Note: All unknown characters belong to me! Violence and rape mentioned in
this chapter! Aragorn's POV!
Explanations
Part 9
A.J. Matthews
I sat next to the bed where Legolas slept, holding his soft hand in my own.
The elf was so beautiful to me, with porcelain skin and golden hair. He tossed and turned in his sleep, making little cries of pain.
I had heard these sounds before and knew that he was remembering.
Legolas only had nightmares occasionally, for which I was grateful. But he should never have had to live through his nightmares. And it seemed to me that they just seemed to be getting worse.
Anger coursed through me as I remembered the events of just a little while ago.
********************
Flashback
********************
I stood there in the trees beside Éomer, watching Legolas fighting with Sarag.
I would have gone to aid him if Éomer hadn't grabbed my arm hard and shook his head.
"Listen and learn, Elessar," Éomer told me as I looked at him in confusion.
I didn't understand and turned towards the battle again.
Legolas countered a blow and gashed Sarag's arm open, which bled profusely.
"I'll make you suffer for this, Legolas. Just like I made you mine all those years ago," Sarag said angrily.
Most of what Legolas said in response was drowned out by the sounds of their swords clashing.
Whatever he said must have infuriated Sarag, for he suddenly managed to kick Legolas's sword out of his hands.
I tensed and felt relief course through me as Legolas managed to disarm Sarag as well.
They began physically attacking each other. Where had Legolas learned that? I had never seen him fight like this before.
When both Sarag and Legolas went down, I heard a cracking sound as my lover struck him hard, but I was stunned at what he said next.
"Those were ribs, Sarag," Legolas said in a taunting tone of voice. He continued hitting Sarag.
Sarag deflected most of them and tried to pin the elf down. The blows that landed caused him to wince. "You weren't this cruel then, Legolas," he growled. "What changed?"
"You stole me away from the one I loved," Legolas said, his voice cold and empty. It sent shivers down my spine. "For fifteen brutal years I waited for him. That changed me. I've finally found him again and you are trying to repeat what you did all over again." The one I loved was beyond fury.
I tried to go over to him again. Éomer knocked me to the ground.
"Let them finish, Elessar. Maybe you'll find the answer you seek finally."
I stood and turned my gaze back on Legolas and Sarag. I must have missed something, for they
"Get out of here, evil one," Legolas hissed angrily. "For I will not let you touch Aragorn the way you touched me. I would kill you before I allowed that."
It was then that I knew.
God, Legolas. You told me everything else; why keep this to yourself? Pain wracked through me.
I stepped forward as Legolas was knocked to the ground again and nearly choked to death. He managed to break free, however.
"Get off me!" Legolas snapped as he shoved Sarag off and stood once more.
"Legolas." My voice sounded strange, even to me. I stood in plain sight.
Legolas turned to face me, devoid of emotion.
Sarag ran off as Legolas and I stood there.
"Damn it, Legolas," I finally said. "You told me a lie when you said he referred to nothing."
"It was nothing, Aragorn," Legolas said.
He started walking past me and I caught Legolas by the arm hard.
"Tell me the truth!" I snapped. "The whole truth."
Legolas turned his dull emerald eyes on me. "And what would you have said if I had told you, Aragorn? Did you want me to say, 'Oh, by the way, your almost brother, Sarag, didn't just sell me into slavery and beat me. He was also the first one to rape me, though he was far from the last,' " he said sarcastically.
At the sounds of the gasps I knew that the rest of the Fellowship was standing here as well, and right now, I didn't care.
I flinched. "Sarag was the first?" I asked softly.
Legolas nodded.
I muttered a curse on Sarag under my breath. I knew that Legolas had heard it, for he looked at me.
"Legolas, it wouldn't have made a difference to me, except I would have loathed him even more," I told him honestly.
Our eyes met.
"I belong to no one unless I wish it, Aragorn," Legolas told me. "There is only one I will ever belong to."
I walked closer to my lover, wanting to soothe away his pain. "Who?"
"You, Aragorn. I belong to none but you." Sincerity shone in his eyes.
Joy swept through me as I took him in my arms and held him tightly.
Legolas leaned against me. "I'm sorry I lied," he whispered. "I didn't want to hurt you even worse, Aragorn."
"I'm sorry, too, Legolas," I whispered back. "I understand, but I meant what I said. Do not hide the truth from me, dear one. Your pain is my own."
I knew that Legolas had been trying to protect me, but if anyone or anything hurt him, I wanted to know about it.
He merely nodded and continued to lean against me.
"Are you all right?" I asked gently, seeing weariness in his eyes.
"I'm exhausted," he confessed. "Before Sarag showed up I was already worn out, for I had practiced for hours with my sword and bow. And he is still a good fighter."
Legolas was half asleep against me, yawning, so I picked him up carefully.
His hoarse voice cracked weakly as he protested, but I didn't give in as I carried him into the castle and up to our room.
I undressed him, leaving him clad only in his leggings, before placing him in our bed and covering him with some blankets.
I kissed him gently, and was glad to feel warmth coursing through me as he moaned softly and responded.
I reluctantly stopped after a few moments and took his hand, admonishing him to sleep.
He pleaded for me not to leave his side, and I reassured him that I wouldn't as I pulled a chair over and sat in it.
But it was the words he'd said that kept my attention.
"Be careful, love," Legolas murmured sleepily.
"Why?" I asked, slightly surprised. Nothing could threaten us inside of the castle; of that I was certain.
"Sarag wants both of us," he mumbled before falling asleep.
********************
Present Day
********************
I was going to kill Sarag when I found him. God knows I had wanted to kill him because he had sold Legolas into slavery and Hell. But raping the one I loved was the worst atrocity he could commit.
To my surprise, the door opened behind me.
I turned to see the rest of the surviving Fellowship standing there looking distraught.
"What happened to him?" Frodo asked, genuine tears in his eyes.
"I think we deserve an explanation, Aragorn," Gimli said firmly.
"Did he really get-" Sam's voice broke off in shock.
Merry whispered, "How could such a thing happen to an elf? They're supposed to be…"
Pippin gaped when he saw the scars on Legolas's bare wrist, as I held my lover's hand tightly.
"He tried to kill himself, didn't he?" Pippin said hoarsely.
Éomer gazed at me from behind them. He mouthed the words, "Tell them."
I nodded. "You had better sit down, friends, for this is not an easy story to tell."
They entered the room and sat on the floor.
I started from the very beginning, telling them of how Sarag had deceived both Legolas and myself and had lured Legolas out alone.
They flinched, for they knew what had happened then.
I slowly added on more painful details, which I had learned from Éomer, revealing how Legolas had been treated when he had been sold into slavery, and why he had tried to take his life, in order to escape from his horribly reality.
Shock, horror, and devastation were written on the Hobbits' faces. They might be older, but some things never changed.
I then told them how Éomer had found Legolas and had brought him here to recuperate, and how Legolas had managed to regain his physical abilities.
Gimli gritted his teeth and anger flashed in his eyes as I finished by telling them of how Legolas had saved me and told me what had happened to him.
Legolas stirred in the bed, moaning softly, as if my quiet words had brought back painful memories that he sought to forget.
"He is much better now," Éomer interjected. "For Legolas missed all of you, especially Elessar."
I nodded in agreement.
Legolas muttered something in Elvish. I leaned closer and was surprised when Legolas jerked and stood, still sleeping. He grabbed for his sword, which lay on the table beside him.
I quickly caught his wrists before Legolas could do something he would regret. 'Peace, love,' I whispered in Elvish. 'There are only friends here, as well as me.'
He sighed and melted against me, murmuring my name. Legolas then fell asleep again, sprawled across my lap and whispering in my ears. His hands were around my neck.
A blush spread over my face as I looked at our friends. Even though they were in shock over what I had told them, they were staring.
The Hobbits exchanged a grin. Gimli looked amused, and Éomer hid a smile, his eyes twinkling.
To be continued
Explanations
Part 9
A.J. Matthews
I sat next to the bed where Legolas slept, holding his soft hand in my own.
The elf was so beautiful to me, with porcelain skin and golden hair. He tossed and turned in his sleep, making little cries of pain.
I had heard these sounds before and knew that he was remembering.
Legolas only had nightmares occasionally, for which I was grateful. But he should never have had to live through his nightmares. And it seemed to me that they just seemed to be getting worse.
Anger coursed through me as I remembered the events of just a little while ago.
********************
Flashback
********************
I stood there in the trees beside Éomer, watching Legolas fighting with Sarag.
I would have gone to aid him if Éomer hadn't grabbed my arm hard and shook his head.
"Listen and learn, Elessar," Éomer told me as I looked at him in confusion.
I didn't understand and turned towards the battle again.
Legolas countered a blow and gashed Sarag's arm open, which bled profusely.
"I'll make you suffer for this, Legolas. Just like I made you mine all those years ago," Sarag said angrily.
Most of what Legolas said in response was drowned out by the sounds of their swords clashing.
Whatever he said must have infuriated Sarag, for he suddenly managed to kick Legolas's sword out of his hands.
I tensed and felt relief course through me as Legolas managed to disarm Sarag as well.
They began physically attacking each other. Where had Legolas learned that? I had never seen him fight like this before.
When both Sarag and Legolas went down, I heard a cracking sound as my lover struck him hard, but I was stunned at what he said next.
"Those were ribs, Sarag," Legolas said in a taunting tone of voice. He continued hitting Sarag.
Sarag deflected most of them and tried to pin the elf down. The blows that landed caused him to wince. "You weren't this cruel then, Legolas," he growled. "What changed?"
"You stole me away from the one I loved," Legolas said, his voice cold and empty. It sent shivers down my spine. "For fifteen brutal years I waited for him. That changed me. I've finally found him again and you are trying to repeat what you did all over again." The one I loved was beyond fury.
I tried to go over to him again. Éomer knocked me to the ground.
"Let them finish, Elessar. Maybe you'll find the answer you seek finally."
I stood and turned my gaze back on Legolas and Sarag. I must have missed something, for they
"Get out of here, evil one," Legolas hissed angrily. "For I will not let you touch Aragorn the way you touched me. I would kill you before I allowed that."
It was then that I knew.
God, Legolas. You told me everything else; why keep this to yourself? Pain wracked through me.
I stepped forward as Legolas was knocked to the ground again and nearly choked to death. He managed to break free, however.
"Get off me!" Legolas snapped as he shoved Sarag off and stood once more.
"Legolas." My voice sounded strange, even to me. I stood in plain sight.
Legolas turned to face me, devoid of emotion.
Sarag ran off as Legolas and I stood there.
"Damn it, Legolas," I finally said. "You told me a lie when you said he referred to nothing."
"It was nothing, Aragorn," Legolas said.
He started walking past me and I caught Legolas by the arm hard.
"Tell me the truth!" I snapped. "The whole truth."
Legolas turned his dull emerald eyes on me. "And what would you have said if I had told you, Aragorn? Did you want me to say, 'Oh, by the way, your almost brother, Sarag, didn't just sell me into slavery and beat me. He was also the first one to rape me, though he was far from the last,' " he said sarcastically.
At the sounds of the gasps I knew that the rest of the Fellowship was standing here as well, and right now, I didn't care.
I flinched. "Sarag was the first?" I asked softly.
Legolas nodded.
I muttered a curse on Sarag under my breath. I knew that Legolas had heard it, for he looked at me.
"Legolas, it wouldn't have made a difference to me, except I would have loathed him even more," I told him honestly.
Our eyes met.
"I belong to no one unless I wish it, Aragorn," Legolas told me. "There is only one I will ever belong to."
I walked closer to my lover, wanting to soothe away his pain. "Who?"
"You, Aragorn. I belong to none but you." Sincerity shone in his eyes.
Joy swept through me as I took him in my arms and held him tightly.
Legolas leaned against me. "I'm sorry I lied," he whispered. "I didn't want to hurt you even worse, Aragorn."
"I'm sorry, too, Legolas," I whispered back. "I understand, but I meant what I said. Do not hide the truth from me, dear one. Your pain is my own."
I knew that Legolas had been trying to protect me, but if anyone or anything hurt him, I wanted to know about it.
He merely nodded and continued to lean against me.
"Are you all right?" I asked gently, seeing weariness in his eyes.
"I'm exhausted," he confessed. "Before Sarag showed up I was already worn out, for I had practiced for hours with my sword and bow. And he is still a good fighter."
Legolas was half asleep against me, yawning, so I picked him up carefully.
His hoarse voice cracked weakly as he protested, but I didn't give in as I carried him into the castle and up to our room.
I undressed him, leaving him clad only in his leggings, before placing him in our bed and covering him with some blankets.
I kissed him gently, and was glad to feel warmth coursing through me as he moaned softly and responded.
I reluctantly stopped after a few moments and took his hand, admonishing him to sleep.
He pleaded for me not to leave his side, and I reassured him that I wouldn't as I pulled a chair over and sat in it.
But it was the words he'd said that kept my attention.
"Be careful, love," Legolas murmured sleepily.
"Why?" I asked, slightly surprised. Nothing could threaten us inside of the castle; of that I was certain.
"Sarag wants both of us," he mumbled before falling asleep.
********************
Present Day
********************
I was going to kill Sarag when I found him. God knows I had wanted to kill him because he had sold Legolas into slavery and Hell. But raping the one I loved was the worst atrocity he could commit.
To my surprise, the door opened behind me.
I turned to see the rest of the surviving Fellowship standing there looking distraught.
"What happened to him?" Frodo asked, genuine tears in his eyes.
"I think we deserve an explanation, Aragorn," Gimli said firmly.
"Did he really get-" Sam's voice broke off in shock.
Merry whispered, "How could such a thing happen to an elf? They're supposed to be…"
Pippin gaped when he saw the scars on Legolas's bare wrist, as I held my lover's hand tightly.
"He tried to kill himself, didn't he?" Pippin said hoarsely.
Éomer gazed at me from behind them. He mouthed the words, "Tell them."
I nodded. "You had better sit down, friends, for this is not an easy story to tell."
They entered the room and sat on the floor.
I started from the very beginning, telling them of how Sarag had deceived both Legolas and myself and had lured Legolas out alone.
They flinched, for they knew what had happened then.
I slowly added on more painful details, which I had learned from Éomer, revealing how Legolas had been treated when he had been sold into slavery, and why he had tried to take his life, in order to escape from his horribly reality.
Shock, horror, and devastation were written on the Hobbits' faces. They might be older, but some things never changed.
I then told them how Éomer had found Legolas and had brought him here to recuperate, and how Legolas had managed to regain his physical abilities.
Gimli gritted his teeth and anger flashed in his eyes as I finished by telling them of how Legolas had saved me and told me what had happened to him.
Legolas stirred in the bed, moaning softly, as if my quiet words had brought back painful memories that he sought to forget.
"He is much better now," Éomer interjected. "For Legolas missed all of you, especially Elessar."
I nodded in agreement.
Legolas muttered something in Elvish. I leaned closer and was surprised when Legolas jerked and stood, still sleeping. He grabbed for his sword, which lay on the table beside him.
I quickly caught his wrists before Legolas could do something he would regret. 'Peace, love,' I whispered in Elvish. 'There are only friends here, as well as me.'
He sighed and melted against me, murmuring my name. Legolas then fell asleep again, sprawled across my lap and whispering in my ears. His hands were around my neck.
A blush spread over my face as I looked at our friends. Even though they were in shock over what I had told them, they were staring.
The Hobbits exchanged a grin. Gimli looked amused, and Éomer hid a smile, his eyes twinkling.
To be continued
