Author's note at bottom. I am sorry I suck!!! Thank you For all of the WONDERFUL reviews ((good or bad)). I hope you like it!

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CHAPTER 3

Legolas next opened his eyes only hours later and heaved a great sigh. He knew the words he had spoken to Aragorn just a few hours earlier were not the words he meant. He had been frustrated and was despairing. Now he had no doubt that Aragorn would stay away indefinitely by his own request. Legolas felt tears welling in his eyes and choked back a sob as he clenched his eyes in pain. He would do anything to take those hastily spoken words back.

When the door opened moments later, Legolas forced himself to relax so as to feign sleep. He could hear light footsteps coming towards his bed and the rattling of dinnerware on a tray the new occupant carried. The tray clicked almost inaudibly as it was set down on his bedside table. Legolas only hoped that the servant that occupied the room would now leave, but he could hear no retreating footsteps. "Feigning sleep will get you nowhere with me Legolas," a sweet voice said seconds later, "for you are still too tense to be truly asleep."

Legolas sighed and opened his eyes. "'lo Arwen," he murmured resentfully.

The she elf smiled. "How are you feeling?" she asked quietly.

Legolas forced a smile. "Better thank you," he lied.

Arwen shook her head with a knowing smile. "Lying will also get you nowhere with me," she replied quirking an eyebrow looking quite like her father.

Legolas sighed. "What makes you think I am not feeling better Arwen?" he asked.

Arwen smiled sadly. "The look on your face…and also the tear tracks and red rimmed eyes," she answered sitting on the edge of the bed, "they match Estel's."

Legolas winced at the mention of his friend. "Is he very angry at me?" he asked in a small voice.

Arwen shook her head. "He is not mad at you at all Legolas," she murmured, "he is just sad and frustrated--"

"That makes two of us," Legolas grumbled interrupting the she elf and still not looking at her.

"He is frustrated because he wants to help you…and he feels obsolete because nothing is working," Arwen continued as if Legolas had not interrupted.

Legolas finally looked into Arwen's eyes. "It is not just him Arwen," he croaked once again studying the sheets, "I feel like nothing can help me now. I am… lost."

Arwen smiled kindly at him before handing Legolas the glass of water she carried in on the tray. Legolas took it nodding his thank you to the woman on the bed before him. "Legolas…you may be lost right now but I know you can work through this…and Estel will help you if you let him."

Legolas was quiet for a moment before shaking his head feeling tears come to his eyes. "I am afraid," Legolas whispered.

"Afraid? Of what Legolas?" Arwen asked confused.

"Afraid…of confronting the past few weeks…but mostly afraid of Es-" Legolas stopped and clenched his eyes as he quelled tears.

"You are afraid Estel will reject you," Arwen answered in understanding.. Legolas's silence was enough confirmation for her. "Legolas," she sighed, "Estel may yell, he may rave…but he will never abandon you."

"But I told him to," Legolas argued finally losing his battle with tears.

Arwen tipped Legolas's face to meet her eyes. "You listen to me. You are both hurting Legolas. And no matter how many times you ask him to leave you alone he will not do so. I think that you more than anyone know this."

Legolas managed a chuckle. "He is the most persistent human I have met," Legolas conceded wiping away his tears, "but he has not returned since-"

"You two are more alike than you will ever know Legolas. He has not returned because he fears your rejection as you fear his. He could not bear to have you hate him," Arwen interrupted gently.

"I…do not know where to begin," Legolas sighed.

"Together, you may work through that Legolas," Arwen replied standing and kissing the elf's forehead, "Talk to him. Ease both your hearts."

Legolas gave Arwen a watery smile. "Thank you Arwen," he whispered, "Estel has truly found Arda's most wise elleth."

"Legolas, flattery WILL get you everywhere with me," Arwen laughed as she exited the room, "I will send Estel to you within the hour…if I can get him to muster the courage to see you." With a wave she left the room leaving Legolas feeling slightly better.

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An hour later there was another knock on the door. "Come in," Legolas managed to choke feeling his heart beating out of his chest. The door opened to reveal the king of Gondor. Aragorn seemed unsure of whether or not he should venture in but after a beckoning wave from Legolas, Aragorn entered closing the door behind him.

The tension in the room was so thick that Aragorn and Legolas believed it may be tangible. Aragorn could hear Legolas shifting on the bed in front of him and it did nothing to soothe his nerves. Another noise was brought to the king's attention moments later and it both startled and broke his heart. Looking up sharply, Aragorn found Legolas's face buried in his hands and his shoulders shaking with sobs. "Legolas?" Aragorn breathed stepping towards the bed.

"Forgive me!" Legolas cried in between sobs, "I was wrong to yell and throw you out! I…it is just…I don't know what is wrong with me! You should hate me!"

Aragorn sat on the very edge of the bed hesitating for a moment before he pulled Legolas's hands from his face and into his own. "Legolas," he murmured, "there is nothing to forgive. The way you responded, your…frustration was warranted and normal. I was not really hurt by your actions. Thinking about it now I should have expected it. I was merely frustrated."

"Frustrated with me," Legolas volunteered for the human.

Aragorn shook his head vehemently. "Nay! Frustrated with myself!" he cried miserably. Legolas looked to Aragorn in confusion as the human sighed. "You have saved my life countless times mellon nin," Aragorn continued in a whisper, "no matter the circumstance, you have brought me out of the situation with little to no permanent damage." Legolas watched transfixed as tears came to Aragorn's eyes and the human wiped at them angrily. "And now…when it is your life that needs saving…I feel like I am failing you Legolas. I cannot help you. And I do not know what to do to even try."

Legolas stared at Aragorn as he continued to battle his tears feeling truly touched by the human's words. "I…" Legolas began before swallowing thickly and continuing sounding stronger, "I do not know how to begin myself."

Silence fell between the two. "What do you mean?" Aragorn asked finally.

"I mean…I have had many less than pleasant experiences in my life," Legolas explained licking his lips, "and many more physical hurts. But this is different."

"Different?" Aragorn echoed, "How so?"

"Well, it is difficult to explain. I am not really sure I can explain as I do not know myself…" Legolas broke off with a frustrated sigh.

"I'm listening mellon nin. Do try to explain it to me," Aragorn urged.

Legolas was quiet for a moment. "It's like…physical pain is physical pain. It was always in the heat of battle. It was never personal. I never knew their names, their histories, and they didn't know mine. It was all for duty. No mental strings attached."

"But?" Aragorn said quietly.

"But with this whole mess with Mae—Maet—with HIM it was…different. He was hurting me because he enjoyed it. He enjoyed seeing one of my kind squirming in pain knowing that you—" Legolas cut himself off looking alarmed and became quiet.

Aragorn knew that pressing Legolas to explain that mishap would make the elf less forthcoming with information and so decided to let it slide. "So Maethas hurting you in this way was different because he made it personal?" Aragorn responded attempting to get the elf to feel comfortable again.

Legolas seemed relieved to not have to explain the information he almost divulged. "Yes. And also because…" he sighed again feeling weary. "The pain was not just physical this time. Sure when I am fighting orcs or uruk hai…they taunt me because I am an elf and insults are yelled…but it's still not the same. Maethas used my life to hurt me…used you and ada and my other friends to slowly wear me down. He wanted to break me mentally and physically."

Aragorn nodded in understanding. "So it is not the physical abuse that still haunts you…but the mental torture you endured," Aragorn replied.

"Exactly," Legolas whispered.

Aragorn sat straighter suddenly startling Legolas. "Well then. Now that we know what the problem is, we can work on it."

Legolas barked a dry laugh. "You make it sound so easy," he murmured shaking his head.

Aragorn smiled and shook his head. "No. It will not be easy at all Legolas. But I swear I will do everything in my power to help you mellon nin," Aragorn responded seriously.

Legolas looked uncomfortable. "I know you want to help," he whispered lowering his eyes, "but I don not know how to begin myself. How can I ask you to help when I do not know what to do to help myself?"

"We can figure that out as we go along Legolas," Aragorn said softly grasping the elf's shoulder.

"I…I trust you Aragorn. Do not doubt that…but how-?"

"Perhaps speaking of it would be a start?" Aragorn suggested carefully.

Legolas smiled. "I…would like that…but I do not know if-"

"This is on your terms Legolas. If you don't want to talk about something, then we will not talk about it until you are ready," Aragorn assured his friend.

Legolas could not restrain himself anymore and leaned over to pull Aragorn into an embrace. "Thank you Aragorn. And I am truly sorry."

"No need for apologies mellon nin. Just allow me to help. Tell me," Aragorn whispered back.

Legolas sighed and closed his eyes as he remembered the pain of the last two weeks…

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Uhh…do not kill me??? Please??? I am sorry it has taken so very long to get this up. I had writers block, and I was flying around getting a new place to live while trying to find a job, annnnd dealing with a new medical condition. Forgive me! The next chapter will be up after I get back from Sacramento next Tuesday!!! Now I have time to write!!!