It took just over a day for Gimli, Melancier, Elrohir and Elladan to return from Hobbiton, and they did not return alone. Frodo and Sam had come back with them and Merry and Pippin had gone to Rivendell to take news of what was happening.
They all crowded into the healing chamber to try and see what was going on. Melancier broke down upon seeing her childhood friend lying as if dead upon the bed and rushed at him in panic.
"He looks worse than before. I should never have gone I should have stayed by him."
Her tears soaked Legolas' pillow as she laid her head down next to his. Gimli approached slowly and kissed his forehead before leading Melancier from the room.
"Come on Mel, let them do their work." He whispered to her.
She stood numbly and let the dwarf take her where he wished. Gimli placed a hand upon Aragorn's shoulder as they left. Aragorn was sitting by the bed holding Legolas' hand and muttering constantly in Elvish. He was taking no notice of anyone or anything except the golden being before him. He had neither eaten nor drunk anything since he and Elrond had returned the previous evening.
Elrond bade everyone to leave the room except Aragorn and the hobbits. It took quite a bit of coaxing to get Caladen to leave but when she saw the glare Frodo and Sam were giving her she backed up quickly. When she had gone, Elrond, Frodo and Sam went to move Legolas to one side of the bed. Upon seeing that Legolas was being pulled away from him, Aragorn frantically reached out to grasp him.
"Don't take him. Please don't take him from me yet. It is not his time, he is not dead."
Aragorn began to cry again and Frodo and Sam looked at him stunned for they had never seen the king of men cry. Elrond placed his hand upon Aragorn's shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.
"Utinuamin, we are not taking him from you, we are only moving to him one side of the bed. It is a large bed, built for two and you need sleep."
When he saw what his father was saying, Aragorn's tears slowed and like a child he climbed onto the bed and pulled Legolas into a tight embrace.
"I have you now and I will not let you pass from me." He whispered as he kissed the elf's head and shoulder."
Elrond smiled at the sight. In all his years he had never seen a more perfectly matched couple and for the first time he thanked his daughter for leaving. Sam walked over to Elrond with a worried frown on his face.
"My Lord, Elladan explained what he thinks you are going to try and do. But sir, I don't think it is possible. Or if it is, pardon my ignorance, but do you have the level of power that is needed to make it happen?"
Elrond looked at Aragorn before turning back to the young hobbit.
"Master Sam, I understand your fears and I know your concerns for they also haunt me. But it can be done. Elves have used this technique before though only once or twice and only the Lord and Lady of Mirkwood have ever administered it. Sam walked over to Elrond with a worried frown on his face.
"My Lord, Elladan explained what he thinks you are going to try and do. But sir, I don't think it is possible. Or if it is, pardon my ignorance, but do you have the level of power that is needed to make it happen?"
Elrond looked at Aragorn before turning back to the young hobbit.
"Master Sam, I understand your fears and I know your concerns for they also haunt me. But it can be done. Elves have used this technique before though only once or twice and only the Lord and Lady of Mirkwood have ever administered it. Yet I am sure I can manage it what with your herbal knowledge and Frodo's strength."
"Has it ever been tried on a human mind before?" Frodo spoke for the first time
"No. this will be a first and Estel does have Elven blood running through him, I just hope it is enough."
Frodo nodded and Sam went to his bag to retrieve some bags of herbs and powders. As he was grinding them up, Elrond went and knelt beside the bed.
"My son, we are going to help Legolas now."
"Not moving." Aragorn said sleepily.
"You don't have to move. In fact we urge you not to."
"Good." Aragorn mumbled as he slipped back into unconsciousness.
"Estel I need you to drink something for me." Elrond tried to rouse his son.
"Not thirsty."
"Please, it will help Legolas."
"Huh?"
Aragorn was completely confused but tried to obey. He found it very difficult to move. In his weakened and fatigued state, his grief was beginning to take more of a hold. It wouldn't be long until he too slipped into a coma. Frodo and Sam helped him sit up and Elrond pressed a cup to his lips. Sip by sip Aragorn slowly drank. It took a few minutes for him to empty the cup but as soon as he did he was hit by a wave of dizziness.
"Oh Valar." He whispered as the room swam.
"lav ta a' sana lle." Elrond spoke.
Aragorn fell sideways and landed with his head upon Legolas' chest.
"Yaima." He heard someone say, "Yaima ar' kaimel."
**********
Aragorn opened his eyes and found himself looking upon a familiar sight. Rivendell lay before him but it was not the Rivendell that he had seen the week before. He now saw it as he remembered seeing it as a child, nearly eighty five years before.
Everywhere was green and flowers were in full bloom. It was summer here and the sun shone it's warmth down upon him.
"The world is truly a wonder is it not." A voice spoke quietly behind him.
Aragorn spun around to find Legolas sitting upon a rock. Aragorn gasped in amazement yet he could tell something was wrong. Legolas did not look like how he remembered but instead he looked as he did at the present. In fact he looked worse than when he did lying in the bed. His skin was almost translucent, so much so that Aragorn could have sworn he could see straight through the elf to what was on the other side. As well as this, his eyes were almost black.
"You see me as I presently am." Legolas confirmed, "Not even your own mind can change that. And yes, this is your mind." Legolas answered the unspoken question.
"Where are we?" Aragorn asked.
"You know where we are."
"This is not real."
"What is real anymore? But for your comfort I will say that I am as real as you are."
Legolas reached out and brushed some strands of hair back behind Aragorn's ear. Aragorn reached up and touched Legolas' hand as it moved.
"Why are we here?"
"I have no idea why you are inside your own mind but I do know that I am here because it is where you are. I once told you that I would never leave you."
"But you have left me." Aragorn whispered.
"In body yes but that barely matters. You always had my heart no matter where either of us went."
Aragorn stepped back in shock.
"It barely matters that you are gone? What are you trying to tell me, that our friendship and love barely mattered in life? How can you say that?"
"Aragorn it would be best if I go. I thought you cared for me."
"I do, more than anything."
"Then why do you wish for me to be in pain? If I leave now then my pain and suffering will end and I will be at peace."
Legolas turned to leave but Aragorn knocked him to the ground.
"And what of my pain? Do I really mean that little to you?"
"Estel you are my world and I would do anything to ease any pain you feel but in this case the only thing that will help is time. In time, the pain of being separated from Arwen will ease and you will find love again with someone new. I can not help you further."
Legolas got up and brushed himself off.
"Is that how you dealt with your pain? With time? Did time heal the pain of being separated from the one you love?"
"Yes."
Legolas had his back turned so he failed to see the tears pour down Aragorn's face.
"What did time bring you?"
"It brought me death and a way out of my misery."
"Well I fear that is my fate soon enough. I have given my grief time and with each passing day I know that my death is close at hand."
"She has not been gone but a day and you are already talking about your death. A little melodramatic don't you think?"
"For two years I have grieved the loss of a friend. I have grieved the loss of the one who gave me hope, the one who gave me encouragement, my true love."
Legolas stopped cold but he did not turn around.
"For two years now I have played the part of a happy husband but now the time for pretence has gone. My wife has given her blessing for me to be with whom I choose. But how can I do that if you are dead."
Legolas still didn't move.
"Legolas, the pain of being separated from you is more than I can bear. I love you with all my being, I would give up the life and all that I hold dear for you. I have loved you since I was a young man. For seventy years I have loved you and not been able to have you, and it is killing me.
"When you left on my wedding day, I watched you ride away and in that moment my heart broke. Up until that point I thought I could have you but since then I have come to understand that it could never be."
"Why not?" Legolas asked softly.
"All I want is to hold you in my arms and tell you every moment how much I love you but how could a warg hold a swan. I am no more fit to have you with me than I was with the Evenstar."
Aragorn lowered his eyes and let his tears hit the ground. Legolas turned slowly and walked up to the man. He brushed his thumb across the man's cheek to wipe away the tears.
"Aragorn, why is it that you never told me how you felt?"
"I was scared."
"Of what?"
"Of seeing the look of hatred in your eyes for I know that you did not wish to have a man let alone a ranger give his love to you."
"I would never hate you. Ever. If I am to continue living my life, I would wish it to be by your side and in your arms."
Aragorn looked up in surprise which quickly turned to hope.
"I love you Aragorn. I would give up my very mortality for you. You are the only thing left on this earth that I care about. You are strong and kind and caring and you match me in every way."
They both looked into each others eyes and very slowly their lips met. The kiss was short and sweet as if testing the uncertainty of the other but neither could mistake the absolute power that came from that single moment.
"Wow." Aragorn breathed
"Wow does not begin to describe it." Legolas panted as if trying to catch his breath.
Aragorn held Legolas' face in his hands and pulled the elf towards him once more. Their tongues dueled for dominance as passion rose between them. Legolas wrapped his arms around the man's waist and pulled him tight against him. Legolas glanced down at the bulge that was beginning to form under Aragorn's tunic.
"My King." He smirked slightly
Aragorn raised an eyebrow before glancing at Legolas' obvious arousal.
"Your highness." Aragorn smirked back.
The two of them burst into laughter and fell down upon the ground in a tangle of limbs. When Aragorn came back to his senses he noticed that Rivendell was fading from his sight. He knew that in moments he would awaken and the real world would not be as lovely. He looked down at Legolas with a smile.
"Stay with me?" he asked
In response, the elf kissed him. The feeling lingered as Aragorn awoke.
~*~*~*~*~*~
But in dream
I can hear your name
And in dreams
We will meet again
~*~*~*~*~*~
Elvish Translations
Utinuamin – My Son
lav ta a' sana lle – Allow it to take you
Yaima ar' kaimel – Sleep and dream
~*~*~*~*~*~
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, u made my day :D
Silvertoekee: Angst is a good thing…I think :P
Limpet666: I wasn't sure if the suicide thing was a good idea. Now I'm sure it was okay :D
Legolas19: Thanx :-)
Lurid-eyes: Thankyou so much :-) I'm rally glad people are enjoying this
Jadesaber: Only time will tell
Forsaken^On3: Sorry bout the depression, I'll try and lighten it up. Not making any promises tho :P
Silverhope2001: *joins in happy dance* I had 2 get the truth revealed somehow and having Caladen say it seemed best at the time, glad I was right :-)
Goldmund: Thankyou :-)
Michelle: Yes I saved you from a cliffhanger…this time :-) and I'm sorry if I caused u heart attack. Send me the medical bill :P I'm really glad you are enjoying this :-)