Disclaimer: All facts and characters related to Tolkien's works are his.

These Burdens We Carry

Chapter V ~ Confrontation

The weight of many sleepless nights weighed down on Legolas' eyelids. Half in a daze, he looked up from his plate and blinked at Aragorn. The ranger looked expectantly at him as though awaiting an answer.

Legolas wrecked his brain for some clue as to what had been said earlier. Unable to recall anything, he hastily settled for a relatively safe response.

"Err… that's nice."

He hoped fervently that Aragorn had been recounting an incident of some sort.

Aragorn's eyes widened slightly and he seemed about to say something, before he smiled slightly and picked up his goblet to take a sip of wine. Legolas breathed a sigh of relief and went back to trying to keep awake.

Inwardly though, Aragorn was troubled. He had asked Legolas how Mirkwood had been coping with the recent increase of orcs.

He glanced discreetly at the elf. It could have been his imagination but Legolas' head seemed to be nodding almost imperceptibly forward every few seconds. His elbows were propped on the table and his head rested heavily in his hands. His head was bowed and Aragorn was almost sure that the elf's eyelids were drooping lower and lower downward.

Worriedly, he reached over and shook his friend's shoulder lightly, accompanying the small action with a question.

"Legolas…?"The elf did not stir.

"Legolas…? Mellon nin? Are you alright?"

His anxiety increased tenfold and with one hand, he brushed away the golden hair that veiled his friend's face. To his utmost alarm, Legolas' eyes were closed. Frantically, he shook Legolas' shoulder vigorously. The prince of Mirkwood's arms fall limply on to the table and his head lolled limply against the table top.

The hall was nearly empty and Aragorn was grateful for that. He felt sure Legolas would be deeply embarrassed at being caught falling asleep at the dinner table. The elf  was clearly exhausted. He had not even wakened after falling forward.

Aragorn gently scooped the elf into his arms and walked carefully towards his room. There, he carefully placed the sleeping form onto the soft bed and arranged the blankets around him. Legolas stirred and murmured something, but did not waken.

Quietly, the man left closed the door behind him, glad that his friend was finally getting some much needed rest.

~*

Legolas sprung upright with a start, his eyes wild and confused. His breath came in short gasps and his clothes were soaked with sweat. His gaze swept around the room, wondering how he had come to be here. The last thing he remembered was resting his head in his hands for a few moments.

The fireplace had been lit and a merry red fire burnt in the hearth. Its warmth soothed the elf's confusion a little and he breathed in deeply, reassuring himself that it had all been a dream once again. Slowly, he allowed himself to lie back down onto the bed and eventually fall into an uncomforting slumber.

~*~

Aragorn frowned deeply. A messenger had just arrived from Mirkwood. Its king had sent for their prince. His presence was greatly needed.

"You leave in the morning?" Aragorn asked.

"Yes." Legolas answered shortly

The conversation between the two close friends was awkward. Aragorn clearly wanted to ask him something and the elf had a nagging suspicion what it was about. His eyes darted around seeking a quick getaway,

Noticing the tension of the elf's body and the way he seemed to be edging further away from him, Aragorn made up his mind not delay the question. He had to do it now, there was no time left. Feeling strangely at a loss for words he groped around for suitable words to use.

He was just about to speak when Legolas turned to him and mumbled a few barely legible words before moving swiftly away in the opposite direction.

Aragorn's resolve hardened and he whipped around, grabbing the elf's shoulder and halting his motion.

"We have to talk."

"What is there to talk about Aragorn?" Inside, Legolas was panicking, he could not bear to look the ranger in the eye. Images of a mangled body was beginning to creep into his mind, contorting the face of the man before him.

The elf's feigned ignorance was too much for the ranger and he snapped.

"What about? What about? You have moping around for days avoiding everyone who knows and loves you and you  haven't been getting any rest!" Legolas winced, and Aragorn knew his guesses had been right.

"Your grief is eating away at you and you are not telling anyone of your suffering! You know as well as I do if not better, how grief affects your kind… you are disgracing the memory of your entire patrol – don't you think they would want you to do better things with your time then mope around all day and -  "

Aragorn stared straight into the elf's piercing blue eyes and was slightly taken aback by the rage he saw there.

"You know nothing! Do not presume to tell me what to do Aragorn!" He spat the words at the ranger, his hands trembling with rage at his sides and his eyes flashing cold and hard.

He turned his face away hiding the tears that had come unbidden to his eyes.

"You know nothing,.." He whispered, as he stumbled in the direction of the trees, half blinded by his tears.

Aragorn stared at the empty space where the elf had been but moments before, but this time he did not follow, leaving the elf to bear away his hurt and sorrow to the woods.

TBC…

Please review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so sorry for the long wait! My Chinese Language O levels are on Monday and I've been busy studying for it, hence the long delay!