A/N- Hello, everyone! I'm taking a break from studying my lines to update.
It has been brought to my attention that this story is pretty seriously AU.
I know you were all waiting so impatiently (yeah, right), so here you go!
Disclaimer- I own Lord of the Rings! The Easter Bunny is real! I can fly faster than the speed of light! All of these statements are equally true!
Chapter 4: Realizations
Legolas quietly slipped out of the healing quarters. He knew that he should be helping Lord Elrond care for Aragorn, but at the moment, he didn't really care. He stalked through the halls, face impassive but eyes afire. His internal battle had never really ceased, and now that Aragorn was injured, it was raging all the stronger.
He walked into his quarters and sank into one of the luxurious chairs. He closed his eyes, leaned back, and began to debate with himself.
"Aragorn kissed Aldamir," stated Legolas.
"Okay, why was he doing that?" Legolas asked himself.
"Because he loves her?" he said, uncertainly.
"Do you really think Aldamir would cheat on you?" he asked.
"Before, I would have said no, but now I'm not so sure," he said.
"Did he actually confess to doing this?" he asked.
"No, not really..." he said.
"You know, talking to yourself is one of the first signs of insanity," quipped Aldamir, entering the room. "What are you doing back so soon?"
"Aragorn was injured," Legolas said flatly.
"No! Is he alright?" asked Aldamir, apprehensively.
"I don't know. The wound is poisoned," stated Legolas, showing no emotions in his voice or face.
"Why are you not with him?" asked Aldamir.
"Why do you care?" spat Legolas.
"Because he is my friend!" answered Aldamir, shocked at the sudden bitterness in her husband's voice.
"That's not all that he is," said Legolas, reverting to emotionless.
"What? What do you mean?" asked a bewildered Aldamir.
"You know perfectly well what I mean," stated Legolas, glaring at her.
"No, actually, I don't, but if you would care to enlighten me, I would be most grateful," said Aldamir, starting to get angry herself.
"Do I have to spell it out? I saw you and Aragorn the morning we left, kissing in that garden under our window. I thought you would be smarter than cheating on me under the window of the room I was sleeping in!" explained Legolas.
Aldamir's mouth fell open. "You actually think that I would do that?" she asked. "Does our love mean so little to you that you think I could throw it aside? I promised myself to you, and you alone, and I keep my promises."
"But I saw you...didn't I?" said Legolas, a little unsure now.
"Legolas, I love Aragorn as a friend and hold him as dear as I would a brother. That does not mean that I wish to wed him! I kissed Aragorn as I would kiss a favorite cousin, not as I would you!" protested his wife.
"You do not lie?" asked Legolas, hopefully.
"I never lie," said Aldamir.
"Then, you mean-"began Legolas.
Aldamir cut him off by pulling him into a passionate kiss. "Does that answer your question?" she asked when they came up for air.
"Almost. I think I need you to answer it one more time," smiled Legolas, savoring the feeling of his wife being in his arms, knowing she had only him in her heart.
Aldamir smiled and complied.
Legolas drew back, happier than he had been for a long time. Now he knew he could trust Aldamir and Aragorn... Aragorn!
Legolas pulled out of his wife's embrace. When she looked up at him questioningly, he merely said, "Aragorn," and Aldamir nodded.
"Let's go," she said, turning and running from the room, Legolas matching her step for step.
.().().().
While Legolas' and Aldamir's moods were joyful, Lord Elrond's was anything but. His adopted son was lying as still as death on his sickbed. This was rare, though. Usually he was thrashing and moaning. Always, however, even in the periods of silence, he was burning up with fever.
Elrond was working frantically to discover what poison flowed in the man's veins, but when he found it, he almost wished he hadn't. It was, unsurprisingly, a rare form of Orc poison. It was one he recognized, but it had no cure, causing intense suffering and then death in almost all who got it.
Legolas and Aldamir came flying into the healing quarters, still sprinting as hard as possible. Legolas found himself unable to look away from his friend's poison-wracked body. I caused this, he thought. If I had gone to help him in that battle, he wouldn't be dying!
Aldamir saw the guilt in her husband's eyes and lay a comforting hand on his shoulder. She didn't waste her breath on reassurances that Aragorn would be fine, instead turning to Lord Elrond and asking, "Is he going to be alright?"
The Elf Lord looked sadly at her, tears in his eyes. "This is a rare form of Orc poison. This fever that he has is causing him to lose his grip on reality, giving him hallucinations that seem to be particularly frightening."
"Is there any hope for recovery?" asked Legolas, still not looking away from Aragorn.
"If the fever breaks, he might live. Unfortunately, it only does in nine out of ten cases. Out of those, only about half go on to recover," said Elrond, shakily as the odds were driven home. Aragorn had a five percent chance of survival.
"But there's still a chance. Aragorn is strong. His fever will break, and I will be here when it does," swore Legolas. He then pulled a chair up to his friend's bedside and settled in to wait.
Aldamir joined her husband, murmuring, "As will I."
.().().().
A/N- Another chapter done! Now for reviewer responses!
Grumpy- Did I respond to you before? If I did, you are the lucky winner of two responses! If not, thank you!
Lady Laswen- Actually, I've never seen A Winter's Tale! I'm flattered if you compare my plot to Shakespeare's, though! I'm obviously nowhere near as good as the Bard, but I'll try my best!
SorF- Aragorn wouldn't have Anduril at this point. I wasn't thinking when I put that down. He should have had Narsil.
Elros Tar-Minutar- "Shoot this story. Shoot it dead," huh? Well, as you can see, I don't intend to do that. I'm sorry you don't like my story. May Manwe and Ulmo "deliver your soul from the evil that is my story." Oh, and the flames from your review made very nice marshmallows! Thanks!
Silvertoekee- Well, Legolas has seen the light. Now the angst begins! I am evil, hear me roar!
Sielge- Thank you!
Rae132- Actually, my story isn't that great. This isn't mock humility, it's true. If you want to see great stories, check out my favorites page. That you for making me feel good!
Joshua nenya- I hoped that's what you meant! You're done waiting for now!
Ringmarciel- Yeah. Several people caught that. I meant Narsil, typed Anduril. Sorry 'bout that. Thanks for your review!
ElvenRanger13- Here's your update!
Aldawen Eldartari- Alda! You're back! You've been with since Elentari, and honestly, I'm so happy you that someone cares enough to stick with me through all this means so much to me. Thank you for being my ever-loyal defender!
Aldawen Eldartari x2- Legolas can be mean if he wants!
Aldawen Eldartari x3- Here's your update!
Partheon- Wow. That's all I can say. Wow. Some reviews make you feel fuzzy inside, but ones like yours make me feel, in a strange way, even better. I can't believe you took the time to write all that down just to help me out. Your review is most emphatically not a flame (you softened the constructive criticism with complements), and I love you so much for doing this for me! I'm just a seventh grader who has some really rough writing skills that I want to polish. I will take everything you said to heart, and I thank you again for your support. Thank you for reviewing!
SpastikLeggyluver- Thank you!
Lindahoyland- Thank you for reviewing and adding me to your alerts list!
Coolio02- Thank you!
Grumpy- Nsot so much "yelling" as "sarcastically talking", but the effect's the same. Thank you!
Boobtubesngrass- Angst is our friend, our friend. We loves it, we does! Gollum impression done, thanks for reviewing and sticking with me since Elentari!
Yellow-lily- If you think you're strange, let me just say that compared to my friends, you seem perfectly normal. I'm glad you like it!
Mornflower- I'm sorry you didn't like your camp! I hope this story made you feel better...No, actually. I hope this story made you for get your own troubles. Yeah, that's more like it.
Again, more reviews than I've ever gotten before! Thank you so much! Also, I think I'm going to go with Moralinde. It's a whole lot shorter than Elf of the Riddermark.
Namarie, Moralindes
Disclaimer- I own Lord of the Rings! The Easter Bunny is real! I can fly faster than the speed of light! All of these statements are equally true!
Chapter 4: Realizations
Legolas quietly slipped out of the healing quarters. He knew that he should be helping Lord Elrond care for Aragorn, but at the moment, he didn't really care. He stalked through the halls, face impassive but eyes afire. His internal battle had never really ceased, and now that Aragorn was injured, it was raging all the stronger.
He walked into his quarters and sank into one of the luxurious chairs. He closed his eyes, leaned back, and began to debate with himself.
"Aragorn kissed Aldamir," stated Legolas.
"Okay, why was he doing that?" Legolas asked himself.
"Because he loves her?" he said, uncertainly.
"Do you really think Aldamir would cheat on you?" he asked.
"Before, I would have said no, but now I'm not so sure," he said.
"Did he actually confess to doing this?" he asked.
"No, not really..." he said.
"You know, talking to yourself is one of the first signs of insanity," quipped Aldamir, entering the room. "What are you doing back so soon?"
"Aragorn was injured," Legolas said flatly.
"No! Is he alright?" asked Aldamir, apprehensively.
"I don't know. The wound is poisoned," stated Legolas, showing no emotions in his voice or face.
"Why are you not with him?" asked Aldamir.
"Why do you care?" spat Legolas.
"Because he is my friend!" answered Aldamir, shocked at the sudden bitterness in her husband's voice.
"That's not all that he is," said Legolas, reverting to emotionless.
"What? What do you mean?" asked a bewildered Aldamir.
"You know perfectly well what I mean," stated Legolas, glaring at her.
"No, actually, I don't, but if you would care to enlighten me, I would be most grateful," said Aldamir, starting to get angry herself.
"Do I have to spell it out? I saw you and Aragorn the morning we left, kissing in that garden under our window. I thought you would be smarter than cheating on me under the window of the room I was sleeping in!" explained Legolas.
Aldamir's mouth fell open. "You actually think that I would do that?" she asked. "Does our love mean so little to you that you think I could throw it aside? I promised myself to you, and you alone, and I keep my promises."
"But I saw you...didn't I?" said Legolas, a little unsure now.
"Legolas, I love Aragorn as a friend and hold him as dear as I would a brother. That does not mean that I wish to wed him! I kissed Aragorn as I would kiss a favorite cousin, not as I would you!" protested his wife.
"You do not lie?" asked Legolas, hopefully.
"I never lie," said Aldamir.
"Then, you mean-"began Legolas.
Aldamir cut him off by pulling him into a passionate kiss. "Does that answer your question?" she asked when they came up for air.
"Almost. I think I need you to answer it one more time," smiled Legolas, savoring the feeling of his wife being in his arms, knowing she had only him in her heart.
Aldamir smiled and complied.
Legolas drew back, happier than he had been for a long time. Now he knew he could trust Aldamir and Aragorn... Aragorn!
Legolas pulled out of his wife's embrace. When she looked up at him questioningly, he merely said, "Aragorn," and Aldamir nodded.
"Let's go," she said, turning and running from the room, Legolas matching her step for step.
.().().().
While Legolas' and Aldamir's moods were joyful, Lord Elrond's was anything but. His adopted son was lying as still as death on his sickbed. This was rare, though. Usually he was thrashing and moaning. Always, however, even in the periods of silence, he was burning up with fever.
Elrond was working frantically to discover what poison flowed in the man's veins, but when he found it, he almost wished he hadn't. It was, unsurprisingly, a rare form of Orc poison. It was one he recognized, but it had no cure, causing intense suffering and then death in almost all who got it.
Legolas and Aldamir came flying into the healing quarters, still sprinting as hard as possible. Legolas found himself unable to look away from his friend's poison-wracked body. I caused this, he thought. If I had gone to help him in that battle, he wouldn't be dying!
Aldamir saw the guilt in her husband's eyes and lay a comforting hand on his shoulder. She didn't waste her breath on reassurances that Aragorn would be fine, instead turning to Lord Elrond and asking, "Is he going to be alright?"
The Elf Lord looked sadly at her, tears in his eyes. "This is a rare form of Orc poison. This fever that he has is causing him to lose his grip on reality, giving him hallucinations that seem to be particularly frightening."
"Is there any hope for recovery?" asked Legolas, still not looking away from Aragorn.
"If the fever breaks, he might live. Unfortunately, it only does in nine out of ten cases. Out of those, only about half go on to recover," said Elrond, shakily as the odds were driven home. Aragorn had a five percent chance of survival.
"But there's still a chance. Aragorn is strong. His fever will break, and I will be here when it does," swore Legolas. He then pulled a chair up to his friend's bedside and settled in to wait.
Aldamir joined her husband, murmuring, "As will I."
.().().().
A/N- Another chapter done! Now for reviewer responses!
Grumpy- Did I respond to you before? If I did, you are the lucky winner of two responses! If not, thank you!
Lady Laswen- Actually, I've never seen A Winter's Tale! I'm flattered if you compare my plot to Shakespeare's, though! I'm obviously nowhere near as good as the Bard, but I'll try my best!
SorF- Aragorn wouldn't have Anduril at this point. I wasn't thinking when I put that down. He should have had Narsil.
Elros Tar-Minutar- "Shoot this story. Shoot it dead," huh? Well, as you can see, I don't intend to do that. I'm sorry you don't like my story. May Manwe and Ulmo "deliver your soul from the evil that is my story." Oh, and the flames from your review made very nice marshmallows! Thanks!
Silvertoekee- Well, Legolas has seen the light. Now the angst begins! I am evil, hear me roar!
Sielge- Thank you!
Rae132- Actually, my story isn't that great. This isn't mock humility, it's true. If you want to see great stories, check out my favorites page. That you for making me feel good!
Joshua nenya- I hoped that's what you meant! You're done waiting for now!
Ringmarciel- Yeah. Several people caught that. I meant Narsil, typed Anduril. Sorry 'bout that. Thanks for your review!
ElvenRanger13- Here's your update!
Aldawen Eldartari- Alda! You're back! You've been with since Elentari, and honestly, I'm so happy you that someone cares enough to stick with me through all this means so much to me. Thank you for being my ever-loyal defender!
Aldawen Eldartari x2- Legolas can be mean if he wants!
Aldawen Eldartari x3- Here's your update!
Partheon- Wow. That's all I can say. Wow. Some reviews make you feel fuzzy inside, but ones like yours make me feel, in a strange way, even better. I can't believe you took the time to write all that down just to help me out. Your review is most emphatically not a flame (you softened the constructive criticism with complements), and I love you so much for doing this for me! I'm just a seventh grader who has some really rough writing skills that I want to polish. I will take everything you said to heart, and I thank you again for your support. Thank you for reviewing!
SpastikLeggyluver- Thank you!
Lindahoyland- Thank you for reviewing and adding me to your alerts list!
Coolio02- Thank you!
Grumpy- Nsot so much "yelling" as "sarcastically talking", but the effect's the same. Thank you!
Boobtubesngrass- Angst is our friend, our friend. We loves it, we does! Gollum impression done, thanks for reviewing and sticking with me since Elentari!
Yellow-lily- If you think you're strange, let me just say that compared to my friends, you seem perfectly normal. I'm glad you like it!
Mornflower- I'm sorry you didn't like your camp! I hope this story made you feel better...No, actually. I hope this story made you for get your own troubles. Yeah, that's more like it.
Again, more reviews than I've ever gotten before! Thank you so much! Also, I think I'm going to go with Moralinde. It's a whole lot shorter than Elf of the Riddermark.
Namarie, Moralindes