Title: Dark Secrets
Author: Combined fic with AJ Matthews and kitty
Disclaimer: I do not own anything it all belongs to Tolkien
Warning: If you do not like male/male relationships I suggest you press the back button on your browser
A/N: Don't worry, the slash comes soon.
"What of the pride of the Prince of Mirkwood? Will he truly be glad to see him again?"
"They are friends, in spite of everything. If I had any doubt that they were not, I would not have put them together again."
"But Legolas may not be as happy to see Aragorn as one might think. They did grow distant from each other."
"You worry too much. Time means little or naught to an Elf. Surely Legolas has not changed that much."
"I hope not, for Aragorn's sake. Maybe Legolas will be a stabilizing influence on him."
"Aragorn has pride as well. Putting those two together again might not be a good idea."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
An arrow shot into the ground right beside Aragorn's horse, which proved Legolas' claim that the archers who were watching were ready to strike if their Prince was not set free.
"That was a warning, Aragorn. Release me, for I would not enjoy having to explain to Lord Elrond why you were shot," Legolas said in Elvish, lifting his chin slightly.
Aragorn was still trying to figure out why he had not recognized Legolas when he first saw him. He gazed intently into the Elf's face, and saw that the child-like joy that had once been on Legolas' fair and beautiful face had been replaced with grim determination and maturity. His old friend had lost whatever innocence that he had had left after the Quest. War had a funny way of destroying any innocence that one might possess.
Legolas finally yanked his arm away. "What are you staring at?" he questioned, vaguely confused. "We need to reach the castle, before they show up again." Though Legolas himself was trying not to stare at Aragorn, who was as handsome as ever.
"Legolas is right, Aragorn. We should continue," Haldir said, slyly noting the way the two were trying not to be caught gazing at each other.
"Fine," Aragorn muttered. "Is there any more of… whatever that was?"
Legolas inclined his head. "Aye, and only the Elves of Mirkwood know where it is located in our home. I believe I shall stay down here, to prevent another near accident." The slender Elf began walking again, part of him listening carefully for the sounds of anything approaching, part of him trying to figure out how he felt about Aragorn being here, and the rest of him guiding them to his home, avoiding the traps.
Aragorn was angry that Legolas had seemingly humiliated him on purpose. Why would he do such a thing, Aragorn wondered, as he watched the blond archer out of the corner of his eyes. They were friends, after all. Weren't they?
If Legolas knew that Aragorn was watching him, he gave no sign. The Elf was wondering how Aragorn hadn't been able to recognize him. Surely he did not look that different, though it had been a long time since they'd seen each other. This just brought back some of the painful memories that Legolas had wanted to forget.
Haldir shook his head. Those two needed to stop worrying about their personal feelings and work together. There was a war going on, after all, and every fighter was needed. Though Legolas was still as beautiful as he had ever been, Haldir thought. His eyes appreciatively roamed over the Elven Prince, appraising his beauty.
Legolas was too busy to notice the intense scrutiny that Haldir was giving him, for he was still distracted with thoughts of Aragorn. He knew that his friend would want to speak to him when they reached Mirkwood, but Legolas had to finish his patrol first. Duty came before personal feelings, after all. The archer bit back a sigh. That was a lesson that he'd learned only too well.
Aragorn did notice what Haldir was doing and scowled at the Elf. Haldir looked back and raised an eyebrow slightly, for Aragorn had never laid a claim on Legolas. A challenge was in Aragorn's grey eyes, as they met the steel-grey eyes of the blond Elf who rode a little ahead of him.
Haldir's eyes held a challenge as well. Aragorn and Arwen were together, after all. What claim did Aragorn have to Legolas, when he was supposed to marry Arwen?
Legolas distracted both by suddenly stopping. He listened carefully to the silence, cocking his head to the right. "Prepare yourselves, for the enemy is near," he said in a low voice, as he notched an arrow.
Dark arrows started raining down on them again from the nearby trees, and Legolas jumped out of the way. He fired his arrow at the exact spot that the first arrow had come from. A black figure fell from the tree. The blond Elf then drew his two daggers.
Aragorn drew his sword, and looked around, as numerous Orcs and Uruk-Hai burst out of the trees and began attacking. Aragorn smiled grimly. This was going to be fun, he thought, for this was poor odds…for them.
Haldir and the other Elves used their bows to keep the creatures from getting too close to them.
Legolas darted up a tree, leapt into the air and twisted his body, landing just behind a Uruk-Hai that had tried to corner him against the tree. His deadly Elven daggers easily killed the creature, and Legolas began fighting a second Uruk-Hai.
Aragorn slit the throat of an Orc, and occasionally glanced around to check on the Elves around him. He knew that Legolas could defend himself, but some of the other Elves had rarely been in battle before. However, they did defend themselves well, with good aims with their bows and arrows.
Legolas slit the throat of the Uruk-Hai he fought with, and whirled around to deflect a blow from an Orc. One dagger he brought up to the creature's throat, and the other went down to its waist. In one swift, deadly movement, the Orc lay dead, and Legolas sprinted towards where the main group of Orcs were heading.
The Elven archer drew his bow and arrows, and let them fly. His targets instantly died, and Legolas took a moment to wipe the sweat off his brow, before he went back to the battle. He'd been fighting the creatures all day long, which would have been tiring to anyone save an Elf.
Aragorn's steed was well trained, for it did not panic, as Aragorn's sword clashed with three Orc blades. He easily slit the throat of the closest, deflected the other two blades, and stabbed one of his other opponents straight in the heart. It fell to the ground, dead, as did the first Orc. The third bellowed in rage, and swung up at Aragorn, who took advantage of its vulnerable position and he gutted it.
His grey eyes then sought out Legolas, for he was the only one not on a horse, save for their foes. His heart skipped a beat when he saw that two Uruk-Hai, along with two Orcs, and formed a small circle around the blond Prince. Haldir saw the same, and started fighting his way over there. If those Orcs figured out who Legolas was, they would want him dead as well, for he was Thranduil's heir.
Legolas was using his daggers once more. He ducked under a blow, and slashed across the face of the closest Uruk-Hai with the dagger in his right hand, before he lashed out with the dagger that he gripped within his other hand, slitting the throat of one of the Orcs. A bellow of pain sounded, and the Uruk-Hai swung at the Elf, who dove to the ground, rolled right, and jumped back to his feet lightly. A swiftly notched arrow killed the Uruk-Hai, and Legolas then flung his dagger into the throat of the other Orc. Sweat trickled down his face, as he turned to face the final Uruk-Hai.
Aragorn was glad to see that Legolas was as good a fighter as he had ever been, as he watched the graceful and deadly Elf easily kill three of the four evil creatures that had surrounded him.
The Uruk-Hai that was left feinted a blow to Legolas with one hand, who countered it with his remaining dagger. The creature smiled evilly and used his other hand, with its sharp, cruel nails, to gash open the Elf's vulnerable flank. Blood began trickling down to the ground.
Legolas ignored the pain that soared through him, and managed to penetrate the creature's heart with a well-placed dagger throw. The Uruk-Hai died, and Legolas glanced around. This fight appeared to be over, he saw, before the blue-eyed Prince gathered his unbroken arrows and daggers, re-sheathing them. Beads of sweat were on his forehead, so he wiped it again, and rejoined the others.
Haldir gathered the group of Elves together, and carefully looked over each, looking for any injuries. Legolas stood slightly apart from the others, for he knew that Aragorn would fuss over him like a child if his friend found out that he was wounded. It was a mere scratch and certainly nothing to worry about. No poison had been on the Uruk-Hai's claws, after all.
Aragorn saw a tight-lipped expression on Legolas' face, as he looked at his older friend. He decided that the archer must be worried about his father, and dismissed the matter. Legolas seemed to be all right, after all.
"We should go before more come," Legolas said, using Elvish, in a clear, strong voice. "I have been battling them all day, and more keep appearing. My father will know where each of you can best help."
Haldir nodded. "As you wish, Prince Legolas."
Legolas frowned. "Do not call me that, Haldir. In times of war it matters not what one's rank is, but more on cooperation and loyalty," he stated.
"If you think we should continue, then let's do so," Aragorn muttered, wanting to speak with his friend alone.
Legolas simply nodded, and took the lead once more, hiding his relief that Aragorn had backed him up. He would be hard-pressed for time to treat his wound and return to his patrol, for he was already late. But his father would understand, for they had been waiting and hoping for the aid from Lord Elrond to arrive.
Haldir's sharp eyes caught the drops of blood staining the grass a very short time later. "Who is bleeding?" the blond Elf questioned sharply. "Rather, who is injured and hiding it?"
Legolas said nothing, glad that he wore an undershirt, which kept the blood from showing through his tunic. He remained silent, until Haldir scowled, and glanced from figure to figure, pausing on him. Legolas met the scowl, raising an eyebrow ever so slightly.
Aragorn's gaze fixated on Legolas, who stood there, not saying a word. The blue eyes narrowed slightly, as the gaze lowered, checking for any signs of blood. When Aragorn saw the blood in a on the ground beside the Elf, anger entered his grey eyes.
To be continued