Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.
Note: Thanks for the reviews. The poll is still going if you want a happy or a sad ending. But anyway let's begin. I have a forum by the way where you can post ideas and comments that you do not wish to put in a review or simply discuss things. These are thoughts of somebody.
"Darkness was good. Darkness transcended everything. Everything but the light in the eyes of the one I chose everything but the light deep down in my soul. Thank the Valar for my eyes that they cannot see through this darkness. That they cannot see these tunnels or the looks of despair on the faces of my companion. But alas, for I cannot see the look of love and devotion in the eyes of my companions, no matter where I go, they will follow, to their doom or beyond; it is to dark for me to tell."
Aragorn walked through the many tunnels, keeping a fast pace, staying in front of the ghost company which he knew was right behind him. He knew not one night had passed since they had entered the paths of the dead but it felt to him like an age.
He did not look back to see the weary faces of his companions but pressed on, knowing their inner light would burn brighter when they themselves were out in the light once more. All hope and reason had fled him but he cared not. He would care once more when they stood outside and his own inner light would burn once again.
He pressed on, hour after weary hour, to tired to tell where they were going but knowing they were reaching the end. Nothing but dark memories of the ghost army behind him to keep him company. His steps faltered but he pressed on with a heavy heart, a heart that had not been light since years passed when two lips had kissed his and his choice had been made and his fate was sealed.
Slowly he began to see light up ahead but his clouded mind told him no such thing could be. He slowly released his hold on his sword that hung by his side. His cramped muscles protested against the movement and Aragorn let out a pained whimper. "We are nearly there, hold on." He said to those behind him before he allowed himself to hope that they were going to see the daylight again.
But it was but a small part of him that held that hope. He still remembered the pleas he had said to summon the death to him and even now he was not sure they had responded. He walked on with quickening steps before he broke out into a run. By the fast footfall behind him he could hear his companions following him.
"The light is approaching faster. My eyes can see it. Soon and we shall overcome this darkness. But it is but small and the road before me is even darker still, even if I walk this road in the light of the sun it shall be darker then all my nights combined together for my long life. Now my only hope is that I shall overcome this total darkness as well."
Aragorn broke free of the tunnels and rushed into the light. He could not help but smile and the rays of the sun finally descended upon him once more. He basked in the light before he opened his eyes to roam the landscape before him; the sight brought nearly immediate despair.
There sailing on the river were the ships from Corsairs. They had come too late, it had already begun. He cursed loudly while sinking to his knees, cursing the death and cursing himself. An arm slipped around his waist and he was pulled up to his feet. His head was buried in a soft padded shoulder and Aragorn slipped his own arms around the tall form beside him. He bit into the cloth of the cloak to keep himself from releasing the cries that were building up within him.
"Ai, mellpen (dear one), the grief you keep hidden inside. Release it, my love, and allow me to carry the burden for you. Not all is lost yet, look and have hope, Estel Nin." Aragorn looked over the beings shoulder to see the king of the dead standing at the entrance and watched as the ghost nodded before disappearing but Aragorn could hear the whispers in the air; they were not far and would follow him.
"Ai, what is going on between you two?" Gimli's gruff voice demanded. Aragorn released Legolas but could not help the shakes that seemed to have erupted all over his body. The dwarf was looking at them with an angry expression. "What is wrong with you, Aragorn and why is the elf hugging you like one will with a long lost lover?"
He found Legolas looked at him quickly before the elf decided to take matters into his own hands and said. "We shall tell you when we camp tonight. For now we need to gain on those ships before nightfall and they will be too far away for us to ever find them." Aragorn simply nodded, hoping he would have the courage tonight.
While Gimli started walking, Legolas held Aragorn back and softly said. "Just rise to courage once more, Aragorn and I shall promise you the night ahead shall belong to us and to us alone."
Getting the ships was relatively easy but Aragorn truly had no idea how he did it. It seemed like his mind was blank and all he could do was fight and kill. At the end they had gotten on the ships and Aragorn decided to make camp at that very spot. Gimli grumbled about it but said nothing out loud and went to collect firewood, leaving Aragorn alone with a very quite Legolas.
"Why must we suffer so? Death has become a common companion to me in these last few months but it still seems so foreign. Everything is silent, like it is waiting with us for the plush that will soon follow. Or the tidal wave of darkness and if these are the last moments of light, I cannot see it. Once more I cannot see beyond the eternal night but for now that should not matter for one of my companions needs me and as much as I loathe to admit, in my heart I need him as well."
"How could this have happened? I was always independent but now I cannot go on without him. But it breaks many hearts for it to be this way. Once more I ask, why must we suffer?"
"Legolas? Legolas! Answer me, are you alright?" Aragorn nearly had to shout to get the elf's attention and all he received in the end was a blank stare. The elf seemed to take a deep breath before he turned to Aragorn and softly said in their native tongue. "Today I heard the cry of the gulls. And I forgot all about Middle Earth, all about this war and about everything we have lost and gained. Then I heard a cry rise from deep within me, the cry of my soul. I cannot delay this choice, Aragorn."
Despair once again seized Aragorn's heart as he asked. "You mean the choice to sail into the West after this war is over? I should not have allowed you to come."
"But I was warned and I would have followed you anyway, you know this. But yes, I do mean that choice. Leave me in peace for an hour, and then I shall come and tell you what that choice is. Be at peace till then, my king." With those words the elf walked away leaving a saddened Aragorn to stare at his retreating form.
"This day is interned with sadness, more so then other days. This whole war I have found that sadness is a bitter companion more so then hope. But I have dealt with it, knowing I could not turn from my destiny. My destiny seems near, within days I shall ride to the city which I shall rule till the end of my days but with whom by my side, I cannot see. Alas, it will be a sad ending for some of us."
The man was staring in the fire when Legolas returned. They had waited with dinner for the elf to return and Legolas stopped next to Aragorn; causing Gimli to look up as well as the elf spoke. "I have to speak with Aragorn. After that, we can eat." The dwarf nodded and busied himself once again with his axe as Aragorn followed Legolas.
"I have made my choice." Those words would shatter Aragorn's heart, the man knew so already but then the elf placed his hand upon his cheek so there was no choice but to look within the blue eyes of his beloved. "I have had hope you would be with me in the end. And with the end I mean the end of this war. That it would be I who would stand by your side and accept your ring but it was always a fool's hope. Until a few days ago when you asked me to bind with you and now the uttermost choice is before me, to stay behind with you or sail West after this war and allow my wounds to heal. But I cannot leave my heart here, so I have decided to stay, if you will have this tired old warrior."
"Hope seemed like a useless emotion in the beginning but I have learned it is all we have when we want something. Until that moment comes when we either claim something or know how to fight for it. As I have decided to fight for him to be by my side, he has decided the same thing and now hope is all I have. Hope that we survive and that I can make him mine in everything including name, body and soul."
"Yes, I will have you, Legolas. I love you so…" Aragorn smiled through his tears, words simply choking in his throat. The elf smiled at him as well and wordlessly pulled him in a kiss. Aragorn felt his heart fly as he kissed the elf back with a passion that he had held back his whole life.
"Aha, I knew it!" An amused voice declared suddenly and Aragorn and Legolas leaped away from each other. There stood none other then Gimli, son of Gloin and he was smirking widely at them. "Ah, yes, well, we were going to tell you… tonight… like Legolas promised." Aragorn answered, feeling very self conscious, a feeling he did not like at all.
"No need, lad. I knew from the beginning." Gimli grinned at him. "Knew?" Legolas echoed softly and the dwarf nodded fiercely before saying. "Well perhaps not really knew but more like had a feeling something was not quite right with the way you two were acting towards each other. Took me a long time to figure it out. I did not fully realize it until Helm's Deep when Gandalf entered, muttering something about finding you two in an awkward position and then all I had to do was to offer him a pint at the feast in Edoras and he spilled like a bag of beans."
Aragorn shared a look with Legolas and the man asked. "Can you keep this quite, Gimli? There are doubts that we still have about our future together." Again the dwarf nodded and Aragorn smiled before he said. "Then let us go and eat."
As one of my companions sleep and the other one sits here watching me, writing this, he leans over to take it out of my hand and reads it before returning it to me. He smiles at me and his eyes hold something I have come to recognize as love and I return the smile, knowing he shall sleep by my side tonight and in my arms, for we do not need to hide it anymore from Gimli."
"Like I said before hope can be foolish sometimes but it is also my name and in the end hope I all I have. But now I am proud to say, I am Estel, and Aragorn, king of men but most importantly beloved of Legolas Thranduilion. And may darkness prevail or not, I have found my light."
Hope you liked it. And no this is not the end, I promise so give me some ideas and review.