BETRAYAL
Aragorn spun Legolas round, smiling as his long blond hair flew into the air. The king of Gondor watched happily as Legolas ran up the nearest tree, an evil smile on his face. Aragorn didn't even start to wonder what Legolas planned to do up a tree that could possibly be so amusing, that is until he felt the acorn bouncing off of his head. He looked up angrily.
"Legolas! What do you think you're doing?" Legolas' face appeared upside down infront of Aragorn, a childish grin playing on his lips.
"I'm having fun." He replied, an air of innocence ringing in his voice.
Aragorn frowned.
"At your age? I find it quite disturbing." He spat humorously. Legolas pouted.
"I'm 2931 but I'm still more handsome than you Aragorn." With that he jumped back up into the tree to gather more acorns. Aragorn sighed. He loved the young elf but he knew that he had already taken one and he could never have another. Legolas knew that that was what Aragorn was thinking and he intended to prove him wrong. Arwen would be heart-broken and Aragorn would love him. Legolas smiled and jumped out of the tree, landing right next to Aragorn. The king looked up in surprise and gasped as Legolas pulled him to the floor and started to tackle him. Amidst numerous friendly punches, Aragorn managed to pin the elf down, earning a rather disappointed look.
"How did you beat me?" Legolas whined. Aragorn gave him a loving smile and kissed him.
"Maybe because you love me? Or maybe because I'm the better fighter." Legolas looked appalled.
He would never have dared to say that to Aragorn.
"How dare you!" he cried, sitting up only to find that Aragorn was still pinning him to the ground.
"Release me at once!" He spat, forgetting for the moment that he loved this man. Aragorn's face fell and he looked down sadly at the elf.
"Don't you love me?" He asked. He thought that Legolas did. // My god, what if he really doesn't, what have I done? \\ Aragorn started to apologise to the Elven prince beneath him until he noticed a sad look on Legolas' face so he stopped.
"What is the matter Legolas?" he enquired. Aragorn sat up, allowing Legolas to do the same. The prince turned to face him.
"I am sorry Aragorn, I didn't mean it, I…" He fell silent as Aragorn pulled him into a passionate kiss. He wrapped his arms around Aragorn, both failing to notice the weeping figure that stood behind the tree. Arwen.
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Aragorn smiled as he entered his bedchambers but quickly stopped as he saw Arwen pacing up and down. He stood against the doorframe until she noticed him. When she did, she turned away disgusted and sat down.
"Is something the matter my love?" Aragorn asked sweetly. His queen looked up and spat.
"How can you ask me that? I saw you and Lego… that elf. At first I thought it was just a game, but now…Oh Aragorn, I thought you loved me." She started weeping but Aragorn shook her gently.
"Arwen, it is a game, Legolas truly believes I love him and if I tell him otherwise, it would break his heart. I cannot do that to my best friend." He pulled Arwen to him.
"Legolas has grown up in a world full of magical stories about love and it clouds his mind. He loves me but he does not see that I cannot love him. Please, my love, believe me. I need you now more than ever." He pleaded with the women in his arms and she gazed at him with pearly eyes.
"Would you have done the same to me?" she asked, determined to find out the truth about her husband.
"I have no need for I truly love you." He kissed her and they lay down. Arwen quickly fell into a peaceful sleep but for Aragorn, peace did not come. Instead, nagging thoughts about the two elves. // Do I stay in a safe love with Arwen and be happy, or do I have this childish fling with Legolas even though I know that it will not last? \\ He sighed and looked at the elf next to him. Smiling he knew which path he would take, even if it did mean death for one of his beloved. Sleep slowly crept up on him like a tide, devouring him bit by bit, until at last, he fell into a restless oblivion.
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Legolas however was not yet granted the gift of sleep, as he was called to his father's chambers as soon as he returned from his 'walk' in the wood.
"Do you hear what I say to you Legolas? Your brother must never know about this conversation." His father had been telling him of his plans for the future of Mirkwood kingdom. "I want you to become the next king, not your brother. It does mean though that you must marry before I leave for the grey Havens." Legolas nodded at his father dreamily. He then registered what his father had said and snapped out of his daydream.
"What?! Me, the next king, but father I…" His father silenced him with a wave of his hand and gestured for him to sit down. Legolas did as he was told and started to speak again but his father interrupted.
"I have seen a change in you lately, at first I thought you were ill but then I realised it was love. Surely you trust me enough to tell me my son?" Legolas looked up.
"I know not of what you speak father." He said turning away again. His father grabbed his arm and spun him round.
"Legolas, please. At least tell me whether you are or not."
Legolas smiled.
"Yes father I am in love, although you would not approve." His father frowned.
"What makes you think that? I would be happy for you whoever it was unless you are in love with an orc which I find highly unlikely." He twisted his head, trying to get a look at his son's expression but Legolas turned away.
"It is not a maiden father." Thranduil gaped at his son and spluttered.
"A man Legolas? How can you love a man?" Legolas smiled.
"If you knew him you would understand." Thranduil nodded.
"I believe I do know him and I'm sure his wife would not be very happy. Legolas, there are plenty of maiden's that love you, can you not sway your feelings toward one of them? Must you always want something which you cannot have?" The young prince pouted.
"He loves me father, I cannot help but loving him back." Thranduil grew angry.
"If you do not choose a maiden to wed by next week, I will choose one for you." He waved his hand at the door and Legolas got up to leave. He was halfway to the door when he turned around to face his father.
"I will wed a maiden but when you go to the Havens you can no longer tell me what to do." He stormed down the corridor leaving the king fuming in his room.
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The next morning, Aragorn walked into the dining hall to see the two end seats empty. Where were Thranduil and Legolas? He sat down in his usual seat, opposite Legolas' chair and awaited the entrance of the young elf. He did not have to wait long for as soon as he had sat down, the king and prince walked through the doors and headed towards the table. Legolas smiled at Aragorn. Thranduil scowled. Aragorn looked from one to the other and guessed what had happened. Boy was Legolas in for a shock. Aragorn had planned to take him for a walk after breakfast and tell the prince that they could not be in love. Arwen had made him promise not to be too harsh for she cared for Legolas as a friend and did not wish to see him upset. He decided to change his plans and speak to Thranduil first instead.
After a very silent and awkward meal, Thranduil got up to leave, Aragorn stood up and began to follow him. He looked back at Legolas who looked puzzled. Aragorn gave him a fake reassuring smile and continued after the king. When Thranduil had reached a quiet spot in the forest, he turned to face Aragorn, seething with rage.
"How dare you make my son…"
"Your highness please listen to me. I do not love Legolas. I wish he did not love me and I will tell him so, but please, just believe, I did not plan this." Thranduil seemed to ponder Aragorn's words for a while and then he spoke.
"I understand. Please, does my son really love you or does he just think it?" Aragorn frowned.
"I am afraid he really does love me, I have tried to persuade him otherwise but to no avail. I will tell him today…"
"Then go, quickly," Thranduil urged, "Before he does anything stupid." Aragorn nodded and ran towards Legolas' room where he knew that the elf would be waiting.
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Legolas looked up as the door opened and smiled when he saw whom it was.
"Aragorn…" he said standing up and walking over to the man. Aragorn shook his head and pushed Legolas back onto the bed.
"There is something I must tell you." Legolas shook his head and stood up.
"No."
"No?" Aragorn questioned.
"What has my father said to you? Please do not listen to him he will tell you only to…" Aragorn put a finger to his lips.
"This had nothing to do with your father Prince Legolas." Legolas shuddered at the way Aragorn said 'prince'. It reminded him of his brother when Legolas had stepped out of line during battle once. His brother had said, 'You may be a good fighter, but at the end of the day you are only a Prince under my command and you will do what I say.' Legolas frowned and waited for Aragorn to continue.
"You are a Prince and I am a king. I am married Legolas and you soon will be. We cannot love each other. I mean, you cannot love me. Legolas looked confused so Aragorn decided to make it even worse.
"I have never loved you Legolas, I merely played along with your childish game hoping you would tire from it. Obviously I was wrong." Legolas started to cry.
"How can you say that. You were the first one to even mention love Aragorn!" the King of Gondor nodded and turned away.
"I must go and see Arwen, I love her Legolas, not you, do you understand me?" Legolas said nothing but nodded as through his tears he glared at Aragorn, wishing with every part of his existence that the King would just drop dead there on the floor. How dare he mess around with him? He had never known Aragorn to say anything nasty to anyone. He wondered why he was the first.
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Aragorn, Arwen and Thranduil waited nervously for Legolas to enter the breakfast room, but he did not come anywhere near it so instead they went out to look for him and found him skimming rocks across the surface of the still lake. They could see from his reflection that he was smiling and Aragorn became worried, no angry. // I've just broken his heart, doesn't he care? \\ He stepped on a twig and it snapped causing Legolas to spin round. He glanced quickly across the trio, smiled and turned back towards the lake, gathering up some more stones. He was just about to throw one when his father grabbed his arm and pulled him round to look at them. His gaze met with Arwen's and she quickly shifted her eyes downwards, avoiding his piercing stare as much as possible. Aragorn cleared his throat and spoke,
"Legolas we have come to talk to you." Legolas chuckled.
"What if I don't want to talk?" His father raised his voice,
"You don't have a choice in the matter Legolas now sit down!" Legolas looked quickly from Aragorn to his father and sank to the ground.
"That's better." said his father, lowering himself next to his son. Arwen and Aragorn followed suit and soon they were sat in a circle, each avoiding Legolas' stare as much as they could. Legolas seemed to get upset about this and Aragorn realised that he wasn't faking being happy, he really had been. Something was wrong although, Legolas seemed as warm and friendly as he usually did.
"Is somebody going to speak then?" the prince asked quietly. Arwen nodded.
"Legolas, we have come to offer you a, um…a more…oh I can't say it.!" Aragorn hugged her and ignored the smile he received from Legolas.
"We are giving you the opportunity to stay in Rivendell with Elrond. You would not become king of Mirkwood but you would be happy there." He said this almost ruthlessly and waited for the quiet reaction. It was all but quiet.
"But I'm happy here! Father! I don't want to go to Rivendell! I want to stay here." He looked at his father with such innocent eyes that Thranduil could not keep contact.
"My son, why would you want to stay here after what has happened, your brothers will not allow you to be king unless you are married." Legolas almost choked with rage.
"Are you banishing me from my own kingdom? 'Cause if you are then, fine!" he stood up and started to back away. "I'll go, I'll pack and be gone by morning." He turned around and started to run but Aragorn grabbed hold of him and threw him to the ground.
"Don't be so foolish Legolas! Noone is banishing you from anywhere." He helped Legolas up and pulled him out of hearing range of the other two elves.
"I am sorry I was so mean to you but your father was listening and I had to be as ruthless as I could. I did love you and I still do but we can never let anyone else know." He smiled faintly at the elf. Legolas gazed at him for a few moments before smiling back. He hugged his best friend and saw Arwen and his father smile happily as they saw him happy again. They walked back to the elves and he smiled at his father.
"I will go." He said quietly. Thranduil smiled and hugged his son, laughing as tears starting to fall down his cheeks. Arwen patted him on the back and they slowly returned to the palace.
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That night, Aragorn woke from sleep, sweat pouring down his face. He climbed quickly out of bed and jumped as Arwen touched his shoulder and asked him where he was going. He didn't answer her at first but then he turned and replied,
"Something is wrong…Legolas!" Arwen quickly scrambled out as well and hand in hand they ran down the corridor towards Legolas' room. As they opened the door, Aragorn's heart stopped as he saw the sight lying on the bed. Legolas lay there, still, his blond hair drenched with blood, a sword protruding from his chest. Arwen sank to the floor crying and Aragorn walked up to Thranduil who lay at the foot of the bed clutching his son's hand, sobbing. Aragorn picked up the paper in Legolas' bloody hand and read it.
Dear Father,
I know you were just trying to do the right thing but I imagined that death couldn't be more painful than what you put me through. Please tell Aragorn that I love him, and Arwen too. Tell Lartei and Terai that I will miss them. I will also miss you but please don't think that you could have helped me. If I hadn't have done this then I would slowly have died anyway. Farewell,
Legolas xxx
The king looked down once again at the weeping ruler of Mirkwood before picking up the sword that lay in his friend's chest. He looked at the blood on it and turned to Arwen.
"This blood is what I have shed. My blood will mix with his and the tears of Middle Earth shall run red." He thrust the sword inside him. Gasping for breath as he sank to the floor, barely aware of the screaming going on around him. He could just about make out Arwen's face as he saw Legolas walking towards him, hand stretched out.
Come with me, he whispered. Both Gondor and Mirkwood shall lose a ruler to the dark. Aragorn stared at the figure and reached up to grasp the hand. He felt it pulling him upwards and his soul left his dead body and floated up to rest next to the Valar and the prince that he loved so much.
DISCLAIMER: DON'T OWN 'EM NEVER WILL.
