Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien created.

OIOI

Summary: After receiving a cryptic message from Mirkwood, Lord Elrond hurries to the aid of the realm's troubled Crown Prince and discovers that things now are so very different for both of them.

Warning: This story is about a romantic relationship between the two main characters – Elrond and Legolas. It concentrates almost solely on the friendship and comfort side of the relationship and there are no explicit scenes or anything that could really be described as slash. However, if you really don't like that kind of thing then please don't read.

OIOIOIOI

As You Were

OIOIOIOIOIO

Chapter 4

OIO

Although he tried to sleep, Elrond found that his mind would not switch off and he ended up spending the remainder of the night trying to force his body into sleep. When the grey light of dawn shone through the drapes Elrond decided to give up on his battle and shoved his blanket aside and got to his feet, stretching out his aching muscles. He first checked on Legolas but the young Elf remained unchanged and Elrond couldn't help but smile gently.

It was only a few minutes later that a rapping came from the door, startling Elrond from his thoughts. Frowning, he went to the door, looking briefly over to the bed to find Legolas undisturbed by the sound. He remembered his earlier promise to Legolas not to challenge the guards when they came. Not quite knowing what to expect from this next encounter, Elrond opened the door to find a severe-looking servant standing in the corridor.

"Good morning," Elrond greeted cordially, keeping up the pretence that he still believed everything in Mirkwood was fine. He even managed a small smile.

The servant showed no such graciousness, not even looking directly at Elrond as he demanded, "Legolas is needed now." Not a hint of emotion entered the Elf's voice and he completely forgot any kind of protocol in addressing his prince.

Keeping his calm, Elrond said, "Can it not wait?"

"No."

"Are you certain?" Trying his luck, Elrond leaned closer and spoke softly, "Prince Legolas is sleeping. I fear he has been rather over-taxing himself and is thoroughly worn out. Perhaps there is someone else who can handle the issue." The servant stood unmoving and unyielding in the doorway. "Please, just a couple more hours. I'm sure your advisors will understand."

"Legolas is needed," the servant repeated as though he hadn't heard Elrond's plea.

"Whatever this is is so important that it cannot wait even a few hours?" Elrond demanded in frustration.

"No."

Sighing deeply, Elrond nodded. "Very well, I'll go and wake him. Wait here; he'll be with you in a moment." Without waiting to be challenged, Elrond closed the door on the unflinching servant. That had not gone as he had wished. He'd rather hoped that he could reason with these people but it appeared that Legolas had been correct, they really were impossible. For a moment, Elrond stood in silence, considering his options. Truthfully, he didn't have any options yet though. Not yet anyway.

Reluctantly, Elrond returned to the bedroom where Legolas remained asleep in bed. He desperately wanted to leave the prince alone; Legolas needed the rest but there was nothing else he could do right then. He walked over to the bed and very gently pulled the sheets down. Laying his hand on Legolas' arm, he shook the young prince, calling his name. Legolas stirred at the disturbance but his eyes didn't open. Elrond continued shaking the younger Elf, hoping to wake him as gently as possible.

"Legolas," Elrond called a little louder, laying his other hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Legolas, mellon nin, wake up." This time, Legolas groaned softly and shrugged Elrond off before rolling onto his side away from the disturbance. However, Elrond wasn't going to give up so he knelt on the bed and shook Legolas' shoulder. "I'm sorry, but you have to wake up. There is a servant outside demanding your presence."

At this, Legolas' eyes were forced open and he looked blearily around until he found Elrond sat beside him. "Elrond?" he mumbled wearily.

"I'm sorry to wake you but you told me not to make them suspicious and I fear I am already pushing my luck with this one." Legolas blinked up at him in confusion. "Sorry, mellon nin. You need to get up." Elrond slid his arm under Legolas' shoulders and slowly helped the young Elf sit up, which Legolas did although he swayed slightly, blinking wearily again. It was just so hard to keep his eyes open. He was so tired. Surely another hour wouldn't hurt.

"I'm sorry, Legolas, but you do need to get up now," Elrond's voice filtered through the haze of exhaustion. He looked up in surprise, not having realised he had said that last part out loud.

"What time is it?" Legolas asked, glancing at the window.

"Just a few minutes after dawn; you only slept for a couple of hours," the Elven healer explained as he got to his feet and pulled the sheets fully off of Legolas' legs.

"Oh, right." Legolas swallowed back a yawn and fought the urge to lie back down again and return to the wonderful abyss of sleep. It took a moment, but he shuffled to the edge of the bed and moved his legs over the side, slipping his feet into his shoes.

Once he was ready, Legolas stood up, pausing when he swayed slightly on the spot. Elrond took his arm to steady him and asked in concern, "Are you all right?"

Legolas nodded, "Yes. Can you go and check on my father? And, Elrond, please, stay there today until I return. Don't do anything without me. Please."

"I won't."

"Promise?"

Elrond smiled slightly. "I promise. Listen, don't worry about me. Just look after yourself," he said, looking into Legolas' eyes as he nodded. "I will see to your father and wait there for you, all right?"

"Thank you," Legolas smiled before slowly going to the door. He longed to stay with Elrond. Amazingly, he actually felt safe now in Mirkwood with Elrond there, even if he did fear constantly for the Lord of Rivendell's life and knew that there was nothing either of them could do about their situation. Even so, he opened the door and silently followed the vacant servant through the corridors. Dread welled in his chest as he approached the Throne Room. For those few short hours with Elrond sat at his side, taking some of the responsibility with Thranduil, he had actually felt better. With a shaking hand, he opened the door and stepped inside, bracing himself for the long day that lay ahead.

OIOIOIO

Elrond found himself pacing again. Every now and then he would pause and cast a nervous glance over at either the sleeping Thranduil or the closed door. It was gone midnight and Legolas had still not returned. Even more disconcerting was that a couple of hours ago, two Mirkwood Elves had walked right in, huddled around the bed to check on Thranduil without so much as acknowledging Elrond's presence. To keep up the pretence, Elrond had asked if he could help them with something but they had just awkwardly bowed to him and left without saying a word. This brief encounter had put him on edge and Legolas' long absence was doing nothing to ease his anxiety. Hence the pacing.

For most of the day Elrond had done as Legolas had instructed, ignoring his growing restlessness and the fact he had eaten nothing all day. Once, he had opened the door but quickly closed it again when the guards standing outside suddenly looked over at him. After that, he had remained in the room, trying to stifle the growing sense that he was trapped.

Just as Elrond was beginning to think that the young Elf was not going to come back that night, the door opened. Elrond jumped in surprise but relaxed when Legolas stepped inside carrying a tray of food and tea.

"Thank the Valar," Elrond exclaimed, rushing over to the prince, who closed the door gently behind him. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened, Elrond. Calm down," Legolas said soothingly, going over to the table by the couch and putting the tray down.

"You've been gone for hours. You're all right?" Elrond asked in concern.

"I'm fine," the prince smiled.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes."

Elrond took Legolas' arm before he could walk over to the bed in order to check on his father. "Come and sit down," he instructed, leading Legolas over to the couch and making him sit down.

As the prince sat down, a soft sigh escaped him and he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, Elrond was sat next to him. "How is Ada?" he asked the Lord of Rivendell.

"He's all right – unchanged."

"You gave him the sedative at noon?"

"I did. He continued to sleep soundly."

"Lucky him," Legolas mumbled, his eyes flicking over to Thranduil.

Elrond's hand was suddenly resting on his shoulder and Legolas looked back at him. "Do you want to go and lie down?" he asked kindly.

The prince shook his head and smiled. "No, I'm fine."

"I'll make you some tea," the Rivendell Elf offered.

"Thank you. No one came by whilst I was gone?"

As he mixed the herbs Legolas had brought into the steaming water, Elrond answered, "Two people came by a couple of hours ago."

Suddenly, Legolas was perched on the edge of his seat, his eyes alarmed. "What happened? Are you all right? Did they hurt you? Did they hurt Ada?"

"No," Elrond assured him, sitting back down and holding out the mug to the younger Elf, who didn't take it but continued to stare at Elrond, waiting for more details. "They came in, didn't so much as glance my way, and looked at Thranduil. I asked them if they needed anything…"

"You spoke to them?" Legolas exclaimed.

"It would have looked odder if I hadn't. Anyway, when I talked to them they looked over at me then simply left."

"That's it?"

"That's it. I didn't engage them, just as you said."

"Good," Legolas sighed in relief, sitting back.

"You're sure you're all right? You look pale – more so than before, I mean."

"I'm fine." Those two little words that left Legolas' mouth whenever asked how he was were starting to get on Elrond's nerves.

"Here, drink your tea and have something to eat," the older Elf instructed, gently pressing the warm mug into Legolas' chilled hands, noticing how they trembled slightly as he accepted the hot drink. In truth, Elrond was even more concerned about the prince than before. Somehow, Legolas just felt different to him although he couldn't quite explain in what way. Of course, the young Elf was obviously exhausted but there was something else Elrond just couldn't put his finger on. He wished that Legolas would fully confide in him about how he was feeling now but he was reluctant to force the young Elf into talking to him whilst he was clearly so fragile.

Elrond passed Legolas a sparse plate of food and the prince ate it without emotion or joy. They sat in silence and Legolas never once looked away from his father. He seemed so lost in his own thoughts that Elrond kept his silence, eating his own food whilst he had the chance. Once Legolas' plate was empty he placed it back on the table and drained his tea before laying that on the table as well.

"Legolas, can I ask you something?" Elrond asked quietly. Legolas sat back on the sofa and turned to face his old friend, nodding gently. "Why can't we just wake Thranduil up? That way there would be three of us – not great odds but better than just two."

"No."

"But…"

"No, Elrond," Legolas snapped in annoyance. "I won't have my father put in any more danger. At least if he's asleep he's safe."

"But he can help us if…"

"I said no. I'm not going to discuss this anymore."

"All right," Elrond agreed quietly, dropping the subject for the time being. "I'm sorry." Legolas nodded and relaxed again now he believed the argument to be over. "Legolas, it's going to be all right now, you know," Elrond said in a kind, soft voice, reaching over and smoothing blonde hair back from Legolas' pasty forehead.

The prince leaned into the contact and, when Elrond laid his arm over his shoulders, leaned against the healer, laying his head on Elrond's shoulder. "I'm glad you're here," he murmured, allowing his eyes to slip closed.

Elrond smiled slightly, slipping his arm down to hold Legolas by the waist, hugging him close. "So am I." For a while, Elrond held the prince close but he started to grown concerned that Legolas really needed to lay down and rest so he pulled away a little but stopped when he looked down to find that the young Elf had fallen asleep against him. The Elven Lord leaned forward carefully to place his own mug down on the table and then leaned back, wrapping Legolas in his arms, pressing a kiss into his hair. "Sleep well," he breathed, happy to hold the young Elf close whilst he rested.

For the next few hours, Legolas slept deeply. At first, he rested happily against Elrond's shoulder but after an hour or so he opened his eyes and sleepily moved to lie down on the couch, cushioning his head on Elrond's lap before closing his eyes and going back to sleep. Although Elrond thought he should probably try and get Legolas to a proper bed, the young Elf just looked so peaceful where he was that he decided to just leave him be. Besides, Elrond felt rather contented like this. It was the first truly peaceful moment he'd had since finding out about all this.

Although a couple of times Elrond found himself starting to doze off in the soothing light of the fire and the feel of Legolas laid over him, for most of the time the prince slept and Elrond watched over him in contentment. Carefully, so as not to wake his friend, Elrond let his fingers slide through the soft blonde hair that splayed out over his lap. In the past twenty years or so since they had separated, Elrond had missed sharing these quiet, contented moments with his golden prince. After the quite cruel hurtful words they had spat at each other the last time they had been in the same room together, Elrond had been convinced that they could never spend a quiet moment together again. And he had to admit that it felt nice – like it had before. Blinking his eyes to clear his mind, Elrond shook his head. It wasn't healthy to be thinking like this. Legolas didn't need more confusion in his life right then. He didn't send for Elrond to sort out their troubled relationship, he sent for help and Elrond had to provide that without complication.

Sighing heavily, Elrond rested his head back, letting his fingers work through Legolas' hair. He tried to think upon their situation some more but once again found his mind going around in circles. No wonder Legolas was worn out if he had had to think like this for the past months.

Before his frustration could get the better of him, Elrond's reverie was disturbed by Legolas shifting on the couch and murmuring something indistinguishably under his breath. Elrond stroked Legolas' hair again, hoping to soothe him back into sleep but Legolas groaned under his breath then his eyes snapped open with a gasp.

"Shh, it's all right," Elrond assured kindly, noting Legolas' trembling and too-fast breathing.

"Elrond?" the young Elf asked, looking up at him.

"I'm here, mellon nin."

Sighing, Legolas laid his head back against Elrond's warm legs, looking around the nearly dark room. "Oh, I was dreaming," the prince said softly.

"I guessed. Was it a pleasant dream?"

"It was about you."

Elrond chuckled lightly, "So no."

The young Elf ignored the quip and continued softly, "I dreamed they took you away from me, that my father passed to the Halls of Waiting and I stood in my room watching as Mirkwood burned before me."

Although Elrond actually shuddered at the image, he whispered, "We won't let that happen. Everything's going to be all right." Once more, he smoothed Legolas' hair back from his forehead then ran his hand down Legolas' arm. "Go back to sleep. Rest while you can." For a while, Legolas remained where he was, not sleeping but just resting, concentrating on the feel of Elrond's hand running over his arm. But after a while, the young Elf sat up, raking his fingers through his untidy hair. "Are you all right?" Elrond asked, also sitting up straight.

"I'll be right back," Legolas told him, getting stiffly to his feet.

"Where are you going?"

Legolas pointed across the room. "Bathroom."

"Right. Sorry," Elrond smiled apologetically. He watched Legolas head for the bathroom, pausing to check on his father on the way past. Truthfully, Elrond's concern for the prince was growing by the minute. It didn't escape his notice that Legolas limped slightly as he walked or that he looked even wearier.

Whilst he waited for Legolas to return, Elrond stood up and stretched out his aching muscles. He walked over to the bed and checked more thoroughly on the sleeping king. Thranduil remained in his peaceful, drugged oblivion though. He briefly wondered if he should consider giving Legolas something too but given the circumstances it probably wasn't a good idea.

Just as Elrond was replacing a clean sheet over the king, his sharp hearing picked up what he thought to be a hiss of pain from the bathroom. Immediately, he went over to the door and listened for a moment before rapping gently on the door. "Legolas, are you all right in there?" he called, leaning in close to the door so he could hear any response.

A tight voice called back after a moment, "Yes, I'm fine."

"You don't sound fine," Elrond said but Legolas didn't respond. "Can I come in?"

Legolas responded immediately this time. "No!" he exclaimed abruptly, which was followed by a hiss of pain.

"I'm coming in." Elrond gave him fair warning but ignored another cry of 'no'. He pushed the unlocked door open to find Legolas perched on the edge of the bath, his feet placed in blood-tinted water, his shirt open to reveal his chest, which was badly cut and bruised. Elrond took all this in with mounting horror. This was the first time, he realised, that he had seen Legolas without his shirt on. The prince had managed to hide this ever since Elrond had arrived in Mirkwood nearly four days ago. And he was supposed to be a great healer – Elrond could have kicked himself for not noticing this earlier.

"Legolas, why on earth didn't you tell me you were hurt?" Elrond finally found his voice and rushed forward.

"It's fine," the prince assured, trying to button his shirt up even though Elrond had already seen the evidence.

"It is not fine," Elrond exclaimed, reaching over and pulling Legolas' shirt apart again to find wounds peppering Legolas' bruised chest and abdomen. "What happened?"

"Nothing," Legolas replied automatically.

"Stop pretending everything is fine. This is not nothing, Legolas. This is serious. Valar, Legolas, this is not nothing," Elrond said in a voice full of both sympathy and anger. "Here, get down from there so I can take a look at you." Legolas complied, lifting his legs over the edge of the bath. "What happened to your feet?" Elrond gasped when Legolas swivelled around. Elrond knelt on the floor so he could get a proper look at Legolas' cut, bleeding feet. Even with the swelling, Elrond could tell that there were a few broken bones in each foot. Honestly, without any kind of relief, Elrond didn't understand how the prince could stand without massive amounts of pain. Gently, he took one foot in his hands but quickly pulled back when Legolas flinched and hissed in pain. "Sorry."

Elrond sat up straight to look at Legolas' chest and abdomen. There were several cuts where Legolas had either been sliced or jabbed with lightly with a sharp blade but more concerning was the huge bruise covering his chest and once more, Elrond guessed that he had several cracked or broken ribs.

"Ai, Legolas, why didn't you say something earlier?" Elrond asked in a whisper.

"It's all right," Legolas insisted wearily, almost as if he was bored by this turn of events.

"No, it is not all right. Stop saying that to me. You assured me that you were uninjured. You should have told me about this."

"I didn't think…" Legolas sighed helplessly but Elrond sat silently, waiting for an explanation. "I didn't want to worry you."

"Legolas, this is exactly the kind of thing I need to worry about. If you're hurt I can always help you, you knew that once," the Elven ruler said gently, getting up. "You used to trust me enough to confide in me when you were hurt."

"Well, things have changed," Legolas said, looking down sadly.

"Not that much. You can trust me, Legolas. I'm here now and I want to look after you as well as your father if you will let me."

Legolas nodded, swallowing down his grief. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"I know I'm right," Elrond smiled, laying his hand on Legolas' cool cheek. "Now, I need to take a look at those wounds and at your feet."

"No, Elrond, it'll be fine."

"Legolas, I am not going to argue with you about this, understand?" Legolas nodded gently. "Right. Come and lie back down."

"Fine," Legolas bit out, going to stand up.

Elrond stopped him though, demanding, "What do you think you're doing?"

"You told me…"

"Put your arm around my neck."

"I can walk."

"Maybe you can but you're not going to. Do as you're told and put your arm around my neck," Elrond told him, bending down. Legolas rolled his eyes in exasperation but placed his arm around Elrond's neck and let the Elven Lord slip his arm under his knees then lift him up. Against his will, a wince of pain crossed his face but he said nothing as Elrond carried him to the couch and placed him gently down. "Just don't move for a minute, all right?" Legolas nodded, leaning his head back against the arm of the sofa with a sigh.

Elrond retrieved a cushion from the bottom of the bed then turned back to Legolas. Gently, he lifted Legolas' feet and slipped the soft cushion underneath them so they were propped up. Before Legolas had a chance to ask anything though, Elrond had vanished into the bathroom where he filled a basin with warm water then brought it back to Legolas.

"All right, don't move," Elrond said as he pulled up a chair and sat at the end of the couch. "I'm just going to clean your feet off a bit. Try not to move too much, I don't want to cause you any unnecessary pain." Legolas nodded so Elrond first scanned the wounds, noting the small cuts on the soles and the huge bruises all over. Gently, he lifted the worse injured and started to clean off the wounds with a warm flannel. When he pressed down with his thumbs to feel for breaks in the delicate bones though, Legolas suddenly cried out sharply, his hands shooting out and grabbing the edges of the couch. "I'm sorry, Legolas. I could give you something for the pain but I'm afraid it would knock you out…"

"Wouldn't want that," Legolas mumbled tightly.

"I'll try to be more gentle," the healer promised, continuing his inspection.

"Thank you," the younger Elf barked but then sighed. He ran his hands over his eyes. "I'm sorry, Elrond I didn't mean to snap."

Elrond smiled at the apology and glanced up at the prince. "It's all right; you're tired and no doubt in pain from these wounds. It's understandable."

"I do appreciate you being here," Legolas said softly.

"I know you do. It's all right, mellon nin."

After checking thoroughly, Elrond sat back, saying, "You have a few broken bones. I'm going to need to bandage your feet up."

"No, don't bother."

"Don't bother? Legolas…"

"I said, don't," Legolas shouted this time.

After a seemingly endless moment of silence, Elrond said softly, "If that's what you want."

"I'm…Elrond, forgive me. I know you're only trying to help but I can't raise their suspicions."

"I understand." Nodding gently, a little calmer now, Legolas went to sit up but Elrond pushed him back down. "I may not be able to bandage you up but it's not too suspicious to clean your wounds, is it?"

Smiling weakly, Legolas said, "No, it's not."

"Good. Then lie back down and let me do my job. I'll try to make you a little more comfortable."

"Thank you," Legolas whispered sincerely.

"Just relax, mellon nin." Elrond got up and helped Legolas out of his shirt then proceeded to clean off the wounds on Legolas' chest and abdomen. They were all fairly shallow but clearly painful. Worse were the obviously broken ribs, which must have hurt even when not moving around. Once he had cleansed the cuts and assured himself that although painful, none of Legolas' injuries were life-threatening, Elrond stood up. "All right, I think that's about the best I can do for the time being."

"Thank you," Legolas said wearily.

"You're welcome," Elrond smiled. "Now, you need to try and stay off your feet if possible," Elrond instructed, taking the bowl of now dirty water back into the bathroom. "And you should try to rest propped up; it'll be better for your chest. Do you think they'll be back at dawn?" he called from the bathroom.

"Probably," Legolas murmured from the bedroom.

"Then I'll be in here all day?"

"Mmhm."

"Maybe I'll try and come up with something to get us out of this mess then."

"All right."

"I have nothing else to do all day anyway so I may as well make myself useful," Elrond said as he washed and dried his hands.

"Good," Legolas mumbled, his voice now faint as if he was no longer paying attention.

"Anyway, perhaps I can come up with something." Elrond quickly cleaned up the bathroom. "I've been thinking that the key to this is their control over your people. If we can break that then we can regain your kingdom. Once we've done that we can sort all this out and get rid of these Men." Walking from the bathroom, Elrond asked, "What do you think?" But he stopped abruptly when he found that Legolas was by now fast asleep where Elrond had left him.

Realising that Legolas probably hadn't heard half of what he'd said, Elrond smiled and picked up a blanket, which he gently placed over the sleeping young prince. Legolas didn't even stir at the touch as Elrond tucked him in. Not wanting to disturb him whilst he was peaceful, Elrond decided to leave Legolas to rest.

To Be Continued…