Title: A Spring's tale
Author: Gil Feir (formerly known as MellonNinEstel)
Rating: R (yet)
Pairing: Aragorn/Legolas
Summary: Aragorn and Legolas fell in love. But how will their family take it? And what will happen when jealously enters the stage?
Feedback: Yes, very welcome
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and make no money with this story.
Series: Yes. This is the second story in the series and the sequel to A Winter's Tale.
Beta: Firith-Tindome (thank you, honey!)
Chapter 1: Home
The snow crunched under their feet, and Estel gripped Legolas's arm tightly to not loose his footing. The descend into the valley was exhausting for the sick man, and he was glad that Legolas helped him down the steep, snowy way. It had stopped snowing and the bright sun was showing down on them, and while it warmed their faces, it also sparkled on the white snow, making it difficult for Estel to see his way. Suddenly, he felt his feet slipping away under him, and he felt himself falling.
But not for long. Two strong arms wrapped themselves around his middle, keeping him from landing in the snow. Looking up, Estel saw Legolas's smiling face over his shoulder. A strange feeling entered his stomach, and he felt his cheeks reddening…but not because of his clumsiness.
"You have to be more careful, Estel." Legolas breathed into his ear, before he placed a gentle kiss on it, and traced the outline of his ear with his warm tongue. "One the other hand," Legolas placed another kiss on Estel's ear, before he continued, "I enjoy catching you quite a lot." Legolas kissed Estel once more, before he drew back and set the human back on his feet.
Swallowing, Estel was surprised that his breathing had quickened, and he could still feel Legolas's tongue at his ear. But before he could act in any way, Legolas pushed him into the direction of his home. "Come Estel, we should get there ere it gets dark."
At these words, a shadow hushed across Estel's face, and the smile that had adorned his handsome features vanished. Home. Soon, they would be at the Last Homely House, and although Estel had thought that it would not matter who became a witness of their love, with every step that he neared his home, his doubts increased in number.
What about his brothers and his father? Would they approve? He was a human after all, and although love between males was a normal occurrence in Imladris, Estel knew that his own race did not look fondly on it. At least not as far as he knew. What if his family felt ashamed of what he had done, of what he felt? What if they send him away? What if they hated him for his feelings?
And what about Legolas? Surely his own father would not approve once he heard of this. And what would Elrond have to say to all this? Would he send Legolas home? Would he forbid him his company? What would his brothers say to Legolas? Legolas was their friend after all, had been for centuries. Would they still want to call him friend once they knew the truth?
More and more doubts entered his mind, and when Estel thought he would burst, he looked deep into Legolas's blue eyes. And as he had hoped, his pleading look was all it needed to make Legolas understand. The elf stepped closer, took his hand in his slender ones and gave them a gentle squeeze. "When you are ready, Estel, and not sooner."
"Thank you, Legolas."
And to seal their agreement, Legolas bent down, gently brushing the tips of their noses together, before he kissed Estel, soft and gentle, as he had done that night so many days ago. For long moments they stood in the snow, feeling their love, before they parted and continued their journey towards Estel's home. Both of them secretly hoped that the time of secrecy would not have to be long. For they both knew that their fresh love could not be denied for too long, either. If at all.
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"Estel! Legolas!" Elrond called out to them from a balcony when they entered the snowy courtyard. While Legolas stood atop of the snow, looking fresh and radiant in the sinking sun, Estel felt sweaty and tired. Sneezing and wiping his nose at his sleeve, Estel suppressed a cough. A few moments later the huge door to the house opened, and Elrond greeted them warmly, ushering them inside.
"What brings you back so early? You should not be back yet." Elrond asked, his eyes roaming across their bodies, looking for injuries. Surely enough, his eyes locked on Estel's glassy ones, and he placed a hand on his forehead. "You have a fever, my son."
"Aye." Estel said, but before he could say more, he sneezed violently. Sniffing, he opened his mouth to explain, but his father shook his head and lead him away to the healing wing. "You should not speak, Estel, I'm sure your throat hurts, does it not?"
Nodding lamely, Estel said nothing, leaving it to Legolas to explain what had occurred. While the elf reported of his tumble into a pond on their journey, Estel felt the urge to look at Legolas. He did not know why, but suddenly he desired to look at the elf. Before he could stop himself, his eyes found Legolas's, but he quickly looked away again. Had his father seen? Had his look revealed their secret? Did his father already know? Had he given them away?
So immersed in his foolish thoughts was he that he did not notice their entering one of the healing rooms. Only when his father gently touched his arm did he break out of his thoughts, looking up at his father as if he had been caught at stealing cookies out of the jar.
"Yes?" Estel asked quickly, his voice unsteady.
"I asked you to remove your cloak and shirt so that I can examine you, Estel." Elrond said, feeling his forehead once more. Seemingly concerned with what he felt, Elrond bade Legolas to add another log on the fire, before he turned and walked over to his desk to begin his preparations for brewing a fever reducing tea.
Estel had not felt it before, but his fingers were icy. After opening the pin that held his cloak together at his neck, he tried to open the strings at his shirt, but his fingers would not cooperate. Giving the leather another pull, Estel sighed frustrated, when suddenly another pair of hands entered his vision.
"Let me help you, Estel." Legolas's sweet voice said, before he pushed Estel's hands away and began to slowly open the knots that held the thick winter shirt closed. As if by accident, his long fingers brushed against Estel's neck, then the collar bone, lingering longer than they were allowed to.
"Lift your arms, Estel."
Obediently, Estel lifted his arms, and Legolas pulled the shirt free. Their eyes met, and Legolas unashamedly let his eyes roam over Estel's naked chest, then down to his belly button. Fine goose bumps appeared on the man's skin, and Legolas reached out to place his warm hand on his chest. "You are cold."
Warmth seemed to flow from Legolas's hand, and Estel felt his cheeks reddening again. His breathing quickened involuntarily, and when he looked into Legolas's eyes, he felt his stomach perform a somersault. Those eyes, the deep blue depth. The love they showed was enough for Estel to bit his bottom lip. A small smirk pulled at Legolas's lips; he knew exactly what his touch was doing to Estel, and he seemed to enjoy it.
Shooting a quick look at Lord Elrond and seeing that he was still mixing herbs, his back to them, Legolas bent down quickly and gave Estel a tender kiss, stolen right in front of the lord of the house. As quickly as it had happened it was over, but it left Estel with a pounding in his chest that felt so hard that he feared his father would hear.
But, he could not believe what Legolas had done, and he turned wide eyes at the elf. Had they not agreed to not tell them? To keep it a secret? But when his gaze met Legolas's, the elf merely lifted an eyebrow as if to say 'What? He did not notice, did he?' And then Legolas grinned, and Estel could not help but smile, too.
Placing a blanket over Estel's shoulders, Legolas sat down next to him, and together they waited for Elrond to begin his examination. Estel was only too glad that his father interpreted his glowing cheeks as a symptom of the fever, instead of knowing the real reason.
A few minutes later, the twins burst into the room, shooting question after question at Estel and Legolas, who answered willingly, if not always honestly. After the examination, Elrond ordered Estel to stay in bed for the next few days, and he would spend the first night in the healing wing as well. He had caught a bad cold, and Elrond wanted to make sure that the fever did not get worse. Feeling rather tired, Estel soon fell asleep, and his family and friends left the healing room to grant him the silence he needed to heal.
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The door to the healing wing opened softly, making the candle on the nightstand hiss and flicker. It was deep at night and all inhabitants of the Last Homely House slept peacefully. All but one, that was. Legolas stole through the door silently, closing it behind him. With but a few steps he was at Estel's bedside, looking down at the sleeping human.
Estel's face seemed pale in the soft glow of the candle, and the dark hair contrasted starkly with the skin. Reaching out on pure instinct, Legolas tucked a dark strand behind Estel's ear, letting his slender fingers trace along his cheek, down the jaw and then over the red lips. Oh, how he longed to kiss him now.
A moment later, Legolas sat down on the mattress, gazing fondly at the man. Smiling, he bent down and placed a feather light kiss on Estel's brow, brushing his lips against the too warm skin. To his delight, Estel moaned in his sleep, his lips moving slightly. Smiling, Legolas let his lips travel down, down along the back of Estel's nose, kissing gently. A sigh escaped Estel's lips and he turned his face into Legolas's direction.
Legolas placed another kiss on the tip of Estel's nose, before he leaned even closer, letting his body press gently against the man's. He could feel Estel move under him, but he did not wake, and so Legolas let his wet tongue circle the corners of Estel's mouth, exploring, tasting, probing. Shifting in his sleep, Estel opened his mouth, and Legolas entered it with his tongue, his kiss turning more passionate.
And when Estel returned his kiss, wrapping his arm around Legolas and opening his legs slightly to accommodate the elf, before blinking his eyes open, Legolas sighed blissfully. It was only long moments later that he broke the kiss, smiling at Estel. Touching Estel's cheek with his hand and letting his thumb brush over the cheekbone in little circles, Legolas whispered, "You're awake."
Estel lifted an eyebrow and chuckled, "Was that not the purpose of your visit here? To wake me?"
"No, not at all." Legolas said, idly stroking Estel's tousled hair out of his face. "I was worried and wanted to make sure that you are resting peacefully."
"Well, I was. Until you woke me." Smiling, Estel placed a feather light kiss on Legolas's red lips, relishing in the taste of Legolas's mouth. When they parted, Estel asked "Did someone see you enter?"
Repressing a sigh, Legolas shook his head, "No, it is late at night and the house is asleep." Legolas saw the indecision on the man's face, and when Estel's gaze wandered to the door to his room, Legolas placed his fingers under Estel's chin and turned his head so that he had to look at him. "We are alone, meleth, and no one will disturb us tonight."
For a moment, Estel seemed to ponder this, but then he nodded meekly. He shifted under the covers, then lifted a corner of the blanket. "There is enough space under here for both of us." And with a shy smile he added softly, "And I'm cold." Legolas's heart beat fast in his chest, and when Estel bit his bottom lip in obvious indecision, Legolas could resist the desire racing through his veins no longer. He quickly scrambled under the blanket, pressing his clothed body close to Estel's. In but moments he had opened the strings that held the man's sleeping shirt closed, and his hand quickly found the soft nipples, twisting them between his fingers gently, until they hardened against his thumb. A pressed moan floated to his ears, and Legolas felt himself harden against Estel's thigh.
He knew that it was too early yet to go further than kissing and touching, Estel was too ill for more, but it was the promise of more that made him smile and settle more comfortably against the man, right where he belonged.
To be continued.