Fan Fiction ❯ Trick to Love ❯ Jealousy and Matchmakers ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: Not mine. They're all Tolkien's.

A/N: Finally, next part. Sorry about the mess up in chapter 2. I tried to fix that italics thing but it just said that it was a empty doc. Anyone know how to fix that?! And should I try and put a lemon in here anywhere, or what? Please let me know what you think. Thanx to all who reviewed!

the ~ ~ separates different scenes of the story. You'll see. (I hope.)

Chapter 3: Jealousy and Matchmakers

Morning dawned bright and clear. Aragorn paced back and forth across the clearing, trying to get rid of his extra energy. He had been restless all morning. Legolas hadn't come back. If he had, Aragorn had not seen him. He hadn't seen Haldir either for that matter. He wanted Legolas by his side, not wandering about with Haldir! He continued to pace furiously.

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Boromir watched him for a while from behind the cover of some trees. Every so often he could hear the other Man muttering to himself. Legolas this, and Legolas that. Deciding that the Ranger was in no real mood to talk to anyone at the moment, he slipped away and went back to the camp.

Gimli and the Hobbits were finally awake. He joined them, taking some of the breakfast Merry offered. He couldn't help but notice that Legolas was nowhere to be seen.

"Have you seen Strider?" Pippin asked. "He's been gone all morning."

Boromir smirked. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help himself. "I've seen him. He's pacing about in a clearing close to the river like a madman. Keeps muttering something about Legolas."

"I knew it!" Gimli cried. "He can't keep his eyes off that blasted Elf. If this goes on much longer, he'll start to drool on himself."

The Hobbits giggled at the thought and Boromir smirked again. They all had suspected something was going on between the two. At least on Aragorn's part.

Frodo said thoughtfully, "But I've noticed nothing like that from Legolas. He doesn't seem to be interested."

"I think he is," Merry said. "I've caught him looking at him now and again. Never for very long though. And I guess you could interpret it anyway you wanted."

"I know!" said Pippin. "Let's trick them both into telling how they really feel."

"How do we do that?" asked Sam.

Gimli thought for a moment. Slowly he said, "They say that Men can be very jealous creatures."

Boromir quickly caught on to what he was getting at. "Tis true, we can be. A jealous Man can reveal many things without ever meaning to."

Frodo nodded. "So can a jealous anyone."

Sam quickly agreed, getting into the game. "Even an Elf, I'll warrant."

"Alright then," said Boromir. "So if we can make them both jealous enough, and then make them talk, we can find out for sure. So how do we do that?"

"Let's start with Aragorn," Merry suggested. "I think he'd be easier to deal with." Pippin nodded.

"I think that Legolas is with Haldir," Gimli said. "Something about the border. Maybe that's what is wrong with Aragorn."

"I bet," said Sam, "that he is already jealous of Haldir and Legolas. Maybe if we make him wonder just a little bit more, he'll say something. Then we could do the same to Legolas about Aragorn, if you follow me, sir."

"Great idea, Sam," said Frodo. "So who talks to them?"

"I'll talk to Aragorn," offered Boromir. "Gimli, how about you talk to Legolas? You've become friends."

"Alright," Gimli grumbled.

Merry whispered to the other Hobbits and they laughed again. "We'll come up with what you two should say," he announced.

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Aragorn had finally stopped pacing. He stood at the edge of the stream, watching the water ripple around the pebbles. He knew there was no reason to feel this way. It was absurd.

He turned at the snap of a twig behind him. "Hello, Boromir," he greeted.

"Aragorn," he answered. Frodo and Sam were not very far away, just in case he needed some help getting Aragorn to talk to him.

"Boromir," Aragorn ventured, "have you seen Legolas today?"

Boromir shook his head, as if startled by the abrupt question. "No. Why?"

"Nothing, never mind," Aragorn answered too quickly. He turned back to the river, trying to hide the disappointment in his eyes.

Boromir had seen it though. "I came to see if you wanted to do some sparring."

"No, not really." Aragorn sighed.

"Okay," said Boromir. He glanced behind him. Frodo and Sam were gesturing for him to get on with it. He stood beside Aragorn for a few minutes, trying to decide what he was going to say. "Why are you so concerned where Legolas is?" he said finally.

"I'm not," denied Aragorn. "I-I was just curious. That's all."

"Curious, huh?" said Boromir. "Well, I'm sure he's just visiting. You know how Elves are; they love to talk."

Aragorn nodded. 'What is Boromir getting at?' he wondered.

"Or maybe," continued Boromir, "maybe he's with Haldir."

"What?!" Aragorn snapped. He didn't mean to, but if Boromir was suggesting that...then..."Why would he still be with Haldir?"

"What's wrong?" Boromir asked innocently. "I have heard that he spends an awful lot of time with Haldir. Some say Haldir knows him better than he knows himself. They are only friends, Aragorn. No reason to act all upset about it." He paused, studying the Ranger. "Wait a minute," he teased. "Are you jealous? You are, aren't you? Gimli was right!"

"What do you mean, Gimli was right?" Aragorn demanded. "Me? Jealous? Why would I be jealous?"

"I've seen the way you look at him. You always look like you would like to, um, pounce on him." Boromir grinned. This was actually fun!

Did everyone watch him to see where it was his eyes wandered? He glared at Boromir. "What's so funny?" he growled.

Boromir burst out laughing. The look on Aragorn's face was priceless. He looked like he was deciding whether to leave now or beat Boromir senseless. "Gimli told everyone how you are always watching him and can't seem to wait for him to get back from wherever he is. It's obvious to everyone what you think of him. Too bad about Haldir though..."

Aragorn stared at him. "I suppose it doesn't hurt to admit it, since everyone already seems to know. But don't you say anything to Legolas!" He met Boromir's eyes, looking as if he couldn't believe what he was about to say. "I love him, Boromir. I'd do anything for him." He sighed. "But he doesn't seem to want me." He frowned. "And what do you mean about Haldir?"

Boromir ignored his question. "Does Legolas know anything?"

Aragorn shook his head. "How can I tell him?"

"You have to tell him!" Boromir said. "You will never know how he feels and whether or not you can be with him unless you let him know." He thought back to what Merry had suggested he say. "Maybe he feels the same, but is afraid to say anything to you."

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Sam leaned over a branch of the bush he and Frodo were hiding in, absorbed in the Men's conversation. He leaned too far and the branch broke with a loud SNAP, sending him sprawling on his face and Frodo into a fit of giggles.

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Boromir cringed as the sound drew Aragorn's attention. If he saw the hobbits, the game was up. "About Haldir," he said, trying to distract Aragorn before he could go and investigate.

It worked.

"What about him?" Aragorn asked. "What have you heard?"

"Well, nothing really," Boromir said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Just that he's with him a lot."

"What are you suggesting, Boromir? That I have no chance with Legolas?" Aragorn was furious. "That he's with, with Haldir?"

"You're reading too much into my words, my friend." Boromir shrugged. "I said no such thing, Aragorn."

Something occurred to Aragorn and he said, "Why were all of you discussing this anyway?"

"Because," Boromir said, "we are tired of how depressed and distracted our leader is. You seem lost, Aragorn. We only want to help you."

He was touched by his friends' concern. "You can't make him love me," he said sadly.

"You really should tell him," Boromir said. He turned and headed back to the Fellowship's little camp. Over his shoulder he said, "You don't want to lose him to anyone."

Aragorn stared after him, thinking about what he had said. He was already suspecting Haldir of trying to 'steal' his Elf. What if he already had? Aragorn began to pace again, muttering to himself. "I'm the one who loves him. Not Haldir, me! Why can't he see that? Why is he with Haldir and not me?" He stopped pacing. "I have to talk to him." He started walking, hoping to run into Legolas before he had to track him throughout all of Lorien.

Frodo and Sam watched him go, having heard every word. They hurried back to tell the others that at least one part of their plan seemed to be working.

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Boromir was surprised to see Haldir talking with Gimli, Merry, and Pippin when he got back. "Hello, Haldir."

"Boromir," Haldir greeted.

Pippin's cheery little voice piped up. "He's going to help us, Boromir."

Haldir nodded. "They've told me of your plan. I'll go with Gimli to speak with Legolas. I've known him for a long time, and he doesn't seem to want to admit to himself what he obviously feels."

"How do you know?" Gimli demanded.

Haldir grinned. "I got him talking about the quest. He spoke mostly of Aragorn; spoke very highly I must say. His eyes lit up and he kept smiling...but he won't admit anything. However, he seems quite relieved that Aragorn no longer wishes to marry Arwen."

Merry and Pippin giggled as the other two Hobbits ran up to them, leaves in their hair. "Guess what," Sam puffed, "so far, it's worked!"

"Yes," Frodo added. "Aragorn just went looking for Legolas." He glanced over at Haldir. "I believe he thinks you are after Legolas."

Haldir laughed. "There are many who would love to be with Legolas. He just never notices anyone, for his mind is always wandering elsewhere. He is my friend and nothing more." There was an almost wistful tone in his voice.

"I hope you don't mind," Boromir said. "But we used you to try and force Aragorn to speak with Legolas."

Haldir laughed again, his eyes sparkling. "That's fine. I was planning to use you on Legolas."

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"Haldir?" Gimli said. "I thought you said you knew where Legolas was?"

The two had been wandering about for hours. So it seemed to the Dwarf at any rate. "Haldir?" he grumbled again. "Where is he?"

"Good question," the Elf said. "I left him right around here. But I guess by now he could be anywhere. Lorien is a big place after all." He turned as Merry ran up to him out of nowhere. "What is it?"

"Aragorn is on his way over here. I don't think he's found Legolas yet. Neither have we, for that matter. If we do, we'll send him over here. Do you want us to try and distract Aragorn?" Merry said.

Haldir shook his head and Merry hurried off to wherever it was he had left Pippin. 'Hobbits certainly make good spies,' Haldir thought with a smile. "Aragorn! Have you seen Legolas anywhere?"

Aragorn stopped. He didn't really want to talk to Haldir right now and had hoped to slip by. But at least if Haldir was here he wasn't with Legolas. "No, I haven't seen him. Why?"

"I had plans for us later." He grinned at the Ranger who was glaring at him. "It's been awhile since I've seen him last." He stretched, running his hands through his hair. "We have quite a bit of...catching up to do, you know." He shrugged. "Oh, well. There's always tonight."

Aragorn growled to himself. The little! He didn't even say goodbye as he stormed off.

Gimli waited until the Ranger was out of earshot and burst out laughing. Haldir joined him, his merry voice ringing through the wood. "Did you see the look on his face?" the Dwarf gasped. "And I thought he rarely showed what he was thinking. I haven't had this much fun in a while."

Haldir nodded. "Yes. Now, let's go and find Legolas." He started walking towards what he knew was one of his friend's favorite spots.

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Legolas was there, sitting in the soft grass, gazing up at the trees. He smiled as they approached. "Hello," he said cheerfully.

"We've been looking for you," Haldir told him. He and Gimli sat with Legolas. "We want to talk to you."

"About what?" asked Legolas.

Gimli began. "We're your friends, Legolas. And we just thought we should tell you."

"Tell me what?" Legolas looked from one of them to the other. "Well?"

"Look," Haldir said. "We know how you feel about Aragorn,"

"Huh?" Legolas practically squeaked, confused. "What?"

"and," Haldir went on, "we just wanted to tell you first."

Legolas stopped him. "Haldir, Gimli, what do you mean, how I feel about Aragorn? What are you talking about? I don't..."

"Don't worry, we know," Gimli assured him. Legolas just blinked at him. "Anyway, we wanted you to know that Aragorn has decided you aren't worth it, and is now wanting to be with Boromir. I guess he thinks you're out of his league. Personally, I think he's just settling for Boromir. Second best, and all that, you know."

Legolas jumped to his feet. "Boromir?"

"So you do have feelings for him," Haldir grinned. "I thought so, with the way you were talking earlier. So glad about him not marrying Arwen, and how this he was, and how that he was."

"No!" Legolas shook his head violently. "I never said..." He looked at his friends' knowing smiles and knew he had been found out. He sighed. His own normally controlled feelings concerning Aragorn had given him away. And he had worked so hard not to show it.

"We already knew," Gimli said gently. "You have to stop denying your heart. And his."

Legolas nodded, not able to meet his eyes. "Does he really want Boromir over me?"

"Unless you talk to him first," Haldir said.

"You better hurry," Gimli added. "He already thinks Haldir and you are together. Wonderful misunderstanding, eh?"

Legolas stared at them for a moment, his eyes wide. "Where is he?" he asked. Haldir pointed in the direction Aragorn had gone and Legolas hurried after him.

When he had left, Gimli said, "I think this went fairly well."

"Yes." Haldir agreed. "He didn't want to admit what he felt lest he lose it too quickly. He's been alone for too long, Gimli. He needs this. Aragorn will be good for him, and he for Aragorn." He smiled. "People shouldn't be alone," he added, sounding almost sad.

Gimli mulled over his words for a moment. "He would never have admitted it, would he? Not until he thought he may lose Aragorn forever."

"Right," said Haldir. "He's afraid, and there's no telling how long it may have taken for him to say anything. If he ever did. But maybe," he grinned, "there'll be some peace and quiet around here without Legolas babbling on and on about that Ranger."

"He'll still be talking," said Gimli.

Haldir laughed. "He'll be too busy to talk."