Title: "After the Wars"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 2, Legolas Awakens

Aragorn entered the room quietly. He sat down in the chair next to the bed and ran a hand through his shoulder length brown hair. In front of him lay Legolas, who did not sleep soundly. He tossed and turned every few minutes. Because of this Aragorn did not wish to leave him alone. He worried too much for him.

For some time now he had thought him dead. All in fact thought that the prince of Mirkwood had been killed at Helms Deep. Yet it was clear now that he was alive. Aragorn sat back, staring at his sleeping friend, and sighed. He had hoped that by now he would have awoken, yet he still did not. The physicians had all said the same thing –that he likely would not.

His body had been broken, that was what they all said. One of his lungs had failed and no longer worked. His heart was not pumping enough blood. Not to mention that he had not seen the light of the sun in at least a year, which made him even sicker. The physicians worried that seeing the sun could harm his eyes. For this reason Aragorn kept the balcony draped over with sheets, and hanging from the bedposts was thick black satin.

Aragorn sat there for hours before Legolas moved again. His lips parted and he cried out in his sleep. Aragorn sat forward immediately. He did not scream as he normally did, but he said a name. He had said it clearly, calling for an answer. Aragorn.

"Legolas," Aragorn said as he took his hand in his own. "I am here. I have not left. Wake, you are safe now."

Aragorn put his other hand on Legolas' cheek. The elf turned his head in the direction of the human's flesh. He coughed quietly, then was resting peacefully. Aragorn did not move his hand. This was the calmest Legolas had been in ages. Instead he watched him sleep intently.

Even though he looked not as he once did he was still beautiful. His high cheekbones and fair complexion made him seem fragile. Yet he was far from that. His pointed ears were covered now by his hair. Aragorn smiled softly, the elf had always taken pride in his golden locks, and even now it was still the least touched part of his body.

Dark emotions swept over Aragorn just then. He remembered the battle of Helms Deep. He had gone to Haldir, had looked down at him for just a moment. Then, when he stood, he was again being attacked. The retreat was called, but he was far away. At first it seemed as if too many orcs surrounded him. Yet then there had been Legolas.

The elf had turned and come back. He fought hard until they were both able to get to the gates. Yet as they raced across the bridge a fallen orc had reached out. Aragorn turned just as Legolas fell. The doors shut just as the elf looked up. The thought of it brought tears to his eyes.

"Open the gate," he had screamed. No one listened. He pounded on the door to no avail. The gates were shut. They had to protect the rest. So that is what Aragorn had done. He protected those that he could. When the gate was opened he had hoped to see Legolas, yet had not.

For some time he told himself that Legolas was fine. He believed that the elf had gone a different way and would meet again with them soon. Yet that day of meeting never came. Instead, he never returned.

Aragorn looked up as Legolas stirred in his sleep. The elf's eyes opened and immediately he pushed away from Aragorn. Scared from his sleep, and scarred from memories, he fell off of the bed across from Aragorn. He hit the floor and quickly pushed himself back into a standing position. He reached out quickly and grabbed a candelabrum.

Aragorn had stood and come around the bed. Now he stopped and put both hands up. Words did not leave his mouth. At first he just stared at what Legolas had become. His breathing was heavy, his lungs working hard. His eyes were almost hollow, the life beaten out of them, and Aragorn knew then what he had become. He was a fighter. He was only let out of that cage when he was to fight for his life.

"It is only me," Aragorn said quietly. "It is Aragorn."

Legolas held the candelabrum firmly in his grasp all the same. He took a step back so that he back touched a wall. It kept him from falling over. After a moment of staring at Aragorn he let the candelabrum fall from his hand. It hit the floor with a loud clang. Aragorn watched Legolas, he didn't even blink at the sound. To his elven ears it should have been painful.

"Legolas," Aragorn said soothingly as he stepped forward. "You are safe now, they are gone."

Legolas began to slide to the ground. His back was still pressed against the wall. Aragorn made a motion to move forward but the elf held up a hand. Aragorn stopped and watched as he slid to the floor. Legolas then pulled his knees up to his chin and wrapped his arms around his legs. Placing his chin on his knees he glanced up through his lashes at the ranger.

"Keep away," the elf said in a dark manner.

Aragorn took a step back to calm the man that had once been his friend. He realized now that he was not as he had been. He watched Legolas let out a deep breath. He then closed his eyes and put his forehead to his knees. Once again he began to sleep. Aragorn frowned, for this was the way that he had found him.

"How is he," Arwen asked as she entered the room quietly. Aragorn pointed to the corner where Legolas slept. Arwen stared at him for a moment then sat down on Aragorn's lap. "You can sense the darkness that surrounds him all throughout the palace."

"You should have seen where we found him," Aragorn whispered. "He was the only one Arwen, the only one."

"But you saved him," Arwen replied.

"No. We haven't even begun to."