Aralas Oneshots

Betrayed (part 2)

"Go with my father, Tauriel. I have to fix one thing."

"As you wish", the woman replied. "But don't take too long on you, we haven't seen each other in a while!"

"I'll try", Legolas answered, but he wasn't so sure he could keep that promise. Aragorn had looked thouroughly hurt, even though the elf still couldn't really get the reason of this, but he knew it was because of something he did, so he had to fix it. 

Aragorn had already disappeared in the crowd, but Legolas thought to know where he had gone. There was this small garden behind the palace, all surrounded by low walls, so it was quite private and there usually wasn't anyone there. But it was a very beautiful garden, with Elanors, Mallos and Alfirin, rare flowers only found in a few places in Middle-Earth. There also grew some old oak trees that cast their cooling shadows on days of great warmth, and a little bench stood resting in front of the Northern wall. With swift steps, Legolas took the steps up into the palace and then nearly ran through the coridors of the palace. Not long thereafter, he reached the garden.

Of course he was right. Aragorn stood with the back to him and looked out over the city. In his hand was an Elanor-flower, bright and beautiful.

"What have I done?", Legolas exclaimed. He stood in the entrance to the garden and just watched his old friend. At the elf's words, Aragorn startled, and he clenched his hands to fists. The little Elanor was terribly squashed without his notice. 

"Why, Legolas?", the ranger almost whispered. Then he turned around and shouted: "Why?! Why did you do this to me? Why didn't you tell me that you were engaged? Didn't you trust me, or was it your intention to make fun of me and then laugh behind my back about it? Maybe I would have wished you luck, or been happy for you, but you didn't tell me! You want to know what you have done?"

Aragorn paused and he panted heavily from all the shouting. Legolas stood taken aback and simply listened. This was certainly not what he'd had in mind regarding Aragorn's rage, and it was far worse from what he had expected.

"You have fooled me, betrayed my trust, lied to me, made fun of me and you don't even care!!"

At these words, Aragorn broke down and started sobbing. But he still had his dignity and turned around, so that the elf wouldn't see his tears. 

"I didn't know", Legolas said quietly. 

"What is there you couldn't know?!", Aragorn shot back.

"I didn't know this meant so much to you", the elf replied. "I didn't know it mattered, that I was engaged. You're right, I didn't really care about it. But then I don't understand why you care so much."

The king had stopped crying and only every so often a sob was heard. Then he sighed and turned to face Legolas again.

"How couldn't I? Didn't these talks when everyone else was asleep mean anything to you? Didn't the promises we made, to never leave one's sides again, mean anything? Didn't it mean anything, that there was this sparkle, this sparkle that existed between us and between nobody else?"

Legolas stared. 

"Are you blind?!", Aragorn pleaded, his hands ruffling his hair in exasperation. 

And then Legolas understood. How could he not have seen it? Of course. Aragorn loved him. Truly loved him. 

"Yes", he said. "It seems my elven eyes have turned blind indeed. Forgive me, please."

"I have already forgiven you, Legolas. Even in this point you are blind. i had already forgiven you when I walked away from you. But that doesn't mean you didn't hurt me. I love you, Legolas, and hearts don't mend easily."

Legolas didn't know what to do. It was overwhelming to know, that someone he had regarded as a friend, a very close one, a best friend, loved him. He simply couldn't believe it, even though he saw it now. And he didn't know what to do, because he couldn't reciprocate the feelings the other man felt towards him. Yes, he loved Aragorn, but as a friend, not as a lover.

Thus, Legolas made his decision. If he couldn't give Aragorn what he deserved, then he'd at least give him a part of it, even if it meant he would probably never see the man again. But it was the best course of action he could think of, and it was what would be the least painful for Aragorn.

Therefore he slowly walked up to the man, whose cheeks were smeared with tears, out his hands on the back of his head, pulled him closer, and kissed him on the lips. At first, Aragorn didn't move at all, being so surprised by the action that he just let it happen. But then he responded and kissed back, and he poured all his love into this one kiss and his world ended with it. Both knew, that this was the last time they would see each other, there was no other way now. They kissed, and Legolas showed him the love he felt but couldn't give, and when they needed to breathe, they embraced each other, and tears rolled down their cheeks. And then they let go of each other, and Legolas turned around, and he left the garden, and walked back to the Mirkwood delegation and his fiancee, and walked out of Aragorn's life.

And Aragorn...

opened his fists and took the squashed Elanor and put it in an album and it was the last memory he had of Legolas, the love of his life. 

As for Arwen, he went back to the city, begged for forgiveness and asked her hand in marriage. He'd give her everything he was deprived of giving Legolas, and he'd do it the best he could. He'd be a fair and wise king. A loving father and a caring husband. And a remembering lost love.

But his heart

left 

his body

and 

never

returned. it was

betrayed

Just a little space for the effect :) Hope you like this part too, even if it probably isn't at all what you expected. I just like to write dramatic endings, and this really is one. I hope the story didn't get too philosophical in the end and it's understandable why all of it happened.. Don't know, write in the comments what you think of it.