Disclaimer: Don't own anything, except unknown characters
Please, please review. Thanks for the people who reviewed the last chapter. The response was much better than I hoped for, so I will continue. I guess so from now on, if I am happy, I write Never Been Kissed. If I am not, I write this one. Lucien is on break, I finished almost everything of the first part, but cannot decide what should happen at the end....am having second thoughts about the original planned ending, which dictates whether it will have a second part... Besides, beta of that fic is busy. Shadow is done and beta-ed, only some loose ends to tie. That will be posted at my leisure (i.e. review status =)
Special thanks to Legolas' sweetie for beta-ing and help with Elvish =)
A/N: I decided to make Aragorn young again in this fic. I made necessary changes to LOTR time line so the Man could be 21 when he met my Elf, okay, not my Elf (don't sue)
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Chapter 2: Meetings
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YEAR 8, FOURTH AGE ON MIDDLE EARTH, REALM OF THE TIRN UIPIRA
"Golden brother, awaken. Father had summoned us for council," said Celegîl as he tried to rouse the young prince. It was at times like these that he disliked intensely the fact that they were transparent to the touch for his task would be much simpler if he could just grab Glorgalad and shake him by the shoulders.
The eldest Prince knew his little brother had not slept at night. It had been the same ever since the golden one returned, for nighttime was when Father slept and could not keep a close vigil on the Prince. It was Glorgalad's only opportunity to see his beloved using his magic crystal. Their father had expressly forbidden the young prince to watch Aragorn. The King wanted his golden son all to himself, both in mind and heart.
Alagos, King of the Tirn Uipira, had always been very protective and possessive of his youngest child. When he banished Glorgalad from his realm, he had done so in a rage. Immediately, after he regained his composure, he regretted his decision. But as King of the Tirn Uipira, he could not go back on his word, especially when his child would not even apologize. He had deliberately told the eldest prince that Glorgalad would be reborn as something horrible, hoping Celegîl could convince the young one to beg for mercy. But, it was to no avail. Alagos would have to send his favorite child away. He knew Celegîl broke into his rooms and changed the spell. The King chose to remain silent on the matter as he did not truly have the heart to watch his golden son suffer.
For almost three thousand years, Alagos was forced to watch in anguish as an Elf took his place as his dearest child's father. His feelings of loss and jealousy far exceeded his imagination of what a Tirn Uipira could possibly suffer. As he watched his perfect son fall in love with a Mortal, the King could not stand by and watch any longer. He must have Glorgalad back by his side.
When the opportunity presented itself during the Quest, Alagos bent their ancient laws and approached Legolas, his son's reincarnation, offering assistance in exchange for his physical form. When the Elf agreed, the King proceeded to wipe away all evidence of Legolas on Middle Earth; for he would not tolerate any of those lesser beings to bask in the golden glory of his most beloved child.
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Glorgalad followed his brother to the throne room grudgingly. He had spent every waking hour of his days there by his father's side since his return. He knew there was no real reason for his presence; the King wanted only to ascertain that he was not communicating with those he knew on Middle Earth. If Alagos were to find out his nightly vigil over the Man he loved, his father would probably exact some horrible punishment on him. But nothing could be worse than this heartbreak, so Glorgalad did not mind as much.
"We are glad you are here, my Princes," said Mallos, the chief advisor to his father.
Both princes were surprised to see him there as his presence meant that this is no ordinary family meeting. As they looked around, they noticed that all the important officials and noblemen of their Race were present. The only one missing was their uncle, Morn-ndúath, which gave the princes an ominous feeling. Morn-ndúath was the only Watcher that all in their realm feared. Though Alagos was King, he was just and noble. There was no reason to fear him unless one had broken the ancient laws. It was not the case with Morn-ndúath. The Watcher was distant and cold; but that was no surprise as the Tirn Uipira was a race with little emotions. Unlike the others, however, a vague sense of evil and darkness that lurked behind his aloofness, making him a Watcher to be avoided at all cost.
"Something is wrong. An ancient law had been broken. One of ours had gone into Middle Earth. This meeting is held to discuss strategies to rectify the situation," whispered Glorgalad into his eldest brother's ears. The little one never ceased to amaze Celegîl. His golden brother had gathered all that information within a minute of walking into the room through observation alone.
"Now that everyone is here, let us begin. I am afraid that my brother, Morn-ndúath had left our realm without permission. His purpose was to revive Morgoth, a being of pure evil on Middle Earth. With their powers combined, they would overthrow our order and those on Arda. They would rule both realms as supreme beings, bringing all into darkness. We cannot allow this. I seek your consul on other possible alternatives," announced the King.
There was a shocked silent in the throne room, before murmurs of disbelief and fear took its place. All, except for Mallos and the two Princes were surprised by the announcement.
"Is there no one who can propose any strategies to counter Morn-ndúath?" asked Alagos dejectedly. He had spoken with his advisor at length about this situation, but the solution was nowhere in sight. Even if they were willing to break the ancient laws use their magic to interfere, they would not be able to stop the evil one. The dark Watcher was the King's brother and their powers were equally matched. A direct confrontation would result in a clash of powers so great that both realms would be destroyed along with its occupants.
At long last, Glorgalad spoke, "I know how the Dark One could be destroyed without the annihilation of both our worlds, but I am afraid to say."
The King knew that his golden son's plan would not be pleasing to his ears, but given the urgency of situation, Alagos had no choice, so he prompted, "You may speak at will, my son."
"The only way Morn-ndúath could enter Middle Earth was to assume physical form. Since he did not have the time to properly reincarnate, it was likely that he took possession of a Man or an Elf. In order to do so, their souls and life forces must be intertwined. If we could find his form and slay it, the Dark One would fade."
"How would what you suggest be possible? Morn-ndúath has powerful magic despite his new form. We cannot risk a battle of magic that spans the two worlds for it will destroy both realms. If one of us reincarnates into Arda, the Evil One will detect our approach immediately," asked Mallos. He knew that killing the physical being housing the Dark One would destroy Morn-ndúath; it was just an impossible feat for any of their people, even for Alagos.
"You are right, my Lord. We cannot find him or fight him, but those on Middle Earth can. They may not have our magic, but do no underestimate their strength of mind and heart. If we tell form an alliance, I know they will not fail us," said the youngest prince with conviction.
"And how would we convince them to help us? They do not know of our existence and sending one of us there would alert Morn-ndúath," inquired Mallos, unconvinced of the validity of the plan. The Watcher had always thought those on Middle Earth weaklings; he did not think they would be of help in anyway.
"Through their dreams, my Lord," Glorgalad said quietly.
"Through that useless Mortal's dreams, you mean. I will not allow it," thundered Alagos. Communication between the realms would only be possible through a close emotional bond. His golden son was the only Tirn Uipira to share such a connection with his lover on Middle Earth. His favorite child had returned from that accursed realm only eleven years ago, he would not allow anyone to take Glorgalad away again, even if it was for a small while within a dream.
Surprisingly, it was Mallos who spoke in the Prince's defense. "Your Majesty, though I do not share the young one's faith in the beings in Arda, I agree the plan is worth a try. We do not have any other choice."
Alagos shook his head in defeat. The King knew his advisor was right. "Very well, you have my permission to speak with Aragorn when he sleeps tonight."
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Glorgalad could feel his heart jumped at his father's judgment. After all these years, he would finally have the chance to speak with Aragorn again. He knew the Man would not remember him, would not remember the love they shared; but for the Golden Prince, it was enough just to hear his beloved's soft, gravelly voice speak his name again. As he prepared the spell for the night's communication, his mind drifted back to the day they first met twenty-two years ago.
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Flashback:
YEAR 2997, THIRD AGE OF MIDDLE EARTH, MIRKWOOD
The forest was pitch black. The pale light of the new moon could not penetrate the gloom of the elms. The forest was silent in their dark mood as they reminisced on better times, before the invasion of darkness and evil. The only sounds to be heard were the hard breathing and soft footsteps of a young ranger as he rushed through the woods. Moments passed; a loud trampling and shrill cries interrupted the somber atmosphere of the forest, filling the night with a symphony of urgency and fear.
The ranger spun around to face those who pursued him. He knew he could not outrun his enemies any longer. He wore a simple black cloak, hood drawn over his head, covering his face. As his cloak billowed from his sudden turn, a coarse black cotton shirt and black leather breeches became visible. In a smooth motion, the young man drew his sword. He would not be captured by the Orcs that pursued him; he was ready to fight to the death.
As the first of the horde reached him, he heard soft whistles in the air as arrows flew past him and struck down the advancing Orcs. As the rain of arrows continued, the ranger jumped into the fray and began his fierce attack on the foul creatures. Within twenty minutes, the dead Orcs littered the forest floor; those they were lucky enough to survive were running away quickly in fear for their lives.
Aragorn watched as a group of Elven archers jumped gracefully out of the surrounding trees onto the ground. The glow from the Elves illuminated the dark forest. One particular Elf immediately caught the Man's eyes. His silky blond hair, playful indigo eyes, delicate features and lithe body formed a uniquely exquisite vision. His ethereal grace and beauty was further enhanced by the halo of golden light emanating from him. All the Elves Aragorn had ever met paled in the comparison to this one's good looks and radiance.
The Golden Elf walked towards him and smiled. "Welcome, Estel. Lord Elrond had sent Father a letter speaking of your visit. When you did not arrive, we became worried and set out in search for you. Mirkwood is not what it once was and I am glad we found you when we did. Please follow us, we will escort you to the palace."
Aragorn stared after the beauty and followed him quietly. He did not tell me his name. Would it be rude to ask? If King Thranduil is his father, he must know my true identity. Yet, he addressed me as Estel. This Elf is quite a puzzle indeed.
He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he did not notice when Legolas relinquished the lead to another Elf and started walking beside him, observing attentively his every expression.
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Aragorn was led into the throne room where the King of Mirkwood awaited him. He watched as the Golden Elf approached Thranduil and whispered quietly in his ears for a few moments. When he was finished, the older Elf looked at the Man with approval and smiled, as the beautiful one left the room.
As the King noticed Aragorn's suspicious gaze, he spoke reassuringly, "My son was just speaking praises of your bravery and skill in battle. We are honored to have the heir of Gondor as guest tonight."
Aragorn blushed slightly at the King's words. He was never good at receiving compliments; he simply did not believe he truly deserved them. "You are too kind, your majesty. If I were a better ranger, I would not have attracted the Orcs' attention. If I were a better warrior, I would not have required assistance tonight in battle," said the Man in quiet self- criticism.
To the Man's surprise, Thranduil burst into laughter. When he saw the schooled emotionless mask on Aragorn's face, he calmed himself and explained, "I apologize for my lost of composure, Aragorn. It was just that your answer was exactly as my son predicted, word for word. My child has a gift in reading people. He told me that you are a great man, with thoughtfulness and determination to match your skill in battle. Your flaw, if there is any, is that you do not see your own greatness. If you continue to think so little of yourself, it will only hinder your achievements."
Aragorn was so angry that he was at a lost for words. He wanted to scream, to hunt down the Prince and let the Elf have a piece of his mind and a taste of his wrath. The Man had not even spoken to the Golden Elf, how could the Prince presume to know him. Not only had the Elf judged him, he had influenced the King of Mirkwood to view him in the same light.
All his life, everyone around him had expected Aragorn to think and behave in a certain manner. They never tried to know or understand him before they passed their judgment on what kind of person Aragorn was. As a child, he was looked down upon by most other Elves because he was human. They never gave him the chance to prove his worth. Now, as Aragorn, every one believed he was the Hope of Men, that he would be a great king. They never stopped to think that he might not be able to fulfill his destiny; that he might not even WANT to be the King. It did not matter that the Prince spoke well of him; Aragorn loathed being treated as a transparent object where people would see in him only what they want to see. After making up an excuse of being tired, Aragorn took leave of the King of Mirkwood and started his hunt for the Elven Prince.
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Legolas knew the Man would be furious at him. He had been waiting for Aragorn in the garden for the past hour. The Ranger was taking longer than he anticipated; he hoped the Man did not get lost in the palace. The Elf did not regret telling his father his feelings on the Man; especially when he knew they were true. He had never felt as strongly about any of his other 'readings' as he was of Aragorn's. Legolas thought the Man needed to hear them; not as extra expectations or reassurances, but as a light to open the eyes blinded by the shame of being Isildur's heir. If he succeeded in making Aragorn re-evaluate himself in a different light, Legolas would gladly take whatever revenge the Man saw fit to exact upon him.
The Elf had never seen another more beautiful soul than Aragorn's. Everything about the Man spoke of compassion and kindness, along with a quiet authority. Aragorn was a leader that would never force compliance; yet, the Man would never give in if he truly believed what he was doing was right. Legolas had seen the Man's inner strength first-hand in the determination in those steely grey eyes when he stood before the Orcs. He felt that it was something Aragorn must see as well.
The truth was that Legolas was attracted to the Man's inner light; it was something the Elven Prince had never felt before. The Elf had had many suitors; so many that he and his father had stopped telling people his name to curb the unwanted attention. Despite the large following, the Golden Elf had never once been tempted to take a lover. He knew that they only thought of him as beautiful and powerful, a golden trophy to be added under their belts. Legolas would never settle for that. He wanted someone to understand and know him for the Elf he was, someone who would love him even if he were not the gifted Golden Prince of Mirkwood. He had a feeling that Aragorn would be that Man, if Legolas could win his affections.
Stop dreaming, Legolas. It is too late for that now. The Man thinks you are just like the rest of them now, no worse, because you told Father of your judgment. Aragorn would never forgive you. The golden prince knew there was truth to the thought and sighed sadly, pulling himself out of his reverie.
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The Elf was so lost in thought that he failed to hear Aragorn's approach. When Legolas finally sensed a presence behind him, he turned and was met with a hard blow to the left of his face, which sent him flying onto the ground. Before the pain of the first strike registered in his mind, he was yanked to his feet and shoved hard against a tree. His head spun from the impact and could barely feel the Man's strong grip on his shoulders or make out the furious words of Aragorn's menacing whisper. Not that it mattered to the Elf. Legolas had expected this and had decided that he would take his punishment in silence.
As Aragorn raised his hand to hit the prince again, he noticed that the Elf did not flinch or turn away from the impending blow. The Man lowered his hand to strike, but stopped as he saw there was no fear or anger in the Elf's eyes, only acceptance and resignation. Instead, he pressed the Elven Prince harder against the tree and whispered, "Why won't you defend yourself?"
It took several minutes before the question reached Legolas' befuddled brain, and much longer before the Golden Elf answered. This was his chance to make the Man see his point; he would not squander it with a hasty answer. He looked into the Man's stormy grey eyes and replied quietly, but firmly, "Because you have every right to be angry at me. I hate it when people judge me by my looks, or ranks or abilities without first getting to know me. I know it is the same with you."
Aragorn stared at the Elf in surprise. That was not the answer he expected; especially not from this arrogant Prince who he had just met. How could this golden creature know how he hated being prejudiced against because of his title, a secret that he kept from all eyes using his mask of ice? Suddenly, the Man felt very ashamed to have hurt this special Elf. He asked softly as he loosened the grip on the Prince's shoulders, "Are you apologizing to me then?"
At that question, Legolas' probing gaze intensified. Aragorn could feel the heat of the brilliant blue flames searing into his mind and soul. Once again, the prince answered with a quiet authority that left no room for doubt, "No. I am accepting responsibilities for my actions, but I am not sorry for them. I know what I felt is true, I will NOT apologize for trying to make you see it."
Aragorn could not help the keen disappointment that assaulted his heart at the answer. He had hoped that the Prince would apologize. He was wishing desperately that the golden creature would say that he would like to know Aragorn better and see for himself what kind of Man he truly was. Within hours of meeting, the Elf had reached a part of him that no one else had ever seen; Aragorn had thought that the Prince would be the one to care for him as a person, not a warrior or the Hope of Men.
When he finally found the words, the Man replied bitterly, "Do you think you are the first one to think I will be a great king? My foster family and Mithrandir had been telling me that ever since they told me my true identity."
The prince surprised the Man by placing a slender hand upon his chest, directly over Aragorn's heart. "I think you misheard my father, Aragorn. I said you are a great Man. It does not matter whether you are a Ranger or a King. Those are merely titles, they do not change who you are. I believe in the strength in your heart, in Aragorn the Man. I wish you would believe in yourself too," replied Legolas softly, with sadness in his beautiful voice and azure eyes.
The ranger looked at the Elf in wonder. He was very touched by the Golden One's words, but he could not truly believe them. "I have known myself far longer than you have. I do not see how you could have such faith in me."
"Ah, but you only see yourself as Isildur's heir, as chieftain of the Dunedains, and as Estel, the Hope of Men. You are much more than any of those things, Aragorn. You are right that I do not know you well enough, there is still much I have not seen. If you would allow me, I would like to accompany on your journey of self-discovery," said Legolas with a gentle smile. He had made his offer; he could only wait for the Man's decision.
After what seemed an eternity to the Elf, Aragorn gave the Elven prince his answer. The Man bent slightly and placed a wondering kiss on Legolas' lips. The Elf's eyes fluttered close as he savored the sensation. When Aragorn pulled back, Legolas was at a loss of what to say or do. He only knew he wanted the Man's lips upon his own again.
"You know so much about me, but I know nothing about you. I don't even know your name..." whispered the Man.
"It's Legolas," breathed the Elf softly, as he wound his arms around Aragorn's shoulders and pulled him closer for another kiss.
It was no longer a chaste and soft kiss like the one they first shared. The Man's passion was fully ignited by the Prince's eagerness. He wound one arm tightly around the Elf's slim waist, pulling Legolas close against his hard manhood. As the prince gasped in surprise, Aragorn took the opportunity to thrust his tongue into the Elf's sweet mouth. Legolas tasted like honey, and the Man found soon himself wanting more. He moved his other hand to cup the back of the Elf's head to tilt the golden Elf's face towards him and deepened the kiss. The young prince who was shy at the beginning was now becoming bolder; Aragorn moaned in pleasure as the Elf kissed him back in kind, as smooth slim fingers roamed his neck and back.
The Man could feel Legolas' body rising in the heat of their kiss and grinded his hips into the Elf. The Golden Prince cried out at the unexpected pleasure, his knees buckling at this powerful new sensation. He would have fallen if the Man's strong arms did not support him. Aragorn pulled back and watched the Elf in concern of the abrupt weakness.
"I have never done this before," confessed a blushing Legolas. He was both embarrassed by his apparent wantonness as well as his lack of experience in pleasuring another.
"Are you sure we should do this now then?" asked Aragorn. He could not believe one as beautiful as Legolas had never taken a lover. He felt so honored and touched that the prince had chosen him to be the first. As much as his body was demanding that he claimed the Golden Elf at once, he knew he wanted more than just a night of physical pleasure from the prince. He did not want Legolas to sacrifice his virginity unless the Elf was very certain of what he wanted.
Legolas was shocked to hear the Man's question. He knew Aragorn wanted him, but the Man was offering him the choice to stop. Legolas knew that any other Man or Elf would have taken advantage of his newfound desires and taken him without pause. The fact that Aragorn did not meant that the Man cared about him beyond just his beauty. That thought made Legolas want to share himself completely with the Man even more. But they have only just met and Aragorn did not truly know him. What if the Man came to know him better and did not like what he saw? Aragorn would leave him and the Elf knew grief would destroy him.
If the Man would offer him a choice, it is only fair that Aragorn should be given a choice too. So Legolas voiced his concerns, "I feel in my heart that you are the one for me. But we just met a few hours ago. I want you and I want to give myself to you, but as you said, you knew nothing about me. I..."
Aragorn interrupted the Elf with a sweet chaste kiss. As he pulled back from Legolas, he said, "Then we will wait. Until we understand each other as well as ourselves"
"Im uva lor o lîn, melethron nîn. [I will dream about you, my love.]" whispered the Elven Prince in the Man's ear before parting for the night.
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YEAR 8, FOURTH AGE OF MIDDLE EARTH, GONDOR CASTLE
Elessar could not believe he fell asleep over his desk reading over the treaties from Harad. That kingdom had aligned with Sauron in the War of the Rings. But after the Dark Lord's demise, they had been willing to negotiate peace with Gondor. The King felt it of utmost importance to reach a settlement to prevent any further conflicts.
Maybe, he should not have been surprised at his weariness; the constant dreams had been taking a toll on him. He had not had a restful night of sleep for the past year. Usually, his unplanned afternoon naps were a lot more invigorating, for the dream had never come to him during the day. But it was not so today. Even his nap was interrupted by the appearance of his mysterious golden lover. It was not the same one that visited him every night; this dream was much more innocent. It resembled his first visit to Thranduil's Halls twenty-two years ago. The only difference was that the same faceless golden creature was there. The events in the dream were vivid, except the parts involving his enigmatic lover. Those scenes were hazy, as in his nightly fantasies; there were only sensations and feelings, the beginning of an undying love.
When Aragorn awakened, he tried to push his mind back to that night for some clues to his mysterious lover's identity. But no matter how hard he tried, his memories of the night remained the same; he was attacked by Orcs, rescued by an Elven scouting party and brought before Thranduil who was honored to have him as guest. There was not the faintest recollection of a golden creature with dazzling blue eyes. He continued this mental exercise until his head ached so much that he thought he had been clubbed by an Orc. The reward for his pains were some faintly remembered words, echoing in his mind, "Im uva lor o lîn, melethron nîn".
Given the time he had wasted dozing off and trying to recall his golden lover, Elessar had a feeling it would be a long night before his work was done; before he could enter the realm of dreams and meet his forgotten love once more.
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Please, please review. Thanks for the people who reviewed the last chapter. The response was much better than I hoped for, so I will continue. I guess so from now on, if I am happy, I write Never Been Kissed. If I am not, I write this one. Lucien is on break, I finished almost everything of the first part, but cannot decide what should happen at the end....am having second thoughts about the original planned ending, which dictates whether it will have a second part... Besides, beta of that fic is busy. Shadow is done and beta-ed, only some loose ends to tie. That will be posted at my leisure (i.e. review status =)
Special thanks to Legolas' sweetie for beta-ing and help with Elvish =)
A/N: I decided to make Aragorn young again in this fic. I made necessary changes to LOTR time line so the Man could be 21 when he met my Elf, okay, not my Elf (don't sue)
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Chapter 2: Meetings
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YEAR 8, FOURTH AGE ON MIDDLE EARTH, REALM OF THE TIRN UIPIRA
"Golden brother, awaken. Father had summoned us for council," said Celegîl as he tried to rouse the young prince. It was at times like these that he disliked intensely the fact that they were transparent to the touch for his task would be much simpler if he could just grab Glorgalad and shake him by the shoulders.
The eldest Prince knew his little brother had not slept at night. It had been the same ever since the golden one returned, for nighttime was when Father slept and could not keep a close vigil on the Prince. It was Glorgalad's only opportunity to see his beloved using his magic crystal. Their father had expressly forbidden the young prince to watch Aragorn. The King wanted his golden son all to himself, both in mind and heart.
Alagos, King of the Tirn Uipira, had always been very protective and possessive of his youngest child. When he banished Glorgalad from his realm, he had done so in a rage. Immediately, after he regained his composure, he regretted his decision. But as King of the Tirn Uipira, he could not go back on his word, especially when his child would not even apologize. He had deliberately told the eldest prince that Glorgalad would be reborn as something horrible, hoping Celegîl could convince the young one to beg for mercy. But, it was to no avail. Alagos would have to send his favorite child away. He knew Celegîl broke into his rooms and changed the spell. The King chose to remain silent on the matter as he did not truly have the heart to watch his golden son suffer.
For almost three thousand years, Alagos was forced to watch in anguish as an Elf took his place as his dearest child's father. His feelings of loss and jealousy far exceeded his imagination of what a Tirn Uipira could possibly suffer. As he watched his perfect son fall in love with a Mortal, the King could not stand by and watch any longer. He must have Glorgalad back by his side.
When the opportunity presented itself during the Quest, Alagos bent their ancient laws and approached Legolas, his son's reincarnation, offering assistance in exchange for his physical form. When the Elf agreed, the King proceeded to wipe away all evidence of Legolas on Middle Earth; for he would not tolerate any of those lesser beings to bask in the golden glory of his most beloved child.
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Glorgalad followed his brother to the throne room grudgingly. He had spent every waking hour of his days there by his father's side since his return. He knew there was no real reason for his presence; the King wanted only to ascertain that he was not communicating with those he knew on Middle Earth. If Alagos were to find out his nightly vigil over the Man he loved, his father would probably exact some horrible punishment on him. But nothing could be worse than this heartbreak, so Glorgalad did not mind as much.
"We are glad you are here, my Princes," said Mallos, the chief advisor to his father.
Both princes were surprised to see him there as his presence meant that this is no ordinary family meeting. As they looked around, they noticed that all the important officials and noblemen of their Race were present. The only one missing was their uncle, Morn-ndúath, which gave the princes an ominous feeling. Morn-ndúath was the only Watcher that all in their realm feared. Though Alagos was King, he was just and noble. There was no reason to fear him unless one had broken the ancient laws. It was not the case with Morn-ndúath. The Watcher was distant and cold; but that was no surprise as the Tirn Uipira was a race with little emotions. Unlike the others, however, a vague sense of evil and darkness that lurked behind his aloofness, making him a Watcher to be avoided at all cost.
"Something is wrong. An ancient law had been broken. One of ours had gone into Middle Earth. This meeting is held to discuss strategies to rectify the situation," whispered Glorgalad into his eldest brother's ears. The little one never ceased to amaze Celegîl. His golden brother had gathered all that information within a minute of walking into the room through observation alone.
"Now that everyone is here, let us begin. I am afraid that my brother, Morn-ndúath had left our realm without permission. His purpose was to revive Morgoth, a being of pure evil on Middle Earth. With their powers combined, they would overthrow our order and those on Arda. They would rule both realms as supreme beings, bringing all into darkness. We cannot allow this. I seek your consul on other possible alternatives," announced the King.
There was a shocked silent in the throne room, before murmurs of disbelief and fear took its place. All, except for Mallos and the two Princes were surprised by the announcement.
"Is there no one who can propose any strategies to counter Morn-ndúath?" asked Alagos dejectedly. He had spoken with his advisor at length about this situation, but the solution was nowhere in sight. Even if they were willing to break the ancient laws use their magic to interfere, they would not be able to stop the evil one. The dark Watcher was the King's brother and their powers were equally matched. A direct confrontation would result in a clash of powers so great that both realms would be destroyed along with its occupants.
At long last, Glorgalad spoke, "I know how the Dark One could be destroyed without the annihilation of both our worlds, but I am afraid to say."
The King knew that his golden son's plan would not be pleasing to his ears, but given the urgency of situation, Alagos had no choice, so he prompted, "You may speak at will, my son."
"The only way Morn-ndúath could enter Middle Earth was to assume physical form. Since he did not have the time to properly reincarnate, it was likely that he took possession of a Man or an Elf. In order to do so, their souls and life forces must be intertwined. If we could find his form and slay it, the Dark One would fade."
"How would what you suggest be possible? Morn-ndúath has powerful magic despite his new form. We cannot risk a battle of magic that spans the two worlds for it will destroy both realms. If one of us reincarnates into Arda, the Evil One will detect our approach immediately," asked Mallos. He knew that killing the physical being housing the Dark One would destroy Morn-ndúath; it was just an impossible feat for any of their people, even for Alagos.
"You are right, my Lord. We cannot find him or fight him, but those on Middle Earth can. They may not have our magic, but do no underestimate their strength of mind and heart. If we tell form an alliance, I know they will not fail us," said the youngest prince with conviction.
"And how would we convince them to help us? They do not know of our existence and sending one of us there would alert Morn-ndúath," inquired Mallos, unconvinced of the validity of the plan. The Watcher had always thought those on Middle Earth weaklings; he did not think they would be of help in anyway.
"Through their dreams, my Lord," Glorgalad said quietly.
"Through that useless Mortal's dreams, you mean. I will not allow it," thundered Alagos. Communication between the realms would only be possible through a close emotional bond. His golden son was the only Tirn Uipira to share such a connection with his lover on Middle Earth. His favorite child had returned from that accursed realm only eleven years ago, he would not allow anyone to take Glorgalad away again, even if it was for a small while within a dream.
Surprisingly, it was Mallos who spoke in the Prince's defense. "Your Majesty, though I do not share the young one's faith in the beings in Arda, I agree the plan is worth a try. We do not have any other choice."
Alagos shook his head in defeat. The King knew his advisor was right. "Very well, you have my permission to speak with Aragorn when he sleeps tonight."
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Glorgalad could feel his heart jumped at his father's judgment. After all these years, he would finally have the chance to speak with Aragorn again. He knew the Man would not remember him, would not remember the love they shared; but for the Golden Prince, it was enough just to hear his beloved's soft, gravelly voice speak his name again. As he prepared the spell for the night's communication, his mind drifted back to the day they first met twenty-two years ago.
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Flashback:
YEAR 2997, THIRD AGE OF MIDDLE EARTH, MIRKWOOD
The forest was pitch black. The pale light of the new moon could not penetrate the gloom of the elms. The forest was silent in their dark mood as they reminisced on better times, before the invasion of darkness and evil. The only sounds to be heard were the hard breathing and soft footsteps of a young ranger as he rushed through the woods. Moments passed; a loud trampling and shrill cries interrupted the somber atmosphere of the forest, filling the night with a symphony of urgency and fear.
The ranger spun around to face those who pursued him. He knew he could not outrun his enemies any longer. He wore a simple black cloak, hood drawn over his head, covering his face. As his cloak billowed from his sudden turn, a coarse black cotton shirt and black leather breeches became visible. In a smooth motion, the young man drew his sword. He would not be captured by the Orcs that pursued him; he was ready to fight to the death.
As the first of the horde reached him, he heard soft whistles in the air as arrows flew past him and struck down the advancing Orcs. As the rain of arrows continued, the ranger jumped into the fray and began his fierce attack on the foul creatures. Within twenty minutes, the dead Orcs littered the forest floor; those they were lucky enough to survive were running away quickly in fear for their lives.
Aragorn watched as a group of Elven archers jumped gracefully out of the surrounding trees onto the ground. The glow from the Elves illuminated the dark forest. One particular Elf immediately caught the Man's eyes. His silky blond hair, playful indigo eyes, delicate features and lithe body formed a uniquely exquisite vision. His ethereal grace and beauty was further enhanced by the halo of golden light emanating from him. All the Elves Aragorn had ever met paled in the comparison to this one's good looks and radiance.
The Golden Elf walked towards him and smiled. "Welcome, Estel. Lord Elrond had sent Father a letter speaking of your visit. When you did not arrive, we became worried and set out in search for you. Mirkwood is not what it once was and I am glad we found you when we did. Please follow us, we will escort you to the palace."
Aragorn stared after the beauty and followed him quietly. He did not tell me his name. Would it be rude to ask? If King Thranduil is his father, he must know my true identity. Yet, he addressed me as Estel. This Elf is quite a puzzle indeed.
He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he did not notice when Legolas relinquished the lead to another Elf and started walking beside him, observing attentively his every expression.
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Aragorn was led into the throne room where the King of Mirkwood awaited him. He watched as the Golden Elf approached Thranduil and whispered quietly in his ears for a few moments. When he was finished, the older Elf looked at the Man with approval and smiled, as the beautiful one left the room.
As the King noticed Aragorn's suspicious gaze, he spoke reassuringly, "My son was just speaking praises of your bravery and skill in battle. We are honored to have the heir of Gondor as guest tonight."
Aragorn blushed slightly at the King's words. He was never good at receiving compliments; he simply did not believe he truly deserved them. "You are too kind, your majesty. If I were a better ranger, I would not have attracted the Orcs' attention. If I were a better warrior, I would not have required assistance tonight in battle," said the Man in quiet self- criticism.
To the Man's surprise, Thranduil burst into laughter. When he saw the schooled emotionless mask on Aragorn's face, he calmed himself and explained, "I apologize for my lost of composure, Aragorn. It was just that your answer was exactly as my son predicted, word for word. My child has a gift in reading people. He told me that you are a great man, with thoughtfulness and determination to match your skill in battle. Your flaw, if there is any, is that you do not see your own greatness. If you continue to think so little of yourself, it will only hinder your achievements."
Aragorn was so angry that he was at a lost for words. He wanted to scream, to hunt down the Prince and let the Elf have a piece of his mind and a taste of his wrath. The Man had not even spoken to the Golden Elf, how could the Prince presume to know him. Not only had the Elf judged him, he had influenced the King of Mirkwood to view him in the same light.
All his life, everyone around him had expected Aragorn to think and behave in a certain manner. They never tried to know or understand him before they passed their judgment on what kind of person Aragorn was. As a child, he was looked down upon by most other Elves because he was human. They never gave him the chance to prove his worth. Now, as Aragorn, every one believed he was the Hope of Men, that he would be a great king. They never stopped to think that he might not be able to fulfill his destiny; that he might not even WANT to be the King. It did not matter that the Prince spoke well of him; Aragorn loathed being treated as a transparent object where people would see in him only what they want to see. After making up an excuse of being tired, Aragorn took leave of the King of Mirkwood and started his hunt for the Elven Prince.
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Legolas knew the Man would be furious at him. He had been waiting for Aragorn in the garden for the past hour. The Ranger was taking longer than he anticipated; he hoped the Man did not get lost in the palace. The Elf did not regret telling his father his feelings on the Man; especially when he knew they were true. He had never felt as strongly about any of his other 'readings' as he was of Aragorn's. Legolas thought the Man needed to hear them; not as extra expectations or reassurances, but as a light to open the eyes blinded by the shame of being Isildur's heir. If he succeeded in making Aragorn re-evaluate himself in a different light, Legolas would gladly take whatever revenge the Man saw fit to exact upon him.
The Elf had never seen another more beautiful soul than Aragorn's. Everything about the Man spoke of compassion and kindness, along with a quiet authority. Aragorn was a leader that would never force compliance; yet, the Man would never give in if he truly believed what he was doing was right. Legolas had seen the Man's inner strength first-hand in the determination in those steely grey eyes when he stood before the Orcs. He felt that it was something Aragorn must see as well.
The truth was that Legolas was attracted to the Man's inner light; it was something the Elven Prince had never felt before. The Elf had had many suitors; so many that he and his father had stopped telling people his name to curb the unwanted attention. Despite the large following, the Golden Elf had never once been tempted to take a lover. He knew that they only thought of him as beautiful and powerful, a golden trophy to be added under their belts. Legolas would never settle for that. He wanted someone to understand and know him for the Elf he was, someone who would love him even if he were not the gifted Golden Prince of Mirkwood. He had a feeling that Aragorn would be that Man, if Legolas could win his affections.
Stop dreaming, Legolas. It is too late for that now. The Man thinks you are just like the rest of them now, no worse, because you told Father of your judgment. Aragorn would never forgive you. The golden prince knew there was truth to the thought and sighed sadly, pulling himself out of his reverie.
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The Elf was so lost in thought that he failed to hear Aragorn's approach. When Legolas finally sensed a presence behind him, he turned and was met with a hard blow to the left of his face, which sent him flying onto the ground. Before the pain of the first strike registered in his mind, he was yanked to his feet and shoved hard against a tree. His head spun from the impact and could barely feel the Man's strong grip on his shoulders or make out the furious words of Aragorn's menacing whisper. Not that it mattered to the Elf. Legolas had expected this and had decided that he would take his punishment in silence.
As Aragorn raised his hand to hit the prince again, he noticed that the Elf did not flinch or turn away from the impending blow. The Man lowered his hand to strike, but stopped as he saw there was no fear or anger in the Elf's eyes, only acceptance and resignation. Instead, he pressed the Elven Prince harder against the tree and whispered, "Why won't you defend yourself?"
It took several minutes before the question reached Legolas' befuddled brain, and much longer before the Golden Elf answered. This was his chance to make the Man see his point; he would not squander it with a hasty answer. He looked into the Man's stormy grey eyes and replied quietly, but firmly, "Because you have every right to be angry at me. I hate it when people judge me by my looks, or ranks or abilities without first getting to know me. I know it is the same with you."
Aragorn stared at the Elf in surprise. That was not the answer he expected; especially not from this arrogant Prince who he had just met. How could this golden creature know how he hated being prejudiced against because of his title, a secret that he kept from all eyes using his mask of ice? Suddenly, the Man felt very ashamed to have hurt this special Elf. He asked softly as he loosened the grip on the Prince's shoulders, "Are you apologizing to me then?"
At that question, Legolas' probing gaze intensified. Aragorn could feel the heat of the brilliant blue flames searing into his mind and soul. Once again, the prince answered with a quiet authority that left no room for doubt, "No. I am accepting responsibilities for my actions, but I am not sorry for them. I know what I felt is true, I will NOT apologize for trying to make you see it."
Aragorn could not help the keen disappointment that assaulted his heart at the answer. He had hoped that the Prince would apologize. He was wishing desperately that the golden creature would say that he would like to know Aragorn better and see for himself what kind of Man he truly was. Within hours of meeting, the Elf had reached a part of him that no one else had ever seen; Aragorn had thought that the Prince would be the one to care for him as a person, not a warrior or the Hope of Men.
When he finally found the words, the Man replied bitterly, "Do you think you are the first one to think I will be a great king? My foster family and Mithrandir had been telling me that ever since they told me my true identity."
The prince surprised the Man by placing a slender hand upon his chest, directly over Aragorn's heart. "I think you misheard my father, Aragorn. I said you are a great Man. It does not matter whether you are a Ranger or a King. Those are merely titles, they do not change who you are. I believe in the strength in your heart, in Aragorn the Man. I wish you would believe in yourself too," replied Legolas softly, with sadness in his beautiful voice and azure eyes.
The ranger looked at the Elf in wonder. He was very touched by the Golden One's words, but he could not truly believe them. "I have known myself far longer than you have. I do not see how you could have such faith in me."
"Ah, but you only see yourself as Isildur's heir, as chieftain of the Dunedains, and as Estel, the Hope of Men. You are much more than any of those things, Aragorn. You are right that I do not know you well enough, there is still much I have not seen. If you would allow me, I would like to accompany on your journey of self-discovery," said Legolas with a gentle smile. He had made his offer; he could only wait for the Man's decision.
After what seemed an eternity to the Elf, Aragorn gave the Elven prince his answer. The Man bent slightly and placed a wondering kiss on Legolas' lips. The Elf's eyes fluttered close as he savored the sensation. When Aragorn pulled back, Legolas was at a loss of what to say or do. He only knew he wanted the Man's lips upon his own again.
"You know so much about me, but I know nothing about you. I don't even know your name..." whispered the Man.
"It's Legolas," breathed the Elf softly, as he wound his arms around Aragorn's shoulders and pulled him closer for another kiss.
It was no longer a chaste and soft kiss like the one they first shared. The Man's passion was fully ignited by the Prince's eagerness. He wound one arm tightly around the Elf's slim waist, pulling Legolas close against his hard manhood. As the prince gasped in surprise, Aragorn took the opportunity to thrust his tongue into the Elf's sweet mouth. Legolas tasted like honey, and the Man found soon himself wanting more. He moved his other hand to cup the back of the Elf's head to tilt the golden Elf's face towards him and deepened the kiss. The young prince who was shy at the beginning was now becoming bolder; Aragorn moaned in pleasure as the Elf kissed him back in kind, as smooth slim fingers roamed his neck and back.
The Man could feel Legolas' body rising in the heat of their kiss and grinded his hips into the Elf. The Golden Prince cried out at the unexpected pleasure, his knees buckling at this powerful new sensation. He would have fallen if the Man's strong arms did not support him. Aragorn pulled back and watched the Elf in concern of the abrupt weakness.
"I have never done this before," confessed a blushing Legolas. He was both embarrassed by his apparent wantonness as well as his lack of experience in pleasuring another.
"Are you sure we should do this now then?" asked Aragorn. He could not believe one as beautiful as Legolas had never taken a lover. He felt so honored and touched that the prince had chosen him to be the first. As much as his body was demanding that he claimed the Golden Elf at once, he knew he wanted more than just a night of physical pleasure from the prince. He did not want Legolas to sacrifice his virginity unless the Elf was very certain of what he wanted.
Legolas was shocked to hear the Man's question. He knew Aragorn wanted him, but the Man was offering him the choice to stop. Legolas knew that any other Man or Elf would have taken advantage of his newfound desires and taken him without pause. The fact that Aragorn did not meant that the Man cared about him beyond just his beauty. That thought made Legolas want to share himself completely with the Man even more. But they have only just met and Aragorn did not truly know him. What if the Man came to know him better and did not like what he saw? Aragorn would leave him and the Elf knew grief would destroy him.
If the Man would offer him a choice, it is only fair that Aragorn should be given a choice too. So Legolas voiced his concerns, "I feel in my heart that you are the one for me. But we just met a few hours ago. I want you and I want to give myself to you, but as you said, you knew nothing about me. I..."
Aragorn interrupted the Elf with a sweet chaste kiss. As he pulled back from Legolas, he said, "Then we will wait. Until we understand each other as well as ourselves"
"Im uva lor o lîn, melethron nîn. [I will dream about you, my love.]" whispered the Elven Prince in the Man's ear before parting for the night.
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YEAR 8, FOURTH AGE OF MIDDLE EARTH, GONDOR CASTLE
Elessar could not believe he fell asleep over his desk reading over the treaties from Harad. That kingdom had aligned with Sauron in the War of the Rings. But after the Dark Lord's demise, they had been willing to negotiate peace with Gondor. The King felt it of utmost importance to reach a settlement to prevent any further conflicts.
Maybe, he should not have been surprised at his weariness; the constant dreams had been taking a toll on him. He had not had a restful night of sleep for the past year. Usually, his unplanned afternoon naps were a lot more invigorating, for the dream had never come to him during the day. But it was not so today. Even his nap was interrupted by the appearance of his mysterious golden lover. It was not the same one that visited him every night; this dream was much more innocent. It resembled his first visit to Thranduil's Halls twenty-two years ago. The only difference was that the same faceless golden creature was there. The events in the dream were vivid, except the parts involving his enigmatic lover. Those scenes were hazy, as in his nightly fantasies; there were only sensations and feelings, the beginning of an undying love.
When Aragorn awakened, he tried to push his mind back to that night for some clues to his mysterious lover's identity. But no matter how hard he tried, his memories of the night remained the same; he was attacked by Orcs, rescued by an Elven scouting party and brought before Thranduil who was honored to have him as guest. There was not the faintest recollection of a golden creature with dazzling blue eyes. He continued this mental exercise until his head ached so much that he thought he had been clubbed by an Orc. The reward for his pains were some faintly remembered words, echoing in his mind, "Im uva lor o lîn, melethron nîn".
Given the time he had wasted dozing off and trying to recall his golden lover, Elessar had a feeling it would be a long night before his work was done; before he could enter the realm of dreams and meet his forgotten love once more.
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