Warnings: This story will be SLASH (Yaoi, boyxboy, Gay love ect.) If this isn't your cup of tea, please click that lovely little button known as the 'Back Arrow'. This is also my first time posting, I don't have a Beta, so forgive me if I screw up horribly. This is a crossover between The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and the Lord of the Rings. I will not be going into graphic detail, but there will be some intercourse happening at some point. This story is going to have hints of AU, and possibly some OOCness at some point, but I'll try to keep it at a minimum.

FLAMERS: If I get flamed, I will burst into tears, whereupon my less polite personality will surface and make scathing comments with enough acid to peel the paint from the walls, especially if you don't have a point. If you're going to flame, have a point, or Ki-kao will happily point out your stupidity, probably in a way that will humiliate you in front of numerous witnesses.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Legend of Zelda, The Lord of the Rings, or their associated characters. I don't even own the vast majority of the plot. I just own the muse that likes to torment me.

The Bittersweet Glow of Twilight

By

Gwen Star

They left Rivendell together and traveled North, intending to join the Rangers. As they sat by the fire and Link's face briefly broke into a smile and Estel blinked, " What?" he asked curiously. Link's eyes danced with amusement, " Nothing Twilight. Nothing." Estel raised a brow in surprised curiosity, " Twilight?" he asked almost incredulously.

Link's brow rose and he explained carefully, " Twilight has affected a great many things in my life. I once had a friend of Twilight. She was my companion when I had to save Hyrule. To keep both of our world's safe she destroyed the only link between them, and the only chance we'd see each other again. I miss her." Link paused then smiled ruefully, " If she heard me say that she'd probably tell me to grow up and stop whining like a baby."

Estel gazed at Link sadly, " She is why you fear losing people, isn't she?"

Link made a noise of agreement, " Yes. She was my best friend." Estel smiled gently, " Thank you for telling me, and naming me after something close to your heart."

Link smiled, eyes pinning Estel in place, " Close to my heart. Yes, yes you are." Estel blushed lightly with a shy smile and Link chuckled before stirring the fire.

----------------------This is a Line-------------------------

They'd spent years on their adventures, and their love for one another only grew stronger. For almost fifty years their love was a chaste one, and they were never tempted by another.

Estel grew to resemble the elder of the pair, while Link only aged very, very slowly. When Estel reached sixty years of age he resembled someone in their late twenties, while Link remained looking much the same as he had the day they had first met.

As he grew older, Estel matured into a strong, confident man, and Link was happy to be his silent shadow, watching his back during their hunts. Link learned a great deal about Estel and the Rangers, and Estel learned some of Link's best kept secrets.

They hid nothing from each other, even their insecurities.

----------------------This is a Line-------------------------

Link kept his hood up, keeping his face shadowed as he and Estel surveyed the common room of the Prancing Pony Inn. He listened in amusement as one of the hobbits asked Barliman who they were.

" Methinks you've been staring Estel." He murmured as Barliman jumped in fright.

" That's a couple o' them Rangers, don't know what their right names are, but 'round here we call the dark one Strider and the blonde Lithe." The terrified barkeep whispered loudly to the hobbits.

Link glanced at Estel, " Was it you who started that 'Lithe' business?" Estel's face was impassive in the shadows of his hood, " Was it you who started that 'Strider' business?" Link rolled his blue eyes and hid his smile behind his glass, neither answered the other.

----------------------This is a Line-------------------------

Link settled in a chair by the window, his hood hiding his features as his blue eyes pierced the darkness. Aragorn sat by the fire while the hobbits slept, all except Frodo, who seemed too on edge to fall asleep.

Link suddenly stiffened, "Aragorn, something's out there." he murmured in Hylian. Aragorn blinked then stood tensely, " What is it? What do you see?"

Link's eyes narrowed, " Nazgul." Aragorn nodded and moved to block the door when Link murmured, "Aragorn, be careful." Aragorn's grey eyes smiled warmly as he guarded the door. " You as well Link."

Once dawn came they packed quickly and fled Bree, four Halflings in tow.

----------------------This is a Line-------------------------

" Aragorn, the little ones are hungry."

Aragorn looked back at the still hooded Link, " We shall stop at Weathertop."

Link paused knowing something was bothering Aragorn, " What is it Aragorn?"

Aragorn looked back, " Link… I am afraid." Link smiled, " I am here for you Estel, my Twilight." Aragorn flushed lightly.

" Link…" he said in warning. Link chuckled and moved to scout ahead. The hobbits were left wondering in confusion.

----------------------This is a Line-------------------------

Once they had exaughsted their options and they realized they were moving too slowly to reach Rivendell in time Link crouched next to the injured hobbit.

" I'll take him, I am the faster."

Aragorn sighed, worry flashing in his eyes, " Are you sure you want to risk the journey?" Link smiled softly at his loves concern.

" Estel, love of my heart, I've risked my life on far more dangerous paths than this." Aragorn nodded, having heard Links descriptions of his adventures, and the dangers he had faced.

" Go then, be swift, I'll meet you in Rivendell." Link nodded, " Make sure he will not fall." Aragorn nodded, bringing some rope from his pack, " Be safe."

Link chuckled and slid into his wolf form, startling the hobbits with the obvious magic. Aragorn settled Frodo on the wolf's broad back and tied him securely in place, so he would not fall or shift while the beast ran.

Link nuzzled Aragorn's face a moment, offering silent comfort, then bolted off into the night.

Sam shouted, " What are you doing! Those wraiths are still out there!" Aragorn sighed, turning to look at the angry hobbit, " Lithe will take care of Frodo, he will get your master to help far more quickly than we."

Once the hobbits were somewhat mollified, Aragorn turned back to the darkness Link had disappeared into.

" Run, run and don't look back." he whispered.

----------------------This is a Line-------------------------

Gwen: Ah… well, I guess I really don't have much of an excuse… Please don't hurt me? /O.O\

Ki-kao: I hate you with the passion of all the suns in a thousand different universes.

Gwen: I'm SORRIIIIEEEEE!!!! T_T

Ki-kao: You made me write this sappy, bloodless crap, WITHOUT the battle scenes!

Gwen: *sobs*

Ki-kao: That's right, cry, snivel, wail your heart out. If I have to do this crap again, I will find some way to escape you, even if I have to go to a psychiatrist to do it.

Gwen: Please Don't!

Ki-kao: *ignoring wailing in background* You, with the crooked teeth from chewing on aluminum cans, send a FLAME, she deserves it.