A/N: I'm sorry it took so long to update. I have quite a few things going on right now, but I promise that I will try to resolve this story as soon as possible. *sigh* I just don't have the time to devote to it that I think would make it a really great fic. Here's another chappie minus the yummy stuff. I was thinking that it would be in the next chapter. AND, if anyone flames this saying how horrible I am for pairing Legolas and Aragorn….get over it! I'm sorry, but I see this every bit the legitimate romance that a romance between a man and a woman would be. "Why?" You ask? Some people do see m/m as wrong, but being the open-minded person that I am, I don't see the problem. Men do fall in love with men and love is a beautiful thing, especially when it happens between two supersexalicious men (ie.movie Aragorn and movie Legolas). So, with that said………
The lord of Imladris stood on the balcony of his bedchambers, looking down into the courtyard below. Aragorn and the twins had returned to Rivendell only moments earlier and were now removing their gear from the steeds.
He smiled to himself. It seemed like only yesterday that the sons of Elrond had been teaching young Aragorn the ways of hunting Orc and of surviving in the wilds. Now he stood before him a mature, fully grown man. How quickly the time passed.
"Father?"
The unmistakably feminine voice sang to him from behind, and he knew it at once to be his only daughter, Arwen. He turned and acknowledged her presence with a nod and a smile.
"Yes my dearest, your Estel has returned to you at last."
Arwen laughed softly. Her father always anticipated her words and knew her thoughts. A simple tone in her voice had given her secret longing away.
"Then shall we go to them and welcome them home? Your sons have been absent from you for far too long, and I know you have missed them deeply."
Elrond nodded and reached for her hand. How lovely she was, her dark tresses cascading down her shoulders, and her blue eyes twinkling with glee. How sorrowful that the glee would soon be exchanged with despair.
Galadriel had foreseen it in her mirror, and then witnessed it before her very eyes. The prince of Mirkwood and Elrond's own foster son, Estel, were engaging in secret relations. Elrond hoped he would break things to Arwen with care if he chose to reveal his dark secret to her at all. Her heart would be wounded, but thankfully it would help to cement a decision to leave these shores for Valinor.
They walked to the courtyard, the lord and his daughter, and were met by Aragorn and the twins. Undomiel ran past her brothers' open arms and flung herself upon Estel.
"You are a wonderful sight to behold! I hope you have played your Ranger games with my brothers long enough, for now we are together and can begin to make plans for our future."
Arwen sent an angry glare to her brothers, who simply shrugged their shoulders and then took turns embracing their father.
"Tonight we will have a feast, that all might know that the sons of Elrond have returned."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aragorn had dressed for dinner and stood gazing at the walls of his bedchambers. He missed Legolas and his every thought began turning to the elven prince. How he missed the way golden hair fell on the elf's broad shoulders, the way Legolas' blue eyes glittered after they had made love. The thoughts made him dizzy with desire, and he closed his lids in amorous reflection.
The sweet scent of his beloved was still fresh in his mind as he inhaled the imaginary air that carried Legolas' pleasing aroma. As long as he still had breath in his body, the rugged ranger would always remember that scent. How strange that earth and sap from the trees could smell so erotic and enticing.
A knock at his door stirred him from his reminiscence and he opened the door to see Arwen standing on the other side. She was adorned with a flowing dress of the palest blue and her deep brown locks were gathered at the sides and pulled atop the crown of her head.
"Estel, there is something I must speak with you about."
She gazed downward, spying his prominent erection. She gasped softly in surprise and then giggled aloud.
"I think you have missed me as much as I have missed you, or so it would seem by the state of your wares."
Aragorn grinned weakly and turned from the door, leaving it open for Arwen to enter. He silently chided himself for getting so aroused at the thought of the lover he could not be with. Still, he had promised himself that no matter the outcome of things, he would reveal everything to Arwen. If not now, when? It seemed a perfect time, for they would be alone and he could save her the humiliation of confessing publicly. Yes, if not now, then never.
"I apologize Arwen. I have just awoken from a nap and if you know anything about we human men, you know that we sometimes awake to the embarrassing predicament that you see before you. I am glad that you came, though. There is something I need, no, must tell you."
A look of confusion fell across the Evenstar's fair face as Aragorn directed her to sit near him on the bed. The frown on his face told her that it would not be a pleasant conversation.
"Arwen, you know that I love you, and it pains me to reveal this to you. I simply cannot continue to live the lie that we live. I have fallen in love with another."
The words tore at her heart and the confusion grew in her mind. When had this happened and who was the woman he would abandon her for? Tears welled up in her eyes as she questioned him with a wavering voice.
"Who is she? Is she a mortal woman? Who is the one that has stolen the heart of my Estel?"
He was as pained as she, and knew his next words would pain her further still.
"There is no other woman, Arwen. It was something that happened unintentionally. It took time to develop and before we could stop it, we had fallen in love. It is Legolas, Arwen."
The name fell from his lips and froze her with a painful blow to the chest. How could he even fathom leaving her for Legolas? Even still, how could her friend betray her this way? The tears in her eyes broke free, falling down the delicate contours of her face. She could not imagine that she would survive this, and needed to be as far away from Aragorn as possible. She would need time to think on things and make sense of it all.
"I see. I suppose I should be grateful that it is a male that has caught your fancy. At least I may have the comfort of knowing he can give to you something that I cannot."
And with that, she walked out the door, never looking back. Aragorn sighed loudly. He had done it; finally he had lifted the heavy burden that he had been carrying for so long. It had been easier than he imagined, yet something still weighed heavily on his heart. Confessing to Arwen had been done, but he was still separated from the one that he truly longed for. After the feast he would return to his room and ponder on what his next move would be. Somehow, he figured, it would involve a trip to Mirkwood and a very long plea for forgiveness.