My Warriors, My Beloveds

Chapter 3: Captivating Beauty

Silvan Woodland Realm of Northern Mirkwood: 26th of March, 2969
Late Morning

“He is…not quite what I expected,” Harry admitted to Aragorn as they left the dining hall. “I did not imagine he would apologize.”

“Neither did I, after how he acted this morning,” Aragorn replied, scowling.

“Thank you for defending my honor, Thorongil, but I do not really care what the prince thinks of me. I have no intentions of marrying him,” Harry assured his friend.

“But you cannot deny that you were flattered by his attentions at breakfast,” the taller man accused.

“Who would not be flattered? He is very attractive. But I would not want to spend the rest of eternity with someone who treats me like a possession. He sees me as he would a woman, and obviously has no respect for my status as an Istari or my skills as a warrior, lacking though they are,” Harry explained.

“I could train you in sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat, if you wish,” Aragorn offered.
That got a bright smile from Harry.

“That is very kind of you. Perhaps Gandalf will let me serve at your side in the armies of Gondor and Rohan for a while. My magical education is far enough along that I can take a break for a while to focus on the more physical aspects of battle, I believe. And who better to learn from than Thorongil, the Eagle of the Star, himself?” Harry teased good-naturedly.

“And perhaps you will get used to riding on a horse so all the princes we meet do not think you so loose with your affections,” Aragorn teased back.

Harry went bright red at that comment.

“Did Prince Legolas really believe me so wanton?” he asked.

“Yes, he was quite convinced your modesty was false,” Aragorn admitted.

“Hmm,” was Harry’s response.

“Do you wish to begin your training this morning? I believe some of the men wished to spar,” Aragorn informed his companion as they reached the doors leading outside.

“Well, there is nothing else to do unless I wish to be entertained by the king and his court all day,” Harry replied with a roll of his eyes as Aragorn held the door open for him. “And I believe that you also mistake me for a woman at times, my friend.”

“You can hold the door open for me next time,” Aragorn replied. “Do you carry daggers on your person? I noticed the lack of a sword.”

“There is a small one in my boot and one strapped to either thigh,” Harry answered. “And I would just harm myself at this point if I dared attempt battle with a sword. Gandalf always bid me run and attack with magic from long distance the few times we ran into orcs in our travels.”

“I would begin your training with swords,” Aragorn began with a frown. “But there have been no elflings for many years and I doubt there are any practice swords lying around Mirkwood. I suppose that can wait until we return to Rohan.”

“Then what shall we do today?” Harry questioned. “And when are we departing for Rohan, anyway?”

“You can watch the men spar and I will point out the different techniques,” Aragorn stated. “And we will be departing in two days. King Thengel told me to take three nights rest in Mirkwood before beginning the return journey.”

“One night down, two to go,” Harry quipped as they headed toward the field where the men were sparring.

*************************************************************************************

“All right, men,” Aragorn called to his warriors loitering around the training area. “Let us not make a bad impression upon the elves of Mirkwood. Glorfindel himself is visiting the King Thranduil, and we do not want to embarrass King Thengel in front of the fiercest of the elf-warriors.”

“Besides, you want to impress Harry,” one of the men joked. “I, for one, do not blame you. He is very pretty.”

Aragorn glared as Harry blushed deep red in embarrassment.

“Harry will be learning sword fighting from myself once we return to Rohan,” Aragorn explained. “He is going to be observing your techniques throughout the day. Do not disappoint him.”

“You did not deny that you find him pretty,” another called.

“Because that would be a lie,” Aragorn purred with a smirk to the gorgeous Elf.

“You flatter me so, Thorongil,” Harry replied with a roll of his eyes.

“It is no mere flattery, I assure you,” the larger man retorted.

“Much wind pours from your mouth, my friend,” Harry laughed as the men began sparring.

*************************************************************************************

A few hours later, many of the men left the field for lunch. Harry spent his time observing different sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat techniques as Thorongil supervised the men and offered critiques.

A few elves were also training, but they mostly kept to themselves.
Glorfindel always had to be exceptional.

“Good day,” the blonde Elf greeted.

Harry and Aragorn responded in kind.

“Your men are in fine form,” he complimented the Man.

“But no match for you, of course?” Aragorn responded with a raised eyebrow.

“I have many millennia practice,” Glorfindel replied modestly.

“Maybe you should spar with the elf-lord, Thorongil. I think I would like to see that,” Harry goaded slyly.

“You just wish to see me on my back,” his friend teased.

“Oh, I do not think he needs me to do that,” the blonde Elf laughed. “I believe it would take but a word from his pretty lips.”

“Do you all find pleasure in embarrassing me?” Harry questioned helplessly.

“Yes,” the blonde Elf and brunette Man answered simultaneously.

“You blush so becomingly,” Aragorn explained.

*************************************************************************************

Afternoon

“You smell like a human again,” Harry teased his companion as they headed once again towards the dining hall. “For a while I was concerned that I was friends with an orc.”

“You spar with Glorfindel and see if you come out smelling like roses. If you even come out at all,” Aragorn taunted.

“Oh, no insulting the poor Istari’s lack of swordsmanship,” Harry responded with a sniff. “I am just glad that you bathed before lunch. I would hate to be put off my food by your smell as well as by the conversation.”

“King Thranduil is not that bad,” Aragorn said with a smirk, just to rile his companion.

“You endure conversations about marrying Prince Legolas and bearing his heir if you think it’s not that bad!” Harry responded. “If I could, I would transfer this gift to you and see how you like it.”

“But I am not nearly as pretty as you. What Elf would want me as a wife?” Aragorn teased.
Harry stopped dead.

“I am not a woman, no matter what gifts the Valar may have bestowed upon me,” he told his friend seriously, gazing into deep grey eyes.

“I would never mistake you for anything but male,” Aragorn promised.

“But others would,” Harry countered. “And I do not wish to be accompanied by a chaperone or clothed in fine dresses and finer jewelry. I am not a delicate flower that needs careful tending. Nor am I a fickle princess that needs constant compliments and vaults of gold to win my affections.”

“I am sorry if my comments offended you. I will not refer to you as a wife again,” Aragorn apologized.

“But others would,” Harry countered again with a sad smile. “I just want some freedom from others’ expectations. King Thranduil would put the future of the entire Elven race to bear on my shoulders.

And with that he stepped into the dining hall to once again face the elf-king who was convinced
Harry would make a perfect bride for his son.

And Aragorn could do nothing but follow.

*************************************************************************************

Evening

“Greetings,” Legolas whispered softly in Harry’s pointed ear as he sat down beside him for dinner. “I missed your presence at lunch.”

“Thorongil and I watched the Men spar this morning, and Thorongil sparred Glorfindel this afternoon. Only your father remained in the hall by the time we arrived at lunch,” Harry explained.

“And where is my old friend now? I do not believe he has left your side since you exited the bath this morning,” Legolas teased with a smile.

“Thorongil retired early as his spar with your elf-lord exhausted him. I shall join him in our room after dinner,” Harry explained.

“Why must he stick to your side like a guard dog,” the prince questioned.

“He only wishes for my safety,” the younger Elf defended.

“And yet he insisted this morning that you want your freedom,” Legolas continued.

“And I do,” Harry countered hotly.

“Do not be angry with me for telling the truth as I see it, little one,” Legolas smirked.

“Exactly. The truth as you see it. And only Thorongil may call me ‘little one,’” Harry replied with a glare.

“What would you rather I call you, lovely?” the prince responded, undaunted by the emerald daggers being shot his way.

“My name is Harry, if you recall. I did give you permission to use it just this morning,” his companion said stiffly. “Now if I may be excused, it has been a long day.”

“The stars shine bright. Will you not spend some time with me this evening gazing upon them?” Legolas questioned as Harry rose from his seat.

The dark-haired Elf visibly faltered.

“I…do not know if that is such a good idea,” he whispered. “I… would not want to give you the wrong idea.”

“Are you a woman that you need a chaperone?” the prince challenged.

Harry glared at him sharply, but refused to be baited.

“Perhaps tomorrow evening then,” Legolas conceded under the beauty’s heavy gaze. “My heart shall weep until it sees thee again.”

“Good evening,” Harry said simply as he exited the dining hall, many eyes upon his form until he was out of sight.

“He really does have the tightest little…” a blonde Elf to Legolas’s right began, only to find a dagger at his throat.

“Do not make me spill your blood upon the dinner table,” the prince threatened. “That is my future betrothed that you are gazing upon so lustily.”

“Why, my prince, you almost said quite the same this morning. Now you would draw your dagger to stop another from sharing the thought?” another Elf pointed out.

“He is not another of my many conquests,” the prince stated as he sheathed his dagger, giving one last glare to the Elf who had looked upon Harry with such impure thoughts.

“Oh, and what is so different about him? Other than the fact that he can bear your heir?” Glorfindel asked as he joined the conversation.

“You were right.” Legolas conceded. “Harry is special. He possesses much sweetness and purity, and
I will not allow anyone to besmirch his good name.”

“How long did you watch him today?” Glorfindel questioned. “I felt your eyes upon us as we conversed this afternoon.”

“I was gazing upon him from the trees for most of the day,” Legolas admitted. “I wished to see what was so extraordinary about him that Estel would draw his dagger for such a little insult.”

“And you obviously found it, as you did much the same but a moment ago,” the elf-lord commented.
Legolas nodded sharply.

“Nearly three millenium with nothing but meaningless conquests, and he captures my attention so completely in barely a day. His beauty is captivating. I do not doubt that I could be just as far gone as Estel if I spent a constant fortnight in his presence,” Legolas admitted reluctantly.

“Do not be ashamed of the feelings he stirs in you, princeling,” Glorfindel counseled. “That way will lead to nothing but trouble, because you will regret it when your actions see him gone from your life.”

“Do you speak from experience?” Legolas asked the older Elf.

“I am alone now, am I not?” the other blonde responded.

“I cannot just hand my heart away without a fight,” the prince argued.

“Why ever not? Because if you fight your feelings, you will push him away and find your heart has gone with him,” Glorfindel stated.

“Is that prophecy?” Legolas queried.

The older Elf did not answer as he too exited the dining hall, leaving the Prince of Mirkwood with more questions than answers.

*************************************************************************************

When Harry arrived in the rooms he shared with Thorongil, the candles were out and the room was dark. Only a small sliver of light seeped into the room from the nearly full moon.

“You are back earlier than expected,” Thorongil called out. “Did the prince not hold your attention?”

Harry started.

“I thought you would be asleep by now,” he responded breathily. “And Prince Legolas was his usual overly charming self.”

“And yet you retired so early?” Thorongil asked.

“The prince tries too hard to hold my attention. It makes me uncomfortable,” Harry explained as he quickly changed into his night clothes and slipped into bed.

“You were flattered enough this morning,” his friend pointed out.
Harry sighed.

“Have you not let that go yet? He is known for his looks and charm. You cannot blame me for being taken in for a moment or two,” the dark-haired Elf defended.

“Did he not try to get you alone this night?” Aragorn asked, knowing how his old friend worked.

“He invited me to gaze upon the stars with him,” Harry admitted.

“All the better for him to gaze upon you,” the larger man stated.

“Perhaps,” his companion allowed. “Or perhaps he just wished to spend some time getting to know me. I do not presume to know his intentions. Either way, I obviously turned him down. I am here with you now, am I not?”

Aragorn smile shone bright, even in the darkness.

*************************************************************************************

Author’s Note: The following information may help make the story more understandable, if you found yourself lost:

Timeline:

9th of March, 2969: Harry and Thorongil (Aragorn) are introduced by King Thengel of Rohan.

10th of March, 2969: Harry, Aragorn, and seven others leave Rohan for Mirkwood.

25th of March, 2969: The company arrives in Mirkwood. Harry is tricked by King Thranduil into meeting Prince Legolas in his private baths.

26th of March, 2969: Legolas apologizes to Harry during breakfast. He spends the rest of the day spying on our favorite little Elf.

Coming Soon: 27th of March, 2969. It is time for Harry to return to Rohan with Thorongil and his men. What will he do when Prince Legolas asks him to stay in Mirkwood?

3019: Events of LoTR

Minor Characters:

Thengel – King of Rohan

Ecthelion II – Steward of Gondor

Thranduil – King of Mirkwood; father of Prince Legolas

Elrond – Elf-Lord of Rivendell/Imladris; Aragorn/Thorongil/Estel’s adopted father

Elladan & Elrohir – Elrond’s twin sons; Elladan is potentially Harry’s grandfather

Arwen – Elrond’s daughter; Aragorn fell in love with her in 2951

Erestor – Elrond’s chief counselor; potentially Harry’s grandfather


I hope this helps.