The Night before Aragorn's Coronation
Aragorn
Aragorn lay on his back, staring at the carved ceiling of his new suite in Minas Tirith. He'd gone to bed hours ago but had yet to fall asleep. His mind raced with thoughts of the coming day. The day he would fully claim his birthright. Did he really want it? Was he fooling himself to think he could rule?
He groaned and considered going outside to sleep on the balcony. Away from this ornate ceiling and huge suite that only served to remind him further of the role he was stepping into. But before he could move, the Door to his room swished open, and light footsteps that could only belong to an elf came softly up to his bed. Turning his blue eyes locked onto the dark ones of his best friend.
Legolas
Legolas smiled softly down at the wide-awake human. "I thought I'd find you tossing and turning. You always do let your nerves get to you."
Aragorn gave a disgusted sigh, and reaching for the pillow next to him, gave the elf a swat that was quickly dodged. "And what would I have to be nervous about? I suppose if you were going to become king of an entire nation in just a few hours, you would be sleeping soundly!" His face quickly sobered after his attempt at joking, and Legolas quickly sat down next to him.
Planting one hand on either side of the human and leaning over him, he stared into his eyes and spoke gently. "Of course, I would be nervous. And you would be saying to me what I'm going to say to you. You are more than able to lead these people. It's your destiny. And that very fact that you're nervous shows just how fit you are to be king. If you were convinced that you deserved it and would be a perfect king, you would quickly become a dictator. Never lose your humility, Aragorn. And always love your people. But also remember that you can rule with the help of the Valar. Do that, and you will be a great king."
Aragorn hadn't taken his eyes from his face the entire time he'd been speaking. He hadn't even attempted to interrupt. A few tears trickled down his cheeks, and he simply nodded in gratitude. No words were necessary.
Legolas touched his arm and shook his head. "You're too tense, Mellon nin; no wonder you can't fall asleep." Giving the human's hip a gentle pat, he got off the bed and went into the large closet off the bedroom. Just as he had suspected, the former ranger's healing bag sat on the floor. Reaching inside, he quickly found scented oil that he hoped would relax his friend. Going back to his friend's bedside, where the human sat propped against the headboard, he set it down on the table and spoke with affection, repeating his friend's words from a few days earlier. "Now, can you manage to take your shirt off, or shall I do it for you?" Aragorn rolled his eyes but shrugged out of his shirt before laying down on his stomach. Spreading the oil on his hands, Legolas sat down next to him and gently kneaded the tense muscles in his neck and shoulders, grateful to feel his friend relaxing under his touch. As he worked, he continued speaking gently. "And don't forget Aragorn, you do not have to go through this alone. I will be here, as will Gimli, Gandalf, and others. We have complete confidence in you."
Aragorn
Aragorn turned his head slightly and looked at his best friend. "Do you really mean what you said earlier, Legolas? That the fact that I'm nervous shows that I'm fit to serve as a king? You really have confidence in me?"
The soft smile Legolas gave him was answer enough. Then he pitched his voice and began to sing a gentle Elvish lullaby that he had sung to the human since he was a young child as he began to work on the man's lower back.
After getting Aragorn to turn onto his back, he rubbed his abdomen and arms, glad to find his muscles much less tight. After helping him slip back into his shirt, he sank down next to him and stroked his brow. Aragorn turned his head and looked up at him with eyes that were beginning to glaze over in sleep, "Hannon le!"
"My pleasure, Mellon nin! Rest now. I'll stay right here with you." Aragorn smiled and let his eyes drift shut, settling once again into his friend's gentle touch.
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