Aragorn's heart was in his throat the next morning as he hurried to where the council was to meet. He was early but he wanted desperately to speak with Elrohir. Yesterday he'd haunted the most secluded portions of the valley all day and all night he had laid in bed, staring at the ceiling or the shadows in his room; always thinking over the elf's words. The young ranger still was not certain that his brother was right. But he trusted Elrohir and the decision had already been made.

The skies above Rivendell were again cloudless and the sun warmed his back as he darted up and staircase scattered with leaves blown down by the storm. His chest felt tight and his head was buzzing. Truthfully the ranger would have been far more comfortable fighting an orc horde that outnumbered him ten to one then toying with his friend's future like this.

Slowing his pace as he neared the meeting area Aragorn hung in the archway uncertainly, fingers tapping a nervous rhythm on the gray stone as his silver eyes scanned the elves already gathered and talking quietly to one another in small groups. Elrohir caught his gaze and immediately excused himself from the conversation, hurrying from his seat and pulling the ranger aside. "I spoke with El last night."

It took a moment for the elf's words to work their way through Aragorn's head. Once their meaning hit home a spark of white hot anger shot through him like a bolt of lightning.

-We were supposed to do this together!-

He quickly squashed the emotion, hoping it hadn't shown on his face. What was done was done. All that mattered was Legolas. Nothing else. Wrenching his attention away from his own petty annoyances the man concentrated on what his brother was saying.

"He will talk to Legolas about everything today."

Aragorn nodded and swallowed around a lump forming in his throat, feeling slightly ill with the sheer volume of anxiety chewing at his heart but also knowing deep down that this was right. His attention was caught by two elves slipping out of the council chambers.

Two pairs of eyes followed Legolas and Elladan till they rounded a corner and disappeared from sight. Aragorn sagged and let out the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Elrohir placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a comforting squeeze, and the brothers went to find their seats. Each was praying silently but fervently to Iluvitar that Elladan would say the right things.

-o-o-o-

(A/N: from here on out I don't remember much from my own story. The memories are hazy, blurred, jumbled together, and I don't completely know why. So because of that I cannot be certain which of the following conversations are fact, imagination, or a combination of the two. And partly for that reason I am also cutting this story short.)

-o-o-o-

If anyone had bothered to ask Aragorn a question about what was mentioned in that council he would not have been able to answer a single one. His attention was a million miles away from that place. The ranger had forced himself not to stare at Legolas after he and Elladan slipped into their seats moments before Elrond again began the day's discussions. He avoided eye contact with the blond elf, feeling ill and uncertain of what his brother had said and how much of his own involvement had been revealed.

Much later he managed to corner the twins and breathlessly ask them what Legolas had said.

Elladan's eyes were dark and he seemed uneasy, "He says that he's not trying to kill himself."

Surprise and confusion hit Aragorn like double punches to the stomach.

-But I heard him...I HEARD him...-

The confusion pouring over him in bitter icy waves must have been quite clear on his face because Elladan threw up his hands with a defeated sigh, "What am I supposed to do? Accuse him of lying?"

Recovering himself slightly, Aragorn shook his head though still feeling a little numb and lightheaded. "No...if that's what he says then I believe him." The ranger stood for a moment just staring into space then turned on his heel and walked away, his mind even more of a chaotic mess then before.

-o-o-o-

I hear a voice say "Don't be so blind"
Its telling me all these things
That you would probably hide

It's all been bottled up until now
As I walk out the door
All I hear is the sound...

Always... Always... Always...

-Saliva-

TBC...

(A/N: the next chapter will be the conclusion of this tale)