A/N You guys are all amazing people! Don't let anyone tell you differently. :)

Disclaimer: not mine.

Now and for Always

Chapter One

Legolas slowly pushed past a large branch and gently eased it back into place so that his passing was of no more notice then that of a bird's. A red sky, colored by the descending sun, shown through the branches and the elf spared her a glance, before sliding into the shadows of nearby tree. With the gracefulness bestowed to the elves, he moved across the forested land until he came to a boulder the size of a small horse. Edging around it, he smirked and melted back to become one with it's shadow.

Stopping, Legolas crouched low and unsung his treasured bow from his back, holding it firmly as he guided two arrows free from his quiver. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, stilling his rapidly beating heart. His grip on the bow tightened and he waited.

The day continued to darken as night crept ever closer, but still the elf did not move. Not far off to the west came the soft song of a whippoorwill and Legolas smiled grimly, opening his eyes. Rocking forward on his heels, the elf pulled the string tight on his bow, knocking an arrow as he did so.

…Any minute now…

A sharp battle cry rang clear through the night and Legolas leapt upright, his eyes narrowing as he aimed. He couldn't resist the wicked smile that spread across his face as he heard the startled shouts of terror coming from down below as Aragorn, who had been nearest to the orcs, leapt out of the foliage with his sword already swinging.

The large group of orcs who were camped in the rocky valley below began to scatter in a panic, realizing too late that enemies had crept into their ranks. Fear ruled them.

He let go of his arrow but didn't bother to watch it sail through the air and impale itself in a running orc's back. Pulling another arrow free, Legolas began to make his path down the side mountain. His higher position offered no small advantage and the orcs fell under his arrows without mercy and he had a clear view of the further chaos Elladan and Elrohir caused as they appeared on opposite sides of the clearing.

The orc who appeared to in charge managed to gather some orcs into order, but before he could do much else, an arrow form Legolas caused him to topple over, crushing a smaller orc in the process. This destroyed any sort of order among the dark foes and Aragorn raised his sword to the elf above him in quick salute, before slicing an orc through.

Firing off more arrows in quick secession as he inched down the hill, Legolas reached an overhanging edge and shoulder his bow. Swiftly drawing his twin white knives, he vaulted off a rock and into the fray of orcs. Landing in crouched position he reared up, slashing an orc that was running towards him through the stomach. Twirling away, Legolas caught a scimitar that was aimed for his neck between his crossed knives and the screech of metal on metal filled the air. Thrusting his knifes forward, he pulled free and jabbed the orc through the chest.

It fell with cry, but Legolas was already whirling around and catching another orc unawares. Its head hit the ground with a soft thud. Spinning, the prince hefted one of his knives and threw it so that it landed in the middle of an orc. With his other knife, he deflected a dagger that a charging orc was aiming for his heart and roughly kicked the orc back. Leaping forward, he retrieved his other knife from the fallen orc.

He sensed a presence looming behind him and spun around, bringing up one knife while twisting the other lower. His blow was easily blocked, however, as he came face to face with Aragorn. Nodding at each other, they both turned, placing their back against each other and standing their ground. The orcs would come to them, they were all brawn and no brains.

Dancing forward, Legolas impaled an orc while Aragorn sliced another in half. As he did so, the elf caught a flash of one of the twins with his sword through the chest of an orc.

"Are you ready to ditch just yet, or are you able to keep up with the 'slow' human?" Aragorn teased between gasps of air as they came to a momentary loll.

"Hardly!" Legolas shot back, not winded like his human companion, as he twirled his black stained knives. He bent low to meet an oncoming orc.

"Good. Because-" Aragorn started a few minutes later after they had both dispatched a few more orcs, but cut off his next words as he was forced to jump clumsily aside to avoid an arrow that lodged, quivering, in the dirt. "Archer!" he yelled, alerting his brothers and friend to watch from the skies as well.

"Leave him to me," Legolas insisted, sheathing his knives with a flick and kicking out at an orc that was getting to close for comfort as he drew his bow.

Aragorn dived forward, striking an orc through the stomach and kicking it away, before bracing his feet and raising his arms so that his sword was in battle position. He nodded curtly at his friend, signifying that he was ready. This was a strategy that the two friends had employed many times; Aragorn guarded the elf while Legolas picked off orcs. It worked well and had saved their lives more than once.

Legolas drew an arrow and knocked it easily, pulling his arm back until his bow string was taunt. Sighting down the wooden shaft, he released. It struck an orc that was fighting one of the twins and Legolas cast his eyes about for the orc archer whom he was supposed to be killing. He didn't spot the orc he was looking for, but he kept his yew bow busy. The piece of wood was almost like another limb to him, and his movements were sure, confident. He had just raised his bow to take another shot when the missing orc archer's arrow slipped past their defense like an annoying, but deadly, bug and skidded off one of the rocks behind him.

Without breaking his concentration, Legolas let his arrow fly and then zoned in on the lone orc holding a bow. The massive, burly orc was half hidden behind a pathetic rock, but even now it was inching up from its protection and raising its bow.

Turning his own bow to point in the orc's direction, Legolas fingers where just about to free the arrow when Aragorn danced into his line of fire, dealing death to a semi-skilled orc, and he only just grasped the slim piece of wood in time.

"Move," Legolas grunted softly in exasperation, his heart beating rapidly from the sudden burst of fear. Growling with anger, he moved swiftly to his left. That orc sniper was his responsibility and if one of his friends happen to be killed because he hadn't acted fast enough... it wasn't something he dared to ever dwell on. Shifting foolishly a further away from Aragorn for sake of a better shot, he left himself open.

Aragorn didn't notice, preoccupied with his own battle as he was.

Dodging an oncoming orc, Legolas raised his bow to the proper position. The orc, however, had also moved, blockading himself behind a bigger boulder. Hissing n frustration, the prince made eye contact with the dark, unpleasant, and yellow eyes and felt a shiver run up his spine. The orc raised his bow mockingly towards him, before twisting to take aim for Elladan's exposed back. It had barely had time to duck for cover before Legolas' arrow was trimming it's straggly hair.

The orc let out a bellow of fury and shot up, bow raised. Moving even further out of Aragorn's circle of help, Legolas twisted down and hunkered behind his own craggy rock that was covered with dried spots of lichen. Raising his head above the edge so that he could see what his suddenly personal enemy was doing, he recoiled back as an arrow went spinning widely above his head and into darkness.

This orc was strong, and his arrows would fly fast and far.

Legolas' eyes hardened over, and he twirled two arrows free in stead of one. The comfort of the wood slipping over the line and the familiar pull of his muscles calmed his heart and mind and with one swift movement, Legolas sprang forth. Jumping lightly atop his rock, he let his first arrow fly. Almost at the same moment, the orc rocked up and let out a loud war cry that Legolas could discern loud and clear.

The prince's first arrow hit an orc who had unwisely blundered into its path, but Legolas had the second arrow knocked in the blink of an eye while leaping to the ground. As his feet hit the dirt, he pulled the string back until the feathers were touching his cheek. All this happen a few seconds, giving the orc archer just enough time to raise its bow to the proper height.

Both hands tightened on the strings, and almost simultaneously, two arrows were released. Time slowed. The fight around them seemed to freeze and everything tunneled in on two simple pieces of wood that where flying through the sky…

TBC...

Short chapter, I know... Anyway, I can promise you some h/c and angst ahead! Thank you so much! As always, feel free to tell my the good and the bad! :)