Shadow of the Forest

Part 12

Posted: September 2003
Author: Estella Greenleaf

A/N: Takes place immediately after the last before the take off on journey. It will contain adult sexual content, unfinished sort of non-con sex, so be warned.

*****

Chapter 12: Love and Misunderstanding

There was to be a magnificent feast after the election of the Fellowship. This was not a joyous occasion, but Elrond hoped to raise the hearts of their allies and take their minds off the impending darkness. The Lord of Rivendell predicted that everyone would have their share of pain and hardships before this war against Sauron was over.

Aragorn, in particular, did not see any cause for celebration. His heart was still bleeding from Shadow's death. But as the heir to the throne of Gondor, he must attend. There were still a few hours before nightfall and the beginning of the banquet. The Man found himself wandering back to the guest room where Shadow lied. He wanted to see his beloved one more time before facing the world again.

The Man was surprised at the disordered state of the room when he walked it. His surprise was quickly replaced by rage when he realized someone had taken Shadow away. He turned and began to stalk out of the room, intending to find his foster father to demand an answer. He was so absorbed in his anger that he did not watched his steps and ran directly into another smaller figure who was entering the room. The force of the collision shook Aragorn out of his rage; it was far less kind to the slighter being, who was knocked onto the floor.

Aragorn looked down to find the beautiful Golden Elf from the Council on the floor in front of him. He extended a hand and helped the newcomer up.

"Thanks. But please watch where you are going next time," the Elf spoke, shaking his head condescendingly.

That was an insult to the ears of an already peeved, stressed and grieving Aragorn, who quickly asked in his most menacing tone, "What are you doing here? This room is taken."

Legolas laughed. The Elf was delighted that Aragorn seemed to be unaffected by his beauty. He originally had wanted to tell Estel the truth right away. But something held him back. He knew that the hearts of Men were fickle. Though Aragorn's loved him enough to break his curse, he wanted to see if the Man would actually stay faithful to him in the face of temptation. If he was going to give Aragorn the gift of immortality, he needed to know the Man would not leave him for the next beautiful creature that came along. He felt horrible for making Estel suffer any longer than necessary, but after Arameius, he could not afford to be careless.

"I believe that Lord Elrond has given this room to me. I should be the one asking what you are doing here," answered Legolas testily.

The answer that propped into his mind turned his expression into one that even dragons would fear. He grabbed the Elf by the collar and shoved him hard against the wall and yelled, "What have you done with Shadow?"

Legolas winced from the force of his head hitting the wall. For a few moments, all he could see was sparks of light interspersing a strange darkness. That had never happened to him before. But then, as the star of Earendil, he was born with the power and knowledge to defend himself, so he had never been thrown against a wall before either.

Aragorn tightened his grip on the Elf's neck and repeated his question, this time in a soft dangerous hiss. Legolas could feel shivers down his spine as he heard the icy fury in the Man's voice; not the mention Aragorn's hands were beginning to interfere with the Prince's normal breathing. Unluckily, the Elf did not have an answer to his beloved's question unless he told the truth, which he did not want to do yet. Besides, the Man would probably not believe the incredulous tale so readily. The Prince looked for a way out but was unhappy to find that this time, the Ranger had him glued to the wall very well.

At the thought, Legolas put on his most brilliant, seductive smile and whispered in the sweetest voice he could muster under this condition, "I don't know what you are talking about. I arrived late and this was the first time I came into this room."

Aragorn's anger dissipated the moment he saw the beauty's smile. When the Golden Elf spoke, he began chastising himself for jumping to conclusions and hurting the exquisite being. He let go of Legolas and apologized, "I am sorry. Shadow was my mentor, he meant the world to me."

"Was? What happened?" probed Legolas gently, wanting to hear more of what Estel thought of him.

"He died." It was all Aragorn could say; even saying that caused so much pain that he had to fight very hard to keep the moisture in his eyes from overflowing.

Legolas could not bear to watch his beloved suffer any longer. He knew it was probably still too soon to disclose his secrets, but he loved Aragorn too much to be the cause of his pain. He would take his chances. Lifting his hand to his former apprentice's face, the Elf began to stroke his stubbled chin tenderly. "Aragorn, I..."

The Man jumped at the contact. He found himself reacting to Legolas, his manhood probing with need from the single touch. Leaping out of reach of the Elf, he cried adamantly, "No. I will not do this. I love Shadow. I will not betray him with another. You are just another pretty face, I will not...."

Legolas could feel his heart bursting with joy at his beloved's words. The Man truly loved him. Unable to contain his elation, the Elf threw himself at Aragorn, pulling the surprised Ranger into a heart-felt kiss.

*****

For a second, Aragorn was completely stunned by the turn of events. But as the shock of being kissed by the gorgeous Elf subsided, his mind began to register how Legolas' touch felt so familiar… so tender and loving, just like Shadow's. Without thinking, he moved to pin the Elf back against the wall before breaking the kiss. One of his hands caressed the golden tresses, taking some silken strands in his fist and bringing them to his nose. As he inhaled the Prince's sweet scent, his passion-clouded senses recognized that Legolas smelled of orchids and honey, the same way his beloved mentor did. Enchanted by Legolas' loving gaze, Aragorn could do naught else but give into his lips' demands to taste the Golden Elf again.

The Man first laid a gentle kiss on the Legolas' delectable rosy lips. Wanting more, one of his hands shifted to cup the back of the Prince's head, tilting it upwards so as to deepen the kiss. The Elf could feel Aragorn's tongue against his lips, demanding entry; instead of backing away as he would have done 5000 years ago, he opened his mouth for his beloved.

Electricity arced through Legolas' body as Aragorn's tongue swept in, thrusting and probing, as if trying to get a better taste of him. Curiosity began to mount in the Elf, making him wonder what Estel would taste like. Tentatively, the Prince moved his tongue and brushed it against the Man's. Aragorn tensed as he sighed with pleasure from the touch. The Elf, emboldened by the Ranger's reactions, began to imitate Aragorn's movement and returned the kiss in kind. The Man growled and deepened the kiss further, their tongues chasing each other until they were forced to break apart from the lack of breath.

The break of contact did not last for long; Legolas barely had enough time to regain his breath before Aragron kissed him again. The Man's other hand had wandered down the Elf's side and settled on his behind. Aragorn began to squeeze the round cheek gently at the rhythm of the trusts of his tongue. Legolas moaned, as the movement started him out of his love- induced temporary insanity.

Legolas tried to push against the Man to make him stop, but Aragorn was too absorbed in his desire to notice. Instead, he began kissing and teasing the Elf's sensitive pointy ear as he grinded his erection against Legolas.

His mouth freed, Legolas whimpered, "No, please stop," as he continued to struggle against Aragorn. But that too seemed to fall on deaf ears. Hot shameful tears were now flooding the Elf's eyes as he thought,

But before the Elf mage had to consider using his magic to stop Aragorn, the Man, who had just finished tending to one ear, noticed the tears. Legolas' words and struggles finally registered in his mind, prompting the Ranger to release the Prince. Aragorn stared horrified at the crying Golden Elf, feeling more ashamed of himself than he ever had in his entire life. Without another word, the Man fled the room.

*****

Aragorn ran until his legs would carry him no further. He did not know where he was, nor did he care. He lay motionless on the floor, eyes closed as venomous words of accusation burnt through his mind.

*****

Legolas found his beloved lying on the garden floor. It was not difficult to track Aragorn; in his haste, the Man had left a bigger trail than an Orcs army's for the Elf mage to follow. One look at his former apprentice face told the Prince what was in the Man's mind; Estel was reprimanding himself…again. But the Elf also knew what happened in the bedroom was not the Ranger's fault; it was his own. He should never have initiated close contact before telling Aragorn the truth. But he was so overjoyed by the Man's declaration of love that he had stopped thinking entirely and did what he had longed to do for many years. "Aragorn," called out Legolas softly, interrupting the Man's mental tirade.

Aragorn looked up in surprise to find the Golden Elf standing beside him. The way Legolas interrupted his thoughts reminded the Man yet again of his mentor.

However, the Man could sense Legolas would not leave him alone if he told the truth. The Elf was the stubborn type, as evident from the fact that he came after Aragorn despite what had just occurred. The Man hated to do this, but he must lie.

"I am sorry, Legolas. I do not know what had gotten into me; it will not happen again. I am betrothed to Arwen and we plan to wed as soon as I become King of Gondor."

Legolas stared at his beloved Man in shock. How could Aragorn marry another when he claimed his heart belonged solely to Shadow? "But you said you love your mentor; you said you will not betray him with another…"

"I am the heir to the throne of Gondor. With my birthright comes certain responsibilities," replied Aragorn softly as he forced himself to look into the Golden Elf's eyes. He knew his words were hurting the exquisite creature, and he hated himself for it. But this would be best for both of them.

Now, Legolas understood how the situation truly was. Despite their feelings for each other, they could not be together. Aragorn needed a wife who could give him children, something the Prince could never do. The star of Earendil might be the most powerful mage in Middle Earth, but even he could not change the fact that he was male. Telling Aragorn the truth would only make things harder; the Man had chosen to do what he felt was right, it would only hurt more if he were to know his beloved Shadow still lived.

"I see," whispered the Golden Elf before leaving the Man to his solitude. Legolas knew what he must do. He would fight his grief with the knowledge that Aragorn loved him. He would see the Quest through and his beloved safely on the throne of Gondor. When the time comes, he would fade, hoping to reunite someday with Aragorn in the Halls of Mandos.

*****

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