A/N: Hello! Wow, I am overwhelmed by all the reviews! So many! YAY! I am glad to hear that you like the story. So, here is chaper two, enjoy. :o)

°°°°° Chapter 2: Painful revelation

The risen sun painted the white cliff walls a wonderful shade of yellow, reflected on the spray of the waterfalls and created moving patterns across the walls of Aragorn's room. He had been too tired the night before to shut the curtains; the meal his father had made him eat had been light, but given his nearly starved condition it had lain heavy in his stomach and had almost tired him more than his brothers' endless bickering. Aragorn had already napped in his chair in front of the flickering flames in the Hall of Fire, when his father had silenced the twins and send him to bed; for once, Aragorn had not complained that his father treated him like a child.

Once in his room, he had shrugged in his sleeping tunic, crawled into his bed and immediately fallen asleep, so exhausted was his body. He had been so tired that he had not even noticed his father slipping into his room and rekindle the fire, or his brothers spreading some more blankets over his sleeping form to keep him warm in the night.

Now, the sun shone warmly into his room, chasing away the shadows of the night and slowly waking Aragorn out of his deep and dreamless sleep. He was still not fully awake and his mind still rested in peaceful slumber, when the door to his room slowly opened. Two dark haired heads peeked in, and a second later Elladan and Elrohir sneaked noiselessly into the room.

They stepped up to the bed and beheld their sleeping brother. During the night, Aragorn had somehow managed to bury himself so deep in the blankets and pillows that only the top of his head was visible, the unruly dark hair contrasting starkly against the still pale skin; but the twins noted that some colour had returned to their brother's face, and the skin was not as white as freshly fallen snow any longer.

Grinning at each other, they nodded and with a loud scream of "Morning!", they jumped on their sleeping brother, intend on waking the slumbering human. It was not the first time that they woke Aragorn in this manner, actually, they had done it more times than they could count.

Elrohir landed on Aragorn's legs, pinning them under his weight, and Elladan landed squarely on Aragorn's upper body, therewith turning the man who had slept on his side so that he now lay on his stomach and Elladan on his back.

But although the twins had done this many times, never before had they garnered such a reaction from their brother. Aragorn screamed out loud in pure pain, arching his back and unconsciously trying to throw the twins off of his body.

Shocked, Elrohir scrambled from Aragorn's legs and Elladan rolled from the man's back, but the damage had already been done. The twins heard the shuddering breaths of their brother and saw the tightly closed eyes and the fine sheen of sweat that stood on his brow. Changing a questioning and worried look, Elladan knelt beside the bed and whispered, "Estel?"

Pain, that was all that his mind registered. Hot white agony tore through his back and woke him from his sleep. The loud scream still echoed in his ears, and Aragorn felt ashamed for letting his guard down and expressing his pain in such a way.

He felt cold sweat appear on his forehead and the shudders that raced through his whole body. The pounding of his racing heart hurt in his chest and his rapid breathing slowed only slowly. Only when the soft voice of Elladan reached his ears did Aragorn notice that, indeed, it had been the twins who had woken him in such a manner. Instantly, he knew that his secret had been revealed, or would be in only some minutes. There was no way now that the twins would not find out.

But, Aragorn did not want them to know, did not want them to see the ugly wounds on his back and be told why he had been hurt in such a way. Forcing his racing heart to return to its normal steady rhythm and taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was Elladan's worried face that hovered only inches in front of his own, concerned brown eyes meeting his own steely grey ones. A quick look told Aragorn that Elrohir was not far away, standing at Elladan's side and looking as worried as his brother.

"Estel?"

He swallowed. What should he say? Certainly they would not believe him if he said that he was fine, which he was not, of course. The pain in his back had subsided somewhat, but he still did not dare to move, out of fear to trigger a new wave of intense pain.

Only when Elladan reached out and placed his fingers against his cheek and then neck, did Aragorn realize that he had not yet answered his brother, who had already called him twice. Turning his head slightly, he locked eyes with Elladan and said, "I'm all right, gwanur. I was just surprised, that's all."

The look that both his brothers gave him was enough to tell him that they did not believe a word he had said. And truth be told, had the places been switched, he would not have believed it either. His voice sounded strained and weak in his own ears.

"Estel, what is it? Where are you hurt?"

Of course, Aragorn thought. He knew his brothers well enough to know that they would not rest until they knew why he had screamed in pain. But still, a part of him still clung stubbornly to the small hope that he could hide his injuries from his family. He knew it would hurt them deeply to see him thus wounded.

Aragorn rolled over slightly and sat up. The cuts on his back released such a fierce wave of pain that his face blanched, but he effectively help back a moan and made sure that his features did not betray him.

But of course, his brothers saw the pain in his eyes, and immediately they both huddled closer to him. Sighing inwardly, Aragorn wished not for the first time in his life that his family was not so perceptive when it came to hurts of all kinds.

He escaped Elrohir's hand that tried to stop him by a mere inch and climbed out of the bed on the other side. Ignoring the worried and suspicious looks on his brothers' faces, he made his way over to his cupboard and pulled out a tunic and some leggings as if nothing had happened, trying to ignore the pain that raced across his back.

Worry swung in Elrohir's voice, and immediately Aragorn felt guilty, "Estel, we only want to help you. Tell us, were are you hurt, gwanur nin?"

Sighing inwardly, Aragorn realized that there was no way he could make the twins believe that he was not hurt, but perhaps he could convince them that it was not worth bothering. Therefore, he shrugged his shoulders and said while releasing a deep breath, "It is not worth bothering, really. It was treated and is nearly healed. I was just unprepared, that was all."

Too late he realized that he had said the wrong thing. At his last words, the twins simultaneously rose from the bed and advanced on him, intend on seeing the wound and finding out what had happened to their little brother that would cause him so much pain that he needed to be 'prepared' before touched.

Aragorn moved backwards until he felt the cupboard in his back.

"Let us see the injury, Estel. If it is nearly healed as you claim, it won't hurt to let us have a look at it." With that, Elladan reached out as if to lift Aragorn's tunic.

To his own surprise, anger welled inside of him, and before he knew what he was doing, he batted his brother's hand away, escaped their hands and retreated towards his bed. "It heals, now leave it will you?"

But his brothers loved him and cared for him, and would not be dissuaded from their worry so easily. And furthermore, they knew Aragorn nearly all his life, and smelled it when he hid something from them. And the behaviour he now presented, spoke of a great secret - a wound that needed tending, but that Aragorn was too stubborn to show.

Exasperation tainted Elladan's voice now, "Estel, don't be that thick-headed. Let us have a quick look to make sure you are well."

"I am well. I can take care of myself, thank you."

Elrohir sighed deeply, and changed the tactic. He had always been the more sensitive of the twins and therefore he said, "Please Estel. It would ease our hearts to know that you are not hurt seriously."

"Can you not simply believe my words? I already told you I am well."

Aragorn felt his anger rise, but it was not only directed at his brothers, but towards himself as well. Why had he not taken some numbing herbs before falling asleep? Or why had he not gotten up earlier, or locked his door, or simply shut up when his brothers had jumped on the bed? He knew that the twins could not be blamed for worrying about him, but, by the Valar, he was no child anymore! Could they not, at least one time, take his word on something? Did they always have to mother him?

With an annoyed sigh he gestured towards the door, "I am fine, all right? Now would you please be so kind as to give me some privacy, I need to change."

Elrohir gave him a sad look and shook his head while he went to the door. He knew that Aragorn was hiding some injury, but he felt that if his brother was unwilling to let them see it, he would not force him to.

Elladan, on the other hand, had other plans. He followed his brother to the door, but when he was directly in front of Aragorn, he spun on his heel, muttered an "I'm sorry", grabbed Aragorn's shoulders and forcibly threw him into the soft covers of his bed.

Aragorn was so surprised by that move, that he did not resist his brother's hands, and only after a groan escaped his lips did he realize that he had closed his eyes in pain. Snapping his eyes open, he instantly tried to push his brother off of him, but Elladan would have none of it.

He had not only heard the groan, but seen his brother's face flinch in pain, and he would not back down now. In his opinion, his brother's wrath was worth his brother's well being.

Keeping a firm grip on Aragorn's shoulders and straddling the man via his own body, he said sharply, "Estel, stop it! I only want to help you!"

But Aragorn did not stop struggling, as the pain in his back reached new levels. Elladan was not as strongly build as he was, and an elf was light, but even the weight of his brother caused the wounds on his back to roar with agony.

"Get off of me!"

"No! Estel, tell me where you are hurt, for I do not want to cause you more pain. Can you not see that I only want to help you?"

"If you want to help me, then get off of me!"

Sweat was now drenching his sleeping tunic, and the pain in his back so fierce that his heart pounded wildly in his chest. Elladan could hold him down with ease, as his own strength had not yet returned to him after the long and hard winter, the journey to Imladris and the cruel punishment.

Aragorn felt his strength leaving him, and he knew that he had no chance of winning against his brother. Desperate, he wriggled under Elladan, now more than ever wishing to get free. But his brother would not let him go, and the struggle sapped Aragorn's strength.

His anger suddenly turned into desperation, and a painful pang pierced his heart. He did not want his brothers to see the wounds on his back, he did not want to see their shocked faces and hear their voices speak in sympathy to him. He did not want to tell them that he had failed his rangers so that he had been forced to take the punishment upon himself. What would his brothers think about him, should they learn that a simple town's man had done that to him, because of a young, inexperienced ranger who had no trust in his Chieftain and the rangers in general?

A lump formed in his throat, and he felt all the strength he had left leave his body. Tears pricked at his eyes, but he willed them away. Pain, exhaustion and inner turmoil finally broke through his defences and a sob rose in his throat.

With a voice full of emotion, he tried one last time to throw his brother off of him, "Elladan, please!"

"No!" The elder twin had finally enough of his struggling sibling, and with a resolute movement he flipped Aragorn over onto his stomach. Either he had not seen the change in the man or misinterpreted it, and annoyed beyond measure by his brother's refusal to be helped, he pinned Aragorn arms above his head with one hand reached for the hem of the nightshirt. Of course, Elladan could not be sure that the wound was on Aragorn's back, but from the man's behaviour it was very likely.

Aragorn could not resist any longer. His muscles went slack and he buried his face in the many pillows and blankets. Tears stung his eyes, from pain, exhaustion and heartache, and his voice was pleading, "Dan, please, no. Please."

But Elladan did not heed his words, and with a quick motion he lifted the night shirt. Suddenly, the room went very quiet. No sound was heard, and nothing moved. Then, slowly, Elrohir went to stand beside his brothers, and then his voice filled the stillness, "By Elbereth, Estel, what happened?"

Aragorn could not answer, for he knew that his brothers only saw the bandages that were covering his entire upper body, and had not yet seen what was hidden by them. Suddenly, he felt his arms being released and the weight atop his body vanish.

"Estel, I did not mean to…I would never hurt you, you know that. Brother, I…I am so sorry." Elladan let the night shirt fall back so that it covered Aragorn's back again, but the ranger knew that there was no turning back now. His brothers would want to see what was under the bandages, and he had not the strength to stop them.

Elladan was too shocked to move, but Elrohir, always the more perceptive and gentle of the twins, took a seat on the edge of the bed and began to gently move his fingers through Aragorn's tousled hair.

"Estel?"

No answer. No movement.

"Estel, you know we would never hurt you. We love you, and we want to help you. Please, let me take a look at your wounds, to make sure that we have not worsened them. It would ease our hearts to know that you are all right."

It was trap, a very mean trap, and Aragorn knew it. How could he deny his brothers the comfort of knowing that they had not worsened his injuries? He could not, and they knew it, too. Aragorn knew that his brothers would see the wounds on his back this way or the other, and if he did not show them now, they would tell their father, and then get a look at them when Elrond examined his back.

So, he only nodded weakly, and lay still as his brother lifted the shirt once more, and then gently began to peel away the bandages. With every layer that fell away, his breathing quickened and his heart rate increased. Too soon he felt the last layer of cloth being lifted and heard his brothers' audible gasp of denial.

Burying his face even deeper into the folds of the bedding, Aragorn wished for it to end. He thought he could feel his brothers' eyes roam over his ravaged back, leaving nothing out and immediately pitying him.

He could have never imagined how wrong he was in that assumption.

"Estel, what did you do to earn a sentence such as this?" Elladan sounded angry.

Too surprised to answer, Aragorn lay motionless for a moment, and then the barely controlled voice of Elrohir reached his ears, "These are wounds from a crime punishment, I have seen such injuries before. What did you do? How comes our brother bears the wounds of a severe crime upon his back, for such a sentence is not executed idly."

Aragorn did not know what to say. Yes, he had received these wounds as a punishment, and that was why he had not wanted his brothers to know. But, he had never thought, not in his wildest dreams, that Elladan and Elrohir would become angry. And that they actually thought he had committed a crime and deserved the flogging.

Had his brothers no trust in him at all? Did they really think he had wronged someone? With wide eyes, he turned his head to look at them, and when he saw their stony faces, he recoiled inwardly. Never had he seen his brothers look at him like this, as if he was not worth their care and love.

Swallowing, he said, "Dan, Ro, it is not as you think. Let me explain…"

"There is nothing to explain," Elladan cut him off roughly. "I have eyes to see. Now I understand why you did not want us to know, why you hid your wounds from us. I…never had thought that my brother would become a criminal."

"Elladan, it is not as you think. I…"

"I do not want to hear what you have to say. I know that whatever you did, it was a grave crime to deserve such a punishment. How could you, Estel?"

And with that, Elladan stormed from the room, swinging the door open so wildly that it banged loudly against the wall. Stunned, Aragorn watched as his brother stormed off, and then turned his eyes on Elrohir.

The younger twin stood rooted to the spot for a moment, gazing down at Aragorn with an expression the man could not read. Then, in a voice so unlike his normal fair and happy tone, he asked flatly,

"Was it a crime sentence?"

"Yes."

Elrohir drew a deep breath before he asked his next question, the one that would decide on who's side he stood,

"Estel, did you deserve it?"

Aragorn did not answer for a long moment. No, he had not committed the crime for which he had been punished, but he still felt guilty for not helping his young ranger, who had stolen the goods. And in his opinion, he had deserved the punishment, yes, because he had failed as Chieftain.

But he needed not to answer the question, Elrohir read the answer in his eyes. With a sad nod of his head, he averted his eyes from Aragorn, moved to the door, stepped out into the hallway and then closed the door silently behind him.

The click of the door as it met the frame was for Aragorn more deafening than anything else. It seemed so final. Aragorn had no strength to bandage his upper body once again, he had not even the strength to get up. So, he simply turned over, facing away from the door and shut his burning eyes.

The sun shone on his face, but he felt not the warmth or the comfort. All he felt was that his world had somehow turned upside down. All the uncertainties that he had harboured since the incident with Rogondil and the theft by Cederic increased tenfold, and all his fears and worries seemed to wash over him in a huge wave that wanted to drown him.

He could not breathe, all air had left his body and he trembled slightly. Chocking, Aragorn felt the world dim before his eyes and the trembling increased until his muscles cramped. His back hurt terribly and his heart beat so wildly that it hurt in his chest. The air that he forced into his lungs burned, but he could do nothing to calm his body. Minutes went by, and slowly, the tension left his body, his breathing evened out, and he fell into a deep exhausted sleep.

Tbc...

Please review! Somehow I get the feeling that the charachters become Out of Charachter... Well, I try my very best. I hope you like this second chapter. There are three more to come, so5 in total. :o)