Titanium

Author's notes: Well, I'm writing this while I wait for my friend to arrive at a house that I'm house sitting at. So, this will likely be a rather short chapter, mostly dialogue, but that's what people like…isn't it? Anyway, not a huge response from the last chapter, but for those who did in fact respond, thank you very, very much for the warm PMs, and for the many views. I'm really happy with the chapters that I push out, and I feel that they may not be the best, but they are better than some. Here comes another chapter of Neville, be looking forward to a few chapters of Harrison and Siri after that. Then we'll be to our lovely triad couple for a few chapters. Love you all so much! –CJG

Warning: Homosexual relationships, dark themes, violence, language, and angst. If you don't like, please don't read.

Chapter Twenty-one: Privacy and a Prince

Characters: Neville Longbottom. Location: Mirkwood.

To say Neville was pleased would be the overstatement of the century.

Neville in fact was not pleased, his swords were taken from him, and he was forced to sit in one of the most uncomfortable chairs in existence. He was practically growling hell he'd go as far as saying he was foaming out the mouth from displeasure. The only upside to the entire thing was this ungodly chair was positioned beside none other than his lovely, extremely delicious mate. He was staring with slightly more distain at the king before him, mostly because the man wasn't listening to a single word he was saying, but primarily because he knew that if the king wasn't in that current location, Neville would have taken his mate by then.

To say Neville's time in Mirkwood hadn't been pleasant would have been a lie. The months that he had spent wondering the beautiful kingdom with Legolas had been some of the best months of his entire life. Even if at that time Legolas didn't know Neville was, well, Neville, he had felt such a connection to the Elf it was like they were already a mated couple. Never once did they leave each other's side, it was like their minds were connected, their bodies simply never wanted to be apart, and when they were it was almost painful for them to experience.

"Tell me why you lived to deceit with my people? Why you did not reveal this power and your identity to start with?" The king demanded while his voice seethed annoyance, and arrogance. In all honesty Neville wondered how this Elven king had ever made it as a king. It didn't make sense in his mind at all, from what he knew of rulers they had to have a firm hand, yet a gentle way of using it. A king could not rule on attitude and battles alone. A king needed an equal ground, some odd form of understanding with his subjects. Yet it seemed this king had almost none.

"Tell me, High King, if you were but a lone man traveling on an unknown world, just after you witnessed the complete desecration of your own, would you be so trusting to reveal a secret that could perhaps kill you?" His tone was calm, but said in such a way that made the high king seem as if he was a child, being scolded by a parent for disobedience. Neville wasn't using such a tone to make the man feel like a lesser being, but to show the fact that he had a legitimate reason.

"Still, in the face of danger one must charge head on," The king began, obviously ready to charge into a full on rant before he was silenced with the deep yet lyrical voice of Legolas,

"Father, you must try to understand. I was the one deceived, yet I find myself not blaming Artaxes for this. I understand his pain, father, and you should as well." Neville's heart soared at being defended by his mate, though he had pictured the roles reversed, he held to qualms to having an equal pairing for the time being.

Neville knew for a fact that it was the submissives that were the strongest out of the pair, able to bear their Dom children, able to protect the kits and raise them into respectable creatures. Neville knew that he simply was there to offer unending love, comfort, and protection for the creature and with a beautiful submissive as his Prince; he knew for a fact that it would not be hard.

"Thank you, dear Prince." Neville said softly, a playful grin overtook his lips before turning a serious façade to the king, "I fought for my world, I died for it even, yet fate brings me to protect yours now," He said in a powerful tone, he leaned back into his chair, that ungodly chair, his legs crossing in a regal manner, looking all the king of Lions that he was, "Where I am from, Elves are extinct, the only creature that is Elf doesn't hold a candle to your kind's beauty. And the only creature that does, well to put it simply they are creatures of hate, vile, completely different from yourselves." He said looking down at his hands, picking invisible lint from his tight trousers, "They steal the blood of any creature, from beast to man. Feeding like insects of a never quenching hunger. Rogue bands were roaming the wild side, killing innocents, raping anything. Then again some men were doing that in other lands." He said quietly, his eyes seemingly over taken.

Little did he know that his magic was swarming around him, displaying each and every horrible memory that his being brought to mind. Each rape he witnessed, each child he failed to save, each horrible scar he earned at the hand of Bellatrix Lestrange. Each horrifying memory of every corpse he buried on that hill, around the castle, around the lake. The ones he buried in the Forbidden Forest, and even the ones that never were touched, simply spelled to rot away to nothingness, minus the smell. There were no animals to consume them, simply to decay into a timeless peace. He was slightly startled when he felt a gentle hand rest on his arm, his eyes snapped up to meet the quiet eyes of Legolas. The kind smile of the prince also brought a soft smile on his own lips.

"I apologize; it has been but a few months since it has happened. I ask you to forgive my sudden emotional bought." He said clearing his throat before adjusting his seat again, "Nox, Master of Fate, has informed my kin and I that a great task is to take place on Middle-Earth." Neville began, "The war is beginning, my Lord, and if we do not stand next to the task bearer shadow will fall." He said with an extremely brisk tone, it rang with an importance and confidence. "I wish to help your world; I believe that if we form an alliance as kings, we shall offer a very great hand at keeping the world to falling into shadow." He proposed as his posture was clearly showing that he was dead serious, his brow was lightly raised. "I may not have the powers in an army, but my brothers are out on your world, attempting to gather forces, attempting to find an equal ground to meet with other races to join together to assist."

Conversation took a rather serious tone, and the king said he would think extremely hard on the subject, he said that he would not allow Middle-Earth to fall into darkness, but he didn't want to offer too many troops as he made the point that most of the Elves, including himself would be descending to the west. Neville sent a rather interested look to Legolas, who blushed deeply when his father gushed about what a great king Legolas would make the second he was crowned.

"Father, you jest. I will never be as good a King as you." Legolas said quietly, his eyes downcast, hands fidgeted in his lap, obviously uncomfortable about his father's feelings.

"I believe your father, Legolas. A good King does not rely on power, nor weapons, or even himself. But thinks about his subjects, and what is right for them, and what will help them live fulfilling lives. You have heart, princeling, and that is what a good king needs." Neville's voice was soft, and encouraging, a bright smile overtaking his lips to think that someday, he would rule at the side of his mate. That someday, he would take a seat in a throne next to his submissive, surrounded by children, and lead a happy kingdom.

Legolas clearly, blushing more than normal for the normally masked and difficult to read creatures, was ready to turn in so at the request of his father, he slowly yet gracefully, agreed to lead Neville to his chambers, though little to Legolas' knowledge Neville's plans didn't consist of rest and silence. It consisted of a rather important conversation between him and the Prince, with no interruptions, and hopefully an extremely pleasing outcome.

They arrived at the courters that were to be his home for the next few months, his eyes guided to the beautiful carved pale wooden door before drifting to his prince with a small smile. "I believe we have many conversations that are more than overdue, Legolas." The name rolled off of his tongue like silk. His tone was deep and pleasing to both himself, and obviously the Elf, and the smaller male shivered slightly. He too was clearly affected by the way his name hit the air.

"I do have many questions." Legolas was attempting to seem unexcited about the prospect of speaking with Neville, though he pretended to be indifferent; he was failing horribly to keep his tone neutral, "Perhaps a few moments would be acceptable." He almost whispered, stepping through the door that was opened so he could walk in. Neville followed behind closely, his eyes ensured that the hallway was empty, simply off instincts from the war.

"Good," Neville said gruffly as he finally stepped over the threshold his eyes seemed almost golden in the glowing brightness of the Elven stronghold. He motioned for Legolas to take a seat on a small chair that was settled by a sizable table. Neville took a seat close to the Prince, instead of across the table like he more than likely should have, "I have waited to exchange words with you for many months, I apologize it has taken me such a long time to reveal my true form to you." He apologized, smiling slightly as his mate shivered. He followed the prince's hand as it gently lay on his arm carefully.

"I blame you for nothing; I know now why you have done it. Though to know you can speak, it would have saved much heartache." Legolas admitted, pulling his hand back slowly only to have it snatched carefully by Neville's large warm hand. He carefully folded the hands between his own and gently kissed his knuckles.

"It is that attitude that will make a great king from you, I to have longed to speak with you. So much it hurt at time, but I feared how you would react." Neville's voice was quiet, but his eyes were extremely warm, so welcoming. They were close, they were breathing, and their breath mixed in a beautiful warm meld. "I've waited so long for you, Princeling, so long." Neville said his voice seemed to deepen as his eyes were locked with Legolas, "and though, though I've been forced to wait, I feel like I've known you for just as long."

He watched as heat flushed into the other's face clearly showing that he was feeling the exact same way, he nodded in agreement, only raising his eyes to meet Neville's, not dare raising his head. He was mostly fearful that his lips would meet Neville's.

"I was falling in love with a beast. I was frightened of my feelings." Legolas admitted but that admission simply caused Neville to smile.

"How do you feel about your feelings now?" Neville inquired, scooting a bit closer, leaning a forward a bit more.

"I understand them now. I-I know why I felt such a draw, and I cannot hide that I am more than pleased with the realization." The Elf admitted again he too was now moving closer to Neville as well. Still glancing at the

"I'm glad; I would not be pleased if my mate was afraid of me." He said quietly. His eyes pinned on Legolas to see his reaction. He was pleased to see the flush across his mate's cheeks. His free hand moved slowly up to cup Legolas' cheek. He smiled happily as the Prince finally raised his face to look equally into Neville's.

"I could never fear you, Artaxes." He said quietly a small smile on his face.

It was the smile that finally cracked Neville's hold. He closed the final space before gently placed a soft kiss upon his mate's lips.

Finally, he was at peace.