The days following his argument with Legolas were the hardest Aragorn had ever known. The elf avoided him completely, sitting far away from him at meals and ceasing to visit their old haunts. Aragorn felt the loss of his presence as a physical pain – he had a tight feeling in his chest and throat, as though he had to swallow back tears all of the time. But tears did not come, only the continual dull ache of his loss. He was permanently torn between his desperate desire to have Legolas by his side once more and his stubborn pride telling him to stick with what he had already said, and so the situation continued, each day more tortured than the last.

Legolas was in similar pain. He had not slept for days, concentrating instead on the buzzing thoughts in his head. He had not known it was possible to feel such pain – Aragorn's words went round and round his brain as he replayed the argument over and over again, coming to the same conclusion each time. Aragorn could not bring himself to love him, could not bring himself to love a male. Aragorn had come to a fork in his life path and had chosen the opinions of others over Legolas. Legolas was only now beginning to understand how it was possible to die of a broken heart.

But though both man and elf felt as wretched as they ever had before, good comes of every situation and such was the case with their argument. Without Legolas for company, Aragorn began to spend his days in analysis of the time he had spent with Legolas, trying to work out exactly what his own feelings were. Lying in his bed at night he chased the same thoughts in endless circles, arguing with himself, trying to form some conclusion.

'He makes you happy. He cheers you up.'

'That doesn't mean anything. Elladan and Elrohir make you happy. Elrond makes you happy. It's not just him.'

'He makes me laugh.'

'So do all the elves.'

'But it's different with him. I feel like he enjoys me, rather than simply finding me amusing.'

'Do you really believe that?'

'Yes. He truly did love me…I'm sure he did. He wanted me to be happy.'

'Is that so? Or did he simply see you as an enjoyable novelty for an immortal Prince? After all, what did he have to lose? He will live forever, but you will die and then no longer be a problem to him. Do you believe he would make the final sacrifice for you? Do you believe he would die for you?'

And that, thought Aragorn, was the crux of the problem. Could he ever mean as much to Legolas as Legolas meant to him? He would give his whole being to the elf, but what would happen when he died? Would the elf live on to forget him several thousand years into the future when he was married to an elf queen? He could not bear the thought. But then why had Legolas initiated this…romance?

'But he didn't. You kissed him first, remember?' the little voice whispered in his head. 'By the fountain?'

The fountain! Aragorn remembered. Legolas' words…'The fountain of Thranduil exposes true feelings…'

How could he not have thought about it before? Leaping from his bed, in the same way as he had done the first time he visited the fountain, and pulling a shirt over the loose shorts he already wore he considered the best way to get to the fountain. He faced the door and paused for half a second before spinning on his heel and striding out to the balcony. He leaped down in much the same way as he had before, and headed off at a loping jog in the direction of the garden. The night was stiflingly warm, and heavy grey clouds hung low over the trees. A storm will break before the night is out, he thought as he ran. He soon came to the ivy-covered wall, but it was not until he had found the door that the flaw in his plan came to him. How did he open the door? There was no lock or handle that he could feel, and he remembered Legolas uttering a word on his visit, though he had no recollection of what it was. Sighing, he decided there was only one course of action; he bent his knees and sprung upwards, grabbing handfuls of ivy from the wall. Grunting inelegantly he scrambled the last couple of feet and was finally atop the wall. Looking around and breathing heavily he suddenly froze. Sitting on the edge of the fountain was Legolas. He trailed his fingers in the water, which was unfathomably dark in the moonless night. The garden had an ominous feeling, it was waiting for the storm, and it was only then that Aragorn was aware of the smell of rain. The storm would break soon. Legolas himself was cast in shadow, though his hair still looked silver. He was not wearing his usual tunic of green suede and silver velvet, but a loose white shirt, which hung to his thighs, and white breeches that came down to his knees. He sat with one hand hugging his crossed legs to his chest, and his chin rested on his knees. The rest of his legs were bare, his slender calves curving to his pale feet. He was staring into the water as he swirled it to and fro with his long fingers. Breathing out shakily, Aragorn leaped silently from the wall. His sudden movement alerted Legolas, who leaped quickly to his feet. At the same moment a huge crack of thunder and a flash of lightning split the sky.

'What are you doing here?' Legolas' voice was taut and guarded. Aragorn took a step forward, feeling thoroughly wrong footed even as huge and heavy drops of rain began slowly to fall from the sky.

'I, uh, I…it was just something you said once.'

Legolas raised his eyebrows as he looked at the man, though his chin remained lowered, his arms defensively folded.

'What was that?' His voice was cool now; he was choosing how to play the situation.

'Just about…nothing.' Aragorn froze suddenly, realizing what had happened last time he had said that. Legolas, however, simply glanced away, but not before Aragorn saw the spasm of pain flitter across his beautiful face.

'In that case I will go. Do not let yourself be seen here.' Arms still folded, looking at the ground, Legolas moved towards the door, but Aragorn stepped into his path and grabbed his arm, causing the elf's head to snap up suddenly.

'No Legolas, not this time. I have to talk to you.'

'What can you possibly want to say?' The rain was heavier now, and thunder continued to roll ominously.

'Everything that I didn't say last time.' Aragorn had to shout to be heard over a crack of thunder that split the sky, and the rain became torrential. Within seconds Legolas' golden hair was soaking wet and plastered to his neck and back. Rivulets of rain ran down his face, clogging his eyelashes and dripping off of his nose and chin. Aragorn knew he must look the same.

'I don't want to hear it.' Legolas turned towards the door again, but Aragorn grabbed him with both arms, stopping his progress.

'But you must. 'Tis important, Legolas…'

'Aragorn, there is nothing you can say that I want to listen to.'

'I don't believe you. You could have broken my grip by now if you really wished to.' Aragorn stepped closer to the elf, so that they were only a foot apart. Legolas' eyes widened, but he made no move. Aragorn slowly, carefully released his grip and let the elf go.

'So perceptive.' Legolas folded his arms and turned away from Aragorn to face the fountain. 'What have you come to say?'

'I've been thinking…thinking about, well, us. You, actually.'

Legolas smiled a twisted, bitter sort of smile, and continued to stare at the ground, tracing a half moon with his big toe. Aragorn tried to ignore the graceful curve of his shoulder, accentuated by the soaking wet, see through shirt plastered to his back. He swallowed and tried to continue.

'And I…Oh I'm just so damn sorry, Legolas. All of the things I said…I shouldn't have said them…'

'Did you mean them?' Legolas was looking at him now, eyes peculiarly darkened.

'Huh?'

'Did you mean them? Those things you said?'

'No! I mean…of course not.'

'Do not lie to me Aragorn.'

'I…Legolas, listen to me. I didn't mean what I said…I mean, those things weren't the truth, weren't what I really wanted to say.'

'Oh?' Legolas sounded curious and sarcastic, hopeful and guarded. A medley of emotions passed across his face in a split second, faster than Aragorn could read them. His eyes looked huge and dark.

'No. What I meant to say was…was…' Now that the time had come, Aragorn found saying what he wanted to say unbearably difficult. He was scared of sounding petty or childish, but he needed to know.

'Legolas, I was scared.'

'Of what?'

'Of losing you.'

'What?' Legolas sounded incredulous, and slightly angry.

'Not yet.' spoke Aragorn hurriedly. 'But some day…when I'm gone…'

'Aragorn, you are making no sense. Either say what you want to say, or leave me alone.'

Suddenly, Aragorn felt his shyness evaporate and anger take its place. He rounded on Legolas, his eyes glinting.

'Fine. Do you want to know what I was really afraid of? I was afraid that you didn't care for me, couldn't care for me, as much as I care for you. I thought…still think that I am just a toy, here for your amusement for a mortal lifetime until I die and you are free to love whomever you chose. Don't you see? You would consume my entire being, Legolas, but my life would pass in one blink of your immortal eye. I'm scared…scared that far into the next millennium I will be not even a memory to you. I can't bear it. Tell me it's not true, Legolas? Tell me that you would give to me what I would give to you…that you would be mortal for me?'

Legolas' eyes had widened in horror, his hand covered his open mouth. Tears made his eyes gleam, and he could not reply for a moment.

'I love you Legolas. I love you so damn much. Tell me you love me too? Tell me what you believe…' tears choked Aragorn's voice and ran down his cheeks, the warm salty drops throwing into sharp relief the coldness of the rain.

'Oh, Aragorn' Legolas gasped the words, and took a faltering step closer to the man. 'I'm sorry…so sorry…oh, I do love you…I would die for you…how could you not have known? How could I not have shown you?' Legolas reached Aragorn, anguish in his face. He paused, uncertainty making him falter. Aragorn closed the final distance, wrapping his soaking body around the elf's, holding him close. He pressed his cheek against the wet blonde head of his companion and re-instated lover, tears flowing unashamedly down his face. Legolas pulled away slightly, and looked into Aragorn's eyes.

'Aragorn, the forest – it's singing for us!'

With these words he reached up and kissed the man. Lips and tongues met in a fierce clash, as man and elf tried to drink in as much of each other as they could. Rain poured down their faces, mingling with their kiss, and Aragorn's hands roamed over Legolas' back, feeling the slender curves of his shoulders, waist and hips through the soaked shirt. Legolas reached up and started frantically to unbutton the shirt of his lover. He broke off the kiss for one breathless moment.

'Come…my room…empty…'

Gasping and shivering, the two left the garden and headed off in the direction of Legolas' chamber.