The next time I saw Elrond or Rivendale was at the council meeting, I had received a letter from Elrond asking me urgently to come to Rivendale on the matter of the utmost importance. I had already met Aragorn by now he had come to visit Mirkwood in his youth some seventy years ago, and we had quickly become friends much to my fathers disappointment, as he viewed Elrond's charge with the same contempt as the Lord himself. I was not ready to see him as a man, to see that no matter how he tried his majesty shone through. That was why I spoke out at the council as I did, that man did not even deserve to be included in our council let alone the next in line for the stewardship of Gondor. My rash words earned me a disapproving look from my old friend as he bade me sit. It was a few hours later when he finally caught up with me, I was walking through the forest remembering my time with Elrond when he suddenly shouted to me.
"Legolas wait!" He rushed to catch me up, "How are you old friend?" he asked pulling me into a deep embrace.
"I am well Aragorn, and you?" I asked as we parted.
"Oh Legolas it is so good to see you, and to be here in Rivendale."
"I have heard all about your adventures with the rangers, and the hobbits of course."
"Yes a lot has changed since I saw you last, but you, you look just like I remember you." He smiled widely. We started to walk and he talked about what he had been doing, at last we came to a stop.
"Legolas?"
"Yes?"
"About earlier at the meeting…" he trailed off.
"Ahh yes I did wonder when you might bring that up, and I am sorry for telling Boromir of your heritage, it was your right and yours alone." I bowed my head slightly, suddenly embarrassed by my rash actions earlier.
"You do not need to apologise, dear Legolas," he lifted my chin with his hand and we stared into each others eyes. A moment seemed to stretch across eternity as we got lost in each others eyes, I could not break the spell and I knew then that I had found my one true love.
"Aragorn?" A female voice called, quickly he turned away to face Arwen. "there you are father has been looking for you.
"Arwen how are you?" I asked despairing at their closeness
"I am well Legolas, have you told him Aragorn?"
"No I … uhh." He stumbled not looking at me.
"We are to be betrothed." She revealed the joy clear in her words.
"Betrothed?" I could scarcely believe it, the pain that news brought I might as well loved him for a centaury not a mere handful of moments, quickly I smiled and congratulated them although Aragorn did not look pleased at Awren's sudden announcement. She pulled him away by the arm. I stood and watched them leave staring at nothing for a long time until the light started to fade.
As dusk fell I slowly began to walk away I felt as if I was in a dream, on the one hand I felt this unimaginable love bloom within me and I knew I should be singing from the tree tops after so long I had found my one true love. But on the other hand I felt like I could no longer bare to live, the man I now loved so completely was in love with another, and more than that they were getting married, bound together for all time. This could not be happening to me. Glancing around I saw them together, below me, standing on a small bridge bathed in moonlight, I caught the sound of their whispered words and the love that filled them, and then she was giving something to him, with a start I realised that it was her pendant, her life her love her immortality, there was no way I could compete with that.
"Legolas," a voice whispered by my ear I span round to come face to face with Elrond, "Let us leave them." He said guiding me by the arm back towards the last homely house. We walked silently through the halls as he guided me to my rooms once inside he started to speak.
"His love for her wanes even as we speak."
"I do not understand?" He couldn't know.
"Your love has been foreseen, my dear sweet Legolas everything will work out you'll see." He moved closer and embraced me, we stood there for a long time silently remembering what had been, and he poured his strength into me for the trials yet to come.
A month or more had passed and finally the fellowship was ready to head out, a large number of people had gathered to bid us farewell, Elrond and Arwen among them.
"We all wish you well," Elrond's voice rang clear, "May your feet stay strong and your heads clear." The hobbits started to file out Gandalf beside them.
"Aragorn!" Arwen called "Be strong." He smiled and turned to follow Gimli and Boromir out of the gate.
"Legolas my sweet," Elrond caught me with a loving gaze, "All roads lead to the west." I nodded and turned, I knew what he was saying, he was telling me to be strong and that everything would work out, I had felt the burden lift as I shared my feelings with him over the last month he had made me strong again and for that I am eternally grateful.
I hung back for those first days keeping my distance from everyone, watching them as they talked and planned our journey ahead it seemed my counsel was not needed as it was never asked for, so I remained alert at all times doing the only thing I could to help our plight. Night had fallen and I hung back away from the warmth of the fire as normal all but hidden in shadow, Aragorn had taken the first watch and on seeing me beckoned me closer to the fire to sit beside him.
"Are you cold?" He asked me as I sat beside him.
"No."
"I am," he admitted, "There is a bitter wind."
"Yeah there is, you should sit closer to the fire."
"If I sit any closer I'll lose my eyebrows." He laughed, "you don't mind if I…" He inched closer.
"Not at all, I uh…" He shifted closer still and tentatively I put my arm around him, my heart missed a beat when he relaxed and lent his back fully against my chest, we sat in a comfortable silence for a moment as Aragorn's face clouded with thought.
"What are you thinking about?"
"When we left Rivendale Lord Elrond spoke to you."
"Yeah,"
"Why did he call you Legolas my sweet?"
"It was a difficult parting for us both, the quest could easily claim my life and we were close once."
"You must have been very close, its an endearment I've rarely heard him use."
"There was a time when we were intimate."
"What?" Aragorn asked moving away from me to face me, "you and Elrond, never!"
"Ssh you'll wake the others," he chuckled and much to my relief returned to lean against me. "What is so unbelievable about it?"
"Well I have never known him take a lover, throughout my life he has gone without."
"He has?" Surely not?
"Yes I asked him about it once and he said that he had lost someone very special recently and that he was not ready to make that commitment again."
"I had no idea, we were only together for a few months close to ninety years ago."
"He must of loved you greatly."
"He never appeared to, but I guess your right."
We sat quietly for what seemed like forever him leaning against me my arms around him, eventually he rose to wake Gimli his watch over, and he made me promise to get some sleep.
It was in Moria where our relationship seemed to turn, the mines were so dark, so lifeless I felt like I was drowning doomed never to see the sky again, I tried more easily and resting was impossible, I barely eat and spoke even less. We had stopped for our third night, assuming it was night of course, oh how I longed to see life again. Aragorn had taken first watch and he came over to where I sat huddled in a dark corner.
"Legolas," worry coloured his words, "are you alright."
"I'm fi…"
"No your not," he cut me off, he sat beside me and pulled me into a tight embrace, I felt so safe in his arms like I could tell him everything and I didn't have to be the unmoveable Legolas always silent and strong, with Aragorn I could just be afraid. I started to weep gently, he soothed me and stroked my hair, it was almost as if he loved me. After a moment I pulled away.
"Sorry."
"Don't be, I can't imagine how hard it is for you to be trapped down here."
"This whole place is tainted with death, I feel… it's like I can't move its pulling me down and I can't breathe."
"Its okay," he took my face in his hands, "I'm here and I am not going to let anything happen to you." I smiled wearily at him, suddenly feeling so tired.
"Have you been able to rest?"
"No."
"Come here and lie down." I did as he asked and laid down my head on his lap, he stroked my hair and whispered in Elvish to me until I could finally rest. I slept better that night than I had in such a long time.
