Disclaimer: Go check the last chapter.

A/N: Thanks you for the reviews. I wanted to get this up sooner, but Fanfiction wouldn't let me log in. So, finally here is a new chapter. I will try to get one up on either Tuesday or Wednesday in celebration of finishing my exams. So be on the lookout.Oh and slight angst warning! Please review.

Chapter 29

You Can Count on Me

I know that life ain't always good to you.
I've seen exactly what it's put you through
Thrown you around and turned you upside down and so you
You got to thinking there was no way out
You started sinking and it pulled you down
It may be tough you've to get back up
Because you know that life ain't over yet

I'm here for you so don't forget
You can count on me
Cause' I will carry you till you
carry on

Anytime you need someone
Somebody strong to lean on
Well you can count on me
To hold you till the healing is done
And every time you fall apart
Well you can hide here in my arms
And you can count on me
To hold you till that feeling is gone

I'll pick you up whenever you fall down
Just take my hand and I will help you stand

Because you know that life ain't over yet
Count on me - Default

After Elladan was settled, Elrohir decided to find out what he could about Estel and Legolas. He headed towards Thranduil's study, knowing the elf would also be pleased to see him. He knew his way well around the palace for he had been there many times to visit Linriel. He found the study and knocked quietly.

"Come in." Thranduil called.

Elrohir stepped inside and noticed that Thranduil was in a meeting. "Excuse me, I can come back later."

Thranduil shook his head and stood immediately. "No, please come in, Son of Elrond. Welcome."

Elrohir bowed. "Thank you, your majesty." He was use to being called "son of Elrond" by Thranduil because the only way the king could tell the difference was by his daughter or by after being around them for a few moments. To him, the twins looked exactly alike.

"I heard that your father brought many elves as reinforcements and for that I am forever grateful. I am indebted to you all."

Elrohir simply nodded. "Whatever we can do to help."

"How is my daughter?" The king asked immediately. His concern and eagerness was written clearly across his face, his eyes almost begging Elrohir to answer quickly.

Elrohir smiled. "She is well. She is safe in Lothlorien with Lady Arwen and Lady Galadriel."

Thranduil breathed a sigh of relief. "I am glad to hear it. What of your father and brother?"

"Ada was injured by the spiders, but he is recovering. Mithrandir met us in the woods and he, my father, and about forty elves are heading towards Dul Goldur as we speak. Elladan was injured, but is recovering in the healing room and should be fine within a few days."

Thranduil nodded. "I am sorry to hear about your brother. It is good to hear, however, that Mithrandir has joined us to aid us in our fight."

Elrohir nodded. "How is Legolas?"

"He is well. He just left a few days ago with a group of elves, but he should be retuning within a few days."

Elrohir breathed a sigh of relief, but he still worried about his little brother. Impatiently, he asked, "What of the human, Estel?"

Thranduil sighed. "He is well."

Elrohir noticed the tension and the way the king left the sentence hanging. "But?"

"There have been a few issues with him while he has been here. We believe he is under the control of the Nazgul." As Elrohir's face paled, Thranduil quickly continued. "Legolas does not believe it to be so, however. But for safety he has been placed in the dungeon."

"The dungeon?"

"He went willingly. He believed it was best. You may see him if you would like."

Elrohir nodded. "I will go see him immediately. Thank you, your majesty."

Thranduil nodded. "It is good to see you, Elrohir. Give my best to your brother."

Elrohir told him that he would and turned quickly to go to Estel. Before he could leave, however, Thranduil called out to him. "I will have one of my elves make sure your normal room is ready. You may stay here for as long as you like."

Elrohir bowed. "Thank you, Sire."

With that, Elrohir rushed from the room to find the dungeon.

Of all the times he had been to visit Linriel and Legolas, he had only once stepped into the dungeon. He had gone down there only as a dare from Legolas and Elladan. He was trying to show off and pretend as if he was not afraid. He ended up making a fool of himself, however, when everyone heard him scream a few moments later. He had been so terrified that when a rat ran past him, he screamed out of reaction. Elladan would not let him live that down, even to this day.

With an amused sigh, Elrohir pushed that from his mind and continued walking. He still knew exactly where the dungeon was located even in the midst of the maze of halls and stairs in the palace and it did not take long until he was descending the cold dark steps to the cellar. The guard standing by the stairs had let him pass without question. Elrohir shivered slightly as he finally descended the last step. It was not so much the cold air that made the elf shiver, it was more the memories of the old tales Legolas would share with them. Elrohir quickly shrugged it off. They had been mere elflings then, with ghost stories to tell. He quickly found the cell Estel was locked inside and ran to the bars.

"Elrohir!" Aragorn gasped as he looked up.

Elrohir grasped the bars and stared at his little brother. "Estel! It's so good to see you alive. Are you well?"

Aragorn chuckled. "Couldn't be better."

Elrohir smiled. His brother was in good spirits. That was a good sign.

"Ada? El?" Estel asked.

"They are both well. Ada is with an old friend of ours. They are helping Thranduil's elves to free Mirkwood. Elladan is here. He was injured in battle, but he is recovering."

Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief. "That is good to hear."

Elrohir looked back up towards the stairs. "Guard." He called. The guard came down the stairs and looked at the elf. "Open the cell and unlock his chains." The guard hesitated a moment. "I just talked with King Thranduil and he agreed that I could spend some time with my brother." Elrohir reassured him, though Thranduil had never mentioned anything about unlocking Aragorn.

The guard sighed, unlocked the cell, and unchained Aragorn's arms. As soon as he was free, Aragorn embraced Elrohir. The elf held the human close for a few moments, before finally letting him go.

"So what trouble have you managed to get yourself into this time?" Elrohir said, though he could not hide the grin on his face.

Aragorn laughed. "The usual. Get captured by orcs, get hurt, manage an escape, you know."

Elrohir laughed. "Oh, well if that's all, then there is no point in me hearing the whole story then. Though the rumors of the wraith sound interesting."

Though it had been meant as a lighthearted comment, Elrohir noticed a change in Aragorn's face and saw him tense at the word.

"I'm sorry, Estel. I didn't mean to…"

Aragorn shook his head. "It's all right." Aragorn looked away as memories of his capture filled his mind.

Elrohir frowned. He placed his hand on Aragorn's arm, but his heart dropped as the human flinched. Aragorn looked up at his brother and quickly apologized.

"Ú-moe edaved. Henia im." (There is nothing to forgive. I understand.)

Aragorn smiled slightly, but remained quiet. Elrohir allowed him his silence and did not press further. Finally, after some time, however, he finally asked the question that was filing his thoughts.

"King Thranduil said they worried you are being controlled by the creature."

Aragorn did not look at his brother, but he nodded slightly.

"Do you believe you are?"

Aragorn took a deep breath, staring at the floor. He did not reply right away, but when he did, his voice held fear. "It doesn't matter what I believe." He paused, took another deep breath and then continued. "I was controlled once and I did horrible things under his control." Aragorn fiddled with the rag that Legolas had put over his arms for protection. He was staring at it, but his mind was far away. "I know it wasn't me, for it was as if I was a silent onlooker as my own hands and feet betrayed me. I screamed at myself not to obey the Nazgul's commands, but I was helpless to do anything. I was trapped inside my own body, having to watch myself hurt, betray, and murder helpless victims."

Tears had begun to fill Aragorn's eyes and silently they began to trail down his cheek, falling to the cold stone floor beneath him. Still, Aragorn continued. His voice shook with emotion as he spoke, but Elrohir stayed silent. Aragorn needed to speak his mind and he was there to listen.

"I can't risk that happening again. I won't shed any more innocent blood." Aragorn was shaking and his voice was beginning to falter, but he managed one last sentence. "No matter what it takes to stop me."

Elrohir embraced his brother, pulling the human's head to his shoulder. He stroked Aragorn's hair while whispering softly to him in elvish.

"Ssh. You are safe now. You are free. The darkness has not overcome you."

Aragorn allowed his brother to hold him for a few minutes before finally pulling away and wiping his eyes.

They were both silent again for a few moments.

"When I was quite a young elfling," Elrohir began, breaking the silence. Aragorn immediately looked up at him and despite his despair; the inquisitive look was plainly seen in his eyes. He loved stories from his brothers and he was anxious to hear another.

"Ada took Elladan and me out into the woods to teach us archery. We were both quite excited and eager to learn. It took a while until we actually got to practice shooting, though. Ada spent a great deal talking to us about how weapons are dangerous, how we must be careful and how people can be hurt." Elrohir laughed. "If it wasn't for Naneth, I don't think Elladan or I would have ever learned to shoot off arrows."

Aragorn laughed, knowing full well about the famous "Elrond lectures". He had experienced many himself; too many.

"Finally one day he showed us how to shoot an arrow, how to aim, and the like. We practiced on targets he had made for us out of old rags filled with cotton." Elrohir sighed before continuing. "I was not very good at shooting. My arrows never seemed to hit the targets, always ending up on the ground a few feet in front of me. Elladan, however, had natural talent for it. He shot arrows off as if he had been practicing for years. Ada kept encouraging me, telling me I would get better. Yet at times, it seemed like I never would. Even after two weeks of practice, I was scarcely better than when I had started. Elladan felt bad for me, but I would not listen to his words of comfort. I only thought him to be gloating in his ability. Archery was another one of the many talents he was good at, and once again, Elrohir, the younger twin, was outdone."

Aragorn gave his brother a look of sympathy, but said nothing. He wondered where Elrohir was going with this story, but he had known his brothers long enough to know that there was always a point behind their stories. Stupid or not, there was always a point.

"Furiously, I tried to practice harder. I would pull my bowstring back as hard as I could and let the arrow fly, hoping it would land somewhere in close vicinity to the target. Yet still, I could never manage to hit the target. In my anger, I pulled my arrow back hard and not really aiming at all, I let it fly. The arrow flew threw the air and for the first time in my life, the arrow struck something other than the ground or the wall. Except this time, instead of satisfied, I was horrified. The arrow had struck and embedded itself into another elf that had been standing nearby."

Aragorn gasped, but did not say a word.

"Ada quickly ran to his aid, taking him right to his healing room. Elladan followed to see if the elf was all right, but I stayed where I was. I was too horrified to move. I stood, biting my lip for quite some time. I couldn't believe what I had done and I hated myself for it. I had no idea how badly the elf was hurt and if he would even live. All I knew was that the elf had a family, a wife, elfings of his own, and I might have just taken him away from them. The guilt I felt was overwhelming. Hot tears ran down my face and before I even knew what I was doing, I found myself running through the woods. I don't know where I was going, but it didn't matter. I couldn't show my face among my friends and family. They would hate me for what I had done. So I kept running. Rain began to fall from the sky, drenching my clothes and hair, but I never slowed my pace. Eventually I slipped and fell in the wet mud and landed hard on the ground. Instead of rising, I just sat there, letting the tears fall down my face. I must have sat there for hours for the moon was all ready high in the sky when Ada found me. Glorfindel wrapped a blanket around my shoulders and my father asked me to come home, but I refused. I was too upset, too shamed, to return. Even after Ada assured me the elf would be all right and that it was only a minor wound, I would still not return. He must have spent half the night sitting out there in the rain and the mud, telling me that it wasn't my fault and that I should not blame myself. Eventually I came home, but even days after that, the guilt laid heavily on me."

"What did you do?" Aragorn asked.

"It took a long time, but eventually, the guilt diminished. The elf forgave me and held no grudge toward me and that helped a lot. And despite my previous loathing of Elladan's words of comfort, he was in fact one of the biggest helps through it. He was always there for me and so was Ada and Naneth. Naneth told me that 'There will be many times in your life where you will regret your actions, you will feel guilty, and even hate yourself for something that you have done. But no matter how much you want to, you can never go back and change what happened. What's done is done. What matters is what you do after the fact. If you make amends, do whatever you can to fix the problem, and learn from the mistake you made, then there is nothing more you can do. There is no point to feeling guilty about it.'"

Aragorn smiled slightly. "Thanks, El."

Elrohir nodded. "I hope it helps some."

Aragorn nodded back. "It did, more than you know. I wish I could have known Naneth. She seemed like a very wise and caring elf."

Elrohir smiled and looked at the wall as if staring off into another lifetime. "She was." He replied quietly. "She was amazing." He looked back and Aragorn. "You would have loved her."

Elrohir would have went off on one of his tangents of describing his mother, had he not heard a sound in the shadows.

"Is someone there?" Elrohir asked as he stood.

He walked out of the cell, but saw no one in the darkness. He felt; however, that someone was watching him. Someone was lurking in the shadows. His hands instinctively went to his hidden dagger behind his cloak. All of his other weapons had been left upstairs, but he had learned long ago to never be caught weaponless. He took a few cautious steps forward.

"Are you finished talking with the prisoner?" A voice suddenly called from behind.

Elrohir turned around startled. "I would like to stay a while longer with him if I may." Elrohir said, relaxing a bit at seeing the guard.

The guard shook his head. "I was just about to tell you that your time was up. I must lock my prisoner back up." The guard said.

Elrohir sighed. "He doesn't need to be kept in here. My brother is not corrupted by the Nazgul."

The guard shrugged. "Not my problem. But I must ask you to leave. You may return tomorrow."

Elrohir sighed, giving his brother a sympathetic look. Aragorn smiled slightly and reached to embrace him.

"Tell Elladan I say hi and let him know I expect a visit as soon as he is able to walk." Aragorn said with a laugh.

Elrohir laughed. "I will tell him. I will be back in the morning."

Aragorn nodded and allowed the guard to chain him back to the wall. Elrohir watched in dread, and despite the fact that the guard was only doing his duty, he cursed the guard for holding his brother. Seeing Aragorn behind bars ripped at Elrohir's heart. He turned to leave as the guard locked the door.

"El?"

Elrohir turned at hearing Aragorn's voice.

"How long did it take before you finally learned to shoot what you intended to hit?"

Elrohir laughed despite himself. "Too long. But that, gwador nin, is a story for another time."

Aragorn laughed. "Then I will look forward to hearing it."

"Indeed."