Chapter 7

Slash people slash! Just a reminder ^^"

And so we move on... excuses for the mistakesSss... XD

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Rohimnūn was still fuming as he walked down the busy area of the rangers. The confrontation with Aragorn made him angry to some extent and the idea that the chieftain was right was infuriating. He found himself completely taken in by Legolas and wished to be with him more than anything at the moment for he was the most admirable, most perfect being he had ever met and willing to serve him already; but with a man with the name Aragorn on his way, it really seemed challenging.

A plan was forming in his head when he saw Legolas coming his way. The Elf was walking with graceful nimble step, while he carried something on his hands. It brightened Rohimnūn to see the favored elf, but when he saw the tray on his hands did he frowned and asked haughtily as they come face to face, "What's that?"

Legolas, who was in a hurry to reach his Master's side, raised both eyebrows to his new friend and the way he greeted him, and said in curiosity, "It is for Aragorn, why do you look so upset?"

Rohimnūn inwardly cursed the chieftain for this slavery that clearly did not suit the elven hands and promised himself he would give Legolas what he deserved if he comes with him! Why did he even think the captain was whole and just?

"It is nothing, I have had enough of things in this place." he answered shortly, looking around with beady eyes.

Legolas nodded at him amused, it was apparent that the man was bothered for whatever reason unknown to him. He smiled as he saw the curt lines forming slowly on the man's forehead and had to say in a light tone, "My dear man! Look at you, you're scary! No wonder no one would come and talk to you, you look about to chew anyone's hands off!"

He meant it as a jest and Rohimnūn found it intriguing so. He familiarized himself with the elven smile and had to smile in turn for the feeling was intoxicating.

"I need not any company from others, if that is what you mean, Legolas. They seem weary of me too."

He looked pointedly at the Northern rangers, and remembered especially the one he had just confronted awhile ago. Legolas was surprised to hear this for unlike him, he was welcomed friendly and warmly. He found himself in sympathy for the man and had the urgent need to console him for Rohimnūn was nothing but kind to him.

"Do not say that, you pessimistic one, eventually they will come, if you would just lessen those serious features of yourself."

"I doubt." said the Southern Ranger sounding certain, "Few trusts those who look daunting as I can tell."

Legolas pressed his lips and had to smile. He had just remembered something from the man's words. Rohimnūn was wrong; there was a single person in Middle Earth people would trust till the end even if he wore the dangerous features of himself. True, Aragorn looked about to kill from a distant but one would always find the kind and friendly ranger once they come to know him. And once they do, it would be impossible to let go without doing him any favor.

That reminded him of his task.

"I beg your pardon Rohimnūn, I need to do something."

The man sighed, looking with raised eyebrows at the tray.

"So I see, do not worry, Legolas, a time will come where you would be able to do as you please once again."

"Ah?" nodded Legolas but unsure of what he had heard. Rohimnūn moved out of the way and the elf went on with a bewildered look.

Rohimnūn watched him go, wondering how it would feel if Legolas said yes to him, when the Elf turned to him once again with a friendly gesture and said, "It has been a busy day. I suggest you take a rest and get some sleep."

The man nodded and inclined his head into a bow curtly. Legolas studied him and decided to have a word with him later before turning for Aragorn's tent.

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The inside of the tent was dark.

It was impossible to see if someone was inside at one look, but looking deeper one may find a disturbed chieftain, sitting on his made bed, his hands covering his face with elbows leaning on both knees and looking weary. He looked more careworn than most of the rangers were suppose to be and looked more overwhelming. In his silence, he was mulling over what he had just heard from someone's nasty mouth.

Aragorn had no plan of listening to any of Rohimnūn's word but he was disturbed deeply of the truth it carried. He would not deny it. It was ironic. He detests slavery yet he has Legolas as one.

I did not mean to make him my slave.

'He said he belonged to you!' said another voice in his head.

I shall free him and let him do as he pleased!

'He will come with Rohimnun.'

No! He will stay with me!

'Why should he? He does not have any reason to stay.'

I am a reason!

'Really? But what exactly are you to him?'

I am- I am his-!

'Not his Master if you freed him. You will be nothing and he will go. Without authority over, he shall be gone forever.'

I do not want o rule over him! I want him to choose me!

'How?'

I'll tell him I love him! It has been too long!

'Perfect.'

The roar in his chest suddenly became excited and loud.

'One thing you forgot' came the voice again.

What?

'What will you do if he says 'no'?'

Aragorn suddenly felt hollow.

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Legolas stopped dead on his tracks when he entered the dark inside of Aragorn's tent. He thought the ranger did not follow his advised and had returned to healing the injured people when he felt something or someone stirred in the middle of the darkness.

"Aragorn?"

There was an intake of breath as an answer.

Legolas focused his eyes and saw a silhouette on the bed.

"What are you doing?" he asked, lowering the tray on the wooden table he found and looked for the torch.

The man did not answer and did not stir more as Legolas lighted the area but remained on the bed with his hands on his face. The whole tent brightened and at last the two companions could see each other perfectly.

Legolas did not like the silence of the man. He quickly looked at him after setting the torch in its place and walked over to him.

"Aragorn…" he whispered, bending a little down as he pulled the hands away from the face, "what's the matter?"

As the man's hands were withdrawn, Legolas saw it was paler than the last and looked weaker.

"Aragorn!" he cried in alert, and worry as he tilted the man's face, "Ai Valar! You should rest!"

As quick as it was before him, the firm hands of the ranger suddenly seize his face and pulled it close.

A kiss was planted passionately on his lips, and Legolas failed to react. His mind became dizzy; the idea of what was transpiring was slowly coming to him. The ability to struggle had left him once more as his heart thumped loudly on his chest.

What?

When at last, Aragorn released him, he stumbled some steps back, looking perplexed at the man who was looking at him with intimidating eyes but who did not say anything. The elf reached one hand on his lips and said in a timid whisper, "That was… unwarned for…"

Aragorn stood up and Legolas suddenly felt smaller before the grey eyes, his heart and mind still racing as if after each other, his face suddenly running hot too.

"How was it?" was the man's first uttered word and the Elf flushed in embarrassment he had never felt before.

"Aragorn!" he stammered, his face reddening.

Aragorn looked at him straight in the soul Legolas had never witnessed him do before until now. He still couldn't make his mind work. Clearly something was different with Aragorn…but what? He was not the type to come and kiss a person just because he liked! Or…so the elf thought until now…

The man took a step toward him and Legolas felt himself taking a step backward. The instant he did it, he regretted doing it for a flash of disappointment suddenly crossed the man's eyes. Aragorn raised a hand on his hair and brushed it up, and shook his head.

"Forgive me…I did not mean to startle you…"

'Startle? You scared me!' was the scream of Legolas' heart.

The man withdrew away back on the bed, sitting with an audible sigh. Legolas saw the sign of weakness coming back to the man and it made his strength returned. He pulled himself together and braced himself to ask rather worriedly.

"What was that about?"

Silence followed his question and for the first time Legolas decided he did not like silence.

"Aragorn." He pressed on, risking a step forward with his heart thumping nervously.

"Do you hate me, Legolas?" came the short question the Elf had heard before. He remembered Aragorn asking the same question when he was drunk back at the inn they had stayed… He was drunk then!

"No…I do not hate you." he answered truthfully, watching the man's feature relax, it made him wonder for a while, and then he suddenly became aware of what was on Aragorn's mind and his heart raced once more.

A kiss before a confession? He found himself asking the question in amusement, how unfair. They're all acting up this day…even Rohimnūn was acting strange…Rangers!

It was a moment before Legolas realized that the Southern Ranger's name had left his lips and it was when he witnessed how Aragorn's eyes went wide in unmistakable anger.

"You've met him?" asked the rough tone of the man's voice.

"I did on my way." nodded the elf, wondering what was happening now.

Aragorn suddenly stood up and said sternly, "You shall not speak to him anymore, do you hear me?"

"What?" asked the elf sharply in his turn.

"Legolas, I do not want you to see him! Tell me you will heed my word!"

Legolas remembered how Rohimnūn had looked so bothered the last he saw him, away from his land with no one to accompany him- no! He couldn't turn his back on a friend. What was wrong with Aragorn?

"I cannot do that." He said firmly and rather curtly.

Aragorn gritted his teeth. He watched the elf before him and saw how serious he was for some reason… reason? Why, Legolas was defending Rohimnūn! Could it be-?

"I am not asking you now." He said in a cold voice that did not belong to him but to the roaring beast inside him, "I am ordering you, Elf. You will follow my order, that's my final word."

Legolas gaped at him. Somehow, the aura became less interesting than awhile ago. Legolas does follow orders but sometimes he just doesn't and this was the first time he felt strongly compelled to disobey the man.

"No." he said more firmly and more coldly. "I will if you give me a sufficient reason."

Aragorn's eyebrows knitted. Rohimnūn was obviously a nasty fellow but he, Aragorn, was not one to tell so to a person Rohimnūn was extremely nice of. It would sound poorly if it comes from his mouth and aside from that, he just doesn't like saying such things… so in the end he answered, "I am you Master."

He saw Legolas raised both eyebrows and he wondered if the Elf would ask for his freedom then.

"I shall not heed in this one, Master." Legolas answered colder still, emphasizing the last word with gritted teeth, and next Aragorn found the Elf bowing and leaving him standing alone in silence.

He cursed himself.

I should have said 'I like you' rather than 'I am your Master.'… he berated himself and shook his head for his failure.

But after more moments of contemplation, something dawned on Aragorn…That Legolas chose Rohimnūn after all…

~TBC~

Shucks... any comment on this one?