Author:    Kate  katewebber_@hotmail.com
Pair:        A/L
Rating:    R
Warning:    Angst
Summary:    In the morning our lovers must chose their fate
A/N:        For those of you that are still with me, a huge thank you, your
wait is finally over... this is the end.



Pt 6/6 the end


Less than an hour later Legolas roused himself, his mind no clearer and his
heart no more certain.  His only choice seemed to be to take his cues from
Aragorn; with this in mind he laid a hand on the Man’s shoulder.

“Aragorn, we must return.”  The man shifted, stirring in an unusually slow
fashion, apparently unwilling to rejoin the waking world. “Aragorn?”

“Yes Legolas, I hear you.”  He sat up, rubbing his hands over his face.
Dressing quickly and silently his eyes scanned the surrounding trees and
the sky above.  Everything but Legolas.  The Evenstar spun on its chain,
dangling loosely from the man’s fingers.  It shimmered in the half-light
small sparks of colour danced on its surface.  Legolas could not tear his
eyes away, the jewel filled his vision, and its former owner once more
filled his mind.  Aragorn’s guilt and remorse were almost tangible, it
surrounded him like armor.  Legolas’ heart quickened and his mind
whispered a nasty ‘I told you so’ and Legolas made his decision.

“Last night,” the Elf began, his lilting accent unusually cool.  “You said
you loved me…is that common for you?”  He met Aragorn’s astonished
gaze with a level stare.



“Common?  Nothing of last night was common for me.  I do not make a
habit of falling on the first available…”  Even as the words fell from his
lips Aragorn wished them back.  “Legolas, I did not…I am sorry.”  But the
apology fell on deaf ears and cold eyes.  “Legolas please, I meant no
insult.  I only…”  Legolas turned his back on the man, examining the trees
as intently.

“Perhaps not, it is of little consequence.”  Legolas’ tone was as foreign as
if he were speaking Entish.  “It cannot be undone but it can go unspoken.
I am certain that is for the best.”  Aragorn did not know how to respond, to
hear their glorious encounter so coldly dismissed knocked the breath from
his lungs.  He wanted to argue, he had wanted last night and he was sure
Legolas had too.  But he was not ready to choose and he could not make
promises to Legolas that might leave him broken hearted.  Perhaps his
wise friend was correct and it was for the best.  Legolas obviously
regretted their time together.

“Perhaps you are right Legolas.”  His voice shook as he spoke his lover’s
name.  “I am sorry my friend.  If I have hurt you I hope one day you can
forgive me.”



Legolas did not recognise the strange choked tone in Aragorn’s voice, he
had expected to hear relief when he told the man that his mistake could be
forgotten.  By the time he could bring himself to look in the man’s
direction, he had vanished into the forest. Legolas knew he would have no
trouble forgiving Aragorn; the man had given him something that had
been hiding in the back of his mind for many years.  Something he himself
had been too unsure of the act upon.  No, the difficulty would be in
forgiving himself, for not taking what he wanted, or at the very least,
admitting what he wanting and being prepared to fight for it. He would
wonder this world many long years and now he knew he would do it
alone.  Aragorn would claim his bride and make his family and Legolas
would become a distant thought, an unremembered dream that woke him
from his loving marriage bed.

Fin.