"Gandalf the Grey cannot pass these borders," said Galadriel, studying the minds of each member of the fellowship that stood before her in Lothlorien. "He has fallen into shadow."
The others looked down, avoiding her penetrating gaze, but Legolas met it head-on. "He was taken by both shadow and flame," he reported, his distress showing more with every word. "By a balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria." The shoulders of Gimli, who stood in front of him, sagged but Legolas was determined to ignore any guilt he might have about hurting the dwarf's feelings. Not only had Gimli been excited about going to the place that eventually caused Mithrandir's death, he'd also robbed Legolas of whatever solace he could have found in seeing many of Lothlorien's trees by refusing to be blindfolded.
That wasn't even the worst of part of it. Aragorn - Aragorn, instead of insisting that the stubborn dwarf follow the laws of the land, actually appeased him by having all of them blindfolded. Legolas bristled at the memory. How could Aragorn mistreat and betray him like that? So instead of being able to see the Golden Woods that he'd heard songs and tales about since he was a child, he had to walk blindly though while the contrary voice in his head gave him uncomfortable thoughts about Gimli and Aragorn not being as wrong as his wounded pride would have him believe.
"Do not be unfair in your judgments, Little Greenleaf," Galadriel's voice sounded in his head. "Do not hinder maturity by clinging to childish grudges and selfish desires. You know in your soul that Aragorn loves you. You also know that he has an entire company to lead now, a company that has suffered a terrible loss, and he has to do what is right by all of them. You know what you have to do now and though you do not want to do it, it might be the best thing you've ever done." She moved on to the others, leaving Legolas alone with his thoughts and feelings.
###############
Legolas smiled wistfully at Sam's attempt to eulogize Mithrandir with a poem about his fireworks. It reminded him of a time not long ago - and yet so far away - when a ten-year-old boy tried to commit his own deep emotions to verse. He sat down in the spot that Aragorn had just vacated and watched him approach a troubled-looking Boromir. 'Boromir's been so disdainful towards him, but he still goes to comfort him,' observed Legolas. 'He's such a good man, and a good leader too. He's got a very burden made heavier now and it's not being made easier to bear by the selfish behavior of someone he loves.'
A snort and a sputter pulled him out of his thoughts. Beside him, Gimli sat up and glared. "Did you just smack me?" the dwarf demanded.
"That was Aragorn," Legolas told him. "You were snoring through Sam's lament."
Gimli let out a ha-rumph. "I don't snore," he said.
"I'm sorry," Legolas blurted out. Gimli looked at him in shock and the elf continued hurriedly: "Not about saying that you were snoring, because you were. I'm sorry because of earlier. You weren't blindfolded because you're a stranger to the land, or because you'd done something to deserve it; it was because you're a dwarf and you have every right to be upset about that. And I'm sorry for what I said to Galadriel and Celeborn. You're not to blame for - for what happened to Mithrandir and trying to make you feel that way was just cruel. I just feel so out-of-control and useless, but that's no excuse. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I am sorry."
Gimli stared at him for a full minute before responding. Legolas could almost hear him thinking. "I suppose," Gimli finally said in a slow voice, "that if we had come to a Moria that was controlled by dwarves, they'd have insisted on blindfolding only you just for being an elf and we'd be in a similar situation. I would have certainly resented having to walk through Dwarrowdelf blindly. I guess I would have said some thoughtless things too."
"I hated it," said Legolas. "I hated being treated like a criminal or servant of the enemy by my own people. I hated being treated like a dwarf by my own people, but the blame should have been put on the laws of my people and not the innocent dwarf."
"There's a lot of bad blood between our peoples," noted Gimli.
"I don't hate you though," replied Legolas. "I don't even know you. I suppose all elves have preconceived notions about dwarves, and those were encouraged as I grew up. I've never actually seen a dwarf up close, or been in a situation where I could meet one. This is the first time I've left the shelter of both my father and Rivendell, where Lord Elrond sheltered me." He looked Gimli in the eye. "There may be bad blood between our kindred, even between our fathers, but there's no reason why it should be between us. I'd like the chance to get to know you."
"That can be arranged," Gimli told him, his voice low and hoarse. "I've never had the opportunity to get to know a wood elf before either. This will be an odd friendship, to say the least."
They said in silence for a moment before Gimli spoke up. "Maybe, by the leave of the Lady, tomorrow you can see some of what you were forced to miss," he suggested. "You and Aragorn can have some time alone."
"You know about us?"
"Everyone undoubtedly knows," said Gimli. "Ever a whisper echoes as loudly as a shout in Moria. Goodnight, laddie."
Legolas scowled and blushed at the same time. "I'm older than you!" he protested.
Gimli looked at him as if he'd never seen him before. "Only in years, laddie," he said. With that, he rolled over and fell asleep.
'My father would have much to say indeed if he could see me now,' mused Legolas, staring at the dwarf, almost in shock about the conversation they'd just had. He felt strangly light-of-spirit. 'But this is a good thing, something that make the situation a little easier on the entire company.'
Arms wrapped around Legolas, startling him out of his revelry. He turned in them and came face-to-face with a smiling Aragorn. "Let's take his advice and go on a walk tomorrow," the man whispered. He kissed Legolas' lips gently and they fell asleep in each other's arms.##################
Lothlorien was perfect in Legolas' eyes. He gazed at the golden trees, elanor flowers, and the living green of the shrubbery as he and Aragorn strolled down a quiet path. This place was truly deserving of the title of "Home of Elvendom on Earth." When they were far enough away from the fellowship's camp, Aragorn kissed Legolas, passionate and deep. "Thank you," he murmured.
"Thank you for what?" asked Legolas.
"For saying what you did to Gimli," responded Aragorn. "I know it wasn't easy for you to apologize to him, and it was probably even harder to get past everything your father taught you about the nature of dwarves. It will make things a little easier on everyone if we can all get along."
"I haven't been much help to you, have I?" asked Legolas ruefully. "I'm sorry for that. I should be the one you can always count on and I've been quite useless."
"You've been an incredible help," insisted Aragorn. "After all, you've had very little experience in actual combat in Mirkwood and no experience at all outside of it. Most people in your situation would have fallen completely apart, but you helped us escape from the Watcher and killed the troll. That's pretty good for a first mission."
"Thank you," breathed Legolas, bringing their mouths together again. "I needed to hear that."
Their bodies were pressed tightly against each other. "I want you," murmured Aragorn.
"And I want you."
"But we can't. Not yet, anyway..."
"No, now is not the time," agreed Legolas. "But we can still kiss and we can still touch. I can touch you here," he said, spreading his hands over Aragorn's chest. The hands slid down to his stomach. "I can touch you here." Aragorn gasped as the hands went lower. Legolas gave him a mischievous grin. "And I can most definitely touch you here."
Aragorn sucked in some air and reached out to Legolas, touching him in places and ways that no one had touched him before. "Ai, Elbereth," moaned the elf. "Oh, Aragorn! Don't you dare stop." Legolas touched the man more, trying to give as much pleasure as he was receiving. From the sounds that Aragorn was making, he guessed that he was doing a pretty good job of that.
Aragorn's knees buckled and he pulled Legolas to the forest floor as he fell. There, among the elanor flowers and golden trees, the lovers explored each other's bodies through their clothing. The pleasure only increased, until such a burst of it filled Legolas' body that his toes curled and he couldn't think straight. When his head cleared, he rolled his head to the side to see Aragorn breathing deeply and smiling at him. The ranger leaned over and kissed him again; not as passionately as before, but it felt more intimate.
"I suppose we should clean off and get back to camp," Aragorn murmured.
"I don't think I can," replied Legolas blithely. "There are no bones left in my body."
"Come, melethnin," urged Aragorn, kissing him on the tip of his nose. "I don't relish the idea of any of the company - especially the hobbits - finding us like this."
"Sam would stammer and blush," concurred Legolas. "Pippin would be full of questions and wouldn't be silent until we answered them all in painstaking detail." He sighed and rolled to his feet. "Oh all right." He smiled and added teasingly, "You can't look while I'm bathing. I already had to talk to your father about that once."
Aragorn looked bewildered. "When?" he asked and then realization hit him. "That first visit. That's why Ada wouldn't let me follow you to the river."
"Don't worry; I told him you weren't looking on purpose."
"I wasn't!" replied Aragorn indignantly. "I wouldn't have even known what I was supposed to be looking at."
"And now?"
"Now I know, but I still wouldn't try to sneak a look." Legolas just looked at him. "Well," amended Aragorn, looking sheepish and mischievious at the same time, "maybe I'd try a little, but I swear I'd feel guilty about it later."
To be continued...
