I regret more than ever now my words to Haldir. I was defending the man whom I loathed and feared more than death and lashing out at my best friend. How could that be? Yet what was it about Lord Aragorn that made me trust him so? We had spent much of the day talking and laughing… although I still felt very out of place.
"Haldir?" I said softly as I pushed open the door, the older elf was resting against the straw covered bed, tending his cuts. "Are you all right?" I gasped as I saw the fresh blood that he was wiping away.
"… I'm fine." He replied dryly.
" I'm really sorry about earlier." I whispered kneeling next to him, "I did not mean those things I said…I don't know what has gotten into me…"I meant what I said. How could I have acted so vulnerable, and so defensive toward my friend? Haldir smiled and shook his head.
"Think nothing of it. I should not have yelled…" He began, "But I do stick to my opinion about Lord Aragorn."
"… I know… you do not have to tell me." I said, cutting him off. I was not even sure of my own opinion of Lord Aragorn. I mean I know he seemed to have changed but… it seems… it was too good to be true. "Is Glorfindel spending the night?" Haldir shrugged and laid his head against the bed again, I could tell he was still a little reluctant to talk to me.
"You know Glorfindel…" He spoke up after he settled himself, "He will if he wants to." I nodded, that was what Glorfindel was like. He was not exactly a slave, nor was he actually free. He did belong to the palace, but he always did whatever he wanted.
I nodded and took up the torn and thin blanket that lay upon the ground and wrapped myself in it. A night of sleep may do me some good.
Aragorn walked slowly through the stricken fields and to the cabins where the slaves slept. This was especially hard for him, knowing that few of these slaves were his friends, and there was nothing he could do about it. His mind focused mostly on Legolas, and gaining his lover's trust… or his former lover's trust.
He noticed a pretty elven figure sitting outside under the open sky singing softly to himself. He recognized the elf at once. Legolas leaned gently against the wall and his eyes were full of lost memories.
The elf seemed lost of thought and barely awake. He did not notice as Aragorn approached and sat beside him.
His voice rang softly in the night, flowing into the breeze and caressing both earth and sky. Aragorn watched
As the elven beauty's blond hair rustled in the wind and blended flawlessly against the moonlit sky.
Thus the song ended and the blond elf's head fell upon Aragorn's shoulders and there he seemed to stay for a moment before the life came back to his eyes.
"Lord Aragorn?" He gasped noticing the man that gently stroked his hair.
"Shhh, It is I. And I am Aragorn… not lord Aragorn." Aragorn said in his calm way and Legolas could not help but smile.
"… What are you doing here?"
"To talk to you… I cannot get you out of my mind." Aragorn spoke gently, Legolas grinned at this but said nothing. Haldir's warning lingered still in his mind. But as he leaned into the human's embrace… it was all forgotten and he was happy, happier than he had ever been. "You are so beautiful…" Aragorn whispered, "… I…"
"You what?" Legolas said nervously, catching Aragorn's mesmerized gaze.
"… I… love…" Aragorn said softly, "I… love your voice."
"… Thank you." Legolas replied, "But it is a trait of all elves, to sing well."
"… No, you sing like an angel…"Aragorn whispered still lost in those crystal blue eyes that reflected the starlight a far. Legolas blushed slightly when he saw the pair of deep eyes glazing over him.
"Lord Aragorn…" Legolas said gently leaning against the firm looking man, "… I am glad you're here, and I do trust you, despite of everything."
"… I promise… whatever I have done to you in the past… I will never hurt you again." Aragorn gently tilted the pretty elf's head towards him. Legolas trembled involuntarily; he was still afraid. Aragorn was sympathetic towards Legolas and his feelings so he quickly let go. His eyes seemed to trail to the whiplashes that covered the elf's back and arms. Legolas caught his gaze and quickly wrapped his thin clothing to cover up the wounds. "Who did this?" Aragorn whispered touching his cheek.
Legolas stared back, but said nothing. "… They are nothing." Legolas whispered, "Time goes on and… it hardly hurts anymore."
"… Who did this to you?" Aragorn repeated sympathetically. The blond elf turned away his golden locks swishing behind him. Aragorn laced his fingers around the elf's slender ones and waited till the pretty figure turned back to look at him.
"… You…. Master." Legolas spoke up finally. He closed his eyes and turned away in fear to look at the man beside him.
"… I… how…" Aragorn began but his eyes dropped. The thought of him hurting the one person he really cared about so much was becoming too a burden on his mind. His eyes were red with frustration and weariness and his fists were clenched tightly about him.
Legolas Speaks-
"Oh my…" I muttered to myself. He really didn't know. He really did not remember the whip that he slashed against my kin making them bathed in puddles of their own blood. It seemed that every minute we were together, I trusted him more and more, and his story was almost believable now. "You really don't know…" I whispered.
"No…" Aragorn replied turning to me. I looked into his shaking eyes and saw only a stranger, no, perhaps not a stranger, but a man I only hoped to know in my dreams. "I have nothing to say for the past… only to apologize for those actions." With that he hugged me, and I did not back away.
"… You need not apologize…"I assured him, indulging myself in the warmth of his arms. Panicked thoughts hit my as I tilted my head to look up toward him. I was falling in love with one of the masters; I was in giving my heart to a person who would have let me die without turning a hair. 'You are nothing but a street whore to men… you are not worth spitting at to them… they will take you then throw you aside to die like the filth they think you are…' My own brother's voice rang in my ears. I knew that if anyone had found out I would never see light again as long as I lived.
But yet when I was with this man, I did not feel like I was with the Lord Aragorn. Sometimes I would even forget who he is, who I am, and where we were. He seemed to notice the doubts that showered my mind. He lowered his head and we kissed, ever so softly.
"This is wrong…" I whispered pushing him away from me, "We can't… I am a slave…" I said choking down the emotions that were struggling to suppress me. He shook his head as he lifted my chin.
"…You are not…" Aragorn whispered still holding me tightly, "I love you…" He said softly into my ear. I trembled at the words but he did not let me go. I tried to pull away but I could not resist the fact that it was him I wanted, and that was where I wanted to stay. I waited for him to reach for my clothing, but he didn't, he only held me until I felt my heart calm itself. That was when all my doubts disappeared. It was really me that he loved, not my body.
Eomer Speaks-
I could not believe my eyes… what was happening? Lord Aragorn and Legolas? And the elf seemed to want to be there. I had come to see Haldir's condition but I seemed to have caught something more startling. What was the great almighty lord Aragorn playing at now? How I loathe him and his deceiving, cruel ways. Whatever he was going to do to Legolas, I will not stand for it. I drew my knife, caring no longer for my vows or honor.
"Let him go…" I said as I pressed the knife under the unsuspecting man's chin.
"… Eomer?" He glared at me, seemingly studying me for a moment.
"Eomer what are you doing?" Legolas looked to me, I was surprised to see him unscathed, "Put the knife away!" His eyes were full of panic as he glanced between Lord Aragorn and me.
"I swear, I was not about to hurt Legolas…" Lord Aragorn said calmly to me. His eyes seemed to shine with hope rather than fury. I could not understand why.
"You weren't?" I raised an eyebrow. He shook his head lightly, I could not believe how rested and undisturbed he was. I looked to Legolas who gestured me to put the knife away.
Lord Aragorn stood up and kissed Legolas on the brow, which the elf willingly received. The tall man looked to me and motioned me to come with him. My eyes however which were still on Legolas, who did not look afraid or hurt but pleased. His cheeks were rosy and his full lips seemed to shine under the stars.
"What the hell are you trying to pull?" I snapped as soon as Legolas was out of earshot, my secret was long blown and I could care less at this point. "Let me tell you something, Lord Aragorn, if you hurt anymore of these elves, my friends, I will do something about it. I am not afraid of you! I know of your deeds and I for one am disgusted to stand before you, serving people like you!" He glared at me; I thought he seemed insulted for a moment but his eyes quickly shone with amusement and relief.
"I am not trying to pull anything, Eomer. Frankly, I am surprised you have not done anything to me… well Lord Aragorn, sooner." He replied calmly trying not to smile. I stared, dumbstruck.
Aragorn Speaks-
I was relieved that someone in this world was on my side, and even more that it was a friend of mine. I tried hard not to laugh at the confused look on his face. "I care about them too… for they are my friends as well…"
"Friends that you curse and violate and beat until they are near death? How do you define friends?"
"…Eomer, I need someone to trust me alright?" I sighed, " I am not the Lord Aragorn you know… I know not how to prove it to you but I am not."
"… What are you doing to Legolas?"
"… I am doing nothing to him! I love him…" I snapped in my frustration. I was sick of these accusations and seeing my poor lover so vulnerable nearly scrunched my heart into a ball.
"… You…"
"I did not do anything to him!" I said as sincerely as I could, "He is everything to me right now, and I will do what I can to protect him and free him." Eomer said nothing and just clutched the knife. He looked to me angrily but I could see his steam beginning to cool.
"… I can free him… can't I?" I whispered as if the idea just dawned on me the first time.
"… What?" Eomer glared.
"Legolas… Legolas and Haldir…" I muttered, "Can't I free them? You said it yourself that…"
"… No… only your brother can…" Eomer muttered finally, "Why are you saying this? You know that!"
"No I don't." I hissed in my frustration. Eomer's eyes still trailed toward me. A soft moan suddenly came from behind us and I saw that Legolas had nearly collapsed. He was eavesdropping on us, no doubt to make sure that nothing happens. "Legolas!" I ran to him and held him to my breast.
"I'm alright…" He said gently his pale faced flushed to the color of snow. He weakly gripped my arm and tried to stand up straight. His shimmering locks brushed against my arm as if woven with water.
"What happened, my love…" I whispered softly, letting him lean upon me.
"I… I'm just… I haven't been very well since… I…" Legolas paused and closed his eyes wincing in pain. I folded him to my embrace and kissed his brow. Eomer looked at the elf in worry but said nothing more.
Legolas Speaks-
I was not going to tell him the truth; I could not bring myself to. I had never told anyone the truth, not even Haldir and Glorfindel. I had never fully recovered from being tainted, for the man has tried to take me several times after. I had never forgotten. Lately I have let my own grief overcome me, seeing Haldir and Eomer together only reminded me of my own brushes with such matters. That was why I wished to escape to the havens so soon.
"Legolas… here," Aragorn whispered, "I'm going to lay you down in for a moment, alright?" I nodded simply, reluctant to have him leave me. Why did I need to be comforted so? He gave me a sip of some water and tilted my head up.
"I'm sorry." I whispered looking to him, then to Eomer. Aragorn shook his head and held me once more. Eomer only smiled and knelt beside me. He looked to Aragorn, and I noticed it was a look of almost admiration, and not loathing.
A pair of eyes followed the three figures that stood beneath the moonlight in the clearing. A thundering laugh seemed to trail from the spying figure. All his suspicions have been confirmed, and he was finally going to get all he's ever wanted.
!!
