disclaimers: you know lotr isn't mine.. right? no? then i'm telling you it's
not.
a/n: thanks to all who reviewed! it's been a while since i came in contact into
the online world again! hehehe..
nothing graphic but still contains SLASH [a/l]. now shoo, if you don't
like it. i'm sure there are many hetero fics out there you might like.
single quotes are elvish, and italicized words are memories.
THE SLAP OF MORTALITY__________
part 3: to ask not
When Legolas looked up, he realized he had reached the place where the DĂșnedain had pitched their tents up. He looked around, and not long he spotted one a bit isolated from the rest and assumed it belonged to Aragorn.
He sighed and slowly made his way, hoping that Aragorn would at least be finding some rest, even how little it may be, and not worrying about this or that. He cared for the Man and to worry for him was a natural reaction.
Aragorn deserved even a moment of rest and solitude in a time when his presence was called for here and there. So busy was he that he hadn't spent that much time with the Elf and the Dwarf.
Time Legolas had spent with the Ranger had been very short to none at all since they had left Dunharrow. He had exchanged merely short words and phrases with him since. He and Gimli had, wisely or foolishly, stepped aside in Aragorn's way for the soon king had too much to think about. That time, Aragorn had never stopped to amaze the Elf and even Gimli for he had suddenly rose up from becoming the Ranger that he was and was rightly acting as Elessar, the King of Gondor, would.
Slowly but surely, Legolas thought, his hour was drawing near.
When he reached the tent, Legolas remained standing outside. The entrance was barely open, the cloth was slightly waved to the side, light from the outside poured in a stream in the dark tent. And there he could see, Aragorn's form sitting wearily on a chair, his head rested on one of his hands. A single lamp was lit on the table in front of him, its light dim.
His heart reached out to him but he considered turning back, not wanting to disturb the Ranger, if he was still to call him that, on his short moment alone to himself. He looked at Aragorn's back, hesitant. He sighed softly and sadly. Aragorn had much on his mind right now and Legolas thought it would be best to leave him be. Even though he wanted to walk in and comfort and help the King, who had yet to claim his throne, with the heavy burden on his shoulders, Aragorn would most likely wish to be on his own.
He started to walk back when a voice from the inside stopped him.
'Legolas, please, don't deprive me of your presence now.' Aragorn's voice in the flowing Elvish tongue made Legolas' heart sing. Though it was heavy with weariness as it pleaded for the Elf to stay. The blonde Elf was surprised and turned back to look at him.
The Ranger hadn't moved from his position, his back still turned to him. Frowning, the Elf wondered how his presence was known.
It was then he saw the shadow he cast inside when he blocked the entrance. He shook his head, mildly amused. How come he didn't notice that sooner?
Brushing up the cloth that closed the entrance with his hand, he entered.
"Drop the curtain behind you." Aragorn asked softly, and again, his voice revealed how the later days had tired him, if not physically, then emotionally or mentally.
Legolas did, leaving the tent depending on the dim lamp for light. He walked over and stood behind Aragorn, taking hold of the back of his chair. "You look weary, Elessar." He said softly, using a name Aragorn rightly deserves now.
Leaning his head back to the Elf's solid form behind him, Aragorn kept his eyes closed, wanting his weariness to dissolve and disappear. 'From you, Legolas, not yet.' He whispered in Elvish. 'Not yet.'
Legolas realized that it must be the first time Aragorn had been alone for the day and truly, he was weary as a soldier that had just come from battle. And that, he was. It was as if many years had been added on him as this quest finally neared its climax. Raising his hand from the chair, he rested them on Aragorn's shoulders and began to smooth out the knots on his back. Aragorn gave a soft sound of thanks.
'Then Estel,' Legolas said, changing his use of name. 'What have you been doing?' his voice was light and it gave Aragorn the comfort of a normal conversation, not one in which decisions had to be made and choices had to be weighed and chosen.
Aragorn's hand reached out to softly take hold of one of Legolas wrists as the Elf continued to soothe his back. The fact that Legolas was surprised and nearly backed away slipped his notice since he was used to such contact between them. 'Elfstone, I was called as I went around with the brethren Elladan and Elrohir to give aid and heal those that I can earlier this night.'
'And it bothers you?' Legolas asked.
'Nay, it does not. It was supposed to be expected. I..' Shaking his head, he sighed, the sound seemed defeated and weary. 'This land hungers for the leadership of a King, Legolas.' he continued.
'Then they shan't be looking and waiting for long. Your hour draws nigh.'
Smiling weakly, Aragorn said, 'Indeed, it does.' And fell silent once again.
'But what it holds for me, I know not.' He continued after a while.
'Your reign will be great, Aragorn, that, I know.' Legolas said.
'But it will not last forever..'
Legolas eyes had suddenly darkened, and he heard not the rest of Aragorn's statement. Yes, it would not last forever, he knew, and wanted to say. But Aragorn needed not to remind him of that matter, he knew it fully well.
Unknown to him, Aragorn narrowed his eyes at him in worry and suspicion as the Elf's eyes seemed to stare at the light of the lamp but appeared not to be seeing it.
The Man pretended to cough a little, and that brought the Legolas' attention back. He felt it more than he saw it that Legolas had shook his head lightly, perhaps to rid thoughts in his head, for he too, often did that.
'What is on your mind, little one?' Aragorn asked Legolas who still stood behind him.
The blonde Elf scrunched up his nose at the way he was addressed.
'On my mind? I'm thinking of what to do with you if I hear you call me that again.' As if to emphasize his point, he squeezed Aragorn's shoulders hard enough to call forth a wince from the Man.
But still, Aragorn only chuckled at the empty threat.
Legolas snorted. 'And you, Estel? What is on your mind?' Peering down to him, Legolas asked.
He knew that if Aragorn answered him seriously, it would take them the whole night to discuss just one of the many things that occupied his mind at the present. But if Aragorn needed company besides the captains that speak of war, then he would gladly lend his ear and listen.
Aragorn smiled, making his face gentle and younger. He looked up at Legolas who stared down at him, golden strands framing his face. Reaching up a hand, he caressed Legolas' cheek in a touch so feeble it rivaled the touch of a feather. 'Naught, little one. Nothing for now but you with me.'
Unwillingly, Legolas stiffened, his eyes flickered for a moment with fear and uncertainty, and his earlier thoughts came unbidden to his mind. Slowly dropping his hands to his sides, he opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again when nothing came out. He raised a hand to tuck a non-existent hair back into place and took a step back, causing Aragorn to look back at him, worried.
Recovering from his surprise at the sudden but not unexpected touch, he said, 'You tire yourself too much.' Shaking his head in a motherly gesture. He noticed then the discarded pack on the floor, its contents, blankets and spare clothing nearly scattered.
Finding himself something to do, he bent down and picked them up, folding them neatly before he placed them back on the pack, thinking that he shouldn't be thinking too much before talking to Aragorn lest his heart reveals itself, not only to the Man but even to himself. Little did he know that it was too late, Aragorn had read his eyes.
Too occupied was he, or too occupied he made himself to be that he didn't notice Aragorn had stood up until the Man had taken hold of both of the Elf's wrist and gently stopped him from what he was doing.
But Legolas didn't raise his eyes to him and instead focused them on the blanket in his hands. 'Your things are a mess, Aragorn. You..'
'Look at me, Legolas.' At those words, the fear that he'd find himself already deeply fallen had returned to him, and maybe it was just the case.
With a single look and the way his body had tensed, both hadn't went unnoticed to the Elfstone, he had destroyed the perfect balance of their relationship. The balance between friends and lovers, friendship and love.
Hesitantly, Legolas raised his eyes. And even before meeting Aragorn's own, he felt his piercing gaze as it tried to reveal the concealed in him.
'A shadow hangs over you, and it is not the shadow that all in Middle-earth now share.' Aragorn said softly, all the while trying to read Legolas' eyes. 'Something tells me it has something to do with me, or you would not have recoiled from my touch, nor would you avoid my eyes.'
Never before had Legolas experienced being the one in the corner. Yet cornered or not, fearful or brave, he couldn't lie or evade the question. Looking straight into the others eyes, voice surprisingly steady and unwavering, he answered, words just slipping out of his mouth. 'You cannot ask me to love you, Estel.' he said albeit softly. 'You cannot.'
~~~
a/n: i think i'll just have another chapter more, i don't seem to find time
to do anything anymore. drop me a line!
*walks away muttering how uncomfortable a female groin guard could be..*
