A/N I hope you enjoy this chapter! Review responses at the bottom. Thank you all for your kind reviews I love you so much! Also a giant thank you to Catmint who caught my mistake on the last chapter, cookies for you!
Chapter 2: Avoiding the Subject
Legolas looked at his friend, scrutinizing Aragorn with his eyes. He was concerned about the ranger. He hadn't ever seen him behaving this way and he was slightly scared. It was as though he was hiding something, Legolas wanted to know what it was.
"Legolas, are you alright?" Aragorn asked
"I could ask you the same question. Mellon-nin, please tell me what it is that is bothering you so."
Aragorn shook his head and looked away; he was so frustrated and upset at the moment. "Things are hard Legolas, I…I just don't know how to deal with them anymore."
Legolas grasped his friends' hand, letting him know that he was there. He nodded for his friend to continue.
Aragorn looked away, it wasn't important. The things that were bothering him didn't matter! "It is of ill importance Legolas, nothing is wrong!"
Legolas glared at his friend, "I care about you my friend. You are like a brother and I would like to share whatever if troubling you at the moment."
Aragorn shook his head; how did he explain to his best friend that no one cared? How was he to tell him how he felt unloved? He no longer felt emotions and he was trying his hardest to push them away. He wanted to cry, something he hadn't done since he was a tiny boy. He had felt this way before, back when he had run away from his family because of the things elven children had taunted him with. How was he supposed to explain that this time it was real? That he was feeling unwanted and that somehow his family was treating him differently? How did he explain that to Legolas?
"Estel?" He asked softly, "Are you alright my friend?"
Aragorn shook his head and pulled away from Legolas. Pulling his knees up to his chest he rested his head on them. He wanted to tell his friend what was bothering him; he wanted to explain how he felt. He couldn't though, how could he tell his friend that his life had come crashing down around him?
Legolas stood up and moved behind Aragorn. He squatted down behind the ranger and gently touched his shoulder. "You can trust me Estel; I just want to know what is bothering you."
Aragorn turned sad eyes upon his friend and sighed, "Things have been bad at home." He whispered,
Legolas frowned, "What happened?"
Aragorn took a deep breath, "Everything has been different. Father has been treating me like a stranger and my brothers have been avoiding me. I have had little contact with either one of them and the last time I saw Elrohir was at breakfast two days ago. My family has been acting different towards me and every time I ask what happened they just settle me with a look. They don't want me around anymore. Elrohir…" his voice cracked and he leaned against Legolas for support. Aragorn was trying not to recall what had happened between him and the younger twin. It had been his fault; he had been acting like a jerk to his elven brother.
"Estel leave me alone!" Elrohir snapped
Aragorn frowned, "I didn't do anything!"
"Estel you have been following me around sulking for the past four days! What is the matter with you?" Elrohir demanded
"Nothing! I just was wondering why you are avoiding me!" Aragorn shouted
"I have not been avoiding you brother! You have been completely rude to me for the past week; I have been trying to talk sense into you." Elrohir told him
"You haven't spoken to me!"
"You have been acting like a spoiled child. You have done nothing but skulk around and snap at anyone who tried to talk to you. You have been a brat Aragorn. You are twenty six! Stop acting like a baby!" Elrohir screamed angrily
"You hit me yesterday!" Aragorn yelled
"You deserved it. You are acting like a child and deserve to be treated like one." Elrohir hissed. The younger twin rarely ever lost his temper, especially not with his human brother; but he couldn't stand how Aragorn had been acting for the past week or so.
"I was trying to tell you something!"
"It was of ill importance!"
"Not it wasn't! I was trying to explain something to you and you just walked away! Why don't you care anymore?" Aragorn demanded
"I do care; I just do not enjoy speaking with you when you get all worked up! You are an adult Aragorn, take care of yourself! I love you Aragorn but you have been acting so childish!" Elrohir screamed turning his back on his brother
"Elrohir!" Aragorn yelled to get his brother's attention, "Elrohir!"
Elrohir turned around and stalked over to Aragorn, "Now you listen to me human I do not want to speak with you right now. You are being childish and I am tired of listening to you. If you cannot act like an adult and speak to me with a civil tongue in your head then I will not speak to you with one." He glared fiercely at the young human. He grabbed Aragorn's shoulders and shook him, "Do you understand Aragorn son of Arathorn?" He demanded
Aragorn nodded, slightly scared, "Yes," he whispered
Elrohir nodded and half threw his brother away from him, "Then do not bother me." He stalked angrily out of the room leaving Aragorn alone.
Aragorn sat on the bed and let the tears fall. He had only been trying to speak with his brother; he hadn't meant to make him so angry. Aragorn began to cry softly and let his pain consume him until he fell asleep.
Legolas sat down and pulled Aragorn against him, "Speak to me Estel, what did Elrohir do?"
Aragorn shook his head; he was too shamed to tell Legolas that his brother had hit him purposely. They had never been so angry with each other before and Aragorn was slightly scared.
"Aragorn, tell me what Elrohir did," Legolas whispered, tilting Aragorn's chin up so that he would meet his eyes.
"He was angry with me," he began, "He was so furious that he threw me against the wall."
Legolas' eyes widened, he had never seen Elrohir lose his temper or strike his brother. He had seen the friendly banters but never had he seen a real fight, "Why?"
"I annoyed him, I was acting like a baby and I kept annoying him." Aragorn told him
"What did you do to him to make him so upset?" Legolas asked,
"I followed him around and I just kept saying things that made him angry. I just wanted to talk to him but Elrohir would hear none of it." Aragorn said, slightly embarrassed.
"What did you want to tell him?" Legolas prodded gently
"I was trying to talk with him about my heritage. You know how father told me of it. I just wanted to ask Elrohir some questions; I guess I went about asking him wrong." Aragorn said
"Elrohir shouldn't have hit you," Legolas whispered, "Did you do anything else?"
Aragorn shook his head, "I don't think so. I was really upset and Elrohir told me I was being childish."
Legolas sighed, wondering why Elrohir had gotten so angry. "Did you try to talk to him again?"
Aragorn shook his head, "I was too scared to," He admitted, "Neither one of the twins has been overly nice recently."
Legolas frowned, "What about your father?"
Aragorn shrugged, "I don't want to speak with him at the moment. I angered him when I told him I didn't want to speak about my heritage."
"But you learned of that six years ago!" Legolas protested
Aragorn nodded, "I know, but he wanted to talk to me about things I don't want to know. I refuse to accept the throne of Gondor. I want to remain a ranger; I do not want to learn of Gondor."
Legolas nodded, "What else is bothering you, I know there is much you are not telling me."
"My family has been distancing itself from me lately. I know it sounds stupid but I feel as though they do not want me around; father is angry and so are the twins. It is as though they are tired of me and no longer love me." Aragorn turned sad teary eyes upon Legolas, almost making the elven prince's heart tear in two.
Legolas pulled Aragorn into a tight embrace, "They love you Aragorn, they love you so much."
Aragorn held onto his best friend and let the tears trickle down his face, he was so upset. He couldn't begin to describe the feeling of bitter loneliness that he was experiencing. It was horrible and he just wanted to die so that the pain in his heart would do away. He no longer felt the pain in his body, his heart hurt and he felt wounded.
How did you like the chapter? Sorry I am in a bad mood so excuse me if it was a little depressing. This fic will only become darker. Hehehe enjoy it!
Reviewer Responses:
Boromir: I am glad I have you interested! I hope you enjoy this chapter; I am trying to update A.S.A.P!
Wonky: Hehe you read it twice? Wow I feel so special! I love it when people enjoy my fics!
Shadowed Flames: Yup, he is being a bit grouchy. But how would you feel after being wounded physically and emotionally? *shrugs* I hope you enjoy this chapter!
BabeyRachey: Heehee I love it when they are protective too! I hope you like this chapter, it shows Elrohir angry though…don't kill me for it!
Grumpy: Lol Yup he is having a bad time. Things aren't looking up for him either. It will only be downhill for our favorite ranger from here!
Jadesaber: Thank you, I am glad you like it so far! I hope Legolas can cheer his friend up as well! The poor guy is having a horrible few weeks.
Catmint: Oh I love your reviews! You are so helpful! Thank you for pointing out my mistake. Lol sorry about the quibble. I am checking my work over a few times now. I don't want to do that again. I wish more people would tell me when I mess up; it helps me become a better writer. *huggles* Thank you! Once again, you get cookies! I hope you continue to enjoy this fic; I am so happy you like it so far! I love reviewers like you! I am so happy you are finding it to be a powerful fic; I am trying to show people how hard it is to cope with depression. Tee Hee! I love to write about these kinds of things. Wow…I sound evil. Well thank you again for the wonderful review!
DreaminofLorien: Well I posted quickly…not as quick as you wanted but I did post fast! I hope you enjoy this chapter!