A friendly trip 2

7.

The next night Aragorn once more asked Legolas to lay down on the bed.

"There are empty beds..."

Aragorn had looked at him then, lips smiling but his eyes seeming uncertain. Legolas hated that expression on someone who was always so confident. "There's always place here if you change your mind."

He didn't have the strength to refuse this time. Instead, he had laid down next to his friend on top of the blanket, too close to the edge. One move and he would fall down. So he scooted closer to escape the danger zone, but the moment his hand brushed against Aragorn's arm, he regretted it. He tried to shuffle back once more only for his leg to brush the man's through the blanket. Aragorn said nothing. When it was quiet once more, Aragorn asked, "Are you alright?"

Legolas smiled then and got a smile back. He had a hard time truly relaxing his body, and lay there for a while on his side, limbs tense. Slowly he grew more comfortable, and with a long exhale he relaxed into the bed, cheek pressing against his arm. Aragorn fell asleep to the sound of crickets and birds chirping, signaling dawn, and Legolas enjoyed the calmness and the soft sounds of the man breathing.

He heard someone enter a while later, but didn't care enough to move. The footsteps stopped abruptly, and for many breaths it was quiet. If it was Gleomer, it could wait. The moment the footsteps faded and a door clicked softly, he closed his eyes to sleep once more, enjoying the moment. He tried not to care that Gleomer had found them like this, but he did. He even panicked a little. If his father found this out from some rumor spreading through the cities...He clutched his fist and fiddled with his pants to try to distract his mind. No. His father would not control his life anymore. Aragorn's reputation as king though...

He looked up and Aragorn had turned to him. He was still a respectable distance away, but Legolas had to rise from the bed. He felt hot. Walking over to the window he opened it. Outside the village was full of life. People moved around like ants. Then a door opened and Gleomer stepped out of the room Legolas had woken up in. Had he been sleeping in Gleomers room? Was he living in the healing chamber? Had he no home outside of his work?

Then he made up his mind. He could no put Aragorn in a position where his position was at risk.

"Did you sleep well?" The healer asked with a small grin on his face Legolas' couldn't miss. He thought he knew where that smile came from.

"I did. Did you?"

The healer poured water in a bowl to warm on the fire, which was crackling softly. "I didn't sleep much. Déorwyn couldn't sleep. I gave her some herbs to help her calm down."

Legolas rubbed his neck then, suddenly aware of the intense ace and tension that had gathered there. Gleomer noticed, and smiled. "Was the bed too hard?"

"No, not at all. I...sat against the wall." The night before at least. This night he had slept on the bed, but he could not tell Gleomer that. After all, he had seen them.

Gleomer noticed the hesitation, and raised his eyebrows, waiting for an explanation. Legolas had none, so he just met his gaze until the healer gave up and crouched to place the bowl on the fire. Legolas went over to grab water from the table. The cold water from the creek felt heavenly against his tongue, and he poured another mug.

"How is he doing now?" He asked the healer. "Is he improving?"

Gleomer lowered his head for a moment, before standing up to meet Legolas' gaze. He looked troubled, and it made the elf's heart start to beat rapidly.

"I can not lie, I am troubled. Three nights have passed, and he's still not getting stronger. I had thought he would at least be sitting up to eat by now. He will need food soon."