Note: None of these are my characters! This fic will not have slash between L/A in it, but the sequel will. There will only be 1 more chapter for this story before I start writing the A/L slash sequel. Elvish speech is in ` '! The sequel will have the rewritten versions of the three new chapters for the beginning. The Lyra herbs are my own creation!
Old Habits Die Hard
Part 7
`God, Legolas,' Aragorn finally whispered. `I'm so sorry.' His longtime friend looked at him, before turning his neutral gaze on the other two.
"Let me guess,' Legolas said. `Elladan and Elrohir?'
The two elves gasped.
`How did you know?' Elladan questioned.
A frown appeared on Legolas's face, before he turned back to Aragorn.
`I was pretty certain that Elrohir was with you. I saw his hair and ear when he put the blanket on me. I was trying to tell him who I was, before you stopped me,' Legolas said so softly that Aragorn knew his friend was really upset.
`I am such an idiot,' Aragorn groaned. He wished that he had let Elrohir removed the gag when his brother had tried to.
`And how do I know that you truly are Aragorn?' Legolas inquired. Aragorn removed his hood in answer, and Legolas gazed at him, overlapping his memories of a younger Aragorn with the older one, before he nodded slowly.
`The Aragorn I remember would not have treated a prisoner so, even in a time of war.' Legolas turned to look away from Aragorn, clutching his comb as his shining hair flowed out behind him.
`I didn't know it was you, I swear! If I had...' Aragorn was cut off by Legolas.
`So it could have been Haldir or one of my brothers that you kidnapped?' Legolas said, feeling a spark of anger. `And you lied to me. You said your name was Strider.'
Anguish rushed through Aragorn. `I am known by that name when I travel on the road, Legolas. And you were not exactly forthcoming with your name,' he pointed out, trying to alleviate some of the guilt he felt.
`At least I didn't lie. And if you had been the one kidnapped, would you have revealed just how valuable a hostage that you are? Not only as Isildur's heir, but as the foster son of Lord Elrond?' Legolas asked sharply.
Aragorn knew that Legolas was right about not revealing his identity in a war. The Prince of Mirkwood would make a worthy hostage. But he was a little resentful that Legolas was acting like the blame was totally his.
`You attacked me first,' Aragorn said testily.
Legolas turned an impassive face on him. `That is the custom when a message is not sent to warn of a visit. You know that.' The elf turned, and walked onto the balcony. He placed his comb on the bench, before returning to where Elladan, Elrohir, and Aragorn stood.
Elladan and Elrohir requested permission to bathe, which Legolas quietly gave them, along with orders to the servants to bring fresh clothes for the Elven twins to wear to the bathing room. He then turned to go see the Healers.
Aragorn caught Legolas by the wrist, as the elf tried to walk past him. `Please, Legolas,' the human pleaded.
Legolas let out an anguished cry of pain, for Aragorn had unintentionally grabbed a hold of where the rope burns where. `Let go!' Legolas moaned, for the human had taken a tighter hold of him, trying to figure out what was wrong.
Aragorn, startled, dropped the slender wrist.
Legolas whimpered a little, which to Aragorn sounded like the mewing of a kitten. Pain shone in the elf's green eyes, as he looked at Aragorn, who felt like kicking himself. He'd hurt his fragile friend even more. The human had always protected Legolas from everything, and it was in his nature to do it even now. The elf had always seemed to be vulnerable and innocent to Aragorn, and looked more so even now.
`They're very painful,' Legolas finally whispered.
Aragorn said quietly, `You should see the Healers, Legolas. And please accept my sincere apologies. I wish I could take back what I have done, but I hope you can forgive me.'
Legolas licked his lips, which he did when he was nervous, before he slowly nodded. His Elvish pride had been ruined, but he did not want his longstanding friendship with Aragorn to suffer only because of his pride. `It may take a little while, Aragorn, but I shall eventually forgive you.'
Aragorn let out a sigh of relief. `I'm glad, Legolas.'
`But you do realize that I will insist on a rematch when I am healed,' Legolas murmured, as he led the way towards the Healers.
Aragorn chuckled softly, as he followed his friend. `We shall see who the victor is, Legolas.' Haldir's voice suddenly startled both of them.
`What in the name of King Thranduil is he doing in here?' Haldir demanded. His hand automatically went to his sword.
Legolas quickly moved to intercept the fight he knew was coming. `Relax, Haldir. He is my half-Elven friend, Aragorn. Twas all a misunderstanding,' he told his Elven friend.
Haldir looked at Legolas incredulously. `He is your best friend?' He glared at Aragorn menacingly. `Do you consider kidnapping part of friendship? Some would take the kidnapping of a prince as an act of war.' His voice was low and dangerous.
Legolas snapped, `Cease this at once!'
Haldir turned his frown on Legolas. `I would watch my back with him if I were you, my prince. For I do not find him trustworthy at all.'
`That's enough, Haldir!' Legolas used his voice of authority. `Return to your post before I reprimand you and tell my father.'
Haldir walked away, his eyes never leaving Aragorn, who had remained silent the entire time. `Watch your back,' Haldir whispered, low enough so that Legolas did not hear, but loud enough for Aragorn to understand his meaning.
`You watch yours,' Aragorn returned in the same manner. He was not one to take threats lightly. He watched as the other elf walked out of sight, before turning to Legolas.
`Pay him no mind, Aragorn,' Legolas said. `Haldir is very protective of me, as I'm sure you just noticed.' He started walking again, and finally entered the Healers' room.
Aragorn nodded. `But he surely means well,' he said. All the same, Aragorn would keep a close eye on that elf. He stood by Legolas's side, as the younger elf explained just what he needed done to the only Healer who was in the room.
Aragorn frowned when Legolas was told to eat a Lyra herb and sleep it off. Lyra herbs were used by humans and elves to aid in fevers, not rope burns. He shot a puzzled glance at the Healer.
Legolas was confused as well. He knew that Aragorn had the knowledge of healing herbs. `Isn't Lyra used for fevers?'
Aragorn nodded. `Where did he learn to heal?' he questioned.
`There are very few Healers in Mirkwood,' Legolas told him. `Most are afraid to come because of the dark creatures that plague us. The war has been going on for over a millennia.'
Aragorn nodded. `But that Healer doesn't know what he's doing.'
Legolas sighed. `Aragorn, could you please tend to my wounds? I think they might fair better then, than if I simply ate Lyra and went to bed,' the blond elf said quietly. He was hiding his fatigue, as he looked at his friend.
`I agree,' Aragorn said, with a rueful smile.
A grin lit up Legolas's face. `Remember when we switched the herbs on Elladan? He did not forgive us for a very long time.'
Aragorn chuckled. `Indeed. Where shall I tend to you?' He gathered the herbs he needed without asking the Healer's assistance, and soft bandages as well.
`My room,' Legolas said. `Tis the room we shared together on the few visits we had.'
Aragorn led the way to the room, as the two spoke quietly of things that they had missed over the centuries. Legolas had fully relaxed in Aragorn's presence, as he earnestly told of how Mirkwood was faring in the war, and of his patrolling duties.
`That's how I came across you,' Legolas explained, not noticing the frown on Aragorn's face. `I was doing my sweep, and you came along.'
`Your father sends you out to patrol alone?' Aragorn tried keep the disapproval out of his voice.
`Of course,' Legolas said nonchalantly. `I am no longer a child, Aragorn.' He was immune to knowing just how upset Aragorn was over his `helpless' friend being sent out alone at night.
But the human said nothing, for he did not want to cause another fight. Aragorn couldn't help his instinct to protect Legolas from the cruelty that life sometimes has to offer, for there is both pain and pleasure in living. He saw Legolas as someone who needed constant protection, for he had not realized just how much the blond elf had changed inside, thanks to the war.
Aragorn only saw the gentle side of Legolas, and had only once seen his warrior's side. And he had all but forgotten it, as he followed his friend into his room. He did not see that there were two halves to Legolas; a gentle half, and a fierce half, for Aragorn was blind to it.
To be continued
Old Habits Die Hard
Part 7
`God, Legolas,' Aragorn finally whispered. `I'm so sorry.' His longtime friend looked at him, before turning his neutral gaze on the other two.
"Let me guess,' Legolas said. `Elladan and Elrohir?'
The two elves gasped.
`How did you know?' Elladan questioned.
A frown appeared on Legolas's face, before he turned back to Aragorn.
`I was pretty certain that Elrohir was with you. I saw his hair and ear when he put the blanket on me. I was trying to tell him who I was, before you stopped me,' Legolas said so softly that Aragorn knew his friend was really upset.
`I am such an idiot,' Aragorn groaned. He wished that he had let Elrohir removed the gag when his brother had tried to.
`And how do I know that you truly are Aragorn?' Legolas inquired. Aragorn removed his hood in answer, and Legolas gazed at him, overlapping his memories of a younger Aragorn with the older one, before he nodded slowly.
`The Aragorn I remember would not have treated a prisoner so, even in a time of war.' Legolas turned to look away from Aragorn, clutching his comb as his shining hair flowed out behind him.
`I didn't know it was you, I swear! If I had...' Aragorn was cut off by Legolas.
`So it could have been Haldir or one of my brothers that you kidnapped?' Legolas said, feeling a spark of anger. `And you lied to me. You said your name was Strider.'
Anguish rushed through Aragorn. `I am known by that name when I travel on the road, Legolas. And you were not exactly forthcoming with your name,' he pointed out, trying to alleviate some of the guilt he felt.
`At least I didn't lie. And if you had been the one kidnapped, would you have revealed just how valuable a hostage that you are? Not only as Isildur's heir, but as the foster son of Lord Elrond?' Legolas asked sharply.
Aragorn knew that Legolas was right about not revealing his identity in a war. The Prince of Mirkwood would make a worthy hostage. But he was a little resentful that Legolas was acting like the blame was totally his.
`You attacked me first,' Aragorn said testily.
Legolas turned an impassive face on him. `That is the custom when a message is not sent to warn of a visit. You know that.' The elf turned, and walked onto the balcony. He placed his comb on the bench, before returning to where Elladan, Elrohir, and Aragorn stood.
Elladan and Elrohir requested permission to bathe, which Legolas quietly gave them, along with orders to the servants to bring fresh clothes for the Elven twins to wear to the bathing room. He then turned to go see the Healers.
Aragorn caught Legolas by the wrist, as the elf tried to walk past him. `Please, Legolas,' the human pleaded.
Legolas let out an anguished cry of pain, for Aragorn had unintentionally grabbed a hold of where the rope burns where. `Let go!' Legolas moaned, for the human had taken a tighter hold of him, trying to figure out what was wrong.
Aragorn, startled, dropped the slender wrist.
Legolas whimpered a little, which to Aragorn sounded like the mewing of a kitten. Pain shone in the elf's green eyes, as he looked at Aragorn, who felt like kicking himself. He'd hurt his fragile friend even more. The human had always protected Legolas from everything, and it was in his nature to do it even now. The elf had always seemed to be vulnerable and innocent to Aragorn, and looked more so even now.
`They're very painful,' Legolas finally whispered.
Aragorn said quietly, `You should see the Healers, Legolas. And please accept my sincere apologies. I wish I could take back what I have done, but I hope you can forgive me.'
Legolas licked his lips, which he did when he was nervous, before he slowly nodded. His Elvish pride had been ruined, but he did not want his longstanding friendship with Aragorn to suffer only because of his pride. `It may take a little while, Aragorn, but I shall eventually forgive you.'
Aragorn let out a sigh of relief. `I'm glad, Legolas.'
`But you do realize that I will insist on a rematch when I am healed,' Legolas murmured, as he led the way towards the Healers.
Aragorn chuckled softly, as he followed his friend. `We shall see who the victor is, Legolas.' Haldir's voice suddenly startled both of them.
`What in the name of King Thranduil is he doing in here?' Haldir demanded. His hand automatically went to his sword.
Legolas quickly moved to intercept the fight he knew was coming. `Relax, Haldir. He is my half-Elven friend, Aragorn. Twas all a misunderstanding,' he told his Elven friend.
Haldir looked at Legolas incredulously. `He is your best friend?' He glared at Aragorn menacingly. `Do you consider kidnapping part of friendship? Some would take the kidnapping of a prince as an act of war.' His voice was low and dangerous.
Legolas snapped, `Cease this at once!'
Haldir turned his frown on Legolas. `I would watch my back with him if I were you, my prince. For I do not find him trustworthy at all.'
`That's enough, Haldir!' Legolas used his voice of authority. `Return to your post before I reprimand you and tell my father.'
Haldir walked away, his eyes never leaving Aragorn, who had remained silent the entire time. `Watch your back,' Haldir whispered, low enough so that Legolas did not hear, but loud enough for Aragorn to understand his meaning.
`You watch yours,' Aragorn returned in the same manner. He was not one to take threats lightly. He watched as the other elf walked out of sight, before turning to Legolas.
`Pay him no mind, Aragorn,' Legolas said. `Haldir is very protective of me, as I'm sure you just noticed.' He started walking again, and finally entered the Healers' room.
Aragorn nodded. `But he surely means well,' he said. All the same, Aragorn would keep a close eye on that elf. He stood by Legolas's side, as the younger elf explained just what he needed done to the only Healer who was in the room.
Aragorn frowned when Legolas was told to eat a Lyra herb and sleep it off. Lyra herbs were used by humans and elves to aid in fevers, not rope burns. He shot a puzzled glance at the Healer.
Legolas was confused as well. He knew that Aragorn had the knowledge of healing herbs. `Isn't Lyra used for fevers?'
Aragorn nodded. `Where did he learn to heal?' he questioned.
`There are very few Healers in Mirkwood,' Legolas told him. `Most are afraid to come because of the dark creatures that plague us. The war has been going on for over a millennia.'
Aragorn nodded. `But that Healer doesn't know what he's doing.'
Legolas sighed. `Aragorn, could you please tend to my wounds? I think they might fair better then, than if I simply ate Lyra and went to bed,' the blond elf said quietly. He was hiding his fatigue, as he looked at his friend.
`I agree,' Aragorn said, with a rueful smile.
A grin lit up Legolas's face. `Remember when we switched the herbs on Elladan? He did not forgive us for a very long time.'
Aragorn chuckled. `Indeed. Where shall I tend to you?' He gathered the herbs he needed without asking the Healer's assistance, and soft bandages as well.
`My room,' Legolas said. `Tis the room we shared together on the few visits we had.'
Aragorn led the way to the room, as the two spoke quietly of things that they had missed over the centuries. Legolas had fully relaxed in Aragorn's presence, as he earnestly told of how Mirkwood was faring in the war, and of his patrolling duties.
`That's how I came across you,' Legolas explained, not noticing the frown on Aragorn's face. `I was doing my sweep, and you came along.'
`Your father sends you out to patrol alone?' Aragorn tried keep the disapproval out of his voice.
`Of course,' Legolas said nonchalantly. `I am no longer a child, Aragorn.' He was immune to knowing just how upset Aragorn was over his `helpless' friend being sent out alone at night.
But the human said nothing, for he did not want to cause another fight. Aragorn couldn't help his instinct to protect Legolas from the cruelty that life sometimes has to offer, for there is both pain and pleasure in living. He saw Legolas as someone who needed constant protection, for he had not realized just how much the blond elf had changed inside, thanks to the war.
Aragorn only saw the gentle side of Legolas, and had only once seen his warrior's side. And he had all but forgotten it, as he followed his friend into his room. He did not see that there were two halves to Legolas; a gentle half, and a fierce half, for Aragorn was blind to it.
To be continued