Disclaimer: I do not own LotR.
Warnings: Slash, A/L.
Sorry 'bout all grammar and/or spelling mistakes.
Man, I'm extremely tired. Grrrawr. Makes me mad cuz it's only 3:30am (typed this after the whole fic again… why do I do this every time…?) and I can usually stay up so much later. ..:shakes head:.. But… what was I going to say…
Sorry 'bout the wait. I woulda updated sooner, but it's been next to impossible to get on the comp for a long period of time, with volleyball and school and whatnot. On game nights I don't even get home 'til around ten… ..:shrugs:.. Volleyball's fun so it's all good… for the most part.
Oh, and thank you to empath89 for the 100th review! n.n You definitely deserve thanks... for reviewing for all of my fics, and, I think, every chapter. I've said this a few times now, so I think I shall leave it at that. Just know that I really do appreciate it. n.n Took a while to get to 100, but I'm just grateful that I was able to with this fic. n.n Thanks everyone for all your encouraging reviews. Please keep them coming! n.n
I know there was something else… It was more important than that ish, too… ..:ponders:.. Ow, not a good idea when you're tired… or when you're me. XD ..:scratches head:.. Yeah, sleep looks good right about now…
I really wish I could remember… Prob'ly will after I post this… usually how it works. XD
Heart's Truth
Chapter Sixteen: Need
"Legolas!" Aragorn shouted, turning left and right, frantically searching for his lover while floating down the river. When he had broke the surface after jumping in he had lost sight of the elf and feared the worst.
His heart beat wildly in his chest as it tried to keep up with his fear and panicky movements.
"Legolas!" he repeated. This time he saw something floating on the river's surface; it looked like a body. It wasn't moving.
Oh Valar, no. No no no no no! he thought frightened as he dived under the water, taking him quicker to where the blonde was.
The human surfaced again, gasping for air, looking around again. To his utter relief he found Legolas a few feet ahead of him.
He quickly swam over to his elf, the current causing it to take longer than it usually would have.
Grabbing a hold of Legolas' arm, he pulled the archer close and then fought the current back to land.
Once there he laid Legolas down gently, knowing he had probably acquired some type of injury.
Aragorn had no time to catch his breath as he realized – to his horror – that his lover wasn't breathing. He pounded against the blonde's chest, tilting his head back as he breathed into him desperately. He had to live! He had to! How could this have happened? He should have been paying more attention!
Relief washed through him when the elf took a big gasp of air and suddenly started coughing.
Aragorn immediately turned Legolas onto his side, allowing him to cough the water up without choking on it.
Upon turning him over he frowned when he noticed the archer's arm was at an odd angle. He must have broken it by hitting the rocks at the bottom of the river. It had been fortunate that he had taken hold of the uninjured one.
"Legolas are you alright now?" the ranger tried after the coughs subsided.
Getting no response only caused his worry to deepen. Seeing his elf's eyes flicker, but not open, he gently moved the blonde, wet hair out of his face and behind his pointed ear.
He felt a different type of wetness, a sticky wetness that caused a deep frown to crease his features. Looking at his hand he realized it was blood.
Inspecting the area of the archer's head that he had brushed against, he found a cut.
"Legolas open your eyes!" he exclaimed becoming panicked despite himself as he watched the elf wheeze. He supposed they had been pushing their luck with no injuries for almost two months while in the forest. Still, why was it always Legolas!
Legolas heard the human's desperate plea, which sounded far away, and had to obey, no matter how much pain it caused his spitting head.
He finally opened them half-way; he wasn't going to bother trying anymore, his exhausted body already passed its endurance. "I'm… fine…" he said quietly, trying to reassure the human.
Aragorn let out a breath of relief and smiled at his lover.
"Do not cry, love," Legolas said when he realized what the wetness was that he felt fall onto his outstretched hand beneath him. He was struggling now to keep his eyes open.
The human touched his cheek. He hadn't even noticed the clear liquid was racing down his face.
He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath, exhaling shakily. He reopened them, looking at his elf. "I was frightened, Legolas. I thought I was going to lose you."
"Forgive me…" the young elf said slowly, his eyes closing.
"Legolas!" the ranger said with concern. Before he had a chance to say anything else there was another shout of the elf's name from someone coming their way.
Aragorn wasn't able to look up before the horses were behind him and an elf was beside him, panic-stricken. He knew who it was before he was even by him, for he had recognized the voice of Thranduil.
Quickly taking charge of the situation, even if it wasn't going to be appreciated by the elf king, the human asked, "You brought a healer, right?"
Immediately, an elf with long, reddish blonde hair stepped forward after dismounting.
He was the healer.
"Hand me your supplies," Aragorn ordered, his only concern being Legolas.
The healer already had the supplies in hand and started to give them to the ranger. He did not know how injured his prince was.
When Thranduil started to protest this action, wanting his own healer to take care of his son, Aragorn cut him off. "I am well-versed in the healing arts," he said sourly, glancing at the elf king with a glare. He would allow no one else to treat his lover. He was going to do it, even if the others had a problem with it.
Thranduil seethed silently, keeping his mouth shut for now. All he wanted at the moment was for his son to be treated. It looked like Legolas' arm was broken and he seemed pale – though he had before too – but other than that he looked alright… from what he could see.
He was also extremely grateful for the human saving Legolas' life. He didn't know what he would do if he were to lose his son, it had been bad enough with the loss of his wife.
Aragorn had quickly grabbed the supplies from the strawberry-blonde elf and got to work. He had ordered one of the warriors – or perhaps the healer, he hadn't been paying attention – to get a long, straight stick he could use as a splint for Legolas' broken arm.
He focused solely on his lover, glad that no one tried to stop him further and glad that the archer's injuries weren't worse than they were with only a broken arm and a slight concussion. He had definitely received a lot worse.
Thranduil watched as the human worked feverishly on his son, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. He watched as he took his utmost care with the injuries, treating them gently, almost with a soft caress. He was amazed at the amount of tenderness the human showed. Looking closer at Aragorn's face, he was shocked to see a trail of tears stained onto his rough, but handsome features.
He didn't know what to make of it. He didn't know the ranger care that much for the young elf, to shed tears for him. It was unbelievable. It really made him question his earlier thoughts, the thoughts he had had since first meeting the human; the thoughts that told him Aragorn was heartless and fickle. Would someone cry over another if they were heartless, especially when the one they cried for wasn't even hurt that badly… well, compared to normal?
He didn't think so.
Aragorn finished with a sigh of relief as he gave the remaining supplies back to the healer in appreciation. The healer then got to work on the warriors, treating the wounded.
He gently brushed Legolas' golden, water soaked hair away from his face.
The elf had lost consciousness before the elf king had even arrived, but Aragorn knew the archer's injuries were not life-threatening and that was why he had sighed with relief. Almost losing his lover to the darkness of the river had terrified him beyond what he thought was possible. Almost as much as it had when the elf had came so close to death from the poison.
Thranduil looked down at his son's face, grateful for the ranger's quick actions.
He decided they all needed a break and told everyone to rest. Besides, it was nighttime; they should have long since set-up camp and should have eaten. Because of this he sent some warriors off to find some game after they had started a fire.
Aragorn had carried Legolas away from the river's edge and next to the warm fire. Both of their clothes were still dripping with water, their hair matted to their skin.
The human sat next to his lover, keeping a close eye on him, not wanting to leave his side.
At first Aragorn hadn't noticed the cold breath of the wind as he fought to calm down his panic when he had dragged Legolas out of the freezing water and then as he treated him.
However, now he was shivering violently, as his body fought to warm itself, clothes still clinging heavily onto his skin, arms wrapped around himself. He hadn't wanted to leave Legolas and still didn't.
His teeth chattered now, even as he tried to force them to stop.
Suddenly there was a hand on his shoulder and he jumped at the contact, not hearing the light footsteps. He turned to see Thranduil behind him.
"You need to dry off," the elf king said indifferently.
When Aragorn shook his head and nodded towards Legolas, the elder elf continued, acting as though he hadn't declined. "Your horse is over there." He pointed to an area where most of the horses were grazing. "Go," he commanded, though surprisingly gently.
The human knew he had no other choice. Besides, there was no harm in changing and becoming warm, for his would be able to help his lover more with steady hands. He could also grab some clothes for Legolas.
He stood stiffly and, sending a wistful look at the unconscious archer, he started towards his horse.
He was stopped, however, by a hand catching onto his wrist.
When he turned Thranduil immediately let go and lowered his head as if in shame.
Aragorn tilted his head in confusion, wondering what could possibly be going through the elf king's mind.
Thranduil lifted his head after a moment, having gained his wits, and gave the ranger a smile. "Hannon le, Estel," he said gratefully, using the human's name for the first time since who knew when. To say the truth the ranger hadn't even been sure if the elf king had remembered it.
Aragorn was beyond shocked by this and didn't know how he should respond. That had to be a good sign, right? That Thranduil had not only thanked him, but had called him by his name? His name!
Finally he just nodded his head, unable to work his tongue properly and not wanting to offend the elf king somehow.
Thranduil smiled and let him go change.
The human returned the smile and then continued to his horse in awe.
Drying and changing quickly, the ranger wasted no time to be back by his lover's side. His hair was still wet but there was nothing he could do about that.
Aragorn looked at Thranduil uncertainly, holding Legolas' clothes in hand.
The elder elf blinked at the human at first, not knowing what he intended to do. Then he saw his son's clothes in his hands. As much as he hated it, he nodded his head and let the ranger do what was needed. Legolas needed dry clothes almost as much as the human did at the moment, and it was never comfortable to be in wet clothes.
Aragorn said nothing, quickly taking off the younger elf's clothes. Drying him off, careful of his broken arm, he changed his clothes, just as carefully.
Thranduil decided that he should go get some food for the three of them, food for Legolas just in case he woke up.
Aragorn set the wet clothes down off to the side and settled himself down next to his lover's body again, by the side that was away from the fire, not wanting to take his elf's heat.
The ranger took the pale, slender hand into his own, giving Legolas comfort as well as himself as he sat still there shivering in the cold, waiting for him to wake.
Minutes later the human was startled to feel something warm drape over his shoulders; he instinctively pulled it tighter around himself.
Grateful for the warmth, he turned to look at who had given him the blanket. Before he could bother to turn his head, however, the elf sat next to him. Once again the human found that it was Thranduil who had helped him.
He's being really nice. I do not know if I should be grateful or wary, he thought confused. Either way, he did appreciate the warmth that the blanket provided. "Hannon le, hir-nin," he said quietly.
"Of course. I would not want Legolas to know that I let you contract a human illness," Thranduil said with a joking smile.
Aragorn couldn't believe his ears. Had he really heard the elf king joke? This was even more of a shock than the stubborn elf helping him. With how the elder elf had reacted to his and Legolas' jest he hadn't even been too sure if the king even knew what a joke was.
The human laughed despite his shock and squeezed his lover's hand, as if telling him things were improving.
Thranduil actually laughed seeing the human's expression of surprise.
Aragorn smiled widely at the elf king's new attitude. Was he that relieved over his son being found and being – for the most part – alright? That was truly a foolish question.
Wake up soon, love. Wake up and see how your father is acting. You would love to see it, the ranger thought. He knew the elf didn't see Thranduil like this often – if at all – and it was a shame that he had to miss it. He just prayed the elf king would continue his good nature. The elder elf's laugh was so light-hearted you'd think he had no worries. He was glad Thranduil let him see this side of him.
Looking up at the elf king again, he clearly saw the mirth in the tear-filled eyes from laughing so hard. He hadn't laughed in so long; it felt amazing and he couldn't stop himself. He just wished his son could have seen the human's expression!
After a minute the elf king was able to compose himself, seeing the worry plastered on the human's face while he watched Legolas, having decided to check up on him after the king's laughter had continued. He wanted to apologize to his son for what he had said, and actually mean it this time. He had forgotten how easily he could lose Legolas. He even wished to apologize to the ranger for it, but he just couldn't.
Instead he just squeezed Aragorn's shoulder in comfort.
Thranduil wasn't the only one who needed Legolas.
Sooo… what do ya think? I'm… not so sure. You peoples need to tell me what you think, 'kay?
I also have most of the next chapter written out; you just need to review and tell me you want it. n.n;; I would type it up now, but I'm extremely tired and am goin' to go to bed. Hate school, man. Makes ya tired from having to get up so early and gives you next to no time for writing, especially with volleyball. ;-; ..:sighs:.. I shall continue to write whenever I can, though! I usually do during ten-minute break before art actually… Only cuz it's extra close to the period before that… yeah, I'm rambling now… See, I'm extra tired. ;-;
I was planning on typing up both fics tonight, but I'm tired so… I sorry. I woulda done it last night, but… I was even more tired. ..:sighs:.. Whatever. Oh, and right now I don't have responses written, sorry, but… as I said before… too tired, need sleep. I'll do them tomorrow, today, whatever it is…
Just don't forget to let me know what you think please? n.n
Ja ne