A/N You guys are all amazing! :) Thank you so much for the many nice reviews you left me and for anyone who followed/favorited or is reading. :)

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter Eight

Aragorn and the group of elves he was with burst out of hiding behind the orcs, their swords and knives already swinging. The orcs let out shrill shrieks of panic and began to scatter, but for many of them it was too late and their deaths were quickly delivered to them.

The human looked around, unbridled fury in his eyes as he swung his sword at a passing orc. Where was Legolas? He had to get to Legolas if it was the last thing he did. Stumbling over an orc who was in the death throes on the ground, Aragorn quickly ended it for it with a quick downward stab, all the while scanning the area.

Grabbing an orc from behind, Aragorn ran it through before pushing it aside. As he did so, he saw Legolas. The elf was scrambling back as best as he could as an orc loomed over him, a knife already plunging down. Aragorn's heart-rate tripled in a matter of a second.

"Legolas!" he yelled, rushing forward, but there was too much space between them, he was never going to make it. Orcs ran screaming in front of him as elves surged after them, hindering his ability to get to his friend. Aragorn did the only thing he could think to do, even if it was rather idiotic.

Still running, he twirled his sword once, checking its balance, before heaving his arm back throwing his sword like a dagger with all his might. The sword twirled through the air, and Aragorn felt his heart stop as he watched it flip end over end.

He had miscalculated, the human realized in sudden horror as the hilt hit the orc squarely in the back instead of with it sharpened end. It stumbled and fell to the ground, but this only brought it closer to the injured elf.

"Legolas!" Aragorn cried helplessly, running forward once more. Only this time, he didn't have his sword.

Ducking between a charging orc and the warrior elf it was aiming for, the man neatly tripped the dark creature. It fell with a grunt and an elf came out of nowhere, sword raised high in what would become a death blow.

Looking up, Aragorn felt a great longing for his own sword, before his stomach plummeted even further if that was possible. He couldn't see Legolas anymore. Turning in a slow circle, Aragorn desperately scanned the surging mass of fighting beings, wondering if he had somehow got turned around in the wrong direction.

The elf was still not visible, and the man turned in the direction that his heart told him to go and plunged into the fighting once more.

An orc came out of thin air and made a leap for him, its face screwed up in a war cry, and Aragorn hit the ground rolling. The orc's long knife slammed into the ground where Aragorn had just been. The man didn't waste time with it, knowing that his only duty was to Legolas.

Aragorn had only gone a few feet forward when an elf in front of him crashed to the ground and didn't get up. Leaning over the fallen elf, Aragorn saw that his eyes were blank. He was dead.

"Hiro ith ab 'wannath…" Aragorn whispered silently despite the battling ranging around him as a pang of utter sorrow filled his soul. Elves should not have to die. Not like this. Reaching out, he slid the elf's eyelids closed over his deep brown eyes. The burning anger was rekindled in his soul and he glared at the orcs with fire in his eyes. "Forgive me," he murmured, as he gently freed the elf of the sword that he still clutched. /May he find peace in death/

With the weapon in hand, Aragorn surged to his feet with a war cry, beheading the orc closest to him. The orcs didn't know what had hit him as Aragorn made his way through their ranks like a whirlwind of steel. His eyes ever swept the battle in front of him, looking desperately for Legolas as he killed any orc that got within an arm's reach of him. The elven blade was well made, and well suited for his propose.

Sticking the blade through an orc's gut, Aragorn threw the dark being aside and raised his eyes, looking for his next victim, only to find what he had been searching for.

Legolas had been backed up against a wall as a large orc threatened him. He had somehow lost the first orc, but it didn't appear as if he would be able to do so again wihtout help. His hands were still bound behind his back, but as Aragorn began to move he saw the elf kick out, attempting to keep his death at bay.

"Legolas!" Aragorn yelled for what seemed the thousandth time, charging with the elven sword clutched tightly in his fist. The elf lifted his head at the sound of his name and even from the distance that still separated them, Aragorn watched his eyes widen around, he half expected to see an orc standing behind him but the space behind him was clear for the moment, and he continued running towards his friend. As he turned, however, he watched with horror as Legolas slumped to the ground in a seneless heap as his eyes rolled back in his head.

"Legolas!" he yelled even louder as he charged.

The orc did not share their confusion and with a laugh brought his knife down to cut a gash in the prince's face, only just missing his neck. Blood spurted up and the orc laughed, leaning close and licking some of the life-perserving substance off his cheek.

Aragorn swore and yelled out a war cry. The orc lasted only a second against Aragorn and not a moment too soon, it found itself looking down at a blade sticking through its chest. The man pushed it aside carelessly, dropping down to kneel next his friend. Gathering him up into his arms, Aragon called his name once more, patting his cheek urgently. The prince stirred feebly and a huge grin split the man's face.

"Hey," he said softly as the elf's eyes blinked open and he met the man's eyes. Legolas slowly shook his head his eyes regaining that wide, almost disbelieving look. Smilng in reassurance, the man quickly fumbled with the knott holding the gag in the elf's mouth. Casting a quick glance behind his shoulder to make sure they were being left alone, he turned back to the elf. Tears were magninfing the dull eyes and Aragorn's heart sank.

"Estel?" Legolas whispered in a shaky voice, reaching out with violently trembling fingers to brush the man's face, as if to assure himself that it was real. The tears were starting to slowly slip down his face, but he didn't seem to even notice.

"Did you really think that I would leave you behind at the mercy of the orcs?" Aragorn asked in response with a comforting smile, capturing the elf's swollen fingers and squeezing them gently, before tugging at the rough knot in the hemp that bound the elf's hands together. He did a quick visual scan of the elf, not liking what he saw, but the sounds of screaming orcs reminding him that they didn't have much time.

Legolas' right side was coated in fresh blood from the cut to his cheek and the one to his collar bone. His face was pale under the grime and he looked like he might pass out at any moment. The normally quick blue eyes had dulled, the man suspected a fever, and when he glanced down at the elf's lower body, he saw that the cuts he had treated not but three days ago were enflamed and swollen.

"Estel-" Legolas searched the man's face, shaking his head, but Aragorn wasn't looking at him.

"Come, Legolas, we must go," Aragorn insisted, quickly ripping a white piece of linen free from the bandages that he had stuffed into his pocket. He swiftly and efficiently wrapped the elf's shoulder, hoping to at least slow the bleeding before moving the elf.

"But – But you were…" Legolas protested, before trailing off, his face growing even paler if that was possible. His eyes flickered shut and he allowed a low sob to escape his lips.

"I need to care for your wounds, but I cannot do-" Aragorn began as hs worry soared before abrubtly lunging forward and tackling Legolas. He rolled him to the side, narrowly avoiding an orc sword that had been thrust into the ground where they had been moments before. A second later, the orc that had attacked them was beheaded as a passing elf twirled his sword at its neck.

Aragorn rolled off Legolas and crouched in front of the elf, sword at the ready. Legolas moaned behind him, attempting to ease himself into a sitting position with his arm coming up to wrap protectively around his chest. His breathing was heavy and he slumped back against the rock, feeling the pain of his body as it rolled over him in a wave. His stay with the orcs had been far from healthy for him.

"Come, Legolas," Aragorn said and the fear and concern in his voice was clear to Legolas. Then the man's arms were sliding under his and heaving him to his feet. "There are horses waiting for us, but we must leave here," the human breathed into his ear as he swung the elf arm over his shoulder to support the sagging elf.

"But…" Legolas tried to say once again, still wondering at the man's miraculous appearance. After all, it was impossible…wasn't it? It certainly looked like Aragorn, and talked like him too. But Aragorn was dead. And no one could come back from the dead.

"Shh, save your breath, Legolas. You will need it before this is over," Aragorn said darkly, readjusting the elf against him so that he could at least wield the sword if he was called upon to do so. He began to move the elf along, sticking to the edge of the fight as he tried to get back to the trees.

Legolas leaned heavily on Aragorn's arm, his breath coming in sharp and quick as the man lead them through the fighting. The weight of confusion and despair was hanging over him, almost like a physical burden, and he stumbled, almost pitching head-long into a running orc.

He was so tired, all he wanted to do was rest and figure out what was going on….

"Easy, Legolas, I've got you." Aragorn murmured, catching the prince easily. "We are almost there, just a little further." Legolas nodded once to show that he had heard and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Bowing his head, he tried desperately to block out the shouts and screams of dying orcs and the cries of injured elves.

Aragorn kicked a final orc out of their way, and began to climb down several narrow stairs, gripping Legolas tightly to keep him from falling. Once they reached ground once more, Aragorn began to lead them into the dark forest and away from Dol Guldur.

The faint sounds of the battle slowly faded as well, but to Legolas it seemed like he was still standing right next to it. The shouts and screams of dying elves echoed hauntingly in his ears, and when he closed his eyes, his mind taunted him with fields of blood. He could still see the fareway headless body that he had so believed was the man support him. But his father could easily end up the same state that he had throught Aragorn had been in.

Elves, his people, were back there dying and fighting for him while he ran like a coward…

"Stop," Legolas declared faintly, revulsion flowing through him for his weakness that even his voice could not deny. "Stop," he repeated almost desperately. He had to go back, he had to help…

"We cannot stop Legolas, we must keep moving forward." Aragorn replied worriedly. His arm tightened about the elf and before Legolas knew what was happening, the man was half-caring him.

"No, Estel," Legolas insisted, the weight of the dead and his own cowardness bearing down on him, seemingly to crush his very soul. He had to stop, even if he didn't go back, he had to stop going. "I –I can't go on," he confessed, allowing all the tension to drain form his abused body so that Aragorn was forced to either take all his weight, or help him to the ground.

"Yes, you can, Legolas!" Aragorn pleaded. All the same, he helped Legolas to a sitting position.

"No, Estel," Legolas said firmly, leaning heavily against a nearby tree with a wince.

"For a few minutes, only," Aragorn warned as he crouched next to Legolas, scanning the trees anxiously for any sign of danger. One of his blood-stained hands rested lightly against the elf's arm, keeping him balanced as he gasped lightly for air.

Sensing no immediate danger, Aragorn learned closer to his friend, the concern clear in his grey eyes.

"Legolas, where are the worst of your injuries?" Sliding a hand under the hair that had fallen into the elf's face he placed a hand on his brow to test his temperature. The elven prince's skin was warm against his palm, and the man made a mental note to keep an eye on it. "I guess I will just figure it for myself," Aragorn mused aloud after a moment and Legolas hadn't answered.

He pulled the wade of bandages out of his pocket again and set them on the forest floor, ready for use when they would be needed. Grimacing, he gently peeled back the blood soaked ones wrapped around Legolas' shoulder, trying to see how bad the bleeding really was.

"Legolas," he said seriously as he worked, glancing at the elf's wan face. "What did they do to you after they took me?" Legolas stiffened, sucking in a breath with a sharp hiss as he looked over at Aragorn with his mask suddenly in place.

"What happened to you?" he asked in responses, clearly trying to turn the conversation away from him. Aragorn, who had been taking his pulse, felt the elf's heart rate almost double at the question and frowned.

"They sent me as a messenger to Thranduil," he gave in softly, rewrapping the wound with gentle fingers. He watched Legolas' reaction carefully. The elf turned away as much as he could and leaned further into the tree with a soft, shaky sigh. Relief was spilling through him faster than his worn body could manage. Of course this was Aragorn, of course he wasn't dead. It had just been a trick, a trick that he had fallen for.

"Legolas?" Aragorn prompted, his hands stilling their work as he touched the elf's shoulder. "What did you think happened to me?" he asked with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. The elf had been shocked to see him that much had been clear. "Legolas, answer me," he said harsher than he had intended as Legolas only mutley shook his head again.

"They killed you," Legolas blurted out, his hands shaking visibly as he went to clench them together. "They beheaded you, just like my warriors, just like– and" he spat, his voice catching until he coudln't speak any more. When he had last met Aragorn's eyes, the human saw that tears were one more slipping rapidly down his face. Legolas turned away again, suppressing a sob and clutching the tree he was leaning against. His shoulders began to shake despite his best efforts.

"I'm fine, Legolas, I'm right here," Aragorn whispered in despair, his heart falling him as he thought of what Legolas had gone through. A chocked noise managed to escape from Legolas tightly pressed lips and Aragorn pulled him away from the tree and into his arms. He didn't know what to say to the elf, so he simply hugged him.

Legolas resisted for a moment, but caved in and clutched at the man he thought he had lost forever.

"Shh… shh," Aragorn murmured, beginning to rock lightly back and forth. He didn't want to think about what Legolas had gone through; he didn't want to think about how this had affected his friend. He laid his chin atop the elf's fair head and pulled him closer. The prince was shaking worse than a leaf in a gale.

"Legolas," he began, but trailed off, unsure of what to say that would provide meaningful comfort. The elf's shook with sobs that the man could tell he was still striving to hold back and he brought him a little closer, wishing he could do more than what he was.

The sounds of the battle drifted through the woods to them and Aragorn started. He had almost forgotten in the light of Legolas' plight where they were.

"Legolas," he began anew. Gently he tipped the elf's tear streaked face up to meet his. The elf's breathing was ragged and Aragorn touched his face tenderly, wiping at the tears with the pad of his thumb. "I'm alive, but right now I can't promise that either of us will stay that way if we don't get up and move."

Legolas blinked once, and then twisted to look behind him. When he turned back to face Aragorn, something new had entered into his eyes, but the human could not decipher weather it was for the good or evil.

"You are right, forgive me," Legolas whispered brokenly. "I will –I am sorry. I have held us back."

Aragorn rose, pulling the still injured and weak elf up with him.

"You have never held me back, my friend," he said firmly, wrapping Legolas' arm around his shoulders once more. "Don't you dare even think it a second time," he added with fire, bracing the elf against him. Legolas didn't reply, but looked away, unable to meet Aragorn's merciful and kind eyes.

Aragorn didn't press the matter, but his heart was more troubled than ever. There was such a change in his friend from five years ago, which was the last time he had visited the elf. The prince's eyes didn't shine with life like they always had, but had appeared dull, almost hopeless. His laughter, when he laughed, was short and forced and not as he could with his head thrown back and with his whole heart.

He couldn't help but wondering if his 'death' had pushed the elf over an edge that he been teetering over for a long while. Oh, how he wished had head decided to come to Mirkwood earlier, before it had gone on for this long. He had know that his friend was troubled, he could sense in the few letters they had exchanged, but he hadn't know exactly how deep it went. If he had known, he would have been on a horse and on his way to Mirkwood within minutes of finding out.

"I'm not going to let go. I won't," Aragorn whispered fiercely as Legolas stumbled into him. Tears were glistening in the human's eyes as he spoke, but Legolas didn't see them as he leaned his head against Aragorn's shoulder and closed his eyes with an exhausted sigh.

"I'm tired, Estel…so tired," he murmured, his legs faltering under his weight. The cuts on his chest hurt with a fire every time he took a breath and the little energy that he had before, he had now spent. All his drained body wanted to do was curl up in a ball and never move again and his mind just wanted to escape, if just for a moment.

"I know, but it isn't much farther," Aragorn tried to cajole. He jostled his shoulder and Legolas slowly raised his head, before letting it loll onto his own shoulder. Aragorn couldn't find it in his torn heart to refused Legolas and instead of forcing him back to reality and pain, let him stagger forward only half-aware of his surroundings. Maybe it was better that way for the moment anyway.

"Just hang on, mellon-nin, I am here for you," the human whispered, watching in fear for his friend as the elf's face lost another shade of color.

TBC...

Well, they are back together again and though Legolas isn't healthy, he insn't at sword point any more. :)

Review Replies:

Nameless: No, you are right. I won't. I find it really funny for somereason. An innocent name for a deadly tool. :) This is for sure the most angsty fic that I have written. My other stuff will seem tame after this. Aw, thanks so much mellon-nin! You are the best!

LOTCR: It is an writer thing... :) Girl, the war is one. Beware! I will use my hobbit if so requried! Well, lots of orc killing went on in this chapter. Hoepfuly that satsifed your demand. :) Thanks so much!

1356-2478: Yea, it kind of was. I like my cliffies a little too much. :) Thanks!