"I really am glad that most elves don't talk to trees anymore. These ones would have quite the story to tell." Legolas laughed.

"Let them talk." Estel replied. "The whole of the woods will be jealous of what is mine" he said as he laid another of many kisses on Legolas' lips.


A few weeks later, family meals and sleeping indoors had become their new routine, though they did like spending the days outside.

Legolas had been spending more time with his ada. Taking walks and catching up, Thranduil loved learning all about his youngest's interests and skills. Legolas showed him how he had honed his archery skills and told him about the different beautiful places he had found out in the woods. Thranduil quickly learned that Legolas' biggest interest was Estel. He couldn't help but smile every time his iôn would end up talking about him.

Legolas showed him Estel's painting of the waterfall. "Ada, Estel can paint with more skill and beauty than any I've seen."

"I know. He made me a portrait of us. It's perfect, iôn. He's perfect. I am so happy for you." Thranduil said, so thankful that Estel had given him his son back.

"He IS perfect, huh?" Legolas said blushing. "Arwen and Lainor are well matched, I think." he commented.

"I agree. Both of my iôns have found great companions. What else could a king ask for?" Thranduil spoke with a sad but sweet tone.

"Oh, ada! I need to show you..." And they were off. Thranduil couldn't get enough of Legolas' stories and show&tell. He had his little Legolas back, just as bright eyed and lively as the day he was born.

Estel had been catching up with Arwen and Lainor in the times that he was away from Legolas.

"Arwen, you have not stopped smiling in a week! You truly are falling for the prince, aren't you?" Estel teased his sister as they lounged indoors after a morning spent riding.

"I am." She smiled.

"What are the odds that all of this could have happened in such a short span of time? What work of fate managed to not only unite two sets of hearts, but heal them, as well as others?" He asked.

"Estel", Arwen waited until he looked at her. "It was you, not a work of fate. Fate would have seen Legolas too afraid and ashamed to ever free himself of his past. You chose to pursue his heart even when you had not met him. You were patient and loving and honest. You have a compassionate and kind heart, Estel. You cherish life and have no tolerance for those that don't."

Estel had never had anyone compliment him like this before. He could only stare back at his sister's loving eyes. "Arwen, you speak too kindly of me. I am stubborn and ada would remind you that I am always late to everything." He laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

"Brother, the only thing you need to learn is that you are precious, and just as worthy of love as those you care for." Arwen spoke.

"I do not know if what you say is true, but thank you, Arwen. It means much that you think so highly of me. I wouldn't change this trip for all the treasure in the world."

Elrond had been listening to the exchange. His heart ached seeing that his children were truly grown, but he was also thankful that two of his children had found such perfect mates.

"What is it they say about the child growing wiser than the parent?" Elrond teased as he walked fully into the room.

"Ada, we have much to learn before you have to worry about that." Arwen laughed.

"Estel, what your sister said is true. All here that have met you have been doting on you." Elrond smiled at his youngest.

"Stop." Estel whined, causing Arwen and Elrond to laugh.

"Fine, fine. Legolas is looking for you, by the way." Elrond told Estel.

Estel left to find Legolas while Elrond and Arwen were left alone.

"My dear, are you sure you will stay here?" Elrond asked, hoping his daughter's mind had changed.

"Yes, ada. If Legolas goes with you to Rivendell then I will stay. Do not worry for me. I will be safe here with Lainor." She kissed Elrond's cheek. "This must all be going so fast for you."

"You cannot fathom it, Arwen." He responded. "I am so happy that you two have found such genuine love, but I am so sad because it feels as though I am losing two of my children."

"Ada, you are not losing us. You will never lose us. In fact, you have gained two more." Arwen said with a smile.

"Perhaps you are right. Also, I doubt I will ever truly be rid of the twins." Elrond said in a teasing tone.

"Now THAT you may be correct on." She replied


When Estel finally found Legolas, he was out in the archery range with Elladan and Elrohir.

"You really think you can out shoot me?" Legolas was asking the twins.

"Of course they think they can." Estel replied laughing. "But they would be wrong."

"Ha! Would you two be willing to make a wager on your claim?" Elladan asked. Elrohir immediately feared whatever his twin was going to get them into.

"I have complete and utter faith in Legolas' skills." Estel claimed. He stared at the twins while snaking his arm around Legolas' waist.

Legolas blushed, but he knew he had the twins beat. He tried to give them as straight a look as Estel. "What do you want to wager?" He asked them.

"Winners get to boss the losers around for a whole day. No ifs, ands, or buts about it." Elladan spoke.

Estel looked at Legolas with question in his eyes and Legolas nodded.

"We're in." Estel called, shaking Elladan's hand. Elrohir just sighed and shook his head. *Why do I let him drag me into this stuff*. He thought to himself.

Throughout the games, Estel would call out things like "Legolas, what do you think about having them give us piggy back rides all day?" or "Legolas, how about we make them dance with the nearest elf every time someone says their names!"

Two hours and nearly a thousand arrows later, Legolas had the twins beat as badly as they possibly could have been.

"I know what I want you to do." Legolas said confidently. "You two are to build a much larger bathtub in Estel's chambers."

"My dear, you are both beautiful and wise. I couldn't have chosen a better prize, myself." Estel commented, kissing the prince.

"Are you serious? We have to actually work?!" Elladan whined.

Elrohir punched him in the arm. "You got me into this, you shut your mouth. Come, lets get this over with", he spoke. Elrohir turned to Legolas, "Dark or light stone, mellon?"

"You choose." He said, smiling at the more mature of the twins. He looked at the whining twin and added, "Elladan, since I can boss you around for a day, I have one more thing to add. You must follow Elrohir's directions without complaint."

Elladan muttered some irritated sound and Elrohir laughed and thanked Legolas. "Estel, you picked a keeper".


Elrond and Thranduil were walking through the palace halls planning a feast worthy of the elves send off back to Rivendell.

"I cannot believe that nearly two months have passed." Thranduil spoke.

"Aye. We only need to make sure that we do not wait as long to see each other again, mellon nin." Elrond replied.

"Too true. I still need to ask Legolas if he will be staying or traveling with Estel." Thranduil sighed. "I know in my heart he will travel back with you. I think he needs to be free of this place for a while."

"He will come back, Thranduil. You are his adar. You guys just found each other again, he wouldn't leave you forever." Elrond tried to comfort Thranduil. "Also, Arwen will stay."

"I know we will see each other again before long since it seems we have two weddings to plan. Arwen and Lainor went from barely courting to impatiently waiting for our blessing in less than a month." Thranduil laughed. "Lainor told me that the head of the guard admitted to being afraid of arwen after witnessing her nearly behead Minasson. Your daughter is quite impressive, Elrond. You won't have to worry about her staying here."

"It is not them that I worry about, though." Elrond replied. "You know of Estel's bloodline. Thankfully he has years left before he will be forced to reclaim the throne of Gondor, though I will have to tell him of his true name and fate before the year is out. When the time of Aragorn comes, he will have to live years as a man and produce a human heir before he can claim his Elvish heritage and become immortal. This won't be easy on him or Legolas."

Thranduil just smiled at the worried Lord. "Mellon nin, Estel has already overcome impossible odds. I have complete faith in your iôn, and with Legolas at his side, I do not think they could fail."

"Do you not worry for Legolas, though?" Elrond asked. The *really?* look he received from Thranduil almost made him laugh. "I know you do, that was a stupid question. I just wish that they weren't going to have to bear such a big burden. I wish I could still make the monsters under the bed disappear."

"I know, mellon nin, but if this visit has taught me anything...it is that good, true selfless goodness, can overcome any evil. Darkness cannot compete with light. Your Estel is true and pure light. I know that regardless of what happens in the wars to come, that our two iôns will stick together and fight with no regrets. Darkness cannot win." Thranduil

"Thank you." Elrond spoke. "I am just having issues with my children being grown, I think".

Just then Elladan and Elrohir walked into the hall that the King and Lord were talking in and immediately stopped walking. Elladan was carrying a big wooden crate of square stones and Elrohir was carrying a sack full of tools.

"Boys?" Elrond asked.

Elladan started walking again and snarled "Don't ask." as he made his way past the two older elves.

Elrohir started laughing at his bitter brother. "Don't worry, ada. Elladan is just a sore loser." he said as he also walked by them.

"I really am going to miss the absolutely random things that happen when your family is here." Thranduil teased.


That night, Elrohir told Legolas that they couldn't use Estel's room until the next morning. "Everything should be set by tomorrow morning."

"Thank you." Legolas replied. "How has it been dealing with Elladan?" he laughed.

"Not as bad as you would think. He actually enjoys working with his hands, and though he would never admit it, he has been extremely picky in the craftsmanship of the tub. Just let him know how much you love it when you finally see it." Elrohir replied.

"Of course. I feel bad that you got caught up in your brother's bet." Legolas admitted.

"Don't. He may be the more reckless twin, but I've dragged him into my own share of disasters." Elrohir said. "Plus, you are the most skilled archer I have ever met. You won fair and square."

Estel walked up to the two talking. "Is Elladan still complaining?" He teased.

"No, meleth nin. Elrohir was just letting me know that we will have to stay in my room tonight." Legolas replied grabbing Estel's hand. "Thanks again, Elrohir."

"My pleasure." he replied before bowing and leaving the two alone.

"Legolas, we do not have to stay in your room tonight. We can always spend a night under the stars." Estel said pulling the prince close.

"I know. I think I need to, though. I need to make it a place with good memories instead of a place I dread being." Legolas replied.

"Well we definitely know how to make good memories." Estel teased laying kisses down Legolas' neck.

"That we do." Legolas said grabbing Estel's hand and leading him to his room.

Estel chuckled as he watched Legolas stand on his tip-toes to run his fingers along the top of an arch. "What are you doing?"

"My room is locked. I have been using the window for as long as I can remember. I hid a key, but I can't remember which arch it's on." Legolas said moving to the slightly taller arch next to the one he had been searching.

Estel came up behind him and lifted him by the waist so that he could see on top of the arches. "AHA!" Legolas said grabbing the key.

Once he was back down on the ground, he turned and placed a kiss on Estel's lips before walking to the door. He unlocked the door, but waited a few moments before opening it. Estel followed Legolas into the room and closed the door behind them. The room itself was pretty plain, but there was a bookcase filled with books and a very large painting of a woman.

"That is my naneth. This used to hang in my ada's study, but it was moved here when I was very young." Legolas explained.

"She was very beautiful. You look a lot like her, meleth." Estel replied. Legolas smiled as he gazed up at the painting.

"What is all of this?" Estel asked, running his fingers along the bindings of the books.

"These are story books and song books. Lumorniel used to read to me a lot when I was an elfling. I loved it. She used to sing to me, as well. She has a beautiful voice." Legolas replied. "These books are the ones I wrote all of the songs down in."

Estel picked up one of the books. "I know some of these." He smiled at Legolas. "Arwen used to sing some of these to me when I first came to Rivendell. She would sing me to sleep every night. She never complained, even though I would have her sing my favorite song over and over again." Estel smiled fondly at the memory.

"Lumorniel was much the same. She spent all of her free time with me." He replied.

"See, not all of your memories are bad, meleth nin." Estel placed a hand on Legolas' cheek. "You don't have to leave Mirkwood so soon. I can stay with you. I would never leave you."

Legolas smiled at Estel, placing his hand on top of his. "I know. I want to go. I want to see your home and see new places. I will tell ada tomorrow, but I will definitely travel to Imladris with you."

Estel pulled Legolas to him. "Thranduil will understand. He probably already knows."

Legolas tried to hide a yawn, but Estel caught it. "Lets to go sleep, meleth nin." he said as he pulled him to the bed.

Legolas curled up in Estel's side and let him hum him to sleep.