Brothers under the Sun

 

By Coreinha Darkwood

 

E-mail: Aribelle_XF@yahoo.com

 

disclaimer; I don't own any of these characters, they belong to Tolkien, or his descendants or whoever.  I'm not making any money.  I don't own the lyrics or melody to Brothers under the Sun, they belong to Bryan Adams or Dreamworks, or whoever.  Again, I'm not making any money.

 

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//I had a dream, of the wide open prairie

 

I had a dream, of the pale moon and sky

 

I had a dream, that we flew on golden wings

 

And we were the same

 

Just the same

 

You and I.//

 

Estel and Legolas lay on their backs staring up at the stars. 

 

It had been many days since they had set forth from Mirkwood to Rivendell.  In the morning, they would return to Imladris, and meet with Estel's adoptive brothers, Elladan and Elrohir. 

 

They were planning to hunt white deer.  This was the time of year it was easiest to find them, and in his 15 years, Estel had yet to snare one. 

 

"Do you think we'll see them this time Legolas?"

 

Legolas smiled at his young companion.  In his many hundreds of years, he had never known anyone, mortal or otherwise quite like this youthful dunedain, they had forged an unlikely bond, which grew stronger by the day.

 

"I hope so, I would like a new rug for my floor, and I think the white fur would go nicely in my room."

 

Estel shot Legolas a sideways look, to find his companion smiling up at the stars, most likely picturing his new rug.  Estel grinned, it had rained the night before, one of those sudden spring rains that come without warning. 

 

The ground was still soft and wet. 

 

He couldn't resist.

 

Estel grabbed a handful of mud and cheerfully smeared across Legolas' face. 

 

The elf sat up sputtering with indignation.

 

"Why you....." 

 

He didn't get to finish the sentence as Estel flung another handful of mud at him. 

 

In a most un-elvish maneuver, Legolas wrestled Estel to the ground and proceeded to attempt to feed his friend the grimy muck. 

 

Estel wriggled free, and took off running, hurling one last handful of mud behind him. 

 

"Bet I beat you to Rivendell, you prissy Elf!"

 

Legolas grinned, snatched up their cloaks and took off after Estel at top speed, "I doubt it, smelly Adan!"

 

//Follow your heart, little child of the west wind

 

Follow the voice, that's calling you home

 

Follow you dreams, but always remember me

 

I am your brother, under the sun//

 

The Hall of Fires was filled with laughter.  Estel, the twins, and Legolas sat around one of the fireplaces telling stories. 

 

At 22, Estel had had his share of solo adventures, and was currently sending his brothers and friend into fits of laughter over the time he started a bar brawl by tripping over a drunk hobbit. 

 

As he finished his story, he threw his head back and laughed out loud. 

 

The fire lit him from behind, and for an instant, Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas caught a glimpse of the king he would become. 

 

Elrond stood in the doorway, smiling softly at his children and Legolas, who spent so much time in Imladris these past few years, he might as well be one of his children. 

 

They were laughing at some comment Elrohir had made. 

 

The ancient elf sighed, it was always good to have all four of them around, even though he usually wound up patching at least one of them back together.  They brought a light to Imladris that it sorely needed in these dangerous times.

 

He groaned inwardly as Elladan gave his twin a cheerful shove, which sent Elrohir and, by extension, Estel, sprawling across the floor.

 

Before he knew it, three elves and a future king were wrestling on the floor like children.

 

Elrond sighed again, and went to find the herbs he would need to treat the injuries they were likely to inflict on each other.

 

//We are like birds of a feather

 

We are two hearts joined together

 

We will be forever as one

 

My brother under the sun//

 

It had been two nights since the Fellowship had broken up.  Frodo and Sam were Valar knew where.

 

Boromir had died valiantly, trying to defend Merry and Pippen, who were now captives of Orcs.

 

The remaining three, a Ranger, an Elf and a Dwarf had run themselves to exhaustion.

 

The Ranger and the Elf stared at each other across the campfire, while the Dwarf snored softly nearby.

 

They remembered all the adventures they had had together, and both knew instinctivly that this was the last one.

 

Things would change forever when this was all said and done.

 

Legolas smiled softly, "Get some sleep mellon nin, I will watch over us this night."

 

Aragorn, smiled back at his oldest friend.  "Very well, but do not let us sleep too long."

 

Legolas nodded his assent, and watched his dear friend settle against a tree trunk, and drop off to sleep almost immediately.

 

"Sleep well, gwaidor nin ." <my brother>

 

The Elf settled against a handy rock, and stared up at the stars, offering up a silent prayer to the Valar for help on this quest. 

 

He bit back a bark of laughter as Aragorn snored loudly, remembering an old argument regarding that very subject. 

 

He grinned, deciding to remind his mortal friend about that in the morning.

 

//When ever you hear the wind in the canyon

 

When ever you see the buffalo roam

 

Where ever you go, I'll be there beside you

 

Cause you are my brother

 

My brother under the sun//

 

Legolas sat silent vigil at his friends bedside. 

 

Aragorn had lived nearly 210 years now, much longer than any mortal should ever expect. 

 

Arwen was leaning against the wall in the corner, Gimli was sitting not far away. 

 

Aragorn's breath was growing raspy in his chest, they didn't have much time.

 

Legolas brushed an errant strand of hair out of his friends face, and smiled down at the Great King Aragorn Elessar, for that was how he would be remembered.

 

Aragorn smiled back up at his friend.  "It is time gwaidor nin, I have lived far longer than any dared hope.  It is Eldarions time to rule now."

 

Legolas nodded softly.  He had been preparing himself for this for some time, but now that the moment was actually here, he didn't think he had the strength to say good bye. 

 

As always, what strength was not in the elf, could be found in the man beside him.

 

"Remember, do not leave for Valinor until you are ready."  Aragorn trailed off, looking as though he wanted to say more.

 

Legolas shook his head, no words were needed between them, they never really had been neccesary.

 

Aragorn seemed distant now, staring out the window. 

 

He turned his head towards his wife, she slept softly in the corner, as beautiful as the day they met. 

 

On his other side was all that remained of the Fellowship on Middle Earth.

 

Gimli's once fiery beard was now greyed with time, but his eyes had lost none of their spark.   He nodded to his dear friend once, as though to say 'I'll be seeing you soon.'  Then the aging dwarf rose without a word, and clomped out of the room.

 

Legolas stood strong and tall, to one who did not know him, they would think the elf without emotion. 

But Aragorn had known him for nearly two hundred years. 

 

He knew the ancient heart was breaking. 

 

"Fear not, Legolas.  Illuvitar did not bring you and I together, only to separate us for eternity when my life was over.  We will meet again.  I am certain of it."  He managed a weak grin for his friend, who caught a glimpse of the man he had been.

 

Legolas nodded softly, Aragorn was weakening now, he could feel it. 

 

He knelt down, and took  the wrinkled hand in his own, and rested his other hand on Aragorns chest.  Beneath it, he could feel his friends heart slowing. 

A heart so great, it had saved Middle Earth from almost certain destruction, and rebuilt a crumbling society into a great kingdom. 

 

A heart Legolas knew as well as his own.

 

Aragorn was no longer looking at him, but staring at the ceiling. 

 

He murmured something about music, then the heart beneath Legolas' fingers stopped.

 

//We are like birds of a feather

 

We are two hearts joined togher

 

We will be forever as one

 

My brother under the sun//

 

Legolas sat on an outcropping of rock, Elladan and Elrohir sat beside him.  They stared out at the sea, behind them, the Valar were singing softly.

 

Here on Valinor, they had known great peace, though, it was never complete without one impish mortal, who could best them at anything, if he put his mind to it.

 

It was the first of March, by Shire reckoning, always on this day, they gathered here, to remember the life of the Great King Aragorn, or as they always refered to him now, Estel.

 

It had been 10,000 years since they had left Middle Earth, they knew not what was happening out there, nor did they care any longer.

 

As the sun set slowly in the sky, the three elves stretched out on their backs, with their heads close together.

 

They whispered memories of their dear friend and brother, mostly happy ones now, though their ageless hearts still grieved for the mortal who had only briefly been a part of their lives, yet touched them more thoroughly than any immortal ever could.

 

As the moon and stars rose in the sky, they found themselves drifting off to sleep.  As he dozed off, Legolas realized his eyes were closing, and thought that curious, for elves always sleep with their eyes open. 

 

There was a strange sensation in his chest, like someone was tugging at something inside him.

He thought to mention it to his companions, but found he could not move.  It should have frightened him, but it did not.  He dozed off gently, staring at his beloved stars.

 

Suddenly, it seemed as though they rushed at him, with alarming speed, then exploded around him with blinding force.

 

He shut his eyes against the light, and when he opened them, he was lying in a field, beside him, the twins were sprawled similarly. 

 

They sat up, looking at each other, somewhat confused.

 

"What happened?"  Elladan frowned, for his voice suddenly sounded unfamiliar to him.

 

All three heads snapped around at a familiar voice calling their names. 

 

The sun was rising behind him, making it hard to identify the figure striding toward them. 

 

Legolas glanced around in confusion, and realized where they were.

 

The field was full of flowers, their colors impossibly vibrant, they danced in the sweet smelling breeze that blew around the confused elves. 

 

In the sky, birds flew, their cheerful calls to one another more beautiful than anything Legolas had ever heard. 

 

He blinked against the bright light of the sun, trying to make out the figure before him. 

 

As the breeze grew stronger, causing strands of golden hair to blow about his face, Legolas was filled with a sense of overpowering love.  Love stronger than any living being could possess.

 

Eru.

 

They were in the Halls of Time.

 

The figure before him was joined by others now, their faces clear in the early morning light. 

 

Faces Legolas and the twins thought they would never see again.

 

But one face in particular caught his attention, he breathed the name softly, as though it were a prayer.

 

"Estel."

 

//We are like birds of a feather,

 

We are two hearts joined together,

 

We will be forever as one

 

My brother under the sun.//