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Disclaimer: I only own the plot and unrecognizable characters.
A/N: Sadly, this is the last chapter of this story... Please enjoy!
-Chapter Nine-
The Value of Friendship
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Summer began to come to an end as well as King Thranduil and Legolas's visit. The memories of the dark forest were still pressed in their minds. Estel had still not recovered from his injuries and had not awoken yet.
A sense of dread filled Legolas's heart as the hours passed by and the once brightly painted sky was dark and glittered with stars.
Legolas sat among the flowers in the garden where he had sat, waiting for Estel to arrive but he didn't. He gazed at the stars quietly, wasting his last night in Imladris beneath a blanket of stars.
* * *
Estel's arms ached as he ate silently, Elrond studying him closely. "Legolas is leaving today," he stated.
Estel did not speak. His mind was swimming in his thick sea of thoughts and his ears were numb. Elrond's voice had been nothing but a small ripple of disturbance, distant and unclear.
His dark hair was rumpled and messier than usual and he seemed older than he was. The effect of the past events was clear.
"Do you wish to bid him farewell?" Elrond asked, his voice raised slightly. Estel blinked and stood up without another word and walked out the hall.
His feet led him to the very same garden Legolas was now sitting in. He smelled the fresh air and stared at the garden with a smile on his face. It was the first smile that crossed his face since his awakening.
His eyes were kept far from the dark woods in the distance and were glued on the garden. Legolas's golden hair glowed in the sunlight and Estel heaved a sigh.
He began to walk toward him when he saw King Thranduil glide gracefully toward him. His voice was quiet but Estel could still hear him.
"It is time to leave, my son," he said. "Come." Estel stood, rooted to the spot, watching Legolas walk after the King and disappear from sight.
"LEGOLAS!" He waited uncertainly, waiting for the Elf to appear. He waited but there was no sight of him. Sighing, Estel turned around, a disappointed look on his face.
"Called me?" Legolas's voice said. Estel turned around and walked to him. There was a silence and finally he spoke.
"Thank you," he said.
"What?" Legolas asked confused.
"I owe you my life," he said, "because you saved mine." Legolas rolled his eyes.
"You saved mine too," the Elf said. "You treated me when I was wounded. I owe you my life." He grinned and so did Estel.
"Friends?"
"Friends..."
There was another silence. "Namarie!" Legolas turned away from Estel and began to walk away. Estel stared after him sadly and had a mind to march to his room when Legolas turned around and waved.
"Namarie! I suppose we learned the value of friendship!" And that was the last thing he said before disappearing from Estel's sight.
And Estel walked to his room, pondering on his last few words. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his bedside table.
An arrow lay on it and he picked it up, fingering it gently. He recognized it as Legolas's arrow and smiled as he placed it on his bed.
"I suppose you will miss him?" Elrond stood in the doorway, smiling down at Estel.
"I suppose so," Estel said. "I suppose everything is for a reason."
"Yes," Elrond said.
"Because the forest made me realize the value of friendship," Estel continued with a smile on his face, finally understanding what Legolas meant.
Elrond smiled. "Yes, indeed..."
The End
A/N: THE END! A special thanks to the following:
danceingfae
Legolas Lu
WeasleyTwinsLover1112
fireball
EMerald QUeen
NaughtyNat
leggylover03
Estel_Girl
Dragon
TrinityTheSheDevil
Trust No One
Swimming Angel
RainyDayz
tamara
Sweet-n-sour Slytherin
Smushed Pea
Carrie
Isilwen-Telpefion
Rhonda
Alice
THANK YOU!!!! I love you guys! Well, until the next time we meet. Namarie!
~blahblah~
