Chapter Ten

Months and months passed and the days drew longer. And as the months went by, the prince noticed that as the times came and Aragorn and Arwen would disappear and be gone for long hours of the day. And sometimes into the night; leaving him to wander the paths of Imladris alone.

Estel's arm had healed and he held no lingering effects; the elf lord even seemed to notice the lack of headaches the man had now.

Legolas learned each sign that Aragorn knew and they now easily communicated with one another, but now he was beginning to find no use for them since he spent no time with his friend.

And though Elrond was proud that his son was growing stronger and more self-assured, he was worried as the prince continued not to speak.  He was even more worried when Estel and Arwen abandoned Legolas.

He did not verbalize his concerns to the elven king; he merely let it pass by.  Elrond knew that if Legolas was going to ever talk, that he would on his own time, no matter what he did or how he was involved.

The man and elven princess had seemed to easily accept one another as family, and the elf lord was fine with that.

Elrond always worried that Estel would fall and Arwen would have to help him home, yet each night they returned, walking under their own power and laughing at each other's jokes.

As the half-elf watched more closely, one night at dinner, he saw Legolas sit a good ways away from Aragorn while Arwen sat right next to his human son.

Raising an eyebrow, he turned to Legolas.  "Son of Thranduil, why do you not sit with your friend.  I am sure Arwen will move so that you and Estel may 'speak' together."

The elven princess looked up at the mention of her name and smiled sweetly, pushing out her chair; she walked to where the prince was seated.

Glorfindel did not miss the look of disappointment that passed through her eyes.

At once, Legolas shook his blonde head and protested noiselessly by shaking his hands and head and hugging his father, whom he sat by.

The elven king smiled.  "Go ahead, Legolas, I will be alright.  I have been wanting to speak with Lady Arwen and you and Estel have not 'spoken' in days."

Aragorn perked up and motioned to the seat next to him.  "Yes, Legolas."

At this moment, the prince did not know what to do.  He looked around the table at each of the staring silver and blue eyes.

He almost lost his composure as Glorfindel raised an eyebrow and looked to Arwen, then Estel.

'He knows!' the younger blonde elf's mind screamed and he felt hot beads of sweat upon his face.

With a blush in his cheeks, the prince stood slowly and trotted down to where his human friend sat, eating silently.

Aragorn hugged his friend around the shoulders and smiled at Legolas.

Elrond watched with a wary eye as his daughter sat down next to the elven king and looked with longing blue eyes at her mortal brother as Thranduil chatted.

The elf lord frowned and continued eating.  He would speak to both of them later, oh yes.  He most definitely would.

Aragorn stood beside his black horse.  He and Arwen had just come from their late night ride and he had offered to brush her horse.

He had and was now onto his own.   

Smiling, he hummed an old tune that his brothers had taught him long ago; it was the song that he always sang after riding out with Arwen.

As he continued to sing he felt a chill run down his spine.  Turning each ear to the side, he tried to hear something.

He felt the black horse shiver with sweat and cold.

"Sorry," he whispered, continuing to brush down the damp steed.

He was a little surprised when he heard soft footsteps and the dragging of robes towards the barn.

Aragorn smiled and patted his horse upon its hind as he finished.  The beast ran for its stall.

Estel turned and chuckled.  "Legolas, is that you?"  He went forward and was ready to have a great conversation with his best friend when he felt a strong hand grab his forearm, anger filling the grip.

"I spoke with Arwen tonight."

Aragorn cocked his head, an almost unsure grin coming to his face.

"Ada? What are you doing he-"

Stepping forward, Elrond grasped Estel's arm tightly, holding the boy where he was.

Aragorn's eyes widend. Elrond had never been this mad, the elf lord had never grasped his arm that tightly before. He felt the anger boiling from the elf-lord as if he was standing next to an open oven.

"Father?  What is wrong?" he asked. The elf lord obviously had forgotten how touch affected his son more than others. He tightened his grip until Aragorn was almost grimacing with pain.

"I'll tell you what is wrong, Estel!"  The elf lord's voice was filled with wrath and it scarred the man.  He cringed visibly and bit his lip.  "You fell in love with my daughter, your sister!  How could you Aragorn?!  How could you?!"

Estel pulled a bit and tried to make the elf-lord release his arm. "I love her, father.  I never meant to, but from the first moment I heard her voice, the first moment Legolas showed me what she looked like- Oh Ada, I just can not explain it."  The man breathed a sigh and smiled visibly, his heart fluttering hard in his chest from the love he felt along with the fear that he had angered his father.

"I should have never let you two meet, I should have known this would happen."  The elf lord looked at his son once more.  "Do you not understand?  You ARE too young, Estel, you are but a baby chick to her, she does not love you.  She only loves you as a brother!  She pities you, Aragorn."

"No!"  The man steadied his shaking legs. He grabbed onto a beam to support himself as Elrond let go.  "She loves me!  She trusts me!  She told me so!"

"You took it the wrong way, Estel.  She meant she loved you as a sibling; you are too young for an almost three-thousand year old elven princess."  Elrond almost laughed at the thought.  An immortal princess marrying a twenty-year old human?  'Ha, that is just too odd!'

Stumbling back, a pained look on his face, Aragorn clung hard to another beam that held up the barn.  His heart was racing and his mind was full of questions.

"That, that cannot be-" he listened as Elrond stepped away and began to retreat.

The elf lord knew that his son needed some time alone.  He knew how to deal with children and small crushes.  It always started this way; it had happened to Elladan and Elrohir many times.

But one thing he had forgotten was that Estel was mortal and no girl had ever felt this way with him before.

And along with that, Aragorn was blind and no other woman had ever shown anything but pity and sorrow for him. To Estel, Arwen was different. She loved him just the way he was and she felt him a strong presence that would protect her.

To tear that feeling away so quickly was like ripping away his threads with reality.  And one by one, Aragorn felt his body pull from all he had once loved and cherished.

As Elrond entered the house, he was assaulted by sounds of laughter and clanging.  Because of these, he never heard the clapping of hooves against the cobblestone ground as they faded into the distance.

TBC

So, I know this is a little short. But I thought it was a good way to end the chapter.

So we have one lonely elven prince, one hurt and broken man, and an elven princess who is practically sobbing in her room with grief. And an, obviously not understanding, elf lord.

So next chapter should be up soon!!!

PLEASE REVIEW!!!! PLEASE!!!!! J And please be nice. J

Awwww!!!! Thanks!!!!! Glad you like it, niniel28B!!!!!

Right you are, Linchi!!!! Many tears! But no too much more Aragorn and Arwen romance, if any. Sorry, maybe I will cover that in my next story. :)

We'll see about that, Gwenneth. sly grin Haha! You are so funny! Glad you liked the story so much you couldn't wait to read further installment on here!

Aye you are, Ellrohan! Glad you could too! Hehe! Did you have fun?

Sorry, Musicstarlover. This is not slash. I don't write slash. I am glad it does not look like it. wipes brow you scarred me a bit. Thanks for reading! Hope you continue too!

Hehe! Watch RotK then, Azla. He's got braids in there, though they are not quite the same. :) faints ' Gorny with braids is so dreamy!

That they do, Lindahoyland! And  glad you liked the braiding! :)

Sorry, DRUNKEN LANDLORD. As I said before, this is not and never will be slash. I do not write slash. If you read the appendices in RotK, it is exactly the same time. Arwen and Aragorn do not meet until Estel is of age. I believe it says in the book that Elrond, Elladan, and Elrohir never even mentioned her. Hope you continue to read this!!! Glad you are liking it so much!!!

Not at all, Knight Kenobi of Eryn Lasgalen. I think Elrond needs to learn some things about love. Would you not agree? Hehe! Hope you liked it!

Yes, nienna. It will complicate things. And Estel is somewhere around the age of 20. He acts young and innocent because Elrond has never let him outside Imladris's boundaries.  Gald you liked!

Thanks, Gemini969!!!!!!

No, we truly would not, Elven Kitten. Thanks! I do my best!

Oh, yes, marbienl! That would be a real something! We'll see! Oh! I love that part about his headaches too! Poor guy! Well maybe I could throw a head-ache in somewhere, and if not. I promise that one will be in the next story. grins Yes, that would be funny! Maybe that could be in the next story too. Hehe! Or the one after that. Never know?! Yes, he did. He felt VERY proud. Thanks hope to see a BIG review next time, like always! :)

Hmmmm.. I wonder how that happened, Lady Laswen? sarcastic smirk Glad you been lovin' it!

shakes head Um.Um.Um. Well, Mornflower. You got the idea. :) chuckles I will update soon ad possible so you do not have to wait as long to see if they do, okee-doke? Hehe! Glad your likin' it!

Ok guys! I know many of you may not have liked the little angry Elrond. But truly, it was not as bad as it sounded. It was intesified by the fact that Estel 'sees' EVERYTHING worse than others do in the area of touch, smell, and hearing. And though Elrond was angry, he was not as bad as Aragorn felt.

Hope tha tmade sense enough. So please! No flames!!!!! And review! Review! Review!

And may God bless your week with joy! :)