Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.
Note: Thanks for the reviews. This is not the end of the story so let's continue. But first, I have an important question. Would you rather I follow the original idea I had for the story that will not have a happy ending? Or would you rather have a happy ending without following the original idea? Tell me in a review. Thanks!
Aragorn sat up straight with his dagger in his hand. He was still panting slightly and looked around his tent in disorientation.
"My Lord, King Théoden has required your presence." said a soldier who had awoken Aragorn from the opening of the tent.
Aragorn only nodded while he sheathed the dagger once more within its casing. He took a moment to compose himself before he got up from his bed and walked towards Théoden's tent.
He bowed before Théoden briefly before the Lord clasped him on the shoulder and said. "I take my leave." He smiled at Aragorn before he walked away, leaving Aragorn alone with the dark cloaked figure in the tent. The figure turned to him and Aragorn could feel a power coming from the figure. A power that felt familiar but he did not know who it was. The figure reached up to remove his hood and to reveal Elrond.
"My Lord Elrond," Aragorn could not help but gasp and bow.
Soon he felt the gentle hands of Elrond enfold him as the ancient elf pulled him in a tight embrace. "I come on behalf of those I love. It pains me to say this, but Arwen is dying. Her fate is tied to the ring. You must defeat Sauron if she is to survive. The shadow is upon us, the end has come."
"No, it will be his end, not ours." Aragorn heatedly protested.
"You ride to war but not to victory. Sauron's armies march on Minas Tirith. But in secret he has sent another force which will attack from the river. A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the south. They will reach the city within two days. You are outnumbered, Aragorn, you need more men."
Aragorn walked away from Elrond sadly confessing, "There are no more."
"There are those who dwell in the mountain." Aragorn could see a ghostly king standing in front of him in his mind's eye before he waved the vision away.
"Murderers, traitors. You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing and they answer to no one," Aragorn replied nearly snarling in rage and anger.
"They will answer to the King of Gondor…" Elrond said proudly. Elrond's voice had taken on a passion Aragorn had not heard before while the elf lord swept aside his dark cloak to present to him a sword. "Anduril, flame of the West, forged from the shades of Narsil I gave you so long ago." He handed the sword to Aragorn who gazed upon it thoughtfully.
"Sauron will not have forgotten the sword of Elendil," Aragorn finally said suddenly inspired by its brilliance.
He unsheathed the steel, his blade, the sword of the King. He could feel what he had known since the beginning of this quest, that no matter how strong his love blazed for Legolas, as it would always be so for as long as he would live, he had to stop living in a dream world. They needed a King and the King needed a Queen. He needed Arwen, no matter how much this broke his heart, it was the truth. Aragorn finally spoke, feeling his heart breaking just a little bit more, "The sword that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith once more."
"The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly then any that walks this earth. Put aside the ranger, become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt Road. Ónen i-Estel Edain. (I gave hope to Men)," Elrond finished.
"Ú-chebin estel anim (I keep none for myself)," Aragorn added softly, knowing this was all true. If he would accept his destiny, to become King of Gondor, he and Legolas would never be and he would indeed, keep no hope for himself.
Elrond embraced him once again and whispered in his ear, "You will become who you are meant to be, Estel. But for that I must lose one of the things which are most precious to me, but this I will gladly do if it makes you happy."
Aragorn pulled away slightly to see tears standing in Elrond's eyes and he softly said, "Ada?"
"Is there something you want to tell me, Estel?" Elrond looked at Aragorn without malice. In his eyes were only love and patience.
Aragorn opened his mouth to reply, to say he did not wish to marry Arwen. He did not love her as she deserved to be loved. She would be unhappy if she stayed with him. He wanted to confess that he would be unhappy if he stayed with her, but he would sacrifice his happiness for the sake of her own. With great courage Aragorn spoke, "I do not think Arwen will be as happy with me as she could be. She should leave with you to the undying lands."
Elrond looked puzzled, "What do you mean, Estel?"
"Arwen is not my heart's choice." Aragorn dreaded the sound of his own voice though it spoke the truth.
Elrond smiled softly, "I know this, Estel. I have always known, but you must question yourself what do you wish? Can you give her up or not?" Elrond wrapped his arms more closely around his foster son and watched as Aragorn search his eyes.
"I think I can, Ada."
Elrond looked at Aragorn and the man could tell Elrond was looking straight through him. "You should make haste. We will not see each other again until you are crowned King. I will not tell Arwen of our conversation. I love you and I wish you blessings and strength in the upcoming battles."
With those words Elrond pressed Aragorn against him once more and the man melted into his father's embrace before broken words passed by his lips. "I love you too, father. Thank you for your understanding and keep Arwen safe, please I beg you."
Elrond nodded before Aragorn walked away. If Aragorn had looked back, he could have seen the heartbroken expression on Elrond's face as the elf lord knew he would lose one of his children.
Aragorn stood by his horse drawing in deep breaths to stop the pain from flowing over. Eowyn had just come to him with something that was just short of an "I love you." The man brushed his unruly hair away from his face before he clacked his tongue to get his horse to move. He was so lost in thought the voice startled him. "And where do you think you are off to, laddie?"
Aragorn looked to his right to find Gimli standing there and he shook his head while he told the dwarf. "You cannot come, Gimli. This is something I have to do alone."
Legolas appeared to his left, "I thought by now you had grown accustomed to the stubbornness of dwarves." The Prince smiled at him in a way it had Aragorn near to weeping.
"Just face it, laddie, we are coming with you, whether you like it or not," Gimli added hitching his fists upon his hips showing he would not be refused. He stepped forward and Aragorn was startled slightly when Gimli hit him in the back before he nodded in defeat. A smile settled on his face, but he did not say anything about how grateful he was that they were coming with him. They left soon after they mounted their horses and travelled to the Dimholt Road.
Aragorn could faintly hear Legolas talk about the men who dwelt in the mountain, but he did not wish to say anything to what the elf was already telling Gimli. Nor did he wish to admit, he was beginning to feel uneasy about their journey here. It was not long before it was too dark to continue and Aragorn unwillingly called for a halt. He dismounted and placed his hand upon his horse's flank to calm the animal. He could tell Legolas did the same thing with Arod, his own steed.
He was startled again when Gimli had managed to create a fire. It was too big, the warmth and light coming from it was welcomed.
"We will stop for the next three hours. Get some sleep if you need it," said Aragorn. He knew time was pressing if they wanted to make it to Minas Tirith in time, they had to hurry. Gimli rolled himself up in his blankets and faced away from the fire while Aragorn stared into the source of light, unaware of another light being watching him. Legolas sat behind Aragorn staring intently with concern.
"So tell me," Legolas finally softly spoke, "what has brought this change on?" The mesmerizing sound of Legolas's light voice came to no surprise to Aragorn. He looked up, but did not give the elf a smile like he usually would.
"Elrond came to give me my sword and to tell me I needed to take the paths of the dead and summon the army that dwells within the mountain. Only I can do it for they will only heed the call of the King of Gondor." Aragorn continued to watch the fire crack merrily before a gentle shove had him sitting on the ground. Aragorn instantly looked at Legolas slightly angered, "What did you do that for?"
"Sometimes you need to be provoked before you fight back, Aragorn. Why do you give in so easily? Are some things not worth fighting for?" The elf's expression was sad and Aragorn knew there was more behind that question then he could hear.
Aragorn leaned back against Legolas's leg and softly answered, "Yes, Legolas. Some things are worth fighting for; they are even worth dying for."
For a moment the only sound between them was the crackling of the fire and the sound of the world around them. It was a painful silence and Legolas lowered his head. Aragorn sighed, "I am afraid. Afraid of losing you, of losing the one person I love most of all in this world. I do not mind losing my own life, but I am selfish when it comes to you and I want you close. I want you by my side when I reclaim what is mine. Be it a friend or more, I do not care. I am also afraid of what is going to happen when I do reclaim what is mine. What if they will not accept you and demand that I take a Queen? I know they will." Aragorn fell silent then. Legolas gently took his hand and drew the man's hair back from his face. His gestures were tender and they soothed Aragorn as he closed his eyes to Legolas' touch.
"And if they will not accept me, what will you do?" Legolas continually ran his hands through Aragorn's hair.
"I will have to take someone else who can rule by my side," sighed Aragorn. The man felt nervous when he said this, but it seemed that Legolas did not notice or perhaps did not choose to reply on it. Aragorn could not tell.
"I am sure that person will be honoured to rule by your side," Legolas replied, smiling at Aragorn and placing a light kiss upon the man's head.
"Really, how so?" Aragorn asked grinning slightly as his hand began to seek the one of Legolas'.
"For I know I would be," Legolas softly said, nearly too soft for Aragorn to hear. He intertwined his fingers within Aragorn's.
"Good, then I can save myself the trouble of asking," Aragorn joked, causing the elf to freeze up against his back. He turned to see Legolas look at him with an unreadable expression on his fair face. After making sure Gimli was asleep, Aragorn rose up on his knees to cup Legolas's face in his hands. He softly spoke, looking deep in the crystal blue elven eyes, "I love you more then anything else in this world, Legolas. I have loved you for such a long time I became afraid of asking you. And I grew accustomed to the idea of having to live with Arwen for the rest of my long life and not being happy for I would be without you. I should fight for what I want and least of all I should fight for what I need. I need you. I need you more then the very air I breathe, more then the very life within me for without you I cannot continue. I am no hero, but when you are with me, I know I can be that and so much more. You bring out the very best of me and you have seen the very worst. You are and always will be, the love of my life, may we be meant to be or not. Will you at least think about what I am going to ask you now? You do not have to answer, but if the chance is offered to us, will you bind with me?"
Aragorn let go of the elf's face. He took hold of Legolas' hands within his own. They brought their faces together again, forehead to forehead. Legolas smiled and gently whispered, "Yes, I will bind with you if we are given the chance. For I love you more then words can say, Aragorn. And I know you can do this and become one of the greatest Lords Gondor has ever seen. With a Queen by your side or not." And with those words the elven Prince gently kissed the lips of the future King of Gondor.
Hope you liked it and tell me if you wish to see a happy end or not. And, of course, reviews and ideas are always welcome.