Legolas became the obsessed nursemaid that Aragorn had never wanted the next day. As they sat for the council, he was continually glancing at his mate.
'Are you feeling ok?' Legolas asked for the third time through their bond.
'Legolas if you do not stop this Ada will notice' he replied, 'And this is hurting my head. Can you not stop feeling, please?'
'Sorry, but you are feeling well are you not? I should know if you are not.'
There was no reply.
Legolas was soon distracted from his torrent of questions, by the Ring as it was brought forward. It seemed to beckon the Prince and Legolas felt himself leaning forward, entranced by the infinite circle. He was only released when he felt that he was not experiencing Aragorn's mood. The moment he looked away, his senses came flooding back. He could feel Aragorn's sharp impatience as Boromir paced, appealing for the power that was the Ring. The elf felt Aragorn's normally subdued temper as Boromir put down the Dúnedain like the ignorant peasants did every day.
Something snapped inside Legolas, but he resisted the urge to rip Boromir's head off and throw it so far that Boromir would see the Grey Havens as he flew overhead. Legolas could not help but defend his love, who he had sworn to protect.
Mentally Aragorn begged his lover to stop, 'Ada is watching,' but as Boromir scoffed, unbelieving that such a ragged specimen could come from a line of Kings, Aragorn threw a thought towards the Steward's son.
'And heir to the Throne of Gondor.'
The bond between elf and man intercepted these words and Legolas repeated them. Aragorn winced slightly.
'Sit down, by Elbereth, sit.' Aragorn then said it out loud, and finally Legolas obeyed.
Legolas was now on edge, his own emotions were trebled with the hormonal state that he was picking up from his companion.
'Aragorn, please calm yourself,' he cautioned through the link, despite the hypocrisy. 'It is not good for you, it is not good for the child and it is going to get noticed, you are the one concerned with safety.' He did not mention that it was hurting him, but Aragorn felt it and started to cool himself off.
The anger found its outlet in Legolas as he sniped at Boromir once more, until Gimli shouted back at the Prince, knowing the relation to Thranduil who had kept his father captive.
As the dwarf insulted every elf in Middle Earth, nearly all of the elves present stood up, but Legolas flung his arms out to stop them. He was very aware that Aragorn and his child were sitting just behind the wall of stout dwarvish bodies. Aragorn's hands went to his stomach, sheltering his child. Fear was filling his heart, knowing what the dwarves could do when angry, and that he was unarmed and vulnerable.
'Do not worry,' the thought came, 'I will not let anything happen to you meleth.'
They continued to bicker, tempers rising and weapons being drawn, until the bittersweet voice of Frodo rendered them apart.
After a few moments, Aragorn swore to look after Frodo, whilst inside his head, the voice of Legolas was saying, 'What about the life of our child?' even as Legolas pledged his bow.
'You shall pay for this, both the journey and the dwarf, tonight,' Legolas projected, as the rest of the company joined them, 'I shall make you scream so loud that you will have to gag yourself to stop, and I know the perfect thing.'
000
"Well indeed you did know the perfect thing. Nice Princes like you should not know tricks like those," Aragorn said, snuggling closer to his mate.
"Well heirs to the throne should not know them either," teased Legolas, nuzzling at Aragorn's ear.
Aragorn shivered at the touch, and said, "Legolas, today, at the council, thank you for that."
"I stand by my word mellon nin, I will protect you," soothed Legolas.
"Not just that, today I realised… I will protect and love my child. It has a part of you inside."
"He," Legolas corrected, moving away a little.
"I do not understand."
"You called the baby it; he is a male, a real person."
"Forgive me, and you forgive me too little one. I apologise, I am still getting used to everything."
"There is nothing that I could refuse forgiving you for," purred Legolas.
000
That night Legolas sat in his own chamber, writing to his Father. He measured each word with precision, careful to make sure that his father would not anger and stop reading before the end.
To Thranduil, King of Northern Mirkwood, Confidential.
Atarinya,
I have important news that cannot be put aside. I do not know whether you are aware of my love, but I have promised myself to someone.
And that someone is pregnant with my son. You have read correctly Atar, I do not jest. I am not a child anymore, though I will always be your Greenleaf, your son. I apologise that I have hidden my love for so long. If your counsellors were to be made aware of this news, no doubt they wouldl spread it beyond our Kingdom.
I beg you not to do that.
My beloved is expecting my child, due in May of next year. In normal circumstances a hasty state marriage would be expected immediately, I know this.
But for me there are three reasons for why this cannot be done.
The first is one which would apply to anyone I fell in love with; we are going on a dangerous journey and either of us could die. The second reason is that this is going to be a very risky pregnancy and it is unknown whether I will have anything or anyone after. Though a marriage for love, there are also political issues to take into consideration, and I do not want to endanger your realm Atar.
The third reason is the very identity of my lover; it is the son of Arathron, Lord Aragorn, Estel from long ago, the one I was sent to protect.
Do not judge me too harshly, there is no doubt in this matter, the sons of Elendil have confirmed this. You married for love Atar, and I shall do the same.
With undying love, your son, Legolas
He gave this to one of his delegation to take back to his father. He trusted the messenger and knew him well; the message would be received by the right person.
Aragorn came into the room as Legolas was passing over the letters, and he bowed to the two elves.
"My father, no one else. Make sure he reads it alone," Legolas instructed.
The stranger bowed to the Prince and retreated from the room.
"Who was that?" Aragorn inquired, sliding down with his back to the door.
Legolas joined him, "A messenger to my father, explaining what is going on."
"Did you ever consider that I might like a say in that?" Aragorn snapped.
"Meleth, do not do this; you will hate yourself. My Atar has a right to know, and he will not tell anyone."
"I still wish you had told me."
"Mellon nin, I cannot be everywhere; you know that I never want to upset you, but Atar does need to know this. Pregnancy is a big thing, and, knowing my father, he would catch wind of it somehow."
"What is going to happen Legolas?" Aragorn asked timidly, resting his head on the elf's shoulder, "I had to go with Frodo, you know that, but that does not mean I know what is going to occur."
"I know as much as you my love, I wish to Eru that I did know, but I cannot tell you. But whatever happens on this journey, swear we will stay together"
"I could never part my soul from yours," Aragorn promised.
"Nor I from yours meleth, nor I from yours."
000
Aragorn and Legolas spent as much time as possible in each other's company. Legolas took his pledge seriously and Aragorn was perfectly willing to oblige: walking around the garden, riding with his lover and relaxing near the streams. They took picnics near the waterfalls, practiced their archery and generally relaxed; a break in paradise, away from the warring world. During these two months, Legolas received a letter from his father.
Senya, (he wrote)
All I can do is congratulate you my son, this is a miracle, one unfound in this day. Take this chance by the hilt because you do not know if this will happen again. Make an heir for Gondor and Mirkwood.
I know that I am being very blunt, but I do not have much time today. Look after your love; do not fail as I did with your mother. Make him feel loved and calm but happy.
I must go my Greenleaf. Know that you have my blessing, whatever, and do not let politics affect this.
-Thranduil
000
In November the couple had their last meeting with the twins, who were going back into the Wilderness. Legolas sat quietly in the corner with Gandalf, whilst the twins examined Aragorn.
"Well," said Elrohir as they concluded, "All seems to be going well, growing well. You are getting bigger now, but no one can see that except you, Gandalf, Legolas and us, now that Gandalf has edited the spell."
"You need to be eating more fruit and healthier foods, less meats if you can," said Elladan.
"You need to take time out to focus on your body's interactions with your baby, and just relax," put in Elrohir.
"Proteins are good, lots of nuts and beans."
"Stop smoking."
"Do not drink as much beer."
"Exercise."
"You will probably feel back ache, dizziness and possibly headaches, but that is nothing to worry about."
"You may…" Elrohir started.
"Brothers," Aragorn interrupted, "Half of this is impossible on this journey, but I will do my best to care for myself and my child.
"Aragorn you know perfectly well that it anything could go wrong."
"And I will be careful, but for now you must relax instead of me. You have told me all this before and I understood it as clearly then as I do now."
"I am repentant my brother, but I cannot ask forgiveness for being merely concerned for your wellbeing," said Elladan.
"Very well," said Aragorn, "Now go, have fun in the woods."
"But you are the best at that we are informed," said Elladan slyly, grinning as they left the room.
000
Until December 25th, not long after Yule celebrations had died away, Aragorn and Legolas relaxed, spending days interested but calm, spending nights tenderly and soothingly.
On the morning of the twenty-fifth, the couple were lying in the dawn glow, arms around each other, gentle fingers teasing each other softly.
"We will not be able to do this for a while," Legolas whispered.
"Plenty of couples abstain, we have been parted for years before," Aragorn soothed.
"But it is different now."
"Not that different meleth."
"We have to keep out child safe, and if we do that by hiding, we will," murmured Legolas, pulling Aragorn into a closer hug.
That just lay in each others' company for a while, before wrenching themselves away to prepare for the journey ahead.
000
It was hard to be in each others' company, so incredibly close, but unable to satisfy the need to hold each other close, feel their shared heat. It was almost a torture to only be able to brush hands at the most, feel the soft skin as they passed on food. At night, unless one of the pair was on watch, they would lay their blankets close to one another and fall into slumber holding hands. In the mornings, Legolas would already be up before dawn, ready to help Aragorn through the day. The human did not know what he would have done without Legolas on the journey.
Whenever he felt himself flagging, Legolas would, by instinct, find some way to slip to the back and lay a light, pale hand on Aragorn's cheek, gazing into his eyes, and transfer some of his strength into his lover. A grateful smile from Aragorn made all of Legolas' trips worthwhile, and the fact that Aragorn was carrying Legolas' child made certain that Legolas would sacrifice anything for Aragorn, though he would have done before anyway.
They would often speak through their bond, very aware that the rest of the company were in silence.
Elladan and Elrohir were right when they said that Aragorn would start aching, and dizziness would often assail him, even though his morning sickness had disappeared. When the light-headed feeling came, Legolas would glance around casually, feeling it through the connection, and see the colour draining out of Aragorn's face. The elf would stop, as if staring at the sky, to wait for the company to file past, before once again fleeing to Aragorn's side. Gently, he would rest a hand on Aragorn's shoulder, to let him know that he was in constant support, as Aragorn fought off the spell of giddiness. If he was failing in the fight, Legolas would guide his stumbling steps in a straight line.
The other members of the fellowship were too caught up in their own troubles to notice these interchanges, but the couple did not dare to go further, not even a kiss in passing, in fear of a repercussion because it was not the time or place. Both felt embarrassed at the yearning to be together, through part of them knew that there was nothing to be ashamed of.
000
They trekked for miles for seventeen days, right up into the mountains of Caradhas. The high altitude made it even more difficult for Aragorn to get oxygen into his lungs, his body being focused elsewhere, and the woozy spells got a worse.
In the training of the hobbits at warfare and sword tricks, Aragorn was reluctant to share his expertise, knowing the clumsiness of the hobbits and the mistakes they were bound to make. He was also aware that if they tackle him, like they did Boromir, then his child could be at risk and the hobbits would most defiantly realise the bulge in his stomach, which they could not see but they would be able to feel.
Legolas felt overwhelming guilt, as he skipped lightly over the snow in his thin shoes, whilst his friends and his lover struggled through the deep, thick barrier. He knew that Aragorn was getting soaking wet, and was petrified that pushing with his stomach before him (when it was very deep) would injure his child, but the desperate tears he shed over this impossibility froze solid. Even worse, he was forced to carry two of the Halflings, and this sapped a lot of his strength.
'I am sorry I cannot help,' said Legolas through their bond.
'I know melda.' Even Aragorn's mental voice sounded exhausted.
"My poor love," whispered Legolas. 'I will…'
But his train of thought was interrupted as he heard Saruman's voice carried to the company on the wind. The blocks of ice from above fell, whistling, to pile on top of the fellowship.
'Aragorn, Aragorn' was all Legolas could think, though he then cried out, "Meleth!" as the ice narrowly missed them.
'Legolas hush, please, I am trying to think,' Aragorn demanded, though he regretted his snappiness almost immediately, as he told Gandalf their only option, to turn back and to go a different way
Gandalf refused and did not seem to notice what Legolas did, the frail frame of his lover hunched over, protecting his unborn child, shaking with the wet, the cold, the harsh wind, the snow biting at the exposed surfaces. The deep voices of the Maia echoed across the mountains. Legolas was the first to be hit by the ice, as the only one standing. For a long, frantic moment, they all struggled under blocks of ice as it poured on top of them like a waterfall. Legolas could sense Aragorn's fear so desperately it was almost as if he had shouted it to the world, but Aragorn was paralysed in shock and worry for the baby. Legolas had to be the strong one. He groped under the surface for Aragorn's hand. It seemed like a lifetime searching for the lost man, before finding the calloused organ and pulling him up, gasping, from under the snow. Hurriedly, he pulled Aragorn into a tight embrace before letting him go to help the others.
All Legolas could think, taking in none of the conversation going on but grasping the man's hand tight, was 'Meleth, meleth, ai Aragorn. I thought you were lost.'
'I thought you left me meleth,' Aragorn sent, 'I thought, that we, alone…'
'Never mellon nin,' said Legolas firmly, knowing that Aragorn's mind was as fragile as his body at this point, as hormones raged, 'We are safe for now, all three of us.'
000
Later that day, the company took shelter for a small time, but Aragorn and Legolas walked on for a few minutes for privacy, before they found a small cave for hiding. Shivering violently, Aragorn stood as still as possible, as Legolas stripped him of his clothes, whispering quiet nothings as he worked. Then, the elf rubbed him dry with a towel from his bag, which was waterproof, and finally pulled on fresh layers of clothes to keep his trembling body warm.
After throwing on his own dry tunic, Legolas wrapped his arms around his lover and held him as close as possible, trying to share some of his body heat. Aragorn snuggled into his arms, too cold to care about anything other than the warmth. With a shuddering breath, he asked, "Why us? Why do we have to be the ones to help? This is not safe or healthy for the child."
"There is no one else, we have to do it." He turned Aragorn's face up to meet his eyes. "I will stay with you though. I will not let you out of my sights if I can help it."
"Thank you meleth."
Eventually they had to part, and continue on their journey.
000
It took a day and a half to get to Moria, terror driving them on. They were all bitterly disappointed when Gandalf could not remember the password to the mines, but had to trust that the wizard would recall in time.
After a few unfruitful minutes, Legolas' hand clasped Aragorn's, and he led the human into a small niche, sheltered from the wind and hidden by the darkness.
They sank down and relaxed grateful on the stone floor. Aragorn rested his drawn face on Legolas' shoulder and, no longer caring who saw, Legolas wrapped his arm around Aragorn's waist, just wanting to provide him with what little comfort he could.
Caressing the human's side, gently up and down, Legolas whispered into his hair, "Sleep whilst you can."
Following instruction, Aragorn sank into uneasy sleep in Legolas' arms..
000
In his dream, Aragorn was faced with Arwen once again. In his subconscious state, he did not know what to say. She was crying.
"Aragorn," she whispered, "Meleth, my love."
The word meleth stirred the human from his temporary paralysis, and this time he had control over his tongue. He remembered how Legolas would say it with all the love and warmth in his heart, full of sunshine. When the temptress said it, threads of darkness wrapped around the words.
"You cannot call me that" he spat, "I will never be your love again. You cannot steal all the powers in Middle Earth. What was it to be? The last Renaissance of Elvish kind? The whole of Middle Earth to be under your control again? hat would you do, plant all the trees again? And then what? With your powers gone what else would you do, but leave the Earth less whole than it is now?"
Arwen ignored this, blinking slowly, she said, "How could you turn away from me? How could you get pregnant with that male elf? How has the race of Nûmenor sunk so low?"
"All these questions, yet I will answer first," Aragorn replied. "I turned away from you when I learnt of your treachery with many men, I sought him because I fell in love and will never turn away. Nûmenor sunk low many years ago, but if I can give it an heir it will rise up just a little bit, like it does every time an heir of Elendil is born. I cannot help you, nor do I want to, and you will have to accept my decision," Aragorn turned to leave her, "I am sorry, but that is my choice."
000
Aragorn awoke groggily and looked up, intending to see the sky. Instead, a pale face flickered into focus; Legolas' neck filled his vision, the elf was gazing at the moon. Aragorn realised the he had slipped down and now lay with his head in Legolas' lap, one of their customary positions when the elf was not drowsy.
"Good morning moonshine," said Aragorn.
Legolas laughed, looking down, "It is not morning yet mellon nin."
"Where is everybody else?"
"The hobbits are watching Gandalf, as is Gimli, Boromir went for a walk earlier and now he's sleeping," Legolas recited.
"So we are all alone," said Aragorn, putting an arm around Legolas' neck and pulling him down for a kiss, the elf's blond hair tickling his skin.
"Look at you," Legolas said as they came up for air.
"What have I done?" asked Aragorn in a resigned tone.
Legolas lightly swatted at him, but then his voice turned affectionate, "You are growing so big."
"I know," Aragorn replied, and he shivered as Legolas stroked the swelling of his stomach lightly. "Without this charm, even Pippin would have noticed it."
"What would he have noticed?" came a voice from behind, "Dwarves can see in the dark as well as an elf, and I for one can easily notice you two canoodling."
"Gimli," Aragorn said sitting up, awkwardly.
The dwarf nodded.
"Gandalf sent me to say that he has opened the door, you may wish to come if you have finished."
The human nodded, sending a message to Legolas 'Say nothing.'
Legolas pursed his lips and obeyed