Disclaimer: Same as always.
A/N: Thanks again for the reviews. I love the encouragement. Hope everyone continues to enjoy and review.
Chapter 25
Light in the Midst of Darkness
I still remember the world
From the eyes of a child
Slowly those feelings
Were clouded by what I know now
Where has my heart gone
Trapped in the eyes of a stranger
I want to go back to
Believing in everything
I still remember..
-Evanescence - Field of Innocence
Aragorn stared silently outside. It was early morning and though the scene before him looked peaceful, he felt anything but peace. He heard the door open behind him and he turned his head to see his only friend walk into the room. He smiled slightly at seeing a friendly face.
"How do you fare?" Legolas asked.
Aragorn shrugged. "The healer says my wounds are healing."
Legolas rolled his eyes at the vague answer. "Your memory?"
Aragorn shook his head. "I still remember nothing. Clouded images fill my head, but nothing makes sense at all. Every time I think I'm remembering something, darkness clouds my mind and my whole body feels weak." Aragorn admitted.
Legolas sat down by him. "Give it time, Estel. You are safe here for as long you wish to stay." Legolas said, even thought it was not the full truth. He did not wish to rush his friend even though he himself felt rushed.
"Can I ask you a question?" Aragorn asked as he looked back out the window.
"Of course."
"You say I'm safe here and you told me I was rescued, but why are you the only one friendly towards me? The healer seems to despise me and the guard seems to glare at me like I'm a captive. Did I do something against them?"
Legolas sighed. "Nay, my friend. It is nothing you did. The elves of this forest do not take kindly to outsiders, especially humans. We have had many negative instances in the past that have lead us to distance ourselves from others and to stay away from humans."
Aragorn nodded slowly in understanding. "If this is true, how did we become friends?"
Legolas smiled. "Years ago, I was captured and forced to work as a slave to a man named Gerchen. My spirit almost faded, but when I was ready to give up, you came into my life. At first, I didn't trust you, but you proved your friendship to me many times. You saved my life."
Aragorn smiled. "And it seems now you have saved mine."
Legolas nodded and grinned. "Well, Elladan would have killed me if I didn't."
Aragorn raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Elladan is your brother." Legolas answered his unasked question.
"I have a brother?"
"Two actually." Legolas said. "Actually they are only your adoptive brothers, but they love you as if you are blood brothers."
Aragorn smiled, but remained curious. "Was I adopted?"
Legolas nodded. "You parents were killed when you were very young." Legolas said gently. "You were adopted by Elrond and raised as his child."
Aragorn thought for a moment, not remembering any of this. He frowned slightly, discouraged for not remembering.
"Maybe this will help you remember something." Legolas said as he passed Aragorn's bow to him. "This is your weapon."
Aragorn took it and examined it. He ran his hands across it, staring at the elvish words inscribed. The words were familiar and without a second thought, he read the words.
'To Estel on his eleventh birthday. From your brothers.'
Aragorn stared a moment longer at the bow. He mumbled something to himself, but the Prince's elven ears heard him.
"What did you say?" Legolas asked, hope rising in his heart.
Aragorn looked up at him and shrugged. "Nothing, it was just a thought while reading this."
"No, say what you said again." Legolas asked, wanting to confirm what he thought he heard.
"I said, 'Elrohir'." Aragorn replied.
Legolas smiled bright.
"Does it mean something?" Aragorn asked trying desperately to remember. Two identical faces flashed into his mind, confusing his thoughts.
"Yes!" Legolas exclaimed. "Elrohir is your brother. He's Elladan's twin."
Aragorn looked at him curiously. Suddenly a vision played in his mind. He saw the two identical faces again, then he saw orcs, and blood-covered ground, with women and children lying dead on the floor. He shook his head quickly at the gruesome scene.
"What is it, Estel? Tell me what you see." Legolas asked.
"I'm in the woods. It's quiet… too quiet. There are people… women and children mainly. There's lots of blood. I can't move. I'm afraid. Someone tries to shield my eyes. Then suddenly I'm alone." Aragorn began breathing out hard, cringing at the scene that was before his eyes.
"What happened next, Estel?" Legolas gently prided.
"I see orcs…many of them. They're after someone. Someone who is hurt and can't defend himself. I know him. I scream his name."
"Whose name do you scream?" Legolas continued to ask.
"Elrohir! They're going to kill him. I have to do something to save him."
"What do you do?"
"I look down at my bow. I ready an arrow and fire. It hits an orc, but only in the leg. I try to put another arrow to my bow, but I'm afraid. The orcs are coming near. I panic." Aragorn balled his fist, his breathing increasing.
"Sidh, Estel." (Peace) Legolas said, deciding Aragorn had remembered enough. "Calm down."
Aragorn opened his eyes, slightly shocked. The scene had been the clearest thing he had yet remembered and though there were many images that passed into his mind, they vaguely made sense. He tried to calm his breathing, while still trying to remember what happened afterward, but nothing more would come.
"That was the first time I used my bow. " Aragorn told Legolas. Then he was silent again for a moment, still thinking and trying to remember. What happened after that?" He finally asked.
Legolas shook his head. "I do not know. I was not there to see it happen. I assume, however, that Elladan came to help you and that he saved you both."
Aragorn nodded. "Do you think Elrohir was okay?"
Legolas chuckled. "Your brother has been wounded far more times than one could count. I'm sure he was just fine."
Aragorn smiled slightly, though not entirely convinced. "Where are my brothers now?"
"There are probably in Rivendell with their father or they might be traveling here." Legolas replied.
Aragorn nodded his head and continued with his questions. Legolas did his best to explain everything he could. For the next two hours, they talked together until Legolas finally suggest that Aragorn eat something. Aragorn quickly agreed, but stopped Legolas before he could leave.
"What happened to your right hand? I've noticed the way you've been holding it and that you don't use it for anything."
Legolas looked down at his hand. He was able to slightly bend his fingers and feeling was returning, but the process was very slow.
"All of my fingers were broken and they weren't set back in place until days later." Legolas replied numbly.
Aragorn winced slightly. "Let me see your hand."
Legolas extended his hand in complete trust to the ranger. Carefully, Aragorn began feeling around his fingers, gently prodding each one.
"Do you feel this?" He asked as he squeezed gently.
"A little." Legolas replied.
"Can you bend them?"
Legolas tried, only managing to bend them slightly.
"Good, now try squeezing my hand."
Legolas attempted to do as Aragorn asked, but he couldn't manage to do it. His cringed as his fingers began to tingle and his middle finger especially began to hurt.
Aragorn reached up and immediately began to massage his hand with the care and tenderness of an experienced healer. "The pain isn't a bad thing, my friend. It means feeling is returning to your fingers."
Legolas nodded and smiled. "I have missed you so much, Estel."
Aragorn smiled. In his heart, he felt the same way towards his friend. Though he hardly even remembered him, Aragorn's heart remembered their friendship. Somehow, he felt a strong bond to this elf.
"Well, I better go bring you some food." Legolas finally said.
Aragorn nodded. "That would be wonderful. I'm starved."
Legolas nodded and quickly left the room to head towards the kitchen. As he traversed the hallways, however, one of the guards came up to him.
"Prince Legolas. I have been looking for you."
Legolas stopped and faced the guard. "What can I do for you?"
"I was told to inform you that Shinto has returned from the mission you sent him on." Legolas was about to thank him and leave, deciding to get the report later, but the guard continued. "They brought back a few wounded, my lord. But none of the wounded were from the group you sent."
Legolas looked at him confused. "Then who did they find?"
"They found four elves, sire. All of whom have been reported missing in action. They are wounded, but they are alive."
Legolas' eyes lit up. "Lead me to them." He commanded, forgetting about his earlier duty.
The guard nodded and led Legolas to another area of the healing ward. Legolas saw three elves lying unconscious on the beds. He saw his father near the corner, talking with someone else. Legolas walked to them and gasped as he saw the elf to whom his father spoke.
The elf looked up. Shock and joy spread across his face, mirroring that of Legolas'. The elf quickly rose, despite his conversation with the king and his injuries.
"Salien? Is it really you?" Legolas asked, not quite believing.
The elf smiled. "I was about to ask the same question. I thought you were dead."
Legolas smiled and embraced his old friend. "It is good to see you, my friend."
"Aye. It is good to see you as well. It brings my heart joy in the midst of the darkness that has consumed it for so long."
Thranduil smiled at the two. "Salien was just telling me the story of his capture. Apparently the Nazgul captured him and the group of elves with him."
Legolas looked at his friend, sympathy showing in his eyes. "What happened?"
Salien swallowed hard and it was obvious to both Thranduil and Legolas that Salien was still tormented by everything that happened.
"The Nazgul led our leader Rasiel into a trap. He questioned us all for many days and tortured us in unimaginable ways."
Legolas cringed, understanding the pain.
"Finally one day, he left for some reason and despite our injuries, we used what little strength we had to fight the orcs and spiders. It worked, but it was costly. Many elves died. As you can see, only four of us made it back alive. I can't even believe I made it out safely."
Legolas placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently. "Well, you did. You are safe now. Rest and regain your strength."
Salien smiled. "I believe you have a story to tell me as well, my friend. Where did you disappear to for three years?"
Legolas laughed. "That, my friend, is a long story. One that will be told at a different time."
Salien laughed. "Seems I will be bedridden for a few days, so I have all the time you need."
"Right now you need rest." Liam suddenly cut in. "Your body needs to recover."
Salien rolled his eyes. "I'm fine. I'm just happy to be home."
"Good, now sleep." Liam insisted.
Legolas just shrugged. "Guess that means I'm leaving. Get some rest, my friend. It is good to have you home."
Salien nodded. "Aye. It is so good to be home."
Legolas left the room and headed to the kitchen, remembering his promised meal to Estel. His heart felt lighter and joy beamed in his heart. Two of his best friends that he thought were dead, were still alive. Beyond the shadows there was still light.
