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The tall figure arrived in the White City as the sun began its descent into the west. He passed unseen through the iron doors of the Gate and made his way up the hill and into the great hall where he was awaited.
The King rose and crossed the room to meet him.
“Mellon-nin, I have wanted for your counsel.”
“I will give it gladly.”
The guards dismissed, they were alone in the great hall. “And your friendship.”
“That I am also glad to give.”
They stepped into an embrace under the tall arches. They pulled apart and Legolas searched the other’s eyes. “My friend, you are weary.”
“I am old.” A faint smile was upon his lips. “I have aged centuries since you last saw me. Step outside with me. There is no air to breathe inside these halls.”
They climbed the winding staircase to the open footbridge and stood upon the brink, Minas Tirith and the green fields beneath them.
“What news from Ithilien?”
“All is well.”
“When last we met here, you spoke of the call of the West.”
Silence fell over them.
“I will resist it while I may. I feel it is not my time. But how goes it in Gondor?”
“All is well”, the Man echoed absently.
“And the lady Arwen?”
Before any answer there came the sound of voices from the gate below and then a couple of minutes of frenzied activity as the gate was lowered and raised again. Neither of them spoke again until the echoes of the voices were lost inside the castle walls.
“You shall not want for company, I see.”
He turned to face his companion. “I shall want for yours, mellon-nin.”
Legolas smiled weakly and drew his gaze to the horizon. “I will be back, though I cannot stay.”
“The ages of the Elves are not the ages of Men. Linger but a while in your forests and you will find me spent and gray upon your return.” A shadow rolled over them, and between them.
“I cannot stay.” His eyes searched the distance beyond the hills of the Pelennor.
“Not even for the sake of a friend?”
Legolas searched his companion’s face for a moment and at the darkness that seemed to have suddenly set upon it.
“Is not the oath I swore to you fulfilled? Have I not done right by you, Aragorn?”
The Man stood upon the brink of the battlement and his voice grew cold. “Go then. Your forest awaits you.”
“Aragorn”.
“No duty binds you here. Nor did it ever.” He smiled bitterly. “Duty - what can you know of it?”
His companion turned sharply at this, but his voice was gentle.
“Do I not know what it is to be bound by duty? No, my friend, I know it all too well.”
“Go then,” was the answer again.
“I would not have these be our parting words.” His pale hand searched for his companion’s arm, only to be shrugged off with a force which made him draw back in surprise. “I would not quarrel with you and depart like a stranger. I would not have us bicker like this.”
The King’s fingers closed tightly around his wrist. “I would.” He pulled him towards him until their breaths met and he hissed, “And we will.”
Legolas shook the other’s grip easily, a reminder that he was stronger and had always been. He looked at Aragorn’s figure dark against the fading evening light and turned away. “You are not yourself.”
After two steps he stopped to look back before climbing down the stairs to the darkening courtyard. “I have not deserved this.”
The unanswered knocks echoed in the bare walls of the castle. Aragorn stood peering into the darkness of the empty hallway before opening the door and entering.
The chamber was unlit, the bed untouched, a slender shape dark against the window, barely perceptible against the light of the waning moon.
“If we are to be parted, let it not be like this.”
No answer came and the dark figure stood unmoving against the white light as he moved towards it.
“Please, my friend, you have never been blind to my faults. You’ll forgive my rash words.”
He moved towards Legolas and put a hand on his shoulder, his voice thick with urgency.
“Please, my heart is heavy.”
The dark figure turned back to face him and pressed their foreheads briefly together before meeting his mouth with his own. Aragorn stood frozen in place while the other’s lips searched his.
At last he pulled away and turned to face the window again. “Forgive me. I will set out for Ithilien in the morning.”