Title: Eros
Author: asparagus
Email: asparagus@iamwasted.com
Rating: PG13
Summary: The love that is relief...
Spoilers: "Hunter" and "The Return of the King"
Warnings: Slash (E/L, A/L), Angst
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings - the novels, movie, merchandise, characters, or plotline. In no way whatsoever am I profiting from this fictional piece - unless it's an ego boost from any comments you people deem worthy of sending my way.

Eros

*****

"Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says 'I need you because I love you.'"
-Erich Fromm

*****

Azure orbs shone in the shadows with a light to rival that of the moon above. The pair roved over a chiseled face as if to memorize each facet of it. The grey eyes were closed in sleep, but the life of their owner still shown noble through the weariness.

Noble, yet not arrogant. In this man's veins ran the blood of his kindred, the blood of kings. Despite the obstacles, he had regained his rightful throne and was to be crowned in the days to come. But, a king needed a queen and the other knew who it would be.

He had shared the man's bed in the past and in the present, but there would be no future for him there. The man himself didn't know it, but there was only one for him - and it was the Evenstar. She had surrendered to the man both her heart and immortality and with them the necklace about the man's neck. The other wondered if the man realized that he'd never removed the necklace even when he slept in the other's arms. That alone told the other what he needed to know. Still, the golden-haired elf slept at the man's side.

He had thought it to be love at first. It was not hard to fall for the man for he had a type of nobility that the elf had found in only one other. But, the respect that nobleness earned from others was the only other similarity in this man and another. The man was... Well, human. He had the passions and imperfections of one. He loved his betrothed, but he was still a man. He had a man's needs and moments of self-doubt.

So, it happened that when the burden of leadership had borne too heavily on him he had turned to a friend. He had gone to the one who reminded him of the Evenstar...peace...and all that he strove to save. It began when Gandalf fell at Moira and continued on after Boromir's death until now.

But, it would end tonight.

With the morning's sun would come the Evenstar and the end of their affair. That was just how things had to be. A part of him had known - even when he had thought it was love - that it could never be. Too much stood in between them.

Perhaps if there had been real love, it would have been different. They might have fought for it and even won. But, Aragorn loved Arwen and he...he did not know.

He had always thought that there would be only one for him. He had loved the Lord of Rivendell with all of his eternal being and yet... Somewhere along the path, he had changed.

He had grown to know different people of different cultures and races. Maia...dwarf...hobbit...man... He had developed feelings he had never felt in the past...accepted as true things he had never believed in...countered things he had thought as right...and grown to care for those he had turned his back on before. Now, he had a dwarf for a friend...and a man as his lover. How things had changed.

But, some things would always stay the same.

He would still stand for what he had fought for...peace, freedom for all...and yes, love. That part of his youthful idealism still remained though the rest had left him with past prejudices. He had seen much and changed much, but he was still the same at the core. He was still Legolas, son of Thranduil. The wanderlust had waned, but Mirkwood's kingship was still not for him. He could not stand to be bound to its forest realm forever despite all its beauty. That was not for him. He still felt that need to wander ever so often. He did not know if it would ever leave him. Perhaps he might linger at a certain place if persuaded, but...

The elf was confused. He was unsure of his feelings for his former lover. And if he was sure and returned to the other...would Elrond want him still? Out of love, the High-Lord had released him from the vows they'd made. He'd freed Legolas' heart, yet would he truly feel the same after such a betrayal?

Legolas closed his eyes at the thought. It pained him to think of it. The hurt...the rejection... He could imagine the other's thoughts of his affair. To bed the betrothed of the other's daughter - was that not beyond contempt?

When he felt the coolness on his cheek, he touched it and tasted the saltiness of his tears. It seemed that his contact with man had gone so far as to teach him of tears. He had shed them in pleasure of Aragorn's companionship and now it seemed he shed them in pain of Elrond's certain rejection of him.

After all this time...it seemed that he'd held true after all.

He still loved the other, but would the other feel the same? Legolas was certain that he would not. But, he forced those thoughts from himself as he considered once more the man that lay at his side.

He knew that Aragorn was destined to wed Arwen. She was meant to stand at the man's side as his queen and sleep at his side to bear his heirs. For that and the future of Gondor, Legolas would celebrate their union with a light heart. He could not stand in between them when he loved them both.

Now, he would just have to let Aragorn see that for the man would doubt himself and his worthiness of Arwen. He would see their affair as a betrayal of Arwen's trust, but Legolas knew that if Arwen ever discovered it she would understand.

The Evenstar had always known the man's doubts. She had confided as much to Legolas before the Fellowship's departure from Rivendell so long ago. She had sought to soothe the man's fears with her love, but still he refused to release them. In time, perhaps she would succeed. But, when morning came, it would be Legolas who would have to speak to the man. He had to show him that what they had was nothing but a shared need for comfort.

Yes, he would make the man see the truth.

Even if he had lost his own love for all of eternity, he would see that this man would have his for his fleeting lifetime. Already, the man stirred in his sleep. Outside, the sun began its slow ascent. Soon, the dawn would be upon them.

"Aragorn..."