It had barely been a little over a month since Thranduil had departed Gondor with his troops and his daughter, and Aragorn was keenly feeling her absence. He put up a good front before his subjects, but his closest friends noticed his melancholy. By nature, Aragorn was a quiet and reserved man, but still Faramir, Legolas, and Gimli all noticed how lonely he seemed.
Aragorn did miss Alasse. Very much. Oh, they exchanged letters, but it just wasn't the same. After being around each other closely for so long, hunting down Orcs, teasing Legolas and Gimli, their special talks under the stars, the list went on. He wanted to hold her hand for a stroll through the White City or even outside its gates into the countryside. He missed the warmth that filled his heart when she smiled. He longed to gaze at her long, silky auburn hair. But most of all, Aragorn missed hearing her laugh. Oh, what he wouldn't give to hear her laugh again! He always made an effort to include something amusing in his letters, but how he wished he could see the look on her face when she read it!
Aragorn slumped down at a table in the great hall where a maid had served him a mouth-watering lunch. He had had to attend four city council meetings since sunrise and his mind was boggled. "I'm too mentally fatigued to even chew." Aragorn muttered to himself, lazily leaning his elbow on the table, cupping his chin. He looked more like a sulky school boy than a regal king.
"Oh, don't do that, laddie. Buck up!" Gimli boisterously announced as he trotted into the room, uninvited. "Ye miss the lassie, don't you?"
"I miss all my good friends when I cannot see them." Aragorn said, trying to change the subject.
"Really?" Legolas scoffed. "Come now, Aragorn. I don't see you looking that sullen when you're missing 'Ro and 'Dan."
Aragorn threw him a pointed look. "They're my brothers. Enormous difference, you know." He rolled his eyes.
"Yes." Legolas rubbed it in. "Enormous difference."
"Come. Let's get some fresh air, Aragorn. You can't mope around inside this empty hall all day looking like a lovesick pup with the miseries." Gimli clapped the ranger's shoulder.
"No thank you." Aragorn shook his head, rising from his seat. "Help yourself, my friend. I don't need it." He gestured to his untouched lunch.
"Ooo. He's got it badly." Legolas grinned like a Cheshire cat.
"So what?" Aragorn pouted. "You can't judge me if you don't know what it's like, Legolas." He warned him.
"Easy, Aragorn. I was just jesting with you." Legolas said. "Why don't you go see her?"
"I can't do that!"
"Why not?" Legolas frowned. Aragorn swallowed and refused to answer. "Aragorn, what?"
"Because...she's...mm...better off...she's in her girlhood home. She's just...better off this way."
"Oh, don't pull that card with me, Estel! She's head over heels for you." Legolas smirked.
"So, state yur claim, laddie." Gimli added.
"It's not that easy." Aragorn said defeatedly.
"Oh, for-" Legolas shook his head. "It's my father, isn't it?" Aragorn's eyes widened that Legolas had so easily discovered his secret!
"Could be." Aragorn blushed. He knew he was screwed.
"I don't believe this!" Legolas howled in cruel delight. "You're afraid of him, aren't you?"
"I'm not..."
"Denial will get you nowhere." Legolas cut him off, holding up his index finger.
"Might as well spill out your guts, boy." Gimli said.
"He's going to do it for me if I..."
"Aha! See? You are afraid!" Legolas declared triumphantly.
"Legolas, your father..."
"So he's intimidating and hard as steel! He's not a monster." Aragorn skeptically arched his eyebrows. "So he's aloof and grumpy. So what? Never stopped me before." Legolas smirked.
"Yeah, well. Elf princelings are wet-nosed, spoiled, cold, and downright..." Gimli began.
"Don't finish that." Legolas groaned in a warning tone. Gimli puffed a ring of smoke in the elf prince's face.
"Dwarves are obstinate, and pig-headed and difficult. And suspicious and secretive." Aragorn snickered.
"Oui. We've got our reasons." Gimli protested, coldly eyeing Legolas.
"Never stopped you before, Legolas? Well, that's different."
"How?" Legolas sputtered.
"Your his son, kin. He's not going decapitate you for saying something he doesn't like!" Aragorn sputtered.
"You're afraid of my father, aren't you, Estel?" Legolas pressed harder, he and Gimli stepping toward the ranger/king, starting to back him into a wall.
"I'm not afraid." Aragorn glared. "I'm merely trying to honor his concern for his daughter."
"Well, this is something!' Legolas chuckled evilly. "You, Aragorn, have faced down bigots, the Uruk-hai, wargs, legions of Orcs, the Nazgul, and even the Dark Lord, Sauron himself! Are you going to stand there on those two weakling human feet of yours and honestly tell me you couldn't say no to my father?!" Legolas growled mercilessly.
Aragorn blushed beet red. Gimli and Legolas both crossed their arms and snickered at his misery. "I'm merely trying to put myself in his place, and respect that." Aragorn said sheepishly.
"Liar. You're scared of him." Legolas puffed.
"Legolas, please. Eru willing, one day I might be blessed with a daughter of my own. And I'm not going to let her gallivant off with just anyone. He'll have to prove his worth to me first. If he doesn't respect my decision, then surely he won't respect her either." Aragorn explained. "I am trying to earn your father's trust is all."
"That is most noble and considerate of you, Estel." Legolas said thoughtfully. "But also ludicrous."
"Eh?"
"Look, Estel. Your intentions are admirable, truly. But, if you are waiting for my father to give you an approving nod, I'm afraid you will be waiting till you're old and frail." Legolas teased.
"I'm serious about this, Legolas!" Aragorn hissed defensively.
"So am I. Listen, in Ada's eyes, nobody will ever be perfect enough for my little sister. To reach my father's definition of perfection, Alasse's suitor would need the magical ability to walk on water!" Legolas exclaimed. "Ada does respect you, Aragorn. More than you know. And that is incredible in itself, for he does not grant that kind of admiration to just anyone! I believe you have more than earned his trust. He's just not ready to admit it yet, is all. He's very set in his ways and doesn't like being told what to do."
"Which means that instead of being a 'yes' man, ye need to let him know where ye stand!" Gimli added.
"Right." Aragorn nodded with a slight grin. "If he doesn't bite my head off first, you mean!"
Legolas rolled his eyes and whispered to Gimli, "Told you he was scared!"
I want to post the chapter of Alasse discovering Thranduil's secret really soon, because I can't wait for you all to read how she finds out! But the thing is, once I post that one, the story is going to take a dramatic turn that I hope you all did not see coming! And I don't want to rush it. I still have to make the chapter where she visits Bard, which is coming up, don't worry.
What do you all want? Should I make a few more chapters of her time in Mirkwood, or do a time lapse and move things along where she learns her father's true intentions? Please let me know in the reviews!
