Forgiveness Kiss: A Legolas and Aragorn Fanfic

The Reunion

 Two hours and several bottles later, Legolas was beginning to feel the effects of the wine.

 He had started the evening determined to speak with Aragorn, but now Legolas found himself  mingling with everyone except Aragorn. The room was fairly large, but whenever Aragorn got less than twenty feet away Legolas quickly excused himself from whatever conversation he was having and moved on. He felt ridiculous, like he was a rabbit desperately trying to outrun a fox. Sooner or later he would have nowhere left to hide. 

 Eventually Legolas ended up next to the fireplace, where Gandalf was smoking a pipe with the Hobbits.

 "Hello Legolas," Gandalf said. "It's been rather a long time, hasn't it? What news from Mirkwood?"

 "The spider population is getting out of hand again..." Legolas replied absently, scanning the room for Aragorn. Legolas spotted him halfway across the room, talking to Haldir. He relaxed a fraction and wiped his forehead. The fact that he was perspiring was not a good sign.

 "Is something the matter?" Gandalf asked. "You look flushed."

 Legolas tried to sound breezy. "It's just warm in here is all. And I might have had a bit too much wine."

 "Ah," nodded Gandalf. "Understandable. But it is a party, after all. I think everyone may have had more to drink than usual." 

 Gandalf smiled at Legolas for a moment, as though he knew something that the Elf didn't. Then he suddenly looked around, startled. 

 "But I'm being terribly rude!" He gestured to the Hobbits.  "This is Bilbo, Frodo, Merry, Pippin, and Sam of the Shire. They are all here for the Council."

 "Hello," two of the Hobbits said cheerfully. They looked more at ease than the others, and were blowing smoke rings towards the ceiling. The other two younger ones stared at Legolas with a mixture of awe and fear. The Elf wondered if they had seen many of his kind before. 

 The oldest Hobbit looked familiar, but Legolas couldn't place him. Gandalf noticed his observation and chuckled.

 "Yes, I suppose you would recognize Bilbo. He was with the Company of Dwarves that escaped from your kingdom many years ago."

 Bilbo laughed. "What are you trying to pull, Gandalf? Don't go turning the Elves against me! It was so long ago now, I can hardly remember it."

 Legolas bristled at that. It may have been a long time for a Hobbit, but the Elves of Mirkwood remembered the event as though it happened only a week ago. It was the only time Dwarves had ever escaped from Thraduil's kingdom, and even now the King would bring it up if he was in a bad mood. Nevertheless, Legolas decided it would be better to take the diplomatic route instead of making a scene. He smiled politely at Bilbo and said nothing.

 Gandalf seemed to notice the Elf's discomfort and began to change the subject, but was interrupted when Elrond himself walked up to the group.

 "Legolas!" Elrond said. "Thank you for coming. I am grateful that Mirkwood was able to send a representative to the Council."

 "Thank you for inviting me, Lord Elrond," Legolas replied. "It had been many years since I last visited Imladris."

 "It certainly has," Elrond nodded. "You used to come all the time to see Aragorn. But I can't recall the last time you two went hunting."

 Legolas felt his face begin to warm yet again.

 "Er, yes, it has been awhile," he said. He silently willed someone, anyone, to interrupt. Meanwhile, Elrond was still speaking.

 "Maybe Aragorn will be able to remember," Elrond said. He waved to someone behind Legolas, and the Elf sensed a person walk up behind him. His whole body went rigid. 

No. No. No. 

 "Aragorn, do you remember when you and Legolas last went on a hunting trip?" Elrond was completely oblivious to what he had just done. Aragorn was so close, Legolas could reach out and touch him. He felt his hands begin to shake. Behind him, Aragorn spoke.

 "It was just about forty years ago, I think. Lord Elrond, would you excuse us? I wish to speak with Legolas."

 "Of course," Elrond said. "Enjoy the party."

 Before Legolas could react, Aragorn grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room, down the hallway. Legolas was too surprised to resist, and it was only when they had reached the entrance to Aragorn's chambers that he finally found his voice. He pulled his hand from Aragorn's grasp.

 "You wish to speak with me?" he asked. "Why? Why should you give me the time of day after what I did to you?"

 So much for Aloof.

 Aragorn looked surprised. "After what you- What do you mean?"

 Legolas was trembling. He needed to pull himself together. He looked Aragorn in the eyes and spoke.

 "I ruined our friendship. I shouldn't have kissed you, I should never have given in to my feelings. You are betrothed, and I didn't respect that. I-" his voice cracked. "I should have accepted that I couldn't be with you. Instead I threw away my only true friendship, and hurt the one person I never wanted to hurt."

 Legolas felt a tear slip down his cheek. He bowed his head and tried to quickly wipe it away, but Aragorn gently took his hand.

 "Legolas," Aragorn said quietly. "You didn't hurt me. You made me realize that I needed to take control of my life, before it was too late."

Legolas kept crying, too ashamed to speak. 

 "Didn't you get my letters?" Aragorn asked.

Legolas nodded. "I didn't read them," he murmured. "I thought you hated me."

 Aragorn laughed softly. "That explains it. Legolas, I don't hate you. I could never hate you. I sent you letters telling you that Arwen and I are no longer betrothed."

 Legolas looked up sharply. "You separated because of me? After what I did?"

 "Yes and no," Aragorn said. He squeezed Legolas' hand. "Let's go sit in my room, and I can tell you what happened after that night."