Chapter 2: Realizations Before Mistakes
Well, thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I'm really touched so I sat down immediately and well here's the second chapter. It's kinda short but hopefully still as good. I know that this fic won't be that many chapters long but please review. If anyone has read any of my Harry Potter or Gundam Wing fics they'll recognize Rai but this is his first appearance in an LotR story so please be kind. Same warnings apply as before and surprisingly I wasn't mean to Arwen. Instead I actually made her more reasonable. But enough ranting and onto the story. . .
Chapter 2: Realizations Before Mistakes
Aragorn sighed warily, catching Arwen's attention. It was a peaceful night and the couple had chosen to take a walk through King Thranduil's gardens, finally coming to a stop at one of the many lakes.
"What troubles you Aragorn?" The she-elf asked gently.
The Man winced at the name. Briefly he considered asking Arwen to address him by his elven name but somehow the idea seemed wrong. It was as though, he would be betraying Legolas if he permitted her to do so. "I—why do you give me your immortality?"
Lying a small, pale hand on her betrothed's arm, Arwen smiled. "Because I love you and you love me."
For the first time since they had gone out into the clear night, Aragorn turned his gaze away from the stars and toward the elf beside him. "Truthfully? Consider this fully Arwen. I am giving you this one chance to leave behind this arrangement."
Wide-eyed, the elven maiden stared in open mouthed shock as she struggled to form words. "What are you saying Aragorn?"
/This is it. I must straighten out this matter before it reaches a point where it will destroy all of us./ "We cannot wed. I do not want this and I know that you have no desire in this either. It would cause us both grief in the years to come no matter what our thoughts on this joining is at the time being." Aragorn held up a hand to stop Arwen from speaking. "Do not misread me. I do love you but no more than I would love a younger sister."
Silence settled about them like a heavy blanket and the Ranger felt nervousness creep into his system as he looked everywhere but the blue orbs that studied him with such intensity. "Aragorn?"
Reluctantly, Aragorn met Arwen's eyes. "Yes?"
Ever to his surprise, Elrond's daughter was smiling cheerfully. "Thank you."
"Wh-What?!" This was not the response that Aragorn had expected and it stunned him.
Arwen laughed merrily and shook her head in amusement. "I don't know when my feeling toward you changed but I also see you more as a sibling than a husband."
Gradually the shock seeped out of Aragorn's mind and he chuckled. It was as though a large burden had been lifted from his shoulders and as he studied his surroundings once more, a new beauty appeared to shine about him. Relishing the sight of the silvery trees and the crystal water reflecting the pale moonlight, Aragorn sighed and took a seat in the soft earth by the water's edge. "How did we let this go so far?"
"Tis another mystery of fate. I am only relived we spoke of this before we had made an uncorrectable mistake."
Mentally Aragorn gave his agreement and as another quiet moment spread between them, both the man and the elf could tell that this one held a different air. One of understanding and companionship. The Ranger had been running plans through his mind the many ways that he could approach Legolas about his feelings when Arwen's voice cut through his thoughts.
"So who is it?"
"E-Excuse me?" Replied the startled Aragorn.
"Who is it that has captured your heart?" Stated Arwen again with a tiny grin.
The betraying flush on Aragorn's cheeks told Arwen that she was right even though he protested. "How did you come to such a preposterous conclusion?"
"Aragorn. I am not one hundred. I have been alive long enough to notice when another is in love." She crossed her arms and stared crossly at Aragorn, causing even the tough Ranger to squirm slightly.
"Err. . ."
"My Lady. Lord Aragorn." For once Aragorn was glad of the messenger's untimely arrival. "I apologize for this intrusion but dinner has been set and your presence is asked for by King Thranduil and Prince Legolas."
Breathing a sigh of relief, the Man hurriedly stood and offered an arm to Arwen. "Shall we join them, Lady Arwen?"
Casting a small glare at her friend's smug face, Arwen nodded and together they left behind the lake and the now smirking messenger.
The aforementioned elf watched the two leave until he heard a rustling in the bushes and turned his gaze to the emerging figure.
"That went spectacularly it I say so myself." Said the person with mischief tinting his voice.
Grinning at the blonde figure, the messenger nodded. "I couldn't agree more Glorfindel. Of course if either of them found out that we were the ones that interrupted their private moments, Legolas and Aragorn will have our necks."
"Then I suppose tis a good thing that they do not recognize you."
Rolling his eyes, Rai laughed and shook his head. "No tis a good thing that I am an elven-mage or they surely would have caught on."
Glorfindel's gray eyes sparkled and he grasped the brunette's hand and urgently tugged the other back toward the palace. "Let's see how our Prince and Aragorn are going to solve this little dilemma of theirs."
"You do realize that you are acting like a child, correct?" Asked Rai with a small teasing smile.
"Ah! But that is what makes life interesting! Now hurry, or we'll be missed at the feast and not to mention fail to see any little show that may occur between Legolas and Aragorn. I cannot wait to see the reaction of Lord Elrond and King Thranduil!"
Muttering under his breath about nosy elven lords, Rai nevertheless complied with his friend's excitement. /By Elbereth! Help me so that I do not knock some sense into this elf./
T.B.C
Sorry, but I couldn't resist adding the messenger into this story in some way and of course Glorfindel had to be in it at some point even though he is sort of out of character but for some strange reason I have always pictured Glorfindel to act like this when he's among friends and not the adoring public. But anyway, hopefully the second chapter was as good as the first even though I did type this at midnight. *shrug* Oh well, please review. I believe I may only have one or two more chapters to go if I make this a short chapter fanfic. So until next time everyone! ^_^
Well, thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I'm really touched so I sat down immediately and well here's the second chapter. It's kinda short but hopefully still as good. I know that this fic won't be that many chapters long but please review. If anyone has read any of my Harry Potter or Gundam Wing fics they'll recognize Rai but this is his first appearance in an LotR story so please be kind. Same warnings apply as before and surprisingly I wasn't mean to Arwen. Instead I actually made her more reasonable. But enough ranting and onto the story. . .
Chapter 2: Realizations Before Mistakes
Aragorn sighed warily, catching Arwen's attention. It was a peaceful night and the couple had chosen to take a walk through King Thranduil's gardens, finally coming to a stop at one of the many lakes.
"What troubles you Aragorn?" The she-elf asked gently.
The Man winced at the name. Briefly he considered asking Arwen to address him by his elven name but somehow the idea seemed wrong. It was as though, he would be betraying Legolas if he permitted her to do so. "I—why do you give me your immortality?"
Lying a small, pale hand on her betrothed's arm, Arwen smiled. "Because I love you and you love me."
For the first time since they had gone out into the clear night, Aragorn turned his gaze away from the stars and toward the elf beside him. "Truthfully? Consider this fully Arwen. I am giving you this one chance to leave behind this arrangement."
Wide-eyed, the elven maiden stared in open mouthed shock as she struggled to form words. "What are you saying Aragorn?"
/This is it. I must straighten out this matter before it reaches a point where it will destroy all of us./ "We cannot wed. I do not want this and I know that you have no desire in this either. It would cause us both grief in the years to come no matter what our thoughts on this joining is at the time being." Aragorn held up a hand to stop Arwen from speaking. "Do not misread me. I do love you but no more than I would love a younger sister."
Silence settled about them like a heavy blanket and the Ranger felt nervousness creep into his system as he looked everywhere but the blue orbs that studied him with such intensity. "Aragorn?"
Reluctantly, Aragorn met Arwen's eyes. "Yes?"
Ever to his surprise, Elrond's daughter was smiling cheerfully. "Thank you."
"Wh-What?!" This was not the response that Aragorn had expected and it stunned him.
Arwen laughed merrily and shook her head in amusement. "I don't know when my feeling toward you changed but I also see you more as a sibling than a husband."
Gradually the shock seeped out of Aragorn's mind and he chuckled. It was as though a large burden had been lifted from his shoulders and as he studied his surroundings once more, a new beauty appeared to shine about him. Relishing the sight of the silvery trees and the crystal water reflecting the pale moonlight, Aragorn sighed and took a seat in the soft earth by the water's edge. "How did we let this go so far?"
"Tis another mystery of fate. I am only relived we spoke of this before we had made an uncorrectable mistake."
Mentally Aragorn gave his agreement and as another quiet moment spread between them, both the man and the elf could tell that this one held a different air. One of understanding and companionship. The Ranger had been running plans through his mind the many ways that he could approach Legolas about his feelings when Arwen's voice cut through his thoughts.
"So who is it?"
"E-Excuse me?" Replied the startled Aragorn.
"Who is it that has captured your heart?" Stated Arwen again with a tiny grin.
The betraying flush on Aragorn's cheeks told Arwen that she was right even though he protested. "How did you come to such a preposterous conclusion?"
"Aragorn. I am not one hundred. I have been alive long enough to notice when another is in love." She crossed her arms and stared crossly at Aragorn, causing even the tough Ranger to squirm slightly.
"Err. . ."
"My Lady. Lord Aragorn." For once Aragorn was glad of the messenger's untimely arrival. "I apologize for this intrusion but dinner has been set and your presence is asked for by King Thranduil and Prince Legolas."
Breathing a sigh of relief, the Man hurriedly stood and offered an arm to Arwen. "Shall we join them, Lady Arwen?"
Casting a small glare at her friend's smug face, Arwen nodded and together they left behind the lake and the now smirking messenger.
The aforementioned elf watched the two leave until he heard a rustling in the bushes and turned his gaze to the emerging figure.
"That went spectacularly it I say so myself." Said the person with mischief tinting his voice.
Grinning at the blonde figure, the messenger nodded. "I couldn't agree more Glorfindel. Of course if either of them found out that we were the ones that interrupted their private moments, Legolas and Aragorn will have our necks."
"Then I suppose tis a good thing that they do not recognize you."
Rolling his eyes, Rai laughed and shook his head. "No tis a good thing that I am an elven-mage or they surely would have caught on."
Glorfindel's gray eyes sparkled and he grasped the brunette's hand and urgently tugged the other back toward the palace. "Let's see how our Prince and Aragorn are going to solve this little dilemma of theirs."
"You do realize that you are acting like a child, correct?" Asked Rai with a small teasing smile.
"Ah! But that is what makes life interesting! Now hurry, or we'll be missed at the feast and not to mention fail to see any little show that may occur between Legolas and Aragorn. I cannot wait to see the reaction of Lord Elrond and King Thranduil!"
Muttering under his breath about nosy elven lords, Rai nevertheless complied with his friend's excitement. /By Elbereth! Help me so that I do not knock some sense into this elf./
T.B.C
Sorry, but I couldn't resist adding the messenger into this story in some way and of course Glorfindel had to be in it at some point even though he is sort of out of character but for some strange reason I have always pictured Glorfindel to act like this when he's among friends and not the adoring public. But anyway, hopefully the second chapter was as good as the first even though I did type this at midnight. *shrug* Oh well, please review. I believe I may only have one or two more chapters to go if I make this a short chapter fanfic. So until next time everyone! ^_^