(-)Chapter 5(-)

Elladan stared up at the stars silently, once in a while glancing over at the limp body of their friend. He immediately turned away from the sight and turned back to the stars.

Elrohir leaned against his brother slightly, simply to tell the other elf that he was not alone.

The older twin smiled slightly as the reassurance.

They both froze however, in shock and fear, when they heard a familiar voice.

Aragorn glanced at the approaching figures boot and smiled, he had learned to check to find out who was near this way instead of looking up so he would not have to risk catching their eyes after he was beaten a couple days ago for accidently catching the eyes of Kelanus.

He glanced up as soon as he recognized the boots and smiled slightly at the man, "Could you not sleep sir?"

"No sir," Sardyn chuckled quietly, "not when we're alone."

Aragorn smiled uneasily and nodded, "Sorry."

"Don't apologize!" the man laughed.

"S-" he paused and frowned, "okay?"

Sardyn only laughed harder, muffling the noise with his overcoat.

Aragorn smiled and sniggered slightly but quickly smothered it.

Sardyn grinned, "There you go! Laughter is not a crime."

"Master does not like it when I show emotion... or... well at least not happyness."

Sardyn sighed sadly, "Well, just do not show it around him. Remember, you are allowed to do whatever you wish around me! Just not when others are around, I do not wish to get you in trouble."

Aragorn nodded slowly.

Elladan and Elrohir glanced at each other wide-eyed, that was most definately their brother's voice. Though their hearts broke at his words. What had happened? Should they call him? Would that get him in trouble if the man he was talking to knew that Estel knew them? Did Legolas know?

Aragorn sighed suddenly, "It has been a week right?"

Sardyn nodded curiously, "Why?"

"He is..." he swallowed, "Master is going to punish the elf again today isn't he?"

Sardyn flinched, "Aye..." he sighed sadly, "he is."

"Why must he hurt the elf? Why doesn't the elf just give up?"

Sardyn glanced down at the man and sat beside him, "Think of the thing you hold most important to you."

"Okay."

"Now immagine never being able to see that thing ever again. Not allowed to see it, or speak of it, and eventually, you'll begin to lose the memory of it, and even the things you didn't hold as close, you'll lose all that as well, and you'll be without anything that you can think about in dark times," his voice had become almost wistful, "never being able to see your family, your home, your friends... it's like having everything being torn away from you and then, to top it all off, being thrown amongst people you do not know, or like."

Aragorn stared at him a moment before speaking quietly, "That happened to you didn't it?"

Sardyn started slightly, "Me? I'm not a slave."

"But you had everything taken from you didn't you?"

Sardyn was silent for quite some time, forcing the tears back, when he finally spoke his voice was quiet and uneven, "I was banished from my homeland."

Aragorn gasped quietly, he had quickly learned what that word meant, "Banished? Why?"

The man flinched, "I was accused of murder."

"Murder?" Aragorn's eyes widened, "You didn't do it though," he nodded, sure of that fact, "but why did they think it was you?"

"I was supposedly the only one around when it happened. It was my arrow they found in," his voice cracked, "in his throat."

"Did you know him?"

Sardyn squeazed his eyes shut, "He was my best friend."

"Did someone steal your arrow?"

"Yes. Three of them went missing."

"Oh," Aragorn muttered, his eyes widening in shock when he noticed a single silver tear fall to the ground in front of the man.

He bit his lip them inched closer and, after gathering his courage pulled Sardyn into a loose, slightly nervous but comforting hug.

Sardyn started in surprise and smiled slightly, hugging the other tightly, "Thank you Ruith," he chuckled slightly, then cocked his head to the side in slight curiosity, "when I had told you to think of what you held most dear... I hadn't been thinking... but you agreed... what was it? Did you remember something?"

"No, I hadn't remembered anything," he muttered, then smiled up at him, "it was you."

The hooded being started again in obvious shock, "Me?"

Aragorn nodded, "You are the only one who had not caused me pain. You're kind to me and... you're the only," he paused nervously, "the only friend I have now."

Sardyn smiled at him brightly, "Thank you Ruith, it means a lot to me to know you can still think of me such."

"Still?"

"Even after I have not done anything to stop your punishments."

Aragorn smiled, "Then you'd be in trouble. It would hurt me more if you got in trouble than it would if I still got punished by Master."

"Ruith? I have to ask you a favor."

Aragorn blinked, "What can I do?"

"Do not call Kelanus Master with me. It only serves to anger me," he smiled reassuringly, then frowned when he remembered the other man could not see it.

Aragorn frowned, "I don't know if-" he paused, "okay," he smiled.

Elrohir turned his face into his brother's shoulder and shuddered slightly.

Elladan shuddered as well, "Ai Estel... what have you gotten yourself into this time?"

Elrohir turned to look at the elf that hung from a tree behind them, he picked up a small rock and threw it, managing to hit the elf in the foot, "Legolas!" he hissed quietly.

The blonde elf stirred and blinked wearily, "El?" his blurry mind couldn't figure out which it was.

"It's Elrohir," he said quietly, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice.

"Elrohir? What?"

"Listen," Elladan hissed, "it's Estel!"

"What? Where!"

"How does that help you? You couldn't turn to see him anyways."

"Be quiet Elrohir," he grumbled.

"Oh yeah? Get yourself out of your tree and make me," the elf smirked.

"Don't tempt me," Legolas grumbled.

"Aye 'Ro! It is not nice to tease the wood-elf! 'T is not his fault he has himself stuck in yet another tree."

Elrohir snickered, "I remember that."

"That was your fault you two!" He hissed.

"Didn't make it any less amusing!" Elladan sniggered.

"If I remember correctly you ended up getting in quite a bit of trouble for that. Now leave me be."

"Fine," Elrohir muttered in mock annoyance, "Boring wood-elf."

"Be quiet before you attract unwanted attention," Legolas grumbled.

"Yes naneth," the muttered in united, downcast voices.

Legolas just mumbled something under his breath that the twins could only begin to imagine.

"He's so mean," Elrohir pouted.

"You started it."

"I did not! You mentioned the tree incident."

"So? You started it by telling him to get out of his tree."

"You called him Naneth."

"So did you!"

"If I remember correctly I believe it was you who started it by telling him that he couldn't turn around to see where this 'Estel' was anyway, but then that's debatable since he asked the stupid question in the first place," Sardyn muttered, as though he was summerizing their conversation, from where he had snuck up right in front of them.

The three froze in shock.

"Uhm... you didn't hear that?" Elrohir half asked nervously.

"I do believe I did," the man grinned.

Legolas smirked, "You two didn't even hear him coming."

"Neither did you!"

"I have an excuse! I've been beaten and I'm further away."

Sardyn had to admit he found it odd the elf was using that as an excuse and was joking about it.

Elrohir smirked, "This coming from 'Mr.I didn't notice there was a 'Have a nice day' smiley on the back of my cloak until I reached Rivendell'."

A/N

Elven Kitten: XP I have to post this quick because as soon as my sisters get back they'll be bugging me for being on the computer again... XP lol so, I'll reply to my two reviewers:P and be on with it! lol

BregoBeauty - I'm glad you're liking it so far:) I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations. :)

grumpy - I'm glad you like it:D and how it's going as well, I hope the rest of the story will continue to be enjoyable:P

E.K.: Wow... that was strange... took me only like... a minute to reply... O.O... Is unused to this and has no idea what to do with the rest of her time...

Aragorn: Glares from corner You are a cruel person...

Legolas: Flatly At least you're not suspended from a tree...

A: I'm not entirely sure which is the worst punishment...

E.K.: Muahahaha, yours will be if I go through with my evil plot for a future story... Evil grin

A: ... so who is 'your'?

E.K.: ... -.-... you

A: Crap... I'm leaving.

E.K.: HA! You can't!

A: Oh really? Stands to leave and walks into invisible wall What the...?

E.K.: MUAHAHAHA:)

A: O.o...

L: O.O... Okay... now I'm scared...

E.K.: That is well, now! We must go! Namarie!

Elenmeoi