Part 20

Posted: October 2003
Author: Inwe Saralonde

*****

‘The first time I looked in your eyes I knew
I would do anything for you
The first time you touched my face I felt
What I'd never felt with anyone else
I want to give back what you've given to me
I wanna witness all of your dreams
Now that you've shown me who I really am
I wanna be more than just your man'

‘Your Everything' – Keith Urban
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Legolas' POV

I felt as if my heart had shattered when Aragorn left the room. ‘Why?' I wondered. ‘Did I say something wrong – was my kiss so unwelcome?' I shakily made my way back to the chair; my legs didn't seem to want to support me anymore.

Putting my face in my hands, my mind went back to Aragorn's words. He sounded so…bitter, frustrated, angry…and I couldn't blame him. He was right when he called it a charade – a ridiculous charade that had grown out of all proportion, leaving us both appearing, and feeling, like fools.

I raised my head, brushing away an errant tear that threatened to run down my cheek. ‘Pull yourself together, Legolas!' I told myself sternly. ‘You are a Prince of Mirkwood, a warrior – you don't run away from danger; you face it head on!'

Making my way to the door, I stopped momentarily. Was Aragorn a danger? I smiled ruefully. The only danger that Aragorn presented was to my heart. It may feel shattered now, but I was determined to try and pick up the pieces…

Entering the corridor, I began to make my way to Aragorn's room, feeling it was the best place to start. If he wasn't there…well, then I'd search until I'd found him, even if I turned the palace upside down in the process.

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Aragorn's POV

Mentally, I gave myself a kick. ‘How could you have been so stupid?' I chastised myself. ‘Legolas apologises, kisses you – something you had been dreaming of for how long? – and you run out from there like a…like a…oh Gods!' I ran my hand through my hair – again.

‘Right,' I though savagely, yanking open the door, ‘you're going to make your way back to that room and…' I never managed to complete the thought as my nose almost connected with a hand that was poised to knock on the door – Legolas' hand. I stepped back warily, not sure what Legolas' mood was. While his expression seemed innocent enough, the fact that I had run out on him before didn't necessarily mean that his mood was innocent. I've found out that appearances can be deceiving where the Prince of Mirkwood was concerned.

"Aragorn! I was just about to knock on the door when you opened it."

"I'm glad to hear that you were only going to knock on the door."

"What do you mean by that?" Legolas asked, a look of puzzlement on his face.

I sighed. "Never mind."

Standing aside, I gestured to Legolas to enter the room, closing the door when he had done so.

Without preamble, Legolas asked: "Why did you run out on me?"

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Legolas' POV

"Why did you run out on me?" I asked.

"I…er…well…um…"

By the Valar, was I going to get a sensible answer out of him? Time I took the initiative.

"Do you accept that I'm sorry for what happened?"

Aragorn looked at me. "Yes," he said, looking at me warily.

"Was my kiss unpleasant?"

"No!" Well, *that* was something positive then.

"Then why?"

"Why, what?"

I groaned. "Aragorn! This is turning into another charade! Why. Did. You. Run. Out. On. Me? I enunciated each word clearly, hoping that, this time, I'd get a sensible answer. I was out of luck.

"I don't know," Aragorn mumbled.

"You don't know. Well, frankly Aragorn, I don't know why I'm here attempting to have a conversation with you. You pointed out before, quite rightly, that this whole thing had become totally ridiculous. I said I was sorry. All right, maybe I had been too forward in kissing you, but I wanted to, and you didn't exactly push me away. And then you run! How do you think I felt watching you leave that room?" The words came out in such a rush that I had to stop and pause for breath.

"Legolas, I honestly don't know why I left as I did. I was actually on my way back to you when I opened the door and found you standing there. Forgive me, I shouldn't have run out on you like I did." Aragorn looked at me, before continuing: "However, if you would let me, I could try and make it up to you for that…"

"How?" I asked suspiciously, noting the slightly mischievous grin on Aragorn's face.

"Well, we are in my room, and there *is* a bed just behind you…

I could feel my jaw dropping to the ground…

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Aragorn's POV

I don't know what possessed me to say that there was a bed just behind him, but the expression on Legolas' face was a picture.

At first, there was disbelief, then indignation. His eyes turned a brighter blue as the temper rose in him. If anything, my smile grew wider, and that annoyed him even more. His mouth was opening and closing, but I could see he was struggling to find the words.

I quickly covered the space between us, and took Legolas' face in my hands. Without giving him the chance to react, I kissed him, savouring the feel of his lips under mine. His mouth opened without violation, and my tongue slipped inside, mapping its way along the inside of his lips, his teeth, before languorously duelling with his tongue.

Pulling him closer to me, I savoured the feeling of having him in my arms. Briefly, my thoughts turned to Haldir – how could I have possibly been attracted to him when I had this beautiful creature? And just as quickly, my thoughts turned back to the matter in hand.

We broke apart as the need to breath became paramount. "Aragorn," Legolas whispered. In reply, I buried my face in his hair, breathing in its sweet scent. I was so overcome by the intensity of my feelings for Legolas that I couldn't speak.

Then Legolas shattered the moment completely when he asked: "Who is the better kisser – myself or Haldir?

*****

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