A/N: I do not own LOTR and never will. Well here it is guys! The battle of the ages! You have all been waiting and waiting for it and now here it is! As some of you have noticed I have gotten a lot of flames for this story just with the last chapter. I'm sorry but I must laugh at these people who think it really bothers me. Just knowing that I have made some people happy is enough for me. I just don't understand why if you don't like MPREG or SLASH that you even clicked on my story because it is in the summary. You flamers are only helping me reach my goal of getting 100 reviews. Flames are used to light the many candles in my room. *****scene changes. Enjoy! - Naur

The Princess Unknown

Chapter 9

Battle of Love

Aragorn kept clam as he walked out of the doors of the palace leading to the place where his and Nordithen's battle would take place. Three chairs had been sat on the top of the steps, Thranduil and Sírien sat in two of those three. The other was to be left open for Legolas, he had still not awoken but the chair would be kept absent in his place. A red circle had been painted on the ground creating a circle that was about 300 feet wide and across. Nordithen stood ready in the middle, looking all the proud golden warrior he had become. Aragorn went and took his place beside Nordithen, facing Thranduil who watched them both with hard eyes.

With a snort in his direction Nordithen stepped forward and kneeled before Thranduil and Sírien. Aragorn watched; catching all his movements to make sure he would do everything right.

"Lord Thranduil, I, Nordithen Silimaurë am ready to prove myself worthy of your son's hand," He proclaimed. Nordithen rose and went back to stand on the other side of the ring where he would start this fight from. On his way he spared Aragorn a mischievous smirk. Now it was Aragorn's turn, he gulped and stepped forward kneeling before Thranduil.

"Lord Thranduil, I, Aragorn son of Aragorn, king of Gondor am ready to prove myself worthy of your son's hand," Aragorn announced. He stood and looked at Thranduil waiting for his answer. Sírien held onto Thranduil's hand tightly, deep in her eyes he could see fear…he was deeply touched that she cared that much about him.

"I give my approval of these two warriors. Both of you shall fight each other. The one who lives shall be allowed to marry my son. The one who fails will die. In this match you are not allowed out of the circle we have created for you. Being out of this circle shall mean that you lose any chance of my son's hand. Heria!" He shouted.

*****

Aragorn and Nordithen circled each other, it was Nordithen who attacked first with a fierce battle cry. He brought his sword towards Aragorn's head intending to cleave him in two. Aragorn blocked the hit with the broad side of his sword and kicked Nordithen in the gut. He leapt back then lashed at him with the sharp side of his sword. Nordithen dodged to the side but Aragorn saw it and quickly turned swinging his sword again. This time the blade connected with Nordithen's cheek leaving a ugly looking cut. Nordithen growled, he crouched and lunged…keeping low to the ground.

Aragorn leapt into the air but Nordithen followed his action. He brought his sword up and then slapped Aragorn with force on his shoulder with the flat side of his sword. Aragorn fell to the ground on his back but quickly rolled to his feet. Even with his elven training, Nordithen's natural elven speed and agility matched if not beating his.

Suddenly Nordithen dropped to the ground and lashed out with his foot and tripped Aragorn. The king of Gondor fell onto his side, but when he sat up Nordithen buried the edge of his sword into Aragorn's thigh. Aragorn cried out in pain but retaliated by pushing the handle of his sword upward straight into Nordithen's chin. The elven warrior cried out and stumbled backwards holding his sword in one hand and his chin in the other. This brief pause in the fight allowed Aragorn time to stand up and back away. He looked down at the cut, the sword had pierced his flesh maybe an inch or two deep. Blood oozed from the wound, but he could not give up. He had to save Legolas.

Once recovered Nordithen lunged and locked his sword with Aragorn's. The two glared at each other, Nordithen snarled in fierce determination.

"You know, I'm glad I have only had to look at you for only a few days. If I had longer I might die from the spite and treachery in your eyes," Aragorn calmly insulted.

Nordithen roared in anger but jumped away. Aragorn was startled by this action as Nordithen now lunged and slashed at his gut. He stepped back and turned to the side slightly as he prepared to jump away. But the very tip of Nordithen's sharp sword sliced into his side…near his ribs.

Aragorn cried out in pain and dropped onto his stomach. His right hand pressed against the wound and he began to pant heavily. He was bleeding badly from his thigh and blood was trickling out from his side. Aragorn managed to slow his breathing then cast a glance at Sírien. She was gazing back at him worriedly. He was so weak!

"Oh Legolas! Sírien, I have failed you…" He thought.

*****

Legolas felt as if something or someone was calling to him.

"Estel!" He gasped sitting up quickly. His vision swam and Legolas closed his eyes against it. Calming his breathing he dared to open his eyes again and this time all was fine. "I must…go to him…uh…he needs…me…" Legolas gasped as he slowly got out of bed. It took him some time but he finally got out of his bedroom and then started the long task of getting to the battle sight. He could hear the sounds of their swords clashing so he knew that the battle had started.

*****

"Hah, you will meet your death by my sword just as I promised. Legolas will be mine, and so will Mirkwood," Nordithen hissed and delivered a smashing blow to Aragorn's back with the pommel of his sword. Aragorn's eye flew open, not from the pain, but from a sudden realization. He was fighting because he loved Legolas! He was fighting not only for love but for sanctuary from the horrific memory of his past married to Arwen against both his and Legolas's hearts. He narrowed his eyes in anger.

Nordithen reached down and grabbed Aragorn by his hair, preparing to lift him up and throw him out of the ring. Suddenly Aragorn grabbed him by his wrist. "Never touch my hair you bastard," Aragorn snarled. He twirled his sword around and smashed Nordithen in the chin with it again. Nordithen staggered back and slumped to the ground. Blood streamed from two gaping cuts in his lip and more trickled out from his mouth. Nordithen coughed out a spray of blood and bits of teeth. He was having trouble even snarling in fury. His lower jaw was broken.

Aragorn moved quickly wrapping his arm around Nordithen's neck, choking him and forcing him to drop his sword. Aragorn jerked hard and swung Nordithen into the air, tossing him to the ground, then kicked him over and over slowly making him roll over closer and closer to the edge of the ring.

*****

Legolas grimaced in pain as he once again fell to the floor. His body protested as he forced himself to his feet again. Legolas thanked Elbereth that all were out watching the match. Had they not been he would have been caught for sure.

*****

Suddenly Nordithen pushed himself up and stood.

"What? That kick should have broken his back!" Aragorn thought frantically. Nordithen snarled in berserk fury his mouth hanging half open from being broken. He pulled out a long dagger and charged towards Aragorn. Aragorn smiled in an odd sort of way, he was used to this from his fight with Lurtz all those years ago, that would be one battle he would never forget.

Nordithen was rapidly approaching him. He was totally unprepared for the flurry of clean swipes as Aragorn struck with the tip of his sword. Nordithen dropped to his knees as a result of the cuts. Aragorn lashed out once again with the tip of his sword and stopped Nordithen from moving as he held the tip to his neck. He stared straight into Nordithen's eyes, he could see the pleading look there.

"Know this, Nordithen Silimaurë, you were defeated by Aragorn, King of Gondor, true love of Legolas Thranduilion." With that Aragorn forced his sword through Nordithen's stomach. Aragorn turned away as he heard Nordithen gasping and then all was quiet.

By now Aragorn's body had had all it could stand. He slowly sank towards the ground as his legs grew too weary to hold him up. He reached out and rested his hand on the dirt of the battleground as he tried to gather the strength it would take for him to stand.

People stared at him in a stunned silence. Aragorn was panting heavily, his chest heaved with every breath. Blood trickled down to his eye from a small cut he had not noticed before. Then he looked up at Thranduil.

"I must prove himself worthy in his eyes," He thought.

Startled and surprised gasps rose from the shocked crowd that had gathered as Aragorn summoned the strength to stand up. He slowly walked towards Thranduil, who stood up as he approached him. The golden king of old Mirkwood put a hand up to his chest and he stared at Aragorn as he walked towards him, not staggering or faltering in step, but walking.

He knelt in front of Thranduil and bowed his head. His breathing had slowed and he was panting less now. Thranduil reached out and placed his hand on top of Aragorn's head.

"Aragorn, you have proved yourself worthy of my son's love," He said.

*****

Aragorn smiled as he kneeled in front of Thranduil as the winner of The Battle of Love. Sírien looked so happy that she would cry…in fact she was. Thranduil had a happy look in his eyes but as the king in place at the moment he showed no emotion on his face.

"Forgive me…my lord…I fear that…I can't stand…oh my…" Aragorn gasped his eyes widening. Thranduil and Sírien saw this and turned to see what his eyes were fixed on behind them.

*****

Legolas stood in the doorway panting his eyes connected with Aragorn's. Aragorn…he had…his Estel…had won…he had won!

*****

The moment Aragorn saw Legolas standing there he felt life and energy flowing through his veins once again and he pushed himself to his feet. Holding out his arms, partially for balance but mainly for Legolas.

*****

Using the last of his strength Legolas pushed himself off the door he was leaning against and ran to Aragorn's arms.

"Oh Estel!" He exclaimed hugging him tightly. Aragorn hugged him back just as tightly and then they pulled away for a moment. Searching each other's eyes they both laughed and then brought their lips together.

Everyone in the crowd that had gathered to watch the match stared in awe as Legolas's wounds seemed to heal as if by magic. Thranduil and Sírien stood hand in hand on the steps smiles on their faces.

Thranduil could see how the two shook and knew it was only a matter of moments before they both collapsed. He and a guard walked forward, Thranduil put a hand on Legolas's shoulder and the two stopped kissing looking at him.

"Aragorn, you have wounds that need attending and you my son are still not fully recovered from your ordeal. Come without much fight and I shall allow you to stay in the same room," Thranduil told them. Legolas nodded and slowly let go of Aragorn, his anchor gone he fell into his father's arms.

"Legolas!" Aragorn exclaimed he tried to take a step but thankfully the guard Thranduil had brought caught him as he started to fall as well.

"You both shall be fine," Thranduil said.

"Better than fine," Both said at the same time and then laughed.

TBC…

(2 more chapters!)

A/N: I hope that battle pleased you, I have never written a battle scene that detailed before! Please tell me if it was good! - Naur

Elvish Translation

Heria – Begin

Review Replies

HalandLeg4ever – Sorry but what she said was true. Thanks so much!

Magda – Your welcome! Glad I made you happy! Welcome to ff.net! Ok the "Battle of Love", 1. Usually it is between two males fighting over a female or male that they both love. 2. Both must be equal, in this most elves do not wear armor for this fight. 3. It is a fight to the death. 4. They must be accepted as worthy by the king before they can even fight.

Anon. – Ok first thank you for the review. 1. This is fanfiction and I can do whatever I want as long as it is within the guidelines of ff.net. 2. In this world today there is much of an uproar about being homosexual, I accept them for who they are, I have many friends who are and I am very happy for them, everyone should except them. 3. Yes I think most would know since most elves had the ability even if it was little to read minds, their affair went on for about 40 years so why wouldn't people know? Plus if I were homosexual which I am not, I would be damn proud of it! 4. Glad you like Arwen but I hate her and I am entitled to my opinion, as you are yours. 5. Like I explained in the story, Aragorn had an obligation to his kingdom to supply them with an heir, and at the time they did not know Legolas could conceive. 6. Once again this is fanfiction and I can do what I want, I have read the books many times so I know what happens. I also own The Silmarillion on CD set. 7. If you don't understand M-PREG fics then why read them? Also if no m/m fics are well written why read them? 8. I think the characters I am using are well in character for the conditions I have put them in. 9. This is the biggy! I HATE THOSE FICS! Legolas & Aragorn were born in Middle Earth and in all my stories shall stay in Middle Earth. I shall never read a fic where they are in modern day or people from our time are taken to Middle Earth to be part of the fellowship and then have one of them fall in love with this OC. P/S: If you don't like there was a warning in the summary so don't read anymore. 10. I just want to thank you for being nice in this, you don't find many like that.

Fvor – What am I trying to accomplish? I am writing what my mind thinks up. A non-book-reading-freak? I shall take that as a compliment. I read many books and in my school am proud to be called a "freak". I have read the Lord of the Rings series many times; each time only increases my writing juices more. If you do not like my story then don't read it. There is a warning in the summary as well as in the first and second chapters. If you don't like then you had no business reading it in the first place.

Starlit Hope – As you can see he did!

Legolas19 – Haha! Sometimes it pays to be evil!

Knight Kenobi of Eryn Lasgalen – Thank you! Hope that medic bag shall come in handy.

Ivory Novelist – Glad you did! Hehe! I'm just plain glad you liked it.

PrinceLegolas – Indeed but sometimes feelings override thought. What did you think?

Crazy1 – You better believe they are! Same here, they only help me. I hope you guys weren't to pissed with that. Hope you recovered your energy!

Ruby Fire Wolfson – True you bring up some good points but this is fanfiction. Plus I hate Arwen. And I haven't made that decision yet.

Eowyn – So how was it?

Agent Midnight – My reply…go fuck yourself. I do not have that problem. If you didn't like it then why read this far? You are only helping me in my goal of getting 100 reviews.

HanaHeart – Thank you! Hope this made you happy!

Iphigeneiah – I want to thank you for your review, unlike others I do not consider it a flame…this is "constructive criticism". It is reviewers like you that help me to become better. I will try better in the future to take your advice to heart.

Spellcastre – I love you so much! You are the best ever! What are you gonna do now without Nordithen?

Attirb – Why? Hmm…good question. 1. It's cool, 2. I thought it would be a good thing between Aragorn & Nordithen, 3. In The Silmarillion it pretty much is nothing but war, 4. My favorite elves are the Avari who hold honor very high. As you will learn later both Legolas & Thranduil had their own reasons for allowing Nordithen to do what he did, as captain of the guard he had to prove himself early on. Thranduil respected him for that, he also knew Aragorn loved Legolas every much and so he respected him as well.

VaniaHepskins – My thoughts exactly! I may just have to do that from now on.