Here's chapter two. Hope it lives up to your expectations. Please remember
to review after you've read it, I really love feedback!!!!!
Chapter two:
Several nights later, Aragorn groaned as he stretched out on his bed. He had spent the better part of the last 48 hours in counsel with those who were to form the Fellowship, the Nine Companions, and his elven kin. With little energy and no time to relax he had gone into 'just react' mode, and had not been thinking at all. He was in bad need of a very hot bath and someone to massage his shoulder muscles, massage them for eternity, for he much doubted that he would ever really get rid of the pain lancing through his shoulder blades.
His muscles tightened even more, making him grab the bed cover reflexively, as the door opened softly and an elf entered his room. He knew it must be an elf, for he had heard no footsteps. Legolas. I know it is he. It could be any of my elven family, but it is Legolas. A small grimace flitted across the ranger's features. His thoughts seemed familiar somehow, an echo of a past conversation... His eyes turned outwards again and only Legolas' hand on his shoulder stopped him from jumping and causing himself more agony. The blond elf's features twisted into what seemed a grimace of sympathy pain, and he shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. "You need assistance my friend." Legolas spoke softly, as though afraid he would damage the man. Aragorn nodded mutely, and Legolas continued, "When you have had a hot soak, a very long one mind, send a servant to fetch me and I will see to your shoulders."
"Very well." Aragorn's voice sounded exhausted even to his own ears, and he winced at its roughness. Legolas, however, looked dreamy for a second. Ai Valar, I wish he'd speak to me like that, words of...Legolas stopped the though savagely.
"Go Aragorn," he urged, "I will come when you need me."
"I will let you know when to come." Aragorn confirmed.
Once the Prince had left he levered himself up off the bed and staggered into the bathroom. Rivendell's unseen servants had had the foresight to run him a very hot bath and he feverently thanked the Valar for the invention of plumbing. Easing out of his clothing Aragorn was soon chin deep in hot water, feeling his muscles relax instantly. Although exhausted, the heir to the throne of Gondor was never totally inactive, except in slumber, and sometimes not even then. While his body rested he let his mind wander over the past few days, and the happenings in them. Through all the tumult of the information and remembered discussions crammed in his head, Aragorn found that one conversation stood out, like a pale yet purely shining light; his conversation with Legolas several days hence. "...but the bond of blood is not the only thing that ties me to you. No, it is not the only thing that binds me to you...even it I could block it I doubt I would want to...Pain and joy in equal measure...Only you can answer that. What was this mysterious bond? This link of which his friend would not talk? A bond of friendship? Yet how would a bond of friendship give that kind of awareness? Was Legolas just having him on? I doubt it. I can tell when he's joking. He feels all fuzzy, bubbly, like the foam from a waterfall. He was serious. Even as Aragorn mused on his friend's secrecy, his body began to react to the heat. He felt drowsy. With a yawn, he called a servant and sent her for Legolas, even as his eyelids drooped...
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Legolas responded quickly to the servant's summons, stopping only to grab a small vial of cinnamon oil from his healing lotions. He thanked the girl, who left him outside Aragorn's quarters, and slipped inside. He made his way to the bedroom, expecting to see Aragorn face down on the bed. But the big bed was empty.
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Aragorn opened his eyes and lifted his head, reflexively flinching at the realisation that he was no longer alone in the water. Through the faint haze of steam he gazed at Legolas in astonishment, then opened his mouth to speak, but could think of nothing intelligent to say. The elf stared at him in serious silence, and it was beyond Aragorn to break the calm of the air with words. Why is he looking at me like that? So serious but I...Dark Lord! What was that?!! A spark! A golden spark, no, a platinum blonde spark, just rolled of the end of his hair! And there goes another, and another! Aragorn watched, entranced, as two sparks left the Princes aquamarine eyes and flew towards him...a pale blue flash...and he was looking up into Legolas' eyes.
The elf was bent over him, his long hair trailing in the water. The Prince, however, was not in the bath. Rather, he was standing next to Aragorn, outside of the tub, a hand on the man's shoulder and concern in his eyes. He's feeling a bit fuzzy and bubbly, Aragorn thought, which means he's slightly amused, but mainly he feels, warm. Safe. Enfolding and enclosing. Protective. That's it. Why would Legolas feel protective of me? All I did was fall asleep in my bath. And have a strange dream. Aragorn shook his head slightly, to dispel any lingering feelings from that dream, and smiled up at Legolas.
"Come Aragorn," the elf said, offering the man a towel, "we must do something about those shoulders."
"Yes." Aragorn agreed, stifling a gasp as his reach for the towel reminded him forcefully of why Legolas was standing by the tub. "Lets."
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So, there is chapter two! Please review, chapter three on the way!
Chapter two:
Several nights later, Aragorn groaned as he stretched out on his bed. He had spent the better part of the last 48 hours in counsel with those who were to form the Fellowship, the Nine Companions, and his elven kin. With little energy and no time to relax he had gone into 'just react' mode, and had not been thinking at all. He was in bad need of a very hot bath and someone to massage his shoulder muscles, massage them for eternity, for he much doubted that he would ever really get rid of the pain lancing through his shoulder blades.
His muscles tightened even more, making him grab the bed cover reflexively, as the door opened softly and an elf entered his room. He knew it must be an elf, for he had heard no footsteps. Legolas. I know it is he. It could be any of my elven family, but it is Legolas. A small grimace flitted across the ranger's features. His thoughts seemed familiar somehow, an echo of a past conversation... His eyes turned outwards again and only Legolas' hand on his shoulder stopped him from jumping and causing himself more agony. The blond elf's features twisted into what seemed a grimace of sympathy pain, and he shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. "You need assistance my friend." Legolas spoke softly, as though afraid he would damage the man. Aragorn nodded mutely, and Legolas continued, "When you have had a hot soak, a very long one mind, send a servant to fetch me and I will see to your shoulders."
"Very well." Aragorn's voice sounded exhausted even to his own ears, and he winced at its roughness. Legolas, however, looked dreamy for a second. Ai Valar, I wish he'd speak to me like that, words of...Legolas stopped the though savagely.
"Go Aragorn," he urged, "I will come when you need me."
"I will let you know when to come." Aragorn confirmed.
Once the Prince had left he levered himself up off the bed and staggered into the bathroom. Rivendell's unseen servants had had the foresight to run him a very hot bath and he feverently thanked the Valar for the invention of plumbing. Easing out of his clothing Aragorn was soon chin deep in hot water, feeling his muscles relax instantly. Although exhausted, the heir to the throne of Gondor was never totally inactive, except in slumber, and sometimes not even then. While his body rested he let his mind wander over the past few days, and the happenings in them. Through all the tumult of the information and remembered discussions crammed in his head, Aragorn found that one conversation stood out, like a pale yet purely shining light; his conversation with Legolas several days hence. "...but the bond of blood is not the only thing that ties me to you. No, it is not the only thing that binds me to you...even it I could block it I doubt I would want to...Pain and joy in equal measure...Only you can answer that. What was this mysterious bond? This link of which his friend would not talk? A bond of friendship? Yet how would a bond of friendship give that kind of awareness? Was Legolas just having him on? I doubt it. I can tell when he's joking. He feels all fuzzy, bubbly, like the foam from a waterfall. He was serious. Even as Aragorn mused on his friend's secrecy, his body began to react to the heat. He felt drowsy. With a yawn, he called a servant and sent her for Legolas, even as his eyelids drooped...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Legolas responded quickly to the servant's summons, stopping only to grab a small vial of cinnamon oil from his healing lotions. He thanked the girl, who left him outside Aragorn's quarters, and slipped inside. He made his way to the bedroom, expecting to see Aragorn face down on the bed. But the big bed was empty.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Aragorn opened his eyes and lifted his head, reflexively flinching at the realisation that he was no longer alone in the water. Through the faint haze of steam he gazed at Legolas in astonishment, then opened his mouth to speak, but could think of nothing intelligent to say. The elf stared at him in serious silence, and it was beyond Aragorn to break the calm of the air with words. Why is he looking at me like that? So serious but I...Dark Lord! What was that?!! A spark! A golden spark, no, a platinum blonde spark, just rolled of the end of his hair! And there goes another, and another! Aragorn watched, entranced, as two sparks left the Princes aquamarine eyes and flew towards him...a pale blue flash...and he was looking up into Legolas' eyes.
The elf was bent over him, his long hair trailing in the water. The Prince, however, was not in the bath. Rather, he was standing next to Aragorn, outside of the tub, a hand on the man's shoulder and concern in his eyes. He's feeling a bit fuzzy and bubbly, Aragorn thought, which means he's slightly amused, but mainly he feels, warm. Safe. Enfolding and enclosing. Protective. That's it. Why would Legolas feel protective of me? All I did was fall asleep in my bath. And have a strange dream. Aragorn shook his head slightly, to dispel any lingering feelings from that dream, and smiled up at Legolas.
"Come Aragorn," the elf said, offering the man a towel, "we must do something about those shoulders."
"Yes." Aragorn agreed, stifling a gasp as his reach for the towel reminded him forcefully of why Legolas was standing by the tub. "Lets."
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
So, there is chapter two! Please review, chapter three on the way!