Note: All unknown characters are mine, except for Miat! The rest belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. Miat = Legolas. = Different language (other than English and Elvish), " " = Basic English, and ' ' = Elvish. This will be A/L after all. *sighs* They demanded it. As for a beta-reader, I know I need one. But where do I get one?
Familiar Stranger
Part 4
Shira and Tsuku took Aragorn, Frodo, and Gimli back to the dining hall and inn, making sure the three entered their room. Then they left silently, heading towards their secret lair. It had not been anticipated that strangers would come looking for the blond elf.
The two didn't like the fact that Miat had a room at the inn, as well, but there was no other place to put the strangers. The storm was supposed to be over in two or three days, so if they could keep this Aragorn away from Miat that long, their plan would still succeed. Besides, they were on opposite sides of the inn. And their spy was watching closely to make sure that nothing happened.
Shiyuu caught up with them as they entered the building silently.
The room was spacious, Aragorn noticed. Two beds were in the room, as well as a few chairs and a table. The floor was bare wood and cold. As it had been downstairs, there were no pictures or anything. A water basin sat on a second, smaller table, meant for washing hands. Soap sat beside it.
Frodo collapsed on one of the large beds, exhausted, and Aragorn covered him with one of the blankets. The Hobbit fell asleep immediately, which pleased the human, for he wanted a chance to speak with Gimli alone. Aragorn glanced over at the dwarf.
Gimli looked back grimly. "I don't like this, Aragorn," Gimli grumbled. "How could the elf not remember us?"
Aragorn sighed and shook his head. "I am not certain, son of Gloin. If it were a physical injury, it should have healed by now."
"I want to know what they're planning," Gimli muttered. "And what Legolas has to do with it."
"That is what we must find out, Gimli," Aragorn said grimly.
The dwarf yawned. "Frodo had the right idea, Aragorn. I'm tired as well."
The heir of Isildur was also tired, but he did not show it. "Sleep, then, Gimli. I will stand watch for a while, for there is something going on in this town that I do not like."
"Wake me when you need a break," Gimli said. He stretched out next to Frodo, with his axe within arm's reach. The dwarf then fell asleep.
After covering Gimli with a blanket as well, Aragorn sat in a chair near the door, so if an enemy burst in, he would be the first to face it. His hand was on Anduril's hilt, for he was on edge tonight. Sleep would not come to the son of Arathorn.
He sat there alone for a few hours, before hunger pangs began to disturb him.
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Elsewhere in the Inn
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Miat had passed out from the pain as Shiyuu had brought him to his room. The elf sat up slowly and winced. His head still throbbed a little, as Miat stood.
His room was bare, as always. No pictures of family, or books. Nothing to mark this room as his. His few clothes and robe were in here, but that was all. Miat owned nothing else.
He pushed his long, golden hair behind his shoulders, before he undid the ponytail. Unbound, it flowed freely around him, like a halo. Miat peered into his mirror and looked at his reflection. He liked his hair this long, but for some reason, it didn't seem right to him.
Miat was troubled because of what the human had been saying. Why did that human seem almost familiar to him, the elf wondered. Miat sighed with longing. Then he felt stupid for doing so. There was no way he knew that human. Miat was determined to banish the strange human from his thoughts.
The elf was hungry, so he left his room, and headed down the long hallway to get some food. He was silent, as always, as he made his way past most of the rooms and down the stairs. Miat was not paying attention, for his thoughts were on the human again. So he did not notice the figure in front of him, heading upstairs, as the two collided.
Green eyes met grey eyes.
Miat froze, for it was the human again. The elf instantly turned to return to his room, but
a hand caught his wrist.
Aragorn was shocked to see Legolas here, especially after Shira and Tsuku had basically threatened him to keep him from seeing the elf again. He'd left the room just long enough to grab some food to take upstairs to eat, for he had not finished dinner. He held the plate steady in one hand, and the elf's slender wrist in his other.
Miat looked at the human impassively. "Let… go…" He didn't want to hurt the human, but if he was not released immediately, Miat would force him to let go.
"If I let go, will you talk to me in the room I am sharing with my friends?" Aragorn questioned.
Miat thought for a few moments, and unconsciously licked his lips. The elf's curiosity overruled his caution. "Only… if… you not… hurt… me," Miat said slowly.
Aragorn was aghast. "I would never hurt you." He let go of the soft wrist he held, as he met the elf's gaze. "I give you my word. I will never intentionally hurt you."
Confusion shone in the emerald eyes. "Not… understand."
"Come with me," Aragorn murmured. "I won't hurt you."
Miat's mind was thrown into confusion at those words.
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Flashback
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'Come with me, Legolas!' a younger voice called in his mind.
'Estel, slow down,' the older blond elf said sternly. 'You're going to fall and get hurt if you keep running like that.'
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Aragorn saw that the elf's eyes had dilated slightly, before Legolas starting going pale again.
Miat closed his eyes and opened them again, and stared into the concerned human face gazing at him. 'Estel,' he whispered in Elvish. His eyes were clouded over.
Aragorn nodded. 'My Elvish name, Legolas.' Hope was brimming in his heart. Legolas had remembered something about him.
'Slow down, Estel,' Miat murmured, not hearing Aragorn's words. 'Before you fall.'
Aragorn frowned as Legolas continued to speak to no-one. He finally snapped his fingers in front of the elf's eyes. The human prayed that he could reach Legolas normally, without the elf getting trapped in a memory like he was now.
They cleared up instantly, as Miat stared at him in surprise. "Why… do that?"
'Do you understand me, Legolas?' Aragorn questioned in Elvish.
Miat frowned. "What… say?" He didn't understand what the human was saying.
Aragorn bit back a curse. Legolas had his memories, but they were hidden, suppressed, or being blocked somehow by someone or something. He sighed. "Nothing important, 'Miat'." Aragorn was only calling the elf that to make him more comfortable, so Legolas would open up to him more.
Miat nodded slowly, feeling strange. The human led him upstairs silently, until the room was reached.
Aragorn opened the door and gestured for the elf to enter before him. Miat did so slowly, and Aragorn followed him, shutting the door. Miat met Aragorn's look squarely, as he brushed some of his hair off of his face.
Aragorn couldn't believe the waterfall of sun-kissed hair that looked soft and full, as it floated around Legolas, hanging free. Unbound, it was nearly to the elf's knees. Aragorn longed to run his fingers through it, but restrained from doing so.
Miat saw the wistful look on the human's face. Some of the golden strands were still on his hand, as the elf followed the human's gaze to his hair. "You… can… touch." Miat was making an effort to breach their language gap by speaking the language that the strangers spoke. His knowledge was not much, but he knew enough to get what he meant across.
Aragorn had to hide a wince at those particular words. Anyone who was less honorable might have mistaken them to mean something else. He placed the plate of food on a table, before walking over to the elf, after Aragorn had cleaned his hands in the small water basin. He hesitantly reached out his hand, and drew it back, before finally summoning his courage. His callused and rough hand touched the silky hair and caressed it gently, running his fingers through it.
Miat enjoyed the feel of the hand in his hair. "What… your name?" he asked quietly. The usually brave and stubborn elf did not understand the effect that this human was having on him. How could a stranger do this to him, Miat wondered. He'd never let anyone touch his hair before and was surprised at how good it felt.
"Aragorn," the human said, distracted. Pain went through him at having to tell Legolas his name, instead of the elf remembering it on his own. But it was forgotten as Legolas shifted on his feet slightly.
Miat stumbled over the name as he said it slowly. "Aragorn."
The two gazed at each other silently for a few moments.
Miat drew in a deep breath, as he licked his lips again. Aragorn stepped closer to the elf, and moved his hand onto Legolas's soft cheek. A shiver went through the blond elf at the touch on his face, as did a quiver of anticipation, as he licked his lips for a third time. Aragorn couldn't resist any longer. He brought his face to Legolas's slowly, watching the elf closely. The blond elf waited, holding his breath.
The two lips met as they kissed. A kiss, a sweet, gentle kiss… one of magic. Bliss and warmth soared through both. The elf's eyes closed in pleasure, as the kiss grew deeper.
Neither of the two saw a figure watching them from outside of the window. The figure was dressed in clothes as black as night, as he sat on the roof of the building next door, which happened to overlook the room.
Blue eyes narrowed in anger as the figure watched the two kissing. This would seriously threaten the plan, the unknown person knew. And that must not happen. He would have to inform Tsuku and Shiranai of this development. The elf could not be allowed to remember his identity, or all would be lost.
To be continued
