Chapter 4 has arrived! This is an Aragorn and Legolas friendship chapter, like last chapter was focused on Gimli and Legolas.

Now, for my apology! Because well, to put it bluntly…I lied to you all…Oops.

I said that the overdose of Legolas sex appeal would be this chapter, but…well….things happen and it turns out that it will actually be next chapter…heh heh. Please don't kill me.

I didn't get many reviews last chapter, which depresses me because I feel like I'm writing and no one is reading it. But to my dedicated readers, I LOVE YOU GUYS!

So anyways, please accept this extra-long chapter as a bribe-I mean apology! For my lying. And I will do my best to full fill my promise next chapter.

ALSO, this will NOT be a slash fic. Even though Aragorn kisses Legolas on the back of the head (and the forehead in future chapters) this is strictly a very strong, close brother-ship! Unless you want it to be a bromance which then you can read into the friendship in anyway that you'd like.

Read and Review

Legolas awoke with a start, blinking rapidly in the morning's light. He heard rummaging next to him and he turned his head towards the sound it was Aragorn who was standing next to the bed he lay in. Stuffing blankets and supplies messily into a bag. The elvenprince's crown still sparkled on the table near the bed, Aragorn picked it up and placed in the bag after the supplies. The king cast a sideways glance at his friend.

"Sleep well, highness?" Legolas blinked again and pulled back the covers enough to prop himself up on his elbows, he looked around.

"Where am I?" Aragorn let out a bark of laughter, and tied the bag's flap shut.

"Your inn room at the Crow Tavern" Aragorn swung the bag over his shoulder. Legolas' eyes widened and the elf leapt from his bed, he stumbled as his wounds protested the sudden movement and Aragorn lunged to catch his friend whom was falling. The man caught the elvenprince in his arms in a sweeping motion, his hands warm against the elf's bare skin. Legolas' sagged limply in his friend's arms. The room spinning.

"I said I would leave last night, Aragorn…I don't remember, why did I stay here?" for a moment Aragorn looked down at the top of Legolas' head. His hair was down, pooling like a curtain around the elf's face and shoulders. Not a single hair was tangled.

"You do not remember?" Legolas shook his head tossing his hair, his fingers digging into Aragorn's arm, the king helped his friend sit on the edge of the bed. Legolas was nude, the sun making his skin glow and shadowing the lines of his muscles and bones. Aragorn picked up the blanket and wrapped it around the shoulders of his friend to cover his nudity. "We said we would journey to Mirkwood to see your father..."

"Yes, I remember that much…" Legolas clutched at the blanket, it sagged off his shoulders revealing the pale skin of his upper arms, he looked like a woman, yet neither cared for appearances at the moment. Legolas looked down at his lap innocence in his expression "why am I nude?"

Aragorn took a piece of the elvenprince's hair in his fingers and started braiding it like his friend had taught him years prior. His nimble fingers worked quickly to braid the temples of his friend's locks the way they usually were.

"You passed out from fever, it broke several hours ago…but you worried me, Mellon nin. I thought you were fading from grief." One braid was finished and he started on the next. "Somehow I believe you blame yourself for your fathers curse."

"Nay…I do not blame myself. But I will if he dies." Aragorn reached for the brush at the bedside and ran it through Legolas' hair, finishing the braids. He next, peeled back the bandage on the young prince's shoulder to see the wound beneath, Legolas winced as Aragorn rewrapped the slightly bloodied wrappings.

"It will not be your fault, Legolas."

"I have the chance to cure him on my journey…if I do not, then aye, it will be." Aragorn sighed deeply in thought, and handed Legolas' his clothes. Still the same one's he'd been wounded in. Legolas had left in a hurry and packed no other clothes. Aragorn watched the prince gaze at the dull stains of blood and run a thumb over it, the king looked apologetic

"I'm sorry, but I did not bring an extra shirt" Legolas waved away his apology, and beckoned to his wound.

"How does it fair?"

"Well. By tomorrow evening you will not need the bandage. Thank the Valor for your elven healing…for no man would have survived a wound like the one you received." Legolas struggled to pull on his shirt over his injured arm. He finally achieved the task and slipped on his leggings and boots. Aragorn being mindfully considerate, turned away as his friend dressed.

"Where are the others?" Legolas asked, now dressed and looking out the window, his skin gleaming against the window, sparkling like water. His hair looked almost transparent. The elvenprince fingered the gash on his temple, no bandage covered it, but it was still thick and deep, healing quickly. A deep purple bruise consuming the flesh around it.

"Getting the horses ready" the elf's searching eyes found the small group of hobbits in the street, the tall wizard, and finally where the crowd of passerby elves parted, the short dwarf. Four ponies and two horses waited patiently besides them.

"What time is it?" Legolas inquired, turning back to look at his friend who was cleaning up a bowl and cloth from the side of the bed, no doubt where Aragorn had dampened his feverish brow last night. The elf smiled softly to know his dearest of friends had sat with him through the night, his smile vanished with guilt at making him get no rest.

"Dawn broke about an hour ago" Aragorn picked up the two bags of supplies and watched as Legolas wrapped an arm around his torso so that his hand was once again pressed to his shoulder, he hissed in pain and momentarily stumbled. Aragorn eyed him warily. "You're probably feeling weak from the fever. Are you sure you can ride?"

The elvenprince nodded, not admitting that he was struggling to even stand upright.

"I must." Aragorn nodded tersely once. Dark eyes still watching the trembling form of his friend. The elf turned his eyes downward in embarrassment "Aragorn…" one of his knees buckled, the ground rushed up to meet Legolas as he started to fall but luckily once again the King of men was there to catch him. "Do you think… do you could help me walk?" Aragorn stood dumbfounded for a moment at his proud friend's request, but he quickly recovered when a dark blush erupted across the elf's face.

"O-of course, Legolas" the king refastened the two bags on his shoulders, then wrapped his arm around his friend's waist, the elf's skinny hip bone protruding against his hand. Aragorn used it as a handle to hold his friend upright. The king then slung Legolas' uninjured arm around his shoulder. For a moment he stood shock still at how light his friend was, and the king knew the elf was putting almost all his weight on him as well.

Aragorn led Legolas down the stairs, he watched the elf out of the corner of his eye. His friend's face was flushed, a light red dusting the bridge of his nose and his cheeks, his hair although brushed hung limp, his lips were parted, moist and breathing heavily.

Legolas' chest rose and fell against his arm, Legolas noticed his friend watching and he turned his face away, embarrassment consuming his face, shame shone in his sea blue eyes.

"Do not be embarrassed, Legolas…with a fever like you had last night, I'm surprised you are even moving. Your body is exhausted." The elf looked back at his human friend wearily, muscles trembling. Aragorn's deep brown eyes radiated in sincerity.

"I must not be weak." Legolas said, voice strained with quiet, he sounded ill. Aragorn frowned and used his free hand to lay it upon the prince's forehead, it was warm. He feared the fever was returning.

"Legolas, you are anything but weak." The elf's head swung away from his friend, golden hair swinging.

"You know if Ada dies, I am to be crowned king." Aragorn opened his mouth to speak, but then pressed his lips tight unsure of what to say "and If I die…there is no one…elf's do not die often, we figured two generations was far enough ahead to plan…and we were mistaken. I must choose an heir." The prince's voice was soft and sweet as usual, and yet was weak and plagued now with illness.

Aragorn's arm tightened on his friend as he recalled what Gimli had confessed to Gandalf and him last night after Legolas had retired to his bed.

"The elf's going to die, Aragorn! He's going to leave us before Yule, and we are not going to be able to do anything to change his fate! I cannot accept this, I will not lose him!"

Aragorn winced at the memory of the dwarf's desperate news and turned his head towards Legolas.

"Gimli told me what Lady Galadriel foretold." Legolas said nothing "and showed me the gift you gave him. It brought him to tears in front of me. It was very kind of you. " They finally reached the tavern door and made their way into the street. Legolas bent his neck to look at the sky and breathed deeply as the sun steamed against his face.

"I am a dreamer…meant to be in the trees, Aragorn." The king said nothing but found himself holding his limp friend to his torso a little tighter, the elf's voice was slurred from weariness, he knew not what the prince's cryptic words meant. Legolas stopped suddenly and pulled away, making Aragorn stumble slightly. "I would have made a horrible king." The elvenprince still looked skywards, swaying as he was standing on his own.

"Nay, I disagree. But why do you think so?" Aragorn watched him, standing mere feet in front of the elf. Finally Legolas looked away from the sky and into his friend's eyes, they were blurry from fever.

"I just know, Aragorn…that's why I must save my Ada." Aragorn shook his head, black hair swinging and closed the distance between himself and his swaying friend, rewrapping his arm around the thin waist. Legolas sagged against him and the king felt the prince's forehead again, it was warmer yet and sticky with sweat. He pulled out a ribbon from the bag, and tied his friend's hair back like last night. Tightly pulled back, with two braids down his temples. To keep Legolas' skin cool against the fever that was raging back like a beast.

"You're feverish again, Legolas. I don't think it's wise to journey today."

"Nay, Aragorn. I shan't wait. I've put it off too long…my father's life…he cannot wait much longer." Aragorn spotted the rest of the fellowship ahead, and gritted his teeth grimly.

"As you wish. But you shall ride with me." Legolas nodded, gritting his teeth in pain. He felt his friend's fingers tighten around his wrist and couldn't help but notice the worried emotions twisting Aragorn's face. He saw his other friend's just ahead and pulled himself up straighter against the king holding him.

"Legolas!" Merry shouted, joy consuming his small, childish face. The others turned to look towards the direction the hobbit had shouted. They saw a limp elf getting half-dragged by Aragorn. In a sudden heave Gimli lurched forward to help but Gandalf grabbed his shoulder with a gentle yet firm hand and shook his head. Aragorn and Legolas reached the group who awaited them.

"Mister Legolas!" Pippin cried with a howl of excitement, the elf smiled warmly as they were swarmed by the short, large footed halflings. He managed to place a trembling hand atop a mop of hair, he wasn't sure whom it belonged to as they were all grouped and fighting to embrace him. The elf realized it was the first time the hobbits had seen him conscious.

"Hobbits! Hobbits please!" Gandalf roared "Legolas is weak, do not worsen his condition by leaping upon him like animals!" Aragorn noticed a cloud of sadness cross momentarily over the elf's face at being called weak, but it was replaced with a grin as Legolas said

"Tis wonderful to see you all well, my dear ones" to the hobbits, who in turn chorused their own greetings to their reunited friend. The moment was interrupted by a small gasp

"Legolas! Your head!" Pippin cried, pointing towards the gash and intense bruising, Legolas had no chance to answer before Frodo narrowed his eyes as Legolas sagged slightly against Aragorn.

"You have a fever" the prior ring-bearer stated with accusing eyes. "You should be in bed."

"Aye, I agree" Gimli chimed from the side of one of the ponies. "Your face is sweaty and flushed, you are ill."

"Mirkwood awaits me, my dawrven friend. Tis only about a day's ride south of here, if luck is with us we should reach there by morning."

"And if luck is not?" Sam asked, close by Frodo, the small cook rung his hands nervously.

"We will meets Orcs or Spiders and be killed by afternoon." Legolas teased lightly, placing a hand on Sam's hair, who seemed to lean into the touch.

"Or you die of fever." Gandalf called from besides Gimli. He was fastening Aragorn's bags to the side of one of the horses. Several annoyed and horrified eyes turned to wizard, no one dared to speak. Finally Aragorn helped Legolas over to his horse, Arod, and hoisted him up onto the animal's back.

They watched as Legolas swayed dangerously on his perch, sagging so that his face was nearly in the horse's white mane. Their face's flashed in fear that he might tumble off, but Aragorn quickly mounted behind his friend and held him upright in his arms. The king took the reins.

Gandalf and Gimli helped the hobbits mount their own ponies. And then mounted themselves, Gimli too swayed nearly as much as Legolas had.

"Damn! How am I supposed to ride by myself?" the horse neighed and tossed its head roughly with the dwarf clutching for what seemed for dear life. Legolas said nothing, it was almost as if he was asleep in Aragorn's hold. The king placed a delicate kiss on the back of his friend's head. The elf's hair was soft on his lips.

"Quel esta, poikaer ea. We will be there soon."

Ivran, traced a thin, pale finger down his scar. The scarred elf narrowing his eyes as he watched the fellowship mount their horses in the street below him, he gazed out the window that shielded him from view, his eyes following them as they trotted away. The elvenprince was his main focus, swinging limply in the man's arms.

When he was certain none of the company would spot him he dashed to the street and pushed through the crowd of elves to his horse which was tied in an alley nearby, he mounted in a leap, swinging a nimble leg over the side of the dark horse.

He waited a moment, then placed his fingers to his mouth, whistling piercingly through the cold air. A moment passed then a bird fluttered near and perched besides him, on a window sill. Ivran eyed it never saying a word and placed a folded parchment at its belly. The bird tilted its head with curiosity, black, dull eyes shining in anticipation.

"To Mirkwood, as soon as possible, fly through the night if you must." The bird took to the sky once more with the note clutched in its beak. A sickly smile consumed the elf's face as he trotted out into the street and followed the hoof prints of the fellowship in the snow.

Recalling the notes contents in his mind as he rode.

Dearest Sir,

The Crowned Prince of Mirkwood is returning. He leaves just after dawn and should arrive at Mirkwood by morning.

I will arrive just after.

He has been struck down by my arrow yesterday, but I have failed and he is quickly recovering.

So it is your task once again, I am giving you time to reassemble your pawns. I wish you well.

Elen sila lumenn omentilmo, Amin naa lle nai.

Your servant,

Ivran

The bird flew quickly.

The sun was halfway between the horizons, hot directly ahead. The fellowship had been riding already many hours, the hooves of their horses crunching against the leaves underfoot and the few solitary patches of snow.

The foliage of the forest top cast shadows over them, blotchy sun sporadically warming their skin.

Aragorn watched the form of his elven friend limp in front of him, the blonde head was bowed and softly swaying back and forth with the rhythm of the horse, even in his arms Aragorn could feel the sheer heat the elf was emitting. Legolas gave a harsh moan and mumbled incoherently.

Aragorn rode in silence although the others just ahead of him were listening to Gandalf tell a story. Yet to Aragorn the word was a deathly silent, the sounds of nature echoing through the forest they were currently passing through. Legolas gave a small cry and a shiver racked his form as he pressed into Aragorn for warmth.

"Legolas, Mellon nin. Can you hear me?" The elvenprince made no answer, only tossed his head back in a feverish spasm. It was then Aragorn could see Legolas' face, it was ash pale, his cheeks flushed a bright pink, sweat made his face seem to shine like wax.

His brilliant blue eyes were closed firmly. The king knew it was unnatural for an elf to shut their eyes for such a long time to pass.

The elf tossed his head again and struggled against the arms that held him, dry, parted lips letting out soft cries.

"Legolas?"

"L-let me g-go!" the elf fought harder, blindly flailing his arms. Aragorn stopped the horse to control his friend.

"Legolas stop fighting me, it's me! Aragorn…your friend!" when the elvenprince made no motion of calming, the man king resorted to cooing "You're all right, you're all right… you're all right" again and again. As Aragorn pet the young elf's hair soothingly the prince seemed to calm slightly.

Aragorn looked up at the others who were too far ahead and too engrossed in Gandalf's tale to notice the commotion. The king and elf, sharing a horse rode the flank of the group, the mare being slowed by the weight of the man and being only used to the weight of the elf.

Legolas cried louder, causing the wizard ahead to turn sharply to the sound. His grey-blue eyes widening as both man and elf

fell from the back of the horse.

Legolas was still violently convulsing with a flurry of blind kicks and shoves as they tumbled. They fell in a heap, the horse screaming and rearing, fearful of the sudden commotion.

The noise caused the remainder of the fellowship to turn, eyes rounding horrified at the scene unfolding.

When they hit the forest floor Aragorn tried his best to cushion his friend's fall, but as they fell they rolled away from each other and the wounded elf still hit roughly. Legolas screamed. His wounded limb colliding with the earth. The shrill sound caused bumps to erupt over the skin of all who heard, even the trees shuddered at the pure terror and agony in the gut-wrenching noise. The scream dissolved into a pained heave, Legolas breathed heavily. Eyes still closed.

Aragorn fared no better than his friend. When he fell his knee cracked upon a thick root which peaked from the leaves, searing white pain burned his knee cap but he pushed aside the pain with gritted teeth and scrambled to help the moaning elvenprince.

Crawling on an injured knee, he too let out a cry and stumbled so that he had to close the distance between them on hands and one knee. Hobbling like a crippled dog.

"Gandalf! Help me!" Aragorn shouted. The company was at their side in a blink, dismounted and shooing aside their horses running to their injured friends. "The canteen!" Gandalf fell to his knees as well with the water in hand. The man king couldn't hide the tremor in his fingers, from pain and fear, as he poured the liquid on a cloth and wiped down Legolas' sweaty face.

"What can we do?" Frodo said, his voice small. Gimli wavered in concern and edged closer to the three on the ground. Aragorn leaving the cloth momentarily said nothing, and hastily pulled down the collar of the silver tunic Legolas wore, he pulled back the wrappings to inspect the old arrow-wound.

He breathed a sigh of relief and fell back to sit on his heels.

"The stitches did not tear" he confirmed, the wound was healing well. He grunted in pain as his knee throbbed, he rubbed it and looked up at the others. "His fever's returned… but in a moment he will be fit to remount." Sam stuttered, voice momentarily lost from disbelief

"Nay, we must camp. Mister Legolas cannot take much more of this strain!" Aragorn waved away the hobbit cook's protest and turned to Gimli,

"Is that wise?" The King's eyes met the dwarf's whom had knelt beside him.

"Aye, we need to get him to Mirkwood. I fear the elvenking's time is short." Legolas moaned feverishly and Pippin burst past the other Halfling's and cradled his elf friend's head in his lap, cooing softly to him. His small fingers brushed the blonde hair gently.

"It'll be all right, mister Legolas… you're almost home."

The world around Legolas was a daze, he felt his head swinging back and forth as the horse trotted onwards, they had been riding for a while now since the fall. His hair although tied had fallen over his shoulder and swayed with the motions of his head.

Legolas could barely make out the figures of the other members of the fellowship riding in front of them. He felt the weight of Aragorn's arm around his chest holding him upright, and then a cold shock to his brow sent shivers down his form.

He blinked to clear his vision and saw Aragorn riding the horse rein less, using one hand to hold up his elven friend and the other dampening a cloth with canteen water and drawing it across Legolas' brow.

The elf moaned, blinking again.

"You're awake" The cloth ceased and the canteen was strung back to the side of the horse, the reins were captured again by the hands of the man. Legolas craned his neck to see the king behind him, their faces mere inches apart.

"Do not hold me so closely, Lle holma ve' edan" The elvenprince mumbled, Aragorn's howl of laughter came in a heave, it was relieved laughter. It was so loud that the riders in front of them turned hastily to see what the commotion was, Aragorn's horse quickened it step at the noise jostling Legolas painfully.

The laughter continued, deeply and joyous, ringing in the elf's ears, he winced and tried to pull away from the harsh noise. "Tampa tanya! Tanya awra! Dina, Telcoer ea!" Legolas' voice was barely above a whisper, but Aragorn roared louder, until his laughter shook into the elf who couldn't help but smile, "Aragorn, your laughter hurts my ears."

"I'm sorry!" The king laughed more "forgive me, Legolas…but that is the first thing you've said in hours. I am relieved to see you regaining your wit." The horse they rode reached the others, who awaited them with suspicious gazes.

"I see you've awoke, Legolas" the wizard said, still eyeing the snickering man. He noticed Legolas pulling away from the noise of the laughter. "Aragorn, the elf is still ill. Please refrain from howling like an Orc in his ear." The laughter dissolved into withheld giggles as the hobbits and dwarf smiled at the sight of their elven friend who lightly elbowed the king's ribs to quiet him.

"I thought you'd never wake!" Merry cried "it's been several hours since we left the Tavern, and your fever returned!"

Legolas felt a cool hand on his forehead, the greying wizard had pulled his horse close to the man and elf and placed his wrinkled hand upon the elvenprince.

"Hmm" he hummed thoughtfully with a thankful smile "His fever has broken. He shall only recover from here, the worst has past." There were relieved sighs and a hoot of relief from one of the halflings,

"You had us so worried, mister Legolas!"

"Tell me…" Legolas croaked, silencing the hobbit whom spoke, Aragorn took a deep breath recovering from his fit of laughter "did we stop at all?" Gimli's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Only once, both you and Aragorn fell from that beast, lad" the dwarf said, his horse trotting hoof to hoof. Legolas looked up to the trees, an uneasy feeling washing over him, fear trickling down his spine. He knew not why. The trees rustled, a warning to their beloved elvenprince.

"Did you see that?" Sam whispered horrified "The trees, they all shook as one…yet there is no wind." Their eyes turned to their elven companion, who seemed to glow in radiance. The elf shifted painfully against the arms of Aragorn and craned his head to look behind them. His keen ears picked up on a horse's whinny miles behind them.

"Aragorn, where is my bow?" Frodo whom had the elven bow fastened to his pony's side unfastened it and passed it over, Legolas took it with trembling fingers. He, with the help of the man, strung it to his back.

"What do your elven ears hear?" Gimli said looking around unsteadily. Legolas shook his head, pulling his pony tail over his shoulder. He wove his fingers into Arod's mane.

"Do not fear, I hear nothing." He lied, a collective sigh of relief rose from the hobbits "Let us proceed on towards Mirkwood. I see the forest that borders my home in the distance, we are not far off." The sun disappeared behind the mountains that crashed against the horizon. "We will reach there by morning." For the first time all day, Legolas felt well enough to sit upright on his own, when he expressed such strength to his friend whom had steadied him the past day, the king made no motion of releasing him.

"Legolas, you continue to look behind us. What is it that you sense?" Aragorn asked breaking the silence of the two riders, just ahead Gimli was telling a tale that he sung loudly and the hobbits were laughing merrily. Even Gandalf chuckled. Aragorn though focused only on the elf that sat in front of him, a few hours ago he had finally allowed Legolas to take the reins and be released from his hold.

The prince was much stronger and rode with the grace and ease of an elf, although every so often the horse would jostle and Legolas would grunt in pain from his shoulder.

The king's hands were resting softly on the smaller being's waist, balancing himself against the bouncing of the animal beneath them.

"Tis nothing. Just being cautious" the elf stated, his brow was long dry of feverish sweat and yet still gleamed in the winter moon. It was in the dark that the elven race was most beautiful.

"Cautious? Of what?"

"That I do not know."

"Should we alert-" the horse lurched forward momentarily causing Aragorn to collide with Legolas' back, the elf hissed in pain, tossing his head sideways to see the king out of the corner of his eye, his tone was sharp

"Aragorn, leave it be. I shall tell you when I know!" the silence afterwards was deafening, they rode close to the main group, only two or so horse lengths behind Merry who was struggling to stay awake upon his pony. Legolas sighed softly his head bowed slightly in apology. "How fares your knee?"

A loud laugh shattered the night as Gimli guffawed, finishing his tale. They watched for a moment as Sam piped up with a tale of the Shire. Although his words were slurred from weariness.

"I will heal. Although I am consumed by worry for you." Legolas shook his head,

"You shouldn't. Thank you for your concern, but your worry will do nothing but make you an old man." Aragorn laughed softly,

"Although that is true, I cannot help it." Both friends sighed, and the hobbit's tale finished with a flurry of laughter "I've known you since before I can remember, Legolas. I've grown up with you at my side always. I will not lose you, my brother." Legolas stopped the horse short and turned to look at his friend, a deep, wise look in his eyes.

"Aragorn you must not make promises that cannot be fulfilled. Although I wish more than anything to stay at your side as your brother forever fate will never be so kind. Cormlle naa tanya tel'raa. Aa' menle nauva calen ar' ta hwesta e' ale'quenle. " Legolas turned and judged the horse into a quick trot to regain the distance between themselves and the group "and, my dear King of Men. May your life be full of the whispers of the trees, as I will speak to you through them even after my passing."

Aragorn shifted behind his friend as tears dribbled down his chin. He wiped at them furiously, fear and anguish for his brother tearing vicious talons into his heart. Legolas heard the whiney of a horse again behind them, less than a mile in the past distance. He refrained from looking as not to alert the man behind him once again.

"Legolas…" Aragorn trailed off, words dying in his tear thickened throat. Ahead the elvenprince saw Merry once again struggle atop his pony as sleep overtook him. The elf's eyes softened in compassionate sympathy.

"Gandalf!" he called, the wizard turned to face him, his grey beard swinging and his hat pulled low over his face, his eyes were lost in a shadow.

"Yes, young prince?" the sun had long been consumed by the night, it had been dark for several hours now and yet the night was bright as there was a full moon ahead.

"We should make camp…the hobbit's are near falling off their ponies." Although Legolas feared the rider behind them, as they had followed all day, he knew his small friends needed rest. Gandalf's eyes appeared from the shadow, kind and thankful.

"It will set us back in our journey some, yet the Halfling's need to regain their strength…are you certain you can spare a few hours, kind elf?" Legolas apologized to his father in his mind as he nodded his approval to the weary company.

"Sam, Frodo, Merry, Pippin!" Gimli roared "come on, lads! Dismount and get some rest while you can!" the hobbits moved sluggishly to slip off their horses. Legolas leapt from the back of his mare with regained grace, his wound being nearly healed, and helped Frodo, the nearest hobbit down from his mount.

Frodo smiled tiredly as the elf's thin arms reached up to hoist him off, he gave Legolas' a gentle embrace on the descend, until his large feet felt the leaves of the forest beneath them.

"Thank you, Legolas" he muttered, the elf could only smile and cup the small face affectionately in his palm. The hobbits stumbled with exhaustion to the base of a large tree and cuddled around it, as if the tree itself were a warm bed. The dwarf and Wizard quickly freed the blankets of their packs and tucked them around the four huddled forms. They were quick to drift into slumber.

"Get some rest, my small friends" Gimli mumbled as the first snore erupted from one of the blanketed forms.

Aragorn whom was still perched on his horse, eyes red from tears, looked down upon his elven friend who had walked back to his side, feet making no noise on the ground. Legolas helped the king dismount, careful not jostle the injured knee and led him to the dwarf and Gandalf who were setting up their bed rolls.

Gimli smiled at the sight of his friends and motioned to the hobbits, a sly smirk on his face.

"Almost as quick to sleep as you falling from a horse" Aragorn groaned in good humor and slipped into his bed roll, meanwhile Legolas laughed sincerely.

"I do not remember a moment of it" he confessed, "all I recall was waking in the arms of a smelly human… and the smell of a dwarf from afar that was strong enough to peel an onion." Aragorn let out a sleepy groan and drifted into slumber, like a feather falling from a tower, leaving the sound of Gimli's laughter behind.

"Nay, I do not smell all that bad. Just because we cannot all smell of the forest like elves-"

Legolas interrupted with a snort of disagreement.

"Trust me, dwarf. Your smell made even the forest weep…I could shoot you with a crooked arrow in the darkest of nights solely aiming on your stench." Gandalf had long retired to his blankets, his eyes half closed from soon to come sleep.

"Please, I beg of you." He said, eyes twinkling in amusement and exhaustion "Do not quarrel now. Get rest."

"Nay, the elf started it!" Gimli heaved, placing his ax next to his bedroll "as if he had pride after being supported by a man all day." The dwarf chuckled and struggled into his bedding with no grace "what of elven pride?" Legolas laughed, standing on the edge of the clearing they'd made camp, his bow strung to his back.

"Tis true I had weakness today, dwarf. However I still rode my horse better feverish, than you did healthy!" a loud snore from Gimli was the only reply. Legolas felt his heart soar lightly at the fun of their jests, he hadn't realized how much he'd missed them the past day. He sat cross legged on the ground and watched his sleeping companions.

They had all been exhausted from the day long ride.

Legolas listened intensely to the night, he could no longer hear the horse behind them and yet somehow he knew it was still there. He drew his bow and placed and arrow on the string, at a ready.

For a moment he listened and gazed into the sounds and darkness of the wood around him, the sounds and breeze a small comfort. The gentle wind blew through his tied hair and eyelashes and the very area around the sleeping fellowship danced and glittered with fireflies and buzzed with insects and bull frogs.

They were near Mirkwood, he recognized this a one of the great forests that surrounded the palace and townships.

He looked up to the trees overhead, they were black silhouettes against the moon.

"Cormamin lindua ele lie, Yaaraerea. Vanimle sila tiri. Give us the safety of your branches, I beg of you." The trees in response smiled down on their watchful elvenprince.

Ivan, the scarred elf had also stopped for rest, although he was certain that he could have rode through the night until he reached Mirkwood by late dawn. However, he rode the flank of the fellowship and the prince of elves, disgusted at how slowly they made their journey.

He rode near enough to hear and see the path they took, far enough to be unsighted by Legolas' keen eyes.

He knew that soon his carrier bird would reach the elven lord whom he'd sent it too in Mirkwood, and also that when the letter was read the receiver would assemble his assassins to finally strike down the prince.

Ivran smiled a sinister glint in his eyes, into the black of night.

Legolas, perhaps neither his company would leave Mirkwood alive. That he was for certain.

Translations:

Ada- father

Mellon Nin- my friend

Quel esta, poikaer ea- rest well, pure one

Elen sila lumenn omentilmo, Amin naa lle nai– a star shines on the hours of our meeting, I am yours to command

Lle holma ve' edan– you smell like a human

Tampa tanya! Tanya awra! Dina, Telcoer ea– stop that! That hurt! Be silent, smelly one

Cormlle naa tanya tel'raa. Aa' menle nauva calen ar' ta hwesta e' ale'quenle– your heart is that of a lion. May your paths be green and the breeze be on thy back

Cormamin lindua ele lie, Yaaraerea. Vanimle sila tiri– my heart sings to see thee, ancient ones. Your beauty shines bright

WELL…not much happened in this chapter and yet, it was my longest. I haven't started the next chapter yet so bear with me.

Please tell me what you think of it so far, and what you think will happen in what's to come!

I appreciate your support and reading! (And I'm sorry but I find the part where Aragorn is braiding Legolas' hair nude sexy as hell…anyways…)

Yours truly,

EACT

Stay Posted.