Legolas tore his eyes from the disappearing cloud and back to his friend. Suddenly he felt very alone. He would have welcomed the warm bustle of the Riders, if only to have a distraction. He was brought back from his musings by Gimli shaking his shoulder.

"Laddie? We should probably make camp. Aragorn isn't going anywhere, and neither are we." Legolas nodded.

"The forest is just over there. We need firewood…"

"Go on," Gimli stood and pushed Legolas up. "I'll look after our friend, and you elves need your nature or something." He added with a shrug. Legolas grinned and shouldered his bow. He picked up a small hatchet that was in his pack, and started to walk off. He turned quickly.

"If he wakes, or if there's any change, call me." Legolas said. Gimli grinned and gave Legolas a shove.

"Of course, of course, now go!" Legolas smiled his thanks and disappeared down the hill.

Gimli turned and sat back down next to Aragorn, studying his face. It was pale and drawn with pain, even in sleep. Gimi gently brushed his fingers across the unconscious man's forehead. He shuddered, and Gimli quickly drew his hands back. Aragorn still had a raging fever, and would likely stay asleep. The dwarf sighed and began rifling though a pack for something to eat. The elf would not take this lightly. Gimli was starting to see the depth of Legolas's care for Aragorn. And he knew should Aragorn die, Legolas would not last much longer.

About half an hour later, Gimli had evolved to his pipe. The sound of hoofbeats suddenly struck Gimli's ears. He leapt up, clutching his axe. Sure enough, several horses were riding directly toward him and Aragorn. Gimli cursed violently under his breath, and even Aragorn stirred slightly with a moan.

"Hush, lad, it'll be alright," Gimli said softly, partly to himself. "You there, horseman!" He shouted. "What do you want?" The man did not reply, but kept coming. He was almost upon them.

Gimli growled in frustration and clutched his axe tighter. If this man wanted a fight, the by the Gods, he would get one!

When he was a few feet away from them, the horseman dismounted. He held his hands up in a sign of peace.

"Please," he said. "I do not mean any harm…"

Gimli eyed him suspiciously.

"Who are you?" he snarled, moving closer to Aragorn. The horseman started and pulled off his helmet.

"Do you not remember? I am Deowin, of the Rohirrim." Gimli recognized the man immediately, and lowered his axe.

"For the Gods' sake, Deowin, could you not have said something?" he muttered. Deowin smiled and knelt down beside him.

"Sorry…it is this helmet. I can hardly see or hear in it." He tossed it to the side.

"What are you doing back here?" Gimli asked curiously, setting his axe down.

"Eomer sent me to warn the nearby villages of the rising threat of orcs. He also bid me give you these," he waved a hand to the two other horses, "as he decided you would need them more than us. This is Hasufel, and the smaller one is Arod. They are good horses, and will serve you well. Is your friend any better?" he asked.

Gimli sighed. "No, there's no change since you last saw him." Deowin frowned.

"He is still bleeding." He said, gesturing to the blood spotted bandage on Aragorn's shoulder. "We should change his bandages." Gimli raised an eyebrow.

"'We'? Are you staying?" Deowin blushed.

"W-well I thought you might need some help, and I gathered some extra supplies from my companions, and our healer was training me for a while so I thought I might-

Gimi laughed. "Enough! I was jesting. You are welcome to stay, especially if you can help us."

Deowin smiled in relief, and began to unwrap Aragorn's bandages. Aragorn did not respond directly, but Gimli noticed that his breathing was slightly quickened at being touched. As Deowin finished unwrapping the bandage, Gimli sucked in a breath. It was still far from healed, and looked very painful. Deowin examined it carefully, turning Aragorn as to see the exit hole.

"He was very lucky with this arrow. Not only did it not pierce any bone, but it went straight through without severely damaging anything. And I am fairly certain it is free from infection."

"That is lucky," Gimli remarked. "Do you think you can do anything?"

Deowin frowned and looked closer.

"I don't think there is much I could do to enhance its healing, but if your friend will need that arm soon, perhaps we could cauterize it."

"Cauterize?" Gimli questioned. It did not sound good.

"Well, it would mean closing it by pressing a heated knife to it. The procedure will certainly be painful, but it will close it and keep it clean. But we would need a fire, for one."

"A fire!" Gimli jumped up. "Legolas just went to get some wood. Come to think of it, he's been gone a while. Blasted elf, where did he get to-

"Hello, Gimli." A voice behind him made him start. Legolas was just walking up, a large bundle of wood in his arms. Legolas frowned as he took in Deowin, the new horses, and Aragorn's exposed shoulder. "What are you doing?"

"Legolas, you remember Deowin? Well, he came back to help us, as he has received some training and also got us some extra supplies." Gimli quickly explained. Deowin nodded, confirming his story.

"Oh, alright," Legolas said, setting down the wood. "Well then Deowin, do you have any advice?"

"Erm, well, his shoulder, if he will need his arm soon we should cauterize it which will stop the bleeding and help it heal." Deowin said very fast. Legolas considered for a moment, then nodded.

"Very well. I'll get the fire going, then. I think there are some clean daggers in Aragorn's pack that you can use." Deowin grinned and began to shuffle through the pack. After a short time, there was a good fire and they were ready.

Deowin heated the knife in the fire and prepared to press it down. He took several deep breaths. Gimli could see that he was very nervous about this.

"Would you like it if Legolas or I did it instead?" He asked. Deowin shook his head.

"No, I'll be fine…just a moment…" He took another breath, and quickly pressed the blade Aragorn's skin. Aragorn released an agonized cry and thrashed under Legolas's strong grip on him.

"Now the other side!" Gimli quickly pulled Aragorn into a sitting position, and after reheating the knife, Deowin again pressed it to the wound. And again Aragorn attempted to break free, his fevered mind not comprehending Legolas's soft voice, whispering to him in Elvish.

At last it was done. Deowin spread an infection-preventing poultice on it, and bandaged it. The three of them lay back, all thankful that the dreadful ordeal was over.

Gimli was first to recover.

"Well done!" he said to Deowin, who was pale and shaking. "Are you alright?"

"Y-yes I'm fine…just glad that we're done."

"I'm afraid not." Legolas's voice interrupted. Legolas was examining the wound across Aragorn's face, and the one on his arm. "These still need to be stitched, and both are infected, not to mention his back." Deowin went even paler.

"Well, I'm sure we have much to do, but we should give him a bit of a rest now, don't you think? That can't have been fun for Strider either, and after all he's been through, he needs a break." Gimli said softly. Legolas looked back at Aragorn, and nodded. "Right then! Here, let's have a bit to eat."

Gimli brightly went through the packs and came up with several dried meats and fruits that they had received in Lorien. He passed them around, and each ate their fill. But all too soon, it was time to return their attention to Aragorn. Deowin unwrapped the bandages and examined both cuts, his face grave.

"Yes, we must stitch both of these. But do you have anything that will numb his face? I fear that will be most painful for him." Legolas thought for a moment.

"Yes, we do have some left. We used most of it on his back a while ago, but I think it has worn off now." He said, rifling through Aragorn's healing satchel. At last he came up with a small half-full bottle, which he handed off to Deowin. Deowin quickly uncorked it and spread a generous amount over Aragorn's face. Meanwhile, Gimli carefully threaded the needle.

Once he was sure the drug was working, Deowin took up the needle and began to put in neat, tight stitches. He quickly finished and started on his arm, numbing it also. Aragorn did not react at all, save for a quickness of breath as the needle first entered his skin. His breathing was still uneven and raspy.

Then it was done. Deowin tied off his last stitch with relief, and fastened a new bandage around it.

"There. I think now we have done all we can do for Strider at the moment." He said.

"But his back…" Legolas said quietly.

"The lacerations are not deep enough to be worth stitching, and not serious enough to cauterize. I think all we can do is give him time. You put and infection reducing herb on it though, correct?"

"Yes, we did." Gimli replied.

"Then you have done well. And look! The sun is already setting. We should set a watch—"

"I'll take the first one." Legolas immediately said. Deowin turned to argue, but changed his mind after seeing the look in his eye.

"Very well. I'll go after you, and Gimli, you after me. Is that alright?"

"Yes, yes, that's fine." Said Gimi impatiently. "Now, just give me my pipe for a moment, and I'll be able to sleep." The other two laughed and began to feel more hopeful. And after a while, Gimli's pipe disappeared, and Legolas took up the watch.

&&&&&&&&&

About two hours later, Deowin found himself roughly roused from his sleep. He started as his blurry vision made out Legolas's form in the darkness.

"Deowin, you must help! He's not breathing!"