Note: This fic is rated R for a good reason. This is a revised version of 'Falling Tears'. None of these characters are mine! POVs are marked with *********. Elvish speech is in ''.

A Fight Among Friends

Part 3

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Aragorn
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I did not manage to catch Legolas before he passed out, but I went over and picked him up. I gently inspected him, and saw that his skin was unnaturally pale.

I sighed. 'Elven pride,' I muttered in Elvish. I gathered his weapons with one hand, and placed the daggers and sword back in my medicine bag. His bow and quiver I slung across my back quietly.

I easily stood with Legolas in my arms, and took him back to the camp. His head rested against one of my shoulders, as he moaned softly. I laid my friend down on my clean blankets, face-first. I had remembered the scratches along his back, and did not want him to hurt himself by laying on them.

I grabbed the herbs I had set out and prepared, as well as a few bandages. I inspected the torn flesh on Legolas's back and shook my head. What kind of an Orc had such smaller fingernails?

I sighed, and began applying the aloe from my herbs to the scratches.

Legolas whimpered in pain, and I was not certain if that was because he was trying to regain consciousness, or because it hurt for me to treat his wounds.

Elven eyes gazed at me blearily. I wisely said nothing, and began to bandage his back.

'I fainted, didn't I?' Legolas whispered, sounding…embarrassed.

I smiled and nodded. 'Everyone faints at some point in their lives, Legolas.' My stormy, grey eyes narrowed in confusion when apprehension entered into the Elf's emerald eyes.

Legolas cleared his throat. 'I'm all right, Aragorn, and capable of tending to my own wounds.'

'I never said you weren't,' I told him. 'Indulge me, if you would.' I took out what I needed to bind his ribs.

'Very well, but only because you insisted,' he muttered.

Stubborn to the last, I thought, hiding my slight amusement. 'Can you sit up?'

Legolas started to nod and turned pale again. Instead, he sat up carefully, groaning softly. One of his arms curled around his ribs instinctively.

I swatted his arm away gently, and inspected the massive bruise there. I pressed on it gingerly, and Legolas couldn't refrain from crying out.

'You've got at least one broken rib, my friend,' I said. I began binding his ribs, pretending not to notice how tense he was, until I finally spoke. 'Legolas, if you do not relax I will have to start over.'

The Elf took a deep breath, grimaced, and forced himself to relax. I finished the binding, and saw a look of relief in his eyes. My probing fingers moved up to his forehead, temporarily skipping the multi-colored bruises across his face. Legolas hissed when I touched the gash and bruise.

I questioned, 'What caused this?'

Legolas answered reluctantly. 'A sword hilt.'

'Orcs don't carry swords,' I said doubtfully, and took a closer look. 'They carry spears, Legolas.' Yet it was most definitely a sword hilt that had dealt the injury. 'How do you feel?'

'Why?' Legolas asked, a tense note in his voice.

'You may or may not have a concussion,' I said, touching it again. A cry of agony tore out of my Elven friend.

Legolas frowned, and replied, 'I feel…like I'm going to be sick.'

I sighed. 'You probably do have a concussion, Legolas. I'll have to go find chamomile and lavender, for I ran out a short while ago. Rest while I'm gone.'

Legolas tried to stand, but I pushed him back down.

'I should get the herbs, for I am the one who needs them,' he said, frowning.

'Legolas, if I find that you got up while I was gone, I will tie your hands and feet together. You know I could.'

I stood and walked away with my medicine bag, leaving him behind. I could hear him muttering in Elvish as I passed out of his sight.

I ran into Boromir, who was on his way back to the camp.

"Is Legolas all right?" he questioned, looking slightly anxious.

I sighed. "He'll be all right, as long as he rests. Legolas has a broken rib and a concussion, which will heal fast. Elves are fast healers."

He nodded and returned to the camp slowly.

I was in luck to find lavender and chamomile nearby. I drew my dagger and began cutting some of the herbs free. As soon as I had enough of the herbs stuffed in my bag, I started to make my way back to the camp.

Then I heard Legolas and Boromir begin speaking. I never forgot the words I heard, for I could hear them easily. I might not be a full Elf, or a even a half Elf, but my limited Elven blood had gifted me with a longer lifespan than most Men and sharp hearing.

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Legolas
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I couldn't believe how Aragorn was treating me, as if I were no more than a babe. Tie my hands and feet, indeed. My friend was seriously annoying me.

Though I did not feel well at all, if truth be told. I was certain I had a concussion, for I repeatedly had to fight back the urge to be sick. My forehead and face felt clammy to me, and I was still pale.

But I froze when I saw Boromir approaching. I knew it was time. The moment of reckoning had come. I leaned back against the ground, and waited.

Boromir walked close to me, but stopped before he was in arms-reach.

"Legolas?" he questioned.

I looked at him, and saw him flinch. "What?" I asked coldly, prepared to run or fight or scream if he tried anything. Though I knew that I would probably lose the fight if we fought, and I would not be able to run too far.

Boromir whispered, "I'm sorry that I-"

"It never happened," I told him grimly. If only that were true, I thought bitterly. "You will not tell them, and neither will I. I will not be the reason that the Fellowship was broken. But I will not be responsible for my actions should you try anything again." My words were deliberate and slow, to make sure he understood. "Stay away from me, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor. Do you understand?"

The human nodded slowly. He looked remorseful, as he backed away. "I'm going to finish my scouting now." Boromir turned and walked away.

I breathed out a sigh of relief. I had probably been too harsh, I knew, but I was not going to be a victim to him again.

Aragorn stepped out from behind the trees. 'What was that about, Legolas?' he asked in a voice so soft, I knew he was furious.

'Nothing,' I told him, a warning in my green eyes, as I sat up slowly.

Aragorn approached me, and grabbed my shoulders. I reacted with blind fear and tried to shove him away. He held me too tight for me to break away, and lowered his face to mine.

I pleaded, with tears in my eyes, 'Please, Estel, let me go!' I then reproached myself for sounding so weak and scared. I was the son of Thranduil, King of Mirkwood. I shouldn't be so affected by this. And…and yet, I was. I didn't understand it.

'What did he do to you?' Aragorn demanded. 'My god… you're crying.'

'I can't tell you,' I insisted, as tears ran down my bruised face.

Aragorn asked harshly, 'Can't? Or won't?'

'Won't…' I said, taking in a breath that sounded like a sob.

Aragorn knelt beside me. 'What can I do to help you?' Only gentleness was in his voice, as he looked at me.

I despised myself right now, but I needed…I wanted to be held and told that everything was going to be all right again, just like when I was so much younger and my mother had died. I couldn't believe how childish I felt, as I made my request.

'Hold me, please,' I whispered.

Warm arms wrapped around me, and I leaned into the embrace, as my tears streaked their way to the ground. My face pressed against his warm chest carefully, as I closed my eyes, mindful of the concussion I probably had.

And if Aragorn was surprised to see me so vulnerable, he said nothing, as he held me and told me everything would be all right. One of his hands began stroking my hair gently, which was still damp and needed a brushing. Right now, however, I did not care, as his other hand held me close.

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Boromir
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Well, I'd blown it with Legolas. The Elf had certainly made his feelings clear to me.

The harsh words went through my mind.

'Stay away from me, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor.' 'You will not tell them, and neither will I. I will not be the reason that the Fellowship was broken.'

That was why Legolas had lied. He had felt the breaking of the Fellowship, and did not want to hasten it even further, as he knew it would be if he spoke the truth.

But I did not believe that Aragorn could kept in the dark for very long. He was very perceptive and had already noticed something was wrong with Legolas.

When Aragorn found out, and not if, I thought, he was going to kill me. Legolas was his best friend, or so I assumed. Kinsman or not, Aragorn would not stand for what I had done. And then… I would die.

To be continued