Part 40
Legolas slowly opened his sapphire eyes, grateful it was only a dim light that came to him. He did not attempt to make any sudden movements, for he knew he was injured. He could only remember things up until he was stabbed and nothing afterward.
" It is good to see you awaken ", came a silky voice.
The Lady Galadriel stood at the foot of his bed, her golden hair rippling down her back and over her shoulders, her pale face adorned by two azure eyes matching Legolas'.He began to try to sit up, but she put forth a hand to stop him.
" Be still else you wish to harm yourself."
Legolas sunk back down into his pillow.
" You are grievously wounded, Prince of Mirkwood. It has been a week since you were last awake, and only two mornings ago I was brought to your aid by Mithrandir."
" I thank you for your help, my lady. It must be a chore to leave Lorien and venture here, to the dreary halls of Men."
" It is not my home, but it has it's own beauty if you care to look for it ", she said wisely." Lord Aragorn and Master Gimli will be most pleased to see you and know that your are well."
" Do they not know I live? " he questioned.
" Aragorn had lost hope while the Master Dwarf kept faith in you and the Valar ", she said with a smile at mention of Gimli. " We did not promise them anything for we were not sure of anything, and it is cruel to give false hope."
" I do not think Lord Aragorn would care if there hope to be had or not ", Legolas said, casting his eyes down, a sadness in his voice.
" Do not even think that Lord Aragorn would want rejoice in your death or suffering, Prince of Mirkwood ", Galadriel said almost harshly, but kept her calm tone. " He cares much for you."
" That is not what was implied before we parted for our separate battles ", Legolas argued, his eyes still downcast.
" What is implied is does not always have truth behind it."
" I wish to believe that there was some truth to our friendship. But he does not seem to take any worth in me."
" Anger sets one to speak before thinking. He regrets whatever happened, I assure you. I saw it in his eyes even as I came upon this place."
" I do not know why. What he wished for nearly came true."
Galadriel paused for a moment. She knew of what he spoke, and the whole ordeal that took place in the armory room, all the harsh words.
" You regret it as well, Legolas. I know you do and that you are hurt by it. But do not despair. You will see that it is not as you think."
And with that, Galadriel left him silently.
Later, Gimli came finally to see him. He was ecstatic to know that Legolas was alright, and sworn to secrecy by Galadriel not to tell anyone it was so. He carefully hugged the Elf, who placed one arm around the short, bulky frame of the Dwarf.
" It is good to see you again, my friend ", Gimli said.
Legolas grinned at him with mutual gladness.
" I knew you would pull through. Or course you would, you're the crazy Elf. They cannot rid me of your that easily", Gimli chuckled.Legolas surprised the Dwarf and himself with a light laugh as well.
" My, Aragorn will be at rest to see you again. That man has been a nervous wreck all week. The only reason he ate anything was because he was brought food. He refused to leave you until the fair Lady Galadriel came."
imli flushed slightly at the mention of Lady Galadriel. It was known fact amongst the three rescuers that the Dwarf was smitten with her.
" Aragorn? He was here? Nearly all week? " Legolas asked in disbelief.
" Could you not feel him holding your hand? "
Legolas did not answer. He could not believe this. Aragorn hated him. He did, and he had wanted Legolas dead.He finally shook his head after a long pause and silence.
The visit from Gimli had lightened his spirits greatly. The Dwarf finally left after a while, promising to be back tomorrow, if not later the same day. Legolas then waited, after he was gone, for Aragorn.
Aragorn quietly slipped in the room, closing the door behind him. A candle was lit on the table and the window drapes had been drawn back to reveal the night sky. Legolas turned from gazing outside to stare at his new visitor.
And there he was. Aragorn stood frozen just in front of the door, his gray eyes locked with the Elf's. A very heavy silence hung in the air for a while. Neither spoke.
Aragorn was in shock. There was Legolas, sitting up in bed, looking at him. And only a week ago he had been so sure he had lost his best friend. He didn't know what to say.
And then Aragorn strode across the room without a word, and embraced Legolas wordlessly.The Elf flung his arms around the man's neck, his face on Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn buried his face in the Elf's neck, tears escaping him.
It was real. He was alive. Legolas was alive.
The two clung to each other desperately for what seemed like eternity, not speaking, only holding each other. Aragorn wrapped his arms around him, careful not to harm him, just holding his best friend and absorbing everything about him in that moment. His warmth, his tears, his arms around his own neck, his breathing, and with the greatest relief, happiness, and comfort, Aragorn felt the Elf's heart beating against his chest. Oh, he was alive. He was alive, he was alive, and Aragorn kept repeating those three glorious words in his mind.
Legolas felt himself let go as he relaxed in the ranger's arms. He hadn't lost his best friend. He hadn't lost his brother. Aragorn didn't hate him, he loved him. Aragorn loved him. He couldn't stop thinking about that one concept.
They were both weeping now, but for once, their tears were ones of joy not sorrow. Aragorn broke the embrace, cupping Legolas' face in his hands, and pausing with shimmering tears streaming down his face. He stopped just to look at the Elf, just to stare into those brilliant blue eyes, to look at him and to see him and know he was really there, he was really alive. Legolas had tears everywhere as well, but a smile upon his face.
And the two just paused for a moment and smiled at each other. They smiled and stared and wept and needed no words.
Aragorn held Legolas' face in his hands fondly. And then he leaned over slightly and lay his lips upon the Elf's forehead. And they froze their for another moment never to be forgotten. Both kept their eyes closed, tears still falling steadily down their faces, Aragorn holding Legolas' face and keeping his lips upon the Elf's forehead.
And they broke away. Aragorn kneeled, taking the prince's slender hands in his.
" Legolas, I cannot tell you how sorry I am. Please forgive me, I was foolish. I knew not what I spoke of. I meant none of those scornful words ", he pleaded.
" Aragorn, we both said things we did not mean. I forgive you and I only hope you can forgive me. I meant nothing I said as well. And anger makes one foolish, I understand."
Both paused again and gazed at each other, their eyes conveying their remorse, their joy, and their love. And everything was forgiven, though words were again not something needed.
Aragorn settled himself in the chair at Legolas' bedside.
" How are you feeling, mellonin?" he asked.
" Better. Actually not too bad if I keep still."
Aragorn let himself fall against Legolas' shoulder. Legolas chuckled, but then hissed in pain when the ranger absent-mindedly let his hand rest on the Elf's stomach. Aragorn pulled it back instantly.
" What's wrong? " he questioned.
Legolas offered a small smile through a grimace.
" It's all right. The wound is still tender. Do be gentle with me, Aragorn ", he said calmly yet with a smile.
Aragorn smiled guiltily, causing Legolas to stifle a laugh.The Elf offered his hand brotherly and Aragorn clasped it.
Legolas slowly opened his sapphire eyes, grateful it was only a dim light that came to him. He did not attempt to make any sudden movements, for he knew he was injured. He could only remember things up until he was stabbed and nothing afterward.
" It is good to see you awaken ", came a silky voice.
The Lady Galadriel stood at the foot of his bed, her golden hair rippling down her back and over her shoulders, her pale face adorned by two azure eyes matching Legolas'.He began to try to sit up, but she put forth a hand to stop him.
" Be still else you wish to harm yourself."
Legolas sunk back down into his pillow.
" You are grievously wounded, Prince of Mirkwood. It has been a week since you were last awake, and only two mornings ago I was brought to your aid by Mithrandir."
" I thank you for your help, my lady. It must be a chore to leave Lorien and venture here, to the dreary halls of Men."
" It is not my home, but it has it's own beauty if you care to look for it ", she said wisely." Lord Aragorn and Master Gimli will be most pleased to see you and know that your are well."
" Do they not know I live? " he questioned.
" Aragorn had lost hope while the Master Dwarf kept faith in you and the Valar ", she said with a smile at mention of Gimli. " We did not promise them anything for we were not sure of anything, and it is cruel to give false hope."
" I do not think Lord Aragorn would care if there hope to be had or not ", Legolas said, casting his eyes down, a sadness in his voice.
" Do not even think that Lord Aragorn would want rejoice in your death or suffering, Prince of Mirkwood ", Galadriel said almost harshly, but kept her calm tone. " He cares much for you."
" That is not what was implied before we parted for our separate battles ", Legolas argued, his eyes still downcast.
" What is implied is does not always have truth behind it."
" I wish to believe that there was some truth to our friendship. But he does not seem to take any worth in me."
" Anger sets one to speak before thinking. He regrets whatever happened, I assure you. I saw it in his eyes even as I came upon this place."
" I do not know why. What he wished for nearly came true."
Galadriel paused for a moment. She knew of what he spoke, and the whole ordeal that took place in the armory room, all the harsh words.
" You regret it as well, Legolas. I know you do and that you are hurt by it. But do not despair. You will see that it is not as you think."
And with that, Galadriel left him silently.
Later, Gimli came finally to see him. He was ecstatic to know that Legolas was alright, and sworn to secrecy by Galadriel not to tell anyone it was so. He carefully hugged the Elf, who placed one arm around the short, bulky frame of the Dwarf.
" It is good to see you again, my friend ", Gimli said.
Legolas grinned at him with mutual gladness.
" I knew you would pull through. Or course you would, you're the crazy Elf. They cannot rid me of your that easily", Gimli chuckled.Legolas surprised the Dwarf and himself with a light laugh as well.
" My, Aragorn will be at rest to see you again. That man has been a nervous wreck all week. The only reason he ate anything was because he was brought food. He refused to leave you until the fair Lady Galadriel came."
imli flushed slightly at the mention of Lady Galadriel. It was known fact amongst the three rescuers that the Dwarf was smitten with her.
" Aragorn? He was here? Nearly all week? " Legolas asked in disbelief.
" Could you not feel him holding your hand? "
Legolas did not answer. He could not believe this. Aragorn hated him. He did, and he had wanted Legolas dead.He finally shook his head after a long pause and silence.
The visit from Gimli had lightened his spirits greatly. The Dwarf finally left after a while, promising to be back tomorrow, if not later the same day. Legolas then waited, after he was gone, for Aragorn.
Aragorn quietly slipped in the room, closing the door behind him. A candle was lit on the table and the window drapes had been drawn back to reveal the night sky. Legolas turned from gazing outside to stare at his new visitor.
And there he was. Aragorn stood frozen just in front of the door, his gray eyes locked with the Elf's. A very heavy silence hung in the air for a while. Neither spoke.
Aragorn was in shock. There was Legolas, sitting up in bed, looking at him. And only a week ago he had been so sure he had lost his best friend. He didn't know what to say.
And then Aragorn strode across the room without a word, and embraced Legolas wordlessly.The Elf flung his arms around the man's neck, his face on Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn buried his face in the Elf's neck, tears escaping him.
It was real. He was alive. Legolas was alive.
The two clung to each other desperately for what seemed like eternity, not speaking, only holding each other. Aragorn wrapped his arms around him, careful not to harm him, just holding his best friend and absorbing everything about him in that moment. His warmth, his tears, his arms around his own neck, his breathing, and with the greatest relief, happiness, and comfort, Aragorn felt the Elf's heart beating against his chest. Oh, he was alive. He was alive, he was alive, and Aragorn kept repeating those three glorious words in his mind.
Legolas felt himself let go as he relaxed in the ranger's arms. He hadn't lost his best friend. He hadn't lost his brother. Aragorn didn't hate him, he loved him. Aragorn loved him. He couldn't stop thinking about that one concept.
They were both weeping now, but for once, their tears were ones of joy not sorrow. Aragorn broke the embrace, cupping Legolas' face in his hands, and pausing with shimmering tears streaming down his face. He stopped just to look at the Elf, just to stare into those brilliant blue eyes, to look at him and to see him and know he was really there, he was really alive. Legolas had tears everywhere as well, but a smile upon his face.
And the two just paused for a moment and smiled at each other. They smiled and stared and wept and needed no words.
Aragorn held Legolas' face in his hands fondly. And then he leaned over slightly and lay his lips upon the Elf's forehead. And they froze their for another moment never to be forgotten. Both kept their eyes closed, tears still falling steadily down their faces, Aragorn holding Legolas' face and keeping his lips upon the Elf's forehead.
And they broke away. Aragorn kneeled, taking the prince's slender hands in his.
" Legolas, I cannot tell you how sorry I am. Please forgive me, I was foolish. I knew not what I spoke of. I meant none of those scornful words ", he pleaded.
" Aragorn, we both said things we did not mean. I forgive you and I only hope you can forgive me. I meant nothing I said as well. And anger makes one foolish, I understand."
Both paused again and gazed at each other, their eyes conveying their remorse, their joy, and their love. And everything was forgiven, though words were again not something needed.
Aragorn settled himself in the chair at Legolas' bedside.
" How are you feeling, mellonin?" he asked.
" Better. Actually not too bad if I keep still."
Aragorn let himself fall against Legolas' shoulder. Legolas chuckled, but then hissed in pain when the ranger absent-mindedly let his hand rest on the Elf's stomach. Aragorn pulled it back instantly.
" What's wrong? " he questioned.
Legolas offered a small smile through a grimace.
" It's all right. The wound is still tender. Do be gentle with me, Aragorn ", he said calmly yet with a smile.
Aragorn smiled guiltily, causing Legolas to stifle a laugh.The Elf offered his hand brotherly and Aragorn clasped it.
