Second chances
By Sinful Starlet
Chapter Seven - Unpleasant truths
Disclaimer: see chapter one if you're really that interested, but once more for the record (all together now!) - Not mine, never will be, anything recognisable belongs to Tolkien and a very happy publishing company!
Rating: Still PG-13 unfortunately, I haven't worked out how to write angst with higher ratings yet! *SS*
Author's note: Poor Legolas! He thought he'd made a great new friend, but there is something that he doesn't know about him yet. *SS*
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Chapter Seven - Unpleasant truths
Summary: Story continues. Legolas has now met Aragorn and they are journeying together, but how will he react when he finds out that his new friend is the one person in the world that he should have cause to hate? *SS*
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The guards kept apart from the other two, one riding in front, one behind, but always keeping a respectful distance, well-trained enough not to attempt to eavesdrop. Legolas and Aragorn shared many stories as they rode that last distance together for two more days, always maintaining some severity given the seriousness of the council that they were both due to attend, but light enough to make the journey pleasant enough. Legolas shared much about his early life and later travels, speaking as little as possible about Rivendell, though at least saying that he knew Elrond's family well.
Aragorn in turn, revealed much about his life, and ultimately, the one thing most dear to him. He did not at first know whether or not to confide in Legolas about Arwen, as new a friend as he was, but he ultimately decided it could not do any harm. He began quite generally talking about Lórien and Rivendell, and the time that he had spent at Elrond's house, before he got a little more specific. "I told you that I was Lord Elrond's foster son", he started, causing Legolas to turn to face him as they rode on, sensing that this was something important that Aragorn was trying to say, "but he is not the only source of my connection with that family".
"You said that you were acquainted with them", he went on, "indeed you have spoken of the Lord and his sons Elladan and Elrohir...but are you at all acquainted with their sister, Arwen?" If he hadn't been the elf he was, Legolas would probably have fallen off his horse at that point, but he just managed to maintain control, though he felt as if a sliver of ice had been suddenly been stabbed into him as he waited in apprehension to hear what he was already dreading. "But a little", he lied, "she is much in Lothlórien I believe".
"Indeed", Aragorn replied, "that is in fact, where I first encountered her five years ago, but we have become better acquainted since then". "What did you think of her when you saw her?", Aragorn asked, and Legolas inwardly gasped with the pain of his concealment now. "I thought her...", he hesitated, unable to find words indifferent enough, "very fair", he said at last, with some difficulty, "certainly well worthy of the name 'Undomiel' which I believe has been bestowed upon her". "Aye", Aragorn said with a sigh in his voice, "she is without doubt the Evenstar of her people, but she is more even than that to me".
"We became friends over time", Aragorn went on, not knowing what pain he was causing the young elf beside him, "for four years we were often in each other's company, and......I confess I could not help but begin to feel deeply for her, though in truth I think I loved her from the first moment I saw her". "For years she was very guarded with her heart", Aragorn said, missing the myriad emotions that ran across Legolas' face, "but in the end she came to care for me too". Aragorn had no way of knowing the hurt that he would cause the elf with his next four words, though they felt like a dagger through the heart to Legolas, "She is my betrothed".
The words rang round Legolas' ears again and again, it seemed like time stopped and all that was left was those words to torment him. The thought that he had waited so long to be with Arwen only to lose her to someone else, even to someone that he had begun to think of as a 'friend'. He almost thought his heart would break right there and then, if it were not for the reservation in Aragorn's voice. "Though I do not know when, if ever, we will be able to marry". "Why would you say so?", Legolas asked, pressing him for something, anything that might give him the tiniest glimmer of hope.
"Lord Elrond will not give up his daughter so easily to a mortal, even if that mortal is his foster son", Aragorn replied, the sadness evident in his voice, "he will not agree to the marriage until I am King of Gondor, and I fear not even my birthright will make that an easy title to come by". Legolas felt that he ought to offer some words of comfort to Aragorn, but he could find none, not when this man was potentially the means of ruining every dream and hope he had ever had. Somewhat luckily for him, it was at that moment, that they reached their first sight of the house, and it was this that he managed to say to Aragorn in return for his admission. Aragorn seemed to take some comfort in the sight, and Legolas wished he could too, but he was now filled with too much doubt and heartache to even notice the healing air of Imladris.
*
The first of Legolas' guards had reached the house a few minutes before his master and Aragorn so by the time they too reached the courtyard at the front of the house, Elrond himself had come out to greet the two. Aragorn looked happy to see him immediately, but Legolas was a little less open. He was not sure how Elrond would react to seeing him again, even though he knew that he was coming. He need not have worried though, as after embracing his foster son, the lord did the same with him. Legolas let out a deep breath that he hadn't realised that he'd been holding then, beginning to feel at least a little comforted.
"You have endured your exile well, my friend", Elrond said, quietly enough so that only Legolas would hear, "you are indeed not the young boy who rode away from here so many years ago. I have proudly heard tales of your accomplishments, and have greatly missed your company. I would talk more to you later when we may have some privacy". He released Legolas then, stepping back from him but resting his hands on the younger elf's shoulders, "I am glad indeed to welcome you back to Imladris". For all his smiles and words of welcome though, Elrond said nothing of Arwen, something Legolas noted only too clearly.
He too had missed the elven lord's company though, and as such he gratefully thanked him for welcoming him back. He could also tell that there were words to be spoken between Elrond and Aragorn, who was standing back a respectful distance while the two elves talked. Legolas begged his leave then and went to attend to the horses and settle himself into his rooms. This task he actually passed on to his two attendants once he was out of sight and earshot of Elrond and Aragorn, then he crept silently back to overhear some of their conversation. It was not a very princely thing to do he realised, but he felt compelled to do so, if it gave him the chance of catching anything about Arwen.
He stayed just far enough away to catch the words being spoken between the two, and found they were talking about him. "He found me actually", Aragorn was saying, "about three days ago, I had found little news of the wraiths so I decided to ride back with him then". "And what did you think of him?", that was Elrond. "I found him very...silent", Aragorn said, prompting a look of confusion on Legolas' face, "he was always polite and an attentive listener, but he did not offer too much of personal detail". "Still", he said, before Elrond could reply, "I suppose I should be used to the somewhat guarded nature of the elves by now!"
"Indeed", Elrond replied, though there was something other than jest in his voice, Legolas noted. "Other than that, he seemed perfectly reasonable", Aragorn said, "and I should not be sorry to know him better". That seemed to satisfy Elrond for the time being, and the subject quickly moved on. "And how is Frodo?", Aragorn asked in concern. "He is healing", Elrond replied, "he will bear the mark of that blade all his life, but he no longer suffers from it. The other hobbits have been visiting him constantly", here he paused for a second, and Legolas' heart leapt when he heard his next few words, "...and Arwen has not yet left his side".
She was in Rivendell then! Legolas was both excited and a little nervous from the news, as well as feeling the slightest pangs of jealousy. Who was this 'Frodo' that she was so reluctant to leave? Was he to have to compete with him as well as Aragorn for the affections of his lady? Unfortunately, his surprise had left him less careful, and he moved around a little, just enough to alert the elven lord to his presence. Elrond discretely glanced in the direction that he had heard the sound come from, catching a flash of Legolas' tell-tale golden hair - uncommon amongst the elves of Imladris.
He had half-suspected him to sneak back anyway, so he was not too surprised, and he certainly knew why he had done it. He didn't want to hurt the prince any more, but he felt he had to let him know how things were now. "Come, Estel", he said at last to Aragorn, a little louder so that he was certain Legolas would overhear, "I'll take you to see them both. Frodo has been asking for you and Arwen will certainly be glad to see you". He felt cruel saying those words, but he was unsure how much Aragorn had revealed to Legolas about his relationship with Arwen so he made sure that the prince would now know, so it would not come as an unfortunate surprise later on.
*
Legolas left his hiding place shortly after the other two disappeared, wandering somewhat in a daze, unsure how to react to everything that he had heard in the last few days. He found his way up to his room in the end, changing into the garments that had been laid out for him; one of the sets of robes kept by Elrond for visiting dignitaries and royalty as a mark of respect. He dismissed the two attendants, who still seemed determined to wait on him, telling them to explore Imladris for themselves. They could both tell that there was something else going on, the elder of the two knowing Legolas quite well, but they both knew not to ask. If the prince wished to hear their counsel, he would ask for it, if not, then they were bound to leave him to his thoughts.
Some hours later, he was walking the corridors of Elrond's home when he met a young servant of the house who had come looking for him. He followed the female elf through the house until she reached one chamber in particular, announcing him and then leaving on some other errand. He recognised Elrond's voice bidding him to enter, and he did so, covering up his surprise at the number of people in the room. He realised that these must be the hobbits Aragorn and Elrond had spoken of, for though Legolas had never met any of that kindred himself, he knew enough of the stories of the little people to recognise those he saw.
In fact there were four of them, three of them sitting round the bed which occupied most of the room, and was occupied by the fourth hobbit whom he guessed correctly to be Frodo. Elrond introduced Sam, Merry, Pippin and Frodo in particular (as the heir of Bilbo Baggins) to him before he introduced Legolas to them in return. He observed that the one called Sam seemed to be particularly in awe of him, the sound of his voice as he spoke his words of greeting betrayed that much. He felt a little sorry for the hobbit who was clearly finding Rivendell and the elves a little overwhelming. The regal robes that Legolas had been obliged to wear were not exactly designed to make Sam feel any easier either! "Mae govannen cundu Legolas", Frodo said, speaking last of the four, in a slightly halting mixture of Quenya and Sindarin Elvish.
Legolas smiled warmly, thanking him for the gesture. "Well met indeed Frodo", he replied amiably, "your uncle Bilbo has clearly taught you well, though you need not call me 'prince' - to my friends 'Legolas' is always good enough". "There is another here who claims acquaintance with you", Elrond said, breaking the temporary silence in the room, "if I may summon them?" 'It could not yet be Arwen could it?', Legolas thought, and he could tell that the elven lord was reading his reaction at that very moment. He decided that it must be someone else, thinking probably either Aragorn or one of Elrond's sons, but he was surprised and delighted when the figure stepped back into the room from the balcony where they had been waiting in silence the whole time.
"Mithrandir!", Legolas spoke excitedly, crossing the room to embrace the elderly wizard who was a good friend to Legolas when he ever had the opportunity to visit Mirkwood. "I am pleased to see you too, my friend", Gandalf said, greeting him warmly, "I know your people are renowned for their agelessness, but it never ceases to amaze me", he said after a short pause, "how little the centuries seem to affect your appearance - you still look every bit the young, spirited prince I first visited some thousand years ago". "Except perhaps in the eyes", he added, seeing Legolas take some slight offence at his words, "the wisdom of your years shows through there".
"Half a moment", came a hobbit's voice through all of this, Pippin's as it turned out, "you said a 'thousand years ago'?!" "Indeed", Legolas said, with a smile at the hobbit's confused appearance, "however young I may seem to you", he said, meaning it just as well for Elrond as for the hobbit, "I am not far from my three thousandth year upon this earth!" Pippin and Sam in particular, seemed quite startled by that admission, and soon all were laughing at their surprised expressions. "I am pleased to see you, Mithrandir", Legolas said after the laughter had subsided, "but", he said, turning to face Elrond, "I had thought that you spoke of someone else, my lord".
The look that passed between Gandalf and Elrond at that moment was not lost on Legolas, and he could sense Elrond's apprehension at the question. "Is Estel no longer here?", he asked, letting them off the hook, and Elrond's sigh of relief was almost audible. "He has gone to prepare for the evening meal", Elrond said, mask of serenity returning to his face, emotions safely hidden again, "as should we all", he added, as a sign that they all should be leaving, giving Frodo a chance to get up and ready himself. "Lord Elrond?", Frodo said, calling them all back in the end before they left the room. "Could you give this to the Lady Arwen when you see her?", he asked, handing the elf a small envelope.
"It is nothing much", he said, a little embarrassed, "but I wished to thank her for watching over me during my sickness". Elrond smiled at the hobbit, but handed the envelope back to him, "You may thank her yourself, Frodo", he said kindly, "when you see her tonight at the feast". Frodo nodded his thanks and they all did leave then, the hobbits scurrying back to their rooms, and Gandalf to his. Legolas also made his excuses to Elrond and walked off after Gandalf, hoping to catch up to him for a moment. Elrond watched the young prince for quite some time until he became almost a dot at the end of the hall way. There had been something there to worry him after all. He wasn't sure who he was more concerned for any more, but he was certain of one thing - Legolas was still absolutely in love with Arwen.
Wow - was it just me or did that seem long to you too?! Oh well, nice appearance by the hobbits I thought. Anyway, hope ya liked it and I'll try and update again soon *SS*