A/N: So sorry I'm late with the update. But here's a lot of thinking, running and fighting to make up for it.
(all faults are mine, my beta was busy, but I'll edit when I get it back from her)

Chapter 6: No rest allowed

He almost bumped into Gandalf, when he suddenly stopped. Questioningly, he looked at the Wizard, who didn't pay attention to the others at all.
"I have no memory of this place."

The three possible roads left them stranded, while Gandalf tried to remember or puzzle out which one they had to take. For him, the sudden pause was quite welcome, although it was also a sign that he wasn't completely healed yet.
Since it could take some time before they were off again, the Hobbits started a small fire to stay warm; Gimli lit his pipe and sat with them. Boromir and Aragorn sat with their backs toward the group, facing the road they had taken; both watching over the group.
He leaned back, feeling the cool, hard, uneven stone pricking through his clothes. Legolas didn't mind it, though, it kept him awake.
He noticed Frodo getting to Gandalf and although they started to converse quietly, he, of course, could hear everything. It was none of his business, and he finally allowed his thoughts to drift off.

It was clear that some things had not changed between him and Aragorn, which was actually an odd thing to experience. How Aragorn looked after him, treated him, making sure he would heal, and having each other's back, depending on each other in fights... none of that had changed. At the same time, they barely had a decent talk since... well, since they had left Imladris, where he had seen the Evenstar around Aragorn's neck.
First he had been angry, then disappointed, then he felt betrayed and lonely, which had led to the whole 'not-speaking and keeping to himself' thing. He had never spoken to Aragorn about love, or marriage, or fair maidens, but the Man was practically Lord Elrond's son! Aragorn must have known Arwen was promised to him. Right?
By now, Legolas wasn't sure what he felt or thought about Arwen's love for the Human. All he knew was, that he missed his friend. He missed their talks, missed the way they knew what the other needed and wanted with one simple look, and missed depending on the other without question.
Legolas no longer knew if he was acting childish, and although he was stubborn, they had to speak about this, sooner or later. Apparently, it would be later.

He almost dozed off, when Gandalf abruptly stood. "Ah! It's that way."

The leader took everyone by surprise, knowing the way all of a sudden. Had he remembered? But no, it just seemed the safest road, due to the smell. Well, if that was all, he could have pointed that out three hours ago!

They took the staircase down, and came in into a large room. Gandalf risked a little more light from his staff, to show them where they were, exactly. Mighty pillars rose up, every twenty meters or so.
As far as Legolas could see, these pillars were keeping the ceiling from crashing down, making the room far bigger than expected. Although he longed for the night sky, and the brilliant stars, he couldn't help but to be in awe. The great Hall of Dwarrowdelf was something he wouldn't soon forget.

While he was still looking around, a small smile on his lips, Gimli gave a sudden shout, and hurried forward. They had no choice but to follow their companion into the chamber. Legolas didn't really want to follow, with bodies lying here and there it was best to move on. They were more skeletons than bodies and the further he came, the more he saw. Inside the chamber, Gimli knelt down before a tomb, making sounds that were a mixture of sobs and angry 'no's!'.

"We must move on! We cannot linger," he quietly spoke to Aragorn. It was clear to him that they should continue. The bodies and the mess inside was enough evidence that they had to go on. There was no time for this, although, as a warrior, he understood the loss Gimli must feel.

The claustrophobic atmosphere didn't get any better when Gandalf started to read the last pages of the book that recorded the last days of the Dwarves here.
"They have taken the bridge and the Second Hall. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes...drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. The shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming."
The atmosphere grew only darker after Pippin's action of curiosity; his mere touch at a skeleton caused the bones -with armour and all- to fall, making a lot of noise.
He held his breath, figuring that this was it. Soon they would be surrounded by enemies. But for two whole minutes it was silent.

Boom... Boom-boom... Ta-doom..

The sounds should have been warning enough, but then he heard a distant 'Skraah'.

"Orcs!" he warned the others, and Boromir and Aragorn hurried to the doors to close them. Legolas could clearly hear the words Boromir muttered and cursed under his breath. Instead of worrying, he threw some heavy axes towards them, so they could barricade the door. If they weren't in such dire need of an escape, he would have smiled at the irony of the whole situation. Gandalf had read out loud 'We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. We cannot get out... they are coming', from the book just minutes ago, and look at how things were now.
The four axes wouldn't hold the doors closed for long, and he drew his bow and had an arrow ready. Hopefully, it was a small hunting party; something they could manage. Then he remembered the words 'cave troll' from Boromir.

Three, four, five.. six Orcs were slain before all hell broke loose. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Aragorn swiftly changing bow for sword. He himself had shot a couple of Orcs that threatened the Hobbits. For now, everything seemed to be going well, as good as a fight can go, of course.

Though their luck seemed to end as soon as the cave troll came in. The arrow he shot right at him didn't slow him down at all, it only made him a lot angrier than he probably already was.
It took both Aragorn and Boromir, pulling at full strength at the chain attached to the band around its neck, to keep him from killing Sam, who was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Before he had to turn to fight some Mordor filth, he saw Boromir flying to the other side of the room, which made all too clear that they shouldn't underestimate the troll.
When he had the chance, he fired arrows at the huge creature again. It took several blows from Gimli's axe and Gandalf's sword and more opportunities to shoot it, to take him down. By the time they had slain it, Aragorn was short-winded and looked after Frodo, but the Hobbit seemed, remarkably, alright.

They all took a short moment to catch their breath and gather their belongings were needed. But the shouts of more Orcs and Goblins reached them and Gandalf gave sign to move on.

"To the bridge of Kazhad-dûm!"