Chapter 1

Aragorn

"A moment, Estel." Aragorn paused as his father carefully removed a bucket of water from the other side of the door top, saving him from being drenched.

"Thanks, Ada. May I ask why you are incurring the twins' wrath? You know that once they find out you've ruined their prank, they'll turn on you."

Elrond laughed. "I know, but I have a favor to ask you, and it's worth waking up with frogs in my socks for a few weeks."

"What is it?"

Aragorn sat down and took the bowl of cereal Elrond handed him. "You remember my patient, Thranduil?"

"Yes, you talked about him a lot. He was a tricky case; bone cancer, correct?"

"Yes. He is very lucky to be in remission."

"Lucky he had you as a doctor. Even your colleagues said that no one else could have cured him."

Elrond shrugged. "Well, I couldn't do anything for his wife. She was in a car crash two months ago. She died. Thran is devastated and can't stay in the house he shared with her. He's moving to a place a couple of blocks from here. His son, Legolas, is going to be coming to the school in this area. He'll be your classmate."

"So what's the favor?"

"Legolas is… troubled. I've met him several times since Thran and I became friends. He was always such a sweet, happy boy. He's taken his mother's death hard, harder even than Thran. I'm worried about him. I'd appreciate it if you could keep an eye on him."

"Sure, Ada. I'll do that."

Aragorn ducked as a slice of bread flew past his head. "El!"

"How did you escape that one, little brother? The bucket was completely invisible from the point you'd have been approaching from." Elladan scowled as he threw himself into a chair.

"Don't be a sore loser, El."

Elrohir dropped into a chair on his other side. "So? How did you do it?"

Aragorn shot a guilty look at Elrond. The twins rounded on their father, swearing vengeance. Aragorn just chuckled.

Elrond dropped the three of them off at school before going to work. Aragorn was quickly hailed by Gimli, and the two of them spent several minutes chatting by the lockers before the bell rang for class.

Aragorn looked around, and easily spotted the new boy, the only one in the class he didn't recognize. He only realized he'd gasped when Gimli shot him a questioning look, but Aragorn wasn't paying attention to his friend anymore. Legolas was beautiful. He had long, blonde hair and creamy white skin. His eyes were a deep blue that Aragorn could easily lose himself in. He was lithe to the point of almost being too thin, but that didn't take away from his attractiveness at all.

Aragorn leapt up. "Legolas!"

Legolas turned in confusion and hesitantly walked over. "Hello."

"Hey, I'm Aragorn. My father is friends with your father – Doctor Peredhel."

Legolas' face broke into a smile. "Of course. My dad speaks very highly of him."

"Come, sit with us." Aragorn kicked Gimli under the table, who wisely gave up his seat to Legolas.

"Do you have your schedule for the day?" Aragorn asked as Legolas got his books out.

"Yes, I got it first thing this morning. I'm not sure I know where everything is, though."

"Here, let me see."

Aragorn was delighted to find that he shared most of his classes with Legolas. "Well, you obviously know where math is, since you're here. English is next, and I'm in your class, so you can walk with me."

Legolas smiled warmly at him. "Thanks, Aragorn. Do you know who I'd speak to about sports? I hear this school has archery classes as an optional."

"Yes, you can ask Mr. Aber about archery, he's the one who runs it. You'll have him for history."

"Do you… do you do archery?"

On the spot, Aragorn decided to take it up. "I've been meaning to look into it." He ignored Gimli's snigger. "Maybe I'll check it out with you. If it doesn't clash with fencing, that is."

"Fencing?" Legolas' eyes lit up.

Oh, he liked this boy.

Aragorn was glad that Gimli took good notes, because he barely paid attention in classes that day. He was spending too much time staring at Legolas like a fool. He didn't think he imagined it when he thought he saw Legolas looking back in a similar way.

At lunch, Aragorn introduced Legolas to his friends Faramir and Boromir. The twins also joined them.

"Legolas, I presume? Elladan, and this ugly one here is Elrohir. I see you've met our little brother."

"Pleased to meet you," Legolas said politely.

"Oh, Estel, I spoke to Arwen, and she said that if you don't reply to her mail, even Ada won't be able to protect you from her wrath when she comes home for the holidays." Elrohir gave him a sympathetic grimace.

"I forgot. Crap, I'd better respond to her."

Legolas was looking confused, and Aragorn explained. "My sister, Arwen, goes to boarding school. And I'm no good with remembering to respond to emails."

"Ah, I see. Also… Estel and Ada?"

"Oh! Estel is a nickname my family calls me. Don't ask me where it comes from, El made it up and I can't get them to stop using it."

Elladan and Elrohir shrugged with evil twin grins.

"I like it," Legolas said quietly. "Can I call you Estel?"

"Sure." Aragorn was surprised by the request, but found he liked the idea.

"As for Ada, it's what I called my dad before I could say 'dada'. Again, everyone picked it up. Don't ask, my family is strange."

Legolas nodded his understanding. Aragorn did his best to eat while watching the new boy. When Aragorn drew Legolas into conversation, he soon found that the blonde was smart, funny, and easy to talk to. When the talking ebbed, though, Legolas became quiet and withdrawn, seemingly sad. Of course, his mother had just died, and that was to be expected.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?"

Legolas flushed as Aragorn eyed his still-full plate of food. "I'm not hungry."

Aragorn just shrugged. "Well, take an apple or something. You'll need the fuel for archery practice, if you want to go today, that is?"

Archery just happened to be on Tuesdays, and today was a Tuesday. Aragorn and Legolas had already signed up with Mr. Aber.

Legolas brightened. "Yes, I want to go today."

They were in separate classes after lunch, but Aragorn was in Physics with Legolas in their last period. Afterward, he showed the blonde to the field where they practiced archery.

"Do you have something to change into? These uniforms aren't exactly the best for archery practice."

Legolas' face fell. "I guess I didn't think of that."

"Don't worry, I keep a spare set of gym clothes in my locker, ever since by brothers soaked my only gym clothes in melted chocolate on a fencing day."

Legolas burst out laughing at that, and Aragorn handed him a shirt and pair of shorts. "These will be a bit big for you, but they'll do for today."

"Um… do you have anything with long sleeves?"

"Long sleeves? I doubt you'll want those, it's boiling outside."

"I get cold easily," Legolas mumbled. "It's fine, I'll just wear the school jersey over it."

Aragorn shrugged. "Sure, if you'd like. Come on, the changing rooms are this way."

Legolas shied at the changing room doors and went instead to the bathroom. He emerged from there fully dressed, looking rather odd with a jersey over the sports shirt. Aragorn wondered if Legolas' old school had individual stalls in changing rooms or something, as he was clearly shy about changing in front of others.

The sun was shining as they walked onto the field. Aragorn could already feel it warming his skin; he didn't know how Legolas was going to survive in that jersey. Already, the blonde's face was slightly flushed with heat.

He quickly forgot the mystery of Legolas' eccentric dressing as Mr. Aber took them through the basics of archery. Most of the class was at a much more advanced level, so the teacher left them to practice shooting targets while showing Aragorn and Legolas how to hold the bow and arrows.

Legolas seemed naturally talented at this; he at least managed to hit the target, which was more than Aragorn could say for himself. He was much better at fencing, but he enjoyed spending time with Legolas. After a while, Mr. Aber left them to practice while going to the rest of the group to show them their new moves for the day.

The blonde looked happier than Aragorn had seen him so far today as he made shot after shot. His skin became more and more flushed, though, as he toiled under the sun with the stupid jersey on. Aragorn urged him to take it off, but Legolas flatly refused.

It was a good thing he was standing so close to his new friend, because he was able to catch Legolas when he swayed on the spot and probably would have fallen without support.

"Legolas? Are you alright?"

"Just – just dizzy. I'm fine."

He made a few more shots before stumbling sideways into Aragorn again. "I'll ask Mr. Aber to call the nurse…"

"No! I just – I think I need to sit down for a minute."

Though he would have much preferred to have Legolas looked over by the nurse, Aragorn acceded to the blonde's wishes and helped him back to the change rooms, wanting to get him out of the sun.

"Did you eat anything after lunch?"

"No," Legolas admitted.

Aragorn bit back a reprimand. Hadn't he told Legolas he'd need the fuel? Though he supposed it could just as easily be the heat. The jersey was probably causing him to overheat.

Legolas slumped to the side, his head resting on Aragorn's shoulder.

"Take off the jersey, and have something to eat. I have an energy bar somewhere… yes, here it is."

"No."

"Legolas, either that jersey comes off, or I'm taking you to the nurse's office."

"No, Estel, I can't!"

Why did he look so panicked?

"Why not? I can tell you're not cold. In fact, you're overheating."

"I…"

Legolas trailed off and fell back against the wall, breathing hard, looking as if he was about to pass out. Aragorn had had enough of this. He wasn't going to sit here and watch Legolas collapse, not when he could do something to help him. He snatched the bottom of the jersey and pulled it upward. Legolas squawked and tried to fight, but Aragorn was stronger than him, and managed to wrestle it away.

"Estel!"

Legolas leapt up and tried to scuttle away, only to fall onto his ass. Aragorn went to him and helped him sit back down on the bench, and a flash of red caught his eye.

He tried to turn Legolas' arm, but Legolas clamped his arms over his stomach, staring straight ahead. Again, Aragorn wasn't having it, and he quickly managed to turn the blonde's arms enough to see.

Legolas' forearms were covered in deep red slashes. Some looked weeks old, and several were still wet, as though done mere hours ago.

"Legolas?"

Legolas wouldn't meet his gaze. Tears were pooling in the boy's eyes. "Don't tell my dad," he whispered. "Please."

Aragorn didn't know what to do. Those cuts were clearly self-inflicted. He didn't know how to help Legolas with this.

"Then how can I help you? Tell me."

"Maybe just… give me a lift home? I told my dad I could walk – we're just around the corner from here – but I'm really not feeling up to it."

"Fine, on the condition you invite me in, and we talk about this."

"Fine," Legolas muttered.

"Now, eat this energy bar, or you'll collapse before we even get to the parking lot."

Legolas reluctantly took a tiny bite, but refused to have any more than that. Aragorn told Legolas to wait while he tracked down Boromir and convinced his friend to drive him and Legolas to Thranduil's home. He messaged Elrond saying he would be home late, that he was spending time with Legolas.

When he came back to the changing room, Legolas had the jersey back on, but other than that, he hadn't moved.

"Are you able to stand?"

"Yes." Legolas swayed for a moment, but seemed to find his feet.

"Alright, Boromir and Faramir are giving us a lift. Don't worry, you'll be home soon."

Legolas was quiet during the trip, speaking only to give direction. When he told them to stop, Aragorn gaped. Legolas' house was huge, even bigger than his, and not many houses could boast that. The blonde led him through three different hallways before coming to an expansive bedroom. Legolas dropped his bag on the floor and fell onto the bed.

Aragorn perched on the edge next to him. "So? Talk to me."

He realized the other boy was trembling and put a tentative hand on his shoulder. "Legolas? You can trust me, I promise."

"I… everything has been wrong since she died, Estel. You know about my mother, right? My dad would have told yours, they're good friends now…"

"I know," he said gently, gesturing for Legolas to continue, but Legolas seemed to have run out of words.

Aragorn had learned patience from the master – no one could beat Elrond there – and he waited quietly while the other boy sorted through his thoughts.

"I feel like I don't know how to keep living. I'm not sure if I want to. I can't eat – it makes me sick, I keep seeing her broken face, after she was smashed to bits by that drunk driver. What sleep I get is hardly worth it with the nightmares. Cutting is the only thing that makes me feel any better. Sometimes I wonder if it would just be better if…"

"If what? If what, Legolas?"

But Legolas refused to say. This was worse than Aragorn had thought. What the hell was he supposed to do?

"Please don't tell my dad," Legolas whispered. "I'll do anything. Just don't tell him. He's heartbroken enough as it is. This would destroy him."

Aragorn hesitated. "I'll tell you what, Legolas. You and I are going to keep talking. I'm going to do my best to help you. I'll give it a really good try, I swear… but if I can't, if you don't get better… then I'm going to have to tell someone."

Legolas shook his head mutely, his features set in terror. His breathing was increasing rapidly in rate, and Aragorn tried to calm him. "Let's not worry about that now, ok? For now, let's just think about what the two of us can do to help you."

Legolas wasn't comforted, and his hyperventilating was getting worse by the moment. Crap, crap, crap, so he had panic attacks too? Aragorn didn't know how to help him. What did he do? He wanted Elrond, Ada always knew what to do.

"Hey, hey, don't panic. It'll be ok."

It was the wrong thing to say. Legolas burst into tears, gasping worse than ever. He hesitantly brought his arms around Legolas, glad when the other boy accepted the embrace. Aragorn maneuvered them so that they were lying side by side, and he tucked Legolas' head onto his shoulder.

"Just breathe. I am here with you. Just breathe."

Legolas was shuddering with sobs, and Aragorn felt his heart breaking to witness such utter misery. He stroked the blonde's back, hoping that Legolas managed to get his breathing under control before he passed out.

"Talk to me," he begged. "Please, Legolas."

"I – can't – h-hurts – want to p-protect – strong for – d-dad – b-but I miss – he c-can't see – me like t-this – would break – h-heart –"

Horror was rapidly growing inside Aragorn. No wonder Legolas was struggling this much if he felt he had to hide his grief from even his own father. It must be eating him alive from the inside.

"You do not need to hide your pain. I'm sure your father wouldn't want that."

Legolas tried to speak again, but he didn't manage to get out any more coherent words. He clung to his friend, and Aragorn wondered when the last time the blonde had allowed someone to hold him and comfort him as he cried. "Let go," Aragorn murmured in his ear. "Let it all out."

By the desolate sound of Legolas' sobs and the way he held onto Aragorn, he suspected it hadn't been for some time, possibly even before his mom died.

To his relief, Legolas' breathing eventually evened out, though violent sobs still wracked his body. Eventually, he seemed to cry himself out and fell into a light sleep. Aragorn brushed the blonde hair back from his face, wondering what he'd gotten himself into.