Aragorn felt little like a King when he sat in the presence of the Great Wizard. Such wisdom and insight ought surely to rule the kingdom. It would no doubt be preferable to his own self doubt. Gandalf smoked his pipe while Aragorn enjoyed some of the finest elven wine Rivendell could offer. He had missed the comforts of Elven life. Perhaps now he could grow old and fat under the steady supply of cakes and wine. He wondered now how his father stayed so lean.
"Whatever question you seek answers for, you will not find at the bottom of that cup," Gandalf spoke after a while. Aragorn wondered if he held the ability to read minds.
"No. But I doubt I will find the answer anywhere, this seems a good place to start."
"If this is a good place to start, I dread to see the bad place it ends."
Smoke circled around them and Aragorn could almost swear it held a potent that loosened the tongue.
"My thoughts are clouded," he said diplomatically.
"Then the best thing would be to uncloud them."
Aragorn held off as long as he could before the desire to speak overcame him.
"I fear I am unworthy of the love offered to me. The lady Arwen-"
"Ah yes, the fair Lady herself. Willing to shed her immortality for you. A higher gift would be hard to find anywhere."
"It is not her immortality I desire," he admitted angrily. He hated himself for that fact. He could not lie to himself though. Even if it meant he spent a lifetime alone, he would not lie to her. He loved her too much for that. She deserved to be with her family than to die with a man who yearned for another.
"If you could so choose, who would you spend this lifetime with," Gandalf asked calmly. Aragorn feared the wise Wizard knew the answer already.
"Legolas."
"And there we have the answer you seek."
"My love is not returned. I have discovered Legolas pledged his heart to Haldir of Lorien."
"Haldir is no longer of this life," Gandalf said sadly. "Love has many forms, Aragorn."
"I could not ask him to forgo his mortality for me. With Haldir they would have lived. With me he must die. He would never do that to Thranduil. Not for anyone."
He and Gandalf remained in silence for a few moments then, each absorbed in thought.
"It is in my understanding," he said finally, pipe resting on his lips. "That the Prince of Mirkwood intends to travel with the dwarf to the Undying Lands."
Aragorn could not hold his surprise at that. He took another long drink while his mind questioned everything. He knew them to be friends but he had no idea of this plan. It hurt him to think that he was not a part of it. He had to remind himself then that Legolas had never factored into his own plans with Arwen.
"It is also in my knowledge that Legolas will give his immortality to no one. For he is not immortal."
Setting the goblet down, Aragorn felt the room tilt.
"Of what do you speak?"
Gandalf looked at him imploringly.
"Many years ago when you were but a child, Legolas was killed by an infected wound; Orc's blood. The Lady Galadriel brought him back to this life. But his life is but a half. It is cursed with a dark magic, magic born from the Ring of Power."
Aragorn heard Legolas' words in his mind then. 'I am not invincible.'
"Does he know?"
"I imagine he suspects. Thranduil has made his peace with the matter. Galadriel and I have fought on the matter but I now understand her actions."
"You would have preferred him to die," Aragorn exclaimed.
"Yes."
"How can you-"
"Why is it that Haldir should perish if death can be so easily overruled? Why should any of us accept it as fate? Thranduil has more reason than most to to believe that his son ought to have left this world. Elrond has confided in me that he wished the same fate for his wife but was thankfully turned down. Death is a complicated matter for an elf, Aragorn. To be but a man is the most enviable thing."
"Legolas is mortal?"
"Not entirely. There is much we cannot know. Should Haldir have lived I imagine they would have set sail for the Undying lands at the earliest dawn. We never spoke of it but I believe he knew."
Aragorn felt his heart tighten.
"He truly loved him."
"Love has many forms."
The heady mixture of wine and what he was hearing began to be unbearable.
"I must find him. I must tell him that I...that..."
"That you must. First, you must rest. I am no seer but I can see a brighter day tomorrow. One not well met by the darkness of today. Sleep now, we will talk more. I am assured of a very entertaining song by the Hobbits. Goodnight, Estel," he eased himself from their table and left him with his thoughts.
