So I have been suffering from writers' block a little with my other stories however I thought of this one the other day. Hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think.

Hidden Wounds

The fellowship panted as they ran through the large stone arch and away from the horror that had just befallen them. Their eyes pricked with tears and they allowed the truth of what they had just seen set in and consume their emotions. Gimli shouted in anger as he fought against Boromir's grasp, trying in vain to storm back in and face the evil that had overthrown Moria once more. The hobbits sobbed openly; they were folk that were not afraid to show their emotions. Legolas stepped gingerly over the rocky ground, looking around at his travels companions with tear-filled eyes. It was the ranger that had managed to keep the tears at bay and so he stood there cleaning his sword of orc blood with a black rag that he had gotten from his pack. He looked up at the fellowship and his heart sunk a little, he knew that he needed to get them moving or they would all be slaughtered by the time the sun had disappeared behind the mountain.

'Legolas, get them up.' He said as a pang of guilt hit him as the words left his mouth.

The elf looked at his friend with a mixture of confusion and despair but he knew the man was right to move them on and so he slowly stepped towards Merry and Pippin who lay sobbing on the cold stone floor.

'Give them a moment for pity sake' spat Boromir causing the rest of the troop to freeze.

'By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with Orcs.' The ranger replied 'we must reach the woods of Lothlorien he finished as he sheathed his sword.

Boromir was left speechless and stood there contemplating his fellow man's words. He knew Aragorn was right, but his heart broke for the halflings as he knew how much the wizard had meant to them all.

'Come Boromir, Legolas… Gimli get them up.' Aragorn continued as he dashed towards Sam who sat a little further from the group 'on your feet Sam' he said as he pulled the Hobbit to his feet and placed a comforting hand on the halfling's shoulder.

His heart started to race as he realized that Frodo was nowhere near the rest of the group and so his eyes fantastically searched for any sign of the ring bearer. His eyes were rewarded by the sight of Frodo traipsing down the stone hillside a little further down and so shouted his name to stop him in his tracks.

'Come, Merry, Pippin we must leave this place, or we shall all meet the same fate as Gandalf.' Legolas said softly as he tugged at the halflings shirts in an attempt to get them on their feet.

They nodded and slowly stood, dusting the remnants of Moria from their clothing and straightened their coats in an attempt to compose themselves. The elf winced slightly as he straightened himself and he hoped that it had gone unnoticed, but alas Pippin caught the momentary sight of pain on the elf's face. However he did but did not press the elf for answers. Part of him was too tired and drained but the other part felt like it was not his place to. The elf seemed to compose himself quickly and so they followed the rest of the fellowship who was now just a little way ahead of them.

The sun was starting to fail as they reached the wood. The leaves illuminated all around them and bathed them in a warm golden light that brought a little sense of calm to group, all except the dwarf. He grumbled to himself, jumping at any slight movement of a branch to fall of a leaf. Legolas stumbled suddenly causing the fellowship to stop in surprise, elves don't stumble.

'Legolas, are you alright?' quizzed the ranger as he looked at his friend with concern etched into his tired feature.

'Yes, I am quite alright.' He said, trying to think of an excuse to give for his trip 'I am weary from battle is all.'

Aragorn nodded and said no more, but Legolas was unsure as to whether the man had believed his excuse. He could hear the dwarf whispering to Frodo and Sam and a small smile crossed his lips at Gimli's words. He was snapped quickly out of his trance however by an arrow pointed directly at him. He scorned himself for not hearing their attackers' approach, but soon realized that they were surrounded by elves.

'The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark.' Came a voice as an elegant white-haired elf came into view.

Legolas stepped quickly towards the elf and began to plead in their own tongue. Aragorn stood behind the elf and interjected from time to time before the elf turned to the rest of the group and asked them to follow. So, they did and soon the golden light turned to pale tones of green and blue as they approached a tall ladder that scaled up the side of a tall tree with a thick trunk.

'Do we have to climb up that?' asked Merry as he stared up into the canopy with a perturbed expression.

'Aye that we do young hobbit.' Replied the ranger as he smirked at the puzzled halfling.

So, they began to climb, the ranger and Legolas close behind their guide, followed closely by Boromir, Merry and Pippin. Frodo and Sam were then followed by Gimli who huffed and puffed as they ascended the ladder, cursing to himself as he pushed small leafy branches out of his way. After a little while they came to a clearing in the tree and were greeted with wide platform that was littered with detailed pillars that held a white carved roof above it. Hanging from each support was a small glass ball that glowed bright in the dim light of night. The fellowship clambered onto it and followed the white-haired elf till he stopped dead in his tracks.

He turned to face Legolas and Aragorn who were stood behind him, looking at him with quizzical expressions.

'You can go no further.' He said suddenly and started to leave only for Legolas to grab his arm.

'Haldir please.' He pleaded but the jolting movement of his fellow elf trying to leave send waves of pain through him and he doubled over, clutching his belly as he tried to compose himself.

'Legolas?' said the Ranger as he grabbed his friends' shoulders in an attempt to steady him.

This time however the elf could not reply, only fall to his knees as the pain became too much to bear. He pulled his hand away from his middle and found that it had been stained red with his blood which only made the elf panic more. He looked up at Haldir who had dropped to his level, eyes filled with concern and then to Aragorn whose expression was one of pure panic. Aragorn took in the thin layer of sweat that now covered the elf's brow and wondered what ailed his companion, but he soon found himself catching the prince as his eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped to the ground as unconsciousness took hold.

'No' Aragorn breathed as he shook Legolas' lifeless body.

'What's wrong with him.' Asked Haldir as his eyes flicked from his kin to the Ranger.

Aragorn shook his head as he laid his friend on the ground and began to inspect this wound. He cursed himself for not seeing it earlier, but he knew that his punishing himself would not help Legolas now. He managed to open up his tunic and what greeted him was a gruesome arrow wound. He scanned through his memories of the battle in an attempt to ascertain when Legolas had received the wound but alas, he could not. He opened his pack and scrambled about for his supplies, his hands shaking so severely that he dropped most of its contents on the floor.

'We shall take him to our healers.' Stated Haldir as he lifted the unconscious elf into his arms, turned and left leaving a dumbfounded fellowship behind.

'What happened to the elf?' asked Gimli as he walked to Aragorn's side.

'I uh… I don't know.' Replied the ranger as he watched after Haldir who had now disappeared from view.

Several hours passed and the fellowship received no news of their wounded companion. The hobbits muttered to each other under their breath and the dwarf leant against one of the finely carved pillars, snoring in his deep slumber. Aragorn continued to stare into the distance, Boromir at his side. The Gondorian seemed to be speaking to the ranger but the man did not at first acknowledge what was said.

'How long have you and Legolas known each other?' the warrior asked, drawing Aragorn's attention 'I noticed in Rivendell that the two of you were well acquainted. You seem to have a strong friendship.'

Aragorn nodded but did not immediately reply. He thought hard about how to respond to Boromir's question.

'We met a little time after the battle of the five armies.' He replied 'I was a young ranger in the north and he had been tasked with finding me by his father.'

Boromir edged in a little closer as his interest spiked.

'I was but in my twenties at the time, young and naïve to the world. A good fighter aye but what good is that when you have no real knowledge of the world.' He paused for a moment, smiling at the memories that flashed through his mind. ' We have been through many perils together but never have I had to see him like this. He is the finest warrior that I have seen, he seemed to me to be invincible.'

'No one is invincible.' Replied Boromir softly as he gave Aragorn and friendly pat on the back.

With that they sat in silence, awaiting news of Legolas' fate. Little did they know that they would not have to wait long.

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Well there is the first chapter. Please do let me know what you think.