Aragorn.

Legolas sat on the bedroll before him his eyes averted, Elrohir beside him, his arm supporting him and he saw with interest the way his friend leaned into that touch. That was different, had there been a change? An improvement perhaps? How he hoped so.

He knelt down to their level.

"Legolas, it is so good to see you."

It was heartfelt.

Legolas continued to avoid his gaze, it was as if he didn't wish to see him, wished to pretend he was not there. Whatever had changed between Legolas and Elrohir it was clear nothing had improved where he was concerned.

An awkward silence descended as Legolas did not reply and he didn't know what to say next. He was not used to feeling so at sea when communicating with his friend. He took a deep breath and continued, obviously he would have to do the talking.

"I - "

But Legolas took that exact moment to finally answer him,

" Forgive me please, I am sorry...you cannot know how much." His heart lurched at the desperation in that voice.

"Legolas, you are the one who has been wronged...by my people. I know what happened there, I understand your reaction. I hold nothing against you. You do not need forgiveness. Not from me."

"I do. I do need it, please, I cannot live with this as it is."

He was horrified at that, he wished to hold him, to comfort, but was wary of attempting it. What else could he say?

"If it is something you need to hear...then I give it, I will offer you forgiveness unreservedly."

"Your people will not forgive me."

He frowned at that for it was most likely a correct assessment. His people were wary of the Firstborn still and this would not have helped.

"Do they matter Legolas? It is you and I surely that are important. Not my people, who need to apologise to you in truth."

In reply he received a sigh, deep and melancholy.

Elrohir leaned forward and he felt his increasing anger which was barely controlled. His brother was not happy with the reception they had received that was obvious.

"He is injured, can you care for it Estel? Or shall I fetch Elladan?"

There was a burst of joy within him at the sound of his childhood name falling from the lips of this brother who had long abandoned its use.

"No! Not Elladan."

Legolas's response was swift and he wondered at it for in Minas Tirth, once Legolas had regained his memories, Elladan had been the only one he would allow to tend his wounds, not the other healers and certainly not him.

" Let me see."

He took the bloodied hand gingerly expecting resistance but met none, not even a flinch and that gave him hope. Peeling away the cloth which covered the wound he saw it would take more than Legolas's elven healing to repair this.

" I need to stitch this Legolas, will you allow that?"

Every interaction with his friend was full of tension and the anxiety of pushing him too far. It wore him out and he disliked intensely the feeling of having to tread so carefully with Legolas.

He received a silent nod in reply and moved to collect what tools he needed. Behind him he heard Gimli, who had been unusually silent, speak.

"Now let that be a lesson to you Legolas, You should not be handling sharp knives when you are burdened with such clumsiness!"

He smiled at that, Gimli was an expert at cajoling Legolas into lightness, and when he turned he saw a matching smile flit across Legolas's face ever so briefly. His heart was in his mouth for he could not remember the last time he had seen Legolas smile. He had not realised how much he had missed it.

He worked in silence, quietly stitching the wound and gently wrapping it, relieved to be hiding it from his sight because the self inflicted nature of it disturbed him. He looked up as he finished and for a second met Legolas's gaze before he turned his head away. He saw the exhaustion starkly written on his face and feeling daring after the ease with which his healing had been accepted he reached out and gently tilted the face of his friend back towards him.

" When did you last sleep?" He asked, "or eat?"

It was Elrohir who answered him.

"Is there a tent for us to rest in?"

"I thought you would be with Elladan,"

Perhaps he had been wrong to presume that but before now Legolas had tolerated no one but Gimli and he had not imagined that would change.

"There is a tent for Legolas and Gimli, all your belongings are there."

All of them that is except the newly discovered broken bow which he had kept with himself until he knew more about Legolas's state of mind. He was still unsure how the elf would react to that.

"Well" Gimli huffed rather uncomfortably,"I think I may wish for a night free of the elf, Aragorn. Perhaps you could accommodate me here and your brother could have the onerous task of keeping him in one place tonight?"

He almost laughed aloud at that, if Gimli had decided Elrohir and Legolas could do with time together tonight he would be happy to oblige, even though it would mean getting little sleep himself for Gimli's snoring was legendary. How Legolas got any sleep at all was beyond him, although the fact Legolas could actually sleep while walking if he wished may have something to do with it.

"Of course Gimli, my tent is yours."

Gimli stood and hauled Legolas rather unceremoniously up with him.

"Come then Lad, if you are uprooting me from my own bed the least you can do is help me retrieve my belongings."

"I am not-"

It was a hopeless protest, and despite Legolas throwing Elrohir a pleading look as they exited Gimli was determined.

He turned to his brother as they left,

"He seems somewhat...better?"

Elrohir met his gaze and his face softened,

"Yes, we have found each other again I think. But he is burdened and full of remorse over this..." Elrohir waved his hand towards his injured arm.

"I fear for him and there is something else...I sense but I cannot quite..." He trailed off deep in thought.

"I will do my best Elrohir, You know I do not hold this against him. I do not know what else I can do."

Elrohir's face clouded over,

"Your guard did not help. What was that?" He snapped angrily.

"Elrohir," he sighed," He was simply doing his job. He had no other option."

"He dared to suggest you were not safe with him, with us!"

"Perhaps he was right to think that Elrohir, it was a reasonable conclusion to make-"

Elrohir's eyes flashed with his pent up rage and his voice became only slightly less than a shout.

"Reasonable? You said you did not hold this against him yet you defend your people who treat him as a criminal. YOUR people who did this to him in the first place! How can you -"

" Stop, Elrohir."

The both of them swung around, Elrohir in mid sentance. It was Legolas who spoke, standing awkwardly in the entrance of the tent his hands full of Gimli's assorted belongings.

"Please stop, I do not want this."

"I was-"

"No." Legolas was firm, "Aragorn is right. I AM a criminal, I deserve their disdain. I don't...I don't want you to argue over me."

He leapt forward from where he stood, clasping Legolas's arm.

"I did not mean that Legolas, I did not say it. That is not how I see you."

"It is alright. Aragorn." Legolas shrugged him off. "I know what I have done. I do not defend it."

Depositing Gimli's things on the bed he turned to depart.

"Elrohir, will you come with me?"

"Yes...wait Legolas!"

Elrohir leapt after him

And the glare he sent in his direction as he left was a furious one.

Elrohir.

He barely avoided colliding with a startled Gimli as he exited the tent and caught up with Legolas in a couple of strides. He could feel the guards hostile eyes burning into his back as they walked and he knew by the way Legolas flinched his shoulders that he could feel them too. He felt as though he was in enemy territory, despised and reviled and it caused a dark rage to flare deep within him. How dare they? How dare they look upon his beautiful, generous, damaged lover with such judgement when they were the ones who had erred.

He struggled to suppress the rage forcing it down deep inside. He had enough control to realise displaying that now would not help Legolas, would not do anything to maintain the fragile new connection they had forged. He remembered his words to Legolas earlier. They would fight this together, and he threw his arm around him drawing him into his side in a tender embrace.

"I love you," he whispered.

"They do not matter, none of this matters, let them think what they will. We have each other, we will endure beyond all this."

And he bent and placed a kiss on top of the head resting on his shoulder. Normally they were discrete with their relationship when amongst Men who did not understand and barely tolerated it but at this moment he could not be bothered tiptoeing around these Men's sensibilities. Let it upset them, he did not care.

They reached the tent and Legolas stumbled towards the bed still saying nothing. He sat and began to undress. His eyes were dark and hollow and he could tell he had reached the end of his endurance. As Aragorn had before him he wondered exactly when he had last had any sleep.

He hesitated unsure exactly how close Legolas wished him to be now. And Legolas looked up, his face anxious.

"I am sorry I spoke harshly."

He frowned in reply.

"Aragorn did not support you as he should. It is his people who are at fault here not you, Why does he not see that?"

Legolas smiled sadly,

"He is a King, what choice does he have really Elrohir? Sometimes duty to your people must come before your own desires. I understand that even if you cannot. I have watched my Father struggle with it often."

He was offended.

"I understand duty. Do you think I am completely irresponsible? I know that is said about me. I know people think Elladan bears the burden of the responsibility of Imladris while I avoid it. It is not true! Do you think I don't support him? Do you think he could do it without me? Do you think I don't wish...I don't wish to be here with you rather than there?"

Emotion got the better of him and he stumbled into silence.

Legolas held him in a long stare but then his shoulders slumped and he reached out his hand as he smiled sadly.

"This is something we must discuss," he murmured softly, "But not now. I am so tired Elrohir, will you come here, next to me."

Awkwardly he did as he was bid and sat but he was ill at ease. He did not know what was expected, what was wished for from him.

Legolas gazed at him, he felt his eyes sweep over his face as if he was memorising every detail.

" I have missed you, I have missed your touch Elrohir. Even when I could not bear it I yearned for it. You have no idea how much."

He felt the tangle of emotion within him loosen slightly and he smiled uncertainly.

"And now? Can you bear it now?"

"Yes. I need it."

And Legolas slumped against him as if he no longer had the strength to remain upright on his own accord. He embraced him gently, and love surged within him, he reached out with his mind to encompass Legolas with the love he felt and was rewarded with an acceptance, an opening of his mind to him.

"Ah Legolas, I have been too long apart from you, I have missed this too, so much."

But he received no reply, none but the steady breathing of his lover for Legolas, relaxed and encircled with his love, was already asleep.