Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Please, please review. They are my fuel.
Sorry for not updating for so long. I was almost done with this story when I watched Two Towers and decided I need to rewrite the whole thing since Haldir deserved better. Naturally, that also means I need to apologize to all A/L lovers since you will have to wait a little longer. But don't worry, please do keep in mind that my favorite will always be our Elf Prince =) Also, there will be subtle, one-sided L/H. I as much wrote that in the last chapter; I will develop it a little here as well. Okay, enough 'announcement' type things and on with the story.
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Chapter Three
Slowly, awareness began to return to the Man. With consciousness came pain, a dull ache at the base of his neck. It was shortly followed by the sensation of someone touching him, smooth warm fingers and the brush of leather against his muscular thighs. Then came the realization that his legs were free and that his captor was within kicking range. Eyes still closed, Aragorn shifted left without warning, bringing his right knee up to deliver a stunning blow.
At least, that was the Man's intention; his kick did not connect. His only reward was a loud ripping noise as his own momentum sent him rolling over onto his stomach. Apparently, his captor was trying to dress him when he regained consciousness. His breeches were half way up his legs when his sudden forceful movement tore them apart. Before Aragorn could make another move, a knee was pressed into his spine as unseen hands twisted his arm back painfully.
"Try that again and I will kill you." As if demonstrating his point, his captor pressed his knee hard against the Man's back. Aragorn had no doubt that the assassin could break his spine anytime he wanted to.
"What's going on?" Haldir returned from the stream to walk upon the scene of his friend threatening to kill his beloved. Casting a reproachful glare at the Prince, the older Elf was dismayed to see that Legolas remained unrepentant; in fact, the assassin just grounded his knee harder into their prisoner.
The Lòrien Elf went to fetch water and bathe. Since their escape from Dol Guldur two nights ago, they had been running nonstop, trying to put a safe distance between themselves and the Dark Lord's fortress. Haldir knew he smelled of sex and the Man. He never had the opportunity to wash after their lovemaking the night he was rescued. The Guardian knew Legolas liked him, the younger Elf might even fancied himself in love. The Lòrien archer did not wish to subject the Prince to a constant reminder that he belonged to Aragorn now, both body and soul.
Haldir was grateful to the Prince for rescuing him and taking Aragorn from Dol Guldur. But in debt as he was, he could not have Legolas mistreating their captive. The older Elf saw goodness in the Man. Aragorn's 25th birthday was several months away. There was still time to counter Sauron's evil plans to steal the greatest power in Arda if they could convince the Man of his true heritage. In order to turn the Lord of Fire into their ally, he must be treated with respect. They must earn Aragorn's trust. However, with the apparent animosity between his lover and friend, Haldir realized his plan would be much harder to put into action than he originally anticipated.
"Aragorn is the son of Arathorn, heir to the throne of Gondor. You will treat him with respect," chastised Haldir, making sure his friend heard the disapproval in his voice. The Prince had always valued his opinion; the Lòrien Elf sincerely hoped Legolas would listen to him this time.
"People who use others' feelings to achieve their goals do not deserve respect," countered the assassin as he released the Man. Gracefully, the Prince rose to his feet and left the cave.
**************************************************************************** **
The assassin could not trust himself to be in their prisoner's company any longer. He might kill the Lord of Fire and lose Haldir's friendship. Never had Legolas felt anything as strong as the anger he felt now. Legolas had seen into Aragorn's mind during their brief contact. The Man was only using his friend, seducing the Elf into telling him the location of the One Ring. There was no place for affections in the mind of the Lord of Fire; only schemes to manipulate emotions to control those around him. His followers trusted him with their lives and Haldir trusted him with his heart, yet Aragorn saw them as nothing more than pawns for his games.
When Legolas was young, all he ever wanted was to be accepted by his people, especially his father. That was why he became an assassin; he had foolishly dreamed of gaining the other Elves' approval through destroying their enemies. However, with each kill, with each cruel word muttered by the very people he fought for, the Prince's heart began to wither and his emotions started to fade. He could barely felt heartbreak when the last remnant of his secret dream was dashed forever the day Thranduil condemned him to a life in the dungeons.
Here was Aragorn, a Man gifted with all the things that Legolas could only dream of - the trust and devotion of all he encountered. But instead of treasuring these gifts, he toyed with them, as if they meant nothing. How could the Man abuse such wonderful gifts of love and loyalty? And how could the Valar be so unfair, withholding from Legolas the acceptance he worked so hard for, but bestowing it upon Aragorn who clearly did not deserve it?
**************************************************************************** **
Legolas never thought he would shed another tear. He had closed his heart a long time ago, since he learnt to accept that others would always see him as a freak of nature, no matter what happened. Now, a floodgate had been open and tears streamed unbridled down his exquisite face. To his surprise, his foolish hope of being loved had not left him completely despite his 1000 years' imprisonment. There was a tiny part of him that was still secretly wishing for the same thing. Haldir had been the only one who had ever brought joy to his bleak existence; the one he would love if he could. But now, Aragorn had taken the Lòrien Elf away as well. How he hated the Man!
Yet, Legolas knew there was nothing he could do. Haldir was in love; his friend would not listen to his warning or advice. The Lòrien Elf would think that he was acting out of jealousy, trying to slander Aragorn for his own gain. It would destroy their current friendship, which was something the Prince would not allow. He needed to be calm and wait for his opportunity. The young Elf would expose Aragorn for a lying schemer the moment the Man's act slipped. He would fight this battle with patience and cunning; it was a fight Legolas could not afford to lose. Without the Lord of Fire, perhaps Haldir would learn to care for him as more than just a friend. A chance for happiness was at stake.
**************************************************************************** **
"Are you alright?" asked Haldir as he checked the Man for injuries.
"Except that I cannot move my legs and right arm, yes," answered the Man sarcastically, trying to shrug the Elf's hands off. But the assassin had done a good job of immobilizing him, Aragorn could do nothing but lay there helplessly as the Lòrien archer inspected him.
The Man hated his own helplessness; he knew Haldir was in love with him, but he still did not like being at anyone's mercy physically, even if it was someone he could control. Aragorn hoped the damage was not permanent; he would rather that his captor had killed him than left him a cripple.
"You should not have fought Legolas. You are lucky that your injuries are not serious. You will be fine in a couple of days," quipped the Guardian of Lòrien as he gently turned the Man over. He needed to impress upon his beloved how dangerous the Prince truly was. Haldir did not wish Aragorn to give his young friend a reason to carry out his threat.
"What am I supposed to do? Just lie there and let him have his way with me?" exclaimed the Man as he glared at the older Elf who had taken another pair of breeches from their pack and was beginning to dress him again.
Aragorn knew what Haldir wanted to do; the naïve archer thought he could be turned. But his loyalty was only to his father. Though he was certain the Elves would not harm him, he knew that once he reached Thranduil's palace, his chances of escape would be minimal. He needed to outwit his captors before they reached their destination. The plan was to play Haldir against the assassin. It was clear that the younger Elf liked the Guardian of Lòrien. If the two Elves had a fight, Legolas might be distracted enough to give Aragorn the opportunity to escape.
"He was just helping you dress," replied Haldir in defense of his friend. He knew Legolas was not the type interested in the pleasures of the flesh. Yet, he wondered why the assassin bothered trying to clothe Aragorn. It was getting cold, but to assume that the Prince had attempted to dress the Man to keep him warm would imply that the young Elf cared for his beloved's well being. That was something the Lòrien Elf was sure Legolas was incapable of.
"I am so touched," mocked the Man with a false smile. "I am kidnapped by the most considerate Elf in Middle Earth. I must really thank him."
The sarcasm was not lost on Haldir, who answered impassionedly, "You are not Sauron's son. The Dark Lord did not even have physical form, how could he possibly father you? He murdered your parents so he could raise you as his own. You should be fighting on our side, not his." There was a more personal reason for the Elf's desire to make Aragorn see the truth. He loved the Man dearly and wished to be bound formally to him. That would not be possible if Aragorn remained the evil Lord of Fire.
"Please, Haldir, lies do not become you," retorted the Man as he tried to squirm away from the Elf's touch to convey his displeasure at the falsehoods Haldir had constructed. He was not very successful since he could not move his legs or right arm.
"I am not lying. That's why we are taking you back to Mirkwood, so we can find a way to convince you," beseeched the archer as he gently laid a hand on Aragorn's chest.
Aragorn could see the sincerity and pleading in his lover's eyes. It would not do to argue with his pawn any longer. Haldir must be head-over-heels in love with him to be of any use in his escape plans. "My head still hurts from the wounds your friend gave me. Let us not discuss these serious issues now. I promise that if Legolas does not touch me, I will not fight him again."
Sensing that Haldir was satisfied to leave matters be for the moment, the Man purred with his most seductive smile, "I am not much of a sport in this state. But I am all yours if you wish."
**************************************************************************** **
Sweet words of encouragement, soft cries and urgent moans reverberated in the cave and spilled into the surrounding forest. Though imperceptible to most, these sounds assaulted the Prince's sensitive ears without mercy. Legolas hearing was extraordinarily sensitive even for an Elf. Despite the distance between himself and the lovers, he could hear even the softest of murmurs within the cave. The Prince was besieged with an unfamiliar feeling; he did not understand the racing of his blood, the constriction of his heart or the moisture in his eyes. All he knew was that he wanted it to stop; both this unwanted emotion and the proceedings at their camp.
Before Legolas realized what was happening, a wave of power surged out of his body. The magic was so strong that the earth shook in response. The lovers stopped their tryst in surprise; the Elf mage could hear Haldir whispered his name from afar. The archer knew Legolas was the one who caused the disturbance. The Prince was appalled by this outburst of power. He had never lost control like this before. He was so ashamed that he began to flee, determined to keep the lovers out of range of all his senses. In his confusion, he did not realize he was leaving his two companions unguarded, vulnerable to the dangers of Mirkwood.
Please, please review. They are my fuel.
Sorry for not updating for so long. I was almost done with this story when I watched Two Towers and decided I need to rewrite the whole thing since Haldir deserved better. Naturally, that also means I need to apologize to all A/L lovers since you will have to wait a little longer. But don't worry, please do keep in mind that my favorite will always be our Elf Prince =) Also, there will be subtle, one-sided L/H. I as much wrote that in the last chapter; I will develop it a little here as well. Okay, enough 'announcement' type things and on with the story.
**************************************************************************** **
Chapter Three
Slowly, awareness began to return to the Man. With consciousness came pain, a dull ache at the base of his neck. It was shortly followed by the sensation of someone touching him, smooth warm fingers and the brush of leather against his muscular thighs. Then came the realization that his legs were free and that his captor was within kicking range. Eyes still closed, Aragorn shifted left without warning, bringing his right knee up to deliver a stunning blow.
At least, that was the Man's intention; his kick did not connect. His only reward was a loud ripping noise as his own momentum sent him rolling over onto his stomach. Apparently, his captor was trying to dress him when he regained consciousness. His breeches were half way up his legs when his sudden forceful movement tore them apart. Before Aragorn could make another move, a knee was pressed into his spine as unseen hands twisted his arm back painfully.
"Try that again and I will kill you." As if demonstrating his point, his captor pressed his knee hard against the Man's back. Aragorn had no doubt that the assassin could break his spine anytime he wanted to.
"What's going on?" Haldir returned from the stream to walk upon the scene of his friend threatening to kill his beloved. Casting a reproachful glare at the Prince, the older Elf was dismayed to see that Legolas remained unrepentant; in fact, the assassin just grounded his knee harder into their prisoner.
The Lòrien Elf went to fetch water and bathe. Since their escape from Dol Guldur two nights ago, they had been running nonstop, trying to put a safe distance between themselves and the Dark Lord's fortress. Haldir knew he smelled of sex and the Man. He never had the opportunity to wash after their lovemaking the night he was rescued. The Guardian knew Legolas liked him, the younger Elf might even fancied himself in love. The Lòrien archer did not wish to subject the Prince to a constant reminder that he belonged to Aragorn now, both body and soul.
Haldir was grateful to the Prince for rescuing him and taking Aragorn from Dol Guldur. But in debt as he was, he could not have Legolas mistreating their captive. The older Elf saw goodness in the Man. Aragorn's 25th birthday was several months away. There was still time to counter Sauron's evil plans to steal the greatest power in Arda if they could convince the Man of his true heritage. In order to turn the Lord of Fire into their ally, he must be treated with respect. They must earn Aragorn's trust. However, with the apparent animosity between his lover and friend, Haldir realized his plan would be much harder to put into action than he originally anticipated.
"Aragorn is the son of Arathorn, heir to the throne of Gondor. You will treat him with respect," chastised Haldir, making sure his friend heard the disapproval in his voice. The Prince had always valued his opinion; the Lòrien Elf sincerely hoped Legolas would listen to him this time.
"People who use others' feelings to achieve their goals do not deserve respect," countered the assassin as he released the Man. Gracefully, the Prince rose to his feet and left the cave.
**************************************************************************** **
The assassin could not trust himself to be in their prisoner's company any longer. He might kill the Lord of Fire and lose Haldir's friendship. Never had Legolas felt anything as strong as the anger he felt now. Legolas had seen into Aragorn's mind during their brief contact. The Man was only using his friend, seducing the Elf into telling him the location of the One Ring. There was no place for affections in the mind of the Lord of Fire; only schemes to manipulate emotions to control those around him. His followers trusted him with their lives and Haldir trusted him with his heart, yet Aragorn saw them as nothing more than pawns for his games.
When Legolas was young, all he ever wanted was to be accepted by his people, especially his father. That was why he became an assassin; he had foolishly dreamed of gaining the other Elves' approval through destroying their enemies. However, with each kill, with each cruel word muttered by the very people he fought for, the Prince's heart began to wither and his emotions started to fade. He could barely felt heartbreak when the last remnant of his secret dream was dashed forever the day Thranduil condemned him to a life in the dungeons.
Here was Aragorn, a Man gifted with all the things that Legolas could only dream of - the trust and devotion of all he encountered. But instead of treasuring these gifts, he toyed with them, as if they meant nothing. How could the Man abuse such wonderful gifts of love and loyalty? And how could the Valar be so unfair, withholding from Legolas the acceptance he worked so hard for, but bestowing it upon Aragorn who clearly did not deserve it?
**************************************************************************** **
Legolas never thought he would shed another tear. He had closed his heart a long time ago, since he learnt to accept that others would always see him as a freak of nature, no matter what happened. Now, a floodgate had been open and tears streamed unbridled down his exquisite face. To his surprise, his foolish hope of being loved had not left him completely despite his 1000 years' imprisonment. There was a tiny part of him that was still secretly wishing for the same thing. Haldir had been the only one who had ever brought joy to his bleak existence; the one he would love if he could. But now, Aragorn had taken the Lòrien Elf away as well. How he hated the Man!
Yet, Legolas knew there was nothing he could do. Haldir was in love; his friend would not listen to his warning or advice. The Lòrien Elf would think that he was acting out of jealousy, trying to slander Aragorn for his own gain. It would destroy their current friendship, which was something the Prince would not allow. He needed to be calm and wait for his opportunity. The young Elf would expose Aragorn for a lying schemer the moment the Man's act slipped. He would fight this battle with patience and cunning; it was a fight Legolas could not afford to lose. Without the Lord of Fire, perhaps Haldir would learn to care for him as more than just a friend. A chance for happiness was at stake.
**************************************************************************** **
"Are you alright?" asked Haldir as he checked the Man for injuries.
"Except that I cannot move my legs and right arm, yes," answered the Man sarcastically, trying to shrug the Elf's hands off. But the assassin had done a good job of immobilizing him, Aragorn could do nothing but lay there helplessly as the Lòrien archer inspected him.
The Man hated his own helplessness; he knew Haldir was in love with him, but he still did not like being at anyone's mercy physically, even if it was someone he could control. Aragorn hoped the damage was not permanent; he would rather that his captor had killed him than left him a cripple.
"You should not have fought Legolas. You are lucky that your injuries are not serious. You will be fine in a couple of days," quipped the Guardian of Lòrien as he gently turned the Man over. He needed to impress upon his beloved how dangerous the Prince truly was. Haldir did not wish Aragorn to give his young friend a reason to carry out his threat.
"What am I supposed to do? Just lie there and let him have his way with me?" exclaimed the Man as he glared at the older Elf who had taken another pair of breeches from their pack and was beginning to dress him again.
Aragorn knew what Haldir wanted to do; the naïve archer thought he could be turned. But his loyalty was only to his father. Though he was certain the Elves would not harm him, he knew that once he reached Thranduil's palace, his chances of escape would be minimal. He needed to outwit his captors before they reached their destination. The plan was to play Haldir against the assassin. It was clear that the younger Elf liked the Guardian of Lòrien. If the two Elves had a fight, Legolas might be distracted enough to give Aragorn the opportunity to escape.
"He was just helping you dress," replied Haldir in defense of his friend. He knew Legolas was not the type interested in the pleasures of the flesh. Yet, he wondered why the assassin bothered trying to clothe Aragorn. It was getting cold, but to assume that the Prince had attempted to dress the Man to keep him warm would imply that the young Elf cared for his beloved's well being. That was something the Lòrien Elf was sure Legolas was incapable of.
"I am so touched," mocked the Man with a false smile. "I am kidnapped by the most considerate Elf in Middle Earth. I must really thank him."
The sarcasm was not lost on Haldir, who answered impassionedly, "You are not Sauron's son. The Dark Lord did not even have physical form, how could he possibly father you? He murdered your parents so he could raise you as his own. You should be fighting on our side, not his." There was a more personal reason for the Elf's desire to make Aragorn see the truth. He loved the Man dearly and wished to be bound formally to him. That would not be possible if Aragorn remained the evil Lord of Fire.
"Please, Haldir, lies do not become you," retorted the Man as he tried to squirm away from the Elf's touch to convey his displeasure at the falsehoods Haldir had constructed. He was not very successful since he could not move his legs or right arm.
"I am not lying. That's why we are taking you back to Mirkwood, so we can find a way to convince you," beseeched the archer as he gently laid a hand on Aragorn's chest.
Aragorn could see the sincerity and pleading in his lover's eyes. It would not do to argue with his pawn any longer. Haldir must be head-over-heels in love with him to be of any use in his escape plans. "My head still hurts from the wounds your friend gave me. Let us not discuss these serious issues now. I promise that if Legolas does not touch me, I will not fight him again."
Sensing that Haldir was satisfied to leave matters be for the moment, the Man purred with his most seductive smile, "I am not much of a sport in this state. But I am all yours if you wish."
**************************************************************************** **
Sweet words of encouragement, soft cries and urgent moans reverberated in the cave and spilled into the surrounding forest. Though imperceptible to most, these sounds assaulted the Prince's sensitive ears without mercy. Legolas hearing was extraordinarily sensitive even for an Elf. Despite the distance between himself and the lovers, he could hear even the softest of murmurs within the cave. The Prince was besieged with an unfamiliar feeling; he did not understand the racing of his blood, the constriction of his heart or the moisture in his eyes. All he knew was that he wanted it to stop; both this unwanted emotion and the proceedings at their camp.
Before Legolas realized what was happening, a wave of power surged out of his body. The magic was so strong that the earth shook in response. The lovers stopped their tryst in surprise; the Elf mage could hear Haldir whispered his name from afar. The archer knew Legolas was the one who caused the disturbance. The Prince was appalled by this outburst of power. He had never lost control like this before. He was so ashamed that he began to flee, determined to keep the lovers out of range of all his senses. In his confusion, he did not realize he was leaving his two companions unguarded, vulnerable to the dangers of Mirkwood.