A/N you guys are all so awesome. I don't know what I would do without you! Poor Aragorn had better hurry up and get Legolas to Rivendell, who knows what might happen if he doesn't!

Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter Seven: Ride, Aragorn, Ride!

The next day dawned bright and sunny, without a cloud in the sky which Aragorn was grateful for. Traveling in the rain was not the funniest of experiences. Glancing down at the still elf in his arms, Aragorn hoped that today would be a better day, at least for the poor elf. Legolas had suffered enough.

Once again, Aragorn and his elvish friend had traveled though the night, stopping only for the horse's sake. The elf had not woken once, but that was to be excepted. The sleeping herbs which Aragorn had given him the night before should not have worn off till sometimes this morning.

It was a little while till Legolas began to awake. The first sign that Aragorn had was when Legolas's head, which had been resting on his shoulder, fell forward to land against his throat a moan escaping Legolas's.

"Legolas," the human called gently, once again bringing his horse to a full stop. Legolas moaned again in answer. "How do you feel?" he asked, worry clear. Legolas gave no answer, his breathing becoming labored as he battled the pain.

"I'm going to help you down." Aragorn said urgently. Commanding his horse to knee, Aragorn pulled Legolas off. Swinging the archer's arm around his shoulder, Aragorn supported the elf's light weight over to a large rock. Gently lowering the prince down, he frowned at how pale Legolas had become.

The elf's face was drawn and tight, eyes scrunched up in pain. Legolas made no move to help the man, in fact the only thing he did on his own was lean his head back against the cold stone, whimper ever so quietly. Standing, Aragorn shrugged off is slightly damp cloak and bunched it up. Kneeling next to Legolas again, the human callused hands gently lifted the elf's head just high enough to slip the cloak under before easing it back down, carefully to bump his friend's head.

"I'll be right back." The ranger said loudly, making sure the elf understood. Legolas nodded slightly, to weary to do much else. As the ranger hurried away, Legolas groaned again. There was no one here to witness the agony he was in so he let it out.

Wrapping both arms around his bandaged middle, Legolas curled into himself as much as his weakened body would allow. To his surprise he found that his wound had been stitched.

I don't remember that. Legolas thought, but didn't try and figure it out, his mind was a hazy mess.

In less than a minute, Aragorn was back at his side, armed to his teeth with medical supplies. His worry jumped when he saw the elf curled up, hugging his side.

"Legolas talk to me." he ordered, before being to mix up a conation of herbs.

"I thought we were back in the Rivendell, where are we?" Legolas asked his voice scratchy from lack of use. Aragorn's hand froze above a red leaf and he his gaze leapt up to met Legolas face.

"Legolas…?!" He asked again, the before named elf opened his eyes and gazed at the human.

"No…no….I was in Rivendell. You must…you…dragged me…" Legolas started but appeared to be having trouble putting two and two together. This scared Aragorn more anything thus far had. Scrambling back to the elf side, he did not care that several of his plants and berries went flying; laying his hand on Legolas brow his heart skipped a beat.

"Not again!" he moaned. Legolas fever had spiked.

"What," Legolas asked in a dazed voice, lifting his head up he gave the human a questioning look.

"Nothing, its nothing, just rest." Aragorn assured him, placing his hand against Legolas cheek.

"Your…worried." Legolas muttered his breathing rate increasing slightly.

"shh…just calm down. There nothing wrong." Aragorn lied soothingly, discreetly moving his fingers so that the tips of his fingers rested against the pulse point.

"No…" Legolas moaned, turning his head away from the human. The elf's gasps were starting to scare Aragorn, that and the way his heart was racing erratically. Taking Legolas face gently in-between his own hands, Aragorn forced the prince to look at him.

"Calm down, take a deep breath," Aragorn encouraged, tightening his grip slightly.

"But…Aragorn…it hurts." Legolas gasped, but Aragorn's presence and calming actions soothed him. As Legolas began to calm down, the human let out a shaky sigh. His friend's life was quickly coming close to hanging from a thread, without medication and some food the elf would be in deep trouble. Gathering up his herbs and plants again, Aragorn sat next to Legolas, sure to keep an eye on the elf.

The prince of Mirkwood sat against the rock, eyes closed, listening to the sound of Aragorn working. He honestly did not know what had happened a few minutes ago, it was almost as if his mind had completely forsaken him. His side was hurting a lot more than he cared to admit and Legolas could only hope that Aragorn was adding some painkillers, his pride still too great to ask for some.

After what seemed to be hours for the suffering elf, Aragorn's hand found his, squeezing it. The cold rim of a cup was being pressed against his lips and the human commanded him to drink.

Allowing the water to slide in, Legolas greedily swallowed, almost chocking on the substance. After Legolas had finished the drink, Aragorn got to his feet, needing more supplies from his horse. Legolas listen to the human's footsteps as they faded away into the distance, his confused mind not understanding where the ranger had gone.

Why was Aragorn leaving him? Aragorn never left him when he was injured like this. But as the herbs cleared his mind and lowered his pain he realized that the human had just went back to the horse. Opening his eyes, Legolas watched the human, examining the way that Aragorn's shoulders were slumped and his gaze lowered to the ground.

The ranger was depressed and worried, over me, Legolas thought sadly, wishing he could lighten the man's load. Realizing that he was curled into a strange position, the archer pushed himself up straighter ignoring the pain this caused.

"Looks like the herb helped." Aragorn said a smile on his face as he returned, crouching next to Legolas again.

"They did." Legolas agreed.

"Good!" Aragorn exclaimed. "I will be right back, I need to build the fire." clapping Legolas shoulder, Aragorn rose again.

Legolas watched as the man work, tracking the man's every move to give him something else to focus on besides pain. Finally, the ranger returned to his side. Sitting cross legged next Legolas, Aragorn was surprised by the elf's first words.

"I look like a certain filthy ranger!" he growled slightly, gesturing weakly to his body which was speckled in blood and mud.

"Ah, the look suits you mellon-nin." Aragorn teased, reaching over and scratching a piece of dried mud off Legolas cheek.

"If I was feeling better, you would find yourself covered in dirt for that." Legolas said darkly favoring the human with a glare.

"Well, for that I am glad. I am covered in enough grime as it is." Aragorn said loudly, glade to hear Legolas light musical laughter, even though it changed to a grunt of pain half way through. The human changed the subject, taking softy with his friend instead.

To Aragorn's worry each minute that passed, Legolas's mind seemed to slow down. By the time that the stew was ready, Legolas eyes were blinking sluggishly, and he was only half conscious. Aragorn had moved closer to the elf, holding his hand gently and talking to him to keep him awake.

Leaving the elf there for a minute, Aragorn pulled a wooden bowl out and scooped the hot soup into it. Carrying it carefully back to the elf, the human once again sat next to him.

"Open…" Aragorn ordered loudly and clear, holding a spoonful ready. Legolas only starred dumbfounded at the man. "Open your mouth," the human commanded again. This time Legolas listen and Aragorn forced the wooden spoon in. Legolas swallowed sluggishly.

Aragorn repeated this process several times, faithfully feeding Legolas the stew. After only half the bowl was empty, however, Legolas turned away and would take no more.

"Come on, Legolas." Aragorn pleaded, "Just one more bite!" he offered the spoon again, but Legolas refused, shaking his head weakly and curling slightly over his wound. The human rolled his eyes in expiration, but grabbed Legolas arm and helped him lay flat on the ground.

"Sleep," Aragorn whispered, knowing the elf would as he had loaded the stew with sleeping herbs. "I will tend to your wound." Legolas had no choice but to obey and was soon fast asleep.

Aragorn immediately got to work, pulling out his small boot knife, he stuck it into the fire so that it would sterilize. Going back to Legolas side, Aragorn wet a cloth and whipped at the elf's fever hot face as he waited for the knife. Soon the utensil was heated, and Aragorn brought it back. Now that his knife was sterilized, the healer had to wait for it to cool beginning the messy work. Gently unwrapping the wound, Aragorn swore.

The arrow wound was sluggishly dripping blood again, despite his stitches. Now, however, the wound was seeping a clear, white liquid, testifying to the strength of the infection. Picking up his knife hurriedly, Aragorn glanced up at Legolas assuring he was asleep before lowering the knife to touch bare skin.

"Come now, mellon-nin," the human said softly to elf, partly to keep himself company and partly not to focus too much on the pain he was causing Legolas. With practiced ease, the healer cut into Legolas side, slicing through the stitches while he did so. The wound needed to be drained of the infection if Legolas was to get any better.

"You can't let an infection get the better of you!," Aragorn said softly, wrinkling up his nose as the smell of blood and pus reached his nostrils. Taking the knife out of his friends body, Aragorn dropped it on the ground. Placing his hand just above the wound, the ranger pressed down hard, forcing the pus of infection out. With his other hand, the human held a large bandage, catching it.

"Think of it, Legolas the mighty prince warrior…killed by an infection! Doesn't that sound foolish?" he watched sadly as the white bandages he had held began to stain red.

"…you can't die before me." Aragorn continued, his voice dropping to a low whisper, pressing down harder. "Legolas, you promised to be with me to the end!" the human said, his voice catching in a sob. Blinking his eyes rapidly, Aragorn realized that the cloth he held was becoming heavy.

Deciding that this was all that Legolas body would yield, Aragorn throw the cloth into the fire. Drawing a needle and thread from his pack, the human went to work stitching the injured up again. After he had wrapped herbs and clean bandages around Legolas slim waist, Aragorn once again took up the cool cloth.

The man quickly whipped the new sweat from Legolas brow, halting at the heat he felt. Closing his eyes with dread, he laid the back of his hand against the elf's skin.

His fever had risen again. Aragorn suddenly realized that he had wrongly cursed the rain. It had kept Legolas much cooler than he, Estel, could while traveling. Groaning in frustration, the man swore, running a hand through his hair.

However, there was nothing more that he could do for Legolas, except get him to Rivendell. So, gently holding Legolas against his body, Aragorn remounted and fled the clearing.

CRIMSONSTAINS

Legolas was completely limp against Aragorn body…no movement whatsoever. Not a twitch or a shiver…not sound escaped him. The human was terrified to say the least. The only reason that he knew Legolas was even alive was the slow and weak heart beat, that threatened to give out at any moment. The man's free hand was resting against Legolas bare chest, needing to it beat beneath his fingers.

It was as he rested his bare hand against Legolas bare skin that Aragorn became area of the absent of sweat on hot skin. As he realized this, the healer felt his heart began to beat wildly in fear. No sweat meant that the elf was dehydrated.

This is not good, Aragorn though sadly, he had been able to get very little water into the elf since Legolas has last been awake and the fever must have sucked every last drop. Time was running out for the prince. Raising his head, Aragorn glanced hurriedly around for any familiar land marks. His fingers stayed firmly pressed against the elf's bare chest.

Aragorn's own heart abruptly leapt for joy, and he laid his cheek against Legolas hair in relief. He was now in very familiar land and it wouldn't be long before they entered Rivendell, only another hour.

"Just hold on…," the man implored the too still being in his arms. "Just for a little longer." Legolas remained lifeless, his head resting against the human's chest. The heat that Legolas was giving off could be felt, even though the human's cloths. Bending over slightly, Aragorn placed a gently kiss of encouragement on Legolas hot brow. To his discouragement, the human found the skin definitely dry, and maybe even a little flaky.

Lifting his hand away for just a second, Aragorn ran his hand over Legolas face, bushing back all the stray hair which had fallen there. As his hand passed over the prince's mouth and nose Aragorn froze, moving his hand back as he realized with sudden horror that he hadn't felt any exhale of breath.

TBC…oh no, what I have I done?!

Review Responses:

BrindyB: thanks so much! Opps…I think I left you in more suspense thank last time lol!

BlueTipped: Poor leggy indeed! All us wicked fan girls try and kill…one really does wonder about us! That is not the usually thing that a fan girl tries to do! Thanks!

imaginariamente: Thank, you are an awesome reader to have!

robinsmum: Yes, I killed the orc, he will no longer be a problem!To think I almost killed him off in the beginning, *thinks about it for a second* nah, I wasn't killing off any orcs till they had done at least some damage! Hannon le!

NightRunner144: oh Well I don't want to be responsible for your death, but… that infection is pretty strong! ;) Thanks for reviewing!

Kindered Spirit: Infections are so annoying…and such a good plot device as well lol. Hannon le, mellon nin!

Firecracker27: Thanks so much, I really appreciated that you think my writing is that good. And I totally get what you mean about getting writing tips, I do it all the time ;) I am sure that your writing is very good as it is… I will never listen to you!, I will continue to torture them till the day I die!

ElrondofImladris: hehe, I enjoy being evil! Thanks so much, I like knowing how much you enjoy reading! I love reading your reviews

Nearing Midnight: Thanks, and welcome to the story! Now don't come threatening me….I will be good (except for I wasn't!) hey he might not be dead yet!