Again..a million and one apologies for being crappy with posting and short
chaps. I'm just dealing with a lot right now and don't always get the time
or inspiration I need.
CanIsay: that was Microsoft Word and fanfic being pains in the arse. It was supposed to be three periods like so '...' As you can see, I've since figured out how to compensate. Hope you got around to reading the other chaps.
Kat: As do I.
Anthem: It's like a roller coaster. Up and down and back again in a never ending ride that leaves you breathless and makes you want to scream.
sabercrazy: define 'action'...
Drunk on Tang: *sigh* indeed.
Tamara: My thanks for sticking with me this long. The posting schedule totally sucks, I know.
*~*~*
The next morning dawned bright and clear, the sun setting the few wispy clouds ablaze with hues of gold and orange as it slowly rose across the beautifully blue heavens.
Aragorn was almost angry at the sky for showcasing such beauty. He glared at the birds that sang sweetly from the treetops and kicked every pebble he passed. How could the world go on like normal while his friend suffered? It wasn't fair. Life wasn't fair. Why had he been granted a family who loved him while Legolas was forced to endure torment at the hands of his father?
His anger burned bright but even stronger was the cold fear churning inside him, turning the blood in his veins to ice and numbing him till he wasn't sure he even felt the sharp pain piercing his heart anymore.
Drowning in his moody thoughts, Aragorn was not paying attention to where he walked and bumped into someone traversing the same path. He mumbled a quick apology and started to push past the elf, then froze, "Haldir?"
The captain of Lorien smiled at him and hooked an arm around the man's shoulders, tousling his brown hair, "It has been too long Estel."
"Yes it has." Aragorn freed himself from the elf's grip and took a step back, a smile starting to form on his lips. If Haldir was in Rivendel, then he would know what to do about Legolas. He had helped the prince overcome this once before.he could do it again. With that realization it seemed as if a great weight lifted off the ranger's shoulders.
Haldir gestured for him to follow and the pair walked to the house together. The Lorien elf explained that his party had been delayed due to an attack by wargs halfway to Imladris. Upon request, Aragorn told of his brothers' latest practical jokes; and also grumbled good naturedly about the absurd length of yesterday's council.
The ranger's smile faltered when they entered the house. This staircase.Legolas loved to slide down the banister on one foot when Elrond wasn't looking. Aragorn fingered the forest green railing, noticing how the ivy clinging to it had grown much longer since the last time Legolas had done that.
Haldir touched his shoulder, "Estel.what is wrong?"
"Legolas...he..." Aragorn bit his lip, gripping the railing with both hands till his knuckles turned white as he stared straight ahead seeking to loose himself in the tapestry adorning the far wall, "he is...wearing his arm braces again..."
Immediately Haldir's cool blue eyes darkened and took on a dangerous glint, "You are certain of this?"
The human nodded miserably. He waited, trying to decipher the variety of emotions chasing each other across the immortal's face. Abruptly Haldir turned and slowly walked up the remaining stairs, turning his back on the human and sitting on the banister. Tense shoulders and a dark countenance warned Aragorn to keep his distance till the elf had dealt with his emotions. The ranger sat on a step and rested his elbows on his knees with his chin in his hands.
Eventually Haldir sighed and slid off the banister. "I knew this would happen one day. But I suppose I always held a hope deep within my heart that it would not be so." Gathering his composure, the blond elf took a deep breath and turned to face his human companion. "I will speak with him before I leave."
Panic rose in Aragorn and he leaped to his feet, nearly tumbling down the stairs, "You're leaving??!"
Haldir nodded, "At first light tomorrow. I am sorry Estel."
Nodding numbly, Aragorn sat back down on the stairs. All the weight settled back on his shoulders; uncertainty rising in his stomach causing a feeling of sharp nausea. He was alone again...
"What am I going to do Haldir? What *can* I do?"
A hand rested gently on his shoulder trying to offer what comfort and support was possible. "All you can do is be there for him."
"Surely there is more."
"Not really. What he needs most is to be reminded day by day that he is not alone."
*What he needs, I cannot give him* The Dunadain gave no voice to his thoughts, simply nodding. He didn't want to argue with the elf and he knew that Haldir would not understand. *I can't be like you, friend...I can't do what you did for him*
Haldir patted his shoulder and smiled as best he could. "I should go."
Aragorn watched him leave feeling very lost and very alone. He didn't like being so helpless. He was a ranger for crying out loud! He should have been able to think of a course of action long before now. But he hadn't, and Aragorn was beginning to doubt he ever would.
He began to walk, unsure of his destination, but needing to move. He could loose himself in the steady rhythm of his footsteps. Maybe if he tried hard enough, he could he could drown out the doubts in his head with the pounding beat of his heart.
A flash of gold at the end of the hall caught his eye and the ranger looked up. Legolas.
He had to turn away. Aragorn couldn't face his friend just yet. His heart screamed at him to run up to the elf, hug him, comfort him, let him know he wasn't alone; tell him it was going to be alright. But he couldn't. Aragorn didn't know if everything was going to be alright and his feet carried him away from his friend.
There was already a chink in Legolas' armor. He had opened up for the shortest time, to Valina, the mask he wore had a crack in it. But would the opening serve to admit a healing balm on his injured heart...or an arrow, a killing blow.
Finally...the elf had reached a point where he could no longer pretend that everything was okay. The cracked mask was slipping. It was frightening. Elves were immortal, Aragorn had never really thought about loosing his family and friends. But grief could kill an elf. If Legolas could find no way out of this...
Aragorn shook his head. He couldn't think like that. As hard as it was, he had to have hope.
Finding himself on the topmost level of the last homely house, Aragorn walked out onto the balcony. It stretched the entire length of the house, built around trees, affording the best view of the valley. Clenching the railing and hunching his shoulders, the human closed his eyes against the sudden wind blowing his brown hair back and swirling last years leaves in a miniature cyclone about his stiff frame.
Dark clouds heavy with rain eclipsed the sun, blocking its warm golden rays and adding a chilly nip to the biting wind. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
Legolas loved storms. Perhaps tonight he could find himself in the countless raindrops falling to the thirsty earth. Aragorn would try to do to the same. But most likely the rain would only serve to mingle with his tears. All that the ranger wanted was for his friend to be happy. Was that too much to ask?
~
Now, don't just walk away,
Pretending everything's ok...
And I know there's just no use,
When all your lies become your truth...
Could you look me in the eye,
And tell me that you're happy now?
Would you tell it to my face,
or have I been erased?
Would you look me in the eye?
Could you look me in the eye?
I've had all that I can take,
And I'm about to break...
Are you happy...?
~ Michelle Branch ~
CanIsay: that was Microsoft Word and fanfic being pains in the arse. It was supposed to be three periods like so '...' As you can see, I've since figured out how to compensate. Hope you got around to reading the other chaps.
Kat: As do I.
Anthem: It's like a roller coaster. Up and down and back again in a never ending ride that leaves you breathless and makes you want to scream.
sabercrazy: define 'action'...
Drunk on Tang: *sigh* indeed.
Tamara: My thanks for sticking with me this long. The posting schedule totally sucks, I know.
*~*~*
The next morning dawned bright and clear, the sun setting the few wispy clouds ablaze with hues of gold and orange as it slowly rose across the beautifully blue heavens.
Aragorn was almost angry at the sky for showcasing such beauty. He glared at the birds that sang sweetly from the treetops and kicked every pebble he passed. How could the world go on like normal while his friend suffered? It wasn't fair. Life wasn't fair. Why had he been granted a family who loved him while Legolas was forced to endure torment at the hands of his father?
His anger burned bright but even stronger was the cold fear churning inside him, turning the blood in his veins to ice and numbing him till he wasn't sure he even felt the sharp pain piercing his heart anymore.
Drowning in his moody thoughts, Aragorn was not paying attention to where he walked and bumped into someone traversing the same path. He mumbled a quick apology and started to push past the elf, then froze, "Haldir?"
The captain of Lorien smiled at him and hooked an arm around the man's shoulders, tousling his brown hair, "It has been too long Estel."
"Yes it has." Aragorn freed himself from the elf's grip and took a step back, a smile starting to form on his lips. If Haldir was in Rivendel, then he would know what to do about Legolas. He had helped the prince overcome this once before.he could do it again. With that realization it seemed as if a great weight lifted off the ranger's shoulders.
Haldir gestured for him to follow and the pair walked to the house together. The Lorien elf explained that his party had been delayed due to an attack by wargs halfway to Imladris. Upon request, Aragorn told of his brothers' latest practical jokes; and also grumbled good naturedly about the absurd length of yesterday's council.
The ranger's smile faltered when they entered the house. This staircase.Legolas loved to slide down the banister on one foot when Elrond wasn't looking. Aragorn fingered the forest green railing, noticing how the ivy clinging to it had grown much longer since the last time Legolas had done that.
Haldir touched his shoulder, "Estel.what is wrong?"
"Legolas...he..." Aragorn bit his lip, gripping the railing with both hands till his knuckles turned white as he stared straight ahead seeking to loose himself in the tapestry adorning the far wall, "he is...wearing his arm braces again..."
Immediately Haldir's cool blue eyes darkened and took on a dangerous glint, "You are certain of this?"
The human nodded miserably. He waited, trying to decipher the variety of emotions chasing each other across the immortal's face. Abruptly Haldir turned and slowly walked up the remaining stairs, turning his back on the human and sitting on the banister. Tense shoulders and a dark countenance warned Aragorn to keep his distance till the elf had dealt with his emotions. The ranger sat on a step and rested his elbows on his knees with his chin in his hands.
Eventually Haldir sighed and slid off the banister. "I knew this would happen one day. But I suppose I always held a hope deep within my heart that it would not be so." Gathering his composure, the blond elf took a deep breath and turned to face his human companion. "I will speak with him before I leave."
Panic rose in Aragorn and he leaped to his feet, nearly tumbling down the stairs, "You're leaving??!"
Haldir nodded, "At first light tomorrow. I am sorry Estel."
Nodding numbly, Aragorn sat back down on the stairs. All the weight settled back on his shoulders; uncertainty rising in his stomach causing a feeling of sharp nausea. He was alone again...
"What am I going to do Haldir? What *can* I do?"
A hand rested gently on his shoulder trying to offer what comfort and support was possible. "All you can do is be there for him."
"Surely there is more."
"Not really. What he needs most is to be reminded day by day that he is not alone."
*What he needs, I cannot give him* The Dunadain gave no voice to his thoughts, simply nodding. He didn't want to argue with the elf and he knew that Haldir would not understand. *I can't be like you, friend...I can't do what you did for him*
Haldir patted his shoulder and smiled as best he could. "I should go."
Aragorn watched him leave feeling very lost and very alone. He didn't like being so helpless. He was a ranger for crying out loud! He should have been able to think of a course of action long before now. But he hadn't, and Aragorn was beginning to doubt he ever would.
He began to walk, unsure of his destination, but needing to move. He could loose himself in the steady rhythm of his footsteps. Maybe if he tried hard enough, he could he could drown out the doubts in his head with the pounding beat of his heart.
A flash of gold at the end of the hall caught his eye and the ranger looked up. Legolas.
He had to turn away. Aragorn couldn't face his friend just yet. His heart screamed at him to run up to the elf, hug him, comfort him, let him know he wasn't alone; tell him it was going to be alright. But he couldn't. Aragorn didn't know if everything was going to be alright and his feet carried him away from his friend.
There was already a chink in Legolas' armor. He had opened up for the shortest time, to Valina, the mask he wore had a crack in it. But would the opening serve to admit a healing balm on his injured heart...or an arrow, a killing blow.
Finally...the elf had reached a point where he could no longer pretend that everything was okay. The cracked mask was slipping. It was frightening. Elves were immortal, Aragorn had never really thought about loosing his family and friends. But grief could kill an elf. If Legolas could find no way out of this...
Aragorn shook his head. He couldn't think like that. As hard as it was, he had to have hope.
Finding himself on the topmost level of the last homely house, Aragorn walked out onto the balcony. It stretched the entire length of the house, built around trees, affording the best view of the valley. Clenching the railing and hunching his shoulders, the human closed his eyes against the sudden wind blowing his brown hair back and swirling last years leaves in a miniature cyclone about his stiff frame.
Dark clouds heavy with rain eclipsed the sun, blocking its warm golden rays and adding a chilly nip to the biting wind. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
Legolas loved storms. Perhaps tonight he could find himself in the countless raindrops falling to the thirsty earth. Aragorn would try to do to the same. But most likely the rain would only serve to mingle with his tears. All that the ranger wanted was for his friend to be happy. Was that too much to ask?
~
Now, don't just walk away,
Pretending everything's ok...
And I know there's just no use,
When all your lies become your truth...
Could you look me in the eye,
And tell me that you're happy now?
Would you tell it to my face,
or have I been erased?
Would you look me in the eye?
Could you look me in the eye?
I've had all that I can take,
And I'm about to break...
Are you happy...?
~ Michelle Branch ~