I would like to thank Michelle for pointing out a BIG mistake that I made. Here is the chapter without that typing error, it is still exactly the same tho :)

Ch 2

It had been nearly two years after he had fled Minias Tirith and Legolas had never left the safety of his home in Mirkwood. His family had been pleased at his sudden return from aboard but they were also worried at the cause of his appearance.

It was well known to everyone that Aragorn son of Arathorn had claimed the throne of Gondor just as it was known that he had taken an Elvish wife. The news of the marriage had everyone that could travel, heading to the white city.

Knowing the close bond the prince and the ranger had, it was quite unexpected to see him return so soon after the marriage. In fact he had arrived so soon that there were rumours that Legolas hadn't even stayed for the wedding. Legolas did nothing to dispel such talk.

For two year, the prince kept to himself and took to spending large quantities of time in either the library or the gardens. It was his old nurse that first began to realize something was wrong when one night during winter she had entered his room to put some clothes away and she had found the young prince shivering. Elves as a rule didn't feel the elements and they rarely became cold. To see an Elf shiver was almost unheard of.

She went to the king the next morning to warn him of her troubles. Thranduil didn't seem to think anything of and brushed it aside as a bad dream his son was having and the images in his mind had him shivering. The nurse wasn't convinced by the king's remarks and so she made it her job to watch over Legolas as she had done when he was a small child.

Legolas took in the nurse's sudden attention without question and continued to go about his daily routine as if she weren't even present. All through the winter, a few of legolas's friends began to notice that the elf was wearing much thicker clothes than was usual for any elf. They didn't take and heed to it but in each of their minds was the curiosity of why Legolas was acting so unusual. Eventually His closest friend Melancier decided to have a talk to him. She found him sitting on the top of a bookshelf in the library, almost out of sight.

"Legolas?" She called up to him. The blond elf started slightly and looked down.

"I am here Melancier. Is anything the matter?" He asked.

Melancier shrugged and climbed up the shelf.

"I just wanted to have a talk with you mellonin. We haven spoken in such a long time, not since before your father sent you to Rivendell. Why did you go?" She asked, "I mean you just left. You took my brother and a few others with you but you did not tell me the reason for your departure and my brother would not tell me either."

"I am sorry Melancier. It was a matter of secrecy that took me to Imladris."

"You were involved in the quest of the one ring weren't you." Melancier breathed.

"If you knew, why did you ask?"

"Confirmation. Mellonin, I am worried about you. Since your return you have not been yourself. What happened that made you depart from King Elessar so soon?"

"I have wondered who would be the first to ask." Legolas told her, "Aragorn did not need my aid any further. He has a wife and kingdom as well as many to serve him now. Aside from this, he is a ranger. They need nobody."

Melancier frowned.

"Legolas, you know that this is not true. Elessar has needed you many times in his life. You were one of his very first elf friends. Remember that it was you who taught him to shoot."

Legolas let a secretive smile adorn his face.

"I remember. And it was he that taught me my skills with a sword."

Legolas let himself be absorbed in a memory from long ago.

***

"Hey Legolas."

Legolas looked up from his book and smiled as a teenage boy walked through the Library of Imladris.

"Estel, I was wondering when you would appear." Legolas laughed.

"When did you arrive?" Estel sat opposite his friend.

"Only an hour or so ago."

"And already you have found your way into the library."

"It is quiet here."

"Legolas, this is Rivendell. I very much doubt that you will find loud noises in this place."

Legolas laughed and moved to embrace his friend.

"It is good to see you Estel. I have missed having you around."

"I am the same melonin. But it's not as if you have to wait till our fathers choose to meet for us to see each other."

"True enough." The blond elf laughed, "Now, was there something in particular that you wanted?"

"Well, I would like to take you up on your offer."

Legolas sat back with an amused expression on his face,

"I see. And is there any reason for this change of heart?"

Estel shifted slightly and Legolas had to refrain from laughter at the discomfort in the young mans features.

"I am willing to let go of my pride if you let go of yours."

Legolas arched an eyebrow.

"meaning?"

"I am willing to learn to shoot an arrow even though I don't believe I will ever have need of it, if you are willing to learn to use a sword."

"I see. Well how about we make a deal. I will learn the art of sword fighting only if you can master the bow and arrow in a week."

Estel stood there gaping at his friend.

"A week? But it took may years for you to learn. How am I to learn everything in a week?"

"I didn't say it would be easy. But it can be done. I didn't say you had to shoot like an elf, merely that you had to at least hit the bull's-eye."

Estel pondered it for a moment than reached out his hand.

"Done. Now when can we start?"

"We will begin at dawn. And in seven days I will test you."

"Fine, and in seven days after that we will try your skills with a blade."

Legolas and Estel shook their hands thus securing their deal. Legolas tried to ignore the happiness he felt at the prospect of spending two weeks with the young man. He cast off the feeling as one of friendship and left it at that.

The next morning, Legolas awoke before dawn and once dressed, he went to his friends' room so as to wake him. Finding the bed empty, Legolas went to the dinning hall. Estel was waiting for him with a bow in his hands.

"Your late" The teenager reprimanded him.

"Respect your elders my friend." Legolas smirked.

"Is it my fault that you are of Elvish decent whereas I am not?" Estel frowned.

"Well technically, you also have Elvish blood in you veins." Legolas reminded him.

"True enough. So are we going to start?"

"Though you have many virtues, patience is not one of them." Legolas laughed

"Come on Legolas. I want to learn this so I can then teach you."

"We have a week. Now let's go down to the archery field."

On the way out they passed Glorfindel, who had just awoken,

"Estel! What are you doing up at this hour?"

"Um nothing. Legolas was going to show me something, it is nothing important." Estel lowered his gaze in an embarrassed way.

"Estel has finally taken up my offer of archery lessons." Legolas told the older elf. Glorfindel clapped his hands in delight.

"This is wonderful news. Elrond will be so pleased."

"I'm sure he will." Estel murmured.

Legolas led Estel onto the archery field and handed him a bow.

"Alright, I want you to try and hit the target." He told him.

Estel lined up the arrow and shot. It missed by miles.

"Well as it was only your first attempt I will not say all that I wish to." Legolas told the youth. "But first I think you need to know how to stand."

Legolas knelt down beside his friend and moved his feet into an archer's stance. He ignored the slight tingling sensation that went up his spine at their touch. He then grabbed Estel's waist and turned him slightly so he was standing more sideways than before.

"Ok Estel, try again. Estel?"

Estel was not paying much attention. He was staring off into the trees with a small smile on his face.

"Estel? What is wrong?"

Estel snapped out of his trance and upon noticing the elf, he turned slightly pink.

"I'm sorry Legolas. I did not mean to daydream. What was it you were telling me to do?"

"I want you to fire the arrow again but this time in the stance that I have placed you in."

Estel nodded and this time, although he once again missed the target board, it was not by much.

"Well done." Legolas praised him, "Now all you need to do is to learn how to hit the target and all will be well."

"I'll hit my target." Estel muttered before dropping the bow and launching himself at his friend.

Legolas was caught off guard and fell over from the force at which Estel hit him. The wrestled around for a bit before Legolas finally triumphed. He straddled Estel's waist and pinned his hands to the ground.

"You see, I will always come out on top my friend. No matter how hard you try you will never beat an elf. It's just the way of the world I'm afraid."

Legolas smirked at Estel before releasing his grip slightly. The young man stayed where he was, breathing hard. They looked at each other and both became mesmerized by the intensity in the other's eyes. Legolas let go of Estel's hands and trailed them back down his arms till they came to rest near his chest. Estel's breathing quickened slightly.

Legolas leaned forward as if in a trance. As they neared each other, A noise was heard from across the other side of the field. Legolas started and jumped away from the man.

"I think that is enough for one day. We'll continue this tomorrow."

Legolas took off back to his room. Leaving a very confused Estel lying on the ground.

***

"Legolas? What is it?"

Legolas was pulled from his memory by Melancier's voice.

"Oh, I was just thinking back to Aragorn's first archery lesson."

"Oh I remember that." Melancier said with a laugh, "You and I were in Imladris because your father needed to see lord Elrond and I had never been so he took me as well. I was on my way to watch the lesson when I tripped over a tree root that I had failed to see. When I got to the Field, you were running away and Elsa was lying on the ground. I remember he got up with a determined look on his face and he began to practice again.  You had sped back to your room and I went to find out what was wrong but you had locked the door. All I could hear was you arguing and calling someone an idiot."

"I was arguing with myself actually." Legolas told her.

"Oh, what had happened?"

"Nothing happened." He told her, "Unfortunately." He muttered so she would not hear but Melancier's ears picked it up anyway.

"So, what are you reading?" She took the book from him and read the title, "This is your diary. Why are you reading this?"

"I just wished to reminisce about my life past."

Melancier quirked an eyebrow and read a part out loud

"Why is love so painful? I was always led to believe that love was a joyous thing but instead it is filled with confusion and longing. I do not know if what I feel is love but I do know that in the end I will be alone." She checked the date and although she did not show it in her features, she was quite surprised.

Legolas took the book back of her and frowned.

"As much as I love to have you around mellonin, I wish to finish my reading in peace before supper."

Melancier nodded gracefully and climbed down the shelf. At the door she turned back to look at her fair headed friend. In the dim light it almost seemed as if the prince was glowing. She watched a silver tear leave her friends eyes and roll down his cheek.

"I am sorry for your loss." She whispered as left, what she had read was playing heavily on her mind. The date in Legolas's diary was the same day that Young Estel had begun archery.