These Are The Days

Firstly, I am hereby admitting that I do NOT own anything from Lord of the Rings and am unfortunately not making any profit on this at all. I'm doing this strictly for amusement and to test my writing skills a bit.

Secondly, I want to thank anyone who clicked on this story, but like the summary says, this is not a story for Tolkien Purists. Please know that "These Are The Days" is not going to be completely canon and I'm sure that there will be elements that are inaccurate. However, this idea came to me and I thought I'd give it a try for those of you who are okay with keeping an open mind about your fan fiction reading material, especially in this case.

So please heed my warning; if you don't like non-canon stories, DON"T read this! I'd rather not get flamed for this not being complete fact.

Oh and also, this isn't a slash story or a romance, though this will take place over a VERY long period of time and finish after ROTK. There will be some romantic elements to it, just nothing between Aragorn and Legolas.

SUMMARY: A new take on the relationship between Aragorn and Legolas. A brotherly one, but this time literal. Grief brought Thranduil and Gilraen together for one night, and a child was made. Follow two siblings as they tackle trials of danger, heartache and brotherhood.

Alrighty, enough with all this, on with the story…

Prologue

"Are you ready, milord?" Dililore questioned in a low voice as the party prepared to begin their midnight journey. He was a young elf and still quite shy when it came to addressing the royals he had sworn to protect. When he received no answer, he swallowed and forced himself to ask again, however this time he was silenced by his mentor, Calanon who waved him down.

Calanon was a well respected general for the king's army and had been a close and dear friend to Thranduil from the time he was named king in Oropher's place. He was a good leader and a trusted ally to all he befriended. With so much wisdom in his eyes, it was obvious that he had seen much evil in his long life. No secrets were ever kept from him and it was because of this that one just knew that he would always have the answer.

"Let him be" he spoke softly as he and the other riders watched their lord and king walk back towards the home of their host. Into the gardens that had brought him the little bit of peace that Calanon knew had saved him from the draw of death. "He will not be long."

Dililore nodded and joined the rest of the company that would escort the King of Mirkwood back home. They had traveled to Imladris on request of Lord Elrond, who had sensed that the son of Oropher may need a change of scenery after the sudden death of his queen. Ravaged and murdered by orcs, she was found by her two eldest sons, seven months ago and Thranduil had been deteriorating ever since. They had all hoped that the trip would bring back some of the joy that had left the king's eyes but it hadn't. Until recently.

"Speak your farewells, my dear friend" Calanon whispered silently, as Thranduil's form disappeared. "Let this parting be not one of grievance."

He walked slowly, past the blooming orchids and blossoming white roses that decorated the hidden glade, knowing that he would find her there. His face gave no reading of his feelings as it always did, but this time his feelings were strong. He knew that she waited for him here where he had first found her. She had been the speck of light in the darkness that had taken over his life since his beloved Nimwen had left him.

He smiled for only a second when he saw her standing in the moonlight with her back to him. She was leaning up against a tree, nibbling on the end of her gown's sleeve, as she said she did when she was nervous. He paused and wondered why she was anxious. Was she afraid he would have left without a goodbye, perhaps? How silly humans could be sometimes.

"The morning is winning."

Thranduil heard her gasp and saw her body stiffen before she turned around and met his eyes with her own. She was beautiful. Time had been very kind to her, and he imagined that she had been the object of many a man's affections when she was a younger woman. Though more mature now, the lady had kept the grace and loveliness long past what he guessed any other mortal would. With long golden curls and eyes of ocean blue, she took his breath away.

She looked at him with question. He always spoke like that to her. It seemed that he never was quite able to speak without using some riddle, and it was fascinating to her. All of the elven race were fascinating to her, but he had drawn her in a way no other had. Perhaps it had been because they met while both were grieving a loss. He had lost his wife and she had lost her son, though not to death – to a destiny that would haunt him, for how long she did not know.

"The morning wages a daily war with the dimness of the night" Thranduil continued, knowing that she would not respond. He approached her slowly and did not stop until he could grasp her slender hands in his own. "Morning shall light all the shadows that frighten us and make the world beautiful once again."

A tear fell from her eye and he gently brushed it away, cupping her cheek, allowing her to lean into him. "You taught me that" he spoke tenderly.

"How did I do that?" she asked, needing his security and comfort one last time, regardless of how wrong she knew it was to crave.

He took her hands into his once again and brought them together as he placed a kiss upon her brow. How could she not have known?

"By becoming my morning, Gilraen."

Immediately she pulled away from him, cupping her face wither hands as she fell to her knees in tears. He fell down next to her and begged her to tell him what ailed her so, for it tore him apart to see her cry. She looked up at him and touched his lips ever so gently with her fingertips.

"It never should have happened" she said shakily. "We never should have let it happen."

The son of Oropher looked down, feeling just as guilty as she did, but knew he had to remain strong. He rose her chin and forced her to meet his eyes again. "No, we should not have, but I do not regret it, Gilraen. Not for a second" he started as she looked at him in wonder.

"We met in a time of grief, and we found comfort with one another. It may have been a crime against Eru to love you, but for the time that we have been together, a greater crime it would have been to have not. I know now that if I had been consumed by my grief that I would have perished, and you have shown me that there is still life and love and beauty in this world. I realize now that I must go on with my life. I need to, for my children, my people and for Nimwen. You have given me back that which I thought was gone."

"What?" She needed to know.

"Hope."

Thranduil could see that Gilraen was heartbroken, but he knew that he was not the one who had broke it. He knew who her heart truly grieved for, and it was not he or even her husband who had passed away several years ago. Gilraen grieved for Aragorn – her son.

Gutted at the realization of what his love for the Evenstar could mean, and learning of his true heritage had not been easy on the young man. Being only twenty, his emotions were still very raw and his actions still very rash. He feared what his existence meant, for not only Arwen, but to Middle Earth. He feared that he would fail everyone he loved and so he did what he thought was the only thing he could do to protect them. He left.

Aragorn had traveled north and been taken in by a band of rangers. One of the more respected rangers, who was a friend of Elrond's twins sons had taken him in and Gilraen had not seen him in eight months. She had received a letter from him, letting her know that he was healthy and well, but it still hurt her to have him gone.

"He will return to you" Thranduil assured her, as he tried to coax a smile. He so wanted to see her smile one more time and have it warm his heart as it always seemed to do. Gilraen had a sparkle in her eyes that only appeared when she smiled and it amazed him to no end. How something so simple could be so exquisite he would never know.

She looked into his silver eyes and poured out her soul in that one look. She desperately wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that Aragorn would return to her and she could hold her little boy once again.

"You were never meant to be alone, lirimaer" (lovely one) he said as he pulled something out of the inside pocket of his riding tunic. "An never will you be" he finished as he placed it in her hands as the two rose back to their feet.

The chain was made of pure mithril, thin and simple, and the charm that hung from the center was no exception. It was a single leaf, made of mithril as well but painted green. It was beautiful and as Gilraen turned the leaf over, she found that it was the inscription that caught her interest most.

Fear and Hate

Are Always Striving

But Hope Alone

Will Keep This Green Leaf Thriving

Gilraen met his eyes one more time and smiled softly before he placed a quick but tender kiss upon her lips. He had to go, they both knew this and they both knew that they would never see each other again. Their love had lasted for only a moment in time, and it was one that few would ever know existed, but they would know. They would always know.

"You changed my life" Thranduil said as he slowly turned and walked back towards the group of riders that awaited him at the gate. "I hope that I have done the same for you."

She watched him leave until she saw him no more, and it was only then did she let one more tear fall. Thranduil had changed her life, but she had kept it from him. She knew that it was wrong, but she could not bring herself to tell him the truth. He was a king. The ruler of Mirkwood, with duties and people to protect. He had his children to think of…

Gilraen kissed the necklace lightly and held it close to her heart. "Forgive me" she whispered into the dark of night that kept a secret that would go unknown for many years. A secret that would unite two worlds and lives for all eternity. A secret that only she and Elrond knew – that she was now with child.

I know that most people don't think that Legolas is younger than Aragorn, I figured that since there's not a lot of information about Legolas or his age, that this may work. After all, I'm experimenting here!

I hope you liked it so far! Please no flames, but constructive criticism is welcomed.

MsJackieW