Aragorn gently laid his friend on the bed, slowly removing the hood from his head and resting a damp, cool, cloth on his forehead. 

"Aragorn," Gimli murmured softly. The man looked up to his dwarven friend. "In order to get Forn to leave us I was forced to mention Legolas, but I used Greenleaf, and for good reason. Eomer wishes to find Greenleaf, I suppose to use as a weapon to use against Forn. We cannot let Eomer know who Greenleaf truly is." 

Aragorn slowly sunk to his knees, his hand resting in Legolas' he sighed and letting his head fall against the mattress that Legolas rested upon. 

"This is a troubling development," Aragorn said and Gimli nodded grimly. He then turned back to Legolas to see him spasm in another onslaught of pain. "Guard the door, Gimli, I must examined Legolas' hand." Gimli nodded once again and moved slowly to the door, standing near it ready to slam it shut if anyone wished to open it. 

Aragorn examined Legolas' hand, pulling the glove away from his skin and looking at the darkness that was creeping around the scar. It had worsened since Aragorn last checked, and Aragorn did not know what to do. He knew that this blackness and the blackness on Forn's chest were directly related, but how to stop it from spreading? Aragorn did not know, and he was afraid that if he could not find the answer quickly, Legolas may never wake up. 

A soft knocked at the door jolted Aragorn into action, quickly replacing the glove onto Legolas' hand and yanking the hood back up over his ears, the door opened, nearly knocking Gimli to the ground. Eomer stormed into the room, his sister Eowyn trailing behind him timidly. She had appeared to be trying to stop him, but Eomer walked straight to Aragorn and yanked him away from Legolas. 

"My sister will care for your friend. You and your dwarven friend have an audience with the king." Eomer then noticed Gimli, and he dragged Aragorn over there and clasped his hand around Gimli's arm, taking them both from the room, ignoring both of their protests. 

Eowyn sent them an apologetic look, before taking her place kneeling by Legolas' side. Aragorn watched to see her reach for the hood around Legolas' face before the door was shut, blocking his worried view of his friend. 

~*~

"You brought a dragon into our lands?" The man standing beside the king was furiously pacing as he exclaimed these words. The king himself was barely looking at Aragorn and Gimli, who were kneeling in front of the throne, their hands bound behind them. He looked sick, as if each breath he took pushed him closer and closer to death. "Where is this dragon now?"

"Flew off, Wormtongue," Eomer said through gritted teeth. "As I already told you." 

"And what caused the dragon to leave?" Wormtongue asked.

"The dwarf spoke to the dragon about something called 'Greenleaf', this word seemed to cause the dragon to leave." Eomer explained, although it was forced. Eomer held no respect for the man doing the questioning on behalf of the king, Aragorn could see that clearly.

"And what is this Greenleaf? An object? Some type of weapon to use against this beast?" Wormtongue continued, peering down at Gimli with harsh eyes. 

"We believe it to be something living," Eomer explained further. "Something the beast cares for and wishes to keep safe."

"What is Greenleaf, dwarf?" Wormtongue sneered, bending down so that he was face to face with Gimli. Gimli pressed his lips together and looked away from the man who was questioning him. "You refuse to answer? You refuse to tell me what could keep Rohan safe from further attacks? That is treason... you belong in the dungeon." 

"Put me wherever you want, but I will not tell you. I would rather commit treason to a country I do not care for, than betray those close to me. The dragon is not a beast. She was cursed, and you will not harm the only thing that may bring her back." 

"Eomer," Wormtongue snapped, still staring at Gimli with hatred. "Get the third man, perhaps we can do some persuading." 

"You are not king here, Wormtongue. You have no right to do any persuading." 

"Who did the king put in charge, Eomer?" Wormtongue stood abruptly from Gimli, glaring at Eomer with the same hatred he had just given Gimli. "Get the third man, or you will find yourself in the dungeon for treason as well!" 

"Wait!" Aragorn said, stopping Eomer in his tracks, and turning Wormtongue's attention to him. "He's sick, please. He won't be able to answer any questions you have for him." 

"Oh, I know," Wormtongue said, his eyes glinting. "Eomer, go retrieve him." Aragorn turned to Gimli his eyes wide with fear as he realized what persuading meant. 

"Wait!" Aragorn cried out again, but this time neither man listened and Eomer disappeared into the hallway. 

"You have one last chance, dwarf," Wormtongue said barely even glancing in the two prisoners direction. "Tell me what Greenleaf is, and your friend will not be harmed." 

"Theoden would not do such a thing!" Aragorn cried. "Represent Rohan how your king would wish it to be represented!" 

"The king is sick, I have been put in his place with the authority to run this kingdom how I see fit." Wormtongue snarled.

"Stop!" A female voice shrieked. Eowyn it belonged to. She was following her brother into the throne room, trying to stop him from bringing Legolas to Wormtongue. "Stop, brother! You cannot do this!" 

"I have orders, Eowyn," Her brother said, grinding his teeth as he did. He was carrying Legolas in his arms.

"Legolas!" Aragorn screamed. "Legolas, please! Please, you have to wake up! Saes, Legolas!" But the elf did not move. Wormtongue did, he glared down at Aragorn.

"What did you just say?" He asked harshly, but Aragorn made no response, only begged further in Legolas' direction.

"Saes, melon-nin. Legolas, you must wake up!" 

"What is he saying, dwarf?" Wormtongue, whirled around to face Gimli who was watching Legolas with pleading eyes, ignoring Wormtongue completely. "Answer me!" But nobody responded, so Wormtongue took matters into his own hands. He smashed Aragorn across the face with his hand, snapping Aragorn's head to the side, and effectively silencing him. 

"Bring the man here, Eomer." Wormtongue snarled, staring at Aragorn with hatred in his eyes. "These prisoners need to be taught a lesson." 

"Grima, stop!" Eowyn was screaming again. "You cannot do this!" 

"Get out of the way," Grima growled, knocking her to the side as he dragged Legolas from Eomer's hands. Legolas crumpled to the ground, but Grima pulled him forward, dropping him in front of the two kneeling prisoners. With an evil glint in his eyes, he slammed his foot onto Legolas' hand, smashing his fingers, and causing the elf to scream in pain. Gimli, Aragorn, and Eowyn all screamed in protest and anger. Tears were streaming down Eowyn's face and Aragorn began to struggle harder against his bonds, screaming insults at Grima. Gimli too was shouting harsh words, he too was trying to struggle out of his bonds. 

 Eowyn cried out in despair, dropping to the ground as Eomer restrained her, but he too had a pitiful look on his face as he watched the madness unfold.

~*~

Forn thrashed, practically screaming. Merry and Pippin huddled together in the corner as far away from the writhing dragon as possible. Saruman had placed them there with her, asking the dragon to calmly watch over them. And she had sat there, unmoving, her only movement was the slight rise and fall of her chest as she drew each breath. But now she was howling, until finally she stopped and rose to her feet, shuddering. The blackness had now covered her entire chest, her eyes were glowing red as she regarded the hobbits. For one moment she blinked and her eyes were full of clarity, but soon they regained the reddish hue and she was back to not knowing who they were. 

"Where is the ring, hobbits?" Saruman asked, his robes flowing behind him as he marched towards where the hobbits were pressed to the wall. "You must tell me. You are keeping me away from defeating Sauron once and for all? Is that what you wish?" 

"What is wrong with Forn?" Pippin asked timidly, still hidden partly behind his cousin. 

"The beast is under my control, hobbits," Saruman sneered, yanking them both to their feet. "Now where is the ring? Tell me before I force you to tell me." 

~*~

"Such a sorry sight," Grima smiled down at the three hunters. Legolas was unmoving, tears were falling freely down Aragorn's cheeks, and Gimli was struggling against his bonds. He reached down, grabbing onto Legolas' tunic, pulling him upwards and causing the hood to fall from his face. Grima's smile turned downwards quickly as he took in the sight of Legolas' pointed ears. He quickly grew angry, releasing Legolas and letting him fall to the floor before storming forward towards Gimli.

"What else have you been hiding from me?" He demanded, when he refused to respond, Grima's anger only grew. "Take these two to the dungeon. Separate them, and get this elf away from them as well. Do not allow them contact." With that the guards marched forward and took Gimli and Aragorn away, Legolas still lay on the floor.