Title: Watching you sleep

Author: Orlandoinabedsheet (CC)
Dedication: To Tiger, my Muse, I adore you Baby. I am sorry for it.

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Unfortunately Legolas and Aragorn, and all other members of the fellowship are not mine.
Summary: Legolas speaks to a sleeping Aragorn in the house of healing in Minas Trinth.

A/N: I was feeling evil and had to write something...

~~~

I used to watch you sleep you know. I knew you'd leave me one day. I knew you'd be married just as everyone expected you to. I wanted to hate you for. I tried so hard to hate you for it. And then I watched you sleep. Heard you whisper my name. Never hers but mine. I traced your features with my fingertips and wondered how it could be that we were seeking to save a world that promised us nothing but pain and responsibilities we never asked for. But in the same instant I knew we could never abandon this world to its fate either. It wasn't in either of our natures. And neither was deception. I remember watching her search your face for something she didn't find in the end. And she loves you still. How could she love you knowing your heart will never be hers? But then I suppose she might question how I could love you knowing you'd leave me to marry her.

It's different now. Watching you sleep in the house of healing as they give you what care they can. You're still as handsome as you ever were. It's not your appearance that's changed. It's that you haven't fallen asleep in my arms in four years time. She's been here I'm sure but she doesn't sit at your bedside and I wonder why. I know you are not ill enough that they fear your death but surely a king deserves someone to hold his hand through fever dreams and I will not leave you until you are well. I love you too much even now.

As I hold your hand and sing the soft song that first brought you to me those many years ago I sense her coming near. She lays a hand on my shoulder. "You have come at last," she says softly.

"At last Lady Arwen? It was my understanding Estel has been sick but two days."

"I have been waiting for you to return to him for four years my friend."

"Why?" Though I suspect I know the answer she must know you better than that by now.

"Elessar has always loved you." The words are soft, sad, "And none other."

"And I still love him with my whole being but he would never tarnish the commitment he made to you and I respect his decision."

"Then why have you come?"

"To visit a sick friend and to gaze on the sleeping face of the love I have lost."

You stir, "Never lost Melda. I may no longer be able to express my heart but you never lost it."

Arwen looks on us with sad eyes but knows better than to try to release you from your commitment and she slips away again whispering, "In this place the queen has no business. He that lies here is but a ranger in the care of his beloved."

And in my heart I thank her, for it was a kind gesture even if it will do no good.