Hey everyone, sorry for the wait and I don't own Lord of the Rings! If I did, I would be making the actors do what ever I wanted, not writing fan fiction. LOL.

Overthrown

Chapter 17

Watched

Legolas and Laren came upon a camp set in the motions of total chaos. The men were frightened, trying to restrain their spooked horses. The fires were being relit by trembling young men. The dead spider lay on its back, legs curled beneath it, the twins sitting on its blood soaked belly, watching the scene before them with looks of misbegotten triumph etched on their pale faces.

Aragorn saw his friend and relief seemed to flood through him. Crying out, he lost all sense of human/king pride and raced forward, pulling Legolas into a bone crushing hug that expelled all the air painfully from his lungs. The Ranger didn't seem to notice this, however. "Legolas! You Valar forsaken-elf, you are positively the most wonderful being to walk the earth!" He cried, pulling away. His friend smiled weakly at him and tried not to show how much pain the simple exchange had caused. It was then that Aragorn spotted Laren.

"Who is…" He began, but the elf maiden didn't wait for a response. She moved off through the men and began tending to the wounded. Legolas watched her for some time, taking in the rips and tears in her riding coat and the layers of dirt and mud on her skin and clothing. Other then that, she looked the same as the last time he'd seen her, the night Melithor had died.

"Her name is Laren. She is one of the warrior hunters in my father's army." Aragorn regarded Laren with much more interest now. "Valdaglarion is dead, Aragorn. She killed him."

"Why?" Aragorn asked, startled. His looks of interest turned to suspicion.

"Because she had to." Aragorn huffed and raised an eyebrow at him. Damn elves and their non answer answers. "He was trying to kill me. She saved my life, though I believe I could have out ran him."

Suddenly, Aragorn's hand shot out and grabbed the neck of Legolas' shirt. In surprise, he reacted with a swift crack of the fist to the man's jaw. Aragorn stumbled and fell back, holding his face in pain and cursing. Legolas, embarrassed, rushed forward and touched his friend's arm.

"Are you alright?" He asked, concerned. Aragorn straightened and nodded. Reaching out slower this time, he pulled down the neck of Legolas' tunic and stared at the side of his neck.

"The poison has spread. It's in your neck now." Legolas reached up and ran a pale hand over the cold skin beneath. With a tremble, he pulled away and pulled his clothes straight.

"It is nothing. I'll be fine." He said. Aragorn opened his mouth, obviously to protest but Legolas shook his head. "No, Aragorn. Do not poke, or prod or complain…or anything, just don't." Aragorn ignored him.

"Come." He said, taking the elf's upper arm. He led him over to the packs at the edge of the tree line and began riffling through them. Legolas allowed Aragorn to treat him in what ever way he saw fit. What was the point of arguing? Humans were stubborn creatures to heart.

"Where is Gimli?" Legolas asked quietly, a little worried that his friend had not come to greet him. Aragorn glanced over his shoulder at the men moving around the camp and shook his head, turning back to Legolas' spider-poisoned and numb arm.

"I believe he is trying to cheer up the men by giving them alcohol." He said, watching a small party through the crowds. As a few backs shifted, Legolas was allowed a glimpse of his small friend, drinking and joking merrily. Though the men still seemed nervous, they were a little less pale then before. "It is his solution for everything now I believe." Aragorn smiled and began packing away this things.

"You are done then?" Legolas asked, surprised. It seemed Aragorn had barely got started, yet he felt better…he'd never admit that though. Aragorn nodded and sighed, leaning against the tree with his friend and watching the men around him. "You miss Arwen?"

Aragorn's face split slowly into a smile and then a huge grin. The look spoke plainly of years of love and some hidden truth that glinted in his eyes. Despite the fact that he was in pain and a little more then tired, Legolas felt his interest peak. "What is this? A grin I see?" Aragorn glanced at him and then leaned forward.

"We are planning on having a child." Legolas felt his heart clench. Though this was greeted news it was still hard for him to take. His friend would be a father, something that still seemed so distant and out of his grasp.

"Arwen is pregnant?" Legolas asked, the night seeming to close in on him from all sides. Aragorn shook his head.

"No, not yet I am afraid." He patted Legolas on the shoulder. "I should help your friend Laren tend to the wounded. Rest for a while, we will move again with the dawn." His eyes traveled to the tree tops around them. "With these thick trees however, I don't know how I would see the sun." Legolas shook his head and watched the man more closely as he got up and moved away. He walked stiffly and painfully, though he was more stubborn then Legolas when it came to admitting injury. The man was getting old. When he woke in the morning it was to groans and creaks from angry joints. More then once Legolas had seen him lay in his bedroll trying to get up the energy to move. It was something Legolas would never know and never understand…like fatherhood.

He often envied his father, even though he had lived almost his whole life in a dark age. Legolas had lived completely in the dark and now that the ring's evil was lifted he saw a new dawn…or would, were his people not leaving left and right. He would be alone, the way things were going, alone and childless.

He was still young but his whole life had been spent as a warrior. He'd been trained from an early age to kill orcs and protect his people but what would happen when those people were gone? He had never thought of the prospect of love, nor that Aragorn have children and die…

Aragorn moved around the men, bending down and bandaging wounds. He had always been constant, unshakably there. He'd annoyed the Elf to no end when they were younger, the annoying child following him and the twins down to the beach. The annoying child that had fallen in the abandoned cave…the annoying child that had idolized Legolas. And now he was an old man and Legolas was the one to idolize him.

Sighing, he leaned his head back against the tree and cradled his numb arm in his lap. Had that spider aimed any higher he would be completely out of it right now and Valdaglarion would have had his way. What had driven the other elf to attack his prince? Legolas shivered. Would that be him?

"Lad?" A gruff voice whispered somewhere to his left. Legolas groaned and shook his head. For some strange reason he couldn't open his eyes. Visions invaded his thoughts, his every being. A man, cloaked in black and red, watching him…speaking to him…telling him to come closer. "Lad, wake up."

Legolas started and opened his eyes. The fires were out and a misty, choked light was coming in through the thick trees around them. Legolas blinked and stared around, trying to bring the familiar forest into focus. The trees were speaking to him, telling him to get up and move on…telling him that home was only a few hours away…

The trees were louder then Gimli, who was so close to him that Legolas had to cross his eyes to bring the creature into better sight. "Gimli. What do you want?"

Gimli pulled back, the red streaks in his eyes and the smell of drink on his breath almost nauseating. "Time to get up, lad. Aragorn told me to check on your arm before we leave." Legolas raised an eyebrow and was about to say something when Gimli interrupted him…saying exactly what he was thinking. "I don't have any medical experience."

"I know." Legolas replied. He raised his hand and waved it stiffly in front of the Dwarf's face. "See, it is better now." Gimli nodded approvingly and tried to whistle, but his voice was muffled by his beard. Legolas laughed despite himself and climbed to his feet.

The men were all getting ready to move. No one had even noticed that their leader elf had slept in. Legolas shook his head, trying to clear the fog in his brain and moved into the path, searching. He spotted Laren and walked with a long stride toward her.

"Good morning, your majesty." She greeted. It was then that Legolas realized Arod was with her, enjoying every stroke of the brush she ran down his side. Gimli grumbled something about the stupid horse not coming when he whistled but Arod gave him a look that clearly said he could care less what the Dwarf thought. "He is a beautiful animal, Lord."

Legolas shifted uncomfortably, not particularly liking the formal title she tacked to him. Unfortunately, it was a necessary evil. He generally tried to protect himself from such titles, as they made him feel dirty.

"Yes." Legolas agreed, running his hand down Arod's neck. It was then that he felt a chill in his fingers and held them closer to his face. Black tendrils were wrapped around his fingers. Laren pretended not to notice but he saw her nervous glance all the same. "I…" He faltered and let his hand fall, angry with himself. "I should get ready. Come, Arod." Legolas motioned the horse and began walking down the road but the horse didn't move. Legolas, sensing he was alone, turned and saw Gimli laughing, his hand pressed firmly against his mouth. Arod was still standing there, lapping up the feminine attention like a dry sponge. "Arod, come."

The horse let out a pitiful whinny and blinked balefully at the Mirkwood Prince. The trees began to whisper around him, laughing like the dwarf. "Arod." He said firmly. "Come here." The horse let out a disgusted snort and began to walk forward. Soon, he was trailing after his master, looking for Aragorn. The human king was standing at the front of the group, staring down the path ahead. Valdaglarion's body was at his feet, strapped to a small sled like structure that would be pulled by Legolas' extra horse.

"I see you are up." He said, smiling. He looked extremely tired and gray. Legolas suddenly felt embarrassed at his late sleep. Aragorn seemed to sense what he thought. "Don't be." He said, tightening his horse's saddle. "I do not blame you. You fell asleep soon after I left you and I hadn't the heart to wake you until we were ready to go. I sent Gimli. We could spare him if you decided to hit someone again." He rubbed his jaw and Legolas suddenly remembered his reactive outburst the night before.

"Aragorn…" He began, but the king shook his head and smiled.

"No, we must move on. It is time to go home, Legolas. I was thinking…are you planning to take the back path?" Legolas glanced around uneasily, unsure still as to if he really ought to.

"No." He said finally, staring down the road. The men were all talking quietly, all more nervous then when they had entered the dark forest. The danger seemed to have finally been drilled into them with the spider attack. A grim humor bore over him. They were lucky it was only one. "Too many men…"

Aragorn grinned. "You lie." He said, "You just don't want to show them your secret."

Legolas grinned back. "We all keep out secrets. Men have no right to wander those paths. They were meant for my people and mine alone…you were not even supposed to know about them." Aragorn sighed. "I am not selfish and my people are not arrogant…" He knew this was not true but he didn't want to think of such things. "I just don't think it wise…We'll exit the forest and come in on the regular path, over the enchanted forest river."

"Alright. Get Arod and lead the way." Legolas squared his shoulders and looked grim, his face set. They were going to take the long way. As he turned his eyes to the forest, he could almost see his home…

The trees voices suddenly grew stronger. Beware, they whispered. They are watching you. Legolas felt an uneasy prickle on his back and turned to look down the path. He couldn't tell who was watching him…

TO MY REVIEWERS:

Zammy: I know what you mean about the horses. I have never been able to afford a good barn for mine (to the standard where they have silk on the doors and televisions, maybe I'm being extreme), but I've gone to shows at rich barns and I don't think all horses need to be THAT spoiled! LOL. Congrats on the job though, I hope all goes well.

Jade Evenstar: Awe, thank you and I'm glad you like it. People like you keep me going.

Titus: Thank you.

KerowynGreenleaf: Thank you.

Coolio02 That's all you can do, I guess. However, Laren will be an unusual character that in the end I think is no easy answer…I hope I didn't give too much away.

Troubles8806: Any hints? Well I don't want to give too much away but Laren is a very hard character to pinpoint, even for me. In the end you'll have to decide for yourself. I guess that maybe enough of a hint.

Elladan of Rivendell: Yes, Laren MAY be under Aron's control. You'll find out more about the poison as we go and may I say, this poison has more levels then what we've seen so far.

Faerlas: Oh, well…just because one is poisoned doesn't mean they're necessarily under Aron's control…we'll see about the poison.

Elessar-Lover Laren was in chapter 5, when Legolas' city was attacked. When Legolas' friend, Melithor, died, Legolas and Laren rode out of Mirkwood together but got separated.

invisigoth3 Yah, I know, the spiders really have to learn their place.

Slayer3: Yes, diabolical plans rubs hands together Muhahahahaha Choke, damn, have to work on my evil laugh.