Meleth-nin

Disclaimer: Not mine but J.R.R. Tolkien’s.
Warnings: Domestic violence.
A/N: A million thank you’s for the reviews. :)

thoughts


Chapter eight

After a moment of stunned silence Aragorn decided to speak first. His words were harsher than he intended but he couldn’t help it. ”I was looking for you earlier this afternoon. Where were you?” He demanded.

Legolas collected himself quickly and raised his elegant eyebrows. “You were looking for me? Why that’s a surprise. May I enquire the occasion?”

“I was in need of your company. After all I am your husband”, Aragorn stated.

“You remember that only when it suits you”, Legolas said coldly. “And as to where I was that is my business. If I remember correctly I’m free to come and go as I please.”

Aragorn frowned. He was in no mood to hear counter arguments from his husband. He had wanted to speak with his husband and became irritated when he was nowhere to be found. Worse still, no-one seemed to know where the Prince was. Two hours of waiting did nothing to improve his mood. “Nay, you are not. You are my spouse and pregnant with my child.”

“And that means you can tell me what to do? I don’t think so.” Legolas glared at his husband wondering what was wrong with him. Why was he suddenly so possessive after weeks of indifference? Aragorn slammed his fist on the table.

“Damn you and your stubbornness! I am your King and you will obey me!”

Legolas almost snorted. Almost, for he after all was an Elf and Elves never snort. “So you are not only my spouse and the father of my child but also my King. How nice of you to remind me of your status. Now if you would excuse me I would like to take a bath and go to sleep.”

“So where were you? Warming someone else’s bed I suppose?”

Legolas gasped in shock. He couldn’t believe Aragorn just said that to him. He felt a lump in his throat but he forced it down. He wouldn’t give Aragorn the satisfaction to see him cry. “Just because you sleep around it doesn’t mean I’m doing the same”, he snapped. “I haven’t taken my affections to someone else unlike you.”

“Are you accusing me of infidelity?!” Aragorn yelled. “You are nothing but an ungrateful slut!”

“How dare you call me a slut? I’ve never lain with anyone but you! Why should I start now when I’m seven months pregnant! You’re being ridiculous, Aragorn!”

Aragorn couldn’t hold his temper any longer and backhanded Legolas forcefully. He regretted his actions immediately after seeing the look in Legolas’ eyes. He tried to reach for his husband but Legolas backed away. “Don’t touch me. Don’t ever touch me again.” He said in amazingly calm tone. He turned around and walked to his bedchamber and locked the door.

Aragorn forced down a sob. What had he done? He had actually hit his pregnant husband after accusing him of cheating on him and calling him names. What kind of a man was he? He stumbled out of Legolas’ chambers and wandered aimlessly down the corridors. He was painfully aware that Legolas would never forgive him his rash actions, and he wasn’t sure if he even deserved it. Finally he reached his own chambers.

“Is something amiss, Aragorn?” Thomas asked. He was sitting by the table in Aragorn’s study. He was just finishing the report he had started to write earlier.

“Nay… Well, yes. I guess I just fucked up my marriage and my chance for happiness”, Aragorn answered grimly.

“Aragorn?” Thomas questioned. His face held no expression but inside his head his thoughts were whirling. Was this finally the chance he had been waiting for? He had worked side by side with Aragorn every day until late in the night for months, never complaining, always ready and eager to listen his worries or whatever he wanted to talk about. He had even given him massages to ease the hurting muscles in his neck. Usually it was Legolas who did that but for some reason he had ceased his attempts to try and please his husband.

Stupid elf Thomas thought spitefully. If I were Aragorn’s husband I wouldn’t be so thoughtless and self-centred. Can’t he see that there are many to seek Elessar’s attentions? Or doesn’t he even care?

“I would rather not talk about it, Thomas”, Aragorn said in an end-of-discussion tone. “Have you finished the report?”

“Aye, Aragorn, I have. If you so wish I will leave to my own chambers”, Thomas said. His heart was racing. He hoped that Aragorn would ask him to stay and he could make him forget the elf.

“No, don’t go. I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to be rude. Would you care to join me and have a glass of miruvor?” Aragorn asked. He was rubbing his temples with his fingertips. He felt a headache forming.

“Please, do not apologize, there is no reason to. I was wrong to question you. And yes, I would like to accompany you.” Thomas smiled hesitantly and was glad when Aragorn smiled back. Yes, yes, forget about the elf Prince, he’s not worth of you anyway.

Aragorn handed him a goblet and Thomas accepted it gracefully. He eyed him thoughtfully. What had happened between the King and the Prince? It was quite obvious that they had had a fight and Aragorn was blaming himself for it. He also seemed to think that due their fight their marriage was over and they would never be happy again. He had to suppress a smile. It seemed that the stupid elf didn’t need his help in messing up with his marriage after all; he was quite capable in doing it himself.

“Do you wish to talk about what happened between you and the Prince?” He questioned carefully.

Aragorn broke from his reverie and looked at him. It almost seemed that he had already forgotten that he was present. “Nay… I believe it suffices to say that I treated my husband very badly and I’m immensely surprised if he ever forgives me. Elbereth knows I do not deserve it in the slightest.” He sighed and rubbed his temples once more.

“You had an argument, then?” Thomas asked, even though it was unnecessary. That much was obvious.

“Well that’s one way of putting it. The other would be that I hit my pregnant husband after accusing him of infidelity.” Aragorn almost groaned. How on Arda could he be so stupid? He had never believed that Legolas would cheat on him. Then why had he asked him if he did?

Thomas blinked twice in confusion. The King had never seemed to be a violent person. What had triggered this outburst? “Did you have a reason to believe that he was cheating on you?”

“Nay… well, he hasn’t been spending his afternoons in the palace lately, but other than that, no. And at least I could have asked him before assuming that he has found someone else…” Aragorn trailed off. He realized that he had asked Legolas about it, but he had refused to answer. He frowned. Something was definitely amiss, but there was no way in finding it out now.

“Please, do not blame yourself. You have been under a lot of stress lately, surely the Prince knows that and realizes you didn’t intend to hurt him”, Thomas said reassuringly. Yes, he didn’t want Aragorn to blame himself but Legolas. And he wanted to show him that at least he was understanding and loyal. Aragorn smiled at him weakly.

“You’re such a good friend, Thomas. It seems to me that you always find a way to comfort me, even in the darkest of times. Thank you, mellon, it means a lot to me that you support me even when I’m a bastard.”

“No need to thank me, Aragorn. I know you’re a good man and deserve nothing but respect and love of others”, Thomas said, blushing. Now where did that blush come from? Gods, he never blushed!

Aragorn smiled wryly. “I’m glad you think so. Obviously my darling husband disagrees with you, though. It’s almost as if he doesn’t love me anymore. Why else would he not want to meet me anymore and had his things moved back to his old chambers? Maybe I should just let him go after the child is born and release him from our vows. I don’t want him to live with a man he no longer loves and ruin his life.”

To his utter humiliation he felt tears running down his cheeks. Thomas knew this was his moment; the moment he had been waiting for. Gracefully he walked to Aragorn’s side and caressed his damp cheek with his fingertips.

“You are still loved, my King, by both your subjects and myself. I will do my best in easing your pain. I will never leave you, I swear.”

Aragorn grabbed the younger man by his shoulders and pulled him closer before claiming his lips fiercely. Thomas couldn’t suppress a moan when Aragorn’s demanding tongue entered his mouth. Aragorn wasn’t thinking anything but the submissive, pliant lips against his own.

Yes, Thomas, make me forget… Make me forget all my pains, he pleaded silently. I lost the one I loved; maybe the one who loves me can save me from the pain.

When Thomas unlaced his leggings and knelt in front of him, Aragorn moaned throatily and bucked his hips. The tears were still running when he reached his climax. He didn’t even realize it hadn’t been Thomas’ name which he had been moaning – it was Legolas’.