In the Ruins of Hope

In the Ruins of Hope

Chapter 7
Author: Frosty the Street Thug
Rated: NC-17
Codes: Legolas, Aragorn, Boromir, Faramir, OC, AU, N/C
Summary: The hobbits are dead. Arwen is dead. The war is not over, but the elves are leaving Middle-Earth. King Aragorn and the people of Minas Tirith are all who are left to fight for the freedom of the land. But what's this? They've been corrupted? Say it ain't so!
Author's Notes: Boromir lives. Deal.
Disclaimer: This is so far from Tolkien-verse it doesn't even need a disclaimer. ;)
Notes: Elvish translations will be at the end of each chapter.

*

Aragorn softly fingered the silver box tucked in his drawer. In it was a power he would not wield, nor allow anyone else to wield. He could not deny it had affected him anyways. Gondor was falling into dark, and he could not stop it. He had enough strength, though, to know that what the box held could not help him.

Sighing deeply, his fingers slipped to the jewelled necklace laying at the box's side. He picked it up and watched it sparkle in the light. Long had he worn it. When she died, though, he could not bear to keep it upon his body. He did not deserve it.

Licking his lips and setting down the necklace, Aragorn closed the drawer and shut his eyes. "Tegi enni, Arwen," he whispered, "Im baur lin gur."

She didn't answer. She never answered.

Aragorn opened his eyes and spun on his heel, leaving his bedroom. He knew Arwen would have deserted him long ago if she would have seen him like this. It was not something he denied; Aragorn knew what he did was wrong.

Still, though, part of him did not care.

It was late and the stars were glowing as Aragorn left the white tower. The courtyard smelled of smoke, something he was used to. It never smelled of anything else. The rosebushes and mayday trees died what seemed like an age ago. No one had bothered planting anything after that.

The time of evening held no impression on him. Whether it be night or day, it was as though he could not even notice. The days were long and one stretched into the next as though there was nothing to divide them. Aragorn rarely slept anymore. He couldn't. The dark would call to him through his dreams.

When he barged through the wooden doors on the third level, the majority of the elves were sleeping. Aragorn was not surprised, though, to find Legolas awake and standing. "Legolas," he greeted as some of the elves looked up with sleepy eyes, "Ha no anann."

"You dirty our language by speaking it," said Legolas, "I will converse with you in your low tongue."

Aragorn's eyes dulled to a steely gray. "Insng mng me will not win you merit, my friend. Will you not even try to change your fate?"

Legolas' eyes sparkled as he smiled at the King. "That would please you, wouldn't it? You wish for me to plead for my life." He laughed softly and crossed his arms. "I thought you knew better than sk ssk such things of an elf."

"Some elves would beg," he whispered, "If you put them through enough."

The smiled on Legolas' face faded as he uncrossed his arms and advanced on Aragorn. "Ae le pedo uin Calime, im innas tira-lin fern."

The King smiled softly. "I have not hurt your love," he replied, "Not yet."

Legolas grabbed Aragorn's shirt collar and jerked him forward. His eyes glinted dangerously as the King gazed at him without fear or concern. "Do what you will to me," he growled, "Hurting her will only show how disgusting you truly are."

Aragorn nodded softly and gently pulled himself from Legolas' grasp. "You need not tell me that," he said, smoothing out his tunic, "I know it for myself."

There was a tense quiet before Legolas spoke again. "I want to see her," he said softly, "Once more, before you kill me."

Gray-blue eyes met his and for a second looked surprised. Aragorn smiled then, and chuckled softly. "My friend, when did I ever say anything about killing you? No, that is not your fate. Not now. Death...is too kind."

He walked to the wooden doors and knocked. Three guards entered and approached Legolas, beckoning him towards the exit. He went without a fight, knowing four against one were not good odds. As he passed by Aragorn, a strong hand came to rest on his shoulder. Legolas looked up into the King's glinting eyes. "You will see your lady again," he said, allowing the guards to take him away.

*

"Boromir. Faramir." Aragorn frowned at the two Captains, who were dining in one of the halls with a few soldiers and a bevy of young ladies. It had taken the King some time to find them.

The elder of the brothers glanced up. "Ah, my Lord," he said, drinking deeply from his goblet, "Will you not join us for some wine?"

"I have business to attend to. As do you." Crossing his arms, Aragorn glared at the young ladies surrounding the group until they bowed politely and removed themselves from the company. Faramir did not look happy at the finality to his fun. "I have been looking all over the city for you two. Where have you been?"

Pursing his lips, Faramir leaned back in his chair and raised an eyebrow. "We were in a meeting," he said, raising his chin, "What business is this you speak of?"

"I have a job for you two," replied the King, not continuing his previous questioning. His eyes slid to the other guards at the table. "Come with me," he said, motioning for the brothers to follow.

Sighing deeply, Boromir rose from the table and followed hiotheother and the King to a dark corner of the hall. "What is it?" he asked testily.

Aragorn's blue eyes turned hard. "You and Faramir are to ride out to the forest of Lorien. I have received information that there may still be elves there."

Faramir narrowed his eyes and frowned. "Elves in Lorien? That cannot be. They left long ago."

"Besides," added Boromir, "You have the one you wanted. What do you care if there are others."

"Every elf that lives is a traitor to the world of Men," replied Aragorn, his eyes flashing, "Legolas may be of personal interest to me, but that does not mean others should not suffer as well."

Blinking softly, Boromir nodded. "I do not disagree with you," he said, carefully, "But I fail to see why we should rely on mere rumour. You were sure when the elves of Mirkwood would be leaving for the Havens. This journey would be but a lark."

"Then it is a lark." Aragorn's voice was hard. "My will will be done by the Captains of Gondor, or the Captains will be thrown in with the traitorous elves. Do I make myself clear?"

Faramir and Boromir exchanged a glance, but nodded all the same. "Our apologies, my Lord," said Faramir, "We will leave immediately."

"See that you do." Saying no more, Aragorn turned and left the hall.

The brothers were silent as their King exited the doors. When he was gone, Boromir clenched his jaw and looke Far Faramir. "He is planning something," he said quietly, "There will be no elves to find. This is a fool's errand."

"Perhaps he is planning to use it, in our absence." Faramir's cold blue eyes narrowed in anger. "He knows we do not whim him to command it. If we leave on this mission, he may take that opportunity to try to overtake Sauron."

"He will destroy us." Taking a deep breath, Boromir led the way out of the hall towards the stables. "We will leave for Lorien, as the King commands. But our absence will be shorter than he anticipates." Stopping at the horses, he turned to his brother. "Gather a small group of our most trusted soldiers. Aragorn must not find out about our plan."

Nodding, Faramir set out to find their friends. Boromir watched him go, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "We will not allow Gondor to fall," he whispered to himself, "Not today."

*

TBC

Elf-Speak:

Tegi enni, Arwen. Im baur lin gur. - Lead me, Arwen. I need your counsel.
Ha no annan. - It is time.
Ae le pedo uin Calime, im innas tira-lin fern. - If you speak of Calime, I will see you dead.