A/N: Hello, mellon nins :D Another chapter of 'Light in the Dark' is here :) Over 5000 views? Seriously, when I started the story I was never expecting that, thanks a lot, guys :D

Gotta Dance 88: It's the same with me, I hated Boromir from the first second he appeared (pretty obvious, considering Sunglee's comments about him, right?), but I was sad when he died. I'm happy you liked the chapter :)

Seagle87- Thank you, my friend :) Yeah, I'm trying to update as fast I can.

SpiritArcher55- Thanks a lot, I'm so glad you liked it :D

Stella-of-the-Stars- Hannon le, my friend, you're so kind :) I'm happy you love our couple so much. This chapter has a scene with them ;) Yeah, I'm sorry for Arwen as well. Although Elrond is one of my favorite characters, I didn't like how he wanted to send her away in the movie.

Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings

The four hunters were running down the side of a hill after the Uruk-hai, according to Sunglee's and Legolas's announcement that they were heading towards Isengard. Gimli had many difficulties to follow them, but he was trying hard not to stay behind.

'Keep breathing' he said to himself. 'That is the key. Keep breathing'

'They have run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them' Aragorn stated looking around, since the feeling that something wrong was happening here, something that was the reason for the speed of the Uruks, had not abandoned him.

'Do you still endure, Sunglee?' Legolas asked her, afraid that she was tired and ready to suggest them to rest if she was, despite the time that would be lost.

Sunglee smiled at him to comfort him.

'Yes, Legolas, do not feel worried about me. I am alright'

The darkness was deepening around her. She was making circles, desperately, trying to find out where she was and how to go away. Suddenly bright flames appeared and in their light she could see Imladris, her home, falling into ruin, with the armies of Mordor being everywhere. She started yelling for her father, her sister and Legolas, but the only answer she got was the ironic laughter of an Orc.

'No. No, no, no, no!'

Her eyes opened abruptly and Sunglee realized she was lying on the cold ground. It was dark, but not the threatening darkness of her dream. The stars were shining on the night sky, giving her courage with their light.

The she-elf rubbed her eyes, when she realized her whole body was shaking. This nightmare was the same nightmare that had haunted her back in Rivendell, the first night after the Fellowship's departure. The death of her loved ones and the destruction of her home was her worst fear. Tears ran down her face and she could not prevent the low sobs escaping from her lips. At that moment, Sunglee felt two arms around her, a hand caressing her hair and a soft voice whispering in her ear.

'Do not cry, Sunglee…Everything is alright. You are here, with us, there is no danger'

'I saw a nightmare' Sunglee whispered back. 'That you, my father and Arwen were killed and my home covered in flames. I will not hold on if anything happens to you'

'Melda, I swear to you, nothing will happen. We will put an end to this, sooner or later. And then nothing will be in our way, we will live together in peace. As long as my heart beats, nobody will ever harm you'

He kissed her gently and the young princess already felt better. Since she was a child, Legolas always knew how to chase away the clouds and bring the sun back. That was one of the reasons she loved him so much. She cuddled in his arms and fell asleep again, this time without nightmares.

The four companions woke up before dawn to continue the hunting. As they were running on the hills, Legolas stopped and looked back to where they had come from. The sun was rising, painting the sky with pink colors.

'What is it, Legolas?' Aragorn asked confused.

'A red sun rises' the Elf replied, his voice no louder than a whisper. 'Blood has been spilled last night'

Gimli, Sunglee and Aragorn exchanged dreaded looks at his words. The elven maiden packed Legolas's arm, not wanting to believe what he was thinking.

'Do you mean that…that…that Merry and Pippin may be…' she stuttered, but did not dare to utter the last word.

Aragorn understood at once that if they would make assumptions about what was happening, they would lose valuable time. Although extremely worried himself, it was his duty to stay strong for all of them.

'Suspicions and fears do not help' he interfered before Legolas could say anything. 'We have to go on'

This made them concentrate back on their mission and they continued their way, now feeling much stronger after their camp. Suddenly they heard neighing and thundering hooves, as if a troop was approaching. The Ranger beckoned to the others to follow him and they hid quickly behind some rocks. Just at that moment, a large group of horses and horsemen passed them over the brow of the hill. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Sunglee came out of their hideout.

'Riders of Rohan, what news from the Mark?' Aragorn shouted at the horsemen.

Legolas looked at him with disbelief. He had not heard anything negative about the Rohirrim, but he was still remembering Aragorn's warning that something evil was at work here. And his thoughts were confirmed by the fact that the troop galloped back to them and circled them, with their spears drawn. The leader rode through his men and stopped in front of them.

'What a business do two Elves, a Man and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!' he demanded, pointing his sword to Sunglee.

Legolas rolled his eyes. Surely the horseman believed she was a weak woman and therefore he was talking to her. But he knew her better and could not prevent the smile that appeared on his face when Sunglee looked at the man angrily, with her chin raised.

'Give me your name, horse-master' she demanded 'and I shall give you mine'

Legolas winked at her, proud for her willingness to defend herself. But his good mood vanished when the man dismounted and walked towards her. Aragorn, probably thinking the same, put protectively a hand on her shoulder.

'I would cut off your head if you were not a woman' the man hissed.

This time Legolas could not stay out of this. With the speed of a lightning he fitted an arrow on his bow and aimed at the stranger's head.

'You would die before your stroke fell' he said, having lost his usual calmness and with anger being clear at his voice.

The Rohirrim immediately pointed their spears at him. Sunglee wanted to calm Legolas down, but Aragorn was faster. He stepped between the Mirkwood prince and the leader of the horsemen and held Legolas's hand down. Legolas did not resist, but his arrow remained on his bow, ready to fight if necessary.

'I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn' the future king of Gondor explained. 'This is Gimli, son of Gloin, Legolas of the Woodland Realm and Sunglee of Rivendell. We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your king'

The other man took off his helmet and Sunglee gasped. She had heard about him. It was Eomer, the son of Eomund and nephew of King Theoden. It was not strange that he was so cautious towards them.

'Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe' Eomer said. 'Not even his own kin. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there, they say, as an old man hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets'

Saying the word 'spies' he looked at Legolas, who had threatened him before. Legolas returned angrily the glare, but Sunglee put her hand on his arm and he managed to relax. However, Eomer's news about Saruman were still in his mind and he was wondering how they would face him, for he had terrible powers.

'We are no spies' Aragorn spoke again. 'We track a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive'

'The Uruks are destroyed' Eomer told him. 'We slaughtered them during the night'

And this interprets Legolas's comment about the red sun, Sunglee thought closing her eyes. But please, please, not Merry and Pippin, I beg you.

'But there were two Hobbits!' Gimli exclaimed. 'Did you see two Hobbits with them?'

'They would be small' Aragorn said to help the Rohirrim remember. 'Only children in your eyes'

Eomer thought for a while, and then shook his head, making their hearts sink.

'We left none alive' he answered. 'We plied the carcasses and burned them'

To mark his words, he pointed to a smoking pile behind them. The smoke was still visible, reaching the clear sky.

'They are dead?' the Dwarf gasped in disbelief. Eomer looked at him again and nodded with a regretful expression on his face.

'I am sorry'

There was silence for a few minutes, when suddenly Eomer whistled.

'Hasufel! Arod! Aliyana!' he called.

Three horses, two whites and a brown one, came walking towards them. The mare rubbed her nose on Sunglee's hand and she caressed the beautiful horse. How much she had missed horse-riding. She remembered Altair, her loyal horse of Imladris, whom she had left in Lothlorien, and smiled melancholically.

'May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters' Eomer wished. 'Farewell'

Aragorn and Sunglee inclined their heads as a response and the leader of the Rohirrim mounted his horse.

'Look for your friends' he said. 'But do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands. We ride north!' he told his companions and they rode away.

'Let us go!' Aragorn urged them.

They rode up to the smoking pile, Aragorn on Hasufel, Legolas and Gimli on Arod and Sunglee on Aliyana. When they reached the pile, they dismounted and started searching for tracks. Sunglee saw Uruk-hai heads on spears and quickly looked away, feeling disgusted. Meanwhile, Gimli was digging through the burned bodies and picked up a belt.

'It is one of their wee belts' he said, recognizing it.

'No!' yelled Aragorn.

Legolas and Sunglee looked at each other and their eyes met, with the same sadness inside them. They bowed her heads and put their right hands on their hearts.

'Hiro hyn hidh ab 'wanath' they mumbled and lowered their hands slowly.

Aragorn, unable to control his despair and having lost hope, kicked an Uruk helmet and fell on his knees screaming.

'We failed them' stated Gimli.

Suddenly Aragorn found something on the ground and surveyed the marks on it.

'A Hobbit lay here' he presumed. 'And the other. They crawled. Their hands were bound'

He picked up a small piece of rope and showed it to his friends.

'Their bonds were cut'

'Wait!' Sunglee interrupted him. 'If they were cut, then does this mean that…'

But Legolas squeezed her hand, making her stop.

'Let him think, my love' he told her sweetly and Sunglee nodded.

Aragorn continued investigating, with the others following every step he was doing. They were feeling a new, very small hope, that the Hobbits were still alive. Aragorn ran towards a forest nearby.

'The tracks lead away from the battle' he announced 'into Fangorn Forest'

Hearing these last words, the others gasped in alarm. Fangorn was connected with legends about dark creatures and dangers.

'What madness drove them there?' Gimli wondered.

Legolas looked at the trees. Although the forest was his element, this one was not comforting him. Instead, he had already a feeling that something bad was lurking for them.

Elvish words/phrases used:

Melda- My beloved

Hiro hyn hidh ab 'wanath- May they find peace in death

A/N: Ok, everyone, that was it for now, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If I have time, you'll have the next one later, otherwise tomorrow evening. xx