Well, here we are again!

Late, as usual.

SORRY! But I have a good excuse this time! I was on vacation in NY! WOOOOOOOOOOO! It was so totally fantastic. And I got to see Avenue Q, the BEST and FUNNIEST musical ever. But I DIDN'T HAVE A COMPUTER! So I couldn't update, and………

Oh yes! And then SCHOOL STARTED ON MONDAY! But our HS is actually pretty cool.

Yeah.

But I WILL UPDATE QUICKER THIS TIME! Promise!

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Legolas was growing impatient.

Aragorn had left almost three hours ago, and he had still not returned. Normally Legolas would not think this a problem, but Boromir's death had awakened his old fear that his friend would die before his time. Legolas was full-on ready to begin hunting for Aragorn. But Gimli thought otherwise.

He knew that Legolas had been Aragorn's friend for a very long time, and knew him best. But he couldn't shake off the feeling that Aragorn had been hiding some inner turmoil and needed time to sort it out. And he was a bit amused by Legolas's brilliant show of pacing along the riverbank and murmuring angrily to himself.

Suddenly Legolas stopped and looked up. His eyes traveled along the trees warily.

"Gimli!" he called. Gimli stood up and walked to where Legolas stood, eyeing the forest.

"What?" He asked gruffly. "Is a tree calling you? Or-"

"Down!" Legolas interrupted. He grabbed Gimli and shoved him to the ground, throwing himself down beside him.

"What are you doing you insane-" Suddenly a black-feathered arrow whizzed out of the foliage. It passed harmlessly over their heads and into the water.

"Orcs…. orcs are coming!" shouted Legolas, jumping up and fitting an arrow to his bow. Gimli cursed and pulled out his axe. And they came.

For the first time in a while, they were lucky. Instead of the some 40 that had attacked Aragorn, this was only a small troupe, about 12 strong. Legolas and Gimli easily defeated them and remained unscathed.

"We have to go." Said Legolas calmly as he wiped his knives clean on the grass. "Aragorn is out there alone and does not know that there are more of them here." Gimli wisely stayed quiet and merely nodded. As much as he hated to admit it, Legolas was right, and if Aragorn was in danger they needed to find him.

Together they set out, with their packs, and Aragorn's in case he wanted to move right away. They quickly picked up found Aragorn's trail and followed it up a steep hill, past some rocks, and finally into a clearing. What they found, however, was not comforting.

Nine orcs lay dead, their black blood staining the forest leaves. There was no sign of any living being. The woods were eerily silent. At last Gimli spoke up.

"Clearly Aragorn has been here. But if he had encountered orcs, why did he not return to camp?"

Legolas sighed. "I do not know." He looked around and strained his eyes for any glimpse of his friend, but the woods were empty. After a long thought he got an idea.

"Maybe…maybe these orcs are part of the troupe that captured the hobbits. Perhaps Aragorn tracked the rest of them to their camp in hopes of finding them." Legolas stated lamely. Even though his mind desperately wished that that was what had happened, his heart disagreed. But what his heart told him he didn't want to hear.

Gimi could see it. "Why would he just leave us? He knows that we were waiting for his return. He wouldn't abandon us without any way of contact. At very least he would have left us a token." Legolas knew Gimli was right.

"Fine. Let us search for one then." Gimli sighed and walked over to one of the orcs and lifted it up, checking the stab wound. Legolas moved over to the trees, checking the bark for runes or signs. A loud gasp from Gimli made him run back.

"What is it? Are there orcs coming?" Legolas looked around wildly. Gimli quickly interrupted.

"No, no, not like that. But lad…." He guestured to the ground before them.

There was a large, flattened out space, and spilled across the dead leaves was blood. Not orc blood, black and foul. This was red, and dull now.

Human blood.

Legolas sank to his knees and pressed a hand to his face. Aragorn was hurt. And badly, judging by the amount of blood that decorated the ground. He opened his eyes and desperately searched the ground for tracks. Any sign that Aragorn was able to walk or get away, anything at all….but there was nothing.

"Did-did you find anything else?" Legolas somehow managed to say, half dreading the answer. Gimli nodded somenly. From a pile at his feet, he picked up the other clue he had found.

A ripped and bloodstained cloak with a leaf-shaped brooch.

Legolas choked back a sob and stood up, suddenly angered. He let out a cry of rage and kicked the nearest orc so hard it flew several feet away. All at once he wished he hadn't. Because, previously hidden by the orc carcass, was Aragorn's sword.

Gimli bowed his head, an expression of utmost sorrow on his face. Legolas just stared at the sword. Aragorn himself had forged it, and Legolas knew from experience that he never went anywhere without it.

"So it is as I thought," he murmured, half to himself. "He has been taken."

They stood there together, elf and dwarf, both silently grieving together. Until finallyLegolas broke the silence.

"We have to go. See if you can find their trail." Legolas picked up the sword and its sheath, which had been lying beneath it. He wiped it clean and returned it to its place. Then he carefully folded the cloak and put it in Aragorn's pack. His work done, Legolas began picking his way through the bodies, searching for a trail.

Gimli followed quietly. "Legolas…" he began, but he was cut off.

"I know! I know what you're going to say, so just don't!" Gimli stepped backward in shock. There were bright tears spilling down Legolas's face, and in his eyes was utmost sorrow. "I know that he's probably dead. I just, I just…" He turned away, and when Gimli looked again, Legolas had regained himself.

"I am sorry, my friend. It is not your fault. Please forgive me." Gimli grinned.

"No apologies needed! Now, let's get going, if you don't need to fix your hair or anything." Legolas scowled merrily, and finding the trail, took off through the trees. Gimli followed, his short legs echoing through the trees.

TBC…

Well, there you go!

And I know that this chapter is rather Aragorn-less, but he will be in the next one. Oh yes, the next chapter will be FUN! MWA HA HA!

Please review!

QueenofFlarmphgal