Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.
Note: Thanks for the reviews. I don't really know what to say so let's begin.
"Estel, focus! You are dreaming again," Glorfindel warned as he lightly tapped Aragorn's sword with his own. The elf circled around him once more and Aragorn turned to keep Glorfindel in his eyesight. He tried his best to keep his balance, trying to ignore the dull ache in his lower back.
"I am trying to focus," he answered, still circling. He could hear the leaves falling on the ground as Legolas shifted in the tree. The elf was keeping an eye out on the training. Glorfindel moved faster and the next moment Aragorn brought his sword up to block. The elf pushed hard against him and Aragorn took a step backwards to steady himself.
The Balrog slayer pressed harder against him and Aragorn felt the sweat break out over his body as he tried to match Glorfindel's overpowering strength with his own. He heard Legolas land softly on the ground as his elf watched from the sideline. "Glorfindel, stop please," Aragorn asked softly as his strength seemed to waver.
The warrior obliged immediately and eased the pressure off slowly as he allowed Aragorn to regain his balance. He wiped the sweat of his forehead with his arm as Legolas appeared next to him holding the water jug to his lips. "Drink." The elf softly encouraged.
Glorfindel placed the tip of his sword on the ground and seemed to study him as Aragorn drained the water jug. "Are you feeling better, Estel?"
Aragorn took a moment to breathe in deeply as he felt Legolas press a quick hand to his lower back. It seemed the elf had read his mind and he knew exactly where the pain was located. "Yes, thank you," Aragorn answered after a moment.
"Good, then we shall continue the training."
Legolas shared the fact the he was stunned as well, as Glorfindel turned to prepare himself. Fighting to cry out against Glorfindel, Aragorn felt Legolas' hand close upon the handle of his sword and loosen it from his grasp. The elf nodded at him as he took the sword over and met Glorfindel's raised sword when the general turned around to attack.
Walking backwards Aragorn quickly got out of the way when the two elves began to fight. If Glorfindel has been surprised by the sudden change of partners it did not show in his face or fighting style. He attacked Legolas with the same fierce determination he had Aragorn before.
Yet his own elf did not wish to be bested and fought back with the streak of stubbornness Aragorn knew so well. While Legolas was not trained so well with the sword it did not show itself in the battle.
Turning to attack one another, both elves soon had covered the whole field. Aragorn sat himself down on the soft ground beneath the tree and watched the elves spar and throw mock insults at each other. He closed his eyes for a brief moment as his body relaxed.
To the sounds of iron clashing upon iron, he soon drifted off. He started when two hands pulled him up and he found himself staring into Glorfindel's face. He reddened immediately and answered. "I am sorry. I should not have drifted off and I should have paid attention. I will return to the battle with you." He tried to free himself from the tight grasp Glorfindel had on his tunic.
The intense elven eyes searched his face as Aragorn's eyes settled upon Legolas who was standing a little way beyond. The man knew he would not get any help from Legolas.
"I know enough." Glorfindel finally said, releasing him slowly.
"What do you mean?" Aragorn asked, standing on his own two feet.
"How your current condition affects you. I know enough, Estel. You are still strong but not strong enough to continue to train like an elf. We shall adjust your training. But I know you are willing to rely on Legolas for help, even if I am pushing you too far. That is what I wanted to know," Glorfindel smiled at him.
"You will not train me in sword fighting anymore?" Aragorn hurried after Glorfindel as the elf went to collect the weapons.
"I will. But in other things as well, but I need Legolas' help for that. I will train you in using your mind, the way the elves use theirs." Glorfindel turned back to him as Aragorn caught up with him.
"But how can you teach me such a thing? And why are you stopping my training with the sword?" Aragorn panted when the questions had finally sped past his lips.
"For it is too dangerous for us to carry on with this training. It is not because I wish for you to lose to me but because you are pregnant. You cannot commit to this training at this moment. The pace is far too fast for you. You do not have the strength or the speed you used to have."
Glorfindel bent down to collect the weapons Legolas handed him his. Legolas did not comment but stood tall to study Aragorn's reaction.
"But why?" The man eventually asked as Legolas cocked his head to the side while still reading his mate's face.
"Because the child is slowing you down. It is not only so with you but every female I have ever training who carried a child. Their body cannot handle the stress and it will result in danger for both you and the child. I will teach you different things, much like when I did when you broke your arm and we had to put your training on hold. You cannot escape me so easily, Estel. And do not be disappointed. Just think back on your reaction earlier, the backaches, your strength waning, and the tiredness." Glorfindel smiled at him as he moved forward to place two hands upon the man's shoulders.
"The backaches?" The man asked tensely. "You hid it well but I noticed as no doubt did Legolas. While he could sense it, I have known you since you were a child yourself and I know your facial expressions. Besides I did see the gesture Legolas made before he took over your sword. It was all I needed to know and what I wanted to know as I pushed you so hard."
"I do not understand," Aragorn wondered out loud as Legolas came to stand behind him, listening to the older elf's explanation.
"You accepted Legolas' help when he offered it, and your relationship has improved much. While there is still doubt, you trust him as he trusts in your ability to make the right decision."
"And you can teach us how to improve our relationship even more?" Legolas frowned as a hint of pain once more pressed against their bond. He brought a hand up to rest it upon Aragorn's lower back, massaging gently.
"No, but I can guide you. I cannot claim to know about being bonded, but I know about Estel and you. You can only teach each other."
"But it seems to come natural to us," the elf pointed out as Aragorn seemed to become sleepy as his husband's hands worked skilfully upon the painful area.
"True, but what has affected your life shall affect your relationship with each other. What you are doing now, helping Aragorn, I know he would not have allowed before. Remember the arguments you used to have when you wanted him to be treated for wounds. He allows you to share in his pain and help to make it better. Overall your relationship is very well, but in such small areas an older person can guide you. Elrond seemed to think I was right to that task."
"But our relationship will still render us as equals. Even if I am the one who carries a child." Aragorn asked suddenly. "Yes, I would not temper with such a thing. But it is a role you both assume naturally. You treat those around you as equals so your treat your partner the same way. Sometimes assuming a stronger role and sometimes allowing yourself to be weak, for you know you shall be safe. It is the basic of a good relationship." Glorfindel crossed his arms over his chest as his gaze shifted from both of them.
"And you think it will make us stronger?" Aragorn shuddered his shoulders as Legolas' hands grew ticklish. "Yes, it will." Glorfindel simply answered. "But I think we have done enough for today. Arnor's journey is moving towards the west and I wish to bask in it while I still can. I shall see you here tomorrow morning." With those words Glorfindel walked away, leaving them alone.
"Thank you." Aragorn answered softly as Legolas dropped his hand.
"For what?" The elf turned to him.
"For helping me even when you assumed I did not wish for any help."
"You did not ask for my help, I hoped I did the right thing but I was afraid I had made you mad." Legolas seemed sad as he countered these words.
"Why would I be mad? I have refused your help before but it has never angered me. Well, never until Haldir rescued me. Until I saw you, my beloved. To see you so pale and so haunted, it gave me a scare."
"I did not mean for it to happen. I am sorry." Legolas distanced himself.
"You did not mean for it to happen but it did. As I do not mean for it to happen when I snap at you but I do. I refused your help because I did not want to admit to myself I am weak sometimes. But Glorfindel is right; sometimes somebody else needs to be the strong one." Aragorn took a step towards Legolas as the endless blue eyes peered back at him with hidden curiosity.
"I shall not hide anything from you anymore as I hope you shall do the same." Circling his arms around Legolas' narrow waist the man startled the elf as he drew him against him.
"There is somebody I have been hiding from you. You remember the female who was at my father's side at our wedding. She is my mother. I believe it is time that you met her. I wished to do so before, but she said she wanted to wait until you were ready to meet her. Until you were ready to fully embrace my past as well."
"Why was I not ready then?" Aragorn asked softly, feeling a bit betrayed and hurt.
"For you did not wish to give yourself fully to me, and now you have done so. And I was not ready to share her with you. My mother means much to me and her death came as a heavy blow to my heart. One I never fully recovered from."
"She died?" Aragorn asked.
"Yes, when I was very young." Legolas smiled at him as he pressed a quick kiss to the man's nose. "I was quite surprised when I saw her here." Aragorn could see the happy glow in the elven eyes as he said.
"Well then take me to her." Legolas gave a low shout of glee before the elf took the man's hand to lead him to the rest of his family.
It was not a long walk and Aragorn could tell Legolas was eager to see his mother once more. "What is her name, Legolas?" He eventually asked.
"Elanie." Legolas smiled at him once more and Aragorn felt his heart doing such a weird flip as it had when he was younger and he had first met Legolas.
"I love your smile." He softly said. He grasped the elf's hand and stopped him to turn him.
Pulling Legolas into his arms, he kissed the elf's face. Legolas placed his hands upon Aragorn's waist to steady himself.
"We should get going," to his satisfaction Aragorn heard a disappointed tone in the smooth elven voice.
"Or we could stay here…" The man offered as Legolas shook his head firmly.
"No, perhaps tonight. Let us just go."
It was not a long walk to reach Thranduil's halls. Grabbing Aragorn's hand Legolas led the way inside until they reached an open door. Knocking until a gentle voice called for them to enter.
Aragorn gasped softly as he beheld Legolas' mother. Elanie had the lightest brown hair he had ever seen and the same blue eyes that he had stared in only moments ago as he held Legolas. She was not as tall as Legolas and her husband, Thranduil. Her gentleness shone forth as she positively beamed at him and came forward first to embrace her son and then turned to smile at him.
"Naneth, meet Aragorn, my husband." Legolas stood back as she moved forward, her keen eyes taking in Aragorn's appearance.
"It is such a pleasure for us to finally meet, Aragorn. I am sorry I asked Legolas to wait until you were ready. I wished for us to meet sooner for you mean much to my dear son. My name is Elanie, but you may call me mother, or Naneth, or whatever you wish." She took his hands as she smiled at him. "Such happiness I see in you and so many things have happened since you came upon these shores. Many things you are still curious about. Feel free to ask me anything."
"I will if I can think of the questions that have long flooded my mind," the man softly replied, inclining his head. She turned back to Legolas and some unspoken words passed between them as Aragorn gave a low groan as the child gave a painful kick. Both elves started and they turned to him.
Legolas' eyes sought Aragorn's nearly immediately while Elanie asked. "What is the matter?"
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Aragorn tried to smile as he said. "I think our child is awake." Elanie stood back to give up her place to Legolas at which her son hesitated until she said.
"Come here and calm your child, Legolas. Aragorn should not have to go through this alone." This made Aragorn laugh as the elf turned a bright shade of red to the very tips of his ears. Grumbling softly Legolas made his way over to Aragorn.
Soon the child was calm again and Aragorn finally learned about Legolas and even some things the elf wanted to remain hidden. A knock on the door had Elanie calling to enter. Aragorn gave a loud scream as Neya entered. The maid gave him a smile as she said. "So it seems they have found you. But if I cannot have Legolas, you cannot have him either."
As Legolas rose she rushed to him with a knife. Trying to knock the blade aside they struggled. Elanie's scream rose as Legolas finally knocked her aside and the guards rushed in to take a hold of Neya. Aragorn's heart seemed to cease beating as he saw Legolas sink to the ground, holding a hand to his right side, where blood streaked his shirt red.
As Aragorn caught the elf Legolas gave him a last smile before giving into unconsciousness as Elanie screamed for Elrond to come.
Cliffy. Hope you liked it. Please review and tell me what you want to see.