Story Name: Dark of Night
Pen Name: Elena Roan
Disclaimer: Don't own any of them, written purely for enjoyment.
Rating: M
Warnings: very dark
Summary: When Legolas journeys from Mirkwood to Rivendell seeking answers to his unease and troubling dreams, little does he realise what awaits him and his gwador.
Editor: Michelle
Timeline: III 2990 (Aragorn 59 years old)
Note: AragornStriderEstel

Chapter 5: Dark Encounter

Alertness came slowly as he woke from the deepest sleep he'd experienced since the dreams about his gwador (sworn brother) had begun. As reality solidified itself before his eyes he noticed the twins on either side of him, one quite obviously where he'd been when Legolas had fallen asleep the previous night.

"Do not tell me you have been there all night," the prince murmured softly as he attempted to clear the last of the sleep fogginess from his mind, a little annoyed at himself for failing to become instantly alert.

"Do not trouble yourself, Legolas," one of the twins answered.

"We rested our minds while still able to tend to your peace," the other continued, prompting a glare from the prince. He had enough trouble keeping track of their conversations when he was alert let alone half asleep.

Elladan chuckled, "Glorfindel and Raven alternated standing on watch."

"Did anything happen?" Legolas asked softly as he sat up, nearly mortified that he needed to ask.

"No," Elrohir answered, looking puzzled at the prince's expression.

"You needed the rest, caun neth (young prince)," Glorfindel inserted into the conversation, easily guessing the source of the blond elf's embarrassment.

"And if something had happened?" Legolas shot back.

"If you were needed I am sure the twins would have found some way to wake you."

Raven shifted a little uncomfortably, drawing the attention of the elves to him.

"Let us go see what tracks we can find," Elrohir suggested softly, receiving a curt nod from Legolas in reply.

"Eat first," Elladan interrupted, pushing some food into Legolas' hands and ignoring the glare he received from the prince.

Once Elladan was satisfied that all had eaten enough they broke camp and headed back to the clearing. Glorfindel was hovering close to the prince as they moved to the centre and began checking for tracks.

"I do not need you hovering over me," Legolas remarked testily to the Balrog Slayer after a few hours, his patience at an end from feeling crowded and the darkness he was sensing from all around them.

Glorfindel held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Very well, I shall leave you be. I was just concerned."

Legolas sighed and looked at him. "I know. Forgive me, I am worried about Estel."

"I know," the elf lord replied. "I shall give you some space, but forgive me if I continue to watch." That prompted a half smile and a small chuckle from the prince as the older elf moved off.

Legolas returned his attention to trying to figure out the tracks, many of which didn't seem to make any sense. After a bit he found some that seemed to lead away from the main part of the clearing and followed them, rather frustrated at the incomprehensible nature of much of what he had been trying to figure out but glad there was at least something that seemed to make sense. His frustration peaked again as the tracks seemed to vanish into thin air several meters from the tree line.

He crouched down to examine them closer, hoping that he would see something more. As he studied the ground the darkness that seemed to have permeated the land seemed to solidify around him. He tried to leap to his feet and draw his knives, even knowing that they were likely useless against whatever this was, but the darkness crashed through his senses first and he never felt himself fall.

Glorfindel had been glancing up to check on the prince every so often since he'd moved away and leapt to his feet the instant he saw the blond fall to the ground.

"Legolas!" he called as he raced over, the alarmed tone in his voice drawing the attention of the twins to the prince.

As the twins arrived next to him, Glorfindel reluctantly moved to the side to allow the two trained healers free reign and took up a guarding position as Raven came over. The Ranger's eyes were alarmed and he looked like he was at his limit of strange things he could deal with.

"Could you fetch the twins' saddlebags?" Glorfindel asked him softly, offering the adan (human) what reassurance he could.

The Ranger moved back towards the horses as Glorfindel turned his attention to the twins as one of them gave a short gasp. They'd rolled the prince onto his back and the Balrog Slayer could easily see the wood elf's eyes were closed.

The twins quickly checked that their friend was still in the land of the living, then began searching for the cause of his collapse. They quickly ruled out exhaustion as he'd slept well and deeply the previous night with his eyes open but they couldn't find one single explanation for his collapse or why his eyes were closed.

When Raven returned with the saddlebags they set about trying to rouse the unconscious elf with little success. Elladan was just about to try athelas when Legolas abruptly drew in a sharp breath, forced his eyes open and tried to sit up.

"Easy, mellon nín (my friend)," the older twin soothed, grabbing the other elf's shoulders and pushing him back down to the ground.

Legolas squeezed his eyes shut as his body let him know in no uncertain terms what it thought of his actions. He took a shaky breath and raised an equally shaky hand to his head.

"What happened?" the blond elf asked.

"We were hoping you could tell us," Elrohir answered, looking worriedly at his friend.

"How do you feel?" Elladan asked.

"Like several Mûmakil used me for a ball in a game of catch," the prince replied, opening his eyes again and blinking at Elladan, trying to focus on him.

"Anything in particular?" Elrohir pressed gently, causing the prince to sigh.

"My head feels like it is about to come apart at the seams," Legolas conceded reluctantly, "and my stomach has forgotten where it is supposed to reside."

"Think you could keep it down if we made you a tea for your headache and to settle your stomach?" Elladan asked softly.

Legolas went a distinct shade of green at even the thought. "I take that as a 'no'," Elrohir commented softly seeing his reaction.

"It would probably be a good idea to return to the cave," Glorfindel suggested. "I do not think this clearing is healthy."

"Think you can handle that?" Elladan asked Legolas seriously, receiving a determined nod from the elf in reply.

Gently the twins eased him into a sitting position, then held him there as he closed his eyes in reflex again and swayed slightly.

"Dizzy?" Elrohir asked softly.

"Very," the prince replied, opening his eyes again and trying to control his breathing.

The twins shared a concerned glance and began weighing up how quickly the prince would kill them if they carried him rather than helped him walk.

"Get me up, let us do this," Legolas commanded, guessing easily what was going through the two dark haired elves' heads.

"Are you sure?" Elladan questioned, his concern obvious.

"It will be worse if I am carried, I will have nothing to concentrate on nor be able to control it," Legolas answered firmly. "Let us leave this clearing, it unnerves me."

The twins shared another concerned glance, then carefully eased the prince to his feet. After he had regained his equilibrium they supported him as they made their way over to the horses. In spite of his arguments they refused to let him ride alone and put him in front of Elladan for the short but excruciatingly long ride back to the cave.

Once there they quickly unpacked the sleeping rolls again and laid Legolas down on one gently. That done Elrohir sat with the prince to monitor him while the others set up camp again.