The White Wolf

Aragorn woke once in the middle of the night, the room dark and cold around him. Shadows swam in large groups across the ceiling, and created fantastical shapes above him. He lay there with his eyes half closed, sated and relaxed for the first time in a very long time. He felt a faint flush rush through his veins as he remembered Dinon ton taking him, the pand and pleasure of having the skinchanger buried deep within, claiming Aragorn for the second time. He had missed that more than he thought he ever would, missed having the other man’s touch and heat filling him.

With a sigh, Aragorn glanced over at Dinrogion, who lay on his back, the blankets pulled up to his waist and tresses of his white hair lying in light lines across his chest. Aragorn watched the slow, steady rhythm of his breath for a moment before reaching out and placing one hand over Dinrogion’s heart. The beat was strong and reassuring, a steady cadence that Aragorn could feel against the palm of his hand, something constant. Something his life lacked. Unsettled and yet somehow comforted at the same time, Aragorn relaxed back into Dinrogion’s warmth, sleep stealing over him again.

He awoke again the next morning, curled in the covers and trying to avoid the sunlight that streamed in through the open balcony. The drapes had been pushed aside and the doors had been opened, letting in fingers of cold air and the muted thunder of the sound of the city below the palace. With a groan Aragorn rolled over only to find Dinrogion missing. He cursed, knowing that the skinchanger was probably out prowling for trouble.

Aragorn climbed from his bed and found a set of fresh clothing draped over a chair, no doubt left in place by Isilme. His housekeeper could be quieter than an elf when she wished to be. He pulled on the soft black pants first, before buckling his sword belt around his waist. He took Anduril off its pegs over the fireplace and buckled it to the belt. For some reason, he felt like he would need it today. A tight fitting gray shirt and a black velvet open sided tunic completed his outfit.

He had sat down on the edge of the bed to pull on the knee-high boots when a knock sounded at thor. or. With a grimace he finished pulling on one boot and picked the other up before calling out for the person to enter.

Faramir stuck his head around the door, brown eyes quickly searching the room before coming to rest on Aragorn. “Are you alone, Aragorn?”

Sighing, Aragorn pushed away from the bed and made his way to the door, one hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of his sword. He opened the door completely and stopped in front of Faramir. “Yes, I’m alone. What brings you here, Faramir?”

Faramir’s eyes still moved, as if he expected someone to suddenly appear crouched behind the partition or from the other room. “You told me to keep you informed of any news about the white wolf.” He waved a handful of papers under Aragorn’s nose. “These are written accounts from some of the staff.” Faramir’s voice lowered and a frown settled across his face. “I don’t know if it’s a joke, but several of the servants claimed to have seen a wolf matching the same description wandering the halls just before da A c A couple of maids even reported being chased by the thing. But I cannot figure out how something like that could get into the castle.”

Aragorn kept his face composed into a straight mask as he ushered Faramir out of the door and closed it behind him. He started off down the hall, Faramir at his side, and turned the corner before replying. “Maybe there is a skinchanger loose in the castle.”

Faramir stopped dead, and only started moving again when Aragorn stopped to glance back at him. “But Aragorn, that’s impossible.” He paused for a minute. “Isn’t it?”

“More than likely, Faramir. Unless Beorn has decided to pay a visit in a very odd guise. Some guard probably left one of the postern gates open and the wolf came in hoping for food.”

Faramir sighed, disappointed at such a mundane explanation. “That’s probably it. I’ll have Merugo check with the guards that were on duty last night and I’ll see what I can find.”

Aragorn nodded and continued walking, checking all the cross corridors for any sign of Dinrogion. Either as an elf or wolf. Chasing maids…Aragorn briefly considered threatening Dinrogion with a leash. But then he remembered what had happened the last time he had said something to that affect, and he didn’t need to be thinking of that right then.

Luckily Faramir pulled him from his thoughts. “So…how’s Legolas?” There was a hint of hesitation and embarrassment in his voice.

Aragorn frowned in confusion. It had been over a month since he had last seen Legolas, since the last time the elf had dropped by Minas Tirith. “Legolas?”

“Yes…I heard that you had company,” the last word came out half strangled, “and since Legolas arrived last nigurinuring the Council meeting…I just sort of assumed that you would know how he was doing.”

“Oh dear Eru.” This was not what he needed at the moment. Dinrogion and Legolas within miles of each other was something he had worked hard to avoid. He stopped and turned to face Faramir, gripping the younger man by the shoulders. “Why didn’t anyone tell me that Legolas had arrived?”

Faramir’s eyes went wide. “I figured you would know.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “You mean…he wasn’t with you…?”

“No!”

“Well then who…?” Faramir didn’t finish the question but instead dropped into a haze of thought, a frown on his face as he stared at the wall over Aragorn’s shoulder.

Aragorn had to shake him slightly to get his attention. “Where is Legolas? Do you know?”

“The last time I saw him, he was with Finduilas and Elladan in the east solar, breaking their fast.”

Aragorn turned and stalked off down the hallway, heading through the maze in the general direction of the east solar. As he walked he silently cursed his luck and wondered why the Valar seemed to find it amusing to do this to him.

The east solar was a small room, set aside for use by the permanent residents of palace. Expensive glass panes formed one wall, looking out over a lush garden that Elladan tended and that showed the careful and caring touch of an elf keeper. A long, gleaming oak table was set in the middle of the room, surrounded by comfortable chairs with plush golden pillows. When Aragorn walked in, the early morning sunlight poured in and cut a swatch across the crimson carpet and lay a banner of gold across one end of the table.

Legolas sat with Elladan and Finduilas at one end of the table, the end bathed in sunlight. Aragorn stopped for a moment as the small group erupted in laughter. The hazy shaft of light created an ethereal outline around Legolas and set his blonde hair shimmering. He never seemed to change to Aragorn’s eyes, even though Aragorn had been raised by elves and had grown accustomed to the subtle signs as an elf aged.

Some instinct made Legolas lift up his head and look toward the doorway where Aragorn stood. When he saw the human king he smiled, a warm light reflecting in his eyes. He rose with catlike grace and hurried over to Aragorn, grasping Aragorn’s hand in both of his.

“Estel, finally you’ve decided to grace us with your presence.” A teasing lilt tinted Legolas’s voice as he pulled Aragorn over to the table. “Come join us. Elladan and I were just telling Finduilas about the first time we took you hunting.” Legolas smiled at him again and then leaned in close to whisper before releasing Aragorn’s arm. “I missed you last night.”

Elladan must have caught the low statement because he smiled knowingly at Aragorn. “Yes, brother, we were telling how you fell off the bridge into the river and had t res rescued.”

Aragorn reluctantly took a seat, not knowing how to pull out of the situation without looking bad. Or hurting someone. He pushed aside the trepidatihat hat filled his mind and sat across the table from Legolas. “If I remember right, I didn’t fall, I was pushed. And the rescue involved three wet elves struggling to get out of the river first and chase after me.”

Elladan laughed. “Only because you pulled us in with you!”

“What else was I supposed to do?”

Legolas raised one slender eyebrow and settled back in his chair. “You could have been kind and let us win.”

“But then I would had to have lived with the jokes for years after.”

“I almost feel sorry for Queen Celebrian,” Finduilas broke in, mirth in her voice as she picked up a piece of toast and broke it in half, passing one part to Aragorn. “Having to raise children of her own and then having this hellion dumped on her as well.” She patted Aragorn on the arm to take the sting out of her words.

Aragorn scowled as Legolas and Elladan started laughing again. “Hellion? I’ll have you know I was the perfect child.”

That only increased Legolas’s laughter. “So that’s why you drove Celebrian half crazy by disappearing so many times.”

“Which is a bad habit he still holds on to today,” Elladan added. “He’ll wander off and not come back for weeks.”

Finduilas nodded and sent a glare Aragorn’s way. “And he’s so inconsiderate. He never bothers to tell anyone where he’s going.”

Aragorn held up his hands in defense against the onslaught. “At least I always manage to find my way back.”

Legolas met Aragorn’s eyes and a slight smile touched the elf’s lips, a secret smile that he normally reserved only for Aragorn. “And you call yourself a Ranger.”

Aragorn could not hear Isilme enter over the gale of laughter, but he caught her cold stare she sent him as she placed a fresh platter of honey-glazed baked fish in the center of the table. She straightened, brushing wisps of her dark hair away from her face. “Is your companion going to join you this morning, King Elessar?”

Aragorn saw Legolas frown out of the corner of his eye and hesitated on speaking. But he knew that there was no way he could avoid this situation, not when it was primed to turn into an all out disaster. “I’m sure that he would, but he is more than likely lost. He has only been here once before and does not know the layout well.”

Isilme snorted as if she had believed nothing else. Just more proof in her mind that Dinrogion didn’t belong anywhere near Aragorn. “Would you like me to send out servants to search for him?”

“If it would not be too much trouble.”

“Of course not, my king.” Her tone voiced that it would be no end of trouble and hassle for her. She bowed once before sweeping from the room and pulling the doors shut behind her.

“Your companion?” Elladan asked as soon as she had disappeared. “What companion is this, Estel?”

Legolas sat in silence, the slightest of frowns marring his brow, but Aragorn knew him well enough to see the uneasiness in his eyes.

“He’s an old friend. He unexpectedly arrived last night and stayed here at the palace.”

“An old friend? When did you meet him? And why haven’t I heard about him before?”

“I met him five years ago, Elladan. And you’ve never met him because he rarely comes this far north.”

A sharp tone entered Legolas’s voice when he spoke. “He’s from the south?”

Aragorn sighed, knowing that Legolas’s mind had jumped to Mordor at the word. “Yes. Near the borders of Rohan and Gondor.”

“He must be a good man if he is your friend,” Finduilas said, licking honey from her fingers. Aragorn thought it best to not laugh at that comment. “I would like to meet him as well.”

“As soon as it is possible, you can all meet him.” Aragorn risked a glance at Legolas and saw that the elf was studying him with an intense gaze. A gaze that did not seem very comforting at all to Aragorn.

Elladan waved one hand through the air before reaching out and grabbing a roll, tearing off the crusty top. “He’s probably another one of those scruffy Rangers Estel used to hang out with. I haven’t seen any of them around in a good bit of time, so it is probably overdue that one of them appear.”

Aragorn knew that the statement had been intended more for Legolas than him, but Elladan’s words did not seem to comfort the elf. Aragorn was at a loss for words, not knowing how to answer his foster brother without getting into deeper trouble, but Legolas looked his way expectantly.

“He’s not a Ranger.” And he was not scruffy, although Aragorn was not going to speak of Dinrogion’s noble and strong appearance here. “Although I did meet him while I was out scouting. After the Battle of Helm’s Deep.”

“So that’s where you disappeared for two weeks,” Legolas said quietly, his worry growing. He shot Aragorn an imploring look, wanting to speak with him alone.

Which was hardly something Aragorn was ready to do unprepared. His prayers were answered as Merugo entered the room, bowing low and requesting Aragorn’s presence as he inspected the guards’ barracks. Aragorn stood to follow him from the room, giving Legolas one last reassuring smile before gratefully disappearing.