Aragorn awoke slowly, tired and his mind hazy enough to wonder if Legolas had indeed drugged him. He became aware of a horrible pain in his chest and slowly remembered that he has broken a rib. Aragorn looked around the cave, and though he was inside, he could tell the sun had already risen. He tried to sit up, unsuccessfully and soon he gave up and lay back down. Legolas heard Aragorn wake and left his position at the cave's mouth and went to sit beside Aragorn.
"Are you alright?" Legolas asked.
"I feel fine" Aragorn lied "I am a healer, you know."
"Aye." Legolas replied "But being a healer does not help you heal any faster when you are the one in need of a healer"
"Legolas, why did you not wake me for my watch?" Aragorn asked.
"I did not want to disturb your rest, mellon nîn. You require rest if that rib is going to heal quickly." Legolas replied. Aragorn sighed, but quickly regretted it, when the sharp pain of his rib came slamming against him as he breathed. Legolas started to walk away towards what remained of the previous night's fire, about to start it up again and make some tea for Aragorn, when Aragorn grabbed Legolas a made him stay.
"Legolas," Aragorn started, in a firm tone "Did you drug me last night?" He asked commandingly. Legolas was surprised at the words.
"Estel," Legolas started, he used Aragorn's childhood name, trying to use it to assert some of his self-fabricated elder authority "I did not, but if I had, it would have been for your own good.". Aragorn did not seem the least bit pleased with Legolas' reasoning, but let it go as something that would have to be addressed next time the elf actually did drug him.
"For my own good, do not ever drug me in the future." Aragorn said.
"I cannot make any promises." Legolas gave Aragorn a slight smile and turned back to fixing the tea.
After Aragorn had finished the tea, he tried to push himself into a sitting position. Legolas saw his friend's struggles and helped him sit against the cave wall. Aragorn sighed and closed his eyes.
"How I withstood this pain enough to ride and fight, I do not know." Aragorn shook his head, more mumbling to himself than talking to Legolas. But Legolas' keen elvish ears picked up Aragorn's mutter and his concerned gaze fell once again upon Aragorn.
"Is the pain so much? Are you alright, Estel?" Legolas asked, worry colored in his tone. Aragorn realized that Legolas had heard him and quickly tried to brush off his friend's concern.
"T'is not unbearable- " Aragorn started to shift his position to a more relaxed one to show he was not in as much hurt as Legolas thought. This only made it worse, when he moved the wrong way and his rib sent a sharp pain across his chest. He flinched and for a second, cried out in pain before he stopped himself and squeezed his mouth shut in attempt to keep from worrying Legolas more. But Legolas had already noticed and he said in a voice so low that Aragorn barley heard him,
"We must get you to back to Mirkwood's palace. You need a proper healer." Aragorn scowled, slightly offended because he WAS a healer, but he reasoned that since he was the one injured, he didn't count. He nodded in agreement.
"Good." Legolas replied, starting to break camp, "We leave now. The sooner we get to Mirkwood, the sooner we can get you to a healer." Aragorn felt guilty that he wasn't helping his friend break camp, so he tried to get up and help. Legolas immediately made him sit back down.
"Legolas!" Aragorn said in an exasperated tone, " I can still walk and use my arms! Don't make me watch you break camp alone." Legolas sighed.
"Have you not noticed, Aragorn, that every time you do as little as shift position, you find yourself in extreme pain? I do not wish to put you through more agony. You cannot help me." He continued to clean up and Aragorn protested no further. Soon, Legolas had everything packed and turned back to his friend, offering a hand to help him up. Aragorn accepted this help and let Legolas pull him slowly from the ground.
"Hannon le." Aragorn said, giving his friend a small smile. He put a hand over his chest and started to walk to his horse.
"Ah- no." Legolas' suddenly commanding voice stopped Aragorn in his tracks. "You are in no condition to ride." Aragorn looked at his friend in frustration.
"I did it before, Legolas. I can do it again. What would you have me do? Walk whilst you ride?" Aragorn said, slightly annoyed by the over protectiveness and slightly touched by it, but more annoyed.
"Nay." Legolas said, taking Aragorn into his arms. "I shall carry you. We will take the long way, as the orcs are still in this forest and you could not fight them." Aragorn immediately protested, trying to squirm his way out of a Legolas' arms, but only succeeding in injuring his rib further.
"Legolas! Let me go, by the Valar! Let me down!" Aragorn felt a sharp pain rip through his body and stopped struggling at once, but continued yelling at Legolas. "Legolas, I rode with a broken rib before! You needn't carry me! Really, I'm fine. And I fought with a broken rib as well; you shouldn't have to carry me the long way!" Legolas gave an exasperated sigh and set Aragorn on his feet, and stepping back. Aragorn stood by himself for a few seconds, making sure he could. After a few seconds passed, he started walking, still clutching his hand over his chest, walking was obviously more painful than standing but still bearable. Legolas worriedly observed Aragorn, sure that he may need help, but Aragorn seemed to be fine with walking, so Legolas sighed, and after one last glance at Aragorn, he grabbed both the horses reigns and caught up to Aragorn with the horses being lead behind him.