Fan Fiction ❯ Trick to Love ❯ Spy and Spar ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: Still not mine. Tolkien owns them. Unfortunately.

A/N: Okay, I got some people who said they wouldn't mind a lemon and some who pleaded very, er, strongly for no lemons. So for those of you who don't like lemons, this is the last chapter. Nothing worse than a kiss. And for those of you who do like lemons, there will be one in the next chapter. If you don't read the lemon, you won't miss a crucial part; it's just an add-on to the entire story. I'll attempt a lemon for you others next chapter, just please don't kill me if it's really bad. 'Cuz I know I don't write anywhere near as good as say, Riley, or AJ (and the list goes on.) Thanx for reviewing! Oh, and there's quite a bit of shifting between Legolas and Aragorn at the beginning of this. Sorry it's short. (Ok, I'll shut up now...)

~ ~ ~ means a shift (from Legolas to Aragorn, & vice-versa)

'' means thoughts

Chapter 4: Spy and Spar

Legolas thought about what Gimli and Haldir had said as he walked. They seemed to think that he was in love with Aragorn. He didn't know. Was he?

He settled down under a tree to think. He stretched out full length on the ground, the early afternoon sun filtering through the leaves and casting a halo about his body. He closed his eyes, trying to figure out his feelings. "Aragorn," he said to himself.

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Aragorn froze. He had been lost in thought, not really paying attention to where he was going. He could have sworn he had heard his name.

He glanced around him, spotting a bright flash of gold under a tree. Legolas, with the sun shining in his hair. He was lying under a tree, talking to himself. Aragorn crept closer, trusting his skills to keep him hidden. He listened to Legolas as he muddled over his thoughts.

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"Why Boromir?" Legolas murmured. "Out of everyone, why Boromir? I'd rather you still be with Arwen."

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Aragorn started. What did Boromir have to do with anything? He grinned to himself. 'So you do notice me,' he thought.

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Legolas sighed again. He was still talking to himself. "People say I'm oblivious to others' attentions, but you are more so. You have never noticed me, Aragorn. When I think about it, I've loved you since I saw you with Mithrandir the first time you came to Mirkwood to talk to Gollum. And you never looked twice at me."

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Aragorn couldn't believe what he was hearing. Hadn't Boromir been hinting something about Haldir? But who cared! Legolas loved him! He continued to listen.

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"But do I really?" Legolas continued. "I don't know!" he moaned. "Are you as my brother and friend? Or are you something more?" He sighed, covering his face with his hands. "There's no way I can talk to him," he said, his voice muffled. "How do you know when it's love?"

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Aragorn sat in thought, still hidden from Legolas' view. Not that he was paying any attention; he still thought he was alone. Aragorn thought back over the things he had heard Legolas say or seen him do. The concern when he had awakened him from the dream, the gentle pats on the shoulder and the brushes against him. The relief on his face when he saw Aragorn was unscathed in Moria and the way he had defended him at the Council of Elrond. How, every night, the Elf had walked in the gardens beneath his window in Rivendell. Alone. Was there more to that than a simple midnight walk? Now that he really thought about it, he believed so. He touched his cheek where Legolas had laid his hand and closed his eyes. 'From the way he's talking,' he thought, 'he is simply afraid he's reading things wrong. I hope that's what it is.' Maybe there was a way to find out...

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Legolas jumped when Aragorn stepped out from the trees. "Aragorn!" he cried, startled. He hoped the Ranger hadn't heard anything.

"I'm sorry," Aragorn said. "I didn't mean to startle you. I was thinking, and didn't even realize you were here."

"It's okay," Legolas answered. "I was thinking too." He studied the Man. He had to be the most beautiful, no most *gorgeous* thing. He was so strong, both physically and mentally, so *alive* and yet still so much of a mystery. 'What is it the Humans say?' he asked himself. "Tall, dark, and handsome."

"What was that?" Aragorn asked. 'Was he talking about me?' Legolas had been staring at him and then that statement came from nowhere. He sat down next to the Elf, suddenly nervous.

"Nothing!" Legolas said. 'Did I just say that out loud?!' Stupid!' He looked at Aragorn again, his blood beginning to race as he became lost in his thoughts once more. 'He is so amazing. I wonder if...No! Stop it!' He mentally slapped himself.

"Are you alright, Legolas?" Aragorn said. Legolas was sitting still, staring at him again. Not that he really minded. So long as the Elf was still, he could study him at his leisure. The sunbeams blended into his golden hair, stirred gently by the breeze. He wanted to feel those spun-gold strands tangled in his fingers while he...he smiled suddenly. Watching Legolas like this was making all kinds of...ideas...run through his head.

"I'm fine," said Legolas. He was nervous, and not really sure why.

"We should do something besides sit here. Want to do some sparring?" suggested Aragorn.

"Okay," Legolas agreed. "My daggers against your sword. We'll see which of us is better."

"That could take all day," said Aragorn.

Legolas grinned at him, drawing his daggers. "Isn't that the idea?"

'Not quite,' thought Aragorn as he drew his sword.

For nearly two hours, the friends sparred. Finally, Aragorn managed to make Legolas drop one dagger, and nearly lost his hand in the process. Legolas darted to the side and grabbed back the dagger, bringing both of them up crossed just as Aragorn's sword came down, blocking him. In almost the same instant, Aragorn brought his sword down again and before Legolas could block him, he cut his tunic open, revealing the Elf's smooth chest.

"What are you trying to do?" Legolas demanded. "Take my clothes off?"

"Maybe," Aragorn laughed. He took advantage of Legolas' momentary startlement and hooked a foot around his ankle, knocking him flat on his back. He dropped his daggers and kicked out at Aragorn, catching him in the knees. He fell forward, dropping his sword, and landed on top of Legolas. They both froze.

Shakily, their eyes met. Legolas found himself lost in Aragorn's stormy gaze. "Aragorn," he whispered.

He was cut off as Aragorn suddenly kissed him. He stiffened for a moment, but quickly relaxed under the Man, kissing him back. He moaned softly.

Aragorn drew back. "I love you, Legolas."

Legolas stared at him, speechless.

"Well?" came a voice. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

The two scrambled to their feet amidst the laughter of Haldir and the rest of the Fellowship. Apparently, they had been nearer the camp than they had thought and in their sparring, had tumbled right in the middle of the clearing. Right during everyone's late lunch...

"It's about time," said Frodo. "We've been working hard to get you two together."

Blushing furiously, they joined their friends, Legolas self-consciously clutching his tunic closed with one hand, the other clasped tightly within Aragorn's.