~*~Chapter 17~*~
Aragorn would have glared if he had the energy, "That makes it seem much better thanks."
"Sorry… I went in and found him, Elrond helped the hobbit and took him back to the others then we left. Only when Estel woke up a while later did we find out anything was wrong…"
"Are you going to tell us what's wrong then? Or are you going to stop there?" Elladan muttered, looking slightly annoyed but mostly worried for his brother.
Legolas sighed, "Well… ai… Strider, 'tis hard for me to say as well…"
The human sighed sadly, "My brothers… you know smoke can be bad for your eyes… well… I was in there much longer than I should have been…"
Elrohir's eyes widened and he bit his lip, "Estel? There is something wrong with your eyes…"
The human nodded with a sigh, "Aye Elrohir… I cannot see…"
What had happened after that was something no one expected, Elladan exploded. He got up and started hissing things under his breath until he finally left the room and Elrohir just stared open-mouthed for a while before getting up silently and following his twin.
Aragorn heard them go with a mounting sadness.
Elrond stared at the door with a large amount of anger in his eyes though it disappeared quickly, "I must go and talk to them. I will be back soon," he placed a comforting hand on his son's shoulder before leaving.
Once the door shut Aragorn sighed and turned onto his side facing away from the door.
Legolas knew the human didn't forget him so he stayed quiet and waited for him to speak.
Neither spoke until a few moments later when a knock was heard.
Aragorn sighed slightly, "Enter."
Erestor pushed the door open with his foot, two trays balanced precariously on his hands.
Glorfindel followed with his hands behind his back, a smirk plastered to his face.
Erestor placed the trays on the small table and grinned at Glorfindel, "I told you I could do it alone. You owe me!"
"I think not, dear friend, 'tis you who owes me! I said I'll bet you *can* carry those both up alone."
Erestor paused to think for but a second before cursing.
Aragorn laughed slightly, "Amusing… I did not think you would fall for that one again Erestor!"
The dark-haired advisor smiled softly at the human, "Are you well?"
Glorfindel's smile had left his face as he gazed intently into the man's eyes.
Aragorn could feel the elf of Gondolin's eyes on him and waited for him to figure it out on his own. He simply turned his head to stare back in the direction he'd heard him.
Glorfindel sighed sadly, "Ai… how did this happen my friend?"
Aragorn sighed, not really wishing to repeat the story… or have Legolas do it for that matter.
The elf-lord realized this and held up one hand, "You do not wish to speak of it. That is fine."
"Thank you Glorfindel."
The elf smiled while Erestor looked confused.
Aragorn smiled slightly, "I suppose you needn't worry about having any extra pranks from me huh?"
Glorfindel laughed, "You will be okay though?"
Aragorn sighed and shifted, "As well as I'll ever be…"
Erestor frowned, "I feel as though I'm being left in the dark here…"
The man's blank eyes turned to look in the advisors general direction.
Erestor blinked but it didn't take him long to figure out what was wrong. His eyes widened and he came up to the bed.
Aragorn pushed himself up so he could sit when he heard the barely audible footsteps and glanced in the direction they were coming from.
Erestor laid a hand on his shoulder, "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.
Aragorn mumbled something under his breath but no one caught it.
"What was that?" Legolas asked.
Aragorn rolled his eyes, "I said I'm beginning to hate those words."
"He's okay," Glorfindel said with a slight smirk.
Aragorn shot him a slight smile.
"How bad is it? I mean…" Erestor paused, "I've heard of this before, though never seen it…" he shifted uncomfortably, "Is…"
Aragorn sighed, cutting him off, "Erestor… It is bad. I cannot see a thing, 'tis like sitting in the dark with a blindfold. Though… it is possible it will return to normal."
"Will using them not strain them?" Glorfindel asked worriedly.
"I believe ada is going to put something around them," he mumbled.
At that there was a knock on the door and it opened before anyone could answer. Elrond came in; looking slightly annoyed and walked over to the bed. He placed his hand on the back of the human head and Aragorn reacted quickly by moving it forward. Elrond quickly but carefully wrapped a blindfold around them.
Legolas shifted, "Would you like me to go?"
Aragorn immediately shook his head, "No, you can stay."
Legolas nodded but quickly corrected himself, "Okay…"
"What… are…" Aragorn sighed, "Are the twins okay?"
Elrond hissed under his breath, "They are simply being stupid."
Aragorn's head shot around to look at his father, an incredible amount of surprise on it, "I have never heard you use that word…"
Even Glorfindel and Erestor looked surprised.
Elrond shook his head, "I've never felt I needed to. They do not seem to realize you are suffering over this."
Aragorn looked confused and uncomfortable, "Why were they upset?"
"I cannot say… they wouldn't really say anything to me."
Aragorn blinked, "They would not speak to you?"
"They hold me responsible for what happened," the elf sighed, "I am though… I cannot blame them for that."
"You are not responsible! You told me to stop, I heard you full well and decided to ignore it. You could do no more! If you did The Shire could be destroyed right now!"
Elrond sighed but said nothing.
Aragorn shifted and pushed himself up further, "They are being stupid."
"Nay," Elrond sighed, "they weren't… I did not think. They were not being so."
Aragorn sighed and let himself slip down under the covers.
Elrond stood up and ushered everyone out so his son could sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Aragorn shifted as he woke, he listened carefully and heard nothing. No one speaking, no birds either, so he figured he was up early. He sighed angrily and pushed himself out of bed. He'd had enough with the twins, he wasn't supposed to be out of his room but he ignored that, it had never stopped him before. The two elves had not come in to see him for three days and it was beginning to bother him. More than bother, it was making him extremely angry that they were ignoring him and no one would, or could, tell him why this was so.
He moved carefully down the halls, though not having any real trouble except when at one point he nearly ran into a new statue that he had forgotten was there. He muttered something under his breath and continued down the hall until he reached Elrohir's room. He opened the door and moved carefully to the bed, not knowing what his brother may have left on the floor. Once he reached the bed he knelt and grabbed his brother's shoulder a little more roughly than intended.
The elf shot awake and started to pull away, looking for something until he noticed whom it was.
"Estel?" he hissed, "what are you doing in here? I don't think you're supposed to be out of your room."
"Oh shush," Aragorn hissed, "I'm not hurt and I know these halls as well as I do the back of my hand!"
The man paused, "Though it was cruel no one told me about a new statue outside my room…"
Elrohir stayed silent, "Why are you here?"
"I want to know why I never see you! It's been three days elf!"
"I…" he stopped.
"You what?"
"I cannot bare to see you like this…"
Aragorn's posture stiffened in anger, "Oh? You don't like seeing me?"
"I did not say that!" the elf said, his eyes widening.
"But you did!" he hissed, "This is me! Get used to it because it might not get any better! I've accepted it! Now it's your turn!"
At that the door opened silently and Elladan entered the room quickly.
The older twin glanced at his brother sadly, "This is what you think?"
Aragorn did not even look up, "Yes. It is."
The man stood, still looking at the ground, "I would also like to know why you blame ada for this."
A/N
Jadesaber- lol, sorry, I haven't been bored… well… yeah I have… but I'm currently addicted to Gaia right now… lol, so that has kept me from being bored… yup! All the sites fault! Lol, just warmin' up… heehee… don't know how bad this story will get yet… my imagination has woken up all of a sudden and my writers block is gone so this story is gonna be MUCH longer than previously expected… ^_^
discombobulatedcheese- Heehee, love yer name! Lol… O.O… best writer?! I highly doubt that… you want a good writer check out Cassia's stories… they're great! ^_^ … O.o… oh no! Not the cheese!!!!!!! *Hides* lol and yes… I'll see if I can fit 'it' in… lol ^_^ cheeeeeeeeese…
tychen- Still awed? Lol and yes, painful… stupid elf twins… lol no, think of it as they were reluctant to let it sink in… lol *Huggles Aragorn* miiiiiiiine… lol ever faithful Legolas may not always be there though! *Evil grin*
grumpy- Oh, I'll be more than not just his 'week'… Muahahaha! Lol I'm gonna make things tough for my little buddy… lol
Viresse0- NO! Will not forget you no more! Lol Elfy… very simple… lol hope you did well on your report… lol yes… olives are evil… I don't mind the black ones but the green ones… I swear they're from Mars or something… but yes… odd review… made me laugh though! So thank you! Lol
Kandice- I like trees… lol, I've recently discovered that if you're nice to them… they're nice back! And they don't throw you out if you keep your evil younger cousin from pulling them apart! Lol Fruit-bombs… given me ideas! Thanx! Lol
mascara freak- Yup! Goin' on for even longer than I thought then too! Could be quite a bit longer actually… ^_^ but don't be sorry… I should be… lol, takin' so long… .… heehee… (Micro calls that the constipated face! Lol)
KRRouse- Okay… well… you're review was for the first book but whatever! Lol, glad it held your interest! ^_^
Macilwen- No! I thought it was a very good idea! Lol, sorry for makin' ya' wait so long… heh…
(the random cheese eating turkey)AKA you kow who....- Hmmm… wonder who this could be! …-.-… lol! ^_^ hi Micro… stop with the poking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!… *Poke* lol :P
Elven Kitten: Great fun! Lol XD… I'm currently addicted to gaia so… that's why I've been so slow in posting… lol ^_^ is great fun! And if anyone is on it… my name is the same as this one lol, Elven Kitten is me! :P… ^_^
Cheese Lover: *Runs in with walky talky* I've infiltrated their layer! Will now steal their cheese…
Elf Side: …
Gollum Side: … don't touch my fishes!!
Hobbit Side: AI! NOT THE CHEESE!
E.K.: O.o… the cheese… you have infiltrated… what? *Glances around* my house… NOT a layer… *Shifty eyes* Or is it…
E.S.: …Okay… I think it's time you get some sleep…
H.S.: Yes… I believe it is…
E.K.: NO SLEEP! MUST SAVE BASE!
C.L.: *By now has taken cheese from the fridge*
E.K.: Oh yes! And Legolas?
Legolas: *Worriedly* Yes?
E.K.: You are hereby dubbed… The Cheesy Elfy!
L: …
Aragorn: Hah!
L: Oh shut up… Precious
A: …
E.K.: ^_^ My Precious! *Huggles*
A: AH! *Is being squished*
E.S.: Uh… yes… leave your precious alone for a while and sleep…
E.K.: NEVER!
C.L.: *Is sneaking away* I have stolen the cheese… get me out…
E.K.: *Watches him leave with the cheese* … uh… okay… I'm going to bed…
E.S.: … -.-…
E.K.: lol ^_^ Namarie!
C.L.: *Gets free and runs*
~*~Elenmeoi~*~