A/N: Well, as promised, chapter 6 within record time! I've already gotten some feedback from the last chapter and I am very happy y'all liked it! There are still questions as to Thranduil's behavior, don't worry. Hopefully this will answer some of those questions. Remember, this story is stil developing, I can't give you all the secrets at once! That wouldn't be fun for you all! Trust me, it will all come together! Holes not included.
"I see you are quite skilled, Legolas. I also see that you learn quickly," Haldir offered.
"Thank you," Legolas was ecstatic it had seemed like years since anybody had told him he was skilled.
"However, you have much to learn. Your ways of battle are erratic to me and quick," Haldir knew how to ruin a moment.
"In Mirkwood, we have to move very quickly because we are often times outnumbered. It is a very unfortunate situation," Legolas tried to emphasis the 'outnumbered' part. "We would be able to more carefully calculate our tactics if we had more elves."
Haldir didn't respond and stopped in front of Legolas' door, "Well, after training here, you should be able to train more elves."
Legolas' hopes were silently quashed, But we are using all the elves we can, "Thank you for allowing me to train with you today and tomorrow."
Haldir nodded and turned to take his leave but the prince desperately reached for his shoulder, "Lord Haldir, would you please keep me company for awhile in my quarters?"
Haldir looked at him suspiciously, "I fear I have an appointment with one of my guard."
"Oh, well… if you ever need me to see you, please do not hesitate to come to my room at any hour of the night," Legolas tried his best to look innocent and vulnerable, men seemed to like that. Haldir looked the prince up and down, nodded, shot him a strange glance, and then left without muttering another word.
Legolas unlocked his door and let his bow and quiver fall to the ground with an exasperated sigh. He threw his knives onto the bed and took off his white tunic. Shirtless, he walked into his washroom. He longed for a bath but groaned at the idea of having to draw one and the time it took to. But as he looked into the tub, he noticed it was already filled water. He raised his eyebrow incredulously and let his fingers skim the surface. Who would do this for me? Instead of pondering the question for much longer he stripped completely and slowly let himself into the soothing water.
His thoughts drifted to Aew. He had been one of the only people he had known to do such things for him. His father used to do things like this as well before he too had left him. He faintly recalled his mother's love as well.
"Oh, Valar. Why have you taken all that was good out of my life?" Legolas whispered to no one imparticularly.
A soft knocking came at the threshold of the washroom, "May I come in?"
Legolas jolted slightly unsure of what to answer. He recognized the voice as one of the twins but not quite sure which, since they had very similar voices, "Who is it?"
"Elladan."
Legolas sighed in relief, but perhaps a little too loudly, "Come in."
Elladan walked in cautiously, "Tired?"
Legolas nodded slowly.
"I thought you would be. I was watching you out there for awhile."
"Were you really?" Legolas asked with suspicion. "What did you expect to see?"
Elladan took a seat next to the tub, "Something I haven't seen before, of course." Legolas smiled softly. "I must admit, a white outfit is not common in those training areas. Why did you wear it?"
Legolas' face suddenly turned grim, the amusement leaving, "In Mirkwood, we always wear white to train."
"Why?"
"Because the orcs there often use poisons in the dirt. When it is kicked up in battle, it can instantly singe the skin. But when we train in the white, we can make sure that while we train we do not kick up dirt. Also, if we get a slight cut or something in the process, we will know instantly and attend to it, because we cannot afford to have any elf slightly debilitated," the prince watched Elladan pick up his white pants and carefully inspected them. He could find no marks, the pants were perfectly clean.
"The way you train is completely foreign to me," Elladan continued to expect the pants as Legolas slowly closed his eyes and exhaled softly. The dark elf's eyes drifted the prince's torso. He bore many marks of war but could tell they were very old and probably received as a child. However there were a few that seemed like they were received when he was a younger elf. The strange thing was that there were no recent ones at all.
Elladan's eyes drifted into the prince's open ones which had been meeting his glance, the dark elf was slightly surprised, "It is you, Elladan, not your brother that sits before me?"
The dark elf felt slightly sick at the question, "We do not look exactly alike, as you already know. Time has a habit of ingraining one's personality into his features."
Legolas wistfully smiled at the elf, "What does my face tell you of me?"
Elladan subconsciously reached to touch the elf's face; it was soft but softer than any warrior's face, which was suspicious. Legolas softly grabbed his hand and moved it away from his face, before releasing it he clasped it once again. How long has it been that I have held a hand: an action reserved for lovers, well, any two people that share some sort of care and love for each other, not strangers who only meet in the night… then eventually even in the day. Day and night, but I can't think of that now…
Poor Elladan, he could not possibly care for a whore like me, though. Legolas released his hand and let his own fall back into the water with a splash. The water reminded him…
"Who drew this bath? Do you know?" Legolas searched Elladan's eyes for answers.
The dark elf cocked his head slightly, "Why, I did."
Something occurred in Legolas' mind that he had not felt in a long time, consideration.
"I knew you would probably be sore from the training. I thought I'd do you a favor," Elladan walked out of the room.
Legolas felt his insides suddenly lighten and then grew nervous as Elladan walked out, "Elladan?"
He returned quickly holding a bed robe, "Yes?" Legolas only stared at him wide-eyed as he took his seat next to the tub. He handed the prince a towel, "Are you ready?" Legolas shook out of his reverie and accepted the towel. The dark elf turned away to allow Legolas to get out of the tub with dignity. He offers me dignity; he does not wish to see me walk out of this tub in the nude. He does not offer his actions with his own intentions in mind. Legolas dried quickly and clothed himself in the robe Elladan had brought.
"Legolas, did you leave any friends behind in Mirkwood?" Elladan turned back around.
The prince grew slightly uneasy as he gestured the both of them to return to his main quarters, "No." He sat in a big cushioned chair and let himself sink into it.
"How can one not have friends?"
"I used to have friends," Legolas offered without missing a beat. "They were killed."
"What of new friends?"
"I left before I had the chance," Legolas stared into the fire. "Besides, there are no friendly faces in Mirkwood any longer, mine included."
"So I can assume that there is neither a lover for you there."
Legolas looked at him wearily but realized he meant no advance by the question; his face was very earnest, "I feel like there is not a soul in Mirkwood that holds any love for this tired soul." But there are many that hold love for this tired body, he thought cynically.
Elladan nodded as he carefully remembered all the newfound information, "Perhaps you should get some sleep, prince. But before you go, I will leave you with the comfort that you shall find a friend in my soul, should you ever need it. For it is not right for an elf to wander middle-earth without a single soul to have concern for him."
Legolas was amazed by his words. He buried his head in his hands to control a sob that was threatening to make itself known. Elladan quickly came to his side and embraced him warmly but not oppressively. The strong elf that he had watched challenge Haldir's guard suddenly seemed smaller in his arms as he finally let the sob surface. The prince clasped onto Elladan's dark velvet robes and clenched his fists in agony as his emotions became known. As he held him, he tried to imagine a world without friends, family, and most importantly, love. A world without love destroys because love only builds. He found that he was not able to even come close to the feeling that he had felt radiating from Legolas: the feeling of the absence of life. He had honestly feared for the young elf's life; he felt his soul was reaching the threshold of death as it wished to longer partake in the gift of immortality. The dark elf held the embrace until the figure beneath him remained still and his breath became even.
Legolas lifted his head from its spot under Elladan's neck and met his glance with honesty, "Thank you."
Hope you enjoyed! I will probably update again tomorrow! I'm on a roll!