When Legolas next awoke he heard raised voices, and a headache quickly began to spread behind his closed eyes.

"I give you one more day then I want you gone! We have enough troubles as it is." A dark voice said.

"Duinhir please..."

"Quiet Gléomer."

"Give them 2 days. He is healing but he will need more rest."

Legolas opened his eyes halfway, and saw two men stand a bit away, arguing. Aragorn stood a bit behind the others , watching the two men with a nervous expression.

"He's an elf Gléomer. He heal quicker than men. He's just weak, he'll live." Said Duinhir, obviously already annoyed.

Aragorn frowned deeply. Legolas wasn't weak, he was one of the strongest people he knew. He did not dare to speak up though, no. Legolas needed this healing and time, and he would not waste it by unnecessary comments.

"He will not heal this quick! His injuries were quite serious!" Said Glèomer with slightly raised voice, beginning to feel annoyed.

"Duinhir." Aragorn finally stepped up.
"Give Legolas one more day please. I'll pay you anything I can."

"You do not have anything more of my interest. I want you gone tomorrow."

Then Aragorn had enough, and stepped up. He was done trying to be on Duinhir's good side.
"As the King of Gondor I demand a few more days until Legolas is well."

"King?" Duinhir said in disbelief.
"You're lying. Gondor has no King."

Legolas frowned in anger and sat up in bed, biting his lip in pain. All the men's gazes landed in him, Aragorn's surprised.

"He is the King Duinhir. You owe him your alliance, chief or not."

Aragorn slowly looked up to meet Gléomer's gaze. The healer sighed and massaged his eyes with two fingers.

"I can throw you out of my village."

"I can take down the village if I want to. Please don't make me."

Aragorn looked at the chief instead, a look in his eyes saying that he wasn't joking.

Duinhir slowly nodded at Aragorn, a gaze full of hate, but left the room quietly.

Aragorn sighed heavier and sat down by Legolas , burying his face in his hands. Legolas lay a gentle hand on his back in quiet comfort. Slowly Aragorn looked up at Gléomer and smiled.

"Of course you can come with us when we leave if you would like."

Gléomer looked at him sadly.
"Thank you, I really wish I could but the village needs a healer."

Aragorn nodded.
"I understand, but my offer stands."

"Thank you." Gléomer smiled and bowed his head.
Aragorn bowed his head quickly before he gave the healer a small a smile.

"Legolas." Gléomer said and the blue eyes looked up at him.
"We have a small bathtub in the back of the room, behind that door." He said and nodded behind him at a door.
"I think it would be good to wash the wounds again, to prevent infection."

Legolas looked at Aragorn and back, before he smiled.
"Yes, it would be nice."

Gléomer nodded and mentioned for Aragorn to follow him to get water from the creak.

As the men came and went with the water buckets Legolas felt a bit guilty, but Aragorn insisted that he wanted the training. Legolas chuckled at that.

As the bath was finally ready the men helped Legolas to sit down in the cold water. Legolas closed his eyes as a relaxing feeling hit him, but he immediately felt the sting in the wounds. Aragorn noticed and looked at the biggest wound under the water, seeing it looking better. He smiled and splashed water in Legolas face.

Legolas sat in surprise for a while, hearing Gléomer's laugh before he looked up.

"Really?"

Aragorn shrugged with a grin left on his lips. Legolas used his good hand to splash back, and Aragorn grinned as he dried his face with his sleeves.

Gléomer chuckled and helped Legolas to clean the wound on the arm, the one on the stomach cleaning itself.

It stung, but Legolas hided it pretty well.
"You're doing great Legolas. I'm almost done." Gléomer said and cleaned around the edges.

Legolas nodded, and almost sighed in relief when it was done.

Gléomer wetted a cloth and lay on Legolas forehead to lower the fever, and Legolas had to lean his head back so it did not fall off. As Aragorn saw the uncomfortable position he sat down behind Legolas, letting him lean his head on his chest.

"You'll get wet." Legolas warned quietly.

"I don't care."

Gléomer smiled, seeing clearly what was going on. After about half an hour he took the cloth away, and Legolas almost woke from a dream.

After he washed himself casually he got help from Aragorn to rise and sit on his bed. He dried himself and got the wounds bandaged , and soon he was asleep again.

When he next awoke he felt much better. Obviously the wounds still ached but he could feel it getting better. The bath had cleaned them, making them heal faster and the small infections he had go away. He felt his own forehead. It was hard to feel for yourself, but it felt better. He had a small headache though, spreading behind his eyes.

He slowly leaned up on his elbows and looked around in the small room, quickly spotting his friend. Aragorn lay on his side in his own bed beside his, snoring softly. Legolas smiled at how peaceful he looked asleep, and felt such a desire to touch him. He gently reached out a hand to feel the man's bearded chin but immediately drew it back when it touched his fingertips, blushing. What was he doing? Aragorn had a wife.

But the desire to touch more didn't left him.

He shook his head, quickly winching at the pain the action caused him. His neck was stiff and he stretched it a few times, making it crack. He rose to dress when his knees buckled and he hit the floor with a thud. He accidentally hit the leg of the table with his sore arm and squeezed his eyes shut in pain. The wound began to pulsate and it spread a pain through his whole arm and spine.

The fall made Aragorn awake at once.

He was quickly on his feet and knelt by Legolas, an amused yet worried look in his eyes.

"Are you alright?" He chuckled and gripped Legolas under his shoulders gently, lifting him up.

"I am fine." Legolas said as he gripped Aragorn's arm and rose from the ground with his help. He bit his lip hard not to groan in pain.
"Forgive me for waking you."

"Don't get me wrong Legolas." Aragorn chuckled softly, ignoring the statement, and Legolas almost smiled at the sound.
"I'm glad that you already want to get up, but please let me help you." He said softly.

Legolas looked into his eyes and smiled, immediately seeing Aragorn smiling back.

"I know you want to help me Aragorn, that is what you do." He said and grinned. Aragorn chuckled softly.
"But if you really want to, can you get me some water please."

"Of course." Aragorn said and led Legolas back to the bed. The elf sat down on the soft blanket and rested his hands in his lap.
"I'll be right back." Said Aragorn and left the room, closing the door.

Legolas chuckled quietly. Aragorn really did everything for him. All from fighting 2 trolls alone to getting him some water.

To anyone else it was obvious that Aragorn loved him, but Legolas couldn't see it. He did not want to see it because he knew his father would never accept it and it would only end sad for everyone. Arwén would be heartbroken. No, things were better unsaid.

He gripped the edge of the bed tightly and stood up again to search for his clothes. He took a deep breath and tried to remove the shirt he had on, causing a strike of pain go through his arm. He was about to pull the skirt off when it stuck over his head. He tried to pull it off but the pulsing wound on his arm wouldn't let him.

He heard the door open and really hoped it was Aragorn. He did not want to humiliate himself in front of Duinhir or his nephew. Not after that argument.

He was right when the man pulled the shirt all the way over his head with a soft chuckle.

"Don't say a word." Legolas warned and Aragorn held his hands up in surrender.

"I brought you water." He said instead with a grin to change the subject and held out the mug.

"Thank you." Said Legolas gratefully and took the mug. He drank all of it, and immediately felt much better. He put the empty mug on the table and took the skirt back from the man.

"I'm glad you're up so early. Feel better?" Aragorn smiled and looked at the purple bruises who was beginning to fade.

"Yes." Legolas said with a smile.
"I actually feel much better."

"That's really good." Aragorn smiled, and before he knew what he was doing he wrapped Legolas in another warm embrace.

He lay his arms around Legolas bare back, gently on the still sore bruises.
Too late he realised Legolas still had no shirt on, and felt himself blushing at the touch of his bare skin. His skin was warm, but not warm enough to have a fever and the thought of touching more entered Aragorn's mind. Still, he was really relieved the fever was gone.

Legolas felt Aragorn's hands against his bare skin and felt his all of his blood run to his face. He had imagined this, but it felt much nicer when it was real. He breathed in the smell in his skirt, letting it out in a relaxed sigh as he closed his eyes.

He chuckled before he knew what he was doing. Aragorn looked down at him for a moment, before he smiled at the sight. The elf looked so serene.

Legolas felt himself blush at what he just did and buried his face in Aragorn's shirt so the man wouldn't see it. He felt Aragorn's own special smell in it and smiled. He could not explain it, it just smelled like Aragorn and he liked it. It smelled of earth, and rain. He always had, even when Aragorn was the small Estel back in Rivendell. There was just something about him.

Fortunately Aragorn did not notice Legolas embarrassment as he was kind of in his own bubble. He lay his chin on Legolas shoulder, breathing in the smell in his hair.

Yes he knew what he wanted , but he was married.

'You don't love her anyway.' A voice in his head said.
'No I don't. I love Legolas and the whole world shall know it.'
'What if he don't feel the same?'
'He is immortal, you will only cause him pain.'

He looked down at Legolas again who had now closed his eyes. Aragorn smiled and gently stroked his arm, making Legolas unconsciously cuddle closer in the warm embrace.
'Isn't this proof enough?' A voice in Aragorn's head once more said.
'Can't you see?'

He once more looked at Legolas who had a dark blush on his cheeks, and in vane tried to hide it in Aragorn's shoulder.

'Maybe it is, but I can't risk it. What if he does not feel the same? The rest of the journey would be so awkward, and I would lose a great friend.'

'Take a chance! He obviously feel the same, look at him.'

Legolas always tried to hide his own feelings if it was inappropriate , and he was very good at it, but this time he couldn't. This felt too nice for him to pull away or try to act casual anymore. He loved Aragorn and wanted the whole world to know. He did not care what the people, or his father, would think. One moment with Aragorn and all of his sanity just left him.

"Aragorn.."

"Legolas..."

They both chuckled nervously and Legolas looked up from his shoulder, making his face inches from Aragorn's. He took a deep breath in surprise as their noses touched and saw the man do the same. He also noticed how they both eyed the opposites lips longingly.

Then they realised. No words were really necessary.

Legolas gently nudged Aragorn's nose with his, almost afraid to take the small step he needed. Aragorn did the same, before he smiled amused and gently tipped his head to the side for a better angle.

Legolas heartbeat began to race when Aragorn smiled like that and he fought to breathe. He swallowed hard and stared into the beautiful grey eyes he had wanted for so long.

He licked his lips nervously and Aragorn's gaze immediately landed on them. The perfect, bow shaped lips.

Aragorn began to lean forward when the door opened and Gléomer entered with a tray. They both immediately took a step back, trying to act casual through their blushes.

"I brought breakfast." He smiled unknowingly.

Legolas fiddled with his hair and bit his lip as he looked around himself for a shirt.

Aragorn also looked for a shirt for Legolas and found the one on the chair. He tossed it to Legolas who caught it with a awkward smile.

"Thank you Gléomer." Legolas said and faked a smile at the healer. Gléomer smiled back, oblivious, and put the tray on the table.

Legolas felt Aragorn take his arm, his fingers gently holding his bruised skin.

"We'll talk after breakfast alright?"

He turned his head to meet Aragorn's concerned gaze again and nodded.
"Yes."

Aragorn nodded and the side of his mouth twisted in a small awkward smile which Legolas returned.

As they sat down to eat Gléomer immediately noticed something was off. The man and he elf sat quietly and looked at their food, not looking at each other once. They were not joking and laughing like the night before.

Legolas just stirred the spoon around, not much porridge reaching his mouth. After a while he sighed and put the spoon down in the bowl.

"I am sorry Gléomer I am not very hungry this morning."

"It's alright. I understand that, you are still healing." The man said gently and took the bowl the elf reached out.

"Thank you."

"Aragorn, can you help me bring some water from the creak please?"

"Sure." Said Aragorn and stood from the bed. Then he remembered.
"Legolas, I'll be right back alright." He smiled a small smile and Legolas nodded, understanding.

"Alright, I'll wait for you."

Aragorn nodded before he followed Gléomer to the creak with a bucket.

"Alright Aragorn, what happened?" Gléomer asked gently as they kneeled by the creak. The healer began to wash their bowls in the cold water, the sleeves of his skirt getting wet. A thin , dark circle began to form around the edges of his sleeves, but the healer did not seem to notice.

Aragorn looked at him, trying not to let his emotions show.
"What do you mean?"

"I mean that you and Legolas did not look at each other once. Only the night before you were laughing and joking like children. He did not eat anything either."

Aragorn sighed heavily and looked down in the water, which surface was disturbed by Gléomer's working hands.

"We almost kissed." He sighed and quickly bowed to fill the bucket up.

Gléomer's eyes widened a little before he smiled.
"So you love him?"

"Always have." Said Aragorn and looked up at the healer.
"I don't know if he feel the same I do."

"Look like it to me." Said Gléomer grinning and looked down as he washed the bowls.
"Don't be afraid to take the small step you need to. It will only get harder if you don't."

Aragorn sighed softly and bowed down to cup his hands, before he splashed his face with the cold water. He squeezed his eyes shut as the water stung in them.

"He is immortal Gléomer...I will only hurt him when my time comes."

Gléomer looked at the man beside him, compassion in his eyes.
"I think that if he really loves you, he will do this. It will hurt, yes, it always does. But I think that he will remember every moment with you, so sooth the scars. Not enjoying the time you have, now that's a waste."

Aragorn looked at him, trying to process the words.

Gléomer took the now clean bowls and stood from the grass.
"Will you follow me back?"

Aragorn wiped his face with the back of his palms quickly and looked up.
"Yes...yes I need to talk to Legolas."

Gléomer smiled.
"Yes you need to, before this gets worse."

Please review, I love to read your comments lol