Title: Firelight and Shadow 1/? Author: Kate Email: katewebber_@hotmail.com Pairing: Aragorn and Legolas Rating: G for now Archive: Why not, just let me now where Warnings: none Spoilers: none Summary: Sitting around the fire, Aragorn can't help thinking Authors notes: This is my very first LotR fic - the first I wrote and the first I'm posting. This takes place post FotR - but outside the book and movieverse - after an unnamed battle, most likely Helms Deep. Although I did write this before Two Towers came out. Completely unbeted but I did spellcheck :) any mistakes are 100% mine unlike the characters in this story Disclaimer: see above, I own nothing here. Firelight and Shadow His eyes were drawn to him once more. As easily as his thoughts, more often of late, turned to Arwen his eyes turned to him. It was fair to no one, his heart belonged to Arwen but his body, oh his treacherous body longed for another. Perhaps that was the reason his mind dwelled so frequently on his absent love. There he sat, across the clearing by a small fire. Gimli caught his eye and raised a hand in greeting. Aragorn went to them. “You’re just in time lad, the elf and I were just comparing scores.” Legolas laughed at this. “It is impossible to compete with you Gimli; you inflate your number with each retelling.” “Now now there’s no need to be getting jealous boy,” the Dwarf insisted. “Your skills will improve with age. One day you may even be a match for me.” Legolas laughed again and ignored the Dwarf’s boasting, the battle had been hard enough and he had no care to start another. “What of you Aragorn, what number do you claim?” Aragorn thought on this for a moment for in truth he had not been able to count. “Enough.” He said finally, “And more that the both of you. But the battle is done; we fought and lived to tell of it, this is all that matters now.” Gimli snorted, clearly taking a different view. He bade them goodnight and left, going in search of others who shared his love of a good tale. Legolas watched Aragorn across the fire, the man seemed far away, and as the Elf watched him his hand strayed to the pendant around his neck. “You think of her often.” It was hardly more than a whispered observation but it snapped Aragorn back to himself. “She is gone.” It wasn’t an answer but then it hadn’t really been a question. Should I tell him? Aragorn wondered, should I tell him that I sit here and it is not she who is in my thoughts. They are so alike, beautiful, innocent, delicate. In appearance at least but Legolas’ strength radiates from him and he is no more innocent that I. We fight, we kill and we are not innocents. Yet there he sits and the firelight plays over his face. He looks…I want…Aragorn shook his head, the silence had stretched to long. “We have lost many and we will lose more still in the coming days. I hope you will not be one of them Legolas.” Legolas watched him a while longer before speaking, the Man’s eyes were dark with a depth of emotion Legolas did not recognize. “Kill me?” The Elf smiled, “They would have better luck trying to kill the Dwarf Gimli. With a head as hard as his it would take more than ten thousand. So do not trouble yourself with my safety, my friend.” Aragorn graced him with a small smile. “Then I will not worry.” Legolas frowned, that strange light still lingered in Aragorn’s eyes, he opened his mouth to speak but before he could Gimli fell at his feet. “Good evening.” He slurred a skin of wine in his hand. Legolas quietly slipped it from him as he helped the drunken Dwarf to his feet. “Why don’t you go into the Keep and fall down somewhere.” He suggested. “Be good to sleep under a roof again.” Gimli agreed stumbling off in approximately the direction of the rough hewn walls. Legolas tossed the wine over the fire to Aragorn, who took a long swallow. He sighed appreciatively “Not bad.” He offered the skin back. Legolas wrinkled his nose. “I do not have a taste for it.” Aragorn set the wine aside, the mood he was in the alcohol could only make things worse. He had already caught Legolas’ speculative gaze, he wondered what the Elf saw, what he could read in his eyes. It was better if he believed that it was Arwen on his mind. Aragorn hoped that was what he believed. “We should rest, sleep while we can.” Aragorn said suddenly, taking his blanket from his pack and settling down on the hard ground. “You do not wish to sleep inside?” Aragorn shook his head. “Too many nights outdoors, I would not know where I was if I could not see the stars. Besides drunken Dwarves always snore, but go in if you prefer.” Don’t go, please it is not the stars presence I need to rest easy. Aragorn lay back, his eyes closed lest he give himself away. Legolas settled himself on the ground. “I have always preferred to sleep outside.” Aragorn felt his body relax, for the first time in what seemed like years. He breathed slowly and tried not to think…of the coming dangers, of Legolas in the firelight, of Arwen, of anything. Aragorn slept. Title: Firelight and Shadow 2/? Author: Kate Email: katewebber_@hotmail.com Pairing: Aragorn/Legolas Rating: pg13 ish Archive: Why not, just let me now where Warnings: none Spoilers: none Summary: Later that same night Aragorn has trouble sleeping Authors notes: This is my very first LotR fic - the first I wrote and the first I'm posting. This takes place post FotR - but outside the book and movieverse - after an unnamed battle, most likely Helms Deep. Although I did write this before Two Towers came out. Completely unbeted but I did spellcheck :) any mistakes are 100% mine unlike the characters in this story Disclaimer: see above, I own nothing here. Legolas awoke with a start, dawn was still a few hours away he wondered what had woken him. His elven eyesight, keen even in the darkness, picked out no threat. He could hear nothing in the dark that should not be there, the fire had burned low though it was doubtful the cold that had roused him. Sweeping his gaze over the clearing again he saw Aragorn standing a few feet away into the trees, his sword drawn. Legolas took up one of his long blades and ran silently across the clearing to his side. “Aragorn, what do you see?” Aragorn started, he had not heard the Elf approach. “It is nothing, I thought…” He shook his head, not sure what he had seen. His thoughts were too crowded, his dreams too. “I saw nothing.” “Aragorn? It is not like you to jump at shadows.” Legolas laid a hand on the Man’s arm; Aragorn shook his head again and sheathed his sword. “I did not sleep well, my dreams…they were full.” He admitted with some difficulty. “Something troubles you, all evening you have seemed…not yourself.” Legolas seemed to struggle for the right words. “I would help you if I could.” “I know that to be true Legolas but it is my own fears that haunt me. I worry for Frodo and Sam and poor Merry and Pippen, they are innocents in this and yet they are in almost constant danger.” “You cannot blame yourself for their troubles, you have done nothing but your very best to protect them all.” “And failed at every turn! I fear for all we know, if we do not succeed Legolas the world will be swallowed by this darkness. And what of your kind, Legolas, creatures of the light dimmed by shadow. What will become of you?” No…please I did not just say that. “Then we must not fail,” Legolas said simply. “You have not failed the Hobbits, you did not cause these dangers we face so you will not blame yourself for them. And as for me, I told you be fore my friend you need not worry about my safety.” ‘My friend’ words like a knife in my gut and if you knew what I was thinking Legolas, they would be like a knife in your back. “I am sorry my friend, wine and fatigue have made a fool of me.” Aragorn’s eyes fell to the hand that lingered on his arm, he covered it with his own. The skin was warm and soft as a child’s beneath his own calloused palm. “Legolas.” A mere whisper, an unspeakable wish for something that could never be. A frown wrinkled Legolas’ brow at the pain he saw in the Man’s eyes, instinctively he moved closer to comfort his companion. He did not know the cause of the pain he saw but he tried to find the words to banish it. “Aragorn, I” In that instant the pain was replaced by something more akin to anger, Aragorn advanced on the Elf forcing him back. Legolas stopped only when he became pinned between a solid tree trunk and Aragorn’s unyielding body and still Aragorn advanced on him. Closer, nose to nose, sharing breath, Aragorn rested his forehead against Legolas’, his breath coming shallow and quick. He struggled to control himself but knew that battle to be already lost. He cupped his hand against the smooth cheek, his heartbeat pounded in his ears even at this simple touch. Legolas watched him, confusion plain of his gentle face. Aragorn bent his head and kissed the crease of skin between his brows, sliding his hand to the back of his neck Aragorn claimed the Elf’s mouth with his own. His tongue swept out easily parting the pliant lips beneath his. Lust coiled low in his belly as he moved with in the willing warmth of Legolas’ mouth. It took Aragorn several long unthinking moments to realize that the Elf was not to his touch. He broke the kiss and drew in a ragged breath. Legolas stared at him surprise evident in his wide eyes and, God help him – God help them both, the underlying innocence in those eyes aroused him even more. He turned quickly before Legolas could see what was surely written all over his face. “I am sorry Legolas.’ He waited for bitter words, for accusations, for something. The gentle hand on his shoulder was unexpected, when he would not turn back Legolas moved around to face him. “It is not a betrayal Aragorn, to…to seek comfort with another. Lady Arwen,” “Arwen?” Aragorn almost laughed aloud. “I had my tongue in your mouth and you believe my thoughts dwell on Arwen? Oh Legolas you do not know what you do to me!” “You desire me, your kiss was proof of that...” “And you do not, of that I have evidence enough.” The Man tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice, he had done enough to jeopardise his friendship with the Elf without having Legolas believe he was angry with him. “Aragorn, you surprised me, not an easy thing to do to an Elf but you managed it nonetheless. Perhaps if you would try it again?” A mischievous light twinkled in his eyes although his tone remained neutral. “I am sure that with a little warning I can react in a manner you find pleasing.” Aragorn made a low growling sound in his throat, almost against his will his hand stole out, his rough fingers tangling in Legolas’ long blond locks. “Do not tease me Legolas. I beg of you, if you do not want this tell me so and we will not speak of it again.” Legolas considered this for a long moment before leaning in to brush Aragorn’s lips with his own, a gentle hand stroked the Rangers stubbled cheek. “I cannot tell you to stop Aragorn, I want you to kiss me again.” Aragorn growled again and crushed the Elf’s mouth beneath his own. This time the lips beneath his parted eagerly and Legolas’ tongue came out to play. Aragorn wrapped his free arm around Legolas’ waist drawing him closer, he rocked his forward, letting the Elf feel the extent of his arousal. He moaned and held him tighter when he felt Legolas’ cock begin to respond in kind. Silently cursing himself Aragorn broke the kiss, he never wanted to stop touching the beautiful Elf before him but he needed to know. Breathless again, his voice low with desire he had to ask. “You’ve had your kiss Legolas, is that all it is to be?” Legolas sighed and laid his head on Aragorn’s shoulder, his breath was warm and quick on his neck. “Tis the truth,” he whispered. “I have never been with a Man Aragorn. But I do not think we are…too dissimilar.” Aragorn chuckled quietly; he reached down to stroke Legolas’ growing erection. “No, my friend I believe we will fit together nicely.” Legolas’ head fell back at the touch of the Man’s skilled hand. Aragorn lowered his mouth to the bared throat and began licking and softly sucking his way from the delicate collarbone up to the beautifully pointed ear, relishing the soft sighs his mouth caused the Elf to make.