It was on the second week of their trek through the snowy landscape when a sudden change in the air caused Legolas and Elrohir to feel hopeful again. While the snow had stuck to wherever it settled on previously, it now melted upon touching their cloaks, and soon even Esendri's slumbering form ceased to be shrouded in thick white coats.

They soon came across the first geyser, starting as a plume of steam and boiling water shot out from the ground just twenty feet away, spraying them with hot froth. Grabbing Esendri, they fled to a safer distance, watching with apprehension as the geyser ran its course and fell silent again.

The ever-present fireflies, following them since their escape from the lakes, laughed out at their ignorance, and Legolas reported this to an equally put-out Elrohir.

In spite of the signs of heat and the retreating of the bitter north wind, Legolas was still freezing, a fact he no longer cared to hide from Elrohir. At night, he lay curled up in a shivering ball, and Elrohir found himself pressed up against him, attempting to keep his friend warm. Legolas did not say so, but he relished being held by Elrohir as they picked their way through the treacherous land of steaming rocks and spouting jets.

They sighted the first magma pond the next day, a lazy, oozing pool of molten heat that threatened to singe their eyebrows if they got too close. Conversation picked up, and took the place of what was becoming a strained, exhausted silence as they allowed themselves to believe they were reaching their destination.

It was when Legolas was regaling the story of particularly eventful patrol he had joined to the southern firs when he froze mid-step and dropped into a crouch under a large overhanging rock, signalling that Elrohir do the same.

A large shadow passed over them a few seconds later, as a flying best winged its way overhead, missing their forms hidden amongst large boulders.

When they were sure the beast would not come back for a second pass, Elrohir emerged from his hideout, shock and worry written all over his face.

"What was it?" Legolas said, trying to peer into the distance, willing his eyes to see beyond the steam curtain around them. "It was too large to be a dragon."

"I know not, Lass."

"We must be close, for I feel the heat of the flames burn with more intensity."

"How did you anticipate it? I heard nothing," Elrohir said, as they resumed their trek with more caution.

"The fireflies," Legolas said. "They cried out in warning."

"Thank them for me, then."

"They already know."

"Do we need the map? Or will they be able to guide us?"

"We will be able to feel it when we draw near."

*

Later that night, Elrohir was placing Esendri under the protective cover of a large, rock away from the magma pools and spouting jets when a low growl filled the otherwise silent air. Tensing up, he waited, the unpleasant feeling of being watched descending upon him all of a sudden. Was it his imagination, or could he just discern the raspy sound of breathing: quiet, predatory?

Still, nothing happened, and Legolas returned to find Elrohir standing guard, clutching his sword.

"What is it?" Legolas said.

"I heard a low growl of a beast. Something tells me that we are being hunted."

Legolas shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and spread his cloak on the ground. "We do not belong here."

Elrohir's uneasiness increased tenfold. Legolas had grown so used to being chased that predators failed to faze him anymore.

He was about to comment when a blazing ball of flames hurled itself upon them, and a loud, unnatural screech pierced the air.

Unsheathing his sword, Elrohir leapt forward, only to have Legolas jump on him and grab his arm.

"Run!" Legolas cried.

Ignoring a large claw coming to swipe at them, Elrohir tried to dodge it to reach Esendri.

"Roh!" This way!" Legolas screamed, pushing him out of the way.

He was too late, and a large talon slammed into Elrohir's upper arm.

Legolas reacted again by hacking at the offending claw with his knife, and the nail broke into half, part of it remaining embedded in Elrohir.

An enraged scream broke through the air, as Elrohir felt himself being dragged by Legolas, and they ducked down one of the narrow paths through the boulders, avoiding steaming pools of water and bubbling magma ponds. The creature was hot in pursuit behind them, as it plunged through the heated pools with nary a second glance, smashing at boulders and roaring.

"No!" Legolas cried as Elrohir tried to turn back, and the pair struggled, losing precious time.

"But, Esendri --"

Elrohir found himself being pinned to a boulder as Legolas pressed their bodies together. Before he could say anything, a spidery sheet of ice exploded from Legolas's hand and grew around the pair, entombing them against the boulder.

"What --"

"Hush!" Legolas said, face twisted in concentration.

Faced with Legolas's close proximity, Elrohir could feel his rapid heartbeat against his chest, and feel his quick breath against his face, as the sheet of ice grew thicker, wrapping them so tight that Elrohir would not have been able to move even if Legolas were to let go of him.

Through the corner of his eye, Elrohir saw an orange haze appearing from behind a boulder, rendered shapeless and crystalline through the thick wall of ice.

It is coming, Elrohir probed Legolas's consciousness with his thought.

Legolas's eyes flickered to the right, but he was unable to move his head. Instead, his fixed his icy blue gaze on Elrohir's face and smiled, trying to assuage Elrohir's fear.

The orange shape grew bigger, and a low rumble shook the ice, sending vibrations through it as Elrohir stared on in fascinated horror. A squeeze around his wrist told him that Legolas had been holding his arm all this while, and his eyes flew to the face just inches away from his own. A shiver ran through Elrohir despite the calm reassurance in Legolas's eyes as he felt how cold Legolas's hand and chest felt against his own warm body.

A rumble rocked the ice, and Elrohir's eyes shot to the side to see a long tail come to hit the ice again.

I apologise, Roh. Legolas's thoughts reached him, causing Elrohir to turn his attention back --

A cold breath passed out of Legolas into Elrohir, filling his body with its chill.

A surprised growl sounded outside, and the creature stopped attacking as Legolas broke away from Elrohir, his eyes even more piercing than ever, his expression gentle.

Legolas's half-smile was not returned, as Elrohir tried to keep his embarrassment down. Even in the poor light, his red face would not go unnoticed by Legolas.

The creature roared outside, before bounding away.

Minutes passed, and Elrohir started to shiver, his body being bereft of any warmth.

"Roh?" Legolas whispered as Elrohir's discomfit reached a new level.

Elrohir ignored him, and tried hard to distract himself from the cold by thinking of something, anything --

"Roh!" Legolas said, more insistently this time, as his fingers squeezed Elrohir's wrist. "Do not fear the cold."

"What did you do?" Elrohir said, trembling.

A shadow passed across Legolas's face.

"The creature is drawn to heat. The ice keeps us hidden from its senses."

"How do you know?"

Legolas hesitated for a while. "He did not attack Sen as his body temperature was too low to belong to any living creature. It is why I had to pass some of the magic from the stone to you, for it could sense your warm body, even through this ice."

Struggling to come up with an answer, Elrohir gave up, and settled for staring at Legolas, trying to control his shivers.

"You get used to the cold," Legolas said.

"The magic is taking over you," Elrohir said. "Can you not stop it?"

"Should I? It has saved us and brought us this far."

"The ice shields us, but for how long? And where do we find the fire stone?"

"We wait till the answers come to us, Roh. Be patient."

Patience was something Elrohir did not have in abundance at the moment, not when he was held in so restricted a shell, but still, he fought to keep it from showing.

An awkward silence came over the pair, before it was broken by both trying to speak at the same time. Restrained laughter greeted their attempt, and they exchanged understanding smiles.

"You first," Legolas said.

"How are we going to get out of this?" Elrohir said.

Legolas smiled. "I was about to ask if you thought it safe now."

Elrohir had not the time to respond when the ice around them gave a great shudder, before it shattered into millions of pieces.

Free to move, Legolas backed away from Elrohir and affixed a scrutinising gaze on him.

"Something about you has changed, Roh."

Many things have.

"Do you wish to tell me something, Elrohir?"

Legolas waited for an answer, and showed his disappointment when he received none.

"I do not know if you will continue to feel the cold. Either way, time is running out. I fear Sen's slumber should not be prolonged any more than it has been."

*

Two days later, the coldness in Elrohir's limbs had not ceased to abate, although he continued to curl around Legolas as they slept. While they had not come into contact with the fire-breathing creature, neither dared hope that they had shaken it off their track.

"Almost there," Legolas said, as they climbed another peak and stared down at the simmering land before them.

The nervous feeling in Elrohir's stomach refused to die, and he nodded as a sudden wave of nausea overcame him.

Before he could speak, a low growl sounded.

Elrohir drew his sword, and flew at the beast, striking it hard with his blade. Darkness overcame his vision instantly.

When Elrohir came to, he saw Legolas standing before him, watching the creature, holding his sword.

Struggling to sit up, Elrohir noted the heat straightaway. Feeling his movement, Legolas raised his hand in warning for him to remain silent. A low purr escaped the creature as it sniffed at Esendri's cold body. Legolas took a step back, before crouching down just in front of Elrohir.

"Roh?" he whispered, eyes still fixed on the creature.

"I am unhurt."

The pair watched as the beast placed a paw on Esendri. Elrohir tried to jump up, but Legolas held him down with a firm grip. The flames surrounding the creature touched him and spread out and seemed to disappear into his flesh.

"What is it doing?" Elrohir said.

Legolas's frown deepened as a sudden flare engulfed the limp body, setting it alight.

"Sen!" Legolas cried, but found he could not withstand the heat and had to drop back.

A tail came flying at Legolas, forcing him back as it caught his side. He dropped the sword and stumbled back, clutching his burnt arm.

Elrohir caught Legolas as he fell back, grimacing in pain. Winding his arms around Legolas, Elrohir pulled him back out of reach.

Flinging Legolas to the ground, Elrohir picked up the sword and charged at the creature, but he was too late. Flames sprung up around Esendri, engulfing him, forcing Elrohir backwards.

By the time Elrohir was able to look up again, the creature was gone, and Legolas was stumbling towards the still body of his friend.

Before either could react, Esendri gave out a low murmur.

"Sen?" Legolas cried, cupping his face.

"Lass," Esendri croaked, disorientated and groggy. He thought for a long time more before saying, "Where is the ice?"

"It has been replaced by warmth," Legolas said, as Elrohir applied a salve on his arm. "The creature of fire saved you; Roh, he woke him from their deep freeze!"

"But how is it possible?" Elrohir said.

"We were fools not to realise he wanted to help us!"

"It tried to attack us!"

"I am cold, Roh. He might have been trying to save me, but the magic was too powerful for him."

"You are too powerful, Lass," Esendri said, his face growing grimmer. "The magic is drawn from you. But now the fiery beast is calling for you!"

"What?" Elrohir said.

"It is telling me that you must go to its lair and seek it out -- alone."

"I will not allow that," Elrohir said.

"You do not have a choice, Lass. It wants to tell you about the fire stone, and its secrets are for your ears alone. It means you no harm. Please go; we will wait for you here."

"I do not fear him even if he meant me harm, Roh," Legolas said, before turning away.

"You must follow the fireflies," Esendri said. "They will lead you."

Once Legolas was gone, Esendri winced and pulled himself into a sitting position.

"How did you know?" Elrohir said, brows knitted so tightly they formed a line.

"I know more, Elrohir. While I slept I entered a world filled with whispers and mist. There, I was instructed on what I had to do should Legolas fail. It appears that even beings of a world beyond what we know are eager for Legolas to succeed, as the Dyrian seeks to control their wrathful and bitter spirits and put them to march for him. I do not trust them, but they are on our side -- for now."

"What must you do, then?"

"Both Lass and I have the power to destroy the gem. Yet, Legolas has been marked -- as you have been."

"What?"

"The dragon marked you, while the fire beast, that chimera marked Lass. You are two of a pair -- as I am with him. He is not meant to know that I have the ability to possess the gem, as the spirits seem to think he would kill me if he should be told this."

"You know that is not true!"

"I know not what to believe anymore, Elrohir. I do not doubt Lass, but I do fear what we face."

Elrohir did not answer, allowing his thoughts to surround him and wrap them in their suffocating embrace as he stared at the slow-flowing magma carving paths through the canyon below. His steady gaze did not betray the rush of tumultuous emotions that raged within him, each crying out for his unwavering attention.