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Chapter 2

When Legolas next woke he expected to be on the hard ground in his cell. As he blinked his groggy blue eyes open, he was momentarily stunned when he found himself to be in a completely different place. Legolas furrowed his brow in confusion as he looked around the room and took in his surroundings warily. Finally, the events from his last day conscious came back to the elf and he closed his eyes in infinite relief, sagging against the many pillows behind him. He was home. Home…that one word nearly brought tears to Legolas's eyes; so great was his relief.

'But wait…' Legolas thought in confusion, 'We are already back in Gondor? Where I was held captive was at least a four days' hard ride from here.'

Still frowning in confusion and attempting to find some answers, Legolas studied the room. It was lushly furnished and quite large. The large double doors of the balcony were open wide and a gentle breeze moved the sheer curtains. Sunshine streamed in through the many windows of the room casting a comforting glow around the room. Turning his head to the right, Legolas felt his heart warm at the sight in front of him, and he smiled as his gaze fell onto the form of his best friend curled in a chair beside his bed.

Legolas's smiled turned to a frown in the next instant as he studied Aragorn more closely. The human was curled in a ball in the chair, a thin blanket draped haphazardly over his slumbering form. His face was pale against the dark stubble that had grown on his cheeks and the dark circles under his eyes gave Legolas proof that this was the first time Aragorn had slept in quite some time. Legolas felt a pang of guilt at this fact and lowered his gaze to his folded hands on the thick comforter.

Legolas's mind drifted as he lay on the comfortable bed. He was so concentrated on his thoughts that the sound of the door opening caused Legolas to start in fear and tense his abused body. He turned wide eyes to the doorway in time to see a beautiful she elf peek in. Upon seeing that Legolas was awake, she smiled and entered the room fully. "Legolas! It warms my heart to see you awake. Welcome back"

Legolas managed a weak smile and forced himself to relax. He finally calmed enough to trust his voice to answer the wife of his best friend. "It is indeed good to be home Arwen," he responded. He paused before nodding his head subtly in Aragorn's direction. "How long has he been there?"

Arwen hesitated a moment and chewed on her lip. "He has not moved since you returned," she answered carefully.

"So just for the night then," Legolas responded feeling some of his guilt lifted.

Arwen chewed her lip again and sat down next to Legolas. If she noticed him recoil slightly, she did not show it. "Legolas," she began, "you have been free for nine days."

Legolas's jaw dropped. "NINE?!" he exclaimed. He had figured that it was more than one, but to have no recollection of nine days of his life startled him immensely.

"Yes, nine. And you have been back here for six," Arwen continued.

"Why did I not wake in that time?" Legolas questioned.

Arwen winced at Legolas's question. "You did, though you probably have no memory of it," Arwen answered before taking Legolas's hands gently into her smaller ones. "Your wounds that you sustained while in captivity were more serious than even Estel previously thought. Estel can explain it to you better than me, and I will leave that to him. But just know that many of your wounds had become infected. You came down with a high fever on the second day of your journey back here. Aragorn would allow no rest to the contingent he had brought with him, and refused rest even when they had finally gotten you back here…it took both Faramir and myself to get him to finally take rest in the chair. We thought many times that it was hopeless, and we lost you many times. Estel…Estel blamed himself I think."

"Oh…" Legolas whispered the guilt returning. Aragorn should have been seeking rest after that journey, not holding vigil over him.

Arwen noticed his miserable expression and squeezed his hands once before standing. "Are you thirsty? Or hungry?" Arwen inquired.

"Yes to the first, no to the second," Legolas responded managing to smile.

Arwen strode over to the basin across the room. She carefully poured a glass of water before returning to Legolas and handing him the cup. Legolas managed to sit up against the pillows and sipped from the water. Silence fell between the two before Arwen strode over to her husband's side. She reached out to wake him but was halted by Legolas. "Do not wake him," he murmured, "I would not have him lose what little sleep he is taking just because I happened to have-"

"Really now Legolas, none of that," Arwen scolded gently, "Estel told me to wake him if I noticed that you had regained consciousness. And I know that he will want to do a survey of your wounds with you." Legolas still looked unsure and Arwen smiled encouragingly. "Do you doubt that Estel will be anything but glad to see you returned to us?" Legolas shrugged and looked down at his hands again as Arwen frowned and shook her husband gently. "Estel, meleth nin, Legolas has awaken," Arwen murmured when Aragorn shifted slightly.

Aragorn's eyes popped open immediately and he stood quickly rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Legolas!" Aragorn cried, a grin breaking out on his face, "You are awake! How are you feeling?" Legolas managed a wry smile and a quirk of his eyebrow. "Right," Aragorn responded feeling stupid, "that was a silly question. Is any of the pain intolerable?"

"No," was Legolas's quick response. Aragorn did not believe him and turned to his wife smiling lovingly.

"Arwen would you mind going to the healing wing and asking the healers to prepare a painkilling tea? And while they are preparing that could you ask one of the servants to bring some food up for Legolas? He has not eaten in a long time so nothing heavy," Aragorn's request was quick and soft.

Arwen understood the want for them to be alone. "Of course my love. And I will also be bringing food back for you too. You have not eaten much since Legolas has returned," Arwen replied in a tone that showed that she would hear no argument.

"Yes ma'am," Aragorn smiled as Arwen kissed him gently and left the room. Aragorn turned back around and approached Legolas carefully. He was sure to move slowly so as not to startle the elf and sat on the edge of the bed carefully. "Legolas…how are you really feeling mellon nin? Please be honest."

"I…am well," Legolas responded quietly staring at his hands, "there is no need to fuss over me."

Aragorn was quiet for a moment as he contemplated Legolas's unusual new behavior. "You need fussing at the moment Legolas," Aragorn responded, "your injuries were very serious."

"Could you list them for me?" Legolas asked changing the subject, "Arwen gave me a brief synopsis, but she said I would have to wait for you to know the details."

"Of course," Aragorn responded clearing his throat. "You sustained multiple serious injuries and numerous less serious wounds. But the combined effect was too much for your body. Along with the simple scratches and bruises you received from your…beatings," Aragorn paused here clearing his throat as Legolas winced in memory, "you also had four broken ribs, two of which were posed to puncture your lung had I moved you in just the wrong way. Your shoulders had been obviously dislocated many times…" Aragorn paused here waiting for confirmation from Legolas who had a far away look on his face.

"Eight times," he replied quietly.

"Eight?!" Aragorn gasped in disbelief.

Legolas nodded. "I had to use the wall of my cell to slide it back into its socket…it was most difficult with the chai-" Legolas choked at the end of the sentence and closed his eyes in an attempt to calm the sudden swirling of his emotions. He swallowed thickly and nodded his head once. "Please continue," Legolas whispered.

Aragorn felt sympathy from the elf in front of him but continued in a strong voice. "The two stab wounds in your shoulder and leg did not appear to be too serious at first…but not only was the blade you were stabbed with horrifically dirty, but Mae-HE had tipped them with a mild poison. Under normal circumstances if would barely have affected an elf such as yourself…but with your other injuries…and your despair, your body had begun to shut down long before we arrived."

Legolas nodded as all of this processed but still looked confused. "The poison would not have caused such a high fever though…not enough to keep me under for nine days…"

Aragorn sighed and looked uncomfortable and guilty. "Well…uh…." Here Aragorn sighed and looked regretfully at his best friend. "Forgive me mellon nin…but you had acquired a wound from the…collar…you had around your neck. I did not take it off immediately and so…" Aragorn sighed shakily. "The wound had grown infected…and it festered. I am so sorry Legolas, that was all my fault."

Legolas managed to make eye contact with Aragorn and smiled. "You were concentrating on getting us out of enemy territory. I do not fault you. Besides, you told me that you would not be able to remove it until we returned here. What more could you have done Aragorn?"

Aragorn smiled. "Thank you mellon nin."

Legolas cleared his throat and swallowed. "Arwen said I was awake during part of my fever…and yet I have no recollection. What happened while I was unconscious?" Aragorn looked slightly pained for a moment and Legolas grew worried. "Aragorn?"

Aragorn shut his eyes momentarily and swallowed thickly. "You…you didn't know where you were or who I was."

Legolas felt his heart sinking lower into his stomach. "Aragorn…what did I do or say. Please tell me," Legolas begged feeling horror creep over him.

"I…Legolas…first of all I need to tell you that you did not know what you were doing or saying; you were quite delirious, and I took none of what you said to heart," Aragorn said carefully. At Legolas's nod to continue Aragorn sighed. "You awoke the first time about a days journey outside of the place we found you. Both Faramir and myself were sitting right next to you. With your fevered mind, you did not know it was us, and became…upset."

"Upset? Upset how?" Legolas questioned attempting to get as much information as he could possible obtain from his friend.

"You…you screamed. Cried out for us to leave you alone and began to struggle away from us. I had already known about your ribs at this time and attempted to restrain you with the help of Faramir. This caused you to struggle even more and your movements caused aggravation to your already numerous injuries. You began to shout and curse us…demanding that we keep our 'filthy human hands' off of you. When we still did not relent and release you…you ceased movement and began to weep. Unintentionally, you slipped into elvish, so only I could understand what you said…" Aragorn continued looking extremely pained.

Legolas stared blankly at Aragorn and sighed. "What did I say?"

Aragorn swallowed with much difficulty and closed his eyes with his face turned toward his hands as he took a deep breath and began to recall the story.

Legolas's head turned listlessly to the side as tears slipped from his eyes. He took rapid, shallow breaths and whimpers escaped his throat as he shivered in his fevered state. "He needs to calm down Aragorn," Faramir said urgently from Legolas's side where he was restraining the elf.

"I know Faramir," Aragorn snapped impatiently as he stroked the sweaty forehead of his friend, "but he does not know it is we who is touching him. He thinks he is still with Maethas and his men. I do not know how we can calm him in such a state."

Faramir's response was interrupted as Legolas gave a cry in his semiconscious state and gave a feeble attempt to get away. Aragorn made shushing noises and crooned to his best friend in elvish in an attempt to calm him. Legolas heard none of it and instead sniffed loudly. "Saes, baw harno nin…saes, saes, saes…golas nin eriol!! Dabo nin gwanath! golas nin eriol"//Please, don't hurt me…please, please, please…leave me alone!! Allow me death…leave me alone//

Aragorn looked painfully at his friend and shushed him again. "What did he say?" Faramir asked curiously not understanding the elvish.

Aragorn looked around for a moment making sure none of his contingent was in hearing range before he looked at Faramir. "He is asking for us to leave him alone…and allow him death," Aragorn answered.

Faramir looked sadly at his friend. "Oh Legolas…" he whispered also wiping the sweat from his friend's brow gently.

Legolas stirred restlessly as Aragorn placed a new wet cloth on Legolas's burning forehead. "Aragorn," Legolas suddenly whispered.

Aragorn leaned forward suddenly in surprise. "Aye mellon nin I am here," he murmured gently, "it's alright Legolas."

Legolas groaned and turned toward the voice. "Why didn't you come for me? Why aren't you here…you hate me…you don't trust me…but I never expected you to leave me to die…I am sorry mellon nin…gwador…" Legolas's rambling voice cut off suddenly as he went momentarily rigid and then fell completely unconscious.

Aragorn swallowed thickly and bowed his head. Faramir touched his shoulder. "He did not know what he was saying my friend, do not take offense."

"He did know what he was saying Faramir…he thinks I abandoned him," Aragorn whispered regretfully, "order the men up and have my horse saddled. We leave within the hour. We take no rest until we reach Gondor."

Faramir sighed and nodded at his king. "Of course my lord," he replied and patted Aragorn one more time before standing up and walking away.

With his tale finished, Aragorn was silent as was Legolas momentarily. With much difficulty, Legolas reached across and gently placed his hand over Aragorn's. When Aragorn met his eyes, Legolas guiltily attempted to console his friend. "Forgive me me-mell- Aragorn. I know you would never hurt me. I did not know it was you…and I fear that my words and lack of faith have hurt you immensely."

"Oh Legolas, do not apologize," Aragorn exclaimed, "I know you did not do it intentionally."

Legolas managed a small smile and looked back at his hands. "What else happened when I was awake but unaware?" he asked urging Aragorn to continue.

Aragorn looked up to Legolas and realized that disclosing all of this information all at once would be unwise for Legolas's mental health and patted Legolas's knee comfortingly frowning when Legolas flinched back away from him. He was about to tell Legolas he did not think it was wise when Arwen re-entered the room with a soft knock balancing a tray. Aragorn jumped up immediately and ran to his wife to relieve her of it. He kissed her cheek before returning to Legolas and Arwen left the room. Aragorn placed the tray on the bedside table, noting that Legolas followed his every move nervously. Aragorn smiled at his friend before reaching for the meager bowl of soup and the small piece of bread on the tray. He handed the soup to Legolas who accepted the bowl, laying it in his lap and merely staring at it.

Aragorn picked up his own bowl of soup and attempting to set an example, spooned some into his mouth. He continued to eat the soup watching Legolas out of the corner of his eye. The elf had still not touched his soup. Setting his own meal down, Aragorn frowned. "Legolas you must eat something mellon nin. Your body cannot survive much longer without it," Aragorn murmured.

Legolas merely nodded before spooning some of the broth into his mouth. The food tasted very good to him, but he still did not feel his stomach could not handle the food. Even though he knew he would get sick, Legolas spooned more into his mouth and he forced himself to stomach many more spoonfuls. He began to eat faster, and finally, half the bowl was gone. Legolas stopped eating. Aragorn had drained his bowl and set it aside. "Are you finished?" the human asked quietly.

Legolas nodded and opened his mouth to speak before he turned positively green. He looked helplessly to Aragorn who moved quickly and pulled the chamber pot from underneath the bed, placing it in front of the elf who went horribly sick over the side of the bed. Aragorn immediately pulled the elf's hair back away from his now sweaty face and rubbed soothing circles on his back. "It's alright Legolas, you're alright…" Aragorn murmured. Legolas continued to be sick while Aragorn stayed by his side.

Finally Legolas stopped vomiting but remained hunched over the side of the bed. Aragorn still rubbed soothingly at the elf's back and was pleased to see that Legolas did not tense or recoil. When there was a knock at the door a moment later and Faramir's voice came from the doorway, Legolas tensed again and the movement made him sick again. "Legolas! I heard you were awa-" Faramir cut himself off as he saw Legolas over the side of the bed and Aragorn by his side. Faramir looked questioningly at his king who shook his head and nodded back out the door. Faramir nodded before leaving once again.

"Mellon nin?" Aragorn questioned, "are you well?"

Legolas shook his head and clenched his hands into fists. "Nay Aragorn. I am not well," he sobbed in return, "and I do not think I ever will be again."

"Legolas…" Aragorn began in sympathy, "I know this is difficult for you…but in time you will be fi-" Aragorn realized this was the wrong thing to say when he felt Legolas tense again; this time in anger.

"YOU KNOW NOTHING!" Legolas suddenly screamed clenching his hands harder and shutting his eyes tightly to prevent the escape of tears.

"Legolas, please," Aragorn tried again.

Feeling immediately embarrassed, at his sudden uncharacteristic outburst, Legolas took a shaky breath and refused to meet Aragorn's gaze. "Get out," Legolas whispered pulling himself up to lay upon the bed again. He turned his back to Aragorn who immediately attempted to lay a consoling hand on the elf. Legolas recoiled and swatted Aragorn's hand away harshly. "GET OUT!" he ordered strongly. When Aragorn did not move, Legolas repeated the words he had said when he was delirious, knowing that it would hurt Aragorn so that he would leave, "Golas nin eriol. I am unsure of my trust in everyone and everything right now." //leave me alone.//

Aragorn took a sharp, shuddering breath before Legolas felt the bed shift. "As you wish Legolas," Aragorn returned turning from the bed. "I will be back to check your wounds in a little while. Sleep well mellon nin."

Legolas could hear the trembling of Aragorn's voice as he spoke to his friend and felt guilty immediately. But he could not bring himself to call for Aragorn's return and instead remained laying on his side, with his eyes closed in pain. 'I am hurting everyone around me…but I cannot help it…I know not if I can ever trust again…what will I do?' Legolas thought to himself miserably, beginning to sniff and sob quietly. As his body shook with miserable sobs, Legolas was silently begging Aragorn's forgiveness.

Little did Legolas know that Aragorn had barely made it outside the door before he collapsed against it and pressed his fist to his mouth to stifle his own sobs. He did not know if he would be able to help Legolas at all. The despair that washed over him at that thought caused Aragorn to collapse against the door sobbing silently.

On each side of the door, two halves of one soul were miserably breaking apart, with little hope of them ever returning to whole.