The group of haggard and rundown rangers stumbled to a stop beside the stream, a few of them immediately throwing themselves onto the ground in exhaustion, all of their chests heaving for the air their lungs craved. The eldest of those present took in the sight of the others, and then glanced behind them nervously as if he might be able to see the large pack of orcs that had -been pursuing them for two days now.

They would never be able to fight off the pack and keep their lives, but Halbarad knew they would also not be able to keep running for much longer, and with their scent so entrenched in the Orcs nostrils they would never lose their trail. Aragorn, the youngest and newest of the group took it upon himself to fill everybody's water for them while they rested. Once finished with this task he scrambled up the closest tree without a word to anyone, and out of sight.

This was only his fourth time out with his fellow rangers, but Halbarad had to admit that he was impressed. Having grown up in the peaceful valley of Rivendell, the older ranger had expected the future Chieftain to be a bit soft, not as accustomed or prepared for long grueling days spent in remote countrysides and thick forests. Sometimes not getting any good food or rest for days upon days at a time, but so far he was fairing exceedingly better than all the other young rangers joining their first excursions.

He supposed he had the twins to thank for Aragorn's resilience and experience.

Aragorn climbed down the tree faster than he had climbed up and approached Halbarad hesitantly. At only 23 he had only been with his own people for three years, and it had taken Halbarad at least a year to get him to successfully break out of his shell. Even now, he did not often speak unless spoken too, and if he did speak first Halbarad had learned to pay careful attention to what he had to say.

"Yes?" He promoted when Aragorn stopped in front of him, but did not speak.

"They aren't much farther behind us, we should turn east, towards Greenwood, we can make it in a few hours if we press ourselves. We wait much longer and they'll catch us."

Before Halbarad could respond, Streth, the second oldest of the group broke in, "Mirkwood? We're trying to get away from the Orcs, not run straight towards hundreds of them."

Aragorn narrowed his eyes slightly in irritation, "Greenwood, not Mirkwood. The warriors there will help us, if we can get close enough to their borders before the Orcs reach us. If you don't call it Mirkwood, that is."

Streth pushed himself to his feet and came closer, "Mirkwood is not like Rivendell, boy. The ElvenKing does not care about humans, nor would he help us. I say we go north and try to reach the river, wash ourselves away until they lose our scent and our trail."

"Have you ever asked the king for help? The current in the river will be too strong this time of year, all the runoff from the mountains will turn it into a death trap."

Halbarad pressed his lips together in careful thought, glancing between the two rangers in front of him, "And you are certain they will give us aid?"

Aragorn gave one solid nod, "Yes. I am certain, we just have to get close to their borders."

Streth's eyes bore flames as he continued to stare at Halbarad, "It is a bad idea. We are here to protect the young ones not throw them into a dark and haunted forest. They grew up swimming in lakes and rivers, they can make it."

But there was a certainty in Aragorn's eyes that reminded Halbarad so much of the boys father, and Arathorn was never wrong when he looked like that.

"We go to Greenwood." Halbard declared, ignoring the souring of Streths expression.

He knew his second did not agree with the choice, but he world not argue. He knew better than that. Rangers listened to those in charge, and they obeyed their commands the moment they were given. If they were to argue amongst themselves in times of peril or battle, it could cost lives.

"You heard him!" Streth barked to the other young rangers who were still sprawled on the ground, "Get up, get moving."

As his second walked away to further rouse the exhausted young ment, Halbarad turned his attention once more to Aragorn, "Their borders stretch far in both directions, is there a place we should be aiming for?"

"Close to Dul Guldur - but not too close - its the closest access to the Elven Road."

"You want us to run to Dul Guldur." Aragorn nodded, "Towards one of the darkest places on Arda, swarming with Orcs and other unpleasant beings that wish us harm." Aragorn nodded again.

"I have a friend that will be there, he will help us. Without question."

Halbarad was somewhat comforted by the certainty in Aragorn's voice, it matched his eyes, "Would he disobey his king's orders to do so?"

The young man's expression hardened at his words, "King Thranduil would never keep his people from helping others if they could, especially if they wanted to and could do it safely.. But even if he did, my friend would still help us, and his warriors would follow his lead."

"And if he is not there?"

"Then one of his close friends will be there in his stead, and they will also help us."

"Then we better get running, I suppose."

0o0o0o0o0o

They all approached the line of trees hesitantly, except for Aragorn, who insisted they were still on the Wood Elves side of the border, but no others were so sure. The darkness seemed to roll out of the underbrush like an invisible fog, and if he stared long enough, Halbarad could have sworn he saw secrets darting between the tree's.

There was something dizzying about the forest, and the idea of plunging headfirst into those dark and twisted trees nearly turned his stomach.

These trees were sick. They were Angry.

"Ignore it." Aragorn said to nobody in particular, as he continued searching the closest tree's for… something. "The feeling, push it to the back of your mind where it belongs."

He continued scrambling up and down the treeline, while the other gasped for breath and rest. "Ah, found you." The young ranger turned back to the rest, "This way."

Doing his best to obey the instructions and push the feeling as being as unwelcome as he ever had out of his mind, Halbarad came over and studied the tree for himself, "How can you tell?"

Aragorn cleared his throat, "Well, this tree was grown from the ElvenKing's planted crown. It's a sort of flag, I suppose, to those who know to notice it."

Not enjoying the gawking stares from the rest, Aragorn turned back to inspect the forest, "I do not think even the Golden Wood is steeped with as much magic as Greenwood. There are two very, very powerful forces continuously crashing against each other. It is hard to differentiate between them, especially if this is your first time experiencing it."

"Besides," He turned back to them briefly and then pointed upward to the trunk, "They carved the Silvan ruin for 'safe' into the tree."

Streth looked as if he might argue, and this time Halbarad might let him. But then a horn sounded not too far from behind them.

Aragorn began to lead the way "Come, and stay close."

0o0o0o0o0

Halbarad had always prided himself on his sense of direction. But in these woods, sometimes, it almost seemed hard to tell which way was up and down which way was down.

The trees moved like a river around him.

Changing but the same.

Repeating but different.

Underwater but solid ground.

Hadn't they come this way?

He didn't remember.

Everything looked the same.

0p0o0o0o0o0

Aragorn let his feet guide him the way in which they seemed to desire, checking back frequently to make sure none of the rangers had untied themselves from the rope.

Wanderers would not be tolerated.

Not when they could not feel the firm but kind pull of Thranduil's magic to keep rooted in sense and time, pulling them along the path he wanted them to take.

He always felt like a kite in the wind whenever he was too far from the Silvan Elves' home and light.

Now, here, it was imperative that part of his mind was always dedicated to keeping a hold of the string because even to him, at this distance, Thranduil's grasp was tenuous at best.

But the King would not lead him astray. Aragorn had faith.

The forest had more tricks than that.

0o0o0o0o0o0

It seemed every breath was a third of what it should have been. The air was thick in a way he could barely understand enough to describe.

He glanced to where he thought might be up.

Every way he looked the trees looked the same. Even where his feet tread.

For all he knew, he could be walking on the sky.

Where were they going?

Something pulled him along.

0o0o0o0o

And then it happened.

Thranduil's grasp slipped as a tidal wave of what Aragorn could only call 'invisible darkness' struck them.

He stopped.

Legolas had made it very clear the first visit he had ever made to Greenwood that should he get lost, under absolutely no circumstances should he wander to try and find his way.

He got the same stern instructions every visit he made; and he might have been offended had he not witness Legolas lecturing his entire family simultaneously on the matter.

Including his father and Lord Glorfindel.

0o0o0o0o0o

He didn't remember where they were going.

He didn't remember where they came from.

He didn't remember….

He didnt…

He...

0o0o0o0o

Another soul reached out to his. Not as powerful, but much more familiar. Though, considering his relatively young age, it was a wonder he had enough magic to reach outside of his own body in the first place.

Legolas.

Compared to the unwavering hold of his father, Legolas' was positively shaky. Probably a combination of weaker magic and multitasking.

But he didn't let go as he began pulling Aragorn along a different way.

0o0o0o0o0o

Suddenly, like surfacing from the deepest pool all the weight that had been drowning him was lifted from every inch of Halbarad and he took the first, clear, crisp breath in what for all he knew had been days. Judging by the similarly deep breaths around him, the others felt the same.

Elves unlike any he had ever seen surrounded them, their colors so well suited to the forest he often did not notice them until they shifted.

After a few blinks and a shake of his head, clarity and reason seemed to claw their way back to their homes within his mind.

Aragorn was speaking with an elf that was taller than all the rest, and the only blond in a mass of dark hair. "Forgive me, Estel, for not coming to find you sooner." He turned crystal blue eyes on Halbarad, and then quickly over the rest, "I know how difficult our woods can be for mortals."

Had he not felt like he had drank and entire barrel of Ale to himself without getting any sleep for the past nine days only minutes ago, Halbard might have been offended.

"I think I'm the one who should be apologizing, for bringing so many more Orcs to your lands."

A few of the Elves standing around laughed, and an Elleth balanced perfectly atop a suspiciously thin branch said, "Whats a hundred more amongst twenty thousand?"

"They are no more, regardless." Said the tall blond one, after a brief glance upwards at the Elleth, "Are any of you wounded?"

Aragorn took it upon himself to answer for the collective, "Only minor wounds. Nothing that needs to be addressed with haste."

The elf nodded, "That is good then, for here is no place for any of you to find rest-" Around them every single elf went statue still, focusing on something Halbarad could not see, hear, or sense. The blond elf flicked a hand to the left, and eight elves vanished into the forest without hesitation or a word. "Can you feel him from here?"

He flicked his other hand and several others came forward in that unnaturally quick way of elves that could still not be described as hurrying, pushing pieces of bread into the hands of those coherent enough to eat it on their own. And putting it in the mouths of those who weren't.

Halbarad must have landed somewhere between the two because the elf who put it in his hand waited to see if he would eat it on his own, which he did. He knew when to agree with elves.

Still others took it upon themselves to refill the waterskins Halbarad hardly remembered even owning while Aragorn nodded, "Sometimes it's hard, but yes. I can feel him again."

"Here," Reaching underneath his shirt the blond elf pulled a cord with a carved tree from around his neck and slipped it over his head and held it out to Aragorn, "It'll be easier for him to find you with this."

The young man looked down at it with wide eyes and then looked back to the elf, "Are you sure? Legolas, I know what it's purpose-"

"I'll be fine. Fear not, little one, I do not plan on dying today." He paused again, listening. "We must leave you now. Follow the path our King sets before your feet and all will be well."

"Will I see you later? Will you come to the stronghold?"

With kind eyes and a gentle hand the elf gently touched the bottom of Aragorn's face, "I will try but I cannot make any promises."

The man nodded, "If not, it was good to see you. Even if it was hardly long enough to even say hello."

The blond elf said, eyes alight with humor, "Hello," before he vanished into the treetops in a flash and a grin.

The rest of the elves disappeared just as quickly.

And like he was being pulled underwater, the thickness returned.

0o0o0o0o0o

The pendant was nearly warm against his skin, as if Thranduil literally had his hand curled around it, pulling him along the path that his elves made safe for them to travel.

The woods changed as much as it's people, and never once had Aragorn walked along the same Elven Road.

The only ones that seemed to stay the same were the ones the elves favored, their favorite paths weaving around their mountain home.

How easy would it be to be led astray in these woods?

Lead to 'safety' by the wrong hand?

The heat in the carving flared, and oddly the burn nearly felt the same as the sting from Thranduil's glare.

Definitely the right hand, then. There was something about the ElvenKing he was sure not even Sauron could duplicate.

It was touching to know that Thranduil had taken enough interest in guiding him to notice the change in his mind or thoughts. Even if it was only to take offense.

Somehow the warmth against his chest became more reassuring.

They were well on their way.

Soon.

0o0o0o

They stumbled out of the forest before a river with a slender bridge leading across it decorated with the stone likeness of tree's, even as the roots of real tree's curled around them. Aragorn stopped to let them collect themselves.

Halbarad shook his head to clear it. "Valar."

It was almost alarming how quickly the confusion was sent scampering from his body with all the lead weight that came with it whenever elves were involved.

Elves.

Somehow always equal parts alarming and fascinating.

He turned to count and inspect the other rangers, he had not come all this way to leave a boy in those woods. To Aragorn's credit, the rope had been a good and useful idea.

Streth recounted and inspected each one of them just in case.

The door on the other side of the bridge banged open, and one single elf came to stand in the doorway but did not go further.

Aragorn appeared far less concerned about what they had all just experienced, and almost seemed to smile, "Come on, food and warm beds aren't far now."

The river raged below them as they crossed and he couldn't help but wish that elvers weren't so sure footed and that they didn't mind narrow walkways over such things.

The elf who waited for him was much plainer than Halbarad had anticipated. He wore nothing but simple black clothes, his dark hair remained straight and unbraided and he didn't even seem to have the suggestion of a weapon.

The elf smiled at them, but Aragorn in particular, "I know that humans stop growing sooner than Elves, but Estel, I swear, you've gotten bigger."

He laughed, "According to the twins I've gotten 'wider' over time."

The elf tilted his head to the side and inspected him again, "Perhaps thats it. Regardless, the King will be glad that he can finally tell Legolas to relax and stop pestering him, on account of your safe arrival." He stood straight again and then turned to the rest of them, "Welcome to the Woodland realm, I am Galion. I fear, for you, that you will probably be seeing me often while you're here."

"Thank you for everything you've done for us." Halbarad said, but Galion seemed to wave it away without a moving

"I do nothing but serve food, pour drinks and deliver messages. I do not need or deserve any gratitude, I suspect at least one of you will be seeing the King later. In fact, I'm certain of it." He turned on his heel, "Come, to the healers and then to fill you with food and stuff you in a warm bed."

Somehow the inside of the mountain seemed to have more life inside it than the forest around it. Great tree's grew underground with huge canopy's covering huge portions of where a rock ceiling would be.

Even so he could make out a few beams of light.

All around various mosses or jems and very occasionally torches made everything far more open than he had ever expected it to. From seemingly everywhere music rang in various forms, including many birds.

And then they turned in a way where he could no longer see the great open spaced.

0o0o0o0

It was late when Galion appeared in his room to wake him.

Expecting as much, Aragorn hadn't bothered to get undressed. Or perhaps hadn't had the energy to.

"Sorry to interrupt your sleep."

He stumbled out of bed, hitting his toe on something he hadn't seen since Galion had no need for a light with the window open.

Elves.

"It's alright, I can sleep later. I doubt the King will be available later."

"A fair assumption." Apparently Galion wasn't in a talkative mood because that's all he said as he led Aragorn down the hall from where the rangers had been clustered together under an incredibly watchful guard and towards Thranduil and Legolas' shared living space.

He knocked, once, and either heard a call to enter that Aragorn didn't, or didn't care about one because he opened the door without hesitation.

The sitting room was empty, but light glowed warmly from Legolas' open bedroom door. Aragorn's heart leapt in his chest, he had hoped to see his dear friend again. But did not think he did not think he would actually be able to.

Without pausing Galion entered the bedroom, probably expecting Aragorn to follow.

"The stray human you requested, my King, my Prince." And then he left.

Legolas looked over to Aragorn from where he sat on a chair, leaning his left side onto the back of if and leaving his own bare back to face his father.

Had Aragorn not known about Elven hearing and senses, or anything about the ElvenKing in general, he might have assumed Thranduil had not heard Galion for all the interest and reaction he gave. His eyes remained focused entirely on Legolass back, face set in a grim determination.

Legolas smiled at him, until Thranduil shifted and the grin turned into more of a grimace than anything.

It seemed he could count out both hands how many times he had seen the twins injured, collectively. But Aragorn was fairly certain he could count on one hand all the times he had seen Legolas without an injury. "Legolas, are you alright?"

Admittedly, he usually saw him after they had already been cleaned and stitched.

Again Thranduil moved his hands and Legolas almost winced, "I'll be fine."

Out of instinct Aragorn looked to Thranduil's face to tell if Legolas was lying, since he was the one looking at the wound, and Legolas would probably lie about being fine until the day it finally killed him. But the King was just as intent in his work as before.

So he looked back to his friend, "Shouldn't you being letting a healer do that? In the healing ward?"

"Why?" He winced again, "There is nothing they could do for me there that Ada has not done or will so doe me here."

"Really?"

Without a change of expression or wave in concentration Thranduil said, "Yes, not all of us are as terrible at giving straight and even stitches as my son."

"Hey! I'm not that bad!" And then Legolas almost yelped, "Ow."

Thranduil stilled, "Don't. Move." He waited for Legolas to take a deep breath and then adjust himself against the back of the chair, he continued his work once Legolas nodded, "And I have a scar on my right arm that would argue with your offense."

Legolas rolled his eyes, "He never forgets."

Thranduil almost smiled, "Not a thing."

"I needed to talk to you about something Estel-"

"And apparently," Thranduil interrupted with some annoyance, throwing near handfuls of red and black stained bandages into the nearby garbage bin. Blood and venom. And needles. "It could not wait."

Rumor had it, the anti-venom had to be injected directly to the wound for it to be effective. Nobody in Imladris had ever seen it happen, and Greenwood had been reluctant so far to divulge their recipe.

Legolas gave absolutely no indication that he had heard his father speak, perhaps the only creature on the earth with the ability to do that, "When we came upon those orcs that chased you, I think you ought to know that they were hired to find someone."

He gasped again, but this time time somehow it was so much worse. This time it was Thranduil who winced, "I'm sorry, little leaf, this one is deep."

"No, it's fine Ada." He took a moment to compose himself, and a small shudder traveled his body, "Avaleina warned me when she dressed it."

But the King didn't continue.

Instead he set down his stools and walked around the chair to see Legolas' face, and said something in the old Silvan language that most of the world thought had long gone extinct.

Legolas laughed and said something else Aragorn was purposefully meant to not understand, and then said once more in Sindarin, "You worry too much."

Thranduil returned back around the chair, and picked up his utensils and resumed his work, "I'm a King, it is quite literally in my job description."

And Legolas resumed being the only person perhaps legally allowed in Greenwood to ignore his father, "A man named Halbarad."

Aragorn's stomach by-passed his feet and fell out of his entire body. All of his blood seem to fall with it. "What?"

"Ava and I thought you might react that way and so she has ordered her warriors to speak 'loudly' about the unfortunate demise of the humans who entered the forest. Killed by some stray Warg pack before we could find them."

He blinked, "I don't understand."

"We are not the only one with ears in this forest, child," Thranduil answered matter of factly, but not unkindly as he began to apply creams to the wounds, "Speak loudly about something you don't want the enemy to overhear and soon enough word will reach him."

Legolas continued for his father, "It is easy enough to fake a death here, if nothing sees you leave, who's to say you even did?"

"I… still don't understand."

"You cannot hunt for something that is not alive."

"I hope this isn't your way of telling me I'm about to die."

"Do you think we have lived so long here and not created other ways out that even our forest cannot see?" Thranduil clicked his tongue, and Legolas clicked his own back with a badly suppressed smirk.

Thranduil stilled long enough to glare at the back of his son's head, "You're getting too good at that."

Legolas laughed, something Aragorn would never dare after such a tone, and clicked it perfectly again and winked at Aragorn, "Practice. We'll sneak you out and into Dale, where you'll all just become another human amongst a crowd and leave just the same."

"So you're going to fake our deaths?"

"Yes."

"But why Halbarad?"

Legolas paused, and Thranduil took the opportunity to speak, "Tell the boy, he is a man amongst his people and now is not the time for half truths."

Legolas glared upwards and made an irritated grunting sound deep in his throat, and Thranduil almost smiled again. "Because they think he knows here Isildur's heir is."

And just like that, all the blood that had just painstakingly crawled back inside him left again, and he went cold. "But that's me."

For perhaps the first time since he came into the room, he seemed to have gotten Thranduil's entire attention. But like the hand that had so painstakingly guided him all day, it was only firm but kind. "Yes, child, it is, and it always will be. You did not ask to be, nor perhaps do you deserve all the implications that come with being his heir but I can assure you it is better to to put thought into what exactly that means now, and how you feel, before the weight of it crushes you beneath it."

Legolas smiled at him reassuringly, "And you will always have your friends and family to help keep you un-flattened."

Thranduil's attention returned to his son as he began to wrap his wounds, "But those things are not needed to be faced tonight and probably should not be. Those are things to be faced carefully over time."

Feeling somewhat defeated, Aragorn found a comfortable enough looking chair to collapse into.

A warmth spread through his chest from the necklace he had entirely forgotten he had been wearing, sympathetic and knowing, and distinctly reassuring. Aragorn could honestly not tell which royal elf it had come from.

They really were quite alike at times.

"Do you really think you can trick him like that?"

Thranduil shrugged, securing the wrapping tightly, "Maybe not forever, it depends how much effort you put into continuing the charade. But if i have learned anything from my son during this wretched age, it's that sometimes temporary solutions to permanent problems is alright. And I'm sure you're father and brothers will have much to say on the matter as well."

Aragorn couldn't think of much to do but sigh and tilt his head back against the headrest and close his eyes.

The wood continued to nearly glow against his skin and this time Aragorn knew it was Thranduil. He had never felt the same terror as his brothers when it came to the ElvenKing, in most of his experience Thranduil had never given him a reason too.

"It is late, and I know you two will get spend a few hours talking yet, and so I will leave you."

Aragorn opened his eyes and looked up to find that Legolas he struggled into a shirt and his father had apparently finished brushing out his hair from where it had been tied up. Leaning down, Thranduil kissed his son on the cheek, "Goodnight, little leaf. Sleep well, I will be in the next room should you need me during the night. I love you."

Legolas smiled "I love you too Ada, thank you."

Scrambling to his feet Aragorn spoke next, having completely forgotten in light of the happenings, "Thank you, my King. For all of your time, effort, and assistance today."

"The Woodland Realm will always be happy to do what we can to support you, Heir of Isildur. You must but only ask."

Has anybody else said it, Aragorn might have thought they had done it simply to be nice. But Thranduil had never been nor would he probably ever be over my concerned with being 'nice' simply for the sake of it.

The offer was the truth. A promise.

The implication of it nearly stole his breath, since Greenwood could scarcely even call itself and ally to the other Elven realms.

Thankfully, Thranduil didn't wait for Aragorn to think of a response before he left the room and closed the door behind himself.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Halbarad was just about to start worry about the young man's absence when he arrived back at their rooms. Having, apparently, spent the night elsewhere.

Galion had already appeared several times already to bring them breakfast and their freshly cleaned clothes. As well as anything supplies they might need for their packs, for apparently they were to be leaving the elves today.

Aragorn came over to him, "Could I speak to you in private?"

Not once since he had joined them had Aragorn every asked for such a thing, and so quickly Halbarad led him into one of the empty bedrooms and closed the door firmly behind them both. "Yes?"

The boy looked exceedingly uncomfortable. "The Orcs that were chasing us were specifically chasing you, because somebody who can control them believes you are one of the last on Arda to know where the heir of Isildur is. The Elves have begun to spread a rumor that we all perished in the forest overnight, and they plan to smuggle us to Dale so that we might blend in and leave no room for the enemy to question anything."

Halbarad blinked. Well that certainly wasn't what he had been expecting to hear, "And who told you such a thing?"

"My friend."

"And why should I believe your friend to be a trustworthy source?"

He didn't have anything against the Silvan Elves specifically, but he certainly did not trust them as he would any elf from Rivendell. Especially not the word of some mysterious friend.

Aragorn's expression soured. "Because he is Prince Legolas Thranduilion and if he wanted us dead or tragedy to befall us, it would have happened by now. He is the last Elven Prince on Arada and well deserves to be. If you cannot trust the wore of one such as he, than you should not trust mine, for I hold him in the highest regard in all matters."

Halbarad looked him up and down, but found him just as sure and unrelenting about the choice to arrive at Greenwood at all. "And the King plans to help us, expecting nothing in return?"

"It was likely the King's idea."

He and Elrond had feared some force might come for him one day, fortunate that it happened around one who could so easily invent a solution. "Very well, if you trust them, Aragorn. So do I. Besides, I've always liked the tales of the Rangers whose spirits refused go stop roaming the lands even after their deaths. I find it immensely satisfying to be one of them, even if it is only a lie."