Author's note: Thank you, everyone, for your reviews. I do not think I have had another chapter that had so many longer reviews. It was really encouraging! Thanks also to those who reviewed Inauspicious Beginnings, it was lovely to get all this feedback.

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Chapter 17 – To Make A Choice

Midwinter had come and gone. Life in Imladris settled done into its pre-Midwinter routine, the only difference being that Estel now regularly went on patrols. But Glorfindel saw to it that he never went together with Legolas, a decision that both of them understood and resented at the same time. Otherwise, the young human and the elven prince spent as much time together as possible, knowing that their time together was coming to an end.

Slowly, winter turned into spring. The first signs of spring appeared – the snow began to melt and snowdrops appeared between the patches of melting whiteness. One day, the eastern boarder guards reported two riders, warriors from Mirkwood. Thandruil had sent two of his guards to bring Legolas home.

Elrond welcomed the warriors. He was uncertain whether the two were protection for Legolas, or an escort to ensure that a potentially unwilling prince would return home. Or perhaps both. Legolas was out with a patrol on the western side of the border, and Estel was off duty, but out hunting with the twins. Neither was expected back for a couple of days, so Elrond assigned rooms to the Mirkwood warriors and offered them hospitality.

It also gave him an opportunity to observe the two, Rivendell and Mirkwood had had very few dealings in the last three thousand years. Both warriors were fair, with olive skin, dark eyes and hair, with the lithe and graceful bodies of the wood elves. Both were also clearly feeling uneasy in Rivendell. Elrond wondered what they had been told about his realm.

Rinirion was the more outgoing of the two. He did not hesitate to ask Elrond many questions about how their prince had lived for the last year. Elrond answered to the best of the ability, not hiding the fact that Legolas had spent much time with Estel. He had no doubt that Thandruil had chosen warriors he trusted and who knew about his son's relationship with the young human. It was very obvious to Elrond that the two Mirkwood elves disapproved, although they were sufficiently polite not to say anything to this effect in his hearing. After all, Estel was Elrond's foster son.

Two days later, Legolas returned from his patrol duty. He and his warriors were tired, travel stained and hungry, their duty had taken them to one of the more outlying parts of Elrond's realm and the return journey alone had taken three days. Before that, they had encountered a band of orcs, which they destroyed. But that had not come without cost, everyone in the party had minor wounds, including Legolas. The young prince had sustained a slash in his left arm, which, although minor, had left him unable to move that arm effectively. He was looking forward to having this wound seen to by Elrond, since he knew the elf-lord's healing skills would see to it that the wound would heal in very little time.

Elrond got the distinct impression that Legolas was not keen on seeing the two warriors. He hid this sentiment well, but Elrond knew Legolas well enough now to be able to read the resentment and dislike under the cool demeanour of the prince. The elf-lord wondered whether this resentment was caused by the fact that Thandruil had sent these particular two or the fact that the king had sent an escort at all. Rinirion was horrified to see that his prince got injured defending another realm. He insisted on an almost immediate departure. Legolas refused, he openly declared that he would not leave Imladris before he was able to give his farewells to Estel. Grudgingly, the two Mirkwood warriors gave in, on the condition that they would leave as soon as practicable after Estel's return.

The evening meal that day was a strained affair, and the two Mirkwood warriors gave their excuses early. This gave Gandalf an opportunity to talk to freely the prince, who was sharing a table with himself and Elrond.

The wizard pulled his pipe out of his robe, putting it into his mouth but not lightening it.

"Legolas, you and Estel will be separated for a long time. How will you cope with this?"

Legolas hesitated. This was a very personal question. "We have talked about it. We have decided to write as much as we can, even if we will only receive each other's messages a few times a year. Otherwise, what can we do? We promised each other to be true to each other until Estel's death." This statement dew gasps from both Gandalf and Elrond.

Gandalf frowned. "You should not have done this. You do not know what the future holds and to commit yourself to this level at your age is folly. And Estel has not even reached his thirtieth birthday and is barely considered an adult amongst his own people."

Legolas looked down on his hands. His respect for Gandalf made him hesitate, but then he looked up. There was defiance in his dark blue eyes. He said openly: "We have loved each other for nearly a decade, and except for the last year, we have found little support."

Legolas briefly smiled at Elrond. "We may both be young, but I do not believe that our relationship will falter when we are apart. It will be difficult, but then, most of the last ten years have not been easy." There was no reproach in his voice, just a statement of facts, and yet, Elrond flinched. How much easier it would have been for his son and Legolas if he had been more open and accepting! He gently laid a hand on the younger elf's shoulder.

" It would be better if you separated now and set each other free." Gandalf sucked at his unlit pipe.

Legolas stared at the wizard in dismay. How could Gandalf, whom he had known and respected all his life, make such a suggestion? Had he not seen how much they cared for each other? Legolas was devastated. He had expected support from Gandalf, not rejection.

Elrond, too, was horrified. He knew that Gandalf was concerned about the future roles of the elven prince and Aragorn, Arathorn's son. And yet, this suggestion was harsh, very much out of character for the normally kind and wise wizard. The Istari must have seen much more of the future with Galadriel than he had told Elrond to make such a suggestion, knowing how much Legolas and Estel cared for each other. The elf-lord knew that Gandalf was aware of this, he had commented on it often enough.

The silence stretched, the hurt in Legolas face palpable. Elrond felt like getting up and embracing the younger elf for support, but instead simply tightened grip on the prince's shoulder, hoping to convey some measure of sympathy. All of a sudden, Legolas pushed his chair back ands got up. "Please accept my excuses. I do not wish to pursue this conversation any longer." His face had set into the stony, aloof expression that both Elrond and Gandalf knew so well from the past. Without waiting for an answer, the young elf left the table.

Elrond was utterly shocked. "Gandalf, why did you say this to Legolas? You knew how much hurt this would cause."

The Istari looked at the elf-lord levelly. "I have seen in Galadriel's mirror that Aragorn will marry, and have children." He did not say that he had also seen whom the young man would marry. "Legolas, too, will get married. If Estel and Legolas remain as close as they are now, none of this will come to pass, to the detriment of all."

Elrond answered: "You do not know this. The mirror shows you what they future might bring, not what it will hold. Even the Istari do not have the right to interfere in the lives of the first- and second-born like this."

Gandalf sucked at his pipe. He looked very pensive. "Neither can provide the other with heirs. If Estel takes up his heritage, he must of heirs of his bloodline. Thandruil's line ends with Legolas, should something happen to him, there is no other to continue it. The needs of the many must outweigh the needs of the few. The future of two peoples is tied to these two, they cannot be allowed to jeopardise the future like this. I feel sorry for them, their connection is deep, but they must stop this before their bond is too deep to be severed."

Elrond looked at the wizard. "Do you not see that this point has already been passed? Undoubtedly both of them would like to bond formally, they have forsaken that but have promised each other to be true. Neither of them is likely to take this lightly, I cannot see either of them breaking this oath, neither has a personality that would allow him to be untrue to the other."

"They are both still very young."

Elrond sighed. He was surprised to find himself in the position of defending Estel and Legolas, even a year ago he would have agreed with Gandalf. But the wizard had not spent almost a year seeing the elf and the human together.

"Gandalf, I respect you deeply. You are my elder by many years, but in this, we do not agree. I have seen these two withstanding the pressure from my family and from Thandruil for years, and not once either of them wavered. Their bond is deep and true, no one has a right to deny them at least a chance of happiness. Let the future take care of itself. Galadriel's mirror is a dangerous tool, it is seductive in its power but it does not always predict everything the way it will come to pass."

The wizard looked at the elf-lord. Even though the elf was many hundreds of years his junior, the Istari respected his opinions. Elrond was wise, his advice was rarely unwarranted. And deep in his heart, the wizard very much wanted to follow the elf-lord's advice, for he saw and felt the emotional bond between the young human and the prince from Mirkwood. Such a connection was rare, to destroy it purposefully felt utterly wrong. And yet… The wizard sighed.

"So be it then."

"Will you support them? They may well need your support in the future."

Gandalf sighed again. Then he made up his mind. "Yes, I will support them."

"Then I will go and talk to Legolas."

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In the meantime, Legolas had escaped to his favourite tree in Imladris. It was an ancient beech tree overlooking the river and the waterfalls. Inwardly, he felt completely numb. He had known Gandalf all his life, to have his love for Estel rejected by the wizard was a betrayal. He wondered whether their love was really so wrong. He had heard all the arguments and yet being together with Estel felt right. Sitting high up in the branches of the tree, Legolas pondered his situation. He could not, and would not, give up on Estel. Even if it meant giving up his own heritage, although he hoped it would not come to this.

The prince leaned back against the tree trunk, staring out over the water but seeing nothing. He felt emotionally drained and wished that Estel would return. It was a sign of his distraction that he only became aware of Elrond when the elf-lord was already up in the tree. Legolas looked at the older elf in surprise. Elrond did not cease to surprise him, he would not have expected to see the Lord of Imladris to climb a tree.

Elrond saw the surprise in the younger elf's face, and said with a smile: "I am an elf, too, Legolas. I am not like the lords of men who forget who they are and where they came from. I am perfectly capable of climbing a tree, even though I admit that it is a long time since I have done it. We need to talk." Settling himself on a branch near Legolas, he continued to repeat the conversation he had with Gandalf.

The prince listened in silence. In a sense, Elrond's words were a relief, as they restored some of his trust in Gandalf. But not all. And Legolas realised that his view of the wizard had very much been that of a child looking up to his parent, the parent being perfect and faultless. And at some point, a child has to learn that parents are not, and in the same way, Legolas realised, he had to accept that the Istari was able to make mistakes or misjudgements.

Elrond had stopped talking and looked at Legolas. The younger elf still looked sad and withdrawn, his usual sparkle hidden.

"Legolas?"

The prince sighed. "I wish Estel was here."

"He will be back soon." Elrond gently touched Legolas' face to focus his attention. "Estel loves you deeply. Do not fear the future, if you and Estel are true to each other, the Valar will honour this."

"Do you think so?" Legolas turned to face the elder elf. All of a sudden, the words came rushing out. "I have begun to wonder if we should not be together after all … may be it is all wrong, but it feels right. I care for Estel more than I ever thought possible to care for someone. I cannot imagine living without him. I do not know what I will do when he dies, I do not know how we will cope with being separated for a long time. A few months are one thing, but years …" All the anxiety, insecurities and worry that Legolas felt came rushing out.

Elrond moved over to the same branch that Legolas sat on, and with some difficulty, he embraced the younger elf. Their situation struck him as incongruous, to sit on a branch in a tree trying to comfort another was unusual, to say the least. But the other was a wood elf, and therefore the tree did not seem such an inappropriate place after all. Legolas' head came to rest on the elf-lord's shoulder, and he felt the fast heartbeat of the younger elf against his own chest.

*Oh, Estel,* Elrond thought, *hurry back because you are needed here. I cannot give Legolas what he needs right now.*

Elrond also admitted to himself that for the first time in his life, he was truly angry with Gandalf. Estel and Legolas had experienced so much resentment already, they did not need any more of it, and especially not from one both of them should consider a good friend. One thing that Elrond had learned during this year was that Legolas Thandruilion was a very complex person. On the one hand he was a capable warrior and leader, but on the other hand lacking confidence in himself to an extent that Elrond found surprising in someone high born.

Legolas covered these insecurities with coldness and a withdrawal into his role as a prince. Somehow Estel had broken through these defences and had found a sensitive, caring young elf with a lively sense of humour. During the time in Imladris, Legolas had felt increasingly confident to show others more of his true personality. But when threatened, Legolas would still withdraw, and Gandalf's rejection of his love for Estel must have felt like an utter rejection. Elrond did not want Legolas to retreat into his shell again, and just hoped that Legolas felt appreciated enough in Imladris not do so. Yes, Estel was very much needed now. Elrond could feel the younger elf's insecurity and anguish, his doubts and worries.

*Estel, hurry home, you are needed here.*

TBC.  Please review!