Note: Only the unknown characters are mine! The rest are J.R.R. Tolkien's creation! Elvish speech is in ''. Contains A/L slash! Takes place right after the last chapter! Gets a bit lemony!!
An Explanation
Part 14
Legolas cleared his throat, mildly irritated with himself. He had meant to berate Aragorn for keeping Meiyuu's gift a secret, not gawk at the man. But those wise, grey eyes, set off by that soft, shadowy hair, and that handsome face made it impossible for him to concentrate on anything other than the man before him. He knew that if he were not so occupied worrying about Meiyuu, he wouldn't be able to resist Aragorn... He scowled, suddenly remembering the source of his ire.
"Why did you keep it a secret, Aragorn?"
"Of what secret are you referring to?" Aragorn asked wearily. He knew of three that had been kept: that Shira was after the Meiyuu, that Shira wanted Legolas' soul, and that Meiyuu had strange abilities. Although, had he thought about it, Aragorn would have realized that Legolas was probably referring to the last and that Legolas would be even more displeased knowing Aragorn had kept numerous secrets from him. Aragorn was not thinking clearly.
"There's more than one?" Legolas questioned sharply, incredulous.
Aragorn nodded and let out a deep sigh. "Yes, I do know he has such a power. When we left the town, Meiyuu used it to help you escape and, when he left, to come after us."
"I thought only Shira had such a power," Legolas mused.
"That's what Meiyuu told me." Aragorn's eyes strayed to the lips of the beautiful Elf in front of him. They were soft and full. He wondered if they would taste the same as they had the last time he had kissed Legolas. So succulent and warm, tasting of roses and spring...He suddenly realized Legolas was saying something.
"I see. What other secrets are being held?" Legolas asked.
Aragorn decided not to tell him it was his soul Shira wanted. The knowledge could only bring the Elf fear and pain. It would do Legolas no good to walk in fear and terror for the rest of his life...not since he, Aragorn, would keep Legolas safe. As long as he was there, the Elf would not be taken and sacrificed like Meiyuu's father had been. But Meiyuu's second secret...
"Shira...is after Meiyuu," Aragorn admitted.
Legolas gasped, "Why? Because he helped me?" Guilt gnawed at him. Had he unwittingly put Meiyuu in danger? Was it because of him that Meiyuu nearly got captured?
Aragorn took a deep breath. "Because of what he can do, Legolas. Meiyuu thinks that Shira wants to exploit his ability. I believe this to be true."
Legolas sighed, feeling suddenly very tired. "Is he never going to have a chance at happiness? He's been through so much… I-I hoped when we left that Meiyuu would be able to have a normal and happy life."
A pair of strong, steady hands squeezed his shoulders supportively.
"He will. We will make certain of it, Legolas," Aragorn told him firmly.
If only Legolas could believe it! As much as he trusted Aragorn, he knew that even the strong human could only do so much. Would protecting Meiyuu prove to be too much for Aragorn? He hoped not. And yet...he knew how dangerous Shira was. The wizard possessed strong, dark magic. Could Aragorn truly defy him for as long as Shira coveted Meiyuu's powers? Ay, but he wanted to believe they could succeed. He was so tired of fearing for one of his best friends and, whom, until recently, he had thought to be his only friend. Meiyuu deserved a life. A real life. And Shira wasn't going to let him have one...Legolas *had* to believe Aragorn could protect Meiyuu. He had to. He was too tired, too weary to believe otherwise. He had to trust Aragorn. He *did* trust the gorgeous man...
Legolas' eyes focused on the worried grey eyes staring at him, on the high cheekbones underneath those eyes, on the tan, smooth skin of that face, on the soft lips...Would those lips taste as cool and inviting as they looked? He wondered. Soft, pale pink, cool, smooth. So smooth, so cool. He suddenly realized just what that cool, smooth surface his lips were against was.
He was kissing Aragorn. Kissing him. Deep, breathless union of mouths and lips. The play of a soft tongue against his own. That soft tongue sliding into his mouth, touching the cavern hungrily. Callused hands sifting his hair. A hard, lean chest against his own. Aragorn, smelling of clean earth and crisp leaves, the scent of a ranger.
"Mmm…" Legolas murmured. He slid his slender hands under Aragorn's shirt and over the Man's well-muscled chest, caressing the hard muscles and teasing the smooth skin. Strange for someone so used to sleeping with nature and weathering the elements to be so...perfect. But one at ease with nature would not need to weather the elements, and Aragorn was an Elf-raised ranger and well-versed with the natural world.
"Did I tell you that you are a good-hearted person, Estel?" he whispered, the name slipping from his lips easily and subconsciously.
"Legolas?" Aragorn hesitated, flushing. He tugged off Legolas' shirt and tunic, desperate to see the pale beauty of the Elf's skin, radiant in the moonlight.
Legolas smiled. "Hmm?" He wasn't really paying attention, until a rough, gentle hand slid over his firm chest.
"When did you remember my Elven name?" Aragorn murmured. He lowered his hands and pulled Legolas against him as tightly as he could.
"I…I don't know," Legolas whispered. "It… it just seemed natural to use it."
They kissed again, sweetly, deeply. Losing themselves in the intoxicating flavor of the other. Hands roved with a life of their own, clutching desperately at shirts and belts and pants... Legolas discovered he could remove Aragorn's breeches while in a lip-lock. This last came as a startling, though useful, revelation. The easy removal of Aragorn's pants proved very necessary since Legolas and Aragorn sank to the ground soon after, clinging to each other, touching each other fervently.
Gods, Aragorn was happy. He had never thought to ever experience this delicious beauty underneath him. Before, he had always been too afraid to approach the Elf. Too afraid of rejection, of betraying his duties as the King of Gondor. And after Legolas disappeared, he had feared never to see the beautiful Elf again. For three years he had searched for the Elf. For three years, he had failed. Each day, the fear within him had grown and festered. Each day, the hope that Legolas was alive and well had slowly dimmed. And then, suddenly, he had found him.
And what wondrous sight it was to see the shining blond hair again! To see that joyous sparkle in the kind blue eyes as the Elf sang to children. To hear the lovely song sung by what Aragorn believed to be the fairest voice in the world...
And then to find out the owner of that melodious voice did not remember him.
Aragorn shook himself out of his memories. It still hurt to think Legolas had not remembered him. But, he reminded himself, his love was beginning to remember his past, once again. He was pleased. With his memories slowly returning to him, Legolas could return to the life he had once had. But things would be different this time, Aragorn vowed, gazing at the willing beauty in his arms. They had each other now and Aragorn would not let him go again.
He slid a hand down to the waistband of Legolas' leggings and was startled to find the Elf reversing their positions, gifting him with exquisite foreplay. Soft, feathery strokes brushed across his bare chest, teasing him, making him moan Legolas' name. The delicate fingers slipped inside his breeches, and his subsequent gasp was silenced by a tender kiss.
Their love was sweet, and they were careful to keep their moans and gasps soft for the sake of their companions.
"I love you," Aragorn whispered, taking Legolas in his arms. "Stay with me always, Legolas."
Legolas leaned his head back against Aragorn's chest, his hair plastered his face with sweat. He kissed Aragorn tenderly.
"I will not leave you, Aragorn. I would stay with you forever, if I could. But are you not a Man? Frodo told me that Elves live forever and Men do not."
Aragorn sighed and cupped Legolas' cheek. "I know I have Elven blood in my veins, but not even I know how long I will live. I have more than a normal man would, but...not as long as the elves."
"So you do not know how long we will have together?" Legolas sighed sadly. A nod was his answer.
Aragorn raised a questioning brow. He knew there was more to it than that. There was something else bothering Legolas. "What disturbs your thoughts?" he questioned.
Legolas smiled a little, kissing Aragorn warmly. The Elf sighed and, between kisses, said, "What will happen to Meiyuu after we reach Rivendell?" As much as Legolas loved being with Aragorn, he could not banish Meiyuu from his mind. Nor did he particularly want to. He was worried about his young friend. "What of his future? What do we do if Shira comes after him?"
"I hadn't planned on him leaving us, Legolas. At the very least, he needs to stay close, until the threat of Shira and his cohorts is over. And you need to be careful, too, because they want you as well," Aragorn reminded Legolas. He wished Legolas would only care even half so much for himself as he did for Meiyuu. If the Elf did not take better care of himself, he could get himself killed.
"I can defend myself," Legolas replied defensively. Despite what Aragorn seemed to think, he knew how to fight with a sword if the need arose. And, unlike Meiyuu, he could actually hold a weapon. His hands were not hampered by bandages. He was not injured. Besides which, Legolas realized, Meiyuu had never used any weapon except for his daggers. And those were now gone.
Aragorn chuckled and nipped lightly at the pale throat. "I know that. But they will not fight fairly. We will be safer once we reach Rivendell. After Gandalf, Merry, Pippin, and Sam are sent for, we shall travel to my castle in Gondor."
Legolas gaped. "You have a castle?" he blurted out, confused. Aragorn was nobility?!
As if answering his unspoken question, an image entered his mind; suddenly, the ground before melted away, and he was on a balcony, speaking to Aragorn. It was strangely familiar. Where had he seen this before? Ah. Of course. Back in Seidou Rosuto.
****************
Flashback
***************
Aragorn turned towards the Elf next to him. His voice was sad and soft. His words were gloomy and depressed. Aragorn doubted himself.
'How can you be certain I will not fail in my duty, as Isildur did? His tainted blood flows in my veins. I cannot rule Gondor; blood heir or not. The blood of kings is in my veins, yet so is the weakness.'
Legolas placed a gentle hand on the Man's shoulder. Even then, he was hard-pressed to keep his *true* feelings from showing.
'You are too hard on yourself, Aragorn. You are Estel: hope for the future of Men. Yet you are also yourself, the son of Arathorn. Be true to who you are. No one can ask more of you than that.'
'Your words are true and honest, as always, my old friend. I thank you, for you help me believe in myself, Legolas,' Aragorn told the Elf, his namesake once again shining in his eyes.
'I will always be here to aid you, Aragorn, for as long as you need me.'
**********************************************************************
'Son of Arathorn,' Legolas murmured in Elvish, his eyes closed. 'King of Gondor.'
"Yes, Legolas," Aragorn said as he watched the Elf struggle through the memory.
Legolas opened his eyes. "I'm sorry, Aragorn."
Aragorn frowned and said, "For what?"
"I made you a promise: that I would be there when you needed me. I believe I failed you in that," Legolas whispered sadly.
"It was not your fault," Aragorn told the Elf. "You could not have known what would happen to you. And that was before the Fellowship set out."
Legolas nodded slowly. "My memories do seem to be coming back, though I only remember a few things; they are mostly things about you. The rest are all images and voices I do not remember yet."
Aragorn sat up, pulling his lover with him. He used his strong, firm hands to give Legolas a back massage. The Elf moaned in pleasure. "Relax, Legolas. You will remember in time, I'm sure of it."
"All least my memories are good ones," Legolas whispered, feeling the muscles in his back relaxing with Aragorn's ministrations. "I doubt Meiyuu has many of those."
"We can help him make good ones, Legolas. It's too late to change his past, but we can change his future," Aragorn said quietly. They stayed together for a while, then, sitting in companionable silence until the night air grew colder, and they reluctantly agreed it was past time to be back at the camp.
Meiyuu and Frodo were tossing an apple back and forth playfully while Gimli watched, shaking his head in amusement. Meiyuu was such a child at times. Usually, he wore that cold demeanor, but that times like these, throwing the apples, arguing stubbornly with Aragorn, it was never more obvious he was really a child. An easily distracted child, Gimli amended as Meiyuu's head turned towards the Elf and Man walking towards them and completely forgot about the apple flying at him.
"Look out!" Frodo cried, wincing in anticipated pain.
Meiyuu looked up in time to see the apple aiming directly at him. He threw up a mental shield instinctively, screening himself with a wall of power. He watched as the apple bounced from the energy wall...and bounced off Aragorn's head.
"Oops," Meiyuu whispered, cringing.
Legolas choked on what sounded suspiciously like a startled laugh. He quickly turned his face away from Aragorn, lest the man see the telltale twist of his mouth as he stifled the laughter lodged in his throat.
Aragorn glared at him, then brought his gaze to Meiyuu. It seemed, however, that the boy found the ground far more interesting than Aragorn's gaze, studying the tiny, cold grains of dirt with interest and integrity. He looked for all the world as if he wished he were somewhere far, far away from the scrutiny of the annoyed man scowling at him. It did not help that he knew everyone present, save he and Aragorn of course, secretly laughed at his situation. But then it *was* very amusing to see the apple hit that dark head and...
I am so dead, Meiyuu thought miserably.
"Mei-y-uu..." Aragorn said, drawing out the boy's name.
The youth gulped. "Yeah?" he croaked. He wondered how long he had to live.
Aragorn exhaled slowly. "Come here." He kept his grey eyes on the wary boy.
"Uh-uh." Meiyuu shook his head, backing away slowly. No way he was going to approach Aragorn in the mood the man was in. Who knew what Aragorn wanted him to do...
"Meiyuu…I want you to come over here," Aragorn repeated firmly. He was surprised to see another stubborn shake of the head. He arched an eyebrow in amusement. "Are you afraid?"
"No!" Meiyuu denied instantly. "I'm not afraid."
Legolas sighed and shook his head. The way Aragorn and Meiyuu were, they would be stuck at an impasse for the entire night! Aragorn was too proud to let himself be hit by a flying apple and not receive an apology. Meiyuu was too stubborn to admit either his error or his fear of Aragorn's temperament. Legolas was rather tired, and he didn't think he would get any sleep if things continued the way they were. He decided to help things along. "Meiyuu, you should apologize."
Meiyuu muttered something that sounded remotely like "sorry." The hood over his face kept them from seeing his face.
Aragorn frowned and resolutely walked over to the youth. The latter gulped and dashed behind Legolas, peeking out from behind the Elf's back to watch the human warily.
Meiyuu then darted in front of Legolas, barely escaping as Aragorn took his position behind Legolas' back. They circled the clearing (and Legolas), the older man stalking the younger boy.
Two sets of laughter, one Elvish, fair, and tinkling, the other innocent, youthful, and happy and a snort interrupted them. Meiyuu diverted his attention for a brief second to cast glares at Legolas, Frodo, and Gimli. He was doubly chagrined to discover the dwarf shaking his head in mirth.
Just what was so funny?
He quickly brought his attention back to Aragorn. He was disconcerted to find the man no longer in the clearing. "Where'd he go?"
"Behind you," came a voice behind him, accompanied by a tap on the head.
Meiyuu jerked in surprise and whirled around. "How the he- how did you do that?" he managed to choke out.
"An Elven trick- up and over," Aragorn replied, a broad grin on his face as he knelt down and removed the hood covering Meiyuu's face. The trees were handy for one such as he, especially to climb on and leap behind unsuspecting friends'——or enemies'——backs.
"Why do you always do that?" Meiyuu muttered, squirming under Aragorn's gaze. Without his hood on, he felt as if Legolas or Aragorn were peeling off his skin to see his soul inside. The thought made him shiver.
Aragorn regarded Meiyuu calmly. "Why do you hide behind it?"
The boy scowled. "People laugh- usually- when they see them... Or stare."
"We don't laugh or stare," Legolas reminded his young friend. "You do not have to hide your face in front of us." He walked over to Aragorn and looked at Meiyuu's face.
The whip-marks were fading remarkably fast. They no longer bled and the rawness and redness had disappeared. It was a good sign. Whatever had irritated them was now gone.
Aragorn nodded, pleased. It was an auspicious beginning. The boy had a chance to truly heal, physically and mentally. He stood and caught the boy's arm before he could lower his hood.
They glared at each other.
Legolas sighed. "Both of you- stop being so stubborn."
Both turned to Legolas, identical looks of cynical amusement written on their faces.
"You're one to talk," Meiyuu smirked slyly.
Legolas flushed. "But I don't fight about an apple in the middle of the night," he replied.
"True," Aragorn admitted. He looked at the boy and held out his hand. "Truce?"
Meiyuu nodded. He took the hand carefully, mindful of the bandages on his hand. "For now, anyway," he said impudently.
Two pairs of eyes, one an Elven light blue and the other a stormy grey, regarded the boy. Meiyuu pretended not to notice. The boy was proving himself to be more stubborn than Aragorn thought possible. He was fervently glad there were none of his subjects to witness this. To think that he, King Elessar of Gondor, should engage in a glaring contest with a stubborn, obstinate child...he'd never hear the end of it.
A chortle sounded, as if in agreement. Aragorn scowled at the smirking dwarf. What did *he* know of dealing with head-strong children? By the gods, Meiyuu was as stubborn as he was! Except for Legolas, he didn't think anyone could match his willful nature.
"Meiyuu..." Legolas warned.
"What?" he asked, his eyes widening innocently.
"It's not going to work, Meiyuu," Aragorn said sternly. "We can see right through it."
Meiyuu smirked. "Really?" he challenged.
Legolas exhaled slowly. "Maybe I ought to send you to your room, Meiyuu, as soon as we reach Rivendall."
Aragorn cleared his throat. It wasn't the best of times to bring the matter up, but... "It's Rivendell, Legolas. Not Rivendall."
"You know what I meant," Legolas snapped.
Aragorn fell silent, surprised by Legolas' tone. The Elf was being unusually snappish. Thought he supposed he might be if he were the one losing sleep because two proud, head-strong people couldn't wait until morning to argue about an apple.
It was in this silence that Legolas realized Meiyuu was whistling. It seemed familiar, somehow... Frodo looked as if he enjoyed it, but then the innocent Hobbit would...
Legolas choked.
Where had Meiyuu learned *that* song?
"Meiyuu!" he scolded.
The boy laughed merrily. He had been wondering how long it would take for Legolas to notice the tune he was whistling. To tell the truth, he never could understand why it upset the Elf so much. The tune was rather nice.
Aragorn looked at Legolas, confused. "What's wrong?"
Legolas stalked over to Aragorn and whispered in his ear for a few minutes. A frown creased Aragorn's forehead, and he looked at the youth, shaking his head.
"Don't whistle that song," he told the boy.
"What's wrong with it?" Meiyuu questioned. "It's the only song I know, 'cept for one or two of the songs that Legolas sometimes sang."
Aragorn shook his head. "You are too young to know such a song. Where did you hear that?"
"In the tavern," Meiyuu answered. He shrugged, not understanding their obvious distress. "It has a good tune."
Aragorn and Legolas exchanged a look. They both blushed. Meiyuu *didn't* realize what he was humming? That was a revelation. For both of them. They looked back at the youth. They definitely needed to set him straight on a few things and learn just what Meiyuu had learned, and experienced, on the streets.
"Let's get some sleep," Aragorn finally broke the silence.
Everyone nodded and laid down to rest. They would need it. Although the journey to Rivendell would not be for much longer, it was still trying on the feet.
They packed the next morning. Well, everyone except Meiyuu. He stood still, picking at the bandages on his hands before he finally summoned up the courage to walk over to the older human.
"I…I'm sorry, Aragorn," Meiyuu whispered, feeling guilty. "I didn't mean to hit you with the apple."
Aragorn smiled gently. "I know. It's ok." He instinctively reached out and tousled the boy's hair. "Just watch where you're aiming next time."
Meiyuu nodded. "All right." He made a slight face when the older man ruffled his dark hair, but didn't pull away. It reminded him of Legolas. His Elven friend did that sometimes. Other times, Legolas simply placed a hand on his shoulder. But either gesture was… comforting. Reassuring after all that had happened to him in his life. It showed that someone would care if something happened to him. It showed that someone cared about him, and that was...well, Meiyuu didn't know, but he did know that fuzzy, warm feelings floated in his chest after those little signs of affection...
He glanced up, sensing a person approaching him. Sunlight illuminated long, golden hair, which supplied the identity of that person. Next to him, Aragorn smiled a greeting to his lover.
Meiyuu was startled to see the two turn to him, to find a slender hand clasp his shoulder. He looked at Legolas questioningly. The Elf smiled and drew both him and Aragorn away to talk.
Frodo and Gimli looked up from their own packs and glanced over at three people whispering quietly.
Meiyuu suddenly started laughing, the sound a trickle of rare joy. Apparently Aragorn had learned to joke, though Frodo had no idea how *that* happened. The man was so usually serious. But at that moment, he was grinning and his face was flushed in delight. Frodo watched as the Man turned to the Elf beside him, clasping the Elf's hand gratefully. He watched a soft smile bloom on Legolas' lips.
"They look like a family," Frodo whispered softly to the dwarf.
Gimli nodded. "Wonder how long that will last?" he snorted, thinking of all the times Aragorn and Meiyuu fought.
Frodo sighed. Gimli was probably right.
"We're all ready to go, Aragorn," Frodo finally said as he approached the Man.
Aragorn nodded, a look of——was it disappointment——in his eyes. "Very well."
They resumed their journey. However, everyone noticed that, though Meiyuu still pulled his hood over his head, he kept his face free from the obscuring cloth. Wisely, they decided not to comment on the change.
The rest of the journey to Rivendell was eventless. As approached the Elven kingdom, Meiyuu gazed in stupefaction at the bright and colorful foliage of the trees around him, surprised by the vibrant world around him. The trees he had seen did not have flowers on them, let alone delicate buds of blushing pink and innocent white. He saw with delight that the petals were shyly parted. The buds were beginning to open! If only he could live in such a place of beauty as this...he flinched, wondering what was to happen to him. Could he survive in a world he did not know? Though he hated it, that village of lies and death was the only home he had ever known. Was he able to live with people who would undoubtedly view him as an anomaly, a freak without parents? He didn't know.
Aragorn, Frodo, and Gimli were oblivious to the torment in the boy. They were simply glad to see the Elven kingdom. It had been a long time since they had last visited. They looked forward to seeing Elrond and his sons, Elladan and Elrohir, again.
There was one, however, that shared Meiyuu's discomfort. Legolas fidgeted, uneasy. He did not know how he would be received. He did not remember any of the Elves at Rivendell, and he did not think they would remember him. How would they react to him? Aragorn had said they would be pleased to see him again, but Legolas found that, as they entered the Elven kingdom, Aragorn's words did little to assuage his fears.
He fussed with his blond hair, running his fingers through the shining mass and tucking the stray strands away in an attempt to appear presentable. He pulled his clothes straight and smoothed the folds in his cloak. He knew he was being utterly ridiculous but...
But I want them to accept me, he thought wistfully.
His ministrations did not go unnoticed. Meiyuu walked over to him.
"It'll be ok," he reassured his friend. "Aragorn says that they are your friends, after all." He managed a smile then.
Unbeknownst to Legolas, Meiyuu was even more uncertain about his appearance than Legolas was about his. Meiyuu would have smoothed his clothes out and cleaned himself up, if he thought it would do any good. But there was nothing he could do about his hair and clothes. He knew he probably looked worse than everyone else with the dirt and blood staining his ragged clothes.
And even if his clothes were not in such lamentable condition, *he* certainly was. He was thin and scrawny...his hands clenched. Of course, why would the people in the town care for a crying, hungry child with scarred hands and face? Why should anyone be trying to *help* him, a stubborn little boy? If it weren't for his sister, he'd probably have starved. Not that were was much work for a young orphan girl. She was hard-pressed to earn enough to buy them food. Things had taken a turn for the better after she married but...Meiyuu scowled. Shira had soon taken that from him, too. And all he was left with was little Mira. Darling, adorable little Mira, who worshipped him and loved him. She had not cared that he was scarred. Meiyuu had been glad for her presence in his life. She was a bright little star, and he gladly gave her the greater share of the food he'd managed to get. And then that damn Shira had taken her too... Her soul had not been stolen, but her life had ended anyway.
He suddenly noticed his clenched hands ached. He relaxed them with an effort. He wouldn't let himself drown in his past. Not when he had an Elven friend to look after. His only friend, as far as he was concerned. Although Aragorn and the others...he clamped down on that thought. Aragorn and the others were nice, but they cared for Legolas, not him. Somehow, he couldn't quite convince himself of that fact.
Suddenly, Elven archers emerged from the trees and surrounded them. They froze. All except the Man glaring at the leader of the Elves.
'Is this your idea of a joke, Elladan? Or do you not recognize me?'
'Aragorn?' Elladan gasped. He gestured for the archers to back off and walked over to his mortal foster brother. The two embraced warmly before Elladan's gaze went to the blond Elf standing silently beside his brother, a young dark-haired boy at the Elf's side. He choked. 'Legolas?'
'Legolas does not understand Elvish,' Aragorn told his foster brother.
Elladan looked faintly surprised but nodded. "Legolas, it is good to see you alive again. I feared that you had perished, along with the other two…"
He knew he had said something wrong the instant Legolas stiffened. And if he somehow missed that, he was certain the human boy scowling at him would have given him a hint.
Elladan glanced at Aragorn. 'Who is he?' he asked, gesturing towards the child.
The said child continued glaring at him. Meiyuu was furious. Could the jerk be any more stupid? How could he mention that to Legolas? Truth to be told, he didn't quite understand what the Elf had meant by 'the other two,' but, if he was Legolas' friend as Aragorn claimed he was, he should have had at least enough tact to refrain from something that would hurt Legolas. He decided he didn't like the tactless Elf.
Aragorn sighed and turned to his foster brother. 'An orphan. We found him at the same place we found Legolas. But we need to speak to Elrond before anything else, Elladan, for we are being pursued.'
Elladan nodded and gestured for everyone to follow him as he led the way to where his father was writing in his sitting room.
Frodo and Gimli entered first, followed by Legolas, Aragorn, and a reluctant Meiyuu. The boy hid behind Legolas and Aragorn.
It wasn't because he was afraid. It was just because he didn't want to distract Legolas from his reunion with the dark-haired Elf. At least that was what he told himself.
'Welcome home, Aragorn,' Elrond murmured, standing up and walking over to his guests. His dark eyes drifted from the Hobbit and dwarf, both of which he greeted cordially, to his foster son and the——the curious——small figure standing behind him. And to the Elven stranger with long, blond hair.
Elrond froze.
It was the first time in his life that Aragorn had ever seen his foster father speechless.
To be continued
