Note: Rated R for assault, violence, and implied rape! E/L slash! Elvish speech is in ' '. Only the unknown characters are mine! Yeah, I know Elrond's real last name isn't Half-Elven, but I like it. It's unique.

Decisions

Part 2

Legolas stirred in his sleep, tossing restlessly. Elrond sat next to the bed, wearing his robe again. When a tiny whimper sounded, the Elven lord gently stroked the blond head, and Legolas relaxed slightly at the comforting touch, before he fell into an easier sleep. The hand then cupped the younger Elf's cheek gently.

A soft sigh escaped from Elrond. He knew he probably should have waited to do such things with Legolas, especially after everything that the young one had been through. Though Legolas had managed to tempt him beyond even Elrond's control, and was obviously experienced at doing such things. But Elrond frowned when he thought of how the young, sleeping Elf had learned what to do.

Young, indeed, Elrond mused. Legolas was little more than a millennia old, and was not supposed to take a lover until he had stopped aging physically, when he reached his majority. Well, both the Elven lord and Gyre had broken that rule, though the difference in why was vast. Elrond had not been with another since Celebrian had left, instead focusing his energy and time on ruling Rivendell. That had left him little time to 'befriend' Thranduil, and that plan had failed, for Elrond had not been able to find Legolas, who was, no doubt, purposefully hidden away when he visited.

Gyre, on the other hand… Gyre did know the difference between forcing someone to do something against their will and having their consent. The eldest son of Thranduil was said to be the cruelest of all of the King of Mirkwood's children, and Elrond was quite willing to believe that. Taking his youngest brother as a consort? The Elven lord shuddered. Elebereth only knew what all Legolas had gone through at his eldest brother's hands. And Gyre had acted as if Legolas' beauty, as well as his father's approval, made what he had done acceptable, which it did not.

Galadriel and Celeborn would have to be informed, for they were supposed to be keeping an eye on Legolas, or at least one of their Guides were. Something must have gone wrong, for if the Lord and Lady had known about what the young Elf was going through, surely they would have done something about it. They would not have left Legolas there, to be starved and abused as he had obviously been.

Legolas stirred again, and his blue-grey eyes focused on Elrond, who sat there, gazing at him. The blond beauty instantly dropped his eyes when they met his master's dark ones, but a firm hand slipped under his chin and made Legolas look back into the dark eyes.

'Do not lower your gaze in my presence, Legolas,' Elrond told him. 'I am not your master, and you are not my slave. I have no slaves in Rivendell.'

Legolas was confused. He was no longer a slave? He'd been one as long as he could remember, and did not recall what one did when one was not a slave.

Elrond saw the puzzlement in the blue-grey eyes, and decided to explain things a bit more clearly. 'You are free to come and go as you wish, Legolas. I did not bring you here to have you serve me. I brought you here to give you your freedom.'

Legolas had dreamed of the day when he would get his freedom, but he didn't know what to do with it. He couldn't return to Mirkwood, because Thranduil would just throw him back into slavery. 'I want to stay here,' Legolas whispered.

'Then you can,' Elrond answered, secretly pleased. He wanted to get to know this older Legolas, and be his friend. Anything else would have to wait for another five hundred years, when Legolas would reach his majority at 1500.

A hesitant, brief smile crossed Legolas' face. 'Thank you, m-master,' he said in a low voice, stammering a bit.

Elrond frowned slightly. 'Call me Elrond, young Legolas. And you do not have to thank me.'

Legolas quickly nodded. 'Okay,' he whispered.

Elrond leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples slightly, thinking to himself. He would have to get Legolas decent clothes, and proper food. Then he would have to teach the younger Elf to not be so timid and meek, for it was unnatural for a young Elf to not be outspoken. And Elrond knew he had to take Legolas to see Galadriel and Celeborn, to prove that his fears had come true.

Legolas sat up slowly, and saw the troubled expression on his mast- no, Elrond's face, he said sternly. He licked his lips and crawled forward, before he kissed the Elven lord sweetly. It was what he had been taught to do. Though kissing Elrond was a lot nicer than kissing the others had been.

Elrond gasped when warm, sweet lips covered his. He looked directly into Legolas' eyes, before he cupped the younger Elf's face in his hands. They kissed for a few minutes, before Elrond pulled away slightly.

Hurt and confusion shone in Legolas' eyes, as he looked into the dark eyes of his saviour.

Elrond was surprised at the hurt in Legolas' eyes, and tried to explain his actions. 'You do not have to do this, Legolas. You are free to make your own choices, and not to please me or anyone you do not want to. And you are not supposed to be with anyone until you are 1500.' Though hardly any young Elves followed that rule anymore, Elrond mused.

'N-no more pain?' Legolas questioned softly.

'Yes, young one. No more pain. You will not be hurt any longer,' Elrond said gently. He gently stroked the blond head, telling himself that he must treat Legolas like one of his own children, at least until he was older. And it would be hard for Elrond to do.

He needed to get to know this older Legolas, so that whatever was between the two of them would reveal itself. Was it merely lust or something more, Elrond wondered. He cared, as he always had, for the young one. To him it was more than simple desire, but for Legolas? He knew not.

Legolas was both relieved and disappointed at what Elrond told him. He was glad that he would no longer be hurt or forced to submit to the unwelcome advances of anyone against his will. But he had enjoyed touching the handsome Elf, and was, for some reason, strangely unhappy at not being able to kiss Elrond again.

Elrond clapped Legolas on the shoulder, in a strictly paternal gesture. 'What do you say we go get something to eat?'

Legolas nodded enthusiastically, before he slowly shook his head. 'Not allowed.'

'Legolas, try to forget the rules Thranduil imposed on you in Mirkwood. This is Rivendell, and you can do whatever you want here,' Elrond murmured. He began fixing his hair, and restoring it to the position that it had been in before…

'Okay,' Legolas whispered.

Elrond mentally sighed. It would take time for Legolas to fully recover. And time was something that rarely ran out, at least for Elves. But the Elven lord needed to take Legolas to Lothlorien, to show Celeborn and Galadriel just what had happened to the young one, who was supposed to be protected by one of their Guides.

The half Elf handed Legolas his white dressing robe, and bade him to get dressed, which Legolas did. The Elves looked at each other for a few moments, before the Elven lord spoke.

'Come,' Elrond told the young one gently, offering a hand to him. Legolas took the hand hesitantly, and was assisted to his feet. The dark-haired Elf led the blond Elf out of his room, and down the hallway, towards the kitchen.

Legolas kept his gaze on his master who was not his master. He couldn't remember anyone ever being so nice to him before. It had been so long since a gentle touch was bestowed on him, so long since someone had been kind enough to care about him. The only other person who had cared about him, a very, very long time ago, when he had been a child, had not been seen again since that day. But he still remembered the gentle voice that had spoken to him, and comforted him. And he could still hear the Elvish song that had been sung to him when he'd had a nightmare, if Legolas focused really hard on remembering it.

Elrond entered the kitchen, closely followed by Legolas. Most of the working Elves turned towards him, nodded in greeting, and continued their tasks. The head worker brushed her hands clean and went over to her lord.

'Welcome, Lord Elrond. What can I get for you?' she questioned. Elrond was a caring and devoted lord, who was loved by his people for his generosity and genuine respect to everyone, not just those of equal rank. It was not surprising that most Elves wanted to work and live in Rivendell.

Elrond gently nudged Legolas in front of him. 'I believe he could use some good food, as could I.'

The Elven lady's mouth dropped open a bit at the sight of the gaunt blond Elf. 'Oh dear… Yes, he certainly could.' She gestured to two of the other Elves, and they began preparing some food. Deaseithel tsked at Legolas, fussing over him, for she was a very motherly Elf. 'You need to eat more, youngling.'

Elrond saw the uncertainty in Legolas' eyes, and gently rested his hands on the younger Elf's shoulders. 'This is Legolas, Deaseithel,' he told her. 'He just came here and will be staying here for quite some time.'

Deaseithel took the plates of food, and carried them towards the table, leading her lord and Legolas. 'Enjoy your stay here, Legolas. Rivendell may not be as large as some of the other Elven kingdoms, but it's certainly a pleasant place to live,' she said cheerfully, as she set the plates down on the table, along with some utensils. 'Can I get you anything to drink?'

Legolas whispered, 'No, thank you.'

Elrond gestured for the young one to sit, and drew Deaseithel over to a corner. 'Do what you can to make him feel welcome,' he said quietly. 'Legolas has had a hard life for someone so young.'

Deaseithel's eyes had compassion and sorrow in them. 'I will, my lord. Now eat, before your food gets cold.' The motherly Elf wondered briefly at what could have been done to make Legolas so meek and mild. She shook her head, and returned to her duties.

Elrond sat down in front of Legolas and frowned slightly when he saw that the blond beauty had not started eating yet. 'Legolas, you don't have to wait for me to start eating before you do,' he murmured. 'Eat.'

Legolas slowly started eating, but hunger took away his control. Elrond gaped a little at how fast the young one was eating.

'Slow down, before you choke,' Elrond urged.

Legolas did so, eating more slowly than before. He also watched the appealing Elf in front of him eat. Elrond was watching Legolas eat, as well. The two ate silently, until they finished.

'Now what?' Legolas questioned.

Elrond wiped his mouth with a cloth, before he look at Legolas. 'I'm going to take you to see my tailors. After that, I'll have to find you something else to wear, because we are going to Lothlorien.'

To be continued