The whole night, Aragorn sat up awake, head full of thoughts.
He loved Legolas. But what will happen to him and Arwen? What would Elrond say? Aragorn would completely understand if his foster father would hate him if Aragorn ended it with Arwen. Where would he stay? Maybe in Gondor? He was still welcomed there.
He sighed and soon started to focus on Legolas again, admiring how peacefully and untouchable he slept.
Not much time passed until the elf awoke.
Aragorn had his eyes pinned on him, a small feeling of relief slowly spreading inside of him.

„Legolas"

Legolas' eyes looked beautiful as ever.
Even if they weren't shining full of life like they had before. Even if they did not dazzle Aragorn as how they were flashing a few months ago.
No, his eyes did not shine anymore, nor did they have any darkness in them. 
His eyes were lifeless.
A lifeless ocean.
Aragorn felt his heart skip a beat and bit his lip.

„Aragorn"

Legolas managed to smile at him, though he still felt terrible. But he always would give Aragorn his smile. Even if he was tortured, just to see the slight spark in the others eyes.
Aragorn returned the expression and sighed.
„Do not die"
Legolas gave a small chuckle yet his eyes turned glassy.
Aragorn felt like someone stabbed him in the chest. He knew that Legolas was just trying to distract from the situation.
„Legolas. I mean it. Seas do not"
„I can't help it Estel, you know that"
Aragorn stared at him.
The elvish name gave him shudders.
„Do not do this to me Legolas. I beg you"
„Aragorn-"
The ranger shook his head.
„You can not do this to me. I..could not live without you"
„Yes you could Aragorn. There are others. You just did not meet them yet"
Legolas voice was soft, careful as it tried to calm and comfort Aragorn.
„You can live without me. You are just not ready to say goodbye yet"

The brown haired stared at the elf.
„You are breaking my heart you know"
He whispered.
„What?"
„You heard me"
Legolas sat up, knowing that humans could not feel a heartbreak like elven did.
But it probably still hurt a lot and Legolas could never forgive himself if he ever hurt the man who he loved.

„Do you know what you are saying Aragorn?"
Aragorn nodded.
Legolas took his hand, carefully caressing the more rougher in his soft ones.
„I do not wish to break your heart. I could never forgive myself if I did. Do you know what you are attributing to me right now?"
„I do know Legolas. I want you to stay. You can live with me in Rivendell and we will go on plenty of adventures together..we still have so much to do..you can not just..go yet"
Aragorn felt like a child when he said that. He felt like Legolas was his play partner, who came over and had to leave for dinner now.

Legolas lay his hand on Aragorns shoulder.
„Look at me Aragorn."
Aragorn averted his gaze from the ground up to Legolas eyes.
And he could swear that he saw a little spark in it, capable of turning into a flame, a fire, in the power of burning down the whole world. It was dangerous, yet Aragorn was curious.
He wanted more.
More of the hot flame, burning on cold water.

„Listen, if you wish for me to stay, I will do as you please. But you have to know that I will likely suffer here. It will hurt more and more every day. I will not be able to have a peaceful sleep, not that I need it, but  my thoughts will keep me awake. They will haunt me and I'd have to bear with it.
But i would do it for you. Because you are worth all of the pain in this world. I would do everything for you Aragorn. Everything. So please, before you confirm that you want me to stay, because I will, think about it again, with the information you now gathered." 

As Legolas finished, Aragorn couldn't manage to get a sound out of him.
He would never want Legolas to suffer. But he could not let him go. He could not just give up, he could not just forget everything, just ignore it for the rest of his life. No.
Legolas had to stay or Aragorn had to leave with him. And he would.

„Stay or leave with me."
The answer was simply.
„I can't take you with me. I do not think that i even would if i was capable of doing so."
Legolas said.
„You still have so much ahead of you Aragorn"
„So do you."

*This man really cannot give up*
Legolas thought, a smile appearing on his lips for a short second. He looked at the ranger, who now had a little, yet secure amount of hope shimmering in his eyes. And who could resist those puppy eyes? Not even the Mirkwood prince. So he sighed and gave in.
„Then I guess, I will have to stay"
Legolas finally said, smiling softly at the fast change of expression in Aragorns face. It has transformed into a happy, excited and very relieved one.
„And I will do my best so you do not have to suffer, my dear friend"
Aragorn answered, starting to grin widely. He almost pulled Legolas into a kiss, but decided it would be better to just embrace him, so he did.
It was a warm and long one, and he felt Legolas cuddling up into it a bit.
Aragorn buried his face in Legolas' hair, inhaling his scent. Legolas smelled really good.
Like the woods and freedom.
Like something, Aragorn really wanted, but did not have.
But Aragorn started to think.
What if he would just get himself what he did not have but wanted?
But Arwen once again crossed his mind, stopping him from the thought.

The friends eventually parted, inches away from each other.
And Arwen disappeared how she had come.

They both looked at each other, a bit too long to be "just friends".

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