Chapter 9

The birds sang their lullabies as the last rays of sunlight shone upon the highest tops of the Golden Valley. Beneath the warm dusk light, a cool blue covered the courtyards and gardens in the peaceful palace.

With the Fellowship now gathered, last-minute preparations were being made, for they set out on their journey at dawn's first light.

Beremen and Legolas had gotten into an argument after the Council had disbanded. The High Warden felt that it was not within Legolas's right to choose to go on this mission without his King's approval. Legolas felt that as Prince, it was his duty, and going on the mission was actually an extension of the King's previous orders—bring aid to his people in whatever way possible.

The two elves had quarreled for some time, like an old married couple too familiar with the other partner's verbal moves, leading to what felt like an endless circle of points and rebuttals. But in the end, Legolas won out and Beremen was left speechless and dumbfounded on how he had lost such control of the Prince and situation entirely. His worst-case mindset had never even fathomed the scenario of Legolas volunteering to go on one of, if not the most, dangerous journey of their Age. This would be a venture to the enemy homeland of Mordor to destroy the most powerful weapon in Middle Earth—the Dark Lord's own Ring of Power. No, Beremen had never considered this scenario in a million years, and now he had no idea how he was going to explain it to King Thranduil upon his return without the Prince.

Legolas left his High Warden to his distressing thoughts and went on a walk. It had been a long few days, and they were about to get a lot longer. He took this time to soak in the blissful calm that was Rivendell. The peaceful sound of birds singing and rushing river waters cascading down from the many-tiered cliffs set his mind at ease and let him gather his thoughts for the journey ahead.

He passed a courtyard where he saw Aragorn kneeling at the small statue that was the memorial for his late mother. Legolas did not want to bother his friend and would speak with him later.

Continuing around the grounds without much aim, Legolas stopped in his tracks when he came upon Boromir. The man was leaning on the white fence railing of a small footbridge overarching a small pond. The man stared down at the rippling waters as he tossed pieces of bread into it. Little toothless mouths popped up on the water's surface, devouring the crumbs.

Legolas looked down and smiled. Feeding the many beautiful and unique fish was one of his favorite things to do in Rivendell as well. He was surprised he had completely forgotten about it until that moment.

"Do you need something?"

Legolas flinched and looked up. Boromir now stood up straight, gaze locked upon him. Legolas kicked himself for his awkwardly stopping and then not saying or doing anything.

"No, I—," he searched for something to say besides the fact he hadn't known how to approach the man after their earlier encounter. Searching the man's face and eyes for any signs of hatred or hostility, Legolas was surprised to find none. Shoulders relaxing slightly, Legolas finally said, "Feeding the fish—," he glanced at the half loaf of bread still in Boromir's hand. "It is one of my favorite things to do here, too."

A large smile appeared on Boromir's face. "Aye, 'tis surprisingly enjoyable." He looked down at the bread in his hand and broke off a piece and held it out to Legolas. "Would you like to join me?"

Legolas hesitated. For a moment he felt like a wild animal being offered food for the first time; his gut instinct was suspicious of the act, for it seemed too kind, too charitable, for the world he knew.

Seeing the elf's hesitation, Boromir let out a small scoff but still held his smile. "I will not bite, elf—I mean, Legolas." The man's gaze dropped in apparent irritation at himself. He turned back to the fish as he wiped a large hand down his face. "I am sorry, Legolas." The man kept his gaze averted as he gently shook his head side to side. "I have behaved less than noble during my time here." He raised his hazel gaze to Legolas. "My treatment towards you has been especially lacking." He pushed off the white fence and took a step towards Legolas with a hand outstretched. "Please, I ask for your forgiveness."

Legolas's jaw dropped open slightly as he stared at the man in disbelief. Never had anyone ever apologized to him out of sheer choice. It had always been because of his status, his title. But this man did not know he spoke to the Prince of Mirkwood. He only saw a citizen of Mirkwood, and he still decided to try and make amends.

A wave of emotion reared up within him, threatening to knock him over from its sheer force. It tightened his chest and crawled up his throat, clogging his airways. His heart hurt. This was something he hadn't even realized he had been missing.

Legolas stifled the overwhelming sensations igniting within him and forced his hand into the man's outstretched one.

Swallowing, Legolas struggled to keep his voice from shaking, "Accepted." He paused for a moment, gathering his own thoughts. Locking eyes with the man, Legolas said, "I too have acted far below my own standards here, and for that, I am truly sorry. Maybe we can start anew?"

The worry lines on Boromir's face instantly turned to smile lines as a huge grin brightened his face. "I would like that very much."

As the elf and man stood feeding the fish, they talked about the weather, how neither of them had ever seen the leaves change so brilliantly as they did here in Rivendell. Their conversation twisted and turned from horses, swordsmanship and warcraft, to the dire situations back at home for both of them.

"I—I had no idea," Boromir said. Legolas had just spoken of the little elleth who haunted his dreams. The one with the wavy brown hair and tear-stained cheeks, clinging onto her mother's burnt and blackened body. "Our scouts had mentioned the situation in the Wood was deteriorating, but never in a million years did we know it to be that bad."

The awkward silence that fell upon them made Legolas grimace internally. He had said too much. This man had plenty of struggles and burdens of his own. Legolas did not need to add to those with his own. Taking a step back from the railing, he kept his gaze downward as he said, "My apologies, I should not speak of such grim things…" he moved to leave when Boromir's large hand grabbed his wrist.

Startled by the contact, Legolas turned and looked at the man. A shiver ran down his spine at the sincere empathy shining in the man's eyes.

"Nay, Legolas. Never apologize for telling her story. Your story. She lives through your words. By speaking of her, you ensure her life, her struggles, are not forgotten. Because she matters. All of your people matter. By their life and death, they matter."

Legolas heard the words, but he could only stare at the man's hand holding his wrist. Though large and calloused, Boromir held Legolas's wrist with a firm gentleness. The touch did not hurt. It held no anger or resentment. Legolas couldn't remember the last time someone had touched him like this besides Aragorn. A touch that held no ulterior motive or animosity.

While struggling to find words, any words, Boromir waited in silence watching the elf. His copper-hair shimmered in the cool blue light of the valley's dusk and his hazel eyes implored Legolas to hear him. And Legolas did. Boromir could not realize how much his words meant to the elf.

"Thank you," he said. In the end, that was all Legolas could come up with. It was the shortest, truest sentence he could manage in that moment.

Boromir smiled again and released Legolas's hand. He went back to leaning on the fence railing, gaze falling back to the fish.

"You know," he said. "I have never been further north than the Wold." He looked Legolas up and down. "Maybe once this mess is all over and done with I can visit the famous realm of the mysterious Wood Elves." Boromir paused for a moment, a sad frown tugging at his cheek. "If you would have me, it would be an honor to help your people rebuild what they have lost."

While he was normally an elf of few words, even Legolas felt baffled by this man's ability to leave him speechless. His fingers graced over the white oak wood of the railing, tracing the wood grain lines with all of its bumps and split ends. A part of him disbelieved the man, a voice in his head warning it to be some sort of trap or mockery. But a larger part of him knew the man was sincere, and it made the elf's sore heart ache with gratitude.

Turning to Boromir, Legolas gave a gentle smile and nodded his head. "It would be an honor, Boromir, Steward-prince of Gondor."

"Friends," called a familiar voice behind Legolas. Boromir and Legolas both turned to see Aragorn trotting down the white marble steps towards them. Concern first flashed across the Ranger's features at the elf and man standing together, but as he stopped in front of them both and saw no hostility, a smile formed and he looked back and forth between the two. "Supper is ready if either of you so desires."

Boromir pushed off the railing and grinned. "No need to tell me twice. I will eat as much as I can, while I can, for tomorrow I fear our meals get much lighter."

With that the red-head trudged off towards the kitchens, leaving Legolas and Aragorn watching him.

Once Boromir was out of sight, Aragorn turned to Legolas, a big, toothy smile on his face. "I see my grumpy Wood Elf has made a new friend."

"It would seem so," Legolas muttered, dropping his gaze and scuffing his boot in the dirt.

The Ranger clapped a hand on Legolas's shoulder, bringing the elf's gaze back to him. "The world is a dark place right now, we need all the friends we can get." Aragorn patted Legolas's shoulder before turning and gesturing towards the building. "Come, let us dine tonight with friends in comfort and warmth. Tomorrow dawn's a new hope."

Hope, Legolas thought to himself. For so long that word had eluded him. It had been the focus of so much resentment and anger. As he stood in the tranquil shadows that had cloaked the valley, watching one of his dearest friends smile despite what loomed ahead of him, ahead of all of them, Legolas couldn't help but feel that he too felt a flicker of hope within him. It was small, but it was there. A little flame in the overwhelming darkness. The entire visit had been like a little flame battling the ever-creeping darkness. Despite the staggering failures that had threatened to blacken his world, someone had come to him, holding their small little candlelight, and had offered to share it with him. Beremen, Aragorn, and now even Boromir. Little lights in the darkness, sharing their flame. Their hope.

Legolas made up his mind then and there, standing in the courtyard cloaked in dark blues and slivers of silver, that he would keep his little flame burning this time. He would not let it be snuffed out again. For as long as there is a dawn, there is hope. And that hope is worth fighting for.

The End

for now.

Author Notes: I hope you enjoyed this little story. It's not much, but I hope it gave you some momentary happiness from it.

And thank you for taking the time to read this 3