Legolas Speaks-

               I wondered why master suddenly changed his feelings about me. In my heart, I could feel myself beginning to trust him, although my mind still stirred suspicious thoughts. It was odd, as we sat and talked briefly, he seemed to take me as an equal… as a friend. And he pressured me no further about the past.

               "… I fell into the light… and the next thing I knew I was here…" Lord Aragorn said to me, finishing his tale. I did not respond, still afraid that this may be a game of his.

               "You have to trust me Legolas… this is not the way things are supposed to be… you are not a slave…" He whispered sincerely. I raised an eyebrow but tightened my lips. What was he saying? That we were friends… in this 'world' of his? That we were equals?

               "… Lord Aragorn… forgive me… but I do not understand… you are… someone else?" I said trying to word it the right way. Every time I looked towards his handsome face, I remembered him striking me, his hands gripping the whip that lashed my body into rivers of blood and the strong grip that tried to pin me down. But he was different…

               "I am me, but I am not Lord Aragorn, nor am I the man you think you know." He said in his frustration. I could see tense fingers running through his ruffled hair. There his dark eyes blazed towards my own trembling ones and I knew, I knew he was not the same man

               "… I knew… this morning that you were different…" I whispered softly, "But forgive me, I could not trust you right away." I could feel myself believing him, or beginning to anyway.

               "There is nothing to forgive, if only I can get everything back to the way it was …"

               I did nothing to answer him but my ears could pick up sounds from far away. My heart nearly skipped a few beats when I heard footsteps approaching. "Master Aragorn…" I began.

               "Don't call me that…"

              

               "Shhh, there is no time… lay me on the ground…" I whispered softly, hoping that my conscience would lead me right.

               "What?" Aragorn stared at me.

               "Someone is coming… just lay me on the ground."

Aragorn Speaks-

              

               What was Legolas saying? I saw him starting to rip his own clothing where his bruises and cuts began to show. It proved to be the most painful thing I have ever had to watch, lord he was beautiful. How could I have told him that he was just a friend to me? I watch as the blond elf finger one of his fresh cut and smear some of the elven blood upon his body so that it dripped onto his shirt.

               "Legolas what are you doing?" I asked concerned and confused.

               "… They will not be happy if they find out that you are only speaking to me." He said with shaking voice and unsure smile. "Lay me on the ground and I will pretend to have passed out."

               "…No, I will not do that." I said firmly, "I will not let them think that I hurt you. And those drunk bastards have no right to do this to you… or any of your kin."

               "… Master Aragorn… I'm begging you…" He looked towards me with pleading eyes; "You cannot help yourself or anyone else unless you have their trust."

               "Alright, fine, but I will not let them hurt you anymore." I decided firmly. Legolas smiled weakly and I lifted him into my arms. He weighed no more than a feather. I laid the elven beauty on the cold ground and he flinched a little as he turned over.

               "Go to sleep my lord… I will serve your breakfast in the morning." Legolas whispered. I looked at him with sadness and frustration in my eyes but I held his hand. I could not just leave him like that. Legolas let go and closed his eyes. He beckoned me to do the same.

Haldir Speaks-

               "Legolas! Legolas are you all right?" I ran to my friend who was sitting motionless, leaning against the wall of the shed. It was the place where we slept. "I heard what they were doing to you…"

               "Haldir, I'm fine." He replied calmly, a lost reverie was in his voice.

               "… I don't understand, they said they saw master carry you away…"

               "… Master… he is not himself… I don't understand what happened, but he has changed."

               "What?" I said, utterly lost. What happened? "Legolas… what did he do to you?"

               "Nothing… he only spoke to me… he was almost kind."

               "…Legolas…" I warned him, for I knew from my experiences that men were not, in whatever fantasy world, kind. "You don't trust him do you?"

               "… Haldir, you were not there, he was… not the same man" Legolas stuttered, I could see him looking down.

               "Legolas… how could you say that, after what he's done." I said furiously, remembering what happened less than a year ago… the whip thrashing against my friend's skin leaving him gasping in pain… blood flowing everywhere as guards held Glorfindel and I back.

               "I cannot explain it… and you will not believe me anyway…" Legolas muttered as he leaned against the shed. I sat down beside him as he laid his head on my shoulder.

               "Why do you trust Eomer?" Legolas said suddenly. I glared at him; we had an unspoken agreement never to speak of my lover. He looked instantly sorry but he continued nonetheless, "How do you know that he would not betray you?"

               "… Because I love him…" I said honestly, "… and I know in my heart that he loves me. It's written in his eyes, his heart and his kiss." Legolas smiled and said nothing more. I was so glad to have him as a friend.

                                                           

               Morning came as Aragorn reluctantly slept. The sight of his lover's mangled body was not a calming thing to remember in the morning. He pulled on his clothing hesitantly, was he going to accept this world for the time being? He supposed all he could do was to help the elves now. That seemed more important.

Aragorn Speaks-

               "Lord Aragorn…" Legolas pushed open the door carrying the tray just as he did the previous day.

               "Legolas…" I breathed as I quickly took the tray he carried and set it upon the night table.

               "... Did you sleep all right?"

              

               "Legolas… come here." I gestured him to sit. I wanted to hug him tight as I saw the sadness that always lingered in his eyes. He sat down reluctantly and far away from me as he possibly could. "You still doubt me…" I said softly.

               "I'm sorry…" Legolas said as he tried to edge closer to me.

               "… No… I do not blame you for it." I told him, "You must be hungry…" I offered him the food and he looked at me doubtfully. It seemed that he has never been offered to do anything before. I lifted the drink and sipped it then handed the glass to him. He pressed his rouge lips to it hesitantly and took a sip as well. A bit of the foam stuck to his top lip and I gently wiped it away with a rough hand. He laughed lightly and I could almost feel my heart being lifted. How enchanting he was when he smiled.

               "… Thank-thank you." He stuttered letting his guard down a bit.

               "Think nothing of it." I whispered, I could not believe how gorgeous he was. My fingers gently brushed the long strands of his golden hair from his eyes. He trembled a little but a smile came to his lips.

               "Master Aragorn…" He began softly, "I still do not understand… why are you so good to me?"

               "… Because… you are my friend…" I said hesitantly, I was too afraid to say more.

               "… In this place you come from…" He began, "… I was your equal?"

               "… No…" I whispered, his eyes faltered and he looked down, "I was hardly your equal… you were a prince…" He gave an unbelieving chuckle. His innocence made my heart stir.

               "…Was I very different?" He asked gently, I took his hand into mine and shook my head.

               "You were just as beautiful… and just as kind." I said softly. His face paled and he looked away from me. I knew that 'I' must have wronged him in the past, and it must hurt for him to look at me.

               "You were saying… that my kin were not slaves… but your equals?" He whispered, his eyes lighting up.

               "…Yes… almost sacred." I said quietly, he was smiling now, fuller than I have seen in a while. "And the two kindreds lived in peace." I assured him. Legolas seemed lost in a dream as he tilted his head up to the ceiling and sighed.

               "It sounds like a dream…" Legolas added softly. I knew that he still did not trust me. But I had to convince him somehow.

               "… Legolas…I remember…you had a fear of spiders ever since you were little…" I said to him.

               Legolas froze and turned to me, "How did you know?"

               "… The monster spiders of your homeland attacked you when you were young…" I said softly, "And I remember, you would always eat the outside of your bread… in a circle almost… and then work your way to the center…" CLANG. The glass he was holding slipped from his fair elven hands and shattered on the floor.

               "I'm sorry…" He looked to me nervously. I could see his whole body shaking in fear or disbelief. He quickly knelt down and began to clean up the broken glass and spilled liquid.

               "Legolas leave it… it's all right." I said to him offering my hands to lift him.

               "How… how could you know?"

Legolas Speaks-

              

               'Only Haldir knew of my eating habits…' I thought to myself. He was not the type to talk about these things either. My trembling eyes trailed up to the man who was stern of face and tried to look into his. Everything he said was true. My fear of spiders… the way I ate…

               "Would you like to know more?" He said to me. I shook my head. I realized that I had been holding the small shreds of glass in my hand and that one of them had pricked my finger. Blood was trailing slowly down but I paid it no mind. Aragorn, however, lifted my hand and gently forced out the glass piece and tended the cut. This gentle man was not my lord Aragorn… he couldn't be.

               "Every time… you would get embarrassed… the tip of your ears would turn so rosy…" He said to me with a winning smile. I looked down, he was right again. I had believed that he was only fooling around but he knew everything about me… how was that possible? I felt him gently touching my cheek and pulling me close.

               "Stop…" I moaned softly but he held me towards him… all the horrible memories suddenly came flooding back, "STOP IT…" I yelled pushing him away.

               "Legolas," He looked at me, apology was in his eyes, "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have…"

               "No…" I said still shaking, "I should clean this up… and go… I have much to do, the floors do not scrub themselves." I looked down at my blistered hands.

               "Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it." He assured me, bending down to wipe up the mess.

               "Lord Aragorn…" I began but stopped as he looked at me amusingly, "I mean… Aragorn…" He smiled at this. "I should…" I continued but he pressed a finger to my lips.

               "I'll take care of it." He repeated, still smiling at me, "Why do you not take the day off?" I stared at him, slaves do not take the day off, what was he speaking of?

               "You said I was Lord Aragorn…" He said emphasizing the word 'lord', "Can't I let you have a day off?" He was grinning at me now. I looked down and shook my head.

               "Your brother would not agree to that…" I said to him, "And you need his trust if you ever want to…"

               "… He does not need to know anything." Aragorn whispered taking my hand into his, "Besides, I do not fear him… or any of these men. I will fight with my every last strength to protect you." I could hardly swallow those words; they were much too sincere, especially since he has never bothered to learn my name before yesterday. (Even though I have served him breakfast for nearly seven years now)

Eomer Speaks-

              

               Glorfindel checked Haldir's pulse and lifted the elf from my arms.

               "What happened?" He looked at me; his golden hair shimmered in the sun. My eyes focused on Haldir and kissed his hand. How could I have let this happen? My beautiful elf… the most perfect being I had ever known…

               "He was beaten…" I began, "I do not know what he did to provoke the king but… Ai… he… I should have been there…"I could barely speak, the sight of my lover's body took too much of a strain on my throat. Glorfindel said nothing; he only laid Haldir upon the straw bed and began to tend to his bleeding cuts. "Get me some herbs…" He muttered. I nodded.

               I had high respect for Glorfindel; he was one of the few older elves that the men here were cautious about striking. He had a mysterious and strong sense of pride. He glared at me for a moment as I brought him the herbs… I knew exactly why he was looking at me so. He did not like me, for he cared about Haldir like a brother and was protective of him.

               "He will be alright…" Glorfindel whispered as he gently cleaned Haldir's brow with a washcloth.

               "Thank Valar…" I whispered stroking my love's arm.

               "…Eomer?" Haldir stirred softly and lifted his magnificent head; I hugged him into my arms and kissed his cheek. He smiled weakly as his eyes shone with pain.

               "It's all right now… I'm here." I whispered, he nodded still smiling weakly.

               "Damn…" He murmured, "I can't believe it… I got caught…" He said trying to sound light of heart. I held him tighter in my arms… he deserved better… he deserved to be happy… and the havens is the only place that can happen. He slipped his arms around my neck as I pulled him close. We whispered softly to each other for a while then his eyes perked up.

               "Eomer… run!" He snapped. I nodded quickly as I set him down. I gave him a look of love before leaping from the shed.

Haldir Speaks-

               "No one is coming…" Glorfindel whispered to me.

               "…I know." I answered.

               "Than… why did you bid him to go…?" Glorfindel studied my eyes. I could not resist his stern sapphire eyes that pierced both cloud and sky.

              

               "… I… I don't know. I just needed to talk to you for a moment…" I whispered. Glorfindel nodded and waited for me to go on.

               "I had a fight with Legolas…" I said softly, "I worry about him… he is getting too close to that human… lord Aragorn… I don't trust him at all."

               "… What of Eomer? He is a human as well."

               "… But he is not like that… you know what that man Aragorn has done to him… how could he…" I stopped myself, I was too angry and breathing hard.

               "…Haldir… people change… and Lord Aragorn… he has many sides to him… almost different personalities." I saw a spark shine in Glorfindel's eyes. I did not understand at all but he just shrugged his strong shoulders and stood up.