Good. You guys are guessing my game like crazy! But I won't answer any question for the time being. So, guys, suffer the ride!! He! He!

@ZeldaDragon : An albino ferret named Waboose? So cute!!! I wish I had one of those! Painted green on Christmas? LOL!!!

Legolas treaded water on his back lazily. The autumn afternoon was not too cold for a swim in the pool of stream behind the royal garden. It had been three weeks since that night of Autumn Sanction. The prince had gotten better eventually, his strength had returned, and the throbbing bruise behind his neck had gone.

But Legolas was very bored without his brother around. He had also seen no sign of Hawkeye, his pet eagle, for many months; no doubt the wild bald eagle was on a mission of its own.  And the Rivendell brothers had not come visiting for quite a while. Ever since Aragorn had come of age (the human was a mature adult of thirty-five years now), he and his twin elven brothers, Elladan and Elrohir, had been roaming Middle Earth with a pack of Dunedains, scouting the land and patrolling the wilds. Aragorn, or Estel as he was warmly known, was in the process to become a great man; for now, he was an exiled king of a lost kingdom. The friends had seen less and less of one another but their friendship still remained as strong as ever.

A familiar presence suddenly alerted Legolas. He turned around…and his heart leaped with joy. "Kel!!!" He hastily swam to the bank and scrambled over. Standing tall with his arms crossed over his chest, Keldarion was grinning widely back at him…then his face turned to horror. "No, no, no!! You're all wet! Ai! Get away from me!!!"

But Legolas didn't care. He ran forward and leaped into his brother, crushing the elder elf in a big hug. "Oh, Kel! You're home! You've just returned? I'm so glad to see you! I've missed you so much!"

Smiling in resigned, Keldarion hugged his brother back. "I miss you too. I'm glad to see you alive and well, dear brother." Then he pushed his brother away. "Now get off me! Look what you did to my shirt! You've drenched me!"

Legolas grinned evilly. "Indeed?" Without warning, he grabbed his brother's arm and pulled him along…right into the water. Splashing about, Keldarion yelled indignantly while Legolas only laughed like a lunatic.

"You stupid imp! That's it! You asked for it!" Keldarion grabbed Legolas and dunked him under water. For a while, the woods were filled with their wild and exuberant laughter. The sun shone down on them, and the wind and trees sang along, adding cheers to the joyful reunion. After they had had enough of the water fight, the two brothers clambered over the bank and lay on their backs on the ground, breathing heavily.

"I managed to stay dry during the long journey to the sea and back, and now I got all wet after spending only…what?…five seconds with you? Unbelievable!!" Keldarion muttered. He glared as he heard Legolas's rumble of laughter. "You laugh, eh? Make sure you keep on alert because I might retaliate by shaving that golden mane off your head!"

"What?!" Legolas sat up right. "Don't you dare touch my hair!" He instantly got up, grabbed his tunic and ran towards the palace, laughing all the way. But if the younger prince had turned around right then, he might have seen the odd expression that had come over his brother's face as the crown prince suddenly clutched his left breast.

Keldarion's heart was being wrenched from all directions. Instantly, he was very scared. He'd seen it happened to almost every warrior in his fleet. And now, it's happening to me…

"Kel! What are you still doing down there?" Legolas called out a hundred feet away.

Strongly resisting the wild feeling, Keldarion pushed himself to his feet and called back, "I'm coming, you imp! Run and hide now! I'll go looking for the tool to shave the hair off that stubborn head of yours!"

The Mirkwood crown prince followed his brother at much slower pace. The wrenching feeling had gone but his heart still beat faster than ever.

****************

There was a grand feast that night in Mirkwood grand hall. It was not as lavished as the Autumn Sanction night three weeks ago but still a night of celebration nonetheless. Everyone was happy that Keldarion and his fleet had returned safely, and that Legolas had fully recovered.

Dishes upon dishes were brought forward from the palace grand kitchen. Jugs upon jugs of wine were consumed. The conversations were merry. Several elves that had accompanied Keldarion on his journey were seen relating their experience to their companions.

Legolas who had never been to the sea was full with questions. As he sat beside his brother, he was curious and eager to know everything. "Is the sea really vast?"

Keldarion nodded after taking a sip of his wine. "As far as the eye could see."

"Did you see a mermaid?"

Keldarion chuckled. "We were not that lucky! But we saw some dolphins though, playing around near our boats."

"Could you see the Undying Land from there?"

That unexpected but innocent question from his brother truly had startled Keldarion. He stared back at his brother, frowning. "Why did you ask that for? Are you planning to go there earlier than us all?" he snapped back, his face a raging thunderstorm.

Legolas's smiled faltered. "It was just a question, Kel. I mean nothing by it."

Thranduil was looking at the brothers' exchange in silent, immediately noticing Keldarion's strange reaction. Keldarion sighed. "Forgive me, Legolas. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just that…after nearly losing you again, I can't bear thinking you leaving us once and for all."

Legolas smiled sadly. "I understand, Kel. But, are you sure you're all right? You look so tired."

Keldarion nodded weakly. "I guess the toll of the journey is finally catching up on me." Turning to the king, he spoke, "Father, may I be excused? I wish to retire now."

"Yes you may, Kel," Thranduil gave his assent; his eyes looked closely at his elder son's slightly stoop shoulders as Keldarion got up and left the hall. When Keldarion disappeared from his sight, Legolas turned to the king, "Do you think he's unwell, father?"

"I think it's as he said just now. He's just tired. Let him rest. He might feel better in the morning."

**************

As soon as Keldarion entered his chamber, he leaned against the door and slowly let himself slid down to the floor. Drawing up his knees to his chest, he put his head in his hands. What's wrong with me? Why can't this terrible feeling go away?

His heart was hurting once more. The strange mesmerizing sound he'd been hearing all week overwhelmed him again. Deep inside him, he felt cold…so cold. His hands were trembling and his whole body was shaking. Go! Please go away! I don't want to listen to you anymore!

Not long after, the crown prince of Mirkwood broke into heart wrenching sobs…all alone by himself in his empty chamber.

*************

Legolas was instantly snapped awake. He sat up in his bed and looked around him. He was in no danger; there was no intruder whatsoever in his room. But something else had woken him up, pricking his keen senses to work overtime. His ears strained as he listened, but no strange sound could be heard except for the sighing of the night wind and the occasional chirps of the crickets.

He swiped away the blanket, got up from his bed and went to open the door. Looking out, he saw that no one lurked in the hallway either. He stepped out and started to investigate, heading for the king's chamber first. Silently opening the door, he saw that his father was deeply asleep. The king was not aware of his son's presence; he might have had too much wine that evening.

Legolas shut the door and walked towards his brother's chamber next. At the door, he paused. A strange sound is coming from inside! Without bothering to knock, Legolas pushed the door open and burst through, so afraid he was of his brother's safety. But when his eyes found Keldarion, Legolas could only stared in shock. "Kel?"

The elder prince looked up, tears were streaming down his face. Keldarion was sitting in his bed, his two hands covering his ears to shut out the sound that only he can hear.

Legolas came closer. "Kel? What's wrong? Are you sick?"

"What are you doing here?" Keldarion asked in a raspy voice.

"I…I...something woke me up. I think I've sensed your distress somehow." Legolas made a move to touch his brother's arm. "Kel, why are you like this?"

"Don't touch me!" Keldarion snapped, jumping out of the bed and moved further away from his brother.  He was incredibly ashamed to have his brother seen his weakness just now. "Leave me alone!"

"B…but obviously you need help! Please, Kel, tell me what to do to help lessened your pain."

"Just stay away, Legolas. I'll be fine. Please go. I don't want you to see me like this."

"I will not leave until you tell me what's going on!" Legolas cried out as he advanced closer towards his brother.

"You won't leave?!!!" Keldarion's face was like molten lava, hot and furious. "I'll make you leave!"  Unexpectedly, Keldarion's fist came up and hit Legolas's on his face. Legolas stumbled backwards and landed hard on his backside on the floor, stunned. The younger prince looked up to his brother, wide eyed. "Kel…?"

But Keldarion was not finished. He roughly grabbed Legolas's arm and dragged his brother to his feet. Throwing his brother out into the hallway, Keldarion yelled, "Get out and stay out!!!"

Legolas stared in shock as the door was slammed shut. He'd stumbled again to the floor…and just sat there staring at the firmly closed door, dumbfounded. What's wrong with him? Why is he acting so strangely? Touching his already bleeding lips in confusion, the younger prince painfully pulled himself to his feet, threw a last glance at the door…and slowly walked away, back to his chamber.

TBC…