CHAPTER 4

"Estel!" said Legolas his fair hand urgently slapping the man's cheek, "Wake up, Estel! Don't sleep- you can't! Not yet, mellon nín!"

Aragorn lay still on the Elf's arms for sometime before his eyes flickered open. His eyes rolled in its sockets like a pair of grey beetle trying to look for a way out.

Legolas gave out a long sigh of relief and he grasped the man's shoulder tightly close to his.

"That's right, Aragorn, keep your eyes open and tell me exactly how you are feeling,"

"Stop picking on me, Elf," muttered the adan his brows furrowed, "I hardly took a nap when you were unconscious…but I'm fine…And let's not forget who was almost dying, mellon nín, it was you."

He struggled to get up but Legolas pressed a firm hand on his shoulder suggesting that he should stay.

"Nay, I am almost fine," The Elf said locking his gaze with his friend, "I told you I will treat your wounds,"

"You already did," said Aragorn heaving a deep sigh. The Elf didn't like how the sigh came as a ragged out take of breath and it made him worry.

Feeling the still warm body of his friend under his palms, Legolas decided to look for some medicine from the pack the ranger was able to save. When he returned and saw his friend's closed eyes, he tensed. He dropped on his knees abruptly and shook his friend urgently.

"Aragorn," it was barely a whisper but full of mixed emotions. "Aragorn…"

The ranger who was drifting to his silent dream suddenly jerked up for he felt, rather than heard, the distress of his friend.

He quickly grabbed the Elf's hands on his chest and gripped it tightly as if to assure him that he was alive.

Legolas' eyes softened and a small smile appeared on his lips. He wiped the beads of sweat covering the man's fore head.

"Forgive me, Aragorn, I just… I just don't like seeing your eyes close…" his voice drifted away again into silence.

At this Aragorn pulled his eyes open and blinked for several times as if trying to battle the droopy feeling he was feeling. The Elf Prince chuckled at the gesture and then felt guilty. Maybe Aragorn had strained his body too much now. He nodded to himself as he squeezed the man's hand holding his own.

"Estel, I'm sorry for the selfish request but please- I cannot let you struggle much more for me, go and take a rest…I'm here and I will take care of you."

"Till the end…" murmured Aragorn with a smile on his lips, "I can't… rid… you…me." he continued to say on his sleep… "Legolas," was his last word before finally falling into a deep slumber.

Legolas felt a pang of pain when his friend closed his eyes. The irony of the situation was getting on him but he wouldn't be cruel. He watched the ranger sleep and the easiness of the man's breaths made the elf forget about his own fears even for awhile.

------

Legolas leaned down, kissed his friend's forehead, and stared at the young man quietly. Fond was he of Estel, who was the light for his new life. Fond was he of the fact that the ranger was still the same person he met years ago and the same inquisitive child he cared so much until now.

No.

He will not be parted with his friend.

Whatever Aragorn had said was just part of his grief. No more than that.

Surely the man would never think of running away because of the consequences that awaits him?

But who was he to speak? No one knows what 'grief' can do to a desperate man.

And a desperate Elf, Legolas thought sadly, By the Valar, death is certain…

He glanced back at his sleeping companion and felt a jolt of urgency. Even if Aragorn was stable at the moment, who knows what will happen after so many hours in this cold cave? Men are different from elves, in so many ways, and getting sick without apparent reason but cold can cost them their lives much to the Elf's' astonishment.

Shaking his head, Legolas walked toward the mouth of the cave, supporting his wounded chest. He will not let his friend's already bad health get worse. No- he will thwart Death if he has to for his friend.

A sudden light and a friendly nature met the Elves' gaze and he had to take a breath in awe as he emerged from the cave. The river below them was rushing but it was steady. Looking up, the Elf frowned; he recognized the part of the woods opposite them -Estel was wrong- they were almost in Rivendell and the way he see it, they were not but an hour away from the place!

The sudden wonder of why the ranger had committed such an obvious mistake was replaced by a gust of worry on the elf's side. The ranger couldn't possibly be mistaken unless there was something wrong with him.

Something completely wrong.

"Men," Legolas hissed furiously making his way back beside the sleeping adan. It then occurred to the elf that his friend was not truthful enough about his condition.

And I did not notice it? He questioned himself irately.

You did, a voice inside his head spoke, but you were hoping desperately that you were wrong.

~TBC~