Rei: Okay, here's the next Unexpected Friendship's chapter.
THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS ANGST AND REMINISCING ON RAPE
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Aniveil was cared for by Elrond and put to bed as soon as he was done. She had not stirred once during the treatment, which had to be painful, and was now sleeping with her eyes closed. Not a good sign.
So concerned was Legolas that he forgot about Estel's presence as he sat by her bed. He was up for a painful awakening.
"I'm sorry. I should have saved her."- a quiet voice interrupted Legolas from his silent thoughts. He abruptly stiffened and half-turned to acknowledge Estel.
He wanted more than anything to whirl and yell "Yes, it was your fault!" but inside he knew it was not true, and he could not bring himself to spout such lies, even if he was a man.
Instead he bent his head down, not agreeing, not disagreeing. Then he stood and said "Excuse me. I must go. I will return soon. I expect the twins wish to see my sister."- with that he was gone.
Estel stood there for a minute watching the doorway where the prince had disappeared. A second after he turned away, the twins burst in and crowded around the bed where Aniveil lay, deathly pale and motionless.
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Aragorn's POV
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Why? Why do they avoid me like I'm diseased?! I thought as I walked the halls, having left the twins by Aniveil's bed, where they moped guiltily from having stolen her sword.
No. I decided. Aniveil doesn't avoid me so much, but she keeps Legolas away from me. He seems to have to problem with it...
What confused me the most was the way Legolas seemed so at ease with Elladan or Elrohir or even Glorfindel and Erestor. He tensed around me though. Only me. I tried to think of the differences between the said elves and me. The only things I could think of was
1. Not as graceful
2. Not as good at archery (but very good at sword fighting)
3. Hair's not as long
4. Senses not as sharp
5. All of the above... or, Not an elf.
Now why would any of that matter? I frowned.
Those Greenwood elves are very complicated, I decided as I continued walking.
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Normal POV
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After giving the twins some time Legolas returned to Aniveil's bedside. He watched her breath. The slow rise and fall of her breast was barely noticeable and her skin was a sickly pale color.
Frowning, Legolas reached over to caress her cheek, but pulled back as if he had been burned, which turned out to be a good analogy, since her skin was a lot hotter than it should have been.
His mind working quickly, he leapt up and ran out the door in search of Elrond. He found him walking with his sons, who were evidently questioning Aniveil's condition.
As quickly as he could, Legolas explained the situation as he tugged at Elrond's arm towards Aniveil's room.
Elrond frowned, and kicked them all out as he toiled over bringing her fever down.
Legolas left the twins at the door to his sister's room.
He thought about Aniveil, and what would happen if Elrond's infamous healing abilities failed. He had already lost his mother to the sea, and his older brother Celeb who followed her soon after. Aniveil and himself were all that kept their father from following them. If Aniveil were to die... he had no doubt Thranduil would waste away from grief, and, left alone, he would do the same.
"Naneth... Cel... I miss you. Aniveil... Please, get better."- he whispered.
As he wandered aimlessly, his mind traveled. First to the twins (Now, how exactly do they feel for Greenwood's princess?) then to Glorfindel (That crazy playful elf was the Balrog Slayer?!) and finally, to the inevitable. Estel. The man with an Elvish name.
Legolas frowned. Estel was... strange. He did not look, nor act like the men he met in the woods that one night. But... Looks can be deceiving. It was his fault that Aniveil was hurt!
No. If he was going to place blame, it would be just as much the twins fault.
Estel was... an elf trapped in a man's body. He wasn't graceful, or fair of face nor voice, as an elf should be. He wasn't wise and old beyond appearances. But... he wasn't as loud or rude as a human. He was something in between. Something Legolas could not fathom, no matter how hard he tried to understand.
Shaking his head to rid himself of thoughts of the man, Legolas came face to face with Glorfindel. The seneschal seemed to have been watching Legolas and an uncharacteristic look of seriousness was on his face.
"Legolas, is something bothering you?"- he asked watching Legolas's every move.
"No. Just worried about my sister. But I trust Lord Elrond to heal her."- Legolas said, frowning. "Are you sure that's all?"- Glorfindel asked, pressing the issue. Legolas just nodded.
"Okay. Sorry to disturb your thoughts."- Glorfindel said as he slowly turned and walked off.
Cursing under his breath, Legolas made a mental note to watch out for the Balrog Slayer. As nice as the elf was, her really did not want him to know about his encounter with the men. So far, the only ones who knew of it was Aniveil and their father. Aniveil would have found out about it eventually, and she helped him through it, so he didn't mind, but sometimes he wished Thranduil did not know of it. He always was careful around his son for weeks after, as if afraid he'd have a mental breakdown at any moment. Worse yet, he still refused to let Legolas into the forest alone, without a guard, or at least Aniveil, accompanying him.
Legolas half suspected Aniveil and Thranduil had planned the little expedition to Imladris in the hopes of curing him completely of any lingering depression of the incident, but with Estel there, if anything, it was making it worse.
Legolas let out a frustrated sigh as his thoughts returned to the infuriating mystery of Estel.
Deciding he needed some fresh air to clear his thoughts, Legolas headed toward the door that would lead him outside. Maybe he'd go for a walk.
Once out into the fresh, crisp air of the approaching evening, Legolas set a brisk pace over a random path.
As the cool breeze blew, he closed his eyes and let the wind wash over him and allowed his hair to flow back and flutter.
Suddenly, a loud gasp broke his thoughts. Twirling around he muffled a gasp of his own. Estel was standing there, watching him.
"Amazing. You're breathtaking."- he murmured quietly.
Legolas froze. That phrase...
FlAsHbAcK
"I heard elves were supposed to be amazing. They're supposed to be fair beyond belief, and gifted in ways Men can never hope to be. I never thought they'd be as beautiful as you. You're simply breathtaking."- the man whispered in his ear, making Legolas shudder as his breath brushed past his sensitive ear.
"I'll enjoy this. More than you'll believe."- the man continued, relishing the way Legolas struggled.
"So delicate-- like a woman-- but so strong..."- he mumbled as he position himself before thrusting into Legolas's unprepared body, tearing a hoarse scream from his throat.
EnD fLaShBaCk
Legolas shoved the memory away hastily, not wanting to relive the nightmare that followed.
Estel was watching him, he knew, but he couldn't answer. If he did, he knew his voice would betray him.
"...Sorry."- he said so quietly that Estel almost missed it before he turned and dashed away, leaving a confused man behind.
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That night, although he had been originally planning to sit by Aniveil's bedside as soon as Elrond allowed him, Legolas locked himself in his room.
He dared not venture out, for fear that Estel would corner and question him. Oh, how he wished Aniveil were here!
She always had a trick up her sleeve, a way to keep Legolas away from the man, but she was far worse of than himself. She was bedridden and unconscious. He had gotten word through the twins that her fever had broken, under Elrond care, but she was still out, with her eyes closed.
With a sigh, he threw himself upon the bed and fell into a light sleep.
dream sequence
Only 2 days after being ravished in the forest, Legolas was still healing, and was confined to a bed. Aniveil was constantly at his bedside, watching him with her piercing green eyes. Her eyes were the key to knowing her emotions. Just by looking in her livid eyes, you could tell when she was worried, or concerned.
She soothed him to sleep, and sleep he did, but with sleep, comes dreams.
He dreamt of the nameless men who haunted him, and of their actions that caused him so much pain. He woke screaming, tears gushing down his face, and Aniveil's face hovering over him, trepidation on her face.
"Legolas..."- she breathed as she pulled him into a hug. "Fear not, brother. 'Tis only a dream. I will always be here. I will always protect you... Fear not..."- she continued to whisper soothing words to him, and slowly his breathing steadied, and his trembling stopped.
Tranduil, at the door, smiled softly and watched as both of them succumbed to sleep. Silently, he stepped in and tucked them in. When he heard his son's scream he had come running, but stopped when he saw the heartwarming brother-sister love. He had been watching them the whole time, as they fell asleep, Legolas wrapped in Aniveil's embrace.
How Legolas knew what happened after he fell asleep, he knew not, but a feeling told him that what he saw was true. It had been as if he had been reliving the moment, but watching from outside his own body.
end dream sequence
Legolas woke back in his room in Rivendell and replayed the dream in his head. 'I will always protect you...' -Aniveil's voice rang in his head.
A warm feeling swelled inside of him when he realized how hard Aniveil tried to keep her promise.
A frown conquered his face when he realized she would not be able to do so for a while.
Overcome with a sudden urge to see her, he crept out of his room silently and found his way to her bed. He must not have been asleep very long, maybe only twenty minutes, for the sun was barely setting and the twins had not given up their bedside vigil yet.
-------- TBC----------------
Rei: So ends another chapter. It's actually the longest I've written, I think...
Rath: You know, you really should write other chapters to other fics....
Rei: Ummm.... yeah. Anyways, I just got back from Washington D.C. last week, went to a track thing this weekend, and am graduating at the end of the week, thus I've had nearly no time to update.
Rath: Ignore her and just review.
Rei: HEY!!
Silver Mirror-- Heh, sorry, no more pranks until Legolas gets over his mental angst and Aniveil gets better, but don't worry, the pranks at the end will be better.... btw, Elladan's hair is still blue.
Sitaray-- Longer chapter!! This took up 3 pages in size 8 writing... Usually I only write 2 pages... I'll start writing longer chapters. I just wanted to post before I graduate...
Jackie'sFriend-- I updated!! SEE!! Err... It's been almost a month since you reviewed... Oops?
tmelange-- You reviewed twice?! O.o Well, here's another continuation.
bradleigh-- Yup, here's that angsty chapter you were waiting for... Little late... but... It's here.. I get points for that, right?
The One That Hates Bunnies-- I continued. I don't just leave stories unwritten. It just may take me a long while to update.
DJ TammyKat-- Longer chapter... O.O
Dita, forest-fires, and Legolas19-- Thanx!!