Seasons Of The Heart
Disclaimer: Belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien. The fanfiction is mine.
Warning: SLASH. For more reference, read the first chapter.
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== 2: Summer ==
He rushed to the falls, his footsteps lightly treading the green grass covering the ground. The world smelt fresh; the cool breathe of spring meshing with the warm sunshine of summer. The trees were green, and already the fruits were sprouting forth from the flowers, which petals had fallen like feathers of a molting bluebird.
The blond reached a clearing, now losing his direction. This part of the woods was new to him. He could hear the waters, splashing nearby, but he could not see it. He did know another trek to the falls though, but it took more time to reach the falls that way, for he had intentionally meant for it to happen that way, so that his day with the half-elf would last longer. And now he was in a hurry.
But Legolas was a wood elf. He could navigate strong rivers, pass great mountains and hurry under dark caves. This wood would be easy to unfurl in his grasp, were he given the time. Yet he was hasty, and he was not thinking too coherently. Legolas dived deeper into the woods, guided by the sound of rushing water.
Twenty steps were taken. He was soon in the middle of a sunny glade. A stream flowed gently nearby, beside his feet. Small white flowers dotted the grass, blended with a few golden and cherry patches amidst some rocks. Around it stood a wall of tall trees, but sunlight pierced in strongly, as vines barricaded it. Legolas looked around. Just beyond was the white fall. But no one was in sight.
"Namárië! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Nai elyë hiruva. Namárië!"
The song wafted round the glade, soft, like the wind, but strong enough to penetrate the foliage and reach the elf's keen ears. He knew that voice well. Legolas walked towards the voice, as if in a dream. In his haste, he had failed to perceive the very one person he was looking for. Legolas stood at the edge of the clearing, linking to another, where the falls where, and he shifted his blue gaze to the waters' edge.
There, on a rock of opal, sat the half-elf, robed in white. The voice had faded.
"… Lord Elrond?"
Startled, the half-elf turned to face the golden elf. He struggled to stand up hurriedly, but misjudging his step, he fell, quite suddenly, sideways into the water. Legolas gave a yell, and rushed to the scene. He splashed into the pool and swam around to seek for the half-elf submerged underwater.
The water was cold. The half-elf felt a little numb, but his right foot hurt badly, even through the chill. He saw the golden head of Legolas, and paddled up to his direction. Unable to swim swiftly due to injury, he clutched hold of the other, and pulled himself to the surface. He broke through the water, and gasped for air.
Legolas gave a sigh of relief. He helped the half-elf out gently, taking care to tread on smooth rocks. To his surprise, the half-elf failed to comply. He merely sat on the rock, looking a little perplexed.
"I think I sprained my ankle." It was softer than a murmur, but Legolas heard it. He was horrified. They were in the middle of a wood, and dripping wet, besides. Elrond saw the elf's expression, and smiled weakly. "…You don't have to stay."
"No, no!" Legolas stepped forward, going back to the rock. "That will not do! I'll stay here with you. But let us get off these rocks and dry ourselves under the sun. Get into the water, please. It will support both our weights and we can manage to dry land without hurting you."
Elrond nodded, and slipped back into the pool. Legolas got in, and kindly helped the other to the edge of the water. He pulled the half-elf to dry land after himself, taking care not to apply any pressure to either of his feet. Once out, Elrond smiled gratefully at Legolas. But the golden haired elf was not done yet.
"We must get dry, my Lord," he said in a haltingly shy manner. He turned his face away from the half-elf. "We should undress ourselves and dry our clothes under the sun, upon the grass. It is clean enough."
Elrond blushed, and shifted his gray eyes to the ground. But he complied, all the same. Before long, the two were clad only in inner garments, basking under the early summer sun. Legolas stole a few glances at the half-elf, but he stopped himself in time. He did not know of the other's returning gaze only till he saw it for himself.
A shy, fleeting look, and then a quick turn of the head, eyes shielded by jet colored hair.
Elrond saw it too.
A somewhat momentary glance over the shoulders; blue eyes darting from a corner, partially hidden by the golden locks.
The feeling was mutual. Their eyes met, and their gazes locked together, for a long time, till the half-elf broke into a small smile and turned away. He hugged his knees to his chest and fingered a small white flower on the ground.
"Thank you, Legolas. For helping me."
"You're welcome. I'm sorry for startling you like that," he replied, a little dejected. "I caused you to fall and hurt your ankle."
"I was careless," Elrond waved his hand absently, whilst the other was still stroking the white petals. Legolas shrugged.
"I feel a little bad," he said. "How are we to return now?"
"There are ways, should there be a will." Elrond glanced up at him, from the tiny blossom. His gray eyes reflected a living memory of history, myths, and loneliness. But amidst that, Legolas saw a sparkle of hope, kindled by the stars. It was kindled on the day Elrond chose to become an elven being.
And it shone on. He never gave up on life, and what it had in store for him. The half-elf swallowed hard. A few moments passed, and unknowingly, his hand stole away from the white flower to place itself on the golden haired elf's. When he realized it, though, to his surprise and delight, the elf curled his around the other's hand.
"I met Lady Celebrian this morning," Legolas said. "And she told me to seek you – so that you'd never deceive yourself."
Elrond looked up. Trust his wife to make plans behind his back!
Legolas turned to meet the half-elf's gaze. "How are you deceiving yourself, Lord? I would like to know. Because, maybe I'm deceiving myself as well. I need not do that, but I do want to know. Please… tell me."
Elrond looked at the green grass. He sighed.
"… I deceived myself by not pouring my heart out to the golden light I have often fancied to see."
Legolas nodded slowly, registering the words. His face was lit up by a growing smile. Blue eyes met gray ones. "I fully understand. You deceive yourself no more, and you never will."
He leaned forward, and his eyes fluttered shut. Their lips met in a chaste kiss, but a strong and sudden current of electricity jolted through their veins, into their hearts. Legolas pulled away, satisfied. They had sat in the clearing for four hours now, and were fully dry. They got dressed, and sat a little longer, exchanging banter. Soon the sun was already dimming, behind the clouds.
"We should return now, my Lord." He got up, and extended a palm to help the half-elf up. Elrond took hold of it, and unsteadily pulled himself up. He started to walk, but Legolas stopped him. "No, not like this."
To his surprise, the blond elf moved in front of him and knelt down. He took hold of the half-elf's wrists and pulled them to his bosom. Then, Legolas motioned him to climb on his back.
"Hold on to me, my Lord. Let me carry you home."
"…Legolas…"
"Please. Trust me. I want to do this." Elrond looked at the elf for a while. Finally, he relented, and climbed onto the golden haired elf's back. His heart beat a little faster, at the notion of being this close to the other. Legolas got to his feet. The half-elf was a lot lighter than he had expected. He walked on, lightly as ever, towards the edge of the forest.
Elrond leaned his head against the elf's warm shoulder. He smelt faintly of the woods and trees of Middle-Earth, a vanishing memory to the half-elf, pleasant, and bittersweet. Legolas felt the other lean in, and he smiled to himself. The woods fell back behind them, even as he walked on.
Soon, autumn would come, and the winds would blow in more memories, sweet, bitter and something to cherish for life.
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To Be Continued
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Note: Ah, this one's weird.