Chapter 32

Aragorn walked through the forest with an ever lightening heart. Each day that had passed since the spider attack saw Legolas more relaxed and comfortable in their presence. It still pained him that the elf had regained no memory of himself or their friendship but the twins had assured him that it was not uncommon under the circumstances for the mind to play such tricks and he held onto the hope that all would eventually return to normal. He looked up to where Elladan and Legolas walked side by side and deep in discussion ahead. The wood elf was still far too slender, a fact emphasized by his proximity to the muscular peredhil and the scars had not yet completely faded from his treatment during captivity but his demeanor was somehow easier, as if a weight had been lifted and the young man couldn't help but smile.

"He is looking better is he not Estel," Elrohir's words brought Aragorn back from his musings.

"Aye," the young man agreed, turning his smile upon his brother. "He is." He paused slightly, his smile fading. "I only wish his memories of me would return also."

"Give it time, Estel, give it time." Elrohir moved closer, clasping his shoulder in a comforting grip. "He has been through much, though he will not talk of it yet but I am certain he will remember you in time."

A loud rustle in the bushes ahead made them stop in their tracks, both reaching for the swords at their belts at the same time as their companions who had moved swiftly apart to flank the possible danger. For a moment all was still, then Legolas let out a low chuckle and straightened from his crouching stalk as a large boar exploded out from its cover with a loud squeal and ran off back down the way they had just come, taking Aragorn's legs out from under him as it went.

Silence fell as Aragorn felt his backside connect with the ground hard enough to force a grunt of air from his lips, then was broken by the sound of tinkling laughter as three elves dissolved into mirth. Momentarily stunned, all the young man could do was glower at his brothers in their merriment before he became caught up in their contagious gleefulness himself and his own baritone snorts and hiccoughs of amusement soon joined in. Seated on the ground, helpless with laughter he allowed the distraction to wash away the last remnants of despair. Elrohir was right, Legolas would need time and that's just what he would give, for however long it took. He glanced over to where his friend stood, arms across his chest, laughing along with the twins and grinned, then blinked in confusion as he caught the fair elf's eyes, for a second they seemed to darken with gleeful malice as they held his but it passed so quickly he was unsure it had ever been there at all. Stumbling to his feet, brushing away dead leaves and soil from his breeches he consigned the fleeting glimpse to the back of his mind certain it had merely been the product of an overwrought imagination.

"Fie on you Estel!" Elladan called in mock indignation as he took a gulp of air in between cachinnations. "You just let our dinner get away!"

"Aie, unfair," the young man replied, adopting a wounded expression. "'twas you and Legolas first let it past." He opened his eyes wide and tugged deferentially on his forelock affecting a comoners drawl, "If two great hunter elves as yourselves could not stop a small piglet how so should a mere human be expected to do better my lord?"

Laughter rang out in earnest once more as he dodged a playful punch from the elder twin.

"Well, I suggest that as lunch has obviously been delayed," Elrohir smiled at the pair now circling a small sapling, each trying to evade the others grasp. "We move on and try to find prey somewhat easier for the 'mere mortal' to capture. Aie!"

At Elrohir's words Aragorn abandoned his game with Elladan and with a lighthearted growl launched himself at the younger twin, chasing him off into the trees. Leaving Legolas and Elladan staring at their disappearing forms momentarily before following on behind.

~o~

More corpses. The witch king smiled to himself as he walked his horse through the maze of bodies and legs that littered the forest floor, enjoying the satisfying crunch of keratin beneath its huge hooves. Although creatures of the dark like he, they could only be trusted so far. Cleverer and far more cunning than orcs they would be more likely to ensnare the easiest target within their webs, even if it were one supposedly on their own side, than one who took time and energy to capture. He had learned to stay well out of reach when dealing with them in the past, more often than not sending unwary, expendable orcs to deliver messages and orders. They were useful at times though. He sat up in the saddle and sniffed. Yes, his elf had been here.

Continuing on his way he scanned the ground beneath for any signs of the wood elf but as was expected found none. A strange feeling rose in his chest and for a moment he wondered at its meaning, then realized it was relief. Yes, he was relieved. His prize was still out there, still alive, and hopefully soon he would be able to claim it properly for his long awaited reward.

Pulling on the horses reins to stop in the middle of the mass of lifeless carcasses he sniffed once more then turned the horse slightly to the left, urging it to move slowly as he sniffed and corrected their course continually until they reached clear ground. Finally satisfied that he had the correct direction his elf had travelled, he dug his spurs into the horses flanks and they set off once more through the trees. Impatience for a glimpse of the fair being he could not wait to own completely making him more hasty than perhaps he ought to be.

~o~

The elf stalked silently across the forest floor, skillfully avoiding the brittle twigs that may snap underfoot even the lightest being to scare away potential prey. He had offered to hunt for food with Elrohir and they had left the others behind to make camp beside a small stream they had eventually discovered as night began to fall once more. They had walked far since the incident with the boar and by his reckoning were only a couple of days away from the kings halls now. His stomach lurched at the thought and a frisson of excitement ran down his spine. The king. His father. His mind went back to the last time he could clearly remember seeing the tall, imposing elder. The look upon his face, the words so clearly spoken. He closed his eyes against the memories that came flooding back and swayed under the weight of emotions wrung from his heart. Then took a deep breath, followed by another and another as he pushed the feelings away, buried them deep within and opened his eyes once more. He had a job to do.

Aragorn had collected twigs enough to make a reasonable fire for cooking over and was in the process of coaxing it to light. Musing upon the events of the day the expression in Legolas' eyes after his mishap with the boar once more sprang to mind and he could not help but wonder at its significance. He thought back upon the many times his eyes had alighted upon the prince over their long walk since and a sense of unease began to gnaw at him relentlessly. Yes, there had been laughter and merry quips and chatter but, on reflection, the laughter had never seemed to quite reach the wood elf's eyes and the chatter had seemed a little more forced than usual. He shook his head as the flint in his hand suddenly sparked and for a few moments his mind was taken over by the fire and encouraging it to grow.

After feeding the small flames and watching them take hold the young man sat back on his heels once more to think. Legolas had been very eager to go hunting for their dinner. Too eager, perhaps and as much as he tried to ease his troubled mind over his friend's recent demeanor he could not forget that fleeting glimpse of malice he was growing more certain he had seen. Poking at the fire with a long, gnarled stick he did not notice his eldest brother walk over and squat down beside him.

"Something troubles you Estel." Softly spoken, the words startled Aragorn out of his worried reverie.

"What?" he looked up to a pair of questioning brown eyes. "Oh, 'Dan, I did not hear you, I…" breaking off he tried to gather his wits once more. "Sorry, what was it you said?"

"I asked if something troubled you, penneth." The peredhil smiled, tilting his head and with a lift of the eyebrow that mimicked his father exactly.

"I, was just thinking," the young man paused, unsure how to put his feelings into words. "About Legolas," he continued slowly. "He seems…" There was a longer pause this time. "Changed, strange, oh, I mean…"

"He has been through much Estel." Elladan broke into his human brother's jumbled flow of words. "Of course he may seem a little different, a little unsure and wary." He shuffled closer to place an arm around the young man's shoulder. "And you must remember, for an elf to have missing memories is not usual, it is, at the least, disconcerting and the longer it continues the more frustrating it becomes, especially for one such as Legolas who relies upon his memories of the paths and safe passages through this dangerous forest and will be expected to lead others safely upon them. He will be worried about just how much he has lost."

"Yes, I see," Aragorn mused aloud. "I hadn't really thought about it like that." He began to relax against the comforting form of his brother. "I know I have to be patient but it is not easy 'Dan, not easy at all."

"I know, penneth, I know." Elladan pulled him closer into his embrace. "I'm sure he will remember you in time."

Elrohir glanced over to where Legolas crouched under a tree beside a small grassy hump atop which stood a large hare. The animal seemed completely oblivious to the wood elf as it grazed, ears occasionally twitching to monitor the surroundings for danger. How the prince had managed to get so close without alerting the creature to his presence was a wonder he could only admire. Both he and his brother were no novices when it came to hunting but he was always amazed by the wood elf's talent in this area.

As he watched the hare suddenly sat bolt upright then flew backwards, head over heels to land, twitching in the grass, a silver dagger embedded in its chest. He gasped. He had not even noticed Legolas throw the blade. Walking towards the elf who was now bending down to pick up the dead animal he considered the kill. Legolas had always been fast, agile and lethally dangerous, deceptively so for his slight build and youthful appearance but it seemed that he had honed his skills somewhat since last they had met. He met the other's eyes as he straightened, holding the hare up with a satisfied grin.

"We will eat well this night, mellon." The wood elf's eyes sparkled with delight as he waved the animal before him. "Come, let us return with our prize."

"Aye," Elrohir clapped him on the shoulder, "'twill make a welcome change from lembas this eve, mellon nin."

With that the pair began to make their way back to camp, following the stream and the faint scent of burning wood.

~o~

Cursing loudly the witch king unhooked the short whip he always carried at his belt and lashed out in anger at the huge horse which stood, panting and favouring its right leg. Blood streamed down its glossy, black flank as the whip opened up three long gashes before the nazgul fully realized what he had done and with an effort stayed his hand. If he was not careful he would be walking back to Dol Guldur.

He moved closer to the trembling beast, glad that its training held it firm beside him and ran one gauntleted hand down its right leg, reaching out with his senses to feel for any break in the bone. Thankfully, there was none. He knew he had been pushing the animal hard in his need to find his elf, to see him, be near to him. It had become a compulsion, an overriding craving that he could not resist, so he had forced the beast to gallop through the trees, unheeding of the terrain, his one abiding thought to find the object of his desire and he had paid the price.

A shallow hole had been his downfall. A simple, half scraped rabbit hole. The great war horse had not stood a chance as his foot had found it, his race through the forest abruptly curtailed as he stumbled, attempted to regain his footing, gone down onto his front knees nose brushing the leaf mould blanketing the ground, before finally managing to rise once more to trembling feet. All in a single flurry of movement and without unseating his rider. If the hole had been deeper, fully dug out, it would have been a different story. At least the animal was still alive.

Clenching his fist the witch king forced down his anger. The horse would not be able to bear his weight so he would have to walk. The question was, did he go on to or turn back to his fortress? Standing, pondering his decision he sniffed the air almost unconsciously then sniffed again. The elf's scent smelled stronger now. He was so close.

A/N

Almost home...

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