Author's note: In this chapter, Legolas mis-remembers Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took as "Bull-something;" Bandobras' story, in part, can be found mentioned in the Hobbit. The reference to a Took marrying a 'faerie' is part of the Took-family mythology (canon), to explain away, arguably, the family's peculiar "otherworldliness" and adventure-lust. The conversation about the crown and the stars is inspired by a scene in "The Riders of Rohan" (Two Towers):

"..I am not weaponless." Aragorn threw back his cloak. The elven-sheath glittered as he grasped it, and the bright blade of Andúril shone like a sudden flame as he swept it out. 'Elendil!' he cried. 'I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, and am called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dúnedan, the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor. Here is the Sword that was Broken and is forged again! Will you aid me or thwart me? Choose swiftly!'

Gimli and Legolas looked at their companion in amazement, for they had not seen him in this mood before. He seemed to have grown in stature while Éomer had shrunk; and in his living face they caught a brief vision of the power and majesty of the kings of stone. For a moment it seemed to the eyes of Legolas that a white flame flickered on the brows of Aragorn like a shining crown. Éomer stepped back and a look of awe was in his face. He cast down his proud eyes.

...And what is it I would say, Legolas?

Legolas considered Aragorn for several more seconds. They were close enough to one another that when a sudden cool breeze picked up Aragorn's hair from his brow, it tickled Legolas' nose, and the elf pulled away suddenly and made a face as if he might sneeze.

"Well," Legolas amended, shaking his head then and finally answering Aragorn's question. "I know what Mithrandir would say."

Aragorn shifted his weight onto his heels and crossed his arms, too. "And what is that?" Aragorn asked him.

The elf stared at Aragorn for a moment more and then leaned back so he stood utterly straight. He did not immediately speak, but his eyes flitted from the curve in Aragorn's brows to the tension at the corners of his mouth, and then his nostrils flared and he shrugged; it seemed to Aragorn as if Legolas had suddenly decided something.

"Well," Legolas replied conspiratorially, and he wrapped his arms further around his abdomen so his hands gripped the back of his ribs as he leaned forward again, now eagerly. "Shall I do my impression?"

The tension broke. Aragorn was caught off guard by such a fickle shift and he could not help but ask: "Is this something you do often, Legolas? Impersonate our wizard?"

"Only when the occasion calls for it, of course," the elf replied. "But you must not tell Mithrandir for he has known me long."

"Go on, then," Aragorn assented.

Legolas nodded and took a deep breath, and Aragorn raised his eyebrows, waiting.

"Gandalf would say," the elf said, and then he paused and dropped his hands to his hips, raising his shoulders slightly and curving them in. His brows pinched downward and he leaned forward from the hips and widened his stance.

When Legolas spoke again—his voice surprisingly lower—Aragorn found himself smiling despite his annoyance.

"Legolas Greenleaf!" the elf mimicked. "You are not on rest rotation from the King's Army. Do not make me regret proposing a Wood-elf for this quest!"

Legolas crossed his arms again and resumed a relaxed stance—clearly himself again—and he cocked his head as he watched Aragorn, as if expecting a response.

Aragorn did not know what to say and so he did not at first speak. After a moment, he sat down on the ground and gestured for Legolas to join him. Legolas sat and smoothed the creases from his trousers; Aragorn tightened the tie of his cloak for it was cold and then spoke:

"That was an accurate interpretation of what I imagine Gandalf would say."

"I know," Legolas said simply, and he smiled at Aragorn before his face became suddenly serious and he reached his hand out and placed it on Aragorn's knee. "But I know this is not a hobbit-walking party, Aragorn, and you know I know that. I am young, yes, though older than most here, but I am no longer naïve or green in the ways of the world. I have been tested for years and repeatedly proved my mettle."

Aragorn looked down and stared at the hand on his knee, and he could see the edge of a callus on Legolas' palm and a long pearlescent scar that ran the length of his hand, disappearing from view in his sleeve.

"I have taught dozens of young soldiers to sling in the past several centuries," Legolas continued, "and never has a single one injured themselves. I am more likely to come to harm when I try to avert a disaster my trainees do not see. Pippin was at no risk of harm today. I was chosen to come with you for a reason, Aragorn—you must trust in my strengths."

Legolas withdrew his hand and pushed a wisp of hair out of his face before clasping both hands in his lap.

Aragorn sighed, and he was frustrated, because he knew Legolas was right and that his exhaustion and frustration had tempted him into reacting.

"It is just," Aragorn began, and then faltered. "Pippin must know that this is not how to behave on a mission that relies entirely on secrecy. He is not yet wise enough to understand the differences between rejoicing when one knows they are safe, and rejoicing whenever the fancy strikes. He is not a soldier, Legolas. He is a hobbit of the Shire—a child still, in their reckoning!—and he does not see the world as we do."

Legolas nodded and glanced back to camp, and there was a flash of sadness in his eyes as he spoke. "Aye, and that is where I have erred, Aragorn, and I am sorry."

They looked at one another and Legolas tilted his head and dipped it toward the ground; he looked up with eyes wide and sparkling when he finally spoke.

"You inspire commitment, Aragorn, and I believe in your mission; I accept your rebuke. I will follow you, I think, past the mountains to whatever end. I want to see you succeed with my very own eyes, for this is the age of Men, and I would see their glory restored, with you as they just and fair leader—my people, too, rely on this success."

Aragorn stared at Legolas and felt himself blush slightly.

"But for all your airs and commitment to your destiny, heir of Isildur," Legolas continued before Aragorn could reply, "you are not yet confident enough..."

"Excuse me?" Aragorn was startled.

"You do not believe that your troop will follow you, Aragorn, and that is unacceptable."

Aragorn frowned at Legolas and felt immediately defensive. "Perhaps you are confident enough for the both of us, Master Elf," he muttered and scowled, and Legolas laughed, but then was, again, absolutely serious.

"Command me, Aragorn," said the elf quietly, tilting his head to the side.

"What did you say?" Aragorn asked.

"I said, command me, Aragorn. Practice."

Aragorn scoffed as the elf squinted at him expectantly.

"I cannot command on command!" Aragorn protested.

"A chief of the Dunedain and a student of Lord Elrond cannot command his companion?" Legolas asked incredulously.

"You have been trained surely in court all your life!" Aragorn argued, and Legolas raised his eyebrows disbelievingly and smiled ruefully.

"Hm," he said, "you must remember that I am from Mirkwood, Aragorn—I have been trained in military life. Besides, I assure you, there is nothing a wild and reckless wood-elf can teach you that you do not already know, somewhere inside yourself."

Aragorn crossed his arms and looked at the expression on Legolas' face—equal parts amused and concerned and, Aragorn thought, possibly homesick.

"You are surprisingly wise and it unsettles me," Aragorn finally replied in defeat.

"Ah yes, so I have been told," Legolas murmured dismissively; he patted Aragorn's knee again and left it there, tutting. "Now, Aragorn, as I said, command me."

Aragorn frowned and felt a wave of consternation sweep through him before glaring at the elf and pushing off his hand with force—he would not be condescended to, as if he were a child!

"Well?" Legolas dropped both hands into his lap as he watched Aragorn's shifting mood.

"You will not tell me what to do nor touch me so intimately, Legolas!" Aragorn spat in frustration.

To his surprise, Legolas did not recoil nor look upset at the sudden outburst, but said impishly instead—as if he had expected such a reaction—"And why ever not?"

"Because I said so," Aragorn hissed, and then deflated.

"Indeed," Legolas mused. "For sometimes there is no time to explain, and orders must simply be followed. I will not speak to you again thusly, Aragorn."

"I did not mean—" Aragorn began, but Legolas smiled and tucked his braid into the collar of his tunic before waving off Aragorn's apology.

"It does not matter what you meant. You and Gandalf are our leaders and we follow your word, or we should. If you lead us to ruin, so be it—it will be my own fault for yielding to you!—but a good leader is not built on wary followers."

Aragorn smiled and felt a sudden wave of relief cut through him.

"But now is really not the time to allow for jest, Legolas," Aragorn said. "We were having a serious conversation, and I was just now rather rude."

"Oh, I do not jest," Legolas said lightly, standing and holding out a hand, which Aragorn gratefully took, somewhat confused by the conversation. He hauled himself to his feet and, when he rebounded slightly, grabbed the elf's upper arm to steady himself.

"Listen, Aragorn," Legolas said firmly, stopping Aragorn from pulling away by squeezing his arm to his ribs and trapping there the hand Aragorn had used to steady himself. "I would count you as my friend as well as my commander, if you will have me. Only have I ever followed those who deserve it, and you, I think, do." Legolas was quiet for a moment, squinting as if in thought. "But I will quit with fooling with Pippin, as you have requested."

"Do not quit fooling with him entirely, please," Aragorn replied, dusting off the seat of his pants when Legolas finally released his arm; he jerked his head back toward the camp where the hobbits awaited their return. "He needs it and you can curb him—secondary to Merry—as we continue on this folly adventure."

Legolas shrugged and looked unconcerned as he answered: "For a worthy cause, Aragorn, I will lead or follow unto death, no matter how folly. I am not the grandson of Oropher for nothing! Just as Pippin is maybe related to Bandobras 'Bull-something,' that great Orc-cleaver of North-somewhere. And, did you know, his great-great-great-great grandfather perhaps married a faerie?"

Legolas grinned then and looked like a puckish child; Aragorn felt a strange urge to cuff him upside the head.

"How do you know all that, Legolas? How do you even know what a Took is?"

"Oh! Just because I do not speak of anything of import, does not mean I do not listen to others' chatter, important and idle alike. I have learned much about our Company since the Council," he answered, smiling, before seriously continuing. "My point is, Aragorn, that whatever the case, we are all—here—of doughty folk; we know the risks of our loyalty, and our duties."

Aragorn shook himself and placed his hands on his belt, glancing over his shoulder to assess their companions' location before giving Legolas direction; he decided to ignore, for now, the elf's admission to a penchant for eavesdropping...

"Go then," Aragorn finally sighed. "Back to camp. We will make dinner and I will take counsel with Gandalf."

Legolas nodded and they walked together a few long strides until Legolas sank down again to where he had sat before their conversation. He withdrew his short blade from his belt as Aragorn walked away and had set it to the ground to finish clearing out the pit for rabbit-cleaning, before he seemed to think twice; he looked up.

"Aragorn," Legolas called as he slipped his knife back into his belt, and crossed his legs in front of him.

Aragorn glanced over his shoulder, and, at the look on Legolas' face, he strode back and crouched immediately on the ground beside him, eyebrows raised in concern.

"I saw you when we set out, as if in a vision," the elf admitted quietly, and he grasped Aragorn's shoulder with an exigent intensity. "I saw a crown of stars upon your brow—lit as if aflame—with my very own eyes, Aragorn. Clear as day, though fleeting." Legolas dropped his hand from Aragorn's shoulder. "I do not only believe in my heart that you will succeed, but I know it in my soul." He brushed his hands out over his breeches before looking up again, directly into Aragorn's eyes, and finished: "So do not take my loyalty lightly, Lord, for that is the only way you will lose it."

There was a breath of silence, and then Aragorn placed a gentle hand on the elf's shoulder in return.

"I will never take lightly your word, my friend," Aragorn murmured, and then he leaned forward so they were eye to eye. "You have earned my trust, Legolas."

"And you mine," Legolas whispered, nodding and waving Aragorn off, already turning back to his task and glancing around for the location of the hare. "And I think we have both learned our separate lessons."

Aragorn smiled, and spoke simply: "Indeed."

Thank you for reading chapter 3, the last chapter! I originally intended this to be 3 chapters and then wrote a different final scene, and decided on 4. However, upon reconsideration, this story is most complete and satisfying with chapter 3 as the last chapter, so this story is now considered complete. Thank you for reading and reviewing!