Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this story and I'm not making any money on it.

Summary: After the death of his friend, Aragorn falls into depression and there may only be one person who can draw him out of it.

~*Author's Notes*~ Thanks to all my reviewers. I'm still in awe that I have so many reviews. Don't get me wrong, I love it.

A special note to ~*ME*~ A relapse is when you recover from an illness or an injury, and then all of a sudden, whatever you had strikes again. Well I hope that helps you a little bit. I'm not that great with explaining things, so this is the best I could do. I wish it will aid you in anyway. Thanks for continuing to review!

To the rest of my reviewers…you guys are the bomb! You rock!

How Can I Survive

Chapter 29

"Oh no" Arwen whispered. She was barely audible, and that's saying a lot especially since her companions were also elves. Elladan leaned down and picked up the man that he knew as a little brother, and held him in his arms. "We have to get him back to the palace" he said as he started to make his way back the way that he had just come from.

The others followed closely behind him. The evenstar was right on his heels. She hated the fact that she was worried about him, but there was no way that she wouldn't be, and she knew that.

Ireth was doing her best to hide the smile that was forming on her pink lips. Her grin spelled out success and Nessime was disgusted with that. The Mirkwood elf was glaring icicles at her and in return Ireth just put on an innocent mask. The same expression that she had faked when Arwen showed up.

"You're disgraceful, do you know that?" Nessime said, whilst slowing her pace to walk beside the other she-elf. "Don't say that. I'm just…sneaky" Ireth laughed causing her companion to shake her head in repulsion and antipathy.

"Don't get like that on me. I gave you a choice" Ireth said when she saw her acquaintance's actions. "Some choice. What you gave me was an ultimatum. Either help you ruin two people's lives or be banished or possibly killed" the fair haired elf argued trying to keep her voice as quiet as possible. "That's a choice. I gave you the opportunity to say no but you didn't, you made a selection." Ireth contended.

Mirkwood's representative turned away from her travel mate knowing that this fight wasn't going anywhere. Neither of them would win this disagreement. The rest of the trip back to Imladris was silent. No one said anything, not even their fellow elves mumbled a word.

Their steps were heavy and it seemed like forever until they finally reached the palace. "Go get Adar, I will bring Estel to the healing houses" Elladan said to his twin earning a nod in return. When Elrohir was out of sight up the stairs, the older brother went down the opposite hallway which was lit only by torches. He opened the door and laid Aragorn down on one of the silky, white comforted beds.

"Arwen, maybe you should leave" Elladan suggested. "No, I will not leave." "I think both of you should wait outside." Together The two siblings turned around at hearing their father's tired, frustrated voice. "Elrohir is the most skilled healer so only he will be of assistance to me" Elrond said as he ushered his other children out of the room.

When the door closed and they were left on the side contrary to the one they wanted to be on, Elladan and Arwen both seated themselves on the bench outside of the houses of healing. Already on the bench sat Nessime and Ireth.

"This has been a rough day for me, I think I will retire for the night" Ireth said as she stood and walked down the corridor. Arwen rested her head in her hands and her older brother put his arm on her shoulders as a sign of support.

"I don't know who to believe. I have known Ireth a lot longer than Estel, but I can't picture him doing that. Maybe it's just that I won't. He told me that he loved me and I know that I love him so this doesn't make any sense to me. I can't turn my back on my best friend, but now I'm not sure if my best friend is Ireth or Aragorn. I don't know what I'm talking about, of course I should believe Ireth" the evenstar concluded as she rose to her feet.

"I am going to apologize to her. This has probably been as rough on her as its been on me, if not more" she said as she progressed to follow the other female who had just left. Undomiel looked at her companions when they didn't reply to her. Something about their expressions told her hat she hadn't been informed about an event.

"What aren't you telling me?" she asked sternly. Again when they refused to answer she knew something must be terribly wrong. Arwen dropped to her knees in front of her older brother and grabbed her hand. "If I need to know, you have to tell me" she pleaded with him. Elladan placed his attention over to Nessime silently asking her what they should do, but she was just as clueless as him. "Please" she begged.

"Maybe that's not a good idea just now" the sylvan elf responded unsure about the reaction she would get. "No, you're going to tell me and you're going to tell me now" Arwen nearly shouted. Elladan used his free hand to rub the sides of his head. "Arwen…" "Don't try to shield me from the truth, I am old enough to know what is going on. Don't attempt to protect me anymore" she yelled at her sibling.

"Okay fine, do you want to know? Then don't get livid when you realize you would have been better being left in the dark." Elladan shouted back. He was known for having a temper and right now his sister was pushing his buttons. He was only trying to keep her safe from the pain of the truth and she wouldn't let him. The man she accused of being unfaithful could right now be in the grasp of death. No one would want to learn that and he was trying to stop her from finding out.

"Elladan" Nessime hissed knowing that if she were in this position she would also want to know the 'secret.' "I'm sorry, but if you knew -" "Then tell me" Arwen said more gently to match the tone of her brother.

"Alright, I guess you would have found out sooner or later anyway. Just you have to promise not to get upset at anybody" he told her. "I promise." That was enough for the dark haired twin to continue after receiving a nod from Nessime.

"Aragorn wasn't being disloyal towards you. He loves you and he was telling the truth when he said that Ireth kissed him, as crazy as that sounds. Speaking of Ireth, the reason she kissed him was to break your heart. She hates the fact that you are cherished and respected by everybody from Lorien to Mirkwood. She wants you to think that you are easily replaced but what she didn't know was that, that isn't true. Far from it. She also didn't realize that Elrohir and myself overheard her conversation with Nessime. She was trying to force her to aid her in her scheme." Elladan explained struggling to be as soothing and tender as possible.

Arwen was attempting to let all the information she had just learned sink in. This was the last thing she wanted. With a crack voice she stated "Then it's my fault he collapsed, I should have listened to him when he told me."

"No, no it's not your fault" Elladan said firmly. "He's right, you can't blame yourself" Nessime agreed. Arwen was going to argue but she was stopped when the wooden door opened and Elrond and Elrohir appeared at the entranceway looking very tired and sombre. Elrond spoke giving news that was a mix of good and bad "He will live, but he has fallen in to a coma."

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~*Judy Greenleaf*~