Meleth-nin

Disclaimer: Not mine but J.R.R. Tolkien’s.
A/N: Thanks to you all who have read this far. Also thanks for the reviews. :) As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated.

thoughts
~dream~
/flashback/


Chapter twelve

It was night and Aragorn was having a dream.

~”Ada!” A small, dark-haired boy cried and ran to his father. “Where have you been, ada? I’ve missed you and so has father.”~

~The blonde elf hugged his son close and smiled at him affectionately. “Why Eldarion, I was merely visiting the gardens. I thought you could entertain your father while I was away. Come, Eldarion, there’s something I want to show you. And Aragorn, please join us as well.” Legolas met his husband’s gaze and once again Aragorn was humbled by the love and devotion that shone in the blond-haired beauty’s eyes.~

~”With pleasure, meleth”, Aragorn replied and took his husband’s hand. “Eldarion spoke true, Legolas. I indeed missed you greatly.” He pulled the lithe Elf into his arms and kissed his lips softly. “Im mela lle”, he whispered.~

~Legolas laughed and answered the kiss. “Why someone’s in a good mood today! I gather that your meeting with the councillors went well”, he said and a mischievous smile adorned his lips. He knew how much Aragorn resented those meetings.~

~”Hush now, Elf, there’s no need to kill the mood by mentioning my councillors”, Aragorn said in mock threat. “But pray tell, what is it that you want to show us? Something in the gardens perhaps?”~

~”You guessed right, meleth, ‘tis something in the gardens, but I won’t tell you what it is. You need to see it yourselves”, Legolas said mysteriously and lead his husband and his son to the gardens.~

~”Yay, blueberries!” Eldarion cried in surprised delight. Blueberries were his favourites and there were several bushes in the gardens that were filled with them. “Can you ask the cooks to make a pie of them, please ada?” He asked pleadingly before he stuffed his mouth with the berries.~

~Both Legolas and Aragorn smiled at their son’s enthusiasm. “Of course, ion-nin”, Legolas answered and then looked at Aragorn. “There’s also another thing that I wanted to show you”, he whispered.~

~”What is it, love?” Aragorn asked and looked at his husband curiously. “I gather it’s something that pleases you, since you’re looking so flushed and excited.”~

~Legolas laughed in merry delight. “Indeed, it is.” He then lifted the hem of his tunic and placed Aragorn’s hand which he had been holding on his lower stomach. “The healer just confirmed that we’re going to have another child.”~

~”Oh meleth”, Aragorn breathed and gathered his sweet beloved into his arms. “I love you so much, my sweet, sweet Legolas.”~

~”And I love you, my brave, handsome Aragorn”, Legolas answered and pressed his face against the King’s chest.~


*~*~*~*~*~*


When Aragorn woke up his face was wet with tears. In his dream they had been tears of utter joy and happiness, but when awake they turned to tears of regret and sorrow. The dream had shown him something that could never be. Legolas… his heart cried, I miss you, meleth. Aragorn didn’t know it, but Legolas was also awake and thinking of him in the wilderness.

Earlier that day Aragorn had received the news of his husband’s and foster father’s departure. He had become furious when it turned out that neither had left a note or letter or anything for explanation.

/“How dare they?” Aragorn yelled in furious anger. “How dare they leave without telling me, no, without asking me first! This is outrageous! Doesn’t anyone remember that I’m the King of this cursed land and nothing should take place without my consent?!”/

/Thomas shook his head in disapproval. “I do not understand it either, my King. It is indeed surprising that even your father left without a word. May I speak my mind freely?” At Aragorn’s nod he continued. “To me it seems that both your father and the Prince have turned against you. And if I may say so, you’re better off without them. You don’t need the Prince - or the child he’s bearing - since you’re immortal. And since your own father has decided to support him rather than you, then it’s better for everyone that he’s gone as well. You don’t need disloyal people around you, my King.”/

/Aragorn gritted his teeth in annoyance. He didn’t like the way Thomas was speaking about his husband and his father but he still wanted to hear what he had to say. “Do you have any suggestions how I should handle this?”/

/“Let them go, my King. Sooner or later they will realize their folly and come back asking for your forgiveness. Then it’s up to you to decide whether you shall give it to them or not. And if they don’t come back… Oh well, who needs them anyway”, Thomas said a bit smugly./

Aragorn had agreed with him then, but in the darkness of the night he began to doubt. Wasn’t it him who had done wrong to his darling beloved? Wasn’t it him who had neglected his husband horribly during the past months? His cheeks burned with shame as he thought of how he had treated Legolas last night and how he had betrayed their love by sleeping with another in their marital bed.

Aragorn remembered how he had carried Legolas into their Royal bedchamber on their wedding night. The Elf had been giddy from all the wine he had consumed, yes, giddy and very amorous. Not to mention extremely beautiful in his white tunic and silver leggings with his golden hair braided simply but very becomingly. He had wrapped his slender arms around Aragorn’s neck and kissed his jawline and lips while Aragorn had tried very hard not to drop his precious load.

Finally they had reached the sanctuary of their chambers and had gladly consummated their marriage countless times that very night. In fact, they hadn’t come out until two days later. The King and his new Prince Consort had ordered the food to be brought to them so that they wouldn’t have to leave their chambers in order to eat. In the end they were exhausted but happier than ever. And they had every reason to be happy; they had won the War, the Ring had been destroyed, Aragorn had been crowned and now they finally were married. Life had seemed so perfect. And when Legolas had told him he was pregnant Aragorn had felt so blessed…

The King realized that without Legolas his life would be worth nothing. The Elf had made him complete and filled his life with gladness and joy. And he was also carrying their child and the heir to the throne… Aragorn regretted not having been there for him during early months of the pregnancy – not only had he left Legolas to survive alone he had also missed the changes in his beloved mate’s body.

“I will make it up to you, meleth, even if it takes the rest of my life”, he vowed. “I will never hurt you again.” He was determined to make his earlier dream come true and have Legolas’ love and trust again. He was willing and ready to do whatever it would take to make Legolas his once more.