Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Please, please review. They are my fuel! Plus, for this story, they mean a lot more since I might not write the second part without good reader response. In which case, it won't be my fault if I do nasty things to our couple..
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Chapter 7: New Beginnings
DAY 9, GONDOR
Aragorn walked into the stables to find Éomer in an animated conversation with the Guardian of Lòrien. He had no doubt their conversation involved horses, for nothing could excite the King of the Mark more than those four- legged noble creatures. Preparations for their travels were almost finished. Tomorrow, the new Fellowship would ride through Mordor and approach the forests beyond the Sea of Rhun from the South. Though Sauron had been defeated, many creatures of darkness still resided in Mordor. It would be safer to bypass the Dark Lord's lands, but it was the quickest route to their destination and they had no time to lose.
The Man walked closer to join his two friends in readying their mounts. The Elf and the Rohirrim were new members of this Fellowship; Aragorn was glad that the two were forming a friendship before their journey began. When he was within hearing range of the conversation, the Man realized that his guess was correct.
"We allow our horses to run free in our forest. We only have to call them and they would return once they heard our summons through the trees," explained Haldir.
"Elves are truly amazing creatures, my friend. Not only are they the most beautiful beings upon Middle Earth, they have such amazing talents with noble animals as well," said Éomer with a smile as he gazed meaningfully into the Elf's eyes.
Éomer had never been attracted to another male before, but the Guardian of Lòrien was different. With his platinum blond hair, fine features and hazel green eyes, the Elf was very handsome to behold. Added to his comely face was a supple athletic body and a grace of movement unrivalled by any other Éomer had ever known.
What drew the King of the Mark the most was Haldir's quiet, self-assured demeanor. Whenever the Man had doubts on the possibility of success of their difficult mission, he only had to look to the Elf to regain his poise. Confidence seemed to emanate from the Guardian of Lòrien. Though the Elf was one who preferred to allow his actions to speak for him, Haldir was always ready to offer encouraging words to his friends when needed. Compounded to his exterior beauty, Éomer was finding the Elven archer rather irresistible.
"You are too kind, Éomer," replied a blushing Haldir.
The Elf had never received such attention from anyone before. Most stayed away from him because of his aloof nature. He had not expected the King of the Mark to find him attractive in any way. The archer only hoped this would not have any negative effects on their Quest. Especially since Éomer's presence seemed to have dulled his senses somewhat. He did not notice Aragorn standing so close to them until now. Haldir called out to his human friend, but received no response from the Man for Aragorn was stuck in another time.
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FLASHBACK:
Year 3018, Third Age Middle Earth, Rivendell
The Man knew Legolas would be in the stables to load their traveling supplies onto Bill the Pony. He decided he would pay his beloved a surprise visit there. They had both been so busy with making preparations for the Quest that private moments between them were scarce. In fact, Aragorn had only seen his Elf alone once briefly after the night they first made love.
The Man could see how everyone seemed to crowd around the golden Prince, vying for Legolas' attention. Though the Man knew that he alone shared the Elf's bed, he could not help being a little jealous when the admirers made their amorous advances on the Elven Prince, especially how Boromir used every possible excuse to be close to Legolas. Aragorn had nothing against the Steward of Gondor, not even after the way the Man insulted him during the Council of Elrond. But Boromir had been trying to 'accidentally' touch or brush against his Elf every chance the Man was given. That was not something Aragorn could abide by. He longed to tell the Son of Gondor that Legolas had been claimed and that the golden Elf belonged to him. But until Aragorn became King and could formally take Legolas as consort, he had agreed to keep his affairs with the Prince a secret.
Aragorn walked into the stable to find the Steward cornering his beloved. The other Man was complimenting Legolas on the way he handled Bill; but it was clear that Boromir had something far less innocent in mind.
"Elves are truly amazing creatures, my friend. Not only are they the most beautiful beings upon Middle Earth, they have such an amazing talent with handling noble creatures as well," said Boromir.
"You are too kind, Boromir," replied Legolas. The tone of the Man's voice had made the simple comment sounded suggestive. The Elf had been propositioned to many times before; this was definitely one of those occasions. The Prince was not interested at all in the Steward since he had given his heart to Aragorn long ago. But he needed a way to decline Boromir without causing any resent between them. The Man was part of the Fellowship and Legolas knew they would need to work together to see their Quest through.
"What I would give to see more of what those skilled hands could do," continued the Man.
At this point, Aragorn completely lost his composure and charged the other Man in a jealous rage. How dare Boromir had such a lewd comment to his Elf!
The Elf knew his lover was watching his conversation with Boromir, but he had not expected Aragorn to act so rashly. It took several minutes to break the two Men apart, and not without each of them landing quite a few blows on the other.
"What do you think you are doing, Aragorn? We are all part of the Fellowship; we have to stand together if we are to have a chance against Sauron's forces. You should apologize to Boromir," chastised the Elf.
The Man could not believe Legolas was scolding him. He had attacked the Steward to defend the Prince's honor, but the Elf was siding with the one who insulted him, the one who made such inappropriate remarks. Though the Ranger knew he had acted irrationally, the Elven Prince's words wounded Aragorn more than any physical injuries possibly could.
Angry and hurt, the Man did as Legolas instructed, "I am sorry Boromir. I did not know what overcame me. Rest assured that it won't happen again."
"You are forgiven, Aragorn," replied the Steward smugly. He knew jealously was the reason for the Ranger's assault. He relished in the defeat in the voice of Isildur's heir when the Elf took his side. Aragorn might be able to take away his family's rights to rule Gondor; but he would not have the golden Prince as well. Legolas must have preferred him over the other Man to demand an apology on his behalf.
Aragorn could no longer bare the other Man's victorious expression or his beloved's presence. He had always thought that he would be the only one the golden Prince would ever love. By opting for Boromir, Legolas had betrayed not only their love but also his vows to bind himself to Aragorn. And to think the Ranger had thought the Elf to be the purest of all beings; and that he had loved the Prince enough to want to wed Legolas when he became King. As soon as the exchange was over, the heartbroken Man turned and walked away.
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The Man returned to his rooms after wandering the gardens to clear his mind. He needed to focus on the Quest ahead; it would not do at all if he were to lose control every time he saw Boromir and the Elf together. Now that the Prince had chosen to be with the Steward, Aragorn had a feeling the scene would be something he could not avoid. He was surprised to find Legolas standing in his room, waiting for him.
The Prince looked as stunning as always. The ethereal glow, the exquisite azure eyes, the silken golden hair and delicate features; all the things that gave Aragorn cause for praises now were the source of his pain, for they reminded him of the Elf's betrayal and the love he could not have again. The last words the Man had spoken were meant for his lover. It was to tell the Elf he no longer cared about him; that whatever happens in the future, Legolas would face it alone, without his assistance. He would not interfere with the Elf's business again.
"Why are you here?" asked the Man caustically.
Legolas flinched at his lover's tone. The Prince knew Aragorn was hurt and wanted to comfort his beloved. "I needed to explain the motivations for my words earlier. All of us are going on the Quest together. We need to get along. I had no choice but to demand an apology from you on Boromir's behalf since you were the one who attacked him. I have to be objective so we don't alienate the Steward of Gondor."
"You don't need to explain to me, Legolas. What you do is your business," replied Aragorn as he turned away.
"No, please listen to me. I cannot change the way he felt about me. Boromir was not the first person to proposition me nor would he be the last. You cannot react so violently every time that happens. You will just end up making a lot of enemies. I cannot make people not look at me, but please don't mistake how they see me as how I feel for them," pleaded the golden Elf as he put his hand onto his lover's arm and tried to stop Aragorn from moving away.
"Save your lies for your new lover. Frankly, I just don't care anymore," said the Man as he spun around and glared at the Elf with all the anger and venom he could muster.
"Aragorn, please..." continued the Prince, but was stopped with his beloved forcibly shook off the gentle hold of his hand and attempted to head towards the door.
"Very well then. This is your room, so please stay. I will leave now. I am sorry I bothered you," replied Legolas softly.
The Man never thought his pain could get worse, but it just did. Seeing the suffering and defeat in the Elf's expression, Aragorn swore he felt his heart broke in two. Maybe in his jealousy, he had judged the Prince too rashly and treated his lover with unwarranted cruelty. The Man knew he needed to calm down to begin this conversation anew with the Elf. But before he could call to Legolas to stop him from leaving, the golden Prince had already leapt out the window and disappeared in the dense foliage of the surrounding trees.
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Aragorn had been trying to find an opportunity to speak with his former lover alone for the past three days. But the Elf had managed to avoid him at every turn. The Man knew now that the Prince was not interested in Boromir. When the Ranger accidentally walked into the end of a conversation between Legolas and the Steward of Gondor, he could tell from the expression on the other Man's face that the Elven Prince had just unequivocally rejected Boromir's amorous advances and had offered his friendship instead.
Knowing that he had misjudged his beloved thoughtlessly only heightened the pain in Aragorn's heart. Because of his harsh words, he had jeopardized his one chance at true love and happiness. Legolas would not even speak to him anymore, least say forgive him. Aragorn knew he would never love another, not after receiving and losing the wonderful gift of the golden Elf's undivided love. Though he had lost all hope that the Prince would ever take him back, the Man needed to speak with the Elf to apologize. After the horrible treatment he had given to the Elven Prince, Legolas deserved his most sincere and heartfelt apologies.
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DAY 9, GONDOR
Aragorn had been standing motionless with a pained expression on his face for quite some time now. His two friends were becoming worried. Haldir walked to the Man and shook him gently, trying to wake Elessar from his reverie. What he did not expect was to be immediately immobilized by his friend's strong embrace.
Still trapped in the past, Aragorn mistook the Elf's touch for his beloved. Without thought, the Man moved to hold Haldir tightly and whispered brokenly into the archer's ears, "I am so sorry for the things I have said. I was acting out of jealously and anger. I never meant to hurt you that badly. Please forgive me."
Éomer watched in shock at the scene unfolding before his eyes. He did not know that Haldir and Aragorn were lovers. He could hardly believe what he was seeing, since the King of Gondor seemed completely devoted to his wife and family. He wondered when the two started their affair. When the Rohirrim thought of another Man touching the handsome Elf, he could not help the pang of jealousy raging through his heart. Elessar had everything a Man could ever want; why did he have to take the one Elf that Éomer cared about.
Despite his slender frame, the Lòrien archer had a strength that surpassed most Men. Soon, Aragorn found himself shoved away by the Elf in his arms. Confused from the memories that assaulted him, the Man lost his balance and fell onto the ground. The force of the impact jolted Aragorn back into the present reality.
The Man was appalled when he realized what he had done. He knew he owed both his friends an apology and an explanation. He noticed the way the Elf and the King of the Mark regarded each other and noted that his words and actions had just brought upon a misunderstanding between them. Aragorn wanted to repair the damages; he would see his friends happily together, especially since he could not pursue his own heart in the matters of love.
The question became how to defuse the situation without giving away his secrets entirely. He would rather his companions on the new Quest not know about his involvement with Legolas. It would cause them unnecessary worries. The Man wanted everyone's focus to be entirely on the mission; it would be crucial to the success of the Quest as well as their survival.
"I am sorry, Haldir, I thought you were someone else," said the Man cryptically.
"Someone else? But I don't resemble your Lady in anyway, Elessar," asked the Guardian of Lòrien.
"I know. It was someone dear to me before I met Arwen. That was very long ago; seeing you two together just brought back memories," replied Aragorn with a meaningful smile as he cast a glance at the King of the Mark.
Both his friends blushed slightly at his comment as they realized Aragorn knew of their attraction to each other. Before they could speak to deny it, the Man continued, "I lost that person because I did not follow my heart. Though I have moved on since then, it is something I will always regret."
Having made his point, Aragorn decided it was time to leave and give his two friends privacy. "I really should go check on the preparation of our food supplies for the journey. I am a bit worried that our little friends will eat it all before we even begin."
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"Are you sure you are going to be alright, Aragorn?" asked his Steward.
"Do you always sneak up on people?" retorted the surprised King. He could not believe that he allowed Faramir to approach him undetected. His senses must have become duller from the disuse than he thought. If the Steward was one of his Elven friends, Aragorn would not have been as shocked. But Faramir walked with sound, which the Man should have picked up from some distance away. He must found some way to regain his sharp Ranger senses lest he became a burden for his friends on the Quest.
"I did not ambush you. I walked up to you from behind. It is the third time in the past week I managed to surprise you. This could only mean that you are still troubled," replied Faramir.
"I cannot choose when my memories return. The simplest of phrases could trigger their onslaught at the most inopportune times. When they come, I became trapped in another time and place; I am completely unaware of the present situation. Even if I push my personal feelings for Legolas aside, there is still a good chance that I can be immobilized by these recollections during the Quest. If it happens when we faced danger, I will be a liability to my comrades. How can I not be troubled?" said the Man.
"Maybe I should not go on this mission after all," added Aragorn quietly.
The King wanted to go so he could help Legolas. It was the only thing he could do for the Prince now, to fulfill his promise of getting the magic crystal to save their realms from Morn-ndùath. After what he said, the Man doubted Legolas would ever forgive him or give him another chance.
"No, I think you should go. If anything, being on a Quest again will help your memories return. The past is an important part of you, Aragorn. It will be unfair to deny yourself the opportunity to reclaim what is rightfully yours. Until you remember everything, you will always have doubts no matter which path you choose to take. Until you make your final decision based on the whole truth, you can never be free to pursue future happiness," advised Faramir.
"But I might endanger the mission," argued the King.
"If a situation triggers your memory, it can only mean that you have faced it before in the past. I think experience is a good thing; it will help you choose the wisest course of action almost instinctively. You do not give yourself enough credit, my liege. I know you will not freeze in face of danger," said the Steward.
"I suppose you are right. But I wish remembering would be easier and that the memories are in a more logical order," replied Aragorn with a sigh.
"We cannot always have what we want now, can we? By the way, the food and weapons for the journey are prepared. They only have to be loaded onto your mounts. The new Fellowship will be ready to leave at first light tomorrow," said the Steward as he began to head back to the castle.
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DAY 9, REALM OF THE TIRN UIPIRA
Glorgalad opened his eyes to find his father looming over him. The Prince knew he had been attacked by the Evil One and was lucky to have survived. He should have been more careful in shielding the Dreamworld from Morn- ndùath. His uncle could have killed Aragorn if he had assailed the Man instead. His beloved was completely defenseless in the realms of Dreams; it was his duty to protect them both and he had failed.
The young Watcher never expected the dark one to strike through the bond between himself and Aragorn. As a result, he had concentrated all his defenses against the outside world. The communication and protection spells had drained Glorgalad of all his light, leaving him vulnerable when the evil Watcher slipped into their dream with Aragorn and attacked from within.
From this incident, the golden Prince knew Morn-ndùath had taken someone close to his beloved. He still remembered how the evil one gloated over him in victory. His uncle had told Glorgalad how naïve and stupid he was, falling into a trap without even noticing. The evil Watcher congratulated him on convincing his clueless Human lover to risk his life to get the magical crystal. All Morn-ndùath had to do was wait for Aragorn's return and take the treasure from the unsuspecting Man.
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But the dark one made a single miscalculation; the golden Prince had somehow survived the assault. That was something that Glorgalad could not fully understand himself, since he remembered feeling his spirit left his body after the attack. The young Watcher had been through enough rejuvenation to know he would never be able to garner enough energy to return to his outer form in time to rejoin the living.
Yet, while the Prince floated unconsciously in the skies above, the voice of his beloved reached him through the haziness. He had never thought such a thing would be possible as a Watcher was supposed to be dead to the outside world during rejuvenating slumber. Yet, the young Prince heard his lover's voice clearly, saying the words the Man had spoken to him long ago before their Quest, "I love you so much. I cannot lose you." In response to Aragorn's plea, the light inside Glorgalad rekindled in all its former brilliance, infusing the young Watcher's spirit with enough energy to send him back into his body.
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Despite his renewed powers, the injuries the Watcher had sustained were severe. Though Glorgalad wished to rise immediately to visit the Man's dreams to warn him of the coming danger, his battered body had other ideas. It refused to operate in the slightest bit, no matter how hard the golden Prince willed it to. Thus, for the past day, Glorgalad lied motionless in bed, a clear mind locked within a rebellious body, conscious yet unconscious to the outside world at the same time.
During his 'slumber', the Watcher had time to consider his strategies. He knew his father would forbid any further communication with Aragorn. He also suspected that his brother and Mallos realized the truth. They would take his side against the King in the matter and help him do whatever was necessary to thwart the evil one's plans.
The Prince knew that simple communication would no longer be of much help to the Man. The new Fellowship would face many perils on their journey; advice alone would not assist them. What they would need was another helping hand, fighting beside them. Glorgalad considered possessing Elrohir as his father had done eleven years ago to enter Middle Earth and erase everyone's memories. But since the Prince could not be sure whether the younger twin already housed his evil uncle, the plan was too risky. He must look for someone unknown to the Man, a form that neither his father nor Morn-ndùath would suspect.
With Mallos' and Celegîl's help, he would be able to sneak into Middle Earth without their King's notice. Given his current state, the Prince was sure it would take all his energy to possess a being on Arda. Though it would leave the Watcher powerless, the evil one or his father could not detect him through his magic once he reached Middle Earth. In their eyes, he would just be another lowly being of Arda.
As long as the Prince did not take a form that would give him away physically, Morn-ndùath would be blind to his presence, even if the evil one had taken someone close to Aragorn. The element of surprise would then be on their side as the dark one thought him disposed of already; Morn- ndùath would not expect any more resistance from the young Watcher. All Glorgalad needed to do was use his gift of reading people to discern his uncle's true form before the evil Watcher struck.
His plan was very dangerous. If the one Glorgalad possessed were killed during the Quest, he would fade. Without any magic, it was a real possibility that the Watcher would meet his end while facing the perils of the journey. But it was a risk the Prince was willing to take. He would fight by his beloved side as he did eleven years ago. Though Aragorn had made it clear that he no longer loved Legolas, it did not change the Watcher's feelings on the matter. He would give his life for the Man even if his love were not requited. This was the only thing he could do for Aragorn now, silently helping the Man in the form of another.
With his counter-plan in mind, the young Watcher smiled sweetly at his overprotective father. He even promised to not use his magic to create a Dreamworld again. When Alagos was satisfied that his golden son would not endanger himself so recklessly in the near future, he bid the Prince to rest and regain his strength before heading off to meet with his advisors. As soon as his father left, Glorgalad turned his attention upon Middle Earth, looking for a suitable candidate to possess.
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Internal consistency issues:
Legolas/Glorgalad's magic is not powerful enough to be physically with Aragorn as himself but he can do it through someone else that he possesses. But that is not to say he will.
Tirn Uipira detects their own kind through their magic and light. Any other Watcher will be recognized immediately by Morn-ndùath if they take physical form because they still retain their powers in Middle Earth. But because Glorgalad is so significantly weakened by his injuries, he will virtually be a normal 'Middle Earthling' once he possesses someone. It will be like when he was reborn as Legolas without any of his powers.
Responses to reviews:
Miriel Sakamoto: If I remember correctly, Sindarin is also an adjective that means of the Sindar division of Elves. I just wanted to point out that Thranduil IS one of the Sindar. It is clearly stated in the one of the Appendices after Return of the King. Legolas refers to himself as Silvan in The Fellowship of the Ring (book), which is the subdivision of Elves that originally live in Greenwood the Great before Oropher, Legolas' grandfather built his kingdom there. There were two possible reasons postulated, the first is that his mother is Silvan; the second is that the ruling house merged completely with the Silvan people and give up their Sindarin inheritance. But either way, Legolas' first language is Sindarin and in terms of inheritance, he is also sindarin. BTW, Aragorn spoke to him in Sindarin in the movie =) (avo is command form of sit and dad is down in Sindarin.)
Eldar is a collective term given to the Elves by Vala when they were first found. I am under the impression that it basically applies to all the Elves who traveled to Middle Earth from Valinor and their descendents. I suppose that Legolas, being of Thranduil's line, is also an Eldar. The original three lines of the Eldar are Noldor, Teleri and Vanyar. Sindar is descended from Teleri =) The impression the movie gave is that descendents of the Noldors were the dark haired and the Teleri fair-haired. Many of the Vanyar went back to Valinor before the beginning of the First Age, so they aren't really mentioned much. The Encyclopedia of Arda online has lots of useful information that are well referenced from actual written sources if people are interested in doing background research =)
As to the language, I DID referenced more than THREE sites before I write Elvish. The site you mentioned (Ardalambion) is one of them. The second is Fellowship of the Words Smiths, the third is the Sindarin Survival Project. I also use an online translator and two different Sindarin dictionaries. My beta helps with my Elvish lines as well. Anyways, the name Glorgalad is already lenited since the two original words in Sindarin were "Glor-", which is one of two prefixes for golden and "calad", the unlenited form of light. Same principle as the name Gil-galad.. I don't think things could be lenited twice, but don't quote me on that..
I just want to say I do take great care in every serious fiction I write. I DON'T randomly throw words together without checking with the online sites first to make sure the mutations are more or less okay. But self- learning Sindarin that has five different mutation sets and special cases is difficult; so I cannot say for certain that all the Elvish lines I write have no mistakes. For example, it is possible that a nasal or liquid mutation could be used for the villain's name, making it Morn-nùath or Mordùath, instead of the mixed mutation that I used to get Morn-ndùath. I basically just picked one based on a similar word in the Word Smith site. On second thought, it might have been better to use the liquid form... But anyways, between the references, my beta and I, we do try to make sure that things are correct to the best of our knowledge.
Sorry for all the babbling, but I did spend many hours online trying to get my Elvish lines right. I have probably taken this too seriously, but I got a little annoyed when people thought I didn't do my homework before writing this particular fiction. Hope the above outburst have not offended anyone =)
Sakura88 & lolo & Mawgy: Sorry, no spoilers as to whose form the bad guy took. It's the only suspense point in the plot =)
Layfield: No, Aragorn doesn't know about the attack. He isn't going to find out either..
Please, please review. They are my fuel! Plus, for this story, they mean a lot more since I might not write the second part without good reader response. In which case, it won't be my fault if I do nasty things to our couple..
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Chapter 7: New Beginnings
DAY 9, GONDOR
Aragorn walked into the stables to find Éomer in an animated conversation with the Guardian of Lòrien. He had no doubt their conversation involved horses, for nothing could excite the King of the Mark more than those four- legged noble creatures. Preparations for their travels were almost finished. Tomorrow, the new Fellowship would ride through Mordor and approach the forests beyond the Sea of Rhun from the South. Though Sauron had been defeated, many creatures of darkness still resided in Mordor. It would be safer to bypass the Dark Lord's lands, but it was the quickest route to their destination and they had no time to lose.
The Man walked closer to join his two friends in readying their mounts. The Elf and the Rohirrim were new members of this Fellowship; Aragorn was glad that the two were forming a friendship before their journey began. When he was within hearing range of the conversation, the Man realized that his guess was correct.
"We allow our horses to run free in our forest. We only have to call them and they would return once they heard our summons through the trees," explained Haldir.
"Elves are truly amazing creatures, my friend. Not only are they the most beautiful beings upon Middle Earth, they have such amazing talents with noble animals as well," said Éomer with a smile as he gazed meaningfully into the Elf's eyes.
Éomer had never been attracted to another male before, but the Guardian of Lòrien was different. With his platinum blond hair, fine features and hazel green eyes, the Elf was very handsome to behold. Added to his comely face was a supple athletic body and a grace of movement unrivalled by any other Éomer had ever known.
What drew the King of the Mark the most was Haldir's quiet, self-assured demeanor. Whenever the Man had doubts on the possibility of success of their difficult mission, he only had to look to the Elf to regain his poise. Confidence seemed to emanate from the Guardian of Lòrien. Though the Elf was one who preferred to allow his actions to speak for him, Haldir was always ready to offer encouraging words to his friends when needed. Compounded to his exterior beauty, Éomer was finding the Elven archer rather irresistible.
"You are too kind, Éomer," replied a blushing Haldir.
The Elf had never received such attention from anyone before. Most stayed away from him because of his aloof nature. He had not expected the King of the Mark to find him attractive in any way. The archer only hoped this would not have any negative effects on their Quest. Especially since Éomer's presence seemed to have dulled his senses somewhat. He did not notice Aragorn standing so close to them until now. Haldir called out to his human friend, but received no response from the Man for Aragorn was stuck in another time.
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FLASHBACK:
Year 3018, Third Age Middle Earth, Rivendell
The Man knew Legolas would be in the stables to load their traveling supplies onto Bill the Pony. He decided he would pay his beloved a surprise visit there. They had both been so busy with making preparations for the Quest that private moments between them were scarce. In fact, Aragorn had only seen his Elf alone once briefly after the night they first made love.
The Man could see how everyone seemed to crowd around the golden Prince, vying for Legolas' attention. Though the Man knew that he alone shared the Elf's bed, he could not help being a little jealous when the admirers made their amorous advances on the Elven Prince, especially how Boromir used every possible excuse to be close to Legolas. Aragorn had nothing against the Steward of Gondor, not even after the way the Man insulted him during the Council of Elrond. But Boromir had been trying to 'accidentally' touch or brush against his Elf every chance the Man was given. That was not something Aragorn could abide by. He longed to tell the Son of Gondor that Legolas had been claimed and that the golden Elf belonged to him. But until Aragorn became King and could formally take Legolas as consort, he had agreed to keep his affairs with the Prince a secret.
Aragorn walked into the stable to find the Steward cornering his beloved. The other Man was complimenting Legolas on the way he handled Bill; but it was clear that Boromir had something far less innocent in mind.
"Elves are truly amazing creatures, my friend. Not only are they the most beautiful beings upon Middle Earth, they have such an amazing talent with handling noble creatures as well," said Boromir.
"You are too kind, Boromir," replied Legolas. The tone of the Man's voice had made the simple comment sounded suggestive. The Elf had been propositioned to many times before; this was definitely one of those occasions. The Prince was not interested at all in the Steward since he had given his heart to Aragorn long ago. But he needed a way to decline Boromir without causing any resent between them. The Man was part of the Fellowship and Legolas knew they would need to work together to see their Quest through.
"What I would give to see more of what those skilled hands could do," continued the Man.
At this point, Aragorn completely lost his composure and charged the other Man in a jealous rage. How dare Boromir had such a lewd comment to his Elf!
The Elf knew his lover was watching his conversation with Boromir, but he had not expected Aragorn to act so rashly. It took several minutes to break the two Men apart, and not without each of them landing quite a few blows on the other.
"What do you think you are doing, Aragorn? We are all part of the Fellowship; we have to stand together if we are to have a chance against Sauron's forces. You should apologize to Boromir," chastised the Elf.
The Man could not believe Legolas was scolding him. He had attacked the Steward to defend the Prince's honor, but the Elf was siding with the one who insulted him, the one who made such inappropriate remarks. Though the Ranger knew he had acted irrationally, the Elven Prince's words wounded Aragorn more than any physical injuries possibly could.
Angry and hurt, the Man did as Legolas instructed, "I am sorry Boromir. I did not know what overcame me. Rest assured that it won't happen again."
"You are forgiven, Aragorn," replied the Steward smugly. He knew jealously was the reason for the Ranger's assault. He relished in the defeat in the voice of Isildur's heir when the Elf took his side. Aragorn might be able to take away his family's rights to rule Gondor; but he would not have the golden Prince as well. Legolas must have preferred him over the other Man to demand an apology on his behalf.
Aragorn could no longer bare the other Man's victorious expression or his beloved's presence. He had always thought that he would be the only one the golden Prince would ever love. By opting for Boromir, Legolas had betrayed not only their love but also his vows to bind himself to Aragorn. And to think the Ranger had thought the Elf to be the purest of all beings; and that he had loved the Prince enough to want to wed Legolas when he became King. As soon as the exchange was over, the heartbroken Man turned and walked away.
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The Man returned to his rooms after wandering the gardens to clear his mind. He needed to focus on the Quest ahead; it would not do at all if he were to lose control every time he saw Boromir and the Elf together. Now that the Prince had chosen to be with the Steward, Aragorn had a feeling the scene would be something he could not avoid. He was surprised to find Legolas standing in his room, waiting for him.
The Prince looked as stunning as always. The ethereal glow, the exquisite azure eyes, the silken golden hair and delicate features; all the things that gave Aragorn cause for praises now were the source of his pain, for they reminded him of the Elf's betrayal and the love he could not have again. The last words the Man had spoken were meant for his lover. It was to tell the Elf he no longer cared about him; that whatever happens in the future, Legolas would face it alone, without his assistance. He would not interfere with the Elf's business again.
"Why are you here?" asked the Man caustically.
Legolas flinched at his lover's tone. The Prince knew Aragorn was hurt and wanted to comfort his beloved. "I needed to explain the motivations for my words earlier. All of us are going on the Quest together. We need to get along. I had no choice but to demand an apology from you on Boromir's behalf since you were the one who attacked him. I have to be objective so we don't alienate the Steward of Gondor."
"You don't need to explain to me, Legolas. What you do is your business," replied Aragorn as he turned away.
"No, please listen to me. I cannot change the way he felt about me. Boromir was not the first person to proposition me nor would he be the last. You cannot react so violently every time that happens. You will just end up making a lot of enemies. I cannot make people not look at me, but please don't mistake how they see me as how I feel for them," pleaded the golden Elf as he put his hand onto his lover's arm and tried to stop Aragorn from moving away.
"Save your lies for your new lover. Frankly, I just don't care anymore," said the Man as he spun around and glared at the Elf with all the anger and venom he could muster.
"Aragorn, please..." continued the Prince, but was stopped with his beloved forcibly shook off the gentle hold of his hand and attempted to head towards the door.
"Very well then. This is your room, so please stay. I will leave now. I am sorry I bothered you," replied Legolas softly.
The Man never thought his pain could get worse, but it just did. Seeing the suffering and defeat in the Elf's expression, Aragorn swore he felt his heart broke in two. Maybe in his jealousy, he had judged the Prince too rashly and treated his lover with unwarranted cruelty. The Man knew he needed to calm down to begin this conversation anew with the Elf. But before he could call to Legolas to stop him from leaving, the golden Prince had already leapt out the window and disappeared in the dense foliage of the surrounding trees.
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Aragorn had been trying to find an opportunity to speak with his former lover alone for the past three days. But the Elf had managed to avoid him at every turn. The Man knew now that the Prince was not interested in Boromir. When the Ranger accidentally walked into the end of a conversation between Legolas and the Steward of Gondor, he could tell from the expression on the other Man's face that the Elven Prince had just unequivocally rejected Boromir's amorous advances and had offered his friendship instead.
Knowing that he had misjudged his beloved thoughtlessly only heightened the pain in Aragorn's heart. Because of his harsh words, he had jeopardized his one chance at true love and happiness. Legolas would not even speak to him anymore, least say forgive him. Aragorn knew he would never love another, not after receiving and losing the wonderful gift of the golden Elf's undivided love. Though he had lost all hope that the Prince would ever take him back, the Man needed to speak with the Elf to apologize. After the horrible treatment he had given to the Elven Prince, Legolas deserved his most sincere and heartfelt apologies.
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DAY 9, GONDOR
Aragorn had been standing motionless with a pained expression on his face for quite some time now. His two friends were becoming worried. Haldir walked to the Man and shook him gently, trying to wake Elessar from his reverie. What he did not expect was to be immediately immobilized by his friend's strong embrace.
Still trapped in the past, Aragorn mistook the Elf's touch for his beloved. Without thought, the Man moved to hold Haldir tightly and whispered brokenly into the archer's ears, "I am so sorry for the things I have said. I was acting out of jealously and anger. I never meant to hurt you that badly. Please forgive me."
Éomer watched in shock at the scene unfolding before his eyes. He did not know that Haldir and Aragorn were lovers. He could hardly believe what he was seeing, since the King of Gondor seemed completely devoted to his wife and family. He wondered when the two started their affair. When the Rohirrim thought of another Man touching the handsome Elf, he could not help the pang of jealousy raging through his heart. Elessar had everything a Man could ever want; why did he have to take the one Elf that Éomer cared about.
Despite his slender frame, the Lòrien archer had a strength that surpassed most Men. Soon, Aragorn found himself shoved away by the Elf in his arms. Confused from the memories that assaulted him, the Man lost his balance and fell onto the ground. The force of the impact jolted Aragorn back into the present reality.
The Man was appalled when he realized what he had done. He knew he owed both his friends an apology and an explanation. He noticed the way the Elf and the King of the Mark regarded each other and noted that his words and actions had just brought upon a misunderstanding between them. Aragorn wanted to repair the damages; he would see his friends happily together, especially since he could not pursue his own heart in the matters of love.
The question became how to defuse the situation without giving away his secrets entirely. He would rather his companions on the new Quest not know about his involvement with Legolas. It would cause them unnecessary worries. The Man wanted everyone's focus to be entirely on the mission; it would be crucial to the success of the Quest as well as their survival.
"I am sorry, Haldir, I thought you were someone else," said the Man cryptically.
"Someone else? But I don't resemble your Lady in anyway, Elessar," asked the Guardian of Lòrien.
"I know. It was someone dear to me before I met Arwen. That was very long ago; seeing you two together just brought back memories," replied Aragorn with a meaningful smile as he cast a glance at the King of the Mark.
Both his friends blushed slightly at his comment as they realized Aragorn knew of their attraction to each other. Before they could speak to deny it, the Man continued, "I lost that person because I did not follow my heart. Though I have moved on since then, it is something I will always regret."
Having made his point, Aragorn decided it was time to leave and give his two friends privacy. "I really should go check on the preparation of our food supplies for the journey. I am a bit worried that our little friends will eat it all before we even begin."
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"Are you sure you are going to be alright, Aragorn?" asked his Steward.
"Do you always sneak up on people?" retorted the surprised King. He could not believe that he allowed Faramir to approach him undetected. His senses must have become duller from the disuse than he thought. If the Steward was one of his Elven friends, Aragorn would not have been as shocked. But Faramir walked with sound, which the Man should have picked up from some distance away. He must found some way to regain his sharp Ranger senses lest he became a burden for his friends on the Quest.
"I did not ambush you. I walked up to you from behind. It is the third time in the past week I managed to surprise you. This could only mean that you are still troubled," replied Faramir.
"I cannot choose when my memories return. The simplest of phrases could trigger their onslaught at the most inopportune times. When they come, I became trapped in another time and place; I am completely unaware of the present situation. Even if I push my personal feelings for Legolas aside, there is still a good chance that I can be immobilized by these recollections during the Quest. If it happens when we faced danger, I will be a liability to my comrades. How can I not be troubled?" said the Man.
"Maybe I should not go on this mission after all," added Aragorn quietly.
The King wanted to go so he could help Legolas. It was the only thing he could do for the Prince now, to fulfill his promise of getting the magic crystal to save their realms from Morn-ndùath. After what he said, the Man doubted Legolas would ever forgive him or give him another chance.
"No, I think you should go. If anything, being on a Quest again will help your memories return. The past is an important part of you, Aragorn. It will be unfair to deny yourself the opportunity to reclaim what is rightfully yours. Until you remember everything, you will always have doubts no matter which path you choose to take. Until you make your final decision based on the whole truth, you can never be free to pursue future happiness," advised Faramir.
"But I might endanger the mission," argued the King.
"If a situation triggers your memory, it can only mean that you have faced it before in the past. I think experience is a good thing; it will help you choose the wisest course of action almost instinctively. You do not give yourself enough credit, my liege. I know you will not freeze in face of danger," said the Steward.
"I suppose you are right. But I wish remembering would be easier and that the memories are in a more logical order," replied Aragorn with a sigh.
"We cannot always have what we want now, can we? By the way, the food and weapons for the journey are prepared. They only have to be loaded onto your mounts. The new Fellowship will be ready to leave at first light tomorrow," said the Steward as he began to head back to the castle.
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DAY 9, REALM OF THE TIRN UIPIRA
Glorgalad opened his eyes to find his father looming over him. The Prince knew he had been attacked by the Evil One and was lucky to have survived. He should have been more careful in shielding the Dreamworld from Morn- ndùath. His uncle could have killed Aragorn if he had assailed the Man instead. His beloved was completely defenseless in the realms of Dreams; it was his duty to protect them both and he had failed.
The young Watcher never expected the dark one to strike through the bond between himself and Aragorn. As a result, he had concentrated all his defenses against the outside world. The communication and protection spells had drained Glorgalad of all his light, leaving him vulnerable when the evil Watcher slipped into their dream with Aragorn and attacked from within.
From this incident, the golden Prince knew Morn-ndùath had taken someone close to his beloved. He still remembered how the evil one gloated over him in victory. His uncle had told Glorgalad how naïve and stupid he was, falling into a trap without even noticing. The evil Watcher congratulated him on convincing his clueless Human lover to risk his life to get the magical crystal. All Morn-ndùath had to do was wait for Aragorn's return and take the treasure from the unsuspecting Man.
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But the dark one made a single miscalculation; the golden Prince had somehow survived the assault. That was something that Glorgalad could not fully understand himself, since he remembered feeling his spirit left his body after the attack. The young Watcher had been through enough rejuvenation to know he would never be able to garner enough energy to return to his outer form in time to rejoin the living.
Yet, while the Prince floated unconsciously in the skies above, the voice of his beloved reached him through the haziness. He had never thought such a thing would be possible as a Watcher was supposed to be dead to the outside world during rejuvenating slumber. Yet, the young Prince heard his lover's voice clearly, saying the words the Man had spoken to him long ago before their Quest, "I love you so much. I cannot lose you." In response to Aragorn's plea, the light inside Glorgalad rekindled in all its former brilliance, infusing the young Watcher's spirit with enough energy to send him back into his body.
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Despite his renewed powers, the injuries the Watcher had sustained were severe. Though Glorgalad wished to rise immediately to visit the Man's dreams to warn him of the coming danger, his battered body had other ideas. It refused to operate in the slightest bit, no matter how hard the golden Prince willed it to. Thus, for the past day, Glorgalad lied motionless in bed, a clear mind locked within a rebellious body, conscious yet unconscious to the outside world at the same time.
During his 'slumber', the Watcher had time to consider his strategies. He knew his father would forbid any further communication with Aragorn. He also suspected that his brother and Mallos realized the truth. They would take his side against the King in the matter and help him do whatever was necessary to thwart the evil one's plans.
The Prince knew that simple communication would no longer be of much help to the Man. The new Fellowship would face many perils on their journey; advice alone would not assist them. What they would need was another helping hand, fighting beside them. Glorgalad considered possessing Elrohir as his father had done eleven years ago to enter Middle Earth and erase everyone's memories. But since the Prince could not be sure whether the younger twin already housed his evil uncle, the plan was too risky. He must look for someone unknown to the Man, a form that neither his father nor Morn-ndùath would suspect.
With Mallos' and Celegîl's help, he would be able to sneak into Middle Earth without their King's notice. Given his current state, the Prince was sure it would take all his energy to possess a being on Arda. Though it would leave the Watcher powerless, the evil one or his father could not detect him through his magic once he reached Middle Earth. In their eyes, he would just be another lowly being of Arda.
As long as the Prince did not take a form that would give him away physically, Morn-ndùath would be blind to his presence, even if the evil one had taken someone close to Aragorn. The element of surprise would then be on their side as the dark one thought him disposed of already; Morn- ndùath would not expect any more resistance from the young Watcher. All Glorgalad needed to do was use his gift of reading people to discern his uncle's true form before the evil Watcher struck.
His plan was very dangerous. If the one Glorgalad possessed were killed during the Quest, he would fade. Without any magic, it was a real possibility that the Watcher would meet his end while facing the perils of the journey. But it was a risk the Prince was willing to take. He would fight by his beloved side as he did eleven years ago. Though Aragorn had made it clear that he no longer loved Legolas, it did not change the Watcher's feelings on the matter. He would give his life for the Man even if his love were not requited. This was the only thing he could do for Aragorn now, silently helping the Man in the form of another.
With his counter-plan in mind, the young Watcher smiled sweetly at his overprotective father. He even promised to not use his magic to create a Dreamworld again. When Alagos was satisfied that his golden son would not endanger himself so recklessly in the near future, he bid the Prince to rest and regain his strength before heading off to meet with his advisors. As soon as his father left, Glorgalad turned his attention upon Middle Earth, looking for a suitable candidate to possess.
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Internal consistency issues:
Legolas/Glorgalad's magic is not powerful enough to be physically with Aragorn as himself but he can do it through someone else that he possesses. But that is not to say he will.
Tirn Uipira detects their own kind through their magic and light. Any other Watcher will be recognized immediately by Morn-ndùath if they take physical form because they still retain their powers in Middle Earth. But because Glorgalad is so significantly weakened by his injuries, he will virtually be a normal 'Middle Earthling' once he possesses someone. It will be like when he was reborn as Legolas without any of his powers.
Responses to reviews:
Miriel Sakamoto: If I remember correctly, Sindarin is also an adjective that means of the Sindar division of Elves. I just wanted to point out that Thranduil IS one of the Sindar. It is clearly stated in the one of the Appendices after Return of the King. Legolas refers to himself as Silvan in The Fellowship of the Ring (book), which is the subdivision of Elves that originally live in Greenwood the Great before Oropher, Legolas' grandfather built his kingdom there. There were two possible reasons postulated, the first is that his mother is Silvan; the second is that the ruling house merged completely with the Silvan people and give up their Sindarin inheritance. But either way, Legolas' first language is Sindarin and in terms of inheritance, he is also sindarin. BTW, Aragorn spoke to him in Sindarin in the movie =) (avo is command form of sit and dad is down in Sindarin.)
Eldar is a collective term given to the Elves by Vala when they were first found. I am under the impression that it basically applies to all the Elves who traveled to Middle Earth from Valinor and their descendents. I suppose that Legolas, being of Thranduil's line, is also an Eldar. The original three lines of the Eldar are Noldor, Teleri and Vanyar. Sindar is descended from Teleri =) The impression the movie gave is that descendents of the Noldors were the dark haired and the Teleri fair-haired. Many of the Vanyar went back to Valinor before the beginning of the First Age, so they aren't really mentioned much. The Encyclopedia of Arda online has lots of useful information that are well referenced from actual written sources if people are interested in doing background research =)
As to the language, I DID referenced more than THREE sites before I write Elvish. The site you mentioned (Ardalambion) is one of them. The second is Fellowship of the Words Smiths, the third is the Sindarin Survival Project. I also use an online translator and two different Sindarin dictionaries. My beta helps with my Elvish lines as well. Anyways, the name Glorgalad is already lenited since the two original words in Sindarin were "Glor-", which is one of two prefixes for golden and "calad", the unlenited form of light. Same principle as the name Gil-galad.. I don't think things could be lenited twice, but don't quote me on that..
I just want to say I do take great care in every serious fiction I write. I DON'T randomly throw words together without checking with the online sites first to make sure the mutations are more or less okay. But self- learning Sindarin that has five different mutation sets and special cases is difficult; so I cannot say for certain that all the Elvish lines I write have no mistakes. For example, it is possible that a nasal or liquid mutation could be used for the villain's name, making it Morn-nùath or Mordùath, instead of the mixed mutation that I used to get Morn-ndùath. I basically just picked one based on a similar word in the Word Smith site. On second thought, it might have been better to use the liquid form... But anyways, between the references, my beta and I, we do try to make sure that things are correct to the best of our knowledge.
Sorry for all the babbling, but I did spend many hours online trying to get my Elvish lines right. I have probably taken this too seriously, but I got a little annoyed when people thought I didn't do my homework before writing this particular fiction. Hope the above outburst have not offended anyone =)
Sakura88 & lolo & Mawgy: Sorry, no spoilers as to whose form the bad guy took. It's the only suspense point in the plot =)
Layfield: No, Aragorn doesn't know about the attack. He isn't going to find out either..