Battles Lost and Won
Chapter 10
The rest of their stay at Mirkwood Palace was wonderfully relaxed.
Well, for everyone else. Aragorn was becoming increasingly concerned with how much time Legolas was spending with that Beriothien fellow. They spent every moment they could together, and when Beriothien was on guard duty or in the evenings, Legolas could talk of nothing else. He still said Aragorn's name as they made love but there was something odd…
One evening, Aragorn and Faramir were sitting outside to enjoy the cool air, smoking their pipes. As most of the elves did not like the smell of smoke, Legolas and his friends were inside, catching up.
"Is something wrong, Aragorn? You seem vexed." Faramir asked his friend.
"I don't like how that Beriothien looks at Legolas.." Aragorn growled. Faramir smirked
"You don't like how anyone looks at Legolas, Aragorn." Aragorn sighed, breathing out the smoke. He looked over at the warmly lit building, spotting his love through the window. He was laughing and talking to his friends. He was so beautiful…
The Man's eyes widened, the blue eyes meeting his gaze. Legolas smiled at him and waved, some of the others looked where he was looking and grinned. Aragorn smirked and waved at them before going back to talking to Faramir.
"He is very handsome, Legolas."
"Yes, he is…" Legolas said with a sigh, smiling at his husband.
"He would have to be to marry such a beauty as our Prince!" his friend, Alassë, said with a grin. Legolas blushed, continuing to look at Aragorn as his handsome husband stared back at him gently. He then glanced round and grinned, beckoning Legolas to himself.
"I will be back in a moment.." the Prince said softly, getting up and going out to his husband in the courtyard. He heard giggles as he went and he knew his friends would be watching so he decided to give them something to watch. He grinned as he approached Aragorn and felt the strong arms encircle his waist.
"Your friends are all watching." The Man said, his voice low and deep. Legolas smiled and nodded, hugging him around the neck. Aragorn grinned, knowing what he was up to, and complied - kissing him fully and passionately. The couple smiling into the kiss, feeling many blue eyes upon them "Giving them a show, meleth?" he asked quietly when they parted, his hands on his elf's tiny waist and massaging gently. Legolas grinned
"They are enjoying it, are they not?" Aragorn glanced at the window and grinned, nodding.
"They certainly seem to be.." he said. Legolas looked round to see all his friends grinning at them. He laughed and turned back to his husband
"I will see you tonight, my love." He said softly and they kissed again before parting and Legolas went back inside. Aragorn watched him go with a smile until he could no longer then looked round at Faramir, who was grinning like a fool
"What?" Aragorn asked, still smiling
"I just don't see what you're worried about, my friend." He said, shaking his head with a chuckle. Aragorn frowned then sat back down with a sigh
Two days later, Aragorn answered a knock at the bedroom door to find Beriothien standing there. The elf looked surprised by the dark-haired Man but collected himself
"I do not mean to disturb you, sir, but is Legolas there?" he asked. Aragorn frowned
"Do you know what time it is?"
"I am sorry; I only wish to speak to him briefly."
"Who is it, Aragorn?" Legolas asked, looking up from his book
"Beriothien." The man replied shortly, still frowning. Legolas frowned and was quickly beside him, though Aragorn stayed between him and Beriothien
"What is it, Be'?" he asked, pulling on a warm cloak. Aragorn's jaw clenched at the affectionate nickname
"I simply wished to speak to you.." Beriothien said
"What about?" Aragorn asked harshly, surprising both Elves. He felt a gentle hand on his arm
"Aragorn, please-"
"I don't like you spending so much time with him, Legolas. I am your husband, you must obey me-" he regretted it as soon as he said it. He could feel Legolas' anger grow and Beriothien's expression became practically smug
"Come, Legolas." He said. Aragorn moved aside, defeated, allowing Legolas past and off with the person he hated. Aragorn sighed, angry at the world, and closed the door.
He sat up, reading, until Legolas finally returned, late. Aragorn looked up when the door open, hearing him giggling and panting slightly. He stood up when he entered, glaring at him. He smelled like another man…or elf.
"Where have you been, Legolas?" he asked sternly. Legolas looked him, still laughing breathily
"I was with Beriothien." He said, pulling off his cloak. Aragorn's jaw clenched and he glared at his husband.
"Legolas, what exactly is your relationship with Beriothien?" Aragorn asked. Legolas looked at him, eyes wide with surprise but then looked away from his husband, turning his head
"We are friends.." he mumbled. Aragorn sighed
"You don't expect me to believe that, do you?" he asked. Legolas chewed his bottom lip, as if trying to work out how to say something. "Legolas, please answer me truthfully… Have you and Beriothien ever been romantically involved with each other?"
"Yes." he said softly. Aragorn's jaw clench and he growled
"How could you..?-" Legolas turned on him at this, blue eyes ablaze with anger
"For heaven's sake, Aragorn! You do not honestly think you were my first man, do you? That I have lived 300 years a virgin before meeting you?! Beriothien and I only made love once and my father was furious when he found out, threatening to send Beriothien away! I could not let that happen so we promised we would never do it again. Unfortunately, it seems he still harbours those past feelings for me today, as I once harboured for him but…no longer do.." Legolas was crying now, filled with guilt and self-loathing and anger which he didn't fully understand. Aragorn stared at him for a moment before pulling him into a tight hug, kissing him
"I'm sorry, Legolas, I didn't think.." he said, feeling terrible. Legolas sniffed, shaking his head
"I understand…" he said softly, snuggling into his husband's chest "I am sorry I did not tell you, I did not think he would still love me after all this time.."
"How could he not..?" he asked with a smile, stroking his face and using the pad of his thumb to wipe his tears away. Legolas smiled slightly at that and kissed him softly. "I love you, Legolas."
"I love you as well, Aragorn…you oaf.." he said with a smile and Aragorn laughed, kissing him again before they settled down for the night.
Trouble in paradise?
I never thought it would end! There you go, sorry for the wait.
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