Stolen Romance

Disclaimer: Nothing slightly familiar belongs to me. Had I owned Legolas or Aragorn, I would not be here, trust me. (Wouldn't even dare to think of the possibilities :P)

Warning: this is strictly AL slash, therefore if you are against m/m relationship do not proceed – don't say you haven't being warned

Have you forgotten this story? =P

---*---*---*---

"…" – Speech

This – Thoughts

Chapter 4: Of the awakening

*

Aragorn caressed his blonde elf's face with one rough ranger's hand; the skin beneath his touch was as smooth as silk, yet hauntingly cold. The morn was arriving shortly; he could feel its presence below the mountain hills, of freshness and bloom.

His chest tightened; did it mean Legolas would be forever gone from his grasp in but a few hours? Legolas… His heart cried out the name of his love, bleeding furiously as time lapsed.

His hands left Legolas' blonde locks, instead clutching the elf's deathly white hands with his own.

"You gave me hope when I have fallen," He whispered huskily, furnishing a light kiss on Legolas' pale hand, "and I shall give you mine. Come back to the light, melamin. Come back to me."

He buried his head upon Legolas' chest, tears stinging his eyes. He berated himself of his very own weakness, for he was the king of Gondor and a man of great statue. What would his people say, had they saw him at this state…broken and fragile? Yet his heart could not betray him, and his tears were his truest emotions which he could not hide. He was indeed suffering, and he knew without a doubt had his lover left him to the halls of Mandos, he would slowly waste away before his time. And his region will be but a shortened memory, the Númenórean blood will linger no more in the mortal lands.

"Do not give up on hope, Estel." He could've sworn he heard the voice of Galadriel, the lady of the light, echo by his ears. He rose, startled, only to face the ever foreboding emptiness. "For that is your elven title, do not forsake yourself, nor your emotions."

"My lady?" He sounded almost tentative, his voice but a fraction of its usual intensity.

"Do not waver yet, Estel. Hope lives.

Look."

Almost as though an invisible hand guided him, Aragorn's eyes strayed back towards Legolas; all his thoughts were a whirlwind in his mind, magically brought forth to his consciousness.

The silver-lit blonde hair was a bed beneath him, his face so pale… so akin to a frosty morn and so unearthly fair.

Why do I love you so, Legolas? Alas you are the fairest of face, the noblest of heart, nothing short of a Maia… a Valar… why do I love something so high of statue above I? Why do I have my eyes set on treasures too dear to hold? Why do I choose such bitter fate? To live bitter days and to wander my existence alone at heart? Long have I heard that mortals were wrong to wed those of Elven kind or Elf-kin, but wedded to me is none bar the once fair twilight of the elves. Yet why are you so far from my reach, my love? Why can't I claim you as I had her? My love for you runs deeper than my passion for any other creature.

Faith you say. Faith for her who I did not love? Who I had never loved? Did you not know, melamin, that my heart belonged to you almost that a century ago when you and I first countered? Forever I have loved you, and forever I will. Whether be it my life's pleasure or doom, I can not forsake my heart from its lust any longer. Never again.

And to you I pledge my soul.

Do not fade. T's all I beg of you.

The Valar must have heard his prayers, and answered them. For no longer had he cried those words from the bottommost of his heart had his eyes caught a slight flinch of Legolas' fingers.

"Legolas?" At once he dashed towards the bedside of the elf.

Legolas' eyes were still closed, but he was no longer still. He turned his head this way and that, his hands wrenching about him. The light blanket that covered him were thrown aside as he seemed to gain more consciousness, and he cried under his breath incoherent words that Aragorn could not hear, no matter how he strained his ears.

"Legolas!" Aragorn cried, his mind momentarily uncomprehending – blinded by desperation. "Alas Legolas, what ails you?"

He tried in vain to subdue Legolas, muttering words of soothing.

Legolas lurched forward from his position on the bed; a loud gasp escaped his lips as though he was in great pain, and his eyes shot open, his bright sapphire orbs filled with anguish…

"Estel!" He cried, his voice a choked pant, "You must go back to Gondor. At once!"

Aragorn gave Legolas a quizzical look. "You dreamt, Legolas."

He was torn between anxiety and relief, his hand automatically reached to caress his elf's cheeks, in hope of calming the obviously distressed prince.

"Nay! It – It was more than a dream Aragorn, it was a foresight, Gondor is under threat! Men are attacking the city, they're moving now north to the shore of Gondor. They come from the west, but not akin the elves: they are fierce, Aragorn. You must prepare your city from this peril!"

"Legolas you had fallen into darkness, you were unaware of the world. Do not pain yourself with such worries, melamin, rest." He almost seemed paternal.

"Aragorn-"

"Rest." His voice was firm.

"Do you not care for the welfare of your people?" There was a cutting edge within Legolas' words, a look of great impatience upon his face, "Heed my words Aragorn, I've seen it with my very own eyes."

"Do you mean to say you have being to the future? Or mayhap switched in time and space: for with my very own eyes I've watched you succumb to darkness many hours ago, and I have never left your side, Legolas, you can see of no peril."

"I never knew you to be so cynical, Aragorn."

"T's not skepticism… Tell me, melamin, how is it you are able to see the happenings of city miles from where we now stand?"

"T-T's shown to me," Legolas looked away, lowering his voice in the process. "by… by Haldir. Believe me, Aragorn."

Aragorn managed only to widen his eyes; the fear that had once gripped him was again so vividly tugging his heart. Haldir… Legolas still cannot forget his past elven lover. Give me strength, Valar.

"Haldir? Had he… had he not …"

"Aye." Legolas let out a deep sigh, "He had fallen."

"Then?"

"I had indeed yielded to the shadows, yet I remained in but a void between live and death. He came to me then. I wanted to follow him to the halls of mandos, (Aragorn's heart seized with sudden pain at these words, he made a sudden gesture as though to turn away, but seemed to have decided against it), but he showed to me of the future." Legolas turned to look at Aragorn once again, though his face was pale and devoid of emotions, his eyes betrayed his soul, for love lingered in the deepest windows of his orbs, "And there I saw you fall. I cannot explain how horrifying it was, to watch that sword plunge into your chest so mercilessly. And to watch you fall with that sad smile upon your face, to know I caused it! He convinced my place dwells now in Middle Earth, Aragorn. I cannot and will not leave at this hour,

As I had promised."

There was a speechless silence in which Aragorn could not believe his ears, all he could do was stare at his lover's earnest face, his heart racing.

And when the worlds finally sank in, he held Legolas' in a bone-crushing hug,

"Thank you, Haldir."

~*