SS2

         Strider walked with care, knowing how easily he could awake some unknown evil. "Legolas, Legolas, please, come back."
         He recieved no answer. He continued walking through the dark trees, calling Legolas's name every once in a while. He finally stopped.
         Sighing, Strider started talking to the trees. "Look, I know you're mad at Gimli, and with good reason. But I told him the same thing I am about to tell you. We fight for the same good, so these arguements cannot continue on. Such a price will be paid if you cannot work together. Talk to me, Legolas of Mirkwood!"
         "I am not arguing with Gimli," A soft but sudden voice startled Strider. "I am simply enjoying a little peace and quiet, which you have interupted. I heard you minutes ago, I heard what you told Gimli. I chose not to respond hoping you would quit calling for me, and leave me in quiet. Apparently you cannot do so."
         The tall elf jumped from a nearby tree with gracefullness that impressed even Strider.
         "Please do not do that again. It's bad enough that you make no sound in your movements, don't startle me like that."
         "And it's creepy enough how you sleep with your eyes open. You can't tell whether you really are alseep." Gimli said, in good nature, coming up behind Strider.
         Legolas rolled his eyes at Strider, as if saying, "Now do you see why I needed quiet?"
         "Gimli, can you give us a moment?" Strider asked, pitying Legolas.
         The dwarf opened his mouth to protest, but thought better of it. Strider turned back to the elf, but was cut off before a word could escape his mouth.
         "Aragorn! Legolas! Come quick!"
         Both ran towards Gimli's voice.
         Strider stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the campsite. "What hapened, Gimli?"
         "I don't know, I just came back, and it was like this."
         "Shh!" Legolas hissed suddenly. He bent his bow and an arrow sped towards the top of a nearby tree. Gimli and Strider watched with mild awe as an orc fell from its branches. Legolas gave a quick roll of his eyes before fitting another arrow to his bow. As he did this, hundreds of orcs lept from the trees in attack. Legolas's bow was singing, Strider's sword was a blur to the eye, and Gimli's ax was swinging harder than it ever had before.
         This battle went well on into the night. For every orc that was killed, it seemed two more arose. All save Legolas grew tired, but continued fighting. Finally, hours later, the remaining orcs fled.
         Strider and Gimli watched in confusion, but Legolas turned his eyes toward the sky.
         "Claur o i giliath, alcar elenillor," a whisper escaped the Silven elf's lips. He was speaking in two forms of elvish.
         "Glory from the stars," Strider repated in common tongue.
         "Few elves have ever seen such beauty, and even fewer mortals." Legolas said, his voice still low from awe.
         Moments passed in silence as the three companions stared at the heavens. It seemed as though Gandalf was putting on one of his firework shows, only the stars themselves were exploding in the once forboding sky.
         "That's not glory...." Gimli said suddenly. "It's condenment!"
         Legolas's expression turned from awe to fear. Gimli was right, the stars weren't rejoicing, they were defeated.
         "Then Frodo and Sam have failed. It has all been in vain." Strider said quietly.
         "No!" Legolas cried with more passion than he had shown at any other time during their journey. "Not yet, we have come too far for it all to have been in vain. There is still time."
         "Legolas! Think of what you speak! Time has left us. Sauron has risen, and he is destroying all of Middle Earth." Strider's voice rose with an anger to meet Legolas's passion.
         "Never lose hope, human, for it is then, when all hope is lost, that the end has truly come. Frodo may yet be alive, and while I have that thought, there is hope."
         Strider sighed. "Your instinct fights your knowledge, and they torment you. I see it plainly in your eyes. Fro-"
         "You see nothing." Legolas started walking away, his cloak mirroring the horror in the skies.
         "Legolas! Don't you leave us! The fellowship must stay together!" Strider called with warning on his voice.
         "I will continue to search for the little ones. Come with me if you will, but do not try to hold me back. I would have no regret in killing anyone that stands in my way." Legolas spoke his words calmly, but with a firmness that his companions had not yet heard from him. He continued to walk away from them.
         Gimli looked at Strider. Fury was burning in the Ranger's eyes as he watched the elf disappear from sight.
         "Well," Gimli mused. "Where else are we going to go?"
         Without a word, Strider began to follow the path Legolas had chosen. Gimli was close behind.