Title: Unexplained Silences Require Answers (1/1)

Author: Sammymc

Rating: PG-13

Website: http://www.geocities.com/sammy_anny_m (Fiction - Other RPS)

Pairing(s): EW/OC, EW/DM

Summary: Elijah has an unexpected announcement to make to the Fellowship.

Disclaimer: Not true. Not meant to be taken as a truth. No offense meant to anyone.

**AN** First EW/DM story. Set about a month after The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is released to theaters.

You’ve known these people for what seems like ages. Since that day so long ago when you had arrived in New Zealand. You’ve shared with them every part of your life. There isn’t a single thing you haven’t discussed over a beer in a bar, or at home on someone’s well loved couch. You can remember nights of card games or dancing, script read throughs, and costume fittings. You remember getting each other through colds, and bouts of homesickness, accidents and injuries.

You remember quite clearly when Orlando cracked two ribs falling off a horse, and when Astin cut open his foot on the glass in the river. You weren’t there for the first but you had witnessed the last. You can recall it, late at night with a clarity that doesn’t come often, you prefer to forget the bad things. You can still remember the pained look on his face as they removed his furry Hobbit foot.

You remember waiting in your hotel room with Billy and Dom, watching the door and the phone, hoping for some kind of news from the hospital, or for Sean himself to walk through the door, even if he is limping.

But more then all that you remember the smiles, and the hugs, and the friendships you had made. You remember the comradery, the understanding you had all felt for each other. The brotherhood that had been formed between your small group.

You have never felt so close and well loved as you did when making the trilogy. They were as much your own family as Hannah and your Mom. Which is why you don’t understand the blank looks and silence you are faced with now.

It’s not like you told them you were dying or never wanted to see them all again. You only told them that you and Liz were getting married. You don’t understand their confusion, and is that anger? You look at them in bewilderment, but they aren’t looking at you anymore. They are all looking at Dom. You look to your best friend for answers. He sits stoney-faced and expressionless, sitting squeezed in between Orlando and Billy, his eyes wider then usual. He isn’t blinking and the utter lack of feeling on his face is beginning to make you worried.

“Dommie?” you call, taking a step toward him in concern. He looks up at you, blinking rapidly.

“That’s great Lija.” he whispers. “Congratulations...” he trails off and offers a smile that you know is forced and faker than any smile he had ever sent your way. It makes you frown in response and you take a step back in confusion. Your hearts has decided to stop beating in your chest, and you don’t know why. The next thing you see as you look up from your wringing hands is Dom’s back as he walks away. Billy jumps up from the couch and follows him out. There is a harsh silence in the room as everyone turns back to look at you again.

You look over your shoulder at Liz, she’s been hovering behind you the entire time, not yet comfortable with your friends. You had reassured her that everything would be okay. She’s biting her lip, looking back at you with a strange emotion in her eyes. You’re moving toward the door before anyone can move to stop you. You can hear Viggo and Orlando arguing as the door closes behind you.

You move down the hallway, looking in the darkened rooms to find your missing friends. You find them on the other side of the house, on the deck that leads off the back of Ian’s place. You know that it’s cold outside, it’s the middle of January already. You retrieve your jacket and then Dom’s as well, remembering that he was only dressed in a thin ratty old t-shirt.

The sliding door makes Billy look up and glare at you. You avoid his eyes and turn toward Dom. He’s leaning against the wood banister, smoking a cigarette, and staring down at the ocean. Billy touches his shoulder, and gets a nod in reply. Billy moves past you, going back inside the house without saying a word to you. You move to lean against the railing beside him. You’re not sure why you are so nervous. This is Dommie. He’s your best friend in the entire world. He’s looking out at the ocean below you, sucking on his cigarette and pretending like you aren’t there. You remember his jacket and hold it out to him.

“I brought you your coat.” you say it quietly, almost as if you are afraid he’ll turn to look at you. He takes it from you blindly pulling it over his shoulders and thrusting his arms down the sleeves. He shrugs it the rest of the way on and picks up his cig again. You slowly pull your own jacket on. “Did I do something wrong, Dom?” you ask quietly. You are unsure of what else can be said. He shakes his head no. “Then why are you out here? Why is everyone acting so strangely? Why aren’t you happy for me?” you need to know the answers to these questions.

“I am happy for you, Lij.” he whispers, he’s still facing away from you. But you know him well enough after five years to tell the difference between a truth and a lie.

“You’re lying to me!” you protest. He turns to face you and you can see the pain in his eyes as he looks at you. “What is going on, Dominic?” you ask, your voice dropping to a whisper.

“I’m as happy as I can be for you Elijah. You’re just going to have to accept it. It’s all I can give you.” he answers. You move away, sitting on the bench situated in the corner of the deck. He doesn’t follow you, but his eyes are still on you.

“I wanted you to like her. I thought you got along with Liz. She wants to get along with my friends and you are the ultimate test, Dom. You’re my best friend out of everyone, she and I wanted you to like her the most.” you’re rambling again, but you’re friends are used to that from you. You watch Dom finish his cigarette, his hand are white against the wood of the banister, and you realize he is clutching it tightly with both hands. “Why aren’t you happy for me?” you ask. His shoulders slump.

“Don’t ask questions you aren’t prepared to hear the answers too.” he whispers. It carries on the wind.

“I want you to tell me!” you reply. He closes his eyes, hanging his head.

“I can be your friend. But don’t ask me to be happy that you are marrying her.” You feel your heart drop again. You had wanted Dom to be your best-man.

“You still haven’t told me why. Is it just that you don’t like her? You don’t think she’s right for me? You think it’s too soon?” you question. He’s tense and turned away from you now. The wind blows cold and fast off the ocean. You want to go back inside. Part of you thinks for a split second that you aren’t sure you want to know his reasoning. Your mind is spinning with possible scenarios and none of them sound very appealing. You’re so lost in thought that you are shocked when he is suddenly standing in front of you. He bends down, hands braced on the railing on either side of the corner seat. He leans close to you, and you can see a wet sheen in his eyes that means he’s about to cry, but is fighting it for all that he’s worth. His cheeks are pink from the cold air and for the briefest of moments you want him to kiss you, you pray that he’ll kiss you. You push the thought away. You’d given up on that dream your first week in New Zealand when he had ruffled your hair and called you a little boy. He’s looking into his eyes and they’re so sad that you breath catches in your throat.

“Tell me...” you breathe. It comes out as a warm cloud of air and is whisked away by the breeze. He leans even closer.

“You don’t belong with her. She isn’t good enough for you. You deserve far better then the likes of that little girl in there. She is not the kind of person that you need. I care about you Elijah. Much more than I rightfully should and it hurts me to see you with her. But to stand up beside you as you pledge to love her forever would damn near bloody kill me. So don’t ask. And don’t expect me to come. And don’t expect me to raise a glass to the biggest mistake of your life.” Dom whispered. The warmth of his breath heats your face and you lock your eyes to his.

“Who is good enough for me, Dom?” you ask. His eyes cloud and he begins to pull away. Your hands fly up to stop him. One hand rests on his shoulder, the other on the back of his head. He is still beneath your touch. You lean up closer to him. “Who is right for me? Who is it I need? Hmm?” you say it quietly. His eyes are wide and his breathing has picked up. “Is it... you, Dom?” you ask. He doesn’t dare move a muscle. “Do you hate her because you love me?” you ask. His eyes have gone pained again. He tenses. You pull him closer to you, not wanting him to get away. “Tell me, say the words.” you whisper. Your thumb slides down the side of his face. He is cool to the touch.

“Yes. I hate her because she isn’t me. Because you love her like you can never love me. Because she has the one thing I have always wanted.” he whispers the words to you, and you feel your heart spring into a nervous rhythm. You feel like blushing from your head to your toes.

“You’re wrong..” you whisper. He does move away this time and you aren’t able to stop the sudden swift movement. He has his hands on the handle of the sliding door in seconds. “She’ll never have me the way that you do. She’ll never have what you’ve always wanted because she’s never been what I always wanted.” you say it louder and he stops with the door half open. “She’ll never be enough, because she’ll never be you. Because it’s you that has always had me. I just didn’t realize it before now.” He turns to face you. The door slides closed behind him, forgotten.

“Don’t do this, not for the sake of a friendship.” he pleas. You smile.

“Have I ever lied to you?” you reply, stepping toward him. Up against the house the wind isn’t quite so bad. You’re sheltered by the wood of the outer wall and the crevice that houses the sliding glass door from the wind. You move close to him and smile. “I’ve loved you since that first day in New Zealand. I just convinced myself that you could never want me. That I wasn’t good enough for you. Too young. Too inexperienced. The first time I gathered enough courage to approach you about it, you ruffled my hair and told me I was adorable. I was a kid and you saw me as one. I gave up on it so long ago, on wishing and dreaming, that I must have hidden it from everyone and ignored any signs that you felt the same way. I probably brushed them off as wishful thinking.” you continue. He’s slumped against the cold glass, eyes watery, jaw slack. “I’m in love with you Dominic. I have been for what feels like forever.” you step up to him. He doesn’t move away. He’s looking at you with astonished eyes and mild confusion, as if he’s not sure you’re really speaking at all. You smile and lean up to press a kiss to his lips. “I can’t marry her. Not now. Not now that I know.” you whisper, pressing close. And then he’s awake again and his arms are going around you and you’re pressed against him from head to toe and you can’t breathe he’s holding you so tight, but it’s the most amazing feeling in the world.

Your arms snake under his jacket and your mouth is pressed to his tightly. He’s tastes as wonderful as you had always imagined he would. Then he’s pulling you up against him, like he wants to climb into you forever and never leave. His tongue is warm and sweet in your mouth and you are sure that Dominic Monaghan is the man you were meant to spend your life with. It doesn’t matter that you’re only 22. It doesn’t matter that this right here is your first kiss, you just know. You can only idly hope that the poor girl inside will understand.

End.