Years turned into decades, into centuries and into millennia. Legolas had thrown himself into his career. His friends had continued their lives. Lothuialdir's wife, Maerwen, bore him two sons who both now served in the guard following their father's footsteps. Erfaron eventually won the heart of the smiths daughter, Bardis, and brought a daughter into the world. Yet, Legolas still remained alone. He had flirted with the idea of other ellith, but he quickly grew tired of them. All accept one, but her heart belonged to another.
When the need came to report some unfortunate news to Rivendell, Thranduil had quickly volunteered Legolas for the job. He'd reasoned that this wasn't a message he could trust just anyone with. But Legolas could feel the deceit through their bond. His father had grown bored of his sulking over the years and figured that perhaps he would find what his heart was searching for in his mother's lands.
It had been some centuries since Legolas had last visited Rivendell and as his horse took it's first steps out of woodland into the glade, his head and heart calmed. The sounds of the waters flowing freely and without care soothed his ears and his lungs drunk the fresh air as though he was a dying man desperate for water. No matter the calm as he and his horse journeyed further into the glade, a pulling in his mind lead him to believe he was being followed. Watched at the very least. He became so focused on the sound, he lost track of his surroundings and did not notice a member of Rivendell's guard approaching him.
"My Lord!" The elf called out. "Welcome!" He had his horse had been expected and so they were led first to the stables, so the exhausted beast could rest, and then on into the Lord Elrond's beautiful home.
"Prince Legolas," Elrond greeted him warmly. "It has been too long."
"It has, My Lord." Legolas smiled in return, though only through politeness. His heart was heavy with his message. "May we speak in private?" A small nod was given in confirmation and Legolas saw the warm smile on the Lord's face falter. Once in the quiet of Elrond's study, they sat.
"What is it you bear that demands such secrecy?" Elrond sat back in his seat, observing the younger Ellon. He had known Legolas since he was barely knee high to his father.
"The creature Estel brought to my father's kingdom," Legolas chose his words carefully. "It managed to break free of it's holding."
"What?"
"The guards allowed it some time to exercise," Legolas rubbed his temple remembering the details the terrified young guard had relayed to him. "However the party was attacked by orcs before the creature could be returned to his imprisonment."
"I see," Elrond looked around his desk, Legolas did not know what for. "How did the party fair?"
"No life threatening casualties," Legolas nodded a little confused. He'd just delivered the news that a prisoner that had the potential to cause who knows what kind of havoc to the world, a prisoner that Gandalf the Grey deemed worthy of imprisonment in Mirkwood and no where else, had escaped and Elrond was checking on the welfare of five Elves he'd never before met.
"Good," The Lord murmured looking at the younger ellon again though his eyes appeared to be unseeing. Then he smiled quickly, his eyes returning to focus . "Perhaps you would seek out my sons? I have work to do before evening meal and I'm sure they would enjoy showing you the small changes that have been made since your last visit." Legolas nodded and bowed his leave.
Elladan and Elrohir sat together in one of the many gardens surrounding the property. The dark haired brother's looked around at Legolas' approach and for the first time in what felt like years, Legolas' heart felt happy.
"Friend!" Elrohir called and began to stand, welcoming Legolas with out stretched arms. The embrace was short lived, one of comrades or distant brothers. Legolas joined them on their rock over looking more cared for gardens below.
"Now," Legolas smirked. "Whatever are you two up to here?" Below them, a small group of ellith sat together, gossiping and giggling amongst themselves, unaware they were being watched.
"Harmless fun," Elladan muttered, his eyes fixed on a lovely dark haired maiden who had begun to delight her friends with a new song she had learnt.
"You're still unmatched," Elrohir nudged Legolas' arm suggestively. "Perhaps you may find a match if you were to just look."
"Nay," Memories of autumn leaves in summer flooded his mind.
"Still hung on that archer?" Elladan nodded.
"No," Elrohir spoke before Legolas could even muster a syllable. "It's still that mystery girl, isn't it? The one with the silver tongue?" Legolas cringed at Elrohir's description of the elleth that still haunted the back of his mind. Tauriel, the archer Elladan spoke of, had caught his eye for some time. Her hair was a shade darker than the elleth's, at if truth be known, he'd mistaken Tauriel for her on first sight. He'd allowed his mind to pursue the idea for some centuries, flirting with the archer, learning from her and alongside her. He had been distraught when she had chosen a dwarf over him, however he now realised that while his mind had been consumed with the idea of taking Tauriel as his wife, his heart, and therefore his body, did not hold the same plan.
"What are they discussing?" Legolas pointed briefly at the chattering women below in attempt to change the direction of the conversation.
"We've had a range of visitors recently." Elladan started.
"One, in particular, has caught their attention." Elrohir concluded. "He is..." he shared a glance with Elladan. "Nothing like what they have seen before. He ignored their advances,"
"Which makes them want him more." Elladan nodded. "I assume you will meet him tonight, when we feast."
"Father is expecting Estel to return home tonight." Legolas nodded. He'd heard from the gossip around the halls that Arwen had rode out to meet them on the borders but returned with only a single halfling instead of Estel and the group he was rumoured to be travelling with. The twins brought Legolas upto date as the afternoon continued.
As evening came, Legolas heard a large amount of commotion towards the main meeting halls of the dwelling. He avoided the initial commotion, giving the family time to reconnect before he made his way down for evening meal.
He'd dressed simply, for his taste wt the least, but when he arrived in the halls with Aragorn wearing his usual ranger garb, though fresh at what Legolas assumed was Arwen's request, the twins attire unchanged and three halflings adorned in clothes of the common folk, he felt decidedly over dressed. A pair of young ellith whispered as he walked by to join his old friend at the table. He noticed as the twins seated themselves they left two gaps. One next to Gandalf and one next to Legolas. As a new elf he had never met walked through the doorway he had not so long ago, Legolas understood the need to the empty spaces. He also understood why the ellith had been gossiping before.
He was shorter than most elves, though broader across the shoulders. His hair dark and familiar though his face was foreign to the recesses of Legolas' memory. He wore dark travelling clothes, leather boots and dark grey breeches with a stone coloured tunic. Thick golden bands twisted around his wrists with designs Legolas knew, even if he didn't understand them. The strange elf looked along the table, spotting the seat next to Legolas. His face twisted into a smirk as his blue eyes met Legolas' for a brief second before he took the seat between Elladan and Gandalf. Something was whispered between the Elf and Elladan and Elladan's eyes grew wide for a moment before he composed himself.
A little while into the meal, which was entertained by small talk of Aragorn's journey's and the joyful happenings the hobbits provided, another elf joined them. Dressed similarly to the first, they slipped almost unnoticed into the room. It was only as Elladan and the strange elf from before sat up straighter, Elladan with a broad smile on his face but the elf's face had lost the humour it had glowed with before, that Legolas realised their guest. His eyes followed theirs at truly took in the sight of the newcomer.
They scanned the room, spying the empty seat, and Legolas sitting next to it, and continued looked. Seeing their companion sitting with the Maia and Elladan, she scowled and the companion visibly flinched. She then turned her attention to Elorhir. She quickly walked to him and spoke in a voice too soft for Legolas to hear over the noise of the halflings. Elrohir shook his head, smiling. She was annoyed. Legolas had seen that look before. Though in the past he remembered humour behind the frustration. Now it more resembled hatred.
Alas, the seat was filled to Legolas' right. He watched out of the corner of his eye, while trying to maintain his conversation with Aragorn. The bands still weighed her wrists. She was quiet, if it wasn't for the flashes of gold, it would have been easy to forget she was there. Until Elrohir spoke, that is.
"So," He began, bring the attention down towards his end of the table. Legolas locked his gaze on the elf, trying to not look at the elleth next to him. "How do you two know each other?" He grinned. Legolas felt his chest stop.
"He once caught me trespassing." The elleth spoke out clearly. "I was stealing wine from his father's kitchens."
"Ah!" Elrohir chuckled. "We've all been there." Legolas wanted to laugh with him. But it concerned him how easy the lie came from her mouth.
"How are you, Legolas Thranduilion, Sindarin Prince of Mirkwood?" She asked formally, turning to him for the first time. It served only to twist the knife she'd once left in his heart, hearing the words she'd once said which such care and now spoken coldly, like a stranger. Though, he supposed he was. He didn't even know her name.
"I never did catch your name, little thief." Legolas' voice was steady, which he was thankful for as his heart pounded in his chest. She granted a small upturn of the corner of her mouth. She recognised his jest.
"Norin."
"And your farther?" Aragorn spoke from Legolas' left, his voice held a tone of friendly caution.
"Orphaned." She muttered quickly. "Raised by the grace of the mountain." The ranger seemed satisfied. Legolas had many more questions. But hearing her voice hurt. So he left her to her meal, blocking out her responses to Elrohir's questioning of the day.
The was a darkness falling across Middle Earth, so when wine had been offered, Legolas couldn't find it in him to refuse. So when he retired to his chambers that night, his mind had become a little clouded and his tongue a little loose by the time he collided with a person in the corridor towards his chambers.
"Sorry," The person mumbled. But Legolas' arms had encircled the person as a means of regaining his balance. It felt natural and right to stay like this. And the elleth in his arms did not protest. Not for a moment at the least. "You need to let go, Sindarin Prince." His arms snapped from around the body and he took a step back. The elleth who had haunted his fae for over two millennia. The elleth he now could name Norin.
"What are you doing?" He snarled and she recoiled a fraction.
"I was going for a walk," she offered as defence. "Rest doesn't come easy to me. You're welcome to join."
"And how could I be sure this walk isn't another one of your lies and schemes." No. He hadn't meant to say that. But he felt it. The uncertainty. What of their time had been truth and what had been fantasy?
"Legolas-"
"Prince Legolas."
"Yes, Prince Legolas," she corrected softly. The hurt in her blue eyes was apparent and his heart screamed in pain for the anguish he was causing. "I never set out to hurt you."
"But you did." He hissed. She closed her eyes, steadying her breathing as she did. When she opened them she reached out a single hand for his chest. He didn't move away. He would never be sure if it was the inability to move or the lack of desire to.
"I know," Her voice was like the whisper of a breeze. "It was for the greater good."
"For the greater good?" He spat. Anger bubbled in his stomach. "Really? Because all you did was curse me." Legolas slapped away the small, strong hand from his tunic. "Curse to be pity, curse my heart to bleed, curse me to walk my eternity alone. How could that be for the greater good?" He turned on his heel heading back towards the party. He passed Aragorn on the way who gave him a sympathetic look. He'd heard their argument. Legolas was certain most of the settlement had. But he couldn't rinse the sound of her shaking breath as he turned to leave her.
