Chapter 10

Going Away

Aragorn lay in the silence, staring at the ceiling. Legolas had left about an hour ago to speak with Elrond. He said he'd be right back, but it took a long time before the door opened, and light came pouring into his dark room. "Legolas-"

"Easy, don't rise," the prince insisted, hurrying to press the human back into his bed.

"Where's Adda?"

"He's coming in to check on you in a moment."

Aragorn nodded, and neither of them spoke for a few moments. Then, "Do you think it was Thernad? Could she- really have helped Mornaeg get to you and I?"

Legolas sighed and shook his head. "I don't know…"

"Well when you first told me, you mentioned that she tipped my father off about looking for something in the woods? What was that about?"

"Lord Elrond was trying to help Daurrè find someone, and Thernad told him to look for that someone in the woods. She said she'd seen him run that way, and Elrond went to find him." Legolas shrugged.

"Who was Daurrè trying to find?"

Again, he shrugged. "No idea, Elrond didn't mention it."

"But Legolas- remember when you and I came out of the room under the tower room? And we found that piece of paper? Daurrè was up there looking for someone."

"Yes…well- but he was looking for Edren."

"Edren?"

"Yes, remember? We asked him if he'd seen Edren, and he said, 'oh, you're looking for him too?'."

"Well it's certainly not Edren who was assisting Mornaeg-"

"But perhaps it is Daurrè," Legolas finished distantly.

"No, no it can't be Daurrè," Aragorn insisted immediately, shifting his position amongst the pillows beneath him. "You've known him almost all your life, Legolas."

"But he didn't know Mornaeg back then; back when he went mad."

"Was Thernad?"

Legolas sighed, leaning against the pillar of Aragorn's bed. "No."

There was a pause before he spoke again. "I don't know, I don't know anything about my father, Edren, Thernad, Daurrè, I clearly didn't know Harain or Tirniel, I certainly didn't know Mornaeg, and the only person I was right about so far are you, your father, and your brothers!"

"Well don't let it bother you so much," Aragorn soothed. "You may yet be correct about most, even all of them! Maybe it isn't Thernad or Daurrè. Maybe it is the person Daurrè was looking for who went into the woods. It's possible."

"Yes it's possible," he responded automatically, but didn't sound convinced.

"And anyway, you do know Edren, you just need to help him get to know you again. It'll work out, you'll see. Maybe you'll spark his memory, and everything will just come flooding back."

"You think?"

"Yes I do."

Legolas opened his eyes again with a dim smile in them. "Thanks."

"Sure."

The door opened, and both friends looked to see Elrond walk into the dark room. "How are we doing?"

"I'm okay, Ada," Aragorn answered as he allowed his father to press his warm hand against the human's forehead, cheeks, and then the back of his neck.

Legolas smiled as Aragorn appeared temporarily as a little boy in his father's arms. Then the elven lord stood back, and the vision disappeared.

"The fever's gone," Elrond confirmed, not bothering to hide his relief. "I think you're going to make it this time, Estel."

Aragorn raised his eyebrows as a sign of "oh goody", and Legolas shook his head with a quiet laugh.

"I need to go for sometime," Elrond told him.

That got Aragorn's attention. "Where?"

"I cannot keep your brothers in the dark like this, Estel. And Harain does not need my assistance at present, whereas almost everyone at The Halls is in disarray. I could be much more useful there."

Aragorn noticed vaguely that Legolas seemed very uncomfortable, but his eyes were only for his father for now. "When will you back?"

"Soon, Estel," he promised, putting a hand to his cheek again. "Soon."

Aragorn nodded, and then noticed Legolas standing up.

"They can only need so much assistance before the Lord Elrond will be required back here," he was saying, while he stood awkwardly beside Aragorn's father. "He, umn…we won't be long, Estel."

"We?" Aragorn replied vacantly. "Y- you're leaving me too…" by the Valar! He hadn't meant to say it like that! But the damage was done, and Legolas shied away from the response, nodded guiltily.

"My- father needs me, Aragorn. I cannot abandon him, and hide away down here."

"Sure, and you're running away so you don't have to stay underground with me." Aragorn's mouth hung open in shock, and he covered it with a shaking hand. "I- didn't mean…"

Legolas blinked in surprise, trying to think of a way to respond, hurt probing in his pupils. Luckily for the both of them, Elrond intervened.

"No, don't blame yourself, Estel. Long has Bengwiil attacked your mind and poisoned your thoughts. It may take awhile to erase them."

Aragorn nodded, accepting the explanation, but feeling horrible anyway.

"We won't be gone long," Legolas reiterated, pressing forward. "And we'd take you, but your father says you're not well enough yet to travel, you're still recovering. But Harain will take good care of you."

"All right," Aragorn tried to look okay with the situation. "Well…safe journey."

Elrond kissed him on the forehead, Legolas approached him slowly, gave his shoulder a squeeze, muttered, "Bye," and the two disappeared.

In the dark, in the silence, Aragorn whispered, "Goodbye, Legolas." He tried to talk himself out of feeling bad, but Legolas and him hadn't been apart by choice in so long…it felt wrong. Something just felt wrong.

- - - - -

Leoglas and Elrond stood in the main hall of Gabil Gûndu, Leoglas' eyes scanning the doors. "Which one was Edren's?"

Elrond pointed, and Legolas walked towards it, but paused. "Elrond, does it…feel wrong leaving Aragorn here?"

"No, Legolas, don't worry."

Legolas nodded, and walked through the door.

"Edren?" he said quietly, shutting the door behind him.

"Legolas, hello," came the cordial response.

"How are you?" Legolas asked, sitting down on the edge of his friend's bed.

"I'm quite well, thanks," Edren smiled. "I've just been singing."

"Really? Which ones do you remember?"

"Oh, none of them," Edren said quietly, causing Legolas' heart to sink. "I was- singing with them." He pointed to the ceiling.

Legolas looked up, his eyebrows furrowed. "Can you hear the stars from down here?"

Edren nodded, picking up the pen and paper lying beside him. "Can't you?"

"I confess I cannot," Legolas sighed. "Too many unhappy memories of the underground to be still and hear them, I guess." He surveyed Edren's disheveled bed…paper, pens, a few books…the pile of journals Legolas had given him were in a pile on the far-side of the bed.

"Soo…" Leoglas leaned over his friend, and grabbed the one on top, while Edren wrote on his paper. "How far did you get?"

"Hmn?"

Legolas indicated the pile of journals.

"Oh," Edren broke eye contact with him. "I didn't."

Legolas paused. "Why not?"

"I went through some of them, and…I don't want them, Legolas, but thank you."

"You- don't want them?" was his blank reply.

"I don't like him, the Edren in those books. He did horrible things to you, Legolas."

Legolas shook his head in alarm. "No, no he didn't, Edren- you didn't."

"Yes, I did, I- I betrayed your trust, I lied to you, I- I'm glad I don't remember it, because in those journals, I am a heartbroken former friend, and I hate it."

"No, Edren, it's not true! You did all that for me, don't you see? I would have died of my own terror if you had not saved me."

"Legolas, don't lie to me, all right!" Edren was yelling. Edren didn't yell, and Legolas flinched away from the alien sound. "I read it myself-" he snatched the journal out of his friend's hand, and began to read, "I'm fed up with working around the truth, and so instead I want to say I'm sorry, Legolas. I am to blame for your hurt, for your confusion. I did little if anything to soothe your pain, really. I'm sorry for lying to you, my friend. What friend sacrifices truth for temporary peace? I did. A friend so unlike a friend, Legolas, I did. These are my words! I wrote them!"

Legolas was silent.

"I hated myself, and I am that person no longer, thanks be to Illuvatar! I don't want to remember."

"Don't say that," Legolas whispered. "Please don't."

"I am this Edren no longer, and I'd like it if you'd take the journals back."

Legolas rose from the bed. "Elrond and I are leaving for awhile, and my friend Aragorn-"

"Elrond told me about him."

"Right, well he's here alone now, and I'd really appreciate it if you would keep him company."

"All right."

"And keep the journals."

"No, I don't want them, Legolas."

"You don't have to read them, just keep them. They're yours anyway."

"Then they are mine to dispose of, are they not?"

"Oh by the Valar, Edren, just keep the JOURNALS!"

The sound of noise not being used reverberated off the walls over and over, waiting for voices to break it. "Just…" Legolas muttered, looking at the floor, biting back emotion. "Just keep them."

The prince turned on his heal, swung the door opened, and used all his will-power not to slam it behind him. Out in the hall, Elrond was standing and looking concerned.

"I'm all right," Legolas murmured, and they went to the stables without further comment.

- - - - -

Aragorn had been lying in his bed, eyes opened, and heart pounding in disappointment for far too long. Stop moping that you couldn't go with them, and do something, Estel… He sat up in bed, and slowly swung in legs over the side, standing, and approaching the door. Well, he hadn't fallen over yet.

He swung the door open, and was greeted by dim light coming from the end of the tunnel. He walked towards it. This isn't so bad, he thought, and for awhile, forgot about Elrond and Legolas' leaving.

He made his steady way down the tunnel, towards the light, watching his feet now and then, to be sure he didn't step on any rocks. Eventually, he reached the end of the tunnel, and following familiar sites only, he found his way to the main corridor, off of which most of the rooms led.

He hesitated a moment, and then, on an impulse, he made across the entryway, and opened the door just across from him. He smiled as he saw what he was expecting to; "Hello, Edren."

The elf bolted upright, surprised by the sudden company, and smiled hesitantly. "Aragorn…?"

"That's right," the human moved forward to the side of Edren's bed, still smiling. "How are you?"

"I am well, hannon le."

A moment of silence; not uncomfortable, just a little bit obvious, was all. Aragorn broke it. "Did you see Legolas before he left?"

Edren looked suddenly uneasy. "I…yes."

Aragorn's eyes moved to the rumpled journals sprawled over the floor. "Wasn't a cheerful parting, hmn."

Edren was first surprised by, then appreciative of the abruptness of the observation. "No. Not exactly."

"Legolas," Aragorn sat casually on the edge of the bed, "is a curious friend sometimes. He wants what's best for people."

"With a vengeance," Edren put in, and then had to laugh when Aragorn did.

"Yes, yes, sometimes," Aragorn laughed, and then simmered slowly to a vague sigh. "He wants to have you back, but more than that, he wants you to have you back. He's gone most of his life without entirely knowing who he is. He doesn't want that for you."

"But these books, Aragorn," Edren lunged over the side of the bed, resurfacing with three rumpled journals. "Listen to all the things I did!" He opened his mouth to read aloud, but Aragorn shook his head, putting a hand over the page.

"You know how you said Legolas wants the best for people?" He smirked slightly, "With a vengeance?" Edren nodded, putting the book down. "Well…that's more or less exactly how you were. I didn't know you, Edren, but I think I can safely say you are the most self-deprecating elf of Legolas' acquaintance."

"How could you know that, not knowing me?"

Aragorn met Edren's eyes abruptly. "Because I've never heard him so defensive of someone older than him. He cared too much about you to let you hurt yourself." He didn't wait for a reply, but stood from the bed and said, not unkindly, but suddenly, "Read them, Edren, or don't read them. But please, consider your reasons for either decision?"

Edren could only think to nod, and Aragorn returned the gesture, turning to the door. Before exiting, however, made a courteous bow, and said with a smile, "It was nice to meet you, Edren."

"Likewise, Aragorn."

And they departed friends.