Disclaimer: See the Author's Notes! This is an AU! A/L slash! Takes place some time after the last chapter. Slight shounen ai between Haldir/Glorfindel. The R Rating is coming in effect now for good reason! Aragorn and Legolas' mental speech is in *. Elvish is in ''.
Reasons To Fight, Reasons To Wed
Part 20. Rest And Recovery
Legolas lay sleeping and recovering in the bedroom he shared with Aragorn, who sat beside the bed, in a belated attempt to keep him safe. The half Elf tenderly held one of Legolas' pale, slender hands in his own hands.
How could Meron have… Aragorn seethed silently. Legolas was so pure and beautiful, in soul as well as body. The son of Arathorn gently brushed a few golden strands of hair out of Legolas' open, vacant eyes.
Legolas stirred slightly, and the blankets covering him slipped away, revealing the white nightshirt that the blond beauty was wearing. Aragorn looked straight at the slight bulge where his child grew inside of his husband. One of his hands tentatively reached out and gently touched it, with a wondering look on his face, as he caressed it softly. Aragorn still couldn't believe that he was going to be a father.
'Mmmm…' Legolas murmured in his sleep, before he blinked his sapphire eyes open. Slight fear shone in them, at the sight of Aragorn, until the fear melted away to a content look. 'Have I slept long?' The blond Elf stretched slightly, before yawning. 'How is Elrond?'
'He's all right- or he will be. Legolas, I need to tell you something,' Aragorn whispered.
Legolas turned a questioning gaze on his husband, as one of his hands drifted down to join Aragorn's hand on his waist. 'What is it?'
Aragorn flushed ever so slightly at the puzzled look on Legolas' face. 'I…I do love you,' he told the Elf. His other hand drifted up and cupped Legolas' cheek.
'You do?' Joy and hope shone in his eyes, as Legolas realized the full meaning of those words. 'I love you, Aragorn… No matter what Meron does…' Legolas' voice broke slightly on the word 'does', before he continued. '…I will always love you. But I am tainted now. How can you love me?'
'Tis not your fault that Meron raped you,' Aragorn said fiercely. 'I love you, and nothing will change that. Not even him.'
Legolas felt a few tears in his eyes splash onto his face. 'Oh, Aragorn…' he whispered. Shame was written on his face and in his eyes.
Aragorn firmly tilted Legolas' chin up to make the Elf look at him. 'You are my husband… my lover… my friend… and the one I love. The deeds of those who are jealous will not change the way I feel.'
Legolas sat up slowly, and was surprised when Aragorn hugged him, holding him close. He stiffened, before relaxing into the warm embrace, letting the one he loved comfort him for once.
Outside in the hallway, Glorfindel and Haldir were speaking.
'Lord Elrond well truly be all right, Glorfindel,' Haldir informed the Elven lord. 'Lady Galadriel is overseeing his recovery herself, along with Lord Celeborn.'
Glorfindel nodded. 'Tis good that they had not traveled too far from Rivendell when the messenger caught up with them.'
Haldir smirked. 'My lady is all-knowing. She knows everything that goes on.'
'Does she, now?' Glorfindel mildly asked. He refused to respond to the bait.
Haldir stepped forward, until his face was inches in front of Glorfindel's. 'Always she knows. She is ever-watchful… like me.'
Glorfindel was amused and raised an eyebrow slightly. 'And what do you watch?' he questioned, his warm breath brushing across Haldir's face.
'I think you know,' Haldir slyly answered. 'Some people can't see what's right in front of their eyes.'
'And you don't have this problem,' Glorfindel stated, a smirk on his face.
Haldir grinned. 'Nope. I always see what I want and I get what I want.'
Glorfindel never failed to be surprised at the 'Lorien Elf's slight arrogance, but this was very amusing to him. 'And what do you want?' he murmured, crossing his arms slightly. A strand of golden hair slipped from where it was tucked behind one of his pointed ears.
Before Glorfindel could fix it, Haldir had already reached up and smoothed his hair back behind the ear, purposefully brushing the tip of the point. He brought his lips close to Glorfindel's ear, so close that when he began speaking, they slightly brushed the ear. 'You know what I want,' Haldir slowly whispered, his voice husky.
Glorfindel involuntarily shuddered at the fingers that brushed his ear tip, and the husky note in Haldir's voice intrigued him. He started to say something, when the sounds of two people rapidly approaching drew their attention.
King Thranduil of Mirkwood and Mithrandir had finally returned from Mirkwood. The two were aware that something must have happened, because everyone was tense and pale. Thranduil knew deep in his heart that something must have happened to Legolas.
The Elven King braced himself, as he saw Haldir and Glorfindel standing outside of a room.
The two, tall blond Elves regarded Thranduil silently.
'What happened? No one will give me a straight answer," Thranduil said in a low voice.
Haldir lowered his gaze. 'It's difficult, King Thranduil…' The 'Lorien Elf had been trying not to focus on what had supposedly happened to Prince Legolas, because he was completely shocked at the idea of something like that happening to Legolas.
'None of us dreamed it could happen,' Glorfindel said softly.
Thranduil knew now that whatever it was, it was really bad. 'Where is my son?'
Both blond Elves looked at the door.
'Aragorn is with him,' Glorfindel murmured.
Thranduil walked over to the door and opened it silently, before stepping inside. Mithrandir stayed with Haldir and Glorfindel, knowing that the three inside the room needed a chance to talk things through.
Legolas was resting on Aragorn's lap now, his back and head resting against Aragorn's chest, and their joined hands rested where their child was growing. Both looked up at the tall Elf who entered the room, closing the door behind him.
'Father?' Legolas whispered, a strangled note in his voice. He honestly had not expected to see his father again, and now his father would learn of what had been done to him by Meron.
'Yes, Legolas.' Thranduil crossed the room in three strides, and placed his hands on his only son's shoulders. 'I'm so sorry, Legolas… Mithrandir freed me from Meron's control and told me everything.' The Elven King frowned when he saw a wince on Legolas' face.
Aragorn brought a hand up and stroked Legolas' soft, blond hair soothingly. 'Tis a pleasure to finally meet you, King Thranduil of Mirkwood. I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and adopted son of Lord Elrond.'
Thranduil looked straight at the half Elf with dark brown hair and eyes, and was faintly amused at the possessiveness written on his face. 'Tis good to meet you as well, Aragorn. You look just like Arathorn…' Thranduil shook his head, and turned back to Legolas. 'What happened to you, my son?
Legolas lowered his gaze, before pressing his face against Aragorn's chest. He was too ashamed to admit what Meron had done to him to his father.
Aragorn quietly interjected, 'Legolas, I think you should get some food. You have not eaten in days, and our child needs the food, even if you do not.'
Relief flashed in Legolas' azure eyes, as he silently nodded. 'I'll see you later, Father,' he whispered, before climbing off of Aragorn and standing. He then walked out of the room, with the white nightshirt hanging down just below his knees.
Haldir and Glorfindel insisted on escorting the Elven Prince to the kitchen, to make certain that he would be safe.
Legolas argued for a few moments, but gave in. He was too stricken to argue much. If he had not disobeyed the rules earlier, going out alone to find Aragorn, none of this would have happened. But he also would not have met Gimli, Legolas silently told himself.
Gimli, as it turned out, was also in the dining hall, and called to Legolas, Glorfindel, and Haldir to join him. They did so, though Haldir was slightly wary of the Dwarf.
The group of four ate slowly, neither saying much. No one was sure of what to say.
Legolas had been attacked- and supposedly ravaged, and Elrond was severely hurt because of Meron.
Aragorn sat on the bed, looking directly at Thranduil.
'Tell me, Aragorn, what happened to him?' Thranduil pleaded. He took a seat on the other side of the bed, looking directly at the one that his son loved.
'Tis difficult, but I will.' Aragorn paused, and swallowed hard. 'You said that Mithrandir told you everything- which means that he told you that Legolas' teleportation spell messed up, correct?'
Thranduil nodded.
Aragorn nodded as well, and let out a deep breath. 'Meron disguised himself as me, and he…' The half Elf could barely choke out the bitter words. 'He forced himself onto Legolas.'
***********
Gondor
***********
Boromir and Faramir were saddling up their horses, preparing to go to Rivendell. Faramir had told his brother everything, and Boromir was furious about how he had been used.
The Steward of Gondor also intended to apologize to the heir of Gondor for jumping to conclusions, based on only what Meron had said.
The brothers would ride without rest, to reach Rivendell in haste, so that they might work together with the Elves and Aragorn to find the deceiver and bring him to justice.
***********
Mordor
***********
Evil laughter rang out in Mordor, coming from the long figure with dark grey eyes, as he used a vision crystal to watch Legolas, who was silent and withdrawn into himself.
"That Elf actually believes that I managed to rape him?" Meron laughed, letting his cold, cruel laughter echo. "The fool…" He smirked slightly. "Well, Legolas' current state of mind makes him even more vulnerable to me…"
He sighed in satisfaction. It truly did feel so good to be so cruel.
And Meron also intended to take advantage of Legolas' temporary confusion and fear.
*******************
Somewhere Else
*******************
Elladan and Elrohir had fulfilled their mission, given to them by their father, and the two galloped home as fast as possible.
A small satchel of papers hung around Elrohir's neck, swinging slightly with the movements of the horse beneath the Elf.
'We must tell Father, before it's too late,' Elladan said grimly.
Elrohir nodded. 'I just can't believe that Meron is actually the son of…'
To be continued
