Disclaimer: Don't own anything
Please, please review. They are my fuel.
Warning: Alternate universe. Changes in the Battle of the Pelennor were made to suit the story. I put all major character in Minas Tirith before the battle. I put the Rohirrim inside the city too. I gave the honor of leading the Rangers to aid the Gondorians to Elrohir. Sorry, Aragorn lovers =) Oh, in case people don't know already, Pelennor Fields was where the siege and defense of Minas Tirith took place. My apologies in advance if the changes annoyed people.
Warning: There are rated R parts. Nothing graphic, but I did write about my favorite couple's sex lives. As I said before, mind is in gutter lately.
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Chapter 11: Losses
NIGHT 12, MOUNTAIN OF THE SHADOWS
Legolas stopped a small distance short of the cave that was to be his shelter for the night. His acute hearing detected the voices within and wished not to intrude upon his friends. This was a very private moment as the young King of Rohan finally gathered the courage to declare his love to the objection of his affections. The Prince was happy for his Elven friend; Éomer was a good Man, both valiant and kind. But given his predicament, it was difficult to suppress the jolt of pain that tore through his heart when his mind drifted back to his own hopeless love.
The Watcher noticed that Haldir and Éomer had taken a liking to each other. On more than one occasion, the Man had made subtle amorous advances on the Elf. It was not that the Rohirrim was praising the archer's beauty or skills; Éomer showed his affections through little gestures, like helping the Elf carry his pack from the horse or bringing him food and water when Haldir was on watch. These were things that one who had never been in love would not have noticed, but to Legolas, they were painful reminders of his own beloved's thoughtfulness when they were together on the Quest eleven years ago.
Up till now, the Elf had chosen to ignore Éomer's affections. The Prince was sure there was no way Haldir had not noticed the Man's thoughtful gestures. He knew for a fact that the Guardian of Lòrien was not an innocent in love; such advances could not be lost upon the archer. Haldir was one of his closest friends in Middle Earth, even after Legolas rejected his suit. He understood that the silver-haired Elf was always reserved when it came to the matters of the heart. The Elven archer preferred to take his time to observe his potential suitors before acting. Even when Haldir fancied someone, he would wait and bide his time to see if he and the person were truly compatible before his pursuit.
But this time, things were different. Legolas could tell his friend was fighting his own growing attraction to the Man. He wondered why Haldir would do such a thing; it was not like the archer to deny his heart so completely. He hoped that the Man's open declaration of love would force the Elf to stop running from their budding relationship. The Prince really wished the Guardian of Lòrien would stop pushing the Man away; Legolas did not want his friend to miss his chance of finding happiness in love as he was forced to do.
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"I know I am not worthy of you, but I cannot change how I feel. I am in love with you," the young Man pleaded.
"Please don't say that," replied the Elf, looking away.
"Why won't you give me a chance? Is there someone else?" asked the Rohirrim, desperation in his voice.
"There is no one else. We cannot be together," whispered the Guardian of Lòrien. He had never been so attracted to anyone before; the depth of his emotions scared him. Haldir had always been self-reliant, in control. He did not like the way he craved the Man's attention or how much he enjoyed Éomer pampering him.
The Elf also knew the Man was the King of Rohan, expected to take a Queen and produce heirs. This was something he could not give. Besides, the Rohirrim would never understand or accept their feelings for each other. A relationship between them would never work; it would only result in heartbreak and disaster. Since the Man seemed too blinded by emotions to see it, Haldir would be the one to protect them both. It would hurt less to never let their love blossom than have it cruelly trampled upon by an uncaring world.
"But why?" pressed Éomer.
From their conversation in the stables before setting off, the Man was sure the Elf liked him. Yet, once they started on the Quest, Haldir had been completely cold to him. When Aragorn sent them to fetch water together two nights ago, Éomer had thought it would be the perfect opportunity to resume their communication and maybe further their personal relationship. But the Elf had managed to ignore all his attempts at a conversation. In the end, they carried out their task in silence before returning to camp. This time, the King of Rohan would not give up until he had the answers he wanted. He had risked his heart and would not allow Haldir to brush his love aside without any reason.
"Your emotions are clouding your judgment. The answer will be obvious once you calm down and think about it," said the Elf sadly before turning away to leave the cave.
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Legolas knew immediately something was wrong. The air around him tensed in warning. A kindred's blood had been spilled. But how could this be? Haldir was with Èomer. The Man would never let anything happen to the Elf he loved. With great urgency, the Watcher hurried back to camp.
The Prince was dismayed to find the two Men at their camp alone. In his worry, he did not even notice that he was intruding upon a private conversation between the human warriors concerning the Guardian of Lòrien. That was until Aragorn turned and glared at him, expecting his senses to have warned him not to interrupt. The disapproval in the King of Gondor's eyes prompted a wave of excruciating pain to course through his entire body. As a reflex, Legolas' hand clutched at his aching heart and grimaced.
The gesture was not lost on Aragorn, who now regarded his companion with worry. Something was wrong. "What's the matter?" asked the Man urgently.
"Where is Haldir? I think he is in danger," said the Watcher.
"He went off a little while ago. I must go find him now," exclaimed Éomer as he began to rush out of the cave. He would not let the one he loved be hurt, even if the Lòrien Elf did not return his feelings.
"No, it's too dark out there for you to see. Torches will attract the attention of our enemies. I will go," said the Prince calmly as he laid a restraining hand on the young Man.
"No, there is something else you are not telling us. You are not feeling well. I will not let you go search for Haldir alone with an unknown enemy out there. We will all go together at first light," said Aragorn with quiet authority. He knew the missing Elf could not be the reason for the Watcher's pain. Even if it was not his beloved in the Uruk-Hai's body, the Tirn Uipira must have been someone close to Legolas to know the Prince so well. He did not wish any harm to befall their new ally.
Legolas could hear the resolution in the Man's voice. But he also knew they had no time to waste. Haldir still lived; he could sense his friend's presence. But it was significantly weakened; the Lòrien Elf would not last until morning. The archer needed them now. He disliked tricking the Man, but he had no other choice.
The Prince moved beside his former lover, and said, "Very well."
When Aragorn offered a comforting pat on his shoulders, the Uruk-Hai pretended to return the gesture. But instead, Legolas struck at the base of the Man's neck, knocking him out instantaneously. With feline grace, the Watcher shifted so the unconscious King fell into his embrace. Éomer gasped in surprise at this development, thinking that their new companion was a spy and meant them harm after all. But before the Rohirrim could reach for his sword and attack the beast, Legolas spoke as he gently laid his former lover onto his bedroll, "Haldir needs me now. When Aragorn wakes, please tell him I am sorry."
Before the King of Rohan could say another word, his new companion had disappeared into the night. Gazing out into the pitch darkness of the mountains, Éomer whispered a prayer to Valar. He would give anything for his love's safe return, even his own life.
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An anxious Éomer paced within the shelter of their cave. He knew what their new ally had said. A rescue mission would be too dangerous as it might attract further hostility. But the young King could not sit by and wait for fate to take the one who held his heart. He decided to try to save Haldir alone as soon as Aragorn woke. Given that they were under attack, the Rohirrim did not wish to leave the unconscious King of Gondor unguarded. He could only hope he would find his beloved and Legolas before it was too late. The restlessness in his heart was telling the Man that time was starting to run out.
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Legolas raced through the night, relying completely on nature to guide him to the location of his friend. His senses led him to an imposing rockface with no obvious entrances. The Prince knew the Guardian was inside. There must be a secret passageway through. As the Watcher began to feel the side of the mountain for a way in, he felt the air tensed in warning. Whatever that attacked Haldir was aware of his presence, he must leave now to avoid being assaulted himself.
A dangerous plan was beginning to form in his mind. If he allowed the creature to attack him, it would likely take him to its lair where his friend was kept. The trick would be to retain consciousness after the beast's attacks so he could map a way out. And of course, the plan was based upon the assumption that the monster would not kill him at once. But since the Lòrien Elf survived the monster's assault, Legolas was willing to take the chance. The Prince knew the Man he loved would not mourn his passing; but a young Man's heart would be broken if Haldir were to perish.
The Prince had come to realize how similar Éomer's and the archer's situation was to his and Aragorn's. He now understood why Haldir held back; the cautious Elf was convinced that a relationship with the Man was doomed to fail. But Legolas knew neither his friend nor the King of Rohan would ever be able to find joy in another's companion again. They would always looked back on this love and wonder what could have been.
It was not too late for Haldir to change his mind. The Prince knew that if Éomer and the Lòrien Elf believe in their love, they could make their relationship work. The odds were not as overwhelming against them as things were with Legolas and Aragorn. The Watcher knew his own opportunity for a perfect love was lost forever; that was why he was willing to sacrifice his life for Haldir's.
Legolas would give anything to see a love like his and Aragorn's flourish in Middle Earth. It would be his solace; a testament that would remind him he was right to trust his heart with the King of Men. Bringing Haldir and Éomer together would be his redemption for failing to hold onto the one time he truly loved. Muttering a small prayer to Elbereth, the Prince braced himself for the monster's strike. He did not have to wait long as the creature had crept up behind him, razor-sharp claws poised to attack his vulnerable neck.
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Aragorn awoke with a headache. But his head was not what pained him the most; it was his heart that bled. He had just returned from the grasps of his worst nightmare, except it was not a dream. It was reality, another memory of his life with his true love. In his unconscious state, it came back to him with crystal clarity, his final moments with his beloved Elf; how it was that he lost the one he held most dear in his heart.
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YEAR 3018, MINAS TIRTH
The armies of Sauron amassed outside the city walls. Men from Harad had joined forces with the Dark Lord. Under the command of the Witchking of Angmar, they laid siege upon the city. These were desperate times in the world of Men; Lord Denethor had been driven mad by the magic of the Palantir; Faramir and Éowyn laid at death's door, casualties of the struggle to defend the white city.
Though the Gondorians had the help of the Rohirrim, they were still significantly outnumbered. In addition, the armies of Sauron possessed strange explosive devices that they used to bombard the walls. Though well built, these structures could not take much more of damage. Sooner or later, they would collapse and the city would fall. This was something Aragorn could not allow. The Man had promised Boromir that he would not let the White City fall before the Son of Gondor breathed his last. He would not go back on his word. Besides, the lives of so many women and children were at stake; if they failed to hold Minas Tirith, Aragorn knew the world of Men would fall and Sauron would be free to march against the other free peoples of Middle Earth.
"We cannot defend the city walls any longer. We will only be drawing more fire to them if we stay inside the keep," said Aragorn as he stood abruptly from his seat at the head of the table. The Orc armies had fallen back to regroup, giving the defenders a temporary reprieve from the constant fighting. The Man saw this as an opportunity to discuss possible strategies against Sauron's forces.
"We are vastly outnumbered; we cannot possible fight them directly," commented Legolas.
"We have no other choice. We defeated an Uruk-Hai army that was ten thousand strong with only a fraction of the soldiers we have now," pointed out Éomer. The young Man was eager to fight. He wished to avenge his uncle and honor Thèodon's memories with a victory over the Orcs.
"Yes, let me at them. I cannot wait to teach these Orcs to fear the axe of a Dwarf," exclaimed Gimli as he leapt to his feet, axe in hand.
"You will get your chance, my dear friend, but I just don't want us to rush into a battle we cannot win," said Legolas, clearly worried.
"Why the sudden pessimism, Master Elf? You were more than delighted to take part in our little game at Helm's Deep," asked the Dwarf. He and the Elven Prince had a small competition of who could kill the most Uruk-Hai; Gimli won by one. He expected the Elf to be glad of an opportunity to get even.
"I do not know. My heart shudders at the whispers of a nameless fear. It is a warning I cannot ignore," replied the Prince. He disliked admitting to his worries. Legolas did not want the others to think of him as a coward; but he knew something terrible was about to occur. He had to make his friends change their minds. He would do anything to keep them out of danger, even if it meant laying down his pride and appearing weak.
Aragorn knew his lover's senses were seldom wrong. Ill had befallen the Company every time they did not heed one of Legolas' warnings. Perhaps they should reconsider their strategies; but the Man could think of no other way. It was in this moment of indecision that the White Wizard spoke to seal their fates.
"I understand your worries, Legolas. But we must ride out to meet Sauron's forces head on. The Dark Lord thinks we have the Ring. He still does not realize Frodo is carrying it closer to the Fires of Mount Doom as we speak. If we continue to hide here, the Enemy will know we do not possess the Ring of Power. We must confront his armies, not only to defend Minas Tirith, but also to draw the Eye away from the Ringbearer. There is no other way," said Gandalf.
Letting out a sigh in defeat, Legolas whispered, 'So be it. If you will not heed my council, at least wait a few more days. Under the darkness of a new moon, perhaps we could surprise our enemy and have a better chance at victory."
"It is decided then. We ride in six days," said Aragorn.
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Aragorn had been looking for his lover for hours. He did not expect it to be so easy for a lone Elf to disappear in a human city. The Man needed to talk to his beloved, to ease Legolas' worries if possible. There were no other paths they could take, but if they had a better understanding of the Prince's foreboding, they might find a way to avert disaster.
It was almost midnight when he gave up his fruitless search. The Man knew he needed to rest; it would be long and hard day tomorrow. Aragorn would be needed at the House of Healing to tend to Faramir and Éowyn; and there was also the threat of Sauron's armies. The Orcs could attack at any time and the Man wanted to be prepared for the occasion.
Aragorn returned to his rooms to find his beloved Elf waiting for him. Or it would be more appropriate to say that the Prince was awaiting his return. The fatigue of their journey had finally caught up with Legolas, sending him into the world of dreams on the Man's bed.
During the past few weeks, the Elf had taken more than his share of responsibilities. Legolas would often volunteer for first watch and not wake them for their turn. It was to a point where the Man felt it necessary to forbid his beloved from taking the first shift of guard duty. But the Prince would stay awake to accompany Aragorn instead of taking rest, insisting that his status as an Elf allowed him to function with very little sleep. The Man was glad that his stubborn lover was finally getting some much-needed rest. Silently, Aragorn pulled a blanket over the sleeping Elf before lying down and gently gathering Legolas into his embrace.
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DREAMWORLD, YEAR 3018
Legolas looked around in surprise as he found himself in a lavish palace. It was unlike any the Prince had ever seen. Crystal chandeliers hung from the massive arches that held up the dome-shaped ceiling. Upon the roof were beautiful murals depicting the landscapes of Middle Earth through the course of history. Around him were marble sculptures, undoubtedly crafted by very skilled artists to capture the essence of the models' beauty and radiance. As much as he hated to admit it, even Rivendell or his own palace at Mirkwood did not compared to this place.
"So you approve?" remarked a deep, resonant voice. When the Elf turned, he found the speaker was a middle-aged human with shoulder length silvery- white hair. The Man was solidly built, tall and muscular. Power and authority seemed to exude from his being. All in all, this visitor of his dreams was a very intimidating person.
"This place is beautiful," replied Legolas truthfully, not wanting to slight the stranger.
"I am glad you like it, my son," said the Man as he moved closer.
"What did you just call me?" asked the Elf quietly, trying not to show his alarm.
"There is so much to explain, little one. It will be easier for you to remember for yourself," said the stranger as he closed the distance between himself and the Prince.
Legolas tried to move away but was held immobile by a mysterious power. He could do nothing but watch as the Man lifted a hand and placed it upon his head. Brilliant light shot from the stranger's palm into the Elf, causing the Prince to cry out in agony as powerful magic raced through his body. As the pain intensified, Legolas could no longer hold onto consciousness and drifted into an abyss of nothingness.
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The Prince awoke to find himself back in his father's palace. No, Glorgalad knew this was just a dream; an illusion created by Alagos' magic. But what did his father want with him? The King of the Watchers had sent him away into Middle Earth as punishment. Why did his sire give him back his memories?
"Your mind is racing, little one. It hurts me to see you so confused," remarked Alagos.
"Why?" asked the Prince.
The King of the Watchers laughed. The young one found himself suddenly apprehensive of his father's intentions. "Don't worry, my son. I will do nothing to your friends. They will die soon anyways. And so will you if I do not interfere."
"The battle.... We will lose?" whispered Legolas, not wanting to believe his possessive father.
"You know that in your heart, child," replied the King of the Tirn Uipira.
"What do you want with me?" asked the Prince, knowing Alagos must have something in mind to approach him this way.
"You have always been my favorite, Glorgalad. I banished you out of anger; I have regretted the decision ever since. I want you back by my side. If you agree to return, I will help your friends," offered the ancient Watcher.
"And you promise all my friends will live? You will guarantee our victory?" pressed Legolas. He knew what was being asked of him; he would have to give up everything on Middle Earth, including the Man he loved. He needed to know his sacrifice would not be in vain.
"Yes. I will use my influence to prompt Elrohir to gather the troops in the North and come to your aid on the night of the new moon," replied Alagos.
"Very well. I will fulfill my end of the bargain when Sauron's armies are defeated," promised Legolas. He could feel his heart breaking. The Prince did not want to leave Aragorn; but he knew this was the only way he could protect the Man he loved. He knew how much Minas Tirith meant to his beloved; he would do everything in his power to give his lover this victory, to help Aragorn fulfill his destiny as the King of Men.
The only regret he had was that he must take the choice out of the Man's hands. He had always wanted it to be Aragorn's decision, if it were to come to choosing between their love and his people. He never thought things between them would end like this.
"Good. I shall await your return. And please be careful during battle. I will be very angry if anything happens to you and keeps you from fulfilling your promise. And you don't want to see my angry," said the King of the Watchers as all faded into darkness.
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Legolas awoke to find himself in his beloved's arms. When his thoughts drifted to his decision the night before, the Elf could not stop the flood of tears rolling down his face. He did not want the Man to see him cry; he did not want his lover to know what he had done without consulting him. He knew Aragorn would be angry; he did not want his last few days on Middle Earth with his beloved ruined by hurt, anger or sadness. He only wished to make happy memories for both of them to remember each other by.
Carefully, the Prince shifted so he could wipe away his tears without the Man's notice. But it was not to be. Aragorn's sharp Ranger senses detected the small movement and the Man opened his eyes to the sight of a crying Elf.
"Why are you crying, my love?" asked the Man.
"It's nothing. I am just worried," lied the Prince.
"You are a horrible liar, Legolas. Tell me what's wrong," said Aragorn with a frown. He knew his lover well. The Prince would not cry over nothing. The only time he had seen Legolas cry was during the Quest, when the Elf thought he did not love him. The Man wondered what was wrong and why the Prince was lying to him.
"Aragorn, what will you do if I tell you I must leave you soon?" asked the Elf, knowing he could not fool his beloved much longer.
"Legolas, what is going on? Why do you ask such questions?" demanded the Man, clearly worried. The Elf told him he sensed something would go wrong if they rode out to battle. Could it be that the Prince was having premonition of his own death?
"Just answer me, please," pleaded Legolas as he studied the one he loved, trying to memorize every detail of that ruggedly handsome face, knowing soon he would no longer be able to hold it close again.
"This is about the ominous feeling you have, isn't it? You will stay here in the city where it is safe when we ride out to battle," said Aragorn. No matter what happens, he would not lose Legolas.
"There is no changing what is already determined, melethron nîn [my lover]. I do not want this anymore than you do. But I need to know that you will be alright without me," whispered the Elf sadly.
"No, I do not believe in fate. I will not give you up," vowed the Man.
"I see. You will spend the last few days I have trying to find a way to fight what cannot be altered," said the Prince as he attempted to rise.
"What would you have me do? Sit here and wait for death to take you from me?" demanded Aragorn as he tightened his arms around his beloved, trying to hold onto the Elf.
"I would have you spend these days with me, making enough happy memories for us to last an entire lifetime; so that wherever I might be, you will always have something to look back upon to remind you of how much I love you. I want you remember me fondly when you think of our time together," said the Prince as tears flowed once again from his exquisite sapphire eyes.
Aragorn was a loss of what to do. The last thing he wanted was to resign to their destiny; to give up the one person he valued more than his own life. But if indeed their separation could not be avoided, the Man wanted, no he needed, to show Legolas how much he truly loved him. There was so much Aragorn wanted to do, so much he wanted to say, so much he wanted to share. The Man had always thought he would have his entire life to explore their love, not five days. He could not possibly disclose the depth and intensity of his feelings in such a short time.
Legolas could see the struggle in his lover's eyes. It would be up to him to show the Man by example how to make the most out of their time together. Gently, the Prince cupped Aragorn's face in his slender hands and gazed into his stormy grey eyes. As the Elf leaned close to give his beloved a soft kiss, he whispered, "Please, Aragorn, show me you love me."
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The Man and Elf spent every moment of the last few days before the Battle of Pelennor together. When Aragorn went to the House of Healing to check upon Faramir and Éowyn, the Elf stood quietly by his side. It was no surprise that both were present at tactical meetings and the inspections of the readiness of the soldiers and mounts; but the fact that the Man held the Elven Prince's hand generated some commotion among the troops.
When Legolas questioned his lover about this open display of affection, the Man merely laughed and replied he wanted his people to see his love for the golden Elf. Aragorn told him that if they both survived the coming battle, he would wed Legolas at once. It would be good to give his people fair warning and more time to get used to the idea of them as a couple, their future King and consort. In fact, the Man said this would be his only condition for taking his rightful place as the King of Gondor; that his people should accept the Elven Prince as his only lover and consort.
Éomer and the other members of the Fellowship noted the desperation with which the two lovers cling to each other. They all remembered Legolas' warning and suspected something would occur to separate them. Riding into battle was inevitable; the least they could do was to try to give the couple as much private time together as possible. So it was that each person took on a little bit more of the responsibilities of getting the troops ready for their final confrontation with the forces of Sauron.
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Because of the concerted effort of their friends, the lovers were able to retire after dinner and spend their night together in the privacy of their own chambers. Legolas' passion astounded the Man; the Prince, though a lot more skilled after their little adventure on the Misty Mountain, had still been rather shy in their lovemaking. Not that they had been sharing intimacy much since then; they were only together for the few nights they spent in Lothlòrien. The Lady of Light had seen in their hearts the love they had for each other and made arrangements to give them privacy. But in those precious moments of shared passion, the Elf had been submissive, allowing Aragorn to dictate their positions and the pace so as to give the Man the most pleasure.
Now, Legolas was no longer content with reacting to his lover's touch and control. The Prince was doing his own share of caressing, teasing and dominating. It was as if the Elf wanted to remember the feel of every inch of Aragorn's body with his smooth silken lips, his soft slender hands and his warm skillful tongue. As much as he enjoyed being in control, the Man allowed his lover to do as he wished.
The Man loved Legolas so much; he was glad to indulge in any of the Prince's whims and fantasies. Besides, the Elf was giving him so much pleasure with his administrations that Aragorn had no cause for complaint. The Man had never imagined he would enjoy submitting to anyone in bed; but he truly loved the feeling of the Elven beauty inside him. Legolas was so innocent and sweet, pouring his love into each stroke he bestowed upon Aragorn. The Man knew he would never find such perfect bliss in anyone else's arms.
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After five wonderful days, the happiest in Aragorn's and Legolas' life, the battle was upon them. The Elf had convinced the Man to allow him to ride with the army. The Prince would not let his lover face darkness alone. Together they fought on the Fields of Pelennor against overwhelming odds. All seemed hopeless when a sea of Orcs surrounded the Gondorian army, cutting off their retreat back into the city.
But in their most desperate hour, help came from the most unlikely place, breaking the enemy ranks that trapped them. Elrohir, the younger son of Lord Elrond, led an army from the North, through the Paths of the Dead to assault the Dark Lord's forces from the rear. Many enemy soldiers were slaughtered before they knew what hit them.
As the tide of the battle turned, more human warriors poured forth from the White City, led by Éomer, now the King of the Mark after Thèoden's death. It had been their intention all along to divide the attack on Sauron's forces into two waves. The first one led by Aragorn consisted mainly of the troops of Gondor who used to serve Denethor. While the Gondorians distracted the Orcs, the Rohirrims were going to sneak up upon their enemy and destroy the explosive devices and catapults that threatened the integrity of the city walls.
The young King had been waiting for an opportunity to lead his Men to fulfill their part of the mission. But with the arrival of reinforcement, Éomer knew the battle could be won if they too engaged the Orcs in a head- on confrontation. By the order of their new King, the Rohirrim charged the Dark Lord's armies. The Orcs and Haradrim were now divided into two smaller groups, each trapped between two contingents of human defenders.
As they were fighting close range, Sauron's troops could not make use of explosives or the catapults. Though the numbers were still in their favor, the sudden change in fortunes when victory was at hand sent widespread confusion and panic through the enemies' ranks. The Witch King was having trouble keeping control of his soldiers. The defenders of Minas Tirith took full advantage of the disarray of the Dark Lord's armies, slaying many in the chaos of the night. As dawn broke, the battle was over. Good had triumphed over the forces of evil. The White City was held; Sauron's Orcs were defeated.
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Aragorn rushed to his beloved and enveloped the lithe Elf in a tight embrace. They had won; but most important of all, both of them had survived. Legolas' fears did not come to pass; the Man would have his lifetime with his Golden Prince.
Reluctantly, the future King of Gondor released his lover and raised his voice so all the soldiers could hear his declaration, "I love you, Legolas. Please say you will be mine and stay with me for as long as I live."
Legolas knew he did not have much time before Alagos would come to take him away. He did not want to lie to his beloved, nor did he wish to ruin this moment of victory for Aragorn. Choosing his words carefully, the Prince replied, "Nothing will give me greater pleasure than to be with you forever, my love."
The Elf had expected strange looks from the other Men, disapproving of their leader's choice to take him as consort. But he was pleasantly surprised when the soldiers cheered for their leader. The generals came up to them and offer them pats of the back or handshakes with their good wishes. When all the pleasantries were taken care of, the Man scooped the Prince into his arms to another cheer of the crowd and whisked Legolas off into the city.
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"I did not expect your Men to approve," said the Prince. It was difficult to keep the sadness from his voice. The only thing standing between him and Aragorn had been the opinions of the people. To know they have to part even after overcoming that last obstacle was pure torture for Legolas.
"You have won them over by your actions. Your gallantry and skills on the field were unmatched today. Even I pale in comparison to you, my love," replied the Man as he gently laid down his beloved Elf and began to divest him of his clothing.
"You jest, my Lord. None could compare to your ferocity and vigor on the battlefield," teased the Elf. His heart was breaking from their impending separation. But until then, he would not allow despair to take hold of him, marring the last precious moments he had with his lover.
"I prefer to show you my vigor in other more pleasant things, my Prince," said the Man seductively as he carried the now naked Elf to the bath.
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Aragorn meant to take things slowly and seduce the Prince with a thorough scrubbing. But when Legolas returned his caresses with a fire that could melt the firmest of resolve, the Man could not stop himself from joining his lover in the bath to show the Elf the intensity of his passion and desires.
Appalled by his own lack of control, Aragorn carried his beautiful Prince back to the bed in hopes of continuing with his plan of a slow seduction. What he did not expect was for Legolas to reverse their roles and took control. The Man tried to fight back to regain his usual domination, but to his surprise, the lithe Elf had a strength that matched his own. It was not long before a pouting Aragorn resigned to his fate of submitting to his Elven lover. The Man did not pout for long though as moans of pleasure escaped from his lips once Legolas began his administration.
As the exhausted Elf collapsed upon him, Aragorn reckoned his chance to bring his original plans into action had finally come. Soon, the room reverberated with Legolas' cries from the Man's exquisite torture. For as long as he could, Aragorn denied his own desires, opting to show his Prince the wonders of love. Only when he was almost to his breaking point did the Man claimed the Elf. Within moments, Aragorn's movements sent both lovers into the world of ecstasy.
As they lied breathlessly on their bed, limbs still entwined in the most intimate fashion, Legolas made a final oath to the Man he loved, "Gweston le, meleth nîn ù-thinnatha. [I swear to thee, my love would never fade]"
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As the Elf finished his vow, the door to their room was kicked opened unceremoniously. At the entrance stood Elrohir, staring with open hatred at his foster brother.
"What do you think you are doing, Elrohir?" demanded Aragorn, angry from the intrusion.
"Taking back what is mine," said the Elf dangerously.
Legolas knew immediately that it was his father in the younger twin's body. It was time for him to fulfill his promise. "Aragorn, please understand. I have no other choice. I don't want to leave you, but it was the only way to save everyone."
"I do not understand. What is happening?" asked the Man, holding tight to his lover.
"Don't bother explaining, my son. He will not remember," said the King of the Watcher in Elrohir's body.
"You cannot possibly take his memories, father. This is not part of the deal," pleaded the Prince. They had spent the last few days giving each other things to remember their love by. Alagos could not take the memories of those happy times they spent together. It was the only thing that would see them through their separation.
"I am afraid you do not have a say in this, Glorgalad. Besides, don't you think he will be better off not remembering you? Do you honestly want him to mourn your loss for the rest of his life? Are you so selfish that you will have him suffer the heartbreak of losing someone he holds dear? Is that the extent of this pathetic emotion you call love?" asked the ancient Watcher.
Alagos did not need his son's approval to erase the Man's memories. But he would rather not incur his golden child's resentment. The King of the Watcher wanted to win Glorgalad's affections so the young one would stay with him willingly. This he could not do if his son hated him for tampering with Aragorn's mind.
The Man did not fully understand what was happening; but he knew whoever it was that had taken control of his foster brother would take his Elf away from him. No, not only Legolas, but also his memories of the one he loved. He could not abide by that; he would rather die. With a speed he did not know he possessed, Aragorn rushed off the bed to grab Anduril and lashed at Elrohir. But his blade was stopped by a shield of light; the shock of the impact sent the Man flying against the wall.
Aragorn fought as hard as he could to move, to summon enough strength to defend his lover, but he could not. In fact, he could not even hang onto consciousness. The last thought on his mind as blackness engulfed him was of his beloved Elf; that no matter how impossible it was, Aragorn would find Legolas again; that if the Prince would wait, the Man would come for him so they could finally live happily together.
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NIGHT 12, MOUNTAIN OF THE SHADOWS
As much as his heart pained him, Aragorn knew they had no time to lose. The Watcher had gone after Haldir alone. If things were not that urgent, their new ally would not have resort to knocking the Man unconscious just so he could search for the missing Elf. They would lose both of them if they did not act now.
"Éomer, come with me. We have to get Gandalf and the others. We go after them now," said the Man as he rushed to the other cave where the others took shelter, followed closely by the King of Rohan. Aragorn had failed to save Legolas before; he would not let the Prince's friend die now.
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Status report 12/18:
I know this probably don't belong in any particular one fiction, but I am not very normal today, so I am putting it in here. Just watched midnight show of two towers, on a hyperactive dose of Elf fix, maybe got three hours of sleep if even that since I just couldn't shut my mind down, thinking about our Elf.
Anyways, sorry to readers of Lord of Fire, Prince of Ice, I was almost done and was holding onto the two chapters I have before sending everything to beta. But after watching the movie, I think Haldir deserves much more love from Aragorn than I gave him, so need to rewrite the whole section concerning A/H chemistry for the later parts. That story will be taking longer to update than anticipated.
Also, I am a little too happy to write angsty stuff right now. After this chapter, there might not be another update for Prince of Dreams until I calm down from Two Tower Elf fix overdose. But given that I am going to see it again tonight, tomorrow night and Friday night, that's not going to happen until the weekend.
I am going to write sequel to Shadow. I am just dying to use some of the lines in the movie =) It will be a little more light-hearted than the original, but knowing me, I will find ways to do bad things to A/L's love life =)
Yeah, I wrote some more Never Been Kissed, but not enough to post, so that will have to wait until after the weekend as well. Sorry, but I am spending over 3 hours of my free time on Two Towers every day, so need time to sleep and recover.
Please, please review. They are my fuel.
Warning: Alternate universe. Changes in the Battle of the Pelennor were made to suit the story. I put all major character in Minas Tirith before the battle. I put the Rohirrim inside the city too. I gave the honor of leading the Rangers to aid the Gondorians to Elrohir. Sorry, Aragorn lovers =) Oh, in case people don't know already, Pelennor Fields was where the siege and defense of Minas Tirith took place. My apologies in advance if the changes annoyed people.
Warning: There are rated R parts. Nothing graphic, but I did write about my favorite couple's sex lives. As I said before, mind is in gutter lately.
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Chapter 11: Losses
NIGHT 12, MOUNTAIN OF THE SHADOWS
Legolas stopped a small distance short of the cave that was to be his shelter for the night. His acute hearing detected the voices within and wished not to intrude upon his friends. This was a very private moment as the young King of Rohan finally gathered the courage to declare his love to the objection of his affections. The Prince was happy for his Elven friend; Éomer was a good Man, both valiant and kind. But given his predicament, it was difficult to suppress the jolt of pain that tore through his heart when his mind drifted back to his own hopeless love.
The Watcher noticed that Haldir and Éomer had taken a liking to each other. On more than one occasion, the Man had made subtle amorous advances on the Elf. It was not that the Rohirrim was praising the archer's beauty or skills; Éomer showed his affections through little gestures, like helping the Elf carry his pack from the horse or bringing him food and water when Haldir was on watch. These were things that one who had never been in love would not have noticed, but to Legolas, they were painful reminders of his own beloved's thoughtfulness when they were together on the Quest eleven years ago.
Up till now, the Elf had chosen to ignore Éomer's affections. The Prince was sure there was no way Haldir had not noticed the Man's thoughtful gestures. He knew for a fact that the Guardian of Lòrien was not an innocent in love; such advances could not be lost upon the archer. Haldir was one of his closest friends in Middle Earth, even after Legolas rejected his suit. He understood that the silver-haired Elf was always reserved when it came to the matters of the heart. The Elven archer preferred to take his time to observe his potential suitors before acting. Even when Haldir fancied someone, he would wait and bide his time to see if he and the person were truly compatible before his pursuit.
But this time, things were different. Legolas could tell his friend was fighting his own growing attraction to the Man. He wondered why Haldir would do such a thing; it was not like the archer to deny his heart so completely. He hoped that the Man's open declaration of love would force the Elf to stop running from their budding relationship. The Prince really wished the Guardian of Lòrien would stop pushing the Man away; Legolas did not want his friend to miss his chance of finding happiness in love as he was forced to do.
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"I know I am not worthy of you, but I cannot change how I feel. I am in love with you," the young Man pleaded.
"Please don't say that," replied the Elf, looking away.
"Why won't you give me a chance? Is there someone else?" asked the Rohirrim, desperation in his voice.
"There is no one else. We cannot be together," whispered the Guardian of Lòrien. He had never been so attracted to anyone before; the depth of his emotions scared him. Haldir had always been self-reliant, in control. He did not like the way he craved the Man's attention or how much he enjoyed Éomer pampering him.
The Elf also knew the Man was the King of Rohan, expected to take a Queen and produce heirs. This was something he could not give. Besides, the Rohirrim would never understand or accept their feelings for each other. A relationship between them would never work; it would only result in heartbreak and disaster. Since the Man seemed too blinded by emotions to see it, Haldir would be the one to protect them both. It would hurt less to never let their love blossom than have it cruelly trampled upon by an uncaring world.
"But why?" pressed Éomer.
From their conversation in the stables before setting off, the Man was sure the Elf liked him. Yet, once they started on the Quest, Haldir had been completely cold to him. When Aragorn sent them to fetch water together two nights ago, Éomer had thought it would be the perfect opportunity to resume their communication and maybe further their personal relationship. But the Elf had managed to ignore all his attempts at a conversation. In the end, they carried out their task in silence before returning to camp. This time, the King of Rohan would not give up until he had the answers he wanted. He had risked his heart and would not allow Haldir to brush his love aside without any reason.
"Your emotions are clouding your judgment. The answer will be obvious once you calm down and think about it," said the Elf sadly before turning away to leave the cave.
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Legolas knew immediately something was wrong. The air around him tensed in warning. A kindred's blood had been spilled. But how could this be? Haldir was with Èomer. The Man would never let anything happen to the Elf he loved. With great urgency, the Watcher hurried back to camp.
The Prince was dismayed to find the two Men at their camp alone. In his worry, he did not even notice that he was intruding upon a private conversation between the human warriors concerning the Guardian of Lòrien. That was until Aragorn turned and glared at him, expecting his senses to have warned him not to interrupt. The disapproval in the King of Gondor's eyes prompted a wave of excruciating pain to course through his entire body. As a reflex, Legolas' hand clutched at his aching heart and grimaced.
The gesture was not lost on Aragorn, who now regarded his companion with worry. Something was wrong. "What's the matter?" asked the Man urgently.
"Where is Haldir? I think he is in danger," said the Watcher.
"He went off a little while ago. I must go find him now," exclaimed Éomer as he began to rush out of the cave. He would not let the one he loved be hurt, even if the Lòrien Elf did not return his feelings.
"No, it's too dark out there for you to see. Torches will attract the attention of our enemies. I will go," said the Prince calmly as he laid a restraining hand on the young Man.
"No, there is something else you are not telling us. You are not feeling well. I will not let you go search for Haldir alone with an unknown enemy out there. We will all go together at first light," said Aragorn with quiet authority. He knew the missing Elf could not be the reason for the Watcher's pain. Even if it was not his beloved in the Uruk-Hai's body, the Tirn Uipira must have been someone close to Legolas to know the Prince so well. He did not wish any harm to befall their new ally.
Legolas could hear the resolution in the Man's voice. But he also knew they had no time to waste. Haldir still lived; he could sense his friend's presence. But it was significantly weakened; the Lòrien Elf would not last until morning. The archer needed them now. He disliked tricking the Man, but he had no other choice.
The Prince moved beside his former lover, and said, "Very well."
When Aragorn offered a comforting pat on his shoulders, the Uruk-Hai pretended to return the gesture. But instead, Legolas struck at the base of the Man's neck, knocking him out instantaneously. With feline grace, the Watcher shifted so the unconscious King fell into his embrace. Éomer gasped in surprise at this development, thinking that their new companion was a spy and meant them harm after all. But before the Rohirrim could reach for his sword and attack the beast, Legolas spoke as he gently laid his former lover onto his bedroll, "Haldir needs me now. When Aragorn wakes, please tell him I am sorry."
Before the King of Rohan could say another word, his new companion had disappeared into the night. Gazing out into the pitch darkness of the mountains, Éomer whispered a prayer to Valar. He would give anything for his love's safe return, even his own life.
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An anxious Éomer paced within the shelter of their cave. He knew what their new ally had said. A rescue mission would be too dangerous as it might attract further hostility. But the young King could not sit by and wait for fate to take the one who held his heart. He decided to try to save Haldir alone as soon as Aragorn woke. Given that they were under attack, the Rohirrim did not wish to leave the unconscious King of Gondor unguarded. He could only hope he would find his beloved and Legolas before it was too late. The restlessness in his heart was telling the Man that time was starting to run out.
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Legolas raced through the night, relying completely on nature to guide him to the location of his friend. His senses led him to an imposing rockface with no obvious entrances. The Prince knew the Guardian was inside. There must be a secret passageway through. As the Watcher began to feel the side of the mountain for a way in, he felt the air tensed in warning. Whatever that attacked Haldir was aware of his presence, he must leave now to avoid being assaulted himself.
A dangerous plan was beginning to form in his mind. If he allowed the creature to attack him, it would likely take him to its lair where his friend was kept. The trick would be to retain consciousness after the beast's attacks so he could map a way out. And of course, the plan was based upon the assumption that the monster would not kill him at once. But since the Lòrien Elf survived the monster's assault, Legolas was willing to take the chance. The Prince knew the Man he loved would not mourn his passing; but a young Man's heart would be broken if Haldir were to perish.
The Prince had come to realize how similar Éomer's and the archer's situation was to his and Aragorn's. He now understood why Haldir held back; the cautious Elf was convinced that a relationship with the Man was doomed to fail. But Legolas knew neither his friend nor the King of Rohan would ever be able to find joy in another's companion again. They would always looked back on this love and wonder what could have been.
It was not too late for Haldir to change his mind. The Prince knew that if Éomer and the Lòrien Elf believe in their love, they could make their relationship work. The odds were not as overwhelming against them as things were with Legolas and Aragorn. The Watcher knew his own opportunity for a perfect love was lost forever; that was why he was willing to sacrifice his life for Haldir's.
Legolas would give anything to see a love like his and Aragorn's flourish in Middle Earth. It would be his solace; a testament that would remind him he was right to trust his heart with the King of Men. Bringing Haldir and Éomer together would be his redemption for failing to hold onto the one time he truly loved. Muttering a small prayer to Elbereth, the Prince braced himself for the monster's strike. He did not have to wait long as the creature had crept up behind him, razor-sharp claws poised to attack his vulnerable neck.
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Aragorn awoke with a headache. But his head was not what pained him the most; it was his heart that bled. He had just returned from the grasps of his worst nightmare, except it was not a dream. It was reality, another memory of his life with his true love. In his unconscious state, it came back to him with crystal clarity, his final moments with his beloved Elf; how it was that he lost the one he held most dear in his heart.
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YEAR 3018, MINAS TIRTH
The armies of Sauron amassed outside the city walls. Men from Harad had joined forces with the Dark Lord. Under the command of the Witchking of Angmar, they laid siege upon the city. These were desperate times in the world of Men; Lord Denethor had been driven mad by the magic of the Palantir; Faramir and Éowyn laid at death's door, casualties of the struggle to defend the white city.
Though the Gondorians had the help of the Rohirrim, they were still significantly outnumbered. In addition, the armies of Sauron possessed strange explosive devices that they used to bombard the walls. Though well built, these structures could not take much more of damage. Sooner or later, they would collapse and the city would fall. This was something Aragorn could not allow. The Man had promised Boromir that he would not let the White City fall before the Son of Gondor breathed his last. He would not go back on his word. Besides, the lives of so many women and children were at stake; if they failed to hold Minas Tirith, Aragorn knew the world of Men would fall and Sauron would be free to march against the other free peoples of Middle Earth.
"We cannot defend the city walls any longer. We will only be drawing more fire to them if we stay inside the keep," said Aragorn as he stood abruptly from his seat at the head of the table. The Orc armies had fallen back to regroup, giving the defenders a temporary reprieve from the constant fighting. The Man saw this as an opportunity to discuss possible strategies against Sauron's forces.
"We are vastly outnumbered; we cannot possible fight them directly," commented Legolas.
"We have no other choice. We defeated an Uruk-Hai army that was ten thousand strong with only a fraction of the soldiers we have now," pointed out Éomer. The young Man was eager to fight. He wished to avenge his uncle and honor Thèodon's memories with a victory over the Orcs.
"Yes, let me at them. I cannot wait to teach these Orcs to fear the axe of a Dwarf," exclaimed Gimli as he leapt to his feet, axe in hand.
"You will get your chance, my dear friend, but I just don't want us to rush into a battle we cannot win," said Legolas, clearly worried.
"Why the sudden pessimism, Master Elf? You were more than delighted to take part in our little game at Helm's Deep," asked the Dwarf. He and the Elven Prince had a small competition of who could kill the most Uruk-Hai; Gimli won by one. He expected the Elf to be glad of an opportunity to get even.
"I do not know. My heart shudders at the whispers of a nameless fear. It is a warning I cannot ignore," replied the Prince. He disliked admitting to his worries. Legolas did not want the others to think of him as a coward; but he knew something terrible was about to occur. He had to make his friends change their minds. He would do anything to keep them out of danger, even if it meant laying down his pride and appearing weak.
Aragorn knew his lover's senses were seldom wrong. Ill had befallen the Company every time they did not heed one of Legolas' warnings. Perhaps they should reconsider their strategies; but the Man could think of no other way. It was in this moment of indecision that the White Wizard spoke to seal their fates.
"I understand your worries, Legolas. But we must ride out to meet Sauron's forces head on. The Dark Lord thinks we have the Ring. He still does not realize Frodo is carrying it closer to the Fires of Mount Doom as we speak. If we continue to hide here, the Enemy will know we do not possess the Ring of Power. We must confront his armies, not only to defend Minas Tirith, but also to draw the Eye away from the Ringbearer. There is no other way," said Gandalf.
Letting out a sigh in defeat, Legolas whispered, 'So be it. If you will not heed my council, at least wait a few more days. Under the darkness of a new moon, perhaps we could surprise our enemy and have a better chance at victory."
"It is decided then. We ride in six days," said Aragorn.
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Aragorn had been looking for his lover for hours. He did not expect it to be so easy for a lone Elf to disappear in a human city. The Man needed to talk to his beloved, to ease Legolas' worries if possible. There were no other paths they could take, but if they had a better understanding of the Prince's foreboding, they might find a way to avert disaster.
It was almost midnight when he gave up his fruitless search. The Man knew he needed to rest; it would be long and hard day tomorrow. Aragorn would be needed at the House of Healing to tend to Faramir and Éowyn; and there was also the threat of Sauron's armies. The Orcs could attack at any time and the Man wanted to be prepared for the occasion.
Aragorn returned to his rooms to find his beloved Elf waiting for him. Or it would be more appropriate to say that the Prince was awaiting his return. The fatigue of their journey had finally caught up with Legolas, sending him into the world of dreams on the Man's bed.
During the past few weeks, the Elf had taken more than his share of responsibilities. Legolas would often volunteer for first watch and not wake them for their turn. It was to a point where the Man felt it necessary to forbid his beloved from taking the first shift of guard duty. But the Prince would stay awake to accompany Aragorn instead of taking rest, insisting that his status as an Elf allowed him to function with very little sleep. The Man was glad that his stubborn lover was finally getting some much-needed rest. Silently, Aragorn pulled a blanket over the sleeping Elf before lying down and gently gathering Legolas into his embrace.
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DREAMWORLD, YEAR 3018
Legolas looked around in surprise as he found himself in a lavish palace. It was unlike any the Prince had ever seen. Crystal chandeliers hung from the massive arches that held up the dome-shaped ceiling. Upon the roof were beautiful murals depicting the landscapes of Middle Earth through the course of history. Around him were marble sculptures, undoubtedly crafted by very skilled artists to capture the essence of the models' beauty and radiance. As much as he hated to admit it, even Rivendell or his own palace at Mirkwood did not compared to this place.
"So you approve?" remarked a deep, resonant voice. When the Elf turned, he found the speaker was a middle-aged human with shoulder length silvery- white hair. The Man was solidly built, tall and muscular. Power and authority seemed to exude from his being. All in all, this visitor of his dreams was a very intimidating person.
"This place is beautiful," replied Legolas truthfully, not wanting to slight the stranger.
"I am glad you like it, my son," said the Man as he moved closer.
"What did you just call me?" asked the Elf quietly, trying not to show his alarm.
"There is so much to explain, little one. It will be easier for you to remember for yourself," said the stranger as he closed the distance between himself and the Prince.
Legolas tried to move away but was held immobile by a mysterious power. He could do nothing but watch as the Man lifted a hand and placed it upon his head. Brilliant light shot from the stranger's palm into the Elf, causing the Prince to cry out in agony as powerful magic raced through his body. As the pain intensified, Legolas could no longer hold onto consciousness and drifted into an abyss of nothingness.
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The Prince awoke to find himself back in his father's palace. No, Glorgalad knew this was just a dream; an illusion created by Alagos' magic. But what did his father want with him? The King of the Watchers had sent him away into Middle Earth as punishment. Why did his sire give him back his memories?
"Your mind is racing, little one. It hurts me to see you so confused," remarked Alagos.
"Why?" asked the Prince.
The King of the Watchers laughed. The young one found himself suddenly apprehensive of his father's intentions. "Don't worry, my son. I will do nothing to your friends. They will die soon anyways. And so will you if I do not interfere."
"The battle.... We will lose?" whispered Legolas, not wanting to believe his possessive father.
"You know that in your heart, child," replied the King of the Tirn Uipira.
"What do you want with me?" asked the Prince, knowing Alagos must have something in mind to approach him this way.
"You have always been my favorite, Glorgalad. I banished you out of anger; I have regretted the decision ever since. I want you back by my side. If you agree to return, I will help your friends," offered the ancient Watcher.
"And you promise all my friends will live? You will guarantee our victory?" pressed Legolas. He knew what was being asked of him; he would have to give up everything on Middle Earth, including the Man he loved. He needed to know his sacrifice would not be in vain.
"Yes. I will use my influence to prompt Elrohir to gather the troops in the North and come to your aid on the night of the new moon," replied Alagos.
"Very well. I will fulfill my end of the bargain when Sauron's armies are defeated," promised Legolas. He could feel his heart breaking. The Prince did not want to leave Aragorn; but he knew this was the only way he could protect the Man he loved. He knew how much Minas Tirith meant to his beloved; he would do everything in his power to give his lover this victory, to help Aragorn fulfill his destiny as the King of Men.
The only regret he had was that he must take the choice out of the Man's hands. He had always wanted it to be Aragorn's decision, if it were to come to choosing between their love and his people. He never thought things between them would end like this.
"Good. I shall await your return. And please be careful during battle. I will be very angry if anything happens to you and keeps you from fulfilling your promise. And you don't want to see my angry," said the King of the Watchers as all faded into darkness.
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Legolas awoke to find himself in his beloved's arms. When his thoughts drifted to his decision the night before, the Elf could not stop the flood of tears rolling down his face. He did not want the Man to see him cry; he did not want his lover to know what he had done without consulting him. He knew Aragorn would be angry; he did not want his last few days on Middle Earth with his beloved ruined by hurt, anger or sadness. He only wished to make happy memories for both of them to remember each other by.
Carefully, the Prince shifted so he could wipe away his tears without the Man's notice. But it was not to be. Aragorn's sharp Ranger senses detected the small movement and the Man opened his eyes to the sight of a crying Elf.
"Why are you crying, my love?" asked the Man.
"It's nothing. I am just worried," lied the Prince.
"You are a horrible liar, Legolas. Tell me what's wrong," said Aragorn with a frown. He knew his lover well. The Prince would not cry over nothing. The only time he had seen Legolas cry was during the Quest, when the Elf thought he did not love him. The Man wondered what was wrong and why the Prince was lying to him.
"Aragorn, what will you do if I tell you I must leave you soon?" asked the Elf, knowing he could not fool his beloved much longer.
"Legolas, what is going on? Why do you ask such questions?" demanded the Man, clearly worried. The Elf told him he sensed something would go wrong if they rode out to battle. Could it be that the Prince was having premonition of his own death?
"Just answer me, please," pleaded Legolas as he studied the one he loved, trying to memorize every detail of that ruggedly handsome face, knowing soon he would no longer be able to hold it close again.
"This is about the ominous feeling you have, isn't it? You will stay here in the city where it is safe when we ride out to battle," said Aragorn. No matter what happens, he would not lose Legolas.
"There is no changing what is already determined, melethron nîn [my lover]. I do not want this anymore than you do. But I need to know that you will be alright without me," whispered the Elf sadly.
"No, I do not believe in fate. I will not give you up," vowed the Man.
"I see. You will spend the last few days I have trying to find a way to fight what cannot be altered," said the Prince as he attempted to rise.
"What would you have me do? Sit here and wait for death to take you from me?" demanded Aragorn as he tightened his arms around his beloved, trying to hold onto the Elf.
"I would have you spend these days with me, making enough happy memories for us to last an entire lifetime; so that wherever I might be, you will always have something to look back upon to remind you of how much I love you. I want you remember me fondly when you think of our time together," said the Prince as tears flowed once again from his exquisite sapphire eyes.
Aragorn was a loss of what to do. The last thing he wanted was to resign to their destiny; to give up the one person he valued more than his own life. But if indeed their separation could not be avoided, the Man wanted, no he needed, to show Legolas how much he truly loved him. There was so much Aragorn wanted to do, so much he wanted to say, so much he wanted to share. The Man had always thought he would have his entire life to explore their love, not five days. He could not possibly disclose the depth and intensity of his feelings in such a short time.
Legolas could see the struggle in his lover's eyes. It would be up to him to show the Man by example how to make the most out of their time together. Gently, the Prince cupped Aragorn's face in his slender hands and gazed into his stormy grey eyes. As the Elf leaned close to give his beloved a soft kiss, he whispered, "Please, Aragorn, show me you love me."
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The Man and Elf spent every moment of the last few days before the Battle of Pelennor together. When Aragorn went to the House of Healing to check upon Faramir and Éowyn, the Elf stood quietly by his side. It was no surprise that both were present at tactical meetings and the inspections of the readiness of the soldiers and mounts; but the fact that the Man held the Elven Prince's hand generated some commotion among the troops.
When Legolas questioned his lover about this open display of affection, the Man merely laughed and replied he wanted his people to see his love for the golden Elf. Aragorn told him that if they both survived the coming battle, he would wed Legolas at once. It would be good to give his people fair warning and more time to get used to the idea of them as a couple, their future King and consort. In fact, the Man said this would be his only condition for taking his rightful place as the King of Gondor; that his people should accept the Elven Prince as his only lover and consort.
Éomer and the other members of the Fellowship noted the desperation with which the two lovers cling to each other. They all remembered Legolas' warning and suspected something would occur to separate them. Riding into battle was inevitable; the least they could do was to try to give the couple as much private time together as possible. So it was that each person took on a little bit more of the responsibilities of getting the troops ready for their final confrontation with the forces of Sauron.
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Because of the concerted effort of their friends, the lovers were able to retire after dinner and spend their night together in the privacy of their own chambers. Legolas' passion astounded the Man; the Prince, though a lot more skilled after their little adventure on the Misty Mountain, had still been rather shy in their lovemaking. Not that they had been sharing intimacy much since then; they were only together for the few nights they spent in Lothlòrien. The Lady of Light had seen in their hearts the love they had for each other and made arrangements to give them privacy. But in those precious moments of shared passion, the Elf had been submissive, allowing Aragorn to dictate their positions and the pace so as to give the Man the most pleasure.
Now, Legolas was no longer content with reacting to his lover's touch and control. The Prince was doing his own share of caressing, teasing and dominating. It was as if the Elf wanted to remember the feel of every inch of Aragorn's body with his smooth silken lips, his soft slender hands and his warm skillful tongue. As much as he enjoyed being in control, the Man allowed his lover to do as he wished.
The Man loved Legolas so much; he was glad to indulge in any of the Prince's whims and fantasies. Besides, the Elf was giving him so much pleasure with his administrations that Aragorn had no cause for complaint. The Man had never imagined he would enjoy submitting to anyone in bed; but he truly loved the feeling of the Elven beauty inside him. Legolas was so innocent and sweet, pouring his love into each stroke he bestowed upon Aragorn. The Man knew he would never find such perfect bliss in anyone else's arms.
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After five wonderful days, the happiest in Aragorn's and Legolas' life, the battle was upon them. The Elf had convinced the Man to allow him to ride with the army. The Prince would not let his lover face darkness alone. Together they fought on the Fields of Pelennor against overwhelming odds. All seemed hopeless when a sea of Orcs surrounded the Gondorian army, cutting off their retreat back into the city.
But in their most desperate hour, help came from the most unlikely place, breaking the enemy ranks that trapped them. Elrohir, the younger son of Lord Elrond, led an army from the North, through the Paths of the Dead to assault the Dark Lord's forces from the rear. Many enemy soldiers were slaughtered before they knew what hit them.
As the tide of the battle turned, more human warriors poured forth from the White City, led by Éomer, now the King of the Mark after Thèoden's death. It had been their intention all along to divide the attack on Sauron's forces into two waves. The first one led by Aragorn consisted mainly of the troops of Gondor who used to serve Denethor. While the Gondorians distracted the Orcs, the Rohirrims were going to sneak up upon their enemy and destroy the explosive devices and catapults that threatened the integrity of the city walls.
The young King had been waiting for an opportunity to lead his Men to fulfill their part of the mission. But with the arrival of reinforcement, Éomer knew the battle could be won if they too engaged the Orcs in a head- on confrontation. By the order of their new King, the Rohirrim charged the Dark Lord's armies. The Orcs and Haradrim were now divided into two smaller groups, each trapped between two contingents of human defenders.
As they were fighting close range, Sauron's troops could not make use of explosives or the catapults. Though the numbers were still in their favor, the sudden change in fortunes when victory was at hand sent widespread confusion and panic through the enemies' ranks. The Witch King was having trouble keeping control of his soldiers. The defenders of Minas Tirith took full advantage of the disarray of the Dark Lord's armies, slaying many in the chaos of the night. As dawn broke, the battle was over. Good had triumphed over the forces of evil. The White City was held; Sauron's Orcs were defeated.
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Aragorn rushed to his beloved and enveloped the lithe Elf in a tight embrace. They had won; but most important of all, both of them had survived. Legolas' fears did not come to pass; the Man would have his lifetime with his Golden Prince.
Reluctantly, the future King of Gondor released his lover and raised his voice so all the soldiers could hear his declaration, "I love you, Legolas. Please say you will be mine and stay with me for as long as I live."
Legolas knew he did not have much time before Alagos would come to take him away. He did not want to lie to his beloved, nor did he wish to ruin this moment of victory for Aragorn. Choosing his words carefully, the Prince replied, "Nothing will give me greater pleasure than to be with you forever, my love."
The Elf had expected strange looks from the other Men, disapproving of their leader's choice to take him as consort. But he was pleasantly surprised when the soldiers cheered for their leader. The generals came up to them and offer them pats of the back or handshakes with their good wishes. When all the pleasantries were taken care of, the Man scooped the Prince into his arms to another cheer of the crowd and whisked Legolas off into the city.
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"I did not expect your Men to approve," said the Prince. It was difficult to keep the sadness from his voice. The only thing standing between him and Aragorn had been the opinions of the people. To know they have to part even after overcoming that last obstacle was pure torture for Legolas.
"You have won them over by your actions. Your gallantry and skills on the field were unmatched today. Even I pale in comparison to you, my love," replied the Man as he gently laid down his beloved Elf and began to divest him of his clothing.
"You jest, my Lord. None could compare to your ferocity and vigor on the battlefield," teased the Elf. His heart was breaking from their impending separation. But until then, he would not allow despair to take hold of him, marring the last precious moments he had with his lover.
"I prefer to show you my vigor in other more pleasant things, my Prince," said the Man seductively as he carried the now naked Elf to the bath.
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Aragorn meant to take things slowly and seduce the Prince with a thorough scrubbing. But when Legolas returned his caresses with a fire that could melt the firmest of resolve, the Man could not stop himself from joining his lover in the bath to show the Elf the intensity of his passion and desires.
Appalled by his own lack of control, Aragorn carried his beautiful Prince back to the bed in hopes of continuing with his plan of a slow seduction. What he did not expect was for Legolas to reverse their roles and took control. The Man tried to fight back to regain his usual domination, but to his surprise, the lithe Elf had a strength that matched his own. It was not long before a pouting Aragorn resigned to his fate of submitting to his Elven lover. The Man did not pout for long though as moans of pleasure escaped from his lips once Legolas began his administration.
As the exhausted Elf collapsed upon him, Aragorn reckoned his chance to bring his original plans into action had finally come. Soon, the room reverberated with Legolas' cries from the Man's exquisite torture. For as long as he could, Aragorn denied his own desires, opting to show his Prince the wonders of love. Only when he was almost to his breaking point did the Man claimed the Elf. Within moments, Aragorn's movements sent both lovers into the world of ecstasy.
As they lied breathlessly on their bed, limbs still entwined in the most intimate fashion, Legolas made a final oath to the Man he loved, "Gweston le, meleth nîn ù-thinnatha. [I swear to thee, my love would never fade]"
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As the Elf finished his vow, the door to their room was kicked opened unceremoniously. At the entrance stood Elrohir, staring with open hatred at his foster brother.
"What do you think you are doing, Elrohir?" demanded Aragorn, angry from the intrusion.
"Taking back what is mine," said the Elf dangerously.
Legolas knew immediately that it was his father in the younger twin's body. It was time for him to fulfill his promise. "Aragorn, please understand. I have no other choice. I don't want to leave you, but it was the only way to save everyone."
"I do not understand. What is happening?" asked the Man, holding tight to his lover.
"Don't bother explaining, my son. He will not remember," said the King of the Watcher in Elrohir's body.
"You cannot possibly take his memories, father. This is not part of the deal," pleaded the Prince. They had spent the last few days giving each other things to remember their love by. Alagos could not take the memories of those happy times they spent together. It was the only thing that would see them through their separation.
"I am afraid you do not have a say in this, Glorgalad. Besides, don't you think he will be better off not remembering you? Do you honestly want him to mourn your loss for the rest of his life? Are you so selfish that you will have him suffer the heartbreak of losing someone he holds dear? Is that the extent of this pathetic emotion you call love?" asked the ancient Watcher.
Alagos did not need his son's approval to erase the Man's memories. But he would rather not incur his golden child's resentment. The King of the Watcher wanted to win Glorgalad's affections so the young one would stay with him willingly. This he could not do if his son hated him for tampering with Aragorn's mind.
The Man did not fully understand what was happening; but he knew whoever it was that had taken control of his foster brother would take his Elf away from him. No, not only Legolas, but also his memories of the one he loved. He could not abide by that; he would rather die. With a speed he did not know he possessed, Aragorn rushed off the bed to grab Anduril and lashed at Elrohir. But his blade was stopped by a shield of light; the shock of the impact sent the Man flying against the wall.
Aragorn fought as hard as he could to move, to summon enough strength to defend his lover, but he could not. In fact, he could not even hang onto consciousness. The last thought on his mind as blackness engulfed him was of his beloved Elf; that no matter how impossible it was, Aragorn would find Legolas again; that if the Prince would wait, the Man would come for him so they could finally live happily together.
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NIGHT 12, MOUNTAIN OF THE SHADOWS
As much as his heart pained him, Aragorn knew they had no time to lose. The Watcher had gone after Haldir alone. If things were not that urgent, their new ally would not have resort to knocking the Man unconscious just so he could search for the missing Elf. They would lose both of them if they did not act now.
"Éomer, come with me. We have to get Gandalf and the others. We go after them now," said the Man as he rushed to the other cave where the others took shelter, followed closely by the King of Rohan. Aragorn had failed to save Legolas before; he would not let the Prince's friend die now.
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Status report 12/18:
I know this probably don't belong in any particular one fiction, but I am not very normal today, so I am putting it in here. Just watched midnight show of two towers, on a hyperactive dose of Elf fix, maybe got three hours of sleep if even that since I just couldn't shut my mind down, thinking about our Elf.
Anyways, sorry to readers of Lord of Fire, Prince of Ice, I was almost done and was holding onto the two chapters I have before sending everything to beta. But after watching the movie, I think Haldir deserves much more love from Aragorn than I gave him, so need to rewrite the whole section concerning A/H chemistry for the later parts. That story will be taking longer to update than anticipated.
Also, I am a little too happy to write angsty stuff right now. After this chapter, there might not be another update for Prince of Dreams until I calm down from Two Tower Elf fix overdose. But given that I am going to see it again tonight, tomorrow night and Friday night, that's not going to happen until the weekend.
I am going to write sequel to Shadow. I am just dying to use some of the lines in the movie =) It will be a little more light-hearted than the original, but knowing me, I will find ways to do bad things to A/L's love life =)
Yeah, I wrote some more Never Been Kissed, but not enough to post, so that will have to wait until after the weekend as well. Sorry, but I am spending over 3 hours of my free time on Two Towers every day, so need time to sleep and recover.