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In this chapter Gimli discovers something about Legolas that may break the bonds of the Fellowship...

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Onwards...

The Fellowship trekked on, with Legolas as leader until they came to a small rock formation, which bordered a river on its left side.

'Small formation was right' sighed Gimli, who sat heavily on the ground, dropping his axe. The Hobbits sat too, weary after their walk.

'It gives us enough view of the road ahead, Master Dwarf.' Legolas told him, lithe body silhouetted by the sun as he stood on top of the rock, eyes narrowed.

Gandalf looked around, content that they were far enough away from the forest to be safe. For the time being, anyhow.

'We should continue next to the river' Aragorn suggested. 'That way if any-more Wringwraiths attack we would be able to see them before it's too late.'

Gandalf nodded in agreement, before setting down his staff and perching on a rock jutting out from the main formation.

Boromir followed Legolas up to the highest part of the formation, just over Gandalf's head. 'Do you see anymore of them?' he asked.

The Elf shook his head. 'No, but I fear they are re-grouping. We should lead the Hobbits on quickly; nothing will stop them from attacking.'

The man nodded, rubbing a hand down his chin, looking troubled. He made his way back down, nodding as Aragorn walked past him.

'Did they attack you?' He asked his friend. Legolas turned to him, his blue eyes darkened.

'No.' He mused. 'Which I find very troubling, Aragorn.'

'Indeed.'

They lapsed into silence.

Legolas broke it. 'Do you think we should continue on this path?' he asked.

'We have no choice; The Nazgul will follow us wherever we go.'

'You are right.' Sighed Legolas, golden hair sweeping in the wind. 'But we must move on quickly, along the river.'

Aragorn nodded, before moving off to rouse the rest of the group.

Sam groaned as he stood up, hopping onto one foot. 'My blisters have blisters' he murmured. Frodo smiled at him.

'I think we mean to walk on softer ground from now on, Sam. It should feel better.'

'I hope so, Mr. Frodo.'

They carefully picked their way down a slope towards the green river, which was bordered by short grass and a small shoreline of black mud.

Pippin grabbed Merry's arm just as he nearly slipped, letting out a small gasp as his foot almost slipped in the mud.

They walked along in relative silence, all available ears listening for anything out of the usual, especially Legolas, who was listening for hoof-falls atop the soft grass behind them. After about ten minutes Merry decided that the silence had become quite uncomfortable. He winced and moved his clock clasp from around his neck, the heat gathering as the morning wore on, slapping at the flies gathered around his head.

'So' he ventured, Sam shooting him an interested look; anything to break the silence. 'We don't really know all that much about each other. Why don't we do that?'

Gandalf peered at him from under the brim of his hat, a smile breaking onto his face. Trust the Hobbits to bring relief to them all.

'It is time we stopped for a short rest anyway.' Agreed Aragorn, tapping Legolas on the shoulder. They sat haphazardly on the grass, Boromir stretching his long legs out and sighing in relief. Only Frodo didn't seem to want to stop. He had a feeling of uncertainty in him, his hand clutching the Ring around his neck. His hand was sweaty and it kept slipping off, Frodo panicking each time it did so.

'Who wants to go first?' asked Merry, who had taken it upon himself to be instigator. The wind whistled around him as no one answered him, many of his comrades avoiding eye contact.

'Legolas?' he asked, watching as the Elf narrowed his eyes.

'Very well.' Relented Legolas, sitting himself down on the ground and stretching his legs out, crossing them at the ankles. 'What is it you want to know?'

Merry thought. 'Where do you live?'

'Northern Mirkwood.'

'How old are you?'

'Just over five thousand.'

Aragorn nudged Pippin. 'Give or take a century' he smiled, the Hobbit laughing slightly.

Legolas shot him a look before looking back to Merry, who was struggling to think of another question.

'What's your fathers name?' he plucked out.

'Thranduil' stated Legolas, smiling gently.

They all jumped slightly as Gimli let out a loud cough, sucking hard on the pipe he was smoking.

'Thranduil?' he thundered. 'You are the son of the King of Mirkwood?'

'I am' Legolas drew his legs up to his chest, watching the dwarf cooly. Even Gandalf sat up straighter; this was tension they didn't need, especially now.

'What does that mean?' asked Pippin, looking at the fuming Gimli, who stood up angrily.

'It means that you are the offspring on the Elf who imprisoned my father for no reason whatsoever.'

'At the time, it was necessary' countered Legolas, remembering when his Father had imprisoned a group of dwarves in his dungeons, about a century earlier. 'They had passed onto our lands without stating their intensions. We did offer them the chance to explain themselves.'

'You just wanted a share of their treasure, which belonged to the dwarves in the first place!'

'If they had not been trespassing without intent on our lands we would of had no need to contain them' Legolas remained calm, although he had never had to answer for his father on this count before. 'My father has to protect our borders, especially after The Great War.'

'I cannot believe that I am travelling with an offspring of a greedy Elf-King.' Grumbled Gimli. Anger flashed in Legolas's eyes.

'You would do well not to insult my father.' He said quietly.

'And then, your father demanded our treasure! It was only War with the Goblins that stayed the Elf-King's hand.'

'A war Elves and Dwarves both fought in. I remember we aided each other then, all differences forgotten.' Legolas remembered the battle well; The Goblins and Wargs attacked without mercy, slaying many Mirkwood Elves in the process, as well as dwarves.

'What did I say?' Gimli turned to the Hobbits, who were watching the display with an open mouth. 'Never trust an Elf!'

'You shouldn't tell them that.' Glowered Legolas, blue eyes shining.

'It's true!'

'Gimli, son of Gloin, that is enough!' barked Gandalf.

The whole Fellowship fell silent and even Gimli looked at Gandalf, eyes narrowing from behind his bushy beard.

'We should not be fighting between us! Do you not think that there is enough trouble and strife to contend with already?'

'I apologise, Gandalf.' Murmured Legolas, standing up. He glowered at Gimli before making his way back down the river, stretching his arms, head turning left and right as he resumed listening.

Aragorn gave Gimli a look also, knowing how deep this hatred of Elves ran. He knew that Legolas and Gimli would never be best friends, but he needed them to get along.

'Humf' grunted Gimli, sucking on his pipe, sitting back down.

Pippin poked Merry in the arm. 'See what you've done now?'

Merry looked away. 'Shut up.' He grumbled, watching as Legolas stopped, looking to the other side of the lake.

Boromir had also noticed and he stood up, watching the stock-still elf as he studied the woods on the opposite side of the water.

'What is it?' he called to the elf, but Legolas did not answer.

Aragorn stood up and made his way over to Legolas, who, he was alarmed to see, had reached up his arm to draw an arrow from his quiver.

'What is it?' he whispered.

'Spiders.'

Aragorn watched as Legolas narrowed his eyes before quickly firing an arrow. A shrill scream echoed over the water as something fell from a tree. A dense black body twitched on the floor, legs flaying in every direction.

'What is that?' called Boromir.

'We must move.' Aragorn ran back to the Hobbits. 'On your feet, all of you!'

'Aragorn?' Gandalf stood up, ushering the Hobbits to follow suit.

'Shelob's Children.' Legolas joined them. 'The Great Spider of Darkness has spawned many a brood in these parts. We must make haste.'

The Hobbits almost tripped over their feet as they ran down the grassy path, casting looks over to the other side of the river in panic.

Aragorn drew his sword, but Legolas put a hand on his arm. 'Swords will do no good.' He murmured. They stopped and so the Fellowship hurried ahead of them. As man and elf watched a small group of about fifteen spiders became visible on the opposite side of the water.

'We must make to the Woodland Path before nightfall.' Warned Legolas. Aragorn nodded in agreement, noting the spiders lining up, as if in battle lines.

They followed the rest of the Fellowship, eyes peeled, the spiders not far from behind.

So will strife between Elf and Dwarf prove fatal for the group? When will the spiders attack?

Thanks for reading, I'll be back soon!

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