The Guilty Grace of an Exquisite Sin
By IsisFireDancer
DISLAIMER: I own nothing!!! Would I be here now if I did??? No!!!! Anyway, for warnings see previous chapter. Enjoy...
Still Aragorn's POV
"I am here. Don't worry! You're safe now!" I murmured soothingly. He began to sob, his whole body wracked with sorrow. "Don't weep! Shhhhhh! It's OK. Everything's fine." Here I paused awhile, simply staring at this feeble shadow of the strong person that I knew.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Sorry for what?" I was deeply puzzled by this sudden outburst of emotion.
"Legolas, what happened?" I almost whispered.
"I-It was I."
"What was you?" I asked, still perplexed.
"He had a right to do it! I deserved it! I've ruined everything Aragorn!"
"You did not deserve this-nobody does! And no-one has a right to do anything of this sort!"
"Aragorn, I have done something terrible! I went against my father's wishes and now I have cursed the entire kingdom!" He began to tremble as he spoke. Seeing that I was still silent, he continued, "My father arranged for me to be married. The bride was to be an Elven princess from a region in the North. She went by the name of Fente. She was utterly vulgar! She did not heed songs or fair words of poetry! She was vain, greedy, selfish-everything I hate!
"Anyway, it was proposed that we married at once. I just couldn't do it, Aragorn! I couldn't! She knew nothing of beauty or love, and I felt entrapped staying with her for only a moment-how could I live with her through the ages? I would rather die!
"But I had to do this duty for my land and my family. We needed this marriage to create a union between our two kingdoms, as we needed their people as allies in our battle against the savages from the east," he abruptly stopped and stared at me.
I was totally and utterly stunned. No words could express my current feelings. How had all this come about? I searched for something to say in my mind, but failed miserably. I realised that I was staring openly at him and my mouth was hanging open. I quickly closed it, but could not yet avert my gaze.
"So, I was faced with a dilemma. I could not outright state that I thought that my fiancée was no better than an orc! I would probably be hanging from the tree branch with nothing to grip but the rope around my neck," he said solemnly.
"Do not even joke of such matters!" I said in a quiet tone, the shock still reverberating through my body.
"So, I ran away. At least I tried! I was on my way out of this land when I was ambushed by a group of Northerners from the region of Fente. Somehow they had found out my plot to flee this place and were intent to create a great strife between our now split kingdoms. They intended to kill me and start a war against Mirkwood. Soon their wish shall be fulfilled. Alas, my people cannot fight two wars! It is hard enough to fight one war! Aragorn, what can I do?" he began to sob again and I pitied him. He looked so pathetic just lying there, like a small child in need of his mother's protection.
Before I knew what I was doing, I had leant forwards to wipe the tears from his eyes and face. I leaned in towards his forehead, to comfort him with a kiss on the forehead, as my mother had done for me, years ago.
Legolas POV
I couldn't help myself from crying-I just felt so stupid and worthless. How did I get myself into this mess? Why did I have to be so stubborn? I should've just married Fente when I had the chance and saved my kingdom's safety and honour. I could imagine my father's disapproval and distaste at the site of me, instantly knowing my crime. I did not want to guess the punishment.
Suddenly, I became aware of a voice soothing me and a hand wiping away my tears. I felt his surprisingly soft skin move over my face, caressing me. He began to lean in towards my face. I tilted my head forwards and closed my eyes, longing for the comfort.
And I did receive it. He leaned farther forwards, kissing me lightly on the forehead. I saw Nanta come in moments after this gesture and told him that I needed my rest, before ushering him away, leaving me only with my feelings.
I found myself thinking about Nanta and the other two nurses, Finde and Menel and how I must remember to thank them. For all I knew, they had saved my life. Did Taari or Mahtar know about any of this? Worry clouded my mind as I felt my body go numb with sleep. The world slipped from around me, as I fell into the blessed gift of slumber.
I opened my eyes to find myself lying next to a sleeping Aragorn. I chuckled at the thought of him being my nurse. The King of Gondor as my nurse! Certainly not something every elf in this land could say!
I turned over slowly, to look closely at his face. He was slumped on the edge of my bed, where he had half fallen off his chair. I smiled, and he stirred. I could feel his warm breathe tickling my face, and I watched his eyes flutter their way open. I could see the surprise in his eyes as my smiling face confronted him. He gently sat up, as I held on to his hand and shifted up my pillow to his eye-level.
As if he had just remembered this scene from long ago, he smiled fondly into the distance, as though in a trance. He soon came out of his state, and returned his gaze to me. A dogged smile spread across his noble face, making him look incredibly handsome.
"Good morning," he murmured softly. "And how does our young Prince fare today?"
"I would not call myself young! Or do you count 2931 years a short while?" I asked a little indignantly. Aragorn chuckled, before answering.
"You are young for an elf!" he exclaimed. "I am glad that you are feeling a little more like yourself." Here he paused for a long while, just staring at me in a strangely quiet and thoughtful way.
"That was all thanks to my guardian angel, watching over me morn and eve," I whispered, breaking the silence. I felt his hand wind it's way into mine. "Thank you."
"For what? I did as any other would have!"
"Do not be so quick to judge," I said regretfully.
"I do not know of what you speak. And it seems that there have been many revealed secrets in these past few days. Things have changed, it seems I know very little about your life in the realm of Mirkwood. What troubles you so?"
AN: Hahahaha!!!!!!!!!! I live for reviews! So... you know... REVIEW!!!! I have a large supply of cake here, just waiting to be eaten...
By IsisFireDancer
DISLAIMER: I own nothing!!! Would I be here now if I did??? No!!!! Anyway, for warnings see previous chapter. Enjoy...
Still Aragorn's POV
"I am here. Don't worry! You're safe now!" I murmured soothingly. He began to sob, his whole body wracked with sorrow. "Don't weep! Shhhhhh! It's OK. Everything's fine." Here I paused awhile, simply staring at this feeble shadow of the strong person that I knew.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Sorry for what?" I was deeply puzzled by this sudden outburst of emotion.
"Legolas, what happened?" I almost whispered.
"I-It was I."
"What was you?" I asked, still perplexed.
"He had a right to do it! I deserved it! I've ruined everything Aragorn!"
"You did not deserve this-nobody does! And no-one has a right to do anything of this sort!"
"Aragorn, I have done something terrible! I went against my father's wishes and now I have cursed the entire kingdom!" He began to tremble as he spoke. Seeing that I was still silent, he continued, "My father arranged for me to be married. The bride was to be an Elven princess from a region in the North. She went by the name of Fente. She was utterly vulgar! She did not heed songs or fair words of poetry! She was vain, greedy, selfish-everything I hate!
"Anyway, it was proposed that we married at once. I just couldn't do it, Aragorn! I couldn't! She knew nothing of beauty or love, and I felt entrapped staying with her for only a moment-how could I live with her through the ages? I would rather die!
"But I had to do this duty for my land and my family. We needed this marriage to create a union between our two kingdoms, as we needed their people as allies in our battle against the savages from the east," he abruptly stopped and stared at me.
I was totally and utterly stunned. No words could express my current feelings. How had all this come about? I searched for something to say in my mind, but failed miserably. I realised that I was staring openly at him and my mouth was hanging open. I quickly closed it, but could not yet avert my gaze.
"So, I was faced with a dilemma. I could not outright state that I thought that my fiancée was no better than an orc! I would probably be hanging from the tree branch with nothing to grip but the rope around my neck," he said solemnly.
"Do not even joke of such matters!" I said in a quiet tone, the shock still reverberating through my body.
"So, I ran away. At least I tried! I was on my way out of this land when I was ambushed by a group of Northerners from the region of Fente. Somehow they had found out my plot to flee this place and were intent to create a great strife between our now split kingdoms. They intended to kill me and start a war against Mirkwood. Soon their wish shall be fulfilled. Alas, my people cannot fight two wars! It is hard enough to fight one war! Aragorn, what can I do?" he began to sob again and I pitied him. He looked so pathetic just lying there, like a small child in need of his mother's protection.
Before I knew what I was doing, I had leant forwards to wipe the tears from his eyes and face. I leaned in towards his forehead, to comfort him with a kiss on the forehead, as my mother had done for me, years ago.
Legolas POV
I couldn't help myself from crying-I just felt so stupid and worthless. How did I get myself into this mess? Why did I have to be so stubborn? I should've just married Fente when I had the chance and saved my kingdom's safety and honour. I could imagine my father's disapproval and distaste at the site of me, instantly knowing my crime. I did not want to guess the punishment.
Suddenly, I became aware of a voice soothing me and a hand wiping away my tears. I felt his surprisingly soft skin move over my face, caressing me. He began to lean in towards my face. I tilted my head forwards and closed my eyes, longing for the comfort.
And I did receive it. He leaned farther forwards, kissing me lightly on the forehead. I saw Nanta come in moments after this gesture and told him that I needed my rest, before ushering him away, leaving me only with my feelings.
I found myself thinking about Nanta and the other two nurses, Finde and Menel and how I must remember to thank them. For all I knew, they had saved my life. Did Taari or Mahtar know about any of this? Worry clouded my mind as I felt my body go numb with sleep. The world slipped from around me, as I fell into the blessed gift of slumber.
I opened my eyes to find myself lying next to a sleeping Aragorn. I chuckled at the thought of him being my nurse. The King of Gondor as my nurse! Certainly not something every elf in this land could say!
I turned over slowly, to look closely at his face. He was slumped on the edge of my bed, where he had half fallen off his chair. I smiled, and he stirred. I could feel his warm breathe tickling my face, and I watched his eyes flutter their way open. I could see the surprise in his eyes as my smiling face confronted him. He gently sat up, as I held on to his hand and shifted up my pillow to his eye-level.
As if he had just remembered this scene from long ago, he smiled fondly into the distance, as though in a trance. He soon came out of his state, and returned his gaze to me. A dogged smile spread across his noble face, making him look incredibly handsome.
"Good morning," he murmured softly. "And how does our young Prince fare today?"
"I would not call myself young! Or do you count 2931 years a short while?" I asked a little indignantly. Aragorn chuckled, before answering.
"You are young for an elf!" he exclaimed. "I am glad that you are feeling a little more like yourself." Here he paused for a long while, just staring at me in a strangely quiet and thoughtful way.
"That was all thanks to my guardian angel, watching over me morn and eve," I whispered, breaking the silence. I felt his hand wind it's way into mine. "Thank you."
"For what? I did as any other would have!"
"Do not be so quick to judge," I said regretfully.
"I do not know of what you speak. And it seems that there have been many revealed secrets in these past few days. Things have changed, it seems I know very little about your life in the realm of Mirkwood. What troubles you so?"
AN: Hahahaha!!!!!!!!!! I live for reviews! So... you know... REVIEW!!!! I have a large supply of cake here, just waiting to be eaten...