Disclaimer: Same old, see chapter 1

A/N: Thank you QueenofFlarmphgal for your review, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Thank you also to all of you who are reading and enjoying this story. Sorry about the wait, but I was sick the past three days, but good news, my daddy is coming home on Saturday. Here's the next chapter.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Elrond walked slowly down the hall trying to take as much time as he possibly could so that he would not have to talk to his family right away. He was still reeling from what had just transpired between his son and himself. This was not the way it was supposed to be. Yet Elrond sighed, for he did not expect anything different. How did he expect his son would take the news that basically everything that he had said to him was not only hurtful, but a lie as well? He had ruined everything and it was possible that it was beyond repair. 'How could I have been so stupid?'

Finally, he was standing right next to the doorway that led into his study. He would have to face the rest of the family and tell them exactly what he told Estel. The things he had just said were not even known to his twin sons or Glorfindel and he knew that they were in for a shock. He may have lost one son that night, but was it possible for him to lose two more? How much more could one father's heart take?

With a sigh of defeat, he entered the room, despondently preparing himself for one of the hardest moments of his life. His heart anticipated rejection from everyone present. Maybe, father and son were not so different after all. Both had sampled the bittersweet taste of rejection from those that they loved most. As he walked into the room seeing the eagerness painted on the elves' faces, Elrond thought dryly, 'This is going to be a long night.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Finally after what seemed like hours, Aragorn had stopped crying into his friend's shoulder. The tears had finally stopped and his breathing calmed and slowed. All the pain of injuries forgotten as the two friends sat quietly on the bed.

Embarrassed, Aragorn was the first to pull away. He never liked crying in front of others, yet here he was weeping like a child. Maybe, he really was childish after all. He could not look his best friend in the face so he continued to stare at the blanket that lay outstretched on top of the bed. He felt uncomfortable at the moment and wasn't sure what to say. Silence and tension enveloped the room, leaving the awkwardness to hang in the air between the two friends.

Legolas knew his friend well enough to know what he was thinking. He understood what he was feeling, but he refused to allow him to slip back into his calm shell of total denial. For one, it was not healthy, and two, he would never be able to live with himself. He promised long ago that he would always keep him safe and protect him. Estel made the same oath. It was the silent promise that had no need to be said allowed for it was written in the very core of his heart, right down to his soul. It was the promise of undying friendship and loyalty and everything that goes with it. They were in it forever, and Legolas would see to it that if Aragorn was ever in trouble, he would always be there to lend him support. That was the unspoken agreement, and Legolas never broke a promise.

"Estel…what happened? What are you feeling?" Legolas asked quietly hoping for a real answer and not some vague use of words in an attempt to keep him off the subject. Surprisingly, he was given his answer.

"Betrayed…that's how I feel."

Aragorn's low, defeated voice almost broke Legolas' heart. He had never seen his friend so depressed and alone. It was moments like this, when he knew that Aragorn would feel alone even with a hundred people in the room. It was the isolation of a mind that tried so desperately to cope with the new information it had been given.

Legolas waited a few moments to see if Aragorn would continue, but it seemed that his friend would not offer any information that was not requested. So, he tried again.

"Why do you feel betrayed, Estel?"

There was complete silence as the question was asked. The words seemed to echo forever in the stillness of the room. At first, Legolas thought that he wouldn't answer, but Aragorn did, and this time he was angry.

"Why do you think? My father, I'm sorry, Lord Elrond, lied to me. He lied to me! He destroyed my life. He yelled at me, blamed me for things that were beyond my control. When Elladan was injured, there was no comfort. There was no, 'Do not worry, ion nin, this is not your fault'. There was only, 'How could you do this to me and my family?' According to him, I brought suffering to everyone that I loved. Then, if that was not good enough, he thought he'd kick me while I was down, and he banished me for other events that were beyond my control. And of course, you know what happened after that." Aragorn gave a chilling laugh that sent chills up Legolas' spine. "I must say though, there is a true irony to all of this. I do bring suffering to those I care for. I mean, you and I are living proof. We go out and come back injured every time we go anywhere together. That cannot be a coincidence."

Legolas sat quietly through his friend's tirade waiting for his chance to talk some sense into the troubled man. But at the last statement, Legolas could no longer control himself. There was too much guilt here, and not all of it was caused by his father. This was an argument that would never be resolved as long as Aragorn lived. Whenever Legolas was injured, it was automatically the human's fault, at least in his own mind. That was always how it had been. He had to admit that he too had his fair share of guilt trips, but they always resulted after the shock of the incident. Once that wore off, pure common sense kicked in, not to mention Aragorn, and the guilt was no longer an issue. Legolas was so sure that Aragorn understood it the same way he did, but apparently he was wrong.

"Wait a second, Estel. Are you saying that every time we return from anywhere injured that it is your fault? That you are like some bad luck charm or some magnet?" Legolas asked in total disbelief. Aragorn remained silent giving Legolas his answer.

"Don't you dare, human. Don't you dare go down that road. You know nothing that transpired the other night was your fault. You could not have stopped the orcs from harming me if you tried. You were seriously wounded. There are so many if's but none of them will change what happened. And for your information, there have been numerous occasions when you have been injured and I was not. I have been down that road, but you always tell me that I should not feel guilty for events that I could not change. You even said it earlier that Elrond blamed you for things out of your control. You acknowledged that what he told you was lie; therefore, you were never at fault to begin with. So why now? Why is it all of a sudden your fault again?" Legolas asked in frustration at his friend's behavior. It took a moment, but Aragorn found his voice.

"I don't know, mellon nin," Aragorn said quietly. "I just don't know anymore. So much has happened lately, so many coincidences. Why would the same orc that shot my brother, hunt us down and shoot you with an arrow almost identical to the one from Elladan's chest? Why was the arrow missing from his chest when I found him, and the arrow that shot you, stolen by the same orc? There is something at work here...something sinister. This all makes me think that maybe it's not just coincidental that we always seem to come back wounded whenever we are together," Aragorn finally admitted. He allowed his response to hang in the air for a moment before continuing.

"I know, Legolas, that it is not my fault, but sometimes I can't help but feel partly responsible. And now, after all that's happened, things become even more unclear who is to blame."

"What do you mean?" Legolas asked intrigued by his friend's revelation.

"Is my father really to blame for what happened or could Sarkáhn really be tormenting his mind? I'm not saying that I forgive him so soon, but…it just seems so strange." Aragorn drifted off in thought as his dream resurfaced again and the words that Sarniâ had spoken. Legolas noticed this silence and his interest turned into concern.

"What's wrong, mellon nin?" Aragorn hesitated, but decided to tell him.

"There's something I did not tell you. Not even Elladan or Elrohir know. I had a dream the other night…" Aragorn explained the entire dream in detail including the riddle that was told to him. He watched Legolas' features turn from shock to understanding.

"So that is why you were so angry with your father. You didn't want to believe him because that meant that what you heard in your dream was true." Legolas then came to the same conclusion as Aragorn. "You think that Sarkáhn has returned."

"I don't know for sure, but what I do know is that Sarniâ was warning me about something. Maybe, my father was right. Whatever evil is stirring…it is after me and everything I hold dear." Aragorn began considering the words that Elrond had said to him and things began to make sense. He still was not ready to talk to his father or even forgive him, but he had come to at least a common understanding.

"Whatever happens, we will face it together," Legolas said comfortingly while he put his hand in his friend's shoulder.

"Iston, mellon nin, but I do not know where to go from here. I cannot talk with my father, at least not yet. I'm not ready to face my brothers either. And now orcs are penetrating Rivendell most likely at the bidding of a dead demon. I do not know what to do anymore," Aragorn said at last as he tiredly rubbed his eyes. Legolas saw this and helped lay his friend back gently onto the bed.

"I know not either, Estel. We will just have to take it one day at a time," Legolas whispered softly as Aragorn's eyes finally closed allowing him to finally let his mind rest in peace. Legolas lingered for moment before he too made his way to bed and allowed himself to be taken by the quiet peace of slumber.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N: Well that was interesting. I hope you enjoyed it, please review; )