A/N: Sorry, another long wait. Here you go, apologies to the reviewer I disturbed, not my intention. I disclaim, I own nothing. Thanks to Katherine for being so sweet and Cheysuli - you were just a bit ahead of me darling.

Chapter 4

The slight figure awoke, stirring for the first time in hours. Dawn had once again graced the room. Through water filled eyes, the room looked pathetic. Legolas surveyed the scene. The delicate petals had been crushed heedlessly into the wooden floor, the bed now in disarray from him throwing himself upon it. The elf picked up a red petal, running it through his hands he noted how easily it fell apart. Everything had fallen apart, in the space of moments. And the elf had no clue why. Ripping the robes angrily from his body, he wept bitterly as he redressed in his bland, normal attire. Now was not the time for colour. The reds, pinks and golds of the room had been lost in those shattering moments. All had faded now to a monotonous, telling grey, devoid of life.

His first thought after recovering had been to chase the man, to order him to speak his mind. But now, that seemed foolhardy. Legolas desperately scoured his mind for some grievance, for some possible motive. Yet, he could not find one. He had done nothing to deserve such treatment. What was it Aragorn said? An apology, this whole act was an apology. An apology for an undefined crime.

True, pursuing Aragorn would achieve little, thought the elf, but staying here achieves less. Legolas strode into the trees, still unaware of his destination.

*************************

Strange, yesterday Rumil cried, without apparent reason. Yet today, the elf had good cause to cry, and he could not bring himself to. He sat blankly staring, stock still, repeating detached phrases. His brother, Orophin sat beside him, patting uselessly at his arm.

"That was fun, he said, shame I had to look upon your face, that's what he said." The distraught elf continued mumbling. His sibling had been told the same story a number of times now, and his fury was growing.

His brother had been used, used by the one he loves. Legolas used him and then left, telling the forlorn elf he never wanted to gaze upon his countenance again. Apparently the Prince of Mirkwood had told Rumil that intercourse was all he was good for, before irritably wiping himself clean and carelessly disappearing into the forest.

"Look." Rumil raised an arm and held it out, the limb was covered in bruises that would soon heal. "It hurt." He said with the frightened voice of a small child.

Rumil had spoke of nothing else in the hours since, he had not even moved. His two brothers had found him where he sat in the silent twilight hours, after a dedicated search.

Haldir now paced in front of his two brothers, murderous anger clouding his thoughts. The protective elf promising and needing vengeance. Neither of his kin stopped him as walked off with a growl.

*************************

Pippin sat determinedly preparing breakfast, a special breakfast as he had promised. Acquiring some ingredients from their hosts, Pippin cooked up everything he had, attempting to cheer up their newest companion. Aragorn had appeared late yesterday afternoon, on the premise of a visit. He stayed with them but seemed quiet, almost lost. Pippin had decided he needed cheering up, and nothing cheered him up back in the shire like a good meal. Gandalf watched over him, encouraging, smiling, the hobbit tossed everything into a pan, looking up when there was a commotion ahead.

"Aragorn. . . ." The tone was warning, deep.

"I do not wish to talk of this, Gimli." The man was hurrying away from frenzied questioning.

"If this is some argument you have had with Legolas, maybe we can help." The dwarf seemed desperate.

"Trust me friend, you cannot help." As he backed away, the future king stumbled, falling dangerously over the central fire. Pippin's hard work was tossed across the clearing.

The hobbit did not feel the hurt or anger he expected, rather he was concerned over his friend. The man rose, Pippin spoke in a small voice.

"What's wrong Aragorn?" For the first time, the man in question turned to face the halfling.

Without reply Aragorn swayed and swivelled to face the trees. He lowered his head and bit his lip, as if fearing his own response. With one sad look back, he miserably shook his shaggy head and stomped away.

But this time, the dwarf and hobbits followed him, Gandalf remained - his face grim.

******************************

Legolas had been walking for what seemed like hours, he had arrived at the central part of the forest, not far from where the Lord and Lady resided. He was about to continue onwards, when something blocked his path.

"Haldir I - "

The elf was cut short by Haldir grabbing at his collar and pressing him hard against a nearby tree.

"Think you are so wise, little one? Think you can play these games? Well, you cannot. You are nothing, hear me nothing." Legolas could hear with ease, but understanding came less easily. Unfortunately he was not allowed to speak.

"First you use my brother and then toss him away, do you do this with many? Did you even stop to think of Aragorn?"

The very man seemed to melt into the picture, appearing from the sea of green, as if called by his relevance. Legolas tried to call out to his lover, but again was stopped.

Aragorn did not move as Haldir raised a fist. He remained still as it made contact with Legolas' face, blood flowing freely from his lip.

However, an audience was growing. "Aragorn do something!" Came the call of the dwarf, the hobbits merely calling names shrilly. No matter how many times the dwarf shouted, Aragorn never acted. Stood as if frozen.

Unable to raise a hand to a friend, Legolas was beaten to the ground, puzzled by his love's inaction. With one last ditch attempt, the elf called out to his beloved before he was cut off by darkness.

Gimli, Pippin and Merry could stand to watch no more, they rushed forward, pushing both Haldir and Aragorn aside. They gathered up their friend, and with one last deadly look towards the man, they carried him back to the camp.

A shadowy figure laughed gleefully from the canopy above.

A/N: Oh no! Please, please review. I will update as soon as I can.