Meleth-nin

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Tolkien owns it all.

A/N: Here we are, at the journey’s end. This is the first long story that I have finished as of yet and I believe this story will always hold a special place in my heart, no matter how many stories I’ll write in the future. I would like to take the time to thank all my readers for staying with me; bearing with me; offering me advice, feedback, and encouragement. I love you all.


Epilogue


The afternoon sun found the King and the Prince Consort of Gondor lying on their rather messy bed. It didn’t blame them for neglecting their duties and tarrying in each other’s presence; rather it saw their contented gazes and tender smiles and rejoiced in their love.

Legolas rested his head on Aragorn’s shoulder, enjoying the feel of his mate playing with his hair. He pressed closer to Aragorn’s warm body and smiled as his stomach bumped up against the King’s side.

“Pregnant again”, Legolas murmured, but there was warmth and softness in his tone. “What your people must think of me, the breeding prince! It seems that all I do is provide you with children and your kingdom with heirs.”

Aragorn chuckled as he pressed a small kiss on the top of the Elf’s head. “A breeding prince, indeed! I have to say that I am overjoyed about having another child to love and to raise, and Eldarion is very excited about having a baby brother. Our little El is not so little anymore; he will be the perfect big brother for the little one. I would say that this is a perfect time for us to have a new family member.”

Legolas’ blue eyes softened. “You are right, husband. I feel that I am ready for another baby; I would not have been earlier, when Eldarion was younger, but now I am. I have to admit that I am very grateful for Faramir’s presence; if it were not for him the matters of the state would take all your time, leaving me to care for two children alone; one unborn and one eight-year-old.”

“Aye, Faramir indeed is a gift from the Valar”, the King easily admitted. Asking the son of the former Steward to move back to the White City with his family had been a wise decision; Faramir was a very able Steward and could assist the King in many matters, thus lessening his workload and giving him more time to spend with his mate and his son. And now when there was a new child on the way, Faramir’s assistance was even more appreciated and consequently, in demand.

There was no doubt in Aragorn’s mind that Faramir’s arrival had saved his marriage a lot of trouble; when they had returned from Imladris all those years ago, when Eldarion was still a babe, the King had been overburdened with the problems of the Kingdom and her people. Legolas had been mightily annoyed at the fact that his husband had, once again, been sucked up into his work. After some serious discussions between the pair it was decided that the King would ask the son of the latest Steward to take up his father’s post and move to Minas Tirith from Ithilien. To the Royal couple’s eternal relief and gratitude Faramir had happily done as he was asked and moved to the Palace with his wife Éowyn and their six-month-old son Boromir.

“I take it that you are not needed today”, Legolas said innocently, stroking his husband’s bearded cheek with his fingertips. His slim fingers trailed lower on the man’s face before they came to a halt in the man’s chin. Curiously, the fingers explored the cleft in the kingly chin, hidden beneath the trimmed beard.

“I surely hope so; I have already spent the better half of the day in the bed with my Consort”, Aragorn exclaimed with a laugh. “Are you in need of my company, melethron?”

Legolas smiled coyly and continued with his exploration. “I was merely thinking that I would love to break fast up here in our rooms, and if you could be so kind as to fetch us something to eat. I would love to do it myself, but it is so taxing to carry a heavy tray with this belly.”

Aragorn arched an eyebrow. “You are not that big yet, Legolas! But I will abide to your wish nevertheless; I will not have it said that the King of Gondor let his pregnant mate starve to death. What would you like to have?”

Legolas considered a moment, his brow furrowed in a sweet expression. “I would love to have some mead, some fresh bread rolls with honey, strawberries with cream, and some almond cake. Oh, and a piece of that apple pie we ate yesterday at dinner. Do you think the cook could make some vanilla sauce to go with it?”

The King stared at his mate for a moment totally speechless. “I am certain the cook would love to make anything you desire, meleth-nin, including vanilla sauce. But are you sure that you are going to eat all that? ‘Tis going to be one heavy tray.”

“Of course I am going to eat all that”, the Elf Prince said cheerfully. “After all, I eat for two now, do I not? Can you please hurry, I am mightily hungry. I do not want to disturb the baby with my rumbling stomach.”

Humbly the Man got dressed and hurried downstairs. He might have been the King of Gondor and Anor, but when it came to Legolas he was the Elf’s willing slave.

*~*~*~*~*~*

When Aragorn returned to their bedchamber fifteen minutes later he noticed that the large bed was empty. He raised his eyebrows in surprise; where had Legolas gone? The King laid the food-laden tray on a nearby table when he spied an open balcony door; it seemed that Legolas had gone to enjoy the warm weather.

Legolas was standing in the balcony, leaning on the rail slightly. He had wrapped himself into a silken robe that reached his mid-thigh. Aragorn took a moment to admire his husband’s beauty before he, too, stepped into the balcony and walked to stand behind his Elven mate. He then saw what Legolas was watching; their son playing in the garden with Faramir’s son Boromir. The boys were of same age and had been best friends ever since they first met. Right now they seemed to be playing hide and seek. Aragorn smiled at the sight of the two boys and placed his hands on Legolas’ shoulders, proud of the boy Eldarion had become, and grateful to Legolas for giving Eldarion to him. The Elf made a small noise at his mate’s touch, but didn’t turn to look at him, keeping his gaze in their son instead.

“He has grown up so quickly”, Legolas marvelled. “Can you believe it, Aragorn; our son is already eight summers old! To me it seems that it was only yesterday when Eldarion was born; and now he is a big boy already, ready and willing to face the world without his Ada and his father.”

Aragorn sensed the melancholy behind the Elf’s words. It was no secret to him that Legolas was more attached to Eldarion than he was; it had nothing to do with Aragorn loving his son less than his mate did, but everything to do with Legolas being the one who had carried Eldarion before his birth.

“Surely you do not believe that our son does not need us anymore, meleth”, he chided gently. Legolas shrugged his slight shoulders and made a small sound in the back of his throat. “’Tis true that El is not so little anymore, and he definitely is not in need of coddling any longer, but that does not mean that we are useless for him; quite the contrary. Eldarion is now old enough to understand his own actions and their consequences, and he has developed patience and willingness to learn. Think of all the archery lessons you can give him, Legolas! Is that thought not enough to banish that brooding mood of yours?”

The Elf shrugged again, and was silent for a moment before he spoke again. “You are right, husband, as you always are. A part of me is saddened because of Eldarion’s need for independence; and yet, another part of me is glad because of it. To see him grow up and become a person of his own is a great privilege; he is so kind and so smart, and I could never have asked for a better son.”

“And in six months there will be a new baby for you to fuss over”, Aragorn teased and was rewarded with a chuckle from his lover.

“That goes for you, too”, the Elf said. “Do not think for one moment that you will get away with it that easily; I think it is time for you to learn how to change diapers for a baby and how to feed him. When El was little I used to take care of those; with Elessarion you will become an equal nurturer.”

“Elessarion?” the King questioned curiously. ‘Son of Elessar.’ He tasted the name and admitted that it sounded good; it also went well with Eldarion’s name, which meant ‘son of Elves’.

Legolas nodded. “I had a dream about him a few nights ago. I saw him, Aragorn, and he told me his name; Elessarion. He will look a lot like me, but he will have your eyes. Ai, he is so beautiful! I can hardly wait all these six months to get to know him; I can already feel what a wonderful child he will be; kind and generous.”

“I am impatient, also”, Aragorn admitted, “but the six months will go quickly and before we even know it, you will be in labour, and we will have our beautiful son.”

Legolas smiled at his husband’s words and the couple stood in comfortable silence, enjoying the feel of one another and the sun that warmed the balcony. The Man gently caressed the gentle curve of Legolas’ stomach and smiled as the Elf sighed contentedly. It gave him courage to ask the question he had been mulling over in his head for quite some time; he believed he knew the answer but since he didn’t want to presume anything he needed to hear it from Legolas’ own mouth.

“Are you happy, my love?”

“You need to ask? Aye, meleth-nîn, I am happy and content”, Legolas answered and felt how the Man’s arms immediately tightened around his body. “We have been greatly blessed, Aragorn. First with our love for each other, then with the birth of our son, and now with the new baby. In six months’ time we will have another son; until then, he will continue to grow inside me; grow stronger and bigger by each passing day.”

Aragorn hummed his agreement. He had to admit, though, that the feeling of Legolas’ beloved body in his arms wreaked havoc on his ability to concentrate on his husband’s words. He smelled the clean scent of the Elf’s silken hair and also the smell of their earlier couplings on his skin. Aragorn realised that Legolas was still speaking and made an effort to listen what he had to say.

“And Eldarion… he is the joy of my life. He is so intelligent and so brave; I am prouder of him than I ever thought possible. He resembles you so greatly, both in spirit and in appearance; I love him very much for that alone. And you, my love. I do not think you need to hear what I think of you; I believe we expressed our feelings for each other quite thoroughly in the bedchamber this very morning”, the Elf finished with a mischievous smile. Aragorn had to laugh at that. Legolas was right; they had made love in their bed all morning, slowly and thoroughly, yet with passion and desire.

The Man aligned his crotch to the tight buttocks of his mate. “And yet I desire more”, he said lowly, grinding his hips against Legolas’ body. The Elf gasped as he felt the proof of the Man’s rising passion for him press between his buttocks.

“You Men are so greedy”, he mock-complained, but there was a playful tone in his voice. Truth to be told, he wasn’t unaffected by his husband’s presence, either. To have him so close, to hear his beloved voice speaking so close to his ear was enough to set the Prince aflame and stroke the mounting fires of his passion for his man. Legolas turned his head so that his lips were available for Aragorn and the Man didn’t need to be told what to do. They kissed slowly, enjoying the feel and taste of one another, and when they finally parted Legolas’ eyes shone like stars and Aragorn’s cheeks were flushed.

“I would very much like to take you again, my love”, the King said almost humbly. “Is that your wish also?”

Legolas turned to face his mate, sighing in exasperation. “Aragorn. When have I been unwilling? Do you really not know what your touch does to me; how you make me fall apart under your hands? Yes, my lord, ‘tis my wish also, and I beg you not to waste any more time in talking when it can be better spent in doing other things”, the Elf hinted and accentuated his words by rolling his crotch against that of Aragorn’s.

Aragorn growled throatily and swiftly scooped the Elf up on his strong arms. Legolas squealed in surprise and laughed when the King briskly carried his mate inside and laid him on their unmade bed.

“The breakfast can surely wait a bit longer”, the Man said gravely and ripped Legolas’ expensive robe, claiming his husband’s mouth in a heated kiss.

*~*~*~*~*~*

After the sweat had cooled off on their skin and the couple was again able to breathe normally, the Man and the Elf gazed at each other and smiled.

The King’s strong hand cupped the slight swell of the Elf’s stomach. “Another son. My sweet love; how can I ever tell you in words how much our children mean to me? How much you mean to me? Ai, Legolas, to think that we came so close to losing this all… the mere thought is unbearable”, Aragorn said fiercely. Legolas gently placed a finger against his lips and the Man took the hint; it was of no use to speak about the past. Their future together was bright; they were having a new family member and the kingdom Aragorn so wisely ruled flourished.

“I love you”, Legolas said honestly and met Aragorn’s eyes. “More than I can ever say.”

“And I love you”, the Man said and pulled his beloved closer to kiss his forehead. Aragorn smiled against Legolas’ skin, pressing his lips to the smooth, silken forehead over and over again. The Prince was right; they were indeed blessed by the Valar.

Life was perfect.


THE END


A/N: I have enjoyed writing this story and I hope that you have had good time reading it, as well. Please let me know what you think. Is anyone interested in a sequel, perhaps?

I would love it if you took a little time to tell me what you thought of ‘Meleth-nin’; what you liked, what you didn’t like and so on; even if you don’t normally review I would love it if you did so this once.

Thank you for reading. Blessed be.

love,
laeglass