Hullo! Nice to see everyone's enjoying it…well, as much as anyone *can* enjoy Lego-angst. *evil grin*

Hehe. Yes, Cheysuli, I happen to enjoy insanity as well!….what is *wrong* with us? ;)

Now now, Artemisa, I'm not making him suffer *that* much…well *clears throat* uh yes, I am…but it could *always* be worse!….I think.

Hehe, and as for the "What's wrong with Legolas?" thing…very, very, *very* good question, you all, but…tow! Can't answer it. :D

Oh and no need to feel bashful, Shmallow. It was the *least* I could do. *sniff* I mean you dedicated yours to ME, I thought I'd return the favor….oh. Ya, and I also wanted to sugar you into reading it! :D Just kidding!

Well, enough with the bla bla, as Cassia would put it, and onto the story!

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For full disclaimers and story info, see Chapter 1.

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Chapter 3

Man of Anger, Elf of Despondency

"Oh, Strider. Why do you not sleep on your own will? Why must you do so much for me?"

Aragorn awoke with a start, and saw Legolas framed in the sunlight blazing down on them. "Legolas!" He tried to shout, but his throat was so sore, it came out strangled, and hoarse.

"Sh, ea na gwiil, nin mellon."

//sh, be at peace, my friend.//

Legolas whispered softly, and the words calmed Aragorn remarkably. The ranger looked around as best he could, for his limbs were stiff, and his movements limited. He was lying on the ground next to a long-since-dead fire, and looking across the dark ashes, he could see the horses standing beside the trees a ways away from him, looking rested and watered. He moved his fingers slowly, but there was no feeling in them. Sighing, he lay his dizzy head on the ground again. He must have been awhile longer without water than he thought, judging by the sudden nausea that swept over him.

Legolas looked down at the human, and smiled, speaking in a humorous tone. "Your throat is dry as a year without rain. You didn't even stop long enough to drink from a flagon just next to you, you stubborn Dú nadan." His mirthful voice became a little more distant and serious, but nonetheless kind. "You sang all night to me." He murmured, running a hand over the ranger's rustic features. "Every time I slipped into the dark again, every time fear threatened my heart to the point of despair, I could hear you singing. You have no idea what that did for me."

Aragorn only smiled. "I cannot sing as you." He managed to breath.

Legolas smiled. "True," the single moment of mirth was enough for Aragorn, and he smiled back at the elf's jest. "But it was enough." Legolas concluded, pulling his hand back again.

Aragorn suddenly noticed something about the elf he hadn't in his moment of surprise over his surroundings. "You look me in the eye again, Legolas."

"Yes," Legolas smiled sadly "It pains me deeply to do so, but not seeing you at all, I believe, is worse."

"Legolas please." Aragorn whispered. "I must know what-" he cut off in a highly painful coughing fit that wracked his whole body.

"Don't speak now, my friend," Legolas reproved kindly, "you need water. I fear you have sung yourself hoarse."

"I fear you are right." Aragorn gave a wry smile "But I also believe you were worth it."

"Hantach."

//thank you//

Legolas stood up, grabbing a water flagon as he went, and began to walk towards the small trickle that ran past the campsite. Aragorn had not noticed the stream before, and then also saw that was where the horses stood.

Legolas stopped mid-stride, and turned, "And I would do the same for you."

"Iston." Aragorn smiled.

//I know//

Legolas looked at Aragorn blankly. His eyes were wide, and their blue gaze seemed to look through Aragorn. The ranger stared back at his friend, familiar worry creeping up on him.

Suddenly, Legolas tore his gaze from Aragorn, as if he had seen something he desperately wished he had not.

"Legolas-" But Aragorn was caught in another coughing fit.

"Your water." Legolas said, his eyes snapping back to Aragorn's again. "I will get it."

Aragorn could only nod for fear that he would cough if he tried to speak again. He watched his friend's back as his knelt to fill the flagon with water from the fresh stream. Legolas seamed to take more time than was needed to fill it, and Aragorn knew that he was thinking. What had he said wrong?

Legolas returned with the water after five minutes of kneeling beside the stream. He helped Aragorn sit up half-way, and gave him a drink. The water stung Aragorn's sore throat, and he couldn't help coughing again.

Legolas looked very disturbed. "I am sorry. Is it not clean?"

"No, it is clean, but I am afraid my throat has been without water long enough to become a stranger to it." Aragorn smiled dryly "And getting re-acquainted can be painful."

Legolas smiled again, and shook his head. "Do you rangers never stop talking?"

Aragorn made as if to reply, but Legolas shoved him the flagon again. "Never mind. Drink." He instructed, unable to hide his laughter behind the words.

Aragorn obeyed, and tried again to drink from the bottle. This time, it didn't hurt as much, and he managed to swallow without coughing. Eventually he survived finishing it.

Legolas shook the empty bottle, "I'll refill it."

"No, Legolas." Aragorn put his hand on the elf's knee to prevent him from arising to refill the bottle, and pushing himself further up on his elbows.

"You are dehydrated." Legolas reminded him.

"I've had enough to talk, and that is all I want right now, my friend. I need answers."

Legolas set the flagon on the ground, and moved the hand that had held it to his forehead, sighing. "Oh, Strider. Can't you see that *I* do not even know?"

"Yes," Aragorn nodded "I can see that you don't know what is causing this pain I see in you." Aragorn leaned forward, whispering to his friend in a familiar language that he could truly understand.

"Ananta itoch in naeg. Lav-nin thank nach."

//but you know the pain. let me share it with you.//

Legolas sighed, and finally raised his eyes to meet Aragorn's. "When I look at you…I see" he paused, taking a deep breath. "I see anger. Hatred. Resentment. I see you glaring at me. When you touch my skin, I feel you striking me." He shook his head in emphasis, "And I cannot hear your words of comfort."

"So when you look at me, you see that I- I am angry with you?"

"Yes."

Aragorn shook his head in disbelief. "But it is not so, Legolas. I don't look upon you in hatred."

"I...know." Legolas' voice was low, and distraught. Somehow Aragorn felt that he didn't know - that he merely hoped. Legolas shook his head ever so slowly, his blond hair swishing smoothly from side to side with the motion. "I cannot help what my eyes see. One who depends so greatly on their eyes cannot deny the truth they send. How can I disbelieve what they tell me? But somehow...I hope that it is not so."

Aragorn could not think of what to say. This new revelation was almost worse than when he'd just wondered what was wrong with his friend. But he had to be strong. For Legolas' sake.

"What else?" He pressed.

"Strider, please." Legolas pleaded. "This hurts more than I can say. It is hard enough to bare this burden alone. I do not wish to relive it with you."

"But you are no longer bearing it alone." Aragorn promised. "Tulga-garo, Legolas."

//take courage, legolas.//

Legolas looked away from the ranger to the stream. "I see no beauty," he continued. "I see a river of dark water, with dead, twisted trees all around it. I see fog, but not of humidity; it's like living in a dark cloud that will not break and send rain."

Aragorn looked with a worried eye from the fresh spring, to the tall blooming trees, to the cloudless summer sky, then back to his friend.

"And last night," Legolas choked, 'I- I could not..." Legolas shook his head vigorously, and arose, grabbing the water bottle. "I will fetch you some more water."

"Legolas." Aragorn leaned forward, and placed his hand on the elf's knee again, but Legolas was quicker, and already on his feet, walking towards the stream. Aragorn shook his head in frustration, and rose up after his companion. He ran to the elf's side, and stepped out in front of him, though his body screamed at him for doing so.

"No, Legolas." He said stubbornly. "I cannot let you go alone like this."

"Aragorn,"

"No!" Aragorn repeated, placing his hand on the elf's shoulder. "I will not let you carry this burden alone. Please, Legolas." Aragorn pleaded, switching without knowing it to elvish again.

"Mavron na annoch gwiil."

//I want to give you peace.//

"I could not see the stars." Legolas whispered. "I could not hear their song. And when I closed my eyes in sleep, I saw..." Legolas' breathing hitched in his throat, but he pressed on. "I saw my father, dead. I saw the woods of Mirkwood on fire - y people, my home, destroyed. But I felt that I was to blame. I knew that it was I who had destroyed them… and they despised me for it." Legolas' voice finally cracked, and Aragorn heard tears hidden behind his words. "My father would not look at me when he died. He died in my arms..." He shook his head, but refused to close his eyes, for fear that his tears would fall, "But he would not look at me. His last words were, 'You do not know what you have done.'"

"But-" Aragorn managed to drag himself out of dead silence. "But it was only a dream. That you know."

"Yes. But my mind told me it was reality. And I've had the dream every time I try to close my eyes for peace." His tear-clouded gaze seemed to clear for a moment as one comfort hit him. "Except for last night. Last night, every time my father began to die, the vision faded away, and I was on a grassy hill, looking at the stars…as I listened to you sing."

"You are right." Aragorn whispered, laying his other hand on Legolas' shoulder. "I couldn't have imagined that it would do such a thing. And I am sorry that I forced you to relive your nightmares."

"It is well, my friend, that you did." Legolas sighed, the worst of the re-telling over. "And I thank you that you pressed me to do so."

"I will share this burden with you." Aragorn assured.

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Legolas saw Aragorn's lips move, twitching with a hidden sneer. A sneer that only Legolas could see through his lying eyes.

"I cannot hear you." Legolas told him softly.

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Aragorn remembered Legolas' words. "...I cannot hear your words of comfort."

"What can I do?" He whispered.

Legolas turned away, and stared into his nightmare world, saying nothing.

Aragorn shook his head, and let go of Legolas' shoulders. He paced a few feet away from the elf, and thought a moment. Yes, he knew what needed to be done. He turned to the horses, his decision made. Mounting Horoth, he grabbed Lint, Legolas' horse's, reigns.

"Come. We'd better head out for Rivendell again."

"Aragorn, I do not think that your father can heal this."

"And I do not think that you want to *walk* back to your home, for I am taking Lint with me. He has all the food in his saddle bags." The ranger smiled, and continued, turning the horses around "I supposed you could hop on, and join me."

Aragorn's jest was not lost on Legolas, and the elven prince smiled, mounting his horse swiftly, and booting him into a canter. Aragorn followed suit, and soon the two friend were making their steady way towards the Misty Mountains.