"All of your fears will pass away,
Safe in my arms, you're only sleeping."

Legolas sighed and rolled over on the sleeping mat. The fire crackled and the snores of Gimli and the Hobbits disturbed the air. Aragorn was awake, prowling around the camp, worries that Legolas could only guess at keeping him awake. He should be sleeping; Boromir was on watch and would raise the alarm if anything untoward was about.

Gandalf’s soft snuffling snores ruffled his beard on each exhalation and Legolas smiled. When he was asleep, Gandalf did not look so wizardly or wise, he looked like a child caught at play, albeit a child with a long grey beard.

Aragorn’s shadow passed him again and Legolas resolved to do something about his friend’s insomnia. Legolas was worried about Aragorn; who had grown distant towards him as their journey progressed, refusing to sit with him and talk as they used too, keeping out of his way and generally making it clear he did not want his company. He was deliberately distancing himself from Legolas and to be truthful, it hurt, for Legolas had no idea what he had done to make Aragon act like this. He had always kept the fact that he loved Aragorn hidden; never showing his love for a moment, afraid that Aragorn would turn from him, for Aragorn was betrothed to Arwen.

Ever since they had left Rivendell, Aragorn had avoided him and grown more and more morose. Legolas wished with all his heart he could take whatever burden was causing Aragorn so much trouble from his shoulders, but Aragorn would not tell him what was wrong when he asked and would turn abruptly and seek out and talk to Boromir, Frodo, anyone else, rather then converse with him.

Aragorn had even tried to talk him out of going on the quest with them and had become angry with him when he refused to break his vow to Frodo, stalking off and refusing to come back and explain why he didn’t want Legolas to join them on the mission. Legolas was at a loss to know what he had done to upset Aragorn so.

Legolas had gone looking for Aragorn to try to speak to him that night and had found him, upon the bridge, holding Arwen in his arms, her head on his shoulder, his hands stroking her back. Legolas had quietly stolen away then and hidden in the trees, his heart breaking anew, silent tears running down his cheeks, but the next morning nothing of the heartbreak he had suffered had shown on his serene face

Aragorn’s shadow passed him again, this time on the way to the woods and Legolas’s sharp ears picked up muttered sounds, though not clear enough for him to make out individual words apart from a few here and there. The tone of the muttered sounds was enough to make his heart ache though, for the tone was one of sadness and despair.

Legolas stiffened suddenly for he caught his name being uttered on something that sounded suspiciously like a sob. Enough was enough. He must find out what was wrong with Aragorn. Gathering his courage around like a cloak, Legolas rose from the sleeping mat and picked up his bow and quiver. He strapped the quiver to his back and settled the white blades into their sheaths. He glanced at Gimli and smiled slightly as the Dwarf rolled onto his back, smacking his lips and muttering something about ‘red meat and ale’ He had grown fond of the Dwarf during the quest and prayed that nothing would happen to his small and bloodthirsty friend.

Legolas passed the Hobbits, all asleep, Sam next to Frodo, Merry curled up next to Pippin. Walking on silent feet, the elf passed Boromir, who had no notion that the elf had passed by him so closely. Resisting the urge to tap the oblivious guard on the shoulder and make him jump, Legolas glided in to the woods and looked for Aragorn. He must have gone further out, away from the camp. Legolas frowned; Aragorn risked his life straying so far from camp. Whatever was troubling him must be serious for Aragorn to take such a foolhardy risk

Legolas walked on, further into the woods, peering through the trees, but seeing on sign of the man he loved. A soft exhalation made him look up into the tree in front of him. To his great distress he saw Aragorn, sitting on a broad branch, his face buried in his hands. As he watched, Aragorn lifted his head and in the moonlight Legolas saw two tears course their way down Aragorn’s face. Another deep and forlorn sigh escaped the full lips and hung in the still night air, frozen in its misery. Legolas closed his eyes, his heart constricting to see the proud strong Ranger suffering so and turned to retrace his steps, not wanting to embarrass Aragorn in his moment of weakness. He took one step then stopped. Aragorn needed help and by the Valar, he was going to get it.

Silently swinging up the nearest branch, Legolas climbed the tree and dropped down on the branch next to Aragorn. Gently placing his hand on Aragorn’s shoulder, Legolas spoke softly, not wanting to startle Aragorn too much

“Mellon-nin, what troubles your heart so?” he said softly, clasping Aragorn’s shoulder firmly “Can you not tell me? It grieves me to see you so distressed”

Aragorn jumped a little as a hand descended on his shoulder, so lost had he been in his thoughts and dejection and he turned swiftly and drew his dagger, but the voice of the elf he loved so much stayed his hand. He longed to hold Legolas to his heart and tell him of the love he had for him, but was afraid to for fear Legolas turned from him in disgust.

Arwen had guessed that his heart now belonged to another and had released Aragorn from his pledge that night on the bridge, telling him to go and find Legolas and tell him of the love he bore for him. Aragorn had held her to him, stroking her back and he had thanked her, then kissed her goodbye. Aragorn had looked for the one his heart desired, but Legolas was nowhere to be found and in the morning Aragorn had doubted the wisdom of telling the elf of his feelings before they started the quest.

But it was so hard to be near Legolas and not hold him next to his heart and confess that he loved him, that Aragorn had distanced himself from Legolas, denying himself the solace of his company, until tonight he could bear it no more and had climbed the tree to try and quell the feelings he had for the elf.

Legolas bit his lip. Aragorn looked so forlorn, so care ridden, that it was all he could do not to throw caution to the four winds and tell the man of his love for him. His eyes pricked and a tear ran unbidden down his cheek and he turned his head, so that Aragorn would not see it. But it was too late, Aragorn had seen it and he was at a loss to know why the elf cried. An unendurable ache filled him and he longed to grasp Legolas and pull him into his arms and hold that sweet body next to his.

Legolas sighed and composed himself. He must not break down in front of Aragorn; the Ranger was the one who needed comfort, even though Legolas’s arms cried out to wrap themselves around the distressed Man.

“Aragorn…please… tell me what troubles your heart. I would help you if you would let me. What has made you so distressed …let me help… Please, a`mael, what fears entrap you to make you tremble so…” pleaded Legolas, the endearment slipping out unconsciously as he touched Aragorn’s hand and felt it tremble beneath his.

Aragorn’s stuttered in his chest and he drew a sharp breath as he realised what Legolas had just called him… he had called him ‘Beloved.’ Could that mean that Legolas returned his feelings? Did he dare put it to the test? Risking his heart, Aragorn looked up and into the elf’s eyes as he turned his hand in Legolas’s and clasped it tightly. Holding his breath, gazing into Legolas’s eyes the whole time, showing all that he felt; Aragorn slowly raised the hand he held to his lips and, oh so gently, kissed it.

Legolas gasped as Aragorn’s lips touched his hand, the contact blazing like fire. His lips parted as the love and desire he saw in Aragorn’s eyes burnt into him, searing the very core of him, causing the wall he had built around his love for Aragorn to incinerate in an instant. He snatched his hand away and before Aragorn could read rejection in the act, brought both hands to Aragorn’s face and fastened his lips on the Ranger’s, devouring Aragorn’s mouth, plundering his soul.

Aragorn wrapped his arms around the elf, drawing him closer, caressing his back, his hair, anywhere he could reach. Breaking the kiss for lack of air, they drew back, staring at the other, searching for answers.

“Aragorn…”began Legolas, touching his lips in wonder

“Legolas…”said Aragorn, his breath catching in his chest

“I think we had better get down from this tree before we fall off and continue this on the ground” Legolas said, breathlessly, his eyes shining like stars “

Aragorn smiled and nodded, getting up and moving along the branch. Legolas laughed unsteadily and jumped down to a lower branch, then to the ground and stood waiting for Aragorn with feigned impatience.

“You took your sweet time, oh my Ranger” he said teasing Aragorn with a light- heartedness he did not feel, his senses heightened by the soul searing kiss he had just enjoyed and needing time to digest it all “I thought perhaps you had fallen asleep up there. We had better get back to camp; we are too far away for safety and the others will wonder where we are if they wake. We can talk about what this means when we get back”

Aragorn nodded, grinning giddily, he too needed time to absorb what had just happened, trying to take in the fact that this beautiful elf, that Legolas, had feelings for him too. Walking side by side, he and Legolas moved through the woods, each of them trying to assimilate what had just occurred between them. They walked quietly, holding each others hand, stopping within site of the camp. Legolas stepped forward, in front of Aragorn and touched his face

“This is close enough, Aragorn” he said smiling

Aragorn smiled back, saying nothing and took the Mirkwood Prince in his arms, catching him off guard. Holding the elf’s arms by his sides, Aragorn leaned forward and captured Legolas’s lips with his, delighting in the softness and the sweet taste of his love. Releasing one of the elf’s arms, Aragorn slid his head up, tracing the contours of the hard muscled chest, over the soft skin of neck and cheek and curled it around the slim neck of his heart’s desire. Legolas sighed into the kiss, opening his mouth, tasting the Rangers tongue and running his hand over the muscled back and stroking the Ranger’s hair, delighting in its softness.

Parting their lips, the Ranger and the Prince gazed into each others eyes, seeing the answers to the questions they dared not ask. Legolas sighed and laid his head against the Ranger’s chest, feeling the Ranger’s heart beating hard against his ribs and smiled softly, knowing that he and he alone had caused the Ranger’s breath to hitch and his heart rate to quicken. Tears pricked his eyes as he thought of how much he loved this beautiful and caring human

Aragorn sighed, relief at the love he saw in Legolas’s eyes causing his knees to buckle and he sagged against the elf, tears crowding his throat. Caressing the silken hair of the Prince, he buried his face in the Legolas’s shoulder and breathed in the scent of wildflowers. Legolas eased them both to the ground, leaning against a tree, cradling the Ranger in his arms and felt the tears of the one he loved above all, even himself; fall in a healing rain upon his neck

“Why did you push me away, my Aragorn?” he asked as Aragorn’s tears tapered off and finally ceased “Why did you try to stop me from joining the quest?”

“Because I was afraid, afraid of my feelings for you, for I have never felt this way before for a male. My love and desire for you eclipsed that which I felt for Arwen” replied Aragorn, shame in his voice, casting down his eyes “I was afraid that you…”

“Why were you so afraid, mela amin?” murmured Legolas softly, lovingly, when Aragorn said no more, caressing the soft beard of the Ranger, soothing the lines from that beloved face

“I thought you would turn from me, I was afraid that I would disgust you. Afraid that I would lose that friendship which was so dear to me” Aragorn whispered brokenly. “I was afraid to voice my love, afraid that you would…could… never return my feelings and would leave my heart broken and bleeding inside my chest… I was afraid of you…”

Legolas bent and set his lips on the Ranger’s, caressing, nipping and parting those lips with his tongue, delving deeply into the Rangers mouth, drawing out the doubt and fear and replacing it with love, showing Aragorn that he never need doubt again, never need to fear any more. Showing him that he was so very loved.

“Never be afraid of me, my Aragorn, for I will never hurt you…I love you” Legolas murmured against his beloved’s lips “Never, ever be afraid of me”

Aragorn gave himself up to the feeling of being loved and kissed the soft lips of his soon-to-be lover. The days spent in fear and doubt, the nights spent sleepless in yearning, caught up him and he laid his head against the elf’s chest, listening to the heart that he now knew beat for him. His eyes wanted to close, but he was suddenly afraid again, afraid that he was asleep, that this was a dream and he would wake alone. Legolas stroked his hair

“Close your eyes, mela amin. My feelings for you are real, this is not a dream. Mela amin lle.” said Legolas softly, sensing Aragorn’s fear “All your fears will pass away, safe in my arms; you are only sleeping…close your eyes and sleep. I will watch over you for I love you”

The Ranger, nestled close to his love, closed his eyes and slept, knowing that Legolas returned his feelings… And was afraid no more

THE END

Mela amin…my love
A`mael…beloved
Mela amin lle…I love you
Mellon-nin…m