19

They were making good progress. The shoes that Legolas had made for Aragorn prevented him from sinking too deeply in the snow and made walking easier. Their sole blanket was draped over him. There was a slit in the middle for his head and it was tied snugly around his waist. It kept the cold down to minimum. He carried the bow that Legolas had made in one hand and the arrows in a make shift quiver on his back. Legolas who wore nothing but short tunic, leggings and boots carried the short knife. They had left the lanterns and the last of the wood back at the arbour, but carried the rope and a small empty sack that had once held the pair of elven boots.

They walked all day and all night the first day only stopping to rest when Aragorn began to drift wearily. Then they bedded down at the base of a group of tightly knit trees. Aragorn fell asleep almost immediately despite the chill wind but Legolas stayed alert. It was not that he was not tired but he knew what creatures lurked in the forest this close to the mountains. He hoped that in seven days they would be close enough to the foothills of the mountain. There were at least two sanctuaries that he remembered. Anyone of them would keep them safe and warm for two weeks at least. But it was best not to think that far ahead. They needed to survive just one more day, one more hour, one more moment.

……………………………………….

The fruit seemed to waver before his eyes. He blinked thinking them to be a product of his imagination, but there they were still. With a little squeak of glee, Aragorn darted forward. The first berry was like honey on his lips. He had crammed a handful in his mouth before Legolas discerned what had caught his attention. A little concerned Legolas just stood by watching Aragorn devour handful after handful of the yellow berries.

"Aren't you going to have some?" Aragorn inquired with a full mouth.

Legolas shook his head an uncertain expression on his face.

"I did not think that those were edible."

"Not edible, not edible! These are just about the most delicious berries ever created." Aragorn said greedily.

"I can see you think so," Legolas said with a smile.

"Here try some," Aragorn insisted holding out a bunch.

Legolas took it warily and smelled it cautiously.

"Oh do hurry man!"

Without bothering to correct the ranger Legolas bit down on one. The sweetest nectar filled his mouth. His eyes popped open in surprise.

Soon they were both gobbling contentedly.

…………………………………

That night Legolas insisted they sleep above ground.

"I shall fall," Aragorn complained as they climbed high into the branches of the beech.

"Do not worry, I brought enough rope," Legolas teased.

In truth Aragorn was afraid of being up so high, but Legolas was so at home on the thick branches that he soon settled down. Before long he noticed that the elf kept staring down towards the base of the tree and was very quiet. Curious he did the same, but hours passed and he saw nothing. He was about to ask Legolas a question when the elf held up his hand for silence and stiffened. Afraid Aragorn looked down again. At first he saw nothing but heard a scraping, dragging sound. It was soft at first but grew louder as a thing out of a nightmare dragged itself into the clearing below. Aragorn could just make out a scaly head and mottled skin. It stood there for a while sniffing loudly then it bumped against the tree. The tree vibrated with the force. The thing gave a muffled cry. Aragorn shot a quick nervous stare at Legolas but he was quiet and calm. It seemed an eternity before the thing shuffled away. With huge eyes Aragorn looked to Legolas.

"A mountain troll," Legolas supplied. "It picked up our scent. The good thing is it cannot see well and does not climb."

"What is the bad thing?"

"It is abnormally patient."

…………………………………….

They travelled only by day after that and a week passed and they were still too far from the foothills. Legolas stopped, tiredly leaning against the rough bark of the tree at his back. Aragorn who was in the lead stopped as well. He stooped lookingup inquiringly at Legolas for usually the elf pushed the pace of their day's march.

"We should stop here for the night," said he.

"We've at least three watches of sunlight left," Aragorn said puzzled.

Legolas looked off into the distance for a while and then back at Aragorn.

"I am tired Aragorn, I would like to sleep for a while before nightfall."

Aragorn opened his mouth to argue but something about the set of Legolas' body warned him not too. Slowly he stood and then came forward. "Where shall we stay?" he asked.

Looking up briefly Legolas indicated with a thrust of his chin a tall oak that dominated that patch of forest around.

……………………….

It did not really take much time or effort for Aragorn to fall asleep. They had eaten the last of a wild fowl that he had managed to shoot and cook the day before and the last of the juicy berries, the meal while small had filled him completely. Legolas had fallen asleep an hour before and Aragorn had been determined to keep watch that night, but too soon his head drooped upon his breast and his soft snores were heard.

Legolas waited for another hour before he moved, silently like a wraith upon the wind he slipped down the thick trunk to the forest below. The short knife was in his hand as he began to run northward into the dense forest.

…………………………

The troll which was old and more than half blind had been doggedly pursuing them for more than seven days. Legolas had hoped that it would be discouraged after the first few days, but the troll was hungry and the prospect of two definite prey kept it going when normally it would have looked for easier fodder. There were no large animals in the forest at that time of year to stalk and a younger stronger troll had pushed him out of his regular hunting grounds. It had not eaten in weeks and the scent of the elf and ranger had made it ravenous.

Legolas found it easily enough for being such a large predator there was no need for it to hide its tracks. The troll moved slowly, stopping to snuffle at the trunks of the trees every now and then. Legolas followed leaving a safe distance between them. Indeed in his heart he did not wish to kill this creature in such a manner but he knew that too soon it would catch up to them and then their lives would hang in the balance.

He noted how slowly and painfully it moved and how old it seemed to be. In the past he would avoid them instead of killing, for the creatures were slow witted and not evil. But now he had no choice, so he stalked the beast even as it followed their scent.

………………………………..

The troll died quickly and painlessly, at least Legolas prayed it was so. He slid off the carcass stiffly. During the last three days his side had begun to hurt again, it was not overly painful but it meant that his body was not healing as it should. He knew that their circumstances were dire. Aragorn was strong but should he fail to take him safely forward the ranger would die out here, he was no match for the darkness that covered Mirkwood. Legolas sighed, he was so tired; he could not remember the last time he had truly rested. For a minute his mind drifted and he thought of his home. It was almost time for the Winter Fest. There would be games, food, music and dance… dreamily Legolas smiled.

……………………………..

Aragorn saw the blood onthe elf'stunic, and scowled. Once again Legolas had gone off on his own to protect him. He wanted to remind him that he was no child that he was capable of sharing the burden of their continued survival. But then he noticed the marked tiredness onthe elf'sface and how carefully he moved.So he forbore to speak and simply followed Legolas as once again the day began and they continued on their long journey.

…………………………..

The snow began to fall three days later. Lazily big white flakes floated down out of the sky. They both looked up disgustedly, they had been lucky so far in that it had not snowed in weeks. Now Legolas unwrapped the rope from around his shoulders and tied it around Aragorn's waist and then his own.

"So we cannot become separated," he explained.

Aragorn nodded already trembling with cold.

Soon the ranger was quite glad for the rope for the snow fell so heavily and the wind blew so strong that he could see nothing but white in front of him, nor could he hear anything but the howling winds. But there was the reassuring tug at his waist telling him that Legolas was still moving. All too soon Aragorn was stumbling along. He was mostly numb, he no longer cared wither they went or why. His hands were clamped onto the rope and his feet shuffled forward on their own. Soon he no longer bothered to shake fresh snow from upon his head and slowly he began to freeze even as he walked.

The stinging sensation in his shoulder took a long time to break through to him and by the time he actually felt the pain he was face down in the snow his red blood staining the whiteness below him.

…………………………….

Legolas went down as Aragorn's weight suddenly jerked him off his feet. Quickly he turned over wondering why the ranger had stopped. He called his name twice but there was no answer, there was only a swirling wall of white and the horrible wind that took his words and blew them away. Holding onto the rope at his waist he began to crawl towards Aragorn but even as hebegan he was suddenly whipped up into the air. He screamed as the vine rope dug into his waist as he was pulled even higher. He kicked and squirmed screaming in fear and anger for he knew what must have happened. Being unable to see or hear they had walked straight into waiting arms of a hungry spider.

……………………………

The snow covered rider heard those screams. He had just been about to turn back abandoning his pointless journey in the face of such a storm, but now with a pounding heart and a unfounded hope heurged his horse forward.

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Lindahoyland---- thanks a lot for your support.

Ainu Laire---- they gotta suffer just a bit more.

Ciryaquen----(don't ask, don't ask) but hey your review buoyed me up.

Tmelange---- As always thank ee sai.

Shanna------otra capitulo pra voce cuando regresas.

Legolass Q------I always appreciate your comments, especially when they're good!(wink)

Grumpy--- Nah no skis, He ain't that good.

Ali64-----Thranduil will probably not be that biased and as for Galad, I never know what

he is up to.

Viggomanaic---- Hey thanks and I probably have room for one more somewhere in this

strange mind of mine. (ran out of accolades huh. shucks).