"What do you find so amusing?"
Legolas smiled, as he and Aragorn rode through the woods. "I was just thinking of the first time we met."
Aragorn's eyebrows shot up. He had known the elf all his life, and naturally could not recall that day, since he'd been only two years old at the time. "Tell me."
Legolas smiled. "I had come to Imladris on one of my frequent visits. I was completely shocked to find out that a human child had been taken in…you had only been there for a week, I was told."
Aragorn smiled. "How did I react when we met?"
Legolas chuckled. "Your brothers took me to your room, and we found you sitting on your bed, playing with some toy. When we walked in, you looked up, and gasped at the sight of me."
Aragorn frowned, puzzled. "Why?"
"At first, I did not know. We approached the bed and Elladan said to you, 'This is Legolas, Estel. He is a very good friend of ours'."
Aragorn smiled.
"You then attempted to stand, but your balance was not steady on the bed. I crouched down to be more level with you, and said, 'Well met, Estel!'"
"What was my reply?" Aragorn asked.
Legolas smiled. "Your reply was but one word; 'yellow!', or rather, 'ye-oh!'"
Aragorn's grin widened at the elf's attempt at baby talk. "Yellow?"
Legolas nodded, laughing. "Aye. You then reached out a hand and grabbed my hair. Apparently, before then you'd only seen dark-haired elves."
Aragorn laughed loudly. "Your hair! I didn't pull on it, did I?"
"Of course," Legolas said, still smiling. "Took me quite by surprise. You had a very strong grip for one so small."
Aragorn shook his head. "What did my brothers do?"
"They immediately grabbed for you, but you pulled away, falling onto your back on the bed," Legolas told him. "Unfortunately, you still had my hair in your hand, and since I had been in a crouched position, I was not able to maintain my own balance…"
Aragorn stopped laughing there. "And?"
"I fell—in a very undignified manner—against the side of the bed, landing on my knees on the floor…my hair still clutched in your hand."
Aragorn looked horrified.
Legolas smiled, showing his friend that he was not angry. "Your brothers had the same look on their faces that you have right now!"
Aragorn smiled slightly.
"I was not angry, how could I be? You were only a child, a human fascinated with an elf's golden hair." He chuckled again. "Your brothers finally managed to pry my hair from your hand, and one of them helped me to my feet…I cannot remember who, for I was too consumed with laughter."
Aragorn chuckled.
"Your brothers eventually saw the humor in the situation, but one of them told you to ask my forgiveness, and you did, quite humbly." Legolas remembered the sad look on the little boy's face.
"Had I injured you?" Aragorn asked, sounding concerned.
Legolas shook his head. "No. You were so contrite that your eyes welled with tears. I was saddened by this, as no harm had been done, and picked you up, where you happily wrapped your tiny arms around my neck. 'Well met, Legless,' you said to me."
"I wish that my memory was as good as yours."
Legolas abruptly opened his eyes, his body giving a startled jerk.
Aragorn frowned, from where he sat next to the bed. "Legolas?"
Legolas blinked, with a frown. "I…what?"
Aragorn squeezed his arm. "You've been telling me of our first meeting; it seemed to me that you were talking in your sleep, and it appears that you indeed were."
Legolas seemed shocked. "We were riding…through the woods."
Aragorn sat back in his chair. "You were saying aloud what you were telling me in your dream."
Legolas frowned. He couldn't remember ever having a conversation with a person while asleep! It was extremely bizarre.
"Do not worry, Legolas," Aragorn said. "The herbs that my father gave you last night can have a strange effect on the brain. You were likely mostly awake, but sleep still had a slight hold on you, making your mind create images to go along with our words. I have seen it happen before."
At his last words, Legolas felt better about the incident. "That was…extremely odd." He didn't even remember consuming the medicine. Last night?
Looking around the room, he saw that it was full daylight, and realized that a night and morning had passed.
"Was that true, about our first meeting?" Aragorn asked. "I have seen some herbs make people say things that they believe to be true, but truly aren't."
"Yes, it is true," Legolas told him, with a smile. "It is something that I shall never forget."
Aragorn smiled at his friend, who he could see had grown stronger through the night. "You are feeling better."
Legolas nodded. His pain had decreased and he didn't feel quite as weak.
"I am glad…" Aragorn said, in a far-off sounding voice.
Legolas looked at him, to see the overwhelming guilt still on the human's face. "Estel, please…"
Aragorn looked at him, concerned. "What, mellon-nin?"
"This wound was not intended, do not follow it with one purposely inflicted."
Aragorn's brow furrowed, questioningly.
"By holding onto guilt, you refuse my forgiveness." Legolas sighed. "That would wound me more grievously than any weapon ever could," he said, sounding sad.
Aragorn looked away, suddenly unable to meet his eyes.
"Please," Legolas begged. "Let us put this in the past and allow no more harm to be caused by it."
Aragorn sighed, staring at the floor.
Legolas inwardly echoed the sigh, searching for another tactic. "If I had accidentally wounded you, Estel, would you forgive me?"
"Of course!" Aragorn answered, looking at him now.
"In the same way do I forgive you. It was an accident. I know that you would never intentionally harm me; you would sooner harm yourself!" Legolas stopped there, feeling his weakness returning thanks to the length and intensity of his words.
Aragorn nodded at that. "I would. That is the truth, Legolas. I would rather harm myself than risk harming you." He frowned at the sight of his friend's increased paleness, and realized that Legolas was not yet well enough for long conversation.
The elf saw his friend's concerned look. "I am fine."
Aragorn stood, shooting him a look as if to say, 'right'. "Ada wanted to know when you woke. I shall return."
"Where are your brothers?" Legolas asked, suddenly realizing that he hadn't seen them lately.
Aragorn paused, on his way to the door. "They left to meet up with the warriors that we sent to find the orcs."
Legolas said nothing for a minute. "You are afraid for them," he sensed.
Aragorn nodded. "Yes…they went alone."
