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Elrond is consoling his daughter, “What do you mean, Aragorn is not coming to your wedding?” His daughter must have misheard.
She is crying, “He told me he was busy. He said that he has a prior commitment that he can’t cancel.” She wipes the tears away, “I miss my brother. He’s changed so much since he moved out and joined the Army.” She hates that she can no longer influence him.
“I will call him. Nothing can be more important than your wedding.” Elrond has to agree with his daughter, his adopted son has changed, and Elrond is convinced the company he is keeping is the main reason for that.
“I bet it is Legolas’ influence. Aragorn always listens to him, and you know that Legolas hates us.” Legolas Bowman has been a thorn in her side ever since she met him. She hated that he took Aragorn away from her. Arwen growls, “I wish there was something we could do.” She tried to have him arrested once, but it backfired when the charges against Legolas were dropped for drug possession.
Elrond sighs, “Aragorn is stubborn; he will never believe a bad word about his friend.” He leaves her and calls his son. After a few rings, Aragorn picks up. “Arwen just told me you are too busy to come to her wedding.”
“I am.”
“What could be more important than your sister’s wedding?” Elrond can hear several voices in the background and wonders where Aragorn is. The last time he saw his son was almost a year ago, and it was just in passing.
“A meeting with the president.”
Elrond sighs, “Don’t lie to me.” He can hear Legolas’ voice in the background, “It’s him, isn’t it? He is the reason you are not coming.” Elrond can hear the exasperation over the phone
“No. I have to go.”
Elrond is mad: Aragorn has hung up on him. He rubs his temple and pours himself a glass of water. He drinks it in one gulp and sighs. He has no idea where Aragorn lives. He knows he is still in the Army, but nothing more. He asks his twin sons, and after talking to them, he gets the feeling they know more but are keeping quiet. Weeks pass, and the day of Arwen’s wedding arrives. Elrond is looking at the empty seat where Aragorn should be. “I am sorry.”
Arwen shakes her head, “He made his choices. He is no longer part of my family.” The ceremony is beautiful, and she doesn't miss her brother. She drinks wine to convince herself even more. She is dancing with her friend, “Where is your husband?”
“He couldn’t make it.” Eowyn smiles, “He is meeting the President today. I am sure Aragorn told you.” She takes out her phone and shows Arwen a few pictures, “His unit received a special honor for killing Sauron and Melkor.”
Arwen’s breath hitches, “Aragorn.” He wasn’t lying. She knew he was in the Army, but she thought he was just a paper pusher.
“Yes, he is the unit leader. Legolas is his second in command and a medic.” Eowyn laughs, “Faramir has told me that they call themselves the Fellowship. They are the youngest unit to receive such an honor.”
Her brother was telling the truth. She excuses herself and goes looking for her father, “Aragorn was really meeting the President.”
“I know.” Elrond points at the small TV, “He has received the highest honors.” He turns the volume up. “I had no idea he was Sergeant Major.”
“..the President’s son, Legolas Bowman…”
Arwen snorts, “He is the President’s son?” She had no idea. She never bothered to find out where Legolas came from. All she cared about was that he stood between her and her brother.
“It seems so.” Elrond keeps watching, “We need to talk to him. In person.” Why did his son never tell him that he was friends with the President’s son?
“When I am back from my honeymoon.” Three weeks later, Arwen and her father are standing in front of a gate. “Are you sure this is where he lives?” She is impressed and jealous by what she sees.
“Yes. Bilbo told me this is his address.” Elrond is well aware that Bilbo only gave him the address after asking Aragorn if it was acceptable.
Arwen rings the bell and sees the camera move, “Hello, we are here to see Aragorn.” The gate opens, and they get back in the car and drive up. “It’s a horse ranch.” It makes sense; her brother always loved horses.
Elrond gets out of the car and sees Bilbo walk towards him, “Bilbo?” He didn’t expect his friend to be here.
“Hello.” He shakes their hands, “Follow me. They are out back. A foal was just born, and Thorin is making sure everything is alright.”
Arwen looks around. Everything looks expensive. She sees a painting through a window and is sure it costs more than her annual salary. “Are you sure this is Aragorn’s place?”
“Yes.” Bilbo leads around the house, “You have guests.”
Aragorn sees them, and a frown crosses his face, “Did something happen?” They never asked where he lived before. He wonders why they didn’t simply ask him, but Bilbo.
“We wanted to see you.” Arwen is jealous; her brother is living the life she always wanted. “Did you win the lottery?”
“No. I just claimed my rightful inheritance.” Aragorn glares at them, “You know the trust fund you tried to keep from me.”
Thorin chimes in, “And together with his husband’s wealth, they are well off.”
“Husband?” Elrond narrows his eyes, “I had no idea you were married.” What else doesn’t he know?
“Why weren’t we invited?” Arwen is mad, “What else have you been keeping from us?”
“Because you made it clear you don’t approve of me.” Legolas joins them and laces his fingers with Aragorn’s, “And there is a lot you don’t know.” He told Aragorn that this day would come.
“You!” Arwen marches towards him and slaps Legolas, “You are the reason Aragorn turned his back on us. You poisoned him against us. You ruined my life!” She didn’t want to say the last part.
Legolas laughs, “You did that on your own. You made him choose between. You wanted to keep the truth from him.” He glares at Arwen, “You did that on your own when you decided to steal my property and destroy it. You were just unfortunate that it was also government property. You are lucky that I spoke up, or you would have been jailed. Instead, you only had to pay a fine.” He sees surprise on her face, “You had no idea I found out, did you?”
Arwen opens and closes her mouth, that fine bankrupted her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Hurt laces Aragorn’s voice. “You kept the truth about my parents from me.”
“I didn’t want to burden you.” Elrond sighs, “I knew once I told you, it would change you. I did not think you were ready. I was going to tell you when you were ready.”
“Bullshit. You knew that if he didn’t claim his inheritance by the age of twenty-one, it would go to several different charities and you would pocket a part of it.” Thorin’s hands are covered in blood. “I was a lawyer before I became a vet, and I read the papers. You also had papers drawn up that would give the majority to your daughter.” He washes his hands, “I told Bard, who told his husband, who told his son, who told his boyfriend.”
Elrond is at a loss for words; he sees the angry look aimed at him. “How long?” He doesn’t think he would have stolen Aragorn’s inheritance from him, but they will never know.
“They’ve been together since high school. They had their dates at my sister’s place.” Thorin dries his hands, “The foal is healthy. I’ll come by in a week to check on him.”
“Thank you,” Aragorn looks at Elrond and Arwen, “I overheard a lot of conversations you two had. You thought I was sleeping, but I could hear you. You had this plan that I would marry Arwen’s friend and then tell me about the inheritance, but Arwen’s friend would take over half of it before I would be told to make me think it was not that much. It only would have worked since Arwen was sleeping with the lawyer at the time, and he was going to fudge the number.”
Arwen is clutching her chest, “That is not true.” He can’t know this!
“You should leave.” President Bowman is looking at them with disdain, “Or I will ask my husband to remove you.”
Bard opens his jacket, revealing a gun, “Please leave.” He escorts them out, “Have a pleasant day.” He returns to his family, “You didn’t tell them about your kids?”
“No.” Aragorn shakes his head, “But something tells me we will see them again.” A month later, he literally runs into Arwen and her husband. “Sorry, didn’t see you.”
“Aragorn,” Arwen motions to the man next to her, “My husband Lotho.” She went back to the ranch, but no one let her in. She eventually gave up when she was threatened with a retraining order.
Lotho shakes Aragorn’s hand, his grip firm. “So you are the guy who thought himself too good to attend our wedding.” He sneers, “Should have told the President to stick it.”
“Lotho Sackville-Baggins,” Aragorn looks at his sister, “You really know how to pick them.” He takes out his phone and sends off a quick message, “How about we sit down and talk?” They make their way to a café. “So, Lotho, how are your parents?”
“They are good.” Lotho orders the most expensive thing on the menu, “I hear you are married to the Princeling and his money. Always knew he was dainty. Never took you for a cocksucker.” Now he is glad Aragorn never came to their wedding. He abhors such people.
Aragorn laughs, “Jealous?” He sips his tea, “I don’t need his money, but it certainly helps to live a comfortable life. And I like sucking his cock. You love it too, after all, you were caught with your dick in your second cousin. Or was it third? Was quite the scandal, wasn’t it?”
“Those were lies.” Lotho just knows that Bilbo told this story and will make him pay. “I would never. I am not like you.”
He sees Boromir approach and puts his cup down, “I heard that Bilbo’s home was burgled and his niece-in-law was assaulted.” He doesn’t mention that she is also his sister-in-law.
“Really?” Arwen had no idea. “Who?”
“Sigrid. She is married to Fili. She was over to get some wool.” He looks at Lotho, “Attacking a pregnant woman is despicable.”
“Is she alright?” Arwen had no idea Sigrid was married. “Wait. Isn’t she Legolas’ sister?” She finally gets the full picture, “Oh my God. You..you.. You are now related to..” she trails off.
Aragorn smirks, “Yes. I am.” He has to laugh when it dawns on her just how powerful the family he married into is. He nods at Boromir, “Hey.”
Boromir shows his badge, “Lotho Sackville-Baggins, you are under arrest,” he reads him his rights, “And we arrested your parents earlier. I’ve been trailing you for days. We found your stash. And more importantly, Bilbo had security cameras everywhere, and we caught the three of you red-handed.” He looks at Arwen, “The necklace you are wearing belongs to the person he attacked.” He recognizes it since he was with Fili when he bought it.
Arwen rips it off and throws it away, “You…” She can’t believe this.
“He married you because he thought you were rich.” Boromir hands him off to his colleague, “Just like you married him because you thought he was rich.”
Arwen slaps Aragorn, “This is your fault!”
“How?” Aragorn wonders how she came to that conclusion.
“Because I was supposed to marry you to get my hands on your inheritance! But then you had to go and fuck Legolas and tell everyone you are gay. Oh! I know that you two have been fucking since high school. Everyone knew you two were in love. No one would have believed it if you suddenly married me and professed your love for me.” She fumes, “I had it all planned out!”
Aragorn stands up, “You are my sister!” He never would have married her. “I don’t love you like that!”
“Not by blood!” Arwen rages, “Do you know that I have to wear cheap clothes and drive a shitty car because I can’t afford more? I should be living the high life!”
“Not my fault you can’t keep down a job.” Aragorn sighs, “And I never had romantic feelings for you. It’s always been Legolas. If you had asked me, I would have loaned you some money, but you never did. Instea,d you made snide comments about me, my life and my lover. Always criticizing. Every time we met, it was about you. If it were up to you, you would leave me penniless so you could life your dream.” He sees his kids, “I have a life, and I had wanted you to be part of it. Once. But not anymore. You are poisonous.”
Arwen sees two kids, “Who are they?”
“No one you need to know about,” Legolas joins them, “You found daddy, let’s go visit uncle Thorin and Bilbo.”
Arwen watches them leave and runs home, informing her father about the kids. “You have two grandchildren.” She doesn’t tell him about her soon-to-be ex-husband.
“I do?” He wants to meet them. He has a right to see them. Elrond writes to Aragorn, demanding to meet his grandchildren. He gets no answers and decides to show up at Aragorn’s place.
“Leave, before I arrest you.” Bard is glaring at Elrond, “Aragorn told you, he doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
Elrond growls, “I have a right to see my grandchildren. He can’t keep them from me.” Is this what he gets in return for taking Aragorn in?
“He can.” Bard makes sure Elrond leaves. He joins his husband, “Thran, it’s time.”
Thranduil nods, “I’ve been waiting for this.” He makes a few calls, and several weeks later, Elrond is arrested for possession of illegal substances. He is looking at his sons, “Elrond is going to jail. Lotho and his parents are also going to jail. Arwen has lost another job and has been sent to a mental hospital.”
Aragorn is glad, “I hope I never have to see them again.” And he doesn’t.