Finally Chapter 10 is completed! Thank you for all the readers out there.

MidnightCharley, hi, thank you so much for your comment. The name Dûreryn actually represented dark woods. It was a combination of those two words in Sindarin plus it has a nice ring to the name. Dûreryn is an elf born from different clans, linking him to the Ñoldor clan elves who have darker hair. He can actually be quite agile when he wanted to be, it's more of a characteristic of his rather than a trait he was born with which you will find out in the far future if you continue reading it. :)

Dûreryn's and Legolas' POV

Had you ever had a secret you could never share with anyone? Not even with your closest one and it wasn't because of lack of trust?

More like because you didn't wanted the person you love to worry?

Because you weren't ready to accept what happened?

Because you were afraid the person you love might leave when they found out?

Everyday I put on a smile in front of others, pretending to look strong and confident. Simply because I didn't want anyone to realise who I really was.

It felt like I was living a lie.

And yet… There were so many times I wish that I could tell someone how I feel, to share the secret that I had been holding for so long, so that I finally knew I was no longer alone.

You knew that feeling?

That feeling of wishing that nobody could see the real you and yet at the same time you desperately hope to find someone who truly understood you?

And then you showed up.

You managed to penetrate through my wall of defence, opening an area I dreamed of but never knew existed.

I knew you're the one I wanted to walk down the path with, together. No matter how dark the future would be, I knew that as long as you're by my side, everything would be fine, even if just for a little bit.

But most importantly… it broke my heart every single time when I saw you smiled and I knew that I was hiding something from you.

xxxx

Legolas' nerves were in tatters today. Even more than usual. He was constantly surrounded by uneasiness when Thranduil was around but today… today was worse.

Legolas swallowed a gulp down his dry throat, glancing around fervently. How long had it been since he drank and ate anything? Not that it mattered. There was still no sight of him.

Legolas lowered his gaze back to the bowl of salad, toying the food with his fork since early morning. The fruits in the salad bowl had already changed colour but he hadn't taken a single bite. He was already full from anxiety.

He hardly slept a wink last night too. How could he after all that had happened? It took all his willpower to remain in his room the whole night. Not to mention the fact that he couldn't lie still on his bed, choosing to pace around his rom as he waited. And waited. When first light strike the sky, Legolas burst out from his room and hurtled to the common area, hoping to find Dûreryn. But he wasn't there. In fact, nobody was there. Legolas wandered around the entire Mirkwood, trying to find for any sign of him but it was like he disappeared into thin air.

With no new leads, Legolas decided to bank on his best hope – the dining area.

Everyone was bound to come here for a meal right? But now he was having second thoughts about his brilliant plan. Legolas swallowed back another gulp. How long should he stay here? Should he go somewhere else to try his luck? What if Dûreryn never showed up? What if–

He did a double take. He had never thought about this. What if he lost Dûreryn forever? There were so many things he wanted to tell him but now, he would never had the chance.

And what if Dûreryn did showed up? How would a normal person react in such situations? He didn't think that Dûreryn would appreciate finding out that Legolas was there when he was being tortured. Legolas drummed his fingers against the table, biting down his bottom lip nervously as he struggled with the right words to say if Dûreryn did showed up.

Legolas didn't know which was worse. The trepidation of seeing him or unable to find him. He was torn between the decision and wretched at himself at the same time for having such thoughts.

His fingers clenched tightly around the wooden spoon. The pain that started from his fingers slowly spread to his entire body. Legolas shuddered as he was pulled back to the Dining area, letting the mindless chatters of other elves drown out the nightmarish thoughts circulating in his mind. At least, it was better than the nerve-wrecking pain his own thoughts were giving him. In fact, pain was starting to feel like part of his life. It felt familiar and reassuring.

And then, he heard a pair of footsteps. Footsteps that sounded similar to–

Legolas's head snapped up and his eyes locked on the entranceway.

His spirits lifted immediately and all the tension melted away like molten lava.

He was here.

Dûreryn was wearing loose dark colour clothes today and looked perfectly fine. His dark hair was slicked back across the forehead and hung loosely around his back. He stood near the entrance, holding a wooden tray in his hands and glancing around like he was looking for something.

If Legolas hadn't saw with his own two eyes yesterday, he would never suspect anything. From a casual observer, Dûreryn looked and acted perfectly normal. He could stand and walk, albeit a bit stiff. A tiny smile graced his lips as he nodded to two passing elves.

Legolas knew that the guards would not dare to dwell blows where everyone would see. The Guards wanted to maintain their image as the Protector instead of the Violators who tortured their own kin. Destroying the firm believe of elves that they were creatures of light.

Legolas knew that violence in elves dated far, far back where the first Kinslaying took place. But even until now, when the feud ended since long ago, darkness continued to exist in everyone, just waiting to resurface, thirsting for the chance to appear once more. The wounds they inflicted on Dûreryn was a stark reminder of the cruel, bitter truth.

Dûreryn's eyes lit up when he saw him, and when he straightened his body for the briefest of second, Legolas thought he could see a change of expression in those eyes. Legolas quickly picked up a glass in front of him, taking a sip as casually as he could even though his fingers trembled. As his footsteps drew near, he stole a quick look at Dûreryn from the corner of his eyes.

Legolas could detect the briefest of limp but Dûreryn was putting on an act so well that one could hardly tell the difference.

Legolas' heart pang.

Just like him, Dûreryn didn't wanted anyone to find out the truth.

Tears pricked the corners of his eyes but he quickly blinked them away. Dûreryn was getting closer. He took a quick subtle breath, trying to act normal, so he could be on par with Dureryn's acting. Picking up his cutleries, he began to move his food around the bowl like he was going to dig into his meal.

When Dûreryn stood in front of him, Legolas kept his face blank and inexpressive.

Dûreryn smiled a lop-sided grin at Legolas like he was asking him silently whether he could sit with him.

Legolas nodded his head, gesturing wordlessly to Dûreryn to sit down. He wanted to smile back but his lips just couldn't move.

Dûreryn's face screwed up slightly when he sat down opposite him gingerly, placing the tray with caution on the table like he was afraid of breaking the tray. But Legolas knew what was going on.

Legolas tightened his grip around the fork once more.

"Dûreryn," he began but the words stuck in his throat. He didn't know how to continue.

"Morning," Dûreryn greeted him cheerfully, flashing him a bright smile. "Nice day, right?

Legolas merely nodded his head, taken aback by the cheerfulness in his tone. How could he still maintain such cheerfulness after everything that had happened? If it was him, he didn't think he would even want to show up in the public. He just wanted to curl up in a corner and lick his wounds.

"Glad to see that you got back alright," Dûreryn said brightly. He opened the floodgates to the questions Legolas didn't dare to ask.

"What about you?" Legolas asked quietly, digging his nails into his lap. Everything about Dûreryn reminded him of his usual ways. Funny. Friendly. Gentle. But Legolas also knew how much pain he was trying to hide. Just how much effort did he put into this pantomime?

A show just for him.

"Look at me. All in one piece," Dûreryn said, the grin on his face wide from one corner to the other. He wanted to stretch his hands apart, but then he seemed to think better about it and he merely shrugged like it was no big deal.

Legolas could only manage a feeble smile. "Are you alright?" His voice was soft and soothing.

The smile on Dûreryn's face froze but he quickly controlled himself. "Why won't I?"

Legolas eyed him warily, turning his gaze away from Dûreryn's bright dark orbs. When their eyes locked, his stomach flipped around nervously. He didn't know whether it was a good or bad thing.

Legolas could see how much he struggled as he tried to lift a spoon to his mouth. When Dûreryn caught him looking, he smiled, took a sip of the soup and placed the spoon back down on the table casually. "Nice soup, right?"

His heart clenched tightly but he forced a smile on his face. "Yes." His tone trembled. He felt himself unequal to Dûreryn's performance.

Dûreryn chattered on and on, just like the way he always did.

As Legolas lifted a sliced berry into his mouth, he noticed that Dûreryn stopped eating after that first sip. Legolas' brows furrowed tightly. Was it too painful for him? Legolas continued his meal in silence, while Dûreryn prattled away, hardly knowing what he was eating. His mind was in a turmoil. Legolas didn't want to be the one to end the charade yet he didn't know how long he could keep up the pretence. The lies were killing him, like poison spreading in his veins, slowly but surely.

He was so immersed in his own thoughts that it took him awhile to notice the silence that had fallen on their table. He quickly snapped up his head and then his heart skipped a beat. Dûreryn was leaning in close to him, so close that he could almost count his eyelashes.

Those gentle dark orbs were full of concern.

Legolas immediately lowered his head. The intensity of his probing stares were too much to bear.

"Are you okay?" Dûreryn asked.

Legolas wanted to laugh out loud and cry at the same time. Dûreryn was asking him whether he was okay? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

"Dûreryn," Legolas muttered, gripping the table with his fingers to calm his palpitating nerves. He didn't know what to say. There were simply too many things to ask. Like Dûreryn's condition, his background, his hobbies. Questions that had been circulating in his mind since last night. And he also wanted to convey his thanks for shielding him, the feelings of appreciation that he was there by his side, bearing the pain which should be his. Most of all, he wanted to apologise.

Legolas was nothing but a bringer of bad luck. Dûreryn wasn't the cursed elf here. He was the one chained and bound in darkness, and now he was bringing misfortune to those closest to him, dragging them together with him to the pit of hell. Maybe he should stay away from Dûreryn. It was for Dûreryn's own good.

"Hey," Dûreryn muttered softly, reaching out to touch his hand, making him jump. "Why do you look so sad?" Dûreryn asked gently.

His expression was fiercely torn and painful as he lifted his head to gaze at Dûreryn. He didn't think he could keep it in any longer. He felt like he was going to explode if this charade continued. "You can stop pretending, I know what they did to you." The words tumbled out in a rush, catching even him by surprise.

For a split second, the mask Dûreryn wore slipped away, his mouth opened in an 'o' shape but then he closed his mouth and his lips curved into a weak smile. "Wha–What are you talking about?" There was the slightest of tremble in his voice.

Legolas reached out and grabbed hold of Dûreryn's hand, applying the gentlest of pressure on his skin. The effect was instantaneous.

Dûreryn's features immediately contorted in pain and he bit down his lips to suppress the shout that rumbled at the end of his throat.

Pain filled Legolas at the sight. He knew it. Expected it. Even so, watching Dûreryn struggled with his wounds hurt even more than he thought. It was like he was the injured one. Fear gripped him momentary as stabs of agonising memories intruded his mind. He knew the suffering Dûreryn was going through now all too well. The taste of pain that always surrounded him.

It was only some time when he realised that he was still holding on to Dûreryn as Dûreryn gazed at him pointedly, as if asking him silently why he was holding his hand.

"Sorry," he muttered, releasing his hold over him. He quickly lowered his gaze back onto his bowl, tucking his blond hair behind his ear, as a warm sensation spread over him that had nothing to do with pain. It was more of a tingling sensation. Like something warm was glowing inside him.

"It's not your fault," Dûreryn said automatically, wincing slightly. Dûreryn straightened himself as if to adjust his body but then he thought better of it. Taking a deep breath, he continued to lean across the table. Legolas froze completely. He was fully captivated by Dûreryn. "As long as you don't do that ever again," he added teasingly, looking more like his old self again even though the smile didn't quite reached up to his eyes.

Legolas could see the effort Dûreryn was making and it was hurting him. "Dûreryn–" Legolas began.

Dûreryn held out a finger to his lips, silencing him. "I don't want to hear anymore."

Legolas stopped halfway, glancing at him worriedly.

"It's not your fault," Dûreryn replied, answering his unasked questions.

"But it's because of me that you got hurt–" Legolas was cut off again by Dûreryn who held out his finger in front of him.

The smile on his face was still intact. "Come on, it's just morning, let's not talk about something that depressing."

"Why?" The question that Legolas had been dying to ask. He badly wanted to know why Dûreryn would risk his own neck for him. He didn't think he was worth that much. Did Dûreryn did all this because he was the Prince or was there something else? His heart fluttered at the thought. He never thought that it was possible that his heart would have a reaction like that, especially now.

"Why what?" Dûreryn asked with one raised eyebrow.

Legolas bit down the bottom of his lip anxiously. "Why did you–" Legolas wanted to know and yet, at the same time, the words were like stones lodged in his throat. He just couldn't get them out.

"Why did I help you?" Dûreryn finished his sentence for him.

Legolas nodded his head numbly.

"Because I like you," Dûreryn replied simply.

Ba-thump.

Legolas was frozen into a statue. It was like time stopped at that moment. Or maybe it was just his heart. He stared at him wide eyed, his lips parted slightly in astonishment. Millions of questions raced through his mind as his feelings were swept into turmoil like a strong current breaking from the dam. Did he misheard? What did Dûreryn meant? Before Legolas could ask further–

"You're a really nice person."

Legolas' heart sank altogether with his hopes and dreams. Oh. Of course. He just thought of him as a friend. What was he expecting? How could he be so stupid? How could it be possible that someone like Dûreryn would love a person like him?

"Besides…" Dûreryn began. "If it's the other way around, I'm sure you'll do the same for me too."

The smile on Dûreryn's face was so radiant that Legolas had to look away. Legolas could hardly bear to look at him, sitting there like a petrified idiot. His mind completely blank. He was unable to come up with a single response. Well, he could for one reaction. He had the urge to break down into tears.

"So, when are we going for another escapade again?" Dûreryn lowered his voice at the last two words, winking at him playfully.

Legolas' heart raced at those words. It was amazing the effect that Dûreryn had on him. How could a single sentence from Dûreryn made his heart which was at the bottom of hell soared up high to the top of the world in a heartbeat? And then his heart fell down with a depressing thump to hell again as reality sunk in.

"I… I can't," Legolas muttered quietly.

As expected, Dûreryn was surprised. "Why?"

The dreaded question. His stomach did a round of flip. "I–I well, I've some Princely duties recently so that will be keeping me busy and–" Legolas broke off, he couldn't continue anymore. The lies were strangling him alive, choking him, cutting off the last of air from his throat.

The smile on Dûreryn's face faltered. Just for a second though. "How about a meal together?"

The hopeful look on Dûreryn's face made Legolas' heart sank even further. He didn't want to shoot down his hopes, but–

Legolas averted his gaze, clasping his fingers together as he prepared for his answer. He didn't had the courage to look at his reaction. "Dûreryn, I don't think I can," Legolas said, fixing his gaze firmly at his own bowl of salad, wishing that he could be anywhere but here. He could hear his voice cracked at the last word.

A beat of silence.

"Why?" There was so much pain in his voice that it hurt even just to listen.

Legolas never expected this to happen. Dûreryn didn't show any sign of pain even when he was tortured but now, he was showing him a crestfallen face. A side of him Legolas never thought existed.

"Is it because of who I am?" Dûreryn continued upon Legolas' silence. He didn't sound angry. He merely sounded disappointed and sad. Yes. Very sad. Even Dûreryn would feel sad. And he was the cause of all this which made Legolas felt a hundred times worse.

Legolas's eyes widened with shock. He wanted to make Dûreryn's pain go away. He wanted to see that bright cheerful smile that always decked his face. He wanted to refute his allegations but he stopped himself at the last minute. What could he say anyway? Would it be better this way? It didn't matter what Dûreryn thought of him right?

He could finally stop lying to Dûreryn.

It would make things easier if Dûreryn hated him.

Yes.

It would be easier for Dûreryn to forget him.

It would be safer for Dûreryn.

They could never be together after all.

If all these – all these lies and falsehood – could ensure that Dûreryn was safe, then Legolas should be happy right? Keeping Dûreryn safe was the most important thing, right?

That was all he ever wanted right?

Legolas wanted to smile, trying to put more conviction in his acting but the corners of his mouth cracked from the effort.

He couldn't smile. Not all all.

Especially with the look Dûreryn was giving him.

He almost couldn't breathe from the tightness in his chest.

To be continued…

Thank you very much for reading and hope you all stay tune for the next chapters. Kindly leave a review behind if you like the story.