Underneath It All

Disclaimer: Aragorn and Legolas, not to mention Boromir, belong to J.R.R. Tolkien and his estate.
This is totally and completely AU and includes mpreg. There is no Sauron, no Ring and no Fellowship.


Boromir almost choked. “That is Prince Legolas? It cannot be!” He eyed the Elf critically and found to his dismay that his beauty was flawless.

“You are right, Boromir, I should go in there now”, Aragorn said and licked his lips in anticipation. “I have to say that I’m very interested in getting to know the Prince better.”

He never noticed the look on Boromir’s face. ‘So that is all it takes? A pretty face and a slender body and I am all but forgotten’, Boromir thought bitterly. ‘And after their wedding Aragorn will claim the Prince as his. Ai, I cannot stand the thought of him with someone else!’

Boromir entered the Hall first and announced the arrival of King Elessar. All the gathered guests stood up when Aragorn walked in. He couldn’t take his eyes off the young Prince; he was utterly enchanted by his beauty and elegance. Legolas met his gaze and blushed; he also couldn’t help noticing how handsome the King was. He had been expecting an old, gray-haired man but instead in walked a good-looking man, probably in his mid-thirties. Legolas blushed some more as he realised where his thoughts were going and chastised himself for his foolishness. Finally Aragorn reached the end of the table.

“Good eve, my honoured guests”, he began, locking gaze with Legolas. “I am most pleased to see you all here tonight. This is a happy evening not only for all who are present but also for the Kingdoms of Gondor and Mirkwood. Tonight my betrothed, Prince Legolas of Mirkwood has entered my realm and in a fortnight we shall be wed.” Aragorn then took a wine goblet from the table, directing his next words at the young Elf. “Prince Legolas, I am honoured that you have consented in joining me in marriage. May our union bring joy and happiness to you and our children.”

Legolas smiled at him nervously and blushed when all other guests toasted to him as well. He knew he should say something in return but he couldn’t think of anything appropriate. At that moment he regretted skipping the lessons of court life; he had always preferred being free and roaming the great Greenwood to acting like a ‘real Prince’.

“King Elessar, thank you for your kindness and your hospitality”, he finally spoke in a quiet voice. Aragorn had to strain his hearing to make out the words. “May our marriage bring happiness to you as well, your Majesty.”

Aragorn nodded and smiled reassuringly at him. ‘How sweet he is! I don’t think I will have troubles at all in getting him pregnant.’ He then felt a stab of guilt for thinking like that. ‘He’s so young, practically still an Elfling… And what about Boromir? He loves me and I love him as well. How can I make love to another when I already have a lover? How am I going to make this arrangement work?’

“I hope you all enjoy your dinner”, he said aloud at the guests and sat down. The guests followed his example and the servants served the food. Usually the palace inhabitants ate meat at dinner but tonight the cooks had prepared lighter meals for the Elf guests. Aragorn was very relieved, for he knew that Elves ate meat very rarely, preferring fruits and vegetables. He noticed soon, however, that the Prince hardly ate anything but only nibbled at his food.

“I hope your journey was peaceful”, he said and smiled kindly at his young guest. “Do you find your chambers satisfactory, Prince Legolas?”

Legolas nodded quickly. “Aye, they are magnificent.” He hesitated for a moment but gathered his courage and spoke up. “Can I ask you something, King Elessar?”

Aragorn found the way the Prince was biting his lip to be very endearing. “Of course you can. And please, do not call me King Elessar; my given name is Aragorn. May I call you Legolas?”

“Please do”, Legolas said and blushed. No-one ever called him Legolas except for his brothers and it was quite confusing to hear this man call him by his given name. His father always called him ‘son’ and others always attached his title to his name. “I just wanted to ask if my things will be moved to your quarters after the wedding or if we will have separate chambers.”

Aragorn almost dropped his fork and turned his confused eyes at Legolas. He hadn’t really thought about their living arrangements, which of course was pretty foolish of him. “That is a good question. I have to admit that I haven’t given it much thought. Would you be more comfortable with living in your own chambers instead of sharing quarters with me?”

Legolas didn’t know what to say. “I think it would be best if we had separate quarters”, he answered at length. “I am quite used to solitude. I hope that is what you wish, also.”

Aragorn nodded slowly, wondering why he felt a bit disappointed. ‘You are a fool, Aragorn. Did you really think that you would get to live with the Prince in the same chambers? That wouldn’t be fair to Boromir, nor to Legolas’, he chastised himself. “That sounds fine to me”, he said calmly and sipped his wine. “However, for the sake of public appearance we should give the impression that we are living together.” Legolas looked at him quizzically. “What I mean is that my people don’t know that we are marrying just because I need an heir. They think we are in love.”

“Oh.”

Aragorn cleared his throat awkwardly. “I think we need to give some serious thought to our living arrangements; I’m sure we can find a satisfactory solution. I don’t want my people to speculate on our marriage.”

“Of course not.” Legolas’ voice was very quiet. Aragorn gave him a long look but instead of asking what was on his mind he contented himself with finishing his meal and his goblet of wine.

“Would you like me to show you the palace?” He asked. Legolas nodded and the King and the Prince excused themselves from the table. Boromir, who sat among their Mirkwood guests followed the two royals with his eyes.

‘Where are they going now? And what was all that talking here at the table?’ He gritted his teeth in annoyance. ‘Aragorn is already smitten with that Elf. But he’s wrong if he thinks I’m going to give up on my lover that easily!’ To his further annoyance he couldn’t follow the pair but had to stay at the table talking to their guests.

Meanwhile Legolas and Aragorn were walking on one of the corridors. “Here is our library”, Aragorn explained and gestured at a large door on their left. “Feel free to visit it anytime you please. There are several books and parchments on various subjects, I’m sure you will find something that meets with your interest.”

“Thank you, I shall bear that in mind”, Legolas said and smiled his exquisite, unforced smile. Aragorn had to look away; the Prince was almost too beautiful. ‘A lesser man would claim him at the spot’, he thought eyed at Legolas discreetly, ‘or maybe it is the other way around and I’m the lesser man for not doing anything.’

Legolas, oblivious to Aragorn’s line of thoughts looked around excitedly. “I have to say that your palace is much larger than it looks from outside. All these corridors! I think I should be given a map so that I won’t get lost here”, he jested and was pleased when Aragorn smiled. “But pray tell, do you have any gardens? Your palace is beautiful but being an Elf I need to have a connection to the nature as well.”

“I’m glad you asked.” Aragorn practically beamed. “It happens that my gardeners have worked on them all spring and the gardens are on full bloom. Would you like me to take you there?”

“Yes, please!” Was Legolas’ enthusiastic response.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


“Your gardens are truly magnificent”, Legolas said softly, stroking the trunk of an old tree. “I have a feeling that I shall spend a lot of time here in the future.” He smiled suddenly and looked at Aragorn with an excited look. “This tree just told me that I am welcomed to visit him anytime I wish! How very kind”, he murmured and pressed his smooth cheek against the rough bark.

Aragorn was amazed. “You actually heard him talk to you? That is amazing! Do all Elves hear them?”

“Not everyone… I have spent so much time in the forest that it has strengthened my bond with the nature”, Legolas explained and fell silent for a while, listening to the tree. “He tells me that you visit these gardens very often, too. And that you usually don’t look very happy.”

Aragorn’s expression sobered and he shrugged dismissively. “Yes, well, being a King is quite hard sometimes. It is true that I come here often in orded to find peace and solitude.”

“I understand”, Legolas said and worried his lip. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything. We are getting married in a fortnight; I would like us to become friends ere that”, Aragorn replied.

”Are you marrying me only because you need a son?” Legolas asked. His expression gave nothing away.

“I’m not going to lie to you, Legolas. I need an heir to secure the future of this kingdom; and in order to do so I must marry”, Aragorn answered truthfully. “But this marriage doesn’t only benefit my kingdom but also that of your father’s. So I guess the answer to your question is that yes, I’m marrying you because I need a son, and the reason I’m allowed to marry you is because your father needs a powerful ally. Does that answer satisfy you?”

Legolas nodded slowly. “Thank you for your straight-forwardness”, he said. “That was more honest an answer than any of the answers my father has ever given me.” Legolas was in fact quite surprised that the man didn’t try and lie to him but told him the truth instead. He was so used to his father’s ways of trying to get what he wanted by lying and manipulating that he thought that all Kings were the same.

“It is getting dark already, we should probably go inside”, Aragorn suggested. He knew that he would get some tongue-lashing from Boromir and probably from his counsillors as well for spending time alone with the Prince. ‘They are afraid of me claiming him before we are married’, the King thought, bemused. ‘What do they think I am, a lust-crazed teenager?’

“Someone is coming”, Legolas said suddenly.

It was Boromir and Aragorn instantly guessed that his lover was angry at him. Boromir bowed down to Legolas. “Good eve, Prince Legolas. I am Boromir, the Steward of Gondor. I am sorry to disturb you but your father’s advisor, I believe his name was Tiríon, was asking for you. He’s waiting for you in your chambers.”

Legolas also bowed and thanked Boromir for informing him. “Good night, Aragorn. We shall meet tomorrow morn”, he said glancing briefly at his husband-to-be and then looking back at Boromir. “Good night to you also, my Lord.” He then left the men alone.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Boromir snapped as soon as Legolas was out of sight.

“What do you mean?” Aragorn asked feigning ignorance. He knew what Boromir meant, of course, but he didn’t know the answer to that question. What actually was he doing? Was he trying to make the Prince comfortable or was he trying to impress him?

“You know perfectly well what I mean”, Boromir snarled. “I am not blind, you know. And I know you well enough to notice when someone’s picked your interest. All I’m saying is that you should be really careful with him. No more these disappearances together before the wedding, do you hear me? I’m keeping an eye on you”, he said threateningly before turning to walk away. He then turned to look at Aragorn one more time. “You belong to me, don’t you ever forget that. No little beautiful Prince is going to change that.” With that he also walked away and left a confused King behind.

‘I knew this wouldn’t be easy’, Aragorn thought and sighed deeply. ‘I just hope that Boromir isn’t going to cause any problems.’


TBC…