Disclaimer: Like always I own nothing!
Credit to: Aradiria! Mah kick ass beta reader!!
Note: Thanks to all that reviewed!! Ooh Favourite list!! *squeals* Thanks Lomelinde!
********************
Thranduil watched with a heavy heart as his son rode out in front of him, his head down, shoulders slumped lost in his own thoughts and emotions. The mighty king sighed softly. Were all men this stupid or was Aragorn just the exception? He was still not happy with Legolas attending the ceremony, but he could not deny his child of this. Forever ignored was a long time for an immortal elf.
'Let us hope Aragorn knows the sacrifice you are making, little one'
***************
It seemed, for Legolas, all too soon when they finally reached the sparkling city of Rivendell. The day was clear, the sun shone bright and the birds sang sweetly. The whole of nature seemed to approve the up-coming matrimony. Perhaps Legolas should not have come. The young archer felt his father rest a reassuring hand on his back.
"You have come this far."
Legolas nodded. The cold grip on his heart tightened as they entered the grounds of Rivendell.
*****************
"King Thranduil! Legolas?!"
The two sons of Lord Elrond greeted the Mirkwood royalty. The blonde elves both turned to look at the twins as their horses were led away by stable hands
"Have you seen Aragorn?" Elrohir blurted out. Elladan elbowed him hard. "Ow."
"He is missing?" Legolas questioned the concern evident in his voice.
Thranduil raised an eyebrow. "We have just arrived, younglings. We do not know where Aragorn is."
Elrohir nodded, still rubbing his chest. "That is understandable."
"We should get going. Father will not be happy when he finds out."
The twins moved off quickly, and Legolas went to follow.
"Where are you going?"
"Estel, he is missing."
"I am sure he will turn up."
"What if he is injured?"
Thranduil shook his head, holding back a slight smile. He knew this was one argument he was not going to win. Why fight it?
"Very well."
******************
Aragorn hummed softly to himself as he gently twirled a small, white flower in his hands. His legs dangled effortlessly over the edge of the bridge he sat on. His burdens of being a king, and a marriage he never wanted were left behind at the entrance of the cave. In here he had only his memories. His dark grey eyes lifted slightly so he no longer looked at the flower he held; instead he was now looking at the small pond glittering lightly. The events of his time with Legolas played over in his head, as a small smile tugged at the edge of his lips.
"Estel?"
His voice seemed so real, like he was really speaking, Aragorn closed his eyes as the soft, melodic voice filled the air.
"Estel?"
It repeated again, a little louder. Aragorn opened his eyes; it did seem a little too real to be a memory. The man looked up towards the cave's entrance and was greeted by the golden elf only moments before he had been dreaming about.
"Legolas?" his voice echoed, exhibiting every bit of his confusion. He had expected the beautiful elf to appear, but not so soon, and especially not here. "How did you find me?" Legolas swiftly leapt onto the stone bridge, Aragorn's gaze following him intently.
"I remember you telling me about this place. How it was your escape from the rest of the world. With your life so muddled, and at such a rapid pace, it was only natural for me to assume to find your presence here." Legolas smiled triumphantly. "Or your brothers are just stupid." He added nonchalantly.
Aragorn could not help but smile back. The effect of Legolas had not wavered even after all these years. It touched the man how Legolas still remembered their conversation and how well this elf seemed to know him, to know where he would go even though the very elves he grew up with were seemingly at a loss.
"Will you sit with me?" Aragorn gestured to the spot beside him.
"With pleasure." Legolas nimbly moved to sit beside the man. It tore at Legolas to have the man so close. He thought the pain would be more bearable if he was to see him, but the elf was wrong. It seemed to hurt more. Nevertheless, Legolas plastered a smile on his face. "What brings you here?"
Aragorn sighed as he looked up at the sky above him through a large crack in the cave. The sun was beginning to set. He had been in here for almost a whole day. "Everything."
"You wish to escape from everything?" Legolas was confused, why would he want to do such a thing.
Aragorn nodded almost sadly. "Aye, dear elf. Everything."
"What is there to escape from? You have everything. A country to rule and-" the elf swallowed hard. "Arwen to marry."
"But I do not love her."
Legolas's heart skipped a beat. "You do not love her?" he repeated dumbfounded.
Aragorn shook his head lightly. "Nay, I do not."
"Why?"
"I love another."
The young man didn't understand how easy it was to reveal his heart's secrets to this elf. It seemed as though history was repeating itself. Aragorn was hoping for it. Carelessly, the man blew the flower he was playing with out of his hand and both Legolas and him watched as it sailed softly through the air, landing on the water below.
"Who is it?" The elf could not help but feel his heart sink a little. He should not have hoped for it, for the man to love him.
"You wish to know?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It intrigues me to know who could have captured your wild heart, Estel." Aragorn tilted his head thoughtfully as he gazed at the beauty that was Legolas. He could not help but feel the irony here. "What is it?"
"You are the only one to still call me Estel."
"You will always be Estel to me." Aragorn's heart stirred. Never had he been so touched by such simple words, and it meant so much to him. Their gaze was broken when Legolas turned away. "You have yet to answer my question."
"I shall not tell you." Legolas faced Aragorn again, eyebrow rose slightly. "You shall have to guess."
"Guess? I will not play such childish games with you."
"And yet you wish to know."
The man had him there and he knew it.
"Very well. Does she reside here?"
"No, *he* doesn't."
'He?' Legolas was definitely not expecting that. "Is he a man?"
"Nay, he is not."
"An elf?"
"Aye."
Legolas chewed on his bottom lip a habit he had whenever he had to think deeply. 'A male elf that does not live in Rivendell, where else would Aragorn meet other elves? Lorien?'
Aragorn looked on, amused as he watched Legolas in deep thought his face contorted in much concentration. He really did want to know whom he loves.
"Tis too hard. There are too many."
"Are you giving up?"
Legolas was hesitant "No." he finally replied.
"Good. I shall give you more clues if you wish." Legolas nodded eagerly. He would surely need more help. "He is a creature of elegance and grace, his beauty is unmatched by any other on this earth. But his inner beauty far outweighs that of his outer appearance. His spirit is kind and loving. He holds no anger nor hate within himself. He carries himself with a quiet sense of dignity and pride, though he seems to know this of himself not. His humble spirit is one of his finest qualities, as is his unwavering loyalty."
Legolas watched on. Aragorn must truly love this lucky elf, for the way in which the man spoke of him made his eyes light, up making the man seem more handsome then he already was. His heart grew heavier in his chest. The man would never love him, not when he was so infatuated by another. And yet this elf he was describing seemed so familiar, Legolas felt sure he must have at least seen this elf once before.
From the corner of his eyes, Aragorn watched in silent amusement as Legolas's forehead creased in concentration. He really did not know.
"Legolas."
The golden-haired archer turned his gaze back on the man at the sound of his name.
"It is you."
Credit to: Aradiria! Mah kick ass beta reader!!
Note: Thanks to all that reviewed!! Ooh Favourite list!! *squeals* Thanks Lomelinde!
********************
Thranduil watched with a heavy heart as his son rode out in front of him, his head down, shoulders slumped lost in his own thoughts and emotions. The mighty king sighed softly. Were all men this stupid or was Aragorn just the exception? He was still not happy with Legolas attending the ceremony, but he could not deny his child of this. Forever ignored was a long time for an immortal elf.
'Let us hope Aragorn knows the sacrifice you are making, little one'
***************
It seemed, for Legolas, all too soon when they finally reached the sparkling city of Rivendell. The day was clear, the sun shone bright and the birds sang sweetly. The whole of nature seemed to approve the up-coming matrimony. Perhaps Legolas should not have come. The young archer felt his father rest a reassuring hand on his back.
"You have come this far."
Legolas nodded. The cold grip on his heart tightened as they entered the grounds of Rivendell.
*****************
"King Thranduil! Legolas?!"
The two sons of Lord Elrond greeted the Mirkwood royalty. The blonde elves both turned to look at the twins as their horses were led away by stable hands
"Have you seen Aragorn?" Elrohir blurted out. Elladan elbowed him hard. "Ow."
"He is missing?" Legolas questioned the concern evident in his voice.
Thranduil raised an eyebrow. "We have just arrived, younglings. We do not know where Aragorn is."
Elrohir nodded, still rubbing his chest. "That is understandable."
"We should get going. Father will not be happy when he finds out."
The twins moved off quickly, and Legolas went to follow.
"Where are you going?"
"Estel, he is missing."
"I am sure he will turn up."
"What if he is injured?"
Thranduil shook his head, holding back a slight smile. He knew this was one argument he was not going to win. Why fight it?
"Very well."
******************
Aragorn hummed softly to himself as he gently twirled a small, white flower in his hands. His legs dangled effortlessly over the edge of the bridge he sat on. His burdens of being a king, and a marriage he never wanted were left behind at the entrance of the cave. In here he had only his memories. His dark grey eyes lifted slightly so he no longer looked at the flower he held; instead he was now looking at the small pond glittering lightly. The events of his time with Legolas played over in his head, as a small smile tugged at the edge of his lips.
"Estel?"
His voice seemed so real, like he was really speaking, Aragorn closed his eyes as the soft, melodic voice filled the air.
"Estel?"
It repeated again, a little louder. Aragorn opened his eyes; it did seem a little too real to be a memory. The man looked up towards the cave's entrance and was greeted by the golden elf only moments before he had been dreaming about.
"Legolas?" his voice echoed, exhibiting every bit of his confusion. He had expected the beautiful elf to appear, but not so soon, and especially not here. "How did you find me?" Legolas swiftly leapt onto the stone bridge, Aragorn's gaze following him intently.
"I remember you telling me about this place. How it was your escape from the rest of the world. With your life so muddled, and at such a rapid pace, it was only natural for me to assume to find your presence here." Legolas smiled triumphantly. "Or your brothers are just stupid." He added nonchalantly.
Aragorn could not help but smile back. The effect of Legolas had not wavered even after all these years. It touched the man how Legolas still remembered their conversation and how well this elf seemed to know him, to know where he would go even though the very elves he grew up with were seemingly at a loss.
"Will you sit with me?" Aragorn gestured to the spot beside him.
"With pleasure." Legolas nimbly moved to sit beside the man. It tore at Legolas to have the man so close. He thought the pain would be more bearable if he was to see him, but the elf was wrong. It seemed to hurt more. Nevertheless, Legolas plastered a smile on his face. "What brings you here?"
Aragorn sighed as he looked up at the sky above him through a large crack in the cave. The sun was beginning to set. He had been in here for almost a whole day. "Everything."
"You wish to escape from everything?" Legolas was confused, why would he want to do such a thing.
Aragorn nodded almost sadly. "Aye, dear elf. Everything."
"What is there to escape from? You have everything. A country to rule and-" the elf swallowed hard. "Arwen to marry."
"But I do not love her."
Legolas's heart skipped a beat. "You do not love her?" he repeated dumbfounded.
Aragorn shook his head lightly. "Nay, I do not."
"Why?"
"I love another."
The young man didn't understand how easy it was to reveal his heart's secrets to this elf. It seemed as though history was repeating itself. Aragorn was hoping for it. Carelessly, the man blew the flower he was playing with out of his hand and both Legolas and him watched as it sailed softly through the air, landing on the water below.
"Who is it?" The elf could not help but feel his heart sink a little. He should not have hoped for it, for the man to love him.
"You wish to know?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It intrigues me to know who could have captured your wild heart, Estel." Aragorn tilted his head thoughtfully as he gazed at the beauty that was Legolas. He could not help but feel the irony here. "What is it?"
"You are the only one to still call me Estel."
"You will always be Estel to me." Aragorn's heart stirred. Never had he been so touched by such simple words, and it meant so much to him. Their gaze was broken when Legolas turned away. "You have yet to answer my question."
"I shall not tell you." Legolas faced Aragorn again, eyebrow rose slightly. "You shall have to guess."
"Guess? I will not play such childish games with you."
"And yet you wish to know."
The man had him there and he knew it.
"Very well. Does she reside here?"
"No, *he* doesn't."
'He?' Legolas was definitely not expecting that. "Is he a man?"
"Nay, he is not."
"An elf?"
"Aye."
Legolas chewed on his bottom lip a habit he had whenever he had to think deeply. 'A male elf that does not live in Rivendell, where else would Aragorn meet other elves? Lorien?'
Aragorn looked on, amused as he watched Legolas in deep thought his face contorted in much concentration. He really did want to know whom he loves.
"Tis too hard. There are too many."
"Are you giving up?"
Legolas was hesitant "No." he finally replied.
"Good. I shall give you more clues if you wish." Legolas nodded eagerly. He would surely need more help. "He is a creature of elegance and grace, his beauty is unmatched by any other on this earth. But his inner beauty far outweighs that of his outer appearance. His spirit is kind and loving. He holds no anger nor hate within himself. He carries himself with a quiet sense of dignity and pride, though he seems to know this of himself not. His humble spirit is one of his finest qualities, as is his unwavering loyalty."
Legolas watched on. Aragorn must truly love this lucky elf, for the way in which the man spoke of him made his eyes light, up making the man seem more handsome then he already was. His heart grew heavier in his chest. The man would never love him, not when he was so infatuated by another. And yet this elf he was describing seemed so familiar, Legolas felt sure he must have at least seen this elf once before.
From the corner of his eyes, Aragorn watched in silent amusement as Legolas's forehead creased in concentration. He really did not know.
"Legolas."
The golden-haired archer turned his gaze back on the man at the sound of his name.
"It is you."