A friendly trip

4.

The next time he awoke Aragorn held his hand. More precisely, he wrapped his broken wrist up. He lay in the grass, in the shadow of a tree, and a strange new warmth surrounded him. When the man saw the blue eyes flutter open he smiled gently, trying to hide his fear behind a smile.

Legolas blinked a few times before looked up to see the man. He smiled relieved and Legolas immediately felt safer. Aragorn was here.

He weakly tilted his head and looked around himself. Aragorn had built a small camp and it was probably the middle of the night. He could see the stars.

Aragorn had a warm fire going and the elf welcomed the warmth with every cell in his body. The tunic was gone and his chest was bare. He felt a bandage around his stomach and chest, wrapped tightly enough so he almost couldn't breathe. He also had a bandage around his arm, wrapped around his elbow. He also had his cloak around his neck and wrapped around his shoulders for warmth.

As a sharp pain spread through his stomach and arm at the same time he gasped and moved his head to face the man. Aragorn sighed sadly as he saw the hand twitch violently in surprise.

"I'm sorry Legolas, I try to do it as painless as I can."

Legolas nodded, but stopped as another lightning strike of pain shot through his spine. He cried out and lay his head back down facing his friend, making his hair cover his sight. He took a deep breath and let the smell of the grass comfort him. He breathed ragged and he clenched his jaw. It hurt. Valar it hurt.

He felt a hand gently press on his forehead before it drew the hair back from his face, clearing his view.

Aragorn did not know why he decided to touch Legolas like this. He was about to pull his hand back when he got a pained smile. He tried to smile assuming before the blue eyes closed again.

"Thank you." Said Legolas gratefully and looked at man again, a pained but still joking smile on his lips.
"For every time you save my life."

Aragorn smiled and leaned down on his elbows. He replaced his hand on the elf's forehead for comfort, stroking his brow gently with his thumb.

"And thank you for every time you save mine." He spoke slowly, knowing Legolas struggled to catch it.

If he was honest to himself, he felt a bit guilty. If he had just not forced Legolas to go to the caves he wouldn't be injured at all.

Legolas looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"Are you alright?" He would like to say more but his weakness wouldn't allow him.

"I'm fine." The man said a bit too quickly and leaned up to finish wrapping the elf's wrist up.

Aragorn gently lowered his friend's hand back to rest on his stomach and smiled gently, masking his true fear not to worry Legolas.
"lanta kaima Mellon nin. (Sleep my friend)

Legolas did not complain as his acing body practically screamed for some rest. He let his eyes close and finally felt at peace. He was almost sure Aragorn has drugged him in his sleep, but he was grateful for it.

Aragorn stared into the fire, his friend sleeping beside him. He almost felt guilty for drugging his friend but he knew he would appreciate it. Then he wouldn't feel the pain as much, and maybe he would even have a peaceful dream as he slept.