Chapter 8

SLASH!!! read on and enjoy!

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Legolas almost flew down the solid steps toward the silent forest after coming out of the ranger's tent with his golden hair flying behind him. He knew he made Aragorn displeased for disobeying a command but there was no way he could follow him for no reason at all. This was the first time Aragorn had asked for something insensible and Legolas was mad for it. His master was being unreasonable, that he knew, but this wasn't the reason for his flee. It was his heart. His heart was thumping so excitedly he was afraid it would burst out and fail him. He ran all the way down the forest to subside the feeling but it did not reduce at all. With last final step, the elf stopped in graceful manner, held up and found himself in the tranquil forest alone. His heart was still racing and thumping painfully in his chest and he clutched his tunic with his left hand while he pressed the backside of his right hand on his lips. He slowly tried to breathe- to calm himself and to clear his still rushing mind.

What just happened?

The memory of his first kissed flashed before his eyes and this almost blew up the inside of his heart again. A kiss! Why Aragorn kissed me! He could not decide how to react except- with a funny note the backside of his mind uttered, finally! and the elf found himself half smiling and sighing. He turned to his side and leaned his back on a nearby tree, heaving a sigh once again and closing his eyes in the process. He stood there in silence, his mind traveling away from his body and in his minds eye, he saw Aragorn- with his grey eyes and assuring voice, turning to him to speak and to smile and the kiss they shared...

The Elf bowed his head in silent reverie and smiled in understanding. His heart, as Legolas believed, would never settle anymore even if he tried to calm it for only one person can bring its peace and that was the same person who brought it to its uproar.

Aragorn.

He did not know Aragorn had meant this much to him already. The kiss provoked it.

But why do you behave so in a way I could not understand?

He remembered the man's harsh words and Legolas was saddened. He had vowed to follow the man ever since he knew the real him but he just doesn't have the heart to leave a friend. If you only see me as a real servant that would do your every task, then, I might as well follow you like an equipment, Legolas thought gravely, but since I know you and I know what your real heart is then I shall disobey until I find your true reason! Until then I shall refuse you…

A twig snapped in two that caught the elf's attention back to his environment. He shot a glance to where he heard the commotion was and saw Rohimnūn standing among the trees looking at him.

"Rohimnūn." he muttered, standing straight and composing himself, "Why are you here?"

The southern ranger was looking at him from afar with distinct longing in his eyes that did not went past the elf noticed. He then wondered how long the man had been watching him and felt suddenly uneasy.

"I saw you running…" the ranger answered, taking steps toward the elf, "I thought something must have happened…"

Legolas shifted on his foot and looked away, trying to conceal his flushed cheeks.

"Legolas?" asked the man again, stopping in his front and looking down at him, "Is something the matter?"

Legolas shook his head and the man raised his eyebrows. He watched Legolas closely and saw the elf was uncomfortable, like something serious had happened that made him lost his bearing. The Elf was distracted, and Rohimnūn felt his own heart racing excitedly.

When the elf did not respond, Rohimnūn lifted his hands and touched the elf's cheeks and raised it for a better look. The instant he did this, Legolas remembered Aragorn and how the man had held his face in their kiss. He reacted and leapt away, surprising Rohimnūn while breathing rapidly.

"I am fine." he stuttered gulping, and turning away from the man who immediately ran after him.

"Legolas, what happened?" Rohimnūn insisted as they hurried on back at the camp. They dodged trees and rocks and snares on their way up, "You are not yourself."

"It is nothing, I am merely tired is all." answered Legolas carefully, keeping a good distance from him, "I thought you were resting now? Did I not ask you to do so?"

"Well, I hardly can keep my eyes close." replied Rohimnūn, keeping up with the elf as they crossed a big log, "I can hardly sleep here actually, but waiting for Halbarad's men is keeping me attentive. Say Legolas, if Halbarad returns he'll be sending me his men and we will be off if not tomorrow then the following day. What say you come with me?"

"Come with you?" asked Legolas, quite unfocused as he moved on. Ahead of them he could see the camp and in the camp he was sure Aragorn was there. He suddenly felt empty inside for their quarrel and wished he could talk to the man again.

"…Ithilien." he caught the last word of Rohimnūn's sentence and had to glance back. "What is that?"

"I'm inviting you now to Ithilien," repeated Rohimnūn patiently, "I do not think you should obey every word of that man."

That man. The word stung Legolas but he kept his mouth from speaking harshly.

"Why should I not follow my Master then?" he asked through gritted teeth as they came out of the trees and finally was once again back inside the camp were some of the rangers were roaming in alertness incase something unexpected happened.

"For one thing," started Rohimnūn with a dark look, "he treats you in a disgraceful manner. He consider you like you're his possessions, one who does not have the power to disobey! He is taking advantage of you- he is a heartless scum who only wants the best out of you! He's using you, can't you see?"

"But he is still my Master," said Legolas softly as he appreciate Rohimnūn's concern for him, "And I have vowed to protect him from my heart."

"A vow you can forget." said Rohimnūn that made Legolas look up. "You see Legolas? You looked so eager to do so, I can see in your eyes."

Legolas blinked. Do I want to break it?

Rohimnūn knew he was close in convincing the elf to change his mind. Legolas was distracted- somewhat in a stupor and he will use it to his advantage. He was about to do the last prodding when a voice rang through their ears.

"Legolas!"

Legolas' heart did a summersault as he turned and saw Aragorn coming their way with a fierce expression on his face. Although his heart was leaping in what he believed to be love, the features of Aragorn convey warning to his mind that the ranger was about to do something stupid.

"Aragorn." muttered Rohimnūn, his eyebrows creasing into a deep frown. Legolas held his ground as the chieftain came bustling in with what he thought was crazy rage.

Aragorn stiffened as he looked from Legolas to Rohimnūn and then rested it back on the elf again. His heart ached at seeing them together, and all he wanted to do that time was to rip the smug Southern Ranger in front of him.

"Come with me." he told Legolas curtly. Legolas did not like his tone and when Aragorn saw the refusal in the elven eyes he immediately snatched the Elf's arm, "You must come with me!"

"I still have things to do." said Legolas turning out right cold and being firm about wanting to find out the reason why the ranger was acting in such away, added with his stubbornness rising at the sudden gesture of the man. "I cannot go."

Aragorn looked as if he was splashed by a pail of cold water, in his urgency to keep Legolas away from Rohimnūn, he had tugged on the elf strongly and tried to pull Legolas to him.

"You have nothing more to do, come with me-!" he nearly shouted but a hand suddenly shot out from Rohimnūn and his big hand grasped Aragorn's wrist tightly. Aragorn and Legolas both looked at him; one with the look of surprise and alarm, the other with irate and upheaval.

"He said he did not want to go." Rohimnūn found himself saying coldly as he clenched Aragorn's wrist. Aragorn's eyes glinted dangerously and something in it was of true warning.

"He is my elf." he said through gritted teeth, his knuckles getting white from Rohimnūn's grip but he did not care, "I will be the one to decide for him. He is mine."

His words made an impression on the elf, both good and bad.

Rohimnūn ignored the threat on the man's voice as he gripped the man's wrist more and said in a cool tone, "He is never yours, Aragorn. You have sunk so low. You can tell right now he is never yours. Stop holding onto him, can't you hear yourself? You are being driven off by your greed! Where is your honor?"

The man's eyes widened and Legolas saw doubt forming on Aragorn's eyes. He felt a flush of sympathy for the man and ached to console him but his resolve made him immobilize. He felt the ranger's grip on his arm slowly slipping and Aragorn gave him a look which he refused to return.

Something inside Aragorn crashed to millions of pieces and for a moment he didn't know what to do. He looked from Legolas to Rohimnūn, his eyes full of fear. A defeated feeling swelled up in his heart and he turned away with his heart screaming what he feared most.

He does not want you!

Legolas snapped his head in attention when Aragorn suddenly turned away. The instant the man vanished from his sight, the elf knew what he did, in one way or another, was wrong. He felt it. Knew he must follow even if the man did him wrong. He took a step forward but a hand on his shoulders halted him.

"Let him go." said Rohimnūn in a contented voice, "do not pity a man like him, he does not deserve it."

A lump formed up on Legolas' throat and he tried to calm his heart. He took in some air, and composed himself coolly, so as not to say anything rude to the one who defended him. He turned to Rohimnūn who devotedly turned on him too.

"I thank you for the help, Rohimnūn, but I will go with him."

Rohimnūn's eyes went wide in disbelief. "What?"

"Don't take me wrong," said Legolas carefully and caringly, "this is not his fault. It is my choice."

And with that he fled, leaving the man hanging after him in shock.

Legolas chose to be with Aragorn.

He tried to tread the path he knew Aragorn had taken but failed to find him. The elf knew the man would not go off the campsite but his absence made him filled with worry. When he did not find him anywhere outside, Legolas went to check the inside of the man's tent but it was empty, save the soup he had made for Aragorn that day, left untouched and now cold. That was when Legolas realized the man has not yet taken any of the needed rest, and has not yet eaten anything because of their foolish fight. He scolded himself for being so irresponsible and went off in haste to look for the man. He risked it- he went cross the forest and to see if any fazed man had wondered in there.

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Trees. There were lots of trees and their uprooted roots keeping Legolas the best company in his search. He had been out in the forest for an hour but there was no hint that any man had made his way there. Legolas found himself sighing in relief as he made to get back the camp. It was then good that Aragorn did not leave the site and went bounding along the forest when a lot of threats were being posed for him. The elf fought his way back in a hurried manner for in his return he would still look for his Master.

Every time he remembered Aragorn's uncertain eyes looking at him, he would feel dread creeping its way slowly in his heart. How did he manage to inflict such a heart ache to the man, he did not know, all he wanted was to see him and to tell him how dear he was. There might have been a reason for Aragorn's actions toward Rohimnūn, but Legolas was not too eager to find out anymore. He ran with speed, searching the camp when he arrive then, his eyes travelling to every ranger there is. To his great surprise, he saw the band of the rangers who went on to fight, already back in the field and was taking time, if not to rest, was to eat or heal themselves. The elf hurried on to Halbarad's quarters and found the elder ranger there, accompanied by two more rangers inside: one was attending to Halbarad's wounded shoulder, and the other was Rohimnūn.

Both Halbarad and Rohimnun turned to Legolas and the elf glanced back, his eyes still searching if the man he was looking for was somewhere, hiding.

"You can go now to prepare, Rohimnūn," Halbarad then said, turning to the silent ranger, "But I am sorry that it will take another day or two before you can go. The rangers are still weary from the fight tonight."

"Of course." said Rohimnūn, bowing a little. "I am not so much in a hurry and can wait till everyone is ready."

Halbarad nodded then turned to Legolas.

"What is it Legolas? Is something the matter?"

Legolas eagerly nodded as he said quickly, "I am looking for Aragorn, have you seen him upon your return?"

Rohimnun's eyebrows rose up to heaven and he turned to Halbarad swiftly too, "I shall take my leave now."

Halbarad nodded at him and they watched the Southern Ranger went outside. The moment he was gone, Halbarad spoke, "I have seen Aragorn, of course, he was one of those who met us on our return."

"Really?" said Legolas hopefully, "Where is he then?"

"He's off taking care of some of the more wounded rangers in the healing shelter." replied Halbarad again, gesturing his head outside, "That was about an hour ago."

"All right," said Legolas, quickly turning to leave-

"Wait." called Halbarad. Legolas halted and glanced back at the ranger who was looking at him with a knowing expression. "I have seen the interaction between Aragorn and Rohimnūn in this tent a while ago. They were not very eager to see each other."

Legolas sighed and nodded at this.

"Yes, I suspect they weren't."

Halbarad raised his eyebrows and said airily, "Does Aragorn have any reason to feel this jealousy?"

Legolas sharply turned to the ranger with a frown, "Jealousy-?"

"I know one when I see it, Legolas." said the man casually with a smirk, "Aragorn, though very strong, is not immune to such disease of love. So I tell you, clear it up to him before he takes anyone's ears off."

Dawning realization was slowly pouring Legolas' quite closed mind. Jealous? Aragorn was jealous?

He remembered Aragorn's bitter remarks about Rohimnūn, how he tried to tell him not to go near… how can he have missed that? It was so obvious…

"I have to find him." said Legolas finally and without another word he left.

Halbarad chuckled after him and sighed tiredly.

He quickened his already quick pace and with in strides he was already at the healing shelter where the woundeds were being kept. He was eager to find Aragorn and to tell him something but anxiety replaced his feelings when he saw no sign of the man inside.

The shelter was crowded with resting rangers and civilians all fast asleep or silently murmuring to themselves. Aragorn was nowhere to be seen; only one ranger was up and was still tending to one wounded man. The elf did not waste time and quickly went to him.

"Excuse me, have you seen your chieftain?" he asked urgently. The ranger turned to him blinking before saying, "The chief has retired to his bed a little just now, his body did not last."

Legolas' heart skipped a beat and he thought he even forgotten to breath. "What happened to him?" he quickly demanded. The ranger answered dutifully, "He nearly collapsed here, and I asked him to take some rest but he did not heed me and he insisted on staying and help. Until a short while ago he went down his knees again, and I ask for an aid to assist him to his quarters-"

The elf was gone before the ranger could even finish the sentence.

Legolas was once again running and as he did so he was much swift and hasty. He did not care. He wanted to see Aragorn- that stubborn ranger who could not even speak one or two important words to save his life. Such a strong headed fellow! He deserves beating! Not that he has the heart to do it to an already weary fellow...

The Elf nearly jumped inside Aragorn's tent when he saw the clear fire dancing in its torches. Light would mean there was someone there- only if he could see that it was him-

"Aragorn!" he exclaimed, looking around with urgency once he was inside.

He found the man seated quietly on his bed. When he entered the man looked up at him in surprise behind his tired eyes. He was careworn- ragged- yet he could still carry himself strongly and Legolas found himself sighing in relief. They stared into each other, until the elf decided to walked toward the man.

"Legolas?" asked Aragorn quite unsure, sitting up straight. The Elf saw on the man's clutches the cold soup he had made. Aragorn was eating it and once he realized it he felt something inside him was melting.

"You still took it," started the elf, stepping closer to the man, "even though it's already cold and spoiled…"

Aragorn looked down the mug quietly.

"You made this for me." was his silent reply.

That was the last straw. Legolas threw himself down Aragorn and embraced him tightly, knocking the mug out of the man's clutches into the floor. Aragorn was so much taken aback that he froze at the sudden approach and did not even manage to breathe while Legolas was holding him.

"Don't run off like that!" Legolas found himself saying as he clutched the man tightly into his arms, "don't ever look at me again with disappointment in your eyes…it drives me into a corner!"

Aragorn opened his mouth in confusion but no words came out. He was pinned by the elf's light weight and he could not decide what was next to do. Everything was getting out of control- what was Legolas doing? The Elf was visibly mad at him a little while ago- what had happened for this result to come out? He opened his mouth again and this time he was successful in asking,

"What are you doing, Legolas- what are you saying?"

The clear puzzlement in his eyes made Legolas smile softly when he pushed himself to look at the grey eyes.

"I said you are driving me insane. And that I love you."

With that he leaned down and pressed a long kiss on the ranger's lips, embracing him so and holding him down. Aragorn froze at the sudden change but when he understood at last what the gesture meant, he willingly returned the kiss with much passion.

Yes, the kiss was long, far too long that when they pulled both were already out of breath. They stared into each other's eyes then, full of meaning and love and longing. The man was still staring at the elf in disbelief.

"Legolas," breathed Aragorn his eyes wide, as he touched the cheeks of his destined one, "I'm surprised…"

"You are not the only one who knows how to steal a kiss." answered the elf, smiling shyly as he leaned down more and planted a kiss on the man's forehead.

Aragorn closed his eyes. A short while ago, he thought he was defeated, thought that he had lost and that he will never meet happiness ever again. But now, right on his arms was his splendor- ready to succumb to him. He pulled Legolas close, and whispered on his ear, "What brought this daylight into me?"

"Thank Halbarad," said Legolas smiling, "He is a wise man..."

"Halbarad…" repeated Aragorn sounding unsurprised. "Yes... he is a wise fellow."

Legolas sat up slowly and looked at Aragorn in the eye. The man found the gaze intriguing and had to smile. If it was every day that he would wake up with the one he worshiped most, then he could ask for nothing more... Legolas continued to pierce him with his blue eyes and Aragorn chuckled.

"What?" he asked, sitting up beside the elf. Legolas eyed Aragorn then said without hesitation, "Our positions have change, I will take care of you and in turn you must obey me, do you have a problem with that?"

The man blinked, that was an arranged thing wasn't it? He wanted to ask but he never wanted to push his luck, instead he answered half smiling. "None whatsoever…you shall be my master from now on and I am yours to command."

He leaned again to get his kiss but this time, Legolas stopped him, saying in a serious tone, "You need to rest. You pushed yourself far too much. I will not have my lover as thin as a strand of hair that can be blown away by one nudge."

Aragorn gawked at him. The elf raised his eyebrows and in the end Aragorn was the one to give way. Legolas stood up, took the empty mug on the floor and put it on the table while Aragorn watched him fondly, and wondering silently,

What a very nice feeling this is…love as they call it… I hope I won't get sick, I feel like I'm about to get a fever...aye.

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~TBC~

*aw*