Aragorn watched as Legolas hugged himself with his arms, keeping his head low as he weeped quietly. He hummed thoughtfully. Legolas only did so when he was feeling ashamed or another way he couldn't quite understand. It was probably the two combined this time.

Legolas had been spoiling for a fight; he needed Aragorn to remind him of what he knew deep inside—that he cared and loved him, that if Legolas acted out, Aragorn would be there to stop him. And judging by the way he was quivering and tensing before each next swat, it seemed his sweet elfling was rather out of practice.

Some might think their relationship odd, in all honesty. They were both able to switch in and out of their roles in a split second; it was why they understood each other so well. Aragorn knew all too well the feeling of loss and confusion that plagued one when things started to feel out of control. Aragorn had his suspicions on why Legolas had done what he did today, but he wasn't going to ask him so directly. Nay, that would defeat the whole purpose of what they were doing right now. Legolas needed Aragorn to make him say it while showing that he was there to listen and understand. Aragorn would. In these situations, he understood Legolas better than Legolas understood himself.

"OW!"

Aragorn 'tsked' and pulled his beloved elf closer to him again, wanting him to feel the weight of his arm hugging Legolas' body against himself. "You are making quite a fuss."

"I think you would too if you were—OW!"

"Quite the sass as well." Aragorn continued to spank him, letting his hand fall down hard. Legolas hissed and squirmed.

"Well-deserved sass! OW!"

"Oh, is it?" Aragorn chuckled. "There is no such thing as 'well-deserved sass,' Sir. There is only impertinence, and that is what you are showing me right now." When Legolas didn't reply, he swatted him hard again, making him yelp. "Is that not right?"

"I-I… OWWW!"

"Well?" Aragorn continued to let his hand fall hard and fast, feeling his brow furrowing in concentration as he did so. "Legolas. I am waiting for an answer." He was impressed with the stamina his elfling was showing.

"It is!" Legolas shot back with a hint of a growl in his tone. "P-Please! Ar'gorn!"

"Aye, 'las. I hear you."

"T-Too hard!"

Surprised, Aragorn stopped and stared down at him incredulously. "What?"

Legolas gave a quiet sniffle and turned his head to look at Aragorn. He didn't miss the way his elfling's blue eyes sparkled indignantly. "It's t-too hard, my l-lord. You are going t-too—OWW! Hard!"

Aragorn snorted and gently pushed his head back down. "I beg to differ." Legolas made an offended noise but as Aragorn had predicted he would, just cradled his head in his arms again and let Aragorn continue. Legolas had just been pushing, seeing if the boundaries were still the same as always. He wanted Aragorn to push him down and tell him to hush and carry on at the same speed and intensity.

Legolas cried out and quivered like a taut bowstring in his lap, but he didn't voice any more protests. Aragorn couldn't suppress the grin that tugged at his lips as he remembered what Legolas had once said to him in response to his words.

"I beg to differ, elfling mine."

"T-Then beg!"

"Excuse me?"

"OWWWW!"

Ai! The audacity of his elf!

It had definitely been far too long since Legolas had last been in this position. In fact, he had pulled Aragorn over his lap more often. It was no wonder he was acting out, trying to get a reaction out of Aragorn.

Aragorn was sure that he was giving his elfling a fine reaction indeed.

Legolas was growing more frantic in his efforts to squirm away from the swats. His efforts, though futile, were endearing. Aragorn watched as his arm twitched, like he was trying to resist throwing a hand back to cover his backside. Not that it would do anything. But he was watching and waiting, knowing what was soon to come.

And come it did. Legolas finally gave a sharp kick and sputtered a cough before going limp, quietly crying.

It pulled at Aragorn's heartstrings. It always did. Hearing his elfling cry, knowing that his hand was the one making him weep so, was never an easy thing to process. But it was what they both needed. Legolas had done something reckless today, and Aragorn had been terrified. Legolas deserved this. And Aragorn deserved to get some comfort out of the reminder that lay plain and clear in front of him, that Legolas was not injured or hurting. Save his rosy bottom, of course.

Aragorn paused in his efforts and watched as Legolas cried into his arms, taking big, deep shuddering breaths as he realized that the spanking had stopped. For now.

"Are you ready to have a civil conversation now, elfling mine?" Aragorn asked, gently resting a hand on Legolas' bottom.

"Uh-huhhh."

"You are?"

"A-Aye."

"Mmm. Goooood." Aragorn critically swept an eye over Legolas' body, relishing in his weight over his lap. Yes. Legolas definitely had been wanting a little extra attention.

"W-What're we gonna talk 'bout?"

Legolas' tearful question made Aragorn smile. "What would you like to talk about?"

Ohhh, such a question could be a dangerous thing to play with! An open-ended question always served to be a temptation for more sputtered sass. He knew that all too well himself. Oftentimes, when he was over a lap and was presented with such bait, he latched on to it. It was too fun and hard to resist.

"Are you ready to speak now?"

"Do I look ready to speak? Ow! OW, ada, please!"

"Do not beg, my son. There is nothing to beg for; you have landed yourself in this position. Now, once again, do you feel ready for a conversation? If needs be, I can wait. I am patient."

"Ada!"

Oh, Elrond's everlasting patience could be infuriating.

"A-Ar'gorn?"

"Aye, sweet one?"

"I…"

Aragorn waited.

"M-Maybe we could talk 'bout the Orcs." Legolas sniffled and rubbed his face on Aragorn's cloak, trembling. "W-We prob'ly should. There m-might still be Orcs lyin' around. Gotta get rid of them a-all, come u-up with a stra-de-gy."

Aragorn stared down at him. "I beg your pardon?"

"T-The Orcs—"

"Aye, I heard you." Aragorn almost laughed. He trembled from the effort of holding it back. "We shall indeed be talking about Orcs, elfling mine. But you need not fret your pretty head about them; I will take care of them with a well thought-out plan." He brought his hand down, feeling that Legolas needed a bit more incentive to be cooperative. "Perhaps we should talk about your well thought-out plan today."

"M-My plan?" Legolas quivered.

"Aye."

"I-I did not—" Legolas broke off and there was a moment of silence between them.

"Continue, Sir."

Legolas squirmed. When Aragorn raised his knee and made to land a few well-earned spanks on the sensitive curve 'neath his cheeks, Legolas quickly cried out, "I-I will continue!"

"Ah. I am glad to hear it."

"Uh-huhhh." Legolas sniffled.

"You were saying something about a plan."

"I-I did not h-have one." Legolas rested his head on his arms, staring off to the side with a pretty pout on his lips. "D-Didn't mean to go after them."

"Oh?" That was promising. "Do go on."

"H-Hal'brad told me to go s-straight back to camp."

"I see. And why did he do that?"

Legolas' brow furrowed in confusion. "'cause... 'cause I was cryin'. Hal'brad said some nice words and—and it made me upset!" He sounded rather put off by it, now properly and openly sulking.

"And what did he say?"

Legolas burrowed his face back into his arms, as though he were trying to hide.

"None of that now, little brat."

"OWWW!"

Aragorn spanked him a few more times for good measure before prompting, "Well, meleth nîn?"

Legolas whimpered, sounding every bit like the elfling Aragorn called him to be. "H-He said… he said you were worried 'bout me! S-Said 's okay to be sad, t-to have that b-big sad inside!" Legolas burst into tears again, trembling all over.

Ah. Aragorn felt a flash of sympathy for Legolas. His wise lieutenant with his softly-spoken words. Of course they would have an effect on Legolas. Halbarad's words enthralled everyone. Aragorn himself had been reduced to tears several times whenever he gave a speech. It was no wonder Legolas had become so emotional.

"I see." Smoothing a hand over Legolas' red bottom, he murmured, "What other sweet murmurings did my elfling hear from Halbarad?"

"H-He—" Legolas broke off to cough tearfully and repeated, "Told m-me to go s-s-straight back. N-No detours."

"Ah. I see." Aragorn lifted his hand. "But you did not obey him."

"OWWW! AR'GORN!"

"Aye?"

"P-Please! OW!"

"Legolas. Did you or did you not choose to disregard my lieutenant's orders?"

"A-Aye, I d-did. B-But—" Legolas let out another bursting sob.

"Even though in this case, his authority was my authority?"

"A-Aye!"

"So you chose to defy my authority as well?"

"A-AYE! But,but,but—" Legolas sputtered indignantly, unable to form any words for a few moments in his distress. It was too adorable. "W-Wasn't my fault!"

Aragorn huffed an indulgent laugh. If Legolas wanted to play a game, Aragorn would let him. He was feeling rather nice today. "Pray tell, then, little one. Whose fault was it, if not yours?"

"O-O-Osben's."

When one was being spanked, there came a point at which the mouth decided to detach itself from the brain. It caused trouble, really; blathering out ungoverned words never ended up well. In fact, it provoked a few hard swats to come raining down on an already burning bottom. Legolas was going through such a thing at the moment. He barely registered his own words 'ere he spoke them. So it was no wonder that he blurted out Osben's name when prompted. In any other situation that didn't involve his bottom being heated up, he would've laughed.

Aragorn clearly did not find it so amusing. Giving him another hard swat for what he clearly thought was cheek, he muttered, "Was it indeed?"

Legolas nodded. "Uh-huhhh. H-His words made meeee, Ar'gorn!"

Damn his mouth.

Legolas tensed, waiting for the hard swats that were clearly going to rain down once more for such impertinence. As he quivered and tensed in anticipation, Aragorn… he… surprisingly, Aragorn paused and rested his hand on his bottom. Ah! A reprieve!

"Perhaps you would like to be given the chance to explain yourself once again, elfling mine," his Ranger murmured.

"Yes! P-Please, Ara—"

"Shhh. I shall lead our discussion. You only needs follow along and answer like a good little elfling. Now. Let us start from the beginning."

"OW! T-There's no be-beginning!"

Another swat. "I beg to differ."

"Ar'gorn!"

"You claimed this was Osben's fault, Sir. We shall start there. Tell me, sweet one, how did Osben's words make you carry out such a naughty deed?"

Ai! Legolas trembled. That was a hard question to start with! It was not fair!

"Legolas."

When he felt Aragorn shift, clearly planning to target the soft undercurve of his bottom now, Legolas hastily spluttered, "He—he teased!"

Aragorn hummed. "How so?"

Flushing bright red, Legolas hung his head. "He…"

"Legolas. I am a patient man. I can wait all day; 'tis only your sweet bottom that shall suffer the consequences." With that, he picked up his speed, directing his swats onto that wretched spot, right between his bottom and his thighs.

"Owww!" Legolas kicked, infuriated. "'ben called me g-good! H-He said I was a g-good boy! OW!"

"Ah." Aragorn paused again, granting Legolas a chance to catch his breath and quietly weep. "And that bothered my poor little elfling."

"A-Aye!"

"You wanted to prove him wrong, is that so?"

"N-No!"

"Legolas."

"OWWW! A-AYE!"

"You know I do not approve of lying." Aragorn's spanks grew in intensity, making Legolas wail and buck as he tried to avoid them in vain. "'tis most unwise, Sir, considering your position."

"A-Aye!"

"If you lie to me again, I will not hesitate to fetch a bar of soap and wash such naughtiness out of your mouth. I vow you will not lie again afterwards."

"Ai! NOOO! Ow, ow, OW! I-I won't! No l-lying!" Legolas sobbed and kicked.

"Mm. I am glad we are on the same page, elfling mine." Aragorn paused and gently rubbed a hand over his bottom, making him groan and tremble. "And now, I think you owe me an apology for such unmannerly behaviour."

"I-I am sorry. Sorryyyy, Ar'gorn, s-sorry."

"Very good, little one."

Legolas let out another small groan. "P-Ple—"

"Shhh. We have not yet finished our discussion." Aragorn smoothed his hand over Legolas' bottom one more time before lifting it and letting it fall again.

"OW!"

"Now. Let us move on. Are you ready to do so, little one?"

Legolas nodded hard enough to give himself whiplash.

"Mm. Gooood." There was a hint of amusement in Aragorn's voice, making Legolas scowl. He could not help but nod so fiercely when his bottom was under such assault! He let out a small groan. He would be sleeping on his stomach tonight.

"Legolas."

"U-Uh-huhh?"

"Why did Osben's words bother you so much?"

Legolas groaned, clenching his fists as he squirmed. He hated that question. It was not fair to ask such an insightful question. And Aragorn still continued on, spanking away, encouraging the blazing fire that he now felt in his bottom. "P-Please—"

"Legolas. Why?"

"I-I don't know!"

"I think you do."

"N-Nay, Ar'g—Estel! No! I d-do not! Not! OWWW!"

"Your tone, little one." Aragorn sighed. "Perhaps my elfling needs an incentive. Is that what you need, Sir? Must I lift my leg and spank the soft curve 'neath your bottom again?"

"NOOO!"

"I did not hear you."

Legolas choked back a sob and shook his head, fiercely once again, feeling his long hair fly. "N-No. N-Noooo, Ar'gorn."

"Ah. I see."

Legolas turned his head to the side as he weeped, whimpering when he felt Aragorn's hand gently brush his damp hair away from his tear-stained face. At such a tender act of affection, Legolas couldn't hold back the new sobs that burst forth. They were a new kind of tears, different from before. Tears that washed away the hurt that had been welling up inside him for a while now, the fear and the bad, bad thoughts that clung to those fears, haunting him every night as they lay in their bedrolls.

The others could not hear as well as Legolas, even with the blessed Dùnedain blood running through their veins. Only Legolas could hear the sounds of the Orcs running through the fields, snarling and growling to each other, swearing that they would clear these lands from all but their filthy, wretched selves.

Legolas hated them.

Hated that they made him so scared, not of being hurt himself, but that his Estel and the other Rangers he'd grown so fond of would be hurt. And Aragorn was about to make him say it aloud! He let out another small groan.

"Oh, meleth nîn. My poor, sweet little elfling." Aragorn's thumbs gently brushed over Legolas' cheek, pulling him out of the nightmare he'd gotten stuck in again. "Shhh. You're alright. I am here."

Legolas' vision blurred with more tears at that. His Estel was here. Here, safe, not riddled with foul Orc arrows or suffering from any sort of injury. His Estel, his gentle, sweet Estel, who was still quite displeased with his actions. "A-Ara—"

"Shhhh. Breathe, little one."

Legolas tried to obey, taking deep, shuddery breaths. He listened to Aragorn's breathing as he did so, trying to copy it, trying to stop the tears that wouldn't stop falling like raindrops.

"Ah. There you go. You are doing so well, little one. I am so very proud of you."

Legolas shook his head at that, hard. "D-Don't," he begged in a trembling voice. Aragorn could not be proud of him. He did not deserve it.

Aragorn made a small, sad noise above him, but clearly having understood, he did not speak any more such words. For now. Instead, he just swept a hand over Legolas' hair and murmured, "You need not feel such bad thoughts, mellon nin. You are too hard on yourself for the things you cannot control."

At that, Legolas felt a jolt run down his spine, lightning fast and hard. Oh! Ohhh! Aragorn knew! He knew! He knew the horrors that had been haunting Legolas. He knew even though Legolas had not told him, still stuck in fear of being shamed. He turned his head to the side again and let himself cry. How embarrassing. He was embarrassing. He was not worthy of such high praise from Aragorn, let alone pride. He was not good. Legolas was… was… he was not good!

He could hear the sounds of the Orcs again in his head, even while knowing that they were just a figment of his imagination now. They were all gone—most likely. The ones that had been drawing closer and closer to them each night were now gone, anyways. But they still lived on in his mind, as bits and pieces of their sounds and his imagination.

Just the day before Osben had called him a good boy, Legolas had been tempted to go and slay every single one of them, damn it all! 'twas not fair that Aragorn, his beloved Estel, should suffer so much from such disgusting, lowly creatures! He could've helped. He could've done more. He should have.

It was an honour to be travelling with the Grey Company. Such noble men, they were. Far more noble than him. He still remembered the first time his adahad given him permission to go off into the wild with him.

"Really, ada?" he'd exclaimed, with Aragorn grinning beside him. "I can go?"

Thranduil chuckled. "Aye, Legolas. You are a wise, experienced warrior. It would be a blessing indeed to have my son travel with such respectable men."

"Ai! Thank you, ada!"

"Make me as proud as I have ever been, my son."

Ohhh, he could bet that his adawould not be proud of him at all. What would Thranduil have done? Exactly what Legolas hadn't done, of course. His strong, brave adawould've charged straight at the crowd of Orcs, slaying them all one by one without shedding a single drop of his royal blood. By the end of it all, he would've been a sight to behold, a painting that was worthy of being hung in the halls of their kingdom.

But not Legolas. Legolas did not deserve any of that. For how many nights now had he lied in bed silently, pretending to doze, secretly staying awake so that he could keep watch? Aye, the Rangers of the Grey Company were intelligent and attentive, but Legolas was even more so. He did not need sleep. He had told Aragorn that a while ago.

"I shall keep watch every night from now on, Aragorn. 'tis only just."

"Just, did you say?"

"Aye."

"Just."

"Aye, my lord. I assume we have an agreement?"

"No."

"Pardon?"

"You will not keep watch every night, Legolas. You shall lay beside me and rest, sleep, even."

"But I am—"

"An elf. Aye. And elves need rest."

"But I can—"

"Go for longer without rest than us mortals. Aye, Sir, I know. And I am telling you no."

It was not difficult to guess who had come out of that conversation victorious.

"Legolas."

"OWWW!" Legolas squalled at the fierce spanks that followed the reprimand. "S-Sorry! Ara—sorryyy!" he blathered.

"I should think so." Ai! The displeasure in Aragorn's tone shot a shiver down his spine. "Stay with me in the present, sweet one. I require your constant attention, do you understand?"

"U-Uh-huhh!"

"Good. Now, little one, tell me what made you decide to ignore Halbarad's orders."

"I-I—I did not ig-nore—"

"Did you misunderstand them?"

"Noooo."

"Did you mishear him?"

"Noooo!"

"Ah. So you ignored them, then."

Legolas whimpered. "I-I—did not mean to!"

"Would you care to explain, my sweet elfling?"

Legolas nodded. "Uh-huhhh. C-Can explain." He tried, he really did. But he'd reached the point where his mind was going too sluggish for his own good, drifting here and there as he tried to form words.

As his bottom continued to be heated, he felt a surge of regret swelling up inside him. Just what in the name of Valar had possessed him to pursue such an asinine act? Ohhh, he would never go Orc-hunting by himself again. Never, ever again.

Never ever was a long time.

"We'll never do it again, ada! Never ever again."

Thranduil had given him a fond, amused look. "Never ever is a long time, my son. Do not make promises you cannot keep."

"I shall stay out of trouble," Legolas had vowed. "Even when Elladan and Elrohir try to pull me into their antics, I shall resist."

"Oh, little Greenleaf. You are a wonder indeed." Glorfindel, who'd been travelling with them to Mirkwood at the time, had affectionately ruffled his hair. "The day you and the twins stay out of trouble will be the same day I shall mourn, for I will no longer have the honour of having your pretty bottom grace my lap."

Amazing, how even a small memory could send his face up into flames.

It was one thing to be spanked by his ada, or by his Estel. It was another to be over the balrog-slayer's lap.

"Legolas!"

"OWWW!" Legolas reared up with a cry.

"Are you with me now, little one?" Aragorn demanded.

"AYE! S-Sorry!"

"Hm."

"D-Didn't mean to."

"So you say." Aragorn sighed and rested his hand on Legolas' bottom. "Perhaps you need some assistance. Would you like some help in answering my questions, elfling mine?"

Legolas nodded hastily, eyes filling up with even more tears. "A-Aye!"

"Very well. Do you recall what I asked you earlier, little one?"

"Y-You want'd to know w-why I i-ignored Hal'brad."

"Ah. My clever little elfling." Aragorn swept a hand over his hair, making him push into the touch, lapping up every bit of affection he was shown. "Perhaps you intended to obey Halbarad at first, but became sidetracked as all naughty little ones do. Is that what happened, 'las?"

Legolas nodded again, quivering. His Estel knew. He always knew. "A-Aye!"

"Did my little one climb a tree?" Aragorn's tone was full of fondness now. Fondness, for him. "I know my little elfling scales a tree when he wants to be soothed."

Legolas shed a few more tears at that, quivering at the tenderness of the situation. "U-Uh-huhhh. Ar'gorn, I-I c-climbed—"

"Ah, so you did." Aragorn gave him another swat, though it was not as harsh as the previous ones. It still did not fail to further ignite the blazing in his bottom. "And what did you see up there?"

"I-I—" Legolas coughed, trying to clear his throat. "Saw l-lots of things. L-Leaves."

"Ah. I have no doubt you saw leaves, little one." Aragorn was grinning now; Legolas could hear it. No wonder, too! He sounded every bit like the little elfling Aragorn kept calling him. "What else?"

Legolas wracked his brain. It was so slow. "B-Bees."

Aragorn's hand, which had been gently petting his hair, stopped at that. "Bees, did you say?"

Legolas nodded earnestly. "Bees, Ar'gorn," he confirmed. "B-But they were not r-really bees. They were O-Orcses."

"Ahhh." Aragorn's hand went back into its gentle, soothing rhythm. "So, my little elfling saw the Orcs in the distance with his keen, sharp eyes."

"Uh-huhhh."

"And you raced back to find Halbarad?"

Legolas frowned, suddenly unsure of how to answer. He hesitated for a moment too long. "O-OW! N-Nay! I did n-not! OW!"

"Ah. Then you tried to come back to camp."

"N-NAY!" Legolas felt another sob burst through. "I d-did not! You k-know this, Ar'gorn! You know! OWWW!"

"Never mind what I know, little one. I want to know what you know."

"I…" Aragorn's hand slowed again into smaller swats, making him shudder as he caught his breath. "I w-went to them, Ar'gorn. All b-by myself."

"With no backup?"

Legolas shook his head.

"No plan?"

Another shake of his head.

"All by yourself."

A nod, and then— "OW!"

"That was very naughty indeed, was it not, little one?"

"I-It was!" Legolas agreed with a hiccup. "S-Sorry!"

"Hm. And what was my little elfling thinking as he went to fight the Orcs, all by himself?"

"W-Was thinkin'..." Legolas wracked his brain. What had he been thinking?"

"Perhaps my wise little elfling was thinking that he could handle them by himself, no backup, no plan, all alone. Perhaps my wise little elfling thought he could, and should, because he is an elf in the company of men. Perhaps my wise little elfling thought that it was the princely thing to do, and that it was your duty. Perhaps my wise, naughty little elfling thought he knew better than everyone else because of all these reasons. Is that fair to say, meleth nîn?"

"I-I… OWWW!"

"I could not hear you."

"OWWW! ARA—'STEL! P-PLE—"

"Hm. I still cannot hear an answer."

"B-Because y-you are sp-spank'ing t-too hard! OWWW!"

"Oh. Perhaps you are right. My apologies." Aragorn was grinning again.

Wretched Ranger!

"Back to my question, Legolas," Aragorn reminded, nudging him back into the right direction 'ere he earned himself a few more hard swats. "Is that all fair to say?"

Legolas quivered. He twisted his fists in Argorn's cloak, still clutching on to it tightly. He weeped, long and hard. Then, finally, he gasped, "A-Aye!"

With that, he collapsed, going limp, having no more energy to try and keep himself composed.

It was as he had expected.

Of course, Aragorn had known from the start why Legolas did what he did. But knowing it and hearing it were two different things.

It was not the first time Legolas had pulled such a stunt. His excuse was the same each time: "I thought I could handle it."

What he meant was: "I knew I could handle it even though you told me 'no' because I am an elf and you are a man."

It did not come from a bad place, Aragorn knew. Legolas only wanted to play his part while travelling with the Grey Company; he did not want to be fighting in the back while the good men were out in the front. Legolas had even told him so, bluntly, once, when they were preparing for bed.

"I do not enjoy being made to stay at our tents while others go on excursions. It makes me feel… lazy."

Aragorn had shot him a surprised look at that. "Lazy? Ai! Legolas, mellon nin, you are anything but!"

"Nay, Estel. You do not understand." There was a look of distress in his eyes, one that told Aragorn that this was coming from his heart, from a place of love. "I fear that while I am sitting in our tent, your beloved men are putting themselves in danger. I fear that they do not hear the dangers that I could, creeping and lurking and waiting to sweep them away from our arms. It does not feel… just, or even reasonable, knowing that 'tis my duty to be out there with them."

"'tis not your duty to exhaust yourself." Aragorn had cradled his beautiful elf's face in his hands, tenderly, before leaning in for a kiss. "My men are wise men. They are skilled and know these paths."

"Aye. And yet they are men."

The truth was, Legolas was an experienced, skilled elf, having been fighting in battles 'ere Aragorn had even been born. Legolas knew things that Aragorn did not, and heard and saw and experienced things that only an elf could. 'twas simply the order of things.

But there was a difference between offering wise counsel to another person and recklessly charging into danger without a plan after assuming an all-knowing attitude. And Aragorn told him so now.

"B-But—" And Legolas broke off to growl! Aragorn had to marvel at his stamina, considering how red his bottom was turning. "I-I knew I could! 'm the Prince! An e-elf! Not a m-mortal! An e-e-experienced elf!"

"I see. So you thought you knew better than I did, little one? Is that it?"

Legolas howled at the volley of hard spanks that rained down. "NO! NOOO!"

"Oh? I thought you just said so. Was I wrong?" Aragorn swatted down hard.

"OWWWW! NOOO!"

"You are yelling, Sir. Remember, this is a civil conversation. Is it not, little prince?" The name felt rather befitting, given the situation. Aragorn watched as Legolas sputtered and nodded jerkily. "It isn't?"

"It isss!" Legolas wailed, kicking. "Ar'gorn!"

"Aye, sweet elfling. I am listening."

Legolas gasped and cried some more before stammering, "I-I did think I k-knew more, Ar'gorn! W-Wanted to show you!"

Aragorn smiled down at him sadly, even while knowing that Legolas could not see him. "Meleth nîn, you do not have to prove anything to me."

"I-I was n-n-not—"

"Aye, you were. You wanted to prove that you could do it, that you could take them all on by yourselves. Because if I saw you do so, then I would no longer argue when you demanded to go out on skirmishes by yourself. You would have proved to me that you are more than worthy of taking care of both yourself and our men. You would have proved to me that our good company does not need to put their lives in such danger when we have such a brave elfling on our side."

"A-Aye." Legolas groaned, clearly giving up any lingering temptation to hide his true intentions by now. A wise choice.

"Shhh. I know, little one. I know. But the truth is, Legolas, I still stand by my words. There is nothing you need to prove to me. Do you understand?"

"I-I…"

"Legolas."

"OWWW! AYE! UNN'ERSTAND!"

"Mm. Good." Feeling the need to say more, not just for Legolas but for himself, Aragorn added quietly, "You have proven your worth more than enough all these years that we have been travelling together, Legolas. E'en before we joined the Grey Company. Do you remember those times?"

Legolas nodded shakily.

"'twas always you saving me," Aragorn told him with a small, rueful smile. "It was the first time I was leaving home without my brothers, or any of the other noble elves who watched me grow. Do you remember how I argued with everything you told me to do?"

"A-Aye." Legolas twisted to give him a small, tearful smile. "I-I had to sp-spank you, 'cause our adas said I was in charge for t-this journey."

Aragorn winced. "Aye, you did not go easy on me at all," he muttered, making Legolas laugh wetly. He patted Legolas' bottom, making him hiss and arch a bit. Ah. And now he had regained the upper ground once more. "Did you think me any less worthy for my eagerness to show you how much I could—or rather, thought I could achieve?"

"N-Noooo."

"And would you have thought me any less worthy if I had listened to your orders like a good little boy, rather than rashly running into danger trying to prove myself?"

"Nooooo!"

"Well, then. I see no reason why it would be any different for you."

Legolas said no more, and Aragorn was satisfied, knowing that he had finally gotten Legolas to understand. For good measure, he added, "And you most certainly do not need to put yourself in danger so you can save everyone else. 'tis not your duty, Sir. Do you hear me? Your duty is to continue to be the worthy member of the Grey Company you are."

"B-But I am—"

"An elf. And I am a man." Aragorn rested his hand on Legolas' red bottom. "We cannot change who we are. But just because I cannot walk atop of snow as you can, or hear a leaf fall a mile away, does not mean you love me any less. Love has no boundaries for the races of Middle Earth, little one. 'Tis the same for all."

Legolas went quiet again at those words, and Aragorn let him think, knowing that he needed that time to process them. "I understand, Estel," he whispered, slipping into the Elvish tongue.

Aragorn smiled back. "I know you do," he responded back, enjoying the way the words rolled off of his tongue like liquid honey.

"A-Ar'gorn?"

"Aye, little one?"

"I was m-mean to 'ben."

"Were you indeed?" Aragorn held his gaze, watching the guilt swirl around in Legolas' eyes.

"U-Uh-huhh. I h-hurt his feelings. T-Twice. Or m-more. I do not k-know." Legolas put his head back down into his arms, clearly feeling tears welling up in his eyes. "I-I was bad."

"You were not bad." Aragorn made sure to emphasize his point with a firm spank, making Legolas wail. "My elfling is never bad."

"B-But—"

"You made a mistake, Legolas," Aragorn swept on, not letting Legolas get a chance to continue his self-degradation. "Osben is wise enough to know that you did not truly mean any of the words you spoke to him."

"B-But—"

"Osben played his part in this little mishap as well. He was not entirely innocent."

"W-What?"

"He has been acting out for days now, little one." Aragorn gentled his voice. Had his elfling truly not realized? "Trying to get Halbarad and Elion's attention, no doubt. And he will soon get it, once his ankle heals."

"B-But—"

"He kept silent when he knew he should have told Halbarad of your antics, when he saw you in the forest. He has already gotten a few swats for that. And now, Halbarad and Elion are itching to get their hands on him and will do so the moment it is safe to pull him over their laps. And afterwards, he shall apologize to you for antagonizing you that day with his remarks."

"B-But—" Legolas broke off, sounding tearful as he quivered. "Ar'gorn—"

"Shhh. No more arguing, Sir. 'tis how it is." Aragorn gently rubbed his back. "And once we are done here, you, dear elfling, owe little Ozzy an apology as well. It shall ease both of your minds."

Legolas let out a small sob. "He—he won't l-like you callin' him that—OW!"

The audacity of his elfling! Aragorn had to swallow the laugh bubbling in his throat. "I only require your attention and good behaviour, Sir, not your sass," he informed him sternly instead, swatting him again, quickly sobering as he reminded himself why Legolas was even over his lap in the first place. "You shall apologize."

"OW! I-I will!" Legolas agreed with a hiccup.

"He did not deserve to be treated so unjustly, did he not?"

"OWWWW!"

"Well?"

"N-No, Ar'gorn, he d-did not! Not! Sorry! Sorryyyy!"

"Ah. Good, little one. Very good." Aragorn gently patted his bottom, making him flinch. "And you understand that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable and will ne'er be tolerated?"

"U-Uh-huhhhh! Unnerstand! S-Sorry, Ar'gorn! W-Won't do it 'gain! Unner'stood!"

Oh, no doubt he understood, considering how red his bottom was now.

Aragorn smiled. "Goood. Very good, little are done now."

Legolas tensed, then went limp, weeping softly. "A-Ara—"

"Shhh. 'tis alright." Aragorn gently scooped him up, making sure his sore backside didn't touch his legs, and wrapped his arms around his elfling, settling him comfortably into his lap. "You did so well, little one. I am very proud of you."

This time, there were no objections, just a quiet, "T-Thank youuu."

"You are most welcome." Aragorn gently rocked back and forth, tenderly brushing Legolas' hair out of his face. He couldn't help but wince, knowing that his eyes would be feeling sore and swollen the next day. Even his Elvish blood couldn't seem to give him an advantage for a post-spanking recovery.

"Ar'gorn?"

"Aye, little one?"

"Y-You were not mad at me today."

"Nay, Sir. I could never be mad at my sweet little elfling."

"No matter what." Legolas traced patterns onto Aragorn's chest as he spoke, giving him a shy look. "'s what you always say."

"Indeed, my wise elfling."

"'m not an elfling."

"Oh, you are." Aragorn laughed when Legolas wrinkled his nose at that, chasing it away with a delicate kiss.

"Hmph."

Aragorn silenced him with another kiss, a longer one, enjoying the tender little moment they were sharing.

"Ar'gorn?"

"Aye."

"We should prob'ly head back. There might still be Orcs lyin' around. Gotta get rid of them all, come u-up with a strategy."

Aragorn stared at him in surprise, then laughed.

Legolas smiled sweetly, and joined in, giggling as he pressed his face into Aragorn's chest.

When the sun began to set, they did indeed start to make their way back to camp. Aragorn grinned fondly when Legolas winced as he pulled up his leggings, hissing when they reached his bottom. "You could always go without," he suggested innocently.

Legolas spluttered, flushing. "Estel!"

Aragorn shrugged. "Just a suggestion."

Rolling his eyes with mock irritation, Legolas muttered, "Men."

All was quiet in the night once more, no longer troubled with the darkness that the Orcs had brought with them. They arrived at camp with no fuss, though Legolas hesitantly wiped an arm over his eyes before entering, as though it would help cover up the redness that lingered. Not that there was any point in such action; the wise men of the Grey Company knew exactly what sort of acts transpired between several of their members.

Paenon, who had clearly been selected to take the first watch as night fell, murmured a greeting to them, smiling when he saw Legolas' stiff walk. Still, he did not say anything, evidently not wanting to embarrass Legolas any further than he already was.

Legolas immediately headed off to Osben, and Aragorn made his way over to Halbarad and Elion, both of whom were sitting beside the now growing fire as the pot of broth boiled and bubbled atop it.

Elion shot him a teasing look when his stomach growled and remarked, "I suppose it's safe to assume you had quite the exercise out there, my lord. 'tis no wonder you grow so hungry."

Aragorn laughed. "You could say that," he agreed. He turned to watch as Legolas approached Osben, who gripped his crutches so hard that his knuckles turned white. When Legolas finished speaking, no doubt in his usual eloquent Elvish manner, the young Ranger's eyes welled up with tears and he dropped his crutches, lunging forward to squeeze Legolas in a tight hug.

Halbarad, who was puffing his pipe, grunted and looked rather displeased at Osben's carelessness with his injury, but did not say a word.

Instead, Legolas gently drew Osben back, said something that made him laugh sweetly, and picked up his crutches for him. They both headed towards the group of boulders they liked to perch on as they chattered the night away. With Legolas' help, Osben got himself seated comfortably, and then teasingly patted the spot next to him. Looking sheepish, Legolas shook his head and threw Aragorn a rueful glance, making him grin even more.

Aye, his beloved Legolas might be suffering from a sore bottom, but any trace of the darkness that had haunted him for days were now gone.

A little extra attention could go a long way indeed.

A/N: andddd that's a wrap! thank you to everyone who read this! keep an eye out for other pairings that i have in the works! some of these include glorfindel & aragorn, osben/halbarad/elion, more aragorn & legolas, and legolas & elladan & elrohir & aragorn! lots of fun stuff (and many more pairings, which if i listed all right now, it would go on forever!). let me know if you have any requests or ideas! xx