Title: Two Rivers
Author: Hattie, email hattie110@hotmail.com
Pairings: Aragorn/Legolas
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Set before the war of the ring when Aragorn and Legolas are still relatively young (Aragorn is in his early twenties. Legolas is like a couple of thousand years old, but basically the elfish equivalent of his early twenties) and Aragorn visits Mirkwood. Romance develops, but will a forbidden love survive the obstacles it faces?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story except perhaps some small insignificant ones (they're the ones whose names you don't recognise!). I don't own Middle Earth or anything in it. Oh yeah, and I don't have permission to do this but I'm making no profit from it, so it's ok. Hopefully.
Spoilers: I don't think so…
Authors note: Ok, Arwen doesn't actually feature in this story 'cause at the time it's set, she was in Lothlorien, so neither Legolas nor Aragorn will have met her yet. I'll let you decide whether Aragorn later pursues a relationship with Legolas or ends up with Arwen like he does in the books. It's up to you! Oh, and I'm also assuming that at the time this is set, Aragorn does not know of his heritage, although I suppose it would make no difference if he did. This is one of my first stories, so please send me feedback!!! Flames will be donated to Saruman, to help him light his huge forges, and we wouldn't want that, would we? Oh, and if you like it, I might write a sequel set during the war of the ring, about the first time the love struck pair meet since this story. Tell me what you think. Anyway, I'm going to shut up now and let you read the story before you very sensibly tell me to sod off. Thanks!
PART ONE
The gates to the elven palace in Mirkwood appeared unexpectedly, becoming visible suddenly as they turned a corner and marking the end of the long journey from Rivendell. A narrow path led straight to the ivy-wound wrought iron gates. Elrond smiled at the sight, and he turned to face his adopted son and other travelling companions.
'At last my friends the journey is over! Come, let us tarry no more for the music of the wood elves calls for us!' He turned his steed back to the path and began picking his way along the narrow, stony trail. As they approached, the sound of elvish voices singing could be heard, and as they reached the gates the words could be made out.
A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
Silivren penna miriel
O menel aglar elenath
Na-chaered palan-diriel
O galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
Nef aear, si nef aearon!
As the verse of the song finished a tall elf with white blonde hair and icy blue eyes stepped out from beneath the cover of trees to the left of the path. He pressed his palms together and bowed as Elrond dismounted from his stamping horse. The other elf straightened up.
'Mirkwood welcomes you, Lord Elrond. My name is Ringtalath. I will escort you to the house.' Before Elrond could reply, Ringtalath turned to the gates and, with his arms raised, murmured a few words in the sindarin tongue of the wood elves. Silently, the gates swung open, and the path to the palace was revealed.
The eyes of the young human Aragorn widened in wonder, and he urged his steed on, eager to be out of the forbidding forest. Once inside the gates, the foreboding in his heart lifted. The air was sweeter here, and less dark. Tall trees wound with ivy rose on each side of the path, their boughs locking overhead to form a tunneled arch, which led to the front door of the palace. The ground was carpeted in grass and wildflowers, and for the first time since he had entered the forest, Aragorn heard birdsong. The magic of the elves allowed no evil into this place.
Ringtalath led them to a paved courtyard in front of the palace, and a company of elves who had been standing by the front door took their horses from them. The building itself rose tall in front of them, but was unobtrusive. Aragorn's first impression was of a giant tree house. Many trees grew about it and indeed formed parts of it, and ivy and wildflowers sprawled across its semi-hidden walls. It looked to be a part of the trees itself, and it was in places difficult to see where the forest ended and the palace began. They were led inside. Ringtalath turned to face them.
'Let me show you to your rooms.'