Disclaimer: I don't own any bit of LotR or it's characters, I'm just borrowing! Lol. No profit is made here either…crap
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Note: This chapter is rather dull, but the next will be very tense and kind of sad. Hope you enjoy!
Warnings: None for this chapter.
Chapter Two: Beautiful Misery
"Legolas, are you listening to me?" Aragorn said watching the Elf's eyes drift ever further away from him.
Legolas blinked and looked back to his friend, "Pardon?"
"I say Legolas, you're becoming more and more distracted the further we go on these roads." Gimli said gruffly. "Your eyes have been wandering as if watching for something in this chaos they call a celebration." The Dwarf motioned around hastily, nearly loosing his balance on the trotting horse.
"He is right Legolas. Am I to assume your mind wanders further than your eyes?" Aragorn questioned lightly, a smile playing in his features. The people greeted them warmly and Legolas said his greetings and such, but he only meant them half heartedly Aragorn could tell. He was busy watching the busy area in which people ran to see him and waved from above.
"I am afraid I cannot deny that. Something is growing in my mind..but not of danger."
"Then what? You Elves are no good besides feelin' that." Gimli said with a harty laugh patting the Elf's back at his own joke.
Legolas, for once, paid him no return joke and Gimli stopped his loud laugh and sighed as the Elf's eyes wandered yet again.
"Legolas, Legolas!"
The Elf looked up to find who was calling his name. He smiled to find a young Elven child bouncing up and down as he waved to him from the balacony of an herbary. Legolas waved back and the boy laughed, he could hear the sweet sound even over the comotion around him.
It was not long before the child's mother walked onto the balcony and settled her hands on the boy's shoulders. Legolas paused then waved to the boy's mother, Telari. She fixed a cool gaze on him and tilted her head slightly in response. The Prince sighed and continued on with his companions of friends and Guardains through the streets.
As they reached the Royal Home Legolas was surprised and pleased to see his father, Thranduil, come from the large doors. The Prince, unwilling to wait for Gimli to slide off the horse, threw his leg over the horse's neck and dropped off, quick to meet his father as he came towards them.
"Legolas my son!" Thranduil said in Elvish tongue.
Aragorn dismounted silently as Gimli slid off the back of his horse. Quietly he and the Dwarf moved to stand a few feet away from the King and his son. They spoke for a moment in their native tongue, Aragorn was kind enough not to listen in even though he could have understood what they were saying.
After a time Legolas turned and motioned to Aragorn and Gimli. Aragorn nodded as he said, "Father, you remember Aragorn, Son of Arathorn. He has finally settled his heiracy to the Gondorian Throne." in Elvish.
"Aragorn, yes, yes, I remember quite well. How do you do Son of Arathorn?" The King asked continuing in their language, and leaving the Dwarf completely confused and out of knowledge not particularly on accident..
"King Thranduil, it is a pleasure." Aragorn greeted in common voicing as he knew Gimli's inablity to speak Elven.
"And this Dwarf is Gimli, Son of Gloin." Legolas said motioning to Gimli.
"Ah, a friend of my son are you?" Thranduil asked somewhat distantly.
"Aye, I am King Thranduil." Gimli said bowing his head then looking back to him.
Legolas stiffened next to his father, he did not want to argue right now, especially about a guest and a good friend. Race had nothing to do with the friendship he and the Dwarf shared and he hoped his father would respect it.
Apparently he did for he nodded with a smile, "Very well then!" he said cheerfully. Legolas relaxed, as did Aragorn. "Come, we must have a feast in your favor my son, and your friends here. I am certain you are drained from your trip, no?" He said the last sentence in Elvish actually on accident this time.
Legolas smiled slightly, "Yes, we are all drained my Lord."
"Right then, come, you still have your old chambers Legolas. We will be quick to get your friends their own as well."
"It would be much appreciated Sire." Aragorn said thankfully.
Thranduil patted his son on the back and guided them up the stairs where a half dozen servants awaited.
* * *
Aragorn chuckled lightly as Gimli strutted his way down the stairs and into the dining area. They had all been given into their room and emerged however long later after bathing. Aragorn, for one, felt quite refreshed now and he was getting more and more anxious for afternoon to grow deeper as that was when Arwen was said to be able to arrive.
"He looks as though he rules the world here." Legolas muttered with a smile as the Dwarf greeted two lovely Elven Maidens as they passed him.
"He is the first Dwarf in almost an age to walk freely among Elven halls in Mirkwood, I suppose he thinks he is something in particular." Aragorn replied getting a laugh from the Elf.
The King could not help but notice how light hearted the Elf seemed to be now. He was as if a changed man when he came to join him where they sat now. A free smile on his face, greeting those who came shyly by. He did not wear his normal attire, instead a relaxing shade of tan and brown. His face of the days of riding and wind washed away and long tired eyes slowly sparking to life.
"Ah, one day Legolas, you will walk the halls of my home see the elegance of the Dwarves." Gimli said as he hoisted himself onto a chair.
"Shall I have to duck as I walk?" Legolas asked seriously.
Gimli looked at him then laughed hardily with his two friends. How good it was not to be on the move all the time and finally be able to relax. He looked around the great dining hall as more and more food was brought in, yet none touched. He gathered that the people were waiting on their King.
Aragorn nearly jumped from his chair when the Horns of Mirkwood thundered out again. At first too many thoughts went through his mind but soon enough, and with a little help from a Guard that announced, "Riders are coming baring the Rivendellian Flag!"
"Ah, our kin!" Thranduil said coming into the hall.
Aragorn glanced at Legolas who only laughed and shook his head, "Go Aragorn, before you break that chair."
The Prince had barely finished his sentence before the Man King was away. He tried to restrain himself from running, it would loose repect here..but then again, since when did he care what those around him thought?
* * *
The Evenstar of Rivendell gently reined her mare in to a stop with her company of riders. She was aware of the people watching and murmuring excitedly to themselves. She smiled slightly thinking of what they were thinking. Two new, and long time coming, arrivals in one day…or at least she hoped their Prince and his companions had gotten here already, she would hate to wait.
As Arwen dismounted from her strong mare a stable boy ran up and took the reins calmly. She smiled to him and slid away her hood, no sooner had she done so when a fast moving figure caught her eye. A smile graced her features as Aragorn paused at the top of the stairs.
Aragorn had come into view of his beloved when she had pulled her hood away, revealing her to be more beautiful than he could have remembered. At first he was dumbstruck as she smiled at him, but he quickly moved down the stairs as she came up.
Arwen was slightly surprised when Aragorn embraced her so. She barely had the time to realize his lips were to her's before she reasoned to passionately kiss him as well.
"Come now, younglings are near!"
Arwen's smile broke the kiss as Gimli exclaimed his loud thought as he neared. Aragorn brushed a lock of dark hair behind her ear before he turned to see his Dwarf friend coming to them.
"Gimli, Son of Gloin, have you no manners?" Arwen questioned with a laugh, her hand finding its way into Aragorn's. He squeezed it gently and could not stop his smile from growing.
"I am sorry M-Lady Arwen, but I must think of the majority population before a friend's pleasure." The Dwarf replied with a jolly laugh as he bowed.
Aragorn and Arwen both laughed at this and Legolas suddenly hurried down. Neither had noticed him standing at the top of the stairs watching them in silent envy.
"Legolas!" Arwen exclaimed opening her arms to him.
"Hello Arwen." Legolas smiled as he embraced her. Over her shoulder he could have sworn he saw someone, someone he had been looking for, but in the next moment she was gone. He frowned slightly, but washed it away with a smile as they parted.
"'Tis good to see you my friend." The dark haired Elf woman said happily.
"And you, dear Evenstar..Come." He turned and motioned up the stairs. "My father is awaiting you and your company's entrance."
* * *
"Well, do you think she will fall away if you let go of her Aragorn?" Gimli asked in an amused and loud voice as he again came to the two after flirting one sidedly with the Elf Maidens after the large dinner they had.
"There is always the possiblity." Aragorn replied.
Gimli grunted loudly. "Oh, yes, right. Come Lady Arwen, allow a Dwarf to show you a real after feast fun."
"Oh really, and what would that be Master Dwarf?" Arwen asked as she stood anyway.
"Tonight, you get the pleasure of dancing with a Dwarf!" Gimli laughed leading her towards the gracefully dancing Elves.
Aragorn laughed as he heard Arwen say, "I did not even know Dwarves could dance!" as she was dragged behind the auburn haired Dwarf. His laughter rang out and he tugged her further.
The King sighed in contentment as he looked around the great hall. The feast had been grand and many toasts had been made. Legolas had been seated beside his father throughout the beginning of the meal, but then made his way to his two closest friends with Arwen, who had been seated near the King as well, in tow.
Now, as the man's eyes scanned the different elegant Elves in the room he noticed Legolas was not among them. With a slight frown he stood and walked among them until he saw Legolas slip out a balcony door for fresh dusk air. Quietly he made his way to follow the Prince until he too was on the balcony.
"Trying to hide away are you?" he asked with a smile.
Legolas turned from the rail of the balcony to see his friend. "In a way I suppose. It is overwhelming in there at times."
"I can imagine." Aragorn replied as he moved to join Legolas. After a moment he said, "I did not see your brothers at the meal.."
"Yes, they will not be here for another two or three days. They are on errand for my father." Legolas replied with a nod.
"Ah, I see." Aragorn replied. They were silent then, just fine in the comfortable lack of voice. They watched as the stars began to twinkle.
Soon, though, that silence was filled with a sweet sound. Aragorn, at first, thought he was hearing things from those long dead, for no one could have a voice such as this. Legolas, however, smiled sadly. The voice carried a sweet tune through the crisp air and almost regretfully it was joined by others.
Aragorn then smiled to himself, how foolish of him. He had forgotten that at dusk every few days a song filled the first minutes of the night's air. Sometimes only particular Elves sang it, others were who ever and where ever. This time, it seemed, it was well planned and though the occasion was festive the first voice remained sad. The King was puzzled by this for a time until he finally recognized that voice as it sang in an Elven tongue a song of darkness then revelation and a victorious people and finally a return of one once lost.
But as the joining voices faded, the first carried on in words that made Aragorn glance at Legolas to only see his reaction. As the others continued with 'Now you are home,' in a repetition, the lone voice sang;
"Now things have changed,
but shadows lurk, yet.
How I only wish,
That it was not then, but now we met…"
Aragorn cleared his throat as another verse was added and turned away from the city and looked in the glass doors to the hall where he could see Gimli stumbling over his feet practically and Arwen laughed. He tried to ignore what was sung, but Legolas heard it loud and clear,
"I know the things you shall say,
I know the words you have prayed,
But in all your light,
I am a shadow only to fight.
I am gone from your side,
Left so long ago as if in a great tide.."
The night air now silenced as Legolas braced his hands on the rail and looked at the ground with a heavy sigh.
"That..was her, wasn't it?" Aragorn asked softly still watching Arwen.
Legolas nodded then said, "Yes, that was her. No fairer voice have I ever heard other than she."
Aragorn crossed his arms, leaning on the rail and looked at Legolas, "No fairer voice have I heard so tainted with sadness." The Elven Prince said nothing in return, only took a breath and slowly let it out. He looked again to Arwen and thought of how happy he now was with her, and he felt the fear that he had nearly lost her because of only himself. Again he looked to Legolas, "Go to her Legolas, she must know of what you regret."
Legolas did nothing for a time then pushed off the rail and paced. "I cannot go to her Aragorn. She does not deserve to have old wounds reopened just so I can have to satisfaction of knowing I told her what I want her to hear." He said quietly.
"So you will leave that voice again? You will let that voice continue to sing in such beautiful misery?" the King questioned harshly. He knew this may hurt his friend, but if that's what it took to get it through his thick skull to tell him he was making a mistake, then so be it. "Legolas…you are killing her."
This abruptly stopped his pacing but he did not look at Aragorn. The King sighed and approached the Elf laying a hand on his shoulder, "You can hear it just as clearly as I can in her voice. I know what she used to sound like, and I know what she sounds like now Legolas. If you do not go to her, you will never forgive yourself..and she will never forgive you." Aragorn gently squeezed the slender shoulder then left to join Arwen who was coming towards the door.
Legolas did not say anything, and when he looked inside he saw Aragorn and Arwen laughing as they were embracing. Pain stabbed at him and he looked out to the city. If he knew her as well as he thought he did, he knew where she was. Slowly coming to himself he quietly went back inside and slid out the main doors and entered into the city.
- - -
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D.Night
