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Legolas still held onto Estel's hand as Lenwe whispered to Elrond. Something wasn't right...and as Lenwe spoke, he glanced sideways at Legolas, and his full lips arranged into a smirk. That poisonous, devious look in the teal eyes nearly made Legolas shiver...

Right then it hit Legolas. The looks, the whispering, Elrond's surprised looks over to their table.

"By the Valar," he whispered, his voice barely audible. Estel caught the distraught expression in Legolas' eyes and leaned in toward the elf.

"Legolas?" he began, his voice concerned. "What is amiss?" Legolas looked so shocked and upset and he was staring right at Lenwe.

"I," Legolas started, but then dropped his face from Lenwe's gaze and faced Estel.

"What?" Estel asked, his voice soft. His blue grey eyes were troubled and confused, and to Legolas' delight he gently stroked Legolas' hand with his thumb.

"Estel, I have just figured out some very bad news. I can't speak of it here, but do not follow me out of this hall. Wait ten or fifteen minutes and then meet me at my rooms. Do you know where they are located?" Legolas said in an urgent tone.

"Aye," Estel said faintly and nodded. He had no idea why Legolas was acting so strange, but he knew it must have been dire for Legolas to be so tense. Legolas was a calm person, clearly demonstrated when he threatened Lenwe. But now, as Estel studied the intense blue eyes and felt the slightly clammy hand of the elf, he realized that something truly was wrong.


"Legolas, what is going on?" Estel demanded when Legolas locked the doors to his chambers after he came in. Fear licked his insides as he heard the door being locked. He told himself over and over that was just Legolas, and his breathing slowed.

"Please sit down, Estel," Legolas said, and motioned to the small couch that was in his room. Estel walked over to it and sat down, waiting for Legolas to join him as well. The elf sat across from him and gently grasped his hands in his.

"Estel," Legolas started, and then took a deep breath, "Lenwe is trying to make me appear guilty for his crimes. I may be forced to leave Imladris within the coming days."

Legolas watched Estel's expression change with sad eyes from slightly frightened to shocked and disbelieving. He grasped Estel's hands tighter and tried to reassure him by stroking the cold skin.

"W-what? Nay, this cannot be happening...how do you know?" Estel whispered in a blank tone, his eyes shining with tears.

"I made eye contact with Lenwe this evening. I...I can just...read him, Estel. He can be read like an open book. Elrond kept looking at me with this betrayed expression in his eyes. If Lenwe is as cunning as I think he is, this would be the exact thing he would do. Blame his crime on the one who has befriended you and protected you," Legolas said in a low voice full of anger. He hated the broken look in Estel's eyes and hated himself for not being able to protect Estel for much longer. Elrond would take action if he believed Lenwe's lies.

He seriously considered telling Elrond what had happened for the last fifteen years. He wanted to help Estel so badly that if it meant betraying his trust, he would do so.

Growing rage at Elrond for not noticing grew inside of him and he desperately doused the flame. He could not let this happen.

"Estel, if I have to leave you will be alone. Lenwe will come at you again and will hurt you even more. I cannot let that happen," Legolas said in a firm voice.

Estel shook his head. "You cannot tell them. Please, do not tell them! You have no idea what damage will become of it." Tears gathered in the blue grey eyes and spilled down the flushed face.

Legolas stood up and paced around the room restlessly. "Estel, I could never live with myself if I found Lenwe hurt you and it was of my doing! I...I care about you, Estel. I cannot let this happen."

Estel also stood up, and Legolas could see he was angry. "You promised me that you would not tell anybody. Will you now betray my trust like everyone has done in the past? I will be alone in this world once more, knowing that I cannot trust you. I will be nothing more than a body, wandering this world, knowing I will die from this prison."

Legolas, ignoring the tears now streaming down Estel's face strode up to the boy and grabbed his shoulders forcefully. Estel's face was terrified but he did not pull away. "Why? Why won't you let me tell them?!" Legolas shouted, his anger overtaking him. His fierce love for Estel was strong inside of him and he would do anything to protect him.

Estel let out a sob and began to shake. "Because he is Elrond's lover!" he wailed, his voice anguished and broken. "...he is Ada's lover..." The boy fell to the ground and cried, letting his sorrow overtake him.


Legolas let his hands drop from Estel's shaken form, shocked by Estel's admission. "No," he said, his voice full of disbelief. "He cannot be."

How could Elrond be with someone as evil as Lenwe? ...How?

"H-How long?" Legolas asked in a hushed voice, not meeting Estel's gaze.

Estel looked up from his hands. "F-For years," he sobbed, his voice wet and thick from tears. "Shortly a-after I arrived h-here. I did n-not understand why my Ada would be with someone like him, but I do not know him as I thought I did. I have no one to care for me. I'm a-alone."

Legolas placed a gentle hand under Estel's chin and lifted his tear streaked face upward. "I will always care for you," he whispered, and then gently melded his lips onto Estel's. It was just a soft touch of their lips, as Legolas pulled away slowly after he had done it.

Estel looked at Legolas with confused eyes. Only shock showed on his face; no fear. It touched Legolas that Estel had this much trust in him not to dart away. The elf gently brushed his hand against Estel's parted pink lips.

"Please forgive me," Legolas said softly, barely audible. He backed away from Estel and ran a slender hand through his long blonde hair. Estel just turned away, his body shivering. He didn't know what had possessed him to kiss Estel, but the boy had looked so upset that Legolas had desperately wanted to soothe him. Now he feared that he had lost Estel's fragile trust.

Silence followed. A thick and uneasy silence. The only sound was Estel's ragged breathing and Legolas' quiet breaths.

Estel then faced Legolas. "Why did you do it?" he asked. There was no anger in his voice; only curiosity.

"I love you, Estel," Legolas said, his voice tender. Saying the words was a relief.

Estel stared at him like he was mad, his eyes distrustful.

"How can I believe you? No one has ever truly loved me before. They say they care but they turn their backs on me. I'm nothing to love. I have nothing to give. Nothing..." Estel said bitterly, his voice still shaking slightly.

Legolas walked to the boy slowly and shook his head. "You have stolen my heart, Estel, because you are who you are. You are a kind soul who had suffered through much. All I want to do is love and protect you."

Estel met Legolas' compassionate blue eyes with his own tear filled orbs. "And that is all I have ever wanted, all my life."


I'm so sorry its so short, but I HAD to give you this.