The Hidden Enemy

The Journey Begins

"Is this far enough for you Legolas?"
Gimli asked.
Legolas nodded.
"Yes. This is fine."

Aragorn helped him sit down. He had been helping Legolas walk.
"Gimli, see if you can get a fire going."
The dwarf nodded and began to search for anything he could use to start a fire.

Which wasn't easy to do in the dark.
"I will not be able to do anything for leg until I have some light."
Aragorn informed Legolas.

He nodded and carefully laid himself down on the ground.
There was nothing for him to lean up against.

Once Gimli finally got a fire started Aragorn began to properly treat Legolas' injury.
Meanwhile, Gimli kept watch for anything or anyone who might have followed them.

Once Aragorn finished his work he firmly told Legolas that he wasn't to use his leg at all.

"Aragorn-"
Legolas started to protest.
"We cannot have you injured Legolas."
Aragorn cut him off.
"It will do no good to yourself, or us."

Legolas sighed but didn't say anything.
"Do you two have any idea as to what purpose we are out here for?"
Gimli asked.

"We were supposed to wait for Amarth in Dale."
Aragorn turned to Legolas.
"It looks like we will have to hope that he will find us on his own."

"He will."
Legolas said coldly.
He still didn't trust Amarth.
None of them did.

They waited in silence for what seemed like hours.
Legolas suddenly sat up and looked around warily.

"What is it?"
Aragorn asked.
"Amarth."
Legolas narrowed his eyes.

"Did someone say my name?"
The three stood up as Amarth approached.
He was just like they remembered him.
Dark hair, blue eyes, dressed in black, and the same mischievous smile on his face.

"Forgive me for running late. But you were not where I had expected you to be."
Amarth stopped just in front of them.
He waited for an explantion.

"I ran into some trouble while leaving Mirkwood."
Legolas replied coldly.
"Was your father the trouble?"
Amarth asked.

Legolas narrowed his eyes.
"Legolas, you never did tell us what happened."
Gimli stated.
Legolas sighed.

Amarth sat down in front of the fire.
"Tell us what happened Greenleaf. We have time."
The others glared at him as they sat down.

Legolas told them everything that had happened.
Aragorn couldn't believe what Legolas had told them.
He didn't know what to say.

"Now I understand why you prefer the company of mortals."
Amarth said.
"If you cannot trust your own kin then who can you trust?"

"We certainly can't trust you."
Gimli narrowed his eyes.
Amarth rolled his eyes.
"I am not asking you to trust me, I'm asking you to work with me."

"How can we work with you if we cannot trust you?"
Aragorn asked.
"Because you have no choice."
Amarth replied.

"You need to stop Amarth, and you cannot stop him without my help, because I have the one thing that can kill him, and I owe Legolas a favor."

Aragorn looked over at his friend in confusion.
"What does he mean?"
Legolas' expression remained unreadable.
"Did he not tell you? Legolas spared my life. He could have killed me but he didn't. Now I must return the favor."

Aragorn couldn't believe it.
Legolas spared Amarth?
Impossible!
"Is that true?"
Gimli asked Legolas.

The elf sighed.
"Yes. I let him go."
"Why?"
Aragorn shouted.
"After everything he did to you, you let him live?"