Elrond

Lord Elrond stared down at the two letters before him. Relief battled with worry as he read them for a second time.

"Ada?"

Elrond looked up to see his twin sons sauntering in. "Elladan, Elrohir, come in."

Elladan threw himself into a chair while Elrohir perched on the windowsill. "Ada, can we take a contingent of Glorfindel's warriors to the town by the creek?"

"They're having trouble," Elladan explained, finishing his brother's thought. "There have been bandits in the area, and we could offer them assistance."

"Yes, yes, of course," Elrond said distractedly. "I will tell Glorfindel to do so."

"Ada?" Elladan frowned at him. "Is something wrong?"

Relief seemed to be winning, and Elrond offered his sons a wan smile. "I've just gotten a letter I've been hoping to get for many centuries. I expected it to be from Thranduil, but I suppose it makes sense that it was Estel, though Thran has added his own words to it."

"From Estel? Is he ok?" Elrohir got up from the windowsill, looking ready to run for his horse and ride to Estel's side at the least indication. Elladan leapt up too, concern for his brother evident on his face.

Elrond realized he was scaring his sons and quickly sought to explain. "It's Legolas. He needs help."

By the knowing glances the twins exchanged, they had come to suspect much as Elrond had over the years. He was just relieved that he could finally help the suffering prince. It hurt to watch him try to fight his demons alone.

"We can be ready to go on the hour, Ada."

"Thank you, Elladan, but I'd like to take the day to prepare. I need to decide what books and herbs to bring. We will leave at dawn tomorrow." He'd known the twins would come with. They weren't as close to Legolas as Estel was, but they still cared for the prince.

Elrohir was biting his lip, and it didn't take long for him to speak what was on his mind. "Have we been wrong, Ada? We all suspected there was something off with Legolas, but we left him to his struggles."

Elrond was plagued with the same thoughts, but he tried to reassure his son. "We cannot force our help on one who doesn't want it. I'm just relieved that Legolas is reaching out."

Elladan snorted. "Don't count on it, Ada. More likely, Estel found out and has taken the choice out of his hands."

"Perhaps you are right. Either way, I have finally been called to help him, which is no small relief. We should make it a swift journey. Quite apart from Legolas needing us, Thranduil is distraught, to say the least."

The woodland king hadn't said as much, but Elrond knew Thran well enough to read between the lines. His friend was proud and would never ask for help unless he was truly desperate. That Thranduil had so urgently requested his presence in a letter following Estel's spoke volumes.

"What did Estel say, Ada?"

Elrond simply handed the letter to Elladan, with Elrohir reading over his shoulder. The blood drained from both twins' faces. "We didn't know," Elladan whispered. "We had no idea it was that bad."

"If we'd known, we would have done something about it long before now," Elrohir finished, turning his anguished gaze to his father. "What have we done? What harm has our restraint caused?"

Elrond moved forward to embrace his sons. "There is no point in dwelling on the past. We are finally able to help Legolas, and we will do so. Just focus on that."

The three of them stood together in each other's arms for a few moments before the twins finally broke away.

"We'd best get going, then." Elrohir held the door open for his brother. "We'll be ready to leave at dawn, Ada."

Aragorn

They had decided to move Legolas after all, when he seemed deeply asleep. Aragorn and Thranduil agreed the prince would be happier waking in his own chambers. Near dawn, he slipped out to visit the scribes.

Aragorn managed to get back to Legolas' room after sending the message to his Ada before the prince awoke, for which he was grateful. It would take Elrond at least a week to get here; until he did, he and Thranduil would have to do their best with Legolas alone.

A soft knock on the door had Legolas stirring in his sleep, but he didn't wake as Thranduil stepped into the room. "He's still asleep? Good. I had the chefs prepare an assortment of foods. Whichever one he finds easiest to keep down, he can have."

"That's a good idea. I think it would be best if he and I ate alone, though." Aragorn made an apologetic face. "I know you want to help, hir nin, but Legolas would do anything not to seem weak in front of you. I think it'll make things worse for him if he has to worry about you thinking less of him while he's struggling to eat. Best to leave us to it."

Thranduil took a step back, looking as though Aragorn had struck him. "I'd never think him weak or judge him."

"I know, I know," Aragorn reassured. "But Legolas doesn't believe that, for some reason. I know it's nothing you've done, and it's not your fault, but we want to make this as easy as possible for him."

Thranduil took several deep breaths. "You are right, Estel. I'm glad my son has you as a friend. I had the servants install bells while you were asleep. If I am needed, pull the purple string, which will alert me from the throne room, dining room or my chambers. If you need a servant, the red string."

Aragorn glanced at the strings hanging from the canopy over the edge of the bed. "Thank you." He smiled at Thranduil, impressed at the king's inventiveness. "These will be useful, to say the least."

The servants brought three huge platters in, and not long after, Legolas woke. He stirred slightly, and Aragorn immediately started stroking his hair, as this seemed to comfort the prince. "Legolas? How are you feeling, mellon nin?"

Legolas sighed and leaned into his touch for a moment before pulling away. His expression was once more withdrawn and remote. Aragorn had been expecting as much. It would take time to convince Legolas that needing help wasn't a weakness. For now, the prince fell back on old habits whenever he had a chance to, pretending that he was alright. Legolas proved Aragorn's thoughts right with his next words. "I'm fine."

Aragorn rolled his eyes, but didn't contest the statement. "Your father had breakfast brought in. He figured you could try a couple of different things and see what's easiest to eat and keep down."

Legolas nodded, and if Aragorn didn't know the prince as well as he did, he would have missed the quickly stifled expression of panic that flitted across his friend's face.

"Of course." Legolas got up and went to sit at the table, staring at the platters of food. Aragorn didn't like his blank expression. As much as it had hurt to see his friend in pain, he'd preferred it when Legolas was crying. At least then he could see and hear what was wrong. Right now, he didn't know what was going on in the prince's head and it scared him. What was Legolas telling himself? What chastisements was he giving himself for his 'weakness' the previous day?

He'd obviously realized that he wasn't going to get out of eating and was trying to do it stoically. Aragorn didn't push him to give up the façade; surely, it had to fall on its own sooner or later. Judging by the trembling of Legolas' lower lip, he thought it was likely to be sooner.

After several minutes passed without Legolas touching any of the food, Aragorn gently prompted him. "What do you want to try?"

Legolas scrutinized the trays and eventually reached for a pear. He brought it to his mouth, but after a moment, pulled his hand away, his brows furrowed. He tried again, but still, couldn't seem to bring himself to bite into the fruit. "I can't. I'm sorry, Estel."

He looked so hopeless and despairing in that moment that Aragorn wished more than anything he could let the prince off the hook, tell him he didn't need to eat when it was clearly causing him distress. He couldn't, though. Legolas needed to eat; he was far, far too thin already.

"Here." He moved his chair closer so that they were sitting side by side and he carefully cut up the pear into thin slices. He picked the smallest one and held it up to Legolas' mouth. "Open up."

"I can feed myself, Estel," Legolas snapped.

Aragorn relinquished the pear slice, only to have to catch it when it dropped from Legolas' shaking hand.

"I can't," the prince whispered, turning his haunted eyes to Aragorn. "Please, don't make me."

Aragorn gently put his arms around his trembling friend. "I'm sorry, but I have to. You can't afford to miss any more meals. Just the pear, ok? I won't make you eat any more than that this morning."

With shocking speed, Legolas suddenly leapt up, upending the platter, sending food flying everywhere. At first, Aragorn thought that was the worst of his reaction, but he quickly realized that throwing food wasn't Legolas' intention. The prince gripped the porcelain tray and smashed it over the table before leaping back out of Aragorn's reach.

Aragorn lunged for him, but he was too slow. Legolas took the jagged edge of the broken tray to his arm, slicing so deeply that Aragorn was sure he cut through muscle.

"No, mellon nin!" He reached Legolas a moment too late and snatched the broken platter out of his hand, tossing it aside. Legolas sank to his knees, making no move to stem the heavy flow of blood from his arm.

Even as Aragorn ripped a piece off his own tunic to use as bandaging, he found himself staring at Legolas. Just as disturbing as the blood was the prince's expression. Legolas looked so relieved, so light.

"I can eat now," he said dreamily. Even as Aragorn bandaged his arm, Legolas picked up the slices of pear and swallowed each one whole without chewing, chasing them down with a glass of water.

He looked back down at his arm. "Perfect," he whispered.

"This is not perfect!" Aragorn hadn't meant to shout, but his nerves were shattered and he was covered in his best friend's blood. "You can't do this anymore, Legolas, we're finding other ways for you to cope, remember?"

Legolas didn't seem to be listening. He was still staring dreamily into space. Aragorn was sure he hadn't meant to cut as deeply as he did; in his rush, Legolas had badly wounded himself.

Aragorn yanked on the red cord, and several minutes later, a servant knocked and entered. "Bandages and healing supplies, and water for a hot bath," Aragorn snapped without waiting to be asked. He wanted to clean Legolas up a bit before notifying Thranduil. It would be bad enough without the king having to see his son covered in blood.

He led Legolas into the bathing chamber, putting pressure on the wound until the bleeding stopped. By the time the servants arrived with the bath water, Legolas seemed to have come back to reality. Fortunately, the servants had brought the healing supplies before the water, so Aragorn had managed to stitch the long, deep wound without causing the unresponding prince any pain.

"Estel?" Legolas looked around, confused, as Aragorn helped him into the steaming bath.

"You've lost a lot of blood, mellon nin. I think you might be in shock. Just lie back and let me wash you."

For the first time, Legolas noticed the tears on his friend's face. "I'm sorry," he whispered, trying to wipe them away and only succeeding in getting blood on Aragorn's cheeks. "But everything is ok now. I'm alright, I'm under control again. It's perfect."

Aragorn resisted the urge to growl at him. "For how long, mellon nin? You have to realize I'm not going to let you do that again. I'll have your food brought in on cushions if I must."

Legolas' face fell. "This is the only way, Estel. You'll see that eventually."

"Don't count on it."

He finally finished washing Legolas and helped him get dressed before calling for Thranduil. While they waited for the king, Aragorn went over in his head everything they'd need to do to keep the prince safe from himself. It was a long list. He and the king had a lot of work to do.

Elrond

Usually, they would have greeted Thranduil in a formal setting, but Elrond wasn't surprised when they were led to a small chamber where the king paced as he waited.

As per Elrond's instructions, the twins bowed and briefly greeted the king before hurrying off. It was good that they did, because Thran barely managed to hold his fragile composure until the door was shut. Elrond hurried forward in time to catch his friend. Thran fell into his arms with a sob, clutching at Elrond's shoulders.

"What have I done, El?" he wailed. "How could I have missed that my son was suffering so much, for so many years?"

Thranduil's knees gave out and Elrond gently lowered them both to the floor, trying his best to comfort the distraught king.

"Shh, it's alright mellon nin. It's not your fault. Legolas didn't want you to know."

"Estel found out, and he's only been Legolas' friend for a couple of years. I'm his father! I should have seen it…"

"There's nothing to be done about that," Elrond soothed. "The past is the past. At least you know now."

He realized he'd made a mistake when Thran's wide eyes came up to his. "At least I know now? You mean – you didn't –?"

"I have suspected for some time that something wasn't right with Legolas, but I knew nothing for certain until I received Estel's letter. Shh, mellon nin, I know what you're thinking and it's not true. I'm a healer, of course I would be more perceptive to such maladies than you. This doesn't make you a bad father. None could have done better in your place."

"Why didn't you say something, El? If you thought…"

Elrond sighed. "Perhaps I should have, but I didn't think it was my place. Legolas is an adult, after all. He has the right to ask for help when he is ready to receive it. Though I don't deny I'm relieved that Estel seems to have taken that choice out of his control."

Thranduil tried to pull away, but Elrond held tightly to him. "So like you son," he murmured. "Don't shy away from comfort offered by others, mellon nin."

If he'd thought his words were going to be consoling, he was deadly wrong. Thranduil's face drained of color as he stared at his lifelong friend.

"It is me," he whispered through unmoving lips. "I've been trying to fathom where Legolas got the idea that he has to be perfect, that he can't ask anyone for help. He got it from me. I never told him that, but he must have picked it up from my actions. This is all my fault."

"No, mellon nin, it is not." Elrond silently cursed his careless choice of words. "Many people are bad at accepting help, regardless of how their parents behave, but even if Legolas did pick that up specifically from you, that doesn't sound like the problem here, though it certainly makes it more difficult. You've never hid your mistakes from him, but explained them in the hopes he can learn. That couldn't have given rise to this idea that he has to be perfect all the time. It comes from somewhere else."

"Where?" Thran's gaze desperately searched his. "Where would he get such an idea?"

"I don't know, mellon nin, but I will find out, I swear to you. Now come, dry your tears. Let us have lunch together, and you can tell me more about Legolas' condition."