Authors Note: Hi all thank you again for all your wonderful and encouraging reviews, here is the next chapter as promised but I'm not so sure whether it came out the way I wanted it to, so I will let you be the judge of it.

Chapter 3

Those seated around them kept still and quiet, as Legolas and Lysander regarded each other, one with a look of disdain, the other with disbelief.

"I was not aware that you had already met." Arwen eventually broke the silence, throwing a questioning glance towards her future bond mate. "You never mentioned it?" She stared straight at the darker elf seated in front of her, many questions could be seen dancing in her eyes, but for now they would be left unanswered.

"It was along time ago." Lysander spoke, his voice steadier now Legolas noticed; the shock seemed to have past.

"Yes, a past best left forgotten." Legolas stated before standing up from the table and forcing a smile. "I am afraid that I am still somewhat weary from my travels and shall retire now. I shall see you all in the morning?"

Arwen smiled sympathetically. "Yes of course dear friend, rest well."

He bowed slightly and then turned and left the room, carefully skirting round the serving staff that had now arranged themselves about the room.

Estel glanced at those around him. Elladan caught his eye and nodding his head unsubtly gestured for Estel to follow the blond elf.

"I shall make sure that he is alright." He muttered stumbling out of his chair, and following Legolas out of the dinning area, towards his chambers.

"What was that about?" Elrohir looking straight at Lysander, clearly demanding answers.

He smiled back at the twin's concerned expression.

"We met along time ago under very strained circumstances; I believe that I may bring back bad memories for him."

~*~

Estel followed Legolas through the corridors of the palace, but the elf did not return to his chambers as he had previously indicated, instead he watched as the elf made his way across the grounds and out into one of the main gardens.

The grass, he noticed once he had stepped out into the garden was wet beneath his boots and the sky was concealed by sinister looking clouds, but hopefully the rain would not fall again this eve, the last thing he needed was to be drenched to the bone while chasing the elf.

He jumped in surprise as Legolas suddenly stopped in the middle of the lawn and turned to look at him.

"It's alright Estel." He reassured. "You are not intruding." Gesturing with his hand for the man to move closer to him.

"Are you sure, if you wish to be left alone then..."

Legolas moved so that he was standing in front of him, he was so close Estel fancied he could almost taste the elf's breath, if only he could just lean in a little closer. Legolas smiled, seemingly unaware of the effect that he was having on the poor man, took his hand and the preceded to lead him further into the garden.

"Come I would not have said so if I had not of meant it."

"Where are we going?" He stumbled to say, not that it really mattered he thought, all the while cursing his body that refused to obey his demands. Why was he feeling so nervous, he never felt nervous especially not around friends, this just was not like him.

"To the bench on the far side of the garden, the grass is far too damp to sit on and I would not risk having you climb a tree."

"I can climb!"

"I'm sure that you can," Legolas smiled. "But I would prefer to sit and talk with out the worry of what would happen if you were to fall."

Estel found he could not find the energy to argue back, and continued to let him-self be led through the garden. Legolas pulled him through and arch way constructed of a mixture of tree branches and ivy, on the other side was a secluded glade, a small white bench stood in the middle. He remembered his foster father bringing him here when he was much younger. His father often came here to seek solace, and get away fro, his duties for a short while.

"Come sit with me and ask your questions." He sighed, turning his head swiftly to regard his companion, causing his flaxen hair to glide over his shoulder. Estel was transfixed.

Again Estel let himself be led, this time over to the bench where he forced his body to sit down.

"What questions would you have me ask?" He barely whispered, trying not to disturb the peace that seemed to have shrouded them.

"The questions, that were on the lips of all those present tonight." Legolas smiled gently.

Nodding Estel lent forward so that his elbows rested in his lap. "How do you know Lysander?" That seemed like a fair question to start off with.

But when Legolas sighed, he wasn't so sure.

"I suppose the kindest thing to call him would be an old lover." The elf paused to watch Estel's face, trying to determine the reaction of the man, but Estel had some how been ready for that answer and did not let his emotions show, he kept his features blank. So Legolas continued.

"He once resided in Mirkwood well over a millennia ago." Legolas shifted slightly on the bench so that he could look straight into Estel's eyes as he spoke, almost desperate for some kind of reaction from his companion. "I was only young and quite a few years from my majority but that did not seem to matter to him as he seduced me while we were out on a boarder patrol."

Estel gasped. "But that's illegal, well it is here in Rivendell."

"It is in Mirkwood as well." Legolas's smile was a sad one, that made Estel want to reach out and pull the elf to him in an effort to comfort him. "But as I said that did not stop him. We were on the patrol for a total of half a season and I believe he laid with me every night. Being so young I believed that I was in love with him. I was enthralled that anyone such as him wanted me and even now he is still very attractive."

Estel felt a twinge in his heart at that comment, but tried to ignore it.

"But when we returned home he ignored me completely. I was confused and for a few days did not really know how to react, but I finally worked up the courage to confront him. I wished for many years afterwards that I had just left it and forgot about him."

"Why what happened, what did he say." Estel felt ashamed at being so curious, but he wanted to know that cause of his friend's pain.

"It was partly my fault; I chose to confront him in the hall outside his living quarters. I remember asking him straight out what he wanted from me and he just turned to stare at me smirking. I will not repeat his exact words for they are unrepeatable, but suffice to say his words were not pleasant and he spoke purposely loud enough for passing soldiers to here clearly. He referred to me as a play thing that merely satisfied his amusement for the duration of our travels."

Legolas turned away from him.

"I was distraught, and embarrassed when my father found out. He had over heard a group of soldiers gossiping and had demanded answers."

"Was he punished?" Estel asked with out thinking, stupid question he scolded himself any father would deal out some kind of penalty for harming their child.

"Of course, once my father had calmed me down and I had told him the whole story Lysander was banished from our realm for coercing and lying with an underage elf."

Estel watched as Legolas paused and sighed for a second before continuing.

"I know it is childish to hold a grudge but I can not help what I feel."

"It is not childish." Estel reassured, grasping Legolas's hand and pulling it into his lap, where he gently rubbed his thumb over it in small circles in a comforting way. "It was a terrible thing that he forced upon you.."

"No, Estel," Legolas said quickly, his voice strangely calm. "He did not force me in to anything."

"But you were so young and he knew better," Estel tried to reason. "You were an easy target for him. I would feel the same way as you do now if that had happened to me, in fact I would be even worse for I would have wanted revenge for his deeds; you truly are a marvel Legolas."

"I am no such thing." Legolas said quietly, looking down to watch as Estel continued to stroke his hand.

"But you are I have only known you a short while and I can tell that of you already." Estel smiled, he moved his free hand to Legolas's chin and gently forced the elf to meet his eyes. "I would never dream of hurting one such as you at any age or for any reason."

"I know" Legolas smiled, he spoke softly, barely moving his lips. "But unfortunately not everyone is the same as you."

"That's a good thing." Estel whispered slowly, shuffling closer to the elf. "I do not think that you could cope with more than one of me."

Legolas's giggle contained a husky under tone, causing Estels body to shiver in response.

Neither of them moved.

Finally Legolas giggled. "Are you going to kiss me or am I going to have to wait all night?"

Estel snorted, shaking his head before leaning in and finally closing the gap between them, and pressing his lips to Legolas's.

~*~

tbc.