When Aragorn regained consciousness, it took him a moment to remember everything again. When he did, anger spread through him, but at the same time he knew that his father had only wanted the best for him.
The ranger quickly realized that it must be the middle of the night and the moon bathed the dimly lit room in its white light. Everything seemed so incredibly peaceful, had the ranger not known that the quiet beautiful creature in the bed was currently fighting for his life. The elf was still lying there just as he had been when the human had fallen asleep.
Another sigh escaped the man. How long was this going to go on now?
Everything was so incredibly dark and empty. Legolas had no idea where he was, what was going on, or what had happened. His eyelids felt infinitely heavy and he felt powerless and exhausted.
At the next moment, a sharp pain ran through his whole body and his back burned like fire. For a moment, the prince wished himself back into unconsciousness.
Slowly, memories came up and images appeared before his eyes. Fear spread through his heart and mixed with panic. He didn't want to see this! He didn't want to see his laughter as he rejoiced in his pain! He didn't want to have to feel that pain! He didn't want all those memories!
A strong tremor ran through the blond elf's body when he suddenly felt a touch and immediately flinched. A hand had clasped his and another stroked his cheek soothingly. Soft words reached him and the archer had to strain to understand them.
"It's all right, mellon-nin. You're safe." The voice sounded so familiar and warm. There was something about it that reassured the warrior. But his fogged mind failed to assign the voice to a person.
Suddenly the voice sounded again. It was rough and warm and it sounded as if the person was singing. Immediately Legolas concentrated only on it. He knew the song! It was an elven song and spoke of sorrow and pain, but also of hope. Whoever the person next to him was, he could sing beautifully.
The blond elf relaxed a little and concentrated only on the voice. All too soon it was over and the prince wanted to beg the person not to stop, but no sound left his lips. It was as if his own body was not listening to him.
"Legolas, I don't know if you can hear me, but I beg you, come back to me! You can't give up, you have to fight! I know this must sound terribly selfish right now, but I can't go on without you. Please open your eyes, mellon-nin. So I know you're here. With me."
A pained sigh was heard and for a moment the prince's heart contracted. The person had to be struggling terribly.
"I'm scared, you know that? I'm afraid that soon I'll be standing here alone, having to say goodbye to you. Ada said that there is still hope, but I don't know if it is really so. Maybe the name 'Estel' doesn't suit me at all, because I can't really hope anymore."
Estel! Of course! That was his voice! For a moment, the warrior was really uncomfortable not to have recognized his best friend. But then he remembered again Estel's pain and his request to him to open his eyes.
Legolas would have loved to scream that he was alive and that the ranger need not be afraid, but still no sound passed his lips. Again a hand reached for his and squeezed it.
In fact, with great effort, the prince managed to squeeze the man's hand lightly. "Legolas?!" a surprised voice called out.
Again the blond elf tried to open his eyes. And after several attempts, he succeeded.