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

The Duty of Brothers

Part III

Legolas shifted slightly on his back and let out a low moan. Despite his assurances that he was fine, he was still far from fully healed and his welted back did not take too kindly to a soft bed spread rubbing against it.

He stifled the soft sound of pain quickly before anyone passing by the door to his room could hear it. It wouldn't do to let Aragorn notice for he knew it would increase his friend's guilt tenfold. The elf fidgeted restlessly where he lay. If not for the fact that Lord Elrond had given him strict orders not to get out of the be, he would be doing more then just fidgeting like a nervous elfling.

To put it plainly, the Prince of Mirkwood was bored. He didn't feel much like sleeping, he had done much of that in the past two days and though he still felt a little weak, he had strength enough to want to wander the halls of Imladris again.

Just as he was seriously considering whether or not to disobey Lord Elrond's orders and weighing the consequences of his actions, Aragorn stepped into the room. Legolas beamed from ear to ear.

"You've arrived just in time… to help me out of this bed." He said innocently.

Aragorn frowned. You know adar said you were not to get up yet. At his friend's crestfallen look, he almost started chuckling.

"Don't worry, you will be allowed up and about in no time."

Legolas stared half sulkily back at the healer, considering the virtue of arguing that he was perfectly capable of doing just that right now, and then decided against it. He relaxed as Aragorn helped turn him onto his side to reach his back.

He hissed softly as the man applied a cooling salve to the ugly whip marks that adorned his back. Unable to help himself, his mind flew back to how he had acquired them.

An orc hit the back of his knee and he stumbled before falling onto the ground. A thin piece of chord connected with his back, cutting deeply and tearing through cloth and skin. He resisted the urge to cry out.

He got back to his feet and stared defiantly back at the orcs. He was an elf, he was royalty, he would not disgrace his race or his house. A blow to the back of his head made his ears ring oddly and throb incessantly.

You are an elf… you are a prince… you will not buckle under their abuse. He repeated this over and over in his head like a mantra, trying desperately to prevent himself from giving voice to his pain. His eyes flew open and a small gasp escaped his lips before he clamped his mouth tightly shut again. The whip hit him again. You are an elf… you are a prince… you will not buckle under their abuse…

He was thankful to be alive.

"Thank Elbereth …" The elf didn't realize he'd uttered his thanks out loud.

"What did you say?" Aragorn asked, puzzled.

"Oh… nothing, nothing." Legolas hastily said.

Aragorn continued his task of applying salve onto Legolas' back, he felt his friend relax as the medication cooled and soothed the raw skin. When at last the man was done, he called to the elf softly. He didn't respond, he had finally fallen asleep again as the pain of his back receded.

Aragorn smiled to himself and stood up to go. His foot nudged something on the floor and he bent down to pick it up. It was a bloodied arrow tip. The servants must have missed it when they cleaned the room. The arrow tip brought back terrible memories.

Legolas leapt to his feet and drew his bow.

"Orcs."

Aragorn readied his sword and the two friends stood back to back, ready to defend themselves against the coming danger. They heard twigs snap under brutal feet. A dark force was surging through the woods and heading straight for them. Aragorn could feel Legolas' body tensing with anticipation.

They could smell the foul odour of the orcs even before they appeared. Legolas narrowed his eyes slightly and pointed his arrow at the direction of the stench.

"Almost…" He ground out through gritted teeth to the ranger. Aragorn tightened his grip on his sword.

A vicious war cry rang through the trees and the orcs poured forth from the towering pillars, snarling and growling like the beasts that they were.

"Be careful."

"I will if you will." Aragorn flashed a grin at the elf and turned to face the orcs with a gleam in his eye. One of the braver orcs advanced and lunged with his scimitar, Aragorn dodged. Nearby, he could hear Legolas shooting off arrows at close range, before the sounds changed to the cutting of air and flesh by long white knifes. He plunged his sword into the nearest enemy and slashed the neck of another…

… Legolas panted slightly as he killed yet another orc. The numbers of this group seemed infinite. Or maybe it was just that the scales were tipped greatly and not in his favor. Despite the stamina of both him and his companion, he knew they were tiring. They could not keep this up.

His worst fears became reality when he saw an orc grab Aragorn from behind and hug the man to his chest, using him as a shield.

"Give yourself up or this one dies." He poised his blade menacingly over Aragorn's throat.

The man met Legolas' eyes and silently pleaded with him not to give himself up. The elf's weapons fell to the ground and he slowly raised his hands to show they were empty. The orcs advanced immediately…

Aragorn's gaze fell back onto the sleeping elf. He gently rearranged the blanket around Legolas. His friend had been through much in the past few days and he was afraid that the natural elements would affect him more than usual. The elf shifted but did not awaken.

Despite his valiant protests, he was still far from "alright".

Aragorn sighed as feelings of guilt welled up in him again. It would be awhile before he put the matter past him. Soundlessly, he left the elf to his sleep. Legolas blinked blearily as he heard the man's footsteps fading away.

He had heard Aragorn sigh loudly and knew exactly what was bothering him. He worried for a minute or two about the feelings that the man was feeling before being comforted by a sudden thought.

He is strong. He will master his emotions. There is only so much I can do to help him.

The Prince of Mirkwood's confidence in his friend was deep rooted and did not waver easily. He had faith in the man. His worry ebbing away, the elf followed once more the path of dreams in the lush green forest that his home had once been.

-End –

Well . I think I'll leave it here. Hope you ppl enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing this fic.

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