A/N I feel like this chapter is a bit of a filler, but the next one will pick up once more. :)

Disclaimer: not mine.

Chapter Seven

Aragorn twitched as something cold and wet hit his face. A few seconds later, it was followed by another, and he rolled his head to the side, trying to escape whatever it was. His head touched something decidedly harry and prickly, and he dragged his hand across the ground until his fumbling fingers came into contact with whatever it was. As soon as his hand was wrapped around it, he remembered.

Flinging his eyes open and giving a shout of horror, Aragorn threw himself to the side, his lip curling. A spider's leg was next to him, and even worse it was connect to the enormous bloated body.

"Legolas!" he called out as his thoughts raced ahead and flashes of what had happened came back to him. "Legolas!" Scrambling anxiously to his feet, he winced as his head gave a nasty throb. He was about to call out the elf's name once more, but stopped mid sentence as he caught sight of the elf sprawled in the dirt. One of his arms was tucked underneath his body, but his other was stretched out as if he was reaching for something.

"Legolas, mellon-nin?" Aragorn dropped to his knees and rolled the prince roughly over onto his back. His heart about dropped to his toes with relief as he felt the heat pouring off the elf's skin. Legolas was alive, if far from well. "Legolas, wake up. I need you to wake," Laying a hand on the prince' brow, Aragorn saw to his terror that his lips had turned a distinctive color of blue. His breathing was choked at best, at worse it was barely there. "Legolas, come one, wake up!" Shaking the prince roughly, he slapped him harshly.

The elf stirred under his not so gentle administrations and the ranger redoubled his efforts. The prince drew in a deep breath and his features tightened as if he was trying hold off the inventible coughing. Aragorn quickly drew him up into a sitting position as the first cough ripped through his lithe body, sounding harsh and grating. Allowing the elf to lean against him, he began to slowly rock back and forth as cough after cough tore through Legolas. The prince's hands came up, balling in the ranger's tunic and clutching at him like a lifeline as the air he was gasping for so desperately was ripped viciously away. His vision was startling to tunnel again, he could feel himself slipping away.

"No, Legolas, you have to be calm. Don't think about coughing, just breathing." In the distance he could hear Aragorn's calming voice, but he couldn't focus on it, couldn't grasp it. Aragron's cool hand was pressing against his chest, rubbing a comforting rhythm, trying to aid him. Slowly the rushing in his ears faded and Aragorn's voice grew louder. The world righted itself and he found the coughing lessening and air flooding back into his lungs.

The two simply sat together as Aragorn hugged Legolas to him and the elf fought raggedly to catch his breath.

"Estel, let…let me go," the elf managed after a while. "We have to…go. Spiders…might come back." He reached out, patting the man's shoulder in reassurance.

Aragorn sighed, giving in against his better judgement. "I'm going to gather our weapons. Will you be alright for a few minutes?" He gazed around the clearing, scouting for any dangers, and glanced down again just in time to catch the glare the elf was sending his direction.

"Go, but then we must leave," Legolas croaked out, waving a hand listlessly in his direction. The elf's side was moving at an unnatural speed as he attempted to catch his breath and it was with several anxious glances that Aragorn stood. Swiftly retrieving their weapons from various parts of the spider, Aragorn felt his lip cur with hatred as he looked at the twisted bodies. Theses spiders would not win the war, they would find the cure.

Returning to the elf's side with his sword back in his belt and his knives tucked carefully away, he pushed Legolas' hand open and gently laid the hilt of Thranduil's dagger in it. Legolas hand clutched at it, his fingers forming an unbreakable hold.

"Do you think you can walk?" Aragorn asked attentively, touching Legolas' pale, almost translucent cheek to gain his attention.

"Of course I can," Legolas answered with his eyes still shut. He sounded almost asleep once more and Aragorn felt his heart drop.

"Legolas, are you injured? Did the spider get you?" The prince cracked an eye and shook his head once. Aragorn nodded once, relief in his eyes. Wrapping both arms under his shoulders, he eased Legolas gently into an standing position. Legolas let out a small groan and his head lolled to the side as his knees folded up on him and he started sinking. Quickly sweeping his legs out from under him, the man balanced the light elf in his arms.

"I am alright, put me down…" Legolas murmured even as he rested his head against the man's chest. He coughed sickly and Aragorn cringed. "Just tired."

"Well, you are scaring me." Aragorn began to walk, giving one last look at the dead spider. Legolas shrugged again him, and Aragorn let a soft sigh leave his lips.

The horses were right where they had left them and Aragorn nudged Legolas, smiling.

"Your Mirkwood horses do have sense after all," he teased gently as he sat the prince back down on his feet. Legolas clung lightly to Aragorn, lifting his heavy lids to star glassily around, but the man was already guiding him to the ground.

"Sit here for just a minute, and then we will go." Legolas nodded and Aragorn stood. A small smile lifted the corners of the elf's mouth as a sudden thought struck him. He had killed the spider. He had held his own and defeated, sort of, one of the monsters that were killing his people. The thought lifted him immensely for how, oh how, he hated being so dependent upon others. He had hardly been able to do anything for himself since being bitten and it was refreshing to not be leaning on Aragorn, his father, or a healer. Even for just a moment. It had cost him greatly, but it had been well worth it.

"Alright." Aragorn was back in front of him and extending an arm for him to grasp. Taking it, Legolas allowed himself to be boosted up on the horse but the grin remained on his lips.

THEHANDSOFAHEALER

They traveled with only absolutely necessary rest or breaks for the next few days. They were making record time, but Aragorn couldn't disregard the growing lump of fear in his chest. Though Legolas was putting up a brave and good front, he could tell that he had never quite recovered the energy that he used during the spider's attack. He spent most of the bone-jarring journey drifting in and out of sleep, and the coughing fits were attacking with more intensity and frequency. To make matters all that much worse, Aragorn thought (he wasn't convinced that Legolas had been telling the truth when he denied it) that blood had been spotting the princes pale lips recently.

So it was that he pushed the horses ever faster until they began to ascend to the heights of the Misty Mountains. Here it was that a new problem presented its ugly face, as if they didn't already have enough. The air was growing thinner. Though this did not affect Aragorn at all, Legolas was starting to show the strain as they climbed ever higher. His already labored breathing was now truly fought for and every breath was costing him greatly. Any movement that he offered up was sluggish, as was his mental processing, and that scared the man.

At last, though, they were starting the climb of the highest peak.

"Do you know what, Legolas?" Aragorn asked conversational as Legolas fidgeted against him. His eyes were pinched tightly shut, but he clearly wasn't asleep as he tossed his head to the side, chest heaving. He stank of sweat, and his loose shirt was soaked through with it. When no answer was given, Aragorn sighed but continued on as if he had. "Think of how much easier it will be to breathe once we get back to ground level. That will be like nothing compered to this."

Though Legolas didn't speak, the man caught the traces of a grin on his face. Smiling at this small success, he released the reigns to gently squeeze the elf's arm. "We will make it, Legolas," he whispered softly and not for the first time. Legolas nodded against him, though it might just have been partly a desperate attempt to draw enough air into his lungs.

As the horses slowed once more and as the ground rose suddenly, an idea popped in the man's mind.

"Hey, Legolas," He shook the prince softly and waited until his blue eyes had flickered before saying, "I'm going to get off and walk, alright?" After being on the horses for almost 24/7 the past few days, his body was beginning to voice its complaints. It would be a great relief to be able to stretch his legs and the best part was that they would lose no time, for the horses were going slowly enough for him to be able to keep up.

Swinging off the horse, Aragorn gave a large sigh, stretching his body with satisfaction. It felt incredible.

"Oh, it feels good to be walking," he said with a smile, lighting grasping the prince's elbow to keep him steady. Legolas slumped forward against the horse's neck and the man tightened his grip. "I even think I could beat you in a race currently, though I may end up hobbling like an old man." He wasn't expecting a reply, but it was to his amazement that Legolas spoke for the first time in almost six hours.

"You'are, future…king..wouldn't…hobble." Legolas voice was odd and his words slurred in such a manner that Aragorn had to ask him to repeat it. But Legolas was done talking, and Aragorn couldn't get him to say more.

Sighing, the ranger ran a hand through his hair and glanced back at the elf, biting his lower lip. Legolas didn't sound totally coherent and that disturbed him.

By now, the steep climb had gotten to the ranger and his breathing was starting to pick up. His breath came in fast gasps and his legs were starting to burn, but at least he could use them. Legolas hadn't been able to be free and move around as he wished for weeks now... As they grimly continued to move higher, he once again vowed that they would make it to Rivendell, and that Legolas would recover.

They were just reaching topping the highest point, lending them a truly spectacular view, when the horse that was currently following behind stumbled and stopped, giving a whinny. Aragorn turned, keeping a hand on Legolas' knee.

"Sinome," Aragorn called, beckoning the horse forward. /Here/ The horse whinnied again, tossing its magnificent head as if to say, 'no, you come here." Casting his eyes heaven ward, Aragorn shook his head. Turning back to Legolas, he quickly helped the elf twist his fingers into the mane/ "Hold on so that you don't fall," he ordered and moved to the horse.

Talking softly to the creature, Aragorn bend down as the horse dutifully lifted his front leg. A large rock was stuck in its hoof in such a spot that it would be painfully. Aragorn was digging out the rock with his dagger when the other horse let out a startled call. Looking up, Aragorn cursed, leaping to his feet as he saw that Legolas was tilting dangerously to one side.

"Legolas!" he yelled taking three giant steps and grabbing the elf's shoulders. Attempting to heave him back upright, he felt panic beginning to fill his chest. "Answer me, mellon-nin," He began to pat his cheeks urgently as he tried to drag him off the horse and to the safety of the ground. Legolas' fingers were locked tightly in the horse's mane, refusing to let go. "Legolas. Legolas, let go," he said, trying to balance Legolas' weight and pry his fingers free.

"No," Legolas whispered, shaking his head feverishly. "No."

"Yes, Legolas. I will not let you fall." Aragorn shifted the elf's light weight.

"Estel…Estel said not to let go."

"Well, yes, but now Estel is telling you to let go." The horses shifted nervously and Legolas was jolted forward further into the man. "Come one, let go." Hesitantly at first, Legolas began to slow release his death grip until Aragorn caught him as he tumbled forward and eased him to sit against a rock.

"I don't feel good…" Legolas mumbled as he let his head sink towards his chest.

"I know," Aragorn soothed, tenderly brushing back the wayward hair from his face. Pausing to lay the back of his hand against his cheek, he frowned. Legolas' temperature had spiked on him and the elf looked to be at the end of the line. He lay listlessly against Aragorn with his eyes closed, struggling to draw in air. "I know." He allowed the elf to rest against him for a minute, but time was not their ally in the long distant race and he was scrambling to his feet far too soon.

"Don't…don't leave," Legolas begged, grabbing the blindly for the man and finding his boot. "Don't…" Aragorn knelt next to him once more, taking his hand.

"Why, Legolas? Do you need something?" Legolas didn't respond immediately, drawing in large gasp of air and when he did, his words were jumbled and confused. "I'm sorry, Legolas, I didn't understand a word of what you just said," the man said helplessly. "Listen, I'm just going to step over here, alright?" He rose, lightly patting the elf's knee before moving back to the horse with the rock.

Finishing with the horse swiftly, Aragorn found the elf exactly how he had left him.

After rearranging Legolas and himself on the horse, the ranger started them off as safe as it was possible to go. An oppressive silence lay heavily on Aragorn as Legolas once again drifted off to sleep against him, but it was soon broken as his fever only continued to rise.

"Estel, Estel…Aragorn. We, we, have to go," Legolas whispered and thick words could barely be heard. He lurched forward and Aragorn caught him with one hand pressing back against his chest, easing him into his arms once more. Legolas coughed, a thick rasping sound and then stilled against the human, drifting off for several minutes.

"Aragorn...!" The elf jerked abruptly back to the waking world, his eyes wide. "Aragorn," the elf's voice was growing increasingly panicked and the ranger brushed a quick, brief, kiss against the top his head and began shh him gently. "No… Aragr, daro!"

"Sido, sido, Legolas, " Araognr whispered, once more tightening his grip, though he did not slow the horse any. "Be calm." Legolas did not listen, and Aragorn began to have more trouble with the elf. "Legolas." The word was calm, but stern, a tone that the prince would sometimes respond to when he was in such a state. To the man's great relief, the words had a small effect on Legolas and he stilled as more confused words slipped rapidly from his tongue.

Murmuring something soothing into the prince' ear, Aragorn slowly began to pat the elf's chest in a slow, rhythmic calmed further, but as soon as he drew back and his voice fell silent, the elf twisted urgently. A word the human could not quiet detect flew from his lips, and he hurriedly leaned forward, talking softly in his deep, steadying voice once more.

He filled the air with his voice as they pounded down the pathway and towards the elf's hopeful salvation. When he could no longer think of anything to say, he began to tell stories of happier times, or stories that had been told to him from his travels.

Legolas drifted in and out of them. It calmed his distressed and fevered mind to hear Aragorn's voice. It was calm, constant. Letting his head sag forward against his hurting and straining chest, he felt a smile trace his lips even though a nasty taste was filling the back of this throat from his last fit. He couldn't remember if it was because Aragorn had forced more drugs down his throat or if it was from the blood that he had started coughing up along with the phlegm. That was becoming more and more frequent, though he had tried to keep it from Aragorn. It wasn't much, just enough to flavor his tongue and the human didn't need the knowledge or worry that this revelation would bring.

Aragorn's voice drifted back over him, and then his cool hand was against his brow, pulling his head back to rest in the hallow of his neck, and he was lost to the world of sleep once more.

THEHANDSOFAHEALER

Thranduil let his shoulders slump as he found himself alone for the first time in what seemed to be ages, or at the very least days. His thoughts drifted, and he atomically found them going were they always did these days. Legolas. Resisting the urge to sigh, he rubbed his temples tiredly. The last time he had been alone had been when Legolas and Aragorn had departed and he was alone standing in the rain.

The skies were clearer now. Crossing to his balcony in five large steps, Thranduil forgot all about his hope to get just an hour of sleep, the first he would have had all week, and cast his gaze instead over the vast forest. Legolas was out there, dying slowly but surely. Though the king new full well that Aragorn would care for his son, and would willing give his life for him, it did not sit well with him. Why had Legolas volunteered, even wanted too, to make such a dangerous, risky journey?

Yet it was necessary, that much he did understand. But why his son? Legolas had already given so much to Mirkwood.

Taking a shuddering breath, the old elf wrapped his fingers around his arms as he bent to lean on his elbows. His eyes lifted to the heaves, to the bright stars and moon. A playful breeze caused his long, blond, hair to catch and lift lightly off his shoulders.

Wherever you are, my son, please just hang on, he pleaded. There was so many things he should have said to his child, but hadn't. What if Legolas never got the chance to hear them now? Please bless my son. Bless Estel. Bless my people, he prayed, hunching in on himself.

A soft rap against the hard, wooden door made Thranduil jerk upright, straightening his robes as he did so. His time alone was up, it was time to go back to his people.

"Come in."

The dark door opened and a messenger entered. Her head was bowed and Thranduil could almost see a physical weight on her shoulders. A dread filled his heart and the king motioned for her to speak.

"We have lost another elf, Hir-nin. Arminas." Thranduil closed his eyes, his shoulders sagging. Aragorn and Legolas were Mirkwood's only hope.

TBC...

Well, their only hope is struggling ever forward.

Review Replies:

Bellasiel: Well, there wasn't quite as much trouble this time around, but I do have to give them a break every now and then. :) I am so glad that you enjoyed the last chapter! Thanks so much!