Note: All unknown characters are mine! The rest are not! This story focuses on a romance between Aradia and Seiren. Some A/L SLASH is in this fic, as well. Elvish speech is in ''. Review if you want more chapters. Takes place right after the last chapter. This chapter is Rated R for mentioned rape. See 'The Darkest Night' for a reference to Seiren and Aradia.

Learning From The Past

Part 5

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Mirkwood

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For a few moments, the only sound in the room was Seiren's labored breathing. He looked at Aradia, before he finally spoke, to break the silence.

'Was what real?' the red-haired elf asked in Elvish, blinking his amethyst eyes. Seiren wanted to know exactly what Aradia had heard him say. The dying elf was struggling to remain awake, for the pain was increasing inside of him.

Aradia said quietly, 'You said something about being hurt, and mentioned Legolas's name.' She bit her lower lip anxiously. 'Did… did he hurt you?' Her face was pale, as she gazed at Seiren. Aradia thought that her would-be stepfather was noble, generous, and kind. But now she wondered briefly if she'd been mistaken about the King of Mirkwood. It didn't make sense to her.

Seiren gasped, 'No! Legolas would never do that, Aradia. You know it in your heart.' He winced, as he turned towards her, so he could see Aradia in her innocence and beauty. Seiren could feel his fever was beginning to climb again.

'Then who did hurt you?' Aradia whispered, as she wiped his forehead with the wet cloth once more. Her gray eyes met Seiren's amethyst ones.

'Tis not a pretty story, princess,' Seiren said softly. 'I would not destroy your genuine belief that there is good in all living creatures.'

Aradia thought for a few moments before she spoke, her voice quiet and grave. 'Please tell me,' she requested. 'For I perceive that your heart is still troubled by it, Seiren.' The wise daughter of Arwen was as perceptive as her mother.

Seiren let out a soft sigh. He could not refuse anything to Aradia, even this request for him to bare his soul. She had the right to know the truth, he thought. 'Very well,' he murmured. 'But please do not let this story go out of this room.'

'I would never betray your confidence,' Aradia told him softly. 'You kept mine for all those years, and still do.'

Seiren nodded and winced, as his vision blurred slightly. 'It happened nearly a century ago, Aradia, when Motarasu Makura attempted to destroy all goodness in this world.'

'You, my father, and Legolas defeated him,' Aradia murmured, knowing some of the story. 'I was in Rivendell with my grandfather, and I was afraid, for I only knew that Legolas was in trouble. That was a very long time ago.'

'Yes, princess. I took you to Lord Elrond for safety, for he wanted you dead. I left then to aid your father, and found them in time to save them from the minions of Motarasu. I led them to safety, and went in search of their friends, from the Fellowship. I was weakened from the battle, and needed rest to recover my strength. But I was foolish and did not rest, until I fell asleep on my own horse.' Seiren took a deep breath, and closed his eyes briefly.

Aradia could sense that this was painful for him. 'You don't have to tell me if it hurts you this much,' she told him quietly.

'Nay, I must finish,' Seiren answered. 'Perhaps you will understand better why I said nothing of my feelings for you.' He swallowed, and continued. 'The three of us were in a clearing, when a most dangerous and evil enemy appeared- I will not utter his name in your presence. I knew that Legolas would die if he fought the monster, but he refused to leave. So I used my magic to render him unconscious, and bade Aragorn to take him away. Your father did so reluctantly, and the monster and I battled. I lost.'

Aradia wiped his brow once more. Tears were shining in her eyes, for she had not known that Seiren had sacrificed himself for Legolas to save his life. 'Did he hurt you?'

Seiren shook his head. 'He knocked me out and took me to Motarasu, where the rest of the Fellowship dwelled. I was lucky that Motarasu needed a magic-user to cast the world into darkness, for I was not killed. I slept for a few days, and regained a little of my magic; just enough to free the Hobbits, Gimli, and Gandalf. I bid them to go to Rivendell to protect you and leave me, after I collapsed to the ground. They left, and Motarasu discovered what I had done. He was severely angry.'

Aradia took one of the trembling elf's larger hands in hers. 'Why did they need to protect me? They should have taken you with them,' she said, as tears began to run down her face. The daughter of Aragorn and Arwen regained her composure after she wiped them away.

'Motarasu feared you, for you can foresee the future, Aradia. You have the gift of vision,' Seiren reminded her. 'I wanted you to be safe, and cared little for what would happen to me.' He closed his eyes, for the memories brought back some of his pain. 'Motarasu told me that he would break my spirit in the worst way possible, and he nearly succeeded. I was helpless, for my magic was spent in freeing the others, and he took advantage of that. I could not move, as he violated me.'

The remaining color in Aradia's face drained away. 'He…he raped you?' Her voice was stricken. 'How could you survive him…how could he do such a thing?' Aradia was furious and devastated at the same time. Furious because such a thing had been done to one she cared about, and devastated that she had never known the painful secret he kept. That was the reason he remained single, she realized. Because of the remembered pain. 'How did you get free?' Aradia finally asked, willing herself to look calm and composed. It didn't succeed.

'Legolas and Aragorn saved me. Do not look so upset, Aradia,' Seiren said gently. He weakly moved his hand to touch her tears, and used his thumb to wipe them away. 'I am all right now, thanks to your father and Legolas. And you. You kept me from reliving the nightmare, with your endless questions and adventures, which I usually rescued you from.'

Aradia nodded slowly. 'And then the three of you defeated him?' she whispered, leaning into the touch. 'I'm glad that you're… better now. Thank you for telling me.'

He nodded to her question. 'You're welcome,' Seiren whispered, feeling his strength beginning to ebb again. 'I'm sorry, Aradia… I'm tired again…' The red-haired elf sank back into a fitful sleep. His hand went limp, and the Princess of Gondor caught it.

'I'm sorry, too, Seiren,' she whispered, before kissing his hand gently.

Another guard burst into the room suddenly, breathing hard. Blood flowed from a slice on his right arm.

Aradia gasped at the sight. The Princess of Gondor stood, holding onto the hand she held. 'What is it?' she questioned.

'We are under attack,' the guard said grimly.

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Road to Lothlorien

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Aragorn was very tired, as his Elvish horse galloped. The King of Gondor decided that Legolas's stubbornness was his only fault, for the Elven king refused to slow down their pace.

They were traveling in a small forest now, with tall trees and few clearings. Soft looking green grass covered the floor of the forest, and numerous sweet-smelling flowers blossomed everywhere. If they were not in such a hurry, or if the need had not been so great, the two lovers would have noticed the beauty around them. As it was, neither could barely keep their eyes open.

Legolas was half asleep on his own horse, when Aragorn looked back and saw him slipping. The human pulled his horse up, and grabbed a hold of the reins to Legolas's horse. He'd had another of this. They both needed a rest, and hadn't slept for days.

'What are you doing?' Legolas murmured sleepily.

Aragorn looked at him firmly. 'We are stopping for at least three hours, Legolas.'

Legolas weakly shook his head. 'Seiren needs us… The antidote…'

'We will do little good for Seiren if we are too exhausted to ride,' Aragorn said sternly. 'And what if an enemy appears? We will not have the strength to fight.'

Legolas frowned. 'Rest if you want. My best friend is dying, and I will not rest until I find the cure.'

'He's a good friend of mine as well, Legolas. But Seiren would not want you to drive yourself like this. He is strong, and will hold on until we return,' Aragorn said, more gently this time. But determination was in his voice as well.

Legolas sighed. 'Very well, Aragorn. You win- this time.' The Elven king trembled slightly with exhaustion.

Aragorn dismounted, and Legolas did the same. The human grabbed a few blankets, and spread them out. The blond elf sank onto the blankets, finally showing his deep, consuming weariness. He stretched out, and Aragorn lay beside him, wrapping Legolas in his arms. The elf snuggled close, and fell asleep almost immediately.

Aragorn chuckled softly, and removed once of his hands just long enough to brush some blond hair out of his lover's face. Legolas stirred, and blinked his eyes sleepily. He turned to face Aragorn, and kissed him sweetly, before returning to sleep. He felt safe and warm in the arms of the one he loved.

The two lay together like that for a few hours, as Legolas regained some of the strength he needed to continue the journey. When he was refreshed and awake, Aragorn then slept, knowing that his beloved would watch over him.

Which Legolas did, though he yearned to do more than just hold his lover. Three hours came and went, until a soft sigh from Legolas awoke Aragorn. The human peered at him, and grinned at the expression on the elf's face, as the blond king watched him.

'You're pouting, love,' Aragorn whispered.

Legolas flushed slightly. 'I am not pouting. Elven kings never pout.'

Aragorn chuckled low again, before pulling Legolas close to him. 'Want some attention?' he teased.

Legolas raised an eyebrow in confusion. 'I will not play these games with you, Aragorn.' A spark was in his green eyes.

'Oh, it's far more than a game, dear one,' Aragorn murmured, before he kissed Legolas firmly, sending a silent message to the Elven king.

Legolas countered with a staggering kiss of his own. 'How so, pray tell?' he whispered seductively.

Aragorn spoke in Legolas's ears. 'The prize is much sweeter than usual.' His voice was soft, yet husky.

'How do you plan on winning the prize?' Legolas whispered between kisses.

'The best way possible…' Aragorn drawled. 'Seduction.'

Legolas shivered in anticipation. He brought his hands up to Aragorn's shirt, letting his worries drift away for a short time, as he began removing the shirt.

Aragorn caught the small hands and held them in one of his own. 'Your seduction, not mine,' he said in a voice full of passion, as he brought his other hand to Legolas's shirt.

Legolas decided to play along, for now, as Aragorn made short work of his garments and sword-belt, before the human began to remove his own.

'What does the prize get in return?' he murmured.

Aragorn smiled. 'Wait and see…' His clothes were lying in a heap, as the human pinned the willing elf to the ground. He was pleased to hear a soft moan in response, as Legolas reached for him again. The slender wrists were recaptured, as Aragorn began to torment his lover with his other hand.

Soft cries and whimpers came from the Elven king, as he struggled to free his hands. But Legolas did not truly want to be freed, so he did not struggle too hard.

Legolas whimpered, 'Aragorn… do not torment me so… I want you now…'

A third chuckle emerged from the human. 'I've only just begun, love.' He let go of the elf's hands, and was taken back when Legolas managed to trap him beneath his lean, perfect body.

Green eyes full of triumph met grey ones, before the graceful, nimble hands of the elf went to work. Aragorn's cries of pleasure echoed around them, as Legolas tortured him, a satisfied smile on his face.

Legolas gave a gentle smile to the one beneath him. 'Surely you know by now that my patience is limited.'

Aragorn's eyes narrowed. 'Then I will have to teach you patience, my insatiable one.' With one quick movement, Legolas lay trapped beneath Aragorn once more.

A moan worked its way out of Legolas's mouth, as Aragorn's rough hands skimmed his entire body.

'Please,' Legolas whispered urgently.

Aragorn shook his head. 'Wait for it…' he whispered back.

The elf was in agony, as Aragorn continued his gentle ministrations on the soft, beautiful Elven body that arched at his touch. He turned the elf over, and began the same slow, painful torture of caresses on Legolas's back.

Legolas moaned again. 'Now, Aragorn…' he whimpered. 'You would kill me…'

Aragorn softly whispered, 'As you wish, dear one.'

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Sometime Later

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The two Kings and lovers untwined themselves, and dressed silently. They shared a sweet, meaningful kiss, before they mounted their horses once more, and continued the journey to 'Lorien.

It would take them a day to reach Lady Galadriel, and if she did not know of a cure, no-one would.

So focused were Legolas and Aragorn on their quest that they didn't consider the possibility of how vulnerable the kingdom of Mirkwood was without its King. A king who was rightly feared for not only the depth of magic that Legolas possessed, but for his deadly accuracy with his bow and sword.

Aragorn and Legolas could not have known of the trouble brewing in Mirkwood, as they sought the cure they needed to save a dying friend's life.

To be continued