Author: MistofStars

Pairing: Legolas/Aragorn

Rating: T

Author's note: This has (!) something to do with Tolkien's books, yes, and I did a lot of research and I just wanted to inform you that (right now) we're in the year 2959 of the Third Age. And some stuff "really" happened (in Tolkien's books and/ or PJ's movies) and some stuff has just happened or is about to happen in my mind. I recognized that I made some little mistakes, e.g. Aragorn gets to know his real ancestry at the age of 20, but I wrote at the age of 24 – come on, you have to forgive me such mistakes, please! So, yeah

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters; this is all just a beautiful lie. I don't make money with this. Everything's made up! Totally made up! Unfortunately made up! But still- made up!

Comments: Really appreciated! I'm always happy to get a review ;) Each review helps me to continue my work!

Chapter 7: the purest form of agony

"Listen to me!", Norgas said. Hundreds of elves stood there in a crowd and were looking up to him. Their eyes were filled with amazement. Who was this stranger from Northern Mirkwood? His long hair was black and his eyes were dark, his skin was as pale as snow, and a certain gloominess surrounded his being. The clothes he wore were as black as his hair. Also he carried some short and long swords and arrows and a bow. Was he a soldier?

"Listen to me! I have travelled for days and days to speak to all of you! Your former king Thranduil is trying to kill me just because of that!" Just mentioning the name "Thranduil" put anger and hate into the Southern Mirkwood elves' eyes.

Norgas licked his lips and a sarcastic and evil joy spread inside of his insane heart. He would kill Thranduil and all those who belonged to his fortress. All of them would have to die, and he could finally find inner peace. With the help of these stupid elves he would gain total power over Mirkwood.

"Thranduil is planning a war against you! He is sick of you and of the uproar you have felt for him and his people for so long! I have heard it from his own mouth! He wants you to accept his dominion like a few hundred years ago!"

Cries of surprise and rage rang out. Finally one old elf stepped forward – he possessed long white hair and only a few worry lines were to be seen in his wise face. He seemed to be a respected person and some kind of a leader.

"Liar!", he exclaimed. "Why should we believe you? We don't even know who you are!"

"Oh, you better believe me", Norgas smiled. "Just try to think for yourself!", he called then.

"Who has left you all alone so many years ago? Who escaped all this danger you have to face every day? Thranduil has deserted you! You fight against the enemy and all evil creatures in this area and he sits in his castle, in peace and in abundance! And how does he reward you, tell me? Has he ever thanked you for your deeds? Has he ever sent troops of soldiers to help you? And now he fears your displeasure! He needs you as a protective wall, and before you can declare war on him he declares war on you to weak your will! Do take no nonsense like that!"

General displeasure diffused. A fair old female elf screamed at last: "Well, I believe him! Aren't we just a defence for Thranduil's folk? We're protecting his people through risking our lives! And here we are, left with no help and hope!"

Inwardly Norgas laughed very loud because it was so easy to tempt the southern elves. They were hungry for a war, and he would feed them with what they wanted.

(...)

Still Legolas and Aragorn were sitting in Legolas' chamber. They had lit a fire in the chimney and the night had come to Mirkwood at last. Outside bright stars burnt in the darkness. Silence filled the room for a while. Aragorn was thinking about the things Legolas had told him some time ago.

"And who's this man who could escape the dungeons? Why was it so important that you returned immediately?", Aragorn asked quietly. Legolas sat in a chair next to him. His severe face was illuminated by the smouldering fire and his eyes glowed when he looked at Aragorn.

"His name is Norgas. He is the most wicked creature I have ever known. He is also mentally disturbed, if you ask me. Basically we couldn't kill him because my father wanted him to rotten in his prison cell forever... Anyhow, like I said before: Norgas would kill me if he found me. That's beyond any question. The reason for this is that I'm Thranduil's son. He hates nothing more than my father and everyone who is close to him or who is a relative of him."

Aragorn nodded. He saw that this topic touched Legolas' feelings and hurt him a lot, so he wanted to change the subject.

"You said before a war is about to happen. What is the reason for that?"

Legolas smiled gently at Aragorn.

"Your questions are linked, my love." Softly he touched Aragorn's cheek and stroked his strands out of his face. He sighed and bowed his head. Like this he couldn't see that Aragorn flushed.

"Well, Norgas broke out and fled to Southern Mirkwood as far as we know. I have explained to you that our kin there isn't quite fond of us. Anyway, my father wanted to warn them that a dangerous person could run away from our dungeons. But the messenger's horse returned with its master who had been shot. And the arrows which killed him are those which are used in Southern Mirkwood. We fear this is a sign that our relatives in the other part of this forest are going to declare war upon us. And since Norgas hates us and everyone in this region we are certain he has stirred up our relatives."

"I see", Aragorn mumbled thoughtfully. A war was approaching and Legolas had experienced a gruesome foretime. Under that circumstances given the mortal was astounded that Legolas had so much self-control. Even if the world was going down Legolas would accept it with enormous composure. He wasn't someone who was going to lose his temper. Maybe this behaviour had its resource in the high age Legolas had attained so far.

All at once and shocked Aragorn figured out that Legolas wasn't moved by these worldly things like a war or the rowing of the peoples. Of course he was affected by these affairs in some way, but he was more occupied with his thoughts and emotions. He couldn't care about the world. He was too concerned with his own inner world. In spite of it all Aragorn assumed that egotism wasn't the reason for this. Although Legolas lived in the real world and for and with his folk, he simply couldn't be a part of it. He was too broken to embrace a normal life. That was why he had thought about death before! That was why he had wanted to end his existence again and again!

But what had made Legolas this way? It couldn't have been a historical happening, it must have been something which had influenced him directly, personally.

"I still think you conceal an important fact", Aragorn smiled.

"Please, tell me everything. You know that I need to know it all."

A compelling smile came to Legolas' lips and suddenly there was an admiring glow in the elf's eyes.

"No one can hide something from you, am I right?", he whispered amused. Then he got up and knelt down before Aragorn. He reached out his hand and touched the mortal's cheek and was surprised that his skin still felt chilly.

"Do you feel cold? Maybe we should find you something warmer to wear", Legolas tried to distract. With a loving

but sad smile Aragorn grabbed Legolas' hand and held it gently in his.

"Please, Legolas. Just tell me...I know it's hurting you but you have to tell me everything."

"You're right", the elf sighed. He slipped onto Aragorn's lap and put his arms around his lover's shoulders.

Their lips touched and mixed with each other. The following kiss was slow and tender, but Aragorn felt the elf's anxiety. He placed his strong hands upon Legolas' chest and pushed him gently away.

With closed lids Legolas nodded and smiled. His defences were finally defeated.

He rose again and stretched out his hand so that Aragorn could take hold of it. This was exactly what Aragorn did and they both left the room with its cosy fireplace. Without a word Legolas guided him along endless corridors which were all looking the same. Dozens of similar doors decorated the side walls of each tunnel. There were no windows and whenever he thought the end of a corridor was in sight he had to admit he had been wrong - one corridor simply led to another which was looking the same. Soon Aragorn understood that this palace was built like a maze. Strangers would get hopelessly lost in these alleys instantly.

Here and there torches lit their way. They didn't meet a single person and the silence started to drive him mad.

Eventually they stopped before one of the wooden doors and Legolas knocked on it three times. Then he said an elfish word Aragorn didn't know and - as if by an invisible hand - the door opened quietly. One last time Legolas

turned around to Aragorn and squeezed his hand. His smile was assuring.

"Trust me", he said and then he led Aragorn into a small cell which wasn't enlightened at all.

Aragorn felt a cooling draught playing with his hair.

They progressed slowly and carefully - it was hard to find a way in the darkness.

Next they reached another door, and Legolas had to give some raps again. It scared the mortal to death to hear a dark male voice suddenly answering to Legolas' call. Someone stood behind this gateway!

"Name the secret password and this door will be opened!", the unseen person demanded. Once more Legolas said an old elfish word Aragorn couldn't recognize. Thereupon the door indeed opened and when they entered they actually left the palace. A strange sight met the mortal's eyes: They really were outside! The moon shone brightly and dark clouds flew in the night's sky! There were black trees all around them, they were deep in the forest! Then he got frightened again when he noticed a few soldiers which were heavily armed. All of them remained silent. They had long hair and were tall and strong and beautiful. Although they had stern faces nothing could be read in their eyes or in their mimic. Astounded he observed these bizarre men.

They guarded something. Legolas' guided him to this specific point in the gloom. Then Aragorn detected the gravestone. The elf let go of his hand and knelt down before the resting place. He bowed his head and some elfish prayers escaped his mouth. Amazed the mortal watched how Legolas clasped his hands. After some moments had passed Legolas got up again and the strange and bewildering idea of a smile touched his lips.

"These men here", Legolas softly explained, "are bright-eyed guards and fighters. They keep a strict watch for this location. Only a few persons know about this place. It's a secret spot and it shall stay like this. For that reason these men are never allowed to say something about their duty. Twice a day there's a shift changeover - one shift for each day and night..." All at once Legolas interrupted his speech.

"But what are they guarding? This grave here?", Aragorn asked eagerly.

"Yes, the earthly remains of my brother Tinwe", Legolas sighed. Astonishment expanded in Aragorn's heart and mind. Thousand thoughts and questions ran through his head. Legolas had had a brother? How did the elf die? Weren't elves practically as good as immortal? Why was this grave here in the forest and why was it kept undercover?

"Norgas... Norgas has murdered my brother a long time ago. He", again Legolas sighed. It was so hard for him to tell someone something that hurt him so much. This pain inside his chest never seemed to go away...

"He practically poisoned his wine and Tinwe died that same day. After we figured out that Norgas was Tinwe's murderer my father imprisoned him. That was a few hundred years ago... We didn't tell our people what had really happened with their crown prince. We made up a lie and announced that Tinwe had drowned in the forest river...

You know, we didn't want to admit our mistake. If we had told everyone someone could kill the crown prince one might have thought we actually weren't able to protect our people or even our king! ..."

"Did Norgas ever confess why he had poisoned your brother?", Aragorn questioned curiously.

A bitter smile was the first given answer Aragorn received to this question.

"Yes. He did that often enough while he spent his days in his tiny prison cell. Back then he was jealous of my father's dominion and so ambitious for power. He thought he could kill all those who would try to claim the throne and its linked leadership. So he took the life of my brother... then he tried to murder me too, but he was imprisoned before he could accomplish that", Legolas had to gulp hard. He remembered this day so well...

"Actually he wanted to kill my father at last, but his plans fell through."

"My Lord", Aragorn gasped. "What an imbecile lunatic!"

Legolas chuckled quietly.

"Yes, and dangerous as well... Anyhow, where was I? Ah, well... Greed for power wasn't Norgas' only impulse to erase my father's house. When we had lived in Southern Mirkwood so many hundred years ago, Norgas had had a family and a little daughter. At that time he had been a noble and friendly man who had loved to serve my father. We lived at peace with his family, until that one horrible night came to us...

The slaves and demons of the enemy assaulted us that night out of the blue, and many elves died in these cruel hours. But Norgas' wife and daughter had been abducted alive by these monsters. They had carried them away either to bewitch them or to take their time to kill them. So, Norgas came to my father's halls and beseeched his aid. He wanted to save his wife and daughter, he begged us again and again that we should attack the enemy, that we should rescue his family, and so on and on. I tell you, my father would have done everything in his power to fulfil Norgas' wish. But it was obviously clear that there was nothing he could do. Too many soldiers had died in that last night to attempt another assault. Furthermore there wasn't much hope that Norgas' beloved still lived...

Norgas never forgave my father. He still thinks it was my father's fault that his wife and daughter had to die..."

Sorrowful Legolas stared at his brother's grave. He hadn't been here for a long time. Suddenly he sensed Aragorn's warm and strong fingers grabbing his hand. The mortal took the elf's hand and held it gently in his.

When he beheld his face Legolas noticed the endless compassion in his lover's eyes.

"Come, dearest. I have heard and seen enough. I didn't mean to go too far", Aragorn whispered and without further words Legolas let the human guide him back into the fortress. Soon they were back in Legolas' own chamber.

(...)

The fire cracked in the chimney happily, while Legolas and Aragorn sat upon Legolas' bed. Legolas sat there cross-legged while the mortal sat next to him hesitantly at the edge of the bed. The elf had embed his heavy forehead in his palm. His mood was very gloomy and embittered. He hadn't spoken in a while; neither had Aragorn. Time and time again one thought controlled the human's mind: "He had a brother who has been murdered. Norgas tried to kill him too! What brutal yesterdays he had to suffer..."

Legolas whole body and spirit were exhausted to death. He felt so feeble since the secret had been revealed to his lover. He knew it had been necessary, yes. But he hated all these memories and this pain, and oh, this weakness... this enduring terrible weakness of his. His limbs were weighty and his mind wanted to rest and to forget. In such moments the elf always lost a part of his will to live, to carry on... He yielded to despair every time he realized he would have to live on with these recollections.

He felt deeply ashamed. Here and now he wasn't a great warrior any more, he was not a prince, not even a strong man. He simply was Legolas, a sad and helpless elf. Nothing more and nothing less. He couldn't be anything else.

Actually he wanted to leave - he didn't want Aragorn to see this pitiful person in front of him, a stranger - but he couldn't. He had no power left, no will - only forlornness. All at once he started to cry desperately.

Without delay Aragorn grabbed him and embraced Legolas vehemently. Doubtfully Legolas returned the hug and laid his arms around Aragorn's strong broad shoulders. Aragorn was deeply grateful that the ice was finally broken.

Everything was better than Legolas' deafening silence. Tears were at least a reaction, a powerful emotion Aragorn could respond to. With his both hands he covered Legolas' warm blonde back of the head and placed it upon his shoulder.

"Don't, Aragorn, don't,... I....", Legolas stammered embarrassed through his bitter sobs.

But Aragorn simply held him tighter. Fondly he kissed Legolas' left temple, whereupon the elf sighed deeply.

"It's all right. It's not forbidden to cry", Aragorn said quietly. Soothingly he stroked Legolas' back again and again.

He noticed Legolas' hot tears wetting his shirt.

"But it makes me weak!", the elf remarked with a sob. Aragorn smiled about this protest.

"You're not weak, Legolas, and you know that. You're not weak, you're just badly wounded. That's all."

Nodding Legolas finally agreed and allowed himself to weep freely and without feelings of guilt.

In the meantime Aragorn simply held him in his strong arms while the love he felt for Legolas increased more and more. Never before had he seen his lover so sentimental and open-hearted. He liked this part of his being as well as the other half. One more time he kissed Legolas' temple, then his cheek and then his warm hair. He inhaled the pleasant typical smell of his lover and felt at at peace for now.

Finally Legolas raised his head and looked into Aragorn's eyes thoughtfully. There were trails of tears and he smiled a bit when Aragorn's thumbs wiped them away. Without words their lips touched and their lids closed and that was when Legolas felt at peace too. They disengaged again and sight the other person in the orange light attentively. The elf reached out for Aragorn's features cautiously and when his hand covered Aragorn's cheek the mortal put his hand over Legolas' trembling fingers to confirm him. Again they kissed, but the slow and gentle kiss turned into a demanding one. "Desire" was the secret and whispered word their mouths told each other, "oblivion" the expression which ran through their minds. There was no more place left for grieve, sorrow or pain.

Aragorn noticed Legolas' quivering breaths, his shaking lips against his. He disengaged and then he took Legolas' both hands reassuringly with his and let him frame his face with them. For a few moments they read the clear message in their eyes and eventually Aragorn nodded in agreement. Wordlessly he took of his shirt and tossed it away. The immortal put his hands upon Aragorn's waist resolutely. Then he kissed his neck playfully, whereupon Aragorn had to smile; his fingers crawled under Legolas' white tunic and finally he dragged the garment over the elf's head. Right there on the floor it attended Aragorn's wine-red shirt. Laughing Aragorn straightened Legolas' blonde hair.

A faint smile was Legolas' only answer to his. He couldn't find words for all the emotions he felt right now. Home... he was at home in these arms. Again their lips touched curiously – this was something new. Every kiss tasted new, every touch of this warm skin was unfamiliar. Excitement was replaced by arousal, fear by yearning. They heard their soft short breaths and deepened the kiss. When they parted for a few seconds Legolas grabbed Aragorn's shoulders forcefully and pressed him down on his back. No smile appeared on their mouths – their passion for each other was too stout, too urgent. Their kisses had become quite aggressive and stormy by now. All at once Legolas pulled back and looked down into Aragorn's reddened face, frozen in terror. What were they doing? His mind had been displaced by his serious desire, he had lost every meaningful thought! Aragorn read his mind immediately and wagged his head thereupon. His hot fingers crawled to Legolas' stomach and caressed the tender skin there.

"There's nothing wrong with it. Use me, love me, take me... but just do it", Aragorn panted quietly.

Moved Legolas nodded and smiled. With caution he bent his head and leaned in to kiss Aragorn's collarbone.

He noticed his lover's hands on his naked back and how they pressed him closer to this wonderful hot naked chest. More and more Legolas let his rational thinking go. He got lost in these harsh and brutal kisses, this sweet violence and the forces they used against each other to arouse just more admiration for this unknown game.

It was trivial when he undid Aragorn's trousers and pulled them off. Also it was a non-essential thing when Aragorn did the same to him. But by the time their stripped bodies lied on top of each other, all warm and smooth, and by the time they felt how they fit together like the stars and the night, it was as if someone had given them an eye-opener. For the first time they could see, for the first time they could feel and touch and smell and kiss. And everything before that was forgotten. They caressed each other, kissed and embraced their fellow deeply moved – just to start it all again. And when Legolas penetrated this hot and tight body with all his might and when he heard Aragorn's load groan, he felt how all earthly concerns slipped away. His face flushed, his blood throbbed hysterically, his lungs exploded. Underneath his body Aragorn was feeling and doing the same. His loud moans tried to illustrate the erotic undertow he had fallen into. Fingers intertwined, lips osculated. Teeth bit throats, hands sought support and grabbed strong shoulders.

A black fire burnt before the elf's mind's eye. It's expansion became drastic, and all at once the air was taken out of his lungs. He noticed a delightful dizziness weakening his body. Absent-mindedly he heard someone moan and sigh, and it took quite a while until he understood that he was making these sounds. And after he had tried hard he heard answers to his noises. Then he was pushed into a complete narrowness and blackness and oblivion finally came to him.

Legolas recovered himself some time later. He was panting heavily and wet through with perspiration.

He lied upon Aragorn's gasping chest and felt too exhausted to speak a single word. Tears of joy dripped on this mortal chest, and a weak smile came to their lips when Legolas looked up into Aragorn's face – for all the love and bliss he felt in this moment, he was crying too. Eventually a ripple of laughter slithered from their mouths and soon sleep overwhelmed the two of them. And in this bed they awaited the light of another day they would have to survive. But there was hope.

To be continued...

Now, I know it took me a long while to write this chapter. But please, look at the last part and you know why! So, what do you think? I revealed so many secrets in this chapter! Did you guess the plot a long time ago? Just tell me! I'm curious!