Seasons Of The Heart

Disclaimer: These characters belong to Sir J.R.R. Tolkien. The fanfiction belongs to me.

Warning: Slash. Please do not proceed if this offends you.

Plot Cockroach: Uh, well, this one comes out odd. As we know, elves don't get sick… but this time, it's kind of different. I decided to inflict our dear little elf with some disease! It's sappy at most parts. Be forewarned!

Pairing: Legolas/Elrond

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== 1: Spring ==

The ships had arrived by the seashore. The elves stepped down from the vessels, treading on the white, jeweled sands of the Undying Lands. They were here at last.

Legolas of Ithilien shaded his eyes from the sunlight, looking away as far as the eye could see. The land was beautiful and fertile, and various sorts of blossoms, blooming in the springtime, littered it. Winter had just passed. There was a fresh breath of spring in the air. The elves were delighted; they had dreamt a long time ago of reaching the lands, West of the sea.

Beside Legolas stood Gimli, the dwarfish elf-friend. He picked a gleaming gem from the sand and inspected it, nodding in approval. At that, he turned to Legolas.

"Behold, friend, the elves and their marvelous tastes in gemstones! Pure and bright these are!" he held it to the sun, and it sparkled. "Ah! I shall take pleasure in working with your famed smiths, forgers and carvers!"

"You might create lovelier art then," Legolas said. "And they shall certainly enjoy your company, a son of Aulë, experienced with glittering diamonds and pearls!" But even as he was speaking, Legolas looked around in search of someone. The other elves had departed from the shore, walking towards the dry lands whilst singing and talking under the cool sun. Most of them had found their long lost kinsmen, their lovers, and their friends. Gimli and Legolas stood by the shore, alone.

"I suppose we should go in search of a place to dwell in," Gimli spoke up suddenly, startling the flaxen haired elf a little. But Legolas was too obsessed with his search.

"Just a little while more, Gimli," he reassured. "And I shall be done."

But after a while he spotted no one, and so sighing, he turned to the dwarf. "Let us go, then. But I wonder where to?"

"Perhaps we should have went with the others," Gimli laughed. "We wouldn't feel so lost, then. But here is my petition: I request that we seek Elrond and speak to him before acting."

"He was the very person I was seeking for," Legolas sighed. "I suppose that he thinks it too soon for our arrival."

"Did he promise to come?"

"Yes. And I kept it."

Both Legolas and Gimli spun simultaneously to face the voice. The half-elf stood before them, robed in white. He flashed a dazzling smile at them, extending his arms to embrace the two people warmly.

"It has been a long time Master Elrond," Gimli said, bowing low instead of embracing the half-elf in return. "We bring you tidings from Middle-Earth."

"And we shall no longer bring any from there," Legolas piped in, amused. Elrond nodded with a slight smile.

"I see. But we shall have to save that for later," he said, taking the two by their hands. "Right now we must meet the Breath of Arda, and then seek a place for your lodging. Where would you prefer to live? By the woods, the streams, the sea? Or perhaps on a plain, under the stars?"

"I'd like to live near you," Legolas grinned as he spoke. "We could exchange many stories of the past, present and the future. And Gimli shall make us plenty of silver caskets, laden with ornaments of precious gems and mithril – I hear that he will be looking forward to working with our elvish smiths."

"Ah, then I thank you in advance, Master Gimli," the half-elf replied. Gimli turned a little flushed. He had forgotten how graceful and attractive the elegant half-elf was, throughout the years in the Glittering Caves. He shone more brightly than the diamonds the dwarf had seen, white, like the dreamy pearls, and his hair the color of a black onyx stone. He compared the half-elf's gray eyes to that of mithril silver, clear as the sky on a cloudy morning, when the sun has not penetrated the dawn yet. He was calm, composed and quiet, every bit how an elf-lord should be.

Gimli found that his two friends were nearly the opposite of each other. While Elrond was fair and dark haired, Legolas sported flaxen, silky locks, gleaming in the sun like fine yellow gold. His eyes were like a swirl of emerald and azure aquamarine, like the skies meshed with the foliage of the forests. Legolas' skin was fair and white, fairer than the half-elf, and sinfully beautiful. He was certainly more sociable and extroverted compared to the reserved half-elf, very lively and resourceful. Of the two, Gimli was fonder of Legolas, but given, they had been together for a longer period of time.

They walked on, speaking and laughing, to the mountains where the Mansion lay.

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"You seem depressed, Legolas."

Gandalf sat by the window, looking out. The elf sighed inaudibly, and turned to look at the ancient wizard.

"My heart troubles me so."

"What of?"

"Strange feelings," Legolas replied, but he would say no more. Gandalf raised his brows in curiosity, but he decided to let the matter rest for a while. Therefore he shrugged simply, and chewed on a bit of cake, and then finished it in a bite.

"Well, try not to overdo yourself, lad," he said, getting up. "I must go now, Legolas. Take care, and thank you for the cake."

"You're welcome, Mithrandir," he replied, smiling. Gandalf winked and shut the door behind him. Promptly the elf sank into the chair, exhaling loudly. "… Strange feelings indeed."

Legolas had lived in the Undying Lands for nearly two months now. Spring proved itself wonderful in these blessed earth, under the hands of Yavanna, Green of the World. Everything blossomed well, bearing fruit and flowers far more plentiful than needed by the elves. Gimli had also found delight, as per his words, with the elvish smiths and forgers.

All through this while, Legolas spent his time with Elrond, and with other elves, though more with the former. They walked and talked together when the weather was sweet, laughing, and spotting out secluded places where the air proved fresher. And through that time too, Legolas discovered hidden feelings, buried deep in his heart. At first, he was confused.

But time went by.

Legolas knew the answer to that call now. It was the call of love.

The flaxen haired elf sighed inwardly. Pursuing this matter with Elrond would be fruitless. After all, he was already married to the Lady Celebrian. Why, they even had children together! Legolas was ousted out, yet before he had started competing. This was a losing battle, he knew.

"… It hurts to think it that way," he said, finally getting up. He then walked to the door, and stopped, looking back. Shaking his head, Legolas disappeared out into the sunshine.

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"Forgive me, but he is not present right now."

The blond lifted his brows. Celebrian shook her head slowly. "He has gone out to the fields, I suppose. Do come in, Master Legolas. I wish to have a word with you."

He bit his lip, trembling slightly. Perhaps Lady Celebrian knew of this, and she wanted to nip the trouble in the bud. But inwardly he was relieved – at least she had not breathed a word to the half-elf. Therefore Legolas nodded, and he stepped into the house lightly. Celebrian drew him in and motioned him to settle on a chair. She moved to the kitchen, and in a moment, she was out with a cup of tea. It was evident that she had been expecting the blond to drop in on her.

Celebrian sat on a chair, opposite him. She stared at Legolas for a while; it seemed like eternity to him, but after a fleeting instant, she lowered her gaze to the ruby liquid contained in her cup. Celebrian sighed softly, pushing gently her long silvery-gold tresses away from her face. She then returned her gaze to Legolas.

"Sometimes things just do not last as long as we might seek it to…"

The blond shifted a little. However, he too, was a little surprised at her words. Celebrian smiled.

"You may feel much for another, Master Legolas, and yet sometimes your feeling slips away," she continued, unwavering. "It moves on, though, like a flow of water in a stream. Likewise, one's feeling can move on, flow on, to another being. It will leave your last loved one devastated."

Legolas looked directly into her eyes. Her love affair with another elf was no secret to him any longer, but he doubted it as the truth, all the same. Elrond had not told him; he figured it out on his own. Legolas was never one to listen to news spread by the wind, however true it may seem – and for that, he was spared a lot of sin and foolishness.

Yet now, the truth was already known. Celebrian had confessed. But why was she telling him this all a sudden?

"You already know why," she whispered. "… I do not wish for one to be distressed on my account. And even if he weren't, he would be, by another's. Do not let him deceive himself! But let him find his way, to open his heart again, to another. Nay, Master Legolas, you need not my permission; I beg you to speak to him – the only person who can permit you to act, is you yourself, and him."

Legolas stood up, a little shaky, but determined. He had heard enough, and he was moved by emotion.

"…Where?"

"By the white falls, lamenting his existence."

Legolas nodded, and rushed to the doorway. He swung it open, but before he stepped out, he turned back to face the silvery lady, sitting on the carven chair, by the window. He beamed at her, and bowed low. "Thank you."

She nodded, and smiled graciously. There was a kindled fire in her eyes, unspoken, but Legolas saw it. His beam grew wider.

The flaxen haired elf left the house, and bounded in the direction of the fair falls. Warm light fell upon his skin, and blue eyes met the equally blue skies.

Summer was just around the corner.

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To Be Continued

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Note: Next part, summer! Boring story, huh?