Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings
Note: Thanks for the reviews. This is one of the last chapters of this story, I feel sad. Long chapter. But anyway let's begin.
The time of darkness was over, well it should have been but not for Aragorn. He looked at the crowd assembled for him. To see him crowned king of Gondor. He felt the weight of the winged crown on his head. The weight of his destiny and duty on his shoulder. And the heaviest weight of the loss of Legolas in his heart.
He only heard Gandalf's mutter softly as the silence thundered in his ear. "May they be blessed." The wizard called out as the crowd cheered. Aragorn felt his heart contradict in his chest. So may emotions shot through him. He remembered the past days, of not having seen his friends but above all the darkness when Legolas finally released him.
He turned to the crowd and gave them a smile which did not reach into his core. He wanted to weep but called out, raising his hands. "This day does not belong to one man but to all. Let us together rebuilt this world that we may share in the days of peace."
He walked down the steps, blind to all but the one who was not here. He walked past Eomer, Eowyn and Faramir who all bowed before him. He gave them a nod until the trumpets sounded. He looked back to the path that was cleared before him and a soft moan escaped his lips.
Legolas came towards him, looking like the prince he was. Aragorn felt his heart expand and wanted nothing more but to fall down on his knees and beg the elf to take him back. It was a saying one would find their soul mate only once in their life and Aragorn could not bear the thought of losing his.
Yet he somehow managed to keep his dignity while his heart was oh so close to breaking. He walked forward on wobbling knees, wondering how long such torture could endure. The elf appeared proud to all but Aragorn as the man saw a broken shadow in the elven eyes. "We shall both die, why prolong such fate? If I cannot be with you then I do not wish to be with anybody." Legolas sighed but managed to walk forward.
Placing a hand upon the elf's shoulder Aragorn softly said, knowing they had only minutes. If this was the last change he would get with Legolas then he would make it count. "Do not do this. I need you, I cannot live without you and you cannot live without me." The man wanted to weep as the elf met his gaze steadily and answered. "I need to step aside for you to become the king you were born to be. There is no place for me here. I thank you for being my light for so long, Aragorn. But now it is time for me to accept this darkness."
"Times of light these are but I cannot allow you to walk away. I cannot live without my heart, Legolas." Aragorn desperately called. The elf shook his head and as he looked up again, while tears stood in his eyes he smiled and answered. "Your future queen is here. May you live long and blessed, Elessar. Be assured of my love, even when my light goes out."
The elf wanted to break their contact but Aragorn hung on, knowing if Legolas broke away there was no change anymore. "I want no other then you, can you not see it?" The crowd began to fret and Legolas looked around until his eyes fixed again on Aragorn and he answered. "I see it. But it is not to be so. Goodbye, Aragorn. I shall never stop loving you."
With those words the elf broke away and Aragorn felt his heart disappear. Darkness began to creep into his soul as he numbly stared as Legolas stepped away. The elf gave him one last nod before he fixed his gaze on the party behind him. "All hail Prince Legolas." The crowd cheered as Legolas bowed his head.
It seemed to stranger the elf did so because he was embarrassed, yet those who knew him knew better. Aragorn stared at the white banner while Elrond smiled at him. He walked forward, forcing himself to take these steps, yet knowing there was no going back. The banner swayed and Arwen's face appeared behind it. She gave him a startling smile but Aragorn felt nothing, only the growing sense of loss.
She walked forward, expecting to be claimed by him and Aragorn took the banner from her. "A gift from me for my lordship." She curtsied to him. Aragorn could only stare at her and as she placed her hands in his, he answered. "This gift I will accept but the other I must return…"
Her face showed puzzlement but she nudged him softly before she looked back at Elrond. The elven lord's face showed compassionate as he nodded at Aragorn and the man felt a little bit stronger. She smiled again and then she leaned in to kiss him. That moment it became clear to Aragorn, would he kiss her now they were both lost but if he truly wanted Legolas, then he would change his destiny.
He stood motionless as these thoughts consumed him. He felt a growing cry deep within his soul and then back away from here, releasing her and saying. "I cannot. I am sorry, Arwen, I cannot forfeit your life and mine as well." The crowd gasped as whispers broke among the people.
He could see the grief blossoming in the deep pools of blue as Elrond moved forward to grasp her by the shoulder and speak soothing words in her ear. He turned until his gaze fell upon Legolas and he moved towards the elf, watching as Legolas stood frozen in place, too stunned by the events that had taken place.
The elf began to shake his head, trying to deny what was taken place until Aragorn reached him and said loudly at which the crowd fell silent. "Do not deny it. Do not deny this, do not deny us, and do not deny the love we share. I care not what this will mean for I know it to be the right thing. I have loved you for 60 years, 60 long years in which you stood beside me through dark times and light. I cannot sacrifice my heart now. Call me selfish, but after all we have fought for, this happiness cannot be denied to us. I will not allow it."
The silence that fell seemed to tear his heart out as tears finally made their way across his cheeks and he cried out softly, people cringing at the raw emotions in those words. "Please say something, Legolas."
He backed away and while taking the crown from his head, he watched as Legolas bowed his head before turning and holding up the crown. "I will lay down the crown if it means I can be with the one I love. Bear witness to my oath; I have fought for too long and too hard to quite now. This battle matters to me and I shall not allow myself and Legolas to fall victim to duty. I love him. I love you, Legolas." He turned back to the elf and watched as the prince looked back at him through tears as he rushed forward and screamed. "Say something!"
He shook the elf forcefully as the crowd was still silent and at last Legolas spoke, his voice ran out clearly among the crowd. "What more can I say to you that you do not already know? You asked me to bind with you and I said yes. I released you in favour of your people and your bride but you defied me and have done exactly what I wished you would do. You came back, not caring what your people think or who you hurt. You are and will always be the man I love."
As Aragorn felt the light return to soul they slowly became aware of the angry whispers that ran among the crowd. The hobbits which had looked happy before now appeared frightened. Aragorn turned to face his people as Legolas' hand tightened around his own. Angry exclamations could be heard until Sam rushed forward to stand in front of them and cried out.
"Many people call me and Mister Frodo brave because we brought the Ring deep within Mordor but I say our valour is nothing compared to the one that was just shown by lord Aragorn and Legolas. This morning you could not have held them in higher regard and now you are angry at them because they love each other. This does not change who they are or what actions they have taken. I think their love is a gift and it can only improve the world as they have already fought to make it a better place."
The hobbit fell silent as he realized everybody was looking at him. He turned to find both Aragorn and Legolas smiling at him. "Would you merely condemn them because they share love in another way? Does a king need a queen?" Frodo had taken Sam's place as the former ring bearer demanded an answer.
There were whispers among the crowd as the people shook their heads. "Do you wish for this man to be your king?" Frodo gestured back at Aragorn. "Yes!" Cheers went up again and Aragorn felt a rush of blood to his head as he blushed. "Do you wish for your king to be happy? Regardless of whom his heart's choice is? You have all heard him, if your answer is no he shall lay down the crown."
"Yes!" Some people cheered until other people took over their cry. More and more people started cheering as both warriors stood frozen. Sensing his king's distress Faramir released Eowyn's hand and walked forward until he stood in front of Aragorn. "Your people have agreed to this union, my lord. Will you not seal it?"
The man stared at Faramir dumbfounded until a gentle hand on his cheek brought him back. He found himself looking in the sparkling eyes of his beloved elf as he smiled and nodded. Then he did the thing what he wanted to do all the time. He claimed the lips before him.
They both wept as Legolas slid his arms around Aragorn. Both were deaf to the cheers that arose around them. At last they broke apart. "Arwen…?" Aragorn felt the whisper reach his ear and he reluctantly released Legolas' hand to go to the grieving elf. "I am so sorry, Undomiel. I cannot give you what you deserve and in that would be the greatest misdeed." He took her hand as Elrond released her.
"You deserve to be happy, Aragorn. I wished you would give me what I want but if that cannot be. Then I shall find happiness somewhere else. I will sail to the West when Elrond sails. But for now it is enough to know you are indeed happy." She smiled at him and he nodded, looking back at Legolas. "I am happy, Arwen. I cannot say how much this means to me."
"It is not wise to keep your people waiting, Elessar. We came for a wedding and I think you have waited long enough yourself." Elrond placed his hand atop of his son and daughter's joined ones. "Oh yes, of course." Aragorn could only stammer as the truth dawned on him. He was going to marry Legolas. He cast a look back at the elf and realized Legolas had been thinking the same thing.
The elf smiled at him as Aragorn longed to make the elf his finally. "Then for the love of the Valar go to him, Estel. I think if you keep thinking these thoughts your first day as king shall be a memorable one indeed." Elladan smiled wickedly at him as Elrohir nodded proudly. Aragorn fought hard to keep the blush out his face as his brothers teased him.
Returning to his elf's side Legolas asked softly. "What were they referring to?" The elf appeared innocent enough as Aragorn led the way through the crowd towards Gandalf. "The thing we have longed to do since we learned about our feelings for one another." Aragorn replied, keeping his gaze forward.
They arrived where Gandalf stood waiting and Aragorn asked hurriedly. "Can you perform the marriage?" Gandalf arched a bushy eyebrow and replied. "Yes, but why are you in such a hurry to perform this ceremony? I mean you shall have to wait till after the feast to truly bind."
Aragorn nearly snarled at him if Legolas had not dropped his arm around the man's waist. "What Estel means is that we waited too long already and really wish to get married. And besides, it is not very good to keep the people waiting." The elf gently explained, giving Gandalf a smile.
"For old times sake?" The elf questioned softly, nudging Aragorn who managed, wondering how many emotions he could go through in one day. "Aye, for old time's sake." He rubbed his ribs where Legolas' elbow hit him. "Good then perhaps now we can arrange this marriage." Gandalf shot Aragorn a playful grin at which the man only groaned.
While Aragorn waited patiently for all the guests to come inside as well he paused to whisper huskily in the elf's ear. "Can we not sneak away now? I saw some empty closets and rooms in which they shall never search." Legolas looked at him and while Aragorn saw a twinkle appear in the elven eyes he answered. "If only we could, my love, but alas, my father is here. He still has to approve of this marriage before we can do anything. Including things in a closet. Here he is."
If Aragorn thought Thranduil had changed in all the long years since the man had last seen him he had been wrong. The elven king was still tall and proud, through there seemed to be apparent joy in his eyes today. Aragorn knew Legolas had told his father about his feelings for Aragorn but the man could not help but gulp as he remember Bilbo's stories about the king of the former Mirkwood.
He bowed as he watched king Thranduil do the same. At last the king smile and caught Aragorn in a hearty embrace. "I am glad to see my trust in Legolas was not in vain. Or my trust in you, Aragorn." Thranduil nodded at them both as he also embraced Legolas.
"Come on, it is time for you two to get married." Gimli came forward with a smile on his face. Aragorn looked down at his own clothing and softly said. "I fear I am not properly dressed for a wedding and I do not have any rings…"
Legolas looked faintly stressed as well as Aragorn began to summon up the things they did not have. "But you love one another and the rest shall be taken care of." Gimli cut in as he guided them towards the front. Aragorn gulped as he saw how many guests were waiting for them.
It was not long until he was crouching down in front of Gandalf with Legolas by his side and the ceremony had begun. He bowed his head but thought better of it when he noticed the weight of the crown was too great for him to bow his head. "That may be the reason a king bows to no one."
He waited until Gandalf finished his speech until the wizard said. "Now I give the word to prince Legolas and king Elessar." Aragorn stood and waited patiently for Legolas to begin but when the elf simply looked at him he was at loss for words. "I do not know what to say…" He softly began.
Legolas smiled at him and answered. "I shall go first then. I cannot even begin to say how happy I am to spend the rest of my life with you. I have loved you for such a long time and to finally see you becoming king is as much a gift as it is that you return my love. Be assured I will always stand beside you or behind you if needed. Be assured of my love for you and you shall be great, Aragorn."
"Well… I love you… you know this….But… oh Valar; I really do not know what to say…. And well I love you and I will be true to my vows, you can be assured…" Aragorn felt nervous as the words spilled from his mouth. This was the moment he had been waiting for and also the most important moment of his life. He had wished for this ever since he met Legolas and now the moment was here and he did not know what to say.
The hobbits snickered softly as Legolas took the man's hands in his own and while saying to Gandalf. "A moment please." He then turned to Aragorn and softly said in their native tongue. "Estel, there is no need to be nervous. You do not need to make this speech if you wish for it. I know what you want to say and you can always make the speech after this day."
Aragorn nodded and Legolas gave him an encouraging smile. "Well I am not able to make this speech. I think I am too nervous indeed." Aragorn answered. "Alright then, if we can get the rings that we can seal this marriage after this memorable speech." Gandalf gave Aragorn a wink.
Aragorn stood frozen as he realized they still did not have any rings. The next moment somebody leaned over his shoulder and he turned his head to find himself looking at Elrohir and Elladan. "You can borrow the rings mother gave us for now. Until you can get your own." His brothers gave him a smile as Aragorn simply stared at them.
He knew what this meant for them, to give the rings their mother had given them to him and Legolas to borrow. "I cannot…" He began until he once more felt Legolas' hand over his own as the elf shook his head and said. "Do not. It is theirs to give and it is wise not to return some gifts, Aragorn."
"Thank you." Aragorn instead answered as he looked at the twins. "We know what this means to you." Elrohir simply said. "Then let me now pronounce you husband and husband. You may finally kiss your groom, Aragorn."
All those years of weighing seemed to finally disappear as he saw Legolas smile at him. "You are legally mine." He softly growled as he stepped in closer. "Yes, but that does not mean I will allow you to rule me in the bedroom." Legolas answered lightly as he smiled once more as Aragorn finally pressed his lips against his own.
Loud cried went up around them as friends and family finally moved forward to embrace the new couple, sharing in their happiness.
About one more chapter left. Hope you liked it and that it was the ending you were hoping for. How many people want to see a sequel? Review please.