Silver Peonies, Blue Chicories (Aralas)

⍟walks and talks⍟

Legolas and Aragorn were in Rivendell since 8 days. The elf quickly recovered from the bite and they both went on daily walks together in the beautiful gardens of the elven realm.
Now, they were walking along a small river that was running through whole of Rivendell.

„I have to tell Arwen what is going on Legolas.."
Aragorn said, the guilt not able to be overheard.
Legolas thought about it and remained silent.
Aragorn was used to not getting an answer from the elf immediately, so he stayed quiet as well and let the prince collect and sort his thoughts.

"If you tell Arwen what you and I are having, she will most definitely hate me.
And when my father will leave the throne to me, and Arwen will take over Rivendell, the relationship between the realms will become unpleasant and uncomfortable. Though I know that Arwen is an elf who is not foolish, I do not know if I can take the risk"
Legolas said, his gaze lost in the beauty of Rivendell. Aragorn nodded in agreement.
The ranger completely comprehended what Legolas meant.

"But I can not lie to her."
Aragorn stated.
"She does not deserve this. She does not deserve any of that..Arwen deserves someone who loves her. Everyone does."

Legolas now looked at him.
The elf did not think that love was something one deserves, as it was not something physical one could achieve (or deserve).
Love was a feeling, something psychical you could not take control of. That was why he would never ever judge someone for whom they loved.
That was why he fell in love with Aragorn.
He told Aragorn exactly what he was thinking, wich made the ranger think.
Elves had such a different way of how they viewed things.
And Aragorn really found it interesting.
He wanted to understand it, wanted to understand how his beautiful elf and his sensitive heart functioned and how he loved one like Aragorn.

But now, they had to figure out how Aragorn should make Arwen aware of his feelings.
"Maybe I could just leave you out. You know, you will not be included and do not get into trouble, in the future the realms of you both will be able to keep living in peace and maybe Arwen can even find someone new."
That was typical for Aragorn. Always playing the hero and covering his beloved ones.

"Aragorn she gave you her evenstar. Do you even know what that means to an elf?
It is like..giving your soul to one.
It is like placing your still beating your heart in one's hands. She is trusting you with everything..if you will tell her without me being included, she will likely fade as her heart will be aching in pain and her strong feelings will turn into sadness"

"And if I tell her with you being included?"
"She has a bigger chance to survive, since her strong feelings towards you will turn into anger towards me. That will keep her going.
The thought of me still wandering around on Middelearth would make her sick.
Maybe she would even try and kill me."

Aragorn stared at Legolas.
"So it is either I have to kill her by tearing her heart apart to keep you save or I could hurt her really really bad though she will live, but you are threatened?"

Legolas thought for a moment.
"It is really simplified,
but you could put it that way"
He finally said, letting his gaze run over the peaceful, quietly rippling water of the small river.
It was clear, yet it was moving wich made it look a bit filthy, and on some spots, dirt was swirled up and got pulled with the currents.

"I never hoped that I would have to face such a decision."
Aragorn said, accidentally flying with his hand lightly over the other's, drawing Legolas' attention to him.
Aragorn blushed slightly, feeling a bit ashamed. That kind of a mistake would never happen to an elf, though it was just a small one.
But Aragorn was of men kind. He would never be as perfect as the prince, nor any of the elves.
Legolas nodded, sympathy in his eyes.
"I am sorry, I did not want it to be this way either. But it was quite predictable if you ever thought about it logically"
His voice had something mockingly with it, and Aragorn grinned slightly.
Legolas had to smile a bit too, but they soon stopped, thinking about the Situation again.

"I would always choose you Legolas.
I hope you know that",
Aragorn started. Legolas nodded slightly.
He indeed did not know, but he did not want to interrupt the ranger.
"If I have to break Arwens heart to save you, I will do it. But that does not mean that I want to. I wish we all could just live happily..why must you elves be so complicated.."
Aragorn sighed, letting himself lean back against a tree, forcing the two to stop walking.
Legolas crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?"
He said, looking at him reprovingly.
Aragorn lowered his gaze.
"I am so sorry, I did not mean to insult the holy race of elves, my prince"
He said sarcastically, making Legolas roll his eyes in annoyance again.

"Keep your mouth shut, filthy human and think about how you will tell your complicated elven girlfriend how you will break her sensitive heart"
Legolas muttered, sounding a bit seriously offended by Aragorn's statement.
Aragorn sighed.
"Drama queen"
He whispered, but unfortunately, loud enough for Legolas to hear.
He earned a death glare from his dear prince and gulped. Well, that was what he got himself into.

They finished their walk and met Elrond when they arrived. The old Elf eyed the two of them, frowning as he saw Legolas shift uncomfortable.
"Arwen will leave for some time now, Aragorn.
I give my advice to you that you shall talk to her.
And Legolas, I wish to talk to you. So, as long as Aragorn is talking to Arwen, I will have to take up a bit of your time."
Everyone agreed and they parted their ways.

"Arwen. I want to talk to you"
Aragorn said, as he met Arwen while walking over a bridge.
"Is it about your feelings towards me?"
She whispered, barely audible.
Aragorn averted his eyes to the ground.
"If you can not even look me in my eyes when you are breaking my heart, Aragorn, then you are not worth it of hurting me this badly."
Arwen said, her voice being clearer now.
"How did you notice?"
"Do you think I am a fool? I noticed how you avoided my presence, how you started to talk to me as less as possible and how you never kissed me when you returned back.
How you never wanted to touch me."
Her voice was full of pain and it made Aragorns heart ache. He hated it to hurt her.

Legolas and Elrond made their way to the older ones office. Legolas sensed that something was wrong and it made him even more uncomfortable. And he already felt horrible about what pain he brought Arwen in.
Even though it was not his fault, because as he thought earlier, he could not help to fall in love with Aragorn.

They arrived in Elrond's office, where the brown haired leaned against one of his big windows, his gaze flew over Rivendell.
"It is about Aragorn"
Legolas took a deep breath and
prepared himself mentally to protect Aragorn with everything he had.
"I am listening."
He informed, as Elrond waited for his consent.

"You know that Aragorn is the rightful king of Gondor, yet he abandoned the throne to be a ranger, even after the ring war"
Elrond started.
"The one who is ruling over Gondor now is not doing good to his men. I heard that he is planning another war.
You have to convince Aragorn to insist on his rights, by wich I mean the throne.
He must intervene now before it is too late."

Legolas bit his inner lip, wondering about how the ruler could even manage to start another war, as Gondor must still be quite destroyed after the ring war.
"With whom he wants to wage a war?"
The prince asked, confusion and disturbance in his melodic voice.

"With our kin, the elves."
"All of them?"
"I suppose"
Legolas shook his head in disbelief.
Who was such a fool and thought he could win a war against all elves together? And then also with a kingdom, just destroyed by war.
Didn't the men kind learn?

"I already sent a letter to Gandalf and Gimli. If Aragorn agrees without coercion, they will travel with you two to Gondor. Gandalf and I will communicate about how things will be and if anything goes even the slightest bit wrong, I will have to inform Thranduil, and you know he will not hesitate to send an army for your safety."
Elrond informed, finally averting his
eyes to Legolas, who hummed to show
his understanding.