legolas' sweetie- glad you're still hanging about, hope you like this part.
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How I found myself clinging to you as we ride through the trees I may never know. One moment I was running through the wood to give the little one a trail to follow, the next you were before me on your horse with your hand stretched out for me to grasp. Blindly following your will and my heart I took your hand and let you pull me onto the horse behind you. Now you're riding recklessly fast and I'm holding you with all my might. We ride across a small stream, into a clearing and suddenly the horse slows down. I loosen my grip on you, I know holding you is dangerous. You slip off and I follow. You drop down in the soft grass, "Give him some time to try and find us."
"Quite a first lesson," I comment as I sit beside you.
"Eldarion is a clever child, he'll find us, I'm sure of it."
A bit too clever at times, suggesting that I take the first turn at being tracked. He knows your love of the chase, he knew we would end up alone together.
"What grieves you so Legolas?" Oh Estel, please don't ask me that! Eldarion has weakened my resolve to stay silent.
I give you a sad smile and try to give you half the truth. "I've been reminded of what I've given up often of late."
A light wind rises sweeping my hair towards you. You catch one of the braids just shy of hitting you in the face and start absently loosening it. That is distracting. "What have you given up?" You ask softly.
"Nothing, everything," perhaps being vague will be enough.
You laugh ruefully, "I know that trick Legolas. If you do not wish to tell me please just say so."
Oh but I do wish to tell you Estel, I wish to tell you so much it hurts. I want to confess my treachery, give up my burden, tell you I love you once and for all and slip away in disgrace. Disgrace I could live with, this pain is killing me. Perhaps the little one is right, perhaps if I tell you the truth no one else ever has to know.
But you've been giving me hope of late, how can I tell you the truth knowing you might love me in return? How could I do that to the Evenstar? But if you do love me how can I continue to torture myself, lie to you, and hurt Eldarion?
"Will you tell me Legolas?" I shiver and you move closer to me as if to keep me warm. "What is it that the youngest prince of Mirkwood has given up?"
"That which I never had," I venture carelessly. "Something I have no right to desire, and yet I ache to know it shall never come to me."
"Don't you mean they my friend?"
I'm sure you've caught me now but I have to attempt to keep control over the situation, "What makes you say that Estel?"
"The far off looks, the soft sighs, if you are not in love you are bored in Minas Trinth, and were that the case you'd simply leave." I shiver again and you move even closer, our shoulders touching. "So who is it that has stolen the heart of the most beautiful gem in my kingdom?"
"It was given freely, not stolen. My love is no thief, or at least I have never known him to be."
"Perhaps I would know, if you were to tell me his name."
"I would not know which name to give you, he has so many."
"By which do you call him?"
"Estel," I say it so softly that were I with any besides you I would venture to say I had not been heard, but I know you did.
I can hear your heart beat speed up as you lean closer, your lips practically touching my ear, "And what makes you think you do not have his heart?"
"Another possesses it," I breath softly, letting you hear my heartbreak.
"Nay-" But you are cut off as Eldarion emerges into the clearing, a triumphant smile on his lips.
"Have I done well?" The little one asks.
"Indeed you have, very well indeed," You tell him as you stand. You lean down to me to help me up, "We shall discuss this later, when we can be properly alone."