Chapter Thirteen: Compromising Positions
Aragorn was really starting to think this wasn't the best idea that he'd ever went along with. This tree didn't seem too terribly stable…
"Legolas, are you sure you know what you are doing?" He watched as the elf reached up for a branch that seemed impossible high up. Legolas looked back at him and a smile touched at the corners of his mouth.
"I know not what I do, but I believe I know what I am doing."
Aragorn stared at that and wondered briefly if it even made sense. He concluded that Legolas was most definitely an elf. "Oh."
"Come, Estel," Legolas said perched atop the dreadfully thin branch. His knees against his chest and his hands wrapped gracefully around said limb. Aragorn closed his eyes and reached up wildly for the branch. A little laugh was all that met him.
He opened his eyes again and saw Legolas nearly grinning with delight from his long, thin perch. "Give my your hand," Legolas said stretching one long fingered hand to Aragorn.
"And what if I pull you from the tree?" Aragorn asked gazing past the hand and to Legolas's face.
"You will not. Now come, give me your hand." His hand stayed still and waiting as he spoke. Finally, Aragorn gave in and took the fair hand in his own. Their fingers clasped together tightly and Aragorn could faintly feel strength in Legolas's fingers.
"Take the branch in your other hand," Legolas said still sounding amused. Aragorn did as he was told and was quite amazed when he ended up beside Legolas on that awful bough.
"I am here," Aragorn said still clutching to Legolas's fair hand and blinking.
Legolas nodded, his eyes shining brightly. "We should go higher."
Aragorn looked up at the ever-rising branches that seemed far thinner than this one. "Surely the tree won't support us?"
"Nay, she will. She likes us in her boughs."
Aragorn didn't really want to think about what that meant so he just nodded and squeezed Legolas's hand tighter. "You go first, I will boost you from back here."
"Can we not just bask in this lovely moonlight here for a moment?" Legolas looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. Then he smiled tenderly and nodded.
"Of course."
~*~*~
"Do you believe the three of you to be enough?"
Glorfindel considered, then was slow to nod. "Aye, we do not want a company too large."
They walked leisurely through Elrond's halls and kept a look out for Legolas and Aragorn so the pair could be informed of recent developments. Both Elrond and Glorfindel bowed and nodded to various elves who did the same as they passed. Their voices were light but their conversation serious.
Elrond nodded as they stepped out into the cool night air. "Very well, then. What of Gandalf, he might prove an asset."
"Aye, or a liability. I am not entirely sure Thranduil would be open to the idea. Two elves and a Man are not suspicious, two elves, a Man and a wizard are."
"Mm. Indeed, it would in the best interest of the company to go without Gandalf then. We need Thranduil to let you have leave in his realm. I am quite certain that once he is around Legolas for a while certain obstinate opinions will be reversed."
Glorfindel made a little noise in his throat but voiced naught as they came to the woods.
~*~*~
"The tree bids us to climb higher," Legolas said gently, squeezing Aragorn's hand very lightly, as the Ranger still had a fierce hold on his own. Aragorn looked a bit uneasy at this prospect and Legolas did not wish to make him feel so. "But we can get down, if you would like."
Aragorn smiled appreciatively. "That would be most welcome, but for the moment I am fine where we are."
Legolas returned the smile and let his legs dangle off the bough and listened to the tree sing of missing her foliage. "You do not like heights?"
"Nay, I do not like heights that I am likely to fall from."
"I do not understand," Legolas said glancing around.
"It is quite possible that I would tumble from this tree and be beyond even the help of Master Elrond."
"You could tumble from your balcony," Legolas stated, not be argumentative but because he wanted to know what made Hope tick.
Aragorn favored him with a chuckle. "Aye, I could, but it isn't likely."
"Mm," said Legolas a bit absently as he drew one leg back up to his chest. He pulled Aragorn's hand to his chest and held it there, running his slim fingers over Aragorn's finely haired ones.
Aragorn relaxed beside him and let out an easy sigh. "I think we should head back," he said regretfully.
Legolas nodded then loosened his hold on Aragorn's hand. The other clung fast to his palm but let go after he realized Legolas no longer held his hand.
Nervously, and quite awkwardly, Aragorn attempted to get his hands around the branch. Unfortunately for him, a gust of wind and slippery palms were cause enough to cause him to fall from the bough. He snatched at it, but hit the ground before he could manage a firm grasp. Legolas reached out for him, but he could not manage the catch. Instead he watched in horror as Aragorn landed roughly on the ground.
His limbs were flung haphazardly and his eyes closed tightly, all his color seemed to have seeped out. His sun-brown skin was now sallow, and Legolas wasn't even sure he was breathing.
"Estel!" Legolas yelled, his heart sinking. But Aragorn made no answer, blackness had stolen him.
~*~*~
Elrond stopped moving quite suddenly while Glorfindel looked worriedly ahead. "What was that?"
"I know not, but it sounded ill," Elrond said shaking his head.
"Hurry," Glorfindel said and they pace increased fivefold.
~*~*~
Legolas looked down precariously, fear clouding his brow and panic clutching at his heart. "Estel," his voice was softer than a whisper and carried away easily with the same breeze that had knocked the Man astray.
Carefully, albeit quickly, he made his way to the ground and got down on his knees beside Estel. He called Hope's name again and lay a hand upon his brow and one upon his chest.
"Estel, please," he said laying his head on Estel's chest and listening for breath. At first he was certain there was none, but then came the glorious filling of the lungs. Gently, he eased himself over Estel, so one of his slim legs rested on either side of the Man's hips. Then he placed his hands over the heart of Hope and looked down at his face.
His features seemed pale and drawn and his hair looked very dark against his white face. Perspiration streaked down his face and he was so very still. "Please," said Legolas, leaning forward so their chests brushed together. "Please."
~*~*~
The darkness gradually faded into dimness and then light. And the first thing that Aragorn noticed was that there was an elf laying on top of him, not just any elf either.
Legolas. His weight was light but reassuring and he was gently stroking at Aragorn's hair.
"Mmmmph," Aragorn stated.
"Estel! You are awake!" Legolas exclaimed squirming about. Aragorn groaned.
"Uhm, what? What happened?" Aragorn managed to ask. He really did want to know why his head felt like a herd of oliphaunts had strayed upon it.
"You fell from the tree," Legolas said softly and Aragorn could feel the elf's breath against his chin. "Are you alright?"
"I…I'll be fine. I'm sorry if I frightened you."
Legolas just smiled at him and ran his thin fingers through the Ranger's dark hair. Aragorn wondered if he was going to move and vaguely wished that he wouldn't. He smiled back up at Legolas and placed a hand on the thinner's ribcage. He could feel the bones and the fair elven clothing.
An incredibly soft rustling of leaves halted the next words that rested in Aragorn's throat, he tried to gaze toward the noise and noticed Legolas had gone completely still. Aragorn rubbed a soft circle on his ribcage.
The trees seemed to part as the noise drew nearer. Then there was Lord Elrond and Glorfindel right behind him. Their quick pace came to an abrupt halt as they saw Aragorn and Legolas.
At first, Aragorn thought they were concerned over his obvious injury. Then he saw the look on Glorfindel's face and realized exactly what this must look like. Legolas was straddling him with his slender hands in Aragorn's hair and Aragorn with his hand upon Legolas's chest. Not to mention he was sweaty and breathing oddly. This certainly was going to be fun to explain.
"Aragorn," Elrond said very, very softly. Aragorn knew that tone.
"I can explain!" He tried to say but now Glorfindel was glowering at him.
"Aragorn, get up," Elrond said in that same tone. Aragorn knew better than to argue, he glanced up at Legolas who's eyes had gone wide and bright. Carefully the elf slide off him and rested in the dirt, pulling his knees to his chest and glancing from Aragorn to Glorfindel to Elrond and back again.
Aragorn stood abruptly. "I fell from the tree!" he said before Elrond and/or Glorfindel could start berating him. Glorfindel looked at him dubiously, one eyebrow raised and an odd _expression twisting his lips.
Elrond just looked hard at him. "Honestly! Valar, look at the bump on my head," Aragorn said then quickly went to draw away the hair from the rather large lump that was forming. Glorfindel looked as though he wasn't sure to laugh or smack Aragorn.
"He did naught," a soft voice said behind Aragorn and everyone turned to look. Legolas was on his feet his eyes back to their normal size, but downcast again. He stood tall but had his arms wrapped around his chest and he drew a half circle with his sandal-clad foot in the dirt.
"What?" Glorfindel inquired, though Aragorn knew that he had heard.
"He did naught to me but prove he is unlucky with trees," Legolas said looking to Glorfindel and taking a step forward.
There was silence for a long moment, then Elrond nodded. He glanced to Legolas who held his gaze. Glorfindel sighed but backed down. "You are well though, I take it?" he conceded giving Aragorn a cursory once over.
Aragorn nodded. "I am fine, if a bit dirty."
"Very well," Elrond said looking to Glorfindel. Glorfindel looked quite reluctant, but nodded to Elrond anyway. "We bring tidings."
Aragorn and Legolas looked on with interest. Elrond looked carefully at Legolas, who had looked up again, then continued.
"Legolas, we have made contact with the elf who we believe is your father. Do you remember our previous conversation?" Legolas nodded. "He refuses to come and see you."
Legolas's eyes fell again and his shoulders sunk. "Oh, I see." Aragorn quickly stepped beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. Glorfindel looked at him curiously.
"However, we have decided to send you to the forest where he dwells," Elrond continued, looking carefully at Legolas.
"Alone?" Legolas asked, startled. Glorfindel shook his head and smiled softly at him.
"Nay, not alone, I will be with you," he said and then glanced at Aragorn.
"I'll be happy to go too!" Aragorn volunteered perhaps a little to quickly.
Glorfindel gave him that odd look again, while Elrond nodded. "Yes, we had hoped you would."
"I would not be left behind," Aragorn said with a pointed look to Glorfindel.
"All is well then," Elrond said. "I would like for you to leave without tarry, at the break of dawn if you think that can be managed."
Glorfindel nodded and so did Aragorn. "What of Gandalf?" Aragorn asked.
"It has been decided it would be best if you traveled without him," Elrond answered. Aragorn nodded again.
"Where do we go?" Legolas asked, looking at Glorfindel.
"Greenwood the Great."
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