Chapter Five

Estel had stayed with Legolas in his room that night, as he did for the nights that followed until he departed. They spent much of the time sprawled out on the large, highly decorated four poster bed discussing topics from childhood memories to battle strategies, as well as Lysander. Estel's curiosity got the better of him; his questions asking for more than Legolas was comfortable speaking of, so many times he had gently brushed of the queries and attempted to change the direction of the topic of conversation.

"I should tell Arwen of his terrible misdeeds." Estel sighed, rolling over slightly to look at the blond elf beside him.

"No Estel," He hurried to convince the man other wise. "Many years have passed and we all change over time, hopefully he has changed for the better."

"And if he hasn't?"

"Then no doubt I will find out when we inevitably cross paths, and if I see no change then I will speak to Arwen myself it would sound better coming from me."

Estel's expression and body language became defensive, crossing his arms unconsciously over his chest.

"Why do you say that, do not think that she would believe me?"

Legolas laughed gently. "I would not sound like an interfering brother."

They continued to talk long into the night, regularly reaching out and touching each other, occasionally stealing a gentle kiss. But the soft touches and tender kisses that had started out harmlessly, rapidly led on to more demanding caresses.

They stopped once, due to Estel's hesitation, telling Legolas of his fear of hurting him due to the elf's previous experiences with Lysander.

Legolas sighed before gently banishing the mans fear, bad things often happened but they were best left to the past to deal with, so as not to disrupt the future. He trusted Estel not to hurt him.

And so continued a night filled with lust and passion.

Hands and mouths explored each other long into the early hours of the morning, leaving Estel very little time to rest, before he had to rise and prepare for the long days ahead.

That had been four nights ago, three days since Estel had left to head the boarder patrol. Legolas had not been able to set off with him, to his intense annoyance, due to many unbreakable conferences of which he was obligated to attend on his father's behalf.

Legolas preferred to take his breakfast with in the comfort of his bedroom, it wasn't that he felt awkward eating with the rest of the house hold, but he found himself almost constantly contemplating his newly immerging feelings towards Estel, a man that he had only known for a sort time, and this he decided was best done in private the last thing he needed was for the twin's harmlessly playful but teasing comments.

He spent most of his time, that wasn't spent in seemingly endless meetings or alone in his room, in the company of Arwen, she continuously commented on Estel hinting to him that she was well aware of his relationship with her foster brother. Legolas managed to avoid discussing most of his private life with her though by changing the subject of their discussions frequently he did trust her, but he was not sure of his own feelings on Estel and so felt reluctant to openly discuss them.

Arwen also attempted to obtain information his history with Lysander though their time spent together but again was unsuccessful.

Every meeting he had, had over the past few days with the dark elf had been uncomfortable, formal and brief, the last part the blond elf was thankful for. Legolas on the most part was trying where possible to avoid him, and had on the whole succeeded.

It was not until late morning on the third day since Estel had left that Lysander approached him. Legolas was sitting comfortably and alone in the centre of the gardens, his leg's lay out in front of him in the soft grass. He had managed to free himself from this evenings meeting with Lord Elrond and his advisors and contentedly relaxed out on the grass.

Legolas had heard him approaching from quite a distance away, so it was not a surprise when the dark haired elf stopped in front of him. Looking straight up, Legolas realised that Lysander did not look nearly as evil as he remember or maybe he only remembered an image his imagination had created that was suitable to go with the actions he had committed.

"You have changed a lot since we last met." Lysander spoke; his voice was calm and steady.

"Did you expect me to stay an elfling forever?" Legolas turned his head back to gaze across the garden. On the far side of the grounds he could see a group of young elves play fighting, using fallen twigs and branches as swords and knives.

"You still resent me I see." He said, never taking his eyes from the blond. "May I sit with you?" With out waiting for a response he gracefully moved to lie on the grass beside Legolas.

"I was only about their age," Legolas murmured, pointing toward the young elves. "Of course I still resent you; you took something from me before I even really knew what it was."

"And what was that prince-ling." He said sarcastically.

"My innocence." Was his only answer, not bothering to rise to Lysander's tone of voice; he was not in the mood for an argument.

"You offered it freely."

"I did not know what I offered," Legolas sighed, although it was clear that he was beginning to become flustered with the conversation. "I was young and ignorant, and you knew that."

"Did I? You may not have been past your majority but all elflings of that age know about relationships, sexual or otherwise."

Legolas sighed and shook his head gently; he had known that it would be difficult to win any argument with Lysander; he had worked that out long ago. He had an answer for everything whether it made sense or not.

"I was a prince and you know, as does everyone, that all royal children are kept young and naive for as long as possible, before they are needed to perform their duties. I knew every little about anything other than how to use my weapons before joining that boarder patrol with you."

Lysander smirked.

"Then our trip was quite educational for was it not?" Legolas ignored the laugh that the other elf emitted and stood up, quickly brushing down his leggings to get rid of the grass and leaves.

"Are you running away from me again?" Lysander sneered, raking his tormenting gaze up and down Legolas's body.

"I do not run Lysander; I simply have nothing more to say to you."

He turned and made his way back up the gardens towards the palace. A sudden movement caught his eye, and looking up he saw Arwen moving about on her balcony a book in her hand. His mind battled with whether he should speak to her of his pasted or not, but he could not decide whether Lysander's problem was just with him. Surely if Lysander acted the same with others Arwen or the twin's would have noticed by now.

Turning he walked further across the garden turning a corner he stopped abruptly wasn't that Estel's horse. It stood grazing by one of the main entrance doors to the private living chambers of the palace. As he moved closer he could see the symbol of the house of Elrond across the cloth on the saddle.

~*~

Tbc.