Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Please, please review. Hands very tired from playing Two Towers game and Devil May Cry. Need to extra incentive to write.
Beta's note: My hands are tired from typing, so I also need incentive to beta. Bye~ Ithildin
A/N: Just wanted to use one particular line from our Elf in movie since I liked it a lot =) I had to change the situation where it was said to make things fit. I also brought in the winged Nazgûl a lot earlier on. I apologize in advance, but this is A/U!
Dear reviewers: I don't like Legolas being ugly either. He won't stay that way long, just until the end of part one, which is not that many chapters away. Please, bear with me. I will make everything all better in part two, if I write it, I promise =)
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Chapter 9: Pain and Resolutions
DAY 12, MOUNTAIN OF SHADOWS
The Company's journey had been difficult. Though Gandalf had led them on a windy path on the edge of the mountains where their horses could scale, the steep and rocky terrain had significantly slowed their pace. Legolas sat atop the pony that originally carried Frodo and Sam, peering suspiciously at their surroundings. The two Hobbits now rode with Aragorn and Haldir since the Watcher did not have his own mount.
The members of the Fellowship were very surprised that the animal would carry the Prince. Creatures of the forest were frightened of Saruman's beasts; only specially breed horses or Wargs would carry an Uruk-Hai. Yet, their newest ally did not generate any fear in the pony. In fact, the mount seemed to be happier carrying its heavier new rider than the two Halflings. It vied for the ugly beast's attention as if the Uruk-Hai were an Elf.
Their new member was indeed a contradiction. It had the rough, gritty voice of an Uruk-Hai; yet it was capable of speaking in the melodic language of the Elves. In addition, despite its grotesque appearance and bulky form, it moved with a grace and dignity that was befitting of a noble Elf. With his sensitive hearing, Haldir had noted how the creature whispered words of encouragement to their horses and stroke them gently each morning before they set off.
But what was most perplexing to the Guardian of Lòrien was how the forest and the elements spoke to the beast, warning him of approaching danger. In fact, the Uruk-Hai seemed more attuned to the voices of nature than the Elf himself. The group would have been ambushed by a band of Orcs at edge of the woods had their new 'friend' not warn them in time. Legolas had heard the cries of the forest before the Elven archer became aware of the danger.
Haldir originally suspected the beast had arranged the attack to gain the trust of the rest of the Fellowship. But when the Guardian of Lòrien secretly asked the trees to confirm his suspicions, he was rewarded with the most severe scolding he had ever received in his immortal life. The forest told him Legolas would never hurt any of his friends and accused Haldir of judging people based only on their appearance, not their hearts. The trees expressed how disappointed they were with the Elf and even threatened not to answer his calls again if the archer did not apologize at once to Legolas.
No matter how powerful one's magic was, they could not enchant the entire forest into doing their will. It was one of the reasons why Saruman had deforested Isengard when he turned evil. The fallen Istari could not corrupt the hearts of the trees or obtain their co-operation in Sauron's foul plans. Even if the Uruk-Hai was a spy with magic, it could not have forced the woods to lie. The forest had spoken out of its own volition, in defense of the creature against Haldir. The Guardian had never seen nature took to any Elf this way, not even the most ancient and powerful of the Wood-Elves, not to mention an Uruk-Hai. Haldir wondered what possibly could the ghastly creature have done to win the hearts of the trees so completely.
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Legolas was surprised that as an Uruk-Hai-Elf hybrid, he possessed the same abilities he did as the Crown Prince of Mirkwood eleven years ago. Though his outer form was hideous to behold and his voice grating to the ears, Legolas was capable of communicating with nature as if he was an Elf. In fact, the love the trees and elements had for him had not changed despite his new form. Alagos might have erased every person's memory of Legolas, but he could not dim Nature's recollection of its golden Prince. It remembered perfectly how the Elf had sacrificed himself to save them all and recognized Legolas' beautiful soul even within an Uruk-Hai's body.
The Watcher had been sensing danger in the air and the Earth for some time now. He felt it necessary to alert the others of the possible peril. "A shadow of a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it."
While the other warriors dismissed the Prince's warnings since Haldir's keen senses could not detect anything moving close to them, Aragorn remained silent. His head was beginning to hurt a little as some recollection of the past started to surface. Part of the Man told Aragorn he should listen to their new ally; that he had heard the same warning before and not heeding it had almost led to disastrous results.
After shaking his head in an attempt to focus on the present, the King of Gondor spoke, "What do you suggest then, beast?"
"Neither Haldir nor I could detect anything moving on the ground or in the skies. That suggests an attack from underneath us. We should find some sturdy rocks and climb atop so we no longer stand on loose soil," replied Legolas.
"Very well, we will dismount and climb that small rock cropping to our left," said Aragorn.
"But the Elf could not sense anything at all. Though I don't think much of Elves in general, we don't have the time to waste scaling rocks for no purpose," protested Gimli.
"Our horses are tired from the difficult roads. It will not hurt to rest them a little, Master Dwarf. Unless you are afraid you will not be able to climb up that small boulder," teased Gandalf.
"Not being able to climb a rock! I will show you! I am going to be the first one up," exclaimed the Dwarf as he rushed towards the rock in question and began climbing.
The rest of the Company soon began to follow. The Hobbits were having a rather difficult time climbing; but after half an hour, all the members of the Fellowship reached the top. Haldir's attention was drawn to a small movement in the ground, a track formed by shifting sands heading for their mounts.
"Look, there to the right, about a two hundred paces away. Do you see that?" asked the archer.
"Yes, something is coming towards us from underground," replied Aragorn.
"I see it also," said Éomer worriedly. The King of the Mark was concerned for the safety of their mounts. If they were to lose a horse in this attack, they would not have enough mounts to carry all the members of the Fellowship. They would all have to walk since it would be too dangerous to split up. That would slow their journey considerably.
"Aragorn, may I borrow your bow?" asked Legolas.
"Did I hear you correctly? Are you asking to borrow one of my weapons, beast?" demanded the Man.
"Yes, I assure you I am an excellent archer. I think I can track and hit it," replied the Prince.
"Through all that sand? No one is that good with a bow. Not even the greatest of Elven archers could make that shot," said Haldir.
Numbly, the Man handed their new ally his bow and quiver. The other warriors questioned him on his decision but received no answer as the memories that were threatening to surface earlier had finally taken control of the Man.
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FLASHBACK:
YEAR 3018, THIRD AGE, FOOT OF MISTY MOUNTAIN
The Fellowship had its first battle today. Orcs had ambushed them in a narrow path at the base of the Mountains. Though Legolas warned them of the coming attack, the company was caught ill-prepared as the little ones had not yet learned to fight. Because the Orcs were charging them from both sides, the warriors were forced to split up and fight the beasts in pairs so as to protect the Hobbits in the middle. After a long difficult fight, dead Orcs littered the ground and the remaining creatures retreated, leaving the exhausted Fellowship with some minor cuts and bruises.
The Elven Prince was soiled with Orc blood as the constricted battleground had forced him into close range combat. Being an Elf, Legolas was blessed with a keen sense of smell; the odor of the foul creatures upon himself were becoming quickly unbearable. As soon as the Fellowship set up camp, the Prince excused himself to look for a stream where he could bathe.
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At dusk, Legolas finally found what he was searching for. Gracefully, he removed his clothes and walked into the welcoming river. The Prince submerged himself completely in the cold water. In the dying light, the beauty emerged; golden hair slick with moisture, glistening with a radiance that matched the setting sun. Pearls of water formed upon his silken, soft skin, sliding down the perfect, lithe torso to join the gentle current that caressed the rest of the Elf's body as Legolas stood in the waist-high water. Leisurely, the Prince waded towards the rock where he placed his soap. With nimble fingers, he unbraided his hair and began to bathe in earnest. Satisfied he was finally free of Orc stench, Legolas let out a content sigh and began to head to shore.
All stilled in reverence of the golden beauty's naked form as he left the embrace of the flowing river. The elements and forest, however, were not alone in its worship; for two pairs of eyes had been spying on the Prince as he bathed.
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Legolas had been aware of the audience for quite some time now. He just chose to ignore them as he quickly dressed in his spare clothes. When he first sensed Boromir watching him, the Elf wished he had brought his weapons. The Son of Gondor was very persistent; the Prince was beginning to become slightly uncomfortable with the attention. The Elf was considering strategies to leave immediately without alerting the Man when his former lover arrived on the scene. Aragorn was not aware of Boromir's presence, for which the Prince was grateful. He did not know what the Ranger would do if the Man were to find Boromir spying on him on such an intimate moment.
Legolas knew why the Man was here. Aragorn wanted to talk, probably to apologize. The Elf also understood he could not give his former lover that opportunity. When the Prince felt the Man's heated gaze upon his body, he could not stop the blush that crept upon his face or the butterflies in his stomach. If a look had that effect, Legolas could imagine what speaking alone with the Man would do. He would lose control and fly willingly into his beloved's arms again.
That was something the Prince could not allow himself to do, especially since he had decided to agree to Lord Glorfindel's suit. Though the Elf- lord ruled over Imladris along side Lord Elrond, he did not know of the Prince's involvement with Aragorn. The ancient Elf had proposed before the Company left Rivendell and was awaiting Legolas' answer upon his return from Mordor.
Besides Gondor, Imladris would be the most powerful ally Mirkwood could have. With Lord Glorfindel, the Prince would at least have his freedom to do as he pleased. After their quarrel in Rivendell, the Elf knew a marriage to the future King of Gondor would only be an excuse to obtain the right to keep him under lock and key exclusively for the Man's pleasure. As much as he loved Aragorn, Legolas could not abide by that.
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Aragorn knew the Elf was aware of his presence. With the Prince's astute senses, there was no way for Legolas not to know he was there. The Man did not wish to intrude upon the Elf's private moments, but he had no choice since this was his best chance of resuming a conversation with his beloved alone.
No matter how he told himself not to watch, the Man could not help admiring the beauty of the golden Prince's perfect form. When Legolas emerged from the river, the Ranger stood frozen in place, unable to make the slightest of movements, even to close his eyes. The spell was broken only when the Elf finished dressing and started moving towards camp. Gathering all his courage, Aragorn began to approach his former lover. But before he could make his move, the Son of Gondor came into view.
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Legolas' senses were on the highest alert. He knew that both Men were going to approach him, but that was not worried the Elf. The air around them had tensed suddenly in anticipation of an unknown, but imminent threat. The Prince reached out to nature in hopes of gathering more information, but the source of danger continued to elude him. When he saw Boromir standing less than twenty paces away from him, the Elf knew he must first deal with the Son of Gondor.
"Boromir, why are you here? Should you not be watching over the little ones at camp?" inquired the Prince.
"I need to see you alone, Legolas. I love you. Please give me a chance," replied the Man.
"You are a good Man, but I am not interested," said the Elf resolutely.
"It's Aragorn, isn't it? You have chosen him," hissed Boromir dangerously.
The Prince knew then that the Ring exploited the russet-haired Man's desires and was spurring him on in his pursuit. It hoped to break the Fellowship from within by pitting one member against another. The only way to free Boromir from the Ring's evil plan was to make him see that regardless of what happened between Aragorn and the Elf, Legolas would not be interested in the Son of Gondor.
"Matters of the heart are not that simple, my friend. If you must know, I love Aragorn. I have always loved him, since the first moment I met him ten years ago; and I probably always will. But we are no longer together. My rejection of you had nothing to do with Aragorn. I don't want the two of you to be at odds because of me. If I return from the Quest, I will wed Lord Glorfindel to strengthen the ties between the two Elven kingdoms," replied Legolas.
"You love him...but you are not with him..." whispered the Man. The truth in Legolas' words reached his heart and broke the control the Ring had over his mind. His anger dissipated; in its place came the sadness of unrequited love. Boromir realized that the Elf would never truly be his; he only wished the exquisite beauty would find happiness some day in the arms of a deserving person.
"Boromir, please understand," said the Prince softly as he put a comforting hand on the Man's arm.
The Human warrior lifted his head and regarded the Elf directly. "I will be okay as long as your offer of friendship still stands," replied the Man with a smile.
"Of course, my friend," said the Elf as he moved to offer Boromir a firm handshake.
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Now that the issue with the Son of Gondor was resolved, the Elf once again turned his attention to their surroundings. Legolas could feel the warning in the air against an unidentified danger. Before the Prince could suggest they head back to camp to regroup, Aragorn came to join them by the river.
"Boromir, would you mind giving me a moment alone with Legolas?" asked the Man politely.
Knowing how his two companions felt for each other, the Son of Gondor nodded and began moving away to give the Elf and Man more privacy. In Boromir's mind, it did not make sense that two people who were in love should be apart.
"No. We must go back to camp now," said the Prince.
"Legolas, I just want to talk. That's all. Please," pleaded Aragorn.
"A shadow of a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it," warned the Elf as he began to walk towards their camp. With three of the four warriors in the company away, the little ones would be very vulnerable if Sauron's forces were to attack now.
"Wait. I am not leaving until you hear what I have to say," said the Man as he reached out and grasped the Prince's arm.
"Aragorn, this is not the time or the place," protested the Elf as he attempted to shake off his former lover's death grip, but to no avail.
Before another word was said, a blood-curdling cry filled their ears. The Prince looked up at the skies at the source of the sound. To his dismay, he found a winged Nazgûl with the Ringbearer securely in its grasp. Legolas knew their only chance was to shoot the creature down; but his bow and quiver were at the camp. The Ringwraith would be long gone by the time they reached their destination.
Though Aragorn carried his weapons, he knew the Wraith was already out of his shooting range. "I am so sorry. I should have listened. Now all is lost."
"Don't be so pessimistic. May I borrow your bow?" asked the Elf.
"It is too far. No one is that good with a bow. Even the greatest of Elven archers cannot make that shot," commented Boromir.
The Prince merely smiled as Aragorn handed him the bow and quiver dejectedly. Legolas notched an arrow and drew his bow. For a short while, the Elf tracked his target before letting the shaft fly. His aim was true. The arrow hit the Nazgûl in the arm, forcing the foul creature to drop its prize.
"I hope Frodo survives the fall. I waited as long as I could for the Wraith to be closer to the ground," said the Prince.
"How did you do that? The Nazgûl must have been more than four hundred yards away," asked the surprised Ranger.
"It's really not that difficult since the wind is helping us. Its turbulence made the Wraith flew lower and assisted my arrow's flight. I have made a similar shot before against the wind. That was hard," replied the smiling Elf as he began to walk towards where the camp.
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"Glad to see you in one piece, Frodo," greeted the Elf as he rejoined the others.
Mithrandir had gone to retrieve the fallen Ringbearer and taken him back to camp. The Halfling was lucky indeed to have been dropped where the land was still covered with dense vegetation. The foliage of the trees broke the Hobbit's fall, allowing him to reach the ground with only a few minor injuries.
"Where were you when we are attacked, Elf? How dare you waltz in here with a smile when you were not even here to protect the Ringbearer?" demanded Gimli.
"It is my fault entirely. Legolas warned me, but I did not listen. He was the one who shot the Nazgûl. Without him, the Ringbearer would have been taken and the Fellowship would have failed," replied the Man before his beloved could make a sound.
"Thank you, Legolas," said the Ringbearer as the wizard checked him for injuries.
"You are welcome," replied the Prince before turning to his beloved.
"Aragorn, may I have a word alone with you?" said the Prince. Legolas knew things could not continue this way. They had to end their relationship properly. He could not have the Man second-guessing his warnings for personal reasons.
"Sure," replied the Man as he followed the Elf away from camp again.
Though he had been waiting for this opportunity for days, Aragorn was suddenly apprehensive of speaking with his beloved alone. The Man thought himself mentally prepared to hear Legolas' rejection of his apologizes, but its looming prospect now sent chills into his heart. Even if the Man understood and accepted the fact that the Prince no longer wanted to be with him, he could not stop a small part of him from wishing for a miracle.
Aragorn did not realized how much he had held onto that tiny sliver of hope until he heard the finality in the Elf's voice. The Man knew that once this conversation concluded, he would lose the one he held most dear in the entire Middle Earth. And that knowledge was threatening to tear the Man apart. Aragorn had no doubt that if he were an Elf, he would have died from grief by now.
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"You wish to speak with me, Aragorn. This is your chance," said the Prince in his most emotionless tone. He needed to finish this quickly, before he broke down into tears or worse, rushed to embrace the Man he loved.
"I am sorry for the things I have said. I was jealous and angry. I didn't mean to hurt you," said the Man quietly, looking at the ground. He could not bring himself to look at his beloved, fearing the judgment and rejection in the Elf's eyes.
"You are forgiven," whispered the Elf as he turned away to rejoin the others. Legolas had to leave to hide the tears forming in his beautiful azure eyes. He would not let the Man see him cry.
The Man watched as the Elf began to move away. He knew it was over, but before he could stop himself, Aragorn blurted out, "Will you give me another chance?" The Man could not believe he asked that question, especially since he already knew the answer.
"You heard what I said to Boromir. I intend to wed Lord Glorfindel when I return," replied the Prince.
Tears were starting to flow down the Man's face when he remembered the Elf's exact words earlier. Legolas had said he loved Aragorn! "Why? You don't love him."
When his question elicited no response from the Elf, the Man pulled Legolas' arm and turned the Prince towards him once more. He was surprised by the tears streaking down the exquisite Elf's face. For once, the shield the Prince had erected around his heart for the past few days had weakened, allowing Aragorn to see the pain and grief within. Yet, despite the heartbreak, the love in the Elf's eyes burned as brightly as it did before; only now, its brilliance was marred by traces of sadness and despair.
The Man knew then that he must do all he could to win the Elf back. It was not only his own happiness that was at stake; Legolas' was as well. The Prince still held true to the promise he made to the Man long ago. Even after the horrible treatment he had given the Elven Prince, Legolas' heart was still his to keep. His beloved would never be happy in the arms of anyone else.
"Legolas, I know you still love me. Please tell me what I can do to convince you to give me another chance," pleaded the Man.
"There is nothing you can do, Aragorn. It is over between us. How I feel no longer matters. Please leave me be," sobbed the Prince as he struggled to break free from the Ranger's grasp.
"Legolas, please. I love you," said Aragorn.
"Love me? Right, of course you do. Like a gourmet loves food. Like a rich Man loves treasure. Like Sauron loves his Ring. You love me like something you can possess and keep for your own pleasure. How can you claim to love me when you judge me without listening to my explanations? You don't even care what I think or how I feel when I willingly trusted you with my entire being. How can you speak of love when you treat me as if I am just a pretty thing that belongs only to you? " accused the Elf.
"Legolas, I..."
The Prince interrupted his former lover and continued, "Don't deny it, Aragorn. You will not be jealous if you believe in me, in my love for you. Deep down in your heart, you are always suspicious of me, wary that I will betray you with another. Don't you understand that without trust, there can be no love?"
As buried emotions took over the Elf, Legolas found the strength to break free of the Man's strong hold. Without looking back, Legolas raced back towards camp leaving the bewildered Ranger. He could no longer face his beloved after his tirade. The Prince had wished that their conversation would end amicably since they would need to fight side by side in the near future. With his outburst, Legolas knew he ruined any chance of ever being friends again with Aragorn. He could only hope this new development would not create any more tension within the already estranged Fellowship.
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The Man watched the fleeing form of his beloved in shocked silence. He was so stunned that he was completely immobilized, unable to chase after the Elf. Aragorn did not realized the extent of the damage his jealousy had done to his relationship with the Prince. He had expected Legolas to be angry and hurt; he did not, even in his worse estimate, perceive the Elf would doubt his love.
Because of his jealous rage, Legolas now believed his love tainted; that Aragorn did not truly care for him, that the Man only desired him in bed for his beauty. The Ranger was at a lost of what to do since he only had limited experience in the matters of the heart. Maybe if he asked the wise Istari; Gandalf might have suggestions on ways to win the Elf's trust again. Aragorn vowed that no matter how difficult it was, he would prove to Legolas that his love was pure. With renewed determination and hope, the Man began to follow his beloved back to camp.
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DAY 12, MOUNTAIN OF THE SHADOWS
Aragorn returned to the present at the sight of a dead monster lying where the Company had secured their mounts. It was shot through the mouth by one of Legolas' arrows.
"That was amazing. I have never seen anyone shoot like that," complimented Pippin.
"But that's not saying much since you haven't seen many people shoot," pointed out Sam.
"Oh, shut up! I am just trying to point out that Legolas was very good with a bow," retorted the young Hobbit.
Watching the squabbling Halflings, Legolas let out an amused laugh. To his dismay, the sound seemed more like a tortured cry. The Prince made a mental note not to ever laugh again in his current body.
"How do you know it will go for Shadowfax first?" asked the Guardian of Lòrien.
Haldir had been watching their new ally track the creature. After all a short while, Legolas stopped trying to follow its movements. Instead, he aimed at the ground directly in behind Shadowfax, waiting for the precise moment when the monster surfaced to strike. Quick as lightening, the Uruk- Hai let his arrow flew at the beast's opened jaws, killing it before it could finish the attack.
The Elf had never seen that sort of foresight, reflexes or timing before. Excellent did not begin to describe Legolas' skills; their new ally had mastery of the bow that was almost unparalleled in Middle Earth. Yet, from the Guardian's experience, Uruk-Hai archers were trained with crossbows. He wondered how Legolas gained his skills in the more traditional form of archery.
"Creatures of Sauron live for bloodshed. The beast is not hunting for food, merely for the pleasure of killing. I figured it would use its element of surprise to attack the leader of the group. If it killed Shadowfax in its first attack, the other horses would panic. They would then be easy prey for the monster to kill at its leisure," replied Legolas with a smile.
But from the gasps of the little ones, the Prince knew his expression must have looked fearsome and horrible. The Watcher was beginning to regret his decision to possess a hideous creature of darkness. Shaking his head sadly, Legolas reminded himself never to smile again in his new form either.
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Aragorn rode in silence for the rest of the day as he pondered his newest memory of his relationship with his beloved Elf. The Man wondered how he managed to persuade the Prince to give him another chance. If only he could remember, maybe he could try the same thing again the next time he met the golden Watcher.
The Man needed to apologize for the hurtful things he had unknowingly done. He wanted to make the Prince understand that he had not wished to betray their love. It was the only thing Aragorn could do given the circumstances. For whatever it was worth, the Man wanted Legolas to know that his love had not changed, even after their separation. The Elf would always be the only one in his heart, even if they were not together.
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From the Man's brooding silence, Legolas knew he had remembered another piece of their past. The Prince was relatively sure that Aragorn had recalled the winged Nazgûl's attempt to kidnap the Ringbearer. He knew the Man must have recognized his warning to heed it so readily. Legolas had used the same words he did in their previous Quest before the Ringwraith's attack. It was not his intention to arouse more of the Man's memories for he knew the process must be distracting. They were in constant danger of being attacked and he wanted Aragorn to be completely alert to the present. Legolas did not want the Man to endanger himself by dwelling on the past.
Besides, the Man had already made his decision. The relationship between them was over. Despite his bleeding heart, Legolas agreed that it was better this way. The Watcher knew that if he survived this Quest, he would have to return to his own realm. He had promised Celegîl in exchange for the older Watcher's assistance in his scheme.
The young Prince knew that once there, he would be forbidden to ever contact Middle Earth again. After his evil uncle's attack and his venture into Arda, he was certain it would take years before he regain enough strength to watch over the Man without his father's notice. To create a Dream World in secret to speak with his beloved again would be close to impossible for a very long time.
Glorgalad also knew that he could not return to Middle Earth as Legolas the Elf. He could not bring himself to possess another permanently just to physically be Aragorn. Even if he had chosen a beautiful body to house his spirit, he would be living a lie; it would only vilify the love he felt for the Man.
In addition, there was the fact that the Man was far too noble to find true happiness with him again. As long as they were together, Aragorn would always feel that he was betraying his family. Even if they were only to meet in dreams, Legolas knew his lover would still label himself as a selfish weakling for giving into the temptation. Sooner or later, the Man would come to despise the Prince for their immoral behavior. Legolas would rather have their love die than live its final days in secrecy and shame.
Since the Prince understood that things would never work again between them, he hoped Aragorn would not remember more of their past. It would only bring the Man more pain; knowing what was lost, what could never be again. It would only make the Man's decision more difficult, their separation harder to bear. Legolas was willing to give up his dreams of being with the one he loved as long as he knew the Man was happy. Aragorn's happiness was all that the Prince had ever wished for since he was forced to leave Middle Earth eleven years ago.
Seeing the King of Men troubled, Legolas knew he needed to speak with him. But he could not do so as Glorgalad since he had drained his magic when entering Middle Earth. He no longer had the power to create a Dream World. Even if he still had magic, he would not use it for fear of the Dark One. His advantage was in the element of surprise; all would be lost if Morn- ndùath discovered he still lived. Besides, it was probably best for Aragorn not to see his former lover now. The Prince did not want the Man to be even more preoccupied with their personal issues.
Aragorn needed to talk to a friend, someone who would understand how he felt and offer advice and comfort. If only Faramir was here, the Prince's problems would be solved as the Man was accustomed to unburdening himself to the wise Steward of Gondor. But as things were, Legolas would have to befriend Aragorn himself in his current Uruk-Hai form. Given the animosity the Man had for him, he knew his task would not be easy.
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The Fellowship stopped for camp at nightfall. After the warriors scouted the surroundings to ensure their safety, the companions split up and took shelter in three different caves. The caverns were too small to fit the entire company and Aragorn saw that as an opportunity for the Elf and Éomer to further their relationship. The Man deliberately put the two into the same cave before making some excuse to give his friends more privacy. When Legolas saw his beloved leave camp, he knew his chance to speak with Aragorn alone had come. He too gave an excuse to leave his other companions and began tracking the Man.
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Legolas had been following the Man for some time now. Aragorn showed no signs of awareness of his presence. The Prince knew it would create unnecessary tension to sneak up on the Man, so he intentionally stepped on some twigs to announce his approach.
Aragorn could not believe the creature had followed him without his knowledge. His senses had really deteriorated too much for his comfort. The beast could have attacked him anytime if it chose to. However, the Man's abilities had not dulled so much that he did not realized their new ally had deliberately sounded his steps to alert him to its presence; and that fact angered the King even more.
"You should not be wandering alone, Aragorn. But I am glad you did because there is something I wish to say to you," said Legolas.
"I am not interested in talking to you, beast," retorted the Man.
"Why do you insist on not using my name?" asked the Prince softly.
"It is none of your business," replied the Man as he began to walk away.
"You loved him, don't you, this other person by the name of Legolas?" inquired the Prince.
Aragorn turned to stare at the Watcher in surprise. Before he could stop himself, he responded, "How?"
Legolas worked hard to suppress a sad smile and said, "Let's just say it is another one of my hunches. Do you want to tell me about it?"
"Why would I do such a thing? I won't even tell the friends I trust my life with. Why would I speak to you, whom I barely know, whom I almost despise?" questioned the Man bitterly before turning to leave again.
"You won't tell the others because you don't want them to worry about you. You don't want them to lose focus on the danger at hand. Besides, you want to be strong for them because you know how they look to you for leadership. But as you said, you don't like me, so you won't care at all what I think about you or that I might endanger myself in my concern for you. That makes me the perfect candidate to unburden your troubles to, don't you think?" reasoned the Prince, again trying very hard to keep a smile from his face.
Aragorn looked at the beast in puzzlement. His companion's argument was logical and it showed an insight to the Man's thoughts that was confounding. How could their new ally know his heart so well? It was as if the Uruk-Hai had known him for a long time. The King was sure that he hid his storming emotions well since Gandalf had not tried to console him. Yet the creature seemed to sense his troubles and understood him better than his friends.
"It's not like I am asking you to trust me with your life, Aragorn. It is very safe to confide in me since even if I reveal your secrets to the others, they will never believe me over you. Please let me help you, my friend," pleaded the Prince. He could barely keep the moisture from his eyes as he said the word 'friend'. Legolas wanted so much more, things that he knew he could never have again.
"Don't call me friend. You have done nothing to merit that honor," retorted the Man as he began walking away.
For once, the Prince was glad Aragorn was leaving as the tears he fought to hold back flooded his face. He did not need a mirror to know how ridiculous a sight it was, an Uruk-Hai crying over the harsh words of the Man he loved. There was only so much pain and heartbreak the Prince could take in silent. The Man's cruel remark had broken the barrier that kept all the bitterness and hurt within Legolas' heart where no other could see. When he finally won the struggle against his rebellious tears, Legolas marched over to the King of Men and grasped Aragorn by the arm with bruising forced.
"And what have you done to deserve me as your friend? Nothing! You have not even shown me the slightest trace of respect. You have no idea of the things I had to go through just to come here to help you, just so you can treat me like dirt. I never ask for gratitude, all I want is to be of use to you. Is it so much to ask that you show me a little kindness for my troubles?" yelled the Prince at a bewildered Aragorn.
Before the Man could find his tongue to answer, Legolas continued, "You judged me guilty of ill intent without a care of my feelings or thoughts. You think that since I am an ugly beast, that I am not capable of emotions, of hurt, of betrayal. Well, you are wrong. I can feel, and my heart bleeds from the disappointment and pain caused by your prejudice. I thought you a better Man, Aragorn. But it would seem I am wrong."
Having finished his tirade, the Prince released the Man's arms and rushed off. It was not what he intended to do. Even as the words poured forth from his mouth, Legolas was ashamed of his lack of control. He wanted to help Aragorn on the Quest; it was his choice to come to Middle Earth, his choice to take an Uruk-Hai's form. He had no right to blame the Man for his own folly, or to try to guilt Aragorn into accepting him for what he was now.
If he was suffering, it was his own fault, not the Man's. Legolas knew that; yet once he began to speak of his pain from Aragorn's harsh treatment, he just could not stop until all his resentment was set loose on his innocent beloved. The Prince had wanted to comfort the Man, to help bear his former lover's burden; and now he had made things worse.
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Please, please review. Hands very tired from playing Two Towers game and Devil May Cry. Need to extra incentive to write.
Beta's note: My hands are tired from typing, so I also need incentive to beta. Bye~ Ithildin
A/N: Just wanted to use one particular line from our Elf in movie since I liked it a lot =) I had to change the situation where it was said to make things fit. I also brought in the winged Nazgûl a lot earlier on. I apologize in advance, but this is A/U!
Dear reviewers: I don't like Legolas being ugly either. He won't stay that way long, just until the end of part one, which is not that many chapters away. Please, bear with me. I will make everything all better in part two, if I write it, I promise =)
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Chapter 9: Pain and Resolutions
DAY 12, MOUNTAIN OF SHADOWS
The Company's journey had been difficult. Though Gandalf had led them on a windy path on the edge of the mountains where their horses could scale, the steep and rocky terrain had significantly slowed their pace. Legolas sat atop the pony that originally carried Frodo and Sam, peering suspiciously at their surroundings. The two Hobbits now rode with Aragorn and Haldir since the Watcher did not have his own mount.
The members of the Fellowship were very surprised that the animal would carry the Prince. Creatures of the forest were frightened of Saruman's beasts; only specially breed horses or Wargs would carry an Uruk-Hai. Yet, their newest ally did not generate any fear in the pony. In fact, the mount seemed to be happier carrying its heavier new rider than the two Halflings. It vied for the ugly beast's attention as if the Uruk-Hai were an Elf.
Their new member was indeed a contradiction. It had the rough, gritty voice of an Uruk-Hai; yet it was capable of speaking in the melodic language of the Elves. In addition, despite its grotesque appearance and bulky form, it moved with a grace and dignity that was befitting of a noble Elf. With his sensitive hearing, Haldir had noted how the creature whispered words of encouragement to their horses and stroke them gently each morning before they set off.
But what was most perplexing to the Guardian of Lòrien was how the forest and the elements spoke to the beast, warning him of approaching danger. In fact, the Uruk-Hai seemed more attuned to the voices of nature than the Elf himself. The group would have been ambushed by a band of Orcs at edge of the woods had their new 'friend' not warn them in time. Legolas had heard the cries of the forest before the Elven archer became aware of the danger.
Haldir originally suspected the beast had arranged the attack to gain the trust of the rest of the Fellowship. But when the Guardian of Lòrien secretly asked the trees to confirm his suspicions, he was rewarded with the most severe scolding he had ever received in his immortal life. The forest told him Legolas would never hurt any of his friends and accused Haldir of judging people based only on their appearance, not their hearts. The trees expressed how disappointed they were with the Elf and even threatened not to answer his calls again if the archer did not apologize at once to Legolas.
No matter how powerful one's magic was, they could not enchant the entire forest into doing their will. It was one of the reasons why Saruman had deforested Isengard when he turned evil. The fallen Istari could not corrupt the hearts of the trees or obtain their co-operation in Sauron's foul plans. Even if the Uruk-Hai was a spy with magic, it could not have forced the woods to lie. The forest had spoken out of its own volition, in defense of the creature against Haldir. The Guardian had never seen nature took to any Elf this way, not even the most ancient and powerful of the Wood-Elves, not to mention an Uruk-Hai. Haldir wondered what possibly could the ghastly creature have done to win the hearts of the trees so completely.
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Legolas was surprised that as an Uruk-Hai-Elf hybrid, he possessed the same abilities he did as the Crown Prince of Mirkwood eleven years ago. Though his outer form was hideous to behold and his voice grating to the ears, Legolas was capable of communicating with nature as if he was an Elf. In fact, the love the trees and elements had for him had not changed despite his new form. Alagos might have erased every person's memory of Legolas, but he could not dim Nature's recollection of its golden Prince. It remembered perfectly how the Elf had sacrificed himself to save them all and recognized Legolas' beautiful soul even within an Uruk-Hai's body.
The Watcher had been sensing danger in the air and the Earth for some time now. He felt it necessary to alert the others of the possible peril. "A shadow of a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it."
While the other warriors dismissed the Prince's warnings since Haldir's keen senses could not detect anything moving close to them, Aragorn remained silent. His head was beginning to hurt a little as some recollection of the past started to surface. Part of the Man told Aragorn he should listen to their new ally; that he had heard the same warning before and not heeding it had almost led to disastrous results.
After shaking his head in an attempt to focus on the present, the King of Gondor spoke, "What do you suggest then, beast?"
"Neither Haldir nor I could detect anything moving on the ground or in the skies. That suggests an attack from underneath us. We should find some sturdy rocks and climb atop so we no longer stand on loose soil," replied Legolas.
"Very well, we will dismount and climb that small rock cropping to our left," said Aragorn.
"But the Elf could not sense anything at all. Though I don't think much of Elves in general, we don't have the time to waste scaling rocks for no purpose," protested Gimli.
"Our horses are tired from the difficult roads. It will not hurt to rest them a little, Master Dwarf. Unless you are afraid you will not be able to climb up that small boulder," teased Gandalf.
"Not being able to climb a rock! I will show you! I am going to be the first one up," exclaimed the Dwarf as he rushed towards the rock in question and began climbing.
The rest of the Company soon began to follow. The Hobbits were having a rather difficult time climbing; but after half an hour, all the members of the Fellowship reached the top. Haldir's attention was drawn to a small movement in the ground, a track formed by shifting sands heading for their mounts.
"Look, there to the right, about a two hundred paces away. Do you see that?" asked the archer.
"Yes, something is coming towards us from underground," replied Aragorn.
"I see it also," said Éomer worriedly. The King of the Mark was concerned for the safety of their mounts. If they were to lose a horse in this attack, they would not have enough mounts to carry all the members of the Fellowship. They would all have to walk since it would be too dangerous to split up. That would slow their journey considerably.
"Aragorn, may I borrow your bow?" asked Legolas.
"Did I hear you correctly? Are you asking to borrow one of my weapons, beast?" demanded the Man.
"Yes, I assure you I am an excellent archer. I think I can track and hit it," replied the Prince.
"Through all that sand? No one is that good with a bow. Not even the greatest of Elven archers could make that shot," said Haldir.
Numbly, the Man handed their new ally his bow and quiver. The other warriors questioned him on his decision but received no answer as the memories that were threatening to surface earlier had finally taken control of the Man.
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FLASHBACK:
YEAR 3018, THIRD AGE, FOOT OF MISTY MOUNTAIN
The Fellowship had its first battle today. Orcs had ambushed them in a narrow path at the base of the Mountains. Though Legolas warned them of the coming attack, the company was caught ill-prepared as the little ones had not yet learned to fight. Because the Orcs were charging them from both sides, the warriors were forced to split up and fight the beasts in pairs so as to protect the Hobbits in the middle. After a long difficult fight, dead Orcs littered the ground and the remaining creatures retreated, leaving the exhausted Fellowship with some minor cuts and bruises.
The Elven Prince was soiled with Orc blood as the constricted battleground had forced him into close range combat. Being an Elf, Legolas was blessed with a keen sense of smell; the odor of the foul creatures upon himself were becoming quickly unbearable. As soon as the Fellowship set up camp, the Prince excused himself to look for a stream where he could bathe.
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At dusk, Legolas finally found what he was searching for. Gracefully, he removed his clothes and walked into the welcoming river. The Prince submerged himself completely in the cold water. In the dying light, the beauty emerged; golden hair slick with moisture, glistening with a radiance that matched the setting sun. Pearls of water formed upon his silken, soft skin, sliding down the perfect, lithe torso to join the gentle current that caressed the rest of the Elf's body as Legolas stood in the waist-high water. Leisurely, the Prince waded towards the rock where he placed his soap. With nimble fingers, he unbraided his hair and began to bathe in earnest. Satisfied he was finally free of Orc stench, Legolas let out a content sigh and began to head to shore.
All stilled in reverence of the golden beauty's naked form as he left the embrace of the flowing river. The elements and forest, however, were not alone in its worship; for two pairs of eyes had been spying on the Prince as he bathed.
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Legolas had been aware of the audience for quite some time now. He just chose to ignore them as he quickly dressed in his spare clothes. When he first sensed Boromir watching him, the Elf wished he had brought his weapons. The Son of Gondor was very persistent; the Prince was beginning to become slightly uncomfortable with the attention. The Elf was considering strategies to leave immediately without alerting the Man when his former lover arrived on the scene. Aragorn was not aware of Boromir's presence, for which the Prince was grateful. He did not know what the Ranger would do if the Man were to find Boromir spying on him on such an intimate moment.
Legolas knew why the Man was here. Aragorn wanted to talk, probably to apologize. The Elf also understood he could not give his former lover that opportunity. When the Prince felt the Man's heated gaze upon his body, he could not stop the blush that crept upon his face or the butterflies in his stomach. If a look had that effect, Legolas could imagine what speaking alone with the Man would do. He would lose control and fly willingly into his beloved's arms again.
That was something the Prince could not allow himself to do, especially since he had decided to agree to Lord Glorfindel's suit. Though the Elf- lord ruled over Imladris along side Lord Elrond, he did not know of the Prince's involvement with Aragorn. The ancient Elf had proposed before the Company left Rivendell and was awaiting Legolas' answer upon his return from Mordor.
Besides Gondor, Imladris would be the most powerful ally Mirkwood could have. With Lord Glorfindel, the Prince would at least have his freedom to do as he pleased. After their quarrel in Rivendell, the Elf knew a marriage to the future King of Gondor would only be an excuse to obtain the right to keep him under lock and key exclusively for the Man's pleasure. As much as he loved Aragorn, Legolas could not abide by that.
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Aragorn knew the Elf was aware of his presence. With the Prince's astute senses, there was no way for Legolas not to know he was there. The Man did not wish to intrude upon the Elf's private moments, but he had no choice since this was his best chance of resuming a conversation with his beloved alone.
No matter how he told himself not to watch, the Man could not help admiring the beauty of the golden Prince's perfect form. When Legolas emerged from the river, the Ranger stood frozen in place, unable to make the slightest of movements, even to close his eyes. The spell was broken only when the Elf finished dressing and started moving towards camp. Gathering all his courage, Aragorn began to approach his former lover. But before he could make his move, the Son of Gondor came into view.
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Legolas' senses were on the highest alert. He knew that both Men were going to approach him, but that was not worried the Elf. The air around them had tensed suddenly in anticipation of an unknown, but imminent threat. The Prince reached out to nature in hopes of gathering more information, but the source of danger continued to elude him. When he saw Boromir standing less than twenty paces away from him, the Elf knew he must first deal with the Son of Gondor.
"Boromir, why are you here? Should you not be watching over the little ones at camp?" inquired the Prince.
"I need to see you alone, Legolas. I love you. Please give me a chance," replied the Man.
"You are a good Man, but I am not interested," said the Elf resolutely.
"It's Aragorn, isn't it? You have chosen him," hissed Boromir dangerously.
The Prince knew then that the Ring exploited the russet-haired Man's desires and was spurring him on in his pursuit. It hoped to break the Fellowship from within by pitting one member against another. The only way to free Boromir from the Ring's evil plan was to make him see that regardless of what happened between Aragorn and the Elf, Legolas would not be interested in the Son of Gondor.
"Matters of the heart are not that simple, my friend. If you must know, I love Aragorn. I have always loved him, since the first moment I met him ten years ago; and I probably always will. But we are no longer together. My rejection of you had nothing to do with Aragorn. I don't want the two of you to be at odds because of me. If I return from the Quest, I will wed Lord Glorfindel to strengthen the ties between the two Elven kingdoms," replied Legolas.
"You love him...but you are not with him..." whispered the Man. The truth in Legolas' words reached his heart and broke the control the Ring had over his mind. His anger dissipated; in its place came the sadness of unrequited love. Boromir realized that the Elf would never truly be his; he only wished the exquisite beauty would find happiness some day in the arms of a deserving person.
"Boromir, please understand," said the Prince softly as he put a comforting hand on the Man's arm.
The Human warrior lifted his head and regarded the Elf directly. "I will be okay as long as your offer of friendship still stands," replied the Man with a smile.
"Of course, my friend," said the Elf as he moved to offer Boromir a firm handshake.
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Now that the issue with the Son of Gondor was resolved, the Elf once again turned his attention to their surroundings. Legolas could feel the warning in the air against an unidentified danger. Before the Prince could suggest they head back to camp to regroup, Aragorn came to join them by the river.
"Boromir, would you mind giving me a moment alone with Legolas?" asked the Man politely.
Knowing how his two companions felt for each other, the Son of Gondor nodded and began moving away to give the Elf and Man more privacy. In Boromir's mind, it did not make sense that two people who were in love should be apart.
"No. We must go back to camp now," said the Prince.
"Legolas, I just want to talk. That's all. Please," pleaded Aragorn.
"A shadow of a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it," warned the Elf as he began to walk towards their camp. With three of the four warriors in the company away, the little ones would be very vulnerable if Sauron's forces were to attack now.
"Wait. I am not leaving until you hear what I have to say," said the Man as he reached out and grasped the Prince's arm.
"Aragorn, this is not the time or the place," protested the Elf as he attempted to shake off his former lover's death grip, but to no avail.
Before another word was said, a blood-curdling cry filled their ears. The Prince looked up at the skies at the source of the sound. To his dismay, he found a winged Nazgûl with the Ringbearer securely in its grasp. Legolas knew their only chance was to shoot the creature down; but his bow and quiver were at the camp. The Ringwraith would be long gone by the time they reached their destination.
Though Aragorn carried his weapons, he knew the Wraith was already out of his shooting range. "I am so sorry. I should have listened. Now all is lost."
"Don't be so pessimistic. May I borrow your bow?" asked the Elf.
"It is too far. No one is that good with a bow. Even the greatest of Elven archers cannot make that shot," commented Boromir.
The Prince merely smiled as Aragorn handed him the bow and quiver dejectedly. Legolas notched an arrow and drew his bow. For a short while, the Elf tracked his target before letting the shaft fly. His aim was true. The arrow hit the Nazgûl in the arm, forcing the foul creature to drop its prize.
"I hope Frodo survives the fall. I waited as long as I could for the Wraith to be closer to the ground," said the Prince.
"How did you do that? The Nazgûl must have been more than four hundred yards away," asked the surprised Ranger.
"It's really not that difficult since the wind is helping us. Its turbulence made the Wraith flew lower and assisted my arrow's flight. I have made a similar shot before against the wind. That was hard," replied the smiling Elf as he began to walk towards where the camp.
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"Glad to see you in one piece, Frodo," greeted the Elf as he rejoined the others.
Mithrandir had gone to retrieve the fallen Ringbearer and taken him back to camp. The Halfling was lucky indeed to have been dropped where the land was still covered with dense vegetation. The foliage of the trees broke the Hobbit's fall, allowing him to reach the ground with only a few minor injuries.
"Where were you when we are attacked, Elf? How dare you waltz in here with a smile when you were not even here to protect the Ringbearer?" demanded Gimli.
"It is my fault entirely. Legolas warned me, but I did not listen. He was the one who shot the Nazgûl. Without him, the Ringbearer would have been taken and the Fellowship would have failed," replied the Man before his beloved could make a sound.
"Thank you, Legolas," said the Ringbearer as the wizard checked him for injuries.
"You are welcome," replied the Prince before turning to his beloved.
"Aragorn, may I have a word alone with you?" said the Prince. Legolas knew things could not continue this way. They had to end their relationship properly. He could not have the Man second-guessing his warnings for personal reasons.
"Sure," replied the Man as he followed the Elf away from camp again.
Though he had been waiting for this opportunity for days, Aragorn was suddenly apprehensive of speaking with his beloved alone. The Man thought himself mentally prepared to hear Legolas' rejection of his apologizes, but its looming prospect now sent chills into his heart. Even if the Man understood and accepted the fact that the Prince no longer wanted to be with him, he could not stop a small part of him from wishing for a miracle.
Aragorn did not realized how much he had held onto that tiny sliver of hope until he heard the finality in the Elf's voice. The Man knew that once this conversation concluded, he would lose the one he held most dear in the entire Middle Earth. And that knowledge was threatening to tear the Man apart. Aragorn had no doubt that if he were an Elf, he would have died from grief by now.
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"You wish to speak with me, Aragorn. This is your chance," said the Prince in his most emotionless tone. He needed to finish this quickly, before he broke down into tears or worse, rushed to embrace the Man he loved.
"I am sorry for the things I have said. I was jealous and angry. I didn't mean to hurt you," said the Man quietly, looking at the ground. He could not bring himself to look at his beloved, fearing the judgment and rejection in the Elf's eyes.
"You are forgiven," whispered the Elf as he turned away to rejoin the others. Legolas had to leave to hide the tears forming in his beautiful azure eyes. He would not let the Man see him cry.
The Man watched as the Elf began to move away. He knew it was over, but before he could stop himself, Aragorn blurted out, "Will you give me another chance?" The Man could not believe he asked that question, especially since he already knew the answer.
"You heard what I said to Boromir. I intend to wed Lord Glorfindel when I return," replied the Prince.
Tears were starting to flow down the Man's face when he remembered the Elf's exact words earlier. Legolas had said he loved Aragorn! "Why? You don't love him."
When his question elicited no response from the Elf, the Man pulled Legolas' arm and turned the Prince towards him once more. He was surprised by the tears streaking down the exquisite Elf's face. For once, the shield the Prince had erected around his heart for the past few days had weakened, allowing Aragorn to see the pain and grief within. Yet, despite the heartbreak, the love in the Elf's eyes burned as brightly as it did before; only now, its brilliance was marred by traces of sadness and despair.
The Man knew then that he must do all he could to win the Elf back. It was not only his own happiness that was at stake; Legolas' was as well. The Prince still held true to the promise he made to the Man long ago. Even after the horrible treatment he had given the Elven Prince, Legolas' heart was still his to keep. His beloved would never be happy in the arms of anyone else.
"Legolas, I know you still love me. Please tell me what I can do to convince you to give me another chance," pleaded the Man.
"There is nothing you can do, Aragorn. It is over between us. How I feel no longer matters. Please leave me be," sobbed the Prince as he struggled to break free from the Ranger's grasp.
"Legolas, please. I love you," said Aragorn.
"Love me? Right, of course you do. Like a gourmet loves food. Like a rich Man loves treasure. Like Sauron loves his Ring. You love me like something you can possess and keep for your own pleasure. How can you claim to love me when you judge me without listening to my explanations? You don't even care what I think or how I feel when I willingly trusted you with my entire being. How can you speak of love when you treat me as if I am just a pretty thing that belongs only to you? " accused the Elf.
"Legolas, I..."
The Prince interrupted his former lover and continued, "Don't deny it, Aragorn. You will not be jealous if you believe in me, in my love for you. Deep down in your heart, you are always suspicious of me, wary that I will betray you with another. Don't you understand that without trust, there can be no love?"
As buried emotions took over the Elf, Legolas found the strength to break free of the Man's strong hold. Without looking back, Legolas raced back towards camp leaving the bewildered Ranger. He could no longer face his beloved after his tirade. The Prince had wished that their conversation would end amicably since they would need to fight side by side in the near future. With his outburst, Legolas knew he ruined any chance of ever being friends again with Aragorn. He could only hope this new development would not create any more tension within the already estranged Fellowship.
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The Man watched the fleeing form of his beloved in shocked silence. He was so stunned that he was completely immobilized, unable to chase after the Elf. Aragorn did not realized the extent of the damage his jealousy had done to his relationship with the Prince. He had expected Legolas to be angry and hurt; he did not, even in his worse estimate, perceive the Elf would doubt his love.
Because of his jealous rage, Legolas now believed his love tainted; that Aragorn did not truly care for him, that the Man only desired him in bed for his beauty. The Ranger was at a lost of what to do since he only had limited experience in the matters of the heart. Maybe if he asked the wise Istari; Gandalf might have suggestions on ways to win the Elf's trust again. Aragorn vowed that no matter how difficult it was, he would prove to Legolas that his love was pure. With renewed determination and hope, the Man began to follow his beloved back to camp.
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DAY 12, MOUNTAIN OF THE SHADOWS
Aragorn returned to the present at the sight of a dead monster lying where the Company had secured their mounts. It was shot through the mouth by one of Legolas' arrows.
"That was amazing. I have never seen anyone shoot like that," complimented Pippin.
"But that's not saying much since you haven't seen many people shoot," pointed out Sam.
"Oh, shut up! I am just trying to point out that Legolas was very good with a bow," retorted the young Hobbit.
Watching the squabbling Halflings, Legolas let out an amused laugh. To his dismay, the sound seemed more like a tortured cry. The Prince made a mental note not to ever laugh again in his current body.
"How do you know it will go for Shadowfax first?" asked the Guardian of Lòrien.
Haldir had been watching their new ally track the creature. After all a short while, Legolas stopped trying to follow its movements. Instead, he aimed at the ground directly in behind Shadowfax, waiting for the precise moment when the monster surfaced to strike. Quick as lightening, the Uruk- Hai let his arrow flew at the beast's opened jaws, killing it before it could finish the attack.
The Elf had never seen that sort of foresight, reflexes or timing before. Excellent did not begin to describe Legolas' skills; their new ally had mastery of the bow that was almost unparalleled in Middle Earth. Yet, from the Guardian's experience, Uruk-Hai archers were trained with crossbows. He wondered how Legolas gained his skills in the more traditional form of archery.
"Creatures of Sauron live for bloodshed. The beast is not hunting for food, merely for the pleasure of killing. I figured it would use its element of surprise to attack the leader of the group. If it killed Shadowfax in its first attack, the other horses would panic. They would then be easy prey for the monster to kill at its leisure," replied Legolas with a smile.
But from the gasps of the little ones, the Prince knew his expression must have looked fearsome and horrible. The Watcher was beginning to regret his decision to possess a hideous creature of darkness. Shaking his head sadly, Legolas reminded himself never to smile again in his new form either.
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Aragorn rode in silence for the rest of the day as he pondered his newest memory of his relationship with his beloved Elf. The Man wondered how he managed to persuade the Prince to give him another chance. If only he could remember, maybe he could try the same thing again the next time he met the golden Watcher.
The Man needed to apologize for the hurtful things he had unknowingly done. He wanted to make the Prince understand that he had not wished to betray their love. It was the only thing Aragorn could do given the circumstances. For whatever it was worth, the Man wanted Legolas to know that his love had not changed, even after their separation. The Elf would always be the only one in his heart, even if they were not together.
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From the Man's brooding silence, Legolas knew he had remembered another piece of their past. The Prince was relatively sure that Aragorn had recalled the winged Nazgûl's attempt to kidnap the Ringbearer. He knew the Man must have recognized his warning to heed it so readily. Legolas had used the same words he did in their previous Quest before the Ringwraith's attack. It was not his intention to arouse more of the Man's memories for he knew the process must be distracting. They were in constant danger of being attacked and he wanted Aragorn to be completely alert to the present. Legolas did not want the Man to endanger himself by dwelling on the past.
Besides, the Man had already made his decision. The relationship between them was over. Despite his bleeding heart, Legolas agreed that it was better this way. The Watcher knew that if he survived this Quest, he would have to return to his own realm. He had promised Celegîl in exchange for the older Watcher's assistance in his scheme.
The young Prince knew that once there, he would be forbidden to ever contact Middle Earth again. After his evil uncle's attack and his venture into Arda, he was certain it would take years before he regain enough strength to watch over the Man without his father's notice. To create a Dream World in secret to speak with his beloved again would be close to impossible for a very long time.
Glorgalad also knew that he could not return to Middle Earth as Legolas the Elf. He could not bring himself to possess another permanently just to physically be Aragorn. Even if he had chosen a beautiful body to house his spirit, he would be living a lie; it would only vilify the love he felt for the Man.
In addition, there was the fact that the Man was far too noble to find true happiness with him again. As long as they were together, Aragorn would always feel that he was betraying his family. Even if they were only to meet in dreams, Legolas knew his lover would still label himself as a selfish weakling for giving into the temptation. Sooner or later, the Man would come to despise the Prince for their immoral behavior. Legolas would rather have their love die than live its final days in secrecy and shame.
Since the Prince understood that things would never work again between them, he hoped Aragorn would not remember more of their past. It would only bring the Man more pain; knowing what was lost, what could never be again. It would only make the Man's decision more difficult, their separation harder to bear. Legolas was willing to give up his dreams of being with the one he loved as long as he knew the Man was happy. Aragorn's happiness was all that the Prince had ever wished for since he was forced to leave Middle Earth eleven years ago.
Seeing the King of Men troubled, Legolas knew he needed to speak with him. But he could not do so as Glorgalad since he had drained his magic when entering Middle Earth. He no longer had the power to create a Dream World. Even if he still had magic, he would not use it for fear of the Dark One. His advantage was in the element of surprise; all would be lost if Morn- ndùath discovered he still lived. Besides, it was probably best for Aragorn not to see his former lover now. The Prince did not want the Man to be even more preoccupied with their personal issues.
Aragorn needed to talk to a friend, someone who would understand how he felt and offer advice and comfort. If only Faramir was here, the Prince's problems would be solved as the Man was accustomed to unburdening himself to the wise Steward of Gondor. But as things were, Legolas would have to befriend Aragorn himself in his current Uruk-Hai form. Given the animosity the Man had for him, he knew his task would not be easy.
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The Fellowship stopped for camp at nightfall. After the warriors scouted the surroundings to ensure their safety, the companions split up and took shelter in three different caves. The caverns were too small to fit the entire company and Aragorn saw that as an opportunity for the Elf and Éomer to further their relationship. The Man deliberately put the two into the same cave before making some excuse to give his friends more privacy. When Legolas saw his beloved leave camp, he knew his chance to speak with Aragorn alone had come. He too gave an excuse to leave his other companions and began tracking the Man.
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Legolas had been following the Man for some time now. Aragorn showed no signs of awareness of his presence. The Prince knew it would create unnecessary tension to sneak up on the Man, so he intentionally stepped on some twigs to announce his approach.
Aragorn could not believe the creature had followed him without his knowledge. His senses had really deteriorated too much for his comfort. The beast could have attacked him anytime if it chose to. However, the Man's abilities had not dulled so much that he did not realized their new ally had deliberately sounded his steps to alert him to its presence; and that fact angered the King even more.
"You should not be wandering alone, Aragorn. But I am glad you did because there is something I wish to say to you," said Legolas.
"I am not interested in talking to you, beast," retorted the Man.
"Why do you insist on not using my name?" asked the Prince softly.
"It is none of your business," replied the Man as he began to walk away.
"You loved him, don't you, this other person by the name of Legolas?" inquired the Prince.
Aragorn turned to stare at the Watcher in surprise. Before he could stop himself, he responded, "How?"
Legolas worked hard to suppress a sad smile and said, "Let's just say it is another one of my hunches. Do you want to tell me about it?"
"Why would I do such a thing? I won't even tell the friends I trust my life with. Why would I speak to you, whom I barely know, whom I almost despise?" questioned the Man bitterly before turning to leave again.
"You won't tell the others because you don't want them to worry about you. You don't want them to lose focus on the danger at hand. Besides, you want to be strong for them because you know how they look to you for leadership. But as you said, you don't like me, so you won't care at all what I think about you or that I might endanger myself in my concern for you. That makes me the perfect candidate to unburden your troubles to, don't you think?" reasoned the Prince, again trying very hard to keep a smile from his face.
Aragorn looked at the beast in puzzlement. His companion's argument was logical and it showed an insight to the Man's thoughts that was confounding. How could their new ally know his heart so well? It was as if the Uruk-Hai had known him for a long time. The King was sure that he hid his storming emotions well since Gandalf had not tried to console him. Yet the creature seemed to sense his troubles and understood him better than his friends.
"It's not like I am asking you to trust me with your life, Aragorn. It is very safe to confide in me since even if I reveal your secrets to the others, they will never believe me over you. Please let me help you, my friend," pleaded the Prince. He could barely keep the moisture from his eyes as he said the word 'friend'. Legolas wanted so much more, things that he knew he could never have again.
"Don't call me friend. You have done nothing to merit that honor," retorted the Man as he began walking away.
For once, the Prince was glad Aragorn was leaving as the tears he fought to hold back flooded his face. He did not need a mirror to know how ridiculous a sight it was, an Uruk-Hai crying over the harsh words of the Man he loved. There was only so much pain and heartbreak the Prince could take in silent. The Man's cruel remark had broken the barrier that kept all the bitterness and hurt within Legolas' heart where no other could see. When he finally won the struggle against his rebellious tears, Legolas marched over to the King of Men and grasped Aragorn by the arm with bruising forced.
"And what have you done to deserve me as your friend? Nothing! You have not even shown me the slightest trace of respect. You have no idea of the things I had to go through just to come here to help you, just so you can treat me like dirt. I never ask for gratitude, all I want is to be of use to you. Is it so much to ask that you show me a little kindness for my troubles?" yelled the Prince at a bewildered Aragorn.
Before the Man could find his tongue to answer, Legolas continued, "You judged me guilty of ill intent without a care of my feelings or thoughts. You think that since I am an ugly beast, that I am not capable of emotions, of hurt, of betrayal. Well, you are wrong. I can feel, and my heart bleeds from the disappointment and pain caused by your prejudice. I thought you a better Man, Aragorn. But it would seem I am wrong."
Having finished his tirade, the Prince released the Man's arms and rushed off. It was not what he intended to do. Even as the words poured forth from his mouth, Legolas was ashamed of his lack of control. He wanted to help Aragorn on the Quest; it was his choice to come to Middle Earth, his choice to take an Uruk-Hai's form. He had no right to blame the Man for his own folly, or to try to guilt Aragorn into accepting him for what he was now.
If he was suffering, it was his own fault, not the Man's. Legolas knew that; yet once he began to speak of his pain from Aragorn's harsh treatment, he just could not stop until all his resentment was set loose on his innocent beloved. The Prince had wanted to comfort the Man, to help bear his former lover's burden; and now he had made things worse.
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