Title: New Relationships

Pairings: Eventual Aragorn / Legolas

Genre: Angst / Sap / Alternate Universe / (eventual) Romace

Disclaimers: I don't own any of the Tolkien characters, but Legolas's brothers, sister and mother belong to me.

Notes: Aragorn, in this story, is immortal. Don't ask how or why, it just fits in with my plot. Also, Aragorn is betrothed to Arwen, and he thinks he loves her, but actually does not. In this story -- which also happens to be an Alternate Universe -- Aragorn is seven hundred and fifty years old and Legolas is only three hundred. Also, Negoil is the second youngest of Thanduil's sons and is about nine hundred years older than Legolas. Yes, Legolas's mother is dead, and to figure out what is actually going on, you might want to read the first story Young Prince Green-Leaf.

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Aragorn had never seen the elf so upset before. Standing in the doorway to the mines of Moria, he saw how terrified Legolas actually was. The elf prince was actually trembling, so afraid was he, and cared not about the large monster threatening to drag him into the grimy deep waters.

"Just leave the elf, if he's so afraid, Aragorn," Boromir said, dashing through the entrance after the Hobbits.

"Come now, Legolas, or you will surely be killed!" Aragorn shouted.

"N-no. I-I am not going in there, Aragorn. E-ever." Legolas stammered, backing away slightly. Quickly, Aragorn ran from the doorway and grabbed the elf by the waist, dragging him inside just as the monster attacked the whole doorway. Legolas screamed and struggled to get away, but Aragorn's grip was strong. He threw the elf to the ground and covered the prince's body with his own as the ceiling began to cave in. Once the ground stopped trembling, only then did he dare to stand up.

The others were looking around in the dark, illuminated by Gandalf's staff, at the cavern. Gimli appeared awestruck, but the Hobbits seemed horrified by the greatness of the ceiling. Remembering the elf cowering at his feet, Aragorn knelt down beside him.

"Legolas, it is alright. You are fine." Aragorn whispered, tucking back a strand of golden hair behind an elvin ear.

"Get me out of here, Aragorn," Legolas sobbed softly. "Please."

"Come now, it is a four days journey from here to the other side. Follow me." Gandalf said, leading the others through the cave. Realizing that Legolas didn't had the inner strength to walk, Aragorn lifted the Prince in his arms and carried him.

[At the intersection]

"There now. I'm just going over here, Legolas." Aragorn said, pointing towards the over-hang. Legolas reached out and grabbed at Aragorn's arm.

"D-do you hear that?" he asked in a whisper.

"You mean the stomping of large creatures ready to eat us for supper?" Boromir asked. Legolas stared at him with wide eyes. Aragorn glared at him.

"Stop teasing him, Boromir," the Ranger warned darkly. "And no, I hear nothing Legolas. Do not fret, we are safe as long as we are all together, and we have Gandalf as well. Rest."

Unconvinced, Legolas bowed his head, and listened to the thumping noises deep below. Whatever it was, it was large, and it was hungry.

[The room of dead: Orc invaders]

Aragorn gently sat Legolas down on the floor, the elf quiet and as wary as ever. Every noise seemed to frighten the gentle prince, and Aragorn was afraid. He was afraid that they might never get out alive, and he was afraid that if they did, Legolas would lose his sanity. Four nights inside a cave was no place for the fourth prince of Mirkwood, that much Aragorn knew.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise like metal on metal. Everyone turned to face Pippin, who had knocked a skeleton into a very large hole in the floor. Legolas began to shake. "A-aragorn, d-do you hear that?" Legolas asked. Everyone was quiet. The sound of running feet could be heard coming closer. "Aragorn?!"

The door burst open even as the Ranger and Boromir tried to shut it, revealing hundreds of orcs. Legolas, still on the floor, reached for his bow and quiver, but an orc swung his axe, slicing into the tender skin of the elf's left arm. Clenching his teeth around the cry, Legolas grabbed onto the axe handle with his right arm and yanked it from the orcs grasp before turning and shoving the blade into the creatures stomach.

"We must hurry!" Gandalf shouted as the last orc was slain. Aragorn quickly scooped Legolas into his arms, Gimli grabbing the elf's weapons, and they all ran for the bridge. Running through the large hall, thousands of orcs swarmed them, encircling them. Legolas began to whimper.

"It is coming," He cried into Aragorn's shoulder.

"Shhh... Legolas, it's alright. We will make it."

"I do not know about that Aragorn. He was right the last time, what if he was right before?" Boromir asked. He and Aragorn exchanged a worried glance. Then, with a loud roar from another room, the orcs ran off.

"Why do I not like the sound of that sound?" Sam asked.

"No," Legolas sobbed. Aragorn looked over at Gandalf.

"We can fight it, can we not?" he asked.

"Nay. It is too strong for any or all of us. It is a Balrog, a fire demon from under the earth. We must run to the bridge, and hope to lose it." Aragorn tightened his hold on Legolas as they ran through the doorway and down the stairs. He halted when they reached a gap in the bridge. Quickly, Boromir jumped down to the second platform.

"Give him here, Aragorn," Boromir called. Carefully, Aragorn handed the elf over to the man. Boromir carefully sat the prince on the steps behind him and helped each of the fellowship over, one at a time. Just as Aragorn was about to cross over, another piece of the bridge broke. Peering over his shoulder once, he leapt across the gap and landed just barely on the bridge. Taking Legolas from Boromir's arms, they began to run across again.

"Run! Down that hall is the way to the exit of the mines! Go!" Gandalf shouted, staying his place at the bridge.

"What about you?" Frodo asked. "Gandalf?!" Boromir grabbed the hobbit around the waist and they all continued to run.

"Gandalf!" Aragorn shouted.

"Whose life is more important right now Aragorn? Mine or Legolas's?" Gandalf replied softly. Looking at the elf prince in his arms, staring into the frightened green orbs, Aragorn ran after the others.

"Get your things. We leave at once." Aragorn said, setting Legolas on his feet. The elf didn't seem as pale now as he did in the mines, but still had a frightened look in his eyes and a shake in his arms. Noticing a patch of blood on Legolas's cloak, Aragorn realized that his wounds must have bled through to Legolas's cloak. It wouldn't come out, so Aragorn would have to get him a new cloak to compensate for it later, much later after they had completed their journey.

"Give them time to mourn, Aragorn!" Boromir shouted. Aragorn turned to the man.

"By nightfall, this entire plateau will be enshrouded in orcs. We'd best make for good time and leave. We must reach Lothlorien by nightfall. Legolas, come, you are our map." Aragorn put an arm around Legolas's shoulders to steady him as the elf gazed out over the area.

[Lorien: Forest of the White Lady]

When they had reached Lorien, Legolas looked little better. In fact, he seemed worse. His skin was paler than normal, and his eyes darker. He had a look to him that spoke to Aragorn of illness and fatigue. The white lady had been kind enough to let them rest in the forest, and had apparently scared Boromir some how. As for Legolas, she had only looked at him with sorrow-filled eyes.

"Legolas," Aragorn started. The elf turned to face him. "You seem not yourself ever since we left the mines. Are you feeling unwell?"

"It is not that," Legolas replied softly, his green eyes examining the ground.

"Did the Lady say something to upset you?"

"No," Legolas whispered.

"Did you see something?"

"No," the elf choked out, turning his back to Aragorn as sobs racked his body. Aragorn was about to put a hand on Legolas's shoulder, but instead hugged him, wrapping his arms under Legolas's and entwining his fingers with the elf's.

"Shhh.... It's okay, it's okay," Aragorn whispered into his friend's ear. Legolas whimpered softly, murmuring few and quiet words in elvish. Within what seemed moments, the elf was asleep, wrapped in Aragorn's embrace.

Gently, Aragorn laid Legolas on one of the makeshift beds provided for them and pulled the blanket over his waist. He then noticed the red mark staining the elf prince's tunic, this time not begot by Aragorn's wounds. Quickly, Aragorn rolled up the sleeve to find a bandaged wound, reopened and bleeding badly.

"Legolas," Aragorn hissed, "wake up, stupid one."

"Mmm...? Hm?" Tired green orbs stared up at Aragorn in question.

"When did you plan to tell me about this wound? Why did you not tell me?" the ranger asked.

"I simply did not wish to burden you. It isn't that bad, Aragorn."

"Not that bad? What if it had gotten worse, and you had become ill? What then, Legolas? What would I tell your father if something were to happen to you?" Aragorn yelled. Legolas looked both hurt and upset.

"Aragorn, leave it. I will be fine, but I need my rest, as do you. Do not worry about me as if I were made of glass."

"You are right. You are not made of glass. But I swore to your father I would protect you no matter the consequence, and you set off into trouble as soon as I turn my back! What can I say to excuse this? 'I'm sorry, King Thranduil, but your idiotic son chose not to tell me of the injury he died from?'" Aragorn gave Legolas a stern look. He had insulted the prince's elvin pride.

"Very well. If I am not but a burden you must take care of, then I will unburden you myself. I leave in the morning, Aragorn, and I do not think we shall meet again." Legolas said, sitting up and gathering what few items were his. This was not the course of action Aragorn had expected. Most elves in Legolas's position would have become more determined to show the insulter how wrong he was by doing what he was accused of and then doing his best to outshine the accusor in every way possible.

His items in hand, Legolas stood and began to walk away. Aragorn grabbed his wrist and spun the elf around. "You cannot go," he whispered.

"And why not? Was it not agreed by the Council that any member at any given time may choose to turn back of their own free will? I choose to go back, and only death will prevent me." The elf wrested his wrist from Aragorn's grasp and turned away again, walking towards the north.

"Legolas." Elvin ears were ready to listen, even if Legolas wasn't facing him. "I am sorry. I was only angered because I worry about you. You are the only close friend I have here, and I do not want to lose you." The elf said nothing. "You and I, we've known eachother long enough to perhaps understand one another, but this is something we have not faced as of yet -- my fear versus your kind intentions. I know you meant well, but my heart could not accept it. Forgive me, friend."

"You never asked what I saw, that upset me so." Legolas stated, back still turned.

"I have an idea of what it was. I am sure it has something to do with your fear of enclosed spaces," Aragorn replied.

"You know that my mother died only days after I was born. I told you that she had died a death dealt from trolls. I-I did not know what had really happened."

"Legolas."

"When my father and brothers got to the cave to save her, she was screaming 'save legolas' at them. They thought that she had meant me. What they did not know, was that the trolls referred to her as legolas, demon wench in their language[1]." Legolas turned to Aragorn, tears running down his face. "All those years, I had thought my mother died wishing only that they protect me, but instead she wished only for her own life. It was my pride that made me think I was worthy of such an honor, to have my mother put my life above hers, and it is because of my pride that I have hurt you. If anyone should be asking for forgiveness, it is me."

"Legolas," Aragorn started, knowing the sound of a death wish when he heard one. The elf avoided his gaze. Gently grabbing his chin, Aragorn forced the prince to look at him. "Legolas, it is not your fault."

"I do not deserve to live," Legolas cried. "My own mother did not want me to, why should I?"

"Legolas, snap out of it. You are not acting yourself!"

"My own father doesn't even remember me most of the time," the elf continued. "Even he doesn't want me."

"Legolas!" Unable to take any more of the elf's anguish, Aragorn slapped him firmly, leaving a stinging red mark on the prince's cheek. More tears welled up in Legolas's eyes, threatening to spill over, and a whimper escaped his lips. Legolas had been right, he was not made of glass, but of something much more fragile -- like wisps of moonlight that would disappear behind the slightest of clouds.

"Now, I have never had the pleasure of meeting your mother, but I am sure she did not wish for you to die. At the time she was the one being attacked, was she not?" To this Legolas nodded slightly. Aragorn continued. "And while I have met your father and it is true that on several occassions he does not recall you, is it not also true that he let you sit and cry on his lap for seven hours while he was still working on a plan to rid the eastern forest of orcs?" Legolas nodded again. Aragorn softened his voice. "And is it not true that your brothers, your sister, your father and I would all miss you if you were gone?" Legolas shook his head. "Is it not true that I would miss you if you were gone?" Legolas looked up into Aragorn's eyes for a moment before wrapping his arms around the rangers neck and sobbing into his shoulder. Gently, Aragorn carried the elf up to a healer, unaware or uncaring of the audience they left behind.

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[1] I made this up, it isn't true, it just fit in the plot, got it?