A/N Happy almost Easter(As well as April) ! At this most special time of year, I want to take time to thank my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for the chance to write and for each of you. If you have time, please, please, check out the amazing He Lives video :)

Disclaimer: not mine.

Six: Nightmares

Screams rendered the air, and blood tainted everything a horrifying scarlet. Bright knives glinted in the dark night through the light of the moon, which was rapidly disappearing as dark, overbearing clouds began to cover the sky. The sinister, faceless creatures were mere shadows. They crept easily upon the warring elves, attacking from behind like a cloud of death and overpowering them one by one. The creature's harsh laughter was loud enough to drown out the horrible, desperate, cries of the elves.

A monster grabbed an elf from behind, thrusting it through with a long handled sword. The elf fell with his features screwed in intense agony. Soon only the evil ones stood, celebrating over the bodies of their enemies. In one hand, the greatest of all the monsters clutched a severed head by its hair. The face had been destroyed beyond recognition, but the long, pale, blonde hair was definable enough. If any more proof was needed, then the dangling circlet of silver with a glittering gem in the middle cemented it. Mirkwood's greatest king had fallen.

The black creature laughed loudly and harshly, its grotesque features enough to frighten a grown man. It flicked out its forked tongue, licking blood from the king's disfigured face…

Legolas awoke with a shout as he shot bolt upright, gazing widely around as his fingers automatically searched for the knife he always kept close by. He twisted, expecting to see the dark creatures slipping in on him from the side, ready to grab him by the throat.

Aragorn, who had been sleeping on the other side of their dying fire, woke abruptly at the cry and was on his feet and in the act of drawing his sword before his mind could fully comprehend everything.

"What! What is wrong?" he exclaimed, his eyes darting from tree to tree as he searched for dark figures, of the glint of blade. After a moment of heart-pounding terror, he realized they were not under attack, and glanced over at his companion as he seethed his sword with a satisfying click.

Legolas was sitting up, but the man knew almost immediately that something was wrong. The elf was gasping for air, his eyes wide as his eyes franticly searched the area. In his hand, he gripped one of his twin white knives like a life-line.

"Legolas?" Aragorn moved forward, the concern on his face evident as he knelt a safe distance from the elven prince. It wouldn't do to have the elf strike out at him with the knife, and then come to his senses. Legolas didn't respond, his eyes still strangely vacant, and the man frowned. Reaching out, he slowly covered the elf's hand with his own, prying his fingers lose form around the weapon. Legolas jumped, his fingers squeezing shut lIke a python. "Legolas," he said clearly, "let me have the knife." Legolas blinked, and realization flooded his eyes as his fingers gradually released their death grip. Aragorn smiled, taking the knife and setting it aside.

"Forgive me, Aragorn, I did not mean to waken you," Legolas said softly, his face flushing lightly in embarrassment a he ran his slim fingers through his hair in attempt to gain some of his composure back. Aragorn sat back on his haunches, cocking his head to the side as he examined his friend. Legolas' hands were shaking, he noted.

"Are you alright?" The man chose his words carefully, still watching the elven-prince.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," Legolas disconnect replied. He was still trying to fight off the grasping fingers of his dream, and he jumped lightly at the soft sound of an owl behind them. "You can go back to sleep, Estel," he insisted, avoiding the man's intense gaze.

"Do you want to talk?" Aragorn asked instead, pressing the point lightly. What could have made the proud elf cry out like that?

"No, Aragorn, I swear I am fine." Legolas swung the cloak he had been using as a blanket over his shoulders and stood, giving Aragorn a look that clearly told him to drop the matter.

Aragorn also stood. "Where are you going?" he asked as Legolas held out his hand, asking for the knife back. He gave it too him, and watched as he stuck it through his belt.

"For a walk. Please go back to bed, Estel, there is no need for you to stay up," the elf replied, smiling warmly at his friend, who didn't return the smile. He began to walk towards the distant line of trees that shadowed the horizon and Aragorn watched him go, a frown pulling his face down.

Legolas meandered slowly along, trying to concentrate on anything but the nightmare. The image of the dead elves, however, burned brightly and their cries echoed hauntingly, causing his heart to start pounding once more. He wanted to do something drastic, something to help him forget the dread of fear in the pit of his stomach, something to ease the terrible tension in his chest, but there were no spiders or orcs around to vent his feelings on so he settled on aiming a kick at a nearby rock.

The wind tugged at his long hair playfully, and Legolas leaned into its gentle embrace, closing his eyes and listening to the faint chirping of crickets. The world was at peace around him, yet he was not.

His greatest fear, one that he feared enough to hardly acknowledge it, was one day that he would come home only to find his father dead. Dead, just like his mother. That was a day that Legolas usually did all in his power not dwell upon, a day he would sooner have forgotten. If he had to relive it again, only with his father in her stead, he didn't think he would survive.

Sighing, Legolas let his feet carry him where they would. A small, trickling, stream crossed his path, and the prince dropped down next to it. Staring into the reflective water as it dribbled over rocks and gurgled on past, not a care in the world, he drew his knees up to his chest and rested his chin on them.

The dream had shaken him more than it should have, and that irked him. He was strong, a simply dream should not affect him so. For crying out loud, he had faced worse things than faceless creatures in real life, and hadn't blinked an eye. The moon cast its bright light down upon him, and Legolas glanced up, seeking the comfort of the stars.

He heard the light tread of Aragorn's footsteps before the man actually came into view.

Sinking down next to his elven-friend, Aragorn momentarily glanced up to see if the stars were all that had caught Legolas' attention, and then fixed his own gaze to the stream. For a while, the two just sat in friendly companionship, neither speaking as the sound of the stream and insects filled the air around them.

At last Aragorn spoke, his voice soft and quiet, blending in with the night rather than disturbing it. "I onetime dreamt that the dark smothered me. I didn't sleep without the fire burning in my room for at least a week afterwards." He looked at his friend from the corner of his eye, trying to gauge his reaction.

"And what does that have to do with anything?" Legolas asked, turning to face his friend with an eyebrow raised.

"It means that dreams can be powerful. I was a grown man, not a child." Aragorn smiled grimly over at the elf, who truned away, trying to hide the quick smile that had flashed across his face. Once again they fell in to silence, but Aragorn did not push it. Silence could work funny changes in people that talking couldn't.

"It was my father." Legolas didn't look at Aragorn as he spoke, but instead let his eyes remain fixed on the heavens. His hands had tightened around his knees, and it was great effort that he forced his fingers to let go.

"What about him?" Aragorn clarified unsure of what the elf meant. He turned fully around, so that they were no longer sitting side by side, but across from each other.

"He… He was killed. When I have nightmares, which is few and far between, someone that I love always dies. Tonight it was my father," Legolas whispered, picking up a blade of grass and lightly twisting it between his fingers. "I know that it isn't real, but the real fear is to me that one day, I'll wake up and find that it wasn't a dream after all. Could I survive that? I hardly survived my mother's…" The elf blew out a breath, staring blankly at the stars reflected in the water. He heard Aragorn shift next to him and glanced over.

"I think that that is a natural fear for everybody, man, elf or dwarf. Even wizards, I am sure. Aragorn replied slowly, shrugging his shoulders. The elf scoffed lightly, turning back to face the water and the man sighed. "Don't be afraid of that day, if it is to come at all, Legolas. I don't think you could ever be left without someone who cares for you. Besides I, for one, wouldn't let you die of grief on me." He reached out, touching the elf's arm

"What if you the one who is dead?" Legolas asked simply.

"Then I will haunt you until you get your stubborn head screwed back on correctly," Aragorn said seriously, making Legolas give a small chuckle. "Really, though, Legolas, I am going to die at some point, that one is inventible. Don't fear that day, don't dwell on what you don't have, but take what is given to you and embrace it fully, if you get what I mean. Death won't be the end."

"I know," Legolas replied, his heart having settled somewhat. The tight bands of tension around his chest had eased, and he gave the man a wan grin, before smiling full out. "I guess sometimes I just need ranger to remind me." Aragorn snorted, shoving the elf lightly.

"See, I do have my uses."

"And sometimes you use them and just as occasionally you show wisdom." Legolas got easily to his feet, his eyes sparkling as he offered the man a hand up. Aragorn snorted again, taking the proffered hand and getting to his feet as well, brushing the dirt off his breaches.

"Legolas, I am always full of wisdom, it just has taken you a long time to see it," he retorted, placing an elbow on the elf's shoulder and resting his weight on it as he looked at the elf expectantly. The prince laughed, pushing the man off him.

"Or maybe, you just thought you have always been wise, when in reality, you just hit the mark every now and then," he teased.

"Oh, no, Legolas, it is the other way around!" Aragorn insisted cheerfully. He began to head back up the path, motioning for Legolas to follow. "Cone, my bedroll is calling my name."

Legolas face fell slightly and his feet slowed to a stop. "Forgive me, Estel. You really could have gone back to bed, I would have been fine."

"Legolas. Don't go there, it was fine," Aragorn said quietly, halting and bracing both hands on the elf's shoulders. "I would do it again, every night if so called upon, in a heartbeat. And I would be sure in saying that you have done the same for me." Turning around, he started whistling lightly as he walked a cheerful tune that Legolas had heard many times in the years he had known the man.

Once they reached their camp, Aragorn flopped back on his bedroll, rolling over with a soft sigh.

"Wake me when breakfast is ready…"he murmured contentedly.

"Who said I was making you breakfast?!" Legolas said indignantly, crossing his arm over his chest.

"You like me, so you do nice things for me," Aragorn replied, grinning into his blanket. He could almost sense the look of disbelief that Legolas as giving him.

"Aragorn. We don't have anything to make breakfast with, even if I was going to consider doing it. Just dried bread and fruit." Legolas sat down on his own bedroll, raising an eyebrow even though the man wouldn't be able to see it.

"Be creative," Aragorn insisted, laying still and closing his eyes. He could hear Legolas moving around for a few minutes, muttering something in elvish he couldn't quite catch, before he too stilled. Silence was restored and it wasn't long before Aragorn drifted off.

When the human awoke the next morning, it was to the bright sunlight and the smell of brewing tea.

THE END

Well, that was less bloody than many of my other stories. :) Next time, we have a stubborn elf who pushes himself a little to hard. :)

Review Replies:

Guest: I love Legolas angst as well, a little too much! Haha, maybe I will...maybe I will... :) My brain is not a safe place, no one ever knows what might happen. Thanks!