AN: I do not have any claim to Lord of the Rings or anything associated to it. This is just me flexing my muse. I have never written for this fandom before, so I hope it isn't too bad. Any feedback would be much appreciated, but be gentle, yeah? There may be more to this, I'll see whether my muse wants to co-operate or not. Enjoy.
Aragorn nodded and made vague noises of agreement as Gandalf and Éomer escorted them back to the keep. He was so tired, that feeling that surpassed exhaustion, and yet looking around at the injured and the fallen he wearily accepted that his work was far from done. He was stirred from his sluggish thoughts by Legolas calling his name, oddly though he was choosing to call him Elessar, his childhood name. Aragorn focussed on him with difficulty and realised, to his surprise, that his friend had already dismounted and helped Gimli down too.
"Are you well, my lord?" Éomer was looking at him with concern. Aragorn simply nodded and tried to dismount from Brego, his faithful friend. Though his horse was unfailingly loyal, it seemed his own legs now were not as they folded under him as his feet reached the cobbles. He saw a blur of motion and soon he was being supported by Legolas and Éomer.
"Aragorn?" the gruff voice of Gimli stirred him from his dazed confusion, "Did you get your wounds seen to, before the battle?"
Too tired to lie or obfuscate, and with Gandalf's penetrating gaze on him he knew it would do no good anyhow, he simply shook his head. Sensing his Elven friend tense at his gesture he added, "There wasn't time."
Gandalf seemed to hear what Aragorn was leaving unsaid as he gently but firmly stated, "There is now."
Aragorn shook his head, more firmly though he stopped quickly, perhaps regretting the gesture as he tightened his grip on Legolas and Éomer and muttered, "The healers will need help and these walls are not yet secure..."
Éomer squeezed the other man's shoulder, only gently as a reassuring gesture, he noted Aragorn's grimace of discomfort but spoke as if he had not, "My friend, you have done sterling work but now you must rest. Allow me to take over the task of guarding my people."
Gandalf nodded in agreement before adding, "And as for the healers, I do not doubt that your skills would be of use. Do you not think, that in this condition, they may mistake you for a patient rather than a healer?"
Aragorn opened his mouth again to argue that he was fine, when Gimli stopped him before the words had formed. "Look laddie either you agree to have your wounds tended willingly or I knock you over the head with my axe and we do it while you are out cold. The choice is yours."
The injured man dimly acknowledged the snort of amusement coming from his left, Éomer then, before nodding his head and allowing himself to be led away. As soon as he agreed he could feel waves of relief coming off Legolas, and he realised that he must look quite a state to worry the Elf so. Then again he did feel pretty bad, maybe he would just sleep a while.
