Title: Bloom of a Rose Author: Andrea (Azriel) Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine; they all belong to the Tolkien estate. Summary: Legolas gets caught up in a dispute between Mirkwood and Imladris. Can Elrond and Glorfindel help him to find happiness? WARNING, this story is SLASH and AU. The pairing shall be G/L with hinted Elrohir/L in later chapters. Thranduil is NOT a nice guy.



Thanks again to every who read and review the last chapter. As always feedback is greatly anticipated and welcomed. I have to apologise for the slightly mixed up structure of this story but all will be explained in the coming chapters



Chapter Seven: Realisations.



Thunder ripped across the sky above Rivendell and a lone figure sat, curled in the window, watching the rain pour down in sheets across the valley. Not a creature stirred when the storms rode in, very few travellers dared the dreadful conditions.

Legolas looked out from his perch into the deluge beyond, pretending the tears on his cheeks were in fact rain drops.

" You are sad again." A soft voice sounded in between the rumbles of the outside world. Halrowen approached the huddled form, her words a statement, not a question. She needed no response, instead putting her arms around the prince letting him sob softly into her shirt. 'Too far, too fast', she thought to herself. They had replayed this scene more often than she cared to remember.

" I am sorry Halrowen. I have always ended up crying in your arms."

" And have you heard me complain once, my friend." Her eyes met those once again full of uncertainty. " I did not believe so. Now, tell me what troubles your heart. Surely it is not this fine new room that has been thrust upon you?" She felt Legolas sigh within her motherly embrace, the only place in Imladris that he truly felt himself.

" He wants me to be something I cannot." She heard the trepidation in his voice and she knew the fear clouding his mind. " He wants something I am not. I shall never be good enough for someone such as he."

" Nonsense young one. That one is smitten with you!" Halrowen smiled down at him fondly, " Remember how he looked at you in the kitchens all those months ago?" She watched as Legolas looked back out the window, his eyes becoming clouded in remembrance. Yes, he remembered. He remembered it as if it had been yesterday.

* Flashback*

Bright knowing eyes stared at him, trying to show him a tenderness and affection he had learnt not to trust.

" We need to discuss our future Legolas. I know it is soon but," Glorfindel looked at the young one who was standing at his side, eyes returning firmly to the floor. " But we cannot leave it undecided." He watched as the bowed head moved in a nod. " Please Legolas, sit."

Legolas moved to the smallest chair which was in the corner of the room and shuffled to sit down. Glorfindel smiled at the sight of the once clean robes now covered in cooking ingredients. He made a mental note to get Legolas to the baths after they had finished. He caught the flash of blue as Legolas looked up at him, uncertainty radiating from his thin form, and his fear of the Elven Lord obvious to all who may have witnessed the scene.

" These six years shall fly Legolas. I do not believe I have to tell you that." Glorfindel moved to sit in a larger chair beside the fire place, shifting his gaze from the frightened child to the dancing flames. " We do not have much time to get acquainted."

Still the Elf lord's efforts were met with a sullen silence, not even a slight movement of the head to show that Legolas had even acknowledged his words. " Legolas, I would like to know you," He was forced to stop as the prince's head shot up in alarm. Fear flooded those sapphire orbs and Glorfindel could make out the tell-tale glisten of unshed tears. He realised his mistake and mentally hit himself for his inherrant foolishness. " Nay Legolas!! Nay that is not what I meant. I wish to know you for the elf that you are. Your likes and interests, your dreams. And if I can.." He paused hesitantly, moving from his chair to kneel before the frightened youth. " I will try to make some of those dreams come true."

He could do nothing but watch as Legolas nervously played with his hands in his lap, waging a private battle within his soul. His heart pounded violently in his breast and his breath caught as he watched the tears begin to fall.

" Please Legolas. Try to understand that no one here means you harm." Again he paused, this time to take the prince's hand in his own. " I mean you no harm. I shall do my best to protect you Legolas, and if you wish of anything, if it is within my power then you shall have it."

* End flashback*

" He said he could make dreams come true Halrowen, yet the only thing I wish for is still denied me." Legolas' voice cracked with yet another sob as memories of early days filled his head.

" They do not understand little one." Halrowen softly ran her fingers through golden hair in a motherly fashion, fascinated as always at its softness. " How can they know when they have not faced such betrayal? Do they bother to see that you are more at home in the kitchens than the banquet hall, or that you hide your love for singing because you fear the sound of your own voice?"

" They never used to let me sing. He said I sound like my mother." Halrowen could do nothing as she watched the young ones eyes glaze over in suppressed pain. " I used to pretend I could not, that at times I could not speak. Once I went a whole year with no one to talk to but the horses. It pleased Thranduil to have a mute servant."

" Shh. hush now Legolas. Let us worry about the present." The older elf breathed a sigh of relief as the other fought to regain control, watching as the haze lifted and his eyes became clear and bright once more. " You cannot go on like this Legolas. You are acting as if you are still in the realm of the Green Wood and it does no one any good."

" I know not how else to act Halrowen. They have done so much for me and I only wish to please them."

" If you wish to please them then be yourself!" Halrowen lifted the princes chin so their eyes met. " They do not want you to fear them, or feel that you have to pretend to be something you are not! They love you for everything that you are, everything that you have the potential to be. Let them see you are not this, let them give you the chance you so desperately need."

" But how do I tell them? They believe, Glorfindel believes, that I am changed. That I am this new, confident, and skilled creature." Legolas cast his eyes down as if in shame. " I am not. I am so scared, Halrowen. I do not know if I can take a step back."

Halrowen felt tears fall from her own eyes at the sound of Legolas' broken whisper. " Oh, Legolas. Can you not see? It is a step forward not a step back! You have achieved so much, in a single year in this valley and it can only do great harm if you do not turn from this path that causes you such pain!"

" I can see this my friend. I just fear their response."

" You should not fear them for they will accept your honesty. Come Legolas, I shall walk with you to Elrond's study. I believe you should start with him."

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

" Come."

Legolas froze when he heard the strong voice emanate from Elrond's study in the heart of Imladris. He felt his heart pounding as Halrowen opened the door and pushed him through into the candlelit room.

" Legolas!?! What brings you to my chambers at such a late hour?" Elrond turned from his papers and laid down his quill on his desk, looking at the youth with concern in his eyes.

" He has matters to discuss with you My Lord, I shall bring you both some tea."

" Thank you Halrowen," The Elven Lord nodded his thanks to the cook as she took her leave, closing the door behind her blocking Legolas' escape. " Come Legolas and tell me what burdens your heart." Dark eyes watched the hesitant youth as he walked to a chair and sat opposite Elrond.

" My Lord. I.. I fear that I have been untruthful with you." Legolas faltered in his words, pausing to gather his thoughts. " I cannot act this way any longer. I am not the elf everyone wishes me to be."

" I am glad you have had the courage to come to me, Legolas. I have feared greatly for your well being these past months." Legolas looked up in surprise at the dark elf's words, confusion warring with bewilderment. " But this must be discussed thoroughly Legolas. And I believe that another should be present. Do you not agree?"

Solemnly, Legolas nodded. The door to the room swung open and Halrowen entered with a tray.

" Halrowen," Elronds deep booming voice caused the skittish creature opposite him to jump. " Send for Glorfindel."

TBC.