Chapter Seventeen: Time to Give

In the morning Legolas was quick to rise, it was entirely possible that he had not slept at all, but instead lay in wait for the morning light to come. Just before dawn was in full bloom, he dressed, redid his failing braids and settled his bow and quiver about his shoulder.

He left his room the same way that he had in Estel's presence the day before. The trees welcomed him again and bid him to stay for as long as he would. However, he stayed but a short while for he was anxious to test himself.

Dropping from the tree boughs, he went about finding a target for his goal. He decided it would be no living creature; he was in no need of food and would not take an innocent life in vain. This would be the hardest part of his hunt, he thought, since everything here seemed alive.

If his memory served him, he wasn't quite sure that it did, targets where the Wood's archers practiced often—but never this early—sat just to his left. He scurried in the direction he believed them to be and was quite pleased, and a bit relieved, to find them where he had thought them.

For a long time he regarded one of the targets, and centuries of training here flooded back to him in an overwhelming heady sensation. He rubbed at his palms then drew his bow from across his back and examined it just as carefully as he had the evening before.

He plucked its string a few times and found its weight was perfect in his hands. Plucking the string again, he reckoned that it was singing for him. Then from his quiver, which he had also strapped across his back, he drew a single arrow.

He ran his index finger down its shaft and across the soft green feathers that marked it as his own. Carefully and experimentally, he placed it in his bow. Then he looked again to his target and readied himself. The arrow flew.

It had missed its mark by quite some distance, but it was close enough that the smallest of smiles found its way to Legolas's lips. He tried again.

This time the arrow hit the dead center of the target. Concentrating completely, he let another fly. It landed not more than half a millimeter to the left of his first. He did it again, and again after that until the entire center ring of his target was full of arrows.

He ran quickly over to the target to retrieve his arrows so he might try for the center again. As he made his way however, a rustling caught his attention and his heart pounded; but no fear claimed him, for this time he had his bow.

His alertness doubled and he was ready for a confrontation no matter what direction it might come from. But he need not have worried, because from out of the foilage Aragorn stepped.

"Estel!" Legolas called, his tension fading to relief and joy. Aragorn turned to face him and smiled broadly, he noticed the bow.

"I didn't startle you, did I?" Aragorn asked as he came beside Legolas fully.

Legolas allowed a tiny smile to pass between them. "Nay, I was not startled. What are you doing in the woods so early?"

"I was…I came to look for you, actually," Aragorn answered and they began to walk towards the target. He indicated the numerous fair flying arrows, and the one that was a bit off of its target. "Are those all yours?"

Legolas smiled again, and nodded. "It would seem I have maintained some of my previous skill."

"Some?" Aragorn said with smile capturing his own lips. "If that is just a shadow of your skill I would hate to see it fully revealed."

"Mayhap a bit more than some," Legolas conceded as he began to pull the arrows from the target. Aragorn began to help him.

"Where did you find it?"

"My bow?" Aragorn nodded.

"In the past, but perhaps it will become the present and future again."

Aragorn smiled quizzically, Legolas laughed. "I saw him," he said softly, pulling the last arrow with a bit more oomph than was strictly necessary. The Ranger did not have to ask whom.

"What did he say?"

"That his son was dead. It is not his fault though; grief does strange things to us. My mother is no longer here."

"How can you tell?"

"The trees."

"I am sorry, Legolas," Aragorn said handing Legolas the arrows he had withdrawn from the target. The elf tucked them into his quiver.

"I shall see her again someday," Legolas answered smiling with a slight melancholy. All Aragorn could do was nod sympathetically. "Come let us not talk of gloomy matters for the moment."

Aragorn nodded again. "I'm sorry to have brought it up."

Legolas shook his head. "Do not be. Are you hungry at all?"

"A little," Aragorn said nodding.

Legolas laughed. "Would you like to get something? The chefs of Greenwood's king are quite magnificent, and always on call."

"Later if you mind not; for now I would like to spend some time with you."

Legolas smiled at him again, and Aragorn was quite pleased with the change. "You plan not on climbing any more trees, I should hope."

Aragorn was hard pressed to hide his grin, but he managed somehow. "Nay, but perhaps we could sit beneath one."

"That, I think, we could manage," Legolas said still smiling. He gathered Aragorn's hand in his own and tugged him toward what seemed a random tree.

Legolas pulled off his bow and quiver and sat them against the bole. Then he sat beside them and tucked his legs beneath him, when Aragorn did not sit right away he grasped his hand again and tugged him down.

"Is this to your liking?" Legolas asked settling into the tree, his back against it. Aragorn nodded. Legolas smiled at him and did not release his hand; he held it in his lap. "I have to speak to Glorfindel some time today."

"Mm," Aragorn said, holding back because he knew Legolas was fond of the other.

"He was always so kind to me," Legolas said almost to himself.

"Glorfindel will be there when you are ready to speak with him," Aragorn said, anxious to keep Legolas exactly where he was.

"Aye, he is kind like that. I think he would drop everything to speak with me if asked him." Legolas sighed softly, contentedly, and let his head fall to Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn moved closer to him and their thighs brushed.

"Oh, I have no doubt of that," Aragorn remarked squeezing Legolas's hand.

"You too, Estel. Thank you for everything," Legolas said and he placed his palm onto Aragorn's knee. Aragorn swallowed a lump in his throat.

"You need not thank me, but you are deeply welcome," Aragorn answered after a pause. He gently nuzzled Legolas's head with his chin.

Legolas made a soft noise in his throat and in turn nuzzled his own head against Aragorn's shoulder. Aragorn placed an arm around his slender waist.

"Legolas," he said, Glorfindel's words still fresh in his mind. "You know that I would never hurt you and that if I ever asked you to do something you would have no obligation to it, right?"

Legolas lifted his head at this, and looked right into Aragorn's eyes. "I know you are not them," he said and once more Aragorn had no need to ask whom. "And that you would hurt me not by conscious choice."

Aragorn smiled happily, his heart and mind felt a good deal lighter. Legolas returned his smile and squeezed his hand.

"Would you mind then," Aragorn started to say, and his heart pounded. "If I kissed you?"

Legolas laughed and pushed back his braids; Aragorn felt his heart breaking into a million little pieces. "You need not ask," Legolas said at last, and he leaned in across Aragorn's chest, he placed one hand in Aragorn's hair. Their lips met in their first kiss. It was chaste and gentle, and all around perfect for the moment.

Legolas smiled again as they pulled apart. Aragorn took it as a good sign.

~*~*~

A few hours later found Glorfindel sitting in his room regretfully. He felt terrible for he had said to Aragorn who had been his friend for a long time. In his heart he knew he had spoke from anger, but mostly jealousy. It was quite obvious to Glorfindel that Legolas was not interested in him like he was in Aragorn.

They seemed to fit together in any case, two pieces of a puzzle finally placed in the correct positions. If Aragorn made Legolas happy, then Glorfindel was happy for him.

He sighed ruefully and supposed he should go and apologize for his harshness. A knock on the door stopped him before he could get an apology in mind; he hoped it was not Aragorn, or he'd have to wing it.

But instead of Aragorn, stood Legolas. He had changed since Glorfindel had seen him yesterday, though he would not have been able to explain how. Confidence and assurance seemed to seep out of his very pores. He smiled when Glorfindel opened the door fully.

"Hello Glorfindel," he said, his smile making his eyes sparkle.

"Hello Legolas, come in," Glorfindel replied and moved aside so Legolas could enter.

Legolas stepped inside and sat himself on the small couch that Glorfindel's room held. "I remember," he said without preemptive, as soon as Glorfindel had sat himself next to Legolas.

"Remember what, Legolas?" Glorfindel asked leaning toward Legolas and smiling.

"Everything, well most of it," he said, smiling softly.

"Most of it?" Glorfindel asked, his own face breaking into a grin. That certainly explained the change. "I am happy for you."

Legolas nodded. "My father, though…"

"What is it?" Glorfindel asked, when Legolas did not continue.

"He pretends I am not his son."

"You must give him time."

"He will not accept that I am not dead," Legolas said standing up and pacing about.

"Legolas, how long did he believe you dead?" Glorfindel said, his tone even. He stood as well and placed his hand on Legolas's slim shoulder.

Legolas sighed and nodded. "Three decades. I know, it is hard for him, but it is hard for me as well." His eyes were bright with unshed tears.

"I know," Glorfindel said and he placed his hand on Legolas's cheek. "It will get easier though, Legolas, I promise. King Thranduil needs time."

Legolas smiled very softly and blinked away his tears. "I know you are right, Glorfindel." He placed his own hand against Glorfindel's and squeezed it.

Glorfindel smiled at him supportively. "There is something else," Legolas said sitting again and indicating that he wanted Glorfindel to do the same.

"Aye?" Glorfindel asked, sitting down again and gazing at Legolas.

Legolas took his hand and squeezed it gently. "Thank you. Thank you for so much, Glorfindel. I know that there is no way I will ever be able to repay it to you, but I will do anything that you ever ask of me."

Glorfindel blinked and squeezed Legolas's hand. "Nay, Legolas. I want no repayment from you. You have given me much, and for that I thank you. We are quite even, I believe."

Legolas smiled brightly and there was no longer any sign of his tears. He leaned over and hugged Glorfindel tightly. "Thank you," he said into Glorfindel's ear.

~*~*~

Glorfindel and Legolas spent much time after that talking of many things, of serious and lighter matters. They broke apart from their talk only when Glorfindel realized he had yet to apologize to Aragorn. As he went to do that, though he would not say what he needed to apologize for, Legolas opted to do a bit of exploring.

The halls were familiar to him, though in a distant way, the same way in which an echo is familiar but distorted. He noted all the new tapestries that had been hung in his absence.

He was examining a particularly compelling one, which told the story of a boy growing into manhood; the end of it had been ripped off, however. He reached out and touched the frayed bottom, it seemed as though it had been slashed with a sword.  A familiar voice called out at the end of the hall, echoing just slightly. "You, there."

King Thranduil stood there straight-backed and stern faced. He walked slowly towards Legolas, his robes swishing about his feet. Legolas found he could not take his eyes off of him.

"Sire," Legolas said bowing with respect when finally the king was just in front of him. A hand rested on his shoulder, Legolas looked up and found that Thranduil looked drained and haggard.

"I wanted to extend an apology to you for my behavior last night," Thranduil said, removing his hand and glancing at the tapestry Legolas had been looking at. His fingers trembled and he looked away quickly.

"There is no need."

Thranduil shook his head, his hair swayed under his crown of leaves. He glanced at the tapestry again. "You…you are him."

"I am only myself," Legolas said, and when the king looked back he met Thranduil's eyes for the first time in what seemed an age.

"And you are my son," Thranduil said, holding the gaze for as long as he could bare it. He could not stop the tear that slid down his cheek. Legolas reached up slowly and brushed it away. Thranduil collected him quickly in an embrace.

They stayed melded together for a few long moments in the deserted corridor, until Thranduil finally pulled away, but not fully. He placed his hands behind Legolas's scalp and let them twine in his velvety hair. "I missed you, my son," Thranduil said.

"And I you, adar," Legolas said then rested his hands on Thranduil's shoulder blades.

"Your mother," Thranduil said and his voice cracked. Legolas rubbed little circles against Thranduil's back.

"I know," Legolas said, and Thranduil pressed against him again, tears close to falling for both of them.

"I am sorry," Thranduil said pulling away slowly an shaking his head, he looked close to tears again. He glanced about the corridor, but it was still empty, then he pressed his hand to Legolas's cheek. "I am sorry."

Then he moved away down the hall, back in the direction he had come. His body seemed to tremble, but never did his posture falter. Legolas knew he shouldn't follow, but that didn't stop him from wanting to. Time, Legolas thought recalling Glorfindel's insightful words and watching his father vanish, time.

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