Chapter 8

The next few hours were utter bliss for Estel and Legolas. They walked through the green forest, enjoying eachother's proximity. They walked with their hands interlinked, some times in silence, otherwise talking about their lives, their families.

Estel was still completely stunned by what happened. He had felt attracted to the young elf, but he had not, in his wildest dreams, seriously expected that this feeling would be returned. Although entirely inexperienced in such matters, Estel realised that he had fallen head over heals in love with the prince. He was also aware of the fact that this developing relationship could cause serious problems for both of them. But for the moment, he simply enjoyed being with Legolas, knowing him close, feeling his hands or looking into these impossibly dark blue eyes.

After a while however, Estel realised that he was very thirsty, it was a hot afternoon and they had not stopped to drink anything since the morning meal.

"Legolas? Could I have something to drink from your pack, please? I am very thirsty."

Legolas looked slightly surprised, he had completely forgotten about food and drink, and had not felt a particular need for either. But then he remembered that mortals' needs were different to those of elves. "Of course. Come let us sit down and have some food and drink."

They sat down on a fallen log, and Legolas unpacked his bag. There was bread, cold meat and cheese, some fruit, water and mead. With a grin, Legolas passed the flask of mead to Estel. "Here, this should help."

"What is it?"

"Mead. Have you had it before?"

"Yes, but only to taste." He returned Legolas' grin with one of his own.

"Estel? Do not drink too much of this if you are not used to it. You have not eaten much today and this is quite strong. I do not want to be responsible for carrying you home …"

Estel laughed, but he took Legolas' advice. Nevertheless, after they had eaten he felt a happy contentment that he had never felt before. He did not know whether it was being together with Legolas, the warm afternoon or the drink, but he felt a supreme happiness that somehow he wanted to share with Legolas.

After they cleared away the remainder of their food, Estel stretched out on the soft forest grass. Legolas hesitated for a moment and then laid down beside him. Legolas turned and lifted himself up on his elbows, so that he could see the young man's face. His light hair framed his face, and fell forward over his shoulders and onto Estel's chest. The young man could not resist the temptation to run his fingers through the light strands. Legolas smiled at the gentle touch, and Estel's heart clenched as Legolas leant forward and softly kissed him on the mouth.

After a while, the young elf broke this kiss. His eyes were shining, and Estel was uncertain whether it was with tears or happiness, or perhaps both.

"Estel … I have never felt like this before…I care for you a great deal."

Estel reached up to touch the elf's face. "I have never felt like this either. I like you very much, Legolas." And they kissed again. Estel 's hands moved from Legolas' face to his ears, gently touching the pointed tips. Legolas gasped at the contact, and his own hands began to move across Estel's face and along Estel's throat to the open neck of his tunic.

Suddenly, gentle caresses turned into desire. Both felt the change; their movements became more urgent and more demanding. Instinctively, Legolas moved from his sideway position to lie on top of Estel, who also without any thought opened his legs to accommodate his partner. Both became immediately aware of their own and the other's arousal, their light clothing did nothing to hide their desire. Urgency turned into awkwardness and even Legolas lost his elven grace as they tried to remove their clothing as quickly as possible.

It was only when they were both unclothed that they stopped to consider what they were doing. When Estel looked at his partner, he began to feel very self-conscious.

Legolas was very slim, but with the finely toned muscles of an archer, and his fair skin was completely unmarred by moles, freckles, scars or body hair, except for a few blond curls in his groin. There, he was not overly large, but everything was in perfect proportion to the rest of his body. Estel was becoming uncomfortably aware of the shortcomings of his own human body.

Legolas, too, took a good look at his partner. He had never seen a naked human before.

Curiosity won over desire as the elf spotted a thin light line just above Estel's dark pubic hair. "What is that mark?" He touched the line carefully. It was slightly raised and harder than the surrounding skin. The touch made Estel shudder.

"How much do you know about mortals, Legolas?"

The young prince blushed. "Not very much. Of course I have had some instruction on other races and the differences from us, but it was not very detailed. I know that you age fast and die, and sleep with your eyes closes. I know that mortals are more clumsy and slower than elves, but that human females are fertile most of the time and can produce children every nine months. Humans are more hairy than elves, and their hair goes grey as they age…"

Estel smiled at this assortment of facts. It sounded very much as if Legolas was reciting some half-forgotten lesson that so far had had little relevance to him and therefore had not been remembered very well.

"You know mortals can become ill?"

"Yes, I have heard of this. Some part of your body seizes to function and sometimes the person dies."

Estel nodded. "When I was much younger I was quite ill. My foster father told me that a piece of my gut became infected and it needed to be removed. He did that for me. Most humans would have died from this since apparently most human healers do not know how to remove this part. It left a scar, which will never fade entirely. It is years ago that this happened. I have also got a smaller scar on one of my knees when from when I fell out of a tree and cut my knee quite badly. Humans do not heal as completely as elves do."

Legolas looked Estel up and down with an innocent frankness that made the young man uncomfortable again. "You are more beautiful than I thought you would be… you do not look as I thought humans look like. I always though they have got much body hair … but your skin is free of it … you look older than you are …"

Estel was surprised by that last statement, but then realised that from an elf's point of view this was probably true. In the last two years his body had changed from that of a child to what he assumed was more or less his adult form. He had gained much height, he had become more muscular, and hair had grown underneath his arms, complementing a thatch of dark curls between his legs. There, he had grown too, and quite a lot, much to his embarrassment.

At this moment, he returned Legolas' gaze. "You have a perfect body, Legolas. I am sorry I am not like you."

"I find you very attractive." With that statement, Legolas reached out and lightly touched Estel's chest.

They spent a long while exploring each other's bodies, and finally pleasuring each other. Both were inexperienced but knew what they enjoyed themselves, and it was not difficult to put this knowledge to good use on another. But there was an unspoken boundary they did not cross.

-o-o-o-

Some time later they both laid relaxed and comfortable on the forest floor. Estel was resting his head on Legolas chest, enjoying the slow up-and-down movement of his breathing. Legolas, too, was resting, and his fingers played gently with Estel's dark hair.

"Legolas? Will you tell your father … about us, I mean?"

Estel could feel Legolas' sigh against his face. "I do not know. I know that he will be furious, and you are not even of age yet. It would be very easy for our families to make sure that we never see each other again. I think it would be better if we remain friends for everyone to see. I do not like to deceive my father, and would not lie to him if asked me outright, but I also do not want to lose you. Not now." He kissed Estel gently on the top of his head.

The young man was silent for a moment. "I have had similar thoughts. My foster father would be very angry, I believe that he does not like your father and he would regard any friendship or relationship between us with great suspicion." He lifted his head and turned, so that he could look at Legolas' face.

"I think it would be wise if we kept things very quiet. Like you, I would not lie to my family but I will also not announce it that I like you more than a friend."

Then, completely changing topic, he said. "I think we could both do with a bath."

Legolas agreed. They gathered their scattered belongings, and without bothering to dress, Legolas led him to a small, bubbling brook not far away. It was not large enough to bath in, but a quick wash left both of them refreshed. They dressed quickly.

Legolas looked at the sun, which stood quite low. "It is time that we make our way back. I normally meet Galadhir in the evenings; he gives me weapons training in addition to my father's trainers. It would look odd if I did not meet him, and he would be concerned. We still have got about a two hour walk before we are back in Lasgalen."

They looked at each other, and embraced a final time before setting a brisk pace for the return journey.

-o-o-o-

Please review