A/N Tip: Save every once and a while. That way you don't lose all your work and have to start all the way over when you were almost done...

Disclaimer: not mine.

Chapter Nine

The longer they walked, the further Legolas could feel himself slipping from the human and the rest of the world as he retreated into a blissful blankness. He could feel the gentle breeze around him, pulling at his hair and playing across his face, as well as the uneven ground beneath his feet. His eyes felt glued shut, however, and he could not find the immense will power to pry them open. His own ragged breathing mixed with Aragorn's panted breathes, and they comfortable rhythm that penetrated the darkness around him.

The ground beneath his faltering feet suddenly vanished, but it was back again almost as quickly as it had gone as Aragorn tugged sharply on his wrist that was around the man's shoulder. It was accompanied by a curse in the common tongue that Legolas couldn't quite grasp at the moment, but he presumed that Aragorn had tripped.

"Sorry, Legolas, sorry," Aragorn whispered in the elven tongue and the elf felt the man press him closer, trying to take more of his weight. Legolas let out a breath, knowing that he should tell the man that it hadn't been his fault, that he shouldn't be sorry.

He must have made some sort of sound, because the man holding him upright shhed him gently, telling to save his energy.

They continued for what seemed like an eternity to the elf. He was neither fully unconscious, but not fully aware either. He was in a twilight zone and everything, even time itself, seemed fuzzy and unrealistic.

Aragorn's footsteps slowed, and came to a stop, forcing Legolas to halt as well. He hung limply in the man's grasp, waiting for whatever was to happen next. New voices entered into his hearing, and they blended in with Aragorn's, creating a warm buzz in the back of Legolas' thoughts. A foreboding chill was wrapping around his body…

"Legolas? Legolas, I need you to open your eyes or answer me." Aragorn's soft whisper suddenly broke into the cloud that was wrapped around the prince's mind. "Listen to me." The human commanded in a tone that betrayed his heritage. It wasn't a tone Aragorn used often, but when he did, people listened.

Legolas moaned softly, but cracked his heavy eyelids just enough to be able to peer at the world from underneath his lashes. A brown horse flickered in and out of focus and Legolas realized that they had reached whatever destination Aragorn had been taking them too.

The horse pranced to the side, but a command from Aragorn held it still.

"Here, Legolas," Aragorn whispered in the elf's pointed ear. Taking the elf's hand, the man guided his fingers into the horse's mane. The prince's fingers tightened automatically around the silky strands, feeling their texture between his fingers."Now, up you get!" With that, Legolas felt the man boost him up and over the horse's back.

"Estel!" Legolas protested so softly that he was unsure if the man had heard him. His eyes closed once again of their own accord and he slumped forward over the horse's neck. For a moment, he was content to simply lay there and listen to Aragorn talk to with whoever else was present. A warm cloak was spread across his shoulders and tucked in around his body. A steady hand was paced against his back, and the voices sounded increased in proximity but his mind refused to focus and the words made little sense.

"Deteriorate…must…Mirkwood and…. Thranduil..." At his father's name, a deep fear roared awake in Legolas' mind. His father was out there still, battling orcs and risking his life. His father and many of his people were in danger because of him, it would be his fault if any of them were to perish. All his fault.

Oh, please, Earebreth! Legolas cried silently, his momentary peace replaced by fear. Spare them of my mistakes!

"Legolas?...he must…fever, I think." Aragorn's voice faded in and out of the depth-less horror that Legolas was quickly sinking into and he refused to feel the comfort that the cold hand on his brow offered. He would not shun the responsibility or pain of his choices, there was no escaping it. Aragorn's soothing voice continued to drift into his ears, and the elf felt the human swing up behind him on the horse. The man wrapped an arm tightly around his waist and brought him back to rest against his chest before the horse beneath them jolted forward.

The last thing Legolas really remembered before he allowed the blackness and horror to claim him was Aragorn's voice and the rough pain shooting this injured body.

When he next made an effort to pull himself from the comfortableness of oblivion, it was to the sound of many celebrating voices. He tired to open his eyes, but found that the effort required too much effort.

Before he could drift back, however, a voice he knew well and loved echoed into his ears.

"My son! Where is he?"

"I'm right here, Ada!" Legolas wanted to scream out, but again, he lacked the strength.

He was jostled roughly and jerked, a soft cry of pain leaving his lips.

"Be calm, my son," came his father's voice and Legolas attempted to twist around, only for his father's comforting touch to still him.

"Ada, –I–…Ada…"Legolas heard himself mumbling in a raspy pant. He couldn't get his tongue and brain to cooperate, and anything he tried to say came out in a jumbled mess. "Please…"

"Is he awake?" Aragorn's voice drifted in from to his left.

"Not entirely, I don't think." Thranduil replied. "His fever is rising; we cannot care for it here in the wild."

"Then we must make haste for the palace." Aragorn voice was anxious as he pressed his callused hand against Legolas' bare shoulder, feeling the heat there for himself. "Infection is set firmly into his wounds."

Legolas heard Thranduil heave a sigh, and his arms were sliding under his body.

"Come, we leave immediately," the king stated, and Legolas felt his body become airborne as he was lifted into his father's arms. With his father's steady heartbeat pounding against his ears, Legolas allowed himself to drift off once more.

AMESSENGERTOTHEKING

"He's burning up! Hold him down before he hurts himself further!"

The voices drifted through Legolas' fuzzy and foggy mind. He knew them, he was sure of that. The tones reminded him of something…comfort? Love?

"Estel, do something!" came one of the voices, and then hands where gripping him so tightly that Legolas was sure he would have the finger imprints branded into his skin. The very air around him was crackling with unseen heat as he tried to desperately suck oxygen in, but it seemed to scorch his lungs.

"Help me ease him up, he needs to ease his breathing." The voice was back, commanding and in its element. Hands where shoved roughly under his back and Legolas felt himself being pulled into an upright position.

He suddenly felt very cold and began to shiver violently. He couldn't explain it; one moment ago he had felt like he was in Orodruin itself.

"Legolas! Take a deep breath for me!"

Legolas dimly realized that he was indeed not taking in much air. His father's comforting presence washed over him as someone took his hand and it was then that he realized that it was Aragorn who was supporting him and felt a wave of relief wash over him, lulling him into its comfortable embrace.

His friend and father were there. They would help him.

A wet cloth was washed over his face, and Legolas leaned into it, feeling the coolness. He was burning again, the shivers having abated. The beginnings of frustration began to grow in the pit of his stomach. If his body had to feel any temperature, the least it could do was be consistent in its choice.

After a while, the hands lowered him carefully back into soft pillows and the cool cloth was back. Groaning with relief at the coolness, Legolas turned his head towards the source.

Aragorn and Thranduil's voices grew excited, but he was already drifting once more. His head was lifted from the pillow and the rim of a mug was pressed against his lips. He opened them and allowed a warm liquid to enter his mouth before sliding down his throat. The hands lowered him once more and he felt himself tunneling towards darkness nothing...

Suddenly, he found himself staring at Aragorn's headless body.

"No. You are alive!" he found himself shouting but the blood staining his hands and the now dead ranger denied his words. A sharp sound came caused him to flip around. One of his warrior's headless body was staggering towards him, the head tucked under its arm. It collapsed to the earth a moment later and the head rolled over the ground to land against Legoals' feet. Its blank eyes started at him with utter hatred.

"NO!" Legolas repeated again, stumbling backwards. "NO!" His voice echoed mockingly back and him and darkness began to rapidly overtake him, leaving him drowning in it. It was sucked in through his eyes, mouth and nose, attacking his heart. Dropping to his knees, the elf gagged, clutching at his chest as Uglk's haunting laughter pressed down on him. Abruptly, headless bodies began to appear until they surrounded him and began to crush him with their weight.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry. Forgive me!" Legolas found himself screaming, chocking on horror, blood, and darkness. He looked up, desperately seeking a way out but was only meet with a new horror. The heads of the bodies were floating above him, jeering his name and laughing at his feeble attempts to escape.

"We are dead!" they said as one, "We are dead and it was your fault. You live while we rot in the ground!"

"Forgive me! Forgive me!" Legolas sank to the ground and Aragorn's laugh rang out hauntingly.

AMESSENGERTOTHEKING

The bed was in-explicitly soft beneath his body and the blankets that covered him could be considered heavenly. The pillow cushioning his head made him never want to move again. For a moment, Legolas was at complete peace.

But all too soon, the vague memories of the orcs, his capture, and the fight that had followed began to thrust themselves upon his mind.

A horrible feeling was creeping into his stomach, and Legolas took a steadying breath. Just how many elves had died to save him? How many families where now in shambles because of him, because he had acted without a plan, only hoping to save Estel and thinking of no one else?

Blinking his eyes open, Legolas stared up at the high ceiling of his bedroom for several long seconds, trying desperately to remember if he knew the causality number. A movement to the left startled the elf and turned his head.

Aragorn sat in a chair by the bed, leaning forward with his head bowed and his hands clasped tightly in front of him. His shoulders where sagged as if he carried a great burden.

"Estel?" Legolas whispered in a croak and Aragorn jumped. Lifting his head, the worry was cleared from his face as though a bucket of water had been dumped over his features.

"Legolas! You're awake!" he cried in excitement, hurriedly getting to his feet and bending over the elf with a smile. He lay on of his hands across Legolas' forehead and his smile widened. "Your fever has almost broke." Sinking down to to sit on he edge of the bed, he simply continued to smile at his friend. Legolas gave a wan smile back, though he could tell from the way that the man's eye's fell that he had something was wrong. He had to ask, he just didn't know how to do so, or if he even really wanted to hear the answer.

You coward! He mocked himself, you are going to have to find out sooner or later, why postpone it?

"How many?" Legolas asked with a tinge of fear. He refused to meet Aragorn's eyes, studying his blanket carefully.

"How many what?" Aragorn asked cautiously his face falling further.

"How many died," Legolas clarified dully. His fist curled up around the blanket covering him and his chest become still as he held his breath, waiting.

"At Dol Guldur?" Aragorn asked, clearing his throat apprehensively. When Legolas nodded, but kept his gaze adverted, he sighed loudly, leaning forward. "Legolas, we shouldn't talk about this right now. You have been extremely ill. I thought we might loss you for a while. You need rest, not conversation." His eyes never left the back of Legolas' head, but they narrowed slightly at the words he left unsaid. Legolas didn't need any more guilt on his shoulders if Aragorn had a say in it.

"I need to know, Estel," Legolas stated as a fact without looking at his friend. He had yet to relax and Aragorn could tell that he was tenser than cat ready to pounce.

"Legolas…" the man pleaded softly, reaching out and touching his friend's arm. The elf refused to look at him and the man sighed, biting his lower lip as he sat back. At length he said, "Nine. We lost nine elves. 30 more are in the healing words. We may lose more yet."

Legolas took a shaky, deep, breath and clenched the sheet even harder as he began to visibly tremble. Shaking his head almost vigorously, he rolled all the way over and buried his face into the pillow.

"No, please, Legolas, don't take it like that!" Aragorn begged, reaching out and clasping the elf's bare shoulder. "I know that you think that this is your fault, but it's not." The elf jerked away from his touch and Aragorn stood, his frustration and worry getting the better of him as he placed his hands on his hips and stared down at the prince. "In no way it is your fault, do you hear me?" he snapped vehemently, resisting the urge to pull the elf back around to face him.

Legolas shook his head mutely into the pillow.

"Legolas, stop. I can not allow this to continue further. I share just as much blame as you," Aragorn tried again as he forced some of the emotion out of his voice. "You only got caught in the first place because you were trying to save me."'

"You were ambushed and alone. Escape by yourself was impossible," Legolas argued, his voice muffled from the pillow. "Me, on the other hand." He laughed sarcastically and Aragorn winced. "I could have prepared better. I could have sneaked in, and sneaked out instead of just jumping in the second I thought they were going to hurt you. I wanted-" Legolas stopped speaking, his hands now clutching the pillow tight enough to turn his knuckles white.

"You wanted only for me to escape, you didn't care what happened to you. If didn't care if you lived or died as I long as I still drew breath," Aragorn finished softly for him, his voice tinged with sadness.

To Be Concluded...

Well, nasty spot to break it off but it had to be done. Otherwise it would have been really long while the last chapter would have been really short... It's not a cliffie at least. :)

Review Replies:

LOTCR: Fine! Have it your way! *Shelters Aragorn and my hobbit.* But we will be back! You can't keep Legolas and Aragorn apart for long and Aragorn is on my side. He will give me my elf! :) Well, Legolas had lots of angst this time around... he wasn't doing so hot there for a while, but he scaped through. Thanks, mellon!

Nameless: Angst, angst, angst a story isn't compete wihtout it, right? And you going to be more angst before the story is through. ;) Thranduil was in here a little bit, but I promise he will make more of an apparence next chapter. Thanks, mellon-nin! You words are very kind.. :)