Note: All unknown characters are mine! This story focuses on a romance
between Aradia and Ullin/Seiren. If you don't know who those two are,
please read 'Return of the Fellowship' and 'The Darkest Night' for
reference. Some A/L SLASH is in this fic, as well. Elvish speech is in ' '.
Review if you want more chapters.
The Task At Hand
Part 2
Seiren was in the stables, preparing his horse for a ride. He had not ridden his Elven stallion in a few days, and he did not wish for Seion to be unhappy. He stroked Seion's soft mane with his hands, and the horse whinnied in appreciation.
'I know your eagerness, my friend. Let's go,' the elf said gently, his eyes a soft amethyst. It would do him some good to get out of the palace for awhile, and away from the one he loved. Seiren knew that he could not keep his secret from the princess forever, but so far he had been able to prevent her from finding out his true identity. Seiren sighed softly with longing. Why must he suffer so, Seiren wondered. He had suffered before, but this pain was a constant and grew worse every day.
He shook his head and vaulted onto Seion's back, and they set off on a trot out of the palace, before setting off on a gallop. Seiren felt free and light as he rode, with his long hair whipping out behind him. For a short time, he was able to forget his troubles.
Unknown to Seiren, Legolas and Aragorn were searching for him inside the palace. The Elven king decided to find Aradia, to see if she knew where Ullin had gone. Aragorn stood beside his lover as they knocked on Aradia's door.
'Who is it?' Aradia's soft, gentle voice asked, using the Elvish tongue that she was fond of.
'Your father,' Aragorn answered in Elvish. 'And Legolas.' Legolas elbowed Aragorn, a hint of annoyance in his green eyes at having his name spoken last. Aragorn smiled slyly, before he grabbed the smaller elf by the waist, kissing him hard.
After moaning in pleasure, Legolas whispered, 'Aragorn, I do not believe this is the time or place for that…' His rebuke was gentle and loving, as he gazed at his lover.
Aradia opened the door to see her father holding Legolas. 'Um… Did you want something, father?' She carefully avoided looking at the two who were now blushing. This wasn't the first time she had caught them in an awkward moment. She hid a smile.
Legolas attempted to remove Aragorn's arms from around his waist. Aragorn blocked it for a few moments, before he let go, sternly reminding himself to stay focused.
'Have you seen Ullin, Aradia?' Legolas questioned. He, Aragorn, and Aradia did not use their formal titles when they spoke to each other; it showed how closely the three cared for each other.
Aradia thought for a few moments. 'He was off-duty today, and I believe that he went to the stables,' she said, as a small frown appeared on her face.
'What's wrong, my princess?' Aragorn asked affectionately.
'Ullin seemed… to not be himself. He was distracted before he left, and muttering something under his breath,' Aradia told her father. 'Something troubled him, but I do not know what.'
Legolas frowned as well. 'How long ago did he leave?'
'Just a few minutes ago.' Aradia's grey eyes met Legolas's green ones. 'Do you intend to go after him?'
Legolas nodded. 'He is a good friend, and I do not wish him to be out alone. Tis not safe at this time.'
'Then I shall come with,' Aragorn proclaimed.
Aradia asked quietly, 'Can I come as well?'
Legolas and Aragorn exchanged a look, before Aragorn nodded slowly to his lover.
'You would do better to pack a small travel bag, Aradia,' Legolas said gently. 'As soon as Ullin is back and packs a few of his own belongings, he is to escort you to Rivendell.'
Joy shone in Aradia's eyes at the knowledge that she would be spending time alone with the one she loved more than anything in the world. 'I'll start packing,' she said, keeping her elation out of her voice. She quickly went back into her room and rummaged through her things, trying to decide what would be needed the most.
Legolas and Aragorn turned and walked to the stables together. They instinctively went to Legolas's (current) favorite Elvish stallion, Shuurai. Legolas vaulted onto the stallion's back, and Aragorn mounted behind him. He held his lover's smaller waist tightly, as Legolas took the reins, and they trotted out of the stables. Then Shuurai was nudged into a gallop, following the faint tracks of Ullin's horse.
In the meantime, Seiren had stopped beside a brook, to let Seion drink. The elf dismounted, and gazed at the beauty of the land around him. Mirkwood was certainly enchanting when the flowers were blooming, for it was the summer season.
Seiren had traveled to the very border of Mirkwood alone, seeking relief from the torment inside his heart and soul. He closed his eyes, and breathed in the sweet smell of the flowers around him. Seiren stayed motionless for quite a while, until his Elvish senses told him that something was approaching.
The elf instinctively put his hand on the hilt of his sword, as he scanned the landscape. The voices spoke volumes to his sharp ears, for they told Seiren that whatever approached was unnatural. He drew his sword and prepared to defend himself.
Kyourui always approached with high-pitched screeches. The small group swarmed around the single elf, who stood there, with a strange light flickering in his amethyst eyes.
'An elf!' one proclaimed.
Another shouted, 'Death to elves!'
'Not today,' Seiren said grimly, as he pointed the blade of his sword at the closest one. 'Depart and I will not harm you. If you persist, you will meet your doom.'
'Confident words for a single elf,' a third sneered. It lunged forward, slashing at Seiren with his vicious claws.
Seiren blocked it with his sword, before countering with a slice at the creature's arm. Black liquid gushed out of the wound, as the creature hissed at him. Seiren whirled around, as another attacked him from behind. He put an end to that with his sword, using it to slit the being's throat. Sword-fighting with the creatures would take too long, Seiren realized. He sheathed his sword in a single movement, before he started to chant a spell.
The creature that Seiren had injured had its foul blood dripping down its arm, onto the razor-sharp claws, as it took advantage of Seiren's spell- casting. It slashed directly across the elf's ribcage, plunging its claw in deeply. Red blood gushed out, and mingled with the black blood from the creature.
Agony soured through the elf, as he finished his spell. With beads of sweat beginning to run down his face, he flung his hand into the air. Blue lightning crashed down and struck all of the creatures, leaving them dead. Seiren heard another horse approaching, as blood began to seep out his mouth. He looked and saw that it was Legolas and Aragorn.
The lovers were horrified when they saw the blood gushing from Seiren's wound.
Legolas dismounted and ran towards his best friend. He shouted, 'Are you all right?'
Seiren touched the black blood, inspecting it closely. He became grim when he realized just what it was. He looked at Legolas, as painful fire began to swarm through his veins. 'I'm…' Seiren took a step towards his friend, before gracefully fainting.
Aragorn dismounted as well, and ran over to help Legolas.
Legolas tore off his cloak and began to bind the wound.
Seiren began to shiver violently. 'Gekidoku is in my veins, Legolas,' the red-haired elf moaned, feeling the beginnings of a fever.
Legolas turned white. Gekidoku was the only poison know that worked on elves, because it had been created to destroy an elf from within. The cure was not available in Mirkwood.
Aragorn heard Seiren's words, and he went pale as well. Who could save the elf now?
To be continued
The Task At Hand
Part 2
Seiren was in the stables, preparing his horse for a ride. He had not ridden his Elven stallion in a few days, and he did not wish for Seion to be unhappy. He stroked Seion's soft mane with his hands, and the horse whinnied in appreciation.
'I know your eagerness, my friend. Let's go,' the elf said gently, his eyes a soft amethyst. It would do him some good to get out of the palace for awhile, and away from the one he loved. Seiren knew that he could not keep his secret from the princess forever, but so far he had been able to prevent her from finding out his true identity. Seiren sighed softly with longing. Why must he suffer so, Seiren wondered. He had suffered before, but this pain was a constant and grew worse every day.
He shook his head and vaulted onto Seion's back, and they set off on a trot out of the palace, before setting off on a gallop. Seiren felt free and light as he rode, with his long hair whipping out behind him. For a short time, he was able to forget his troubles.
Unknown to Seiren, Legolas and Aragorn were searching for him inside the palace. The Elven king decided to find Aradia, to see if she knew where Ullin had gone. Aragorn stood beside his lover as they knocked on Aradia's door.
'Who is it?' Aradia's soft, gentle voice asked, using the Elvish tongue that she was fond of.
'Your father,' Aragorn answered in Elvish. 'And Legolas.' Legolas elbowed Aragorn, a hint of annoyance in his green eyes at having his name spoken last. Aragorn smiled slyly, before he grabbed the smaller elf by the waist, kissing him hard.
After moaning in pleasure, Legolas whispered, 'Aragorn, I do not believe this is the time or place for that…' His rebuke was gentle and loving, as he gazed at his lover.
Aradia opened the door to see her father holding Legolas. 'Um… Did you want something, father?' She carefully avoided looking at the two who were now blushing. This wasn't the first time she had caught them in an awkward moment. She hid a smile.
Legolas attempted to remove Aragorn's arms from around his waist. Aragorn blocked it for a few moments, before he let go, sternly reminding himself to stay focused.
'Have you seen Ullin, Aradia?' Legolas questioned. He, Aragorn, and Aradia did not use their formal titles when they spoke to each other; it showed how closely the three cared for each other.
Aradia thought for a few moments. 'He was off-duty today, and I believe that he went to the stables,' she said, as a small frown appeared on her face.
'What's wrong, my princess?' Aragorn asked affectionately.
'Ullin seemed… to not be himself. He was distracted before he left, and muttering something under his breath,' Aradia told her father. 'Something troubled him, but I do not know what.'
Legolas frowned as well. 'How long ago did he leave?'
'Just a few minutes ago.' Aradia's grey eyes met Legolas's green ones. 'Do you intend to go after him?'
Legolas nodded. 'He is a good friend, and I do not wish him to be out alone. Tis not safe at this time.'
'Then I shall come with,' Aragorn proclaimed.
Aradia asked quietly, 'Can I come as well?'
Legolas and Aragorn exchanged a look, before Aragorn nodded slowly to his lover.
'You would do better to pack a small travel bag, Aradia,' Legolas said gently. 'As soon as Ullin is back and packs a few of his own belongings, he is to escort you to Rivendell.'
Joy shone in Aradia's eyes at the knowledge that she would be spending time alone with the one she loved more than anything in the world. 'I'll start packing,' she said, keeping her elation out of her voice. She quickly went back into her room and rummaged through her things, trying to decide what would be needed the most.
Legolas and Aragorn turned and walked to the stables together. They instinctively went to Legolas's (current) favorite Elvish stallion, Shuurai. Legolas vaulted onto the stallion's back, and Aragorn mounted behind him. He held his lover's smaller waist tightly, as Legolas took the reins, and they trotted out of the stables. Then Shuurai was nudged into a gallop, following the faint tracks of Ullin's horse.
In the meantime, Seiren had stopped beside a brook, to let Seion drink. The elf dismounted, and gazed at the beauty of the land around him. Mirkwood was certainly enchanting when the flowers were blooming, for it was the summer season.
Seiren had traveled to the very border of Mirkwood alone, seeking relief from the torment inside his heart and soul. He closed his eyes, and breathed in the sweet smell of the flowers around him. Seiren stayed motionless for quite a while, until his Elvish senses told him that something was approaching.
The elf instinctively put his hand on the hilt of his sword, as he scanned the landscape. The voices spoke volumes to his sharp ears, for they told Seiren that whatever approached was unnatural. He drew his sword and prepared to defend himself.
Kyourui always approached with high-pitched screeches. The small group swarmed around the single elf, who stood there, with a strange light flickering in his amethyst eyes.
'An elf!' one proclaimed.
Another shouted, 'Death to elves!'
'Not today,' Seiren said grimly, as he pointed the blade of his sword at the closest one. 'Depart and I will not harm you. If you persist, you will meet your doom.'
'Confident words for a single elf,' a third sneered. It lunged forward, slashing at Seiren with his vicious claws.
Seiren blocked it with his sword, before countering with a slice at the creature's arm. Black liquid gushed out of the wound, as the creature hissed at him. Seiren whirled around, as another attacked him from behind. He put an end to that with his sword, using it to slit the being's throat. Sword-fighting with the creatures would take too long, Seiren realized. He sheathed his sword in a single movement, before he started to chant a spell.
The creature that Seiren had injured had its foul blood dripping down its arm, onto the razor-sharp claws, as it took advantage of Seiren's spell- casting. It slashed directly across the elf's ribcage, plunging its claw in deeply. Red blood gushed out, and mingled with the black blood from the creature.
Agony soured through the elf, as he finished his spell. With beads of sweat beginning to run down his face, he flung his hand into the air. Blue lightning crashed down and struck all of the creatures, leaving them dead. Seiren heard another horse approaching, as blood began to seep out his mouth. He looked and saw that it was Legolas and Aragorn.
The lovers were horrified when they saw the blood gushing from Seiren's wound.
Legolas dismounted and ran towards his best friend. He shouted, 'Are you all right?'
Seiren touched the black blood, inspecting it closely. He became grim when he realized just what it was. He looked at Legolas, as painful fire began to swarm through his veins. 'I'm…' Seiren took a step towards his friend, before gracefully fainting.
Aragorn dismounted as well, and ran over to help Legolas.
Legolas tore off his cloak and began to bind the wound.
Seiren began to shiver violently. 'Gekidoku is in my veins, Legolas,' the red-haired elf moaned, feeling the beginnings of a fever.
Legolas turned white. Gekidoku was the only poison know that worked on elves, because it had been created to destroy an elf from within. The cure was not available in Mirkwood.
Aragorn heard Seiren's words, and he went pale as well. Who could save the elf now?
To be continued