Title & Chapter Number: The First Encounter 2/2
Author(s): - Author's Index
Website: Dimensions_of_Dhvana
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Middle Earth, I just live there.
Warnings: Slash
Betas: Nope
Cast: Aragorn/Legolas, Haldir/Aragorn implied
Timeline: Pre LotR
Spoilers: None
Summary: trail, want, cave, thunder. Strider and Legolas continue their search for Gollum.
Notes: None
The rain had done its job and washed away all traces of Gollum's passing. To make matters worse, the storm had knocked down branches and blown leaves from the trees, further obstructing any signs of the creature that might have survived the rain. All this, however, did nothing to deter Legolas's mood. He was practically skipping as he and the Ranger made their way through the woods, the memory of the feel of Strider's lips on his giving him the buoyancy he otherwise never would have had. His first encounter with a Human was turning out better than he could have ever anticipated.
Strider, on the other hand, was somewhat less chipper. The memory of Legolas's kiss was making him regret ever allowing the Prince to join him. The search for Gollum was serious, necessary, and immediate, demanding his full attention. The last thing he needed was to be enchanted by this Elf. The Prince was an unwanted distraction--he would have to go.
The Ranger sighed, knowing how ludicrous his thoughts were. He could wish Legolas away with all his might, but he would never actually ask him to leave. He was afraid of the expression on the Prince's face, afraid of the hurt he would see in Legolas's eyes, and Strider could never bring himself to cause him any harm.
So he moped, and grumbled, and suffered in silence, while his companion laughed and smiled and sung to the trees.
"Isn't it a glorious morning?" Legolas said, beaming over his shoulder at the sullen Ranger. "Do you see the way the drops of water falling from the leaves catch the rays of the sun? And the scent of the air!" he said, taking a deep breath. "Have you ever smelled anything more delicious?"
Only you when I held you in my arms last night, Strider answered him in his thoughts, wishing he had the courage to say these words out loud, wishing it had never happened so he could forget.
"I could live forever off of this air alone," Legolas continued, jumping effortlessly over a fallen limb. "Even the darkness cannot hold sway on a morning like this."
If only it would gain enough power to keep you quiet, Strider thought, and immediately shook his head, regretting ever wishing any darkness on the Prince, who deserved only to be exposed to the light. It was wrong of him to be thinking like that. The Prince had caused him no harm with his kiss--simply took him by surprise, and he didn't like surprises. He did like the way his blood had quickened at the Prince's touch, the way Legolas had felt when asleep, the slender body resting against his. That he had enjoyed almost too much.
Legolas lifted his voice in song once more, singing his joy out into the world, and Strider was forced to grab the Prince's arm, pulling him to a halt. "Guard your song, Legolas, or you will chase our quarry away!"
At least, that was the excuse he used. He didn't want to admit that the music as causing him to fall under the Prince's spell again.
Legolas's cheeks took on a pink tinge as he avoided Strider's gaze, scolding himself for his carelessness even while hoping he had scared Gollum away so he and Strider would be forced to hunt him forever. "You are right. Forgive me. I was letting myself get carried away."
They walked for a few moments in silence and Strider found the Prince's quiet even more oppressive than his song. Rolling his eyes, he sighed. Though he couldn't understand why, he was feeling the weight of guilt on his shoulders.
"I did not mean to imply that you couldn't speak. Tell me more about your life. Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"No, none living," Legolas replied, his face growing more downcast, and the Ranger felt like kicking himself. He had been trying to cheer Legolas up, not make him feel worse.
"I had a brother," the Elf continued, "though I never knew him. He died before I was born, fighting with the First Alliance."
"I am sorry."
Legolas shrugged. "As I said, I never knew him. I do not feel his loss as my parents do. I sometimes wonder, though, what he was like, what he would be like if he was alive. When I was younger, I would picture him beside me--when I was first learning archery, I imagined him giving me tips on how to hold the bow, or after I learned how to ride, I imagined racing him through the forest. You must think me very foolish," Legolas said, the blush again rising to his cheeks.
"It's not foolish," Strider said, smiling gently at the Elf. "Indeed, I think it is an honor to your brother's memory that you cherish him so highly, even though you never met. Do you know anything about him?"
"Only that he was good and loyal, a brave warrior, strong and fierce, but with a laugh that carried for miles around. He was always doing whatever he could to lift the spirits of those around him. My parents say I am like him in many ways, that I look like him, but that I also have his heart. I have always tried to do him justice by being as much like him as I can, but I know that I will never be him, so I'm happy simply to have many of his best traits."
"He sounds too good to be true," Strider chuckled, and Legolas laughed.
"I admit, I have to wonder if all the stories I hear about him are true. It is said that he made friends with all the races of the Alliance, an that when he fell, Elves, Men, and even Dwarves mourned his passing."
"Dwarves mourning an Elf?" the Ranger grinned, arching an eyebrow. "Now I know the stories about him have been exaggerated. Still, it sounds as if he was a good influence to have in your life. Indeed, I wish my brothers had set such an admirable example. It would have kept me out of trouble more times than I care to admit."
The Elf chuckled, his eyes lighting up at the thought of the too-serious Ranger ever doing anything to get himself in trouble. "What's the worst thing you ever did?"
"Now that's an interesting question, because I've done some pretty terrible things, but there are others less terrible in my mind that earned far more severe punishments."
"What do you mean?" Legolas frowned, trying to puzzle out Strider's words.
"My father, Lord Elrond, thought the punishment should be appropriate to the lesson he wanted us to learn. If we pulled a harmless prank, he would give us something mundane to do, such as clean out the stables. If there was harm caused by our actions, he would punish us in a way that would make us contemplate the consequences of our actions. Or, at least, that was his hope. I would learn my lesson, but Elladan and Elrohir tended to take life much less seriously. They would complete their punishment and continue on as if nothing happened."
"They sound. . . incorrigible," Legolas grinned, and Strider laughed.
"That's the nicest possible description for them. Twin terrors is a more familiar one. I don't know how Father has managed to keep his patience with them all these years. I think, perhaps, there's a silent understanding between them having to do with the loss of their mother. I think he knows that they feel responsible for her leaving, and that their mischief is their way of making sure their remaining parent knows he's still needed in case he ever feels the desire to leave as well.
"Or, it could simply be the joy they get out of causing trouble," Strider added with a grin. "And they do enjoy it, far too much, if you ask me."
"Why? What's the worst thing they've ever done?"
"It depends on which stage of life they're in--there's something horrific to be found at each one. One of my favorite stories is of when they were mere children and stole Mithrandir's staff when he was visiting."
Legolas's eyes went wide. "They stole an Istari's staff?!"
"'Borrowed' might be a better word for it. They wanted to play wizard. Each had a blanket for a cloak, and what better prop is there than an actual wizard's staff? Father was furious at the disrespect implied in their actions, but Mithrandir was merely amused. He talked Father out of punishing them, then drew the twins aside and whispered in their ears. To this day, I have no idea what he said--neither my brothers nor Mithrandir will reveal it, but every time after that, when the Istari came to visit, the twins would sit in front of the staff and stare at it in awe, never once taking their eyes off it. Father says it almost seemed like they expected it to come alive. What amuses me most, though, is that even now, they still keep one eye on the staff and are sure to give it its space."
Legolas laughed, shaking his head. "I would give my best bow to know what it is Mithrandir told them. Should I ever meet them, I'll be sure to find a way to wiggle it out of them."
"Good luck with that--I've been trying all my life to get them to reveal his words."
"Yes," Legolas said, his voice turning silky smooth, "but I'll be willing to use methods you, as their brother, would be most reluctant to participate in."
Strider felt a chill run down his spine as the Prince's seductive nature was once more revealed to him. He knew that, if he wanted to, Legolas would be able to win all his brothers' secrets with no little difficulty. The thought filled him with a sudden loathing towards his kin. He didn't want them going near the Prince. He would fight hem off with his bare hands before he ever let them touch his Legolas.
'His' Legolas? Strider stumbled with surprise. Since when did he start thinking of the Prince as 'his'?
"Are you all right?" Legolas asked, worried blue eyes peering over his shoulder at the Ranger.
"I'm fine--just tripped," he mumbled.
The Elf stared at him a second longer, not believing a single word. He had never met a Ranger before Strider, but he was fairly certain they didn't 'trip'. This one, however, didn't appear to be further inclined to speak, so he returned to concentrating on the trail.
"You never told me the worst thing you ever did."
"And I never will. Wiggle that one out of my brothers, if you can."
"I'll add it to my list," the Elf said with a frown, resisting the urge to turn around and face the Ranger, to search his eyes and discover the meaning behind his words. There was something there that Legolas didn't quite understand, and he didn't look, because he wasn't sure if he was supposed to.
~*~*~*~
Two days had passed since the storm had erased the trail and as they continued on their path through the woods, both began to grow more concerned, for no new traces of Gollum had been found. Their conversation had come to a halt as both were now too busy searching out the tiniest clue to speak. On the evening of the second day, Strider came to a halt and knelt down to study the earth at his feet, then groaned at what he had discovered.
"What is it?" Legolas asked, and Strider pointed to the ground. Legolas took one look and began swearing in Elvish, and turning around, kicked the base of the nearest tree. The swearing increased in volume and vulgarity as the Elf hopped around on one foot before flopping down on a fallen tree trunk, crossing his injured foot over his leg.
"I don't see what's so amusing," he grumbled as Strider tried in vain to hide his chuckles behind his hand.
"I've never seen an Elf throw a tantrum before," he explained, and Legolas's eyes narrowed.
"I did not throw a tantrum."
"Then what would you call it?"
"I was expressing my disgust and annoyance, and the tree got in my way."
"You were throwing a tantrum," Strider confirmed with a triumphant grin, his laughter returning as Legolas promptly told him what he could do with that grin.
"I don't see how you can laugh at a time like this," Legolas growled, removing his boot to massage his injured toes. "We have made a most disturbing discovery. No only have Orcs managed to penetrate this deep into Mirkwood without my people's knowledge, but they have stolen our prey as well."
"Don't forget, they're also ahead of us by two days."
"Forgive me. What was I thinking," he said, his voice dark. "How could I have left that out?"
"Do not worry, Legolas," Strider said, kneeling down in front of the Elf and taking the injured foot in his hands. "We will find the Orcs and Gollum before they can leave Mirkwood."
"What are you doing?" Legolas asked, biting his lip as Strider examined his foot, the Ranger's gentle touch sending shivers down his spine.
"Making sure you didn't break anything."
"Oh," Legolas replied. He wanted to mention the futility of such a gesture, especially considering how rapidly Elves heal, but he was far too distracted by the feel of the Ranger's fingertips caressing his skin.
"It seems you have merely bruised yourself and are already almost back to full health. However, my Lord Prince, I do suggest that in the future, you might want to be more careful when expressing your frustrations so that you don't actually break anything."
Just as Legolas was about to give a scathing response, Strider lifted the Elf's foot to his mouth and softly kissed his instep. The touch of the Ranger's lips sent a bolt of lightning directly between his legs and he could only stare, open-mouthed, as Strider carefully replaced his boot.
"Are you ready to begin a new hunt, for Orcs as well as for our prey?" he asked, looking up at the Elf just in time to see the flash of desire in the Prince's face before it returned to its normal placid mien. Strider blinked in surprise as the Elf quickly looked away. He stared at Legolas, trying to figure out if it had been his imagination, or if the Prince really had been staring at him with lustful eyes.
"I am ready," Legolas nodded, rising to his feet. "We will have to hurry if we want to catch them before they leave the boundaries of Mirkwood. Beyond these borders, I'm afraid there is little defense we can put up to stop them, for the darkness holds too tight a grip on those lands."
"I agree," Strider said, also standing up, "though I will follow them into Mordor itself if I have to, so long as Mithrandir thinks that creature is important."
"I do hope it does not come to that, but if you have to follow it into Mordor, know that you will not be alone."
Strider stared at the Elf, wanting to protest, to forbid him to go near those lands, but the stubbornness and determination in those blue eyes halted his words, for he knew they would be useless.
"Thank you, Legolas. Your companionship will be most welcome."
"Thank you for not trying to fight me," Legolas said, his face lighting up with a glorious grin. "I saw you wanting to, and I appreciate you saving us both the time and trouble."
Strider laughed, shaking his head. "You see too much, Elf."
"I see enough," he replied as they turned their footsteps towards the edge of Mirkwood and the dark lands beyond.
~ Previous Chapter ~
~ Library Main ~
~ Author Index ~ Character Index ~ Title Index ~
~ Hall Of Fire ~ Gallery ~
~ Links ~ Shops ~ Map ~ News ~ Rules ~ Lists ~ ~
This page is in no way affiliated with New Line Cinema or Tolkien Enterprises, and no profit is being made.
The information contained herein is NOT to be used to spam or in any other way harrass its members. Be advised that abuse of this site will not be tolerated, and the appropriate legal action will be taken.
Hall-Of-Fire.Com v.4.0, Copyright © 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 by Cristine Cook-Fireheart. All rights reserved. This web site may not be reproduced in any form, except as occurs in normal browser caching, without express written permission from the author.
Website by Infinite Connections Design.
