Once again a chapter that has taken ages and I'm sorry. Hope you enjoy.

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Time doesn't heal wounds

Legolas made slow progress over the week or so that they remained in Lorien. Aragorn split his time between the fellowship and his elven companion. The fit he had witnessed had shaken him, it was something that the healer had never seen before. He sat in the corner of Legolas' room, watching him as he slept, his eyes still open which to any other who did not know elves as he did would think that the prince was dead. Some hours past and he watched him closely, the gentle rise an fall of his chest showing the ranger that the elf was still with him. Healers came and went, checking on the prince before leaving again, even Galadriel had spent some hours with him talking to him about how he could attempt to control these new powers. Boromir arrived and stood in the doorway, giving Aragorn a quick glance before his eyes came to rest on the elf.

'We are readying ourselves for departure, we have dwelt in these woods for long enough.' said the man, unease filled his tone.

Aragorn nodded, but remained seated 'I will let Legolas know when he wakes.' he said and he pressed his fingers against his lips.

'Yes.' was Boromir's reply as he backed out of the room, his eyes not wavering from Legolas' prone form.

A lot of the fellowship were a little weary of the elf since they heard his story and saw what he could do. Sam had been the one to be the most disturbed by Legolas' situation.

'Its not natural I say.' He said one evening over supper 'he's a servant of evil, it was evil that gave him those ghastly powers.'

'No he is not evil.' Stated Frodo, his eyes fixed on the building where the elf was resting 'beside's you should be careful what you say. Legolas is royalty and you would be smart to remember that.'

With that Sam had sealed his lips and said no more. He had finished his food in silence and went to bed where Frodo lay already, fingering the ring that hung from his neck. As he watched his master certain words had kept replaying in his head (no he is not evil)

'How'd yuh know that master Legolas won't try en take the ring from you.' he had quizzed as he propped himself up on one hand so that he could look at his master as he spoke to him.

'The ring doesn't seem to affect him the way it does others. It doesn't seem to whisper to him in the dark the way I know it has to all of you.' he replied, his eyes fixed to the black copy above.

Sam looked away, feeling slightly ashamed that his desire for the ring had not gone unnoticed. After that evening the Hobbit spoke nothing of his feelings about Legolas' predicament to anyone but silently stewed under the great roots of the tree that the elves had kindly sheltered them. A few more days passed and Legolas was finally strong enough to join the rest of the fellowship, but he spent most evenings with the lady of the wood learning how to better control these abilities that he now possessed. He would join them again after his lesson to be bombarded by questions from Merry and Pippin, quizzing him about what he had learned and what he could do. When the forest grew dark, their surroundings was then lit by the soft blue glow the trees emanated around them. Legolas lay there, his eyes tracing the faint sparkle of the stars as they tried to force their light through the thick, leafy ceiling above. The fellowship was fast asleep but he could not find any rest however he remained still as if he were. A white light floated past where they lay and the elf knew it was Galadriel, but then his attention was taken away from the sky above and to the sound of footsteps and his eye flickered towards the sound to see Frodo slink off after her. Sometime later the hobbit returned, his breathing quick and his mind loud. In vain Legolas tried to block out the Hobbit's thoughts but images began to flood his mind, images fire, the Hobbits being lashed by orcs as they walked in single file towards what looked like a mill, and then finally an image that he did not expect appeared. It was him stood upon a wall, surrounded by what looked like soldiers of men adorned in the garb of Rohan. He was dripping in black blood, his knives at his sides as his chest heaved and his eyes glowed white like they had in the mines. The men around him scarpered and all that was left were the orcs they were fighting charging at the lone elf but they were enveloped in light as it burst from Legolas' body and it was over as quickly as it began. The light faded and the elf was laying there motionless, his eyes open and unseeing. Legolas knew that what he was seeing was his death and as the images disappeared he was left sat bolt upright gasping for breath. Frodo heard the commotion coming from the elf bed but his eyes remained shut, as he pretended that he had never left. Aragorn rushed to Legolas' side, grabbing his friend's shoulders as he tried to calm the elf.

'What is it?' Aragorn quizzed the elf as he watched him begin to compose himself.

Legolas sat and thought about his answer for a moment, he was sure that Frodo would not want him to share his thoughts with the ranger and so he chose to keep what he had seen to himself.

'Twas just a nightmare my friend, I suffer from them upon occasion. I suppose its something else that I have to bear from my ordeal.' Replied the elf smoothly, giving the ranger no reason to suspect anything else.

'Rest now Mellon-Nin.' we must leave at sun up and we need you strong.' said the man as he gently clapped the elf's shoulder.

Legolas nodded and let his tired body lower itself onto the soft mattress beneath him. That night he slept very little, the images that he saw danced before his eyes as he wondered how soon his death was in his future.

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Morning came and the fellowship sluggishly packed their things before following Haldir to the lord and lady of the wood who bestowed them with gifts before they were then lead to some boats that lay waiting for them at the riverside. Legolas eagerly packed the supplies they had as been bequeathed into the boat, a smile crossed his lips as he pulled out a leaf-covered parcel from one of the packs. He picked up the leaf's contents, his eyes caught Merry and Pippin's stare as they sat perched on the boat watching as he loaded the packs into the boat.

'Lembas, elvish whey bread' he said as he bit a small piece of 'one small bite is enough to fill the stomach on a grown man.' he finished as he placed the food back in the pack and loaded that also.

His ears picked up the conversation that Merry and Pippin then had as he stepped back out of the boat to get another pack, smirking as they spoke.

'How many did you eat?' Merry had asked Pippin

'Four,' was his cousin's reply before proceeding to belch.

Not long after the boats were packed and the fellowship set off. Aragorn leading in the first boat, followed by Legolas and then Boromir. They paddled for some hours before making camp in the Stoney shore with Merry, Pippin, and Sam complaining amongst themselves that they could not get comfortable. Frodo remained silent but Legolas could feel the halfling's eyes watching him and he wondered if Frodo knew he had seen his thoughts.

Legolas offered to take watch that night and no one argued as they all knew the elf did not require as much sleep as the rest of them. The Dwarf was the first to fall asleep, with merry and pippin not far behind. The elf listened as Aragorn and Boromir quarreled with one another, his attention falling to Gollum who was watching them from the log that he so desperately clung to.

'Minas Tirith is the safer road, you know that' said Boromir 'From there we can regroup… strikeout for Mordor from a place of strength.'

'There is no strength in Gondor that can avail us' spat Aragorn as he straightened up to look at the fellow man.

'You were quick enough to trust the Elves.' he argued as he pointed at Legolas 'now we have one in fellowship that may well betray us… Have you so little faith in your own people? Yes, there is weakness. There is a frailty. But there is courage also, and honor to be found in Men. But you will not see that.'

Aragorn turned to walk away from Boromir, unable to listen to any more of what the man had to say but he was stopped by the Gondorian's firm grip on his arm.

'You are afraid! All your life, you have hidden in the shadows!' he continued as he pulled the Ranger closer to him 'Scared of who you are, of what you are' he finished before he released Aragorn's arm.

'I trust that elf with my life' hissed the ranger as he brought his face mere inches from his companion's 'I will not lead the Ring within a hundred leagues of your city!' he finished as he turned on his heels and stalked off, leaving Boromir to ponder his words.

The ranger sat himself down next to the Mirkwood elf who's eyes had remained fixed on Gollum.

'You do not need to protect me Mellon-in.' Said Legolas softly 'he is right, I cannot be trusted but I will do all I can to protect the halflings and help destroy the ring.

Aragorn looked at him, his mouth opens slightly as he searched for what to say in reply but he could now find the words. So they sat there in silence until the man could no longer keep his eyes open and then Legolas was left to keep watch on his own, his eyes scanning their surroundings as Boromir's words ring in his ears.

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Sorry, this has taken so long but I have been so snowed under with work and wedding planning that I have barely had a chance to write anything. I will try my utmost to get the next chapter up soon.