Don't own anything.
Please, please review. Sorry for the late update, but I did an original draft where the character changes in Legolas were overly drastic; and both my beta and I agreed it is better to do a rewrite. The following chapter is the result - and I do apologize if the changes are still so dramatic that I seemed to have given my Elf a new 'personality'. All I can say is that the characters surprise themselves sometimes, even in this revised version =D Please, let me know what you think.
Just realized never noticed what time of day the previous two chapters were set at. But this one is definitely set at night.
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Chapter six:
Legolas' mind was still racing from his confrontation with the Man. But he has calmed enough to realize that Aragorn had managed to make him lose his composure yet again tonight. He now understood why his senses recognized the Man as a threat. It was not because Aragorn was his match in skills or strength; it was because the Man had the power to touch him in a way that none had before - Aragorn could make him feel. Before, only Haldir could bring emotions to his frosty heart; but those were merely small sparks, nothing compared to the blaze that the Man had aroused with seemingly no effort.
As an assassin and an aberration of nature, emotions were a burden, a danger to his meaningless, but 'peaceful' existence. Without his armor of ice, Legolas would long have perished from grief. Though the Prince did not fear death, he had vowed he would bring the Hope of Men back for Haldir. He could not afford to lose the tight rein over the remnants of his heart now. His only friend's happiness mattered too much to him. It was an inconvenience that Aragorn of all people was able to induce such overwhelming emotions in him. But now that he was aware of the danger the Man posed, he would learn to better control himself in the future. He was not going to let his 'opponent' catch him off guard again.
Shaking his head, the Prince tried to clear his mind and analyze the whole incident with his usual icy reserve, hoping to find some information he could use in future dealings with the Man. But, for some strange reason, his mind kept wandering back to the moment when Aragorn expressed interest in him. Even though he knew it was all part of a game for the Man, Legolas could not help but wonder how being kissed would feel like. Not by Aragorn, of course, since the Man was his only friend's lover, but by someone else who would not mind touching a creature like himself.
His sudden renewed interest in kissing astonished the stoic assassin. When the Prince was younger, he had sometimes wondered how it would feel to be desired. But he had not been successful at finding someone who was willing to help him satisfy his curiosity. It was partly because of the circumstances of his birth; but mainly, it was because he was unappealing. Legolas was a bit shorter and more willowy than most Elves. Unlike other males who were beautiful yet masculine, his face was too delicate. His eyes were too big and bright, a strange shade of dark sapphire different from normal Elves. Not to mention his hair had too much of a yellow tint; compared to his kin, he was like plain gold amidst a sea of perfect platinum. Legolas had long since resigned to the fact that he would never know the pleasures of the flesh. It was strange how a single remark from Aragorn had sparked his long forgotten hopes and brought them to the forefront of his mind.
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The mage's pondering was cut short when a wave of panic surged through the forest. He felt the inhabitants of the forest fled in fear from the area around their camp. Legolas did not need magic to know that the Orcs were attempting to hunt. As animals could sense the darkness in the soldiers, the Prince knew the hunt was bound to fail. He could guess the Orcs' motivation; the company did not carry anything that Aragorn could eat. Legolas had left their packs at the previous camp and the soldiers only carried rotten food that would undoubtedly make the Man sick.
The Prince was tempted to let Aragorn starve, but he knew Haldir would not be happy if the Lòrien Elf found out that he had mistreated the Man. There was also the fact that the Orcs were setting off his warning senses. With the soldiers trampling around, it was difficult for the mage to distinguish real threats from the panic the Orcs were causing. Given that his only friend and Aragorn were injured and defenseless, it was better to give the warriors a hand so they could stop this ruckus quickly. Legolas wanted all his senses functioning at their best after the disaster with the spiders that almost cost Haldir's life.
As much as he hated to acknowledge it, Legolas knew there was one more reason for his decision - a subconscious need to take care of the Man who held the key. This strange force was what stilled the Elf's hand when he tried to end Aragorn's life. It also prompted him to pack clothes for the naked Human before they left Dol guldur and dress his captive to keep him warm. The Prince suspected the magic locked up inside the Man had triggered this inexplicable phenomenon. But regardless of its cause, Legolas knew he must be extra careful so Aragorn would not learn of this weakness and use it against him.
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Aragorn was certain his soldiers would soon return from their fruitless hunt. He knew Orcs were not natural hunters. And as the company only had their supply of rotten bread, he would have to starve tonight. Legolas was probably too angry to remember that the Man needed food multiple times daily. Besides, the assassin would likely ignore his needs, using this as an opportunity to stress that he had Aragorn completely under his mercy.
The Man knew that because of Haldir, the Mirkwood Elf would not physically harm him again. But there were numerous ways for the assassin to make Aragorn's life difficult and uncomfortable. Letting him starve until he learnt a 'lesson in manners' seemed a distinct possibility. Though he had not eaten since he was taken from Dol Guldur three days ago, Aragorn was determined not to allow a little hunger get in his way of getting underneath the Prince's shield of ice. At this very moment, however, his treacherous body decided to protest as his stomach let out a very loud, unceremonious growl.
"Hungry, are we?" taunted a lilting voice from the depth of the woods. It would seem that Aragorn was right in assuming that the assassin would use his own needs against him. There was no way Aragorn would let him succeed.
Soon, the Prince became visible by the dim light of the fire, followed by the soldiers who went to hunt. Seeing the large stag his Orcs carried, the Man could not help his stomach from letting out another growl of approval. His soldiers had certainly surpassed his expectations. It was strange though that Legolas did not seem annoyed that his plans had been foiled. "Good work, men."
Narod, feeling that his leader should place the credit where it was due, even in this case, pointed out, "The assassin brought us the stag, my Lord."
To say Aragorn was surprised was an understatement. He knew Elves only hunt and eat meat on special occasions, in feasts they held for visitors and festivals. Since Legolas' current company was a human prisoner and a handful of Orcs, the assassin's behavior was far from normal. True, Haldir wanted his friend to treat the Man with respect, but save for one single smile, Legolas had shown absolutely no sign of friendliness towards him. And after Aragorn's 'amorous advance' earlier, the Elf certainly had no reason to start caring for his needs now.
It irked Aragorn intensely that he had yet to gain a firm grasp on his opponent's mentality. Thus far, Legolas was so full of contradictions that the Man could not begin to see the Elf's true self. On the surface, the strange creature was a cold-blooded assassin, betraying so little emotions that he seemed to exist only for his missions. Yet, the Prince had saved his Orcs and brought them fresh meat. Aragorn had never encountered anyone so baffling in all his experienced years of playing mind games. Understanding the necessity of knowing his enemy, the Man decided to chance angering Legolas again. "Why did you do it?"
"Do what?" replied the assassin coldly without looking up from his task of preparing Aragorn's dinner.
"Hunt," clarified the Man as he watched his opponent for any possible reactions. Studying the image before him, Aragorn realized he would have more pleasure out of this scheme than he first reckoned. By the flickering light of the flames, the Prince's lustrous mane resembled molten gold, a mass of shimmering silk inviting to the touch. His delicate, sculpted features were a perfect match to his rosy lips and glittering sapphires eyes framed with long lashes. To complete the package was his slender, supple body, with long shapely legs and tight, round buttocks. This Elf was born to be kissed and worshipped, perfection made flesh. Legolas was indeed a price worthy of the extra effort.
"The disturbance your people made was overloading my senses," answered the Prince nonchalantly as he set some meat from the freshly slaughtered animal over the fire. Trusting the assassin to see to their leader's needs, the Orcs began to make short works of the remainder of the carcass, tearing into the dead animal with their hands and consuming the meat raw. The Elf could not help frowning at their antics in disapproval.
"My people?" frowned the Man. Anyone with eyes could tell he was not an Orc. He knew the Elves thought of him as the 'Hope of Men', it was inconceivable for an Elven Prince to acknowledge Aragorn's ties to the Orcs, even if the said Man identified more with the Dark Lord's creatures than Humans.
"They raised you, right? They are the ones willing to fight and die for you. You can at least have the courtesy of acknowledging them as your own people," chastised the Prince, failing to keep his disappointment out of his voice. Though Legolas knew the Man cared more than he pretended, Aragorn's stubborn refusal to recognize his own feelings was beginning to chafe the Elf's patience. That again was another anomaly; the assassin had infinite patience with everything not concerning the Man.
Aragorn tried not to stare agape at the assassin, but failed. Elves thought Orcs were mindless monsters, not capable of feeling or loyalty. Of all Legolas' strange antics, this one astonished him the most. Lost for words, the usually eloquent Aragorn could only manage, "You are one strange Elf."
The comment earned a somewhat bitter laugh from the Prince. The Man could tell he had hit a nerve with his statement. Could it be that the Elves too considered Legolas as 'strange' as well? There was only one way to find out. "What's so funny?"
"Apparently, there is something you and the Elves can agree on," answered the assassin quietly before turning his focus completely onto watching the meat grilling over the fire.
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When Aragorn's dinner was ready, the Prince took the food and walked to the Man and Lòrien Elf. Laying the plate on the floor, Legolas first checked Haldir's bandages before giving the unconscious Guardian a sip of water. After seeing to his friend's needs, the Mirkwood Elf proceeded to help Aragorn eat. This was not a task Legolas particularly looked forward to, seeing how easily the Man could affect him. But the Prince needed to 'befriend' Aragorn if his words or actions were to have any effect in reaching the Hope of Men that was buried deep inside the Lord of Fire. Without sparing the Man a glance, Legolas lifted one of the skewers to Aragorn's mouth.
Chewing on his food thoughtfully, the Man considered his opponent's last statement. He was certain now that the assassin was an outcast, feared by his own people. This was indeed very conducive to his plans. An innocent who had never been courted was bound to be affected by sweet words and tender gestures, even if he was Legolas, cold-blooded assassin extraordinaire. It was time to put aside their previous quarrels and start anew. It was time to begin charming the Prince in earnest. "I meant what I said in a good way."
When the Mirkwood Elf frowned at him, the Man added, "Any other Elf would want me to join them and turn my back on my soldiers."
"If you are willing to do that, you are not the Hope of Men they want. A true leader will never abandon the people who believes in him and trusts him with their lives," replied Legolas with a smile. He was wary of Aragorn's intentions - his captive was being too nice to him. But this was an opportunity the Elf could not pass; this discussion could make Aragorn see he was not the mirror image of the Dark Lord he mistook for his sire.
"Do you think I am the one they are looking for?" asked Aragorn, wanting to know what his opponent truly thought of him. It would make planning his next moves much easier.
"Perhaps. You have potential," answered the Elf truthfully as he gazed into the Man's eyes.
"How so?" pressed the Man, interested. He had always thought Legolas was distrustful of him. He wondered if the assassin was more naïve than he originally anticipated.
"You seem to care about your soldiers, though you try to hide it," baited the Prince, knowing his statement would provoke some sort of reaction.
"I do care about my men," replied Aragorn, saying what he knew Legolas wanted to hear. For his icy demeanor, the Prince was as gullible as Haldir. The Man was certain he would have his prey in bed before they reached Mirkwood.
"Come on, Aragorn. Give me some credit. That act is not going to fool me," sighed the Mirkwood Elf, shaking his head at the Man. It would seem that Aragorn was still trying to gain his affections. Legolas wondered when the Man would learn that he would not betray his only friend over a potentially good time in bed.
"I don't understand," frowned the Man since the Elf's statement had thrown him off-balance. It seemed that Legolas knew he was lying; but if that were the case, why would the Elf think he cared about the Orcs? Something was not right.
"You said that because you want me to like you. You did not mean it at all. At least, not when you spoke those words just now," explained the Prince with a frown as if Aragorn was a dense child.
"Are you suggesting I am a liar?" demanded the Man, annoyed that his ploy had been discovered. While Legolas' condescending tone was an insult to his pride, what irritated Aragorn the most was that he could not figure out why the Elf was not angry with him for lying in an attempt to gain his favors. The last time he made a suggestive remark, Legolas stormed off. It would seem the Prince had returned prepared this time; things were not going as he planned
"I know you are a liar, Aragorn. There is no need to pretend with me," said the Prince calmly with a smile as he offered the incensed Man another spit of meat.
"If you know I am a heartless schemer, why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden?" exclaimed Aragorn in frustration. The Elf was toying with him again, deliberately baiting him to throw him off balance. Losing control over his emotions was unwise, but at that moment, Aragorn was too annoyed to care. He just knew he needed to wipe the infuriating smile off Legolas' face.
As if he could sense the Man's thoughts, the Elf stopped smiling, opting to hold Aragorn's eyes with a penetrating gaze instead. "I do it because there is someone worthwhile underneath all those layers of deceit and lies," answered Legolas, stating the truth plainly which he himself found hard to believe at times. But the Elf mage felt the conflict within the Man when he rescued Aragorn from the spiders - his magic would not lie. The Lord of Fire was not as wholly evil as he pretended to be.
"You think you are all-powerful, but you are as naïve as Haldir," mocked the Man with a bitter laugh. Once again, his words were counter-productive to his plan to turn Legolas into his sire's servant, but they came out before the Man could stop them. His pride would not allow the Elf to have the last word. Besides, irritation was clouding his judgment; his game of seducing the Prince was thrown to the back of his mind the moment his opponent exposed his scheme in the most exasperating manner.
"Maybe. But then, perhaps there is a reason for so many people to have such faith in you," replied the Prince as he cast a glance at his injured friend and in the direction where the Orc soldier sat.
For once in his life, the Man was at a complete lost for words in a game he started. He could not do what he wanted; spitting the truth in the Elf's face, yelling that his Orcs and Haldir were nothing more than pawns was not an option, especially not in his soldiers' presence. As much as he abhorred it, he would have to admit defeat this round. All Aragorn could do was take another bite of the food his captor offered sullenly, hoping the Prince would not gloat over him for his inability to make a worthy retort.
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As soon as Legolas won his first 'battle of words' against the Lord of Fire, his senses began to disobey him. His eyes in particular seemed to have developed a particular fascination with the Man's mouth. True that he had never seen a person ate and pouted at the same time, and Aragorn did it in an extremely attractive manner, he had no reason to pay this sort of attention to his best friend's lover. He should be alert to his surroundings, on a lookout for any signs of danger. As an assassin, he only knew how to kill and destroy; protecting twenty odd people was a task he had no experience with. He could not afford the distraction, even if the Man and Haldir were not together.
Soon, however, the Prince was distracted from his self-admonishment. A tiny morsel of meat had adhered itself to the corner of Aragorn's mouth. Despite the fact that his captive was a MAN, a Race known to be filthy, the speck affronted the Elf's sense of aesthetic cleanliness. Before he could stop himself, Legolas reached out; and with a gentle brush of his slender fingers removed the offending morsel from the Man's face.
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Fire shot through Aragorn's veins as the Prince's hand touched his skin. Never before had a single touch aroused such passion in him. Granted the Elf was exquisite, he was still an enemy until he was turned into a pawn. Besides, the Man was an expert in sexual innuendos and the pleasures of the flesh. A simple, chaste contact should not have the power to send conflagrations of lust through his entire body.
Before the Man realized it, instinct had guided his lips to capture Legolas' retreating fingers. The Elf's eyes widened in surprise as Aragorn suckled the slim digits seductively, drawing them deeper into the hot cavern of his mouth. The Man's steel-gray eyes bore into the Prince's sapphire orbs with an intense, lustful gaze that could set the coldest of hearts aflame.
Captivated, the Elf found himself immobilized by Aragorn's spell. It was becoming increasingly difficult to breathe with each stroke of the Man's tongue. Parting his lips to gasp for air, Legolas knew he was completely helpless against Aragorn's gentle assault. Even as his mind protested, the Prince's body was drawn closer to the Man's, unable to resist the promise of pleasure that had eluded him his entire life.
As much as Aragorn wanted to continue his current activities, the subtle invitation from Legolas' parted lips was too tempting to resist. Relinquishing his claim over the Elf's fingers, the Man leaned forward to taste the Prince's delectable lips. Like other Elves, Legolas tasted like cinnamon and honey, yet there was something different, a spice more exotic and addicting that set the Prince apart. Using his good arm to cradle the back of the Mirkwood Elf's head, Aragorn deepened the kiss, marking his territory in the golden beauty's mouth with aggressive thrusts of his tongue. The Prince moaned against the onslaught, but made no attempts to stop him. Legolas' acquiescence to his control sent electricity sizzling through Aragorn's body, arousing him more than he imagined possible. The Man knew he had to claim the Golden Elf now lest he exploded with need.
The magic of the moment, however, was broken when Haldir moaned softly in his slumber. Immediately, the Prince's mind regained control of his rebellious body, triumphing over the Lord of Fire's spell. Easily, the assassin freed himself from the Man's weak grip, jumping away as if he had been burnt. Without a backward glance, Legolas fled, mind overran with guilt and shame.
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No words could begin to describe how confused and mortified the Elf was over his alarming behavior. He had vowed to help Haldir, to make his only friend happy; but, tonight, he had almost betrayed the Lòrien Elf. The Prince could not believe he had allowed his 'subconscious need' to hold sway over him, making him susceptible to the Man's lecherous charms. He would have allowed Aragorn to have his way tonight, if not for the interruption. This was completely unacceptable! It was one thing to have an urge to treat the Man nicely; it was totally different matter to surrender his body to his only friend's lover. Though Legolas loathed forgoing his promise to bring the Hope of Men back for Haldir, he would stay as far away from Aragorn as possible for the remainder of the journey. He knew not what would happen if he gave the Man another chance to tempt him.
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Aragorn's first thought when the Prince left was to seek horrible vengeance on the person who interrupted their kiss. Yet, when he glanced at his lover, thinking to tell the Orcs to move the slumber Elf away from him, his anger melted. The cut on Haldir's head had started bleeding again, staining the once pristine bandages dark red. No wonder the Guardian of Lòrien had moaned in pain. Refusing to acknowledge the wave of tenderness he felt for the silver-haired beauty, he convinced himself that he was merely looking out for the interest of an 'asset' and gruffly ordered his soldiers to bring him some bandages. With his good hand, the Man pressed the wad of clean cloth against his lover's forehead to slow the bleeding. Cursing his inability to care for what 'belonged' to him, Aragorn told the Orcs to search for the missing assassin. Seducing Legolas could wait.
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Please, please review. Sorry for the late update, but I did an original draft where the character changes in Legolas were overly drastic; and both my beta and I agreed it is better to do a rewrite. The following chapter is the result - and I do apologize if the changes are still so dramatic that I seemed to have given my Elf a new 'personality'. All I can say is that the characters surprise themselves sometimes, even in this revised version =D Please, let me know what you think.
Just realized never noticed what time of day the previous two chapters were set at. But this one is definitely set at night.
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Chapter six:
Legolas' mind was still racing from his confrontation with the Man. But he has calmed enough to realize that Aragorn had managed to make him lose his composure yet again tonight. He now understood why his senses recognized the Man as a threat. It was not because Aragorn was his match in skills or strength; it was because the Man had the power to touch him in a way that none had before - Aragorn could make him feel. Before, only Haldir could bring emotions to his frosty heart; but those were merely small sparks, nothing compared to the blaze that the Man had aroused with seemingly no effort.
As an assassin and an aberration of nature, emotions were a burden, a danger to his meaningless, but 'peaceful' existence. Without his armor of ice, Legolas would long have perished from grief. Though the Prince did not fear death, he had vowed he would bring the Hope of Men back for Haldir. He could not afford to lose the tight rein over the remnants of his heart now. His only friend's happiness mattered too much to him. It was an inconvenience that Aragorn of all people was able to induce such overwhelming emotions in him. But now that he was aware of the danger the Man posed, he would learn to better control himself in the future. He was not going to let his 'opponent' catch him off guard again.
Shaking his head, the Prince tried to clear his mind and analyze the whole incident with his usual icy reserve, hoping to find some information he could use in future dealings with the Man. But, for some strange reason, his mind kept wandering back to the moment when Aragorn expressed interest in him. Even though he knew it was all part of a game for the Man, Legolas could not help but wonder how being kissed would feel like. Not by Aragorn, of course, since the Man was his only friend's lover, but by someone else who would not mind touching a creature like himself.
His sudden renewed interest in kissing astonished the stoic assassin. When the Prince was younger, he had sometimes wondered how it would feel to be desired. But he had not been successful at finding someone who was willing to help him satisfy his curiosity. It was partly because of the circumstances of his birth; but mainly, it was because he was unappealing. Legolas was a bit shorter and more willowy than most Elves. Unlike other males who were beautiful yet masculine, his face was too delicate. His eyes were too big and bright, a strange shade of dark sapphire different from normal Elves. Not to mention his hair had too much of a yellow tint; compared to his kin, he was like plain gold amidst a sea of perfect platinum. Legolas had long since resigned to the fact that he would never know the pleasures of the flesh. It was strange how a single remark from Aragorn had sparked his long forgotten hopes and brought them to the forefront of his mind.
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The mage's pondering was cut short when a wave of panic surged through the forest. He felt the inhabitants of the forest fled in fear from the area around their camp. Legolas did not need magic to know that the Orcs were attempting to hunt. As animals could sense the darkness in the soldiers, the Prince knew the hunt was bound to fail. He could guess the Orcs' motivation; the company did not carry anything that Aragorn could eat. Legolas had left their packs at the previous camp and the soldiers only carried rotten food that would undoubtedly make the Man sick.
The Prince was tempted to let Aragorn starve, but he knew Haldir would not be happy if the Lòrien Elf found out that he had mistreated the Man. There was also the fact that the Orcs were setting off his warning senses. With the soldiers trampling around, it was difficult for the mage to distinguish real threats from the panic the Orcs were causing. Given that his only friend and Aragorn were injured and defenseless, it was better to give the warriors a hand so they could stop this ruckus quickly. Legolas wanted all his senses functioning at their best after the disaster with the spiders that almost cost Haldir's life.
As much as he hated to acknowledge it, Legolas knew there was one more reason for his decision - a subconscious need to take care of the Man who held the key. This strange force was what stilled the Elf's hand when he tried to end Aragorn's life. It also prompted him to pack clothes for the naked Human before they left Dol guldur and dress his captive to keep him warm. The Prince suspected the magic locked up inside the Man had triggered this inexplicable phenomenon. But regardless of its cause, Legolas knew he must be extra careful so Aragorn would not learn of this weakness and use it against him.
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Aragorn was certain his soldiers would soon return from their fruitless hunt. He knew Orcs were not natural hunters. And as the company only had their supply of rotten bread, he would have to starve tonight. Legolas was probably too angry to remember that the Man needed food multiple times daily. Besides, the assassin would likely ignore his needs, using this as an opportunity to stress that he had Aragorn completely under his mercy.
The Man knew that because of Haldir, the Mirkwood Elf would not physically harm him again. But there were numerous ways for the assassin to make Aragorn's life difficult and uncomfortable. Letting him starve until he learnt a 'lesson in manners' seemed a distinct possibility. Though he had not eaten since he was taken from Dol Guldur three days ago, Aragorn was determined not to allow a little hunger get in his way of getting underneath the Prince's shield of ice. At this very moment, however, his treacherous body decided to protest as his stomach let out a very loud, unceremonious growl.
"Hungry, are we?" taunted a lilting voice from the depth of the woods. It would seem that Aragorn was right in assuming that the assassin would use his own needs against him. There was no way Aragorn would let him succeed.
Soon, the Prince became visible by the dim light of the fire, followed by the soldiers who went to hunt. Seeing the large stag his Orcs carried, the Man could not help his stomach from letting out another growl of approval. His soldiers had certainly surpassed his expectations. It was strange though that Legolas did not seem annoyed that his plans had been foiled. "Good work, men."
Narod, feeling that his leader should place the credit where it was due, even in this case, pointed out, "The assassin brought us the stag, my Lord."
To say Aragorn was surprised was an understatement. He knew Elves only hunt and eat meat on special occasions, in feasts they held for visitors and festivals. Since Legolas' current company was a human prisoner and a handful of Orcs, the assassin's behavior was far from normal. True, Haldir wanted his friend to treat the Man with respect, but save for one single smile, Legolas had shown absolutely no sign of friendliness towards him. And after Aragorn's 'amorous advance' earlier, the Elf certainly had no reason to start caring for his needs now.
It irked Aragorn intensely that he had yet to gain a firm grasp on his opponent's mentality. Thus far, Legolas was so full of contradictions that the Man could not begin to see the Elf's true self. On the surface, the strange creature was a cold-blooded assassin, betraying so little emotions that he seemed to exist only for his missions. Yet, the Prince had saved his Orcs and brought them fresh meat. Aragorn had never encountered anyone so baffling in all his experienced years of playing mind games. Understanding the necessity of knowing his enemy, the Man decided to chance angering Legolas again. "Why did you do it?"
"Do what?" replied the assassin coldly without looking up from his task of preparing Aragorn's dinner.
"Hunt," clarified the Man as he watched his opponent for any possible reactions. Studying the image before him, Aragorn realized he would have more pleasure out of this scheme than he first reckoned. By the flickering light of the flames, the Prince's lustrous mane resembled molten gold, a mass of shimmering silk inviting to the touch. His delicate, sculpted features were a perfect match to his rosy lips and glittering sapphires eyes framed with long lashes. To complete the package was his slender, supple body, with long shapely legs and tight, round buttocks. This Elf was born to be kissed and worshipped, perfection made flesh. Legolas was indeed a price worthy of the extra effort.
"The disturbance your people made was overloading my senses," answered the Prince nonchalantly as he set some meat from the freshly slaughtered animal over the fire. Trusting the assassin to see to their leader's needs, the Orcs began to make short works of the remainder of the carcass, tearing into the dead animal with their hands and consuming the meat raw. The Elf could not help frowning at their antics in disapproval.
"My people?" frowned the Man. Anyone with eyes could tell he was not an Orc. He knew the Elves thought of him as the 'Hope of Men', it was inconceivable for an Elven Prince to acknowledge Aragorn's ties to the Orcs, even if the said Man identified more with the Dark Lord's creatures than Humans.
"They raised you, right? They are the ones willing to fight and die for you. You can at least have the courtesy of acknowledging them as your own people," chastised the Prince, failing to keep his disappointment out of his voice. Though Legolas knew the Man cared more than he pretended, Aragorn's stubborn refusal to recognize his own feelings was beginning to chafe the Elf's patience. That again was another anomaly; the assassin had infinite patience with everything not concerning the Man.
Aragorn tried not to stare agape at the assassin, but failed. Elves thought Orcs were mindless monsters, not capable of feeling or loyalty. Of all Legolas' strange antics, this one astonished him the most. Lost for words, the usually eloquent Aragorn could only manage, "You are one strange Elf."
The comment earned a somewhat bitter laugh from the Prince. The Man could tell he had hit a nerve with his statement. Could it be that the Elves too considered Legolas as 'strange' as well? There was only one way to find out. "What's so funny?"
"Apparently, there is something you and the Elves can agree on," answered the assassin quietly before turning his focus completely onto watching the meat grilling over the fire.
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When Aragorn's dinner was ready, the Prince took the food and walked to the Man and Lòrien Elf. Laying the plate on the floor, Legolas first checked Haldir's bandages before giving the unconscious Guardian a sip of water. After seeing to his friend's needs, the Mirkwood Elf proceeded to help Aragorn eat. This was not a task Legolas particularly looked forward to, seeing how easily the Man could affect him. But the Prince needed to 'befriend' Aragorn if his words or actions were to have any effect in reaching the Hope of Men that was buried deep inside the Lord of Fire. Without sparing the Man a glance, Legolas lifted one of the skewers to Aragorn's mouth.
Chewing on his food thoughtfully, the Man considered his opponent's last statement. He was certain now that the assassin was an outcast, feared by his own people. This was indeed very conducive to his plans. An innocent who had never been courted was bound to be affected by sweet words and tender gestures, even if he was Legolas, cold-blooded assassin extraordinaire. It was time to put aside their previous quarrels and start anew. It was time to begin charming the Prince in earnest. "I meant what I said in a good way."
When the Mirkwood Elf frowned at him, the Man added, "Any other Elf would want me to join them and turn my back on my soldiers."
"If you are willing to do that, you are not the Hope of Men they want. A true leader will never abandon the people who believes in him and trusts him with their lives," replied Legolas with a smile. He was wary of Aragorn's intentions - his captive was being too nice to him. But this was an opportunity the Elf could not pass; this discussion could make Aragorn see he was not the mirror image of the Dark Lord he mistook for his sire.
"Do you think I am the one they are looking for?" asked Aragorn, wanting to know what his opponent truly thought of him. It would make planning his next moves much easier.
"Perhaps. You have potential," answered the Elf truthfully as he gazed into the Man's eyes.
"How so?" pressed the Man, interested. He had always thought Legolas was distrustful of him. He wondered if the assassin was more naïve than he originally anticipated.
"You seem to care about your soldiers, though you try to hide it," baited the Prince, knowing his statement would provoke some sort of reaction.
"I do care about my men," replied Aragorn, saying what he knew Legolas wanted to hear. For his icy demeanor, the Prince was as gullible as Haldir. The Man was certain he would have his prey in bed before they reached Mirkwood.
"Come on, Aragorn. Give me some credit. That act is not going to fool me," sighed the Mirkwood Elf, shaking his head at the Man. It would seem that Aragorn was still trying to gain his affections. Legolas wondered when the Man would learn that he would not betray his only friend over a potentially good time in bed.
"I don't understand," frowned the Man since the Elf's statement had thrown him off-balance. It seemed that Legolas knew he was lying; but if that were the case, why would the Elf think he cared about the Orcs? Something was not right.
"You said that because you want me to like you. You did not mean it at all. At least, not when you spoke those words just now," explained the Prince with a frown as if Aragorn was a dense child.
"Are you suggesting I am a liar?" demanded the Man, annoyed that his ploy had been discovered. While Legolas' condescending tone was an insult to his pride, what irritated Aragorn the most was that he could not figure out why the Elf was not angry with him for lying in an attempt to gain his favors. The last time he made a suggestive remark, Legolas stormed off. It would seem the Prince had returned prepared this time; things were not going as he planned
"I know you are a liar, Aragorn. There is no need to pretend with me," said the Prince calmly with a smile as he offered the incensed Man another spit of meat.
"If you know I am a heartless schemer, why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden?" exclaimed Aragorn in frustration. The Elf was toying with him again, deliberately baiting him to throw him off balance. Losing control over his emotions was unwise, but at that moment, Aragorn was too annoyed to care. He just knew he needed to wipe the infuriating smile off Legolas' face.
As if he could sense the Man's thoughts, the Elf stopped smiling, opting to hold Aragorn's eyes with a penetrating gaze instead. "I do it because there is someone worthwhile underneath all those layers of deceit and lies," answered Legolas, stating the truth plainly which he himself found hard to believe at times. But the Elf mage felt the conflict within the Man when he rescued Aragorn from the spiders - his magic would not lie. The Lord of Fire was not as wholly evil as he pretended to be.
"You think you are all-powerful, but you are as naïve as Haldir," mocked the Man with a bitter laugh. Once again, his words were counter-productive to his plan to turn Legolas into his sire's servant, but they came out before the Man could stop them. His pride would not allow the Elf to have the last word. Besides, irritation was clouding his judgment; his game of seducing the Prince was thrown to the back of his mind the moment his opponent exposed his scheme in the most exasperating manner.
"Maybe. But then, perhaps there is a reason for so many people to have such faith in you," replied the Prince as he cast a glance at his injured friend and in the direction where the Orc soldier sat.
For once in his life, the Man was at a complete lost for words in a game he started. He could not do what he wanted; spitting the truth in the Elf's face, yelling that his Orcs and Haldir were nothing more than pawns was not an option, especially not in his soldiers' presence. As much as he abhorred it, he would have to admit defeat this round. All Aragorn could do was take another bite of the food his captor offered sullenly, hoping the Prince would not gloat over him for his inability to make a worthy retort.
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As soon as Legolas won his first 'battle of words' against the Lord of Fire, his senses began to disobey him. His eyes in particular seemed to have developed a particular fascination with the Man's mouth. True that he had never seen a person ate and pouted at the same time, and Aragorn did it in an extremely attractive manner, he had no reason to pay this sort of attention to his best friend's lover. He should be alert to his surroundings, on a lookout for any signs of danger. As an assassin, he only knew how to kill and destroy; protecting twenty odd people was a task he had no experience with. He could not afford the distraction, even if the Man and Haldir were not together.
Soon, however, the Prince was distracted from his self-admonishment. A tiny morsel of meat had adhered itself to the corner of Aragorn's mouth. Despite the fact that his captive was a MAN, a Race known to be filthy, the speck affronted the Elf's sense of aesthetic cleanliness. Before he could stop himself, Legolas reached out; and with a gentle brush of his slender fingers removed the offending morsel from the Man's face.
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Fire shot through Aragorn's veins as the Prince's hand touched his skin. Never before had a single touch aroused such passion in him. Granted the Elf was exquisite, he was still an enemy until he was turned into a pawn. Besides, the Man was an expert in sexual innuendos and the pleasures of the flesh. A simple, chaste contact should not have the power to send conflagrations of lust through his entire body.
Before the Man realized it, instinct had guided his lips to capture Legolas' retreating fingers. The Elf's eyes widened in surprise as Aragorn suckled the slim digits seductively, drawing them deeper into the hot cavern of his mouth. The Man's steel-gray eyes bore into the Prince's sapphire orbs with an intense, lustful gaze that could set the coldest of hearts aflame.
Captivated, the Elf found himself immobilized by Aragorn's spell. It was becoming increasingly difficult to breathe with each stroke of the Man's tongue. Parting his lips to gasp for air, Legolas knew he was completely helpless against Aragorn's gentle assault. Even as his mind protested, the Prince's body was drawn closer to the Man's, unable to resist the promise of pleasure that had eluded him his entire life.
As much as Aragorn wanted to continue his current activities, the subtle invitation from Legolas' parted lips was too tempting to resist. Relinquishing his claim over the Elf's fingers, the Man leaned forward to taste the Prince's delectable lips. Like other Elves, Legolas tasted like cinnamon and honey, yet there was something different, a spice more exotic and addicting that set the Prince apart. Using his good arm to cradle the back of the Mirkwood Elf's head, Aragorn deepened the kiss, marking his territory in the golden beauty's mouth with aggressive thrusts of his tongue. The Prince moaned against the onslaught, but made no attempts to stop him. Legolas' acquiescence to his control sent electricity sizzling through Aragorn's body, arousing him more than he imagined possible. The Man knew he had to claim the Golden Elf now lest he exploded with need.
The magic of the moment, however, was broken when Haldir moaned softly in his slumber. Immediately, the Prince's mind regained control of his rebellious body, triumphing over the Lord of Fire's spell. Easily, the assassin freed himself from the Man's weak grip, jumping away as if he had been burnt. Without a backward glance, Legolas fled, mind overran with guilt and shame.
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No words could begin to describe how confused and mortified the Elf was over his alarming behavior. He had vowed to help Haldir, to make his only friend happy; but, tonight, he had almost betrayed the Lòrien Elf. The Prince could not believe he had allowed his 'subconscious need' to hold sway over him, making him susceptible to the Man's lecherous charms. He would have allowed Aragorn to have his way tonight, if not for the interruption. This was completely unacceptable! It was one thing to have an urge to treat the Man nicely; it was totally different matter to surrender his body to his only friend's lover. Though Legolas loathed forgoing his promise to bring the Hope of Men back for Haldir, he would stay as far away from Aragorn as possible for the remainder of the journey. He knew not what would happen if he gave the Man another chance to tempt him.
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Aragorn's first thought when the Prince left was to seek horrible vengeance on the person who interrupted their kiss. Yet, when he glanced at his lover, thinking to tell the Orcs to move the slumber Elf away from him, his anger melted. The cut on Haldir's head had started bleeding again, staining the once pristine bandages dark red. No wonder the Guardian of Lòrien had moaned in pain. Refusing to acknowledge the wave of tenderness he felt for the silver-haired beauty, he convinced himself that he was merely looking out for the interest of an 'asset' and gruffly ordered his soldiers to bring him some bandages. With his good hand, the Man pressed the wad of clean cloth against his lover's forehead to slow the bleeding. Cursing his inability to care for what 'belonged' to him, Aragorn told the Orcs to search for the missing assassin. Seducing Legolas could wait.
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