"Legolas..." a voice called, "Legolas you must wake."

Aragorn knew that Legolas needed more time to rest but time was ticking away, "Legolas, I know you haven't rested for long but we must get going before orcs pass through," he said, gripping Legolas' shoulder.

Eventually the elf stirred. Slowly he opened his drowsy eyes and stared up at Aragorn's face that hovered above his, "Legolas? Are you well enough to continue?" Aragorn asked after his friend said nothing.

The elf blinked slowly and nodded. He painfully got to his feet with the help of his friend but staggered a bit as the world swirled around him. He managed to steady himself and stood tall. Pippin and Merry both smiled, happy that Legolas was back on his feet.

"How are you feeling?" Pippin asked.

"I am fine," he replied softly and Aragorn shook his head.

"You foolish elf, will I ever see the day when you will admit your condition?" he said exasperated.

Frodo looked away from Legolas, determined not to make eye contact. He would surely freeze on the spot if his gaze met the elf's. He was frightened of what he would see within those blue orbs. Anger? Disappointment?

"Mr. Frodo are you ready?" Sam asked, interrupting his thoughts.

Frodo just nodded as he did not feel like engaging in conversation.

"Glad to see you awake laddie," Gimli said with a smile as he grabbed his axe.

Legolas simply smiled back but only for a moment and his expression turned serious as he searched for his bow, "Where is it?" he asked quietly.

"Here mellon-nin," Aragorn said and handed him his bow.

"Hannon-le," Legolas murmured and strapped it to his back with his quiver. He then located his twin blades and continued to prepare for the rest of the journey.

Boromir eyed Legolas, still trying to understand how the elf could have such strength in such a weakened state. As Legolas turned, he caught Boromir staring and the Man of Gondor quickly averted his gaze.

Once everyone was packed and ready to go, the remaining members of the Fellowship headed to Lothlórien. Aragorn led and the rest trailed behind with Boromir, Merry, and Pippin at the rear. The three of them were having a rather in depth conversation on the tactics and strategies of fighting. Both Merry and Pippin listened eagerly to Boromir's stories and interrupted every so often with their prying questions, desperate to learn more. The two of them wanted to get as much information as possible since they knew that the most fighting experience they had was from tackling each other over the best carrots.

Frodo and Sam were walking just ahead of them but both walked in silence. Sam wanted to talk to Frodo but he kept turning away every time Sam tried to start up a conversation. He did not wish to voice his thoughts as he knew enough to know that Legolas would probably hear it with those pointy ears of his. His thoughts always traveled back to that heart stopping moment when the elf was impaled and even though he was gravely injured, he had fought on as Frodo had cowered in fear and ran.

Then there was the memory of Gandalf disappearing into the darkness after the Balrog had snagged his ankles with the whip. Frodo shuddered at the thought of the kind wizard falling to his doom. Though it wasn't his fault at all, he felt even more responsible for everything. These people had volunteered their lives to keep him alive and all because he inherited a ring.

His mind circled around these thoughts and every so often, he would quickly glance up at the elf.

Legolas was only a few meters behind Aragorn and he spoke nothing. From this angle you could hardly tell that he was injured. He made no sound as his feet met the earth step after step unlike the most prominent stomps from the rest of the Fellowship. As the sun beat down on them all, he was the only one who did not have a single drop of perspiration on his brow unlike the dwarf trailing behind him who was huffing and puffing, his face slowly turning red from the heat.

They all walked for what felt like ages but could only have been hours and eventually Aragorn stopped them all for a break to replenish themselves beside a small river.

Frodo sat as far away from Legolas as he could and Sam accompanied him, handing Frodo a piece of bread and who gratefully accepted it.

Boromir took a long pull from his water skin and sighed as he leaned back against a boulder. Again, his gaze fell upon the elf and he was surprised to see that he was still very much dry unlike everyone else stewing in their own sweat. After taking another drink from his water skin, Boromir returned it to his pack only to get tackled from behind by two small beings.

He cried out in surprise and toppled over as Merry and Pippin tested their new knowledge, pinning Boromir to the ground and grinned at him. Aragorn snickered and Gimli chuckled as the two of them watched the three of them roll about.

"HAH!" Merry cried in victory, "We gotcha!"

The two hobbits let him back up and took a moment to complement each other on their skills. Boromir took his moment to lunge at the two of them and scooped them around the waist, one in each of his arms. The two unsuspecting hobbits cried out in alarm but soon succumbed to laughter.

"Never let your guard down until you are quite sure your opponent will not get back up again," Boromir warned and joined in with the laughter.

Legolas who had been watching the skirmish smiled; glad to know that despite the loss of one of their members the remaining members of the Fellowship could still find time to laugh. He wanted to join in but he knew that if he did, the movement would add to the terrible pain he felt throbbing in his chest.

Even speaking was uncomfortable as every breath that brought air into his battered lungs brought pain. He had developed a slight wheeze but it was not obvious enough to be noticed unless you listened closely. He could feel his breath rattle every time he inhaled and it deeply unsettled him.

He noticed Frodo sitting with Sam some meters away and wondered if the hobbit was avoiding him. Not once had Frodo spoken to him or made eye contact since they exited Moria and Legolas pondered on the reason. Surely the hobbit wasn't angry at him?

He shook his head, silly to be thinking such things. Frodo was probably just having a hard time with Gandalf's death.

"Legolas?" as voice asked, cutting through his thoughts.

The elf looked up to see Aragorn's worried gaze upon him, "How are you feeling?"

"I am fine," Legolas answered simply but Aragorn could tell by his voice that the elf was in much pain.

"Here eat this," he said, pulling out a herb from his healing pouch, "It will numb the pain."

Legolas took it from him and nibbled the end. The bitter taste of the plant invaded his mouth and attacked his tongue and as soon as Aragorn had turned away, he shoved the herb into his pocket. He refused to eat something so revolting and Legolas remembered lord Elrond saying something about how the most powerful remedies were the most disgusting to take and he took out the plant from his pocket.

He eyed it as if it might leap out of his hand and force its way down his throat but eventually he gave in, knowing that it was for his own good and he choked it down. Legolas then took a gulp of water in hopes to rid his mouth of the dreadful taste.

Soon after the Fellowship had rested for half an hour, there were off again. Legolas felt much better after taking the herb and he walked next to Aragorn, enjoying friendly conversation.

It was not much longer until the forest of Lothlórien appeared before them. Legolas then took the lead and stepped into the forest, feeling more at home as he breathed in the scent of trees and leaves. He traveled swiftly through the bushes and over fallen tree trunks while the rest of the Fellowship stomped through, tripping over the occasional tree root.

They had barely traveled a mile into the forest when Legolas suddenly stopped, his ears twitching as he strained to hear the sounds of the forest. He had been well ahead the rest of them and he held up his hand, warning them to stop. The Fellowship came to a halt and they all looked around, trying to see what Legolas was hearing.

As fast as lightning, the elf had his bow in his hands and an arrow fired deep within the forest. The rest of them were confused as to why he had suddenly just shot at nothing when screeches filled the air.

"Orcs!" the elf cried, and plenty of the foul beings charged at the Fellowship with their weapons raised, hungry for blood.