Hours later, Legolas was still sitting in the same place, leaned forward with his elbow on Aragorn's bed, leaning his face in his hand.

Elrond and the twins were all forced to come and go occasionally, having many duties, but they'd confined Legolas there due to his head injury. For once, he was glad to stay in the healing wing—not wanting to leave Aragorn's side for even an instant. He knew that the others envied him, for no one wanted to leave the wounded human.

Legolas, still tired, found himself dozing off. He eventually laid his head on the bed, praying that Aragorn would wake soon.

Suddenly, he felt someone lightly running their fingers over the bruise on his temple. He found that his eyes were closed, and wondered how long he'd been asleep. Opening them, he didn't find Elrond or one of the twins checking his injury as he expected—it was Aragorn.

"Estel!" Legolas exclaimed, sitting up too quickly for his head, causing it to protest with a sharp throb.

The human smiled at him, looking concerned at the same time. "Are…you…all right?" he asked, softly.

Legolas nodded, ignoring the pain. "Do not ask me that, mellon-nin," he said, relieved tears coming to his eyes. "Are you? How do you feel?"

"Fine," the human lied.

Legolas smiled at the ridiculous answer.

Aragorn suddenly frowned.

"What is it?" Legolas asked, worriedly.

"Tears?"

Legolas blinked, not realizing that they'd slipped down his cheeks. He brought up a hand to wipe them away. "Forgive me, my friend!" he said.

"For what?" Aragorn asked, tiredly.

"You took that wound for me," Legolas said, with a sniff. "Why did you do that? You are mortal, with such a short lifespan! Why would you throw it away?"

Aragorn smiled. "It is…an…acceptable risk."

"What?"

"Acceptable risk," Aragorn repeated, closing his eyes and reopening them again. "Because…I love…my brother."

Legolas' face didn't remain dry for long. More tears slipped down his face at Aragorn's words. "I feel the same," he managed to say, feeling choked up.

Aragorn smiled, reaching for his friend's hand and squeezing it weakly.

Legolas returned the gesture, but he frowned when the human gave a cough. He reached for the water pitcher and poured some into a cup before lifting Aragorn up to drink, cursing himself for not thinking of it sooner.

Aragorn drank it gratefully. "Thank you," he said, as Legolas laid him back down.

The elf removed the wet cloth from his friend's forehead, checking his fever. He found Aragorn's skin to be cooler, and smiled with relief.

The door suddenly opened as Elrond walked in. He saw Aragorn's opened eyes, and quickly hurried over. "Welcome back, Estel," he said, happily.

Aragorn smiled, shifting his position painfully.

Elrond shot a triumphant look at Aragorn's waking towards Legolas, seeing the tears drying on the Prince's face.

Legolas smiled at him, ever so grateful for the older elf's healing gift.

Elrond checked Aragorn's wound and gave him some painkilling herbs.

"How long has it been?" Aragorn asked, trying to keep his eyes open.

Legolas actually had to think for a minute. "We arrived here late yesterday afternoon," he said. "You were wounded the morning of the day before."

Aragorn's eyes had drifted shut, but he suddenly opened them. "You carried me home…that distance…so quickly?"

"I did not make many stops," said Legolas.

Aragorn studied his friend more closely, remembering that the elf's eyes were closed in sleep moments ago. "How is your head?" he asked, cringing at the thought of Legolas carrying him all day and night while he had a head injury.

"I am fine, my friend," Legolas said. "My injury was not serious."

Aragorn didn't believe him, especially at the sight of the elf still wearing nightclothes.

"We do what we have to do, Estel—" Legolas said.

"And then you collapse," Aragorn cut in.

Legolas smiled slightly. "Mayhap so, but not until after the goal is reached."

Aragorn returned the smile, but he still looked troubled.

"Worry not for me," Legolas told him. "Just get well."

Aragorn gave no reply, his eyes closing as he fell asleep.

The door opened a minute later and the twins walked in, heading to the bed and standing beside it.

Legolas looked at Elrond, trying to hide a grin. "Should we tell them?" he asked.

The twins looked at him with alarm—a mirror image of each other. "Tell us what?" they both said, in unison.

Legolas shrugged with one shoulder, seeming unconcerned. "Oh. He woke, that's all."

The twins smiled happily. Elladan reached out a hand to whack Legolas on the head, but stopped himself in time.

Elrohir sighed with relief. "Ah. Wonderful news! Did we not tell you that he would be fine?"

Legolas smiled. "Aye, you did indeed."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Legolas had the twins help him push his bed closer to Aragorn's, but they refused to let Legolas keep watch over the human that night, citing the fact that he still needed sleep. The blond elf lay awake as long as he could, but fell into slumber despite himself.

Elladan and Elrohir each took a turn watching over their brother, with Elrond coming through the night to check on him. The human was doing very well, and Elrond knew that Aragorn would be asking to be let out of bed before long. The wound had not damaged any organs; if it had been an inch or two lower, the situation would have been entirely different.

Aragorn unexpectedly woke shortly before dawn. Elrond was the only one there, having sent Elrohir to bed. The elf was surprised to see the human's eyes open, and he thought that something was wrong. He removed the wet cloth from his son's forehead and laid his hand there. "Estel?" he whispered. "Are you all right?"

Aragorn nodded. "Aye. Is Legolas?"

Elrond nodded, pointing. "He sleeps."

Aragorn turned his head to see Legolas' bed only six feet from his own. The blond elf was deep in slumber—eyes closed.

Elrond saw the alarm on his son's face. "He is only tired. Legolas made a two-day journey in one day while suffering from a head injury. It is to be expected."

Aragorn nodded, turning his head to look at Elrond again. He somehow pulled at his wound and gave a loud gasp, unintentionally waking Legolas, who jumped out of bed and nearly tripped over the same chair again, whacking his other leg this time.

Aragorn didn't expect the sight, and he laughed, despite his pain.

Legolas heart was beating wildly; he was still frightened at his friend's obvious pain, but seeing the human laugh quelled some of his anxiety. He dropped into the chair and put a hand on his friend's arm. "Are you all right?"

Aragorn nodded. "Are you?"

Legolas smiled. "That chair has something against me," he said, knowing that he'd soon have matching bruises.

Elrond had gone to the herb table and prepared a painkiller for his son, bringing it back and helping him drink it.

Aragorn tasted the sleeping herb in the drink, and for once, he was glad. His wound hurt more than he'd admit.

Elrond returned to the table and prepared a drink for Legolas, knowing the elf's head was still aching; especially after leaping out of bed like that.

He returned and handed the cup to Legolas, giving him a 'drink-it-all' look.

Legolas obeyed, aware of Aragorn's worried gaze. The human obviously felt horrible that Legolas had carried him home while injured himself. "Why do you worry for me?" he asked, handing Elrond the empty cup. "You waste your thoughts, mellon-nin, I truly am fine."

Aragorn said nothing, feeling the herbs doing their work.

Legolas saw the human drifting off and smiled, patting his arm. "Sleep."

The human returned the smile as his eyes closed.

"You should return to your bed, Legolas," Elrond whispered.

Legolas shook his head. "I wish to stay with Estel."

Elrond smiled. "Here or there will not make much difference."

Legolas shook his head again, this time accompanied by a yawn.

The older elf watched the Prince doze off, his blond head slowly lowering before lifting again as he tried to fight the herbs. Elrond walked to the chair and took the younger elf's arm. "Come, Legolas, back to bed."

The elf didn't move, his head dropping again and staying there.

Elrond slid his arms under the elf and lifted him from the chair, gently laying him down and pulling the covers up. Legolas' eyes were still closed, but not completely. He would be fully recovered within the next day or two.

Walking away from the bed, Elrond took the offending chair and moved it out of Legolas' path.