If you have not read Lord of the Rings or seen the movie don't bother reading this. It is very annoying when people who haven't say that this story sucks. Ok now that I have that out of my system…Elvish speech is in '. There is a bit of a time gap…this chapter takes place at dusk. This chapter focuses mainly on Legolas but I'll add some more Aragorn soon. The slash comes later…much later….(sorry to disappoint you) Enjoy!

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Leogolas sat on his horse, impatiently fiddling with the end of one of his braids. 'Hurry up…' he muttered trying to forget what his father had said, but he couldn't. Chilly autumn air whipped through the trees at the borders of Mirkwood, but Legolas didn't seem to notice. His gaze was fixed on the horizon where he could see a figure on horseback, coming closer, and closer. His childish grin returned and he nudged his horse forward.

'Aragorn!' he cried, coming to a halt in front of Aragorn.

'After ten years this is how you greet me, my friend?' asked the tall young man, jumping off his steed.

'It's just so good to see you,' said Legolas, a little less cheerfully. He would have expected Aragorn to embrace him like a brother, or do anything but just stand there and gaze at him. It unnerved the elf a little. What had happened to him when he went away? How had they turned his mischievous best friend into this handsome young man?

'Is everything alright Legolas?' asked Aragorn, looking concerned.

'Yes,' muttered Legolas, his joy ebbing away. 'I'm fine, and you?'

'I don't believe you. You're being too formal with me. Why?' The way he demanded this made Legolas cringe inwardly. His voice sounded so harsh, like water crashing upon jagged rocks, and this scared him.

'What have they done to you?' whispered Legolas under his breath. Gently he ran his shaking hand over Aragorn's cheek, feeling rough stubble beneath his soft fingertips.

'What are you talking about?' asked Aragorn, ignoring the physical contact. He was expecting Legolas to be happy that he was coming, for Mirkwood was like a second home to him. He missed Legolas terribly, but now it seemed that Legolas didn't want him here.

'Nothing,' sighed Legolas, slipping on his calm, unemotional face, masking his swirling emotions. He wanted to throw all of it away and be carefree and happy, but as he looked at the dark, stone faced ranger he knew that it would not be possible. 'Come,' he said neutrally. 'It's a long way back to the palace.' Nodding Aragorn mounted his horse and followed the elven prince into the darkening forest.

They exchanged formal conversation, Legolas telling Aragorn what had been happening in Mirkwood. The human nodded politely and then he spoke of all the training that he had done, sword fighting, tracking, all things that came naturally to Legolas. Gradually their few words slipped into silence.

Legolas felt uneasy when he noticed that Aragorn was staring at him. 'Why does he look at me so?' he wondered. If it had been someone other than Aragorn he would have asked himself something different. But this was Aragorn, not some dirty tavern whore. Legolas was not ignorant of his beauty, for many elven maidens had tried seducing him. But he would not give up his body so easily, this he promised himself years ago. He glanced back at Aragorn, who averted his gaze. 'What is he thinking about?' Legolas wondered. 'I would give anything to know what he thinks about every day, so I can figure out why he has changed so much.' He briefly smiled at him. 'Changed man or not, he is still my best friend. I will just have to overlook everything.' He was rewarded with a slight smile from Aragorn as they reached the palace, whose windows twinkled like stars in the darkness.