Chapter 7

Aragorn

The twins 'woke' Aragorn for supper, which he ate with his left hand. He wanted to stay up and talk to his brothers and Legolas, but Elladan put his foot down, insisting that Aragorn rest and giving him more herbs.

Aragorn slipped these into his pack, already thinking of the best way to hide them in Elrohir's tea. He lay with his eyes closed, waiting for sleep to take him naturally, as he knew it would. The pain wasn't bad enough to stop him from sleeping. He didn't need the herbs. That was just the twins being overprotective, as usual.

He was close to drifting off when something in the tenor of Legolas' voice had Aragorn jolting to alertness. Legolas sounded distressed. It was Aragorn's first instinct to get up and comfort him, but when he heard his own name, he stilled, listening, keeping his eyes closed.

"It's just so difficult keeping it from Estel."

"I know." Elladan's voice was sympathetic, and Aragorn could imagine him putting an arm around Legolas' shoulders. "It's for the best, though – for both of you."

"It'll get easier with time," Elrohir added.

"I guess I'm still coming around to the fact that I can never tell him. You're right, of course. It's better that he doesn't know. But I spent years thinking that I'd tell him that I'm in love with him when he came of age, and now, I don't ever get to do it. How can I possibly keep the secret from him for the rest of his life? How will I stand looking into his face every day for the rest of his life knowing I'm lying to him?"

Aragorn stiffened in his bedroll. Was he really hearing what he thought he was hearing? Legolas was in love with him?

He wanted to leap out of his bedroll and pull the elf into his arms, but he resisted. He knew he shouldn't really be listening in on what was obviously a private conversation, but no force in Middle Earth would convince him to stop now.

He felt so full of joy that he was surprised he didn't float right off the ground. Legolas loved him. Aragorn couldn't understand why an elf like Legolas would give his heart to him, but he wasn't going to question it. Legolas loved him, and that was all that mattered.

"You need to keep in mind why you're doing it. Remember that by not telling him, you're giving Estel a chance at a normal life with a human woman. The chance at an alliance and a family, at growing old with someone. Keep that foremost in your mind, and it will get easier, I promise."

Aragorn could have strangled Elrohir. Who was he to counsel Legolas to keep his love secret? How could he decide what was right for Aragorn without even giving him the chance to say what he wanted for his own life?

"I know. I suppose I'll just have to live with it. I would never do anything to harm Estel, no matter how it wounds my heart to keep silent."

Aragorn's heart broke for Legolas. He was sacrificing his happiness for Aragorn's, just to give him the life the twins insisted he needed. Well, he had news for Legolas. Aragorn wanted him. He didn't care about alliances or getting old or any of that other nonsense. If they wanted children someday, they could adopt. It was hardly the end of the world.

He battled with himself, wanting to reveal to Legolas right away that he had heard. He managed to restrain himself. Aragorn wanted this conversation to be in private, away from the twins, who would no doubt discourage him and Legolas from being together.

Aragorn understood their concerns, but it wasn't their choice to make. It was only his and Legolas'.

He knew he would never be able to sleep now, but he continued feigning.

"I suppose it'll be best if I stop having nightmares," Legolas said glumly.

"You have nightmares?" Elladan was using his concerned healer tone, one he'd learned from Elrond.

"No, but Estel doesn't know that. I tell him I have nightmares, and he welcomes me into his bed to comfort me. I know it's wrong to lie to him like that, but I can't think of any other reason to be close to him. I need him near. Nothing makes sense without him."

Aragorn could have laughed, if he wasn't worried about giving himself away. He'd have to tease Legolas about this later.

"That would probably be best," Elrohir said sadly. "I'm sorry, Legolas. I wish things could be different for the two of you."

Things would be different, starting tomorrow. Aragorn would see to it.

The twins and Legolas moved to speak of other things, leaving Aragorn to his buzzing thoughts.

He managed to drift off a little before dawn, and was shaken awake what seemed moments later by Elrohir. Aragorn did his best not to scowl at his brother. He was still annoyed at the twins for trying to convince Legolas to keep his love a secret.

"How are you feeling?"

It took a moment for Aragorn to remember his wound. His heart was so light that he barely noticed the pain. "I'm fine."

He sat through Elrohir changing the dressing of his wound, but he would wait no longer.

"Legolas, may I speak with you in private?"

"Of course, Estel."

They walked out of earshot of the twins. Aragorn realized that his hands were shaking, and quickly put them in his pockets.

He turned to Legolas, suddenly nervous. Would Legolas be angry that Aragorn had listened in on a private conversation? Even worse, would he insist that they could never be together, despite both loving each other? What if Aragorn couldn't dissuade him from the twins' arguments?

"Estel?"

Legolas was looking expectantly at him. He had to say something. "I heard you last night," Aragorn blurted out.

Legolas stiffened slightly, but kept his expression carefully neutral. "You heard me?"

"Talking to Elladan and Elrohir. I heard you tell them you love me."

Legolas was as stiff as a board now. "Estel –"

"Legolas, it's ok." Aragorn took the prince's hands in his. "I love you too. I never imagined you would love me back, but now that I know you do, we can be together."

Legolas sighed deeply. "I'm sorry you have to hear that, Estel. It will only make things harder on both of us. We can't be together."

"The twins are wrong, Legolas! I don't care about alliances or having someone I can grow old with. I want you."

"You may not care about that stuff right now, but you are young, Estel. What you want in ten, twenty, fifty years may be completely different."

"So if it's a problem, we deal with it when it happens. You can't just give up on us because we might have problems in the future. Right now, is there a single thing stopping us from being together?"

"Our fathers would never accept it."

"Morgoth take them. It's our lives. If our families can't accept us, that's their problem."

Aragorn could read Legolas well, and he could tell his arguments were working. There was a glimmer of hope in the prince's eyes, a hope that Aragorn intended to bring to full fruition.

"What about children?"

"If we decide we want children, then we can adopt."

"You wouldn't be happier with a woman, who could have your own children?"

"An adopted child would be just as much mine as one that came from my seed. Would you prefer a woman who could bear your children?"

"No."

"Then why do you think I would?"

"I… I don't know, Estel. I don't want to hurt you."

"Legolas, do you think I'd lie to you about this?"

"Never."

"Then listen to me now. Being near you without being able to have you as I truly want is what's hurting me. We're in love. It would be insane not to give us a shot. If it doesn't work, then it doesn't work, but we have to try. I know there will be difficulties, but together, we will face them. Unless – are you worried about fading after my death? I wouldn't want to go ahead with this if it'll mean you die when I do."

"That is not an issue, Estel. I will fade after your death regardless of whether we move forward in this."

That was not what Aragorn had been hoping to hear. "Legolas, when I die, you need to find the strength to go on. Saes, for me."

"I cannot, Estel. You know that it is not a choice for elves."

Aragorn wasn't done discussing this, as he fully intended for Legolas to live a long life, but he knew Legolas wouldn't lie to him about this. If Legolas said he would fade regardless of whether he pursued a relationship with Aragorn, then it wasn't a factor here.

Aragorn knew what he wanted, and now was the time to try and get it.

He squeezed Legolas' hands. "Legolas Thranduilion, will you do me the great honor of becoming my lover?"

Legolas hesitated. Aragorn saw the longing in his eyes, but it warred with Legolas' sense of protection and duty. Aragorn's waited on tenterhooks, praying that Legolas would take him.

"Yes," Legolas breathed. "I must be insane, but yes. The rest of the world be damned. You're the only thing that makes sense to me, Estel. All the rest can burn."

Warmth blossomed in Aragorn's chest. "Then may I kiss you?"

"Always, Estel."

They moved into each other's arms, and their lips met.

It was everything Aragorn had ever dreamed of. Legolas' lips were soft yet firm, and warm against his. They kissed lightly, a brief teasing of lips, feeling each other out. Aragorn laid kiss after kiss on Legolas' delectable lips, pulling the elf's bottom lip into his mouth to suck on gently.

Legolas moaned and clutched Aragorn tighter, tilting his head back and letting his mouth fall open slightly. Aragorn took the invitation at once, tentatively prodding his tongue into Legolas' mouth. Legolas responded by opening further, letting him in.

Aragorn kissed Legolas deeply, loving the sounds he was drawing from the elf. Kissing Legolas was like the most intoxicating wine. Aragorn couldn't get enough of it.

His cock was a hard bar in his pants, but for once, he didn't need to hide it. He thrust his hips against Legolas', and he could feel the elf's arousal, which excited him even further.

Aragorn gently lowered Legolas to the ground, breaking away from the kiss. "Do you…?"

"Yes, Estel," Legolas whispered. "Yes."

Aragorn started slowly undressing the prince. He pulled off his tunic and licked briefly at his nipples before moving to his pants. Legolas' cock sprang free, standing up to attention, little beads of precome on the tip.

Aragorn couldn't resist licking them. A ragged cry was torn from Legolas' lips as he bucked his hips upward. Aragorn loved the sound and endeavored to hear it again. He took Legolas' cock into his mouth, all the way to the base.

Legolas thrust his hips up, the tip of his cock hitting the back of Aragorn's throat. Aragorn gagged slightly, but managed to recover.

He reached up and fingered Legolas' nipples as he swallowed the elf's cock.

"Why do you still have clothes on?" Legolas demanded.

Aragorn had been so absorbed in touching his lover that he'd forgotten that Legolas would probably want to touch him too. He pulled off Legolas' cock. "Sorry. Let me remedy that."

He stripped quickly, being careful to mind the bandages on his arm. Aragorn watched Legolas carefully, wondering how the elf would feel about his flawed human body. He saw nothing but raw desire in Legolas' eyes. Aragorn grinned.

He lay back down between Legolas' legs, taking his cock once more into his mouth. Legolas was soon a writhing mess of need, bucking up with every thrust, hitting the back of Aragorn's throat over and over again.

Aragorn soon got over his gag reflex and just enjoyed the feeling of Legolas in his mouth. The elf tasted delicious.

Legolas whimpered in desperation and bucked up one more time. The he cried out Aragorn's name as he came hotly into the man's mouth. Aragorn swallowed, managing to get most of it. Some come dribbled down his chin, and he used his fingers to scoop it up and put it in his mouth. Legolas watched him with sleepy eyes.

Aragorn was acutely aware of his own aching cock. He'd never done this before, but he knew how it worked. "I don't suppose you have a lubricant?"

Legolas shook his head. "I have saddle oil, but it's back there by the twins."

Aragorn groaned. Elf senses were much stronger than human ones, and the twins would be able to smell the sex on them. There was no way they were going to go back and get the saddle oil without an argument.

"Another time, then. I want to be inside you."

"Valar, Estel, I want that too. For now, thought, let me take care of you."

Legolas pushed Aragorn onto his back, reversing their positions. He settled down between Aragorn's legs and gave the underside of his cock a long, slow lick.

Aragorn had touched himself before, but he had never felt anything like the intense bolt of lust that went through him now.

Legolas licked up and down his cock, teasing the tip before moving back down to the base. Aragorn was about ready to grab the elf's hair and force his mouth onto his cock when Legolas finally did it.

He swallowed Aragorn's cock, humming in pleasure. The humming sent the most delicious vibrations through Aragorn, and he groaned as he thrust his hips up. He was so turned on, he didn't know how long he would last, and was suddenly glad that they'd left the saddle oil back with the twins. When he finally took Legolas, he wanted it to last. He'd need to build up some stamina first.

Legolas' tongue was magical, and the things it did to Aragorn's cock drove him out of his mind with need.

"Legolas – I'm close," he panted.

Legolas hummed again in acknowledgement, picking up his pace. It no time at all, Aragorn was crying out the elf's name as he came down his throat. Legolas swallowed, the divine motion of his throat drawing Aragorn's orgasm out even longer in hot pulses.

Finally, it was over, and Aragorn went limp, a sweaty mess. Legolas crawled up to him and kissed him lazily. Aragorn tasted his own release on the elf's tongue, and found that he liked it.

He held his arms out, and Legolas came eagerly into them. "I love you."

"As I love you, my Estel."

They lay there for too short a time. Aragorn would happily have stayed here forever with Legolas. However, they needed to face reality at some point. The twins would be angry, and Aragorn would rather get that argument over sooner rather than later.

"We should go," he said regretfully.

Legolas groaned. "I suppose you're right."

The two of them cleaned up as best they could, all too aware that the twins would smell their release – not that it would be needed when they saw their flushed, sweaty faces.

Aragorn took Legolas' hand and squeezed it. They two of them walked back side by side, ready to face the twins.