Part 13

Posted: October 2003
Author: Inwe Saralonde

*****

‘Leave me, in my sweet misery.
‘Cause I'd rather be alone
than chase you around all the time.
‘Cause you know darlin' and darlin' I know.
You should find something better.
And do what you want with your life
and tell who you want, that you found light.'
‘Leave Me' – Elan

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Late afternoon, two weeks later, on the outskirts of Mirkwood

Aragorn's POV

I'd had enough. I was tired of well-meaning advice being thrown at me. I was tired of the restlessness that had overtaken me since Legolas' departure. I was tired of…well, I just was tired. Of anything and everything. Period. I hadn't been able to sleep properly before Legolas' arrival at Imladris, not during it, and certainly not after he left.

Matters were not helped when Haldir, before his departure to the Lothlórien, reiterated that ‘he would have me'. Looking at him, I had coldly asked him why, and what purpose it would serve. He looked askance at my question, before muttering something about ‘finding out in due course' – whatever that meant. I had no interest in finding out.

No. My only interest now lay in talking to Legolas and resolving this issue once and for all. I did not know what my reception was going to be; I knew that Thranduil was protective of Legolas, but I took heart in the words that Elrond told me before my departure: "Trust Thranduil, Aragorn. You will find him to be more your ally than your foe."

So here I was, at the edge of Mirkwood. I knew that scouts would have already seen me, and the message relayed back until it reached the ears of Thranduil – and Legolas. I made my way into the forest proper, and was greeted with the familiar command: "Daro!"

Stopping, I raised my hands in a gesture of peace, and watched as the elves materialised from their surroundings. I groaned when I saw the group leader approaching me – Silinde.

"Mae govannen, Aragorn in Dúnedain."

‘Mae govannen, Silinde."

"I trust your journey was uneventful?"

I looked at Silinde, a little perplexed. This was not quite the reception I was expecting. I wondered what it was leading to. "It was uneventful," I replied.

"Good. That is reassuring to hear." I remained silent – I wasn't sure what I should be saying next.

"Come, Aragorn. We have been expecting you." Now *that* was something I was expecting.

Nodding my head, I made to fall behind Silinde.

"Walk beside me Aragorn, there is much I wish to speak to you about." Silinde's expression gave nothing away.

"As you wish."

Falling into step with him, I waited for him to speak.

"Do you not wish to know how Legolas fares?"

"Silinde, you have no doubt already gathered, the reason why I am here is so that I can speak with Legolas. I am sure you are aware," I grimaced slightly, "of what happened in Imladris. While I was able to speak with Legolas before he left, matters were left unresolved."

"Yes, they were, weren't they?" Silinde's reply was cool.

By the Valar…gritting my teeth, I tried to keep my temper in check.

"Tell me, Aragorn, what do you think King Thranduil's reception is going to be?" Silinde continued.

I stopped, forcing Silinde to stop as well. Looking him in the eye, I said: "I was told that Thranduil would be more ally than foe."

Silinde looked steadily at me. "Who ever told you would be right."

He began walking again. As we continued, I had to ask Silinde: "So – how does Legolas fare?"

Silinde snorted. "He's been impossible to deal with since our return." I winced. Noticing my reaction, Silinde asked: "Aragorn, did Legolas forgive you?"

"He said he did, but also said that he didn't know if he could trust me," I answered, a little puzzled by the question.

"Aragorn," here Silinde sighed, "Legolas is having…difficulties…in dealing with this. He, too, told me that he had forgiven you, but in all honesty, I don't think he has. And I think you are aware of that."

I nodded – the thought had been in the back of my mind, one that wouldn't go away.

"I know that I lost some of his trust in me, Silinde, and that I must earn that back."

"He's jealous." Silinde's comment threw me.

"What? Of what – or whom – is he jealous of?" I asked.

"Haldir."

I was silent, trying to digest this piece of information.

"Legolas is jealous of Haldir because Haldir was able to…how should I put it…declare his interest in you much more easily than Legolas could. Legolas has loved you for many years, but he never declared his love for you because he wasn't sure how to go about it. Then for Haldir to come along, approach you and attempt to seduce you within a space of a few hours…well, let us just say that this does not sit well with him. He is afraid, Aragorn. He is afraid of completely trusting you; afraid of completely trusting himself; afraid of *loving* you."

"How do you know this, Silinde?" I asked.

"I use my eyes, Aragorn. Plus the King has spoken with me. He is obviously concerned about his son. Plus Legolas has done very little upon his return except to try and get you out of his mind, and failing miserably. If it weren't for the fact that you are here now, I suspect the King would have found some pretext or another to get Legolas to go back to Imladris."

I smiled ruefully at Silinde's last remark. "That is, of course, if Legolas agreed to go to Imladris again," I said.

"Thranduil may be Legolas' father, but he is also Legolas' king. If he had ordered Legolas to go, then Legolas would have to obey that order, as would we all."

"Maybe so, Silinde, but that does not mean that Legolas would have spoken to me."

"Oh, believe me, Aragorn. I would certainly have ensured it, whether the King asked me to do it or not. Even if it meant tying Legolas to a chair to keep him in one place."

I smiled at the mental picture that came into my head. "Nevertheless, as you said, Silinde, I am here, and I will not leave until this whole thing has been resolved. And," I added as an afterthought, "it may be that you will still need to tie Legolas to a chair."

Silinde grinned. "I suspect that if I didn't, the King would."

I looked up at the darkening sky. "All thoughts of tying Legolas up aside, I think we need to stop and make camp."

Looking up briefly, Silinde said: "Agreed, Aragorn. We will camp here for the night; from here we should be at the royal palace by mid-morning tomorrow."

A feeling of uneasiness settled in my stomach. If the conversation with Silinde was anything to go by, I was going to have a hard time of it indeed…

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Translations:

Daro – Halt
Mae govannen, Aragorn in Dúnedain – Well met, Aragorn of the Dúnedain

*****

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