Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, I am merely borrowing them, and I promise to return them unharmed. (Hopefully.)
Contact: [email protected]
Achieve: Yes, just tell me where.
Warnings: It is slightly (maybe completely, you be the judge) AU, and it will have some serious angst towards the end.
Author's Note: I love reviews, and considering that I am my own worst critic, I will accept constructive criticism as well.
Enjoy!
Switch
Chapter 1
"Come on, Estel. We are only a few minutes away."
"Just give me a second." Aragorn tried to collect his strength without his friend noticing. He could tell that he had a fever, but he didn't want Legolas to know. The elf would only smother him, insisting that they take longer in order to accommodate the illness. Aragorn did not want to be babied, and he wanted to reach Imladris as soon as possible, where a warm bed and a hot meal awaited him.
"Are you all right?" Too late, for the blond Mirkwood prince had already noticed.
"I'm fine. I'm just a little cold and the rain isn't helping matters."
"Maybe we should rest."
"No, we need to reach Rivendell before the sun goes down. Come on." The two started at a brisk pace. As the time wore on, Aragorn could feel himself stumbling more often, and he could not stop the shivers that ran up and down his body. Legolas kept glancing at him, but he didn't say anything. When Aragorn slipped and fell to his knees, Legolas was already at his side, ready to catch him before he fell on his face.
"Here, sit." The elf wasn't asking, he was commanding.
"I'm fine. Let's keep going."
"That only works for so long on me. How come you didn't tell me you were feeling badly?"
"I didn't want to delay our return. Now, lets keep going."
"Not until I am sure you are all right." He lifted his hand to touch his friend's forehead.
"I'm fine." Aragorn stood up quickly in an attempt to escape, but he ended up falling back to the ground.
"Dizzy?" Aragorn's only response was a slight nod of his head.
"Headache?" Again, a slight nod.
"Sore throat? Shivers? Joint Aches?" Nods accompanied every question.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I was scared you were going to do this. We are only a half-hour from Imladris; please, can we just keep going." Legolas opened his mouth to argue, but Aragorn interrupted him before he could say anything. "I promise that I will tell you if we need to stop. Deal?"
"Do I have much choice?"
"No."
"Deal."
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The warm glow of the lights of Rivendell were a welcomed sight. The two sloshed up the steps, soaking wet. By then, Aragorn had developed a cough.
"It's not fair."
"What?"
"That I get sick and you don't."
"Well, you should have been born an elf."
"I wish."
"Be careful what you wish for, Estel, it may come true."
"You sound just like father."
"I thought that was a compliment."
"It's not."
"Well, someone gets very grouchy when they're sick."
"I am not grouchy!"
"Whatever."
"ESTEL!"
Two elves sprinted down the stairs, mirror images of each other. Elrond's twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir, grabbed the ranger, squishing him between them. Legolas looked on, barely containing his mirth. Aragorn's eyes almost popped out of his head, and he looked like he couldn't breathe due to their grasp. "You might want to ease up before his lips turn blue," Legolas suggested. The twins pretended to ignore him, but they loosened their hold of their adoptive brother enough so that he could wiggle out of their grasp.
"We've missed you," Elladan stated simply.
"I could tell." Aragorn glared at the brothers, but Legolas noticed that he was trying to hold back a smile. He could also see that Aragorn was trying to hide how he really felt. His back straitened, and he put forth more energy than he felt he had.
"You've arrived just in time. Dinner should be ready in a few minutes."
Legolas glanced at Aragorn. He could see through the facade that Aragorn put up. He was terrified. His brothers would go crazy if they found out he was sick. He wouldn't be out of bed for a week, and they would tell Elrond. 'Oh, no,' thought the ranger; 'that would be worse than the twins and Legolas combined.'
"Estel, are you okay?" Elrohir looked at his brother carefully. He wasn't quite the same as usual. Elrohir knew he had seen that glassy look in his brother's eyes before; he just couldn't place why it was important.
"I'm fine. Let's go eat."
"Are you sure? You look a little pale to me." Elladan hadn't noticed anything before, but after Elrohir mentioned his concerns Elladan noticed his brother's condition as well.
"I'm just cold. And soaking wet. I'm going to go up to my room to change, and I will be back down in a few minutes. I would suggest that you change as well." Aragorn chuckled as he looked at the soaked twins. "Serves you right for squishing me while I'm soaking wet."
The twins looked a little unconvinced, but they let it go. "Follow us, Legolas, we'll show you where the guestroom is."
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During dinner Aragorn merely picked at his food. Somehow, Elladan and Elrohir had forgotten their concerns about Aragorn's health; they were too busy annoying each other to notice his lack of appetite. Legolas noticed, but he said nothing. Elrond noticed as well, but he didn't say anything either.
After dinner, Elladan and Elrohir wanted Legolas and Aragorn to tell them about their journey, but they both said they were too tired. They retired to their rooms for the night, listening to the twins bicker as they got ready for bed.
Aragorn was relieved that he had made it through the dinner. All he wanted to do was snuggle under the blankets and sleep for days. As soon as he pulled the quilt over him and closed his eyes he was asleep. It didn't last long. Two minutes later he heard a soft knock at his door. "Estel?" came the soft whisper from the other side of the door. Aragorn rose from his bed and opened the door, allowing his adoptive father to come in. "I noticed you weren't feeling well at dinner, and ...."
"I feel fine."
"Estel." There was a stern warning in his voice. "I can tell when you're sick. Just let me take your temperature, drink this tea, and I will let you go to bed." Elrond almost laughed as he saw his son's face. Here was an expert ranger, the one destined to become a great king, pouting because he had to subject himself to his father's wishes. "Estel, please." Aragorn opened his mouth to argue, but Elrond was too fast for the sluggish, feverish human. He stuck the thermometer in his mouth before he could say anything. "Don't say a word. Just keep that under your tongue." Elrond turned to the tea, in which he put some herbs, feeling his son's glare at his back the entire time. He took the thermometer out of Aragon's mouth when he was done. "102.1, it's not that high yet." He placed the tea in Aragorn's hands. "It should help bring your fever down and help you sleep."
"Ugh! It tastes horrible."
"Just drink it."
Aragorn drank the rest of the medicine, wrinkling his nose in disgust the entire time. Elrond's chuckling did not help Aragorn's mood.
"What is so funny?"
"You. I wish I had a painting of your face to show Arwen."
"Ada!" Aragron's face made Elrond laugh harder.
"Goodnight. I hope you feel better tomorrow." He left the room quickly before Aragorn could throw the pillow that was in his right hand. Aragorn continued to mutter under his breath about his father's teasing, until the tea took effect and he slipped asleep.
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The dawn's light fluttered into the room. Aragorn only moaned and turned against the intruding light. His door slowly opened; two elves were trying to still their laughter.
"Shh! You'll wake him."
"No I won't. You will if you don't shut up." Aragorn smiled to himself. The twins thought they had a lot of stealth, but Aragorn was always on his guard when he was in Rivendell. Especially in the morning, which was the twin's favorite time to prey upon their brother. He felt them approach. One was near his head and the other was tying his feet together. Before they could do anything else..... "BOO!"
"Argh!!!" The twins screamed in fright, their usually masculine voices going to an unusually high pitch. Elrohir had jumped into Elladan's arms, which had thrown off the elf's balance. The two were now on the floor, looking up at their little brother with menacing stares. Aragorn untied his feet and tried to run away, but Elladan grabbed him by his ankle, pulling him to the floor with them. The brothers wrestled with one another until Aragorn started coughing.
"Are you all right, Estel?" Aragorn could only nod his head, for he could not stop coughing. The twins got off him and helped him sit up. When he was able to catch his breath they helped him into bed.
"Thanks," Aragorn weakly said.
"No problem, little brother."
"Do you want us to get Ada?" It wasn't really a question, and Aragorn knew it. Elladan was going to fetch Elrond whether he liked it or not. However, that didn't mean that he couldn't try to avoid it.
"No, I'm fine." As he expected, Elladan left his room anyway, presumably in the direction of Elrond's study.
Elrond entered Aragorn's bedroom as another fit of coughing subsided. "The tea didn't work?" Aragorn shook his head. As his father took out the hollow wooden tube used to listen to his chest, Aragorn pointed at the twins, hoping Elrond got his message.
"Why don't the two of you go get some breakfast for you brother? I'm afraid he will not be joining us at the dinner table." The two ran out the door. Elrond and Aragorn could hear Elrohir challenging Elladan to a race.
"Thanks."
"No problem. I can't work well with them in the room anyway." Elrond smiled at his youngest son. "Take off you shirt." Elrond frowned as he heard the congestion deep in Aragorn's lungs.
"What is it?"
"There is an infection in your lungs. You're going to have to stay in bed for at least a week."
"Ada.."
"Don't argue with me. If you don't rest now you will be in bed for a month."
"But, I don't feel that bad."
"Estel, don't lie to me. I can see you shivering. And don't think I didn't notice the way you wince whenever you move."
The twins arrived with two breakfast trays then. They were pushing and pulling at each other, trying to be the first to step through the door.
"Here, Estel. I got your breakfast."
"No, I did."
"I did."
"I did."
"Enough!" Elrond's yell was barely heard over the quarreling elves. "ENOUGH!" The twins looked, startled, at Elrond. "Estel is not feeling well. Why don't we leave and let him rest?" Elrond didn't give the twins time to reply, he pushed them out the door, following after them.
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Aragorn was so sick he could barely stay awake for more than a few minutes. For three days he stayed in bed without complaint, only waking long enough to take his medicine. Elrond was concerned because he wasn't eating much, and he was concerned Aragorn could become dehydrated easily with his fever. When he twins tried to talk to him all they heard was mumbled gibberish. While the three elves were concerned, Legolas was terrified. He had never been in contact with a sick human before. He stayed by Aragorn's side every waking moment, and the twins had to move a bed into Aragorn's room for him when he refused to leave during the night. His questions were worse. He would report anything unusual that he saw.
"Lord Elrond, his breathing sounds different."
"Lord Elrond, his skin is getting warmer."
"Lord Elrond, he moved in his sleep."
"Lord Elrond, he muttered in his sleep."
"Lord Elrond, his eyelids fluttered."
Elrond was trying his best to be patient, but it was impossible. When he examined Aragorn he kicked Legolas out of the room.
"Father, are you growing tired of Prince Legolas' questions?" Elladan teased Elrond.
"Oh, be quiet. You would be on the verge of pulling your hair out too if you had to deal with him."
"We are. We keep asking him if he wants to go hunting with us, do anything besides sit there, and he will keep staring at Aragorn, answering only yes or no."
When Aragorn awoke from his delirium on the fourth day, Legolas was ecstatic. However, he pestered Aragorn so much he requested that Legolas leave.
"Why?"
"Why? My head is pounding and your constant talking does not improve things."
"Can I stay if I promise to be quiet?"
"No! Go away. Just give me an hour to myself." Legolas left, albeit reluctantly. He stretched his legs, wandering through the palace. He came to the garden, in which he wandered for an hour. When he couldn't take it anymore, and thought that Aragorn had had enough time to himself, he started back for his bedroom. As he passed the entrance hall he thought he heard familiar voices.
"Gandalf!" He rushed down the stairs to greet the wizard. Even though Legolas was over 2000 years old, he acted like a small elfling. "Gandalf, what are you doing here?"
"Just visiting a few friends. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Mirkwood?"
"I'm visiting Aragorn."
"More like baby-sitting," Elladan interrupted. Legolas made a move towards Elladan, preparing to tackle him, but a gruff voice from beside Gandalf made him stop.
"Is this how the elves behave in front of guests?"
Legolas' head snapped up, looking for the source of the voice. "No, Lord Saruman, I'm sorry." The white wizard was an ally of Gandalf, but he had a foreboding aura around him. For some reason Legolas had always feared him. When he came to visit Mirkwood Legolas was polite, but he avoid the wizard as much as possible. He always felt a shiver go up his spine when he was around him. When Elrond entered the room to welcome his guests, Legolas asked to be excused. He raced back up to Aragorn's room, where he found the ranger asleep. He picked up his eight-seventh book and continued reading.
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When Aragorn awoke again he saw Legolas asleep, bent in what had to be the most uncomfortable position ever. Aragorn contemplated leaving him like that, as punishment for his overprotectiveness, but he took pity on the elf and shook his shoulder.
"What? Aragorn, are you okay?"
"I wish I was paid every time someone asked me that; I would be very rich."
"Sorry."
"Sorry for asking or sorry that I am sick?"
"Both."
"Lucky elf."
"What does it feel like?"
Legolas' question was out of the blue, and it took Aragorn by surprise. "What?"
"Illness."
"It is the most horrible feeling. Your head hurts, you can't swallow, your joints ache, your head feels fuzzy, and you're dizzy. And I'm sure there are a few things I have left out."
"I wish I knew what it felt like."
"You're crazy."
"I wish I knew what it felt like to be human."
"Well, I wish I were an elf, but we're not getting our wishes granted, are we."
"No." Sadly, Legolas shook his head.
Exasperated, Aragorn threw his hands into the air. "You're crazy. No one should ever wish to be human."
Neither of them noticed the figure standing outside the bedroom, listening to their conversation. He chuckled to himself in a maniacal way. "Well, little ones, if you want to know what it feels
like to be human or elf, I shall grant it to you."
To Be Continued......
Contact: [email protected]
Achieve: Yes, just tell me where.
Warnings: It is slightly (maybe completely, you be the judge) AU, and it will have some serious angst towards the end.
Author's Note: I love reviews, and considering that I am my own worst critic, I will accept constructive criticism as well.
Enjoy!
Switch
Chapter 1
"Come on, Estel. We are only a few minutes away."
"Just give me a second." Aragorn tried to collect his strength without his friend noticing. He could tell that he had a fever, but he didn't want Legolas to know. The elf would only smother him, insisting that they take longer in order to accommodate the illness. Aragorn did not want to be babied, and he wanted to reach Imladris as soon as possible, where a warm bed and a hot meal awaited him.
"Are you all right?" Too late, for the blond Mirkwood prince had already noticed.
"I'm fine. I'm just a little cold and the rain isn't helping matters."
"Maybe we should rest."
"No, we need to reach Rivendell before the sun goes down. Come on." The two started at a brisk pace. As the time wore on, Aragorn could feel himself stumbling more often, and he could not stop the shivers that ran up and down his body. Legolas kept glancing at him, but he didn't say anything. When Aragorn slipped and fell to his knees, Legolas was already at his side, ready to catch him before he fell on his face.
"Here, sit." The elf wasn't asking, he was commanding.
"I'm fine. Let's keep going."
"That only works for so long on me. How come you didn't tell me you were feeling badly?"
"I didn't want to delay our return. Now, lets keep going."
"Not until I am sure you are all right." He lifted his hand to touch his friend's forehead.
"I'm fine." Aragorn stood up quickly in an attempt to escape, but he ended up falling back to the ground.
"Dizzy?" Aragorn's only response was a slight nod of his head.
"Headache?" Again, a slight nod.
"Sore throat? Shivers? Joint Aches?" Nods accompanied every question.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I was scared you were going to do this. We are only a half-hour from Imladris; please, can we just keep going." Legolas opened his mouth to argue, but Aragorn interrupted him before he could say anything. "I promise that I will tell you if we need to stop. Deal?"
"Do I have much choice?"
"No."
"Deal."
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The warm glow of the lights of Rivendell were a welcomed sight. The two sloshed up the steps, soaking wet. By then, Aragorn had developed a cough.
"It's not fair."
"What?"
"That I get sick and you don't."
"Well, you should have been born an elf."
"I wish."
"Be careful what you wish for, Estel, it may come true."
"You sound just like father."
"I thought that was a compliment."
"It's not."
"Well, someone gets very grouchy when they're sick."
"I am not grouchy!"
"Whatever."
"ESTEL!"
Two elves sprinted down the stairs, mirror images of each other. Elrond's twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir, grabbed the ranger, squishing him between them. Legolas looked on, barely containing his mirth. Aragorn's eyes almost popped out of his head, and he looked like he couldn't breathe due to their grasp. "You might want to ease up before his lips turn blue," Legolas suggested. The twins pretended to ignore him, but they loosened their hold of their adoptive brother enough so that he could wiggle out of their grasp.
"We've missed you," Elladan stated simply.
"I could tell." Aragorn glared at the brothers, but Legolas noticed that he was trying to hold back a smile. He could also see that Aragorn was trying to hide how he really felt. His back straitened, and he put forth more energy than he felt he had.
"You've arrived just in time. Dinner should be ready in a few minutes."
Legolas glanced at Aragorn. He could see through the facade that Aragorn put up. He was terrified. His brothers would go crazy if they found out he was sick. He wouldn't be out of bed for a week, and they would tell Elrond. 'Oh, no,' thought the ranger; 'that would be worse than the twins and Legolas combined.'
"Estel, are you okay?" Elrohir looked at his brother carefully. He wasn't quite the same as usual. Elrohir knew he had seen that glassy look in his brother's eyes before; he just couldn't place why it was important.
"I'm fine. Let's go eat."
"Are you sure? You look a little pale to me." Elladan hadn't noticed anything before, but after Elrohir mentioned his concerns Elladan noticed his brother's condition as well.
"I'm just cold. And soaking wet. I'm going to go up to my room to change, and I will be back down in a few minutes. I would suggest that you change as well." Aragorn chuckled as he looked at the soaked twins. "Serves you right for squishing me while I'm soaking wet."
The twins looked a little unconvinced, but they let it go. "Follow us, Legolas, we'll show you where the guestroom is."
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During dinner Aragorn merely picked at his food. Somehow, Elladan and Elrohir had forgotten their concerns about Aragorn's health; they were too busy annoying each other to notice his lack of appetite. Legolas noticed, but he said nothing. Elrond noticed as well, but he didn't say anything either.
After dinner, Elladan and Elrohir wanted Legolas and Aragorn to tell them about their journey, but they both said they were too tired. They retired to their rooms for the night, listening to the twins bicker as they got ready for bed.
Aragorn was relieved that he had made it through the dinner. All he wanted to do was snuggle under the blankets and sleep for days. As soon as he pulled the quilt over him and closed his eyes he was asleep. It didn't last long. Two minutes later he heard a soft knock at his door. "Estel?" came the soft whisper from the other side of the door. Aragorn rose from his bed and opened the door, allowing his adoptive father to come in. "I noticed you weren't feeling well at dinner, and ...."
"I feel fine."
"Estel." There was a stern warning in his voice. "I can tell when you're sick. Just let me take your temperature, drink this tea, and I will let you go to bed." Elrond almost laughed as he saw his son's face. Here was an expert ranger, the one destined to become a great king, pouting because he had to subject himself to his father's wishes. "Estel, please." Aragorn opened his mouth to argue, but Elrond was too fast for the sluggish, feverish human. He stuck the thermometer in his mouth before he could say anything. "Don't say a word. Just keep that under your tongue." Elrond turned to the tea, in which he put some herbs, feeling his son's glare at his back the entire time. He took the thermometer out of Aragon's mouth when he was done. "102.1, it's not that high yet." He placed the tea in Aragorn's hands. "It should help bring your fever down and help you sleep."
"Ugh! It tastes horrible."
"Just drink it."
Aragorn drank the rest of the medicine, wrinkling his nose in disgust the entire time. Elrond's chuckling did not help Aragorn's mood.
"What is so funny?"
"You. I wish I had a painting of your face to show Arwen."
"Ada!" Aragron's face made Elrond laugh harder.
"Goodnight. I hope you feel better tomorrow." He left the room quickly before Aragorn could throw the pillow that was in his right hand. Aragorn continued to mutter under his breath about his father's teasing, until the tea took effect and he slipped asleep.
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The dawn's light fluttered into the room. Aragorn only moaned and turned against the intruding light. His door slowly opened; two elves were trying to still their laughter.
"Shh! You'll wake him."
"No I won't. You will if you don't shut up." Aragorn smiled to himself. The twins thought they had a lot of stealth, but Aragorn was always on his guard when he was in Rivendell. Especially in the morning, which was the twin's favorite time to prey upon their brother. He felt them approach. One was near his head and the other was tying his feet together. Before they could do anything else..... "BOO!"
"Argh!!!" The twins screamed in fright, their usually masculine voices going to an unusually high pitch. Elrohir had jumped into Elladan's arms, which had thrown off the elf's balance. The two were now on the floor, looking up at their little brother with menacing stares. Aragorn untied his feet and tried to run away, but Elladan grabbed him by his ankle, pulling him to the floor with them. The brothers wrestled with one another until Aragorn started coughing.
"Are you all right, Estel?" Aragorn could only nod his head, for he could not stop coughing. The twins got off him and helped him sit up. When he was able to catch his breath they helped him into bed.
"Thanks," Aragorn weakly said.
"No problem, little brother."
"Do you want us to get Ada?" It wasn't really a question, and Aragorn knew it. Elladan was going to fetch Elrond whether he liked it or not. However, that didn't mean that he couldn't try to avoid it.
"No, I'm fine." As he expected, Elladan left his room anyway, presumably in the direction of Elrond's study.
Elrond entered Aragorn's bedroom as another fit of coughing subsided. "The tea didn't work?" Aragorn shook his head. As his father took out the hollow wooden tube used to listen to his chest, Aragorn pointed at the twins, hoping Elrond got his message.
"Why don't the two of you go get some breakfast for you brother? I'm afraid he will not be joining us at the dinner table." The two ran out the door. Elrond and Aragorn could hear Elrohir challenging Elladan to a race.
"Thanks."
"No problem. I can't work well with them in the room anyway." Elrond smiled at his youngest son. "Take off you shirt." Elrond frowned as he heard the congestion deep in Aragorn's lungs.
"What is it?"
"There is an infection in your lungs. You're going to have to stay in bed for at least a week."
"Ada.."
"Don't argue with me. If you don't rest now you will be in bed for a month."
"But, I don't feel that bad."
"Estel, don't lie to me. I can see you shivering. And don't think I didn't notice the way you wince whenever you move."
The twins arrived with two breakfast trays then. They were pushing and pulling at each other, trying to be the first to step through the door.
"Here, Estel. I got your breakfast."
"No, I did."
"I did."
"I did."
"Enough!" Elrond's yell was barely heard over the quarreling elves. "ENOUGH!" The twins looked, startled, at Elrond. "Estel is not feeling well. Why don't we leave and let him rest?" Elrond didn't give the twins time to reply, he pushed them out the door, following after them.
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Aragorn was so sick he could barely stay awake for more than a few minutes. For three days he stayed in bed without complaint, only waking long enough to take his medicine. Elrond was concerned because he wasn't eating much, and he was concerned Aragorn could become dehydrated easily with his fever. When he twins tried to talk to him all they heard was mumbled gibberish. While the three elves were concerned, Legolas was terrified. He had never been in contact with a sick human before. He stayed by Aragorn's side every waking moment, and the twins had to move a bed into Aragorn's room for him when he refused to leave during the night. His questions were worse. He would report anything unusual that he saw.
"Lord Elrond, his breathing sounds different."
"Lord Elrond, his skin is getting warmer."
"Lord Elrond, he moved in his sleep."
"Lord Elrond, he muttered in his sleep."
"Lord Elrond, his eyelids fluttered."
Elrond was trying his best to be patient, but it was impossible. When he examined Aragorn he kicked Legolas out of the room.
"Father, are you growing tired of Prince Legolas' questions?" Elladan teased Elrond.
"Oh, be quiet. You would be on the verge of pulling your hair out too if you had to deal with him."
"We are. We keep asking him if he wants to go hunting with us, do anything besides sit there, and he will keep staring at Aragorn, answering only yes or no."
When Aragorn awoke from his delirium on the fourth day, Legolas was ecstatic. However, he pestered Aragorn so much he requested that Legolas leave.
"Why?"
"Why? My head is pounding and your constant talking does not improve things."
"Can I stay if I promise to be quiet?"
"No! Go away. Just give me an hour to myself." Legolas left, albeit reluctantly. He stretched his legs, wandering through the palace. He came to the garden, in which he wandered for an hour. When he couldn't take it anymore, and thought that Aragorn had had enough time to himself, he started back for his bedroom. As he passed the entrance hall he thought he heard familiar voices.
"Gandalf!" He rushed down the stairs to greet the wizard. Even though Legolas was over 2000 years old, he acted like a small elfling. "Gandalf, what are you doing here?"
"Just visiting a few friends. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Mirkwood?"
"I'm visiting Aragorn."
"More like baby-sitting," Elladan interrupted. Legolas made a move towards Elladan, preparing to tackle him, but a gruff voice from beside Gandalf made him stop.
"Is this how the elves behave in front of guests?"
Legolas' head snapped up, looking for the source of the voice. "No, Lord Saruman, I'm sorry." The white wizard was an ally of Gandalf, but he had a foreboding aura around him. For some reason Legolas had always feared him. When he came to visit Mirkwood Legolas was polite, but he avoid the wizard as much as possible. He always felt a shiver go up his spine when he was around him. When Elrond entered the room to welcome his guests, Legolas asked to be excused. He raced back up to Aragorn's room, where he found the ranger asleep. He picked up his eight-seventh book and continued reading.
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When Aragorn awoke again he saw Legolas asleep, bent in what had to be the most uncomfortable position ever. Aragorn contemplated leaving him like that, as punishment for his overprotectiveness, but he took pity on the elf and shook his shoulder.
"What? Aragorn, are you okay?"
"I wish I was paid every time someone asked me that; I would be very rich."
"Sorry."
"Sorry for asking or sorry that I am sick?"
"Both."
"Lucky elf."
"What does it feel like?"
Legolas' question was out of the blue, and it took Aragorn by surprise. "What?"
"Illness."
"It is the most horrible feeling. Your head hurts, you can't swallow, your joints ache, your head feels fuzzy, and you're dizzy. And I'm sure there are a few things I have left out."
"I wish I knew what it felt like."
"You're crazy."
"I wish I knew what it felt like to be human."
"Well, I wish I were an elf, but we're not getting our wishes granted, are we."
"No." Sadly, Legolas shook his head.
Exasperated, Aragorn threw his hands into the air. "You're crazy. No one should ever wish to be human."
Neither of them noticed the figure standing outside the bedroom, listening to their conversation. He chuckled to himself in a maniacal way. "Well, little ones, if you want to know what it feels
like to be human or elf, I shall grant it to you."
To Be Continued......