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Estel gingerly laid his head back onto the pillow when Legolas left. His body ached and so did his heart.

Now that Legolas had found out his secret, he feared for the elf's safety. Lenwe was a ruthless monster, and would find out a way to hurt him and Legolas badly.

He hadn't wanted anyone to find out his secret; he had been terrified that someone would. Lenwe had always threatened him that if he breathed a word to anyone, that person would pay dearly and so would he. Estel had done his best to protect his family, and had succeeded. Also, Estel was terrified that his family would think him weak for letting the abuse continue for so long.

Yes, they did question, and Estel made up excuses. He had tripped; he had fallen off of a horse or something.

Part of him, a deep part of him, resented the fact that Elrond had not helped him. He trusted the half elf deeply, and loved him as a father.

How could he blame them? He had done all to his ability to hide it from them, and they probably didn't want to be prying.

But didn't they hear? Didn't they hear his broken sobs at night? Didn't they see Lenwe's predatory looks towards him?

And now, Legolas, who he barely trusted, had found out. The most surprising fact was that he wanted to help him.

All of his life, Estel felt shadowed in the presence of elves. They were beautiful, nearly perfect creatures to him. Even though no one had ever given him reason to feel inferior, he felt just that; not as important and a mere mortal.

Yet, a small bit of hope had been rekindled. Maybe Legolas would help him and protect him.

Just the fact that Legolas had offered to help had warmed Estel's torn soul, making him trust the elf even more.
Legolas' thoughts where a whirl of emotions. Anger, sadness, hope, protectiveness....

Estel's predicament shocked him, and yet in the back of his mind, he had known something was terribly wrong. Now, it all fit together; the bruises on his neck, the raspy voice. Lenwe must have choked him within an inch of his life.

Estel's timidness had puzzled him when he had arrived, and at least now he knew why the boy was like this.

The corridors were empty; the rest of the household must've been at dinner, which was still going on. A part of Legolas wondered where Lenwe had gone...when he would return...

Legolas made a mental note to repair the door that he had knocked down. He winced; Elrond probably wouldn't appreciate walking down a hall and seeing an oak door lying in the doorway.

Legolas found his way to Estel's chambers, and was momentarily happy to find that the door was unlocked. He opened the door and went in, but narrowed his eyes at what he saw.

The bed's covers were in disarray, and a candle lay on the floor, broken in half. Upon closer inspection, Legolas saw dark stains coloring the sheets. To his dismay, he saw that it was blood. Estel's blood....

Sadness filled Legolas like a rising, flooded river, which was quickly replaced by fury. Fury at Lenwe, and Elrond and his family for not noticing. Why hadn't they protected Estel?

Legolas closed his eyes and took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Estel had probably been very good at hiding his emotions.

Elrond was a good person, and so were his sons, daughter and household. None of them would ever intentionally hurt anyone.

After quickly selecting a blue shirt, a black tunic and black leggings made of a light silky material, Legolas explored Estel's room a bit further.

The chambers greatly resembled Elladan and Elrohir's; large and luxurious. The bed was made of polished wood and was shaped into a beautiful knot at the headboard, and was covered with warm covers of silk and velvet. The walls were colored a light cream and had a border of flowing ivy. An enormous rug made like the colorful crest of Elrond's family adorned the floor. The room also led out to a balcony overlooking a streams and bridge.

Legolas also heard the sound of flowing water. A small fountain was in the bathroom, which in itself was big. An in ground pool lay in the center of the room with bottles of soaps, shampoos and oils surrounding it.

Well, Elrond had certainly done nothing to make Estel feel unwelcome. The rooms were cozy and warm, and spoke of family and comfort. But, as Legolas sadly surveyed the blood on Estel's bedcovers, he knew that Estel would never feel at home here.
Estel nearly jumped off the bed as the door opened slowly. He instantly calmed when he saw it was just Legolas returning with his clothes. The elf smiled and handed him the outfit.

Legolas turned, thinking that Estel probably wanted some privacy. As the boy changed, he spoke.

"It's too late to go to dinner. What would you like to do? Rest? Get something to eat?" Legolas had noticed that Estel's bruised ribs were easily visible, and he was much too thin in Legolas' opinion.

Estel turned and faced Legolas, but then dropped his eyes. "I...I don't know..." Legolas frowned. Estel was still uncomfortable around him, and he briefly wondered if he would want to spend time with him.

"Why don't we walk in the gardens? No one is usually there at this hour," Legolas suggested, hoping that Estel would accept. He wanted to get to know the boy more.

Estel hesitated, but then to Legolas' great surprise and pleasure, he smiled. It was a beautiful smile and Legolas nearly felt faint at seeing him truly happy for a moment.

"I would like that," Estel whispered, feeling confused by the elf's offer. He was beginning to trust Legolas little by little. How could someone who had just saved him from a painful fate hurt him now?

Legolas returned the smile and nodded. "We should go, then. Come on." The elf began to walk out of the room, and then turned and waited for Estel expectantly.

The young man looked around the room once more, and then followed Legolas.

Legolas smiled. He could tell he was beginning to gain Estel's trust, a true gift in itself.
Estel sighed in contentment. The gardens were beautiful and almost mystical at this time of year. Large, exotic looking flowers colored the courtyard along with shaped topiaries. The smell of honeysuckle and other sweet scented flowers filled the air. The two could hear running water from the many streams and fountains, along with the chirruping of frogs and birds. Fireflies lit up the truly wonderful sight, and Estel couldn't remember when he had felt this much at peace.

Estel looked over to Legolas, who had closed his eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the delightful scents of the secluded area. It seemed that his entire body was surrounded by a golden glow.

The prince opened his eyes and turned to Estel, smiling. "Is there no place more glorious than this?" he asked playfully, and Estel swore he saw the blue eyes sparkling. Legolas was truly enjoying himself, and for some reason that made Estel grin as well.

Estel shook his head in agreement, and then made to walk slowly around the landscaped gardens. Legolas walked up to him until they were side by side, and the two shared a companionable silence. Estel had to admit that he liked the elf's company.

Legolas sometimes stole a glance at Estel and hoped the boy didn't notice. The more time they spent together, the more Legolas became attached to Estel. He also was beginning to appreciate Estel's beauty, which was truly exquisite for a man. The way the soft, evening light lit up Estel's tan skin made him look healthier and happier. His soft, copper colored locks framed his chiseled face, and for a moment Legolas thought he looked more elven than human. The twinkling gray blue eyes added to the factor.

Estel did notice that Legolas was staring at him, which made him slightly nervous. The elf's gaze wasn't predatory, however, and this reassured Estel.

The two came upon a gazebo, which Legolas walked into and sat down. He invited Estel to sit by him, which the boy did.

Silence once again fell over them. They got lost in their own thoughts, until Estel broke the silence.

"I...thank you. For what you did. You really saved me from a lot of pain," he whispered, and made eye contact with Legolas. His bright azure eyes were warm and gentle.

"Of course, Estel. I only wish I could've helped you earlier. I will do my best to protect you from now on." Legolas was touched by Estel's quiet thank you, and he wanted nothing more than to wrap the young man in a warm embrace. He knew that Estel would feel threatened.

They held eye contact for a few minutes, until it was Legolas who broke the stare. A light blush colored his cheeks, but Estel attributed it to the warm summer air.

"We...we should go back..." Legolas mumbled under his breath. He had felt a tingling go through his body when he had looked into Estel's eyes, and truly hoped it wasn't stirrings of arousal. He had just gotten Estel's trust; he couldn't feel a desire toward him!

Estel nodded, and they left the gazebo. Night had fallen; stars lit up the navy blue sky and the moon shone pearl.

They walked back into the Last Homely House, and they parted where the hallways to their chambers separated.

"Thank you, Legolas," Estel whispered once more.

Legolas smiled gently. "I will see you tomorrow, my friend. Sleep well."

Legolas turned and headed down the corridor, and Estel sighed. He also walked down the darkened hallway, dreading a night that could potentially be full of pain and broken tears.
I hope you liked. I know Legolas said he would protect Estel, but he didn't even think of at night. Estel didn't have the courage to ask.

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