Chapter 2: A Tour of the grounds
The thing in italics that Legolas says (when you come across it) is in Elvish! I don't know any Sindarin, but once I do, I might get a translation for it!
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Legolas collapsed on the silken bed sheets, every muscle in his body burning, every sense alight, the night air all the more tasteful, the soft of his mattress all the more comforting.
He still felt the very places Haldir's hands rested as they danced. He still felt the elf's breath mingling with his own. The lingering feel of warmth resonated from Legolas and comforted him as he lay in a state of bliss.
However, caution punctuated his thoughts.
"Haldir's a good friend," he told himself, "and he is a wondrous companion." His half-closed eyes watched him come closer in a dream, "and he is warm and soft. He is older than I and has much to teach me." His heart raced at those implications as his mind twisted the words just a little. "He is fair in appearance, which helps, and we have known each other for years." He could very well imagine taking his close bonds of friendship just a little more with him, but there was something nagging at him to wait.
Maybe it was the fear of his father's reactions as the...gender of said companion. He had heard of rarities like himself, though those elves lived pitiful lives mostly alone. He dare not risk that, even with the prospect of freedom from the castle. He'd known all along he had no intent of loving a woman, and the coming of Haldir only escalated this. Wasn't it natural that Haldir be the one to give him his taste of love?
"Wait," he told himself, falling into a comforting dream, "wait a little while, and then let him have your devotion."
He would have much time to contemplate on the morrow while giving the tour of the palace. He knew like the back of his hand, and humans were not perceptive enough to notice his disconnected gaze.
He pulled the covers over himself, not even bothering to change, and fell into a contented sleep.
***
"Legolas, I've found you!" Estel cried as he careened to the elf, skidding to a halt in front of him. He took a deep breath while Legolas looked up at him from where he sat in the crook of two tree roots. He kept his glare at bay while springing up.
"Yes, I am to give you an overview of the palace, correct?" he acknowledged politely.
"And the grounds," Estel added with boyish excitement. Legolas knew he was older than he was, but that did not stop him from retaining some of his energy. He smiled excitedly. "Yes, I would not mind skipping the palace tour, in fact. I bet we'd run into Arwen in there." He shivered and laughed at the same time. "Well, Legolas, begin as you may!" He spread his arms wide. Legolas looked around, a plan formulating in his mind. He looked out into the semi-dark forest; clouds hung low overhead, threatening to bring rain. He then turned back to the expectant human and nodded towards the trees.
"We will go to the woods." He started out at a brisk pace, but to his surprise, Estel kept good time with him and did not tire. Sure, the human was taller than he was, but Legolas prided himself in his long stride.
Estel pestered him with questions much of the way, and Legolas answered each one, slowly getting terser and terser.
"Listen, just so you know, I never wanted to do this! I do not want to waste my time giving you a tour of this horrid palace or the encircling grounds! If I had it my way, I would be miles from here on horseback, hiding away somewhere, maybe with Haldir too!" he shouted after another barrage of questions. He turned abruptly on Estel, who took a step back from the irate elf. "I wish not show any friendship towards you, human, so do not play these games!" With that, he stormed off into the woods. "If you want to see the woods, follow in silence." There were very faint footfalls behind him, and Estel caught up, grabbing his arm and wheeling him around.
"What is it that you hate?" he asked suddenly. "You said you hated me. You said you hated this tour. What can I do about it? Elrond commanded me to follow you. Personally, I would much rather be miles from here also. I hate royal formalities, I hate spending time indoors." Legolas calmed a little as Estel ranted about his life at home. Strangely, Legolas felt a little tug on his heart.
"Listen, I think we have an agreement now," Legolas stated suddenly. "I can go my way, and you can go yours. You should know where to find the palace; it is quite large. We will meet back there at noon, in time for lunch, as if we did in fact show each other around. Agreed?" he held out his hand. Estel stared at it before taking it in his own. Legolas felt the calluses and certain roughness about it. No elf had that; their fair skin was strong without an altering appearance. He pulled away quickly, staring at the outstretched palm of Estel.
"You swordfight?" he guessed by the position of the rougher spots. Estel's face suddenly lit up, the fire burning in his eyes.
"That is like querying if an elf can shoot a bow," Estel said with a laugh that threw back his head. Legolas smirked at him. This human, for once, was showing a cocky side. Legolas felt a need to squelch that. He was no fool with a blade himself, and he doubted that the human, even if taught under the leadership of, most likely, the twin elves, he would be no match for a true elvish kindred.
"So you think yourself great," he baited slowly. Estel took it all too quickly.
"I have confidence in my skill," he boasted. Legolas smirked at him and waved his hand freely outward.
"I do not believe you." He looked up into the man's face, glaring at him with his ice blue eyes. Now, for once, Estel sent him a gloating smile.
"Then follow me, elf, and you will see there is strength in mortals." He scampered through the woods, the proud elf hot on his tail. Legolas could finally douse that flame in the human that gnawed at him so.
Still, unexpected events happen, and it was then that Haldir chose to appear, sauntering through the courtyard. He caught sight of Estel slowing to a walk; Legolas close behind, and made a beeline for the elf.
"Legolas," he said, arms wide. Legolas' face lit at the sight of Haldir, though his eyes quickly dimmed, as if he commanded their loss of expected joy. Legolas embraced Haldir briefly, though Haldir pleaded for more.
"So you are Estel," Haldir said, looking over Legolas' shoulder as he studied the human. Estel nodded.
"And you are Haldir," he replied. "You and Legolas are close then?" Haldir recognized a familiar undertone to his voice, and his eyes narrowed to slits. The way Estel's eyes cast over Legolas displeased Haldir, for it was all too familiar.
"Where do you and Legolas run to in such haste?" Legolas shot Haldir a look that told him grouping them did not sit well with the prince. Estel returned Haldir gaze steadily, sensing the growing tension between each other. He did all he could to increase it.
"Haldir, Legolas doubts my skill with a blade. I try to tell him otherwise but he will not listen." Haldir nodded slowly, turning to Legolas, who confirmed this with a cold upward gaze. Haldir shrugged.
"I'd best leave you two to your own devises then," he said, though in his heart he knew otherwise. He vowed, as they ran away from him, Legolas turning back only once, that he would never let them leave his sight. Fair Legolas should not fall to the wrong hands, never.
***
"That was good enough," Estel commented as he countered Legolas. The elf easily sidestepped, smirking as he realized the human misjudged his weight in the thrust and propelled himself too far. He carefully brought the sword down, knowing to stop right above the neck, but Estel did something that surprised him. He whirled around, making Legolas bring up his sword quickly, and his leg shot out. His boot hit Legolas behind the knee, and even the elf fell to the ground. He looked up to find a sword point at his neck.
"I win," he said triumphantly through his heaving. Legolas pushed away the sword and rose.
"My mind was elsewhere," was his excuse. Which it had been. It was with Haldir, dreaming of the elf, contemplating his strong hatred for the man. At least Legolas showed a little control over his emotions.
"Well, so was mine, in fact. If I had been here, this would have been a much briefer fight, no more than a few minutes." Yes, they had been fighting for quite a while, at least thirty minutes, without any sign of a victor. Estel put his hand down for the elf, but Legolas insisted on getting up himself. He sprang with just a little hindrance to the man's side. Aragorn looked crestfallen at the elf's refusal.
"So," he said, perked. He looked over his shoulder to a set of targets behind him in the practice room. Legolas cast his eyes over them too, his finger itching for the feel of wood beneath them. A sword felt so unnatural to him; now, a bow was a different story. "You say you are an elvish archer?" Legolas' face brightened.
"Ah, young mortal beast, you use that term so lightly. You have not seen the true potential of an elvish bowman unless you have seen me shoot," he gloated. Revenge was on the horizon, and he destined to make it all the more sweet. He would even if he had to resort to the mortal's level of taunting.
"Well then, immortal prince, show me your skill." Legolas strode to the archery side of the practice floor. His bow was where he left it yesterday by one of the targets. He picked it up, along with some arrows, and returned to the mark where Estel waited. He set down all the arrows but one and gave Estel a moment to compose himself.
Without warning, Legolas used all his uncanny speed to string the bow, notch an arrow, and let fly, all in a second. Estel still stood gaping at the elf when the arrow pierced the bullseye perfectly. He slowly turned from the prince to the target and back again.
"Fabled strength comes alive," he whispered, "I have only seen that skill in Elrohir and Elladan, and they are much older than you, yet here I believe you surpass them." Legolas shrugged and smiled at him, turning to retrieve the arrow.
Shock wore off and Estel scoffed a little.
"Well, elf, can you do that again?" he challenged. He put his hands on his hips and glared at Legolas.
Before his mind registered what passed by, an arrow flew an inch away from his head, falling to the floor on the other side of the room. He turned away, blanched, and saw the arrow lying on the ground. A little breath escaped his tightly clamped lips.
"Well," Legolas inquired, "is that a just answer to your question?" Estel gave him a stunned nod. This produced a cold laugh from Legolas. "That is good. Now, if there are no more qualms, I feel this may be a good time to depart." He set his bow down and casually headed for the door. When he made to open it, there was a scrambling behind him.
"Please, Legolas, let me ask you something!" cried Estel hopelessly. The pain on his voice forced Legolas to turn briefly. "Please, might we talk some more? I...I want...it gets so boring on these trips when I have no one to talk to." He hung his head pitifully, his brown hair falling before his eyes. "Legolas, promise me that tomorrow we will meet again." There was a hint of despair in his voice. "Maybe we could meet back here again. I could teach you some sword fighting, and you can teach me of your skills with the bow." He looked up to Legolas' cold face and almost wailed. Instead, he dejectedly pushed past Legolas and into the hall.
"I only ask a little favor." With that, he was gone.
***
Estel made haste to his room, the only sanctuary he knew from the bombardments of life. He bowed his head in the rush, just in case he passed the Lady Devil in the hallway. Luck was with him; there was no sight of Arwen anywhere.
He reached his room and took hold of the handle with trembling hands. The impassive face etched itself in his memory, and he could barely control himself as he stumbled into the room.
He had never been refused in his life before like that. Legolas was such a cold and hate filled elf; he could not fathom his purposes. Estel never did anything wrong, did he? He tried to be nice, he made polite conversation, and he never really got in the elf's way.
"But he said I was a bother, a mortal nuisance," he reminded himself as he fell onto the bed. "Maybe I should just leave him be." But that tore at Estel's newest heartstrings, the little pieces of chord tied to that golden prince. Legolas might be cold, but he had feelings, he had emotions somewhere. Estel just did not know how to penetrate the thick armour of his regality.
"Let him cool down," Estel decided. It was the best action for now, after this excruciating first meeting. It would not be forever, he repeated over and over. He would see Legolas again, sometimes, in the hall, passing glances, but enough to last until those next words.
He would not leave the elf cold.
***
"Haldir, why do I have to watch over him?" Legolas ranted as they ambled amongst the dark forest. Haldir looked down from where he admired the stars. Legolas sighed at him. "He's such a bother!"
"The human?" Legolas rolled his eyes.
"Who else?" Haldir chuckled and put an arm around Legolas' shoulder.
"Of course it's the human. I know he is a problem, but you did your duty for today. When did you two separate?"
"Before lunch, right after..." He shook his head and ducked free of Haldir's arm, covering his shying away by darting ahead and marveling at the stars. Haldir huffed and followed after him. What he marveled at though was not much different from the stars.
Legolas' young face was perfect as he basked in the moonlight. Every feature stood out clear and distinct, his blue eyes glowing, his face radiating white purity. His golden hair streamed behind him like a wave of light, creating an angelic halo around his face. Haldir's heart leapt as he started at the picturesque scene in front of him. His mind raced with fantasies and ideas, but he let Legolas take in the light instead. He did not feel obliged just yet to force anything on Legolas. When the prince was ready, he would come into Haldir's open arms. He knew that Haldir only waited for his move.
"Haldir, what am I?" Legolas suddenly asked, turning an odd face to Haldir. The older elf paused a moment before answering.
"You are the elegant and beautiful Prince of Mirkwood, an elf of great stature, regal, strong, and bold, you are a skilled archer, your mind is sharp, and you are a radiant and perfect diplomat." Legolas let out a short, cynical laugh.
"Exactly," he said, "That's exactly what I though you'd say. That's what everyone thinks, Haldir, that I am an angel, a great example of the woodland elves of old. I have everyone fooled under the mask conditioned into me from such a young age. I am no angel; no, that is all a ploy. I am heartless. Don't you see that Haldir?" He took a step forward. "I am as cold as marble, as impassive as it too. I find joy in little other than playing alone beneath the lush canopy of trees. Any interactions other than that are false! Haldir, what games do I play with the rest of the world?" He looked horror stricken at Haldir, and uncontrolled, the older elf rushed forward to Legolas. He held him tightly in his arm.
"Legolas mellon, you are not any of those qualities. You are not impassive; there is much in you capable of feeling and love. I know this." I hope I know this. "With royalty comes the price of masking a little of yourself behind finery. That does not mean it hides all. Legolas," the elf was not listening. Legolas looked up at Haldir's face just as wide eyed as before. He put a hand to Legolas' cheek and held it there. "Pray, what came over you to say such things?"
Suddenly, Legolas' face cleared, his eyes restored to their normal proportions. He looked down at Haldir's arms, and then felt his hand on his cheek, and Legolas lifted those arms off him lightly.
"I do not know what came over me," he laughed. Haldir furrowed his brow. "Truly, Haldir, I just...question now more than ever why it is I do have to hide myself. I want sometimes just to be free." He stretched out his arms and spun a circle, turning to face the elf with a great smile on his face. "Look at the forest around us! Why do I remain locked away behind the castle walls, forced to impress, entertain, my father keeping me just as a toy? I only want to be free. I need to be free." He touched the bark of a tree. "The trees are free spirits, constantly one with the great pulse of life. They stretch upturned leaves to the heavens, calling for rain and light, rejoicing ever in the change of weather. I, instead, watch from my palace window as the days rush past in frenzy, always caught in some other party, always looking after matters when left to me. Haldir, I want freedom." He swung onto a branch and scaled the tree to its highest perch. He could look out over the forest from there. The stars shone clearly above him. There, far in the west, was the Sickle of the Valar.
"Look, my friend below, I see the great Sickle, a sign in the sky I have not seen upon the ground. When free, I espy so much more! I call to thee, great heavens, look upon this prince as he cries out in triumph, as he stands in the joy of freedom!" He stretched out his arms and let out a great cry.
Slowly, after at least ten minutes, he descended to the ground where Haldir awaited him. He jumped to Haldir.
"Let us run, my dear friend. Let us run with reckless abandon through the night. The trees lean towards us, waiting for the sprint under their boughs. Treasure the freedom of the chase, when there is calm. Take pleasure in the living giants around you. Hold each leaf, let your feet brush the ground in haste, and take in the fresh air around you. Come, the night waits!" He took Haldir's hand and ran with him, sprinting as fast as he could, weaving dodging, jumping, all the while laughing with uncontained and unexplainable glee.
Every happy moment has its end, somewhere in time. Every day comes to night, every night gives way to the light of day, and things ebb and flow amidst time. Reality gives way to the imagination, yet it holds on firmer than once expected many a time. It comes back with a painful sting when the time comes.
Legolas felt that sting in the caress of a dear friend.
He and Haldir sat upon a branch of a tree, looking down and around them at the scenery, laughing, singing, and dreaming. It was perfect for both; one desired the other's company, the other begged for this lightness. Neither had any misgivings or musings; they had the world and that was all they needed.
"Haldir," Legolas said as he swung his legs above the ground. "You are a great and powerful elf, are you not? Please make this night last forever." Haldir laughed and put an arm around Legolas, pulling him in so he could rest his head on Haldir's shoulder.
"Dear Legolas," he whispered, massaging the elf's arm, "I wish I had that power." He looked into Legolas' half-closed eyes and fell prey to their uncontrollable beauty. He lifted up Legolas' chin in his hand. This startled Legolas, but he did not back away. Haldir felt of the smooth cheek, swept away a stray strand of golden hair. He leaned closer to Legolas. The golden prince held steady, but something was growing behind his eyes. Haldir saw it, the unfamiliar mist that he saw only earlier. Legolas gently took Haldir's wrist. Haldir assumed this to be a begging gesture, and he quickly made to finally lay the first kiss upon that elf.
Legolas jumped away.
He lightly sprang up off the branch and landed in a crouch on the ground. Haldir caught himself before toppling forward and looked down, horror struck. Legolas stared back at him.
"Legolas," Haldir whispered. Legolas, suddenly, held out his hand, though he contorted his face as if resisting some great power. Haldir leaned down to reach for the limb. Their fingers brushed, and Legolas' inner battle ended. He jerked away, taking a few steps back.
"Haldir, please," he begged before fleeing to the safety of his own room.
He left Haldir, sitting on the branch, bathed in moonlight, dumbstruck and horrorstricken.
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Well, people reviewed, so I wrote this chapter! ^o^ be proud of me. I kept this relatively happy story going for 2 whole chapters! Well, right now, it isn't exactly happy, sure, but maybe it will get happy...*looks innocent (cough)* all depends on how many people review. You know, I could always slip in a little accident in there. Whoops, there goes Legolas off a cliff. Whoops, Estel was shot through by an orc. Whoops, Whoops, Whoops! ~_^
Review or I shall let my evil and twisted and depressed muses write this story!