Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the Lord of the Rings.
Note: Thanks for the wonderful reviews. If anybody has any ideas just send them and I will see if I will include them in my story. Let's begin. By the way, I do not intend to follow the movie but more like fill in the blanks so just to let you know.
She stood at his side, her rightful place he mused. Looking around, she was the most beautiful maiden in the company, and there were many maidens here, but she was the most beautiful and perhaps unaware of all the longing gazes given to her by the males. He wished he was as unaware as she was of all the jealous stares he received by the males.
He knew what they were thinking. What did he, a mortal have to offer their Evenstar? What did he do to receive the love and undying devotion of their Undómiel? One who was not of their kind, although blessed with prolonged life what would he offer their princess?
He bowed his head, smiling in return as she smiled at him. He was truly blessed at having received her love but all he felt was despair at knowing he would spend the rest of his days by her side and lead her to her doom eventually. He released her hand and said softly, "I am going to take a walk in the gardens. I need some solitude, Arwen. I will seek you out later; there is much I need to think about."
She knew his need for solitude, but she knew not the true reason. She did not know he did not wish to spend another minute in her company, where he could not escape feeling like he was drowning. He was confused about his feelings and he needed time to think after today's council. He needed to be alone to be able to accept that now was his time to rise. He had pledged himself to Frodo, to protect the seemingly frail hobbit on his quest to destroy the One Ring. To see it through to the end and to become King of Gondor if he survived.
He walked outside, leaving the well travelled paths and going into the thick underbrush to a place only he knew of. A place not far off the bridge where he stood with Arwen only last night, where she had said that she would wait for him, until he was ready to love her. Yet he wondered if he was ever going to be ready for that.
He quickened his pace, the pain in his heart growing with each step. He remembered collapsing in Legolas' arms, crying, just a few days ago. It seemed like that elf had the power to undo him by merely looking at him with kindness.
Gently pushing the branches away, he came to the place he wanted to be. The small pond where, in the summer, ducks swam and the children came to swim. Yet now it was deserted because of the late fall. There was a chill in the air and Aragorn looked up to see the stars as they illuminated the sky.
He wondered if he had made the wrong choice. It had felt, and still felt right to go with Frodo as the heir of Isildur. It was his destiny and no matter how hard he tried, he knew he could not escape it. There was a good chance he might not survive this quest. Yet he wanted to see it through to the end. This was what he had been preparing for all his life, to lead his people to this victory.
He ran a hand over his face and through his hair. To be back in Rivendell brought back so many happy memories, but it also made him aware of the dying power of the elves. The people who had raised him would go to a place he could not follow; even the one he loved most in this world would leave him.
Aragorn was not sure if he could bear this. To be left behind with Arwen should have been enough for a lesser man, but it was not enough for him. He could not love her, no matter how hard he tried. And he had tried; he had tried to forget Legolas and to escape his destiny by leaving these lands, but always he returned, and it seemed Fate had a different path for him as he kept returning to Legolas and Legolas, it seemed, to him.
It cut through his heart to know the elf did not return his feelings. But he had accepted it until a couple of days ago when Legolas had told him he would love Aragorn from a distance. Did this mean Legolas did return his feelings, or was it merely something the elf said to console him?
A part of him wanted to know this more then anything, but the other part was afraid of getting crushed. Now he could still pretend the elf loved him when times were dark.
Rustling leaves caught him off guard and he turned quickly, expecting to see one of the Fair Folk, but he was surprised when he saw the person of his thoughts walking towards him. He grimaced when he turned back to the water. Dear Valar, the irony is too much for me to bear. Must he be everywhere, every time I think of him?
Soon Legolas stopped next to him. The elf did not appear surprised but did not speak, crossing his arms over his chest as Aragorn said, "Did you follow me here to find this place?" He turned halfway to the beautiful face beside him to see a small smile playing on the well curved lips.
"Of course. I am surprised you did not notice. What would you have done had I been an orc? You would be dead now and nobody would find you for days without end." The words flooded from the lips and Aragorn looked forward once more as he answered.
"This is a protected country. I do not think any orcs will walk these paths."
"It could happen you know," Legolas answered stubbornly.
"I do not think you would care if I had been killed by orcs." The words slipped past his lips without him thinking and even before he realized he had spoken his mind.
He hurried to turn to look at Legolas to see the elf had gone pale. He trembled slightly with shock and probably suppressed anger as he spoke, "How dare you! How dare you imply that I would not care if you had been hurt, or worse killed! I care for you, Aragorn and I would not wish to see you get killed."
"You say you care for me but you rip my heart out with your lies, Legolas. You say you do not love me but then you say you will love me from a distance. What kind of love is that, Legolas? The kind of which I speak, the kind you said would pass but in fact has not, only intensified over the years? The passion kind of love or the pitiful kind where you take pity on me? If it is the latter then I would rather not have it!" Aragorn demanded an answer.
"How can you even begin to understand what love is? You are too young for it, Aragorn. You were too young when you first spoke of love to me and now you say that love has not changed. Well let me tell you, it should have. Sixty years have passed, Aragorn, sixty long years in which I despaired and hoped and prayed that your love would pass or lessen. It pains me to see it has not for it will only bring you heartache," Legolas cried out, as Aragorn turned away from him.
"I cannot listen to this. You think me a child, Legolas? I am far from it. I wish my love for you had changed, for it would have been so much easier to accept my destiny then. To accept and be content with Arwen's love, but I am not. I do not want her, I only want you," The man finally forced the words from his lips.
"I do not think you are a child, and it was wrong of me to say you are too young. I do not know what came over me but I will answer your question, Aragorn. I did not mean what I said and I am sorry I brought you this grief." The elf bowed his head so Aragorn could not see the naked pain in his eyes.
The next moment a hand forced his chin up and Legolas tried hard to bury the pain but it was to no avail. He could not hide it quickly enough. Aragorn gazed into his eyes for a long time before the man spoke in an icy whisper. "You lie to me again. Why do this when it brings you pain to tell me these things? I want to know the truth."
Struggling for control Legolas gripping Aragorn's shoulders and whispered, "I cannot tell you the truth, Aragorn. It will destroy both of us…"
Bringing their faces closer together, Aragorn answered just as softly, "Or it could be the beginning of something new. Something powerful and blissful… Say you do not want me and I will leave. Say you do not desire me and I shall go back to Arwen. Say you do not love me and I shall live the rest of my life alone. My love for you does not wax and wane, and it shall never die because I simply love you too much."
His vision blinded by tears, Legolas forced himself to meet Aragorn's eyes as they stared into his own while he said, "I do not want you, Aragorn... I…" Their faces moved closer as Legolas continued to whisper, through it was harder to form the words. "…Do not desire you…."
Their eyes were locked together even as Legolas cocked his head to the side, whispering the last words in a rush of warmth breath against Aragorn's lips. "I…love…you…"
After saying those words the elf pressed his lips against Aragorn's tightly as he closed his eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks. He felt the man tighten his grip upon his shoulders and Aragorn's tongue traced his lips.
He opened them, allowing Aragorn's tongue in. The man broke away suddenly to kiss the tears away as they continued to slip from the ethereal being's eyes. Aragorn spoke, "Why do you weep, Legolas?"
Opening his eyes, Legolas rested his head against Aragorn's shoulder as he choked out, "For sealing our doom. I did not mean to tell you this but if you are kind to me it is harder to stay true to my promise."
"What promise, mellon nin?" There was a surprised note in Aragorn's voice as it shook.
"That I would never reveal to you how I feel. You are meant to be King and you can never be King with me by your side. We cannot be, Aragorn." The man's arms tightened around his own as Legolas raised his head to see Aragorn had tears standing in his eyes as well.
"I know this and it breaks my heart. But know that my heart shall always belong to you, no matter what may happen to me." Aragorn placed a hand against Legolas' cheek and the elf covered it with his own.
"Thank you, meleth nin. I will stand with you all the way and whenever you have need of me." Legolas smiled at him and Aragorn felt his own lips responding.
He placed a soft kiss on Legolas' cheek but instead the elf turned and met his lips once more, demanding a deeper kiss.
"Legolas! Estel!" A shocked cry caused them to break apart. Leaping away from each other both turned their head to see Lord Elrond standing there. There was genuine surprise written on the elder's face until a cool mask replaced any emotions as he spoke. "A word. Now!"
So how will Elrond react? What do you want to see? Please review.