Disclaimer: not mine, don't sue
Dedication: Maia and Jadey… I'm so glad both of you guys are okay now! *hugs*
The silence was deadly, brutally suffocating.
The figures were motionless, trapped in a web of pain, deceit and confusion.
"Aragorn?" A soft, trembling voice broke the smothering, strangling atmosphere, unconsciously freeing the figures from their invisible bounds.
Turning around slowly, almost reluctantly, Aragorn had to force himself to gaze into his lover's eyes, to witness the disbelief, the anguish in the violet orbs.
"I-" Aragorn swallowed heavily, an unbelievable weight sinking inside him, coiling and twisting and tormenting him with the sin he had committed.
"I did not mean to," he uttered desperately, his eyes pleading for forgiveness.
"No," Legolas whispered in shock, his eyes wide with horror. "This is not happening," he said despairingly, backing away from his lover.
"Legolas, please!" Aragorn choked out, frantically grasping the elf's arm.
Reacting with pure terror, Legolas shook off Aragorn's hold violently.
"Let go of me!" Legolas shrieked hysterically, nearly stumbling as he rapidly widened the distance between them.
"That's right! Haven't you done enough?" Faramir yelled righteously at Aragorn, rushing to step between the couple, presenting a physical barrier between them.
"You!" Aragorn spat out, his eyes filled with repulsion. "You are the cause of everything!"
Advancing furiously towards Faramir, Aragorn roughly shoved him onto the floor.
Staring desperately at Legolas, he gestured violently at the fallen figure that was groaning with pain.
"Can you not see?" Aragorn implored Legolas. "He will not rest until he destroys us."
"No," Legolas shook his head slowly, his eyes brimming, shimmering with unshed tears. "You have destroyed us."
Aragorn reeled back as if he had been dealt a physical blow. The color seeped away from his face as the meaning of his lover's words sank in, stabbing at his heart, his soul.
His eyes wild and frantic, Aragorn raced though solutions, explanations in his mind, searching for something, anything that could possibly aid his hopeless situation.
"I will find a way to make this work!" Aragorn argued vainly, clutching recklessly at straws. "I will do anything to keep us together, to keep us alive!"
His breath hitching almost imperceptibly, Legolas smiled bitterly, struck by the hollowness of Aragorn's protests, the hopelessness that pervaded their situation.
"You must fulfill your duties towards her," Legolas said coldly, firmly, refusing to meet Aragorn's pleading, desperate gaze.
"But I love you," Aragorn emphasized each word with a heartbreaking despair, overwhelmed with the futility of it all.
As if oblivious to Aragorn's words, Legolas continued, "From now on, our love-"
A choked sob escaped from Legolas's lips as he inhaled deeply and tried to say his speech in the previous emotionless vein.
"What we had shall just be a memory," Legolas whispered, a silent, crystalline tear slipping down his cheek.
The tear twinkled like a diamond as light fell upon it, shimmering with all the radiance and brilliance of a rainbow.
As if mesmerized, Aragorn reached out a hand to touch the tear, caressing Legolas's cheek.
Unexpectedly, Legolas did not react agitatedly and adversely as he had mere moments ago.
Instead, he stayed motionless, seemingly not reacting to Aragorn's touch. Closing his eyes, Legolas felt the loss of warmth as Aragorn moved away his hand, trying to retain the remembrance of that last touch, that last caress.
Clenching his hand into a fist, Aragorn pressed the tear-stained fist against his lips.
The last vestige of hope, the last spark of life fell from his eyes as he slowly departed the chamber.
"Once upon a memory." Aragorn's bitter words drifted to Legolas who continued to stay immobile even as his heart shattered into a million pieces.
A/N: Ta-da! The meaning of the title is finally revealed! Hee.
Mydogisfudge- *beams* no cliffhanger this time… hope you liked!
Lolita- woah! Violent reaction… hee.
Judy- *gasps* How did you know the bunnies were totally running amok?! They're like writing the fic by themselves… lol.
Cheysuli- *grins* with both Aragorn and Faramir out of the running in the comfort-Legolas-sweepstakes, I guess we lovely fans can hop in to do some comforting ourselves… hee… and thanks so much for recommending my fic!
MoroTheWolfGod- yep, poor Legolas! That kinda sums everything up… heh.
Vuaryn- *winks* anything is possible in this fic… hopefully it'll continue to entertain you!
Ami Winner- *muses* heh… I hope it doesn't get more melodramatic than a soap opera! Lol.
Dark Whispers- *beams* Thanks! I only have a vague idea of where everything is going too…heehee.
Cerasi- *sniffles* I'm not evil… heh, okay, I am. *beams* I hope you're not going through withdrawal yet! Oh and I put the breaklines to signal like a different perspective of the same scene… I was kinda visualizing the scene like a movie. ^_^
Mako- *hugs* I hope you have fun with your new 15 yr old activities and your new account!
Lady of Legolas- *grins* miracles can happen… hee, I simply can't kill Legolas… I'll cry buckets just reading a fic where he dies…
OrliBloomedMe- eek! Sorry for the long wait! But I had exams! *crosses fingers* hopefully, everything went well… I hope you like this chapter!
Lalavava- *grins* I don't think Legolas will be choosing anyone anytime soon… there'll be lots of brooding and angst first… oh and don't fall off your computer chair!
Tenshiamanda- *guilty look* Suspend your disbelief? Heehee, after all, this is AU so I'm kinda twisting everything to suit the fic… so don't expect much logic in this fic. ^_^
Dammit- *beams* nah, I don't think you're cruel… and things will be resolved… eventually!
SkyCorker- heh, yep, Aragorn's mistake is really coming back to bite him in the ass.
Nibintaur Greenleaf- *hugs* loved the sound effects… and I really appreciate your constant support!
MisstikalElf- *giggles* "Oh, thecthie (sexy with a lisp)" … that completely cracked me up… *hugs* thank you so much for being so sweet!
Devildragon- *gulps* twin blades? Sounds scary…. Heehee, I'm sure Legolas (and me!) both appreciate your support!
Jadey- loved your update, hope you enjoyed this chapter! *hugs* and we lovely girls can definitely go do some comforting and cuddling... ^_^
Ryan- I hope you liked the fics I recommended esp Jadey's and Cheysuli's… hee, yes, Duncan (from Blue) is pretty cute…
In Dreams- *blinks* why 11 hour and 7 mins?… any particular reason? You've made me all curious now! Hee.
Corliamat- Glad you discovered and liked this fic… thanks for your kind words!
MaluElvellon- Eek! Sorry! *big hug* I didn't mean to give you a nervous breakdown!
Slowbum360- *beams* glad you liked the angst cos there's plenty more to come… heh.
Bsxjtlg- *giggles* you're such an angst-loving person! *blushes* thank you for being so sweet!
Sapphire17- *guilty smile* yep, I'm terrible to poor Legolas… he hasn't done anything bad but he keeps suffering and suffering and… heh, you get the idea.
LadyIsabelle- hee! Um, she's not even mentioned in this chapter so we'll let her live for a while more? Calm down! *beams*
Squire Kali- *giggles* Everybody in this fic in a talkshow… that *would* be an interesting episode… lol.
Begita Larcos- *blushes* inspirational? You're too sweet!