Chapter 12

"His Majesty would like to see you in his study."

Legolas nodded once to the king's long time butler. At least his father had waited until morning to send for them. He turned toward Aragorn, admiring the man's thick musculature from behind as Aragorn bent to tug his boots on and then don his shirt. "We've been summoned."

Aragorn's hands paused in the task of fastening his tunic. "What do you think he'll say?" he asked, Thranduil's lecture and threats all too fresh in his mind. Not that he was afraid, exactly, not for himself, but he wondered whether the Elf king would cause Legolas pain. He did not know him well. Would he forbid their bond even now, when Legolas had forgiven him and seemed to be returning to health?

"Father can be quite fierce when it comes to protecting his family," Legolas said, "but he is not unreasonable."

"I'm glad. Of both. For your sake."

Legolas moved from the door and pulled Aragorn close. For long moments his lips roamed over Aragorn's. His mate's. "You still hold some fear in your heart," he said, releasing Aragorn.

"For you," Aragorn admitted softly. He had not said so before, knowing Legolas would have scoffed at his worry. "When I die, what of you?"

"You fear I'll begin to fade again?"

Aragorn closed his eyes. "Yes." Shaking his head, he stepped back slightly. "Look what I've done to you already. When I'm gone, what will happen to you?"

"I will be fine," Legolas replied, the thought of Aragorn dying making his heart clench in pain. "It was your seeming rejection that led to me giving up hope and grieving. Now that we are together as one I can bear it when the time comes. Not easily, no. Never easily. But you know I have felt the Sea Longing. When you. . . pass, I shall sail. Now," he added, "we had better go."

And with that, Aragorn had no choice but to let himself be dragged along to Thranduil's study, Legolas' fingers twining with his as they walked. They were strong and warm, reassuring. Still, Aragorn cleared his throat nervously as stopped at a door at the end of a short passageway from Legolas' quarters. He felt like a suitor asking permission to court his beloved, and in a way he supposed he was, only after the fact, rather than before. When Legolas knocked upon the door and it was answered with a loud command of "Enter!" Aragorn swallowed again, then berated himself. He was a king. Aragorn drew himself to his full height and followed after Legolas, who had already entered the chamber. He moved to stand beside him.

"You look well, my son," Thranduil observed, rising from his desk and striding forward to clasp Legolas on his shoulders. He searched his son's face, his eyes piercing. Then he glanced from his son to Aragorn and back again. "I take it the two of you have sorted things out.

Legolas nodded once, and Thranduil looked again at Aragorn. "I must say, I expected more from you."

To his consternation, Aragorn felt heat rise up his neck and blanket his face. "I have not been myself these many days."

"Yet you've redeemed yourself in Legolas' eyes. It seems I shall have to skewer you another time."

Aragorn lowered his gaze. "I never would have put him through this. Had I known. . ."

"I still have my reservations regarding this match you've made, Legolas," Thranduil said. "Aragorn may be long-lived, but he is a man, a mortal. He will die one day and then you will surely fade from grief. You know this."

"Yes, I know the risks, but I know too that I would rather have a few years with him than none at all. As for his mortality, I have already spoken of this with Aragorn, and I've told him that when he dies I will answer the call of the sea. I shall sail to Aman. There I will find peace."

"And you're willing to put yourself through that?"

"Yes," Legolas answered. "But I don't want to speak more of it now. I love him, Father. Will you give your blessing?"

Thranduil sighed heavily. "It is a hard life you have chosen, to be among Men, to be bound to one, but your happiness and health matter more to me than any misgivings I might have. You have my blessing."

"That went better than expected," Aragorn breathed when they left the king's study. "I thought for sure I'd be sent to the dungeon."

Legolas laughed. "If he meant to do that you would have been thrown in there last night. As I said, he is not unreasonable. And perhaps he had hope that you would manage to convince me of your sincerity."

"And have I?" Aragorn asked softly.

"Aye," Legolas whispered, kissing him quickly, hungrily. "You have."

000

They returned to Minas Tirith to find the streets lined with well-wishers. Cheers went up as the pair rode side by side toward the Citadel. The noise assaulted Legolas' ears, but it also put to rest his worries that news of his and Aragorn's official binding had been badly received. Apparently Faramir had worked wonders with the Council. The king's obvious happiness only added fuel to the crowd's enthusiasm, sending the applause to new levels.

"What did you do?" Legolas asked his bond mate over the din.

"I did nothing except send word to Faramir that you were returning with me." Aragorn eyed Legolas a little apprehensively. "I hope it's not too much."

"No, no, it's fine. I just did not expect this."

"Nor did I, actually," Aragorn replied.

Once they dismounted they were immediately surrounded by Gimli and the Hobbits, who had remained behind longer than originally planned. Neither Aragorn nor Legolas complained, though it was late and their journey had been long. They were among friends and their own joy was hard to keep to themselves.

"I knew it. I knew it all along. Can't fool a Dwarf," Gimli announced, grinning broadly. "And it's about time, too!"

"That it is, Gimli," Aragorn agreed. "That it is."

"Now about that Old Toby," Merry said, poking Gimli with his elbow.

"You mean the ale. And I expect it to be delivered as soon as possible."

Aragorn exchanged a look with Legolas, then the two of them drew away and headed toward the Citadel's massive doors. When they glanced back, it appeared the Dwarf and Hobbit were still animatedly discussing the matter, while Sam and Pippin were adding their own thoughts.

"What was that about?" Legolas wondered.

"No idea. But whatever it is I'm sure they'll come to some sort of agreement."

"Maybe," Legolas replied. "But you know how stubborn Dwarves can be. . ."

000

Aragorn and Legolas were surprised to find a banquet had been planned in their honor, so instead of the quiet repast they had hoped to share in the privacy of the king's chambers, Aragorn and Legolas endured course after course, toast after toast, in the dining hall among as many guests as could fit inside. But at last the feast ended, and they slipped away, thanks in no small part to the clever diversionary tactics of their friends–mugs of ale and verses of Hobbit song.

A dignified race through the corridors later the door to the king's chambers closed with a quiet thud. Aragorn paused to place the bolt, and when he turned he found himself pinned to the door as Legolas' warm mouth descended upon his. The searing kiss went on and on, and Aragorn responded eagerly to the hunger in it.

Smiling against the pleasurable onslaught, Aragorn ran his hands over Legolas' trim body and began walking them toward the bed. He parted his lips and met Legolas' tongue with his own, enjoying the sensation and the taste that was uniquely his mate's. Aragorn felt as much as heard the quick intake of breath as he suckled gently on the sensitive muscle. He savored the reaction, cataloging it along with the rough moans that came from Legolas' throat. The sounds and the feel of Legolas moving against him inflamed Aragorn's senses and blood rushed to his groin.

"Have you ever known such a long evening?" Aragorn gasped as Legolas began to nibble up Aragorn's throat. His own hands impatiently worked free Legolas' belt and tunic.

"No," Legolas moaned as he felt Aragorn's hands slide down to cup his buttocks. He hurriedly worked to divest Aragorn of his shirt, desperate to feel Aragorn's skin against his own. "I thought the banquet would never end."

"You were not helping," Aragorn growled, pulling Legolas back against himself. "One more look of yours and I would have been ready to shock the court."

Legolas' sigh changed into a growl as Aragorn thrust his pelvis against his own. His hands ran over Aragorn's back, tangled in the dark hair, pulled the bearded face to his own for another kiss. "I am the very soul of discretion. . ."

"With eyes and body and thoughts that would make a eunuch hard."

Legolas' throaty laughter echoed about the chamber as they fell onto the bed, still trying to undress one another. He pushed Aragorn to his back and began to undo the laces of his trousers. "Can I help it if I crave touching you?"

A few rolls and desperate tugs later they lay skin against skin, with Aragorn smiling wickedly down at him as he shifted his weight, bringing their erections into alignment. His head dipped to the hollow at the base of Legolas' throat. Legolas' deep moans vibrated against Aragorn's lips as he explored lower.

"I love the sounds you make," Aragorn breathed.

Before he could move lower Aragorn found himself drawn up flush against Legolas' body and his lips claimed by his lover as he rolled them over once again. He stared up into Legolas' darkened eyes and a shudder of anticipation ran through him. Aragorn was becoming very familiar with that look.

"Not as much as I love yours."

And then Legolas bent to the pleasurable task of drawing as many of them from his mate as he could.

000

A long while later, Aragorn stirred, sighing in contentment, pleasantly exhausted. He could still feel Legolas' hands stroking, could still feel his mate filling him. Tomorrow he would not sit easily, but it was a price Aragorn was willing to bear for the joy of watching Legolas make love to him.

He was about to speak when soft, even breathing met his ears. Aragorn rolled toward Legolas and leaned up on an elbow. The mouth that had earlier been contorted with pleasure was curved into a smile; the eyes that had glowed with love and passion were wide and vacant. Aragorn's fingers itched to caress the chiseled face, but he checked the impulse, happy to merely watch Legolas sleep.

Aragorn could not suppress the smile that sprang to his lips. Everything he'd thought he knew about himself, all of his expectations for the future, had been taken apart and rearranged into a new paradigm. Aragorn had thought never to feel again. He had thought to remain alone. But Legolas had changed all that, and for the first time in a long while Aragorn felt wanted–not for who he was or what he was, but simply as a man. It was a wonderful feeling, to be loved so unconditionally.

Aragorn shifted position and drew Legolas into his arms, spooning himself against the warm body, still smiling. In his sleep Legolas scooted closer. Aragorn pressed a kiss to the pale gold hair before his eyes finally drifted shut, happiness welling up inside him.

No longer did the future seem gloomy. Light had come to dispel the darkness, light in the form of a golden warrior, whose love had proven as true as his aim.

The End

Thank you all for reading.