Legolas was in love with Arwen Undomiel. There was nothing else for it. Although he had told himself countless times that it wan't true, he knew that he was only decieving himself. His heart felt differntly. Every time she passed him, he inhaled her scent, his heart pounding like a caged bird. He wanted to capture that moment in time, to store it in his memory, because she was beautiful, and he wanted to remember that way. The way her hair curled so gracefully over her shoulders. How her eyes sparkled when she sang so sweetly, it could bring tears to your eyes. How she walked so gracefully. When she spoke, he sould hardly listen to her words, the way her melodic voice made him tremble with longing. Sometimes, when she caught him staring at him, a pink tinge would creep up her pale cheeks, and she would smile shyly, locking her deep blue eyes with his before looking away a second later. She visited him in his dreams, taking his face in her hands and kissing him over and over. He would always awaken dissapointed. For he knew that it could never be. She was betrothed to his best friend, Aragorn Elesar.
The Fellowship had been staying in Rivendell for quite some time. Legolas loved Imladris, especially the peaceful aura that surrounded the entire refuge. And the trees...they spoke so tenderly to him, so full of emotion. But of course, that wasn't why Legolas longed to stay in Rivendell. He wanted to hold onto his love for as long as possible, before he would have to let her go.
It was a thought that broke his heart whenever it struck him. Arwen, sweet, wonderful Arwen, would never be his. Aragorn loved her, even a fool could see that. Who wouldn't? Almost everyone who met her fell in love with her instantly, so perfect was she. But what really made Legolas sad was that she loved him back. Her eyes shone when she looked at him. There was always a longing in her to be closer to Aragorn, to be near him. He tried not to be jealous of him, he really did. But soon he realized something that both uplifted and saddened Legolas: his love for Arwen was stronger than the bonds of friendship that united him with Aragorn. It was stronger than everything in his life. And yet, she could never know. It could never be.