To Fight or to Wed
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine!
Author's Note: This is my first LOTR fic and first slash fic, so go easy on me, please! Also, I'm not certain if I should continue this, so please review! Um, let's see. sorry about the grammar and spelling mistakes, but I don't have a beta reader. Any offers? I need one! Oh, yeah. Sorry about this chapter being so short, but if there's enough interest then I'll make them longer, so if you like it please let me know!
"No." The words were spoken softly but firmly, and Elrond sighed. He felt a headache coming on-he had just lost the last one and did not wish for another-but it was unlikely Aragorn would remain calm much longer. In attempt to stall the outburst that was certain to come, Elrond took the message and tucked it in his robes.
"Aragorn, please. King Thranduil will not simply accept no as an answer, and though you do not wish to marry, you may have no choice. Such is the way of royal marriages, and both you and Legolas are royalty."
Aragorn shook his head. The future king was as stubborn as Thranduil and would resist a forced marriage, but truly he had no choice. After all, if Thranduil's coronation gift was refused the result would be war, started simply by an insult to Mirkwood's king by Gondor's. Elrond shook his head and sighed again. Why did Thranduil's gift have to be his son, Prince Legolas? True, a union between Mirkwood and Gondor would be of great advantage and strength, but why had he not contacted Elrond first? Why had he not asked?
But then again, Thranduil never asked-he demanded- and his demands were meant to be followed. Even by Elrond.
Aloud and to his foster son, he said, "You have not yet met Legolas. Perhaps if you met him..." but Aragorn was already shaking his head.
"No! I have no wish to marry- especially to an elf I have never met! I understand that the alliance would be powerful and strong, and that it would ease my peoples' hearts to see me married before my coronation, but I cannot agree! It is not only unfair to me, but to Prince Legolas as well!"
"Royalty rarely arranges marriages in any other fashion, though I understand your unease. But Aragorn, if you refuse Prince Legolas you will be refusing King Thranduil's gift. And if you refuse his gift, he will claim insult and declare against Gondor. Now would that be good for your kingdom or people? To be forced into war that could have been avoided- and by their king, no less!"
"I understand the consequences to my actions," Aragorn muttered, "but I cannot marry the Prince."
"Then it is war! War for no reason save your inability to make a simple sacrifice!"
"This is no simple sacrifice, Father, and you know it! I have been taught to love and respect others- how can I do that when I'm forced to marry a complete stranger? I have never met this Prince! I cannot marry whom I do not love, let alone a stranger!"
"Even if the result is war?"
"Even so."
Elrond shook his head. "I cannot force you to accept King Thranduil's gift, no matter how I may wish to. But please, when Legolas arrives tomorrow be courteous; do not dismiss him outright, but give him a fair chance. You will have a few days before his father arrives to decide your path."
Reluctantly, his foster son nodded. "Very well. But three days is not much time. What shall we tell Thranduil if I still wish to refuse?"
"Please," Elrond groaned. "Don't ask. I cannot imagine anything that will help us when the time comes."
A/N: Did you like it, hate it, what? More will explained later, but until then there's a nice little button down to your left.
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine!
Author's Note: This is my first LOTR fic and first slash fic, so go easy on me, please! Also, I'm not certain if I should continue this, so please review! Um, let's see. sorry about the grammar and spelling mistakes, but I don't have a beta reader. Any offers? I need one! Oh, yeah. Sorry about this chapter being so short, but if there's enough interest then I'll make them longer, so if you like it please let me know!
"No." The words were spoken softly but firmly, and Elrond sighed. He felt a headache coming on-he had just lost the last one and did not wish for another-but it was unlikely Aragorn would remain calm much longer. In attempt to stall the outburst that was certain to come, Elrond took the message and tucked it in his robes.
"Aragorn, please. King Thranduil will not simply accept no as an answer, and though you do not wish to marry, you may have no choice. Such is the way of royal marriages, and both you and Legolas are royalty."
Aragorn shook his head. The future king was as stubborn as Thranduil and would resist a forced marriage, but truly he had no choice. After all, if Thranduil's coronation gift was refused the result would be war, started simply by an insult to Mirkwood's king by Gondor's. Elrond shook his head and sighed again. Why did Thranduil's gift have to be his son, Prince Legolas? True, a union between Mirkwood and Gondor would be of great advantage and strength, but why had he not contacted Elrond first? Why had he not asked?
But then again, Thranduil never asked-he demanded- and his demands were meant to be followed. Even by Elrond.
Aloud and to his foster son, he said, "You have not yet met Legolas. Perhaps if you met him..." but Aragorn was already shaking his head.
"No! I have no wish to marry- especially to an elf I have never met! I understand that the alliance would be powerful and strong, and that it would ease my peoples' hearts to see me married before my coronation, but I cannot agree! It is not only unfair to me, but to Prince Legolas as well!"
"Royalty rarely arranges marriages in any other fashion, though I understand your unease. But Aragorn, if you refuse Prince Legolas you will be refusing King Thranduil's gift. And if you refuse his gift, he will claim insult and declare against Gondor. Now would that be good for your kingdom or people? To be forced into war that could have been avoided- and by their king, no less!"
"I understand the consequences to my actions," Aragorn muttered, "but I cannot marry the Prince."
"Then it is war! War for no reason save your inability to make a simple sacrifice!"
"This is no simple sacrifice, Father, and you know it! I have been taught to love and respect others- how can I do that when I'm forced to marry a complete stranger? I have never met this Prince! I cannot marry whom I do not love, let alone a stranger!"
"Even if the result is war?"
"Even so."
Elrond shook his head. "I cannot force you to accept King Thranduil's gift, no matter how I may wish to. But please, when Legolas arrives tomorrow be courteous; do not dismiss him outright, but give him a fair chance. You will have a few days before his father arrives to decide your path."
Reluctantly, his foster son nodded. "Very well. But three days is not much time. What shall we tell Thranduil if I still wish to refuse?"
"Please," Elrond groaned. "Don't ask. I cannot imagine anything that will help us when the time comes."
A/N: Did you like it, hate it, what? More will explained later, but until then there's a nice little button down to your left.