Disclaimer: I don´t own anything, no matter how much I wish I did!!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I´m so happy that I got so many!

Michelle Curious: here you´ll see what they both will go through.

Legolas19: Here´s the requested update.

Luna Lovegood:I will tell when it´s finished.

Tmelange: glad you liked it.

Bradleigh: They´re naive? Well, anyway. So glad I have you captured.

Katie: See A/N.

Stefen: It makes me happy you like it, but this is even sadder still.........

Nímin: Thank you, sweetie! I love you. This was especially important to me since I had some serious problems with that chapter. Hope you´ll like this as well. Concerning the other ideas, I will try to finish this first. See you!

Coldfrost: Glad you like the storyline.

Kiki:See A/N.

Forsaken on3:I let Aragorn figure it out, since I would find him ignorant t´not to notice...so maybe he is a brilliant observer...indeed. About the prospect of killing Legolas, well, that would be cruel wouldn´t it? I´m hoping I'm not scaring you off.

Goldensong: thank you!

Isildwen: So glad you like my Gimli, I´m fond of him too.

A/N : I can understand that you are worried about the ending. Well, I´m surely not going to reveal it, only that I want it to be unexpected and unique. I can add that I dont like ends in disaster. Lol. Lilimalinda.

Chapter 15

Hearts in despair

Although Legolas had told him that his physical strength remained intact Aragorn have had some uncertainties about it, he just couldn´t believe it, after seeing what his beloved had been through. However, all those doubts crumbled to dust when he saw the archer fight the mumakil all by himself on the Pelenor fields. He fought with same amazing grace and swiftness as always, never lacking in attention the least. He had immediately reacted to the warning Aragorn shouted at him when the monster approached, and began his successful work, which ended with a frustrated Gimli shouting:

"That still only counts as one!"

In truth, Aragorn hadn´t been given much opportunity to watch his lover, he was more than occupied fighting the creatures around him, but he felt Legolas´ presence all the time. This was soothing as well encouraging, and then he knew that the elf was not injured. He had not much time to dwell on this fact either, but he suspected the fey creature had done something while they were in the ship.

He had gone over to him as he stood at the rail, looking out over the water, wrapping his arms around his waist and kissed his neck. Aragorn had turned around and then the elf had brought their foreheads together, whispering something that the human could not hear.

"What are you doing, Legolas? Something that injures you further?"

He could not help it, being so worried. He was relieved when the elf shook his head, knowing well that the archer was incapable of lying; he could just hide things sometimes.

"No. You will find out. Now I just want to do some kissing for a while."

"Here??"

"No, we can jump in the water if you´ll like, but that does seem a bit unnecessary, doesn´t it? Of course there are ghosts all around, but I doubt they care about what we´re doing and the poor dwarf....he´s used to us by now, he told me himself...."

Aragorn smiled, after he had revealed to Legolas what he knew, and he had witnessed the elf´s bleeding, the archer´s spirits had been clearly lifted, although he still seemed pale and transparent. He bent forward, pressed his open lips toward the elf´s and was soon rewarded with a wet tongue sliding into his mouth. He usually was not much for showing his affection so clearly, but he guessed this was not exactly public. Then he allowed himself to be lost for some short precious moments, solely concentrating on the being in his arms, on the yielding, humid lips and the smooth warmth of his mouth. They only parted for air, and that for a brief second before they went on with their kissing, practically devouring each other. There was no evident desire, all was brought about by the love and deep affection they felt for each other. They didn´t stop until Gimli told them they were almost there.

He called them "ignorant love-birds", but there were laughter in his eyes when he said it.

Aragorn looked at the elf, who returned his gaze with a smile on his swollen lips, a smile that made the man feel that he could, without a doubt, go through all this. Better yet, the elf did not seem to be in pain.

Outside the black gates of Mordor, where they had gone to help Frodo by distracting the Eye, Aragorn experienced something strange. He heard Sauron´s voice, as he felt the evil look grazing him:

"Aragorn! Elessar!"

Then he felt, for a short second, like he was engulfed in a darkness that was devouring him. His innermost reaches felt invaded by a biting cold that almost reached his heart. The feeling soon passed, but a lingering whip of darkness remained in the back of his mind.

And they were loosing, all of them knew it, they were still fighting, but it became more and more evident that they had no chance of winning, that everything soon would be lost. While all this was happening, the man and the elf was aware of each other all the time, feeling what the other felt. When Aragorn almost was crushed under the troll, he felt Legolas fighting his way towards him, silently shouting his name, while he wildly slew orcs around him.

"Hold on Aragorn, please my love, hold on, don´t give up, I..."

All of a sudden the ground started to tremble below, deep cracks swallowing their enemies opened as the Eye began to shatter and vanish. It was obvious what had happened; Frodo had succeeded in his mission to destroy the ring. Their enemies disappeared in the huge abyss that opened at their feet. It took some time for them to realize that the victory was theirs; the men of the West had won the war against the dark Lord, with help from a hobbit and his brave friend.

As they rode back towards Gondor, Aragorns and Legolas´ eyes had met only once, the consequences of what had happened falling down on them and what this meant to their relationship. Otherwise, they had ridden in silence, regardless of the cheering around them, their faces grim and stern, despite their relief that the war was over.

They barely saw each other during the following hours; much less did they get a chance to be alone or to talk. Aragorn was occupied with the matters that befell a soon- to- be king, leaving him hardly no time for anything else. Legolas took the chance to be alone and rest, noticing, now when everything was over, just how tired he actually was. He knew a party of elves, from Mirkwood as well as from Rivendell and Lotlórien would arrive any day soon. He was looking forward to meet his kin again, especially his sister, although it also worried him; she above all others would see what had befallen him. He also spent some time with Gimli, discussing the journey they were planning to make, to the Glittering caves and other places, the elf also wanted to show the dwarf his home. They rarely approached the subject of Legolas´ relationship, much because the elf´s refusal to talk about it.

"We will leave after the coronation" he said.

"Have you told Aragorn about our plans?"

The archer raised an eyebrow.

"I haven´t talked to him the last days, but he knows about our traveling plans, but not the date. Don´t worry, I will inform him when I get the chance."

"Are you deliberately avoiding him?"

Legolas could not suppress a small laughter.

"Yes, sort of" he said, "but he has been busy indeed."

The dwarf stared at him intensely:

"How do you feel? You seem almost relaxed, strange enough. I mean your situation isn´t enviable."

"I guess not, but I feel some sort of resigned peace, that the ring has been destroyed, although- my love life, that´s another matter, but I do not wish to discuss it"- he turned his head away-"it is too painful, Gimli".

The dwarf sighed.

"Wicked elf" he said fondly.

The first chance Aragorn and Legolas got to talk to each other after the victory was when they were going to see Frodo, after they had been informed that he had woken up. The uniting of the remaining members of the fellowship had been very warm, making all of them happy.

"Would you like to take a ride with me in the forest?" Aragorn asked the elf afterwards and he not could help but laugh when he heard the unintended double meaning of his words. Nodding, Legolas seemed to understand.

"Yes" was his only answer.

They rode off in silence, although both of them enjoyed being alone, the reality of their situation kept their moods down. Aragorn felt a strange ache in his chest, caused by a darkness that had been luring in the back of his mind for a while; sometimes it bore him down so much he felt like he was not even able to stand. The light of the creature on the horse beside him, however, made it better, just by his mere presence. It could not stop the tightness it his throat, although.

Legolas, on the other side, was despairing, he knew this was bound to happen, but it felt worse than he could ever have imagined. He closed his eyes for a moment, but he still could not prevent the tears that were beginning to fall. When he looked at the human he realized that he was crying as well.

"We better stop here" he said, when they had reached a secluded glen. The man just nodded, dismounting his horse at the same time as the elf.

"I can´t stand this" the man said then, his voice barely more than a muffled sob." I can´t even think the thought about having to live without you."

The elf drew him close, wrapping his arms around him, kissing away his tears, as they were mixed with his own."I love you, Aragorn" he said.

The man stiffed and opened his eyes that he had closed when the archer had started to kiss him.

"You have never uttered those words to me before, Legolas" he answered, his voice trembling.

"No, but nothing is more true" the archer smiled tenderly. "And you have known it for quite some time." He stroked the man´s wet cheeks, tracing the tears with his long fingers. "One day I will be a beautiful memory to you, a memory where you can get strength."

The human grabbed the elf´s wrist.

"I want you beside me" he said fiercely "and if that´s not possible, I just can´t stand the possibility that you are not in this world. It would be easier to know that you were. But still, my one and only true love, why do you not even want to give it a try?"

Legolas stared at him in utter disbelief. He could not believe what he had just heard, and though it worried him that perhaps Aragorn was delusional, still a small part of him was happy somewhere deep inside, that the man felt so strong that he said it.

"If not for all the obvious reasons, I would never be your secret lover, hiding in the background, behind closed doors. That would truly ruin the beauty and purity of our feelings; it will taint and destroy our love." His voice was mellow and pleading, trying hard to put it right so that the human not would misinterpret him. The elf let his tears fall freely when he talked. When he saw the devastated look on his beloved's face, his voice broke.

"I am dying, Aragorn, I don´t know how much time I have left...and you are going to live, as the hope of man-kind, as their king."

The human did not answer, currently speechless. He knew the elf was right, but it hurt so much he wanted to scream, the lingering, hurtful darkness in the back of his mind threatening to overwhelm him. He let go of the wrist he was still holding in a tight grip and turned away.

Legolas closed his eyes; this was even more painful than he would have thought it should me. He had known this moment would come, and yet he felt like his heart was ripping to pieces.

When Aragorn talked again, he did not say what the elf had expected to hear:

"Is there no way to heal you? There must be something, you can´t just vanish like this."

He still had his back turned against the elf. Legolas laid a hand on his shoulder:

"Not that I know of....and not even Galadriel and Gandalf has a clue...what am I to do..."

The man turned abruptly and took the elf in his arms, holding him so hard that it almost hurt.

"I know, Legolas. I just don´t know how to live without you, everything seems so dull and grey when I think about it."

"You are strong and you will find a way "the elf replied in the same mellow voice. And you will have the Evenstar by your side to comfort you, he thought, but those words he did not say."Let us not waste more time, this may be our last chance to be together" he continued.

"What do you mean?" Aragorn asked.

"Gimli and I will leave after your coronation tomorrow; I think that is the best for us both."

The only answer he got was a muffled sob as the man buried his face in the elf´s shoulder. He did not protest, even though he wanted to; knowing full well that his lover was right, as a king he had so many duties to attend to; at first the coronation tomorrow. He did not any more distraction than necessary. To be honest, he really didn´t have time for this encounter either. He lifted his head and started to kiss Legolas fervently, in desperation.

"This can´t be the last time, it can´t be...." he mumbled between the kisses. His blond lover did not answer; he merely started to unbutton the human´s red tunic and dropped it on the ground.

"I brought some blankets" Legolas said.

Despite all his misery, Aragorn could not help but smile." You had plans" he said.

Their lovemaking was as sweet as ever, with a touch more slow and desperate than usual. From time to time both of them cried, letting their tears fall freely, kissing them away from each other´s cheeks. Legolas´ bleeding was worse than ever, with streams from both his nose and his mouth, but the pain he barely felt at all. The despair in his heart was much worse, blocking the other out. Aragorn tended to him, wiping the blood away and holding him close as the man silently wept, under these moments not saying a word.

The sun had already begun to set, when they rose and dressed themselves. None of them wished to, but Aragorn had some preparations to be made concerning his coronation that could not be delayed further.

Just before they had reached the castle, the man turned to the elf:

"I will be busy for a couple of hours, but then.....although I have to rise early tomorrow."

The archer nodded.

"I will sneak in to your room" he said, and he was almost-only almost- smiling.

When the man went on his duties, his heart felt so heavy and black it was an effort even to breathe.
The sun had not begun to rise when Legolas woke. Or rather, was awakened by a sudden urge to get up. He gently freed himself from the sleeping form of Aragorn, careful not wake him and rose from the bed. After he had dressed himself he went away and down in to the courtyard, it felt like he was summoned there.

A lone figure stood there, waiting for him. He was flabbergasted to see who it was.

"You?" was all he could say.

"Legolas" Arwen answered.

TBC.

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