After eating Aragorn sat down on Legolas bed again, gently stroking his hair. He leaned down to whisper something in his ear and Legolas smiled weakly.

Gléomer smiled and kneeled down by the bed, folding his hands on his knee.

"How are you feeling...I haven't gotten your name."

"His name is Legolas." Aragorn said as he knew Legolas was probably too weak to answer himself. He knew he was probably overprotective but Legolas needed it right now.

"Legolas..how are you feeling?"

Legolas weakly tipped his head to the side to face the healer. He proved Aragorn wrong as he spoke up, putting his strong mask up.
"I feel better."

His voice was weak and hoarse, even though he tried to talk with a strong voice. He swallowed to sooth his acing throat, in vane.

Gléomer lay a hand on Legolas forehead, happy when he felt the fever was a bit lower.
"I think you are responding well to the medicines and I think you'll be able to get up soon. Just rest for now alright, and focus on getting better?"

Aragorn smiled widely, happy with the news. He looked down at the head in his lap and gently stroked his still hot forehead.

"Sleep a little more Legolas."

Legolas closed his eyes, still too weak to have them open for long. The pain slowly faded away, and his breathing evened out.

Gléomer waved at Aragorn to follow him, which he did.

"He is healing well."

Aragorn smiled, feeling almost all dread go away.

"How soon will he be able to walk?"

"He will soon. The knife did not piece a vital organ or a artery, so it will heal completely in time. We just need to watch over him a few days so he doesn't get a blood poisoning or anything like that."

Aragorn nodded assuming, listening closely.

Gléomer smiled calmingly, seeing the man tense up.
"Him being an elf surely did much. His elven healing greatly surprise me."

Aragorn smiled softly and sat down on the bed again, gently taking and stroking the now sleeping elf's hand. He did not knew why he felt such a desire to touch his skin, but it gave him a little comfort through it all.

"Thank you so much for your help, I wish I had something to give you."

"It's alright." Gléomer smiled gently.
"My price is seeing him getting well."

Aragorn smiled thankfully.
"You're a good man."

"So I've heard." Gléomer smirked and sat down in a chair opposite to Aragorn.

"How is it to have an elf as a lover?"

Aragorn blinked in surprise and looked at Gléomer, trying to figure out if he joked or not.

"We're not..."

"Oh I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed." Gléomer chuckled as he saw the embarrassed expression on the man.
"So what relationship does he have with you?"

"Oh, we're friends." Aragorn said and forged the emotions back.
"Old friends."

"How is it, having an elf as a friend?"
Gléomer asked before he chuckled again.
"I've heard they could be very stubborn."

"It is amazing, a bit annoying at times. Like when they forget that humans feel the cold water while they don't." He said sarcastically and chuckled.

"You never complained." They heard a weak and pained, yet amused voice whisper.
"Often you liked it."

"Legolas." Aragorn looked down at him in surprise and chuckled slightly.
"I didn't notice you were awake."

"I just awoke." He whispered and sighed before looking up at his friend through pain lidded eyes.
"Heard you talking. Don't look like I'll be getting any more sleep."

"Is the pain bad?" Aragorn asked, feeling even more helpless as he couldn't give any comfort.

"It's more bearable." Legolas responded and looked up at the kind eyes above him, finally being able to focus fully on them. He took a deep breath and blinked a few times, his vision clearing.
"It's more like a intense ace."

"That's good." Aragorn smiled, relived as he saw the blue eyes fully focus on him.
"That's really good."

"Not to disturb anything." Gléomer said with a slight grin, something in his eyes Aragorn could not make out.
"But am I allowed to check on his wounds again?"

"Of course." Aragorn said and rose from the bed to sit on his, when a weak grip around his wrist stopped him.

Legolas had a frightened look in his half lidded eyes, and as Aragorn looked down at him he could still see the pain so clear. He couldn't remember the last time Legolas asked for him to stay when he was injured. Maybe the pain was still worse than the proud elf dared to admit. Probably it was with the injures he had.

Gléomer smiled sadly and moved to the other side of the bed, giving the man space to sit down.

Aragorn did kneel down at the head of the bed again. Beginning to comb through his hair again Aragorn tried to light the mood while Gléomer worked.

"Do you remember Legolas, when we bathed last summer in the creak in the forest? When that bird randomly decided to relive itself in your hair?"

Legolas smiled softly at the memory, not wanting to laugh and make the healers job and his own pain worse. He did not have the strength to laugh either.

Gléomer took a small knife to cut away some dead skin, sterilising the blade over a fire first. He had made a small fire in a mug on the table, enough to warm the knife up before he blew it out.

Legolas tensed up at the strike of pain and burn as he was cut into but succeeded to hide it pretty well.

"It took you a while to clean your hair. You were quite pissed off." Aragorn chuckled and grabbed Legolas bandaged hand, resting them on the bed as he stroked his knuckles with a thumb.

Legolas almost moaned in pain, but found out he was too weak to.

"Just because you never care about your hair." He whispered with a hoarse voice and almost grinned a little.
"It more looks like a bird's ... nest." He paused to take a deep breath as Gléomer cut a bit more. He clenched his fist under Aragorn's hand as hard as he could not to show any pain. Aragorn still stroked his knuckles gently, wanting to add a reminder that he was still there.

He forged a chuckle and continued to stroke Legolas hair.
"I'm used to that comment."

Gléomer smiled at the man and elf on the bed. They were clearly admiring each other, he just wondered how long it would take them to find out.

"I never really asked what happened?"

"Mountain trolls." Aragorn said and winced at the memory of Legolas on the cavern floor, lying in a pile of his own blood.

Legolas closed his eyes as a memory played in his head. He could hear his own scream all over again, and the pain as the dagger pierced his skin.

"They captured us." Said Aragorn and swallowed hard.

"How did you escape?" Asked Gléomer curiously, yet frightened.

So Aragorn told him the whole story. At the end of it Gléomer looked pitiful, and sad. He also looked kinda impressed because they made it out alive.

As he finally left the room to get some shores done Aragorn gently stroked Legolas hair, and the exhausted eyes once more closed, safe on Aragorn's watch.

Aragorn himself did not do much that day. He walked around, helping Gléomer with some simple shores before he went back to Legolas. As the elf awoke they had a small conversation, Aragorn doing most of the talking before Legolas fell asleep again.

As it was finally evening he lay down beside Legolas on the small bed, resting the blonde elf's head on his arm. He did not even care about how intimidate it was, he just needed to feel Legolas breathing against him. As a reminder he was alive.

He closed his eyes and fell into a light sleep, feeling the elf's every breath as his chest moved under his hand.

In the morning Gléomer once more entered the healing wing to see Aragorn laying on Legolas bed. Legolas head lay on his arm, his hand gently stroking though his hair. He was awake, but hadn't risen from the bed because did not want to wake Legolas up.

Gléomer smiled at the sight, and Aragorn immediately blushed. Instead of humiliate them further Gléomer went back to looking at the wound on Legolas arm. Fortunately that arm was the one that was visible, as Aragorn took notice to let Legolas lay on the right side.

Aragorn once more began to stoke Legolas hair in comfort as the elf awoke by the pain. He could not imagine how uncomfortable or painful that process must be.

Legolas looked up at him in surprise, but was too weak to really care. He just knew he lay on Aragorn's arm, pressed to his body, and that he enjoyed it far too much.

Aragorn slowly sat up in bed to get more comfortable, laying Legolas head in his lap.

Legolas almost blushed. How much he would have loved to stay in that position, pressed against Aragorn, sharing body warmth like that stormy day.

After about an hour of tense small talk and work from Gléomer's side Legolas finally fell back to a troubled sleep. Aragorn sighed relieved and let his hand rest on top of his head, it being tired of stroking Legolas hair all morning. His legs were tired and he longed to get out and stretch them.

He saw Legolas frown slightly in his sleep, and a frown edged itself onto his face as well.

"Can't you give him more herbs so he can at least sleep peacefully?"

"It's too risky." Gléomer said pitying.
"He's too weak. If I do that there is a small risk that he might not wake up."

Aragorn nodded, feeling more helpless than ever. He just wanted Legolas to sleep peacefully at least, he deserved that. Actually, Aragorn did not think he deserved anything that happened to him. No one did.

"I can get breakfast." Gléomer offered and Aragorn smiled a faked smile.

"Would be great, thank you."

When Gléomer left Aragorn carefully rose from the bed and gently lay Legolas head down on the pillow. Really tucking the elf in in the warm blankets he gently stroked his cheek. Catching himself in the act he blushed and finally exited the house.

He took a small walk around the village, breathing in the fresh air. The anxiety pressed on his chest, making breathing hard. He took a deep breath to calm down. Legolas would be alright. He must believe that. He was a fighter.

As he ended up outside the horse's enclosure he immediately noticed the look he got from Déorwyn. The girl were filling the horses water buckets up. He sighed and walked around the village, looking it over, trying to get his mind off of Legolas.

Eventually he turned and walked back, sitting down at the small table in the room. His chin landed on his knuckles, elbow on the table. His sad gaze stuck at the wall his thoughts wandered.

He should never have encouraged Legolas to go to the caves.

When Gléomer came back with the food they ate the food and talked, like they had known each other their whole life.

When Legolas next awoke it was midday, and Aragorn tried in vane to get him to eat something. The elf stubbornly refused to eat as he said he wasn't hungry. Not giving in Aragorn continued to pressure him until he eventually gave in and let Aragorn and Gléomer help him sit up. He gasped as he sat up straight as the wounds still hurt really bad, and grabbed Aragorn's forearm tightly as his whole body shook in pain.
His stomach area were especially sore and another spasm went through his whole body. Immediately Aragorn regretted forging him to sit up, and let him lay back down.

Legolas felt his whole body shook in pain, small whimpers of pain leaving his mouth.

By guilt Aragorn sat down beside him, letting him rest his head in his lap again. He gently put an arm around the elf's shoulders, under his neck, and held his head up gently with his arm.

Gléomer watched as the friends finally settled down in front of him and grabbed the bowl from the tray. Aragorn got the hot bowl in his lap, and immediately filled a spoon to give to Legolas.

"I really appreciate it Gléomer..." Legolas tried to get away. He really wasn't hungry and his stomach still hurt really bad. He could feel his blood pulsate through it if he lay his hand in it, even without doing that.

"And you'll eat it." Aragorn cut him off.
"Of I'll forge you to."

Legolas looked up at him with painfully, tired and innocent puppy eyes.

"I would." Aragorn answered the silent question, forging himself not to forge Legolas to sleep more so he could avoid look into his eyes. He knew he spoiled Legolas too much, but he couldn't resist that look in his eyes.

"Is this the same man who I almost managed to drown before?" Legolas spoke, and Gléomer winched at the rawness in his voice.

Aragorn on the other hand laughed, making Legolas laugh his first real laugh in days. Even as it was small, and he had a coughing fit after, Aragorn felt so relieved.

But as he still wouldn't eat Aragorn grabbed the spoon and blew on the hot broth. Legolas sighed playfully as he raised it and pursed his lips.

"Open your mouth." Aragorn said as he pushed the spoon against his lips, talking as if he talked to a child. Legolas opened his mouth to protest, and Aragorn took the opportunity to stuff a spoon in his mouth.

Legolas swallowed it with great effort, immediately feeling the nausea.

"Another one."

Legolas sighed again, but as Aragorn was stubborn he ate the other spoon also.

"Great." Aragorn petted his shoulder and everyone burst out laughing, Legolas trying desperately to hide the electric that touch gave him.

"Really? Who is the youngest here?" Legolas asked, his voice still hoarse from not talking for a while. If he was being honest his whole body hurt, but he was very good at hiding it. He wanted to see Aragorn smile again, a real smile. It had been a while.

"And who is more mature?"

Legolas smiled weakly before it turned into a full grin. He felt the bruise on his jaw sting as it stretched out but decided not to care. He wanted to smile again, even as he just wanted to sleep. He fought sleep, so hard.

Gléomer immediately noticed and casually lay his hands on his knees.
"Well, let's get some sleep now shall we?"

Aragorn immediately nodded, realising he had kept a sleepy Legolas up. The elf needed more sleep, and by the looks of it he had fought it far too long.

When Legolas finally lay in his bed , alone with his thoughts his eyes squeezed shut, both in physical and mental pain. The memories and the pain came back now when Aragorn's playful comments weren't there to fight them off. He pressed his eyes shut, trying to shut out the pulsating wounds, and eventually fell into a very troubled sleep.