Note: Only unknown characters are mine! Violence and rape mentioned in this chapter! Shounen ai between Legolas/Aragorn. This is in Aragorn's POV! Takes place two hours after 'Surviving Pity'.

Hint: Here's a spoiler for you for the next chapter. Someone at Rohan will kill Sarag, but it won't be Legolas or Aragorn. Cast your votes in for who kills Sarag!

Regret And Understanding

Part 11

Éomer and I searched for Legolas together in the forest of Rohan after my lover had run off into it.

I'd hoped to have a chance to explain why I had told them, but Frodo had messed that up.

I couldn't blame the Hobbit, though. He'd been genuinely concerned about Legolas.

"Legolas!" I shouted again.

I could hear anguished cries, which I knew where Legolas's. I wanted to take him in my arms and dry the tears away.

Part of me didn't understand his reaction.

Didn't Legolas know that the rest of the Fellowship had overheard his conversation with Sarag?

I'd only told them the rest of the story because I didn't want them to ask him.

I'd thought that it would hurt him, now that he had finally started showing emotion again.

I just hoped that Legolas wouldn't sink back into what he had been when I found him.

"I'm sorry, Elessar," Éomer said quietly. "This is my fault."

"No, tis mine, Éomer," I told him. "I did tell them."

"But I told you to," Éomer reminded me. "I hope he does not suffer a relapse because of this. Legolas was doing so much better than I'd seen him in years."

I nodded. "That is my fear as well. I do not want to see him reduced to that again."

Éomer turned to me and stopped walking. "There is something you should know, Elessar."

"Like what?" I inquired. "I am sick and tired of secrets being kept. I do not think anything would surprise me now," I said grimly.

But what he said shocked me. I certainly had not expected that.

Éomer looked at me seriously. "I owe you an apology, Elessar."

I blinked. "Why?"

"For my behaviour when you first came here with Legolas." Éomer sighed, as he continued walking again.

I started walking again as well, as I listened to him.

"Two things prompted my actions. First, I thought that you were playing a game with him and his emotions, and I wasn't about to tolerate that. Second, I believed that you intended to leave him again."

"I will not leave him again, Éomer," I said sternly.

"I know. I have seen your actions when you and Legolas are together. The two of you truly belong together, Elessar," Éomer told me.

I was too surprised to say anything.

We both turned as one when we suddenly heard the sound of a fight.

An Elvish shout rang through the forest.

"Legolas!" I cried.

Éomer and I ran towards the sound, drawing our swords.

"This is bad," Éomer exclaimed as he ran beside me.

"What?" I asked.

"Legolas doesn't have his weapons! He left them in my courtyard yesterday," Éomer reminded me grimly.

I nodded.

We burst into a clearing, and saw Legolas defending himself with a branch.

Sarag slashed at him with a sword, as Legolas deflected the blow.

Éomer shouted, "Legolas, catch!" He tossed his sword through the air.

Legolas leapt into the air. He dropped the stick and caught the sword by the handle in his right hand.

"My thanks, Éomer," Legolas called, before he refocused on the battle.

I watched nervously.

Legolas gracefully avoided another blow, and began parrying with Sarag.

He ducked, and managed to slice part of Sarag's face.

Sarag fought without using his injured arm.

That made me suspicious.

Sarag wouldn't fight injured, unless he was up to something.

My eyes began to scan the trees.

"What's wrong, Elessar?" Éomer, turning his attention away from the fight when he saw that I wasn't watching it.

I looked at the King of Rohan, with a frown on my face. "Sarag would never fight a battle like this. Something is not right."

A strangled cry caught my attention.

I looked at Legolas and swore.

An arrow was lodged directly in his right shoulder. More were shooting directly at him.

Legolas leapt and rolled forward, avoiding them.

"Legolas, look out!" I shouted, as I ran towards him.

My lover heeded me and moved in time to prevent his neck from being slashed by Sarag.

Instead, the blow sliced deeply into the middle of his right arm, severing the vein.

Legolas dropped the sword, instinctively applying pressure to the wound. Blood spurted out around his pale hand, as he backed away from Sarag, who advanced on my lover.

I was about to strike Sarag, when Éomer raced forward and grabbed his sword.

He twirled it and pointed the blade at Sarag. "You may flee now and live, spawn of the devil, but you will die for what you did to Legolas eventually," Éomer said coldly.

Sarag backed off, and ran once more.

I silently swore that the next time I saw him that Sarag would die.

I sheathed my sword and ran over to my bleeding lover.

I ripped my shirt off and wrapped it around the badly bleeding wound. The arrow I ignored for now.

"Forgive me, love," Legolas whispered, as he gazed at me. "I was looking for you…"

"Don't speak now, dear one. Wait until your injury is treated," I murmured.

Legolas was turning ghastly white as blood dripped onto the ground.

"Are you well, my friend?" Éomer asked, gravely concerned. "Never mind, I can see you aren't. We need to get you back to the castle, Legolas."

"Aragorn… I feel…" Legolas suddenly passed out.

I caught him in my arms and held him.

"Let's go," Éomer said. He had sheathed his sword, as well.

We ran off, as I cradled Legolas's body in my arms.

This was the second time I'd done so in two days and both times it was because of Sarag. That was definitely going to change, I vowed. Sarag would not escape next time.

Luck must have been with us, for the fight had taken place closer to the castle than Éomer and I had ventured.

We raced through the gates, right past the guards.

Éomer ran ahead of me, shouting for the Healer as he ran up the steps.

I was on his heels, as Legolas moaned softly.

I carried Legolas to the closest room and lay him down on the bed.

I applied pressure to the wound, but could not elevate it because of the arrow.

The Healer entered, followed by Éomer.

I let go of Legolas's arm and stepped back as the Healer went to work.

He unwrapped my torn shirt from around the wound, and quickly began applying some herbs to stop the bleeding.

The Healer murmured under his breath. "It needs stitches, my king. I need a sterilized needle and thread, as well as some wine or brandy to dull the pain away."

Éomer ran off to fetch the needle, thread, and alcohol.

The male healer looked at me after he dragged a chair over to the bed. "Hold this against the gash," he told me, handing me a cloth.

I did as told.

"Here, Jeran," Éomer said, as he re-entered the room with the needle, white thread, and a container of brandy.

Jeran took the needle and quickly threaded it. "Give him the brandy, King Elessar." He had set out a small dagger and a bigger piece of cloth. He sat in the chair.

I released my grip on the wound once more, and took the container from Éomer.

I carefully opened Legolas's mouth, and slowly poured some brandy into it.

Jeran started stitching the slash carefully, repairing the damaged nerves as best he could.

My attention was focused on Legolas's pale face, when his eyes opened briefly.

Pain shone in them as he whimpered softly.

'He's almost done, Legolas,' I whispered in Elvish.

Legolas fumbled, trying to take a hold of my hand. He was trying not to cry out in pain.

I walked to the other side of the bed and took his left hand in mine. I held the brandy container in the other.

Legolas squeezed my hand in thanks.

"All done," Jeran announced. He used a small dagger to cut the thread. "You must sit up, Legolas, and do not use your right arm for anything. I need to tend to your arrow wound, as well."

Legolas nodded slowly, but I had to assist him with my left arm.

Jeran carefully removed the arrow and spread some herbs on the wound. He bandaged it, and picked up the big piece of cloth.

He folded it in half, placing Legolas's right arm in it, before looping it over the elf's shoulder and tying it. The arm now hung in the sling.

"Give your arm rest, Master Legolas. Your healing ability should take care of it in a few days, but I would not recommend using it, for that may permanently traumatize it," Jeran cautioned, as he stood and made his way out of the room.

Legolas and I gazed at each other for a few moments.

"I'm sorry, Legolas," I said sincerely. "I did not wish to hurt you when I told our friends what had happened to you."

"I wasn't angry with you, Aragorn," Legolas told me softly. "I did not want them to know that I had not been to save myself. Their eyes all showed on thing; pity. I do not want pity, I want their friendship."

A gasp escaped my lips. Now I understood.

"Legolas," Éomer interjected. "Twas I who told Aragorn to tell them. They heard your conversation with Sarag and were asking questions."

I could see the shock in Legolas's eyes.

"I had forgotten that they were there," he murmured.

I questioned, "How did you come to be fighting Sarag again?"

Legolas sighed. "I had climbed down from the tree I was in, wanting to find you. Instead, I found him."

I leaned over and kissed him softly. "You wanted me to find you, didn't you?" I whispered.

My lover nodded. "But I do not want their pity, Aragorn. I mean that." He spoke quietly.

I nodded. "Would you like me to tell them that, love?"

"We will tell them together," Legolas decided.

"All right," I said.

Éomer glanced at both of us, before leaving the room. A strange expression was on his face.

To be continued