Note: Only the unknown attackers belong to me! The rest do not! Elvish speech is in ''. This is the sequel to 'Loss of Freedom'. Contains shounen ai between Legolas/Aragorn and Boromir/Éomer.

Meeting Of Hearts

Part 3

Elrond swiftly reached Legolas's side. 'You should not be up, Legolas. Your wounds need time to heal, even for an Elf.' He supported the younger Elf to a bed carefully, and sat him down.

Aragorn raced over and took one of Legolas's hands in his. "Are you all right? I was so worried about you…"

Legolas managed a weak smile. "I'm all right, Aragorn. Just tired and sore. I owe Lord Elrond my life." He looked at the Elven lord. "Thank you for saving me," he said gratefully.

'You are welcome, young one. I suppose no harm would come if you visited with your friends for a while, but you should rest again soon, to fully heal,' Elrond told him.

Aragorn bit back an angry retort as the Elven lord deliberately spoke to his Legolas in Elvish. He seethed silently, and vowed to learn Elvish, so no more secrets would be kept from him.

Éomer sighed, and hid a yawn.

Elrond saw it anyway. 'Do you need to rest for a while, King of Rohan?'

'Please, call me Éomer,' the human king said. 'I would welcome a rest soon, but much needs to be done.'

'I know. Aragorn needs to learn humility and other things. I intend for him to succeed Saruman and take his place as King. But not as he currently is.'

Aragorn and Legolas were busy talking to each other.

"I never made it to Gondor for your present," Legolas said glumly. "But I suppose that the delay was worth it, for I learned that there are more Elves in this land than me."

"Tis all right, Legolas. But don't scare me like that again!" Aragorn's voice was slightly harsh.

Legolas frowned, right before he yawned. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to upset you, but I-"

"You did upset me! I woke up and you weren't there. And I couldn't even read the note you left me!" Aragorn's pent-up fear and hurt was disguising itself as anger.

"What more can I say than I'm sorry," Legolas whispered, for he was very tired. The blond Elf had awoken when he'd heard Aragorn shouting, and had stumbled down to the Healers' room to see him.

Elrond was upset when he heard the fatigue in Legolas's voice. "That's enough, Elessar. Did you forget that Legolas might have perished on his journey to bring you a gift?"

Aragorn snapped, "Stay out of this! It has nothing to do with you!"

The Elven lord narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "On the contrary, you saying hurtful things to a wounded friend has everything to do with me. Particularly when he is in pain and exhausted." Elrond's voice was reproachful and condescending.

Aragorn's face flushed again in embarrassment. His Elven lover spoke in his defense.

'Tis all right, Lord Elrond. I will argue with him later when I am not so tired,' Legolas said sleepily. 'Aragorn means well, and he was worried about me; that is why he is acting like this.'

'A fine way to show his concern,' Elrond said flatly.

Legolas turned to look at Elrond. 'Tis not his fault for how Saruman raised him. Aragorn is better than he used to be.'

Elrond conceded that Legolas was right in that point. 'True, Elessar had no control over how he was raised. But he must be taught Elven values ere he becomes the King of Gondor. And I mean to teach it to him.'

Aragorn gritted his teeth, before he turned to Legolas. "You look really tired. Maybe you should rest, Legolas." Concern shone in his dark eyes.

Legolas wearily nodded, and bit his lower lip before he did something that he had not done before. "Will you help me return to my room here, Aragorn?" he requested softly.

Aragorn nodded, and aided Legolas in standing. "All right," the half Elf answered.

Elrond watched the two go, a combination of wistfulness and envy in his eyes, as he saw Legolas finally get picked up by Aragorn. The blond elf had stumbled and nearly fell, before his lover caught him.

Éomer stood next to Boromir, looking weary as well. The four Hobbits were sitting back to back and dozing on one of the other beds. Gandalf was wide-awake and stood there quietly. Haldir had drifted into sleep.

Elrond looked up when Gandalf cleared his throat.

'Yes, Mithrandir?' he questioned.

Gandalf smiled, and gestured to the mostly sleeping group. 'I think they all need a rest, Elrond.'

Boromir was surprised when Éomer nearly fell asleep standing up and leaned back unconsciously. He caught his lover easily, and supported him. A small smile of gratitude was his reward.

Elrond smiled a little, and temporarily forgot his own worries. 'I believe you are correct.' The Elven lord then switched to the basic language. "If you would all follow me, I will show you to the guest rooms, ere you fall asleep here."

The group nodded, and followed Elrond as he led them down the beautiful hallway once more.

Elrond stopped a few feet down, and opened a door. "There are two beds in here, so if you Hobbits wouldn't mind sharing beds, you can rest here."

Frodo, Pippin, Merry, and Sam shook their heads, to show that they did not mind sharing a room. They then entered the room, and a gasp echoed.

It was large, with plants hanging from the ceiling. Two beds, as well as two chairs and a table were in the room. A window looked out to a garden. The walls had a few pictures on them, of Elves. Candles were placed around the room.

The Hobbits immediately climbed into the beds, after they dropped their backs on the floor. Not caring who they slept next to, they pulled the covers around them and instantly fell asleep.

Elrond closed the door, and turned to the two humans. 'You would prefer a room together with one bed, would you not, Éomer?' he wisely asked.

A nod was his answer, but the King of Rohan's face betrayed no emotion, as he walked next to Boromir.

Boromir saw the lines of tension and sleepiness in Éomer's face. They both needed a good rest after the harrowing journey from Rohan.

The Elven lord took the humans to a room that was further down, where the King of Rohan could have the privacy befitting his station.

'It is not much, but it is the best that I can offer you,' Elrond said quietly. The Elven lord opened the door for the two, and ushered them in. 'When you wake, ask one of my people to bring you food if you are hungry. I shall be with Mithrandir, if you would care to join me then.' The Elven lord then turned and walked back to where Gandalf stood waiting.

The two humans peered around the room.

The sweet smell of flowers was present in the room, which was larger than the one the Hobbits were in. The bed was larger, as well, with a small table beside it. A chair and larger table sat nearby. The floor was plain wood, as were the walls. Faded tapestries hung on the mostly bare walls, bearing the symbol of Rivendell on them. Green curtains hung in front of an open window. Plants hung in this room, as well.

Boromir laughed quietly when Éomer fell against him slightly. "Need some assistance?" he jested.

"For once, I believe so." The King of Rohan smiled a little. "Do not tell anyone that a King required help," he asked, half joking.

"Of course not," Boromir answered. He easily lifted Éomer and carried him to the bed, before setting him down gently.

Éomer was beyond halfway asleep. Boromir un-strapped the King's sword, and placed it on the table next to the bed, before he removed his own, placing it under the more majestic sword. Shoes were then removed, followed by packs, cloaks, tunics, and shirts.

Boromir then maneuvered Éomer into a sleeping position, and was surprised when he realized that the King had fallen asleep in his arms. He smiled, before he climbed into bed carefully, and pulled the covers up. Boromir was glad that no candles were lit, as he placed his arms around his sleeping lover, before he fell asleep as well.

Legolas weakly protested to Aragorn carrying him, but gave in when his lover frowned at him. The Elf was too tired to argue now, but would soon enough. His injuries were paining him slightly, as he leaned his blond head against Aragorn's chest.

Aragorn questioned, "Where is your room, Legolas?" The half Elf was getting sleepy as well. No answer came, and Aragorn peered at his Elven lover. To his wonder and faint amusement, Legolas was sleeping.

Aragorn briefly wondered how Legolas could easily fall asleep in his arms, particularly when the half Elf knew that he had been a bit harsh. But it was because he loved the blond Elf so that he had reacted the way he did. Aragorn was not used to feeling such emotions as jealousy and love, as well as anger.

Saruman had told him many times that emotions were a sign of weakness. Aragorn was not certain of what to think any longer. Saruman had nearly killed him, after all, and it now appeared that Elves had a good reason to hate the half Elf's father. But did that mean that they hated him as well, Aragorn wondered.

Legolas slept contentedly in Aragorn's arms, relaxed and happy. The half Elf finally took a seat on a bench and held his lover close. He repositioned Legolas across his lap, so he could support him better. The Elf's legs hung down over Aragorn's sideways, as the rest of him leaned against the half Elf's chest. His blond head was now on Aragorn's shoulder.

Aragorn closed his eyes to rest for a few moments, and unintentionally fell asleep, with his arms looped around the slender Elf's waist, holding him close. Aragorn's chin rested very gently on top of Legolas's head. Both slept deeply, and did not awaken at the sound of approaching footsteps.

Elrond and Gandalf were walking towards the Elven lord's conference room, when they came across the young lovers. It was a rather charming sight.

Gandalf saw the tight look on Elrond's face as the Elven lord openly stared at Legolas, who slept with a strange innocence around him. None would ever know it was there when he was awake, however. The younger Elf's stubbornness was apparent.

'Legolas is deeply in love with Aragorn, my friend. It would be better for you to cast your eyes elsewhere,' the wizard told his friend, knowing that those words would hurt Elrond, yet they needed to be said, before it was too late.

Elrond said nothing, but his gaze remained on the sleeping blond elf.

To be continued