A/N: Good news! We actually got the chapter done early. Though it's probably only a one time thing, so don't expect this too often. Depending on how the stay in Lorien pans out, it may take a couple more chapters since we have a lot of the story happening in Lorien, so I hope that doesn't annoy anyone. We will get around to them leaving Lorien though…sometime.
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Chapter 13
T.A. 3018 January 19
Aragorn walked into the Fellowship's camp area after having a not so good discussion with Haldir. He'd expected the stay in Lothlorien to be a much needed peaceful respite from the quest. Unfortunately, it was not to be so, as evidenced by his discussion with Haldir.
The March Warden had given him some not so good news; Farothen was apparently in Lothlorien, helping the border patrol on the east border. Not that Aragorn didn't want to see his son; it just wasn't the best time. He still had to tell Legolas about Farothen. He didn't want the elf to find out he was a father by anyone but him, it wasn't fair to Legolas.
Seeing Boromir standing off to the left Aragorn walked over, knowing if anyone knew where Legolas was it would be the man of Gondor, who still had a tendency to keep a protective eye on the elf.
"Boromir, have you seen Legolas? I must speak with him." Aragorn asked.
Boromir shook his head, "Nay, I have not. He was gone when I woke this morning. I thought he was with you."
Aragorn shook his head, about to speak, when a familiar voice, raised to maximum volume, echoed through the surrounding woods.
"ESTEL!!!!"
Aragorn winced, groaning. 'No, no, no! Please, no!'
Boromir met his gaze sympathetically; they'd all learned not to tick off the elf, "What did you do this time?"
"Never mind." Aragorn said, seeing Legolas stalk into the campsite from over Boromir's shoulder. Before he got a chance to warn the younger man, Legolas pushed him to the side roughly, sending him tumbling to the ground. In the same move the elf swung at Aragorn with his other arm, catching the ranger's jaw with a hard left hook that sent him to the ground right beside Boromir.
Not seeming to care about his audience Legolas started ranting at Aragorn in Elvish. Aragorn got to his feet working his jaw to make sure it wasn't broken, staying a safe distance from his enraged lover.
Boromir, not as brave…or possibly not as stupid…as Aragorn, stayed on the ground where it was relatively safe from the elf's swinging fists, and glanced over in the direction Legolas had come from when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He gaped when he saw the young man standing there watching Legolas and Aragorn nervously.
He was obviously human with his long wavy dark hair and facial hair, but his face was Legolas'. In fact, if Boromir had to imagine what a child between Aragorn and Legolas would look like…
Boromir's thoughts tapered off as he glanced from the strange young man to the ranger and elf and back again. 'No way. It wasn't possible. Was it?'
Boromir's gaze went to the rest of the Fellowship. They were all glancing questioningly between Legolas and this new human. Boromir's gaze went back to the stranger and lingered there.
The young man had Aragorn's rugged yet noble air, and Legolas' beauty. Boromir felt his heart thump against his ribs as the guy met, and held, his gaze, cerulean blue to blue-green.
Farothen found it impossible to turn his gaze away from the guy on the ground practically at his fathers' feet. Despite the fact that he was half sprawled on the ground, he had an air about him that whispered of ingrown nobility and the cunning of a warrior.
Both Boromir and Farothen jumped and turned their attention back to Legolas and Aragorn when the ranger snapped in Westron, "I didn't tell you about Farothen because you made it perfectly clear when you left our bed that you no longer wanted me!"
Silence descended at that and Legolas went livid as he growled, "You did the leaving, Estel…"
Aragorn grit his teeth and, interrupting the elf, growled, "After you rejected me for a maiden elf you didn't love!"
Galadriel suddenly seemed to appear out of nowhere and stepped between the elf and ranger. Her voice was deceptively calm, belying the temper flaring in her eyes, when she said, "Stop this fighting. Don't you realize that you're hurting not only yourselves but Farothen and your unborn child as well?"
Both elf and ranger fell silent. After a moment Aragorn stumbled back a step, pressing a hand to his stomach, "No."
Galadriel shook her head, "Not you this time, Estel."
At those words everyone looked at Legolas, who suddenly went pale, "You mean…I'm…"
His words stopped there and in the next second he slumped to the ground in a dead faint.
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Farothen found himself standing beside the man of Gondor, in the midst of the Fellowship, as they all crowded around the unconscious elf. Aragorn had gently picked Legolas up and carried him to a messily made bed of blankets.
After laying the elf down Aragorn had grabbed the pack beside the pallet of blankets and started digging through it while Galadriel gave Legolas a cursory examination. The Fellowship all watched worriedly.
Not finding what he was looking for, Aragorn cursed in Elvish and threw his pack to the side before looking around on the ground…purportedly looking for some type of plant to use in the place of smelling salts to wake Legolas up.
Seeing some rosemary a little to his right Farothen stepped over and tore off a handful of the needlelike leaves before stepping up to his ada's side. Aragorn gave him a questioningly look when he handed over the rosemary.
Farothen sighed, "It's rosemary. Snap a couple of the needles in half and hold them under his nose."
Aragorn looked a little skeptical, but did as Farothen said. Surprisingly, Legolas winced and his eyelids fluttered open. Pushing Aragorn's hand away from his nose the elf scowled at the ranger.
Aragorn gave Legolas a small smile before looking up at their son, "How did you know about rosemary?"
"Grandfather told me." Farothen answered.
"He never told me." Aragorn said.
"Well, you're never home long enough for him to share knew knowledge with you, Ada." Farothen replied.
Before anyone else could speak Legolas drew their attention, "Excuse me. What am I doing on Aragorn's blankets with you all hovering over me?"
"You fainted, Legolas," Galadriel said as her and Aragorn helped him sit up, "Has this happened before?"
Legolas shook his head and rubbed his temples, battling back a fresh wave of dizziness, "Nay. I have felt dizzy and nauseous, but I have not fainted."
"How long have you felt ill?" Galadriel asked.
Legolas wouldn't meet her gaze as he mumbled, "Since mid-December."
"You've been feeling ill since before we left Rivendell?" Aragorn hissed, earning himself a glare from Legolas.
Boromir pulled Aragorn back, "Aragorn, I suggest you watch what you say. He's already upset with you."
The two elves ignored the two humans as Galadriel asked, "Then you're at least two months along?"
Legolas' face turned a slight pink, "Uh…closer to three."
Galadriel narrowed her gaze thoughtfully, "You should be gaining weight then, possibly even starting to show a tiny bit with your slim build. How have you been eating?"
"Not very well." Aragorn growled.
Legolas threw the ranger another glare and snapped defensively, "I eat!"
"When we threaten to force ye, laddie." Gimli grumbled.
"You must eat right, Legolas, if you want your child to be born healthy." Galadriel said. Legolas remained stubbornly silent, obviously planning on another stint of snubbing, but he nodded at Galadriel's words.
Farothen sighed, 'It's a wonder I'm fairly sane with the personalities of both my fathers.'
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While Legolas continued to talk in a low tone with Galadriel, Aragorn glared at the other members of the Fellowship until they all decided to leave. The only exceptions were Boromir, who was relating Legolas' eating habits for the past few months to Lady Galadriel (much to the elf's chagrin), and Farothen who had never met his other ada before today.
Aragorn, however, was in no mood for a crowd, "Farothen, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Farothen looked at him in amazement, "Ada, I think I have as much right to be here as you do. After all, this is the first time I've met ..."
"FAROTHEN!!!" Aragorn yelled out of impatience, and even Galadriel looked surprised by his outburst.
Farothen sighed. "Yes ada," he said as he started heading in the direction the rest of the Fellowship had gone. He was surprised to see that Boromir was following him.
"Boromir, I never said that you had to go," Aragorn stated.
Boromir gave a sheepish grin as he turned around, "I know, but between your bellowing and Legolas trying to burn me into a puddle with his eyes, I think it would be in my best interest to leave."
That said Boromir turned back around and followed a very angry Farothen away from Aragorn, Legolas and Galadriel. As he walked away he could still hear the sounds of the two lovers arguing and Galadriel trying to act as a mediator.
Boromir turned to the young man walking beside him after they'd gone some ways from the trio, "So...Farothen is it?"
Farothen stopped and turned around to face Boromir so quickly that the Gondorian barely had time to stop without running into him.
"Something wrong with my name?" Farothen asked. He was obviously still angry about being dismissed by his father.
"Not at all," Boromir replied, "Farothen is actually a very beautiful name. And besides, I have a brother named Faramir."
Farothen's anger dissolved somewhat after Boromir's explanation, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be taking my anger toward ada out on you."
Boromir nodded in understanding, then suddenly got a curious smile on his face. "So...two adas...how is that possible?"
Farothen grinned back at Boromir, "Elvish blood. I believe it's been passed down through the lines of Elrond and Elros...and apparently the royal house of Mirkwood."
Boromir suddenly paled at Farothen's explanation, "The line of Elros?"
Farothen nodded, "So some Numenorean males descended from Elros would theoretically be able to conceive." Farothen shrugged, "That's how ada was able to have me."
Boromir was kind of lost in space as he muttered, "The House of the Stewards is descended from another line of Elros."
Farothen looked at Boromir, "You're of that line?"
Boromir nodded, "I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself earlier. I'm Boromir of Gondor. The oldest son of Denethor."
Farothen's eyes widened as he looked at Boromir, then back toward the direction Aragorn was in.
"So, how did you and ada get along?"
Boromir had the grace to blush, "Well it wasn't exactly instant friendship, but...we're on good terms now. I greatly respect your ada."
Farothen growled, "That's more than I do at this point."
Boromir put a hand on Farothen's shoulder, "Give it time Farothen. I've only known Legolas and Aragorn for a short while and I even I can tell that they greatly love each other. Try to forgive your father, Farothen."
Farothen nodded, but didn't know what to say so he decided to lighten the atmosphere a little. Shrugging Boromir's hand off of his shoulder Farothen asked, "So, does this mean that you might be able to conceive as well?"
Boromir's eyes widened, "Ai Valar, I hope not. Although, I should probably warn my little brother when I get back to Gondor. Since he technically has almost pure Numenorean blood."
Farothen waved his hand in a dismissive gesture, "That would only be a problem if..."
"He does have a male lover," Boromir said interrupting Farothen.
"Oh," Farothen stammered, "Well, yeah you should probably mention something about this to your brother."
Boromir suddenly started chuckling, "Oh, father would be mad."
Farothen couldn't help it. He started laughing along with Boromir. Eventually the two of them were laughing so hard that Boromir was practically doubled over and Farothen had to lean against a tree for support.
While they were laughing, Farothen took the chance to really study Boromir.
'He looks amazing, and he should really smile more often,' Farothen thought. But what he was most drawn to were Boromir's eyes. They were a beautiful blue-green, almost an aquamarine color, but seemed to hold such sadness to them. It was a sadness that Farothen hated to see in such a beautiful and noble man.
"Forgive me, but...I would have thought that a child born of two males would have been somewhat homely but you've easily inherited the beauty of both your sires," Boromir said.
Farothen looked up in surprise at the man's bluntness and then just as quickly found himself looking at the ground as he tried to keep the blush off of his face. Amazingly, he preferred Boromir's direct manner over the usual fanfare of compliments he received from others.
Farothen was undeniably beautiful, so he had borne the burnt of quite a bit of flirting from both male and female elves. But the flirting had always seemed so insincere. Boromir completely meant what he said, and didn't try to devour Farothen with his eyes the way so many others had in the past.
"And I suppose you're known for your silver tongue back in Gondor," Farothen said as he looked up at Boromir with a charming grin.
Boromir, for his part, couldn't hide his blush, "No, actually I'm not," he replied returning Farothen's grin.
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Replies to reviews:
Once again there were no questions except Saera, and the answer to that is…Here's the next chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. Thanks for all the great reviews and your continued support.
~Becky and Brina~
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Chapter 13
T.A. 3018 January 19
Aragorn walked into the Fellowship's camp area after having a not so good discussion with Haldir. He'd expected the stay in Lothlorien to be a much needed peaceful respite from the quest. Unfortunately, it was not to be so, as evidenced by his discussion with Haldir.
The March Warden had given him some not so good news; Farothen was apparently in Lothlorien, helping the border patrol on the east border. Not that Aragorn didn't want to see his son; it just wasn't the best time. He still had to tell Legolas about Farothen. He didn't want the elf to find out he was a father by anyone but him, it wasn't fair to Legolas.
Seeing Boromir standing off to the left Aragorn walked over, knowing if anyone knew where Legolas was it would be the man of Gondor, who still had a tendency to keep a protective eye on the elf.
"Boromir, have you seen Legolas? I must speak with him." Aragorn asked.
Boromir shook his head, "Nay, I have not. He was gone when I woke this morning. I thought he was with you."
Aragorn shook his head, about to speak, when a familiar voice, raised to maximum volume, echoed through the surrounding woods.
"ESTEL!!!!"
Aragorn winced, groaning. 'No, no, no! Please, no!'
Boromir met his gaze sympathetically; they'd all learned not to tick off the elf, "What did you do this time?"
"Never mind." Aragorn said, seeing Legolas stalk into the campsite from over Boromir's shoulder. Before he got a chance to warn the younger man, Legolas pushed him to the side roughly, sending him tumbling to the ground. In the same move the elf swung at Aragorn with his other arm, catching the ranger's jaw with a hard left hook that sent him to the ground right beside Boromir.
Not seeming to care about his audience Legolas started ranting at Aragorn in Elvish. Aragorn got to his feet working his jaw to make sure it wasn't broken, staying a safe distance from his enraged lover.
Boromir, not as brave…or possibly not as stupid…as Aragorn, stayed on the ground where it was relatively safe from the elf's swinging fists, and glanced over in the direction Legolas had come from when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He gaped when he saw the young man standing there watching Legolas and Aragorn nervously.
He was obviously human with his long wavy dark hair and facial hair, but his face was Legolas'. In fact, if Boromir had to imagine what a child between Aragorn and Legolas would look like…
Boromir's thoughts tapered off as he glanced from the strange young man to the ranger and elf and back again. 'No way. It wasn't possible. Was it?'
Boromir's gaze went to the rest of the Fellowship. They were all glancing questioningly between Legolas and this new human. Boromir's gaze went back to the stranger and lingered there.
The young man had Aragorn's rugged yet noble air, and Legolas' beauty. Boromir felt his heart thump against his ribs as the guy met, and held, his gaze, cerulean blue to blue-green.
Farothen found it impossible to turn his gaze away from the guy on the ground practically at his fathers' feet. Despite the fact that he was half sprawled on the ground, he had an air about him that whispered of ingrown nobility and the cunning of a warrior.
Both Boromir and Farothen jumped and turned their attention back to Legolas and Aragorn when the ranger snapped in Westron, "I didn't tell you about Farothen because you made it perfectly clear when you left our bed that you no longer wanted me!"
Silence descended at that and Legolas went livid as he growled, "You did the leaving, Estel…"
Aragorn grit his teeth and, interrupting the elf, growled, "After you rejected me for a maiden elf you didn't love!"
Galadriel suddenly seemed to appear out of nowhere and stepped between the elf and ranger. Her voice was deceptively calm, belying the temper flaring in her eyes, when she said, "Stop this fighting. Don't you realize that you're hurting not only yourselves but Farothen and your unborn child as well?"
Both elf and ranger fell silent. After a moment Aragorn stumbled back a step, pressing a hand to his stomach, "No."
Galadriel shook her head, "Not you this time, Estel."
At those words everyone looked at Legolas, who suddenly went pale, "You mean…I'm…"
His words stopped there and in the next second he slumped to the ground in a dead faint.
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Farothen found himself standing beside the man of Gondor, in the midst of the Fellowship, as they all crowded around the unconscious elf. Aragorn had gently picked Legolas up and carried him to a messily made bed of blankets.
After laying the elf down Aragorn had grabbed the pack beside the pallet of blankets and started digging through it while Galadriel gave Legolas a cursory examination. The Fellowship all watched worriedly.
Not finding what he was looking for, Aragorn cursed in Elvish and threw his pack to the side before looking around on the ground…purportedly looking for some type of plant to use in the place of smelling salts to wake Legolas up.
Seeing some rosemary a little to his right Farothen stepped over and tore off a handful of the needlelike leaves before stepping up to his ada's side. Aragorn gave him a questioningly look when he handed over the rosemary.
Farothen sighed, "It's rosemary. Snap a couple of the needles in half and hold them under his nose."
Aragorn looked a little skeptical, but did as Farothen said. Surprisingly, Legolas winced and his eyelids fluttered open. Pushing Aragorn's hand away from his nose the elf scowled at the ranger.
Aragorn gave Legolas a small smile before looking up at their son, "How did you know about rosemary?"
"Grandfather told me." Farothen answered.
"He never told me." Aragorn said.
"Well, you're never home long enough for him to share knew knowledge with you, Ada." Farothen replied.
Before anyone else could speak Legolas drew their attention, "Excuse me. What am I doing on Aragorn's blankets with you all hovering over me?"
"You fainted, Legolas," Galadriel said as her and Aragorn helped him sit up, "Has this happened before?"
Legolas shook his head and rubbed his temples, battling back a fresh wave of dizziness, "Nay. I have felt dizzy and nauseous, but I have not fainted."
"How long have you felt ill?" Galadriel asked.
Legolas wouldn't meet her gaze as he mumbled, "Since mid-December."
"You've been feeling ill since before we left Rivendell?" Aragorn hissed, earning himself a glare from Legolas.
Boromir pulled Aragorn back, "Aragorn, I suggest you watch what you say. He's already upset with you."
The two elves ignored the two humans as Galadriel asked, "Then you're at least two months along?"
Legolas' face turned a slight pink, "Uh…closer to three."
Galadriel narrowed her gaze thoughtfully, "You should be gaining weight then, possibly even starting to show a tiny bit with your slim build. How have you been eating?"
"Not very well." Aragorn growled.
Legolas threw the ranger another glare and snapped defensively, "I eat!"
"When we threaten to force ye, laddie." Gimli grumbled.
"You must eat right, Legolas, if you want your child to be born healthy." Galadriel said. Legolas remained stubbornly silent, obviously planning on another stint of snubbing, but he nodded at Galadriel's words.
Farothen sighed, 'It's a wonder I'm fairly sane with the personalities of both my fathers.'
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While Legolas continued to talk in a low tone with Galadriel, Aragorn glared at the other members of the Fellowship until they all decided to leave. The only exceptions were Boromir, who was relating Legolas' eating habits for the past few months to Lady Galadriel (much to the elf's chagrin), and Farothen who had never met his other ada before today.
Aragorn, however, was in no mood for a crowd, "Farothen, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Farothen looked at him in amazement, "Ada, I think I have as much right to be here as you do. After all, this is the first time I've met ..."
"FAROTHEN!!!" Aragorn yelled out of impatience, and even Galadriel looked surprised by his outburst.
Farothen sighed. "Yes ada," he said as he started heading in the direction the rest of the Fellowship had gone. He was surprised to see that Boromir was following him.
"Boromir, I never said that you had to go," Aragorn stated.
Boromir gave a sheepish grin as he turned around, "I know, but between your bellowing and Legolas trying to burn me into a puddle with his eyes, I think it would be in my best interest to leave."
That said Boromir turned back around and followed a very angry Farothen away from Aragorn, Legolas and Galadriel. As he walked away he could still hear the sounds of the two lovers arguing and Galadriel trying to act as a mediator.
Boromir turned to the young man walking beside him after they'd gone some ways from the trio, "So...Farothen is it?"
Farothen stopped and turned around to face Boromir so quickly that the Gondorian barely had time to stop without running into him.
"Something wrong with my name?" Farothen asked. He was obviously still angry about being dismissed by his father.
"Not at all," Boromir replied, "Farothen is actually a very beautiful name. And besides, I have a brother named Faramir."
Farothen's anger dissolved somewhat after Boromir's explanation, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be taking my anger toward ada out on you."
Boromir nodded in understanding, then suddenly got a curious smile on his face. "So...two adas...how is that possible?"
Farothen grinned back at Boromir, "Elvish blood. I believe it's been passed down through the lines of Elrond and Elros...and apparently the royal house of Mirkwood."
Boromir suddenly paled at Farothen's explanation, "The line of Elros?"
Farothen nodded, "So some Numenorean males descended from Elros would theoretically be able to conceive." Farothen shrugged, "That's how ada was able to have me."
Boromir was kind of lost in space as he muttered, "The House of the Stewards is descended from another line of Elros."
Farothen looked at Boromir, "You're of that line?"
Boromir nodded, "I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself earlier. I'm Boromir of Gondor. The oldest son of Denethor."
Farothen's eyes widened as he looked at Boromir, then back toward the direction Aragorn was in.
"So, how did you and ada get along?"
Boromir had the grace to blush, "Well it wasn't exactly instant friendship, but...we're on good terms now. I greatly respect your ada."
Farothen growled, "That's more than I do at this point."
Boromir put a hand on Farothen's shoulder, "Give it time Farothen. I've only known Legolas and Aragorn for a short while and I even I can tell that they greatly love each other. Try to forgive your father, Farothen."
Farothen nodded, but didn't know what to say so he decided to lighten the atmosphere a little. Shrugging Boromir's hand off of his shoulder Farothen asked, "So, does this mean that you might be able to conceive as well?"
Boromir's eyes widened, "Ai Valar, I hope not. Although, I should probably warn my little brother when I get back to Gondor. Since he technically has almost pure Numenorean blood."
Farothen waved his hand in a dismissive gesture, "That would only be a problem if..."
"He does have a male lover," Boromir said interrupting Farothen.
"Oh," Farothen stammered, "Well, yeah you should probably mention something about this to your brother."
Boromir suddenly started chuckling, "Oh, father would be mad."
Farothen couldn't help it. He started laughing along with Boromir. Eventually the two of them were laughing so hard that Boromir was practically doubled over and Farothen had to lean against a tree for support.
While they were laughing, Farothen took the chance to really study Boromir.
'He looks amazing, and he should really smile more often,' Farothen thought. But what he was most drawn to were Boromir's eyes. They were a beautiful blue-green, almost an aquamarine color, but seemed to hold such sadness to them. It was a sadness that Farothen hated to see in such a beautiful and noble man.
"Forgive me, but...I would have thought that a child born of two males would have been somewhat homely but you've easily inherited the beauty of both your sires," Boromir said.
Farothen looked up in surprise at the man's bluntness and then just as quickly found himself looking at the ground as he tried to keep the blush off of his face. Amazingly, he preferred Boromir's direct manner over the usual fanfare of compliments he received from others.
Farothen was undeniably beautiful, so he had borne the burnt of quite a bit of flirting from both male and female elves. But the flirting had always seemed so insincere. Boromir completely meant what he said, and didn't try to devour Farothen with his eyes the way so many others had in the past.
"And I suppose you're known for your silver tongue back in Gondor," Farothen said as he looked up at Boromir with a charming grin.
Boromir, for his part, couldn't hide his blush, "No, actually I'm not," he replied returning Farothen's grin.
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Replies to reviews:
Once again there were no questions except Saera, and the answer to that is…Here's the next chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. Thanks for all the great reviews and your continued support.
~Becky and Brina~