Dismounting his horses, Estel looked around in wonder at their surroundings: sunlight streaming through the filter of the canopy, creating a patchwork of light upon the floor, which was littered with golden and green leaves alike.
Legolas dismounted next to him and said "Well then Estel, let us search for that adventure you've craved." Legolas took off through the forest, light feet gliding through the uneven terrain. Estel took off a second later, leaping over logs and slipping on moss, attempting to keep up with the elf. Finally Legolas stopped in front of an immense tree, larger than any tree that Estel had ever seen.
"What is this place, Legolas" Estel asked, staring in awe up at the tree, who's top climbed so high Estel could not see it.
"This is Velicë, the great. Among the Eldar, it was said that this tree was Yavanna's greatest creation, and this is her dwelling during her visits to Middle-Earth." With a light hand on the trunk, Legolas encircled the tree, climbing over massive roots. Following, Estel saw where the roots lifted to form a doorway inside of the tree. Ducking inside, he saw Legolas already climbing the inside of the tree, for it was hollow, yet filled with vines.
Legolas stopped climbing and swung through an opening in the side of the tree. Leaning back in, Legolas grabbed Estel's hand and pulled him through as well. The sight before Estel took his breath away. He could see all of the forest stretched out before him; interwoven branches and epiphytes twining, birds fluttering, leaves gently floating from the highest branches as if a golden rain sprinkled down.
"Does it stun you?" Legolas said softly.
"Indeed. I have never seen a more beautiful sight." Estel replied, voice betraying the wonder he felt.
"But this, Estel, is how an Elf sees this" Legolas said as he placed his fingers on Estel's temple. Estel gasped aloud, for he could feel every leaf as it landed, every bug within the trees, every spider spinning her web; he could feel the heartbeat of the forest. His vision saw the cohesive whole, the joint unity of the forest. He smelled the decay of the fallen logs, the blossoming of leaves and flowers. He heard all of the scuffles, and he swore that he could hear the trees grow.
Thrust back into his own body violently as Legolas severed their connection, Estel nearly wept at the loss of his senses.
"Is that how you always view the world?" Estel asked in amazement.
"Yes, Estel, 'tis a gift of the firstborn. Ilúvitar made us as a part of Eä." Legolas replied.
"Can you teach me? I want to learn how to be more like an elf" Estel pressed.
"No, Estel, nobody can teach you how to see and feel like an elf—nor would you want to. You caught a glimpse of one of our most joyous sights, yet most of the time this is marred by darkness; just as you could not imagine the immense pleasure we take in the forest, you cannot fathom the grief we feel at it's destruction." Legolas said sadly.
"In all the time I've known you, I have yet to see sadness in your eyes" Estel said.
"The elves do a remarkable job disguising it," Legolas said with a small sigh "but immortality indeed breeds sadness in us all. I generally find more joy in the world than elves such as my father. The growing of the trees and the unfolding of green leaves still excites me."
"I wish I could feel the way you do about the forest, Legolas. That was beautiful."
"Yet humans are blessed with gifts from Ilúvitar as well. Never doubt that you are just as important as all the elves in Mirkwood. The way that you experience Middle-Earth is unique and wonderful too." Legolas said with a large smile.
Estel put his hands on Legolas's temple and said "Here, do you see and feel as a human now?"
"No Estel, I wish" Legolas said with a small laugh "although your company does."
A long, peaceful silence ensued between them, where Estel could not help but stare at Legolas. Of all of the elves in Rivendell and Mirkwood, Estel thought that Legolas was one of the most beautiful: with hair that shown like sunlight and flowed like a waterfall over his shoulders—and of course pointed ears. The small braids that adorned his hair framed perfectly ears that met in the most graceful point at the top. Brushing an errant strand behind his ear, Legolas turned and smiled at Estel.
"And never doubt" Legolas spoke at last breaking the silence, "that your rounded years are just beautiful as any pointed one." Legolas tucked Estel's wavy brown hair behind his ear but before Legolas's hand could drop back to his lap Estel grabbed it within his own.
Estel stood suddenly, stepped over Legolas and leaped off of the branch.
"ESTEL" Legolas screamed, before he saw the human swinging from a lower branch.
Estel winked at Legolas before saying "I thought we could take the fun way down" and jumping to yet another branch. At near light speed Legolas followed Estel, leaping from branch to branch. Fortunately for Estel, Legolas's elven speed allowed him to catch up, and just as Estel slipped from a branch Legolas wrapped an arm around him and pulled him back. Estel was now pressed tightly between Legolas and the tree, heart pounding wildly out of his chest.
"Careful there, human" Legolas said with a wink before leaping down to the next branch. Legolas slid down the last expanse of trunk without branches, and landed lightly upon a root. Attempting to follow, Estel found himself self simply tumbling toward the ground along the tree, until his fall was broken by a not so enthusiastic Legolas who landed with a large thud and Estel on top of him.
Groaning and turning his head, Legolas saw a strange footprint that he had not seen before. Examining the large print told Legolas that creatures with armored boots, clearly not elven, had passed through here fairly recently. Pushing Estel off, Legolas followed the tracks with the curious human following. The footprints faded away, but before they did Legolas came to a tree that was carved with writing.
"The black language of Mordor" Legolas said in disgusted shock.
"What in Valar's name is it doing here?" Estel asked with wide eyes, looking around frantically as if Orcs would ambush them any second.
"I know not, and I do not possess the skill to read this. We must get back to the palace and inform Thranduil" Legolas said quickly, grabbing Estel's arm and pulling him away from the tree.