Chapter 5: A Secret Best Kept

Elrond's point of view*

Elrond looked up from his work to see Elladan and Elrohir entering the room. Perfect! He could get them to go question Legolas and see if Aragorn was okay for him. He would have done it himself, but he had forgotten how much he had to do, and he had no time to explore further.

"Ada-" Elrohir started, but Elrond held up a hand, silencing him. (Dad)

"I need you to do something for me," Elrond paused as his sons starts to protest, "this is not a request. I need you to check on Legolas. Ask him about Aragorn and if he does not answer go and see if Aragorn is okay. Am I clear?" Elrond waited until both Elrohir and Elladan nodded, not caring that both of them looked as if the wanted to tell him something. It could wait. He had work to do.

"Now go, complete your task." Elrond waves his hand, signaling for them to go, then turned back to his work. He waited until they had left before looking up again. He hoped they would find out what was wrong.

Legolas's point of view*

Legolas opened his eyes, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the bright light of the morning. He sat up. He still hadn't changed out of the clothes he had worn to the feast. He got up and quickly changed into clothes of brown and green hues, which was what he usually wore.

Legolas went to the bathroom next and brushed his golden hair to perfection, making sure to cover his injured ear, which when he checked it, looked a bit irritated and was sore, but he assumed that was from the way it was harshly ripped off.

Legolas looked over to the red-ish water in the tub and started to go over to empty it when he heard a knock at his door. His head snapped up and he groaned. He really wasn't in the mood for questioning, and he was almost sure that was what whoever was at his door was there to do.

Legolas walked out of the bathroom and up to the door. He opened it, and sighed. Elladan and Elrohir.

"What brings you here this early, mellyn-nin?" Legolas asked. (My friends)

Elladan sighed, "Ada sent us to ask you about Estel and see if he is okay. He wouldn't listen to us, he doesn't know about your ear." Legolas unconsciously put his hand up to his injured ear, then he realized they were there to ask about Aragorn.

"Estel is fine." Legolas said quickly. Elladan and Elrohir shared a glance.

"Then let's stop by to have a chat with him." Elrohir turned around, but before he could take a step, Legolas grabbed his wrist. Then he grabbed Elladan's wrist. He pulled them inside his room and shut and locked the door.

"No you will NOT see him!" Legolas hissed, back pressed against the door. Elladan and Elrohir shared concerned glances.

"Legolas, be reasonable." Elladan tried, but Legolas just pressed himself harder against the door. He was determined to not let them see whatever was happening to Aragorn. He was almost sure that Aragorn would get better... then they could see him.

"No. Saes." Legolas whispered. "It is for your own good." He shuddered at the thought of what Aragorn might do to them if - well- whatever it was that happened, happened again. (Please)

"Legolas, you know you sound crazy," Elrohir stated, clearly having noted that Legolas had shuddered.

"And you're acting like you're crazy too." Elladan finished, looking quite concerned. "Should we get Elrond?"

"NO!" Legolas shouted, eyes widening. He found his hand straying to his sword-hilt. He would make sure Elrond didn't find out about Aragorn even if he had to threaten Elladan and Elrohir. Elladan raised his hands in surrender, his eyes widening.

"Okay, you're the boss." Legolas took his hand off of his sword-hilt and relaxed slightly.

"What is wrong, Mellon-nin?" Elrohir suddenly asked. Legolas didn't answer, staring into the distance and trying not to relive his memories. (My friend)

"Legolas, we can clearly see something is wrong. We will go get Elrond to come if you won't tell us." Elladan threatened. Legolas lowered his gaze. He couldn't fight off Elladan and Elrohir at the same time... he felt a chill go down his spine. He'd have to tell them.

He raised his gaze, his blue eyes flickering from Elladan to Elrohir, "Do you swear upon your lives not to tell Elrond or anyone else?"

Elladan and Elrohir glanced at each other, then nodded, "We swear," They said at the same time. Legolas took a deep breath.

"I saw that Estel was in pain, so naturally I asked him what was bothering him. He responded quite violently, and as he went away down the hallway he stumbled. That was when I decided something was certainly wrong. So I followed him, then...I..." Legolas took in a shuddering breath, "...I went in, since the door wasn't locked, which was not usual. When I saw him, his back was turned to me, his sword drawn... he started muttering the strangest things." Legolas stopped, closing his eyes.

"What did he say?" Elrohir prompted.

Legolas took in a shuddering breath, "He was muttering about ears, how no one needed them... and he talked about hair, said it was no fun because it grew back." Elladan and Elrohir shared a horrified glance, then turned their eyes to Legolas's injured ear.

"He then whipped around and asked if I like my ears... I didn't really know how to answer that strange of a question... but I decided to tell him what ears did anyways. It made his face light up with a mad happiness, and he said some other things, but it doesn't matter,"- Legolas has decided to cut out details because he really wanted to get over telling the story- "all you need to know is that he eventually pinned me with his sword so close to my head that I could not have moved without getting injured and bit off my ear... after all that Estel came back to his senses and seemed utterly confused for a few seconds before putting together what had happened. Then he looked horrified. I left soon after that, then I went to the feast."

"Why?" Elladan managed after a few minutes of silence. Legolas just shook his head.

"It must have been an illness of some sort. I'm assuming he'll get better. We just have to make sure he stays in his room and that Elrond doesn't find out. It's best Elrond never knows, even after Aragorn gets better." Legolas stated. Elladan and Elrohir nodded.

"So, if anyone asks, Estel is sick and it is not even safe for elves to see him?" Elrohir asked Legolas.

"Exactly!" Legolas shivered suddenly, feeling slightly cold. He blamed it on the terror of the memories he had just had to relive.

"Well, I guess we'll go tell Elrond that we found out that Estel was just sick with something elves can get too, and he's taking care of himself." Elladan said. Legolas moved aside, letting Elladan and Elrohir pass by him, unlock the door and exit the room.

Legolas closed the door behind them, locking again. He closed his eyes, feeling exhausted. He went back over to his bed and laid back down.

Elrohir's point of view*

Elrohir made his way up to Elrond's study, Elladan at his side.

"Want to go for a ride after this?" Elrohir suggested, getting a nod from his brother. He stopped as they reached Elrond's study. After a moment's hesitation, he opened the door and stepped inside. Elladan entered after him. Elrond looked up at them as they entered.

"Tell me what you have learned." Elrond said. Elladan and Elrohir shared a glance.

"We asked Legolas what was wrong with Estel. After much persuading, he told us Estel was sick." Elladan informed. Elrond started to stand up, concern etched in his features.

"Don't." Elrohir said. "It's an illness that elves can get too, we made sure that he had enough supplies to treat himself, he'll be fine, but he needs to be isolated."

"An illness than an elf can get?" Elrond asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Legolas told us that it is new and it comes from Mirkwood." Elladan answered. Elrohir nodded, backing up his brother.

"Oh, interesting..." Elrond muttered, sitting back down, "Well, I had better get back to my work. Leave me." Elrohir turned around and exited the room, sighing in relief. Elladan followed close behind, looking as relived as Elrohir felt.

"Ready to go for a ride?" Elladan smiled, turning to Elrohir. Elrohir returned the smile.

"You bet." At that Elladan raced off to the stables. Elrohir laughed, then followed his brother. Soon they reached the stables, and greeted their horses, Ruthra and Lothuial.

Ruthra was a dark bay stallion with a horrible temper whenever anyone but Elladan, his owner, rode him, was strong, sturdy, and had very good endurance. Lothuial was a buckskin mare that was very sweet and was one of the fastest horses at Rivendell, but she was quite mischievous, especially to her rider, Elrohir.

Elrohir mounted Lothuial, and his brother mounted Ruthra.

"Race you to the Ford Of Bruinen!" Elrohir shouted, spurring Lothuial forward. Lothuial jumped into a speedy gallop, racing out of the stables and outside eagerly. The mid-day sun shine high in the sky and glinted on Lothuial's flanks. Birds sang and the leaves of trees rustled with a slight cooling breeze. Elrohir relaxed as the sounds of nature surrounded him, as well as the pounding of Lothuial's hooves. He closed his eyes and relished the feeling of the wind on his face.

"NOT FAIR! LOTHUIAL IS FASTER THAT RUTHRA AND YOU KNOW THAT!" Elladan shouted, causing Elrohir to snap his eyes open and smile. Then he dug his heels into Lothuial's sides and urged her on.

"Noro lim, Lothuial!" Elrohir told his horse. Leaning close to her neck and head so she could hear him better. (Run swiftly)

Elrohir steered Lothuial skillfully all the way to the Ford Of Bruinen and slowed her to a stop just before her hooves touched the bridge. He heard the pounding of hooves behind him and turned Lothuial around to see Elladan skidding to a stop a few feet away from him. He smiled.

"That was fun."

"Yeah, because you won." Elladan replied , glaring, but Elrohir knew he was not really angry for his eyes sparkled with joy.

"I wish Legolas had come with us." Elrohir suddenly said, sighing.

"Yeah, I wonder what he's up to..." Elladan muttered, then turned back to Elrohir, smiling, "...Race you back!" Elrohir watched as Elladan turned around and galloped away on Ruthra. He had decided to give his brother a head start. He waited until Ruthra's dark bay form was so far away that he could barely see Elladan on Ruthra's back, then started galloping to ride after Elladan.

The whole time back to Rivendell he was wondering the same thing Elladan had wondered; what was Legolas doing?