He slowly looked behind his shoulder in fear, but saw nothing but trees. He turned around once more and looked at Legolas. If more trolls were coming they were helpless. He clenched his fists harder and pressed his eyes closed as a chill ran down his spine.

He gasped as he was suddenly lifted from the ground in a hard grip. With only air beneath his feet he began to struggle and fight. He looked back to see big brown eyes in front of his own. He gasped as he realised a tree had picked him up.

"Treebeard." He breathed and sighed a deep sigh of relief. He tried to calm his racing heartbeat by breathing deeply. He really believed the trolls were back.

Treebeard looked him over slowly before suddenly deciding he remembered the man.

"Treebeard please." Aragorn said and looked into the brown wise eyes of the ent.
"We need help, Legolas is dying."

The ent narrowed his eyes, almost grieving the elf.

"Is there a village close?"

Treebeard took a minute to think over the matter before he spoke slowly in a dark voice.

"There is a village..."

Aragorn felt the hope in him.
"Is it close?"

"Yes." Treebeard said and looked down at the elf with slow movements.

"Can you help us? Please!"

The ent slowly looked at the man with narrowed eyes and blinked slowly. Aragorn heard more footsteps and saw in the corners of his eyes how more ents came to surround them.

He heard how the trees behind began to talk to Treebeard in a language he could not understand, until he offered them a ride.

Aragorn looked at Threebeard and bowed his head deeply. He felt a bit of hope return to him, and almost smiled.
"Thank you."

Aragorn let the ent sat him down.
He put the fire out and quickly packed his bag before kneeling by Legolas again. He gently caressed his skin as he whispered his name.

Legolas heavily opened his eyes and looked at the man, eyes narrowed in pain.

"Aragorn.." He moaned and leaned his head back, trying to breath through the pain. The breaths came out ragged and shaky, as if it hurt to breathe.

Aragorn felt his panic began to rise as he lifted Legolas up. The elf moaned in pain and leaned against Aragorn's chest heavily. With a look of concern in his eyes Aragorn gently hugged the elf against him.

The ent carefully lifted him up and sat him on a branch above his head. Aragorn held Legolas secured in his lap as the ent began to walk, bumping up and down.

They traveled painfully slowly, and Legolas began to sweat from the pain. As the tree bumped as he walked his body also did so, even though Aragorn tried his best to keep him still.

Legolas suddenly cried out in a hoarse voice and Aragorn immediately looked down at him in worry. This was the weakest he had ever seen his friend and it worried him greatly.

"Stop." Aragorn told the ent and gently felt Legolas forehead. He closed his eyes as he still felt fever and opened his small bag he still had over his shoulder. He took the cloth and his water skin, draining the fabric. The water wasn't cold but it was better than nothing. He lay it gently on his friend's forehead before wiping the water from his cheeks.

He used his knife to open the soaked bandage. (Legolas still have his chest bare) It was still an open wound and it was still bleeding badly. The edges were jagged as the dagger had been twisted roughly. The one on his arm wasn't bleeding as badly, so he let it be.

He tied the bandage around his waist together again and looked down, hands now covered in his friend's blood. He told the ent to walk again, wanting to get to the village as soon as possible.

Suddenly the ent stopped. Aragorn confused looked around himself, seeing nothing but trees.

"Why did we stop?"

"I am going no further." Said Treebeard and held out a hand above his head. Aragorn hesitated before he jumped onto it and was lowered to the ground.

"That way." He said and slowly raised his hand to point a crooked finger.

"Thank you, I mostly appreciate your help." Said Aragorn gratefully and bowed his head. The ent turned around and began to walk the other way, away from the village.

Taking a deep breath and adjusting Legolas so he lay more comfortably, he began to walk.

Legolas breathed short, uneven breaths as his body shook in cold. His body lay all the energy on the injuries so he was as cold as ice. Aragorn held him tighter and prayed to the Valar to let him live.

He did not know what he would do it he lost Legolas now, especially as it was his fault. Thranduil would never forgive him, and he would never forgive himself.

'I should never have encouraged him to to to the caves, especially as he did not want to." He thought and sighed deeply.

Soon enough he saw the village. It was a very small village, but a lot of people walked around. They held buckets with water or caskets, looking exhausted. No one looked up , they just continued their tasks.

"Please help us." Aragorn shouted to get some attention and held Legolas tighter.
"We got attacked by trolls!"

Everyone stopped and looked up in fear at the strange man who just entered their village. They shared glances before one big man spoke up. He had brown hair, not much unlike Aragorn's, only longer and even dirtier. He looked strong and muscular, no one you would want to mess with.

"How can we trust you?"

"I guess you can't." Aragorn admitted as he adjusted the dying elf in his arms.
"But would you really leave someone to die? Can't you see we're in desperate need of help?"

As Aragorn adjusted Legolas his hair fell down, exposing his pointy ears.

One women gasped and covered her open mouth.
"He's an elf!"

Every women tried to get a glimpse of the elf in Aragorn's arms, while the men just looked surprised, almost amazed.

"What?" The muscular man said, probably her husband.

"Not him! The one he is holding!"

Aragorn looked a bit confused at the reactions he got. He hoped they accepted it.

One thinner man talked to the muscular one, seeming amazed.

"I am Duinhir, the chieftain of the village." The muscular man said and stepped forward.
"Hand him over."

Aragorn suddenly felt doubtful and tightened his grip around the elf.
"How can I trust you?"

The stronger man smiled, but Aragorn directly saw there was no kindness behind the smile.
"I think we need to trust one another in this case stranger."

"I need your word."

The man sighed, before he actually looked impressed.
"You have my word, if you pay of course."

"Pay." Aragorn said in a shock.
"Would you not save his life?"

"We are poor, and are at lack of medical supplies and food." The man said and shrugged.
"We need to eat. Do we have a deal?"

"I lost all of my supplies when we escaped. Please, I am begging you."

The thinner man stepped forward and smiled gently, ignoring the chief's gaze in his neck.

"I take him. I don't want anything."

Aragorn breathed out, and immediately felt safe when he saw the man's smile. It was real, and he definitely saw some pity in those green eyes.

Legolas suddenly grabbed the man's arms tightly as another strike of pain made his body convulse. Aragorn gently shushed him and held tighter, wanting so badly to take away his suffering.

"Fine, hand him over to Gléomer." He muscular man said and pointed his head to the man beside him who on reflect held out his arms. You could directly see that the two men did not like each other.

With a deep breath he handed Legolas over. He knew it was risky, but if he didn't Legolas would die anyway.

Legolas cried out in pain and stiffened as he was moved roughly, but relaxed as he heard Aragorn's voice say he would be there soon.

The healer gently carried him into the house of healing and closed the door behind him. Aragorn, feeling really nervous, looked around himself.

He noticed a few women tried to catch glimpses without him noticing, failing miserably. As they saw he looked they went back to their chores, trying to look innocent.

The muscular man spoke up.
"I set Gléomer to heal him, he's the healer of the village."

Aragorn put a hand to his heart and smiled.
"Thank you, I really appreciate it."

Duinhir gave a short, stoic nod before he turned to walk away.

Aragorn began to walk around to explore the small village, feeling Duinhir's gaze in his neck after each step he took. Wherever he got women always looked at him longingly, or frightening. He had kinda got used to it.

The houses around him were made out of wood stocks and hay and had small encloses with animals. There was mostly horses, chickens and cows, but also some few sheep. The heart of the river was close, close enough that the sound of water purling reached his ears.

There was a small shop, a big enclose with a few horses and a small pond in the middle. Trees and flowers grew everywhere and it was indeed a beautiful place to build a village on.

He tried, but couldn't keep his mind off of Legolas. He felt dread rise in his chest and began to walk back. He needed to see Legolas himself and make sure he was alright.

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