Hey everyone, I hope it wasn't to long between updates!

Overthrown

Chapter 11

Travelers of Emyn Muil

Legolas was already awake the next morning when Gimli began to stir. Helping the half-inebriated Dwarf pack up their supplies and tent, Legolas had little time to dwell on the dream the night before.

"Those little Arnor soldiers can not even hold a candle next to me." Gimli growled proudly as he thumbed through Legolas' book as the elf prepared their horse for the travel. "They are gracious losers though…from what I can remember."

"I'm very happy for you, Gimli." Legolas muttered. The Dwarf, having not heard him, chuckled softly.

"What does this mean?" He asked, pointing to a page in Legolas' book with a large finger. "What is it about?"

"It's a book of poetry from Lord Elrond's library. I found it in Aragorn's study and he allowed me to borrow it." Legolas answered. He began fastening the horse's bridle. "It speaks of my home, before the shadows." Finishing with the bridle, Legolas kissed the horse's velvety nose and turned, taking the book from the Dwarf.

The pace was quicker then the day before and Legolas gritted teeth as every step of his horse jolted his side. Once Gimli's hand slid down close enough to his wound and Legolas had to move it back up again. After that, Gimli kept it firmly under his arm.

It was about noon when they came to the wide marshes of the Nindalf, or Wetwang. Legolas let his eyes wander from the wide wet in front of him, where the Anduin leaked, and to the Dead Marshes far off in the distance. It was Aragorn's voice, calling the men behind them that brought him back.

"We will find a way through the marshes. If, by sun down, we have not yet found a place to rest, we sill keep moving until we do. We will not stop until night fall." Aragorn turned in his saddle and slipped sideways off his mount. Grabbing the horse's reins firmly, he helped Gimli off from behind Legolas and waited for the Elf to dismount.

"I have been wondering." Aragorn said quietly as Legolas patted his horse's neck. "How did you manage to get through Emyn Muil…or any of this so fast?" Legolas stared at the marsh and shook his head.

"I do not know." He answered. Just then, from beside him, Gimli's stomach gave an all mighty rumble that seemed to shake the ground.

"My stomach is starting to eat itself, I'm so hungry. When are we stopping for food?" He grumbled. Legolas raised his eyebrow and shook his head.

"I'm not hungry." He said, leading his horse forward. Gimli mumbled something under his breath. Legolas picked up 'damn flaunty Elves with their perfect bodies and love to starve.' Legolas smiled.

"Hold up, Legolas." Aragorn called. "I think Gimli's stomach is right. I'll go talk to the others and see what their men want to do. It may be a good time to eat while we're still on dry land." Legolas nodded but inside he was seething. They couldn't stop now! He had gone days with out food to get to Gondor, he hadn't stopped!

With an angry sigh, he flung his reins onto his horse's neck and sat down on a small boulder over looking the marshes. Water lapped the bottom of his boots and the sun sent shimmering light off the gloomy water and onto his face. It was a nice day, for now, until the slight drop in temperature and the cool tang on his tongue brought rain.

A presence behind him made him turn to see Pippin wending his way through the men. He was carrying two small buns (big for him) in one hand and a leaf of elvish way bread in the other. When he noticed Legolas watching him, he smiled.

"Aragorn told me to give you these." He said, perching himself uneasily on Legolas' boulder and handing him a bun and bread. "I'm supposed to share the bread and the bun is yours." Legolas shook his head and handed them back to the small Hobbit.

"I am not hungry, Mater Pippin, but thank you anyway." He answered, folding his hands in his lap and staring out at the marshes. Pippin shrugged and began eating all the food, occasionally glancing up at Legolas as though he were crazy for passing up something so good. "You may tell me, however, how the rest of the fellowship are faring."

Pippin sat in silence for a moment, chewing on his bun and smiling slightly. "Sam married Rose Cotton." Pippin said. Legolas didn't know who Rose Cotton was but smiled all the same. "Will Whitefoot is mayor of the Shire again, Frodo resigned. Sam and Rose are planning on having kids…that's about all, really. The Shire, I'm afraid, is not as exciting as the rest of the world."

Legolas shrugged. "I would rather have a simple life there, in the Shire, then have to once again fight for the freedom of my home." Pippin's ears went red and he lapsed into silence once more. They sat, staring out at the marshes until Aragorn called to them.

"Come, Legolas…Pippin, we ride out." Pippin hopped off the boulder and was making his way across the damp plain when Legolas grabbed his small arm and halted him.

"Pippin, do not tell Aragorn that I ate nothing." He whispered. Pippin looked up at him suspiciously but nodded and smiled. Legolas let him go, grabbed his horse who was grazing nearby and led him over to the others.

"What were you and young Master Pippin talking about over there?" Gimli asked. Legolas looked off through the sea of men and caught sight of Pippin being lifted onto the back of Faramir's horse.

"We were talking about shaving off your beard in the middle of the night, Gimli." He answered. "It really is getting far to wild." Gimli raised his ax defensively in front of him and pointed it at Legolas.

"If I find even one Elf print on my beard, Legolas…" He warned. Aragorn put a hand on his shoulder and steered the Dwarf towards the marshes.

"Now, Gimli." Aragorn said in a mock warning tone. "We do not threaten our friends."

Gimli began to splutter indignantly. "But…he threatened me first! Did you not hear him, Aragorn?"

Aragorn smiled up at Legolas. "I heard nothing of the sort, my dear Dwarf. Now come, the marshes await."

They got Gimli safely onto Legolas' horse and the men began to march again. There were only a few men riding, Gimli and Pippin amongst them because of their size. Marsh water soaked through Legolas' boots and leggings. The sudden jolt of an unseen hole below him sent his side into spasms of pain and once or twice he had to stop in his trudging to rest. It didn't make things any better with the Dwarf complaining behind him on the horse.

Night fell quickly and the men found themselves sleeping on damp earth beside their horses. Legolas sat off from the camp with Aragorn, Gimli, Pippin and the twins, speaking in whispers about everything ranging from the attacks on Mirkwood to the good old days of the past.

Morning dawned cold and miserable. The rain Legolas had smelt the day before hit them hard at dawn, sending silver sheets across the plains and into their eyes. The water in the marsh rose and by midday, the horses were even having trouble. Gimli fell twice off Legolas' mount and by the afternoon meal, no one felt like eating.

It was bittersweet relief when they reached the short expanse of dry ground between the Nindalf and Emyn Muil. Legolas flopped down on the ground, flat on his back and covered his face with his arm as rain thundered down around them. Many men were doing the same but Aragorn was standing off to the side, on a large rocky hill over looking the cliffs of Emyn Muil.

Coming back down carefully, he moved to every leader and told them to set up camp and wait for the dawn next day when they would tackle the cliffs. That night the rain let off only a little. Legolas laid in his tent, soaked through to the bone, listening to the pounding of the rain outside.

Gimli sat on his own bed, drying his armor with a corner of his blanket. Legolas ignored him, glad for the sounds of the night. He could hear the occasional whinny of a horse and the cough or grumble of a man in a near by tent.

"Damn rain." Gimli growled. "Rusting my armor."

"Maybe you shouldn't wear any." Legolas answered. Gimli made a puffing noise and lowered his helmet. "I'm sure that head of yours is thick enough to with stand any blow aimed at it."

"Elf, I will crack you over the head any day now, so help me." Gimli growled back. He continued cleaning his helmet with a smile on his face. Footsteps slopped through the muck, coming toward their tent. Legolas tensed but it was only Aragorn, carrying a bundle of herbs and bandages under his arm. He smiled at them and sat down beside Legolas.

"Gimli, you'll need more then that blanket to dry your armor." He said, setting the items down on the bed. Gimli glared up at him, muttered something, shook his head and continued his work. Legolas watched him a moment longer and then looked up at Aragorn who was staring at him. "I'm afraid that swamp water did no good to your side."

"We shall see." Legolas said. He sat up painfully and took his shirts off. When he was done he scooted as far to the left of his bed as was possible so Aragorn could get a look at his right.

Peeling off the bandages, the man remained silent for so long, Legolas thought he had fallen asleep with his eyes open. "No." He said finally. "It did no good what so ever." He took out a jar of herbs and began crushing them up. Legolas tried to sit up and see his side but Aragorn pushed him down gently. "It's not good."

"I got that, Aragorn." Legolas hissed. Aragorn and Gimli looked up at him in surprise. Closing his eyes, Legolas took a deep breath. "My apologies." He said quietly.

"There is nothing to forgive." Aragorn answered. His rough fingers moved gently over the injury and Legolas clenched his jaw together, trying hard not to cry out. When he was done, Aragorn's fingers began to trace the lines along Legolas' stomach. "These have grown remarkably in the past few days."

"I know." Legolas said. "I can feel them moving like small hot worms beneath my skin." He wrinkled his face in disgust and stared at the ceiling.

"Rest tonight, tomorrow we'll move again." With that, Aragorn gathered his herbs and departed. Legolas listened to his steps crossing the camp and enter his tent. Relaxing, he tensed when he heard a new pair of feet. They were off to his right, two tents away. By the squelch of the mud as they moved, the person had been standing in the same spot for a while and from the angle the person had been watching Legolas' tent. Sitting up, he moved to the tent flap and opened it. Who ever had been there was gone, leaving only shallow, water-filled, muddy footprints behind.

The rain had stopped by morning, as Aragorn had probably predicted, but the dewy dampness and crisp scent was left behind. Men around the camp packed their tents and handed them off to the tent carriers before assembling their gear, stiff legged and armed.

They set out once more, bringing their horses to an uncomfortable pace. Legolas tried with all his might to he keep himself as still as possible, calling on years of training, but his side still hurt and he was grateful when Aragorn called for a rest an hour later.

"Legolas, we can go a slower pace if you need it." Aragorn whispered. They stood under the shadow of a large rocky hill, one of many guarding the passes of Emyn Muil. Legolas shook his head and ran a hand up his injured side.

"No. I can keep the pace." He said. Aragorn opened his mouth to reply but Legolas cut in front of him. "I am not weak, Aragorn." He snapped. "Believe me when I say I can keep any pace you set." He pushed around the man and began making his way back to his horse and the other men. He hadn't meant to be so rough but Aragorn, as usual; pretended nothing had happened and led them as such, glancing at Legolas every few minutes.

The rocky hills and jagged outcroppings were not all together sudden, small hints had been given of their coming but many men in the line stretching behind Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, stopped their horses to gawk at the black majesty before them. Aragorn pulled up in the shadow of a large rock face and turned to his Elf companion who was squinting his eyes in the light, scanning the rocks below him.

"Legolas, where did you come through?" He asked. Legolas was silent for a while, watching Emyn Muil.

"It was more towards the Anduin River. I know a path, more or less, through there. It's not as rocky and we are able to get our horses through." Aragorn seemed to ponder this for a moment, his forehead wrinkled in deep thought.

"You said, 'we are able to get our horses through'." Aragorn answered. Legolas' face remained stoic but there was a hint of something behind his deep blue eyes.

"My people." He answered. "We never tell many about the path, if you can call that, which runs through here. It's steep and we'll have to move slower, especially with so many men. This is where I was slowed up the most."

Gimli, who had stayed remarkably silent through this whole exchange, now piped up, "Aragorn, the Elf is delirious." He growled, removing his hand from Legolas' side and waving it at the rocks ahead. "How can we possibly get through there, all of us?"

"We must, Gimli." Aragorn answered. Looking up, he motioned for Legolas to move ahead. They moved parallel to Emyn Muil for a good twenty minutes before Legolas halted and stared at the pass twisting into the hills before him. Memories of half formed thoughts came to him then, he could see these hills rushing beside him as he galloped toward Gondor. Looking to his left, Legolas saw the same scenery that had relieved him days before.

"This is it." He announced, staring at the pass beyond. "There are many twists and turns. For the most part, we can ride through but there will be spots where we have to lead out horses." Aragorn nodded and turned, galloping back down the line to each company leader.

Legolas pushed his horse forward and slowly, he and Gimli entered the mouth of the path. The dark black rocks around them were still slick and glistening from the night rain. Small patches of loose stones fell away beneath their horse's feet as they continued to ride and soon, the mouth of the path was gone from view behind twisting stone walls and outcroppings.

"Legolas, I believe you should wait for the others." Gimli whispered, but his voice seemed magnified here and bounced loudly off the walls. Legolas held up a hand and hushed him, pointing at the tops of the cliffs. Gimli craned his neck and stared past the blond hair to the blue sky and twisting cliff tops. "What do you see?"

Legolas again shook his head. There was someone up there, he could feel it. "Legolas! Gimli!" Aragorn called. Halting his horse, Legolas waited for the others to catch up and soon Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir were right behind them. "Legolas, what are you doing?" Aragorn asked.

Legolas turned and looked back at the King in what Gimli would call rage. His face softened, however and he shook his head. "I'll lead the way." He called. And so they marched through the paths of Emyn Muil, Legolas and Gimli in the lead, Elladan and Elrohir next followed by Aragorn and his men. Behind followed Gariel and his men, Faramir with Pippin and his men, and Lodrin with his small gang. Others behind tagged but soon all were lost in the mystery of the tall cliffs.

By noon they still hadn't found anything but winding cliffs and a small narrow passage. Gimli grew board and began singing in low, crude Dwarf songs. Every once and a while, Legolas picked up a word like 'hot' or 'women' or 'drunk' but he ignored the creature behind him.

They had been able to ride most of the way, with the exception of a small steep hill where they led their horses. Legolas and the twins rode ahead, scouting. "I smell danger." Elladan said, as they passed under a long stretch of straight path cut deep under the hills. It rose up sharply at the end and led to a shelf of rock. Above them, on the cliff side, loose stones were piled high. Legolas didn't remember seeing them the last time he had come through here.

"Keep you're eyes peeled." Gimli growled. "With all the bragging you do about perfect eye sight, I'm sure you'll see anything coming."

"Legolas, can we eat the Dwarf?" Elrohir asked viciously, unsheathing a dagger from his side. Gimli's tightened grip on Legolas' side betrayed the courage in his voice.

"Oh, I am so afraid of a lembas-munching elf." Gimli shot back. Legolas didn't turn to see the twin's reaction; his eyes were fixed on a shadow in the loose rocks above them. They'd walked right into it!

"Ai!" Legolas cried, "Ta naa neuma! Rima!" (It's a trap! Run!) Legolas' horse spurred forward and Gimli had to grab on tightly to stop from falling off. He didn't look behind him to see where the other two elves had got to. All he could hear or see were tumbling rocks from above and dust settling thick all around them.

He hit the steep rise and galloped up it, trying desperately to get to the ridge. It was Gimli falling off behind him that halted him. "Gimli!" He cried, turning his horse so sharply that it reared and staggered on the uneven ground. Gimli was rolling down the hill, past the twins who were coming up. Elrohir swung off his horse, holding onto the mane and grabbed the rolling Dwarf as he past. The creature's weight pulled Elrohir down with it. They rolled and came to a stop at the bottom, against the large pile of fallen rocks.

The air was silent. Legolas watched as Elrohir got shakily to his feet, dusted himself off and pulled the Dwarf up. Gimli glared at Legolas who was still near the top of the ridge. "Fine riding skills, Master Elf." He grumbled.

"He's not the one who fell off." Elladan answered. His eyes were searching the ridge along side them. He gave a cry of, "En!" (Look) as a shadow moved on the rocks. Legolas saw it to. Quick as lightning, he motioned his horse forward and they galloped up the slope and onto the shelf. There was nothing there but black rocks and passages twisting off towards the Anduin. Legolas went to dismount and move forward but Elrohir called out to him.

"Legolas, it was a trap once already. Do not make it you're death. We have a better chance if we stay together." Legolas watched the dark passages for a few more minutes before coming back down the ridge.

"Now what? I'm stuck with three elves who are perfect in every possible way." Gimli grumbled, scratching his dusty beard. "Look at you!" He cried, gesturing to their clothing. "You're not even dusty! Now everyone will know it when I snore."

"Everyone does anyway." Elladan said seriously. Gimli glared up at him and then his face broke into a smile.

"I have a really good sleeping voice, don't I?" He asked. Elladan couldn't help but smile. Just then, over the rocks, Legolas caught the sound of many hooves and men.

"Legolas!" Aragorn's anguished cry came from the other side. Legolas' head snapped up and he sprang from his horse and began climbing the boulders. "Elladan! Elrohir, Gimli! Legolas! Can anyone hear me?"

Reaching the top of the slide, Legolas bounded over the cracks and uneven mound, his eyes still darting to the ridge above him. At the other side, he looked over the men below him grimly. "Aragorn, I'm here."

"Oh, thank the Valar!" Aragorn exclaimed, raising a shaking hand to his forehead. "Is everyone else alive?" Legolas nodded. "Can you all make it over?"

"No, our horses can not and we will not leave them." Legolas answered. "You'll have to find another way around and meet us at the other end."

Aragorn looked stricken at this news. "That could take days." He answered. Legolas felt his heart sink. Days! All the more time taken from Mirkwood and his father. "Is there any path that connects us with you?"

"Down there maybe." Legolas pointed down the path to a large set of outcroppings. "We have a ridge road here that leads to another path. I believe they connect but that one is harder to navigate." Aragorn nodded and turned his horse. Legolas teetered for a moment on the verge of telling them what had caused the rock slide.

"Aragorn!" He called out. Aragorn stopped immediately and turned his horse, staring up at his friend. Legolas couldn't tell him. It would worry him and what ever had caused the slide was after him, not Aragorn. "Namaarie."

"Namaarie, Legolas." Aragorn called back. Turning to his men again, he began pushing back through the crowd. Legolas turned back and made his way over the boulders to the others.

The day wore on gradually. They made slow progress over the wide sweeping fields of loose rock and the rain began again close to night fall. They rested their horses in the shadow of a large gaping cave mouth and sat inside, staring out at the sheets of silver in the moonlight.

Gimli was asleep; his loud snores keeping the elves wide awake. They didn't disturb him, but continually remarked on how tired Legolas must be, living with the noise.

It was around midnight when the first signs of trouble arose. Legolas was just drifting off when the crunch of loose stones was heard outside. Bolting upright, the elves left Gimli where he was and crept the cave mouth. There were people outside, moving silently and stealthily towards their lair. Legolas pulled his bow from his back and an arrow, readied it, and waited. Beside him, Elladan crouched with his bow ready and Elrohir had a sword. Outside, the men were drawing closer and Legolas heard someone whisper his name.

To My Reviewers:

Zammy: I really can't spell either, don't worry about it. You would be heartbroken if Thranduil died? Awe, that's sweet…well, I really can't tell you if he will live or die (I haven't decided yet) but um…yeah, I'll say no more. Don't kill me, please!

CKlovesme2040: I hope this was a soon enough update. I kind of missed my deadline of Saturday or Sunday by a few days, didn't I? Oh well. Thank you. I'm glad you like it. The plot is so twisted, I'm getting confused! Keep reading!

Snow-Glory: Yeah, he didn't quite make it but I can promise you, this will not be his last attempt. Well, in answer to your bad guys remark, they found the bad guys now! Or, rather, the bad guys found them! Yeah, well, Legolas has a right to ask around, no matter how close he is to Aragorn. I mean, I would be getting paranoid also.

Legolas-gurl88: I don't know the end result of my test, but thanks. Stupid test, it seemed easy but that probably means I did bad…and I had another today! Crazy! Yeah, I can't wait for summer to officially start! Yeah, I have problems with my word usage. I'm actually surprised I can do this at all, I have mild dyslexia…nothing to serious but a real pain in the butt. About Thranduil being dead…well…smiles evilly

Faerlas: LOL, with the Thranduil contorting thing, I actually tried it before I wrote it (I'm a nerd) and I could do it, no jokes! So, I wrote it in…it's so hard, especially because I got my mom to place one foot on my wrist so I couldn't move it, and my dad to place his foot on my other wrist. The mind thing was interesting, that was great you said that. We'll definitely have to wait and see.

Jedi Padfoot: Legolas kicking butt…just wait, you may/may not love the next chapter…but I think you'll like it.

Kelsey Estel: That was very interesting, what you said about the guard mentally torturing him. You'll see, that was awesome. The dreams/visions, what ever you want to call them are kinda important so your right there but I won't tell how. You have some great theories you'll just have to wait and see what happens.

morph: That was a horrible nightmare and it's hard to think of Aragorn hurting Legolas in any way but we'll just have to wait and see what happens with that. We'll also have to see how good/bad Thranduil makes out at the end of this one.

Moonyasha: I'm out of Canada and safe on a little beach in Hawaii. Burn away! Oh, wait! I forgot fresh underwear, hold on! runs back into Canada

Ilana Starr: (chapter 9 and 10) I'm sorry if you were offended but it's the way I wrote it and I can't change it now. I like the original Fellowship members to. Gandalf is still around and I am planning on bringing him in later. Frodo hasn't left yet but you may or may not see him. And the savior archer will definitely be back.

Slayer3: Nope, didn't get it again! LOL, oh well.

IwishChan: I liked the comment about Gimli falling on his enemy. I'm sorry you didn't like the dream but it's just a dream…or is it? LOL.

Elessar-Lover: Did I actually make you scream and jump? That's cool, I'm sorry I hope you didn't hurt yourself. LOL.

Wren Birgitte: You're sneaking suspicion? Now I'm curious! Thanks, keep reading!

And to anyone I may have missed, or who is not reviewing, thank you.