Post by Admin on Sept 2, 2021 3:57:14 GMT
Author - LegolasLover2003
Ranking - First Place
Rating - K
Characters - Legolas, Thranduil, Aragorn, Tauriel, OC
“I cannot go back.”
“Where will you go?”
“I do not know.”
And he hadn’t known.
In fact, the Mirkwood prince had, in the moment of his father’s asking, been simply running blind, listening to his heart and certainly not his head. Realizing that, for now, to remain and watch what future he had hoped for crumble like the broken keep he now stood within, his remaining would only be a painful reminder of what could have been.
Leaving had truly been the only option for him.
As he turned at the voice and saw his father’s gaze however, that desire to abandon the wood faltered ever so slightly.
Thranduil’s blue gaze held an emotion that, in truth, Legolas had not seen in many long years. For the briefest of moments, the prince thought himself an Elfling once more. There was something in that gaze… a deep sadness and longing that, to the archer, seemed so very misplaced with the usual glint in the Elvenking’s eyes.
Yes, Legolas knew he would likely head to Imladris. The Last Homely House east of the Sea had always been a place to heal, not only from physical wounds but those of the mind as well… those of the heart.
“Go north. Find the Dunadan. There is a young Ranger amongst them. You should meet him. His father Arathorn was a good man. His son might grow to be a great one.” Thranduil had spoken, as if he could almost read his son’s heart even now.
Legolas’ intentions actually had been to seek out the twin sons of Elrond and their little brother Estel. That small child could easily turn his mind from such matters with his flurry of questions. It certainly would not have been the first time that the prince had come to them seeking counsel as darkness crept over the wood.
His blue eyes caught the gaze of the Elvenking then. There had seemed, to him, then a glint of understand… of perhaps acceptance, now shone in his father’s eyes. It had replaced that deep sadness and, thus certainly, gave the prince a renewed determination to leave and seek out paths far from home.
“What is his name?” the archer asked suddenly, realizing that if he was to forgo his trip to Imladris, that he would certainly need to know who he searched for.
Thranduil took a moment to consider his answer. “He is known in the Wild as Strider. His true name, you must discover for yourself.”
Cryptic... but secrets were not uncommon among the Rangers. He had traveled with them a few times when visiting the twins and while they shared much with the Elves, there were things never discussed. In fact, as the prince thought about it, he did recall a man... rather grim faced, by the name of Arathorn... though that name had been spoken of only in hushed whispers and under the strictest of secrecies.
Legolas had turned, as if to depart. However, the voice of Thranduil suddenly stopped him in his tracks.
“Your mother loved you, Legolas. More than anyone. More than life.”
The archer felt his heart leap up into his throat and had to quickly compose himself least he forgo his own desire and return to the elder Elf’s side.
Instead, Legolas placed a hand over his heart, turning slightly to the Elvenking. He did not look to his father… no… for the prince simply couldn’t, as he moved his hand away from his heart in a silent farewell. If Thranduil had returned it, he knew not, and without another word, Legolas strode away… never once looking back.
~ ~ ~
TEN YEARS LATER...
“Imagine my surprise when I arrived in the north only to find a small child trying to keep up with Elves and Rangers on foot!” Legolas said with a half smirk, glancing at the man beside him. “No wonder they called you Strider...”
Aragorn frowned, “I have always hated that name... but I suppose it did stick. Did you ever tell your father that I was the one you found?”
“No.” the prince shook his head. “And I doubt he would believe that I had met you years ago in Imladris either. I only ever referred to you as Estel, after all.” For a moment, Legolas' blue gaze caught the stars above on the clear night. He went silent then... thinking back to those days after the Battle of the Five Armies...
“Do you think it the right thing, Estel? What I did back then, I mean.”
The young human sighed, seeming to bite the side of his mouth unconsciously as he considered the words which his friend had just told him. It was hardly easy to tell someone if their course were right or wrong, especially when one shared a bond with the other as deeply as they. Not wanting to insult the notion that his friend needed space from the realm he had devoted his life to protecting… but also not wanting to belittle that choice at the same time, it took Aragorn many long moments to come up with a suitable reply.
When Legolas felt as if he would burst for want of an answer… only then did the man reply.
“No.”
Blinking, Legolas stared at Aragorn in shock for many long moments. “I do hope you plan to elaborate, mellon nin.”
The two friends were in the midst of a copse of close trees south of Rivendell within the Misty Mountains. Not far off from their uphill perch, if one looked close enough, you could see the River Ningloron just barely flowing from the snow capped peaks and sparkling in the reddish orange of sunset, painting it in an eerie light. They had been traveling for the last few days on a hunt to celebrate Aragorn's twentieth birthday.
Sighing again, grey eyes turned on the prince. “You did so rashly. Leave that is.” Before the prince could argue, Aragorn held up one hand. “Your father let you go because he understood he could not stop you. We all know when you get an idea into your head that you are impossible to deal with and not be persuaded otherwise. Like father like son, it seems.” He smirked slightly but continued. “Think of all the dead, Legolas. Think of those your father must have burned upon the pyres while you ran off. I understand your feelings for Tauriel, but those feelings were not returned… and I think that a good thing.”
“Good?! Why on earth for?!” Legolas replied suddenly, staring at the man as if he had grown a second head. “Does my heart mean so little to her? To you? Ever have I followed… I broke a promise to my lord for her and she just… she gave her love to a Dwarf of all things. Me… competing with one of the stout peoples… can you imagine how I feel? How I felt?”
Sighing, Aragorn nodded, “Oh believe me, I can. I can indeed… though no Dwarf be involved.” Before the archer could reply to that however, he changed the subject back to the original problem. “And think of your duty as prince, Legolas. Surely Thranduil would have desired your presence at Thorin’s funeral? As must as I hate to tell you what to do, you should at least have been there for Tauriel. Even if you loved her and that love not returned… she was alone now with you gone, was she not?”
The blond looked away, his blue gaze dark in the setting sun as he scanned the tree line. “She told her woes to Legede. He listened. If I had to console her… I fear my own heart might have broken in the process.”
Nodding, Aragorn tossed another stick on their fire. “Then what you held was not love.”
Legolas looked to him sharply, “What would you know of love?”
“More than you, it seems.” Estel replied, returning the Elf’s glare before his gaze softened. “I have loved that which I can not attain. But I love her all the same. You know this. Do not belittle my heart now, mellon nin.”
Sighing, the prince looked away again. “Why was it not love then, oh great and wise Strider? Why... does it still hurt to think of her even now?”
Aragorn chuckled slightly at the sarcasm in his friend’s voice. “Because if you truly loved her, Legolas… you would be sitting beside her right now… not having run about the wilds with a Ranger for the last few years. Even if her love were elsewhere… you, Legolas, would have been at her side. Would still be at her side. I think… I think you had a passing fancy and nothing more… granted your ‘fancy’ seemed to last decades but that, I believe, is simply the way of Elves.”
For a time, neither companion spoke. They remained sitting in silence, listening to the last chirps of the birds for the day and the crackling of the fire before them. It was somewhat strange for the two friends to be without the twin sons of Elrond on such a venture… strange but also nostalgic. Granted that nostalgia tried to skirt around the memory of the disaster that seemed to follow them when alone. However, Elladan and Elrohir were both needed north of their current position and had gone that way with another band of Rangers only yesterday, splitting from the two friends with waves and smiles. This gave Legolas the chance to open up to Aragorn, as he was want to do from time to time, without worrying about the teasing remarks of the twins.
By the time the sun had set low and night crept upon them, by the time when the stars were already uncovered in the dark sky above, only then did Legolas finally reply.
“My heart still feels like a great river suddenly dammed up.” He whispered into the night.
But Aragorn smiled softly, just barely noticeable in the fire’s flickering light. “Then dig a trough and divert that river, Legolas. Let your heart flow freely, if not upon the same course, then upon another. There are more things you can love in this world than her.” Reaching up, the man pointed to the stars. “Those for example… or…” his hand lowered, slapping against the tree trunk behind them lightly. “These. Are stars and trees no longer precious to you?”
“Not as she was.” The prince admitted before sighing, nodding his head. “Diverging my heart from its former course has not been easy, Estel.”
Aragorn’s warm smile broadened, and he put an arm around the Elf’s slender shoulders. “It never is, Legolas. It never is.”
~ ~ ~
END
Translations:
Caro Rad = Dig A Trough (Make a Path/Pass)
Mellon nin = My friend
Author's Note:
- This is my attempt... to reconcile LOTR/Hobbit Canon with not only my Head Canon (which is easy) but with PJ's Movie Hobbit Canon (which is harder to do). This story bridges that gap where Thranduil insists that Legolas find Strider... but we all know that Aragorn was born in 2931 and the Battle of the Five Armies was in 2941... which means that Thranduil wanted Legolas to find a ten year old boy (young Ranger). In my own Head Canon, Legolas met Aragorn as Estel when the boy was five, and did not learn his true name until he was twenty (the time when Elrond told Estel that he was Aragorn). So in theory, Strider could have already begun training as a Ranger with Elladan and Elrohir and the northern Rangers (he was taken to Imladris when he was three by his mother) and this was Thranduil's way of sending Aragorn a little extra protection via Legolas (because from the way Thranduil says it in the movie, he knew Arathorn “was” aka “dead” a good man). Also in my Head Canon, Thranduil doesn't find out that Estel is Aragorn/Strider until after the events surrounding Aragorn's twentieth year.
- Legede is an original character. He is Thranduil's right hand basically. You may use him but please ask permission to do so first.
Ranking - First Place
Rating - K
Characters - Legolas, Thranduil, Aragorn, Tauriel, OC
“I cannot go back.”
“Where will you go?”
“I do not know.”
And he hadn’t known.
In fact, the Mirkwood prince had, in the moment of his father’s asking, been simply running blind, listening to his heart and certainly not his head. Realizing that, for now, to remain and watch what future he had hoped for crumble like the broken keep he now stood within, his remaining would only be a painful reminder of what could have been.
Leaving had truly been the only option for him.
As he turned at the voice and saw his father’s gaze however, that desire to abandon the wood faltered ever so slightly.
Thranduil’s blue gaze held an emotion that, in truth, Legolas had not seen in many long years. For the briefest of moments, the prince thought himself an Elfling once more. There was something in that gaze… a deep sadness and longing that, to the archer, seemed so very misplaced with the usual glint in the Elvenking’s eyes.
Yes, Legolas knew he would likely head to Imladris. The Last Homely House east of the Sea had always been a place to heal, not only from physical wounds but those of the mind as well… those of the heart.
“Go north. Find the Dunadan. There is a young Ranger amongst them. You should meet him. His father Arathorn was a good man. His son might grow to be a great one.” Thranduil had spoken, as if he could almost read his son’s heart even now.
Legolas’ intentions actually had been to seek out the twin sons of Elrond and their little brother Estel. That small child could easily turn his mind from such matters with his flurry of questions. It certainly would not have been the first time that the prince had come to them seeking counsel as darkness crept over the wood.
His blue eyes caught the gaze of the Elvenking then. There had seemed, to him, then a glint of understand… of perhaps acceptance, now shone in his father’s eyes. It had replaced that deep sadness and, thus certainly, gave the prince a renewed determination to leave and seek out paths far from home.
“What is his name?” the archer asked suddenly, realizing that if he was to forgo his trip to Imladris, that he would certainly need to know who he searched for.
Thranduil took a moment to consider his answer. “He is known in the Wild as Strider. His true name, you must discover for yourself.”
Cryptic... but secrets were not uncommon among the Rangers. He had traveled with them a few times when visiting the twins and while they shared much with the Elves, there were things never discussed. In fact, as the prince thought about it, he did recall a man... rather grim faced, by the name of Arathorn... though that name had been spoken of only in hushed whispers and under the strictest of secrecies.
Legolas had turned, as if to depart. However, the voice of Thranduil suddenly stopped him in his tracks.
“Your mother loved you, Legolas. More than anyone. More than life.”
The archer felt his heart leap up into his throat and had to quickly compose himself least he forgo his own desire and return to the elder Elf’s side.
Instead, Legolas placed a hand over his heart, turning slightly to the Elvenking. He did not look to his father… no… for the prince simply couldn’t, as he moved his hand away from his heart in a silent farewell. If Thranduil had returned it, he knew not, and without another word, Legolas strode away… never once looking back.
~ ~ ~
TEN YEARS LATER...
“Imagine my surprise when I arrived in the north only to find a small child trying to keep up with Elves and Rangers on foot!” Legolas said with a half smirk, glancing at the man beside him. “No wonder they called you Strider...”
Aragorn frowned, “I have always hated that name... but I suppose it did stick. Did you ever tell your father that I was the one you found?”
“No.” the prince shook his head. “And I doubt he would believe that I had met you years ago in Imladris either. I only ever referred to you as Estel, after all.” For a moment, Legolas' blue gaze caught the stars above on the clear night. He went silent then... thinking back to those days after the Battle of the Five Armies...
“Do you think it the right thing, Estel? What I did back then, I mean.”
The young human sighed, seeming to bite the side of his mouth unconsciously as he considered the words which his friend had just told him. It was hardly easy to tell someone if their course were right or wrong, especially when one shared a bond with the other as deeply as they. Not wanting to insult the notion that his friend needed space from the realm he had devoted his life to protecting… but also not wanting to belittle that choice at the same time, it took Aragorn many long moments to come up with a suitable reply.
When Legolas felt as if he would burst for want of an answer… only then did the man reply.
“No.”
Blinking, Legolas stared at Aragorn in shock for many long moments. “I do hope you plan to elaborate, mellon nin.”
The two friends were in the midst of a copse of close trees south of Rivendell within the Misty Mountains. Not far off from their uphill perch, if one looked close enough, you could see the River Ningloron just barely flowing from the snow capped peaks and sparkling in the reddish orange of sunset, painting it in an eerie light. They had been traveling for the last few days on a hunt to celebrate Aragorn's twentieth birthday.
Sighing again, grey eyes turned on the prince. “You did so rashly. Leave that is.” Before the prince could argue, Aragorn held up one hand. “Your father let you go because he understood he could not stop you. We all know when you get an idea into your head that you are impossible to deal with and not be persuaded otherwise. Like father like son, it seems.” He smirked slightly but continued. “Think of all the dead, Legolas. Think of those your father must have burned upon the pyres while you ran off. I understand your feelings for Tauriel, but those feelings were not returned… and I think that a good thing.”
“Good?! Why on earth for?!” Legolas replied suddenly, staring at the man as if he had grown a second head. “Does my heart mean so little to her? To you? Ever have I followed… I broke a promise to my lord for her and she just… she gave her love to a Dwarf of all things. Me… competing with one of the stout peoples… can you imagine how I feel? How I felt?”
Sighing, Aragorn nodded, “Oh believe me, I can. I can indeed… though no Dwarf be involved.” Before the archer could reply to that however, he changed the subject back to the original problem. “And think of your duty as prince, Legolas. Surely Thranduil would have desired your presence at Thorin’s funeral? As must as I hate to tell you what to do, you should at least have been there for Tauriel. Even if you loved her and that love not returned… she was alone now with you gone, was she not?”
The blond looked away, his blue gaze dark in the setting sun as he scanned the tree line. “She told her woes to Legede. He listened. If I had to console her… I fear my own heart might have broken in the process.”
Nodding, Aragorn tossed another stick on their fire. “Then what you held was not love.”
Legolas looked to him sharply, “What would you know of love?”
“More than you, it seems.” Estel replied, returning the Elf’s glare before his gaze softened. “I have loved that which I can not attain. But I love her all the same. You know this. Do not belittle my heart now, mellon nin.”
Sighing, the prince looked away again. “Why was it not love then, oh great and wise Strider? Why... does it still hurt to think of her even now?”
Aragorn chuckled slightly at the sarcasm in his friend’s voice. “Because if you truly loved her, Legolas… you would be sitting beside her right now… not having run about the wilds with a Ranger for the last few years. Even if her love were elsewhere… you, Legolas, would have been at her side. Would still be at her side. I think… I think you had a passing fancy and nothing more… granted your ‘fancy’ seemed to last decades but that, I believe, is simply the way of Elves.”
For a time, neither companion spoke. They remained sitting in silence, listening to the last chirps of the birds for the day and the crackling of the fire before them. It was somewhat strange for the two friends to be without the twin sons of Elrond on such a venture… strange but also nostalgic. Granted that nostalgia tried to skirt around the memory of the disaster that seemed to follow them when alone. However, Elladan and Elrohir were both needed north of their current position and had gone that way with another band of Rangers only yesterday, splitting from the two friends with waves and smiles. This gave Legolas the chance to open up to Aragorn, as he was want to do from time to time, without worrying about the teasing remarks of the twins.
By the time the sun had set low and night crept upon them, by the time when the stars were already uncovered in the dark sky above, only then did Legolas finally reply.
“My heart still feels like a great river suddenly dammed up.” He whispered into the night.
But Aragorn smiled softly, just barely noticeable in the fire’s flickering light. “Then dig a trough and divert that river, Legolas. Let your heart flow freely, if not upon the same course, then upon another. There are more things you can love in this world than her.” Reaching up, the man pointed to the stars. “Those for example… or…” his hand lowered, slapping against the tree trunk behind them lightly. “These. Are stars and trees no longer precious to you?”
“Not as she was.” The prince admitted before sighing, nodding his head. “Diverging my heart from its former course has not been easy, Estel.”
Aragorn’s warm smile broadened, and he put an arm around the Elf’s slender shoulders. “It never is, Legolas. It never is.”
~ ~ ~
END
Translations:
Caro Rad = Dig A Trough (Make a Path/Pass)
Mellon nin = My friend
Author's Note:
- This is my attempt... to reconcile LOTR/Hobbit Canon with not only my Head Canon (which is easy) but with PJ's Movie Hobbit Canon (which is harder to do). This story bridges that gap where Thranduil insists that Legolas find Strider... but we all know that Aragorn was born in 2931 and the Battle of the Five Armies was in 2941... which means that Thranduil wanted Legolas to find a ten year old boy (young Ranger). In my own Head Canon, Legolas met Aragorn as Estel when the boy was five, and did not learn his true name until he was twenty (the time when Elrond told Estel that he was Aragorn). So in theory, Strider could have already begun training as a Ranger with Elladan and Elrohir and the northern Rangers (he was taken to Imladris when he was three by his mother) and this was Thranduil's way of sending Aragorn a little extra protection via Legolas (because from the way Thranduil says it in the movie, he knew Arathorn “was” aka “dead” a good man). Also in my Head Canon, Thranduil doesn't find out that Estel is Aragorn/Strider until after the events surrounding Aragorn's twentieth year.
- Legede is an original character. He is Thranduil's right hand basically. You may use him but please ask permission to do so first.