Title: The Evenstar
Author: AuroraNights
Summary: While Aragorn is journeying with the Rangers, Legolas visits Rivendell and becomes infatuated with the resplendent Arwen. When Aragorn returns, heated feelings lead to fierce contention, and a deep friendship is threatened.
Author's Notes: It's late. Ridiculously late. So late that it's early. Yet my mind wouldn't let me sleep until I churned out the prologue! Anyhoo, I was sitting around studying for finals when bam this bunny hit me. If Arwen is described as so fair, that her beauty equals that of Luthien, then wouldn't Legolas have ever been attracted to her? Just for the purposes of me liking a younger Aragorn =P, Aragorn is 29 in this story and Legolas is...um...mildly younger than he is in the books. All those descriptive details and why they're in Rivendell can be revealed later. Sleep is precious. XD
Oh riiiight one last thing. I acknowledge Aragorn probably sounds angrier than usual, but there's actually a reason for his unusual lack of tolerance which will be revealed in later chapters.
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PROLOGUE
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"Traitor," Aragorn hissed, his voice dark. One hand drifted toward his sword. "All these years you have known how I felt toward her and yet you still took that into no regard." His voice dropped a notch. "How long, Legolas? How long did you think you could keep this a secret from me? Did you truly think I would not notice?"
"Aragorn, please. You do not understand."
"What is there not to understand?" Aragorn demanded angrily. "Explain it to me then!"
Legolas stood by the window, perfectly serene. The pale moonlight washed over his features and illuminated the deep sorrow on his face, and also, the purpling bruise on his cheekbone. The elf touched it gingerly. "You are quick to action tonight, Aragorn. It is most unlike you."
Something in Aragorn's face twitched violently. Then the man took a few steps forward, his knuckle-battered hand still wrapped firmly around the hilt of his sword. "Do not try my patience tonight, Legolas, for I tell you now I am not in the mood. You have asked me to listen to an explanation and tonight, that is all I am willing to give. Now speak!"
"Peace, my friend," Legolas said softly. "We have been friends for twenty years now. Do you still doubt me? I would never knowingly hurt you."
"Nor would I!"
Legolas gently massaged the bruise on his face, the bruise that had been inflicted on him by none other than Aragorn. "Yet you have done so this night."
At that, Aragorn flushed deeply, but no regret marred his tone. "As have you," he replied coldly. "Now I have had enough of this verbal meandering. Legolas! If you truly have an explanation as you claim, then enlighten me!"
Yet speed was certainly the last thing on the elf's mind, and he absentmindedly ran his fingers along the smooth windowsill, while watching Aragorn out of the corner of one eye. The man's rage was palpably building and several times, he started forward, but by some gift from the Valar, halted himself, resumed his previous position, and fumed.
Finally, Legolas found the courage within him to speak. "I offer no excuse, my friend, save that I love her."
He had been expecting an explosion. He had been expecting Aragorn to swing at him, either with a sword, or even with his bare fists. Yet all he received was a stony sort of silence. With trepidation, Legolas looked up and across the room at Aragorn. The man was standing absolutely still. Pure fury radiated from Aragorn's eyes as Legolas forced their gazes to meet. "You. You? You love her?" Aragorn choked out, his hands clenching and unclenching.
Unable to form words, Legolas nodded.
For a long moment, Aragorn glowered at him. Several times he began to speak, but each time he cut himself off with a violent oath and turned away. Then finally, unable to contain himself any longer, he thundered, "You KNEW I loved her and still you chased after her! She is MINE! And now? Has she fallen for you too, Legolas? Have you completely succeeded in destroying my heart? HAVE YOU?"
"That was not my intention," Legolas said quietly.
"Your intentions can be eaten by a Balrog for all I care!" Aragorn said angrily. How dare the elf stand there and look so calm? How dare one he thought a friend chase after the woman he loved? Arwen was HIS. How could Legolas have courted her? Did his feelings mean nothing to Legolas? His hand moved of its own accord, tightened around the hilt of his sword, and drew forth the blade. With a shaking hand, he pointed it at Legolas's bare throat, the blade glimmerering mere inches away from the precious vein of life.
"You wish to hurt me," Legolas said, his voice sorrowful but even. Defeat was plainly written across his features. "I can neither rescind my actions nor the emotions of my heart, Aragorn. Yet if hurting me will give you some satisfaction, then I will allow it."
"Fight me," Aragorn said hoarsely.
Very slowly, Legolas loosened his curved knives from their sheaths. Then he opened his hand and allowed the weapons to clatter to the ground. "Aragorn," he pleaded. "I will not fight you."
Aragorn's hand trembled and he closed his eyes painfully. Years of friendship conditioned his arm and he knew instantly he could not strike Legolas unarmed, despite all that the elf had done. He could not do it. Shaking with uncontrollable rage, angry tears streaming down his face, Aragorn flung his sword to the ground with every ounce of strength he possessed before wheeling and stalking from the room. He needed to go. He needed to go away from the elf who he had thought a friend, the elf who had betrayed him, the elf who had captured the heart of the maiden he loved.
tbc
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While this certainly isn't my first LOTR fic effort, it's the first one I've posted to this site. So please, let me know what you think so far! =)