Fan Fiction ❯ Tên Mûel ❯ Family affairs and royal matters ( Chapter 24 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Title: Tên Mûel
Authors: Makiko Igami (makikoigami@yahoo.de) & My-chan (My-chan@gmx.de)
Archive: http://www.yaoi.rulestheweb.com
http://www.fire-angel.net/Seek%20Truth/ main.html
http://lotr.lirimaer.com/
http://www.mediaminer.org/fanfi c/src.php?auth=58906
http://fanfiction.alansworld.com/viewuser.php?uid= 74
http://adultfan.nexcess.net/aff/authors.php?no=2588
Legolas In Chains Archive
ALSlash Archive
Library of Moria, too
Category: AU, RPG
Rating: this chapter... PG? May go up soon... *is getting poked by My-chan: "NC-17!"* *sweatdrops*
Pairings: Aragorn/Legolas, others as well *glances over to Elladan & Elrohir*
Warnings: Slash, OOC (of Arwen mostly), slavery, angst...
Spoilers: A few... not really as I don't remember much of the book, just that Aragorn became King of Gondor in the end and that Arwen was his Queen.
Summary: After seven years of marriage, the excitement of being together has vanished from Aragorn's and Arwen's marriage... maybe a present might change this.
Disclaimer: You know the deal don't you? J.R.R. Tolkien invented them, and if we owned them, we would be related to him, but since neither I nor My-chan are... we just play around with them, toy with their minds and use them for fun only. <insert evil laughter here>

Notes&Comments: This chapters refers to events that took place in the side story called "În Erui - His Alone". You don't need to have read it, but if you want to, feel free to search for them at the archives listed above. ^_^
_________________________________________________________________ < p>Elladan had finally made the way back to his and his brother's chambers. He had to walk slowly and carefully so that he did not drop the tray and spill the items he was carrying all over the floor. This gave him quite a hard task though since his arms soon started to hurt and his chest also didn't like to have something pressed against it. But the Elf ignored this pain.

Right now his brother was more important. Elrohir was still sleeping in their bed, so exhausted from the night that he had promptly fallen asleep again, after he noticed that his brother had left the bed and he had hoarsely whispered to him to get back to bed.

Elladan had indeed crawled back under the sheets with his brother, but it didn't take long until his growling stomach had made him get up again, put on some loose clothes and leave the chambers in the direction of the kitchen.

With a soft clicking sound the heavy door closed behind him as the younger twin entered their bedroom and he walked over to the huge bed with silent steps. He saw his brother stir and put the tray on the nightstand before he sat down on the empty side of the bed. When he looked up again he was greeted by the sight of Elrohir blinking droopy brown eyes open and a warm smile made the green-eyed twin's lips curl up.

Carefully Elladan leaned over and caressed his brother's cheek before he placed gentle kisses on his aching throat.

"Owwww..." Elrohir croaked and groaned because when he let out that sound his throat hurt even more. Wincing without trying to make any sound - although that was rather unlikely as he thought that he had lost his voice completely from the singing last night - he put his hand on his brother's shoulder for support, smiling a little wryly at him as he tried to cover up the sore feeling of his throat. He didn't dare to speak though.

The younger twin let out a low chuckle as he heard his brother wail like a sick little child. He placed his finger on the still parted lips and whispered a soft "hush" before he sealed those delicious lips with his own. After a moment he backed away again and turned back to where he had put the tray to make a grab for the gooseberries.

Elladan stuffed them in his mouth and chewed carefully. When he was satisfied with how soft the mash felt in his mouth he leaned back over to Elrohir. The green-eyed Elf was pretty sure that his love would have problems with chewing and swallowing down the fruits and he didn't want to apply even more pain to his already aching throat as they were supposed to help him. And Elladan had no doubt that his brother would like this way of getting fed.

Gently he pressed his lips on Elrohir's and waited for him to arrange his breathing and open his mouth further.

Elrohir wanted to protest, wanted to say that he was well able to eat on his own and didn't need to be fed like a baby bird by his brother, but there were two reasons why he didn't say or do anything in protest. First the quite obvious one that every word out of his mouth hurt like an arrow through his behind and secondly... who was he to protest to feel his brother's sweet mouth on him?

Hungrily he sucked in the sweet mesh and tried to swallow it without too much pain. He would have never imagined that swallowing something would be such a hard task to him... that it would hurt more than any wound he had gotten during the war...

He put his hand on the back of Elladan's head, pulling him closer as the feeding faded into a deep kiss, something that he knew he shouldn't do in his state of health, but did anyways. He just loved kissing his brother, loved it with all his heart and there was nothing in the world that could make up for or stop him from that. Not even the sweetest berries in all Middle-Earth or a deadly sore throat.

After what seemed forever, and Elladan surely wouldn't mind if it had been an eternity, the younger Elf slowly broke the kiss and reopened his eyes he was never aware of closing, just to stare down lovingly into deep brown pools.

"Feeling better?" he murmured against soft lips and felt guilty at the same time, for causing the pain. "I am sorry, Darlin'..." Carefully he bent down and kissed the swanlike neck again. "I didn't mean to bring this pain to you..."

Elrohir tried not to purr or say anything, but he definitely wanted to protest. His pain was nothing compared to the humiliation Elladan had had to go through the previous day. So he cupped his brother's cheek and forced him to look up again, his own face stern as he shook his head.

'It is not your fault,' he mouthed, but no sound left his lips while his thumb caressed the high cheekbones.

Aragorn finally came to the chambers of the Elven twins and raised his hand to knock. His fist was in the air to bang on the door rather forcefully, but he remembered Legolas' words that he shouldn't vent his anger on somebody he loved. So he slowed down and produced a rather gentle knocking with his knuckles.

"It's me... I decided to visit you two," he said, sounding rather stupid even to his own ears. He waited several moments, but nothing happened. Nobody shouted for him to leave or get in, so he took the liberty to simply open the unlocked door and walk right in.

Elladan tried to smile sheepishly, but it turned into a rather wry grin. "Of course it isn't," he whispered then, "you're the one who was stupid enough to sing all night long." The younger twin leaned in for another kiss before he let his body sink down slowly next to his brother and snuggled up to him, rubbing his cheek softly against Elrohir's.

"But I am sorry for making you do it... obviously I did..." he murmured in an excusatory attempt and raised his right arm to caress his brother's face. Elladan frowned though, when he felt his twin's ear twitch against his temple. "What is it, honey?" he asked before he could stop himself. A moment later he sweat dropped, of course he wouldn't get an answer from his brother.

He just wanted to add something when he caught a movement from the corner of his eyes and when he turned his head towards the door he saw their foster brother standing there. Elladan's eyes widened. Again he hadn't heard the Human's approach.

"...Estel..." Slowly the younger one of the Elves sat up and glanced down quickly to his shirt to make sure that it was still covering his chest, which it did. Then he looked back up. "I didn't hear you enter... please... come in..."

Aragorn smiled. "You're loosing your touch, Elladan. Or I have improved mine," he said, taking that invitation to make his way over to the large bed, eyes scanning for a chair though. He pulled one closer to the bed and sat down on it, looking down at the two Elves with a frown. The younger one of the pair was still trying to hide his chest and the older one looked as if he wasn't able to say anything at all.

In fact Elrohir looked at Estel and wanted to say so much. This time he really cursed the fact that he had sung so long that he had lost his voice for the present day.

"It seems I really have," Elladan murmured and realized only then that all his senses were numb, not only his ears. He tore his gaze away from his younger brother and looked at the older one instead. He could tell there wasn't much that Elrohir wanted to do right now, except talking so he turned to the tray once more and grabbed the jug with the tea.

"Sit up, Darlin," he told his twin softly while he filled one of the mugs with the warm liquid. "The tea will ease your throat."

Elrohir nodded and did as he was told. Aragorn on the other hand raised his eyebrow as he watched the twins. Why did Elladan no tell what had happened to him? Why would he not speak his mind? Especially when it seemed to have harmed him badly? And what was it with that first sentence? If any possible his frown deepened and he crossed his arms.

"Well? Are you going to tell me what happened to you?"

Elladan tried not to wince when Aragorn called him and only the movement in the tea showed his body's reaction to the words, but his eyes flashed with insecurity as he handed the mug to his brother. Then he grabbed the other one and poured himself some tea as well. After that the green-eyed Elf stood up, somehow not able to sit still anymore.

"Why do you want to know?" he asked lowly as he walked over to the window.

Aragorn sighed and was surprised to see the older twin doing just the same.

"Well, first of all, you are my brother. I want to know what is wrong with you because I want to help you. Secondly, this is my castle, my kingdom. Don't you think that a King wants to know what is wrong in his empire?" the man asked, looking at the younger twin expectantly while the older sipped on his tea and sighed as the herbal liquid ran down his throat.

For a few moments Elladan stared out of the window up into the sky, watched how the rain ceased and the clouds lit up before they were blown away from strong winds. The sun sought its way through the pieces of grey and white clouds and wrapped Minas Tirith in a golden shimmer. The Elf let his gaze wander over the roofs beneath them before he lifted the mug in his hand and drank his tea slowly.

"You cannot help me, Estel," he said quietly after he lowered the mug again. "There is nothing you can do. What happened happened and you cannot change that.... As for that... I'm fine. Right now Elrohir is in more pain than I am."

In the moment the word fell from his lips, Elladan wondered why he said that. He tensed and grabbed the mug tighter. Maybe it was his pride, maybe it was his stubbornness or maybe he was just scared to look into his brother's eyes and find nothing but pity there. He didn't know, he just regretted saying those words, but it was said and he couldn't take it back.

There was no pity in Elrohir's glare. It wasn't meant harmful either, he simply wanted to know why his brother wouldn't want to accept the help that was offered. Sure, nobody could change what had happened, but Estel was powerful enough to stop these bastards from doing what they did to his twin. He had already had some revenge as he had shot that voyeuristic bastard and his sadistic Orc-resemblance, but Elladan deserved some too. But also he knew that his brother wasn't the one to ask for it.

"I cannot undo what has happened, but I can find and punish the one responsible for your misery," Aragorn suggested and received a thankful glance from the twin on the bed, whose thoughts he supposedly read. He nodded shortly into his direction before he returned his gaze to the one at the window, who had still turned his back to the other two in the room.

Elladan frowned before he slowly turned around just to stare at his younger brother, his eyes filled with incredulity.

"Misery?" he repeated, hardly getting the word over his lips. "What are you talking about, Estel?" The need to look into his twin's eyes was strong, but the green-eyed Elf refrained from it, since he knew he wouldn't find what he sought.

"It's just a bruise. I got hurt worse when we fought against Sauron's army seven years ago and you didn't react like this back then... So protective and caring. And what makes you think that somebody else is responsible for that? Maybe I got into a fight and the other one is the one you should feel sorry for, because he's in a much worse condition than I am. Have you thought about that?"

While he spoke the words, Elladan slightly started to shiver. He didn't want to be cold towards his beloved brother. He didn't want to think about what had happened the previous day, wanted to forget it as soon as possible. But he knew he couldn't, not when it still was like this.

The younger one of the twins just wanted to add something when a sound reached his numb ears; a painfully familiar voice shouting an equally painful familiar name. Elladan winced, so did his fingers and the mug slipped out of his hands, fell to the ground and burst into thousands of tiny pieces.

Both the other Elf and the man winced at the loud sound of the shattering mug, but Elrohir knew more of the reasons for Elladan's sudden clumsiness than Aragorn, who made his own assumptions though. The voice that was heard in the room of his brothers belonged to one of the armorer's grooms. He didn't know his name, but he knew that he was a rather bulky young man with red hair and a fierce look in his eyes.

Frowning deeply, Aragorn chanced a glance to the older one of the twins who glared down at his mug and the steaming liquid, which he couldn't drink as fast as he wanted to, obviously looking forward very much to the soothing feeling of the tea that went down his throat, so he could talk again.

"Elladan, I could see from one look in your eyes that something terrible happened to you. And not only that, you don't hear me approaching you anymore, you jerk from a yell outside... AND drop a mug... my dear brother, you are not yourself and I don't see any reason to think this happened from a mere accident... And for feeling sorry for that poor soul you tortured... Whoever it was should be in a bad condition for doing this to you."

Elrohir nodded but wondered why and how Aragorn was able to read the other so well. He knew he would have told the man the same, would have told him the backgrounds even but that Estel could see all this by himself... was a miracle to him.

For several moments the younger Elf just stared down at the broken pieces on the floor while one shiver after the other chased down his spine. Finally he slowly closed his eyes, squeezed them shut before he opened them again. His brother was right...

Elladan moved his shoulders slightly, causing the shirt that had already moved out of the trousers to slip down his slender form and fall to the ground with a soft sound, exposing his battered chest and belly. He didn't look up though. He just stood there, silently confirming his brother's words.

Aragorn tried his best not to, but he couldn't stop the sharp intake of breath that occurred as he saw Elladan's wounds. Elrohir didn't even need to look up to see what the younger man saw. He glared down at the mug in his hands as if the tea was the reason for those nasty wounds. He heard some shuffling as Estel stood up and walked over to the window, picking up the discarded shirt. Standing close to the green-eyed Elf, the man tried hard not to think of the first time he saw Legolas.

The blond Elf had had worse wounds than those when they first met, but these were fresh ones and looked really nasty to Aragorn. Carefully he put his arm around the shaking shoulders and spoke softly to him. "Ellani... That guy who just yelled outside... did he... is he responsible for your... these... wounds?"

Shivering Elladan leaned into the warm touch as the arm moved gently around his body. He rested his forehead against his brother's neck and closed his eyes again. The Elf heard the other one struggle with words and when he finally finished his question he nodded slightly.

"Yes," he whispered, "but not alone..." {1}

A thousand ugly images of faceless men taking advantage of his foster brother, torturing him with whips and various kinds of items came to Aragorn's mind and he did his best to shoo them away, but then new images of Legolas going through the torture of his training to be a slave came before the vision of his clenched shut eyes and he frowned, wishing them away with all his might for a moment.

He was concentrating so hard on it that he didn't hear how Elrohir left the bed, not caring whether he had drunken the tea or not, and came up to them. The older one of the twins wrapped his arms gingerly around his brother's waist and placed a little kiss on his shoulder, mouthing a "Meleth nin" before he fixed his eyes on Aragorn.

When the man reopened his eyes he met fierce brown eyes that glared, but not at him, rather at the one who was responsible for hiring such an idiot. The Elf moved his lips, emitting high-pitched sounds as he formed words that got caught in his sore throat.

'They were two,' Aragorn read from the mute lips. 'I shot one into his ass and the other should have some very nice bruising across his face...' He withstood the urge to roll his eyes at the grim satisfaction displayed in those brown eyes. 'But I wasn't fast enough. Ellani got hurt really bad... They had him tied up and...'

Even though nobody heard anything Elrohir almost choked on his own words and he buried his head into the dark hair of his brother.

Aragorn nodded slowly, somehow fathoming the whole extent of the events of the previous night from these little words and he put a hand soothingly on top of the green-eyed twin's head, kissing his forehead.

"I'll find them... They will not harm you again."

Elladan simply nodded again. He didn't want to speak; he just wanted to enjoy the feeling of being close to his dear brothers, the ones he loved most. His left hand sought Elrohir's while the right one sneaked around Aragorn's back, pulling him closer.

"I love you both so much," he whispered at a lack of words and to remind himself why he kept fighting against the call of the Grey Havens.

Pressing his lips once more to his foster brother's forehead, this time more firmly, Aragorn felt utter rage boiling inside of him. He kept silent though and just hugged his brothers once more while he was already plotting what to do with these idiots. They had to suffer, yes, and he would dig out the most humiliating penalty from the laws of Gondor.

He caressed Elladan's cheek and smiled softly at the green-eyed twin. "I love you too, Ellani. I'll find the ones who hurt you."

The younger one of the Elves returned the smile weakly, his eyes now filled with a warm, loving glimmer and compared to the dull emptiness it made him look more beautiful than ever before. However, Elladan wasn't able to suppress his stomach's growl that destroyed the peaceful atmosphere.

A sheepish grin found its way on his features and a low snicker escaped his throat.

The reassuring smile on the Human's face turned into a smug grin. "That's my brother. Now hush, go eat something while I find that bad guy and see him to his punishment. Any requests?"

Elrohir wanted to say that he should throw him down the fires of Mount Doom, bare ass first, but - well - he was mute for the moment.

Actually Elladan's only request was never to see or hear or feel that guy again, but he simply shook his head. Then he turned around to his twin to look into his face and the grim expression almost made him stumble backwards. He kept his cool though and raised his voice instead.

"You should talk about that when Elloni got back his voice..."

Elrohir nodded fiercely with his chin on Elladan's shoulder and saw Aragorn wink at him with that malicious grin he sometimes had when somebody was to suffer from his rage.

"I'll come back to you later then," he said before he slowly untangled himself from the embrace of his brother. Mentally he made a list what he had to do: First off he had to get some clothes. Then he had to pick up Legolas and find that idiot who hurt his brothers. In which order he would do that though, he wasn't sure. But first he needed new clothes... and he couldn't really let this menace walk around freely.

So he squeezed his brothers' shoulders tightly before he went out of the room and upstairs to his chambers, where he dressed in his usual attire and then went to search Greaw. He talked to him for a considerably long time in his office, asking him if he had seen two men that suddenly had the bruises Elrohir described to him.

The much bulkier man nodded and said that two of his guards had reported these injuries to him. Also he asked why it was to the King's concern and Aragorn told him that they had to be arrested immediately for they had tried to menace a member of the Royal family. The head-guard nodded and affirmed that he would arrange that immediately, leaving Aragorn satisfied of that before he went back to the kitchen again, an extra shirt in his arms.

After Aragorn had left the kitchen Legolas and Pete had continued the conversation they held before the King had burst in. There were mostly talking about recipes, how to make them better and stuff like that. While they talked the Elf resumed eating the delicious cake, surprised how much of it fit in his stomach, but it also tasted much too good to simply stop eating. Wiz seemed to share his opinion as he asked for more every once in a while, too comfortable on his place around Legolas shoulders to leave it.

The Hobbit had seen the almost completely healed wound on the Elf's side and also the still present ugly red mark under his right shoulder blade, but he said nothing. He didn't want to destroy the good mood and it made him happy to see the smile on the slave's face.

The two men were again giggling over a very silly joke from Pete's side when the door to the kitchen was opened once again and Aragorn stepped back in.

The man had expected that the Elf had missed him at least a bit and was stunned to see that this wasn't the case and Legolas was rather enjoying himself. So he walked over silently and put his arm around the shaking shoulders of the Elf.

"I see you didn't miss me too much. I can't fail to get the impression that you enjoy the company of my cook more than mine, my dear Legolas. Isn't that so?" he said with a little smile. "Don't you want a new shirt?"

"And what if it really was so?" The Elf asked in the common language of Gondor, a teasing tone in his voice. He still had difficulties with pronouncing the words correctly and it could easily be heard, but he at least wanted to try it. It couldn't hurt. When he had been talking to Pete it was the Hobbit who talked for most of the time, but Legolas felt the need to improve his skills.

"What if I didn't miss you at all and if I actually enjoy his company more than yours, Elessar?" The blond man glanced to Pete who hardly suppressed a small grin, a smirk deforming his own lips.

Aragorn hid his sudden surprise to hear Legolas talking in his own language to him with the surprise and the little pang of jealousy he felt when he heard the Elf talking like this. He composed himself though, as he usually did in tiring debates, pursing his lips lightly to return the teasing tone.

"Then I will have to get your chain down here," he stated simply and took a step away before he continued, "And here I thought you would have liked to see the gardens with me. We managed to plant a few Mallorns there..."

His tone was teasing now, but also inviting. In fact this had be the reason why he went down with a shirt in his hands for his slave... though he still hated to address Legolas that way.

"If you want me to strangle you with the chain you may bring it," the Elf replied rather snappishly, now in his own language again, making sure that no one would get him back in chains now that he was freed from it, not even Aragorn. Okay, maybe Aragorn, but only under very, very special circumstances. Actually he just wanted to point out that it wasn't a joking matter or something he liked to be reminded of. He dismissed the Human's remark about the gardens for now, since he wanted to see his reaction first.

"Thank you, but I think I don't want to experience this special treatment of yours," the man chuckled softly in the Elven language as he took a step back, now closer to the Elf again. Tilting his head a bit, he was now serious again and said, "Did you really think I would do this?"

"I don't know," Legolas said truthfully, looking back into steel blue eyes. "But I stopped "thinking" like this a long time ago. Since whenever I thought something would happen, the exact opposite was the case." The Elf's gaze wandered over the strong body in front of him to the ground. "I just don't trust myself with that anymore. I rather don't think... just wait and see..."

Aragorn caught Legolas' cheek as he turned his face away. "You have been hurt too deep through your "training"," he stated matter-of-factly, his thumb caressing the ivory cheek. "I didn't think of it when I said that. Forgive me."

The Elf's lips softly curled up in a weak smile as he leaned into the gentle touch on his cheek. "And you should not think of it..." he said, slightly shaking his head, "It's nothing you should pay too many thoughts on. Let it be forgotten, it's over."

He paused for a few moments before he spoke up again, feeling the sudden need to tell Elessar how he felt. "Though I admit... I am having a hard time... being surrounded by so many of your kind." The sentence was followed by a deep intake of breath. "It scares me." For the first time ever, Legolas admitted that he was afraid of the Humans around him and not only to himself, but to Aragorn as well. He was not only uncomfortable, he was scared of them. Even though he did his best not to show any emotions of this kind, he was still afraid of the Human race in general.

"I know it's stupid," the blond said, accompanied by a small chuckle before he closed his eyes bowing his head down slightly and whispered: "I just can't change it..."

Aragorn was definitely overwhelmed with all these scared Elves around him that were so dear to him. Dearer than his own wife, he realized, even though she was an Elf too and quite dear to him as well at some time. He just knew that he wasn't able to help shoo all fears away. Especially not ones that sat as deep as Legolas'.

"It is not stupid," Aragorn said softly, "and it shall not be forgotten as it was too terrible for one person alone to bear. If you ever feel the need to, you can tell me about your fears..." he added, but didn't really know if he could bear the pain with Legolas. But somebody needed to. Elladan had Elrohir to share his every emotion, but Legolas? Who did he have here? The only one he seemed to confide in was Aragorn himself, and the Human definitely wanted to be the one he talked to.

"But don't you want to see the gardens?" he asked again, a little hurt now swinging in his voice.

Legolas nodded to Aragorn's offer to talk to him whenever he felt the need to make his heart lighter, but the Elf knew that he most likely wouldn't make use of it. He didn't want to load his problems on the King as well, he had enough already.

He then looked back up when the other man asked him about the gardens again. "Yes... I would love to see them," the Elf said softly, the smile on his pale features widening as he took the offered shirt, grazing Aragorn's hand with his. It was a brief touch, but Legolas hoped that it would spend at least a bit of solace. He had of course heard the pain swinging in the other's voice and he wanted it to be gone by the next time the Human spoke.

"Very well then," the man nodded as again a little bolt of electricity ran through his body where Legolas had touched him while he snatched up the shirt. He turned to Pete, who had returned to his oven as all the Elvish started to frustrate him and asked him for a little picnic. The Hobbit beamed and gathered a few things in a basket, complaining though that he had no time to prepare anything in advance. If he had, he would have made this and that, all delicious specialties that sounded nice to Aragorn, but that would have stuffed him up until he burst. So he was somehow glad that they were not there yet, but still it was a nice amount of food that he had to carry outside.

Smiling he offered his arm to Legolas as he headed outside. "Please follow me, then."

The Elf chuckled softly as he finished putting on the new shirt and entwined his arm with Aragorn, walking next to him. He looked to Pete and flashed him a thankful smile before looked at the Human with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"You should stop being so nice and charming," he said in the language of Gondor, teasing slightly. "You're spoiling me and I might get used to that."

"Maybe that's what I am trying to do?" Aragorn teased back, leading the Elf outside and towards the back of Minas Tirith, right under his chambers.

He soon saw the golden leaves of the two Mallorns that had been sent from Galadriel to her granddaughter's wedding lying on the ground, covering it with a shining golden carpet. He also saw the silvery pillars from the legendary trees that went up straight in the air. The whole scene was surrounded by cherry-trees and others, and flowers of various kinds. It was a colorful scene that was laid out before them. Aragorn was curious what Legolas' reaction would be.

When the Elf caught sight of the beautiful scenery stretched out before him he froze in his steps, his eyes widening considerably. His breath hitched and it seemed like even his heart decided to skip a few beats, only to beat even faster afterwards.

For the first few moments Legolas was too stunned to say anything, too taken away by the sight. "It's.... it's beautiful...." was all he managed to whisper as he felt his eyes heat up with tears.

Smiling as he took in the scenery as well, Aragorn waved around with one arm to show Legolas everything. "The little green heart here... But you should see Lothlorien around this time. There are Mallorns everywhere... everything's covered in gold..."

He trailed off as he saw how full of tears the Elf's eyes were. His heart hitched for a second as he thought that maybe this was too much of nature for Legolas just yet. "...Are you... are you okay?"

Legolas tried to blink his tears away, but they were just too many now already streaming down his cheeks. Out of a sudden impulse the Elf threw himself in Aragorn's arms, hugging him tightly as his tear-stained lips were pressed against the Human's.

"Yes... I... I'm fine..." he sobbed after he broke the sweet kiss, staying close to the other man. In fact it seemed as if he never wanted to let go of him again. He needed something to hold onto, in case not to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the garden.

"I see..." Aragorn murmured, still entranced by the sudden assault of wet lips against his, but happy nevertheless about it. He had expected that Legolas was delighted, but this was a little more than he had expected. His mind started to plot ideas how he could get even more kisses out of the Elf, but he shoved them away quickly. This was neither the time nor the place to think about things like this. Or it was just the right one.

"Come closer... there's a nice place between the two Mallorns... Perfect for a picnic," he said and took a careful step into that direction, watchful that Legolas didn't lose his hold on him.

A shade of embarrassment reddened the high cheekbones when the Elf backed away again. He had always been very impulsive and it seemed like this manner was slowly coming back to him, the more he was allowed to be himself again. Or rather, the more he dared to be.

Legolas followed the careful steps of the younger man over to the spot he had pointed out. It was indeed perfect by all means. "It's perfect in any way," Legolas said lowly, adoring the beauty of the trees. He knew this kind of trees from his home, though these were young, only a handful of years old, while the one in Mirkwood was several thousand years old and much, much bigger than his tiny off-springs here.

The Elf spotted a dry place on the golden carpet between them and slowly sat down. Although it had been raining rather heavily it was dry here, since the leaves of the Mallorns repelled the droplets and didn't stay wet.

Aragorn smiled broadly. He had anticipated that this particular place would be dry, even though he had experienced the rain-shower himself, but he knew that the leaf-roof of the Golden Trees of Lothlorien would keep this particular place dry. And even if not, he still had his heavy royal coat that could tolerate to be used as a blanket.

He spread the dark cloth on the ground motioning for Legolas to sit on there if he liked to and put down the basket with the food. Then he lowered to sit next to Legolas or rather lie on the ground, propped up on his elbows.

"I think this day will turn out better in the end than how it started," he said thoughtfully as the sunlight was reflected from the Golden carpet on the ground, making it twinkle like the sun itself.

Legolas didn't need a second invitation and crawled onto the coat as well, sitting as close to the other man as he could without making it look like he actually sought his proximity. There just wasn't that much space so that they'd be able to sit far apart on it. It was in that particular moment when a familiar chirp was heard from above them and before Legolas got the chance to look up a little brown bird landed on Aragorn's shoulder, once more chirping happily.

"Good morning, Blackspot," Legolas greeted softly, happy over how much trust his little friend already put in the Human.

Aragorn turned his head, slightly surprised when a little weight had landed on his shoulder and winced a bit, when a too loud sound hit his ear. "Blackspot, Good morning to you, too... although it is already past noon," he smirked and teased the little bird. "A long sleep you have, don't you?"

Blackspot carefully poked the round ear in front of him as a reply to the Human's teasing before he chirped again, lower this time since he had noticed the movement in the body he was sitting on and knew that it was due to his sound.

"You better not tease him," Legolas chuckled, "he's hungry and especially dangerous then." He was rewarded with a playful glare from said bird and chuckled yet again before he made a grab for a nut from the little basket and cracked it open with his fingers, offering the crumbs to the little sparrow who immediately hopped closer to the pale hand.

The man's eye twitched a bit as his ear was nudged by a rather unpleasantly feeling beak. "Okay, I get it," he chuckled as it was replaced by a tickling feeling. Carefully he leaned down a little more, so that he was now lying flat on his back, with Blackspot sitting more on his chest than his shoulder now as he picked the nut from Legolas' hand.

The Elf smiled when he saw how his little friend moved closer to his hand over the strong body as if it was the most natural thing in the world and how he was obviously not afraid of him at all. They sat there for a few moments in silence, just enjoying the beauty around them and the beautiful songs of the birds in the trees, before Legolas finally spoke up again.

"Did you find the guilty ones?"

"Yes," Aragorn said, staring up at nothing in particular, but somehow focusing on one blossoming Mallorn-fruit. "Well, to be true, I assigned the right person to find and store away the guilty ones." Turning his head slightly, so that he was looking directly at Legolas, he was surprised how peaceful this scene looked. A light breeze had picked up and was now pulling softly at the long blond tresses of the Elf who was favoring him with a thoughtful look. And despite his own dark thoughts on that matter, he had to smile, a pleasant feeling tightening his chest.

"I'm still looking for a proper way to punish them... and warn others to ever try doing something similar... If you have any suggestions, please fill me in."

Legolas blinked when he saw the Human smiling. But it wasn't an ordinary smile that you gave away whenever it was needed. This was different, it was more his heart smiling and his face just being the expression of that. And without noticing it, the Elf's lips curled up as well, returning the gentle smile.

"Better not," he said then, his features becoming a little sheepish. "I'm afraid that if I start thinking like that, I won't be able to stop."

"Well, then try to imagine you're the King of some powerful county and somebody hurt your brothers badly and you not only wish to seek revenge on them, but also you want to serve justice... I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself either when I really start thinking of something," Aragorn admitted, his own smile a little sheepish now. But in fact he was sure he could think of nothing while this serene smile was shining down on him.

"That's quite... hard to imagine..." Legolas murmured into his non-existing beard and tried very hard not to blush, since he could actually imagine the scenario very clearly for he was a prince and there had been incidents in the past where his brothers had gotten hurt badly. Then his eyes finally trailed off and he simply continued to offer the crumbs to Blackspot, caressing the little animal with the other hand.

"Is it?" Aragorn inquired, feeling his heart sink as Legolas turned his gaze away, but did so himself as well. "I've heard little boys talking about it... 'If I were the King of Gondor, there would be enough candy for everyone!' or 'If I were the King of Gondor, I would take care that everyone has enough to eat and never be hungry or poor again.' That's what children think a King has to do..." the man mused, staring at the sky.

"I liked this one: 'If I were the King of Gondor, I wouldn't even need to kick your ass. I'd simply tell my guards to do so.' It made me chuckle. But it really doesn't help here," he admitted, his stare now becoming a glare. "I wish I could make people see how foolish some of their ideas are... and how what they think is right is wrong indeed..."

"Then tell them," the Elf said. He knew how stupid this probably sounded, but the King and his people were a unity, not two separated beings. They lived as one in this country and as such they had to live together, with each other, not against each other.

"Speak to them, Elessar. I have a feeling you need to become a unity with your people again. You need to actually become their king, not just the guy who lives in the castle..." Legolas bit his lips. This was probably a little too insolent as he didn't know anything about Gondor, or Elessar as its king.

"I'm sorry..." he murmured and kept his gaze fixed on the little bird.

The man sighed, ignoring Legolas' last sentence. "You're probably right... I have become lazy," he admitted after a pause. "I do not look forward very much to get myself glared at... but on the other hand, it would be better than being shut up from the people between these walls..." Sighing deeply he added. "I should become Strider again. If only for a day..."

To be continued...
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{1} Please read În Erui for further information and background.
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Please don't get too over-excited over the last comment. ^^; There are a LOT of other things Aragorn has to see to before he can go out and play.

Talking about play... Next Monday it will ne exactly half a year that we are writing on this story. We're not sure what we'll be doing to celebrate this day, but maybe you want to celebrate with us? *pokes artists* We don't want to sound greedy... but how about some nice fanart? Actually we are DYING to see what is going on in your brains about this story...