Chapter 24

Legolas looked down at the peacefully sleeping hobbit and smiled slightly. These little creatures were really unique and interesting. The elf would never have believed that such a small hobbit was so brave. And that the fate of Middle-earth would one day rest in the hand of this little creature.

The prince looked at the fire in front of him. He wasn't tired, but he felt weak. It had been good for the archer to speak openly to the others and not have to hide anymore, but at the same time, it had opened the wounds again. The pain in the heart of the beautiful being was indescribable. He missed them. He missed them so much. Legolas had grown up with them, they had always been there for him. And from one day to the next, his four big brothers had suddenly gone. And they would never come again. Tears burned in the prince's blue eyes, but he refused to faint. The elf took a deep breath. He had allowed too much weakness lately. Legolas knew that it was time to leave the past behind. That they had a job to do that would determine the fate of all of Middle Earth. And that he couldn't afford any weakness to accomplish this task.

The prince closed his eyes for a moment, trying to suppress the pain, uncertainty, and weakness in his heart. "Legolas," suddenly a calm but reproachful voice tore him out of his thoughts. An amused grin crept onto the beautiful warrior's lips and he opened his eyes.

"Yes, mellon-nin?" His friend's gray eyes gleamed with concern, but at the same time had an accusing expression. "You should rest. You are hurt." Legolas had to stop rolling his eyes. The pain was much better and he hated lying around and doing nothing.

"I'm fine, Aragorn." The ranger gave the elf a critical look. The prince knew, of course, what was the human's problem. He always said that and mostly it wasn't true.

"At least let me examine it." Legolas sighed, but he knew that Aragorn would not rest soon, so he nodded. The ranger carefully removed the bandages and carefully felt the wound. The gloomy elf flinched at the burning pain, but otherwise, he endured it in silence. Finally, the wound was bandaged again and the man looked at his friend. "You are really lucky that you are an elf, my friend." He grinned slightly at the words and the handsome archer laughed.

"Probably." Aragorn shook his head. "I'm serious. Others would have died from this kind of injury." A wistful expression entered the man's eyes and Legolas quickly put a hand on his shoulder. He was sorry that he had worried Aragorn so much.

"I'm really fine." The man nodded and put a hand on his friend's arm. "And I'm grateful for it, Legolas. I was really afraid to lose you." The prince felt the grief that came from his friend very clearly and his heart grew heavy. The ranger shouldn't have to suffer like this.

"I'm here, Aragorn. And I will remain so. I chose you and against the dark. For you." A sad smile pulled Aragorn's lips. "And I hope you will do that more often, mellon-nin." Legolas grinned.

"I hope that I don't have to make a decision anymore." The man now put his other hand on the other arm of the beautiful elf. "I hope that too." At that moment, the elf sees the tears in the ranger's eyes. Of course, the prince knew what was going on. The man had probably suppressed his feelings for far too long, not processed them. Legolas sighed softly and gently hugged his friend. And as expected, he started to cry immediately.