Part 17

Posted: October 2003
Author: Inwe Saralonde

*****

‘I heard the rumour that we're callin' it off
And we won't last too long
But I get the feelin' when I'm lookin' at you, baby
They couldn't be more wrong
They've been sayin' it's a shaky romance
And they don't give the two of us too much of a chance
But if the Grand Canyon is just some ditch
Dorothy and Toto fought just some witch
And if Babe Ruth was just some guy with a glove
Then oooh baby this is just some love'
‘Just Some Love' – Keith Urban

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Aragorn's POV

After having the chance to refresh myself, I made my way to the dining hall, my mind still on what had happened with Legolas. Thranduil was already there; a shadow of annoyance flashed across his face, before he nodded curtly in my direction. I stopped in the doorway – though there was no sign of Legolas, I wondered if he had spoken to his father since leaving the library.

"Why are you standing there, Aragorn? Come in! Sit!" Thranduil's voice was clipped.

Cautiously, I made my way to the table and sat down, aware of the King's scrutiny.

"So what happened? Did you speak to my son?"

"Yes, I spoke to Legolas," I said. Swallowing, I continued cautiously: "Did he not speak to you?"

"Speak to me? I don't even know where he is! Every time someone comes through that door I expect it to be him." Ah, that explained the look before.

"I'm sorry, my Lord, but I do not know where he is."

"No need to apologise, Aragorn," Thranduil said. "Why do I get the feeling that things did not go as they should have?" he continued morosely.

I looked at him. "My Lord," I began hesitantly, "Legolas seemed to act a little…strange when I tried to talk to him."

"Strange?!" the King barked. "He's been acting strange since he returned from Imladris!" I grimaced. Good point.

"Well?"

Hmmm? The King was looking at me expectantly. "I'm sorry, my Lord?"

"Well – what happened? Did you both finally sort something out?" Thranduil asked.

"Ah…actually…it's like this…" Oh Gods, talk about a stuttering fool. Thranduil's gaze bored through me.

"Very little happened, my Lord, and no – we did not sort anything out."

Thranduil's expression was grim. "Why am I not surprised?" There was a hint of anger in his voice.

"The fool – what did he actually say to you?" Thranduil asked.

I wavered for a moment, then grudgingly replied: "He said something to the effect that I was his, and no one else's." I was not comfortable telling him this, yet I didn't know what I should – or could – tell him. Thranduil was perceptive; and he was good at getting information out of people without them realising it.

Thranduil got up from his chair and began to pace the room. "And what did you say to that?"

I sighed. "That I'd heard something similar from Haldir, and that I did not like the idea of being someone's possession."

Thranduil stopped his pacing. "So Haldir told you that as well, did he? Hmm…interesting. Do you know why both Haldir and Legolas have this ‘view' of you?"

"No, my Lord." I wondered what on earth made him ask that question. "Do you?" I asked.

There was a look of surprise on the King's face. "Er…no. Just wondering if you did, that was all."

We both were saved from continuing the conversation when Legolas came into the room, followed by a harassed-looking Silinde.

"Finally!" Thranduil barked.

Legolas had the grace to look sheepish. "Forgive me, Ada…I mean, my Lord," amended Legolas quickly, seeing the look on the King's face, "I…I didn't hear the dinner bell."

"That's because," the King said waspishly, "there wasn't one. I gave a specific time as to when dinner was to take place; therefore, I saw no need for the dinner bell." Nodding to Silinde, he said: "Thank you, you may go." Silinde bowed, then withdrew.

Thranduil sat back down at the table. I watched as Legolas approached the table; he was studiously avoiding my gaze. Pulling out a chair, he sat down, staring at his plate as if it were the most fascinating thing in the whole of Middle-earth.

"So, Legolas, what happened between yourself and Aragorn in the library? According to Aragorn, very little." I squirmed in my seat. Now it was my turn to avoid Legolas' stare as his gaze fixed on me.

"No – we actually said very little," Legolas confessed.

"I gathered that," replied Thranduil sourly. "And, of course, you had to say something about ‘owning' Aragorn." ‘Oh Valar, the King would have to bring that up,' I thought. I risked a glance at Legolas – he was looking at me, annoyance clear on his face.

"I didn't realise that you had to know every single detail of what little conversation we had, my Lord," answered Legolas smoothly.

If there ever was a time when the similarities between Thranduil and Legolas showed, then this was one of them. Both of them could be hard-headed and stubborn, and I had no desire to be caught up between them. I cleared my throat. "Maybe we should enjoy some of this food and wine first, and then contin…," I gulped as two pairs of eyes swivelled round in my direction. Thranduil pursed his lips, then said: "You're right, Aragorn. We shall continue this after the meal." I smiled weakly, and risked another glance at Legolas. He sat there, stony-faced, yet his eyes were shooting daggers at me. Not good.

We began to eat in uncomfortable silence, punctuated only by ‘please pass the wine' or ‘please pass the vegetable platter'. The tension in the air was palpable, and I began to wonder if my decision to come to Mirkwood had been the right one. Certainly, at this point in time, I was thinking that it was not.

We had barely finished the main course when there was a small cough at the doorway. Looking up, we saw it was Saelbeth.

"My Lord," he began, casting an apologetic glance at the King. "A messenger has arrived from Lothlórien. He says he has an urgent message from the Lord and Lady, and wishes to see you immediately."

"And who would this messenger be?" the King asked.

‘Please, please don't let it be him,' I thought to myself, just as Saelbeth uttered the one name I did not want to hear: "Haldir, my Lord."

Legolas stood up abruptly, sending his chair flying. "Haldir?" he hissed. "Haldir had the nerve to come here? Well, when he returns to Lothlórien, it will be in pieces!" Legolas stormed out of the room before anyone had a chance to say anything.

Thranduil, Saelbeth and I looked at each other, stunned, before we quickly left the room to follow a very irate Legolas…

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Translations:

Ada – Father

*****

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