Questionable & Unavoidable
Note: Thanks to TenshiXXX for being the only one to review! That really motivated me to finish this chapter so thanks a whole lot! Also, I'd like to thank Laurenke1 for being one fo my role models. I recommend reading her stories which inspired me to make Question & Unavoidable. You're a good friend and mentor Lauren, thanks a bunch for your support!
**Disclaimer: Credit to Tolkien for a wonderful imagination! Lord of the Rings is not mine, I own none of the characters and simply chose to borrow them.
As the veil of starlight waded into the black sky and it was nearing the early morning, Legolas lifted his friend from the floor and let Aragorn's head fall limp on his shoulder. Legolas enjoyed the touch and he immediately longed for more contact, but not out of lust alone. He knew that he also hungered for love, and though Aragorn had given his to Arwen and there was no hope of him taking it back, Legolas was just thrilled for the presence of his friend that he had traveled so far with. Legolas was affectionate, and he couldn't help feeling a tingle in his chest everytime he encountered Aragorn.
It was a new feeling for him, and he didn't know what to do with the lovehe had since no females of Mirkwood had ever caught his eye. Once again, he had a strange awareness that Thranduil was watching him more closely, and as Elrond took Aragorn from his shoulder and began to speak to him in a father to son matter, he beckoned Legolas to him. "Legolas my son, Lle naa belegohtar (you are a mighty warrior) and a prince, yet you cannot tell your own atar whom you are in love with?" Legolas averted his eyes, but was also careful not to let them lie on Aragorn. He had given himself away and not known it, so was his attraction that obvious?! Thranduil would not have the prince turning from him so he twisted the elf's shoulders slightly to keep their eyes locked and continued with a soft and understanding smile.
"You love Aragorn," he stated simply without a questioning or wavering tone. Automatically, Legolas sold himself out by turning abruptly towards Elrond and his crush whom were still deep in conversation. There was no such shade that could describe the color of Legolas' fully flushed face, and he bowed his head in mortification. For a while, no words were needed between the two elfs, and then Thranduil stooped over in a matter you wouldn't expect, and whispered to Legolas,"He is a lucky man to have my son as an admirer, and you are lucky to know such a noble man. Are you planning to tell him your feelings?" Legolas lifted his stunning blue eyes to meet his father's and brushed some lovely golden hair from the older elf's face. "I am...not sure. He does not wish to go on without Arwen Undómiel." Thranduil put an arm around his son and hurried him away from Aragorn's heart broken face and Elrond's comforting one. "We will continue this talk in private Legolas. We don't want Aragorn hearing something that would give him a stroke on the night of Arwen's death."
The two men made their way through Rivendell's glorious palace and trails before reaching a dip in the ground and a little cobblestone circle with a welcoming bench gleaming to the side. Not far from it was a small staircase which introduced through its upward winding, two stiff wooden doors draped in fresh flowers and lush vines. "Lord Elrond prepared these rooms for us to stay in tonight, no one should bother us here." He opened the door to the bigger room and led Legolas inside and away from the despair of the night. "It has been a while since I have had a decent talk with you. Clearly, you have grown before my blind eyes, I wasn't prepared for you to become a prince and a warrior so soon. I wasn't prepared for you to fall in love."
Legolas was taken aback by the passion in his father's chiming voice and he raised an eyebrow while asking carefully,"So you do not care that I have these feelings for Aragorn?" Thranduil looked up and jerked his head just barely enough for Legolas to notice. He looked distant when he finally answered. "No Legolas, I do not care. I am happy for you. I'm sure you don't know what to do now, but I must advise you against keeping this from him. Aragorn cares for you deeply; more then you have noticed. He will be more upset if he finds out you love him and realizes you kept it from him, then he will be if you tell him directly." Legolas looked into the wise elf's face and was caught in a wave of such shocking seriousness, that he could not doubt the advice.
"I will try," he promised Thranduil before standing up and leaving the room feeling tired, dazed, sad, and strangely relieved. He was glad that his father didn't seem to mind Legolas' strange attraction and that someone else finally knew how he felt about Aragorn. He mourned for Arwen's short life and was so confused as to the matter of the future. Only as Legolas slipped into his room and quickly shed his belt, tunic, and leggings before climbing wearily into his bed, did he realize that he hadn't talked to Thranduil about the plans for his wedding. Surely now that his father knew he loved Aragorn, he wouldn't force him into marraige, right? Legolas released a long, stretching and well-needed sigh and closed his weighted eyes as heavy clouds of sleep took him. He would not sleep for long, however.
Aragorn didn't know what had come over him, but after he had broken down three more times and cried on his foster father's shoulder, it was decided he would stay in Rivendell a few nights, and Elrond quickly brought him to his room. "Aragorn, tampa tanya (stop that). I loved her very much too, but our love combined couldn't have saved her. Arwen will forever be faithful to you, even in death, but she does not want you crying over her. After her funeral, you should honor her by being a loyal and just king of Gondor. That's what she wanted for you all along." When the elf had said goodnight and left, Aragorn's mind raked through Elrond's words. Surely Arwen didn't want him to forget her! Did she? He leaned back absentmindedly and broke down in tears again before he his head hit the pillows.
Aragorn had always been so strong, so sure he would marry her after the war and after she recovered. Plus he had only ever cried when he felt really broken and he had a reason to. How many times had he cried tonight? Aragorn put his hands on the course skin of his face and rubbed up and down drowsily as the tears died down again. Suddenly the door clicked and the man shot up stock still and watched in alarm as a shadow filled the doorway. He was reaching for his sword carefully when a very musical voice rang out and the figure shifted awkwardly. "Legolas?!" Aragorn quickly dropped his sword and slumped backwards with an exhasperated sigh. "Don't ever do that again! Haven't you ever heard of knocking before entering? Damn it Legolas you nearly made me kill you!"
The beautiful archer lifted a hand in apology and slowly drifted over to Aragorn's side. His golden hair shimmered in the dim light and Aragorn had to smile at the welcome sight of his friend. "I'm sorry I startled you Estel, I just needed someone to talk to and I figured you would as well," Legolas said as he lowered himself to sit next to Aragorn on the small bed. Aragorn laughed to disguise the pain welling up inside him, but Legolas could see right through him. For a moment they sat in sad silence and then Aragorn thought about what Legolas had said and asked in a confused and yet clear tone,"You said that you came here to talk, what is on your mind my friend?" Legolas closed his eyes as Aragorn's words echoed around the small, dark room and savoured the sound of his voice for a little longer.
When he finally spoke, his words were hesitant and angry. "Tonight has been...I had a nightmare. I have never had these troubles when I've slept before, I don't know what to think of it. In the nightmare, I was married to a horrible woman who resembled an orc. She was terrible and she tortured me. And...I just can't do this Aragorn, I cannot continue to live in the Woodland Realm nor can I get married. But where could I go and hide from the elves and family I am betraying? That I could not do either..." He looked up at Aragorn with pleading eyes and saw himself reflected in the other's eyes. He looked like a disheaveled mess and was grateful that Aragorn still had respect for him. The ranger reached out and patted Legolas' hand with a downcast expression and whispered comfortingly,"Have strength Legolas, don't run away now. I'm sure you will find love one day and your father won't force you to marry until then. He cares for you deeply; more than you have noticed."
Legolas blinked rapidly; these were the exact words Thranduil had spoken to him earlier. The pair of men sat in the bed for awhile as things began to tense up again and Legolas felt himself growing hot under the tender touch of Aragorn's hand. "Thank you very much Estel, I think I can go back to sleep now. Is there anything you want to say?" Although he didn't know why, the elf felt pained slightly when Aragorn shook his head and turned away. Why would his friend not confide in him? Legolas smiled, however, and lifted himself from the bed with ease. He didn't know what to say now, but made his way to the door once again as his mind reeled and improvised. "Well...goodnight then Aragorn, I hope you have rest despite your sadness." With that, the young man opened the door and slid out with silence and invisibility of presence as air. He ran his pale hands through his hair and stalked away, back to his room, and felt the horror of his nightmare ebb and fade into a lingering vapor.
Now only the glazed look in Aragorn's clouded eyes haunted him. Aragorn fell back into his bed and found that his eyes lacked the ability to cry anymore, so he just curled up at the top of the sheets and imagined seeing Arwen again as he slowly shut his eyes and yawned his way into a light, dream-filled sleep. The tired king was glad he wasn't unfortunate like his friend and his head was not invaded by images of cruel torment while he slept. Instead, he dreamed of an impossible and forgotten wedding. Arwen was angelic in her stunning pale blue dress and Legolas was no longer chased by sadness and the memories of war. He was still an innocent elf with big dreams and he stood as Aragorn's best man as Elrond quietly and proudly walked his daughter down the isle to Aragorn. Immediately, the sensation of taking Arwen in his arms again swept Aragorn off his feet and the breif moment was pure bliss before he woke up to the blinding sunlight of early morning in Rivendell.
He sat up in his bed groggily, annoyed, and at a loss. He tried to get untangled from the sheets and stand up, but he almost fell to the floor before catching himself with a grunt. "Arwen, you left me a shell of a person. Damnit, why did it have to be you?! Why did you have to die?" His voice was gruff and scratchy in the fresh hours of morning, but he took no notice and continued to scream his lover's name until footsteps padded down the hall and Aragorn was drawn back to the bed. He kept silent although his head now throbbed and waited for Legolas or Elrond to come in. Instead, Thranduil entered with his gaze curious, calm, and captivating. Aragorn knew better then to disrespect such an honorable person, but he still threw his hands in the air and muttered anyway,"Jeez, don't you elves know how to knock?!" The pale blonde lifted his eyes painfully slow and raked his stare up and across every inch of Aragorn's body before sitting down in a chair across from the bed. "Forgive me." He stated simply and sincerely as he looked around and then began the odd and most certainly uncomfortable conversation.
"I realize that we do not know each other as well as we could, and for this I apologize. I understand that you and Legolas are very close, this makes my lack of communication with you innaccusable." Aragorn paused in disbelief and then shrugged his broad shoulders with cluelessness etched on his face. "Um no My Lord Thranduil, it is I who should be apologizing. I had not taken the time to address you personally at all. Forgive me." Both of the grown men sat stock still with an odd stretch of time passing before them. It seemed it was an increasingly long time before Aragorn finally leaned back in the bed, folded his hands in his lap and spoke. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you when you entered. I don't know what came over me Heru En Amin (My Lord). It's only that Arwen's passing is...never going to be less difficult."
The elven king hadn't ever expected such mistakes from King Elessar and worried in silence as he pondered his son's feelings. Surely Legolas wanted to tell Aragorn himself about what he thought, so Thranduil could only give him that chance. "I came hear on Legolas' behalf. He is leaving this afternoon, and I want him to have a companion I can trust. Will you go with him back to Mirkwood?" Aragorn froze and his eyes glazed over before he straightened up and leaned forward into the conversation."And why couldn't Legolas have mentioned this? I saw him last night, and I would have thought he would say something of the matter." My eyes studied Legolas' father with interest and suspicion. My hands were folded in my lap and though I did not appear like a king at the moment, I still spoke with the voice of one and played my part well. Thranduil bowed his head with a small smile and then murmered in reply,"Yes, the prince does not know of this arrangement, but he is leaving today, and it would give his father some peace to know that someone was looking after him. You understand don't you Aragorn?"
Aragorn nodded slowly but continued to stand up for his friend. "Beg your pardon Thranduil, but Legolas is most capable of taking care of himself. He was in the war for Middle Earth and he is a prince. There is nothing to fear anymore, evil is gone." The elf considered this quietly and nearly thought about giving up, but in truth, he was worried for Legolas and this would also give his son a chance to explain his emotions. "Aragorn...do this for me, and for Legolas' sake, please." Finally, the man yeilded and he began to get ready for travel. The question was how to convince Legolas to let him tag along. It was easier then it looked however, and Aragorn was worried that the blonde was strangely coorporative. "I truly think you should rest Estel, it would be better for you. But if you want to distract your thoughts and insist on coming along, it would be a pleasure to have a friend accompany me and I will not stop you." Legolas shrugged absentmindedly and turned back to his horse with a happy, dancing light in his pale eyes.
Together, the odd pair of friends set out for Legolas' home with two other minor elf companions. The journey would not be in vain. Thranduil and Elrond looked on unseen in the shadows with smiles, both with the knowledge of a beginning of something unique between their sons.
Note: How am I doing so far? I really hope everyone likes the story and I ask that you please review and give me some ideas for what's to come because I'm kind of stuck. This is my very first fanfiction so I'll need a lot of help. Thanks to everyone that will take the time to write a review and make my day!
