DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Don't sue, I'm broke.
NOTES: Aragorn's POV
A Secret Shared - Chapter 19
Soon after Legolas's hasty exit, I returned to the house, deep in thought.
Had I done the right thing? At the time, I thought it was for the best, but now I was unsure. Legolas seemed so upset, so...grief stricken. Even if I did forgive him now, would he be able to forgive me?
What had I done? I shook my head condemning myself for my actions. I had driven him away from me. My one true love, lost because of my own anger and resentment about something that was not his fault. I felt sure now that he was telling the truth when he said he thought it was I.
I should be happier because of that, but I cannot be, not now. I have widened the breach in our relationship even further, irreparably, and as a result of my anger, our relationship was over.
I must find him, I told myself. Find him, and apologise for my actions. Apologise for turning him away. Give him my forgiveness, and tell him I still love him. I turned, to go back outside, for I felt sure that was where he would be.
"Aragorn, a word please," Elrond stood further along the hallway, outside the door to his study. Reluctantly I followed him in, sitting down as he closed the door.
I waited whilst he positioned himself behind his desk. He steepled his fingers, and looked at me hard.
"What is it you wish to talk with me about, Lord Elrond?" I enquired, as he had not yet spoken.
"Your relationship with Legolas," he said simply.
"What?" I replied, unable to keep myself from sounding so incredulous.
"I know you two have had a disagreement," he continued, practically ignoring my outburst. "I do not know what has caused you to fall out, and I am not sure that I wish to know."
I dropped my head down, staring at my hands, wanting to avoid his penetrating gaze. I hoped that he would not see through the façade Legolas and I had played so well.
"I believe your disagreement with the young elf has something to do with your...dispute...with Boromir," he went on. "I have tried to find out from each of you what exactly went on in that room, but none of you have told me. In Legolas's own chambers of all places! It certainly makes an elf lord wonder what goes on behind the doors of his own home."
He leaned forward, and I found myself looking up and meeting his gaze.
"I am giving you the chance now to tell me what is going on, to tell me what happened in that room. What caused you and Boromir to fight," his words were an order, rather than a request. Lord Elrond had a knack of making things sound like one when they were really another.
I sighed and looked away again, searching for the right words to say, words that would be truthful but not reveal anything about Legolas and I, or what had gone on between him and Boromir beforehand.
"Boromir said things," I began, speaking purposefully slowly. "He spoke coarsely and rudely, words against Legolas, and words that insulted me. I am sorry to admit that I was the one who started the fight. Boromir spoke one offensive word too many, and I punched him. You know the result of that fight yourself," I finished, and looked to Elrond, hoping he would be content with my explanation.
He sat back, studying me with great attention and thought.
"That is most unlike you, Aragorn,"
"I know my lord, I am sorry for bringing such conflict to your household," I apologised, knowing that I was in the wrong.
"You are humble, when you know you are in the wrong," he commented. "But you have not explained what you were all doing in Legolas's chambers in the first place. Or what has caused you to avoid him."
I felt a little surprised at his last comment, and he saw that in my face, for he continued.
"Do not be surprised at my observations, Aragorn," he said, "I may be thousands of years older than you, but I am not stupid. You said to me yourself that you did not wish to see him, and your speedy disappearance after breakfast only confirmed my belief that you were trying to avoid him."
I pursed my lips, not wanting to make comment on this matter.
"Why *are* you avoiding him?"
Still I did not speak, for I could not find the words - or excuses - without telling him the full truth of what had been going on. Instead I creased my brow, intent on not meeting his steady gaze, for if I did he would surely guess what had been going on.
"I can see you do not want to talk about this matter Aragorn, but may I remind you that I am head of this household, and lord of the people here in Rivendell. If there is disruption, I wish to know why. Why were you all in Legolas's rooms? And Why are you avoiding him?" he pressed. "I do not like treating you in this way as you are usually a respectable man, and I consider you a good acquaintance, but I will not allow you to leave this room until you have answered my questions."
I sighed inwardly. It was over. The secret Legolas and I have been hiding so well was going to be revealed. And I worried about the reaction the whole truth would get from the elf lord in front of me.
As I opened my mouth, ready to speak the truth, I heard someone calling my name, and the door of Lord Elrond's study flew open to reveal Arwen, red-faced and dishevelled looking, her hair coming loose from the clip which held it off her face and lines of dampness running down her face from her eyes. Tears?
"Aragorn!" she exclaimed desperately, her breathing laboured from running and her eyes red. I jumped up as I saw her, shocked at the words that followed her initial interruption.
"Legolas...in his room...come quickly, *hurry!*"
TBC...
NOTES: Aragorn's POV
A Secret Shared - Chapter 19
Soon after Legolas's hasty exit, I returned to the house, deep in thought.
Had I done the right thing? At the time, I thought it was for the best, but now I was unsure. Legolas seemed so upset, so...grief stricken. Even if I did forgive him now, would he be able to forgive me?
What had I done? I shook my head condemning myself for my actions. I had driven him away from me. My one true love, lost because of my own anger and resentment about something that was not his fault. I felt sure now that he was telling the truth when he said he thought it was I.
I should be happier because of that, but I cannot be, not now. I have widened the breach in our relationship even further, irreparably, and as a result of my anger, our relationship was over.
I must find him, I told myself. Find him, and apologise for my actions. Apologise for turning him away. Give him my forgiveness, and tell him I still love him. I turned, to go back outside, for I felt sure that was where he would be.
"Aragorn, a word please," Elrond stood further along the hallway, outside the door to his study. Reluctantly I followed him in, sitting down as he closed the door.
I waited whilst he positioned himself behind his desk. He steepled his fingers, and looked at me hard.
"What is it you wish to talk with me about, Lord Elrond?" I enquired, as he had not yet spoken.
"Your relationship with Legolas," he said simply.
"What?" I replied, unable to keep myself from sounding so incredulous.
"I know you two have had a disagreement," he continued, practically ignoring my outburst. "I do not know what has caused you to fall out, and I am not sure that I wish to know."
I dropped my head down, staring at my hands, wanting to avoid his penetrating gaze. I hoped that he would not see through the façade Legolas and I had played so well.
"I believe your disagreement with the young elf has something to do with your...dispute...with Boromir," he went on. "I have tried to find out from each of you what exactly went on in that room, but none of you have told me. In Legolas's own chambers of all places! It certainly makes an elf lord wonder what goes on behind the doors of his own home."
He leaned forward, and I found myself looking up and meeting his gaze.
"I am giving you the chance now to tell me what is going on, to tell me what happened in that room. What caused you and Boromir to fight," his words were an order, rather than a request. Lord Elrond had a knack of making things sound like one when they were really another.
I sighed and looked away again, searching for the right words to say, words that would be truthful but not reveal anything about Legolas and I, or what had gone on between him and Boromir beforehand.
"Boromir said things," I began, speaking purposefully slowly. "He spoke coarsely and rudely, words against Legolas, and words that insulted me. I am sorry to admit that I was the one who started the fight. Boromir spoke one offensive word too many, and I punched him. You know the result of that fight yourself," I finished, and looked to Elrond, hoping he would be content with my explanation.
He sat back, studying me with great attention and thought.
"That is most unlike you, Aragorn,"
"I know my lord, I am sorry for bringing such conflict to your household," I apologised, knowing that I was in the wrong.
"You are humble, when you know you are in the wrong," he commented. "But you have not explained what you were all doing in Legolas's chambers in the first place. Or what has caused you to avoid him."
I felt a little surprised at his last comment, and he saw that in my face, for he continued.
"Do not be surprised at my observations, Aragorn," he said, "I may be thousands of years older than you, but I am not stupid. You said to me yourself that you did not wish to see him, and your speedy disappearance after breakfast only confirmed my belief that you were trying to avoid him."
I pursed my lips, not wanting to make comment on this matter.
"Why *are* you avoiding him?"
Still I did not speak, for I could not find the words - or excuses - without telling him the full truth of what had been going on. Instead I creased my brow, intent on not meeting his steady gaze, for if I did he would surely guess what had been going on.
"I can see you do not want to talk about this matter Aragorn, but may I remind you that I am head of this household, and lord of the people here in Rivendell. If there is disruption, I wish to know why. Why were you all in Legolas's rooms? And Why are you avoiding him?" he pressed. "I do not like treating you in this way as you are usually a respectable man, and I consider you a good acquaintance, but I will not allow you to leave this room until you have answered my questions."
I sighed inwardly. It was over. The secret Legolas and I have been hiding so well was going to be revealed. And I worried about the reaction the whole truth would get from the elf lord in front of me.
As I opened my mouth, ready to speak the truth, I heard someone calling my name, and the door of Lord Elrond's study flew open to reveal Arwen, red-faced and dishevelled looking, her hair coming loose from the clip which held it off her face and lines of dampness running down her face from her eyes. Tears?
"Aragorn!" she exclaimed desperately, her breathing laboured from running and her eyes red. I jumped up as I saw her, shocked at the words that followed her initial interruption.
"Legolas...in his room...come quickly, *hurry!*"
TBC...