Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings. It all belongs to J.R.R Tolkien.
Note: Thanks for the reviews and the ideas. Not much to say right now so let's begin. And hints at sex.
Legolas sighed in alarm and weariness when he saw Aragorn's eyes droop in the unconscious state. His hand travelled to the human's forehead and he left it there, trying to determine if Aragorn had a fever. Aragorn felt cool to the touch so that was something Legolas did not have to worry about at the moment.
He pulled the human to his chest, and, putting on arm underneath Aragon's knees and the other one behind him back, he lifted the man in the air without so much a breaking a sweat. Aragorn moaned softly and shifted but did not wake.
Legolas started walking back to his Talan. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, he took a moment to look back upon everything that had happened tonight. He then looked back up at the stairs. How was he going to get the human up there? He smiled when an idea struck his mind, and, shifting Aragorn, he slung the limp human over his shoulder and with one hand across his legs held him into place and started climbing.
"Aye, it is a good thing indeed that you are not awake, for I do not think you would like to be carried in such a manner. It does not befit a king or a prince, for that matter." He chuckled when the sentence escaped his lips.
When he entered the Talan, Legolas gently put Aragorn down on the bedroll. He made sure the human was comfortable before he turned and took the things he needed out of his pack. He signed once again while he turned to look at Aragorn's still form, his heart weeping at the sight of his friend, no, his love, lying so still. A love he knew would never be returned to him for Gondor needed a queen.
"Gondor. So many hearts shatter for that country," he muttered.
A sharp intake of breath and a soft moan alerted Legolas that Aragorn was coming around. The elf rushed over, crouching next to the future king. Pain blurred grey eyes gazed up at his own, and the elf smiled. Aragorn attempted to smile and opened his mouth to speak. Legolas shook his head and asked,
"Are you thirsty?"
Aragorn slowly nodded and then a slender hand behind his head helped him to sit up a little. Water rushed down his burning throat and Aragorn swallowed.
"Easy, easy, Aragorn, you threw up blood, it is unwise to drink this swiftly," Legolas commented.
Aragorn's eyes never left Legolas's form and the human felt gratitude welling up within him for his friend. Legolas had gone through so much and instead of claiming Aragorn as his own, which he could have done, the elf easily stepped aside to let somebody else take the place beside Aragorn on the throne of Gondor, while his own heart shattered at the mere thought. As well as Aragorn's heart.
When Aragorn had finished the water, Legolas held the cup back, determining if his friend wanted more. When Aragorn did not make a move instead closed his eyes briefly; Legolas eased the human down, putting a pillow underneath his head.
He put the cup back on the table and rose to get the stuff he had gotten out of his pack to help Aragorn. When he turned he found Aragorn's eyes one his face again.
"I need your help with this. I need to find out what is ailing you but I am not a healer and do not know how. Can you speak?" Legolas softly asked.
"I think so, though it hurts my throat to do so," Aragorn answered, paling at the sight. Legolas inclined his head and said,
"Very well then. I guess the first question would be, where does it hurt?"
"My stomach," Aragorn answered in a hard whisper, his voice had been reduced to nothing anymore. His hand touched his stomach where Haldir hit him. Legolas noticed the gesture but did not move his hand from where they rested on his knees. Aragorn knew Legolas would not touch him without his consent and the man nodded, attempting to smile and not wanting to worry Legolas when all he wanted to do was lie down and sleep in the elf's company.
He felt nimble elven fingers move his hand and then unbutton his shirt. The cold breeze touched his bare chest where an elven hand now rested, and Aragorn shivered, catching Legolas's attention.
"Are you cold?" Legolas asked, moving to get a blanket.
"No." "Your touch is doing this to me, meleth." Aragorn offered only that word and Legolas nodded. He hesitated when he saw Aragorn's tanned chest. This was undoing him more then he wanted to admit. Aragorn caught the elf's hesitation and said,
"I can ask somebody else to do this, if you wish?"
Legolas shook his head and answered,
"No, I brought this on and I would not be able to live with myself if I would not do this."
"Then tell me what you see," Aragorn commented, changing the subject. "I see somebody I love lying before me with the most handsome features I have ever seen." Swallowing that sentence Legolas focussed on the task at hand. Well, human at hand in this case.
"You are slightly swelling around you stomach. I see some bruising forming but that will be more evident in the next few days. I do not honestly know what to do, Aragorn."
"Press the swelling, but gently," Aragorn advised, hoping that Legolas was heeding his warning. Gentle hands pressed the swelling and Aragorn hissed and his breathing caught in his throat. Legolas looked at him in alarm but Aragorn motioned for him to continue.
Legolas pressed deeper and Aragorn arched his back in responds to the pain that soared through him.
"I cannot hurt you like this." Legolas's expression was pleading, not wanting to harm Aragorn.
"No, keep going. You are doing great. Don't mind me," Aragorn gasped but the elf removed his hands, instead lifting up Aragorn's head so that it was easier to breathe. Aragorn could clearly see the haunted expression on the elf's fair face.
"I am so sorry, Aragorn. It was not my intention to hurt you," Legolas answered, cradling the human close to his own chest.
"I know, mellon, but come, you have to do it again… only then will I know if I shall be alright or if you are better off shooting me," Aragorn muttered and smiled when he saw Legolas's expression. "It was just a jest, Legolas, do not worry."
The elf only nodded and gently eased the human down again, pressing the swelling again as Aragorn instructed. Aragorn did his best to battle the pain but soon sweat had covered his whole face and he was shaking. Legolas looked at him with a worried expression on his face and Aragorn smiled at him before saying,
"Okay, it hurts but we knew that. Elrond normally listens to see if a vein popped or something like that… well you know," Aragorn stuttered, why he said this he did not know…well he had the faintest idea. By the look on Legolas's face the elf did not believe him.
"Aragorn…?" A warning tone entered his voice and Aragorn answered,
"Elrond only does it when he is really worried, truly, he does."
Legolas looked at Aragorn and then shook his head, a smile playing on his lips before he stretched his legs and lay down on his stomach, looking once again at the human.
"Are you sure?" Aragorn nodded and Legolas fixed the human with a stare that seemed to right through him before he winked and rested his head on Aragorn's stomach.
At first Legolas could not hear anything but thousands of years of patience had taught him that waiting was sometimes best. He heard the soft thumping of Aragorn's heart more above from where he was lying and the sound filled him with peace and he closed his eyes, relaxing with a sigh.
Aragorn smiled when he saw the gentle smile on Legolas's face before the elf once again became aware of his surroundings and he shot up.
"I am sorry, I drifted off," he offered as an explanation. He helped Aragorn sit up and then preceded the bind his chest, feeling the human tremble.
Aragorn did not button his shirt up at the moment Legolas sat back on his heels and finished his work. The Elf rose and cleaned up the stuff he had used while he casually asked,
"Will you return to the Fellowship?"
"I was thinking, perhaps I can sleep here tonight," Aragorn asked lightly. Legolas's head shot up and he answered,
"Of course you can…mellon." Aragorn did not flinch at the name but he knew that it was the boundary that separated them from being more then friends. The word that bound him to Gondor and Arwen.
"I wish to thank you, Legolas, for what you have done for me. If there is any way for me to thank you, let me know." Aragorn pulled up his knees to his chest and relaxed, feeling the bandages shift.
Legolas sat close by and he leaned over, saying,
"Could you perhaps move a little bit? I cannot quite reach the left over bandages." He reached over, passing just by Aragorn; the man could feel the elf's hot breath on his cheek.
"Alright, I got it. You can sit back now," Legolas answered. Aragorn sat back, trapping the elf along side of him.
"Uhm, Aragorn, would you mind moving, I am kind of trapped here. When I said that you could sit back, I meant after I was back in my place not right that instance."
Aragorn grinned at the elf that he held trapped against the wall while he said,
"What to do? Here I have somebody trapped who wants to get out? Perhaps I should let that somebody pay? What do you think, Legolas?"
The elf groaned and answered,
"How would you like to make me pay then? Have I not done enough for you?" Aragorn gently patted the elf's side, smiling at him before he said,
"If I let you get up, will you promise to sit by me?"
The elf nodded and Aragorn released him, allowing him to get up.
"Can I talk to you about something?" Legolas nodded and settled himself against the wall, watching the human shift around before Aragorn said,
"What do you do when you love somebody else but cannot be with because of a throne?"
"What does your heart tell you?" Legolas asked instead.
"My heart loves this person but my mind tells me that the person will get hurt and I do not want that. I wish I never had to take up this throne, that I could just be the Ranger I was born to be."
"You were born to become King of Gondor, Aragorn, and with that comes marrying Arwen. Is it me that your heart desires?" Aragorn's mind whirled, this was the chance he was waiting for, to make Legolas love him or to turn the elf away.
This was a struggle that had been going on for all his life, for as long as he could remember. For the first time in those long years, his heart answered before his mind could.
"Yes, as it always has been. But it cannot be, Legolas, go to Haldir. If you truly love me, then do this and go to him, make amends and let him love you."
Legolas looked at him and then said in a voice steeled with years of practice,
"No, I shall not hear anything of this. If you love me you shall do this. I shall not be with anybody else save you, for it would make me very unhappy. I shall remain at your side, as your friend and if you do not marry Arwen and need me to be, more then a friend."
Aragorn felt tears sting in his eyes and he cried,
"Alas for this accursed crown to be mine for the taking, I would not have it. Oh Valar, how I wish… why is this my destiny? … Why must I pursue this path when it leads me away from what my heart has desired for so long…?"
Strong arms were wrapped around him and Aragorn sobbed into a tunic while the scent of faded pine trees filled his nose and made him weep even harder.
Hope you like it. I do not know when I will update again because my school starts and it is going to be long so send me some ideas. Next is Helms Deep. Leave a review.