A/N) I want to say thank-you to all those that have reviewed so far. It has been a great pleasure in reading your replies.

For those that have read my previous stories you will notice that Aragorn speaks of what happened to him. It is essential to the story so for those who know what went on in the other two, be patient. Onto the chapter!



The Forge of Friendship

Chapter 2

"I'm Still Hurting"



"So what is the situation?" Aragorn asked glancing at Gandalf rather then the Prince.

"You have not told him?" Legolas said.

Gandalf shook his head. "No. I only know of a problem involving men. I was hoping that you could explain in more detail."

"Very well." Legolas sighed. They were sitting in a secluded area in the forest. The trees were all clamped together, and Legolas had gone round the area checking to see that no one was eavesdropping. The trees were tall and only spot-lights of sunlight could be seen creaking through the gaps in the trees.

Legolas breathed in slowly before speaking. "It started a year ago when one of my father's advisors disappeared. He sent Elrynd on a errand to one of the towns laying on the River - I do not know which - but he never came back alive. His body was found laying on the Riverbank with a note pinned by an arrow into his back. The note said: 'Beware elves! We'll get you for what you've done to our people!'. We were shocked. We did not know what has incurred this wrath. In fact we still do not know. Several months ago elves started disappearing; some have returned, some haven't. Those that have returned have told us of beatings attempting to break their spirits. They want to find out what evils the Mirkwood elves have been unleashing on their town. We do not know of the evils they are talking about. That is all we know; all I know."

Aragorn glanced at Gandalf. "Just out of curiosity, why am I here?"

"Yes, prey tell me why he is, Mithrandir?" the elf said, slyly.

"You are a man Aragorn. You were raised by elves. Use your head as to why you are here."

"That is not helpful." Aragorn muttered.

"It's not meant to be."



*****



It was night, and Aragorn, Gandalf and the Prince was resting in a camp surrounded by the Prince's guards. Aragorn was fast asleep, but Legolas nor Gandalf was resting. They had been discussing plans for the next day. However they were now both silent. The fire was burning brightly keeping the land warm.

"Mithrandir?"

"Hmm?"

"What is wrong with the Edain?" Legolas pointed towards Aragorn who was shivering uncontrollably on the earth, though he had a thick blanket covering him and a fire blazing beside him.

Gandalf bit his lip. Elrond had told him Aragorn was like this when left alone with friends or family near him. It was the fear of what had happened to him, happening again. During the travel to Mirkwood, Aragorn had not done this but then perhaps he felt awkward in the presence of an elf that held a hatred for all men.

"Well?"

"I can't tell you," Gandalf answered, "If you wish for answers get to know him. I cannot tell you anything of him, apart from this: He is still suffering."

"From what?"

"That's what you've got to get him to speak of." Gandalf smiled. "Do not hold hatred against someone so young. He's hardly even seen the world. Give him a chance. See what he has to offer before judging him. Besides he may be able to solve this problem. Anyone who has been tutored under Lord Elrond of Rivendell should have the necessary skills required for this. You know that young Greenleaf."

"I'll speak to him," Legolas said, "and I promise not to harm him."

Gandalf just nodded. At least he had managed to get the Prince to accept Aragorn - for now. He only hoped that Legolas would understand.



*****



Gandalf left sometime in the early hours of the morning as the sun was just rising. He did not say much to Legolas except: "Speak to him. Understand."

In fact Legolas had decided to *not* speak with the human, but hearing the wizards he realised that Gandalf wanted him to speak with Aragorn, and so he had to, in an effort to understand him more.

//I don't understand why. I will never understand the Edain. Gandalf knows this so why am I forced into doing this?//

Aragorn was just waking when the Prince came over and sat beside him. "Yes?"

Legolas did not know what to say. He had never been in close contact with a man since his ordeal. Then he asked; "What happened to you?"

Aragorn flinched at the question and for the briefest of moments the Prince could see fear flash into the grey eyes and then disappear. "Why do you ask?"

"You were shaking last night continually though you were wrapped up and close by a fire. I asked Gandalf what was the matter but he said you should answer my question. I would like to know."

"You would not understand." Aragorn replied simply staring at the ground.

Legolas clenched his fists. "Why wouldn't I understand? Is it because I don't feel anything but hatred for your kind? Is it that? I can understand if you give me a chance! Please, let me understand you!"

Aragorn swallowed hard. "Do you know what its like to be happy one minute and the next your life has taken a turn for the worse, all in the space of a minute?"

Legolas shook his head. Nothing bad had happened to him in the space of a minute that would cause his hatred of men, but what had been done to him in the space of a few months. Then it dawned on him. This man, this Edain, had been hurt by men the same as Legolas had been. "You were hurt?"

Aragorn nodded.

"How?"

Aragorn twiddled his fingers before speaking. His voice was barely a whisper but the elf caught every word: "I had a friend. A human friend. His name was Dilir. We were inseparable. One afternoon my brothers - Elladan and Elrohir -, Dilir and myself went hunting. While the twins went away some elf attacked us. I was the intended target, but Dilir pushed me out the way and died for me. Deollyn, Dilir's father, wanted to know which elf was responsible but we didn't know who was behind the murder. Somehow he got it into his head that I knew who killed his son. He took me captive and hurt me, trying to get me to tell him who'd killed his son. I didn't know. I was found by Elrond and the twins. They never told me what happened to Deollyn. It still haunts me. Yes, I was only hurt once but it was enough to make me wish to die. I'd never felt so much pain in my life." he fell silent.

Legolas could see the fear residing in the man's eyes. In fact the elf could relate to Aragorn; he felt sorry for the man. "How old were you?"

"Ten."

"You never recovered?"

"No. I thought I had. Every night I see Deollyn's leering face in my dreams; I see myself being beaten again and again. It's not very nice. I suppose your think 'silly Edain' or something. It's a painful memory to bear."

Legolas smiled sadly. "I do understand."

Aragorn blinked twice.

"I was hurt by men a thousand years ago. I hate all men. I see them and think 'all men are alike' but talking to you, I see you are different." Legolas said.

"I hate men myself. To me being a man is a curse that the Valar placed upon me."

"You want to be an elf? So that you can sail away and forget the pain?"

"You guessed right. I'd do anything to have that gift. What is the gift my kind gets? Death. You don't have to leave, you live forever. I will die and that is not gift."

Legolas nodded sadly. He was beginning to understand. Something he had thought impossible. "There's something else your not telling me. I see that you fear something. Not what happened to you, but what you've got to do."

Aragorn leaned forward onto his elbows and rested them on his knees. "Do you know who and what I am?"

Legolas shook his head. "A man?"

"Not just any man." Aragorn sighed. "A Numenorean."

Legolas sat back shocked. "You....you are one of the Numenoreans? One of the last surviving heirs of Numenor? Blessed with long life?"

Nodding sadly, Aragorn said: "I'm not just any Numenorean. I'm from the line of Lost Kings of Gondor. I'm the heir to the throne of Gondor."

The elf could not speak. What the human said surprised him. He had not expected that!

"I don't wish to be a King of Men. I hate my own kind, but I am also a King of them. I'm at loss at what to do. How can I rule them when I hate them?"

"Maybe you would find when it comes to it you would perhaps not hold a grudge against them. You don't know what the future could hold for you." Legolas said. "Do you know who this elf was who tried to kill you?"

"We never found him. All I know is that he is either dead or still in hiding, biding his time."

"That must be hard, knowing that someone is out for your blood. I wouldn't settle for it." Legolas grinned as he imagined himself shaking an elf who had tried to kill him and then kicking him over the tops of Mirkwood.

"I would have come here on my own but Mithrandir seems to think I need a companion where ever I go, just in case."

"That is wise." Legolas pointed out. He liked this human even more! "You are important to man-kind. They don't want you killed, do they?"

"I suppose not. I'm sure it would be a big blow to Gondor if I died. Like they would ever know." Aragorn spat back.

"You haven't excepted your responsibility?"

"I never will. I don't want to even be alive, and yet I must be." Aragorn said, raising. "I must now be going. I'm sure we've got a lot to do today."

Legolas could only watch, feeling even more confused. But still his mind could not comprehend what had happened to the human. Gandalf had been right; understanding Aragorn had helped him feel sympathetic towards him. Maybe he would give the human another chance.

He would have to see how Aragorn would plan to help Mirkwood and if it worked.



TBC



Chapter 3 deals with Aragorn and Legolas scouting out the men's camp and Aragorn's idea to help the wood-elves solve this problem.