*It's me again! I have another chapter and I must say I came to conclusion that it is an AU story I think. (Well, I read about it, I know, should've done it earlier but I'm new here) I hope you like this story, if someone reads it, because all cool stories have been written many years ago and I have a feeling nobody reads LOTR fanfictions anymore. But never mind, I will write here anyway xD

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.R.R genius Tolkien.

~~~~ Chapter 5 ~~~~

At the morning, it was Aragorn who woke up first. Always Legolas is the first one, so it was a good sign. It means only that he's sleeping well.

"Good morning." said Gandalf quietly.

"Gandalf! Good morning." he smiled and yawned

"You don't have to get up yet. We have time."

"I know. But I want to." he looked at Legolas. "How was he?" he asked.

Gandalf looked at the sleeping elf calmly.

"He's been sleeping all night. Don't worry." he smiled.

Aragorn sighed with relief. The stone fell from his heart. At least, part of it.

"Gimli pissed me off yesterday." he whispered finally after a minute of silence.

"I heard. But I understand you, I would probably react the same."

"Why is he so mean and cruel to him? He hurts him. How's it even possible to hate such a good person?" he asked whispering.

"These are questions which I'm unable to answer on. Unfortunately. "

"I wa-"

He wanted to answer, but a quiet whimpering interrupted. They both searched for a source of the sound. It was Legolas.

"Herbs stopped working." Aragorn whispered and ran up to him.

"N.. no. Please... stop it... stop..." he said with fear in the voice.

"Legolas.. hey, Legolas!" the ranger touched gently his arm to wake him up.

The elf awakened at the touch, his eyes wide opened looked at Aragorn with tears. He didn't recognise him at first and struggled.

"No! Don't touch me! Don't hurt me please..." he sobbed nervously.

"Legolas, it's me, Estel. I'm not going to hurt you." whispered his friend softly.

"E.. Estel?" he asked quietly, catching some air.

"Yes. You are safe, don't be afraid."

Gandalf came up to them and sat quietly, looking into Legolas' eyes.

"I.. I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to disturb you..." he apologised with tears of guilt.

"Don't be. We weren't busy anyway." answered the wizard.

"I.. I.. I dreamed about them again... They were hurting me.." his voice was again broken.

"It was only a dream Legolas. You have no reason to be scared. Not when I'm next to." whispered Aragorn, gently placing a hand on his cheek, wet from painful tears.

The elf looked at him. They eyes met. He started crying lightly, sobbing and whimpering silently. Aragorn again embraced him. He surely needed to see a light, his state is weak and miserable because of the darkness. When they are outside, he won't be thinking about it that much. Boromir made his state worse but Aragorn hoped that he will be alright as soon as they will walk away from this mine.

"Mr. Aragorn? Mr. Legolas? What are you doing?" asked Sam who appeared from nowhere, seeing two friends in each other's arms.

They both looked at the hobbit, and Gandalf smiled.

"I.. We... uh.." began Aragorn, looking so innocent but nervous.

"Are you in..?"

"What?! No! Of course not! Legolas is just..."

"Cold." he answered whispering so quietly, his voice was stronger, but still weak.

"Cold? You said elves don't feel cold unless they're badly hurt. You're not hurt, or are you?"

"No.. I.. I can explain it to you.." he began.

Aragorn looked at him, thinking that he's going to tell him the truth. The elf glanced at him and smiled, his tears were slowly drying. "You see Sam, I'm Wood Elf, I need light and nature to live. This darkness bothers me very much."

"Wait, you need light to live? Does that mean you're going to die here?" asked the hobbit with worry.

"No, no! You misunderstood! I'm not going to die. All I want to say is, I don't feel well in the darkness." he smiled lightly.

He didn't lie, he told the truth. He needs light to feel good. Aragorn, feeling a gaze of Sam, nodded in agreement.

"It's true. He was cold so I wanted to warm him up. We're only friends." he also smiled.

"I understand. Sorry for disturbing then. Shall I make breakfast?" he asked.

They looked at Gandalf.

"Yes, if you wish." he nodded, smoking his pipe.

Sam started preparing a meal, what woke Pippin and Merry.

"Do I hear a meal?" asked Merry.

"Preparing a meal, yeah." answered Sam smiling. "Your nose will always smell food." he smiled.

"What can I say? It's a gift and a curse! What doesn't mean that a good meal isn't awesome!" they jumped to their feet.

He and Aragorn looked at each other and started laughing quietly. He wiped his tears and smiled.

"Hannon le, mellon nîn." he whispered with a smile.

Aragorn answered him with the same and patted his back.

"Legolas..." he heard a whisper of his dear friend.

He looked at him.

"Boromir..." the elf flinched at his name. "He would like to apologise to you. My question is, are you ready to talk to him? If you're not, no force is put. I will tell him to wait with that."

He was looking at him and finally said.

"N.. no. I can do it. I can talk to him."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." he nodded. "I cannot escape from him this whole time. He's in the fellowship after all. And I see in his eyes he is sorry." he whispered.

"Yes, indeed he is. It's your choice, I won't be arguing with you. But remember when you need me, I'll be here any time."

Legolas nodded and smiled.

Aragorn wasn't so sure of that, but his friend knows what is better for him. Aragorn should let him decide. Maybe with some help, his fear, trauma and memories will disappear.

Suddenly, woke up also Gimli. Legolas wasn't happy seeing his eyes looking at him with murderous gaze. They didn't see each other after Aragorn defended him. He felt a bruise on his hip. Gimli hit him quite hard. He looked around. Only Boromir and Frodo were sleeping.

After an hour, everyone was almost ready. Boromir looked at Aragorn, who was sitting next to their elven companion. Legolas was looking at the ground under his feet and thinking about the quest and where will it take them. Will they survive? He didn't know. But if he shall die, he will do it side by side with Aragorn, they will be next to each other in every bad time.

Aragorn looked at Boromir and nodded, knowing what the warrior wanted to ask. Boromir smiled in response and the ranger stood up and went talk to Gandalf about their road.

"Legolas..." the warrior of Gondor began.

He glanced at him, flinching. His eyes widened.

"Would you mind if I sit here?" he asked pointing at the rock opposite the elf.

"N.. No. Of course not..." he whispered, scared.

He saw Aragorn looking at him every now and then discretely.

"Thank you." he sat down.

They haven't spoken for a minute.

"Legolas I... I didn't mean to scare you. I don't know what gotten into me. I.. I am so sorry." Boromir said finally.

"Apology accepted, son of Gondor." he found enough strength to smile.

"Y.. you are still afraid of me..?"

"Boromir I.. I'm not afraid of.. of you.." he said quietly swallowing. "I'm afraid of... something else." he sighed but didn't want to tell more.

"Would you tell me what it is?" he asked.

Legolas closed his eyes but shook his head.

"I c-can't."

"Understood. Just.. don't be scared of me. I'm not dangerous, I don't want to harm you."

He nodded lightly but didn't look into man's eyes. He can talk, but he's not strong enough to look into them and don't start crying.

"Have a good day." smiled Boromir and walked away.

He was watching him going and sighed again. Then, he felt a hand on his left shoulder and looked at his friend. Aragorn sat next to him silently.

"You did it, Legolas. You talked with him."

"I know. I should be proud.." he hesitated.

"But?"

"But.. I am not. If I should be relieved, why I'm feeling like I've been shot by my own arrow?" he asked.

Aragorn didn't know how to respond and it was the first time since he has lived.

"I understand you. Like I can imagine it was so hard for you. But you did it, my friend. It is something you should be proud of. You won with your fear for the first time it had happened. You don't need to be proud of you yourself, you have right to feel scared and bad. But you know, I am very proud." - he gave him a small, warm smile.

"I couldn't.. look into his eyes. I was too scared. I don't feel like a warrior now."

"But you are. You are the strongest, the bravest and the greatest warrior in Middle-Earth. And, you are the best friend I could ask for." Aragorn smiled again. "And I can't imagine my life without you."

He smiled back.

"Neither can I, Estel." his whisper was quiet but happier than before.

"Let's go, we shouldn't have been here that long. It might be dangerous." his ears caught Gandalf's voice, he stood up and smiled.

Everyone obeyed him and stood up after him. He still wasn't getting away from Aragorn. Only he can make him feel safe.

They went on stairs leading in another corridor. Finally, after some time, Gandalf stopped.

"I have no memory of this place.." he said and sat on a rock near a wall.

The rest of the fellowship did the same. Aragorn sat nearby and his friend just after him. He was observing the darkness which still was bothering him with even more power and strength.

"Are we lost?" asked Pippin.

"No." answered Merry.

"I think we are."

"Shhh, Gandalf's thinking." he pointed to the wizard who was looking for each portal.

His elvish ears caught a sound of steps, there were quiet but he ignored them. He heard Gimli telling Sam about old bright ages in this mine.

Frodo was talking with Gandalf but he wasn't listening what it was about.

"Merry?" he heard Pippin.

"What?"

"... I'm hungry."

Merry sighed with a facepalm and Legolas chuckled under his nose quietly.

"These hobbits are really interesting, and hungry, beings." he said to Aragorn.

"Yes, especially these two." he smiled pointing by his pipe to Pippin and Merry.

"Ah, it's that way!" said satisfied Gandalf.

"He's remembered!" shouted Merry.

"No." he began coming up to one of the portals "But the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose."

Everyone stood up and went after a wizard. The evil Legolas felt was stronger. He should tell it to Gandalf or Aragorn. They must be warned.

"Let me risk a little more light." said Gandalf and he felt relieved.

The white light fell upon the walls and their faces. The road was clear and long.

"Behold! The great realm and Dwarf-city of Dwarrowdelf." he heard the wizard again.

"Now there's an eye opener, and no mistake." said Sam.

They walked into the dark hall, but a small rays of sunlight have been seen across the chamber.

"Sunlight.." whispered Legolas so only Aragorn could hear him.

Gimli seeing a tomb in the middle, ran up to it and kneeled.

"Noo, noooo!" he cried out.

Boromir moved forward and put a hand on the dwarf's shoulder. The rest came into the chamber and looked around.

Gandalf started reading the runes on a tomb and translating it.

""Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria." He is dead, then. It's as I feared." he read.

The wizard handed his staff and hat to Pippin, taking the old, big book. He opened it and cleared from the dirt. Legolas looked around once again and turned to Aragorn.

"We must move on. We cannot linger." he whispered.

Aragorn looked at him knowing that he's probably right. But Gandalf started reading pages of the book he picked up.

""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." he turned the page slowly and cautiously. "We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out.. They are coming."" he ended.

Everyone remained silent, Aragorn seemed like he forgot about Legolas' worries. Suddenly, he heard something fell with a huge noise. He turned around, so did everyone. But his gaze fell upon Pippin, who was standing with guilty grimace on his face. Then, a moment of silence. Gandalf quickly came up taking away his things he gave to the hobbit, and slammed the book shut.

"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" he hissed putting on his hat.

"I..." he started but the noise of drums echoed up in their ears.

The entire fellowship looked around with worry and fear.

"Frodo!" Sam said pointing to the Sting.

The hobbit glanced at it and saw it turned into blue.

Screeches were heard behind the wall and the door.

"Orcs!" shouted Legolas.

He knew they shouldn't have lingered, why have they stayed? It can be the end now.

Boromir on his warning, quickly ran up to the door and blocked it with anything in size of his hand, and Aragorn did the same.

He didn't want to be different so he joined them.

"Get back! Stay close to Gandalf!" his friend shouted to hobbits.

He and his companions could hear a loud roar.

"They have a cave-troll!" shouted Boromir.

He tossed some spears and axes to the man, and he quickly blocked the door with them. The fellowship drew out their weapons and stood around the tomb. Legolas was in the middle, between Aragorn and Boromir. Gimli jumped on the Balin's tomb and shouted in rage.

"Aarghhh!! Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria that still draws breath!" he cried out angrily.

When the orcs finally managed to do a hole in the door, Legolas and Aragorn quickly released arrows. The prince shot one orc precisely in the forehead. Then, the troll broke in roaring. The battle has started. Orcs spilled from the corridor like a water from waterfalls in Rivendell...

Dictionary:

Hannon le - Thank you

Mellon nîn - my friend