Rivendell 20 years later
(Aragorn)
Aragorn sits beside the fire in a hall in Imladris. It had been a long time since he had last been here and he was enjoying the peace and quiet. When an elf appeared
"My lord" she said "Lord Elrond summons you he is in the courtyard"
"I will go," Aragorn answered, already headed for the door. Why did Elrond want him in the courtyard?
In the courtyard Aragorn found Elrond stood in the courtyard which was empty
"You wanted me?" Aragorn said to the elf lord wondering why he had been summoned, "why is that?"
"I summoned you because we have guests arriving any minute now" Elrond replied of course Aragorn could have kicked himself how had he forgotten the guests as far as he knew were from mirkwood and Aragorn was eager to see them as he had not been to mirkwood in twenty years.
An elven messenger raced into the courtyard
"They are here my lord" he said to Elrond before returning to his post. Aragorn waited in the courtyard for the wood elves to arrive, to his surprise there were only two. One of them had long orban hair and seemed older; his face held the wisdom of many years. The second had blonde hair and was younger.
Elrond greeted them and introduced himself and Aragorn
"Welcome friends I am Lord Elrond of Rivendell and this is my friend Aragorn son of Arathorn" Aragorn nodded at the elves and held his hand to the orban haired one who said
"My name is Rosben high captain of the kings guard and this is my companion Legolas"
Legolas? The name rang a bell in the back of Aragorn's mind
"Legolas Thranduilon?" he asked
"Yes" the voice was not Rosben's but the voice of the younger elf who looked at Aragorn his forget me not blue eyes meeting Aragorn's grey ones
"Legolas told me that you are a friend of his" said Rosben
"I am" Aragorn replied "though last time I saw him was twenty years ago when I was lost in mirkwood I can imagine much has changed since then"
"Yes… yes much has changed" again it was not the older elf speaking but Legolas.
Elrond now went to talk to Rosben leaving Aragorn and Legolas to get to know each other a bit more
"I can't believe it's only been twenty years" said Aragorn smiling at his friend "remember you showed me the lake and that waterfall"
"I remember though it feels like a lifetime ago" the elf said his eyes never quiet meeting Aragorn gaze
"A lots happened then" said Aragorn he was treading carefully he could sense something different about the elf that had not been there before
"Yes" Legolas said and Aragorn waited for the elf to elaborate when he did not Aragorn decided to change the subject
"So what brings you to Rivendell, did your father send you or did you come of your own accord?" he asked trying to start a conversation
"I came of my own accord" the elf said still avoiding Aragorn's gaze
"And why was that?" Aragorn asked still eager for the elf to engage in conversation but the elf wasn't given time to answer because Elrond had come over Rosben having left to go back to the woodland realm.
"How do you like Rivendell Legolas?" he asked
"It's nice" Legolas replied his gaze had wandered to the trees in the valley, his expression not giving anything away.
"Well if you would like to come inside we are ready to eat"
At the meal Aragorn watched Legolas intently. The elf didn't seem to want to eat Aragorn wondered what had happened to the Legolas he had met in Mirkwood. Yes he had been quiet then but he had also joked and had engaged in conversation. Now Legolas gave short or even single word answers to questions and it didn't seem as if he wanted to talk to anyone.
Aragorn walked over to him
"You alright?" he asked the elf
"Yes" Legolas replied but his tone was strained telling Aragorn he was far from alright
"You just seem very quiet and sort of closed off from the world" Legolas didn't reply his eyes never meeting Aragorn's "Legolas I just want to help"
"I…I know"
"Then why won't you let me help you?"
"It's just… I.. just I… I don't know."
"Please let me help you!"
"No." Legolas' answer was sharp his tone betrayed no emotion "no, Aragorn you can't help me" the elf looks at Aragorn for the first time and Aragorn is shocked and hurt by the coldness in his friends eyes "just leave me alone" Legolas pushes back his chair and walked away.
Aragorn was now angry; why did Legolas not want his help?