Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.
Note: Thanks for the reviews. This chapter will not be so funny. Anyway let's begin.
Eldarion stared at the children playing around him. They were about as old as he was as he walked over with insecure steps. It had been a couple of months since he had been in Rivendell and this was the first time he saw children his own age, they were elves but Eldarion hoped they would like him. He looked over his shoulder to see Elladan sitting underneath a tree with his book in his lap but he knew the elf paid attention anyway. His uncle had volunteered to watch him while Aragorn caught up on his work.
"Hello, can I play with you?" The boy asked softly as he walked over to some of the smaller Elflings. One of the boys stopped running and answered, while looking over Eldarion's form. "Yes, of course. But you have to be it." Eldarion nodded and rushed after the children, who all ran away as quickly as they could.
Eldarion quickly realized the elves were faster then him and stopped a moment to catch his breath while the children gathered around him, taunting as they went. "What is the matter, can you not even keep up with small children?" Eldarion turned in a circle as the children formed around him.
"You are too fast for me." He managed to say through his panting, watching as the one of the children shook his head and answered. "You are the son of the king of Gondor. Is it true that you have to sit inside and cannot play? Perhaps that is why you are slow. What about your brothers and sisters, can they not play with you?"
Eldarion shook his head as he looked at the young Elfling. "No, I do not have any brothers or sisters. But I have to attend my lessons." He cocked his head to the side, wondering what they meant with their questions. "Princes are slow, it is known through out the elvish world. Perhaps we can play when you are faster." With those seemingly innocent words the Elflings rang off to play, leaving a stunned and pained Eldarion behind.
He did not understand why he was slower then them, they were children much like he was nor did he understand if he had done something wrong in their eyes. Shoulder slouching in defeat he walked away, past Elladan who called for him but the young boy did not answer, instead turning around and screaming at the elf. "Leave me alone. I do not want to talk to you. I want my Ada and my nana."
He then ran away, tears blinding his vision but he kept running. Elladan looked after him with raised eyebrows before getting up and retuning to the house, he had an idea where the boy would be going. He sighed, remembering once more times when Aragorn had gone through the same thing when the elves said things they should not have said. He also remembered how many times Elrond had gone in search of the boy and brought him back each time, telling him how special he was. Now Eldarion was going through the same thing, but this time Aragorn was the one who was to tell him how special he was.
He slowly made his way over to Aragorn's private room and knocked lightly before stepping inside. "Eldarion needs you." He said softy. The man looked at him with a weary glance and Elladan resided the tale of what had happened. Aragorn got to his feet and asked. "He needs his Atar, does he not?" The elf nodded and Aragorn quickly left the room, needing no direction to his favourite hiding place, the stables.
The man walked slowly, remembering times past when he had done the same thing. The young king ran a hand through his hair, knowing he should call for help when he needed it but experience told him that if he were to ask for the help of the elves Eldarion would simply rebel against him.
He stepped into the dark stables, hearing the horses stomp around and called. "Eldarion, are you in here, ion nin?" He walked in and smiling as one of the horses whinnied at him before sticking its head outside to be petted. "I wonder if you would have seen my son anywhere." He softly asked the horse before a small voice piped up. "I am here, Ada."
Aragorn turned around to find Eldarion looking at him. The boy was fiddling with his clothing but did not meet the king's gaze as Aragorn walked over. "Do you wish to tell me what is wrong or should I just cut right to the core and speak about how many times I have found myself in the same spot?" The man guided the boy over to a stack of hay and sat down.
"It is not the same." Eldarion answered softly, still not meeting his father's gaze. Aragorn looked away thoughtfully before he said. "No, perhaps not. But I know it can hurt just as bad as it did when I was your age. I know it can make you feel like you do not belong here and perhaps that is true but there is no flaw or imperfection in being who you are. You will not find any people who will accept you without asking you to change for you do the same."
The boy in turn hopped on his knee and said. "Do you mean that even you do not accept me for who I am?" There was such pain in the boy's eyes that Aragorn found himself lost for breath as he answered. "No, meleth, I do accept you. I love you for who you are. But I know the struggle and it never ends."
"Then why did Nana leave? Why could she not stay if she loved us?" Eldarion looked at Aragorn and the man found himself wishing the boy had not learned to say full sentences that quickly. "For I did not love you mother as she deserved to be loved and she wished she could stay. I know she did but she could not. It was not her destiny to stay with us."
"Did you make her leave then?" The boy's next question startled Aragorn but the man knew it would be coming. "I really would not know Eldarion. Some people think I did but I do not know for sure. Perhaps I trifled with that love and now I am cursed to have neither of the people I love in this world."
"So they did not accept you as well?" Eldarion sensed his father's mood and changed the subject quickly. "Well when I grew up here they did. They made fun of my ears, the way I walked, everything really. But you see the elves do not really know better, but you must realize that you are always blessed when an elf is your friend or more then a friend."
"But they only made fun because I was slow so does that mean that my ears are fine? The children back home make fun of them." The boy confessed sadly and Aragorn smiled while he gently touched the slightly pointed ear and answered. "Your ears are beautiful, meleth. You have your mother's beauty within you and I hope my courage."
"But it feels funny when somebody touches them." Eldarion complained while he batted at his father's hand. "That I would not know, ion nin." Aragorn answered, remembering the way Legolas would shudder whenever Aragorn touched his ear. The way the elf's body moved against him before usually with a cry of outrage the elf would eventually turn to him and usually it ended up with a passionate kiss….
"Ada, why are you looking at the horses like that? You look like you are warm. You are not sick, are you?" The boy reached up, much to Aragorn's dismay to brush his hand alongside his father's skin. "No, Eldarion, I am fine." He managed to say before with a concerned glance the boy jumped from his lap and cried out. "I think uncle Ro and Dan need to have a look at you. You are very warm, perhaps you have a fever."
Aragorn shook his head but it was lost on the boy as he ran out, screaming. "Glorfy, come quickly!" He dropped his head in his hands as his thoughts directly returned to Legolas and their lovemaking. Aragorn could hear the groan that escaped his lips when his body started to respond to the images in his mind.
Soon he heard Glorfindel's footfall coming closer as the ancient warrior argued with Eldarion about his sickness. He raised his head hoping Glorfindel would not notice the obvious ailment but within his mind a tiny voice said. "I do not think it shall be so. You must not forget he raised you through your teenager years and has seen some very embarrassing moments."
Aragorn found his memories turning to the time Glorfindel caught him with the same thoughts, also concerning the blond elf and he could clearly remember the talk they had afterwards. The next moment Glorfindel appeared before him, his blue eyes narrowing when he noticed Aragorn's red face. Red due to the warmth and shame that ran through the man.
He brushed his hand against Aragorn's forehead and he asked. "Are you feeling ill?" Aragorn quickly shook his head and answered. "No, but it is not what Eldarion thinks it is."
"Then what is it?" The elf inquired softly. Aragorn raised his eyebrows and found his voice had abandoned him. Glorfindel looked at him before he asked. "Did you fall or are you sick?" There was a shake of the head and the elf continued his questioning. "Does it have to do with Legolas?" There was a nod this time as Aragorn turned even redder and dropped his gaze.
"Stand please." Glorfindel asked, getting to his feet himself. Aragorn's gaze shot up to meet the seneschal's serious gaze as he stuttered. "Stand? Oh, please no, anything but that." In responds Glorfindel raised his eyebrows and the man got to his feet, keeping a firm hand on his thoughts and hopefully body.
He found Glorfindel's look unnerving as it passed over his body before the elven eyes rose up to meet his own eyes. "I see you have better control over your body, Estel. Still, try to take caution, less you wish to explain certain things to your son. These thoughts are better when you are in bed. Alone." Aragorn found himself blushing while Eldarion asked, clearly confused. "What things, Ada?"
"Nothing, ion nin. I will explain later, when you are older. Why do you not go play with Glorfindel, I am sure he can help you become faster and I have some work to do." With those words the king returned to his private room where he was left in private with his "thoughts".
Hope you liked it. Please leave some ideas because I really don't know what to write next. I beg you.
