Love Is Not Exclusive

Punishment

As Legolas' "pregnancy" continued along with Arwen's, Aragorn was trying to help both of them stay comfortable while also keeping one of them a secret. He put Legolas and Arwen In the same room so that he could say that he was rooming with Legolas to give his wife the space she required, and if he were to take something into the royal chambers the was required for his spouses he wouldn't be caught going into Legolas' room. It all fell apart, though, when Aragorn was distracted with work. Arwen was nine months and Legolas looked five months

Aragorn had been doing paperwork in his room when Arwen woke up and requested some cheese. Aragorn had gotten used to the cravings and was happy to get what she needed. But as soon as he got to a more public area of the palace, he was bombarded with people who needed his help with other things. At first, he couldn't remember what it was all for. But as he looked around he remembered that the celebration of the Summer Solstice was the next day. He quickly asked someone next to him to take a plate of cheese to his pregnant wife. The man agreed and was off, allowing Aragorn to take care of whatever business was required of him.

Aragorn hadn't noticed that the man was part of his council. So when the man entered the royal chambers - knocking before he was granted entry - and saw the pregnant Queen and also a "pregnant" - and sleeping - Prince Consort, he dropped the cheese tray in shock. The crash woke Legolas up, and he and Arwen were both immediately extremely nervous. The councilman stared at Legolas in shock an horror before running out of the room to tell of what he had discovered.

Legolas went into a panic. Arwen quickly calmed him and hurriedly helped him hide in a passageway in the wall. Then she climbed back into bed and waited. Soon, a few councilmen - including the Head - ran into the room, fuming.

"Where is he?" the Head roared.

"Pardon?" Arwen asked, feigning ignorance.

The Head got as close up in his Queen's face as he dared, "My Queen, do not play dumb with me. Where is the Prince Consort?"

"Here, my lord!" one of the other councilmen called as he yanked open the door to the secret passage, which wasn't so secret to the council.

Arwen's breath caught in her throat as they dragged Legolas from the tunnel. The Head of the council was livid as he saw that the Prince Consort was with child. Or so it seemed. He grabbed Legolas and backhanded the blonde. Arwen screamed as one of the two men she loved fell to the floor with a loud thump and groaned.

The Head pulled Legolas up by his blonde locks and hissed: "Prince Legolas of Gondor, you have disobeyed both the laws of your country and the will of your council. You are hereby sentenced to death." The man tossed Legolas into the arms of a guard. "Take him away."

The guard dragged Legolas away. But to Arwen's horror, Legolas didn't struggle at all. If anything, he tried to walk along with the man's quick strides. As soon as they were gone, Arwen sent a servant to retrieve Aragorn for her. When her husband reached the room, Arwen told him all that had happened and sobbed to think that Legolas would be killed. Aragorn kissed his wife and hurried off to find wherever they had taken Legolas. He meant to go to the dungeons as fast as possible, but he was being distracted and pulled here and there to discuss plans for the Summer Solstice. He had to stop each person and say that he was on his way to the dungeons for something important. But he was too late. When he finally got to the lower levels of the castle, he saw that Legolas had not been taken down. Of course not! Once the councilmen would've heard about Legolas, they would've tried to punish him as soon as possible.

Aragorn ran back up to the citadel. He had to find Legolas and make sure that the Elf wasn't killed. He saw no one up there, but he did see something strange at the entrance to the city. There were some men piling wood around a large stake in the entrance courtyard. Aragorn ran. He dropped his heavy cloak and robe to lighten his load and ran down the levels of the city. He passed a man who was tying his horse outside of a store.

"Sir, I need your horse!" Aragorn exclaimed.

The man handed over the reins without question. Aragorn mounted the horse and galloped off. When he was half way down the city, he looked back to the entrance courtyard and saw Legolas tied to the stake and a councilman about to set fire to the wood. Aragorn pushed the horse even faster. Once he had reached the second level from the bottom, Aragorn heard screams from the courtyard. He reached the courtyard before he knew it and saw what could only be described as a nightmare. Legolas, seemingly pregnant, was tied upright to a pole with fire surrounding him. The fire had not grown much yet, but it was burning his legs and feet. The Elf's face was twisted in agony and his screams and sobs filled the courtyard.

Aragorn jumped off the horse and ran to the pyre. He unsheathed his knife and jumped up onto the pile of wood. He almost fell off again as Legolas let out another painful scream. Aragorn went quickly to work and cut Legolas free and pulled him off of the pyre, holding the Elf bridal style. Legolas struggled weakly until he realized who held him.

"Aragorn?" Legolas whispered, his voice hoarse.

"Shh. I'm here, love. I won't let them hurt you anymore," Aragorn whispered back.

Legolas hid his face in Aragorn's shoulder and began to cry. Aragorn kissed the Prince's head and carried him to the horse. He put Legolas up first and climbed up after him. Legolas' legs hurt, but he could bear it until he was taken to a healer. The Head of the council finally dared to approach his King.

"Your Majesty," the Head began through clenched teeth, "he has broken the law. His punishment is -"

"I am well aware of what his punishment should be!" Aragorn interrupted, angrily. "But he is not pregnant. He has a condition that makes it seem that way. We will fix it for now. But, I assure you, we will have a meeting about this law you are so eager to obey."

Aragorn rode quickly away with one arm around Legolas. He made it to the first level of the city before he slowed down so that Legolas' legs would not be hurt as much on their way back to the palace. They finally made it and Aragorn carried Legolas to the healing wing of the castle. Legolas' legs were bloody and needed to be bandaged. He would not be walking for a while, but his Elvish healing abilities would help him heal completely. They also had to bandage a few spots on his torso and arms and were surprised to find his genitals unharmed. His hair had to be cut to get rid of the singed ends.

But even as Legolas lay in the bed bandaged, hair cut to his shoulders, and slightly flushed, Aragorn still thought he was beautiful. Arwen ran in soon after and nearly collapsed with relief that both of the men she loved were in one piece and alive - even if they weren't all off the hook quite yet.