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Legolas (The Talk-Part 2)

I was munching on lembas and carefully studying the map before me when Aragorn trudged over to the fire I sat by and lowered himself onto the log beside me, giving a half sigh-half grunt as he did so. It only reminded me that he was not as young as he used to be and I shifted uncomfortably, doing my best to act nonchalant, disinterested even. He, of course, saw right through this, as easily as Gimli would have. I briefly wondered if I had grown more careless around them or if they had both simply become accustomed to my mannerisms and were now able to tell my feelings from my face.

"Do you love her?"

It was a completely unexpected question and he actually managed to startle me with it, enough so that I forgot my reserve and turned to face him.

He must have read a silent question in my expression. "Elwyn," he said simply, as if that explained it.

"I know of whom you speak," I informed him, setting the map aside. "What inspires such an inquiry?"

"If you know who I speak of, it cannot be an entirely unexpected question," he countered and I silently cursed his ability to outwit me. "Kyar lle?" (Do you?) he repeated.

I lowered my head, wishing I was somewhere else-anywhere else. Even Minas Morgul itself was better than this. "I love her," I finally confirmed.

"Then I need to ask a favor of you, nîn mellon," he said and my brow furrowed in confusion. "Decisions will need to be made in the near future, and if she is unable to do what must be done, I need you to."

I shook my head, bewildered. "What must be done?" I echoed.

"You know this cannot last, whatever feelings exist between the two of you," he reminded me, and I averted my gaze, frustrated. "You both deserve better than the grief this relationship will cause. She is meant to-" He broke himself off as grasping for words suddenly and I would have thought he was grasping for a lie had it not been Aragorn speaking, "to marry among her own kind, to carry out my legacy," he finished. "And you are Elf-kind. You are meant to live for eternity."

"Eternal life is not worth living without her," I told him sternly. He seemed rather taken aback by this before he composed himself.

"Legolas," he began, tiredly. "What sort of life can you offer each other?" he demanded. "Any bliss will be short-lived." He hesitated and I got the impression he was taking on a more authoritative demeanor. "I will not allow you to keep her from the life she is meant for until it has passed her by." I would have protested, but it would have been useless. He had obviously said all he had come to say, and I knew he would hear no more of it. He rose to his feet. "For both your sakes…stay away from her." With this, he headed over to Faramir's side of the camp, leaving me alone.

* * * * *

Oooo. He's gettin' testy. ;)