Story Title: Lean on Me

Chapter Title: Lessons of Life

Author: J. Chassells

Summary: My take on how Aragorn (mostly referred to as Strider and Estel in this fic) and Legolas met and how their friendship was forged throughout their adventures and misadventures.

Author's Note: My first LOTR fic, so please don't hurt me! Reviews and flames are appreciated. This fic isn't really dedicated to anyone, but if I'd have to dedicate it to someone or something, I think this one goes to the US Military. I'm an extremely patriotic person and I support our military completely and firmly. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, just the plot, yada, yada, yada...

Characters that star in this story: Strider (Estel), Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, maybe a mention of Arwen here and there, and some unnamed orcs and just plain ol' bad guys.

Another A/N: Wow, some of you guys have stuck with me?!?! Whoa...I feel so honored! Thank you all! I'm working on the next chappie; it should be up soon, but don't get used to this! School will be startin' soon, so my updates will slow drastically. Just a warning...you have a month to prepare!

Chapter 2

Elrond watched as his sons laid both princes on separate beds. Turning to a servant, he ordered, "I need herbs and medicines, quickly." The elf nodded and headed out of the room quickly. Elrond turned to his sons and said, "Elladan, I want you and Elrohir to check Estel over; search for his injuries. I'll tend to Legolas and try to contain the poison." Elladan nodded and he and his brother moved to Estel's side. Elladan placed a hand on his brother's forehead. The heat that nearly burned his skin shocked him.

"Father, he's burning up!" Elrond looked up, then looked back down at Legolas and noticed the ranger's coat around the elf's shoulders. Feeling his forehead, he found that the elf prince was free from weather-induced fever, and the only fever that ailed him was poison-based. Elrond looked at his sweating and shaking son and sadness washed over him.

Shaking it off with a shake of his head, Elrond took the herbs and medicines brought to him and placed them on a table. "Elladan, continue with your work. Elrohir, come help me with Legolas for a moment." The elf nodded and hurried to his father's side.

It took them only a minute working together to get the prince into dry clothes and under the blankets. During the way, Elrond established his injuries, and when they finished, said, "If Estel had been two hours later, the Prince would've been beyond our help." Reaching for some herbs, he quickly ground them into a paste and applied it to the wound in Legolas' side.

The stinging brought the elf to consciousness. He looked around blearily, and saw Elrond. "Milord...where's Estel?" His throat was sore and raw, but managed to speak the words. The elf king did not get a chance to answer as Elladan yelled, "He's convulsing!" Legolas whipped his head around and regretted it as the room swam before his eyes.

However, he saw quite clearly as his best friend shuddered and tried to curl into a ball. Elladan and Elrohir held him down, and suddenly, the convulsions stopped. Estel's head rolled to the side, and Legolas gave a cry of horror as he saw blood drip from his friend's mouth to the pillow.

Elrond saw the blood as well and ordered tightly, "Elladan, fetch me two knives; Elrohir, I'm going to need some water, clean bandages, and more sleeping herbs." The twins complied and dashed from the room. Legolas didn't move, but kept staring at his friend. Elrond was whispering words of encouragement to the man in Elvish, and carefully took off the man's shirt.

Legolas and Elrond both winced at the massive bruise on the right side of his chest. Elrond gently explored the area, pressed down some, and his eyes held grief as Estel whimpered. Elrond stroked the man's hair as if he was a child, rather than the adult he nearly was.

Legolas whispered, "He...saved me...orcs." Elrond looked up, and saw the fear and concern for Estel in the other elf's eyes. He was about to offer words of comfort when suddenly Legolas cried out and clutched his side.

Elrond hurried to the elf's side and held his shoulders down on the bed. "Legolas, what is it?" The other elf didn't answer, but just curled into a ball and moaned. Abruptly, he went still under Elrond's hands. Fear shook the elf king to his core. "Legolas? Legolas!"

He quickly pulled back the blankets and checked the wound in the other's side and quietly exhaled in sorrow. The area around the wound was darker than the night. He shook his head and closed his eyes.

He didn't hear as someone else walked into the room. Elrond jumped as someone laid a hand on his shoulder and quietly said, "I don't know if I should ask how these two got this injured." Elrond stood quickly and a smile lit his face. "Mithrandir! Why have you chosen to visit Rivendell so soon after your last visit?" The aged wizard thought, then asked, "Does an old friend need a reason to visit?" Elrond sighed tiredly. "No...no, I suppose not."

Mithrandir turned his attention to the two unconscious people in the room. "How were they hurt?" Elrond swallowed, then quietly said, "Apparently, while Estel returned home from one of his wilderness treks, he stumbled across Legolas, who'd been captured and escaped from a band of orcs. Estel received his injuries saving the Prince." Mithrandir softly said, "A prince, saving a prince."

Mithrandir took in the dark wound on Legolas' side and asked, "What herbs have you put on that?" Elrond quietly said, "Some athelas. However, the orcs are growing bolder all the time, and most of our store is already used up. Athelas grows primarily in summer, and I'm afraid that this plant may have been cut too long ago."

Mithrandir dug at his robes and produced a small pouch. "Here. This athelas is fresh; it was cut less than a week ago." Hope returning to Elrond's eyes, he quickly took the herbs and made a paste of it. When he applied it, he watched in shock as the wound healed up completely in front of him.

He glared at Mithrandir, who smiled a knowing smile and Elrond said, "I suppose you forgot about the part where you put a magic spell on the athelas?" The wizard just shrugged, and Elrond sighed, saying, "Legolas lost a lot of blood; he's still weak, and not out of danger yet."

Elladan and Elrohir chose that moment to come in with the supplies. Seeing Mithrandir, they greeted him with worry detectable in their voices. "Peace, ion nins. Legolas' wound is healed. However, he's still in danger. We must keep him in bed at all costs." Elladan and Elrohir nodded, and produced the items.

Mithrandir looked at the knives in confusion, and Elrond, fed up with the whole situation, asked, sarcastically, "Do you have some herbs that will heal a punctured lung, Mithrandir?" The wizard started, then shook his head; Elrond quietly said, "I thought as much."

Elrond laid one of the knives next to Estel's still body and placed the other in the coals of the fireplace in the room. He carefully laid out the other supplies, and quickly turned back to Estel when his youngest moaned. The ranger coughed once and opened his eyes. They were unclear because of the fever that wracked his body, and he choked, "Ada?"

Elrond sat on the bed and gently wiped away the sweat on Estel's forehead with a cool cloth. "Easy, Estel. You're safe; you're home." Estel's eyes drifted shut, and he murmured, "Legolas?" Elrond nodded and said, "He's fine; he's going to be okay." Estel swallowed and whispered, "Sorry." Elrond sighed and shook his head, "Nothing to be sorry for, tithen pen." Estel moaned once more, then lapsed into unconsciousness.

Elladan looked at the supplies and asked fearfully, "What are you going to do?" Elrond sighed and stood. "I'm going to have to cut open his skin, pull the rib from his lung, cauterize his lung, and stitch up his wounds." Elrohir gulped, and Elladan said, "We'll help in whatever way we can." Elrond nodded his thanks and turned back to Estel.

It was going to be a long night.

Translations:

Adan- human
Estel lasta an enni- Estel listen to me
tithen pen- little one
tithen gwador- little brother
ion nin- My son
post mae- rest well

Brannon nin- My lord
Mellon nin- My friend
Ada- Father

Okay, so...Review! Please! Sorry this chappie was a lil' shorter than the first!