Fan Fiction ❯ Tên Mûel ❯ Accuses ( Chapter 19 )

[ 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 was written by me and My-chan as a rpg and ever since Pretending And Being, a wild mix of German and English, we have this nearly "exhibitionistic" need for feedback from various places. ^^;; So please be gentle.
Now on to the story itself. I know that this may look like a serious Arwen-bashing story, but please be reassured that we don't mean to cause any harm to anybody who likes her. She is just for causes of story-telling such a bitch here. ^^;
The Sindarin we used (and transformed for ourselves) comes from a little program called Dragon Flame (which I always think that it is this game I don't want to play unless I know I am on my own), but since it didn't have all the words we needed, we had to make them up. If you have any questions feel free to send an email to any of us... and hope that we still know what we wanted to say. ^^;;;;
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"Humans are violent, brutal and stupid creatures," Legolas whispered finally, not breaking the eye contact with the brown-eyed twin. "They did everything to make me obedient, submissive and teachable... make me a slave... and break my will..."

Elladan's heart suddenly felt as if it was squeezed hard by an ice-cold hand and he looked up with widened eyes, staring straight at his brother. They couldn't possibly… He swallowed tightly and his arm around Legolas shoulders slightly drew the blond Elf in his embrace so he was now almost hugging him.

Elrohir's eyebrows shot up. "Everything?"

He knew there were borders for an Elf to be made submissive, i.e. if somebody raped him or her; he or she would most likely die soon from the pain and humiliation. There were a few exceptions, but Legolas didn't look like he had something he wanted to protect with his whole heart... although... on the other hand he had already let himself being captured to save his people. Maybe he already knew what he had to face with those men...

The Woodelf nodded slightly and he looked at the older twin while he let Elladan hug him. His eyes though had lost their shimmer and where rather dull now as he remembered this horrible time with the slavers.

"Everything," he whispered again.

The younger twin rested his head against Legolas', carefully wrapping his second arm around the slender figure as well.

Elrohir looked back, barely able to hide his shock and he would have hugged the poor Elf as well, but he was too frozen right now.

"Why.... how did you survive?" he managed to whisper, his voice not much more than a croak.

"A promise", the blond Elf replied lowly. "I promised... to meet later... to return..."

Despite his shocked condition, Elrohir's curiosity got the better of him. "Who did you promise to meet?"

"My sister..." Legolas whispered and a wave of pain washed over his face as he thought about her, and the promise he maybe could not keep. Elladan tightened his arms around the other Elf as he felt him shiver in his embrace.

"I'm sure you can keep your promise," the younger twin whispered softly in his ear, certain that his voice would give in if he tried to talk louder. He had never seen Humans as this evil, but what had happened to Legolas was just horrible, and he could understand his attitude towards men.

Elrohir nodded slowly, in absolute agreement with his twin. He knew that some Humans had a rather dangerous streak in them and he had even heard that they would go this far in pursuit of their goals. But it was still a pity to hear that they were doing so right before their noses. That Legolas managed to survive through it was some kind of miracle.

"Little prince..." he murmured, searching for something else he could say. But the only thing that came to his mind didn't really fit. He asked it nevertheless, hoping he could light the mood a bit. "Your sister... Is she as beautiful as you are?"

Legolas closed his eyes for a moment, causing pictures of his sister to appear before his inner vision, and when he opened them again, violet-blue orbs were filled with tears.

"No," he croaked huskily. "Compared to her.... I'm... ugly..." A salty tear rolled down his cheek and the blond Elf leaned into the gentle embrace of Elladan, grateful for the solace it spent. He didn't care that his side protested against the movement and rested his head against the green eyed twin's shoulder.

Elrohir smiled sympathetically and with understanding in his eyes. "Then she has to be more beautiful than the Lady Galadriel and our dear sister Evenstar. I would love to meet her."

Elladan also smiled softly at the Elf in his arms who was actually crying his eyes out. And it didn't seem as if Legolas would calm down too soon, and the twins didn't expect him to. There was just too much bottled up inside him that needed to be released.

The younger brother tightened his arms around the blond Elf a little more and slightly stroked his back soothingly. Then he looked up to meet Elrohir's gaze, the sadness still shimmering in his eyes but his features softened. Elladan flashed a smile at his lover and told him with his eyes to come closer as well.

The older twin smiled back but needed a moment to actually find the strength and conviction to stand up and sit down on the edge of the bed, next to Legolas and his brother. Gently he put a hand on the sobbing Elf's head, stroking the blond strands tenderly.

"Little prince, you deserve to be loved..."

"Yes.... You really do," Elladan added softly, not stopping his motions on Legolas' back. "Such a kind heart as yours... shouldn't grow old alone, without ever being truly loved and love back just as powerful."

The Elf in his arms seemed to finally calm down after what seemed like a small eternity. The tears slowly dried up as Legolas stayed comfortably snuggled up to the younger twin and he could feel that some pressure was gone from his heart and soul. His mind was lighter and a lot clearer as well.

"Thank you..." he murmured with a rather weak voice and he turned his head slightly to look at Elrohir. "Maybe you will meet her... one day..."

Smiling the brown-eyed Elf replied, "I would love it if you introduced me to her."

He was just about to pat the blond's head once more as he heard how the door was opened and somebody entered the room. And froze dead in whatever movement he just wanted to start.

A few hours had passed since Aragorn had left his chambers and he had taken care of the assassin's proceedings while the sons of Elrond were trying to coax what they thought they wanted to know out of Legolas. He had also talked with Jamiriel, who suggested that they should work hard on finding the ones behind this attack and that the attacker himself played only a minor role.

All in all the King was happy to have assigned such a potent, loyal and headstrong person to the job of taking care of his tiring duties. Jamiriel worked through the papers faster than he ever could and found solutions that he would have never been able to think of. But she always asked him first if she made an important decision, if it was for him or Gondor. And that was what he liked most about her.

Today there weren't many important decisions to make, save the one that involved a certain assassin and he was allowed to go back to his chambers even earlier than the previous day.

On his way back he didn't feel like something was wrong, not even when he turned the doorknob. But as soon as he stepped into the room he was faced with what he definitely didn't want to see. His fears even multiplied when he saw the saddened expression of his Elf and the tears that rolled down the fair face as it looked up to the slightly older one of the twins.

Bracing himself he took a few steps forward until he was standing right behind Elrohir, almost hovering over him. "What did I tell you?"

The older twin - older by centuries at least to the man that was frightening him - looked up and grinned sheepishly. "Look, don't touch?"

Aragorn nodded. "Exactly. So... what are you doing right now?"

Elladan couldn't hold back a chuckle as he saw how his twin seemed to shrink and the grin on his face that stayed firmly in place.

"Calm down Estel. We didn't do anything he doesn't approve of," he chided Aragorn for threatening his brother like that, his hand never stopping the motions of Legolas back though, even now.

"I am calm," the man said. He was trying to hide that he felt a little jealous about the fact that Legolas was crying his eyes out on his brothers' shoulders instead of his own. "What did you do then to make him cry like this?" he asked, trying to sound as calm as he wanted to.

Inside he longed to touch Legolas, to sooth him like the twins obviously did. But he also wanted to know the reason why he was so upset.

"Why do you assume that we did something to make him cry?" Elladan asked, a bit hurt over his foster brother's words. The two brothers could sense the jealousy from Estel very clearly, and so did Legolas, causing him to let go of Elladan's shirt he'd been clutching.

"Just... memories," he said lowly and straightened up after backing away, only to wince at the sudden pain in his side.

Out of reflex the younger twin extended his hands and placed them on the blond's shoulders again. "Easy..."

Elrohir finally did what he wanted to do the whole time. He jumped off the bed and out of Estel's reach as the younger man leaned down to finally give in to his desire to touch Legolas. His calloused hand found its way to the Elf's cheek, wiping away a few tears.

"Lie down again... Relax," he cooed, looking deep into the blue pools, searching for ... something.

Elladan also got up when his foster brother came closer and he walked around the bed to stop next to Elrohir, who put an arm around his twin's waist and pulled him closer for some kind of support.

Legolas smiled slightly at the tender touch on his cheek and he carefully lay back down. He met Elessar's gaze before he closed his eyes, causing another tear to fall. Once more his feelings were fighting a battle inside him, and once more his fear got the upper hand over... well yes, it was love. A small flame but still a fire.

The Woodelf opened his eyes again and smiled at the Human rather shyly. "Are you okay?" he asked finally, as he trusted his voice enough to be stable. He didn't know what else to say, and he actually wanted to know. Not only if he really wasn't hurt, but also how much he was still worried.

Aragorn wasn't able to decide whether he wanted to make a face or laugh openly. In the end he decided for a wry smile as he sat down next to the one lying on his bed, the twins almost forgotten. He was so worried about the blond Elf that he could ignore everything around him. Especially when that tear made its way down the already soaked cheek. He almost freaked out over that and had to bite his lip to say nothing.

"How can you ask if I am okay? I didn't get hurt, thanks to you. But are you okay?" he asked, a certain amount of fear tingling in his voice. Full of worry he looked down to where he saw the bandage under the green shirt. "Does it hurt much?"

Elladan softly urged his brother out of the room. They were only disturbing those two. They probably should talk to Estel later, about what they just found out, but that could wait. Silently closing the door behind him, the younger twin turned to his identical brother and wrapped his arms around him to pull Elrohir closer, being and seeking support.

Inside the room the lying Elf did his best to flash a wider smile at the worried Human. Legolas shook his head slightly. "It's okay," he said and slowly extended his hand to grab the fingers ghosting over his face. "I've been worse. It's a small price to pay for your safety....-" Legolas bit his tongue. Why in the world had he said that? Was the poison affecting him so much that he already said what he actually just wanted to think?

Aragorn shifted his hand in Legolas' so that he was now holding the Elf's narrower hand in his, clutching it tightly as if he would lose him if he let go of it. Seeing the embarrassment in those midnight-blue eyes he used his other hand to caress the soft cheek now.

"I know you've been worse, I've seen it with my own two eyes," he murmured. "How did you dare to move on your own? You should have woken me up before you started any move. I don't want to see you bleeding and hurt in my arms again..."

Legolas was staring at the Human with slightly widened eyes as he was chiding him... for getting hurt. Strangely it made him feel a little sheepish and guilty at the same time since he could clearly hear the pain swinging in Elessar's voice at the last remark. Once more the Elf's eyes were glued to the lips moving in front of his face, and despite what had happened just a few minutes ago, the urge to kiss them grew bigger with every second.

On the other hand he really didn't like to be chided like that, and he could "dare" to move whenever he wanted. He wasn't a little child that needed to be looked after. Frowning slightly he rose his right hand as well and moved his index finger over the moving lips. The gentle touch made the Human shut up instantly and Legolas smiled lightly as he moved his hand to the back of Aragorn's head to give light pressure to it.

The Woodelf leaned up as far as he could with his aching side and finally sealed the trembling lips with his own, causing the other man to shut up completely, silencing any protest that might come from him.

When thin lips sealed his own, Aragorn froze completely. He didn't know why it happened, what had happened that he deserved to be treated like this, but he was so shocked and surprised that he was sure his heart stopped beating for at least the instance that he needed to overcome his initial surprise. But when he did, he still didn't move. He didn't dare to as he knew that if he would, he would submit to the building desire for the Elf, who had just started kissing him.

He was so puzzled in this particular moment that he wasn't even able to do anything. He felt Legolas soft lips against his, something he had wanted for too long, but somehow he knew... that he shouldn't deepen it, not yet, even if every fiber of his body wanted it.

So he leaned down some more, releasing the Elf from the pressure he himself had put on his wound with their lips still connected, until Legolas was lying on the soft pillow. Only then did he break the kiss, looking down rather incredulous and was unable to say anything.

The Elf slowly opened his eyes he'd been closing when their lips met, and a light shade of red graced his cheeks as he looked back in Elessar's steel blue orbs. He took a few deep breaths, for the kiss had left him rather breathless, and lowered his hand to lie next to his body.

"Shut up," he murmured finally, and his features softened as he looked almost lovingly at the other man. "It isn't your fault that I got hurt, and there is nothing to worry about. It was my decision to do what I did, and don't you chide me like a little child who stole candy."

Aragorn was really tempted to say that he heard Elladan and Elrohir call him candy, but refrained from doing so. In fact he was still speechless from what Legolas said and did to him. Even the shade of red on his face seemed to invite him to kiss him in return, but something held him back.

"...I know it was your decision, but I... feel responsible for you, even if you are not a child. You got hurt under my custody and even if I am happy that it wasn't worse I still don't like that you got hurt at all," he said as firmly as he could with the butterflies flying havoc in his stomach. Reluctantly he sat up a little bit more and started to lift first the shirt and then the bandages a bit, intending to check on the wound.

Legolas shifted on the bed to lie on his other side, slightly turning his back to Aragorn in the process so he had better access to the bandages and the wound underneath.

"I know you don't like that... it's obvious. But still it's not your fault, so stop feeling guilty for it. That man was trying to kill you and it was my decision to keep him from doing so.... And if there is a child it would be you," he added murmuring and winced in the next moment, as the Human's hand brushed a certain spot on his back.

"I am as much a child as you are," murmured the man as he stared at the point where once had been a rather nasty red spot from an arrow. Hot and red anger boiled up in him and he was reminded that he wanted to work on new laws, in particular those concerning slavery. But he didn't want to get any of his anger about something that shouldn't concern Legolas on the surface.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked silently.

"A little," the Elf pressed out between slightly clenched jaws. He didn't know what it looked like, but he assumed that it didn't look much differently from the last time Aragorn had seen it. Somehow it refused to heal properly. Maybe the Humans' arrows where the cause of that. Or maybe it was just the fact that he was held captured inside this room, way too long for his taste.

Legolas suppressed the need to look out of the window and buried his face in the pillow instead. And it was just then when he could hear Blackspot calling him from outside. The Elf squeezed his eyes shut and deliberately ignored the little bird. Even when the naughty fellow landed on the windowsill and chirped even louder he pretended not to hear him, even tough his ears twitched at every sound it made.

With swift hands Aragorn removed the bandages and looked at the wound that was already closing, other than the one on the back. He took the Athelas-blossoms out of the wound and got up then to get some water. On his way he blinked at the little bird that sat on his windowsill, almost crying his soul out of the tiny body. He frowned and then leaned down, not wanting to scare the small being, but looked at him curiously.

"I wish I could understand what you are saying..." he rather thought out loud than said. "Your friend is hurt... if you want to, please come in and talk to him," he invited the bird, but was sure he wasn't understood.

Blackspot tilted his head and looked at the Human suspiciously as if he was accusing him of keeping Legolas from coming out. He jumped a little bit to the side and back to where he had sat, just to chirp even louder in Aragorn's face, like he was yelling at him.

Then he flew inside the room, sitting down on the wall next to the bed.

Aragorn blinked, feeling slightly intimidated but shook his head. This was a little bird, how could he be frightened of such a tiny being? But then again he had a vast respect for the Halflings who seemed to go beyond what they looked like they could achieve. Who would have thought that a Hobbit was able to withstand the power of the One Ring long enough to throw it into the fires of Mount Doom?

He shook his head and went to get the water he wanted, leaving the Elf alone with his little friend.

The sparrow continued his chirping, now again directed to Legolas who still didn't react. Blackspot pranced as he noticed that and his voice rose until the bird was really noisy and the Elf let out an irritated sound and lifted his hand to cover his sensitive ear.

But sparrows don't like to be ignored and he made that very clear as he jumped from side to side for a while, before he flew over to Legolas and sat down on his shoulder, slightly pricking the soft skin.

Aragorn came back in this particular moment with a little bowl of water in his hand, frowning at the loud chirping from the little bird he just let in. Sitting down on the edge of the bed once again, the man started to clean the wound, sending one or the other curious glance over to the sparrow and Legolas. Frowning he voiced his thoughts.

"Why are you not talking to your friend? What is he saying?"

The Elf stayed still for another few moments and even Blackspot stopped chirping and looked at the Human with wide and curious eyes. The bird tilted his head and made a rather quiet but high tone, as if it was asking what he was doing.

"Because I don't know what to answer..." Legolas finally murmured. "He's asking me to come out..."

Aragorn nodded. He was cleaning the bandages and wringing them over the bowl as he heard the hidden requests in both voices. Of course he felt sorry for the Elf and wanted to see him outside as soon as possible, but there was this cut and the fact that he didn't have the key to the chain around Legolas' neck. He could release him from the wall though, but he was sure that Legolas wouldn't like to be led around like a dog on a leash.

"Has he told you why?" he asked maybe a little too indifferently, as he put the damp cloth carefully back on the cut.

"Nothing important... he just wants to play..." Legolas replied and was rewarded by an angered chirp and an insistent prick from the bird. "Ouch!" The Elf winced slightly. "Okay, okay... it is important... Elbereth... stop poking me, Blackspot." He extended his hand to urge the bird away from his shoulder, but instead he hopped over to sit on the index finger of the blond.

"Naughty little thing you..."

Aragorn watched the bickering of the bird and the Elf with an amused twinkle in his eyes. He finished his task with the bandages and looked at the uneven pair with a broad smile.

"And could you please tell me what important play this is, dear Blackspot?"

The bird turned his attention back to the Human whom he didn't fear the least and chirped at him angrily, flapping his wings as if he wanted to chase Aragorn away.

Legolas features darkened and now it was him who made a rather angry whistling sound towards the bird which seemed to shrink under the Elf's glare. Blackspot peeped and it seemed as if he apologized. The Elf nodded slightly and replied something before the little fellow finally flew off and out of the window again.

"He just wants to find out who's the faster one of us two..." Legolas finally answered Elessar's question.

Aragorn was sure that he had just been the target of a few very dirty bird-curses, but somehow it amused him. On the other hand he was glad to see that even sparrows had the decency to apologize when they were told they did something wrong.

"Very well then, but I don't think it would be a fair contest," the man said with amusement in his voice. "You are both injured and weakened and I don't think that Blackspot would like to compare his maximum speed with your hindered one. Although I wouldn't necessarily bid on the bird," he added with a smile.

Legolas turned to lie on his back again as he noticed that Aragorn was finished and a wry grin spread over his features. "Maybe he wouldn't beat me with speed… but in my actual condition I won't be a challenge in flying…" Once more the Elf stopped himself from talking any more and he turned his gaze away.

He couldn't believe what he just did. He was really lying there and telling a Human things about Elves that were kept secret for thousands of years. Legolas hit himself inwardly very hard for his carelessness and hoped that Elessar didn't pay attention to what he said.

"My dear Legolas, I have seen many wonders in my life, but I have neither seen nor heard about a flying Elf," the man said as he crossed his arms and looked down at the embarrassed face. "And believe me: I know a few things about Elves."

"That's the purpose of secrets," the blond Elf murmured and slowly turned his head back to look into steel blue orbs again. "You're not supposed to have seen it, or know it..."

Silently he considered if he should resume talking, but before he finished thinking about it, his mouth answered him the question and formed words to tell Aragorn even more. Legolas knew he could trust him, and it wouldn't hurt if he knew, would it?

"It's not really flying," he explained further, "we're gliding on the air, carried by the wind..." He only stopped as he noticed how much longing his voice held as he talked about the flying-like state and remembered the feelings it brought.

"Like a really big leap?" suggested Aragorn, still not fully believing what Legolas was telling him. "The Elves of Mirkwood surely are different from those of Rivendell..."

His voice faded out at the longing he just noticed that was ringing in the Elf's tone. And again the wish for seeing him in his natural surroundings was rising in him. He got up with a sigh, finally ready to face what he needed to do since Legolas had been given to him... by his wife. And she was the one he had to talk to right now.

Legolas blinked quite startled when the Human suddenly got up and left him alone on the bed. He didn't look too happy and whatever was on his mind made him rather upset.

"Elessar..? What's bothering you?" he asked softly, halfway sitting up again.

Aragorn turned back to smile at the Elf. "I'm sorry, but I have to leave you for now. I want to see if I cannot a find a solution for your... our problem," he said and waved towards the chain on the wall. "It is time that you get the reward you deserve for your braveness."

Without second thinking he leaned down and kissed Legolas' forehead gently. "I'll see you when I come back... with good news hopefully."

The Woodelf blinked again, way too stunned to reply anything as he felt the soft lips on his skin. So he almost stared at Aragorn open-mouthed and watched him leaving the room.

Meanwhile outside the King's chambers Elladan and Elrohir were waiting for their foster brother to come out since they really needed to talk to him. They killed the time with cuddling and as they now heard footsteps approaching from inside Elladan was on his feet in an instant, though he rather reluctantly abandoned his brother's lap.

The younger twin waited for the door to open and then grabbed Estel's arm to keep him from storming past them, who gasped promptly in surprise. He had thought that the Elves had gone to take care of their own business when he didn't feel their presence anymore.

"Elladan!" gasped the man as soon as the shock was over. "Why are you still here?"

"We found out a few things that you should know, Estel," Elrohir replied, patting some imagined dust from his wide tunics. As he raised his head he could see how their foster brother looked at them questioningly.

The younger twin laid his arm around the Human's shoulders and urged him to move on.

"Yes, something you really should know about... How about walking a few steps?" he suggested and waved for his brother to accompany him on the other side.

"Indeed that would be a great idea," the older twin agreed and made way for the other two so they could go away from the thick door, but not thick enough to muffle their voices from an Elf.

Aragorn nodded hesitantly and let himself being led away from his chambers. He took care though that they walked approximately into the direction of his wife's chambers.

"What is it?"

Elladan took a few deep breathes, first to cover his nervousness, and secondly because he didn't quite know how to start.

"Estel... we three know that you know quite a lot about Elves..." he started as he was sure they were far enough from the King's chambers. "...and that there are only few things which can kill them..." His voice faded out and he swallowed, glancing over to his twin, not sure whether he should continue or not.

Aragorn nodded slowly. "I do know that... they can be slain in battle, die of a broken heart or... chose mortality in two cases: if they are in love with someone or if they are... broken in mind, body and soul."

Elrohir nodded in agreement. "Exactly, and actually it's rather seldom that an Elf survives ...rape..."

The man looked at him with large eyes. "You mean...?"

The younger Elf nodded and his eyes darkened. "Yes," he answered lowly. "The Humans who caught him obviously didn't manage to… tame him with their usual methods… so they tried everything they could think of…" Again his voice died out and he stopped walking as his foster brother did.

Elrohir was slightly alarmed as their brother simply glared at the wall in front of them, eyes not really focused on anything. So he explained what else they found out, the words bubbling out of him like a waterfall.

"Estel... the reason why we tell you this is... he fears every Human's touch, and of course we know that you don't want to cause him any harm and that you probably expected something like this already, considering the reprimand you gave us, but what I really want to say is, that he likes you and that in the depths of his heart he wants to be loved and we think that it is by-"

"I know!" interrupted the Human quite suddenly, his voice hard and cold. He looked confused for a few moments, then blinked and added a little softer, "I know..."

Slowly his fingers moved up and touched his lips, remembering the softness of Legolas' petal-like ones against his own rather ragged lips. To him this moment was special, extraordinary and he still felt butterflies flying around like mad inside him, no matter how cold he might seem outside. This feeling of sparks all inside of him made him feel even more protective towards Legolas and harden his resolution to set up hard laws against slavery.

Elladan knew that it was kind of ridiculous, but he was close to tears as he looked at his brother's face and saw the hard expression. He could only guess what was going on inside him, but the urge to hug him was awfully strong. And if it wasn't to sooth Estel, then just to sooth himself. He might be an over 3,000 years old Elf, but he just couldn't handle this kind of violence, especially against one of his own race.

Finally he made a clumsy step forward and reached out to wrap his arms around Aragorn's neck, and then another step until he was hugging him tightly, burying his head in the crook between the Human's neck and shoulder.

"What are we going to do with you...?" he asked whispering, even though it was him who needed the support, not the younger man. Elladan shivered and inwardly he wondered how Humans could be so different... so wrong.

Aragorn raised his free hand, the one that wasn't trapped between his and his brother's body and patted the Elf's back soothingly. He smiled at the obvious affection and sympathy the seemingly easy-going twins displayed. Not that he didn't know that they could be rather emotional at times, but that they cared so much was a little new, even to him.

"I'm fine and I know what I have to do. But what is with you?" he asked. "You seem rather... battered..."

Elladan backed away again, to look into his brother's eyes. He somehow managed to put a wry grin on his face but it didn't match the uneasiness in his eyes.

"Nothing... I'm fine... Well, of course, I'm not a little kid like you, you know?" He patted Estel's shoulder and nudged him. "I'm just worried that you might.... break out in tears or something...." His voice lowered the longer he spoke and he blinked to get rid of the water in his eyes.

"Or maybe... I just don't want me to..." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "Be stupid enough to do it myself..."

Aragorn squeezed the dark-haired Elf's shoulder reassuringly. "That's the second time within a very short period that I've been called a child. How old must one become to be acknowledged as a man by you Elves?" he joked, trying to cheer his brother up a bit as Elrohir moved up to them and pulled his twin into a gentle embrace.

"Very old…" was all Elladan murmured as he found himself in his brother's arms.

"I'll... leave you alone," Aragorn said with a smile and retreated towards the direction he was heading from the beginning, leaving the cuddling twins alone.

Leaning his head against his shoulder, the green-eyed elf looked up to his twin. "Can we go back to bed?" he asked quietly for he wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of the day in his brother's warm and safe embrace.

Elladan didn't know why, but he just seemed to be softer than his brother and more sensitive for these kinds of things. It was either that Elrohir was hiding it better than his younger twin, or it just didn't affect him as much. The green-eyed Elf couldn't really tell, but now it was rather unimportant to him and he chased the thought away as he waited for an answer.

"Sure we can." Elrohir stroked the dark hair of his brother lovingly for a moment, before he took a small step into the direction of their chambers.

Reluctantly stepping out of the embrace, Elladan let himself being led back to their rooms. There he got rid of the disturbing clothes and crawled under the soft blanket, waiting for his twin to do the same.

After Elrohir had joined him on the bed, the younger twin wrapped his arms around his slender form and snuggled up to him, zoning the big bad world out as the only thing he perceived was the presence of his brother. Thus he even managed to mute the call from the undying lands which became a lot louder in the past few hours.

To be continued...
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W007! Legolas kissed Aragorn! ... How many of you waited for this to happen?