Chapter Three:

"Legolas! Come on! You´ll spoil the good timing we´ve achieved!" The truth is that Aragorn´s words reached his addressee because it has elven ears. Otherwise they wouldn´t, as a result of the considerable distance created between the three horses and the grey mare. It was not the mare´s fault, but her owner´s. Legolas eyes studied the ground. The traces left by Elrond´s sons were deeper in the mud as they advanced. The road was becoming heavy for the animals, whose hooves buried more and more at each step. The thick mud, just cut by occasional streams of water, wasn´t the reason of Legolas´s distress. The reason was that odd perception that screamed to him to be careful. As he raised his sight from the ground, he saw his three friends waiting for him. "This feeling is nonsense", the Prince though in a convincingly way. "I should not concern the others because of an unsubstantiated feeling." He kicked his horse´s sides urging it to reach his friends location. As he approached them, he could see that the twin´s facial expressions showed amusement, but Aragorn´s, worry.

"Is everything alright, mellon-in?"

"Of course, everything is fine" Legolas smiled, glancing briefly into the ranger´s eyes to then focus on the sky ahead. "I think the clouds that caused this wetness are still behind that peak over there, see how the sky gets darker?" He indicated with his right index finger. Aragorn knew the elf said that as a strategy to get rid of the three pairs of questioning eyes.

Elladan and Elrohir immediately cast their eyes in the direction Legolas indicated. Aragorn turned his head, but as long as it allowed him to have a look at his friend. Thranduil´s son was sitting straight on the saddle. His feet hung loosely and without stiffness at each side of the animal, while his hands were placed casually on his thighs. His eyes were busy trying to find a place Elladan had pointed out. Aragorn cursed to himself. The elf was very good at hiding feelings, but this time he couldn´t fool him. He knew him too well. Something was bothering the Mirkwood Prince. Despite this, the man chose to say nothing, if there was danger around, Legolas would for sure tell them.

"What do you think Estel?"

"What?" Elrohir´s voice brought him back from his thoughts. Aragorn realized he had been lost on his mind and with a blank stare focused on nothing. When he heard his name, he shook his head and looked at the twin, but it was evident that the human had not heard a word of what has been said.

"We were saying that we should continue now" Elladan answered for his brother.

"Yes, of course" The ranger tried to put the most normal voice tone, but still sounded silly. He then looked at Legolas, who was smiling delightfully.

"Go on, then. You are the head of the line now" Legolas gestured with his hand, indicating Aragorn to take his place, never abandoning the amused look.

Aragorn sighed and grumbled between teeth and reassumed the march. Elrohir followed him, not having before exchanged a mocked expression with Elladan, who positioned his horse in the third place of the row. Legolas couldn´t help but laugh. Having forgotten his fears for the moment, he spoke nice elvish words to his faithful mare and guided the animal to take his new placement at the end of the caravan.

The pace was slower than in the first stretch of the mountain road. Everyone eyes were focus constantly on the unsteady ground. At their left, the cliff was not abrupt; instead, it descended progressively and was covered by dense vegetation. Despite of this, it didn´t mean it wasn´t deep. Tree's branches began to dance in time with the mild blizzard that made itself present as the four travelers doubled a corner. It was about noon, and the sun gave way to grey clouds that stained the day of a somber tone.

As soon as they faced the new direction, Aragorn stopped his horse´s march, forcing the others to do the same. The road presented an upward slope of 50 degrees. It was the last ascent, of about half a mile long, until they could reach the halt area and be able to begin to descend. The ranger could feel the animal´s distress below him. It stood restlessly and apparently wasn´t at all convinced about going forward.

"I think it would be better if we walk this length. The mud is already bothering the horses, I don´t want to push them".

"Ai, I agree. Besides, going slowly is more prudent. The ground is not that steady" Elrohir seconded his human brother´s thought. As he looked back to his brother and friend, he could see that Elladan was already down, massaging his horse´s forehead and nose. The faithful animals were uneasy, as if the shadowed day brought their spirits down and doubts claimed their minds.

The twins shared a brief brotherly smile, and then Elrohir directed his gaze to where their blond Mirkwood friend was, still mounted. His long hair, braided as usual, was being gently moved around by the soft wind. His face was frowning while his narrowed eyes scanned the area and his ears tried to collect the tree´s wise warnings.

Knowing they had to continue, Legolas dismounted and, just as the others were doing, proceeded to check and adjust the equipment so it wouldn´t fell during the rough ascent. Each of them carried a bed roll with a blanket; a bag with lembas and various other provisions; a canteen with water, which was meant to be refilled several times during the journey; a coil of rope and of course, their usual weapons. Aragorn, in addition to all this and attending to his healer role, carried with great thoughtfulness a pack containing varied herbs, all of them able to provide healing properties; clean bandages and a little knife, needle and fine thread.

After being entirely sure everything will stay in its place, the human lifted his head to the awaiting road. It was about 5 foot wide maximum. Humidity was present everywhere, and at each step, mud covered their feet almost completely until it reached the ankles. Looking at the opposite side, he saw the three elfs, reins in hands, waiting for him to make the first move.

"Ready?" He asked redundantly. Three nods were all his answer. "Let's start going, then". With that, he lifted his left leg and, pushing his body up, climbed the kind of step that was the beginning of the upward slope. The sorrel animal was taken by surprise and jerked at the time it started walking behind its master, extending his long neck and lowering his head at the same level of Aragorn´s guiding hand. Elrohir followed, walking in front of his horse. His face reflected the annoyance of having to dip into the mud the appreciated elven boots. Although their good quality, it was difficult to walk and climb without sliding off a bit. Elladan found his brother´s instability quite amusing, despite sharing the same problem, and having a bit more difficulty after his brothers traces affected negatively the state of the road. Indeed, being the last, Legolas was finding pretty hard keeping the others pace. After three horses and three persons trod the unstable path, finding a good place to support the feet was becoming limited.

In the rear, the blond elf could clearly see how the others gave off pieces of sludge from the path´s edge, which fell and were loss of sight among the dense vegetation. Although Aragorn and the twins were very careful on not disturbing the precarious state of the way more than it already was, the horses had no consideration on this. For the worse, they were very anxious on getting off this place as soon as possible. This caused unnecessary and problematic extra hoof beats, which contributed on making a mess almost impossible to walk in without having to support on something.

The four friends climbed silently, doing great pressure on his legs almost on all fours, and being very cautious about stepping in the right place each time. Legolas had grabbed his mare´s reins with his right hand, making sure the animal walked closest to the mountain wall as possible. Mud covered both his hands up to the wrists and beyond, as a result of having to reach down to avoid dropping on his face each time his feet slide off.

By the time Aragorn had reached the midpoint of the slope, the grey clouds started to drop an almost imperceptible drizzle, but in association with the mild blizzard, it made almost impossible for the four companions make two steps without having to dry his eyes to be able to see. The soil moisture began to increase, as well as the desire to get to the top.

Only a few yards reminded until they could enjoy the rest area. There, they would be able to recover their tired legs from the exertion they were doing, and also try to clean off some of the mud that has been collected on clothes, hands, face and hair, not to mention all the body. But the unexpected happened.

Anticipating the arrival, Elladan´s horse anxiously started to peace sideways. The twin tried to calm it down, whispering elven words while holding its head with both hands. Unfortunately, before the animal regained serenity, its left and strong hoof hit the precary edge, causing a partial collapse of the road.

"Legolas!" Three simultaneous and desperate shouts were cruelty echoed by the mountain, before a deathly cold chilled sensation made their blood freeze.

TBC…