5

Elrohir offered Aragorn a helping hand to stand. When he gained his feet he hugged him fiercely and said, "You have been gone a long time tithen pen."

"Iston," Aragorn replied softly.

They both turned to look at Elladan.

He stood there rigid, staring disbelievingly at Aragorn. His sword was at his side clenched in numb fingers. Finally with a face devoid of any emotion he said,

"Tell the ranger that we no longer take in strays Elrohir. They have a nasty habit of running away."

Elladan turned on his heel and strode away without a backward glance.

Aragorn felt his heart go cold and tears filled his eyes. Blinking furiously he turned around meaning to leave, but Elrohir caught his arm.

"No, he does not mean it Estel," he began.

At Aragorn's incredulous look he said. "He searched for you for over a year… alone. It hurt him when you left without a word."

"I was angry," Aragorn whispered. "I hated all of you. I did not think…" Aragorn breathing hitched and he could not continue.

Elrohir hugged him again and turned to Legolas who was standing there uncertainly.

"Come both of you. The camp is not far. You both look just about done in."

………………………

Legolas ate quite an amount of the honeyed bread. He was nearly famished. He stayed seated in one corner of the flet observing the others quietly. The one called Elrohir and Aragorn were talking between themselves in hurried whispers of conversation. But the one called Elladan, he was at the very edge of the platform looking out over the valley. Not once had he spoken, not once had he moved.

…………….

"Go to him Estel," Elrohir said.

"He will not speak to me, you know this better than I," Aragorn responded in anguish.

"I know that despite his anger, he felt the same joy that I did on seeing you alive and whole. You are our brother Estel, nothing can change that,"

"But…" Aragorn began.

"Forget your pride dúnadan and he will forget his," Elrohir caught Aragorn's chin and forced his gaze upwards. "Can you do that?"

Aragorn stared deep into his brother's honey brown eyes,

"I can," he said.

………………..

As Legolas watched he saw Aragorn rise from where he sat and walk over to the very edge of the platform where Elladan was standing. He felt a moment of fear for his friend for the anger of this elf was a palpable thing.

Aragorn tried in many ways to ask forgiveness of Elladan. But the elder elf neither responded nor seemed to hear. He stared unblinkingly out at nothing as Aragorn's voice filled the silence of the evening.

Finally with a sigh Aragorn said. "I am sorry I hurt you Lada, I hope one day you can forgive me. We will leave tonight."

He started to walk away.

"Do you always give up so easily, little brother?" Elladan asked in a subdued voice.

Legolas saw the two embrace. Elladan the taller leaned his cheek again Aragorn's head.

"I have missed you little brother," Legolas heard him say.

"And I you," Aragorn responded.

……………

Elrohir cleverly distracted Legolas with a myriad of questions and anecdotes while Aragorn and Elladan talked. Aragorn told his brother of all that had transpired and what he intended to do.

"That is a dangerous journey Estel, especially with the snows not far off."

"I will be careful. There are places I can wait out the worse days."

"And you trust that this elf is honest."

Aragorn glanced over at Legolas who at that moment was deeply mesmerized by a tale of Elrohir's. His eyes were rapt and his lips were slightly parted. Aragorn turned back to Elladan.

"I sense no lie in him,"

"We shall see," was all Elladan said.

………..

Legolas accepted the innocently proffered cup of wine easily enough. He sipped hesitatingly at first, but that first sip filled him with such a heady sense of well being that he drank deeply thereafter. He could not help the smile that started somewhere in the middle of his face and spread to its farthest corners. He giggled when Elladan took the cup out of his nerveless fingers.

"What have you done?" Aragorn asked worriedly.

"Stand back Estel, do not interfere," Elladan said brusquely.

Together the twins lay him flat on his back. Elrohir knelt at his side. He looked up at Aragorn and gave a brief smile.

"Don't worry this will not hurt him,"

Gently as a lover caressing her mate, Elrohir began to trace an intricate circular pattern with the tips of his fingers at the young elf's temple. Legolas shuddered and his breathing became erratic. But Elrohir leaned forward and his reddish brown hair fell forward to form a curtain over the unconscious elf. His fingers traced a pattern across Legolas' brow until they reached the very centre of his forehead. There they stilled. Legolas' breathing deepened and was soon in tandem with Elrohir's.

……………….

Elrohir broke contact with Legolas with a loud shuddering breath. He staggered to his feet flailing at Elladan and Aragorn when they instinctively reached out to help him. Elladan grabbed at his hands, "Lir you are safe, you are safe."

Elrohir fell to his knees and Elladan went with him. He enfolded his brother in his arms. Elrohir was panting. Aragorn vacillated between wanting to know what his brother had seen and concern for his well being. But Elrohir reached out to him. Aragorn took his hand, it was cold.

"You should have killed him Estel," Elrohir gasped. "You should have killed him."

……………….

"There were images of a battle, blood, fallen comrades, but beyond that nothing, nothing at all. It is as if a void separates his past life from his present."

…………….

Elrohir took the leaf carefully from his hands.

"It is beautiful," Elrohir told Legolas. "Whoever made this for you must love you very much."

Legolas bowed his head, "I wish I could remember," he said wistfully.

"You will. It is buried somewhere inside. It needs only the key to open the door."

Legolas looked up, "Aragorn thinks we will find my people, my home."

Elrohir looked over to where Elladan and Aragorn sat talking. Aragorn was drawing in the dirt with a thin branch. He pointed at something he had drawn and looked at Elladan who appeared doubtful.

"He will, he is a very stubborn man," Elrohir said.

Legolas too turned to look at them.

"They seem very alike," he ventured to say.

"They are, too alike," said Elrohir grinning. "Here lean forward," he said to Legolas.

Obligingly he did and Elrohir quickly pulled out quite a few strands of his long pale hair.

"Ouch," Legolas exclaimed, rubbing his smarting head.

But Elrohir was already up and approaching his next victim. He returned with some dark strands, leaving behind a puzzled and hurting Aragorn.

With quick and nimble fingers Elrohir linked the strands together, pale gold on dark brown. He weaved them together until they formed a strong, thin chain. Upon this he slipped the leaf. He held it up for Legolas' inspection. Legolas did not know what to say.

"Wear it in good stead my friend," said Elrohir as he secured the chain around Legolas' neck.

………………

"We will ride with you as far as the end of the High Pass," Elladan said. "But first I must get some clothes and food, and a horse. You are ill prepared for such a long journey."

He looked down at Legolas' upturned young face. "Welcome to Imladris Legolas of Greenwood," he said with a slight bow and a smile. It lit up his entire face.

Legolas was still stuttering an unintelligible reply by the time Elladan had disappeared into the surrounding forest. With a laugh Elrohir slapped him on the back, "I told you he is nice once you get to know him."

Legolas made a face which sent both Aragorn and Elrohir into peals of uninhibited laughter.

tithen pen……..young one

Iston………..I know

Ainu Laire-------I really tried to finish quick.. sort of… kind of.

Silvertoekee-------I switched names cos… well I really don't know, but thank you mucho.

Lindahoyland -------You are really sweet LH. Thanks a lot, hope this one pleased you.

Tmelange--------------Aw shucks

Quickbeam-------- You keep on talking like that and I'll just float up to the ceiling, My sincerest thanks.

Twilight Unicorn------- hey does your horn shine in the dark? Thank you very much.

OokamiJudge---------Oh my Gawd!

Ankha---------- I agree they are twin souls. And you were right!

QueridaShanna------ Para ti especialmente.

Am---------Thank you and I hope you enjoy.

Llaris--------- Hot off the treebark!

Viggomaniac--------Wish I had some pipeweed! And you are really too good to me. (please continue) heh heh.

Inuyashaloverfan-------- WOW! writing your name just about finished my wrist. Thanks for your kind words!

Mystic Night---------- Hope you enjoyed this one.

Grumpy--------- Nicely put! Hope you liked.