A/N I kept thinking today was Thursday... which meant I kept forgetting that I had to post. But luckily, it didn't go that far. :)

Disclaimer: not mine.

Chapter Nine

Slipping and sliding his way back to land, Aragorn made his way over to Legolas.

"I'm sorry, Legolas," he murmured quietly, stopping next to him. The elf looked even more winded then normal after his latest episode, but shrugged.

"You…did...what you…could," he said softly. Aragorn shook his head, placing a finger against the prince's chapped lips.

"Don't say any more, please. It hurts just to listen to you try." Aragorn turned, slumping against the horse as he folded his arms again his chest.

"Estel—"

"You promised to obey my every command and I am telling you to be quiet," the man snapped, rounding on the elf with frustration clear in his eyes. Legolas cocked an eyebrow, staring silently at the man and Aragorn deflated for the second time that day.

"We have to cross the river. It is too far to go around." He looked over his shoulder and across the river. The men were still standing there, looking at them and laughing. He hated them, he hated what they were forcing them to do. "We will have to go to the next crossable point. There is no ferry there, but we might be able to cross on foot. However, I think that it will be easier to cross on foot there than here, it was my second choice."

Legolas nodded in agreement and the man sighed.

"Do you feel up to riding on your own?" Aragorn asked somewhat hesitantly, gesturing at his wet clothing. It wouldn't due to have both of them soaked from his trip to the river.

"I'll be…fine," Legolas said with a feeble grin, using his you-probably-shouldn't-be-trusting-me-but-I-know-you-will-anyway voice. Aragorn didn't believe his words for a minute, but still stepped back and went to his own mount.

Leading the way (with Legolas' horse reigns clutched in his hands as well as he didn't trust the prince that much in his current state) they followed the rushing river. He glanced over his shoulder every few minutes to make sure that the elf hadn't managed to fall off the horse and each time found him in the same position; hunched over the horses neck and looking as if only his will was keeping him mounted.

Dusk was creeping up on them when they at last reached Aragorn's destination. The river roared on just as powerfully, but the sound had dulled somewhat after a few hours of listening to it.

Tossing his hair out of his face as the wind playfully swung it across, Aragorn dropped off his horse's back. Crossing to Legolas, he looked out across the water.

"What do you think?" he asked as he pulled off his own cloak. He was planning on getting wet, so the already damp material did him little good.

"Better now…than…never," the elf replied softly, shifting positions and gripping the horse's mane tightly.

"Agreed." Aragorn took a deep breath, looking back across the thundering waters. Rolling up his sleeves, he began to walk the length of the shore, trying to path his way across. Legolas closed his eyes, allowing himself to flop against his faithful steed.

Suddenly Aragorn was shaking him lightly.

"Are you ready? I'm going to lead the horses across, but I need to know that you can hold on." His voice was worried and Legolas raised his head groggily.

"I'll be fine," he assured, but it was clear that Aragorn still had his doubts. Reaching out, he brushed Legolas' cheek and the elf raised his head further. The blue eyes were bright and dull at the same time; bright with fever but dull with exhaustion.

Turning, the human grabbed the reigns and lead the horses forward towards the frothing, rushing, water.

At first, Aragorn could hardly feel the water, expect for the tugging on his boots, but the water level rose swiftly and soon his still damp breeches were being resoaked. Cursing lightly every few minutes, he moved steadily forward until abruptly the water level dropped and he found himself standing in water up to his armpits. Gasping and and cursing at the sudden coldness and wetness he heard one of the horses brayed nervously. Aragorn turned, wiping his matted, spray soaked hair back. The thundering echoed loudly in his ears, dimming out almost all else and he shook his head at the horse. The horse carrying Legolas shook his head back at him and pranced nervously, unwilling to take the plunge.

"No, come!" Aragorn shouted, staggering as he stopped and the rushing water hit hard. By now, the water had reached his chest and he knew he might have to start swimming soon. "Come!" He tugged at the reigns for all he was worth but the horse only pulled back. Of course he had put Legolas on the skittish horse.

Giving another tug, Aragorn feet slid out from under him, and the water momentarily closed over his head, the river pulling at his clothes as he attempt to come back up. Fighting his way to the surface, Aragorn suddenly found the water to deep to stand in and, excellent swimmer though he was, he felt himself going under once more. Another deluge of water hit his face, blocking air and senses before closing over his head. This time, it was harder to return to the top as the river's current pressed him down.

Panic began to fill his heart, but then his head broke the surface only to be tugged almost immediately back under. This time the water would not free him. Clawing his way upward, his chest began to grow alarmingly tight and black spots made their way into his vision. Images of Mirkwood's dying elves began to flash before his eyes and regret soared through his soul. It would be his fault that they didn't receive the cure, and that Legolas would die. The water's fingers yanked on his clothing, bringing him further down. At least he wouldn't have to deal with the guilt long. He would be dead before the elves would be.

A sharp pain exploded against his thigh as something connected forcefully and Aragorn twisted, flaying to catch whatever had hit him. His hand caught something long and hairy. A tail! It had to be the tail of one of the horses.

Clinging to the tail for dear life, the man climbed hand over hand until his head broke the surface. Coughing and gasping, he clawed his way over the horse's back and simply lay there for a minute. The horse nickered, and Aragorn patted it, still coughing. Poor, poor, Legolas.

The water continued to pound against his legs, reminding him of their danger.

"Legolas!" he choked out, gazing wildly around. They were half-way across the river, it was too late to turn back. "Legolas?" Another wave of water hit him in the face and he turned his head away.

Swiveling further around, Aragorn scanned the frothing waters for the other horse. A low nicker to his right brought his head back around. There, fighting the same truants of water was the other horse and Legolas remained clinging to his neck despite the water trying to shove him off.

"Legolas! Hold on," he yelled. Legolas jerked at the sound and their eyes meet. Relief flooded the elf's face and Aragorn realized that the prince had probably been desperately calling his name and searching for him in the waves.

"Go to Legolas," Aragorn urged releasing his hold for just a moment to point out the elf and his horse. The horse dutifully turned and fought the current until the horses' were swimming side by side.

"Legolas, are you alright?" Aragorn gasped, reaching out to latch onto Legolas' horse. The elf smiled feebly, his lips parting as he spoke, but his already nonexistent voice was drowned instantly in the roaring. Aragorn shrugged helplessly, shifting to get a better grip on the horse. The prince let go of his death grip and reached out, gripping a fistful of the man' red tunic, helping him to struggle further up the horse.

Only Legolas' grip was hardly enough for himself, never mind the heavier man, and both water and gravity yanked on them. Aragorn made a grab for Legolas, trying to steady him, but that only unstabled him and the next instant he was tumbling back under the water. Only this time Legolas with him.

Aragorn just had time to wrap a firm arm around Legolas' waist before the water closed over their head and they were cast back once more into the tumult of the rushing, pounding, liquid.

Aragorn would have cursed if water wasn't pulsing all around him, threatening to kill him. He failed desperately, trying to bring him and the elf back to the surface and life. Legolas was thrashing in his hold, albeit feebly, but it was enough to disrupt Aragorn's attempts causing them to work against each other. An invisible shot of water hit both of them hard, turning them over and almost violently tearing the prince free.

Aragorn only just managed to grab hold in time and felt Legolas' fingers tightening desperately around his forearm. The sound around them was strangely muffled, like a silent stalking doom.

Legolas struggles to reach the surface were slowing and he relaxed back against the man. A few bubbles of air escaped his lips, drifting to the surface even though they could not. Adrenaline coursed through Aragorn's veins and with an unforeseen strength he propelled them to the surface. Breaking the water for what seemed the thousandth time he was met with the roaring of the pounding liquid. "Legolas!" Aragorn gasped, trying to swim with one hand. The elf stirred feebly, straightening weakly in the man's arms. "We are going—" he tried to warn, hoping the elf manage to get a deep breath in, but they were already being sucked back under.

This time, Legolas thrashed about for only a few moments before going limp. Yet Aragorn could not bring them to the surface, not with only one arm to swim with. If only Legolas was ware enough to hold onto him…

He was kissing that idea good-bye went he felt Legolas tightening slightly, before his fingers twisted into his tunic. Not wondering at the elf's perfect timing, Aragorn took a chance and let go the friend he treasured more than his own life. If the water was stronger enough to rip Legolas away then the elf would surly die because he couldn't swim, not in his condition, and Aragorn's own strength was waning.

Miraculously, Legolas grip held true and the ranger's hope soared. They were so close! He could feel it in his bones. The downward tug on his shirt from Legolas' weight was as strong as ever, comforting him. A moment later, water was pouring off of them as they broke the surface.

WHAM! Neither had time to catch their breath before the water seeming angry at their escape slammed them against a narrow, jagged, grey rock that rose out the water like a finger. Legolas hit first, and then Aragorn crashed into him.

The man didn't hesitate but wrapped his arms firmly around the rock, sandwiching Legolas between him and the grey slab. The elf let out a strange, gasping, sound as he hit the rock and his weak grip on the man's tunic was broken. Both of them were coughing harshly and spitting water out, trying to clear their airways.

"Legolas?" Aragorn spit out, gulping in air. Water was continuing to slam over the edges of the rock and into their faces, but he dared not shift higher lest he lost his grip completely. Legolas only kept coughing, a low moan slipping in. The elf's face was pressed into the granite, and even if he wanted to speak, Aragorn didn't know if he could. The man could feel him trembling as the violent coughs continue to tear through his body and out of reflex, he hugged him closer.

"Alag!" he yelled, calling for the faster and more reliable of the two horses. "Alag!" Aragorn glanced desperately around. They wouldn't last five minutes in the water, but his grip wasn't going to last forever. Their only hope was the horses. Calling out again, he felt his traitorous grip slip and lurched forward, digging his fingers into the rock for all he was worth.

Legolas shifted faintly, but it was enough disturb Aragorn's hold and he felt his stomach clench as his fingers began to slowly lose traction. Where were the horses? His fingers slipped another notch and Aragorn let out a loud whistle, or at least tried as water continued to splash intermediately into his face. "Legolas! Leoglas, I need you to hold onto me. I can't hold on much longer, we are probably going to go under."

The elf stiffened in his arms, but there was nothing Aragorn had to say to comfort his friend. It was up to the horses now. They sank slowly lower in the water and the liquid crept up to their shoulders.

"Legolas, I need you to grab hold!" Aragorn pleaded once more as his hair was lifted off his shoulder. Legolas was hoisted higher than he was and his weight was pressing down on him, only his arms and face were out of the water. "Legolas!" The elf hadn't moved, but the man jostled him. If they even had the smallest hope of getting out of there, then he needed both arms to swim with.

Abruptly the elf's hanging head shot up and he atomically grabbed the human's arm with shaking fingers. Excitement was clear in his gesture and Aragorn strained to see what the elf had. Water was creeping in one the edges of his vision, he couldn't see anything except the elf's back. But then a whinny broke through the sound of the water crashing over him. Maybe all hope was not lost.

Adrenaline once more spiked through his blood and with a way of survival coming, he found the strength to claw his way higher up the rock.

There Alag was, swimming resiliently towards them.

Laughing with relief, Aragorn clung to the rock. In front of him, Legolas' shoulder was still shaking and he laid his head momentarily against the elf's back, still laughing. As they watched, the horse's head appeared and disappeared but came steadily closer until the stallion was within arm's reach.

Aragorn had the sudden urge to cry. Letting go of the rock with one hand the water immediately began to yank on them, and he made a leap of faith. His other hand lost hold of the rock but a long moment later his fingers curled around the two things that currently matter most to him; the leather of the horse's saddle straps and the cold flesh of Legolas' wrist. They both came to a grinding halt as Aragorn stopped Legolas from streaming past and the horse stopped him from going under water once more.

TBC...

You guys should be really grateful. The original ending point for this chapter was much more of a cliff hanger. See? I can be nice sometimes! :)

Review Replies:

ElvenPrincess: Haha, I promise that they will get there at some point! Maybe later rather than sooner, but at least they will. :) Thanks!

WoodElfJedi: Thanks so much for pointing that out! My arch rival will forever be spelling. :) Haha, I would say that that saying fits perfectly. I mean, yea...it gets worse before it gets better. Thanks again!

Idon'tliketoast: Oh, I am so sorry to hear that. :( That is never an easy experience to go through. I'm very glad to see that you are still enjoying it, however! And yea...me and my cliffies. If I remember right, next chapter is going to be so much fun for me...hehe. Thanks so much!