Hey everyone! Sorry for the long delay but school is finally out and I am in grade 12 now! Does a happy dance

This chapter is part one of two. This one will introduce us to a large chapter coming after it so, I hope you enjoy!

Overthrown

Chapter 13

Battle in the Brown Lands

Part 1

It was raining again. Aragorn squinted up, looking grimly at the grey clouds swirling above them. They had managed to get back on the path Legolas knew but were moving slower then Aragorn would have hoped.

The injured elf rode on his horse, leaning on the Ranger, his dark head moving from side to side limply with every step. Aragorn shifted in his saddle and hooked his arms up higher underneath the elf's arms.

Ahead on him, Legolas and Gimli bounced softly on their horse's back. Aragorn's sharp eye could see Legolas' preoccupied glances left and right, his bright blue eyes seeing nothing. Gimli's strong grip on the elf's sides only confirmed the suspicion that, if Gimli let him go, Legolas would fall completely off the horse.

Slowly, throughout the rest of the day, Aragorn began to truly feel the weight of what they had to do. Emyn Muil fanned out around them and soon opened up to the Brown Lands, stretching for miles around them.

A brown, desolate, waste stretching out around them. Not even a withered tree stood to break the dreary spell it cast. Aragorn slowed his horse and turned his head to take in the sight. He knew that once, these lands were flourishing thanks to the entwives that set up their gardens here. Sauron had burned it and the Entwives had disappeared.

Sighing, he trotted his horse to catch up to Legolas who was leading the way across, his bruised face impassive. Behind him, Gimli looked around wide-eyed and blew at a strand of the elf's hair that had fallen into his face.

"What a cheery place." He said dryly. Aragorn glared at him and then reached out a hand and placed it lightly on Legolas' shoulder. The elf kept his eyes straight ahead and neither moved nor showed any sign of feeling the man's hand there.

"Legolas?" Aragorn asked. Legolas blinked once and Aragorn knew then he was listening. "I am going to call the men to rest. Will you be alright?" Legolas' eyes shifted on the horizon and he blinked again. Taking this as yes, Aragorn turned his horse and cantered back to the opening of Emyn Muil where the men were filtering through.

Gariel cantered over to Aragorn the moment he was out of the rocks and bowed his head. "Lord Ellessar, what is it we are to do now?" Aragorn held up a hand to silence him.

"First I wish to wait and tell everyone together." He said. Gariel bowed his head again in understanding and let his eyes sweep over the men, first to his own and then to Legolas and Gimli who were riding off down the plains.

"Are your friends supposed to be scouting?" He asked, worry in his voice. Aragorn looked up and felt his heart clench in uncomfortable surprise. How had Legolas gotten that far without him realizing?

He was about to ride off when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned in his saddle to see Elladan. "I will go." He said quietly. Aragorn appraised him for a long moment before nodding. He watched the twin canter off across the brown grass, trying to catch up to Legolas and Gimli who were now only specks to his eyes.

Elladan rode hard, his horse panting beneath him and soon they had caught up to Legolas and Gimli. Legolas eyes were narrowed and shinning, his pale skin drenched in sweat. Elladan held out a hand but the Elf pulled away from his grip, still watching the horizon.

Deciding he should find out what his friend was so preoccupied with. Elladan also turned and squinted against the sun's devilish rays. There, in the distance…far in the distance, he could just make out the dark shape of Mirkwood, at least two days hard ride away.

"Come, Legolas. Estel wishes to rest for the night." Elladan muttered. Legolas shook his head and continued to push his horse forward.

"I will find no rest this night." Legolas answered. "Not when I am so close." A strong wind suddenly blew from their right, drawing their hair across their bodies. Born on the wind, Elladan picked up the distinguishing scent of wargs a few hours away.

He halted but Legolas didn't seem to have noticed. "I will find rest this night!" Gimli growled. "Take me back, Lad, then go on your crazed ride and let me be!" Gimli's words fell on deaf ears. "My bottom hurts, even if yours doesn't."

"Legolas! Gimli is right!" Elladan called, sprung his horse to catch up. "Take him back to camp. He's too annoying, and then I will go with you, where ever you are headed."

Slowly, Legolas' horse slowed and finally stopped. Turning on its back, he stared at the Dwarf over his shoulder. "This is your stop, Gimli." He announced dully. The Dwarf looked around him and then stared cursing.

"You damn elf!" He growled. "Let me off somewhere proper! Like closer to camp, for instance."

"I will go no closer to camp." Legolas answered dryly. "It is either here, or there." He pointed to the vast expanse of land ahead of them. Gimli considered it for a moment and then grabbed Legolas' shoulder. With a grunt and a massive heave, the Dwarf slid off the horse's back and glared up at the elves.

"Have a nice ride." He said grumpily, turning and stalking away across the dead grass. Elladan felt remotely sorry for the poor thing…but it was remote. As Legolas began taking his horse at a slow pace toward Mirkwood, Elladan jumped off his own mount and ran lightly over to the Dwarf.

"Tell Aragorn what has happened." He said tensely, glancing at Legolas over Gimli's shoulder. "Tell him of Legolas' weird behavior and the Wargs nearby…though, my brother has more then likely already smelt them."

Gimli's eyes widened and he hefted his axe, holding it protectively in front of him. Elladan eyed it with a raised eyebrow. "Will you be alright?" He asked. Gimli's face was flushed but he glared at Elladan angrily.

"Of course I will!" He bristled, lowering his ax. "How dare you, a pointy ear…thing, ask me that. I'm a dwarf you know!" Elladan nodded began walking away.

"The Wargs are a few hours away." He called over his shoulder. "Make sure you get to camp by night fall…that gives you about," He squinted up at the sun. "Two hours. Good luck." And, with that, Elladan mounted his horse and took off after Legolas.

Standing in the middle of the Brown Lands, Gimli wiped sweat off his face. "Damn elves." He growled under his breath.

It was nightfall before Aragorn saw any sign of his friends. Gimli was stumping his way into camp, looking surlier then ever and snapping at anyone who even looked at him. Rushing over, Aragorn crouched down beside the angry creature and grabbed his shoulders.

"Where are they?" He asked in a tense whisper, glancing left and right. Gimli rubbed his hand off and squared his small shoulders. "Gimli."

"They are gone, Aragorn." He answered, his face suddenly set into an angry scowl. "And they went without me."

"Where did they go?" Aragorn asked. Gimli shrugged.

"Straight." He answered. Aragorn rolled his eyes but the dwarf continued. "There are Wargs nearby."

"Elrohir has spotted them." Aragorn answered. "We are prepared. They have split up some time ago, the majority are heading towards Mirkwood, some are coming here."

"Headed towards Mirkwood?" Gimli asked, his forehead scrunched up in confusion. "Why would they be going there?"

"That's where Legolas and Elladan are headed." Aragorn answered. "I was just about to set out with a group of men to bring them back. Stay here, with Elrohir. We need you to help the men…and protect the injured elf in my tent."

Gimli bristled at being told to stay here, where it was semi-safe. Opening his mouth to reply, nothing came out but a loud howl. Gimli covered his mouth with his hands but it wasn't him…the Wargs were drawing nearer. Finally, he said, "I'll stay here."

"Good man." Aragorn clasped his shoulder and smiled. "I will bring them back."

"I care not for your brother." Gimli growled. "Bring the elf back." Aragorn nodded and waved Gimli away.

"Go, go to my tent and have your ax ready. We must keep that elf alive." Gimli nodded and stumped away. Once he was gone, Aragorn turned and wended his way through the camp.

The fires outside tents were devoid of cooking meat and the men hunched around them were quiet. The thick air of anticipation for battle had turned the camp into a murky bog of emotion that Aragorn had trouble wading through. He couldn't comfort them and say it would be okay, because it wouldn't.

On the outskirts of camp, immersed completely in the dark with only the moonlight, the men Aragorn was bringing with him waited. They were tense, holding onto the reins of their horses as the beasts stamped and whinnied nervously.

"Okay, this is a rescue mission." He said nervously, his voice a little higher then usual. Taking a breath, he steadied his voice and continued. "We ride to Mirkwood and we bring them back at any cost." The men whispered to each other. "The son of Elrond and the son of Thranduil are out there." He said, pointing to the dark land before them. "They are not to be harmed. We must bring them back."

His voice was so finalizing that no one said another word. Silently, the men began to mount their horses. As the men shifted; Aragorn caught sight of Lodrin through the crowd. With a sigh, he began pushing through the horses and riders to get to him.

"Where do you think you are going?" Aragorn asked. Lodrin bowed to him and then continued to tighten his saddle.

"To save Prince Legolas." He announced proudly. Aragorn raised an eyebrow and folded his arms over his chest. At the King's silence, Lodrin turned and his face flushed visibly in the dark. "At your leave, My Lord."

"It will be safer here. You have men to lead…" Aragorn began but Lodrin shook his head.

"My second in command can do that." He said. Aragorn was surprised that this kid had a second in command and wondered dimly if the second was twelve. "Please, Lord Elessar. Legolas is my Prince, though we do not follow his rule, nor his father's directly. What happens in Mirkwood effects my village? I feel a need to protect him."

"Legolas can protect himself." Aragorn said, though deep inside this felt like a lie. "Lodrin, son of Loberin. It will be safer here."

"My Lord Elessar, it may be safer here but in my heart I would never be rested." These words were said with such conviction that Aragorn couldn't help but smile. Finally he nodded and turned.

"Then may you live through the night." He said over his shoulder. Walking away, he found Gariel standing next to Kelser, both talking in low voices. He passed them by without a word and found Elrohir holding Aragorn's horse.

The elf was gazing out at the night intently, watching the moving shapes that only he could see stalking closer and closer to them. "They are eight strong, coming our way." Elrohir announced. Then his clear eyes shifted towards Mirkwood. "Four walking toward Legolas and Elladan from the left…three to the right…five moving to their front."

"Why so many?" Aragorn asked. Elrohir turned to look at his stepbrother in the darkness and didn't answer.

Far away, still moving steadily across the plains of the Brown Lands, Legolas looked up only slightly startled when a loud howl erupted on their left, followed by an even louder one on their right.

Elladan's horse leapt to its back legs, plunging it's front in front of it in panic. When he had managed to get the beast under control, he turned to his companion.

"Legolas!" He yelled. "We must turn back; try to get to the camp before they are on us." Legolas didn't speak but continued to move ahead, calming his horse with whispered words. "Legolas! This is crazy! Your father would not want you to be killed and your people need you."

Legolas' head snapped up and he whipped around on his horse to stare at his companion in the dark. "My father?" He yelled angrily. Elladan tensed. There was absolute pain on Legolas' face, coupled with fear and doubt. "My father may be dead…all I have is my people and they need me. I can not wait there, at the camp for two days. The faster I get home, the faster I can help them."

A howl in front of them halted all reply Elladan was going to give for a minute. He stared into the darkness and saw Wargs moving a head of them, mingling with the darkness.

"Legolas." He said pleadingly. The Prince turned his head and stared around them, his blue eyes piercing the night like the sun in the morning. "We are in a trap. Let your mind slip from this spell that is on it and see around you!" Legolas' eyes filled with tears and he suddenly seemed to realize where they were.

A growl to their immediate right made them both spin around as the Wargs on all sides charged them. The battle had begun.

To My Reviewers:

Elessar-Lover: You despise me? Ouch. LOL. It is very dark…it has to be to be interesting. Okay, okay, sorry for the long wait between chapters. I hope you forgive me.

Stephanie: Wow, you had a busy day if you read my entire story! I'm honored that you took that much time, truly. Thank you so much for your review and believe me, you will find out who the mysterious elves are…all of them.

Jedi Padfoot: I'm glad you liked the ass-kicking. Sorry for the lack of it in this chapter, there will be some major ass-kicking in the next…I hope, I still have to write it.

Zammy: (Chapter 11 and 12) Oh yes, sigh. I do feel sorry for them too, have no doubts. Oh, and Thranduil…we'll just have to wait and see.

Slayer3: Hey! Thanks for the review.

morph Like something out of the movies? Cool. Thanks for the review.

CKlovesme2040 No! Don't take him from me! I repent…I repent…I'm sorry! Okay…compose myself. Thanks for the review!

Legolas-gurl88 Holy, your going to have a major resume with all that ambition! LOL, good luck. Tell me when you post your eleven chapters story so I can check it out. Thanks for the review.

Moonyasha(Chapter 1/12) You got a new laptop? Awesome…mine burned in the fire…tear oh well…

FaerlasYeah, total nerds rock but almost total nerds really rock! LOL. I'm glad I keep you in suspence. I hope you haven't relaxed to much with this last chapter…or not relaxed, because in this story, nothing is as it seems.

Iwish(Chan): Yeah, there's a lesson to be learned in the last chapter. Never overthrow a king with a hot/mad son who'll beat you up real good.

Deana: Yeah, Legolas isn't having a good day…week…month, what ever. It all sucks.

Swasti: Thanks.

AND TO ANYONE I MAY HAVE MISSED OR WHO JUST ISN'T REVIEWING, THANK YOU!