How can I live with myself, knowing what I'd done? How can I go on, knowing that I'd hurt the one that I love. I told you that I did not love you. You turned away, pain in your eyes. I felt my heart shatter, its pieces now lost in time. Once we were happy with no thought of the future. . .

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"Shall we meet again, fair elf?"

"I believe we shall, Dunedain, I believe we shall. . ."

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Having heard of your death, I fell into darkness, hating myself. You never knew the truth, how much I loved you and always will. What was my life before I knew you? How did I go on? Did I not feel the void that only love could fill?

I remember the first time I saw you in my father's palace. You were soaked with mud, your dark hair wet and plastered against your kingly face.

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"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn."

"And I Legolas, son of King Thranduil."

"You are the King's son?"

"I am. My father often boasts of his wine. Will you not try some?"

"No, thank you. My head swells with pain enough from my long journey."

"You are weary. My father has instructed me to lead you to your dwellings for the night."

"Hannon Le, master elf."

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The days you spent in my home, you taught me the lore of men, and I began to love you. Thinking of you day and night. I remember the night, when you were telling me of your forefather, Elros, and you suddenly stopped and gazed at me.

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"You are stunning, Legolas. Both in mind and spirit. I have never known any of your kind that contains such passion for the history of men as you do. You are indeed a rarity. . . a jewel."

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You kissed me then. With more love than I ever could have imagined. From then on, you became an addiction of mine. I always thought of you. Your soothing hands when we made love. Your deep voice as you told me your tales and adventures. The way you whispered in my ear that we would be one for forever and always.

How foolishly young we were, Elessar. We did not yet think of the bitterness of reality. We were living in a dream.

My heart felt in my chest as cold as ice, when I attended your wedding to your queen. She would never love you as I do, nor open your heart as I do, nor make you cry out with ecstasy as I do.

I remained in your white city for awhile, hoping to be near you at all times. You came to me one night. We made love more pure than any of the Gods of Valar could have made themselves. We cried out eachother's names into the still night, not caring if any person had heard. We were together, and we knew it would be for the last time.

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"I love you Legolas. . .Do you not return my love?"

"No King Elessar, I do not."

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I had never told a lie in my long life before that night. I had thought at the time that if I had let you know my true feelings, it would destroy me. How very wrong I was. . .

I should have told you, for my heart now lies with the heavy burden of guilt, and it grows stronger with each passing moment. Even here, in the blissful land of Valinor, darkness overwhelms me. There is no hope for me without you, Elessar, my King. My heart is broken. I go to die now. . . Good-bye . . .