Aralas Oneshots

Hurt

He had noticed it first in the Mines of Moria when his hand had wrapped around Legolas' forearm to not lose him in the darkness. But back then, he didn't realise what they were. He didn't even think twice about it, as there really was no time to ponder upon strange scars on an elf's arm when in the midst of a battle with an enormous troll, thousands of orcs and a fiery balrog.

However, the feeling of Legolas' scarred arms came back to him as they were on their way to Lothlórien. On the back of his horse, he was left to wonder what that was all about. Now that he thought about it, he had never seen Legolas forearms bare. The elf always wore his leather forearm guards and a long-sleeved green tunic. Aragorn thought that Legolas must have taken them off while they were waiting for the Door of Durin to open, and that he hadn't been able to put them back on in time. That was why Aragorn had felt the elf's bare forearm.

He lifted his eyes and watched the elf's elegant back. Today, Aragorn was riding in the very end of their company, and Boromir was leading them. The kind man had offered to take the lead, so that Aragorn could relax a bit and process the loss of Gandalf. So now Aragorn was left to stare at Legolas' back all day long, which had made him wonder about the scars.

---

When the sun stood high in the sky and Pippin had annoyed them with his constant questions about food for some time, Boromir decided to make halt and rest for a bit. Aragorn watched Sam and Frodo prepare some stew, while Pippin, Merry and Boromir played hide-and-seek in the forest surrounding the glade they were currently in. Gimli took a nap, as always. The elf Legolas sat a few feet away, his back against an old oak, and his fingers fidgeting with a small daisy he had found. The ranger decided to join him and maybe talk to him about the scars.

"Finally some peace", he stated, as he let himself down on the ground next to the elf.

"You think so?", the latter questioned. "For me, it feels like we're in the eye of a hurricane. It's quiet, but you still know, that the world gets shattered in pieces all around you."

"That's a rather sad thought", Aragorn responded, watching Legolas from the corner of his eye. There was a sadness in his face, that Aragorn couldn't place. Apparently, the war was harder on Legolas than he made everyone believe.

"Yes."

It was quiet for a moment. Aragorn wondered, if he really should address the question he wanted to ask, but since it was what he came for, he took a breath and spoke:

"There's something I wanted to ask you, Legolas."

"Hm? What is it?"

Legolas turned his head towards him and looked at him with his deep blue eyes that made Aragorn's head spin.

"Well..., I guess I shouldn't invade your privacy like that, but I couldn't help but notice it a while ago. When we were in Moria."

His voice died, as he remembered the huge loss they had suffered in these very mines. Legolas took his hand and intertwined their fingers.

"It's alright", he said and placed a kiss on Aragorn's cheek. "What was it you wanted to know? You know you can ask me anything."

"It's just... you remember I took your arm in the darkness, to not get lost?"

Legolas nodded.

"You didn't have your forearm guards on, the ones you're wearing now", Aragorn continued reluctantly. "I might be wrong, but I believe you had some pretty big scars on your forearm. And I guess I just wanted to know what happened."

As if struck by lightning, Legolas pulled his hand away and moved a few inches away from the man. He seemed frightened, very frightened, but also something else. Guilt?