Living Life

Orophin rode out front of the party headed for Gondor. He was now March Warden since Haldir
had married Aragorn several months earlier. He was escorting a group from Mirkwood so they
could see Legolas. Thranduil and Rumil had decided to exchange vows in six months time and
they wished for Legolas to be present. As they approached the white cit cou could hear the
silver trumpets announcing their arrival. Upon reaching the gates they were halted by the
city guards who didn't look pleased.

"Can I help you?" one human sneered as he spoke.

Orophin was taken aback by the guards attitude. Weren't the humans and elves allies? Hadn't
they laid their differences aside? Apparantly a few did not feel this way.

"I wish to see the King. I bear a messanger from Mirkwood." Orophin stated cooly.

The guard sneered and appeared to contemplate what Orophin had said.

"The King is busy today. Come back another day." he had the audacity to say.

Orophin was mad at this point. Who did this human think he was? What right did he have to
speak for Aragorn?

"We need to see King Elessar today human. " Orophin said his voice betraying his growing
anger.

The human fingered his sword and snapped. "No."

"What is going on here?" came a voice from behind the guards.

Gasping the guards turned to see who was addressing them. Haldir stood behind them looking
slightly angry. Orophin wasn't able to contain his anger any longer.

"This....This human had the audacity to say we couldn't see the king! He told us to come
back tomorrow! Who is he to speak for Estel? What right does he have to turn away an
emissary from Mirkwood?" Orophin raged angrily his words spilling out at an alarming rate.

Haldir turned to the hapless guard fury on his face. "Is this true? Awnser me!"

"Yes..." said a second guard hestantly.

Haldir turned to the guard who had insulted his brother and guests. "You are releived of
duty. Return to the barracks. Wait there until I decide what to do with you." Haldir
snapped. He watched as the guard angrily turned and walked away.
"I apoplogize. Some humans don't like the alliance with elves." Haldir shook his
head in disbelief. "Please continue on to the castle." with a smile Haldir left.

Shaking with fury Orophin rode on to the castle his charges in tow.

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

Legolas hurried down the corridor silently cursing himself. He had overslept and was now way
behind in his work. His paused in his office for a minute to gather up several scrolls.
Sighing he headed down to the library to begin his day. Legolas's naturaly pale face was
wan and there were dark circles under his eyes. Since taking his position six months ago
he had slept little and eaten less. Much had to be done to fix the city since the war had
ceased. Aragorn was struggling to repair the buildings, judge the criminals, and try to
fix everything. In the past year Denthor had grown increasingly insecure and had made the
people scared. Aragord Ard Arwen had to regain their trust and had succeeded thus far.
Haldir had the task of recruting people to fill the armies. He had to train hundreds of
young men and. In the mean time he had to guard the city with a skeleton crew so he was
away alot. Legolas was almost to the library when a servent stopped him.

"Milord the king wishes to see you in his study." she bowed politely.

"Thank you." he said absently before he made his way to the study.

Legolas knocked softly on the door even though Aragorn had told him knocking was unnessacary.

"Enter." came a voice from inside the room.

Legolas opened the door and walked inside wondering why Aragorn wanted to see him. Had he
done something wrong? The what if's ran through his mind as he walked into the room.

"Yes?" Legolas didn't need to address him as you highness because he was his equal in rank.

Aragorn frowned when he looked up at Legolas. He could see someting was not right with
the prince. He looked sick and tired. Aragorn stood and embraced his bond mate. When Legolas
sagged against him he knew something was wrong.

"Legolas are you alright?" Aragorn held him and rubbed his back in a soothing manner.

Legolas meant to say yes but all that came out was a soft sob. He was so tired and hungry.
He was always working! He never had enough time to sleep or spend with his mates.

"I...I'm fine." Legolas managed to say as he cried.

"No your not. Tell me whats wrong?" Aragorn manuvered them until they were sitting on a couch.
"Tell me please." Aragorn held Legolas closer and waited for his awnser.

"I'm just tired. I don't sleep much." Legolas buried his head in Aragorns neck trying to
regain his composure.

Aragorn had noticed things had been wearing on the prince awh awhile. While he had healed in
body his mental stability was still precarious. A knock sounded on the door startling
Aragorn.

"Enter."

Aragorn wasn't worried about anyone seeing them like this. When he was crowned he had told
the people of Gondor about his marridge to Haldir and Legolas. Most were accepting but there
were still a few who disapproved. Many accepted it because of Arwen. They knew the king
would have an heir so they honestly didn't care about his male lovers. Arwen herself had
female lovers. Aragorn was only allowed to sleep with men and Arwen with women. That way
no bastard children would be born. Once a week Aragorn and Arwen met to try for a child.
It seemed cold and heartless to others but it was the perfect marridge for all involved.
The door opened and a servent walked inside, clearly ill at ease.

"Your highness a party from Mirkwood approaches." she said calmly.

Legolas looked up suprised by this turn of events. He wondered who would come all the way
out here from Mirkwood. The only people he could think of were Saelbeth or his father.
Was something wrong? They would only travel to Gondor if something was wrong. Fear gripped
Legolas as he wondered what could possibly be wrong. Aragorn sighed and smiled slightly.

"Lead them in when they get here." he instructed.

"Yes your higness." the servent bowed and left the room.

Aragorn sat and stared at Legolas. Something was not right and it went beyond overwork and
lack of sleep. Something was leeching the strength from his body. But what was it? Elves
didn't suffer from sickness or most normal poisions. Without thinking Aragorn held the
prince a bit tighter. He would send for Elrond at first light and he would pray. A soft tap
sounded at the study door and he bade whomever it was to enter. The door opened and a small
party of elves entered. Aragorn stood and pulled Legolas to his feet as well.

"Please sit." Aragorn smiled at Orophin.

Lorien and Mirkwood elves coming together could only mean one thing. Thranduil and Rumil were
ready to pronounce their vows. Thranduil looked at his son and frowned before he turned
to Aragorn.

"Is anything wrong at home Ada?" Legolas inquired as he sat, He found it hard to stand, he
was so weak.

"Nay. Rumil I wiI wish to say our vows. We wish for you to be present." Thranduil noted his
son's wan face, and thin frame.

"I need to see if they can spare me...I have so much work to do." Legolas said a bit
absentmindedly.

"I am sure that a replacement could be found for you." Aragorn said shocked by the prince's
attitude.

Legolas said nothing he simply sat staring into the fire. His blank expression took them
all off guard. Legolas was the most alert elf anyone could remember seeing. The fellowship
had relied on his vis vision, sharp hearing, and constant vigilance.

"That's it I am sending for Lord Elrond." Aragorn went over and gathered Legolas up into
his arms. Legolas simply laid there not moving or speaking.

"How long has he been like this?" Thranduil asked as he followed Aragorn.

"Never this bad. For a few days he kept saying it was overwork and lack of sleep." Aragorn
explained. "This may be some kind of poison. But I don't know what could poiso elf elf."

"Morgol poison." Thranduil stated flatly. "Or some form of it."

Aragorn shuddered at the thought of Morgol poison and all it's effects. He reached the
chambers he shared with Legolas and Haldir. He laid Legolas down on the bed gently and
wrapped several blankets around him.

"I will send for Elrond now. Watch him please?" Aragorn asked Thranduil.

"Of course I will." Thranduil sounded offended slightly.

Aragorn nodded and went out the door. He found Faramir and asked him to find quarters for
Orophin, Rumil, and Saelbeth. Then he sent a runner to retrieve Haldir. Moments later
Haldir ran up into the castle, he looked worried.

"Haldir I need you to send your fastest runner to retreive Lord Elrond. Something is wrong
with Legolas."

"Alright. I could go and my second in command could take over." Haldir offered. "I am the
fastest rider around and you know it."

"I know, return swiftly." Aragorn said but in his heart he didn't want Haldir to leave.

Haldir nodded and turned to make ready for his journey.

TBC.