Summary: A story about human prejudices and how they had almost cost the lives of Aragorn and Legolas.

Disclaimer: I think it's rather unnecessary statement, but Arda with all it's characters belongs to Professor Tolkien. I own only those, created by me.

Blind prejudices

1. The fall

Legolas was standing at the edge of the wood watching the sunrise. First rays of light washed over the treetops, melting the darkness. The elf smiled to the light of a new day. He then turned to see his companion. Aragorn was still asleep, wrapped in his cloak. Shaking his head Legolas took one more look around and returned to the camp. Kneeling beside his friend the elf grabbed the cloak firmly and jerked it off the sleeping ranger.

Aragorn opened his eyes instantly, his hand resting at the hilt of his sword. He stared in the eyes of the grinning elf with sleepy perplexity that swiftly changed into rage.

"Damn elf." He mumbled, sitting up and stretching his muscles. "Why can't you simply call or shook me?"

"Well, I tried yesterday." Legolas said innocently handing some dry meet over to his friend. "It didn't work."

"Oh yes." Aragorn took the food still unhappy with the rough waking. "And you found no other way but to pour the caldron full of water over my face."

"You did wake up." The elf shrugged indifferently but his eyes were laughing. Suddenly he changed the subject ending the argument. "We need to fill our supplies."

Aragorn nodded, switching to the present problems too. He'll find his revenge soon enough.

"Well, there're some villages in this area." He started chewing the rough meet carefully.

"But?" Legolas rose his eyebrow sensing hesitation in his friend's voice.

"People there are rather aggressive toward elves." The ranger finished. He knew how it pained elf to hear about foolish prejudgments which some humans held toward his kin. He himself hold no love or respect for such people.

Legolas flinched at the news. Why would those villagers think elves to be cruel and evil? Most of them had never saw a single elf in their lifetime.

"So what shell we do then?" He asked with the sigh.

Aragorn shrugged. "I will go alone then and you'll need to wait me somewhere."

Legolas frowned at the thought but that seemed to be the only option. They could hunt down some prey but they also needed some brad, bandages and few medicines that were not to be found in this forests. They were travelling for more than a month and their supplies were almost spent.

"Then let's move on." He suggested packing their things.

Aragorn nodded and moved to help. They broke the camp and headed toward the closest village.

The landscape became more rocky and sharp cliffs were edging the road. It was hot and bright summer sun was starting to cause discomfort to Aragorn. The ranger walked silently being in no mood to talk. Legolas sensed it and let the human be.

The elf was looking around in joy. He loved the nature greatly and blazing sun didn't bother him much. He was observing the trees around with curiosity noting that many of them were different from the ones he got used to. It probably was because of a hot desert climate that ruled this lands.

Suddenly the elf felt something amiss. Thin forest around them hadn't seen any elf for many centuries, but Legolas still could feel almost elusive warning.

"Strider, stop." He called softly, using one of Aragorn's names.

"What is it?" Aragorn asked watching his friend closely.

"Humans. About a dozen." Legolas informed, straining his senses.

"It would be better if we do not meet them." Aragorn stated, moving toward the side of the road and peered over the edge of a small cliff. It will do them no use if they got themselves involved in the fight with this people.

Suddenly the ranger felt the earth sinking beneath his feet. With a struggled cry he fell into the crack that had just appeared under him. Aragorn didn't even fully understand what had happened when his body met rough ground. White hot pain exploded inside him and in a moment the ranger mercifully lost his consciousness.

He was unaware of the worried calls from Legolas who desperately tried to find a way to save his friend, of the angry shouts, of the wild fight just over his head, and sudden silence...

... TBC.