"I see introductions are in order, I'm Farlest." He raised his eyebrows as if to urge the other two wordlessly to speak.
Aragorn shot a look at his friend. Legolas had that stubborn look on, he was still sore from being bested, and if that glare was any indication, he was not going to be reasonably friendly for a while yet.
"I am Strider, and this is my friend Legolas. We were on our way to Dale when we happened upon your trail. If you would let me see to your wounds, I have some training as a healer."
"I'll be fine, 'tis only a scratch."
Aragorn and Legolas exchanged a look, then turned back to Farlest.
"Right." They said in unison.
Aragorn knelt beside the elf, but he shied away. "I said I'm all right! Can't take a fellow at his word, can you?"
Legolas shook his head, "Not when they say it's only a scratch." He muttered, tossing Aragorn a meaningful look.
The ranger ignored him, his attention wholly fixed on the other glaring elf who was trying to fend off the persistent man.
"I'll be all right."
Aragorn was becoming extremely agitated, the only thing he hated worse than cliffs was a stubborn elf. And this one was promising to be twice the mule-headed fellow that Legolas was.
Farlest's eyes were as hard as the emeralds they so resembled, "So help me ranger, If you touch me I'll cut your bloody fingers off!"
"No you won't." said Legolas coolly, "because if you do you loose more than that."
The other elf returned the prince's stare with just as much heat. "I was just joking. Elves these days have no sense of humor..."
Aragorn chuckled, "Sometimes I have to agree with you there. Now, will you please let me help you. I can see that gash in your thigh, you've already lost a substantial amount of blood and you're apt to loose more if something isn't done."
"I can bloody take care of my flaming self." Muttered the other elf stoically. But he allowed Aragorn to push aside the torn legging aside to give the ranger a clear view of the wound underneath.
"Sword wound unless I'm mistaken. Where'd you get that?"
"Long story." Replied Farlest tersely. As if to say, 'none of your business'.
"So what are you? A bandit?" asked Legolas, his joking tone hiding the seriousness of the question, he just didn't feel safe, something about the other elf struck a familiar chord within him, and a dissonant one at that. Farlest was about as safe as a warg in its den.
The raven-haired elf laughed outright this time, but was cut off as he gasped in pain. "Watch it there! I want to be in one piece when you're done!"
Aragorn scowled, "I have to clean it first, your little tramp through the words didn't do anything for it."
Farlest shrugged, "Have it your way, human. But it feels like you're trying to take it off, not cleanse it..." he then trailed off into a low litany of words which even the twins would probably have been loathe to repeat as Aragorn continued his ministrations.
Half an hour later, when Aragorn was tying off the bandage, he finally noticed the reason for the silence of the past thirty minutes. Farlest and Legolas were engaged in a stare-fest that somehow seemed to make the air crackle with electricity.
The ranger sighed, why was he always the one who had to intercede and keep Legolas from venting his temper in less than peaceful ways. Breaking the two elves gaze by stepping between them, he tapped Legolas on the nose.
"And you're doing...what?"
"Hmmm? Me? Oh nothing, old ice-eyes there was just playing hawk." Aragorn turned an annoyed glance to the Elf who had now clambered painfully to his feet, the bandage a white patch that stood out against the dark leggings as a reminder of just how stubborn their new acquaintance was.
A loud 'harrumph' from Legolas told those present exactly what he felt about that comment. "For your information, I am not 'old ice-eyes' and you will refrain from calling me that in the future, or you'll wish we'd left you out here for the spider."
Farlest's eyes glittered dangerously, "I wouldn't be so sure of that, friend." His deft fingers caressed the hilt of his dagger in an inconspicuous, yet noticeably dangerous motion.
Aragorn moved over and grabbed Farlest's wrist. "None of that. We have a long way to go, and we would have you at least go to the edge of the forest with us, for I will not leave you here. So you and Legolas are just going to have to get along." He raised his eyebrows at the prince in warning.
Legolas glared daggers, but nodded slowly, in an almost reluctant gesture. Everything in him screamed that this elf was not one to be trusted, he reminded the elf of a serpent or a fox. Smart, fast, lethal. But perhaps with that wound, he would not be half so capable. But then again, trust had never been one of the prince's strong points. It was hard to gain, but once gained, not easily lost. He had learned not to trust easily long ago. And a hard learned lesson it was.
Reaching out a hand to Farlest he gave a slight smile, his face suddenly brightened in friendliness. A willingness to try to understand this stranger. After all, hadn't Aragorn been strange to him once?
Farlest gave a skeptical glance at the proffered hand, reaching his own out tentatively, he was suddenly pulled into a friendly embrace.
"Welcome to the company, Farlest."
A genuine smile graced the other's features, a smile that reached all the way to the emerald eyes. "Hannon le, I would be pleased to be of your company. I am in debt to your friend."
He nodded towards Aragorn, who mouthed, 'I told you so' at the blonde archer.
"Here, lean on me." Farlest put his arm around the prince's shoulder, thankful for the support, his leg was sending shards of pain jolting through him at every step and the relief of pressure brought an inexpressible respite.
Hobbling their way back to where they had left the horses, there came the expedient problem of riding arrangements. And it seemed that both Elves were determined to make a scene.
"I am not riding with Goldy. He looks like he's gonna bite my head off."
"What's the matter? Scared?"
"You call me that again, ice eyes and I'll chase you from Mirkwood to Mordor, bad leg or no!"
"I told you what would happen if you called me THAT again!"
"ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Bellowed Aragorn. Did the Valar have no mercy that he should be stuck with these two? There was no justice in Arda it seemed.
"If you two cannot settle this agreeably I will sling you over the saddle like a knapsack and haul you all the way to Dale."
Farlest smirked, "Now that I would like to see..." His eyes darted momentarily to Legolas and his grin widened.
"As would I." Said Legolas, openly sneering at the other.
Just then, Aragorn moved forward, put on arm around each elf, and effectively banged their heads together.
"Ow! Hey, there was no call to be doing that." Moaned Farlest, rubbing his forehead.
"You're going to pay for that, Strider." Threatened Legolas darkly, "And you know I can do it too."
Aragorn just watched them calmly, his composure never wavered, "Farlest. My horse. NOW!"
It was amazing to watch the speed at which the elf complied, still mumbling under his breath. Aragorn caught the words: 'ranger' 'bloody' and 'flay', and chuckled. Yes, he really was getting to them this time.
Legolas had already mounted and as Aragorn swung himself up in front of Farlest, turned a triumphant look to Farlest. Behind the ranger's back, of course.
As they rode on, Aragorn heard the elf behind him grinding his teeth. The ranger sighed heavily. This was going to be a very long trip.