Aragorn stood at a loss. What was there to say? How could he find words to comfort his friend? There was nothing he could think of, no comfort, no reassurance that could be found.

Legolas sat quite still, his eyes fixed on him, saying nothing.

Yes, I'm going to die. You're not. You'll live here, in this world that you don't belong to until the end of time, and the best advice I can offer you is suicide. Aragorn said nothing.

'Do you understand?' Legolas asked in a whisper.

'Yes.'

Silence.

'I'm sorry, Greenleaf.'

'It is not your fault.'

'I know.' Aragorn stepped forward and pulled the elf into a tight embrace. He wanted to tell him that everything would be all right, that they would make it back, that it was all a bad dream from which they would soon awaken, but he could not, so he said nothing. Instead, he just held him close and rocked him a little. What can I say? He squeezed him tighter and let time slip by. Finally, he loosened his grip and held the elf out at arms' length. Ah, Legolas, my friend, there is nothing I can offer you, nothing, save this pitiful reassurance. 'None of us know the future.'

Legolas smiled at him although there were fresh tears on his cheeks and in his eyes.

Aragorn smiled back, but it was a sad smile. We will all die and leave him. Elbereth, if you can still hear me, send us some grace- show us mercy. There was a long and still silence. At length, Aragorn released Legolas and sat back down on his chair, he picked up his pipe and drew in a long breath of smoke; he let it out slowly, watching it swirl through the air and fly out the window into the hot, still night. He extinguished his pipe and sat down began to pace.

'Dunadan, what is bothering you?'

What isn't? He sat down near Legolas and placed a hand on his shoulder. He wanted to tell him that he didn't know what to do, that he wasn't sure of what they could do or if they would survive, that he was tired of being relied on, that he didn't want responsibilities, that he wished Gandalf were there telling them all what to do. That he was frightened. 'It's going to be hard on the hobbits.'

'Yes, I know.'

He slipped his arm around the Elf's shoulders. 'But we'll take care of them, won't we, mellon nin?'

Legolas nodded. 'Of course we will, I will sell lots and lots of paintings and give you all the money so you will keep me and not throw me out onto the streets,' the elf said with half a laugh, brushing his tears away.

Aragorn smiled and ran a hand through his hair; he loved the way it slipped around his fingers, so soft, so smooth.

'Well, I suppose this is as good a time as ever,' said Legolas, 'you'll have to cut it off.'

'What?'

Legolas rummaged through a dresser drawer for a pair of scissors. 'Here they are,' he said, handing the scissors to Aragorn. 'You do cut your own hair, don't you?'

'Yes.'

'Oh dear,' the Elf frowned, 'but perhaps you'll do better on mine.' He pulled up the wooden chair and sat down on it, his back to Aragorn, facing the mirror.

'You want me to cut it tonight?' Aragorn asked incredulously.

'Yes, before I lose my nerve. Well, go on, it won't be so bad.'

Aragorn picked up a comb and began to comb out the golden hair. 'How do you want it cut?' he asked, although he did not want to cut it at all.

'Not too short, covering my ears, hmm, do you think I'd look good with bangs?'

Aragorn studied his friend's face in the mirror. 'They might make you look…more human.'

'Well then, bangs it is.'

'Are you sure you want to watch?'

'No, I suppose I'd better not.' He turned the chair around.

'Are you sure you want me to do this?'

Legolas shrugged. 'I think you should.'

Aragorn nodded and reluctantly began; he parted the elf's hair down the middle, braided it, and cut the braid off. The rest of his hair fell down jaggedly about his face. Aragorn lay the braid aside and combed his hair again. He then parted it to the left, and began to trim it, the hair that fell over Legolas's face, he cut short, creating a cascade of shimmering bangs over his forehead. He cut the hair to hide the tips of his ears, and cut it shorter in the back, but left it long enough to be moved by the wind. The hair cut easily, which was a surprise, considering how strong elvish hair was. When he finished, he ruffled it, trying to smile.

'There.'

Legolas turned and looked in the mirror. Running a hand through his hair, he smiled. 'I look so different. I wonder what the hobbits will say.'

'Most likely, "goodness!" or "heavens!" perhaps,' the ranger smiled. 'Something along those lines.' He clapped his hands on his friend's shoulders. 'So, what do you think? I did a better job on you?'

'Yes, you did a good job. I like it.'

'Good, although I never will know why you asked me.'

'Who should I have asked?'

'One of the hobbits, or Boromir perhaps, someone whose hair actually looks good.'

'The hobbits wouldn't have dared, and Boromir doesn't cut his hair, someone did it for him. Besides, you did a good job, so don't complain.'

'I won't if you don't.'

'Are you ever going to go to bed?' called Gimli through the walls. 'I'm trying to sleep and all I can hear is you two chattering off in Elvish, which I don't know, so I can't even have the pleasure of eavesdropping.'

'They were talking about hair,' called Frodo. 'Although I couldn't make out the whispering.'

'What about hair?' asked Merry.

'Legolas had Aragorn cut his off.'

'Really?' said the other hobbits in surprise.

'Yes, at least, that's what I heard,' answered Frodo.

'I want to see!' said Pippin.

Aragorn smiled at Legolas, 'Guess you're going to have to show everyone.'

They walked out to the living room where the rest of the company had gathered.

'Goodness!' cried Frodo.

'Heavens!' said Merry, 'It makes you look, so…different.'

'I liked it better the other way,' said Sam.

'Well, I think it's cute,' Pippin announced.

'He still looks like a girl,' said Boromir.

'I do not!' snapped Legolas.

Boromir shrugged.

Legolas glared fiercely at him. 'Take that back.'

'It didn't improve him, now we should all go back to bed,' Gimli said firmly.

'You do,' said Boromir.

'I do not, take it back this instant,' Legolas hissed.

'No, I can't. That would go against my honor,' Boromir answered.

'Boromir,' cautioned Aragorn, trying to avoid a fight.

'I'm going to kill you,' the Elf said, his eyes flashing.

'Legolas,' said Aragorn, taking him firmly by the arm.

'He looks like an elf,' said Frodo.

'Legolas, don't kill Boromir,' said Pippin, 'He's supposed to be my father.'

'Boromir, you'd better take it back,' said Aragorn, 'We all need our rest.'

'But he does,' insisted Boromir.

Legolas broke free from Aragorn and jumped Boromir. Boromir, however, was expecting this, and he caught Legolas as he sprang forward, pinning his arms to his sides and holding them there with his great strength. The elf struggled furiously and glared at him.

'Legolas, calm down,' said Aragorn, tearing him away from Boromir. 'Stay still!'

Legolas stopped fighting, but his eyes were ablaze.

The hobbits stood by, stunned.

'Sorry if my opinion offends you,' said Boromir.

'Boromir, I need to talk to you,' said Aragorn. 'Legolas, go to bed. I'll talk to you later.'

'But Aragorn,' Legolas protested.

'Go.'

He walked into their door and shut the door with an air of self-respect.

'Boromir.' Aragorn took him by the arm and brought him to the bathroom. 'What was that about?'

'He needed to hear the truth from someone; he'll never pass off as a man. Never. Aragorn, honestly, you know that.'

Aragorn shook his head. 'We'll have to give it a shot.'

'Aragorn, be reasonable, you know this as well as I do.'

'What do you suggest, that we make him play a mother for the rest of his life? Boromir, that isn't an option.'

'And what happens when he never gets any older?'

'And what happens when they hobbits don't grow? Boromir, I don't know. I'm making this up as I go along. Maybe we'll just keep moving, roaming the world trying to stay hidden from it. Who knows? Maybe the best thing to do would be to play ourselves and make people pay money to see us act out our parts.'

'I will never reduce myself to being a public spectacle. I am the son of the Stuart of Gondor, and…'

'Legolas is the Prince of Greenwood. But that didn't save him from your scorn.'

'I did not scorn him!'

'It was close enough. You ruined his dignity and shamed his pride. You ought to be ashamed.'

'I told the simple truth.'

'It was not necessary.'

'Aragorn!'

'No, I will not side with you. You should have been more respectful.' Aragorn folded his arms.

'All right then, I apologize.'

'Apologize to Legolas.'

'I can't, he'll kill me.'

'He will not.'

'Fine then.'

They walked together to Legolas's room and Boromir knocked on the door.

'Come in,' said Legolas.

They stepped in.

'What are you doing here, Boromir.'

'Legolas, I've come to apologize.'

'Do it then.' The elf tossed his head.

Boromir coughed nervously. 'I'm sorry. I should never have been so rude. You do not look like a girl, you look like an elf, and I am such a fool to have treated you like I did.' He stood there, his head hung, looking very sorry indeed. 'Forgive me?'

'No.'

Aragorn sighed deeply. This is going to make things complicated.

'Fine, you can't say I didn't try.' Boromir turned and left proudly.

'Legolas…' Aragorn sighed.

'What? You made him apologize; he didn't really mean it.'

'Do you have to make everything so hard? Why can't you try to get along with Boromir and Gimli?'

'Because…'

' Never mind, I don't want to hear your pathetic excuses.'

'They aren't pathetic,' said the elf proudly.

'Whatever,' said Aragorn, pulling his shirt off.

'I don't like them because neither of them likes Elves, so they started it.'

'And you're giving them plenty of reasons not to like Elves,' Aragorn countered.

'Don't be cruel.'

'Cruel?'

'You're blaming it all on me.'

'No, I'm only giving you the blame due you. You aren't innocent in this whole affair.'

'Well, they're guiltier.'

'I don't care who's guiltier, this has to stop.'

'Make it.'

Without a warning, Aragorn pinned the elf. 'Forgive Boromir.'

'No.'

'Forgive him!'

'Never.'

'If you don't, I'll never let you up.'

'Fine.' Legolas tossed his head and tried to look comfortable. 'I think I'll get some sleep then.'

'If you don't forgive him, I'll give up on your art and throw you out into the streets, Edel.'

'Don't threaten me, it isn't very nice.'

'I wasn't threatening.' Aragorn picked him up and headed for the door.

'What are you doing?'

'I'm going to throw you out; you and my cousin aren't getting on very well, and we can't have that; it's upsetting the children.'

He carried him through the living room and opened the door to the hall. 'Good-bye, my starving artist.'

'Strider, what are you doing?' asked Frodo from the darkness.

'Nothing really, go back to sleep, Peter.'

He placed Legolas out in the hall. 'It was nice knowing you,' he said, closing the door.

'I'll forgive him.'

'What was that?'

'I'll forgive him, Dunadan, now let me back in.'

'What's going on?' demanded Frodo.

'Your father is being a wretched beast,' answered Legolas, 'I hope you don't take after him.' He walked back in and opened the door to Boromir's room. 'You have my pardon, mortal.' He walked into his room and shut the door quietly.

'Thank-you, your grace,' called Boromir.

'Strider, what were you doing?' Frodo asked again.

'Solving a conflict,' answered the ranger. He walked into his room and looked at Legolas. The elf was sulking.

'You were being unfair to me,' he stated.

Aragorn ignored the comment and lay down beside him. Legolas turned the light off.

'Are you still mad at me?' asked Aragorn after a moment.

'Yes.'

'You really do like making your life difficult, don't you?'

'Love it.'

'Do you mind if I help?'

'You wretch.'

Aragorn chuckled. 'Goodnight, Greenleaf.'

'Goodnight.'