Chapter Eighteen

The large meal consisted of many courses and for Legolas and many of the others it seemed to take an agonizingly long time to finally complete.

The music and dance came next. Legolas and Estel managed to dance together twice before they were pulled apart to perform obligatory duties. As Arwen's brothers Estel as well as the twins were expected to dance with young un-bound maidens from other realms. Legolas almost laughed at the expression Estel pulled as he was all but dragged from him by his father.

"I will be fine Estel go I will find somewhere to sit and wait for you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I am sure now go!" Legolas did laugh now seeing the exasperation on the mans face.

Legolas smiled, watching as Estel was introduced to a young she-elf from Lothlorien, she was pretty with long blond hair slightly more golden than Legolas's own. Shaking his head in amusement, Legolas turned and headed out into the gardens. It was to stuffy in the main hall, to many bodies moving around and that dizzy feeling that he had managed to avoid for the past few days was returning.

He wondered around the gardens for a short while attempting to clear his head feeling all the more weary the further he walked eventually deciding to return to his chamber allowing himself to rest before returning to the celebrations.

~*~

"Where is Legolas?" Estel had managed to escape the clutches of the young she-elf by disappearing off towards the far tables in search of a drink, finding that his brothers had thought of the same idea. Both were attempting to hide in a darkened corner beside the tables.

"Shh." Elladan whispered. "Do not draw attention to us."

"You are acting like elflings come out of the shadows." Estel sighed poring himself a glass of wine.

"We saw you talk your way out of another dance before making your way over here."

"At least I am not hiding, cowards." He muttered. "Now have either of you seen Legolas since you started dancing?"

"He probably ran off in a jealous rage after seeing you with that pretty little blond." Elrohir sniggered.

"Can you be serious for once?" Estel all but growled at them.

"Calm down, yes I saw him heading out towards the gardens shortly after you started dancing." Elladan sighed. "Now turn around and face away from us the last thing we want is for Ada or Glorifindel to find us."

"May be I should just tell them where you are hiding and that you are purposely avoiding your responsibilities." He glared at them, his tone of voice serious.

"You would not dare!" Elrohir snarled.

"Try me." Estel smirked before taking off across the hall towards the gardens skirting close to where his father was standing and watching the proceedings. He could feeling his brothers eyes watching him closely, aware of every move he made, and silently cursing him as he stepped even closer to Lord Glorifindel who stood to his right in amongst a gathering of Lothlorien elves one of which closely resembled that of Haldir the warden.

"Estel."

He was right it was Haldir.

"Haldir it is good to see you again." He turned back to great the elf that had left the group and was now making his way over to him.

"It is good to see you too, tell me how life is treating you." Haldir smiled, his eyes sparkling with encouragement.

"I was headed towards the gardens I am looking for someone."

"Then I shall walk with you."

Estel nodded and the tall blond stepped up next to him, and both started walking. It was quite late in the evening and the sun had already begun to set, letting out an orange glow that lit up the garden in an eerie wash of colour.

"So," Haldir started as they walked out of the hall and on to the grass. "I hear that you have finally found yourself a permanent lover, is it true?"

"Yes it is true." Estel sighed. He could not see Legolas anywhere.

"Would I know them?" Haldir asked as they walked further into the gardens.

"Probably." Estel muttered glancing at the elf by his side.

"Well then," Haldir laughed. "Do not keep me in suspense."

"His name is Legolas." Estel looked around them they had walked half the length of the garden and there was no sign of anyone let alone Legolas.

"Legolas." Haldir repeated, the Lorien elf suddenly grinned. "Prince of Mirkwood Legolas!"

"Yes the prince of Mirkwood Legolas." Estel was being to get frustrated, where was he?

"Well you do aim high foster son of Elrond." The elf chuckled. "I doubt there is any elf of a higher station available than the beautiful prince Legolas. Is he as."

"I am sorry Haldir." Estel interrupted not quiet sure if he wanted the elf to finish what he was intending to say. "It is Legolas whom I look for but as I can see he is no longer in the gardens so we should head back and see if he has returned to the hall without our knowledge."

"Of course."

They both turned and began to head back.

"Does his father know?" Haldir asked his grin had now disappeared and had been replaced by an expression of sympathy.

"Legolas sent word of our relationship via messenger to Mirkwood more than a few days ago it will have long reached the hand of his father so yes I am sure that he is well aware by now. Legolas remains convinced that he will arrive in Rivendell soon."

"You have my sympathy King Thranduil is a wise and just ruler but his children are more precious to him than anything else." Haldir smiled gently.

"As is the same with most fathers." Estel tried to defend both himself and his lover's family.

"Yes but unlike most fathers he is quite able to wage war on Rivendell to retrieve the youngest and fairest of his children."

Estel ignored him, convinced that the elf was just trying to unnerve him.

They reached the entrance to the main hall and still there was no sight of Legolas.

"I will check his chamber in case he decided to try and escape the chaos down here." Estel said to the blond by his side. "Hopefully we will have further time to speak before you leave Rivendell."

~*~

It took him little time to climb the stairs and make his way along the empty corridor towards his chambers. He pushed the door open slowly before quietly stepping into the room. It was dark in side the candles having been blown out, the only light coming from the disappearing sun that was emitting an orange glow through the window.

"Legolas." He whispered he did not know why he was being so quiet; maybe it just did not seem right to disturb the tranquil feeling in the room.

"I am here Estel, on the balcony." Legolas called to him. The elf's voice seemed so musical in the silence of the chamber.

Following the sound of his voice Estel found his fair elf. He was resting with his hands against the safety rail.

He looked unsteady.

"Legolas, are you well?" Estel rushed towards him, reaching up to brush his fingers across the elf's forehead checking for any sign of fever. There was none, although he was sure he saw Legolas try to conceal a shiver.

"I am fine, merely tried, I think that the long day and the busy celebrations have taken their toll on me." Noticing Estel's worried features he smiled. "All I need is a long rest and I will be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"That is the second time you have asked that of me this eve and both times I will answer you this same, yes I am fine."

Their silence was suddenly broken by the deafening clattering of horses upon the stone of the courtyard.

Both elf and man glanced at each other before peering down of the edge of the railing.

There was a group of six or seven elves all on horse back racing towards the main entrance to the palace all were wearing what looked to be dark green in the orange light, and all appeared to weary. As they came to a halt out side the main doors Legolas gasped and stepped back from the edge turning to run back into the bedroom.

"What is it?" Estel asked following him closely. "Is something wrong?"

"That is my father!" He struggled for breath sitting down heavily on the bed. "How did he get here so soon?"

~*~

TBC.