Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Tolkien's, not mine.
Author's Note: Written for Rhysenn's Alliance of Elves and Men challenge.
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The Choice of King Elessar
Part Three: Arwen
It troubles me to see Aragorn and Legolas both so unhappy, in what should be the happiest time of all. On the day of my arrival at Minas Tirith I noticed it, though they each try to hide it when they speak to me.
I know what pains them; I have known it for years, although Aragorn himself never did. I have watched their friendly affection for each other grow into something far more, and now I see when they look at each other that Aragorn has finally realised that there is room in his heart for someone other than me, and that that place has long been filled without him even knowing. I would be lying if I denied that I felt jealousy, but it is only a tiny stabbing compared to the joy I feel that my lover and the one I love as my third brother have found the love that was waiting to happen between them for so long.
And now I watch them as they prepare to sacrifice themselves to duty, each believing that a solution which makes them happy must surely be wrong. Aragorn tortures himself with his inability to decide between us, thinking always of our hearts and never of his own. Legolas has decided to be noble, to leave us to our lives together as soon as is polite, and return to his father's realm; he too thinks of us before himself. My heart mourns to see their suffering.
I am a sensible woman. Never would I force Aragorn to choose between us, for I believe he has enough love in his heart to give us both more than we need. But he will not see it, so bound up is he in the duties and responsibilities that go with kingship. He cannot see that an arrangement could be made which would be beneficial to all three participants in this little triangle of love.
Aragorn has his duty to his people, to marry and produce an heir, and be the King this land so sorely needs. Legolas, too, has a duty to his people, to help them rebuild Mirkwood into Greenwood the Great again. And I have my duty too, which I think they have both forgotten. I have already made my choice, and although it breaks my father's heart, when he comes to leave Middle Earth I will stay, and renounce all allegiance to him and to the Elves who are my kin. My destiny lies in the world of Men, and my duty is to be a wise and gentle Queen, and to bear heirs to the throne of Men.
We must all do what we must, but where is it written that we cannot also be happy? If Aragorn chooses between Legolas and me, we will all be battling against misery for the rest of our days, for the bitterness of the choice will poison us all. Far better for an arrangement to be made.
Legolas will travel with Gimli and return to his people. Aragorn and I will wed and have children, and lead the world of Men into the glory of the Fourth Age of Middle Earth. But when our obligations are fulfilled, there is nothing to stop us seeing each other again. I have heard talk already of a colony of Elves being founded in Ithilien, and I am sure that a few words in the august ear of Thranduil of Eryn Lasgalen will persuade him to send his own Greenleaf to lead that colony. And what could be more fitting than that the neighbouring leaders should visit each other to seal their alliance and keep it green and growing?
I will admit to feeling a small satisfaction that it will be me who has most of Aragorn's time. I would not be alive if I did not. But it is only small, as small as my jealousy, and the one will soothe away the other. And over all will be the joy that all of us will have what makes us happiest. Aragorn will have his Queen and his Archer; Legolas will have his King and his almost-sister; and I will have my King, my children, and the brother I could not bear to lose.
Now all I have to do is persuade them of the wisdom of my solution. I do not think it will take much, for both of them are secretly desperate for a way out of their troubles. They cannot find it themselves, so I will give it to them, and with it my blessing of their love.
*fin*