"Maybe we should send Shadowfax on his way," Legolas said, from his seat by the fire. "They're probably missing him in Rohan."
"Hmm?" Aragorn looked up from his sword, which shone in the firelight as he honed its edge. He glanced at the glossy-coated animal browsing a few dunes away and shrugged. "I expect he'll go when he feels like it."
"How did you get him to carry you after—to the Grey Havens?"
Aragorn grinned. "Carry me after you, you mean. I, er…well, remember what Gandalf said about Shadowfax being an especially wise horse?" Legolas gave him a blank look. "Well, he did! And so I kind of, um, explained the situation…"
Legolas burst out laughing. "You laid your love troubles on a horse?"
"Well it worked, didn't it?" Aragorn shot forward suddenly and pecked Legolas on the cheek. "And it was well worth it, if I do say so myself."
Legolas smiled and was about to return the kiss when something rustled in the brush. He whirled. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
The Elf reached for his knives and rose on silent feet. "There," he whispered, jerking his head in the direction of a clump of brambleberry bushes. In an instant Aragorn was beside Legolas, sword cold and gleaming out before him.
"Let me handle it," the Man whispered.
Legolas smirked. "Save me, oh knight," he chuckled, and darted forward into the undergrowth. A flustered Aragorn followed on his heels.
All was quiet in the tangle of shrub and shadow. Legolas raised his hand for a halt and then threw himself sideways, hauling Aragorn along with him. A bolt of silver shot past their heads, imbedding itself in the trunk of a brambleberry plant. Aragorn leapt over Legolas, wielding his sword like an extension of his body, and let fly into the thicket. "Wait, Elessar!" cried Legolas.
At his words a yell rose from the impenetrable dark. "Gwanno, gur o dagnir o Undomiel! Gwanno!" A second silver bolt parted Aragorn's hair as he ducked.
"Legolas! What do you see?" he shouted, but Legolas, even with his elven eyes, could see nothing but foliage.
"Let us get back into the open—I can't see anything!" As the two charged out of the undergrowth silence fell again. Aragorn nursed a sick feeling in his stomach but fought it back in case of battle. "They're gone?" Legolas questioned, more to himself than to Aragorn.
"Gur o dagnir o Undomiel," Aragorn said quietly. "Evenstar's heartbane. Elf against elf…what have I done."
At once Legolas was at his side, gripping Aragorn's arm as if for life. "Don't, don't you dare, Aragorn. You are so quick to blame yourself, always—don't think this is your fault!"
Aragorn seemed not to have heard. " 'They will hunt you', you said…but they are hunting you, too! Why didn't I see it? How could I have brought this on you? If I'd only stopped to think! Now the Elves are avenging my abandonment of Arwen Evenstar, and what better way to do it than go after the one I abandoned her for—"
"No!" Legolas pushed Aragorn to the ground and fell atop him, their faces nearly touching. "No, Aragorn, you brought nothing on me! Wasn't it my choice to accept your gift in Lothlorien? Wasn't it my choice to hold you under the stars in Rohan?" He threw a hand in the direction of the dark sea behind its dunes. "Wasn't it my choice to turn away from Cirdan's ship and the sea that's always calling?"
"You mean…the call…you're suffering because of—"
"No!" Legolas thrust his face into the crook of Aragorn's neck, letting his tears pool in the hollow there. "I am with you. Nothing would make me suffer more than to part from you." Not caring whether elves, Gondormen or Arwen herself walked out of the bushes, Legolas thrust his lips against Aragorn's and waited for the flesh beneath to kindle. Aragorn's eyes remained heavy with sorrow.
"Legolas—"
"Shh." Legolas ensured silence with his tongue and smoothed Aragorn's brows. "My dear king," he crooned. "My poor, dear king." He held the Aragorn until long after the last dying embers floated away on the breeze.
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