Hey, and welcome to the concluding chapter of Remember Me!
Ok, that was lame but ah well, I guess you get that. Umm, when I thought of this story, I had a completely different path for it to take in mind, but it would not let me go that way, so I wrote a bit of a detour! Lol. It is kinda short (compared to my normal chapters) but I think it needed to shortness to add to the feel of it. I have done this in a different style to most things that I write having used a little bit of Marion Zimmer Bradley's influence in that fact that at the beginning and end, Legolas speaks directly to you – but again, I think it makes it more impacting.
Anyone looking for some nice, mushy Legolas and Aragorn romance had better go elsewhere as this is not one of those stories and it definitely NOT for Aragorn fans. I originally made Arwen out to be the bad one in the first chapter, but, with a little bit of a look into her situation, I have changed it dramatically and now every hates Aragorn! Lol – that prick!.
Ok, hope you all enjoy, and please review to let me know what you think. Song is by Hoobastank.
*****
I stand here face to face,
With someone that I used to know,
Used to look at me and laugh
But now he claims that he has know me for so long
But I remember being no one.
I wanted to be just like you,
So perfect, so untouchable.
Now you want me to be with you,
Someone who used to have it all.
*****
Legolas speaks:
It seemed a blur, even now looking back on it. A strange smudge upon my mind that I can not fathom, not then, not now. Why I did what I did, I shall never know. If it was the right thing to do I will also never discover, but, in my heart, I know that it was right at the time. For me and for him – 'twas just right.
*****
Legolas' back pressed up against the cool, stone wall of the Gondorian castle as the man moved closer to him, not taking his lips away from the Elf's. Struggling as best as he could, Legolas tried not to let his feelings get the better of him and to give into the man's advances.
As the man's lips moved back, allowing them both the air that they so desperately needed, Legolas once again attempted to protest, but was cut short as the man's lips swooped down on his for the second time.
Being unable to resist anymore, Legolas leaned into the kiss, letting Aragorn take control as he felt the man push him up further against the wall.
"'Tis fine, Aragorn, have him." A quiet voice from behind cut through their thoughts. Letting Legolas go swiftly, Aragorn spun around to find Arwen standing right behind him, her face burning with anger at what she had just witnessed. 'Tis fine," she said almost sadly, "I know your heart no longer beats for me, just as mine does not for you, so have your male whore and be done with it." Arwen spat out in the man's face, her sadness hastily turning to hatred within the few spoken words and her fists balled at her sides.
Legolas' eyes grew wide with anger at the term that she had used to address him and, pushing himself off the wall he went to speak his objection, only to be beaten to it.
"You will not refer to him as such no matter how angry you are," Aragorn yelled back, his face red with hate and embarrassment. "He is a guest under my roof and if I remember correctly, you have your own 'whore' that I should speak of!"
Shocked at the intensity of the mans rebuttal, Legolas decided it best if he pushed himself back against the wall, staying out of sight and mind. He would have given anything to be elsewhere at this moment, not wishing to be a part of something that he had just unwillingly stumbled into. Besides, it felt wrong for him to be there, witnessing such hatred between a married couple and half of it, he felt, was his fault.
"Your roof? It is all the same with your race, the men dominate the woman," Arwen shot back, her face aflame with her hatred. "So will you command him around as you do me?"
"I never commanded you, and you know it!" Aragorn shouted, moving dangerously forward as did the now mortal Elf. "And it will do you good to leave him out of this! This is not his fault."
Even as the man spoke the words, Legolas found them hard to believe. It had to be his fault; somehow it just had to have been and he knew it. If he had not loved the man, if he had not let his mask slip for the one second that it had and pushed him away, then this confrontation would not have been happening. It was his fault, no matter how much he or Aragorn tried to deny it, it was all caused by him and his desire to have something that he never could.
Heated words flowed back into his hearing, and Legolas, having not noticed that he had tuned out, rather wished that he had stayed in that world of blissful silence.
"I gave up everything for you and this is how you repay me? You run off with the prince of Mirkwood, the Prince!" Arwen screamed and Legolas was quite surprised at the earsplitting noise that such a thin frame could achieve. "How many Elves are you willing to murder just so you can find your pleasure?"
Aragorn's face continued to redden in his anger as he stepped forward, right against Arwen and looked down upon her flushed face. For a split second Legolas feared that the man was about to strike the Lady and he made ready to interfere if the need called for it.
Yet it did not, as, as Aragorn looked down on his wife, something came over his face, something that looked like pleasure – the type you get when extracting revenge upon one who has done evil to you. When he again spoke, his voice was hushed and yet held all his despite within the quietly spoken words. "Obviously one less then you. I will not let him die, not when we no longer hold love for each other and when I feel so strongly for him." Undulated anger flashed through Arwen's face at Aragorn's brash words, and, with one last look at her husband and a glance at Legolas – who still remained pressed against the wall – she turned on her heels, storming down the hallway.
The hall fell silent, neither of the two men daring to move. Gulping, Legolas turned horrified eyes upon Aragorn, that man that he had loved for so long and yet now feared more then the very fires of Mt Doom.
As if sensing the Elf's eyes upon his back, Aragorn turned to be greeted with Legolas' fear stricken face. Smiling gently at the Elf, Aragorn took a small step towards Legolas, reaching out his hand in a sign of peace.
"Come," he commanded softly and Legolas could not help but think back to his statement that he never commanded Arwen. Was it true or was the Lady speaking the truth?
"No," the Elf said, backing away slightly from the outstretched hand. "No," he repeated.
"Legolas, do not fear, I will not hurt you," Aragorn said softly while bolding striding up to the Elf and wrapping his arms around the tense body, "now come."
Without even waiting for permission, Aragorn bent down and scooped the Elf up into his arms, cradling him to his chest. Shushing Legolas' quiet protests with a quick kiss, Aragorn easily carried the Elf into Legolas' room, shutting the door behind him with his foot.
Walking over to the silk covered bed, Aragorn seemed unable to hear Legolas bewailing from his arms. Pushing his way through the light, shimming material used as a fly net, the man smiled down on the Elf within his arms, marveling at the way Legolas' hair spread out over his arms.
"Aragorn, I do not what this," Legolas protested as the man lay him down on the bed.
"Hush," the man said while lifting the Elf's head to place a soft, crimson coloured pillow under it. "'Tis what should be."
"No, Aragorn," Legolas continued while starting to try and squirm his way out from under the man that was now straddling his hips.
"I love you," Aragorn said softly as he leaned in to kiss the Elf's mouth, pressing Legolas' hands above his head.
Fire burned in Legolas. Neither for the declamation of love nor for the man, but for the words that his kind took so seriously uttered meaninglessly into the night. He hated the way that Aragorn made him feel. Hated the way the human pressed his hands upon his own, forcing them into the softness of the bed and making him feel as if he were a prize, a mere conquest that was to be used and told pretty words to keep silent. He hated the way Aragorn had carried him into the room, making him feel as if he were useless and a thing used as a token or accessory.
Everything just added to the list, making his loathing for the man beyond that of the love that he had once held within his heart.
"No, you do not." He said back, turning his head to the side to avoid the King's lips. "You do not love me, you never have."
"What?" Aragorn half choked on the words as they spilt from his mouth, the disbelief in them showing Legolas just how self-assured the man really was. "Did you not hear what I just said, what I said out in the corridor? I defended you against my own wife and now you claim that I do not speak the truth!"
"A wife that you claim you no longer love!" Legolas shouted, his anger getting the better of him as he fought to free his hands from their pressed restraints. "What is the point of your defense if it mattered not to you? You lost nothing from the confrontation, you did not anger Arwen further then she already was. You can not for a moment claim that that had any impact upon your life whatsoever apart to gain another Elven bed-warmer! And I will not be that Elf, Aragorn, I will not!"
"What, you would be pleased if she still loved me and I left her for you, is that it? Or maybe if I gave everything up, my home, my kingdom and all that I have worked for? Would that make you happy?"
The silence that followed was enough to tell the man the Elf's answer, and yet, after a few moments and a lot of consideration, Legolas spoke, his voice quiet in his reserve. "Yes," Legolas said into the pillow, "yes it would make me happy for it would prove that you truly want this, that you do have feelings for me apart from lust and an easy route to revenge."
"You know that I can not do that, Legolas, I can not and will not give up all that I have worked towards!" Aragorn said in utter disbelief while pressing Legolas further into the bed.
"Worked towards? You have not worked towards this day. This kingdom fell into your hands due to a lineage that you tried to avoid! I did just as much as you in keeping these lands free from evil – or did you forget that, thinking that I was just someone to look at whilst being away from your beloved Arwen?"
"I do not love her!"
"And you do not love me!"
"I do!" Aragorn raged, pushing down harder on Legolas' wrists until the Elf cried out from the pain. Panicking, Legolas arched his back in an attempt to get the larger man off him but the action came to no avail.
The look in Aragorn's eyes was merciless and full of blind contempt. He wanted to be in control, to have the Elf beneath him acknowledge the fact that he was the one with the power and try to force Legolas into allowing him what he wanted.
The King switched his hold on the Elf's wrists, pushing both to the fabric of the bed with his one hand and digging his nails into the slender wrists in an attempt to stop Legolas in his struggles. Struggling against the man, Legolas tried to stop the mad beating of his heart as Aragorn reached down for the top of his tunic. The man ripped the small, silver leaf clasp off and pushed aside the two pieces of open material. Breathing deeply, Legolas watched as Aragorn's eyes expanded at the sight of his bare chest and his free hand roamed down the Elf's neck, fingering the hollow near the collarbone.
Trying to keep his head as clear as possible, Legolas looked away from the man, waiting for what he knew would come. Luckily for him, he did not have to wait long until the man slid down his hips so he straddled his thighs instead, granting his lips access to the Elf's pale throat. Sucking at the slender column, Aragorn did not even notice the Elf below him switch his position slightly.
As the man bit lightly at the side of his neck, Legolas prepared himself for his next action. He had to be swift else he would not be rewarded with another chance. Waiting until the man was happily sucking at his throat, Legolas lifted his right leg slightly, making sure he was in the right position, and being happy, he decided to give the man one last chance.
"Aragorn, please stop this," he almost begged. A small, inaudible moan was the only response that he received and so, seeing no better time, Legolas put his plan into action.
Rasing his right leg with all the strength he could muster, Legolas sent his knee into Aragorn's groin, causing the man to curl in on himself and release his hands. Using the opportunity that presented itself, Legolas pushed up, successfully pushing the man off him and to the other side of the bed. Flying at the moaning man, he pinned him down, having drawn a small dagger that he always held concealed with his boat in the process and pressed it to Aragorn's throat.
The startled look in Aragorn's eyes was enough to make the action worth all the hassle and Legolas could not help but smile. Perhaps he had just taught Aragorn the first lesson about himself – he was not just something to look at. As he pressed the dagger closer to the man's pumping neck, Legolas felt a sense of power sweep through him as the last ounces of love for the man fleeted his body and heart.
"You will NEVER touch me in such a way, Aragorn! Do you understand?" The man merely nodded his agreement to the Elf and Legolas almost snarled in reply. "Good. I am sorry that it had to end this way, Aragorn, for once I would have always considered you my greatest of all friends. Yet that trust is easily broken and never regained."
Within a second, the Elf had left his position upon Aragorn and departed the room, leaving the man to look at the open door and wonder of the Elf's parting words.
Fleeing down the darkened corridor, Legolas paid no attention to where he went, only seeking to get out of the castle that now felt like a prison. Down flight after flight of stone hewed steps he ran, never looking back on what he was running from and trying not even to think of the being in the room.
It was with such an unclear head that he managed to run right into Arwen, standing alone and staring out of one of the turret windows. Turning to face the fleeting form, Arwen looked upon Legolas with hurt and yet understanding. It was at that point that Legolas saw in her eyes that same thing that he knew where in his – lost love over one not worth it.
It was as if their souls conversed with each other though no words were spoken, and Legolas knew that she held no contempt for him just as he held none for her. The prince knew that Arwen knew of what had happened between himself and Aragorn, and knew that Legolas would not let him take him in such a way. They had both been fools, and while one had solved the problem by taking on another lover, the other would flee and let the Sea tend to his heart.
Nodding his own understanding of the situation that both found themselves in, Legolas offered the Lady one last sad smile ere he turned and continued down the steps. Breaking into the cold night, he could not help but feel that it mirrored his heart – cold and empty, promising a lifetime of loneliness. With strong resolve, he told himself that it was best this way, that it was better to be alone for an eternity then to be in the arms of one that he feared and had lost all trust of.
Standing still at the window, it was with a heavy heart that the lady Arwen watched the sole prince of Mirkwood ride deep into the night, heading straight into the West. Middle Earth was losing a great warrior and the kindest of all that walked the earth, and it was all the fault of one man. One man who had already taken one Elf from the world and now another of the race that was slowly dying out of existence was leaving these shores because of him.
"But at least he can leave," Arwen whispered to herself as she turned towards the top of the stairs, heading back to her separate bedchambers. "At least he is free of this place."
*****
Legolas speaks:
I left that night, stole into the darkness that had become my heart, without even saying good-bye to the man that I have loved for so long. I'll never know if he truly loved me, but that was a sacrifice that I was willing to make, given the circumstances.
And so I am here, upon a ship built by my own hands, fashioned with the same care that I do my arrows, sailing lone upon the Sea. It still think of him, I will not deny that, but not the same as I once did. All has changed now, and, even as I am saddened to leave him, I am glad that I will not have to be near.
I no longer hate him for what he tried to do, but I know that I will never love him as I once did. How can I? He has betrayed my trust in the worst possible way, and trust, I was taught, was the thing that mattered most to people. If there is no trust, then there is no life, for no one can go on alone and unaided.
Often I wonder if I was too harsh on the man, that I should have stayed and talked it over with him, but them something always stops me from such thoughts. How could I stay, knowing what he was capable of? Perhaps it was just the lustful acts of a human in need, but still, 'twas against my wishes and nothing can rectify that.
The other thing that troubles my heart is what waits for me at the end of this journey. Elrond, Gandalf, they will both want answers as to my reasons for leaving the land that I loved so long and I fear that I will not be able to lie to them. And what if they ask of Aragorn and Arwen? Do I tell them that they are living the life of High King and Queen in splendor and happiness, blessed with the patter of little feet about the castle walls? Or do I tell them the truth of the matter – that they despise the sight of each other, that they have taken on new lovers or have a least tried too? 'T is too much for me to bear on my own, and yet here I am, standing abroad a ship and sailing into the setting sun, the last glimpses of Middle-Earth upon the horizon fading out even to my eyes.
'Tis strange really, the fact that you can spend all your life living for one person, doing everything for them and praying to the Valar above that they will one day return your feelings, and yet, when they do 'tis not what you wanted. In fact, 'tis what you feared the most, even more then being lonely.
I have learnt my lesson now, taught by Aragorn, the one that I thought would always hold my heart no matter what, and 'T is a lesson that I am grateful for being taught. 'Tis pointless to live for someone in the hopes of them feeling the same. Either live for yourself or live in the knowledge that you will never have what you want, do not spend your life waiting for someone who, until an upset, does not even notice you.
It only ends in heartbreak. I should know, I have been there.
*****
Do you know me?
Or where you to preoccupied
With playing King in your small kingdom?
And now the real word
Has striped you of your royalty
And from your kingdom,
You're evicted.
Do you remember now?
You acting like you never noticed me
Cause the dawn has come around
Your not allowed to be a part of me.
*****
The End.
Oh my god, another one finished!! First Restoring Hope and now this! I am good! See people, I am slowly starting to tie up my loose ends – mainly as I have the first chapter of another story written and a series on the way – but that is beside the point! Lol
Hope to hear what you all think,
Minka.