By the way, I forgot to point out that this story is AU, but I think that's pretty obvious anyway :)
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CHAPTER THREE-
REASONS
"Aragorn?" prompted Haldir.
"I...I've done something wrong..." Aragorn stammered. Why was he telling Haldir, Legolas' friend, about this? But before he knew it, he was confessing everything that had just happened to the elf, who listened quietly.
"I just can't love him" finished Aragorn.
"And why not?" asked Haldir.
"Because..." Aragorn paused, wary to tell anyone about it, but he knew he could trust Haldir. He may even have advice which Aragorn greatly needed. "Do you know why I was sent to live with Elrond as a child?"
"Only stories and rumours" Haldir replied.
"It was my mother who sent me" he began. "She knew her time on this earth was ending, and she wanted me to be looked after when she was gone"
"What about your father?"
Aragorn sighed. "My father...he is a very violent man, she feared for my safety around him. His anger got really terrible at one point, when I was a young child around four years old, and so my mother sent me to Rivendell. I never saw her again, I can barely remember what she was like, I was so young, but after I left she had another child and she...she died soon after.
When I was fifteen years old I was sent back to my father by Elrond, as he did not know of my father's violence. So I returned to Gondor where my father ruled and met my younger brother for the first time. But they hated me, my brother and my father" Aragorn paused, glancing down at the white marks on his arm, reminding him of those times. "Apparantly," he continued "before she died my mother had told him that I was not actually his son, I was someone elses. I do not know whether it is true, but for that he despises me. He says he only has one son.
Yet when he descends the throne, I am the eldest child and so will take the throne of Gondor. The child my father hates will take his place, and my brother will not. So, he takes any chance he can to try and exile me from Gondor, most likely on pain of death. In other words, I am either perfect or I am dead, free for his favourite to ascend the throne."
Haldir remained silent for a moment. "I'm sorry Aragorn, but I cannot see what this has to do with Legolas"
"Well, I cannot let my brother become Gondor's King"
"Why?"
"He would use his position for evil, I know he would. I have read letters and notes of his, he would join with Sauron, blinded by his desire for power. I will not stand to see my city fall into ruin because of him. I do not trust my brother with the power the throne of Gondor receives. So I must become King, I cannot give my father a reason to get rid of me, and being in love with Legolas is a good enough reason for him as any"
Aragorn watched Haldir, appearing deep in thought. "Why don't you tell Legolas about this?"
"I was going to, but then I realised that it is not in Legolas' nature to let this be. He would try to solve the unsolvable, and that would not do any good. I don't want to give him hope when there is none: even if we were together, we would have to keep it secret. That is not how I want us to live"
Haldir sighed. "I understand what you're saying Aragorn, but I can't pretend I agree. I think Legolas needs to know exactly what's going on" He began to walk away. "But do you you feel is right, I cannot tell you how to lead your life" He gave the man a small smile and walked away, deep into the forest, leaving Aragorn alone to figure it out.
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CHAPTER THREE-
REASONS
"Aragorn?" prompted Haldir.
"I...I've done something wrong..." Aragorn stammered. Why was he telling Haldir, Legolas' friend, about this? But before he knew it, he was confessing everything that had just happened to the elf, who listened quietly.
"I just can't love him" finished Aragorn.
"And why not?" asked Haldir.
"Because..." Aragorn paused, wary to tell anyone about it, but he knew he could trust Haldir. He may even have advice which Aragorn greatly needed. "Do you know why I was sent to live with Elrond as a child?"
"Only stories and rumours" Haldir replied.
"It was my mother who sent me" he began. "She knew her time on this earth was ending, and she wanted me to be looked after when she was gone"
"What about your father?"
Aragorn sighed. "My father...he is a very violent man, she feared for my safety around him. His anger got really terrible at one point, when I was a young child around four years old, and so my mother sent me to Rivendell. I never saw her again, I can barely remember what she was like, I was so young, but after I left she had another child and she...she died soon after.
When I was fifteen years old I was sent back to my father by Elrond, as he did not know of my father's violence. So I returned to Gondor where my father ruled and met my younger brother for the first time. But they hated me, my brother and my father" Aragorn paused, glancing down at the white marks on his arm, reminding him of those times. "Apparantly," he continued "before she died my mother had told him that I was not actually his son, I was someone elses. I do not know whether it is true, but for that he despises me. He says he only has one son.
Yet when he descends the throne, I am the eldest child and so will take the throne of Gondor. The child my father hates will take his place, and my brother will not. So, he takes any chance he can to try and exile me from Gondor, most likely on pain of death. In other words, I am either perfect or I am dead, free for his favourite to ascend the throne."
Haldir remained silent for a moment. "I'm sorry Aragorn, but I cannot see what this has to do with Legolas"
"Well, I cannot let my brother become Gondor's King"
"Why?"
"He would use his position for evil, I know he would. I have read letters and notes of his, he would join with Sauron, blinded by his desire for power. I will not stand to see my city fall into ruin because of him. I do not trust my brother with the power the throne of Gondor receives. So I must become King, I cannot give my father a reason to get rid of me, and being in love with Legolas is a good enough reason for him as any"
Aragorn watched Haldir, appearing deep in thought. "Why don't you tell Legolas about this?"
"I was going to, but then I realised that it is not in Legolas' nature to let this be. He would try to solve the unsolvable, and that would not do any good. I don't want to give him hope when there is none: even if we were together, we would have to keep it secret. That is not how I want us to live"
Haldir sighed. "I understand what you're saying Aragorn, but I can't pretend I agree. I think Legolas needs to know exactly what's going on" He began to walk away. "But do you you feel is right, I cannot tell you how to lead your life" He gave the man a small smile and walked away, deep into the forest, leaving Aragorn alone to figure it out.
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