Note: None of these are my characters! This is the prequel to `Not Worth Dying For'. Contains hints of shounen ai between Legolas/Aragorn, but there is also Arwen/Aragorn in this fic. Elvish speech is in ` '. No, Legolas did not sail to the West! Review for the final prequel chapter and tell me if you want a sequel! Takes place late the next morning.
Hidden Secrets, Unknown Love
Part 2
Legolas awoke rather late the next morning, and didn't know where he was at first. He looked around, and remembered finally. It was a good thing that the celebration was later today, because Legolas wanted to spend some time with his friends.
For one of the few times in his long life, Legolas had worn his shirt and tunic to bed, which he normally did not do. But it was a relief today, as he climbed out of bed, wincing as his shoulder hurt. But it was a good kind of hurt, for it told him that the wound was healing a little.
The blond elf made the bed up again as best as he could, and then left the room. His bare feet were silent on the floor, as he gazed around, wondering where Aragorn and Arwen were.
Arwen watched Legolas silently, as he looked for her and her husband. She could understand the love he had for Estel, because she loved him as well. It was a sign of how special the King of Men truly was, to have two people in love with him.
She was not blind to their feelings, and knew very well just how much they cared for each other. Yet they held back, out of caring for her, and of their own fear. But Arwen knew that she could not keep Estel and Legolas from being together if they loved each other. She loved Estel too much to bind him to her if he loved another.
Legolas had proven his love by remaining silent on the day that Arwen and Estel had wed. But the pain in his eyes had been seen by Arwen, who understood what a sacrifice that had been for the blond elf. Legolas had loved Estel enough to let him go without saying a word. And when he had tried to distance himself, Arwen had known why, and had encouraged her husband to invite Legolas to visit as often as he could. So Arwen knew that if the day came when she had to let Estel go, she would prove her love. If you loved someone, you had to be able to let them go.
Legolas felt eyes on him, and turned to see Arwen looking at him. A smile made its way on his face, as he walked over to her.
"Forgive me for sleeping in so late," Legolas murmured.
Arwen smiled back. "Tis all right, Legolas. You arrived very late last night. And I found out this morning that some of our other guests have arrived as well." A twinkle shone in her eyes.
"The Hobbits!" Legolas exclaimed, as Arwen nodded.
"Gimli and Gandalf, as well," she added. "Estel is busy in a meeting, but I can take you to get some breakfast with the others."
"That would be greatly appreciated, Lady Arwen," Legolas said. He followed Arwen as she led him down the hallway.
"How is your shoulder this morning? Estel said that you were injured," Arwen questioned as the two elves walked together silently.
A faint glint of humor flickered in Legolas's green eyes. "He never changes, does he? I told him my shoulder would be all right in a few days. It just needs a little time," he said, to ease her thoughts.
Legolas knew full well it would take much longer than that to heal the wound without his healing ability to help it, but he didn't want to worry his friends. While the wound felt somewhat better, it was also a little more painful today. And he did not care to explain why his Elven ability to heal did not work as well as it used to. It would be so much easier if Arwen was not as sweet and kind as she truly was. But Legolas refused to hurt either her or Aragorn.
Arwen saw the look in Legolas's eyes, which meant that he was hiding something. She could sense a great weariness about him. Something troubled her friend, and she did not know what to do. If she admitted that she knew that he was in love with her husband, Legolas would probably try to deny it, and if that didn't work, he would return to his duties at Mirkwood, for he was soon to become King there.
The Hobbits, Gimli, and Gandalf jumped to their feet as soon as Legolas and Arwen entered the room. It was a fairly decent room, with numerous chairs and tables with trays of food on them.
Arwen then smiled at all of them. "I shall have more food brought in here, for Legolas has not yet eaten this morning." Her sharp eyes had noted that there was no food left on the tables.
Legolas said, "You do not have to trouble yourself, Arwen. In truth, I am not all that hungry." And he was not. He had been hard pressed for food after escaping from the bandits, so he grown used to eating very little.
Merry was aghast. "Not hungry?"
"How can you not be hungry if you haven't eaten yet?" Pippin asked, looking horrified.
"Food isn't everything," Frodo said, as he walked over to Legolas and hugged him.
Legolas knelt down and hugged Frodo back gently, seeing how his friend had aged, while the elf himself looked mostly the same. The rest of the Hobbits came forward and hugged the blond elf as well, and Legolas sucked in a deep breath, because his shoulder was starting to hurt.
Gandalf embraced the elf gently, his sharp eyes having noticed the wince on Legolas's face.
Legolas came down to the dwarf's height, and gave him a hug.
In typical dwarf humor, Gimli slapped the elf on the right side of his back in greeting and was stunned when a strangled cry tore out of Legolas.
"What the..." Gimli tried to help Legolas up on his right side, incidentally pressing the wound harder.
Arwen came to Legolas's rescue, as another wave of agony soured over him.
"Gimli, turn loose his shoulder," Arwen said, as she made her way over and knelt beside the blond elf. She gently removed Gimli's hand, and touched the wound gently through the shirt. The wound had reopened, and blood was now on her hand.
Pain wracked through Legolas's shoulder, as he knelt there, trying to keep from screaming.
Frodo and the Hobbits were in shock. Gandalf frowned at the elf, for Legolas had once again hidden an injury, causing an accident which could have been prevented. Gimli was horrified and didn't understand what had happened.
Legolas felt like a knife had just been torn through his shoulder, and a few beads of sweat were on his forehead.
Aragorn entered the room at that moment. He saw that everyone, including Arwen, was gathered around Legolas, who knelt on the floor.
Legolas looked up and saw that Aragorn had come into the room. He forced himself to stand, and shook off offers of help. "I'm all right. My shoulder is just a little sore..." The blond elf smiled down at his friends reassuringly, but Aragorn could see the agony written in his eyes.
"What happened?" Gimli asked gruffly.
"Tis nothing serious, just a minor wound I received on my way to Gondor," Legolas murmured. He was a bit embarrassed at facing Aragorn, remembering that he had kissed his friend on the cheek the night before. Legolas still found it hard to believe that he'd done that. He touched his shoulder gingerly, and realized that it was still bleeding.
Aragorn met Legolas's eyes, watching him silently. He was surprised when the elf returned the look, with pain, longing, and sorrow written on his face, before he turned away.
"I'd better go find a Healer," Legolas said quietly. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He carefully walked to the door of the room, pausing only when he saw Aragorn. "Good morning," he told the king of Men, before continuing on his way. He walked a little unsteadily, but made it around the corner and out of sight.
"Good morning," Aragorn replied, wondering at the look he'd seen on Legolas's face. He would have gone after the elf, if Arwen had not touched his hand gently.
"He has his pride, Estel, just as you have yours. He does not need you to look after him like a father would a child," she murmured. "He is over three thousand years old, after all. He'll be all right." Arwen knew, however, that she needed to speak with Legolas soon. She was gravely concerned about him, for his wound should not have reopened after the combination of her husband's healing herbs and Legolas's healing ability.
Aragorn smiled at his beautiful wife. He tilted her face up towards his, and kissed her gently. "Good morning, Arwen," he teased.
Arwen's eyes sparkled with humor. "Good morning, Estel."
The rest of the Fellowship smiled wryly, except for Frodo.
The sharp-eyed Hobbit had also seen the longing in Legolas's eyes as he had gazed at Aragorn. Could it be, Frodo thought, astonished at what he now suspected.
To be continued
Hidden Secrets, Unknown Love
Part 2
Legolas awoke rather late the next morning, and didn't know where he was at first. He looked around, and remembered finally. It was a good thing that the celebration was later today, because Legolas wanted to spend some time with his friends.
For one of the few times in his long life, Legolas had worn his shirt and tunic to bed, which he normally did not do. But it was a relief today, as he climbed out of bed, wincing as his shoulder hurt. But it was a good kind of hurt, for it told him that the wound was healing a little.
The blond elf made the bed up again as best as he could, and then left the room. His bare feet were silent on the floor, as he gazed around, wondering where Aragorn and Arwen were.
Arwen watched Legolas silently, as he looked for her and her husband. She could understand the love he had for Estel, because she loved him as well. It was a sign of how special the King of Men truly was, to have two people in love with him.
She was not blind to their feelings, and knew very well just how much they cared for each other. Yet they held back, out of caring for her, and of their own fear. But Arwen knew that she could not keep Estel and Legolas from being together if they loved each other. She loved Estel too much to bind him to her if he loved another.
Legolas had proven his love by remaining silent on the day that Arwen and Estel had wed. But the pain in his eyes had been seen by Arwen, who understood what a sacrifice that had been for the blond elf. Legolas had loved Estel enough to let him go without saying a word. And when he had tried to distance himself, Arwen had known why, and had encouraged her husband to invite Legolas to visit as often as he could. So Arwen knew that if the day came when she had to let Estel go, she would prove her love. If you loved someone, you had to be able to let them go.
Legolas felt eyes on him, and turned to see Arwen looking at him. A smile made its way on his face, as he walked over to her.
"Forgive me for sleeping in so late," Legolas murmured.
Arwen smiled back. "Tis all right, Legolas. You arrived very late last night. And I found out this morning that some of our other guests have arrived as well." A twinkle shone in her eyes.
"The Hobbits!" Legolas exclaimed, as Arwen nodded.
"Gimli and Gandalf, as well," she added. "Estel is busy in a meeting, but I can take you to get some breakfast with the others."
"That would be greatly appreciated, Lady Arwen," Legolas said. He followed Arwen as she led him down the hallway.
"How is your shoulder this morning? Estel said that you were injured," Arwen questioned as the two elves walked together silently.
A faint glint of humor flickered in Legolas's green eyes. "He never changes, does he? I told him my shoulder would be all right in a few days. It just needs a little time," he said, to ease her thoughts.
Legolas knew full well it would take much longer than that to heal the wound without his healing ability to help it, but he didn't want to worry his friends. While the wound felt somewhat better, it was also a little more painful today. And he did not care to explain why his Elven ability to heal did not work as well as it used to. It would be so much easier if Arwen was not as sweet and kind as she truly was. But Legolas refused to hurt either her or Aragorn.
Arwen saw the look in Legolas's eyes, which meant that he was hiding something. She could sense a great weariness about him. Something troubled her friend, and she did not know what to do. If she admitted that she knew that he was in love with her husband, Legolas would probably try to deny it, and if that didn't work, he would return to his duties at Mirkwood, for he was soon to become King there.
The Hobbits, Gimli, and Gandalf jumped to their feet as soon as Legolas and Arwen entered the room. It was a fairly decent room, with numerous chairs and tables with trays of food on them.
Arwen then smiled at all of them. "I shall have more food brought in here, for Legolas has not yet eaten this morning." Her sharp eyes had noted that there was no food left on the tables.
Legolas said, "You do not have to trouble yourself, Arwen. In truth, I am not all that hungry." And he was not. He had been hard pressed for food after escaping from the bandits, so he grown used to eating very little.
Merry was aghast. "Not hungry?"
"How can you not be hungry if you haven't eaten yet?" Pippin asked, looking horrified.
"Food isn't everything," Frodo said, as he walked over to Legolas and hugged him.
Legolas knelt down and hugged Frodo back gently, seeing how his friend had aged, while the elf himself looked mostly the same. The rest of the Hobbits came forward and hugged the blond elf as well, and Legolas sucked in a deep breath, because his shoulder was starting to hurt.
Gandalf embraced the elf gently, his sharp eyes having noticed the wince on Legolas's face.
Legolas came down to the dwarf's height, and gave him a hug.
In typical dwarf humor, Gimli slapped the elf on the right side of his back in greeting and was stunned when a strangled cry tore out of Legolas.
"What the..." Gimli tried to help Legolas up on his right side, incidentally pressing the wound harder.
Arwen came to Legolas's rescue, as another wave of agony soured over him.
"Gimli, turn loose his shoulder," Arwen said, as she made her way over and knelt beside the blond elf. She gently removed Gimli's hand, and touched the wound gently through the shirt. The wound had reopened, and blood was now on her hand.
Pain wracked through Legolas's shoulder, as he knelt there, trying to keep from screaming.
Frodo and the Hobbits were in shock. Gandalf frowned at the elf, for Legolas had once again hidden an injury, causing an accident which could have been prevented. Gimli was horrified and didn't understand what had happened.
Legolas felt like a knife had just been torn through his shoulder, and a few beads of sweat were on his forehead.
Aragorn entered the room at that moment. He saw that everyone, including Arwen, was gathered around Legolas, who knelt on the floor.
Legolas looked up and saw that Aragorn had come into the room. He forced himself to stand, and shook off offers of help. "I'm all right. My shoulder is just a little sore..." The blond elf smiled down at his friends reassuringly, but Aragorn could see the agony written in his eyes.
"What happened?" Gimli asked gruffly.
"Tis nothing serious, just a minor wound I received on my way to Gondor," Legolas murmured. He was a bit embarrassed at facing Aragorn, remembering that he had kissed his friend on the cheek the night before. Legolas still found it hard to believe that he'd done that. He touched his shoulder gingerly, and realized that it was still bleeding.
Aragorn met Legolas's eyes, watching him silently. He was surprised when the elf returned the look, with pain, longing, and sorrow written on his face, before he turned away.
"I'd better go find a Healer," Legolas said quietly. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He carefully walked to the door of the room, pausing only when he saw Aragorn. "Good morning," he told the king of Men, before continuing on his way. He walked a little unsteadily, but made it around the corner and out of sight.
"Good morning," Aragorn replied, wondering at the look he'd seen on Legolas's face. He would have gone after the elf, if Arwen had not touched his hand gently.
"He has his pride, Estel, just as you have yours. He does not need you to look after him like a father would a child," she murmured. "He is over three thousand years old, after all. He'll be all right." Arwen knew, however, that she needed to speak with Legolas soon. She was gravely concerned about him, for his wound should not have reopened after the combination of her husband's healing herbs and Legolas's healing ability.
Aragorn smiled at his beautiful wife. He tilted her face up towards his, and kissed her gently. "Good morning, Arwen," he teased.
Arwen's eyes sparkled with humor. "Good morning, Estel."
The rest of the Fellowship smiled wryly, except for Frodo.
The sharp-eyed Hobbit had also seen the longing in Legolas's eyes as he had gazed at Aragorn. Could it be, Frodo thought, astonished at what he now suspected.
To be continued