puzzled.

"Would you say we have been going in a straight line? he asked the elf.

"Yes," Legolas readily replied.

Aragorn shook his head, "I have seen that particular bush twice before." he said pointing to their right.

Legolas looked. The shrub in question was only different from its neighbours in that it still carried a few tiny purple blossoms amid its leaves.

Legolas looked then at Aragorn, "What does it mean?"

"I do not know," he replied.

They walked together, each paying strict attention to their surroundings. Legolas threw out all his senses, alert for any perils. At first he paid no attention to the sibilant whispering around them. But as he discerned a word out of the noise, a word as familiar to him as breathing, he stopped. In surprise and awe he clutched at Aragorn intentionally stopping his forward momentum.

"Aragorn," he said in a hushed voice. "The trees, they speak among themselves."

Aragorn frowned and looked up suspiciously. But Legolas, eyes wide and unfocused was listening hard.

"They mean us harm," he said in a hollow voice. "They will not let us pass."

His eyes slowly refocused finding Aragorn's with mute appeal.

Aragorn sneered. He wished for the comfort of his sword, but even its absence could not stop his determination. "We will pass," he declared.

…………………………

They pushed they fought and they strove. Yet as hard as they did the trees turned them aside from their true path with ease. Branches fell dangerously near and roots tripped them up, trees leaned together blocking out what light filtered past their leaves. As Legolas pulled free of clawed branches he threw himself to the ground shouting. He clapped his hands over his ears, screaming at them to be silent.

And surprisingly they were, for in his voice they heard an echo of those who once commanded them. Those who once brought light and love to their grove. For an instant their black natures were filled with light and joy. Aragorn staggered out of an entangling cluster of vine and went to his knees at Legolas' side.

"They hear you," he whispered, looking around at the trees that trembled though there was no wind. Legolas looked at them, feeling their mal content in the air.

"Tell them to let us pass," the ranger urged.

Legolas shook his head. "These trees have black hearts Aragorn, they will not listen."

"Try, tell them they must, command them," he insisted.

Legolas got to his feet full of misgiving and dusted himself off.

"I beg that you listen to me," he said loudly, then stopped. He looked at Aragorn with renewed doubt but the ranger encouraged him with a gesture to go on.

"I demand that you let us pass." he said.

There was not a whisper from the trees.

Emboldened he continued, "We have done no harm to you nor do we wish any upon you! We simply mean to journey through this place," Legolas ended.

There was a hush and then a rush of angry sound went through the trees. So loud was it that Aragorn scrambled to his feet in fear. But then a softer, gentler whispering began and the trees seemed to be moving. With many a groan and creak did they twist. Legolas and Aragorn stood shoulder to shoulder wondering what evil would befall them. But the trees settled and grew quiet and the gloom lifted. Aragorn licked his lips nervously, "Come Legolas we should go before they change their minds."

Neither of them knew which way to go for they had been completely turned around. So they chose randomly and began walking. It was only then that Aragorn realised that the mare was gone. He was glad then that Legolas had insisted that they carry some of the sacks of food and water themselves.

………………………..

They walked silently for the most part for Legolas still mistrustful of the trees was alert for treachery. In the lead Aragorn stopped as the older trees suddenly gave way to younger half grown saplings that were cleaner and straighter of limb. It was clear to the ranger that in this section of the forest men had once made their homes, cutting and planting as they saw fit. He now understood some the anger of the trees. As they passed eagerly under these new branches from behind them came the distinctive sound of leafy laughter. Spinning around they expected to see some terrible phantom lurch out of the undergrowth, but there was nothing there but the old trees.

……………………

Aragorn ate disconsolately, chewing at the tough bread with little enthusiasm. He studied Legolas' face. The elf was quiet and pensive eating but little of their meagre repast.

"Do you wish to turn back?" Aragorn asked in a serious tone.

Legolas looked up in surprise. He shook his head. "No, I want to go on. I would see these elves even if they are not my people."

Aragorn would have replied but he thought it best to keep his thoughts to himself. After a while he pulled out the map and tried to find their position. He knew the exact point at which they had left the path. In all they had walked for no more than an hour even when they had been turned around. He thought he knew the area they might be in. If the sky was clear that night he could use the position of the stars to plot their course to the forest road.

"Do you know where we are?"

"I will soon."

By mutual consent they built no fire, but stayed close together looking up at the sky.

"There are many clouds," said Legolas.

"It will break soon…"

"I think it may rain Aragorn."

"It will blow over elf,"

"It is raining," Legolas observed unnecessarily.

Aragorn did not deign to reply, but Legolas saw him hide a smile.

The rain was light and gentle and passed quickly, leaving the sky refreshed and clear. Earendil, the brightest star shone in the east.

"We are not so far off our goal." Aragorn said.

But Legolas did not hear him. The light of the stars was in his eyes and his very skin seemed to glow. Seeing the rapture on his face Aragorn settled down quietly and went to sleep.

………………

At the first light of dawn they started off refreshed by an untroubled night of sleep. For Legolas it had been especially good, for he had run with carefree abandon in true elven dreams for the first time in fifteen years. There was a glow on his face that morning. He moved with a lightness and a quickness of step that made Aragorn laugh and run to keep up with him. He talked eagerly of entering the elven realm, of getting to know all about his past and people. He was animated and flushed. He seemed almost to be floating as they kept up a brisk pace through the densely treed woodland.

It was around mid day that Aragorn, feeling the pressing need to relieve himself called a halt. Letting his bags fall where they stood, he turned aside seeking a private tree. Good naturedly Legolas stopped and rested on his haunches. He followed the ranger with his eyes, his gaze dropping to his boots as they kicked aside leaves and shrub. Something dull and brown caught his eye, something that stirred a memory. He frowned and then realising what it was shouted out to Aragorn. Startled the ranger turned around taking a backward step in reflex. But Legolas was already moving, moving faster than Aragorn thought possible. Legolas yanked him forward, but his own momentum carried him two steps too far.

There was a blood chilling creak and an awful snap as the jaws of the trap set so many years ago finally found release.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Lindahoyland-------Aragorn needs saving all the time doesn't he?

Invisigoth3-----------Thank you mucho.

Ainu Laire-----------Almost time for the not nice men.

Tmelange------------you make me feel good

Wolenczak2004-------- Trying to update in a timely fashion!

Ciryaquen---------Ok now I'm very nervous.

Inuyashaloverfan-------Trying really hard.

Grumpy--------Short one leaf, that made me laugh, but I see what you mean.

Viggomaniac--------Hens have teeth! (lol) Oh yeah and It'll be fraught, fraught I tell you!

Grecian---------- Gracias amiga. espero que disfrutas del nuevo capitulo.