Title: Sea of Gold

Summary: Parting between two friends

Notes: This is a drabble series that will not normally tie into each other.

The wind blew through the tall yellow grass and a few dandelion seeds rose into the air. They twirled as if dancing into the breeze to start a new life somewhere else. A few landed on a young man who lay in the sea of grass that stretched as far as the eye could see. He gently plucked a seedling from his chest and raised it to his steel grey eyes. Flecks of gold shown in his iris' and his pupils contracted in the sunlight. A warm smile slide across his tanned features and he gently blew the seedling away. A wish crossed his mind, but he chuckled at the whimsical thought. Sitting up, he brushed his unruly brown hair from his face and gazed off into the distance. The golden sun was slowly setting and soon a wondrous sunset would spill across the land. A flash of gold caught his attention and he glanced to his left.

A green clad figure was slowly moving towards him and he watched as the golden hair fluttered across pale feature. Emerald green eyes glinted through the strands and a warm smile adorned the generous mouth. Pointed ears were revealed when a slender hand casually brushed back the long locks of gold. The elf leaned down gracefully and plucked another dandelion seed from the young man's hair. Letting out a chuckle, he released the seedling and watched it float into the air.

"I see that they flowers love to adorn you with their seedlings mellon nin."

Humor shown in the steel grey eyes. "Better the seedlings then other unsavory things."

A chuckle escaped the elf. "True. Dirt does love to cling to your hair."

"Hey!" The man exclaimed in mock annoyance.

Laughter escaped the elf and the man soon joined in. Content soon filled the air between them and they sat shoulder to shoulder. They both watched as the sun gradually begin to sink and turned the sky into various colors. Orange and yellow streaked the sky and appeared to bathe the very world in its last vestige of warmth.

"When do you leave?" The elf asked softly.

"Tomorrow."

"Can you stay longer?"

The man slowly shook his head. "If I could you know I would Legolas, tis my duty as a ranger to help those in need and to keep the shadow at bay."

"And for how long will you do this, Estel." Legolas exclaimed with turbulent emotion. The once serene features were filled with anguish. "How long will we part and meet again? And how long must I worry for you out in the wild?"

Estel leaned forward and cupped Legolas' cheek. "If I could change who I was then I would do it for you. It is painful to leave you behind, but you know that you cannot join me."

A bitter laugh escaped the elf. "Duty. It is always duty that stands in our way."

"Yes." Estel whispered in sorrow. "And it is duty that makes us who we are. "

The elf grasped the human and pulled him close. Estel closed his eyes in the sea of gold that filled his vision. He grasped the elf closer and lay his head on Legolas' shoulder. Their hearts beat in tandem and neither of them spoke even when their hold tightened on each other.

Stars soon scattered across the sky as the sunset and the sky soon turned to darkness.