Hi!

A longer chapter here...judging by the reviews, the action of the last chapter was well received, so they'll be more of that soon! : )

I hope you enjoy this offering, please review!

Enjoy!

Onwards...

Frodo sighed and clutched at the Ring around his neck, feeling its weight bore down on him like someone had covered him with blankets, suffocating him with their warmth. He very breath seemed to rush out of him, his heartbeat thumping in his head, he could feel himself drifting further and further away...

'Mr. Frodo?'

The Hobbit looked up at his gardener, Sam's eyes filled with concern.

'I'm alright, Sam.' Frodo reassured him, putting a hand on Sam's arm. 'Just tired.'

'I know...we've been running for near on half an hour.'

'And now we shall now stop.' Gandalf loomed over them, sweeping off his hat and running a hand through his grey hair. 'We shall wait a while for our companions.'

'Do you think their alright?' Pippin spoke into the darkness. Gandalf turned.

'Unless we know for sure otherwise, we must assume that they are.' He smiled, patting the young Hobbit on the head.

Merry gathered what twigs he could, setting them down and striking a flint, getting a fire going for warmth, and so Boromir, Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn could follow its light.

They didn't have to wait long, for soon they could all hear the laboured breath of the Dwarf, and the heavy footfall of the Men who now didn't bother to train their steps. Only the Elf emerged from the shadows unheard.

Gandalf stood up, startling Merry, who was falling asleep next to him. 'What of the spiders?' Exclaimed the Wizard.

'Dead.' reported Aragorn, casting a look around the fireside. 'We know they can cross the river; we should rest here tonight before continuing at dawn for the other side of the woods.'

Gandalf nodded, sinking back down to the forest floor, resting his admittedly tired feet.

Gimli grunted before hurling his axe to the floor, kneeling next to the fireside to warm his hands. Legolas glanced at him before walking past the flames and sitting on a log. Aragorn and Boromir followed suit, the Gondorian sighing as he rested his aching limbs, setting down his shield.

They all soon fell into a restful sleep, only Legolas keeping at least his ears open at all times, unwilling to let his guard down, just in case.

-x-

Gimli awoke to the sound of laughing Hobbits and the twanging off a piece of string. The Dwarf grunted, rolling over in his bedroll, opening blearing, sleep deprived eyes.

In the clearing, now in the early morn, with the sun just rising above the tall spires of the trees, Pippin and Merry were both crowded around Legolas, who had stripped of his green over garment, leaving him in his leggings and tunic, his boots rising up his calves.

'Now you hold it at the top, here.' He showed Merry where to put his fingers on his bow. 'And here...'

'That looks good, Merry!'

The Hobbit grinned at his cousin. The Elf smiled gently, before removing an arrow from his quiver.

'Now, you place the tip of the arrow here and you hold the end between your...well, you're going to have to use your whole hand to get a good grip.'

Legolas patiently explained what do before stepping back. Merry grinned, before turning abruptly to face the Elf, the arrow following.

'No!' Legolas danced away, bringing the flat of his hand up the bat the underside of the arrow, pushing it upwards. 'It's like a sword; never point it at anyone you don't want to kill.'

'Oh. Sorry.'

Legolas laughed, his eyes lighting up. He walked over to a tree, looking for a point of reference. 'You see this dark spot? Aim for that'

Merry nodded and looked around, noticing he had drawn a crowd of the others. Aragorn sat cross legged next to Gandalf, who were watching the display with smiles on their faces. It was like watching children, an immensely pleasurable experience.

Merry narrowed his eyes and stuck out his tongue, before letting go off the arrow, sending it sailing off into the woods behind the tree he was supposed to be aiming at.

He looked sheepishly at Legolas, who smiled. 'Nearly.' Surmised the Elf.

Aragorn let out a bark of a laugh, Legolas looking in his direction. Boromir looked up from stoking the fire.

'And can the Elf do any better?'

'I hope so' Said Legolas, smiling at Merry, who nodded good naturedly.

'Let us see the Elf at work' Boromir challenged him and Legolas took a deep breath.

'Care to stand next to the tree?' asked Legolas, his eyes wide and unassuming.

Boromir looked at Legolas before nodding, Legolas turning to Sam.

'Master Gamgee, do you happen to have an apple in your bag?'

'Indeed I do, Mr. Legolas.' Sam fetched it and threw it over, Legolas catching it with ease. He walked over to where Boromir stood flat against the front of the tree. Legolas smiled before balancing it on top of the Gondorian's head.

'You plan to shoot the apple?'

'Of course.'

Legolas walked back to his bow, picking it up off the ground, caressing it with his hands. Next, to everyone's amazement, he began unlacing his boots.

With now bare feet, he set the bow back on the ground, placing his toes around it, using their dexterity to his advantage. He did the same with the other foot with an arrow. Next, he placed his hands on the ground and hoisted himself up, his legs, including the bow and arrow, now above his head in the air. Boromir watched with an open mouth as the Elf seemed to bend in the middle, he feet now jutting out beyond his head, one leg bent next to the other.

All time seemed to stop as the Hobbits held their breath, watching as Legolas stretched the bow, before sending the arrow singing through the air, perfectly striking the apple, skewering it into the tree.

Boromir looked at the apple, then back at Legolas, who by now was back to his feet, lacing his boots back up.

'Show off Elves.' He muttered, grabbing his sword and shield, humiliated. 'Are we to leave now, or not?'

Gandalf watched him fume. 'We leave presently.'

Legolas passed Aragorn on his way to put on his quiver and green over garment. He grabbed the Elf's arm. 'Well done, Mellon nin.'

Legolas smiled. 'It was much the same thing I did to you when you were younger.'

Aragorn nodded. 'I remember...the one and only time I doubted your ability was when I was a foolhardy child.'

'But no longer.' Mused the Elf, moving off again.

After that, the Fellowship trekked on through the ever lightening woods, giving them a renewed sense of hope. Only Boromir seemed disheartened, walking way ahead of the others. They had been walking for near on four hours when Legolas tensed, his sharps eyes detecting a light in the distance.

'Stop' commanded Aragorn, the rest of the Fellowship halting in their tracks.

Legolas walked on ahead, a smile gracing his face as the light came closer. A entourage of Elves, some on horseback, some walking, approached them, the glow of their Fea driving through the bleakness of the forest trees around them.

The leader of the group urged his horse forward, his blonde hair whipping his face. 'My Prince Legolas of Mirkwood!' he greeted, placing his hand on his heart before sweeping it forwards.

Legolas followed suit. 'Mae govannen' greeted the Elf, looking up at the other. Aragorn and the others stayed back, unwilling to frighten the Elvish horses, but also to give Legolas privacy with his kin.

'We had heard of a cloaked group of strangers in these woods. Little did we know one would be of our own kin.'

'We seek safe passage through, having already been ambushed by Shelob's Children.'

The Elf on horseback nodded. 'They are troublesome in these parts, though they do not grow as big as those of Northern Mirkwood.'

'Nay, they do not.'

'But I fear they are not the only foe in this forest. We have seen shadows, men on horseback...I fear The Nine have breached these borders.'

'All Nine?'

'I fear so...we seek to make it to the White Ships...you should head out, towards the lighter wooded areas until you come to the plane...then take a change South until you reach the underpass of Caradhras. You should be safe under the Mountain of Snow.'

Legolas bowed his head. 'Hannon le.'

The Elf on horseback nodded, before urging his steed onward, nodding as he passed the group of eight, who walked to stand with Legolas, Gandalf nodding back out of respect.

'Are we to believe the words on yet another Elf?' Boromir asked, looking at Gandalf.

'Elves have not led us astray yet.' Smiled the Wizard, looking at Legolas. 'Heading across the plane would be a good idea...we could fight to our advantage before we reached the rocks of Caradhras.'

Nodding, Gandalf led them on, ignoring the indignant Gondorian, who had opened his mouth the argue.

Legolas sighed before falling into place next to Aragorn, all other eight following the Wizard on.

I hope you liked that!

More soon, thanks for reading!

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