Shining Hope
Chapter 6
By SunRose
Summary: Aragorn makes his choice… and things happen…
Disclaimer: As hard as I've been trying, still not mine…
Notes: Umm…not much here. I've got some notes at the end.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aragorn watched the blue eyes watching him. Legolas approached him carefully, almost as if he were afraid that by making a small noise, he would startle the Prince and he would be commanded to leave. Kneeling next to the bed, Legolas looked up at Aragorn.
"I wished to speak with you…"
"About?"
Legolas fidgeted with the bed sheet. Certainly Aragorn knew what about!
"How I feel. You did not say how you feel for me. I want to know."
With a deep sigh, Aragorn closed his eyes. He had made his decision. These thoughts that ran through his mind had to find themselves an end. He reopened his eyes to find Legolas looking at him expectantly.
"I care for you. But I am to be betrothed."
Legolas' small world came crashing down around him. Betrothed? Then Aragorn loved another. Legolas could not claim his heart.
"Then you do not love me. Please say it so that I may hear. I do not wish for my heart to yearn for things it cannot have."
The boy's request made Aragorn uneasy. He had to choose his words carefully. For even though he was not sure if he loved the elf, it was becoming seemingly more so.
"I wish for a wife who can bear sons. If I pursued what you desired, then I could not have that."
That was not the reply Legolas had expected. He had anticipated a flat out rejection. A kind one, at the least, but a rejection all the same. This different answer peaked Legolas' curiosity.
"Where is your betrothed?"
"I have not yet met her. I hear she is lovely."
The elf's heart rose slightly. There was still a reason to hope! He proceeded slowly, suddenly determined to get the answer he so greatly desired.
"Then you do not love her?"
"How can I when I have never met her?"
"But you do not love me?"
"You cannot give me an heir."
"But do you love me? Just say whether you do or you do not."
Aragorn hesitated. The silence stretched out. Legolas waited patiently. Good things come in time. He could not pressure Aragorn into deciding quicker.
The man's mind was a jumble. No, he did not love Lady Arwen, for he did not even know her. But who's to say that he wouldn't love her once he met her? And exactly what were his feelings for Legolas? He knew that he cared deeply for the elf, but how deeply? Deep enough to call it love? That he doubted, but one could not be sure. And for some reason, he could not stand to cause hurt to the azure eyes that looked up at him so pleadingly.
"I cannot say."
It was not a no, but it was not a yes. Legolas felt that there might be a good outcome to all this, but he would not rush it. He would proceed carefully.
"Am I not desirable?"
"No! I desire you very much… It's just that…"
"What?"
"I do not know if what I feel for you is love. I have known you such a short time."
Aragorn's face was getting closer to Legolas' as he spoke. The elf held his breath, his eyes drifting shut. He whispered,
"Then maybe you shall get to know me."
The man captured Legolas' mouth in a tender kiss. It was sweet and short, but told both all they needed to know. It was not yet time for love, but there was attraction and infatuation. Aragorn moved aside in the bed and Legolas climbed in next to him. He wrapped one arm around the elf as he laid his head on the man's chest. And that's how they slept. All through the night, they held each other and felt completely at peace.
From someplace not so far, but not so near, Relcifan sneered. The elf was happy, was he? He would see how long that would last. The Kind had a very nasty temper and wanted very badly to provide for the future of his kingdom. If need be, he could manipulate the Kind, but he did not think he would have to. On his own, the King would take the necessary steps to send the elf out of Aragorn's arms and into Relcifan's trap.
Arathorn was becoming impatient. The sun was rising and it was the morn already. Where was Aragorn? The messenger to go to Rivendell was waiting and Arathorn needed to know his son's answer. He could not wait any longer. If Aragorn was not going to come and tell him, then he would just have to go find his son. The first and best place to begin was his room. Arathorn would check there first, and if Aragorn was still asleep then he must wake him, or else give the messenger an answer himself.
Legolas and Aragorn still slept in each other's warm embrace. Neither heard Arathorn knocking on the door. Nor did they hear it when it opened. But the King's loud gasp was enough to rouse Legolas from slumber. The Kind stood there in the room, an angry scowl upon his face. Last night he wished for his son to decide whether or not to marry the Lady Arwen, and now he finds his son in bed with the elf-boy! Legolas' waking was enough stir Aragorn. The man was the first to notice the other in his room.
"Father!"
To say that he was surprised to see his father in his bedchambers was an understatement. He thought that Legolas had locked the door behind him... Such thoughts were swept from his mind when he noticed his father's expression. Legolas too had seen the King's face and hadn't known what to do. There was a time, not long past, when he would have cowered in fear from such an expression.
"Son, what are you doing here? Has you duty to your kingdom been forgotten?!"
Aragorn shook his head. He had completely forgotten that the choice he had to make would not only affect him, but his entire kingdom. A future Queen and an heir must be had. Aragorn was unsure of what to say, when he suddenly felt a slight pressure on his hand. He looked over to see that Legolas had taken his hand in his own and was trying to offer him comfort and support.
"Father, I do not believe that I can marry the Lady Arwen. If by destiny's rights, I am to be with her, then let me meet her first and see if she is the one my heart does choose."
Legolas' ears perked up at Aragorn's words. He wasn't going to marry Arwen! Arathorn was not as pleased. It would not bode well with his people to discover that Aragorn was bedding a former whore.
"You shall marry the Lady Arwen! I will wait no longer for you to choose a bride! Either you agree to marry the Lady, or I shall have your companion thrown out back into the streets!"
Aragorn had never heard his father say such things! Evil was at work. When he had time, Aragorn would have to consult Mithrandir, but now was not that time. If Aragorn were to agree to marriage, then he would loose Legolas. But if he did not agree, then Legolas would be submitted to a worse fate.
"Yes, Father. I will marry the Lady."
"Good. I expected as much from you."
Arathorn nodded in satisfaction before leaving the room. Once he was gone, Aragorn turned to Legolas. The elf had hurt shining brightly in his eyes.
"I didn't know what to say. I do not want to wed Lady Arwen, when my heart so obviously lies elsewhere."
"I think I understand. I do love you, my prince. Maybe we shall find a solution. Until then, let us simply enjoy each other's company."
"Actually, Legolas, I must get up and start my day. I feel I should speak to Gandalf about what had just transpired. I would appreciate it for you to go with me."
Aragorn had begun to dress for the day, and Legolas, not having clothes in that room, simply slipped his boots back on and stood. Maybe if he and Aragorn were together, they could defeat the darkness that threatened them. He certainly prayed for that to be so.
Arathorn was not a happy man. That boy, with his elven beauty, was distracting Aragorn! How could the man realize that he must love and marry Lady Arwen, with that handsome boy always traipsing after him? The King felt that he must do something to remedy that.
"Guards!" he called out down the hall.
Boromir and another man appeared around the corner. Fortunately, the King did not turn and see that Boromir was one of the two who approached.
"Guards, that boy my son brought with him, you know the one, I wish for him to be gone. You may kill him or sell him. Whichever is your wish."
With a dismissive wave of his hand, Arathorn told them,
"You may go."
The men looked at each other as they left the room. Boromir's eye narrowed and he told the other man,
"Let me handle this. I know exactly what to do."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aw! I felt almost bad about making Arathorn a bad guy! Oh well!
These plot transitions are getting harder and harder! I want to get to the REAL good stuff, but I have to work my way there. sigh
To Eugenides, thank you! That will come in handy in later chapters! sigh Always later, never now. Gah. I'm not that patient. ^_^;;;
Relcifan's so creepy! He's just watching everything all the time… shudders and looks around nervously It's pretty sad how he's the only character that's actually mine and he scares me.
So, anyway, hoped that y'all like the new chapter and it leaves you wondering for next time: What's Boromir going to do? Where's Relcifan? Should I go check out SunRose's other stories? (There are two others. It won't take that long! Promise!)
^_~
Lots-o-luv,
SunRose
Chapter 6
By SunRose
Summary: Aragorn makes his choice… and things happen…
Disclaimer: As hard as I've been trying, still not mine…
Notes: Umm…not much here. I've got some notes at the end.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aragorn watched the blue eyes watching him. Legolas approached him carefully, almost as if he were afraid that by making a small noise, he would startle the Prince and he would be commanded to leave. Kneeling next to the bed, Legolas looked up at Aragorn.
"I wished to speak with you…"
"About?"
Legolas fidgeted with the bed sheet. Certainly Aragorn knew what about!
"How I feel. You did not say how you feel for me. I want to know."
With a deep sigh, Aragorn closed his eyes. He had made his decision. These thoughts that ran through his mind had to find themselves an end. He reopened his eyes to find Legolas looking at him expectantly.
"I care for you. But I am to be betrothed."
Legolas' small world came crashing down around him. Betrothed? Then Aragorn loved another. Legolas could not claim his heart.
"Then you do not love me. Please say it so that I may hear. I do not wish for my heart to yearn for things it cannot have."
The boy's request made Aragorn uneasy. He had to choose his words carefully. For even though he was not sure if he loved the elf, it was becoming seemingly more so.
"I wish for a wife who can bear sons. If I pursued what you desired, then I could not have that."
That was not the reply Legolas had expected. He had anticipated a flat out rejection. A kind one, at the least, but a rejection all the same. This different answer peaked Legolas' curiosity.
"Where is your betrothed?"
"I have not yet met her. I hear she is lovely."
The elf's heart rose slightly. There was still a reason to hope! He proceeded slowly, suddenly determined to get the answer he so greatly desired.
"Then you do not love her?"
"How can I when I have never met her?"
"But you do not love me?"
"You cannot give me an heir."
"But do you love me? Just say whether you do or you do not."
Aragorn hesitated. The silence stretched out. Legolas waited patiently. Good things come in time. He could not pressure Aragorn into deciding quicker.
The man's mind was a jumble. No, he did not love Lady Arwen, for he did not even know her. But who's to say that he wouldn't love her once he met her? And exactly what were his feelings for Legolas? He knew that he cared deeply for the elf, but how deeply? Deep enough to call it love? That he doubted, but one could not be sure. And for some reason, he could not stand to cause hurt to the azure eyes that looked up at him so pleadingly.
"I cannot say."
It was not a no, but it was not a yes. Legolas felt that there might be a good outcome to all this, but he would not rush it. He would proceed carefully.
"Am I not desirable?"
"No! I desire you very much… It's just that…"
"What?"
"I do not know if what I feel for you is love. I have known you such a short time."
Aragorn's face was getting closer to Legolas' as he spoke. The elf held his breath, his eyes drifting shut. He whispered,
"Then maybe you shall get to know me."
The man captured Legolas' mouth in a tender kiss. It was sweet and short, but told both all they needed to know. It was not yet time for love, but there was attraction and infatuation. Aragorn moved aside in the bed and Legolas climbed in next to him. He wrapped one arm around the elf as he laid his head on the man's chest. And that's how they slept. All through the night, they held each other and felt completely at peace.
From someplace not so far, but not so near, Relcifan sneered. The elf was happy, was he? He would see how long that would last. The Kind had a very nasty temper and wanted very badly to provide for the future of his kingdom. If need be, he could manipulate the Kind, but he did not think he would have to. On his own, the King would take the necessary steps to send the elf out of Aragorn's arms and into Relcifan's trap.
Arathorn was becoming impatient. The sun was rising and it was the morn already. Where was Aragorn? The messenger to go to Rivendell was waiting and Arathorn needed to know his son's answer. He could not wait any longer. If Aragorn was not going to come and tell him, then he would just have to go find his son. The first and best place to begin was his room. Arathorn would check there first, and if Aragorn was still asleep then he must wake him, or else give the messenger an answer himself.
Legolas and Aragorn still slept in each other's warm embrace. Neither heard Arathorn knocking on the door. Nor did they hear it when it opened. But the King's loud gasp was enough to rouse Legolas from slumber. The Kind stood there in the room, an angry scowl upon his face. Last night he wished for his son to decide whether or not to marry the Lady Arwen, and now he finds his son in bed with the elf-boy! Legolas' waking was enough stir Aragorn. The man was the first to notice the other in his room.
"Father!"
To say that he was surprised to see his father in his bedchambers was an understatement. He thought that Legolas had locked the door behind him... Such thoughts were swept from his mind when he noticed his father's expression. Legolas too had seen the King's face and hadn't known what to do. There was a time, not long past, when he would have cowered in fear from such an expression.
"Son, what are you doing here? Has you duty to your kingdom been forgotten?!"
Aragorn shook his head. He had completely forgotten that the choice he had to make would not only affect him, but his entire kingdom. A future Queen and an heir must be had. Aragorn was unsure of what to say, when he suddenly felt a slight pressure on his hand. He looked over to see that Legolas had taken his hand in his own and was trying to offer him comfort and support.
"Father, I do not believe that I can marry the Lady Arwen. If by destiny's rights, I am to be with her, then let me meet her first and see if she is the one my heart does choose."
Legolas' ears perked up at Aragorn's words. He wasn't going to marry Arwen! Arathorn was not as pleased. It would not bode well with his people to discover that Aragorn was bedding a former whore.
"You shall marry the Lady Arwen! I will wait no longer for you to choose a bride! Either you agree to marry the Lady, or I shall have your companion thrown out back into the streets!"
Aragorn had never heard his father say such things! Evil was at work. When he had time, Aragorn would have to consult Mithrandir, but now was not that time. If Aragorn were to agree to marriage, then he would loose Legolas. But if he did not agree, then Legolas would be submitted to a worse fate.
"Yes, Father. I will marry the Lady."
"Good. I expected as much from you."
Arathorn nodded in satisfaction before leaving the room. Once he was gone, Aragorn turned to Legolas. The elf had hurt shining brightly in his eyes.
"I didn't know what to say. I do not want to wed Lady Arwen, when my heart so obviously lies elsewhere."
"I think I understand. I do love you, my prince. Maybe we shall find a solution. Until then, let us simply enjoy each other's company."
"Actually, Legolas, I must get up and start my day. I feel I should speak to Gandalf about what had just transpired. I would appreciate it for you to go with me."
Aragorn had begun to dress for the day, and Legolas, not having clothes in that room, simply slipped his boots back on and stood. Maybe if he and Aragorn were together, they could defeat the darkness that threatened them. He certainly prayed for that to be so.
Arathorn was not a happy man. That boy, with his elven beauty, was distracting Aragorn! How could the man realize that he must love and marry Lady Arwen, with that handsome boy always traipsing after him? The King felt that he must do something to remedy that.
"Guards!" he called out down the hall.
Boromir and another man appeared around the corner. Fortunately, the King did not turn and see that Boromir was one of the two who approached.
"Guards, that boy my son brought with him, you know the one, I wish for him to be gone. You may kill him or sell him. Whichever is your wish."
With a dismissive wave of his hand, Arathorn told them,
"You may go."
The men looked at each other as they left the room. Boromir's eye narrowed and he told the other man,
"Let me handle this. I know exactly what to do."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aw! I felt almost bad about making Arathorn a bad guy! Oh well!
These plot transitions are getting harder and harder! I want to get to the REAL good stuff, but I have to work my way there. sigh
To Eugenides, thank you! That will come in handy in later chapters! sigh Always later, never now. Gah. I'm not that patient. ^_^;;;
Relcifan's so creepy! He's just watching everything all the time… shudders and looks around nervously It's pretty sad how he's the only character that's actually mine and he scares me.
So, anyway, hoped that y'all like the new chapter and it leaves you wondering for next time: What's Boromir going to do? Where's Relcifan? Should I go check out SunRose's other stories? (There are two others. It won't take that long! Promise!)
^_~
Lots-o-luv,
SunRose