A Man Called Hope

by Sentimental Star

**COMPLETE** He was raised among the Elves of Imladris, and befriended the Elven Prince of Mirkwood. His name meant Hope in their language. But is that enough to allow him passage to Valinor?

7. Of Loving and Losing

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this marvelous universe; it all belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien.

A/N: Warning—long and emotional chapter ahead, so be prepared with tissues. This is actually one of the longest (if not the longest) chapters I have ever written in any of my fanfics. So I apologize ahead of time—but please go on ahead and read it, nonetheless. I hope you enjoy!

Reviewers: All 42 of you, thank you!

Legolas's Cousins: All three of them are OCs I created several years ago. I use them all in this chapter—Aries especially so—because it gives you a different perspective into Legolas and Estel's friendship. I hope it works well!

'Sindarin (Elvish)'

"Westron (Common)"

/Personal Thoughts/

.:A Man Called Hope:.

By Sentimental Star

Chapter VI: Of Loving and Losing

(Flashback, One Hundred Seventy-Five Years—Borders of Mirkwood, East Bank of the Anduin, TA 2966)

Rapidly thudding hoof-beats disturbed the early morning quiet of the Dúnedain encampment, causing a few early risers to give surprised shouts as horse and rider thundered into their midst.

Of course, only one among their number would have sensed the unrest among the trees, and it was that one Aries sought now as he sharply halted his mount.

"I must speak with your Chieftain!" he cried urgently to those who had come forward, recognizing this rider as one of the Eldar. "Where is he?"

An older Man—one of the few who had ventured forward—now motioned quickly to one of the younger Rangers nearby. "Fetch Aragorn—and hurry!"

The young Man nodded, rushing off to comply.

Meanwhile the older Dúnadan gently held the horse's head still as the animal panted and huffed, snorting heavily from the exertion. Murmuring some soothing words he had learned in the tongue of the Rohirrim, he patted the mare's neck. At last raising his own head and glancing up at the Elf, he noticed the fair being looked almost as exhausted as his mount.

His eyes widened.

Aries, tired as he was, noticed. "What is it?" he snapped in annoyance, worry and fatigue causing his patience (and his temper) to wear thin.

Quickly, the Ranger—relatively old as the Dúnedain went, light brown hair speckled with flecks of grey—schooled his features and gave him a penetrating look. 'Nothing, hîr-nin,' he replied mildly in the archer's own tongue. 'Will you not take some rest?'

Aries gave him a blank stare. How did this Man know his status? He was not wearing his circlet…He shook his head. 'Nay, I will not! Cannot!'

The Human's eyes narrowed slightly and he opened his mouth, perhaps to ask why, when another Man—this one around twenty years younger—suddenly sprinted out of a far tent, the messenger on his heels.

Within moments he was halfway across the distance between them, but Aries did not wait for him to complete it. 'Estel!!' he abruptly burst out. 'You must hurry! 'Tis Legolas! He's been wounded!'

Estel was close enough to hear and his face paled dramatically. Snapping something at the other Ranger who had followed him, he closed the distance between them in less than half a second. 'How?' he demanded, reverting to Sindarin without a second thought.

'Yrch,' Aries spat in extreme distaste, 'not a full league from here.'

If possible, Estel's face paled even more. 'That is why the trees were so restless! Why did I not see it--!?'

Aries shook his head impatiently. 'Estel, Elrondion that you are, you still are no Wood-Elf—to understand what the trees speak. But we waste time discussing such matters. Come, we must ride!' And he held his hand down to the young Ranger.

At that moment, a soft voice spoke from beside them, startling both. "I shall set up the medical tent, Aragorn, and await your return," the older Man (who still held the mare's head gently in place) advised.

Utter gratitude flashed across Estel's face. "Thank you, Halbarad," he murmured, gripping the other Dúnadan's hand. "Will you see three other cots set up, as well?" As Halbarad nodded, he abruptly turned to Aries whose face displayed a (rather childish) scowl, and retorted in Sindarin, 'Nay, mellon-nin. You will rest, as will Gilaith and Celethoron. Think you that I do not know the three of you well enough by now to know that you have been up all night tending to Legolas? Even if I must sedate you.'

'And if he will not, then I will,' Halbarad suddenly spoke up.

The two glanced at him in confusion. He merely smiled enigmatically. 'That I will also tell you on your return.' Bewildering and surprising the Elf even more, he winked at Aries.

'And that means once I sedate you, he will sedate me,' Estel grumped good-naturedly, in spite of the fact that the archer was sure his nerves were all standing on end.

At that moment, the young Ranger Estel had sent off returned. "But of course," Halbarad remarked dryly in Westron. He smiled at Estel. "That, however, is of little matter. Here is Firth. Go, Aragorn. All will be ready."

Estel gave a curt nod and grabbed Aries's hand, allowing the Wood-Elf to haul him up behind the archer on his mare. Firth handed up Estel's healing pack as Aries quickly about-faced their mount. A sound slap on the mare's flanks by Halbarad, and she took off.

The journey to reach his brothers and little cousin was a blur to Aries, and he rather thought it was much the same for Estel. The one constant, the only thing he remembered from those endless hours, were the death grip Estel had on his waist and the fervently murmured prayers from the Human behind him for Legolas's continued survival.

'Twas nearly noon by the time they arrived at the Elves' makeshift camp. Twin cries of relief went up as Celethoron and Gilaith took note of the rider and who he had with him.

As Estel jumped to the ground, Aries's twin brothers quickly made room for the Dúnadan near the fire where they had laid Legolas. 'Estel! Thank the Valar you are here…!' Aries heard Celethoron exclaim.

As swiftly as he could, the older Silvan Elf alighted from his mount and tended to her. Once she was relatively well groomed and watered, contently munching on a cube of sugar and an apple, Aries joined his brothers and the Human by the fire.

'How is he?' he asked quietly of the young Man.

Estel shook his head, face pale. 'Not good.' He was packing some medicinal herbs into a dressing and, once finished with that, applied it to Legolas's still freely bleeding side. 'He has lost a great deal of blood and I have not all the herbs with me I need to staunch the bleeding. Gilaith also told me that 'twas a poisoned scimitar tip that impaled him.'

Aries swallowed and nodded, glancing down at his little cousin. Tears burned in his eyes. He and his brothers adored Legolas, and the thought of losing him so early to a poisoned wound, when they were not supposed to lose him at all…

He knew Estel fared little better than they did. If he looked closely at the Human's hands, he could tell they were not nearly as steady as they normally were when they wrapped the bandages.

/And with good reason,/ he thought, swallowing again.

Elves were naturally pale, but Legolas, where he lay on the deer skin, was practically white at the moment. Almost translucent.

Impulsively, he squeezed his cousin's limp hand.

Estel's faintly trembling voice drew Aries out of his dark musings. 'Gilaith, Celethoron, build up the fire, and fill a pot or kettle with water. Make sure to boil it.'

Looking sick, the Silvan twins went off to comply.

Aries, feeling nauseous himself, asked weakly, 'You are using athelas?'

Estel's face looked almost as white as Legolas's. 'I have to, Aries.' He tightly tied off the bandages, causing the unconscious Crown Prince to arch and hiss, before his body dropped back onto the deerskin. The Human's tremors worsened and Aries clutched his little cousin's hand. 'He is not responding. That was merely his body's automatic reaction.'

Turning to Legolas, the stricken Dúnadan tenderly brushed the sweaty golden strands out of his face. The Man's next words were meant for the younger Silvan Elf alone: 'Oh, mellon-nin, why must it always be you?' he choked out.

For a few moments, the Ranger—almost compulsively—continued stroking the youngest prince's hair, drawing in several shuddering breaths.

'Estel...' Aries hedged, reaching out to hesitantly touch the Man's shoulder.

A treacherous sob made it past the young Dúnadan's lips. 'I'm scared, Aries,' he forced out. 'I've never…ever…done this before. Ada says the hands of the king are the hands of the healer. But…but…'

Aries felt a wash of cold. It had been nigh fifteen years now since Estel had been told his true heritage. He, Celethoron, and Gilaith knew little of what had happened when Lord Elrond told his foster son, only that Legolas had been summoned from Mirkwood to Imladris just before hand. The rest of was known only to Legolas and Estel. Elrond perhaps knew some, Elladan and Elrohir somewhat less than their father, and all Legolas would tell his cousins when he returned was that Estel's real name was Aragorn…son of Arathorn. And that he was heir to the empty throne of Gondor.

It was more who he was the son of, and the fact that Legolas had kept the secret of the babe's survival to himself, that had Aries upset. For Estel—or Aragorn—had been a babe when last he saw him with his parents. When last he saw him with Arathorn…

Vigorously shaking his head, trying to throw off the ache of memories, Aries came back to himself and the current situation.

Estel looked absolutely terrified.

'What must you do?' Aries asked thickly, grip on the Ranger's shoulder tightening, trying to recall if Arathorn had ever had to do anything similar.

'Call him back to the light,' Estel choked.

Aries gaped. 'But I've only ever seen Lord Elrond--' He abruptly cut himself off, realizing suddenly that was not true. Remembering that Arathorn had indeed once done the same thing. He had been a bit older than Estel when he did it. Estel, in fact, had been a recently birthed babe when it happened, but…

A young Ranger—one of the youngest in Arathorn's company at that time—had been severely poisoned by Mogul poison (as Legolas was now). Arathorn had been forced to use athelas, and forced, he remembered, to call the young Man "back to the light."

It was no simple task.

In the end, Arathorn had succeeded in calling back the young Man—but only at great cost to himself. He had been unable to leave his bedroll for at least a day.

His brothers had been there that day, too, and Legolas, he suddenly recalled. Between the four of them, Gilraen and the babe, and, in fact, the young Ranger Arathorn had saved, they managed to keep Arathorn occupied until he was well enough to move around on his own.

With a sudden flash of insight, Aries saw how he could help Arathorn's son.

'Estel, listen to me,' he swiftly commanded, voice a great deal stronger than it had been. His green eyes bore into Estel's own silver ones. 'You can do this. You needn't even really try. You are a natural Healer, far more than even your Human father.'

Estel stared at him, abandoning his fear in favor of gaping at Aries. 'You knew my Human father?'

Aries nodded quickly. 'Yes, Estel,' he assented.

The young Dúnadan before him swallowed thickly. 'And…and did he ever…have to do…something like this?' He gestured at Legolas, still and white where he lay, at Gilaith who was stirring the water in a kettle to a boil, and at Celethoron who was steadily feeding wood to the fire.

Aries nodded again, firmer. 'Yes, Estel. And he had not nearly the same knowledge as you about herbs and healing.'

In spite of everything, Estel managed a wry smile. 'He did not have Lord Elrond as a foster father, either,' the Human reminded him.

'That is so,' Aries agreed quietly. 'But, Estel, I've seen you with your patients. You have the Healer's touch—something which Arathorn, for all his knowledge about treating battle wounds and basic healing, never had. You will be fine.' He gave a rakish, half-smile. 'And Legolas will be fine. You must believe that.' The Elf took a steadying breath. 'Because I believe it.'

Estel flushed, and ducked his head. 'Hannon lle,' he murmured sincerely.

At that moment, Celethoron called softly from the fire. 'Estel, 'tis ready.'

Aries managed to prod his half-smile into something more closely resembling a full grin. 'Go ahead, Aragorn,' he encouraged. 'All will be well.'

Estel squared his shoulders and set his jaw, raising his head, silver eyes determined as he reached into the pouch at his side. 'All right.'

IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI

They returned to the Dúnedain encampment just as the sun began setting. The Silvan twins had shared a horse, leaving Celethoron's gelding for Estel to take. Now, Aries helped the young Man dismount as Gilaith took Legolas from the weary healer's arms and Celethoron handed their horses over to one of the Rangers who had come forward.

As he had feared, the son of Arathorn was showing the same signs of fatigue as his father had after his own excursion with athelas. But it spoke of how strong Estel's healing gift was that they had not surfaced until now. Furthermore, Legolas was nearly out of danger by this point—he had only to awake now. It had worked. He had returned, and though Aries had a sneaking suspicion that his young cousin would be less than pleased with said Human when he found out, all (for the moment) was relatively well.

The Ranger Estel had called Halbarad came forward to help him support Estel, motioning Gilaith ahead as he carried Legolas and snagging Celethoron's sleeve to lead him the same way when it became apparent that the older of the twins was not planning on handing over their mounts so readily.

"They will be fine," Aries heard him advise his younger brother lowly. A smile lurked at the edges of the older Man's mouth as he continued, a hint of teasing in his tone, "Has it been so long since you last sought our services that you have forgotten we care for our mounts in the same way as you, Master Elf?"

That caught the three Silvan Elves' attention—as well as Estel's. "You speak as if you know them, Halbarad," Estel remarked wearily, letting off being stubborn for once and accepting the help that was offered. Of course, it could be that he was far more interested in what Halbarad had to say than in being difficult. Aries watched as he turned to the older Dúnadan at his right side and gave him a pointed look.

Halbarad gave a rakish grin. "'Twould be hard not to, Aragorn. You speak of them often enough."

Aries was intrigued to note that Estel blushed at that, and felt at ease enough to jest a little. "Do you, Dúnadan? Of course, you would not dream of mentioning anything…undignified, correct?" He gave the younger Man a knowing look.

Estel quickly gazed straight ahead, at the back of Gilaith's head, flushing ever so slightly more. "Of course not," he deadpanned.

Aries finally allowed himself a laugh, tilting his head back. "And that is as good as a yes!"

Celethoron turned to face them, walking backwards with his hands clasped behind his back, and raised his eyebrow. "Spreading rumors about us are you, Estel?" he teased the younger Human. But quirked a smile at his older brother. Gilaith could not turn because he still carried Legolas as they headed for the far end of camp, but his brothers knew he was smiling just the same. Rare it was to hear Aries laugh these days, and the Elf in question was aware of that, too.

/I haven't laughed in such a long time, even with Estel…/ he suddenly realized.

Apparently, Estel realized that, as well. He smiled widely at Aries, well pleased. "You ought to do that more often," he informed the older Silvan Elf. "I love Legolas's laughter—I always have—but you…'tis nice to hear it, my friend. And 'Dúnadan…' no one has yet called me that, except for you." His voice turned reflective and he looked thoughtful, "I like it. Perhaps I might take it up as another alias…"

A playful groan from Gilaith interrupted the younger Ranger's musings. "Not another name, Estel. Honestly! How can Legolas manage to keep track of them all?"

Estel laughed tiredly. "He doesn't. Just fusses at me whenever he happens to accidentally come across me…"

Halbarad's addition to the conversation, however, was quiet and directed at Aries. "Aye," he remarked softly, "and that is not the first time he has called a Ranger as such."

Aries started badly, while Estel glanced curiously at the older Man. "Halbarad?" he asked.

But Halbarad's attention was not on his Chieftain. Rather, it remained firmly fixed on Aries. The older Dúnadan's eyes glittered sadly, filled with understanding and compassion. "'Twas a name he called your father, Aragorn," he supplied finally.

The older Silvan Elf suddenly ducked his head and tucked a stray blond strand bashfully behind his pointed ear with his free hand, unable to continue meeting Halbarad's gaze.

Estel glanced between the two of them, eyes narrowing slightly as he started to make connections Aries had yet to come across. But he said nothing, instead focusing his attention on Celethoron (who still kept his backward gait) and raised an eyebrow as they reached the medical tent. "You know, my friend," he remarked dryly, "unless Elves have somehow a pair of eyes in the back of their head, I would turn around were I you. I'm sure Halbarad would be most displeased if you knocked over the tent by walking into its pole."

Celethoron merely smirked at him…before gracefully swerving his path to enter the tent (still backwards) just behind Gilaith and Legolas.

Estel rolled his eyes and grinned. "Show off."

The older of the two twins laughed and at last turned to face forward as the remaining three of their company entered.

When they joined Gilaith in the center of the tent, he had just eased Legolas down on one of the pallets that Halbarad had set up and was currently in the process of taking their little cousin's pulse. Aries and Halbarad helped Estel over to them as Celethoron sank down wearily onto a nearby cot.

As soon as they had set Estel down on the edge of Legolas's pallet, the atmosphere turned much more serious. "How is it?" the younger Dúnadan quietly asked Gilaith.

The younger of the two Silvan twins straightened with a tired sigh, gently brushing back Legolas's hair. "'Tis still slightly erratic, Estel. I would guess we need to change the bandages and repack the herbs. Have you all the herbs you need here?"

"Certainly…" Estel began, starting to stand on shaking legs.

Aries and Halbarad swiftly placed a hand on either shoulder, firmly holding him down.

When the younger Human scowled up at them, Halbarad grinned and bent to meet his Chieftain's eyes. "Do you aim to tempt me, Aragorn?" the older Ranger remarked knowingly, his own set twinkling.

Estel made a face.

Gilaith, where he now sat beside his twin, coughed to cover his laughter.

Halbarad quirked a smile at him before turning back to Estel. "Sit, my Lord. I will find all the herbs you require. I had a good teacher." The smile softened as it turned to Aries.

The older Silvan Elf suddenly found the floor very interesting.

Halbarad straightened and moved behind the Elf and the Human, pausing momentarily to lightly rest a hand on the archer's slim shoulder, before continuing towards the far end of the tent.

Aries still had not looked away from the swept dirt of the ground—in spite of the fact that he was quite keenly aware of Estel's gaze boring into the top of his head. His cheeks burned slightly and the silence surrounding them was rather thick.

At last Estel spoke, voice soft and with a touch of compassion, 'Will you not sit, Aries? You are in little better shape than I.' A smile entered his voice. 'Or Celethoron for that matter.'

At this, Aries finally glanced up, sitting down on the edge of his little cousin's cot by Estel.

Estel, however, was not looking at him, nor even Legolas, although the young Dúnadan's fingers were already interlaced with the Crown Prince's. His gaze was directed at the Silvan twins, and a small smile graced his lips.

Aries quickly followed that gaze to his two younger brothers…and had to smile as his eyes found what Estel's had. His head propped up by Gilaith's shoulder, Celethoron was sleeping soundly, apparently unaware that he was sitting up as he did so.

Gilaith returned their smiles with an exhausted one of his own. 'I think we'll share a cot for tonight, Estel.'

An affectionate glint entered the young Man's eyes. 'By all means, go ahead,' he whispered. 'I have absolutely no intention of stopping you. 'Dan and 'Ro have done the same far more times than Ada has been able to keep count.'

Aries managed a faint chuckle, eyes sparkling slightly. 'Aye, as have these two miscreants. Uncle swears that they have one room instead of two.'

Gilaith merely pouted at their older brother.

Chuckling still, Aries slowly rose and crossed to the twins' cot in two swift steps. Gently taking Celethoron's shoulders, he eased the older twin down onto the pallet, stroking his hand through the other's golden hair and pressing a kiss to his forehead, before turning and doing the same with Gilaith. The younger twin protested sleepily that he was no longer an Elfling in need of coddling, but by the soft laugh coming from Estel's direction, Aries could tell their Human friend thought the same as he did: Gilaith was not objecting all that much, really.

By the amused snort coming from Halbarad as he headed back towards them, it became clear that they were not alone in that belief.

A blanket was suddenly draped over his shoulders. "Here," Halbarad murmured. Then slipped his now free arm around Aries's back and held out the other with several more blankets draped over it. He ignored the fact that Aries went rigid at his touch for the moment. "Take a couple for the twins. The others I will give to Aragorn for himself and Legolas."

The older Silvan Elf's voice refused to work, so he merely nodded his thanks and accepted two from the blankets Halbarad offered. A gentle squeeze, and then the older Dúnadan continued on his way to Aragorn.

A lump felt as though it had lodged itself in Aries's throat. Behind him, as he sank unobtrusively to his knees beside his brothers' pallet, he heard Estel ask quietly as Halbarad joined him, a note of censor in his voice, "Are you certain 'tis wise to act that way with Aries? He has been upset ever since we entered this tent. He is hurting, Halbarad. Surely you must see that?"

"I see it, my Lord, and I do not deny it. But it has festered far longer than it ought," came Halbarad's equally soft reply.

Swallowing thickly, Aries spread the blankets over his twin siblings, barely noticing when Gilaith gave him a tired smile, but most assuredly noticing when the younger twin held out an imploring arm as his Elfling self often had on the long nights in Greenwood after their parents' deaths. Feeling his eyes burn, Aries leaned forward and gave him the hug he demanded, clinging tightly and burying his face against the younger Elf's shoulder as the two Rangers continued their quiet conversation in the background. He heard rustling and shifting that seemed to indicate Estel was treating Legolas's injuries as he spoke.

"Just because you knew my Human father does not mean--!"

"Aragorn."

Estel fell silent.

"I do not presume to know all that he is feeling. I only know that Arathorn loved him dearly and that he would sooner cut out his own heart than force him to endure this. I am told by your Elven brothers," and Aries could just imagine the penetrating look the older Man was laying on Estel, "that you would do the same for Legolas."

And Estel, Aries knew, had nothing to reply to that. Because 'twas true.

Taking in a trembling breath, the older Silvan Elf clung fiercely to his youngest brother, even as said brother's shoulders eased and his breathing quieted as he fell into sleep.

For a while, Aries listened as the two Men moved around, tending to his little cousin. Only when they started arguing again, this time on quite a different topic, did he finally release the death grip he had on his sibling.

"My Lord, you must rest!" Halbarad hissed softly. "You will do yourself no favors by staying up when you are like this."

"Halbarad, I cannot sleep when Legolas is like this! I must keep vigil! Valar forbid he takes a turn for the worst during the night and I am not awake to fix it!" Estel retorted.

"Aragorn, stubborn as you are, this is not something you can pass off so lightly! 'Twas your first time using athelas—surely your adar has told you what happens when you perform such a feat! I will keep vigil, and wake you if anything should arise. You must rest, my Lord!"

Aries straightened and turned just as Estel opened his mouth to refute the older Dúnadan, squaring his shoulders and forcing back his roiling emotions. Managing, even, to crack a tired grin. "You two sound like an old married couple."

The two Rangers whipped around to face him, startled and momentarily forgetting their argument. Estel in favor of smirking at the Elf. 'Nay. That is Elladan and Elrohir, mellon-nin,' the younger Human answered smartly in Sindarin.

Aries merely raised an eyebrow. 'Or you and Legolas,' he pointed out mildly.

Estel rolled his eyes, still grinning. 'Fine. Myself and Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir, Erestor and Glorfindel…but not Halbarad and I.' In spite of the fact that they had been arguing only moments before, Estel graced Halbarad with another warm smirk. 'Halbarad is a mother hen, and I am his poor, smothered chick.'

Said Man gave a long-suffering sigh and, shaking his head, crossed his arms over his chest and glanced in the opposite direction. Aries noticed, however, that his lips were trying to twitch upwards in a smile.

The archer's eyes started twinkling again. 'Be that as it may, Estel, he is right. So why don't you be a good little mortal and let us help you over to another cot?'

Estel snorted slightly. 'Fat chance.'

'Aragorn, you do not help yourself here,' Halbarad threatened lightly, turning back to them as Aries joined Estel on the other side of the cot from him.

Estel's lips started twitching again. 'Who says I want to?'

This time, Aries rolled his own eyes as he sat down. 'You are insufferable, Human.'

'I aim to please.'

'Or aim to drive your friends mad,' Halbarad put in dryly. He turned serious, switching over to Westron. "My Lord, I really must insist."

"And I really must insist, as well, Estel," Aries interjected in the same tongue, also sobering. "You cannot help Legolas if you are dead on your feet."

Estel straightened, scowling fiercely at them and, true to his character, stubbornly crossing his arms over his chest. "What is it with the two of you? I'll have you know I am perfectly--" At that precise moment, a large yawn nearly cracked his jaw in half.

Halbarad coughed, suddenly finding it very difficult to maintain his stern façade. The corners of his eyes crinkled in amusement.

Aries did not find it quite so hard, raising a single eyebrow. "Fine?" he intoned.

Estel kept scowling, but the effect was rather ruined as another jaw breaking yawn split his face.

IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI

After much debating and grumping on Estel's part, Aries and Halbarad finally came to the conclusion that it would be futile to try and convince the exhausted young Chieftain to leave his best friend's side. They relented with explicit commands for him to lie down beside Legolas on the Crown Prince's cot.

With a final, half-hearted protest, Estel at last permitted Aries to force him gently onto his side. His voice trailed off as his head hit the pillow next to Legolas's and his eyelids began to droop.

Snugly tucking the blankets around his little cousin and the Human, Aries ran an affectionate hand through the younger Dúnadan's hair. 'Sleep, Estel,' he murmured in the Grey Tongue. 'Halbarad and I will keep watch.'

Another yawn nearly split the Ranger's face in half. 'Shouldn't…' he tried to protest one last time. 'Need…to sleep…'

His eyes shut. His shoulders relaxed. And the hand that had, up until this point, continued to cling to Legolas's, crept up to grip the tunic over the younger prince's heart. Within moments, Estel's breathing had evened and it became apparent that he indeed had finally succumbed to sleep.

'Stubborn Human,' Aries muttered fondly, leaning down and gently kissing the tousled dark head.

'I am tempted to say 'Infuriating Elf,' in Aragorn's spot,' Halbarad remarked dryly as the archer straightened. 'But I am not him, and so shan't.'

'Arathorn would have,' Aries whispered quietly, refusing to look up at the older Dúnadan across from him.

A large hand, roughened by work, reached across the space between them and brushed a loose strand of his hair behind a pointed ear. 'Aye, Arathorn would have. But I am not him, either,' the older Ranger answered softly.

Aries said nothing for several long seconds, then, at last, ''Twas you,' he whispered.

'Hîr-nin?' Halbarad queried curiously, voice quiet.

The Wood Elf finally glanced up, eyes shimmering. 'The young Ranger Arathorn healed…that was you.'

Halbarad dipped his head in acknowledgment. 'I ask you pardon, Master Elf, for not telling you sooner. But if I may say so,' he gave a faint smirk, 'you were otherwise preoccupied at the time.'

Aries grinned tiredly. 'Aye, so I was.' He gazed contemplatively down at Legolas and Estel, sobering. 'I never thought my little cousin would one day have to face the same situation I did,' he whispered.

Halbarad sighed softly and made his way around the cot to sit beside Aries. Resting his hand lightly on the Elf's slim shoulder, he replied softly, 'Your cousin has chosen this. Would you deny him Aragorn's friendship? You know the hurt and the heartache and the pain of loving a mortal, aye, but you also know the joy that comes from such a friendship.'

Aries looked away, eyes shut tight and hands clenched in his lap.

'Arathorn would not want you to grieve for him any longer,' the older Dúnadan advised him gently.

The Silvan Elf snapped his head up to look at the Man, vivid green eyes tearing.

Halbarad smiled sadly, his own grey ones twinkling faintly, and reached up his hands. They hovered on either side of Aries's face. ''Tis all right,' he whispered. 'You have grieved long enough.'

Aries choked, trying to force out something—anything—around his tight throat. And failed miserably.

He had not cried when he was informed of Arathorn's death, or of the fact that Gilraen and her babe were missing and presumed dead. He had simply…shut down for lack of a better term. Until a teenaged Estel had arrived in Mirkwood to visit Legolas. He had slowly been climbing back onto his feet ever since.

But still, he had not cried. Not until this Man, who had known Arathorn and had known of his relationship with said mortal. He therefore also knew Aries's heart, for the eldest Mirkwood prince had given such a very large part of himself to the then young Man that Arathorn had protested it heatedly. It changed nothing, however, and until Arathorn's death, Aries had continued to be one of the former Dúnedain Chieftain's most trusted companions.

Arathorn was still young when he died—for Dúnedain, anyway. And 'twas that lost time which had plagued Aries since.

Yet now, for the first time, Aries could grieve properly. It mattered not that it had been too early, or too cruel, it mattered only that Arathorn was gone. He was gone. And nothing Aries did or said would bring him back. His best friend was dead.

So he cried. For the first time in far too long…he cried—great, heaving sobs that sent him collapsing forward into Halbarad's arms.

After a startled second, the older Ranger's hands circled the slim, shaking body of the archer as a fit of weeping overtook the eldest prince.

How long they sat together thus, Aries never knew. He remembered only crying and crying and crying. Remembered only Halbarad holding him, and the Man's murmured reassurances as he stroked his hair, rubbed his back and shoulders; soothing and comforting the distraught Elf to the best of his ability.

Some of the greatest friendships could be formed within the span of a heartbeat. So it had been with Estel and Legolas, so it would be, Aries realized when his sobs were but shuddering hiccoughs for air and the older Dúnadan had dozed off, with he and Halbarad.

The drying tears sticky on his cheeks, Aries leaned up and lightly pressed a kiss to Halbarad's own. 'Hannon lle, mellon-nin,' he managed thickly.

Halbarad stirred at the feathered touch, opening one eye and peering down at the immortal with a slight grin. ''Tis of little trouble, hîr-nin,' he assured the Silvan Elf softly.

Aries felt his ear-tips color and delicately shook his head. He had not meant to wake him. 'Please, call me Aries, Halbarad. Only my Uncle's subjects call me their lord. Not my friends,' he whispered.

Halbarad's smile grew, but he only asked simply, 'Lle naa quel (Are you well)?'

The Wood Elf hid his face against the older Man's neck. 'In the morning I will be,' he mumbled.

'All right, then,' Halbarad responded agreeably, tightening his arm around the eldest prince's waist.

Aries hesitated, before slowly, shyly slipping his own arms around Halbarad in return and burrowing his head into the Ranger's shoulder.

Halbarad chuckled quietly. 'Sleep, Aries,' he murmured at last. 'I will take watch for the rest of the night.'

The Silvan Elf nodded minutely, releasing a tired breath and gradually drifting off into the first easy sleep he had known in quite some time.

IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI

"My Lord Aragorn?" the Westron call forced its way into Aries's hazy consciousness, snapping him awake some hours later.

"Aragorn? My Lord!" followed a second call.

Then, from above him, startling the disoriented Elf quite a bit, came the quiet (and slightly irritable) growl of, "Keep it down, will you?"

A pause.

Then, laced with amusement: "And good morning to you, too, Halbarad!"

Halbarad…?

Blinking his eyes back into focus, the Silvan warrior squinted up at the blurry dark figure above him.

"Morning," came the grumped reply, "and what is so good about it?" The warm, firm surface against his cheek and ear rose and fell with each spoken word.

"A great many things, incidentally," was the amused retort from a slightly younger voice.

A sigh. "Was there anything you needed, Firth?"

"Nothing that cannot be solved by you just as well as Aragorn," Firth (apparently) informed him pleasantly. "The Men from Esgaroth are here. 'Twould seem they are less than pleased by our presence on these shores."

Halbarad muttered a curse. "…Pompous fools. Aragorn already asked their permission to camp here. All right. I will be along shortly, Firth. Thank you."

Silence a moment, before the tent flap fell shut.

Aries felt Halbarad shifting carefully out from underneath him, and heard him grumbling unpleasant things about "insolent hunters" under his breath.

Swiftly, Aries began to straighten from where he had been leaning against the older Dúnadan throughout the night, cheeks slightly rosy.

Halbarad did not seem terribly surprised to find him awake, and halted his backwards movement by momentarily tightening his arms around the lithe archer. Nothing but concern lined his face as he gazed back at Aries, "How do you feel this morning, my friend? I had hoped you would sleep through that, but…"

Aries shook his head, smiling softly. "I am well, Halbarad," and for the first time in thirty-three years truly believed it.

Relief washed over Halbarad's countenance. "I am glad to hear it." He sighed, and glared tiredly through the tent's flaps where raised voices could faintly be heard. "I would much rather not leave, but it cannot be helped."

"Is there anything I might do to be of some service?" Aries offered quietly.

Halbarad turned back to him, a genuine smile on his lips. "You might stay, and rest here a bit more."

Aries rolled his eyes. "That is not what I meant."

Estel's second-in-command laughed. "Perhaps. But 'twill help. If I find I have need of you, though, I may send one of my kinsmen to fetch you."

Aries nodded easily. He could work with that. A mischievous smile touched the archer's lips. "If they give you any trouble, inform them that the Elvenking's eldest nephew would be happy to speak with them if they so desired."

Halbarad grinned, finally releasing him. "I shall keep that in mind," he promised.

When he stood, the older Ranger gazed contemplatively down at Aries, who smirked back cheerfully. Seeing something in his companion's eyes that he must have liked, Halbarad leaned down and pressed a swift kiss to Aries's forehead, before twirling and stalking out before the Wood-Elf could get in a word edgewise. He suddenly felt rather sorry for the Men of Long Lake.

Grinning slightly, Aries lightly rubbed his brow and turned back to the pallet which held a still sleeping Estel and his little cousin.

A very much awake and aware (if somewhat exhausted) little cousin, who quietly watched him, a small smile gracing his lips and gently stroking Estel's dark hair.

They merely stared at each other a long moment, Aries in astonishment and Legolas with amusement.

'Legolas,' Aries finally managed to gasp out in Sindarin, circling quickly around the cot to crouch at Legolas's head. 'How do you feel? Do you need anything? We need to change the bandages--'

With a ginger laugh, the younger prince held up his free hand. 'Peace, Aries,' he rasped. 'I am well.'

Aries gave him an utterly disbelieving look. 'I beg to differ, little cousin.'

Legolas raised an eyebrow. 'I am fine, Aries.'

'Indeed?' Aries scoffed softly. 'Well, we shall let Estel be the judge of that, hmm?'

Legolas shook his head, tired eyes falling to land on the Human sleeping soundly beside him, and continued to lightly stroke his hair. 'Let him sleep, Aries,' Legolas murmured. 'He has probably been up all night watching over me.'

'Actually, no,' Aries put in softly. 'Halbarad was.'

His cousin raised a second skeptical eyebrow. 'Estel's second-in-command? And what magic did you work to get him to agree to that?'

Aries grinned slightly. 'Oh, he tried sure enough. I do not believe I have ever known a more stubborn Human.'

The younger Wood Elf smirked. 'Welcome to my world.' He shook his head again, becoming serious. 'You said the same of Arathorn once,' he pointed out quietly.

Aries mock-grimaced. 'I believe I spoke too soon. How was I supposed to know Arathorn's son would be thrice as bad as his father?'

Legolas smiled fondly, cradling the young Dúnadan close. 'That is Estel for you,' he whispered as said mortal sighed softly in his sleep, nudging his head further into the crook of the Firstborn's neck. The younger Elf choked back a laugh as the Man's beard tickled his skin, before tenderly kissing his best friend's brow. He looked back up at Aries, gaze intense. 'That is the first I have heard you speak of Arathorn without pain,' he remarked quietly.

Aries blinked rapidly in shock. 'How did you--?' he began to sputter out. 'I did everything in my power to hide it!'

Legolas once more raised an eyebrow. 'Apparently not enough,' he answered dryly. He shook his head. 'I have always been able to read your eyes, cousin mine. And for the first time in many years, they are clear.'

Aries finally thought to close his mouth, shaking his own head with a warm smile. 'Only you and the twins would say that.'

Legolas shrugged lightly, trying not to wake the Dúnadan in his arms. 'I am sure Estel suspected it.' A small grin touched his lips. 'And I know Halbarad did. Probably more than suspected it. Only one other Man has ever been permitted to treat you as Halbarad did several minutes ago.' His midnight eyes saddened and compassion entered his tone. 'Arathorn.'

Aries blushed slightly. 'You saw all that?'

'Of course. How could I not?' The younger prince reached out his free hand and weakly squeezed his cousin's shoulder, smiling brightly. 'I am glad you have found someone again.' He added dryly, 'I daresay, there is a reason why Halbarad is Estel's second-in-command.'

In spite of himself, Aries laughed. 'Aye! He is the only one stubborn enough to contend with Estel!'

Legolas grinned. 'And I am sure Estel would be less than pleased to hear that. Nay, Aries. 'Tis because their hearts are so alike.'

Aries regarded his cousin fondly. 'When did you become so wise, little 'Las?'

Now it was the younger Silvan Elf's turn to blush. ''Tis not wisdom,' he protested mildly. ''Tis understanding. Now I know…I finally understand…' His voice softened and trailed off as he gazed neither at Aries, nor Estel, but through the open tent flaps into the breaking dawn.

'You understand what, little 'Las?' Aries prompted quietly.

Legolas finally turned back to him, midnight eyes shadowed. He merely watched his oldest cousin a long moment before finally replying in a bare whisper, 'What 'tis like to love a mortal.'

Aries sucked in a sharp breath, immediately falling to his knees and reaching out to gently stroke his little cousin's free-flying gold hair—long since loosed from its ties by Estel. 'I never, ever, wanted you to feel what I did when Arathorn died,' he advised painfully. Then released a troubled breath. 'But Halbarad is right. I cannot deny you this.' He fixed steel-like green eyes on his cousin. 'He will die one day Legolas. Are you strong enough to face that?'

Legolas's hand clenched tightly in the back of Estel's leather coat where it had idly continued rubbing circles. 'Why must I answer that at all?' he choked.

Aries pressed his lips into a firm line. 'Because I need to know. Because you need to know. Answer me, 'Las. Are you strong enough—to face what you cannot change, to love him…even though you know you shall eventually lose him? Are you strong enough to let him go when the time comes? Because if you are not, you should break off your friendship right now.'

'I will do no such thing!' Legolas cried, all anger and pain.

'Shhh!' Aries hissed, securely clamping a hand over Legolas's mouth. 'Celethoron and Gilaith are still asleep, as is Estel!'

Legolas glared furiously at him, tears streaking down his cheeks.

Inwardly, Aries winced. He hated making his little cousin cry, and reflected that 'twas a very good thing indeed that Estel had thus far remained asleep. Friends they may be, but well he knew that the Man would not tolerate anyone causing Legolas pain, no matter who they were.

But he let none of those thoughts show on his face. 'Listen to me, 'Las, and listen well. 'Tis dangerous loving an Atani. More dangerous than anything you will ever have to face,' he snarled quietly. 'Can you handle that?'

Legolas tossed his head and pulled away, the tears still glittering on his cheeks, but the glare lessened in intensity. 'Yes!' Legolas retorted fiercely, voice trembling.

Aries narrowed his eyes. 'And can you release him when the time comes for him to depart? If you pursue this friendship, you will only grow to love him more as the years pass. And when you finally do lose him, it will hurt, Legolas. Nothing I say now will be able to prepare you for just how much it will hurt. You will want to stop it, and you will do everything in your power to prevent it from happening. But you cannot, and you should not.' His eyes met Legolas's dead on, naught but green steel. 'Can you do that, Legolas?'

The glare had all but vanished by now, and the hot tears slid all the more rapidly down the younger Elf's cheeks. His little cousin's own midnight eyes were filled with yet more tears ready to fall, and his face was almost as white as it had been yesterday evening. But he nodded. Once. And trembling, managed to whisper, 'Yes.'

'If you cannot let him go, Legolas,' Aries stated sharply, 'then you will deny him peace in death.'

Legolas choked, crying a bit harder. 'I understand,' he answered, very, very quietly.

Aries sighed and turned away, shoulders dropping and pressing his fingers against eyes shut tight in pain. 'Then you understand far more than I ever did,' he mumbled.

There were a few long seconds of silence wherein Legolas cried softly, sending stabbing pains dancing through Aries's heart.

At last, he turned back to his beloved little cousin, green eyes sorrowful as he murmured, 'I meant not to be so harsh with you. We should have had this conversation long ago, and you are still recovering from your wounds. I do not expect you to forgive me, my Prince, nor do I ask you to.'

But Legolas only shook his head frantically, trying in vain not to cry harder, and releasing Estel, imploringly stretched out his arms to Aries.

Feeling his own throat go tight, Aries quickly stooped down to acquiesce. Sobs suddenly erupted in his chest where Legolas had buried his head. Shaking fists clenched in the back of his tunic.

From where he had been sleeping beside them on the cot, Estel abruptly snapped awake, sensing both the missing warmth of his best friend and Legolas's distress.

"Aries?" the still disoriented Dúnadan queried scratchily, raising a clumsy hand to gently clutch a handful of Legolas's golden hair. He seemed not fully aware that the younger Silvan Elf was indeed up, and Aries read in that half-lidded silver gaze sheer exhaustion.

He smiled weakly, feeling his little cousin stiffen at Estel's touch and try desperately to rein in his tears. 'It is all right, tithen pen. Go back to sleep—you need it. I will take care of Legolas.'

Estel nodded heavily and rolled over onto his stomach, exhaustion-clouded eyes falling shut and breaths quickly deepening. His hand fell to grasp the hem of Legolas's tunic.

The younger prince released a shuddering breath several long minutes later and pulled back from his eldest cousin as far as Aries would allow.

The older Silvan Elf smiled slightly. 'You have a good friend in him, Legolas,' he murmured.

Legolas nodded his head, voice still a bit uneven as he managed, 'The best. He is wonderful.' Straightening, the younger prince swiped at his remaining tears and fixed the other Firstborn with a hard stare. His words were lined with steel. 'I will not leave him, Aries. I cannot. I told you fifteen years ago that Estel was really Arathorn's son—Aragorn—and that the empty throne of Gondor is his to claim if he so chooses. What I did not tell you was that he flat out refuses to do so, too convinced that the same weakness which ran in Isildur's blood runs in his own veins.' The young Crown Prince looked away, midnight eyes dark. 'I told him that he is stronger than Isildur ever was, and would repeatedly tell him so for as long as he needed to hear it.' Legolas cast a glance at his cousin, then looked down at Estel where the Human continued to sleep at his side. 'And still he does not want it. 'Tis very complex, Aries—he fears to succumb, and yet his heart ultimately draws him to the people that are supposed to be his. He rides to aid Gondor soon, and now 'tis my heart that misgives his going there. I will not see him again for many months, for Gondor is too far South for him to return frequently to either Mirkwood or Imladris. And so much can happen during that time…' His voice grew small. 'I made a promise to him when first he learned his heritage, Aries. One I fear I will now be unable to keep when he travels to Gondor.'

Aries shut his eyes again, feeling his heart begin to ache and his face to tighten. /So…already you have taken steps to bind yourself to him, little cousin,/ he thought.

'What is this promise you gave him, 'Las?' he asked wearily as Legolas's slim hand touched his arm, aware that he probably did not wish to know.

The slender appendage dropped away and Legolas sighed. ''Amin khiluva lle a' gurtha ar' thar (I will follow you to death and beyond),'' he quoted softly.

Aries's eyes snapped open. 'Legolas!' he hissed. 'Are you not aware of exactly how powerful that promise is?'

The younger prince flinched, but evenly met his fiery gaze. 'I am aware of it, Aries,' he responded calmly.

Aries sat back from the cot onto his heels, at last releasing Legolas. He rubbed his face. 'Merciful Eru,' he moaned.

Legolas squared his shoulders. 'I will not retract it,' he retorted evenly.

Aries dropped his hands from and gave the younger Elf an extremely wry look. 'Clearly not,' he drawled. 'And does Estel know of this promise? I can hardly see him agreeing to it.'

Legolas eyed him with weary humor. 'He knows…and I assure you he is not happy about it.'

'And with good reason, I'd wager,' Aries remarked dryly. He shook his head. 'Valar, Legolas, you are thrice a fool!'

The Crown Prince smirked warmly. 'Certainly, and what does that make you, dearest cousin of mine?'

Aries gave him a wry look. 'Thrice more a fool than you.'

'Exactly!' Legolas retorted brightly. 'So you see, it all works out in the end.'

The older prince affectionately rolled his eyes. 'You are maddening, little cousin.'

Legolas gave a tinkling laugh, spirits swiftly soaring.

Aries smiled, but was careful to cast his eyes towards the open tent flap where he could just make out Halbarad's raised voice. /Maybe I should go help…/ he thought idly. But immediately discarded that thought. /No. Halbarad said he would send someone if he had need of me. Besides…/ He glanced at a tired Legolas who had gone back to lightly stroking Estel's hair and shook his head. /Ai, little cousin. No wonder you love him so. You are kindred spirits, so very great are both your hearts. But you can only follow him so far. Estel will forbid you, penneth—he loves you too much. And your heart will break because of it. I never made that promise to Arathorn…because I knew he would do the same. And I feared it. I will not make that promise to Halbarad or Estel for the same reason. But then…you have always been braver than me./

''Twas not a promise lightly made, Aries,' Legolas suddenly informed him softly, startling the older Elf out of his thoughts. 'I know the risk…and I care not. Many were the promises I made that day. This is but the least.'

'Why do you make such promises, Legolas?' Aries beseeched him. 'To promise him that…you cannot leave these shores if you mean to keep it! He will pass on—and you will still be here! The sea's call has not even fully awoken in you, yet! How can you promise so much…when you do not even fully realize what it is you are refusing!'

'Because he is worth it, Aries!' the younger Firstborn cried. 'Surely you of all people must understand that!'

The older prince shook his head. 'Legolas--' he began.

Legolas turned angrily away. 'No! I will not hear it!' He shook his own head, furious midnight eyes returning to his eldest cousin. 'We do not choose whom we love, Aries! It just is!' He sighed, dropping his forehead to rest against the top of Estel's head, all anger leaving him. 'I wish Estel understood that,' he whispered, gently pulling back the Human's curtain of dark hair and brushing a kiss across his best friend's cheek. 'And one day I will tell him as much.'

Estel stirred at that feathered touch, causing Legolas to start slightly and quickly pull back. Aries observed his young cousin cautiously watching the Dúnadan as the Man's eyes slowly fluttered open. From this angle, he could see the mild confusion which furrowed the Human's brow as he struggled more fully awake. He appeared to be staring at Legolas in an attempt to process the fact that the younger Silvan Elf was indeed up.

However, before he had a chance to, a throat cleared near the entrance of the tent and there came a knock on the wooden pole. All three beings snapped their attention in the direction it had come from, Estel's eyes still clouded with sleep, but the Man himself slightly more aware.

The young Ranger Aries vaguely recalled as being Firth, smiled at the three of them. "My apologies," the younger Man murmured in Westron. His eyes crinkled in amusement as Estel sat up straighter and shook his head, trying to shed the grogginess of morning. Then he turned back to Aries who was now standing, and gave the Elf a small bow. "My lord, Halbarad requests your presence." He straightened and grinned a bit more. "I fear he is about ready to strangle the Men from Esgaroth. He asks that you come before he does something drastic."

Aries quickly smothered a laugh, starting to walk around the pallet. "And so I shall," he replied.

"If they give you any trouble, you can always tell them the Elvenking's son is here, too," Legolas offered helpfully.

The older prince finally gave a laugh, gently ruffling his cousin's hair as he passed behind the Crown Prince. "You are staying put, dearest little cousin. Both of you." Including Estel in that statement.

But Estel, who was a great deal more awake by this point, paid him no mind. He apparently had realized that Legolas was very much alive and well, and was too busy staring at him in astonishment to come up with a suitable retort. Aries was not even sure if he had heard him.

Legolas apparently forgot about it, too, as he stared back in affectionate amusement at Estel, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?" he inquired innocently, midnight eyes full of mirth.

A small yelp was all the younger Wood-Elf managed before he found himself quite literally pounced by Estel and sent tumbling backwards onto the medical cot.

With Firth's laughter ringing in his ears, Aries exited the tent just behind the young Man, a bright grin on his lips.

From behind him, as the tent flap fell shut, he heard Legolas's low, amused voice remark warmly in Sindarin, 'Estel, you're crushing me.'

(End Flashback)

-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-

(Present Time—Roof of the Peredhil Home in Valinor)

There was silence on the roof for several long, unending seconds after Aries finished his narration. The sun had sunk low on the horizon and twilight was coming rapidly upon them. At some point during the story, Estel had stood and walked the few steps away from Aries, uncomfortably near the edge of the roof.

Aries had to remind himself not to forcibly yank the young Dúnadan away from the edge, that Estel's balance was probably perfect and no harm would come to him here. Still…after having helped care for the Human's injuries on numerous occasions, it made the Silvan Elf rather uneasy.

Estel clearly needed his space, however, and Aries would not deny him that.

Finally, the Dúnadan spoke, voice thick, 'That is why he would not let me out of his sight for a moment while we were recuperating,' he murmured. 'And that is why,' he cast a glance over his shoulder at Aries, 'he told me he loved me.' The young Man shook his head, turning back to look at the last of the sunset, voice very soft, 'That was the first he ever spoke those words.'

Aries sighed and rubbed his face. 'It seems I owe you an apology, as well,' he mumbled.

Estel quickly whirled back towards the Silvan Elf, cutting him off before he could even begin by forcefully throwing his arms out to either side. 'Aries, don't!' he exclaimed fiercely.

The Wood-Elf started, taken aback. 'Estel?'

There were tears in the young Man's silver eyes as he gazed at his older friend. But he was unable to maintain their eye contact for long and so, glanced down at his hands. 'I would not have had him continue our friendship unaware of the consequences,' he finally whispered.

In the fading light, Aries closely studied the Dúnadan's bowed figure. Climbing swiftly to his feet, Aries silently crossed the roof to Estel and, taking his hands, crouched to look up into his eyes. 'I believe he was aware of the consequences long before I ever spoke of them, Estel. To some degree, at least.' Aries sighed again. 'It took me a while to understand that, but he was indeed very much aware of the risks involved.' The Elf reached up and brushed a few errant strands of dark hair away, still smiling. 'He knew what he was doing, mellon-nin.'

As Aries rose from his crouch, Estel rubbed away a few errant tears which had leaked out with the heel of his palm. 'Ammë said that, too,' he murmured.

The Silvan Elf smiled a bit wider. 'Well, Lady Celebrían is a very wise elleth.'

Estel managed a garbled chuckle. 'Aye, so she is. And I am grateful for it. She gave me leave to weep and did not judge.'

Aries gently placed his arm around the Human's shoulders. 'I do not judge, either, Estel,' the Firstborn reminded him. 'You know this.'

'Aye, but neither do you willingly let me berate and feel sorry for myself,' Estel pointed out with another strangled laugh.

Aries gave an exaggerated sigh. 'Alas, that is because your head is so damnably thick that I must beat some sense into you.'

The young Dúnadan gave a derisive snort. 'Good luck. Legolas once told me that not even a bar of mithril could manage that.'

Aries sobered, as Elves were wont to do after a bout of teasing. 'You should not grieve so, Estel,' he whispered. 'Can you see now that Legolas has never needed a reason to love you? He found something in you, Estel. You and no other. 'Tis what I found in your Human father, and in Halbarad. 'Tis something he cherished enough to fight for, to sacrifice for, and if need be, to die for. You will probably believe this better coming from him, but I have never known an Elf to love a mortal so much as my little cousin loves you.'

'Do you not mean loved?'

'Nay. Legolas is coming, Estel. And he knows, somewhere deep down, that you are waiting for him. So, yes, loves.'

'You say that, Aries, but you loved my Human father, and you loved Halbarad. You know the price of loving a mortal.'

'Aye, so I do,' the Wood-Elf conceded with a bow of his head. He gave the young Man a knowing look. 'And that is the real trouble here, is it not? 'Tis not even Legolas's refusing the call of the sea. Aye, you were mortal, and as most mortals eventually do, you died. You would not have had him stay. You would have had him sail West, for then he would not be with you when you died, and therefore, could not die himself of a broken heart.'

Estel was silent a long moment, remembering still the feel of a warm, trembling body against his own. Remembering still the broken cries against his shoulder and the slim, shaking hands clenched in his sleeping tunic. Legolas had cried as if his very heart were being ripped in two.

Shivering violently in the cooling air of evening, and vigorously shaking his head, Estel hastily side-stepped Aries's outstretched arm and began to swiftly lead them off the roof. 'Come on, Aries,' he advised the Elf quickly, 'I think I hear Ammë calling us in for supper.'

And indeed, Aries heard Lady Celebrían's voice even now calling for them below in the house. Shaking his own head in bewilderment at Estel's abrupt shift in their conversation, the Firstborn followed him down as the final rays of sunset disappeared.

When Estel got like this he was impossible, and only Legolas could ever pry out his troubles with any degree of success.

/Of course,/ Aries observed sardonically/if Legolas were here now, then quite a few things would have been solved by this point./

TBC

A/N: For those of you who have been begging me for Estel's and Legolas's reunion, you ought to be happy with the next couple of chapters (if, of course, everything goes according to plan, which I warn you, it may not ::winks:: ). Again, I apologize for the length of the chapter—I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless, as I am rather fond of this chapter ::grins::.

Elvish Translations:

Hîr-nin (My lord)

Yrch (Orcs)

Elrondion (Son of Elrond)

Mellon-nin (My friend)

Estel (Hope; one of Aragorn's many names, given to him by Lord Elrond)

Ada (Papa)

Adar (Father)

Hannon lle (Thank you)

Tithen pen (Little one)

Penneth (Young one)

Ammë (Quenya; Mother)

Elleth (She-Elf)

Atani (Secondborn)

--(Please note that I've used a mixture of online Elvish dictionaries, Tolkien, and my own experience to create these words and phrases, as well as those within the story—SS)