AIYA!!! I am SO sorry for the long wait! And I also meant for this chapter
to be A LOT longer (like another 2 pages) but I figure you all have waited
far too long as it is so I just split it up since the other half STILL
isn't finished.*pauses for breath* ah.mouthful.NEways.
I meant to apologize for the total lack of dialogue in the previous chapter, it was however necessary to provide some much needed back story and since none of you really seemed to mind so I guess it was ok. And again, many apologies for the shortness. _ .I tried, really I did, but it didn't work out this time around.
Orion: AH! I missed you last chap! SO SORRY! Ok first review: Have you ever heard that song 'Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls? "When everything feels like the movies...yea, ya bleed just to know you're alive." I don't pretend to know the thoughts of my friend, and that's the only way I can think of to try and explain what I do know. And to your other question...well, you'll have to wait and see. Second review: Thank you so much! That means a lot.
Tamara: Well he's certainly going to try.
ZeldaDragon: Yea...it bites. And thanks, your prayers are greatly appreciated.
Kayleigh-talitha: Well...I hope you used that patience this time around..._ And how could I not read the books? They kick!
Tithen Min: lol but it WAS short. And...JEALOUS?? O.o er.how?
Sabercrazy: AH! You found me...should I be worried? I have my reasons for asking siri to wait till it's finished before she reads it, and yes I know she hates it. I love Thranduil too! He's incredibly cool, but the only way to mirror what's happening here in real life is to make him into a heartless jerk. I don't think he's like that in ME, believe me.
Anthem: It hurts to watch a friend be hurt. But you know what? It's true when they say that the hard time make you grow stronger together. (ether that or it will break you completely, it's up to you how you will handle it). Glad you're liking the story.
incomplete13: Now =P
Lady Jaina: yes angst is always a good thing in the fanfic realm. In real life it sucks...but in ME, how can we resist?
~
*Why does father insist on these meetings?* Aragorn wondered dully as he walked a well worn path with deliberate slowness. His boot heels clicked against slate gray stone as he turned off the dirt path onto the one that would lead him to where the council meeting was to be held.
He sighed. This was only the first of a long string of sessions with a rather large council that would stretch several days at the least. They held the promise of being VERY boring. But as a son of Elrond, he was of course required to attend.
Passing the courtyard, his steps came to a halt as the ranger caught sight of a familiar white stallion. The representatives of Mirkwood had arrived. Apparently he had been correct in assuming that Legolas would leap at the chance to get out of the palace.
Gray eyes roved over the wood elves, and Aragorn nearly balked when they came to rest on his friend. The dark cloud that always seemed to hover over the elf had grown into a full-fledged thunderstorm. *Damn.now what?*
He waved to catch the prince's attention and received only a curt nod in acknowledgement and greeting. Legolas whispered something to his companion who nodded and led their horses to the stables.
Mirkwood's heir walked up the path as if he half expected half wanted the ground to suddenly open up and swallow him whole. He stopped in front of Aragorn and gave the human a feeble smile. "Is there time for me to freshen up before the meeting? It was a long ride."
Aragorn nodded, "Yes, I am early. I was intending on finding an unobtrusive place to nap the meeting away. Shall I save you a seat?"
"If you want to. I'll see you in a little bit."
Aragorn clasped a comforting hand on the elf's shoulder as he moved past into the house. Legolas did not respond.
~
Legolas made his appearance bare minutes before Elrond started the meeting, quietly slipping into his seat beside Aragorn with his usual elven grace. He had discarded his travel cloak and combed his windblown hair, retying the golden braids.
Aragorn frowned when he noticed the archer had not discarded his arm guards. Of course the elf had worn them on his journey to Rivendel, who knew what his party might have stumbled across requiring his skill as an archer, but why wear them here IN Imladris?
A small tremor of fear raced up the human's spine, raising gooseflesh along his arms...
-flashback-
The sun had set bare minutes ago and its lingering glow tinged the quickly darkening sky brilliant shades of orange.
"I don't understand Haldir," the young human murmured as he walked through the gardens side by side with his friend, "How could it have come to that?"
The elf clasped his hands behind his back, blue eyes lingering on the last visage of color in the western sky. "There is much you do not yet know of him or his life, young one. And it is not my place to tell you more then I already have."
Aragorn nodded, "I understand. Perhaps one day he will trust me enough to tell me himself."
A smile tugged at the edges of the elf's mouth as he shifted his gaze from the heavens to the Dunadan at his side, "It is not a matter of trust my friend. Rather it is more a matter of overcoming himself long enough to unlock an injured part of his heart for someone else to see."
The human sighed, leaning against the trunk of a beech tree and gazing up into its vast spreading branches. "You make it sound so complicated..."
"Perhaps because that's exactly what it is." Haldir ran his hand over the smooth bark, feeling its contours and pausing at an old scar. It seemed that an elfling had been practicing his archery away from the ranges.
"You don't think..." Aragorn trailed off.
The elf looked at him expectantly, waiting for the human to finish his thought.
Aragorn shifted in discomfort, not wanting to give voice to his fear, but feeling the burning need to have an answer to his question. "You..you don't think he would ever do that again, do you? Like now?"
Haldir's cool blue eyes darkened in sadness. "I don't know Estel. I would like to think that he has truly left it behind...but I know that it's still there, lurking just under the surface and waiting for the right chance drag him down again," the elf looked up suddenly, worried, "Why?"
Aragorn sighed and crossed his arms, "Oh, I dunno. He's just seemed so depressed lately."
The elf frowned, "He hasn't been wearing his arm guards has he?"
"Of course he has," Aragorn laughed, "He's an archer! What do you expect?"
Haldir chuckled, acknowledging how ridiculous the question seemed. "Of course, that is a given. But I'm talking about when he has no need of them, when he is simply relaxing. Does he still have them on?"
The human thought a moment, and then shook his head. "Not that I can recall. Why?"
Haldir sighed and bent his head, golden hair falling over his shoulders to hide his face, but not the look of rekindled sadness shining in his eyes. "That's what he used to do when...to hide what he had done to himself."
-end flashback-
Aragorn shook his head and the memory faded. He was overreacting. *Legolas left that time in his life behind him a long time ago. He would never go back.* Again the ranger spared a glance at the leather guards that covered the lower portion of Legolas' arms. *would he?*
TBC...
I meant to apologize for the total lack of dialogue in the previous chapter, it was however necessary to provide some much needed back story and since none of you really seemed to mind so I guess it was ok. And again, many apologies for the shortness. _ .I tried, really I did, but it didn't work out this time around.
Orion: AH! I missed you last chap! SO SORRY! Ok first review: Have you ever heard that song 'Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls? "When everything feels like the movies...yea, ya bleed just to know you're alive." I don't pretend to know the thoughts of my friend, and that's the only way I can think of to try and explain what I do know. And to your other question...well, you'll have to wait and see. Second review: Thank you so much! That means a lot.
Tamara: Well he's certainly going to try.
ZeldaDragon: Yea...it bites. And thanks, your prayers are greatly appreciated.
Kayleigh-talitha: Well...I hope you used that patience this time around..._ And how could I not read the books? They kick!
Tithen Min: lol but it WAS short. And...JEALOUS?? O.o er.how?
Sabercrazy: AH! You found me...should I be worried? I have my reasons for asking siri to wait till it's finished before she reads it, and yes I know she hates it. I love Thranduil too! He's incredibly cool, but the only way to mirror what's happening here in real life is to make him into a heartless jerk. I don't think he's like that in ME, believe me.
Anthem: It hurts to watch a friend be hurt. But you know what? It's true when they say that the hard time make you grow stronger together. (ether that or it will break you completely, it's up to you how you will handle it). Glad you're liking the story.
incomplete13: Now =P
Lady Jaina: yes angst is always a good thing in the fanfic realm. In real life it sucks...but in ME, how can we resist?
~
*Why does father insist on these meetings?* Aragorn wondered dully as he walked a well worn path with deliberate slowness. His boot heels clicked against slate gray stone as he turned off the dirt path onto the one that would lead him to where the council meeting was to be held.
He sighed. This was only the first of a long string of sessions with a rather large council that would stretch several days at the least. They held the promise of being VERY boring. But as a son of Elrond, he was of course required to attend.
Passing the courtyard, his steps came to a halt as the ranger caught sight of a familiar white stallion. The representatives of Mirkwood had arrived. Apparently he had been correct in assuming that Legolas would leap at the chance to get out of the palace.
Gray eyes roved over the wood elves, and Aragorn nearly balked when they came to rest on his friend. The dark cloud that always seemed to hover over the elf had grown into a full-fledged thunderstorm. *Damn.now what?*
He waved to catch the prince's attention and received only a curt nod in acknowledgement and greeting. Legolas whispered something to his companion who nodded and led their horses to the stables.
Mirkwood's heir walked up the path as if he half expected half wanted the ground to suddenly open up and swallow him whole. He stopped in front of Aragorn and gave the human a feeble smile. "Is there time for me to freshen up before the meeting? It was a long ride."
Aragorn nodded, "Yes, I am early. I was intending on finding an unobtrusive place to nap the meeting away. Shall I save you a seat?"
"If you want to. I'll see you in a little bit."
Aragorn clasped a comforting hand on the elf's shoulder as he moved past into the house. Legolas did not respond.
~
Legolas made his appearance bare minutes before Elrond started the meeting, quietly slipping into his seat beside Aragorn with his usual elven grace. He had discarded his travel cloak and combed his windblown hair, retying the golden braids.
Aragorn frowned when he noticed the archer had not discarded his arm guards. Of course the elf had worn them on his journey to Rivendel, who knew what his party might have stumbled across requiring his skill as an archer, but why wear them here IN Imladris?
A small tremor of fear raced up the human's spine, raising gooseflesh along his arms...
-flashback-
The sun had set bare minutes ago and its lingering glow tinged the quickly darkening sky brilliant shades of orange.
"I don't understand Haldir," the young human murmured as he walked through the gardens side by side with his friend, "How could it have come to that?"
The elf clasped his hands behind his back, blue eyes lingering on the last visage of color in the western sky. "There is much you do not yet know of him or his life, young one. And it is not my place to tell you more then I already have."
Aragorn nodded, "I understand. Perhaps one day he will trust me enough to tell me himself."
A smile tugged at the edges of the elf's mouth as he shifted his gaze from the heavens to the Dunadan at his side, "It is not a matter of trust my friend. Rather it is more a matter of overcoming himself long enough to unlock an injured part of his heart for someone else to see."
The human sighed, leaning against the trunk of a beech tree and gazing up into its vast spreading branches. "You make it sound so complicated..."
"Perhaps because that's exactly what it is." Haldir ran his hand over the smooth bark, feeling its contours and pausing at an old scar. It seemed that an elfling had been practicing his archery away from the ranges.
"You don't think..." Aragorn trailed off.
The elf looked at him expectantly, waiting for the human to finish his thought.
Aragorn shifted in discomfort, not wanting to give voice to his fear, but feeling the burning need to have an answer to his question. "You..you don't think he would ever do that again, do you? Like now?"
Haldir's cool blue eyes darkened in sadness. "I don't know Estel. I would like to think that he has truly left it behind...but I know that it's still there, lurking just under the surface and waiting for the right chance drag him down again," the elf looked up suddenly, worried, "Why?"
Aragorn sighed and crossed his arms, "Oh, I dunno. He's just seemed so depressed lately."
The elf frowned, "He hasn't been wearing his arm guards has he?"
"Of course he has," Aragorn laughed, "He's an archer! What do you expect?"
Haldir chuckled, acknowledging how ridiculous the question seemed. "Of course, that is a given. But I'm talking about when he has no need of them, when he is simply relaxing. Does he still have them on?"
The human thought a moment, and then shook his head. "Not that I can recall. Why?"
Haldir sighed and bent his head, golden hair falling over his shoulders to hide his face, but not the look of rekindled sadness shining in his eyes. "That's what he used to do when...to hide what he had done to himself."
-end flashback-
Aragorn shook his head and the memory faded. He was overreacting. *Legolas left that time in his life behind him a long time ago. He would never go back.* Again the ranger spared a glance at the leather guards that covered the lower portion of Legolas' arms. *would he?*
TBC...