1 NOTE: I guess an explanation is required. I love happy endings. The real world gives us enough of the other crap; thus the reason I read, especially sci-fi/fantasy. I didn't want Aragorn and Legolas to have a couple happy years with the constant threat of Aragorn's eventual death hanging above them. So I "fixed" it.

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6 CHAPTER IV



6.1 "One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne"

6.2 J.R.R. Tolkien



The Fellowship of eight slowly circumvented the Undeeps; the two great loops the River Anduin made. Behind them, the beauty of Lothlorien was but a distant, fond memory.

Aragorn glanced over his left shoulder at the two Elven canoes following close behind. His eyes immediately sought Legolas' lithe frame in the rear boat. He was surprised when he found the elf already watching him. Realizing he'd been caught staring, Legolas quickly averted his cerulean orbs. The tips of his sharply pointed ears blushed an astonishing shade of crimson.

The Ranger turned back around, the rhythmic pattern of his rowing never faltering.

How many other shy glances had he overlooked? How many times had he missed those perfect ears redden in embarrassment?

Those questions immediately engendered a hundred more. He was suddenly desperate to discover what else he'd ignored, to make up for wasted time.

Looking back once more, he watched the elf's every movement. From the flexing muscles in his broad shoulders as he paddled the canoe, to the solemn cast of his features as he watched the rivers banks. Aragorn briefly studied those elegant, strong hands. His eyes slowly rose to the golden locks fluttering in the wind.

Why had he never seen the way the sunlight reflects off every shimmering strand, or the way the rivers watery depths glistened within his eyes?

He hated to admit it, but Arwen had been right. Until the Quest, Legolas had been just another nameless elf: one beautiful blond among a sea of others. They'd known each other for years, yet Aragorn never took the time to look at him.

Until recently, that is.

On their journey to Lothlorien, he'd witnessed countless spectacles of Legolas' nature. He saw the elf's playfulness as he ran ahead of the group on Caradhras. His nose pink from the chill air, Legolas lightly danced atop the snow "seeking the sun" as he'd stated. The Prince's bravery had shown brilliantly as he stood before the snarling wolves with bow in hand atop the Misty Mountains. Delaying his own escape by dragging Gimli from Balin's tomb. Finally, he wove beautiful, relaxing tales of Lorien through both word and song. He possessed a gentle spirit, a cunning mind, and sharp wit for which Aragorn had only recently seen.

Sighing, Aragorn turned back to the task of navigating his small boat. He could only hope he hadn't been blinded too long.