"… Thank you." Legolas whispered gently as he looked up toward the handsome man pilling faggots into the fire. He wrapped the cloak tightly around himself for the blood loss had made him quite cold.
"For what?" Aragorn looked up in surprise. The breath taking elf was had been watching him with admiration for a few minutes now. But catching Aragorn's eyes, he quickly looked away.
"For everything."
Aragorn shook his head with a soft chuckle, he sat down beside the pretty elf. Legolas smiled as he shook back his long sheet of golden hair letting it fall down behind him and his eyes shone like the light of Venus upon a deep night. His lips were like two flower petals sealed together with morning dew.
Aragorn could feel his body losing response before such a pure beauty. The blond elf noticed his reaction and forwned slightly, "Something wrong?" He spoke up, worried.
"No…" Aragorn assured him quickly, "It is just…. I have seldom seen a figure as beautiful as you are." Legolas blushed slightly and looked down towards the fire.
"… Do you think…" He began once more, "That maybe…" He wanted to continue but could not. It was silly, Aragorn had already done him the biggest favor by saving his life. How could he even dare ask for anymore?
"Go on…" Aragorn said softly as the pale elf looked to him with quiet pleads.
"Nothing…" Legolas broke their eye contact at once and looked away. He thought about what he was going to do now… especially since he constantly feared Conabar coming to claim him. He shuddered as he thought about the grasp that bruised his body….
"Are you cold?"
Legolas looked up and then quickly shook his head, he could tell the man was worried about him. "I'm fine…" He whispered, "Just a little tired." He yawned slightly and leaned back against the tree.
"Legolas…" Aragorn whispered as the blond elf loosened his braid and shook it back. His slender fingers gracefully smoothed out the tangles.
"Mmmm?"
"Where do you think you will go? After this…"
The blond elf's face fell and his eyes filled with worry. He sighed deeply and forced himself to smile. "I do not truly know…" He said honestly, "Perhaps… find a job somewhere and… just live on my own…"
"…If you want…you can stay with me…" Aragorn whispered gently taking the elven beauty's hand. Legolass eyes lit up at this and he smiled.
"… Do you mean that?"
Aragorn nodded. He began to unroll his blanket and he watched as Legolas tried to get comfortable against the rough ground and start to drift off. "Why don't you use my blanket? It is much better than the cold ground…"
"… Oh, no it's fine. I couldn't possibly." Legolas said as his ears began to turn red in embarrassment.
"Are you sure? It is quite cold."
"I do not fear the cold." Legolas said calmly. This was mostly true but his body was especially frail after the blow he took earlier and he constantly shivered. Aragorn smiled and turned back to his things. Legolas watched as those strong arms began to unlace his outter clothing and unbuckle his belt. How handsome he seemed…
Aragorn looked back to see the golden haired beauty drifting off. His slender hands folded upon his breast and his tender lips pressed together. A single lock of hair brushed against the blond elf's rosy cheek. Aragorn resisted the urge to gently brush it away.
DREAM-
"Stop it!" The little blond elf screamed as a hand came up and shoved a dirty cloth into his mouth and a cord wrapped around his wrists. He looked up in horror as the two figures lifted him into their arms.
"The King wants him gone by morning."
"But he's the king's only heir!"
"Yeah well… he wants him gone."
"But he is so beautiful…"
"We don't have to kill him… I figure as long as we sell him …. He'll never come back…."
END DREAM-
Legolas woke midnight, gasping and looking around him. He looked down to see the blanket covering him tucked it neatly around him. He smiled as he understood what must have happened. "Aragorn…" He shook his head with a smile and saw the stern and strong man sitting staring blankly toward the horizon. He moved over to the human and slipped the blanket around his shoulders.
"Legolas…"
"I will take the watch… get some sleep." Legolas whispered, "You must be weary."
"No, you need rest… after what happened yesterday… you need to regain your strength."
"My strength is fine."
Aragorn smiled as he moved over a little bit so the pretty elf could sit down. Legolas blushed slightly when his eyes met those of the human. He had seldom felt so… alive. Most of the time he felt that his soul was dead, and he live because he could not see anything to be gained by dying.
The handsome man laid a hand upon the pale slender one. He wondered how this magnificent creature can seem so strong after so much pain…. But he also quietly admired the elf's subtle strength.
Legolas wondered why he suddenly wanted to be held by those strong arms. Never in his life had he had anyone hold him to and comfort him till he goes to sleep. He shook the thought from his head and told himself that he was being stupid. He was not a child, he should not have such childish desires.
-Flashback-
"… I… I lit the fire…" The blond elf waited for the man to turn around. A rough hand came to touch his cheek and turned it from side to side.
"I was wondering… why… why do we live here? In the woods?" The elf stuttered
"… You really want to know?"
"… I … I do…."
"They don't want you there…. And your father hated you… and I am not particularly fond of you either…"
"Why…"
"Why? Look at you… you can't do anything right… what are you worth? You are nothing but a burden to me…."
"Then… why do you have me around?"
The man kicked the elf against the ground, ignoring the soft sobs coming from the child. The pretty figure moved away tearfully and said nothing more.
-End flashback-
"Legolas!"
"I'm sorry… I dozed off again…"
"Are you sure you're all right?"
"… Of course…"