Disclaimer: Like Always I Own nothing, Except Maybe… The plot!

Credit to: Aradira! Yayyy she's back! She was on holidays ^-^

Elrohir and Elladan stood with matching feelings of concern, sorrow and pity scrawled across their identical faces, staring hopelessly at the man they still called brother. The rain fell heavily, but the twins stood protected underneath a sheltered area nearby. Aragorn, however, was feeling the full force of the harsh rain, but apparently did not care.



"How long has he been standing there?"



Elladan shrugged. "I've lost all grasp of time."



"He looks so sad."



"Aye."



"Perhaps we should retrieve him before he falls ill." The twins turned to see their father standing behind them, obviously concerned about the state of his foster child.



Empty, torn, broken. These were the emotions that Aragorn was feeling. He couldn't feel the wetness of the rain, nor the sudden drop of temperature. All he knew was Legolas was gone, his beautiful elf was no longer by his side and it hurt, so, so much. How could this have happened? He had him, he had Legolas in his arms. The man lowered his gaze from the empty road before him to his own hands. He could almost see Legolas' flawless, slender fingers tracing over the fading scars.



((Flash back))



"You are wounded?" Legolas's soft, sweet voice filled Aragorn's mind once again.



"No."



"Then what are these?"



"'Tis a scar."



"Scar? But they hurt not?"



"They do not."



"Strange."



"Is this how you always treat people you have just met?"



"No." he replied. "Just you. I've never met a fully grown human before."





((End flash back))



Instinctively, Aragorn looked up again, almost expecting to see Legolas standing before him, but it was not to be. The elf was indeed gone.



"Aragorn." A slender, ivory coloured hand reached out to touch the man's shoulder.



In response the human whirled around. "Legolas?" Aragorn sighed in slight disappointment when he realised it was the Lord of Rivendell who stood before him instead. "I'm sorry my lord, I mean no disrespect."



"Of course not." Though Elrond would never tell Aragorn this, it hurt the Rivendell elf that the man no longer called him father. "Perhaps we should retire inside? It is unlikely that they will return this day."



Sadly, Aragorn nodded his head and on cue, sneezed.



Elladan and Elrohir refrained from laughing out loud, snuffling it out with fake coughs. Nevertheless, they received glares from their father for their efforts.



*************



"We should have gone with them."



The three elves glanced at the fourth member of their party as they moved steadily towards Aragorn's room.



"'Twas not our place to interfere. If they needed out help, they would have asked for it." Lord Elrond answered.



"What elf would ask for help?"



At this, Elrond was at a loss for words. It was true. No elf in their right mind would ask for help. To them it was a sign of weakness, one of the few flaws in the traits of an elf.



"I'm sure Legolas and Thranduil can take care of themselves." Elrohir finally stated.



"They also have their own army." Elladan added, agreeing with what his twin brother said.



Aragorn nodded. "You are right." The party continued on in silence before stopping outside Aragorn's room. "It is just, I can not stand being apart from him."



Lord Elrond rested a comforting hand on the man's back. "It will not be long. I am sure Legolas feels the same way."



***************



((Flash back))



Legolas was hesitant as they stood in front of the main gates of Rivendell.



"What is wrong?"



The prince fidgeted uncomfortably. "What of Arwen? And father?"



"I'm sure they would understand. If not we could always run away." Aragorn grinned wickedly as Legolas chuckled softly.



"You would not."



"I would." The man insisted. "Nothing can not stop me from being with you."



"Not even your obligations to rule a country?"



"Not even my obligations to rule a country. If you were not to be by my side, I would choose exile."



The elf smiled shyly, blushing slightly, obviously more than satisfied with the answer. "You would do this for me?"



"And more."



Legolas' began to blush more furiously, lowering his gaze to the ground. Never in his immortal life had he heard such sweet promises. Normally he would not believe such words, but these declarations came from Estel, and the elf knew they were true.



Captivated once more by Legolas's innocent beauty, the man was about to lean closer to kiss the elf before Arwen burst onto the scene.



"Oh Aragorn!" She flung her arms around the surprised man who had to stagger back from the impact, breaking his contact with Legolas.



"Arwen." He laid a reassuring hand around the elf maiden's waist.



"You are wet." She declared, pulling herself away from the drenched man who chuckled softly to himself as memories on why he was wet came flooding back.



"Aye," he agreed. "I am."



"But why?"



Aragorn was just about to answer before two more elves appeared, both swatting Aragorn on the back of the head.



"Blasted human!" Elladan demanded.



"What on the Valar were you thinking?" Elrohir continued.



"Did you want father to have our ears?"



"It's ok, I'm ok." The man glanced at the blonde elf that stood quietly in the background. "Everything is ok." Then without another word the man parted the crowd of Rivendell elves to stand beside Legolas, wrapping a strong arm around the slender shoulders.



Arwen looked on, somewhat confused. "Aragorn, what are you doing?"



"Arwen there is something I must tell you."



Elladan and Elrohir looked at each other. This was not going to end well. They could sense these things, though usually they were the reasons behind the trouble.



"What is it?" Arwen raised an eyebrow as she stared at the arm Aragorn had enveloped protectively around Legolas.



Meanwhile, the prince chewed on his bottom lip nervously. By Elbereth, what did Aragorn think he was doing!?



"Did we interrupt something?"



All five heads turned to see the King of Mirkwood and the Lord of Rivendell approaching, amused looks (due to the unfolding situation) gracing their features.



"I'd say we did Thranduil." Elrond answered the king's question, a glint of delight flashing in his dark eyes.



"No my lords, I would say you were right on time." Aragorn smiled.



"My child, you are wet." Thranduil pointed out rather unnecessarily. "Both of you."



Legolas turned his face, nestling it comfortably in the man's side. He couldn't bear to face his father's knowing expression.



"Yes, about that." Aragorn took a deep breath, preparing for his announcement. "Legolas and I are in love."



Arwen was the only one to gasp as Elladan and Elrohir gaped wordlessly. But the wiser, older elves smiled first at one another then at both Legolas and Aragorn. Well, mainly at Aragorn as the young prince still had his head tucked into the man's side.



"How could this be?" Arwen stared disbelievingly. "You can not."



"I'm sorry Arwen, but to go through with our marriage would mean I would have to live a lie and I could do no such thing. Forgive me."



Tears welled up in the Evenstar's eyes. Never in her life had she felt so betrayed. She had regarded Legolas as a friend, and now he had stolen her betrothed away from her. "I am sorry Aragorn, but I can not forgive. Not yet."



She then turned and ran. Elrond motioned for the twins to follow her; both still speechless just nodded and went. Aragorn lowered his head; he had never wanted to hurt Arwen. Legolas's was overwhelmed with guilt. How could he have done this to Arwen? Be so selfish to not even consider his friends feelings?



"She will be fine."



Legolas and Aragorn both shifted their attention to the older elves who smiled genuinely at them.



"It is about time." Thranduil stated.



"You are not mad?" Legolas questioned quietly.



"Mad?" Elrond turned to Thranduil who laughed softly, shrugging his shoulders. "Child, why would we be mad?"



"I- because we- your daughter-"



"It was not meant to be."



"Oh." The prince lowered his voice to a whisper, slightly unsure on what the elders meant.



"All that matters is you two are together now."



Aragorn stared thoughtfully at the elders, wondering if they would know the answers to his questions. However, they would remain unanswered as boystrous thumps of hooves interrupted the moment. All looked up to see a Mirkwood elf riding on a chestnut coloured horse. The beast moved with such great speed there was a moment when many feared it would knock them all over, but the rider managed to slow to a halt just before that could occur.



"My king!" he uttered, completely breathless. "War.... has been... declared,...in Mirkwood!" And with that the rider fell.



Aragorn moved forward quickly, catching the now unconscious elf in his arms. Alarmed, the three other elves gathered around the messenger. Elrond gently lifted and turned the elf around so his back was now facing up. All gasped as they saw two large puncture marks formed in the elf's back. His tunic was torn as a green liquid oozed from the injury.



Thranduil and Elrond narrowed their eyes as they both realised at the same time what this fluid was.



"Poison." Elrond stated out loud.



"From spiders." Thranduil finished, his voice filled with intense hate for the fiends. "Elrond could you-"



"Of course my friend." The lord reassured Thranduil. "I will care for your fallen warrior." Elrond called for a servant to take the wounded elf to the healers. Obviously angered by the message of his land being attacked, Thranduil rose. "Legolas, you know what this means." His son nodded. "We must return home."



Aragorn, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up. "I will come with you."



"No." Both Thranduil and Legolas replied instantly. "We will not put your life in danger."



"But-"



"They are right." Elrond interjected. "It is not our place."



"I can not let you go again, Legolas." The man continued to protest, clasping his hands around Legolas's. "I can not."



"I will return, beloved. Will you wait for me?"



Reluctantly Aragorn nodded. "I will."



They shared a soft kiss before parting. Thranduil had already mounted the horse the messenger elf rode in on; there was no time for them to retrieve their own. He held out an arm to Legolas who grabbed it and was then hoisted up behind his father. With one last glance at the man he loved, Legolas galloped off into the distance towards his land.



"I must attend to our injured messenger."



Aragorn nodded and Elrond was unsure whether the man heard him at all but left anyway, knowing the man would need some time alone. That was where Elladan and Elrohir had found their adopted brother.





((End Flash Back))



***************



"I pray for the Valar to keep him safe." Aragorn whispered.



"As will all of us."



Aragorn nodded his thanks before finally retiring to his room; he sat on the edge of his bed, his head resting in his hands. He feared for Legolas. He would not know what to do if anything happened to him, not when they just found each other.


************