Namir yawned as he leaned back against the firm warmth of Legolas' legs. The clothes he was wearing were clean and sticking to his skin with the left over dampness from his bath. A rumbling emanated from his throat as he leaned further into the blonde's legs. Legolas working quietly as the afternoon faded into golden eve. His fingers detangling Namir's now waist length chocolate dark hair from the numerous tangles the lack of care and captivity had left it in. He was gentle, using a hair oil he kept in his pack to untangle his own long locks that smelt of lavender. It lulled the skin-changer into a drowsy relaxed state, as shown but the soft purring and closed eyes. 

The elf worked quietly, but it was hard to keep his gaze from straying from his task and to the darkened and twisted skin that wrapped around his lover's neck. There were other scars that were new, cuts to his ribs and old broken skin over his knuckles and fingertips that didn't need explaining. Legolas had seen similar scars in his lifetime and he knew how they were made. The burn scar though, that one was unusual and the most horrifying. It wrapped completely around the base of his neck, reaching out to his jawline and the junction of his shoulders. It was a raw red with white lines of twisted skin and he was amazed that Namir could still talk, still make noise with so much damage to his throat. But the most dreadful thing about it was the shape of it. It was only around his neck. If there were burns anywhere else then it might have been a fire, but the fact that it was only on his neck spoke to deliberate torture. It made Legolas wish that Saruman was still alive so that he could fill the man full of arrows. Only the knowledge that Namir had taken his revenge stayed his rage. 

"Do these hurt?" He murmured as he reached down to gently run his finger over the skin of the other man's jaw, not touching the burns but close enough. Namir stopped purring and his eyes opened. A slight rigidness formed in his shoulders and he turned his head to look up at him. 

"Did you finish?" He asked instead. 

"Yes. Would you like me to braid it for you?" Namir opened his mouth to refuse, he didn't particularly like his hair being tied back, but that was when it was much shorter. He must have seen the need in Legolas' eyes, the need to be useful and to do anything to reassure himself that the cat was still there. With a soft sigh, he nodded. "I'll make it simple", The blonde promised as he began to divide the hair. For a minute they both returned to silence as the golden light of sunset streamed through the windows. The room they were in was small but big enough for a double bed and a trunk in the corner where Legolas had set his gear. 

Namir seemed to be staring out of the window as the blonde wove a fishtail braid down his back. It was only when he was about halfway through when the skin-changer spoke up. His voice was quiet and bitter. "It doesn't hurt anymore". Legolas paused for a second then kept weaving the strands. Namir took a breath and continued. "It was a collar. They forced it on me and welded it shut. There was dark magic on that thing. If I left the grounds of the tower, it burned me. If I attacked Saruman, it burned me. If Saruman didn't like me in that moment, it burned. Then, when it was over, it healed me". He let out a little laugh, the sound broken. Legolas finished tying the end of the braid and rested his hands soothingly on his shoulders. "Just so I wouldn't die and it could burn me again. I am glad, in the end that I managed to rip out the wizard's throat". 

The last words were punctuated but a snarl that would make any ordinary person run in fear, but Legolas simply reached out to gently cup Namir's face in his palms. The cat eyed man tipped his head back to stare at him as the blonde leaned down and pressed his lips to his forehead. "I am glad too". Namir responded with a purr and tried to lean up to nip at him as he retreated. 

"I have missed you". 

"I missed you too", Legolas murmured as he leaned back down to press a kiss to his lips. Namir kissed hungrily, with an intent to claim and consume. For a second they parted only for the cat eyed man to stand up and turn round, climbing into the elf's lap. Arms looping round his neck and pulling him back again. Legolas hissed as sharp teeth tugged at his lip 

"Mine", Namir purred into his mouth. "Mine. My elf, my mate. My beautiful mate". Then he was kissing him with a claiming force that was almost desperate. Legolas could barely keep up and it was all he could do not to be swept away by the tide. They hadn't kissed like this before. Their romance had been sweet, softer and giddy. Exchanging gifts, gentle kisses and nights cuddled under stars. This kiss was wild, an animalistic need to claim. Namir had his hands in the blonde's hair and they tugged on the strands, pulling his head back for a better angle. The elf gasped as the other man explored every part of his mouth and pressed them together chest to chest. His own hands settling on Namir's hips where they clung to his grey tunic. 

"Namir", Legolas breathed as he pushed the other slightly back, his tone gentle but firm. The cat-shifter blinked at him, big eyes adorably confused. "I am not going anywhere. I am right here. I promise that I'm not leaving you". He watched as Namir's body slumped, the tension draining from him like a sieve. His face scrunched up and he buried his head into Legolas' shoulder as sobs began to rack his framed. Not once during his captivity had he cried. He refused to let the tears fall, to show defeat. Now, it was all coming out. Namir clung to Legolas with a death tight grip as his frame shook and the shoulder of the Elf's tunic grew wet. 

"I've got you", the elf muttered soothingly as his hands stroked up and down the other man's back. "Radag. Cin are ú- leaving nin, ú- ad- ". The elvish was soothing in Namir's ears as he let himself finally cry. 

unedited 

awwwww hurt/comfort. 

Cin are ú- leaving nin, ú- ad- You are not leaving me, not again. 

Radag- Beastie