IMPORTANT NOTICE: THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHAPTER, AS I HAVE LOST ALL
INTEREST IN WRITING THE STORY. I HAVE NO REAL WISH TO CONTINUE ANY LONGER,
BECAUSE WRITING THIS STORY HAS BECOME POINTLESS FOR ME, AND I FRANKLY
BELIEVE IT IS A WASTE OF MY TIME. I WILL NOT BE FINISHING IT, AND I WILL
NOT BE RESPONDING TO E-MAILS OR REVIEWS ASKING ME TO CONTINUE. I WILL NOT
KEEP WRITING. FURTHERMORE, I WILL BE TAKING DOWN THE FIC AND LEAVING THIS
MESSAGE IN ITS PLACE IN APPROXIMATELY- ha! gotcha! Jk, jk, I'm only
messing with your heads.
I'm really very sorry... I was gone for about a week or so this time. I had camp to go to, which was fun because it was Girl Scout camp and we sing macabre songs about people choking on bubble gum, being eaten by sharks, and dead buffaloes, and that's just before breakfast!
Disclaimer: In the happy place inside my head I own the Lord of the Rings. Not anywhere else, though.
Tolkienized *Shakespeare In Love* Quote: 'I would banish the nightingales from his garden before I would allow them to interrupt the sweet song of Legolas's voice'. 'Oh, so he sings, too?'
P.S.: I mean it about the 'evil' in the 'evil human wench' part. She is gonna try to tear the poor babies apart, in a sniffle sniffle grab a tissue kind of way. So if ya feel no harm in being EVIL evil, go right ahead and volunteer. ;)
In response to Reviews:
moonlightgoddess: Yay, two reviews! And yeah, it was wasabi. Try tossing a pillow before you fall when you start getting dizzy with confusion, I don't want you to hurt yourself!
Killing Perfection: :) Have a happy birthday. 13 is an awesome age!
Rach: (bows low) Your wish is my command!
Silvawen the Elf Crumpet: Oh yes, flattery works very very well on me! I was away for quite a while, so I hope you stayed alive for the time in which I did not update. Enjoy the chapter! And if you are dead, well, I'm sure Heavan has the best available Internet access. You just might have a little trouble sending reviews!
val: Aloha once again! Am proud because I have earned the title of *Relatively Seamless Emotional Transition*!!!!! h'mmmmmm... I think I'll have it engraved on a plaque and carry it around with me...
Gilraen3: Coolies! And ya, that's happened to me, too. My elf name is Larien, and I once read a fic where this character was called Larien. Kinda cool.
MoroTheWolfGod: More!
Anthem: Yes, randomness is rather healthy. So is slash. Slash is very good for you. :)
Shaan Lien: Yes... that is a small problem... the 13 year old behaviour... Well! And, yea. Nuns. (shifty eyes) I spent 5 years in a Catholic school. Go figure. :)
Shadow Darkholme: Yes! They were a bit stubborn, but I managed to force them to cooperate in the end.
Legolas19: Well, this isn't ASAP, but still!
gwil: :) Wahahaaaa.... evil!
Alexis: ... you spelt randomness right, actually. Glad to see I'm so loved!!!
Jashi: And is a rose a rose without its thorny trials? Can magnificence be attained without peril and grief? True, very true; your saying is wise. :) Yay, I got a review!
And to my dear best friend Nienna5: You are an idiot. A lovable idiot, but an idiot just the same. I luv ya, thankx for reviewing, babe. Keep at your writing! And I still laugh over the fact you thought 'Estel' was a girl.
I have discovered that I really like replying to reviews.
Righty ho, then! Onwards and . . . elfwards!!!! Yay, elves!
Chapter Eight: A Thousand Roses
"Paradise on earth". Three mere words they may be, but they carry more meaning in them than is found in a thousand others. Joy and peace become living things within their depths, and love is sometimes surpassed in feeling by them. Or is paradise on earth the definition of love? And can love become a paradise?
The sight that lay before Aragorn may not have been paradise on earth, but if it was not, then there is not much that can possibly deserve the title. Red and white roses had burst from the thorns, and wide leaves had grown. The flowery fragrance drifted through the air like perfume, gently wafting across the faces of the two who stood before them. The rose bushes had woven together with the tree limbs above, creating an elegant lacework that resembled a net. The light of the setting sun shone gold and crimson through the gaps, illuminating it with heartwrenching glory. And mossy turf had sprung from the ground in spendour, flecked with the tiniest of white blossoms.
Legolas sighed with a fatigued look. "I couldn't manage to stop the moss from growing over the spot where the fire pit was supposed to go. Sorry." Aragorn started out of his mental fog. He glared at Legolas accusingly.
"And how much energy did you use for this?" Legolas smiled reassuringly.
"Not a lot, trust me. I just did a bit of ...convincing, is all. And moss is not known for bending to persuasion. I just channeled a bit of magic that wasn't mine." Aragorn smiled lightly.
"Earth energy?" he asked after a moment. Legolas nodded, and took himself gently out of Aragorn's arms.
"I'm hungry," he said plaintively. "Toss me the food pack, will you?" Aragorn rummaged around and drew it out triumphantly. He handed it over to Legolas tenderly. Legolas smiled again, and spoke softly.
"Where would I be without you? I can't remember how I survived before, on my own." Aragorn brushed his hair out of his face with the same gentleness.
"Hush. You're tired."
"I think I'd really be dead. Maybe I was already dying. I think you saved my life. I wonder why you love me... I'm not worth it..." Legolas continued, oblivious, as he drifted off to sleep. "I love you anyways," he mumbled. "I love you anyways."
Aragorn breathed deeply the scent of roses all around them, and held the breath for a long time before he released it. //Poor darling. I wonder how many times he cried, with no one there to comfort him?//
//It's a miracle he's alive.//
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Legolas drifted in a rose-scented mist, surrounded by a pale pink fog that wrapped around his bleeding spirit and healed it slowly. His powers replenished themselves, as well, and soon he was able to enter the realm of dreams.
He entered a moonlit field of silver trees and sterling blades of grass beneath his feet. As an elf, he was self-aware during sleep and he could bend fantasies to suit him more often than not. But lately his dreams had been getting out of control, and he had tried to stop dreaming altogether. Now, however, he had nothing to dread, and so he had let his protections down with nothing to fear. Or so he believed.
//Hello, Monster,// said an acid voice. //Come to infect the world of light?//
Unable to move, paralyzed by the mocking voice, Legolas could only stare helplessly at the shadowy form in front of him. One moment it was the accusing face of his brother, next the sickened face of his father, and another moment it was his childhood friend, wearing a mask of hate.
//You despicable worm// the shade whispered and shouted at once, in a tone so scathing it made Legolas shudder. //Who do you think you are? Aragorn doesn't deserve to be burdened with a crippled soul like you.//
Legolas's eyes darkened. //Love is no burden, although it may be a blissful suffering.//
The shade laughed hard. //Fool! Incredible fool! Your person is so fraught with flaw and vice it would take a miracle for any creature to love you!// Legolas quieted.
//They do say love blinds the eye to such things// he protested weakly.
//Oh, but if his eye were blind to your faults, he would have nothing left to see! No virtue graces your self, nor does any winning trait run in your attitude! You are fit to wed an orc, none other!//
Legolas's masked face fell into shadow. Hot tears streamed from his eyes. //And what would you know of such matters as love?// he asked bitterly. The shade smiled evilly, and its features contorted yet again.
//Because I am you// Legolas saw his own face say to him, its countenance ugly with self-loathing and pain inflicted by its own claws. he screamed.
//You're wrong!//
//Oh?// whispered the shade. //Am I? Look at yourself, hideous one, and say that... if you still can.//
Legolas began to sob, curled up in a ball, vulnerable to the nightmare as an infant is to a wolf. //I- can't... I'm- I'm hideous... You're right! Gods help me, you are right!//
Legolas woke up shaking, in the arms of the one person on Middle- Earth he felt least able to deal with at the moment. "Legolas, wake up, it was only a dream!" Aragorn was saying desperately into his ear. Legolas choked out a few words.
"I-I'm a-w-wake," he stuttered, turning around to face the Man. He realized belatedly that he was still crying, and wiped his eyes hurriedly. But the tears kept coming, and they wouldn't stop. Aragorn looked at him pleadingly, a torment in his eyes.
"Please, love, what are you afraid of?" he begged. "Tell me and I'll do anything in the world to fix it!" Legolas buried his face in Aragorn's tunic, and cried harder. After a while, he calmed down long enough to attempt an explaination.
"It's not that I don't trust you, understand, it's that- I cannot seem to convince my entire mind that you will always love me, always want to try and help me." He scrubbed at his masked face with the back of his hand, still crying a little. "I can't convince myself I deserve you," he added, eyes downcast. Aragorn smiled at him, and to Legolas's shock, kissed him deeply. After a while, he started to kiss Aragorn back. They laid back upon the mossy carpet, Aragorn holding Legolas's head gently in his hands. For a few moments, he drew back, and saw that Legolas was crying again. But they were not tears of sorrow this time. He grinned, and embraced the Elf's body, hugging him as though he would never let go.
"Is that all? I was afraid you were going to do something drastic. Now, listen to me, Legolas: I love you. I will never leave you. And nothing will be able to make me stop loving you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun rose on two figures, their bodies entwined, their garments off to one side. Somewhere in the distance, a lark began to sing, and the sweet scent of summer roses wafted over them.
"Aragorn?"
"Mmhmm?"
"..."
"What is it?"
"We went to bed without dinner last night."
"Yes..."
"I'm hungry."
"...I love you too, Legolas."
__________________________________________________________
A/n: Short chapter, and I'm really sorry about that, but I believe it was tasteful. I will have more soon, I promise, but I start school next week, and, well; suffice to say I promise to update at least once a month. :) Ach, love me anyways? :)
Byez for now! Be nice and review, pretty please! Oh! And does anyone know who Kurai-chan is?! I lost her e-mail address by accident, and she asked me to notify her when I updated around... three chapters ago! Heeeeeeeeelp!
I'm really very sorry... I was gone for about a week or so this time. I had camp to go to, which was fun because it was Girl Scout camp and we sing macabre songs about people choking on bubble gum, being eaten by sharks, and dead buffaloes, and that's just before breakfast!
Disclaimer: In the happy place inside my head I own the Lord of the Rings. Not anywhere else, though.
Tolkienized *Shakespeare In Love* Quote: 'I would banish the nightingales from his garden before I would allow them to interrupt the sweet song of Legolas's voice'. 'Oh, so he sings, too?'
P.S.: I mean it about the 'evil' in the 'evil human wench' part. She is gonna try to tear the poor babies apart, in a sniffle sniffle grab a tissue kind of way. So if ya feel no harm in being EVIL evil, go right ahead and volunteer. ;)
In response to Reviews:
moonlightgoddess: Yay, two reviews! And yeah, it was wasabi. Try tossing a pillow before you fall when you start getting dizzy with confusion, I don't want you to hurt yourself!
Killing Perfection: :) Have a happy birthday. 13 is an awesome age!
Rach: (bows low) Your wish is my command!
Silvawen the Elf Crumpet: Oh yes, flattery works very very well on me! I was away for quite a while, so I hope you stayed alive for the time in which I did not update. Enjoy the chapter! And if you are dead, well, I'm sure Heavan has the best available Internet access. You just might have a little trouble sending reviews!
val: Aloha once again! Am proud because I have earned the title of *Relatively Seamless Emotional Transition*!!!!! h'mmmmmm... I think I'll have it engraved on a plaque and carry it around with me...
Gilraen3: Coolies! And ya, that's happened to me, too. My elf name is Larien, and I once read a fic where this character was called Larien. Kinda cool.
MoroTheWolfGod: More!
Anthem: Yes, randomness is rather healthy. So is slash. Slash is very good for you. :)
Shaan Lien: Yes... that is a small problem... the 13 year old behaviour... Well! And, yea. Nuns. (shifty eyes) I spent 5 years in a Catholic school. Go figure. :)
Shadow Darkholme: Yes! They were a bit stubborn, but I managed to force them to cooperate in the end.
Legolas19: Well, this isn't ASAP, but still!
gwil: :) Wahahaaaa.... evil!
Alexis: ... you spelt randomness right, actually. Glad to see I'm so loved!!!
Jashi: And is a rose a rose without its thorny trials? Can magnificence be attained without peril and grief? True, very true; your saying is wise. :) Yay, I got a review!
And to my dear best friend Nienna5: You are an idiot. A lovable idiot, but an idiot just the same. I luv ya, thankx for reviewing, babe. Keep at your writing! And I still laugh over the fact you thought 'Estel' was a girl.
I have discovered that I really like replying to reviews.
Righty ho, then! Onwards and . . . elfwards!!!! Yay, elves!
Chapter Eight: A Thousand Roses
"Paradise on earth". Three mere words they may be, but they carry more meaning in them than is found in a thousand others. Joy and peace become living things within their depths, and love is sometimes surpassed in feeling by them. Or is paradise on earth the definition of love? And can love become a paradise?
The sight that lay before Aragorn may not have been paradise on earth, but if it was not, then there is not much that can possibly deserve the title. Red and white roses had burst from the thorns, and wide leaves had grown. The flowery fragrance drifted through the air like perfume, gently wafting across the faces of the two who stood before them. The rose bushes had woven together with the tree limbs above, creating an elegant lacework that resembled a net. The light of the setting sun shone gold and crimson through the gaps, illuminating it with heartwrenching glory. And mossy turf had sprung from the ground in spendour, flecked with the tiniest of white blossoms.
Legolas sighed with a fatigued look. "I couldn't manage to stop the moss from growing over the spot where the fire pit was supposed to go. Sorry." Aragorn started out of his mental fog. He glared at Legolas accusingly.
"And how much energy did you use for this?" Legolas smiled reassuringly.
"Not a lot, trust me. I just did a bit of ...convincing, is all. And moss is not known for bending to persuasion. I just channeled a bit of magic that wasn't mine." Aragorn smiled lightly.
"Earth energy?" he asked after a moment. Legolas nodded, and took himself gently out of Aragorn's arms.
"I'm hungry," he said plaintively. "Toss me the food pack, will you?" Aragorn rummaged around and drew it out triumphantly. He handed it over to Legolas tenderly. Legolas smiled again, and spoke softly.
"Where would I be without you? I can't remember how I survived before, on my own." Aragorn brushed his hair out of his face with the same gentleness.
"Hush. You're tired."
"I think I'd really be dead. Maybe I was already dying. I think you saved my life. I wonder why you love me... I'm not worth it..." Legolas continued, oblivious, as he drifted off to sleep. "I love you anyways," he mumbled. "I love you anyways."
Aragorn breathed deeply the scent of roses all around them, and held the breath for a long time before he released it. //Poor darling. I wonder how many times he cried, with no one there to comfort him?//
//It's a miracle he's alive.//
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Legolas drifted in a rose-scented mist, surrounded by a pale pink fog that wrapped around his bleeding spirit and healed it slowly. His powers replenished themselves, as well, and soon he was able to enter the realm of dreams.
He entered a moonlit field of silver trees and sterling blades of grass beneath his feet. As an elf, he was self-aware during sleep and he could bend fantasies to suit him more often than not. But lately his dreams had been getting out of control, and he had tried to stop dreaming altogether. Now, however, he had nothing to dread, and so he had let his protections down with nothing to fear. Or so he believed.
//Hello, Monster,// said an acid voice. //Come to infect the world of light?//
Unable to move, paralyzed by the mocking voice, Legolas could only stare helplessly at the shadowy form in front of him. One moment it was the accusing face of his brother, next the sickened face of his father, and another moment it was his childhood friend, wearing a mask of hate.
//You despicable worm// the shade whispered and shouted at once, in a tone so scathing it made Legolas shudder. //Who do you think you are? Aragorn doesn't deserve to be burdened with a crippled soul like you.//
Legolas's eyes darkened. //Love is no burden, although it may be a blissful suffering.//
The shade laughed hard. //Fool! Incredible fool! Your person is so fraught with flaw and vice it would take a miracle for any creature to love you!// Legolas quieted.
//They do say love blinds the eye to such things// he protested weakly.
//Oh, but if his eye were blind to your faults, he would have nothing left to see! No virtue graces your self, nor does any winning trait run in your attitude! You are fit to wed an orc, none other!//
Legolas's masked face fell into shadow. Hot tears streamed from his eyes. //And what would you know of such matters as love?// he asked bitterly. The shade smiled evilly, and its features contorted yet again.
//Because I am you// Legolas saw his own face say to him, its countenance ugly with self-loathing and pain inflicted by its own claws. he screamed.
//You're wrong!//
//Oh?// whispered the shade. //Am I? Look at yourself, hideous one, and say that... if you still can.//
Legolas began to sob, curled up in a ball, vulnerable to the nightmare as an infant is to a wolf. //I- can't... I'm- I'm hideous... You're right! Gods help me, you are right!//
Legolas woke up shaking, in the arms of the one person on Middle- Earth he felt least able to deal with at the moment. "Legolas, wake up, it was only a dream!" Aragorn was saying desperately into his ear. Legolas choked out a few words.
"I-I'm a-w-wake," he stuttered, turning around to face the Man. He realized belatedly that he was still crying, and wiped his eyes hurriedly. But the tears kept coming, and they wouldn't stop. Aragorn looked at him pleadingly, a torment in his eyes.
"Please, love, what are you afraid of?" he begged. "Tell me and I'll do anything in the world to fix it!" Legolas buried his face in Aragorn's tunic, and cried harder. After a while, he calmed down long enough to attempt an explaination.
"It's not that I don't trust you, understand, it's that- I cannot seem to convince my entire mind that you will always love me, always want to try and help me." He scrubbed at his masked face with the back of his hand, still crying a little. "I can't convince myself I deserve you," he added, eyes downcast. Aragorn smiled at him, and to Legolas's shock, kissed him deeply. After a while, he started to kiss Aragorn back. They laid back upon the mossy carpet, Aragorn holding Legolas's head gently in his hands. For a few moments, he drew back, and saw that Legolas was crying again. But they were not tears of sorrow this time. He grinned, and embraced the Elf's body, hugging him as though he would never let go.
"Is that all? I was afraid you were going to do something drastic. Now, listen to me, Legolas: I love you. I will never leave you. And nothing will be able to make me stop loving you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun rose on two figures, their bodies entwined, their garments off to one side. Somewhere in the distance, a lark began to sing, and the sweet scent of summer roses wafted over them.
"Aragorn?"
"Mmhmm?"
"..."
"What is it?"
"We went to bed without dinner last night."
"Yes..."
"I'm hungry."
"...I love you too, Legolas."
__________________________________________________________
A/n: Short chapter, and I'm really sorry about that, but I believe it was tasteful. I will have more soon, I promise, but I start school next week, and, well; suffice to say I promise to update at least once a month. :) Ach, love me anyways? :)
Byez for now! Be nice and review, pretty please! Oh! And does anyone know who Kurai-chan is?! I lost her e-mail address by accident, and she asked me to notify her when I updated around... three chapters ago! Heeeeeeeeelp!