Legolas gently tied back his two slim braids away from his face. He pulled his slim silver Mirkwoodian circlet entwined with leaves – the Mirkwood symbol. He had had a necklace to go with it, long ago, but he had given it away with his heart. It had been here, in Imladris, in fact.
The man's name had been Cael. He had been tall, with short, curly light brown hair and hazel eyes flecked with gold.
He remembered that he had told the man his name was Melethron. Why had he done that? It had seemed like a smart move at the time. He couldn't let the man know who he really was.
Now it seemed like a foolish, stupid precaution.
He had loved the man. Really loved him. Legolas had been kissed before, of course; he WAS immortal. But when Cael had kissed him…it was magic.
Like all the troubles, the darkness, the evil was wiped from Middle-Earth and they were free as the birds.
When he had held the man in his arms, felt the mortal heart beat against his own immortal one, his soul soared.
He had given the man the chain in hope of recognizing him. But now, all these years later, Cael was gone from Imladris. He just was not here. Legolas had thought that he was going to cry.
Even now, he swallowed tears and pushed them back. He rose, the silver and dark green silken robes rustling softly around him.
Time for the feast.
He hated feasts.
He made his way calmly in and took the correct guest's seat beside the family of Elrond. If he was lucky, Estel would sit by him. He enjoyed talking to his friend, and he wondered why the man had run off so suddenly that afternoon.
He allowed his mind to drift towards the scent that had come drifting towards him on a little breeze that had flurried up when Estel had run from the field. He had smelled it before, he was sure of it.
He almost had it, when…
"Legolas?" Elladan called, waving a hand in front of the prince's face. Legolas made a small noise of irritation in his throat.
"Yes?"
"The feast. It started at least five minutes ago and you haven't moved yet. Is everything okay?"
"Where is Estel?" asked Legolas, frowning. Elladan pointed to where his father sat, Elrond next to him.
The man's dark, wavy, shoulder-length hair shone in the firelight, his blue-silver eyes glimmering. He wore the traditional blue and white Imladrian robes – and over them he wore the pendant Legolas had given Cael.
The wood Elf suddenly felt as though reality was closing him in on all sides. Estel could not be Cael, he did not feel for Estel as he had for the other man – did he?
And then the realization of the scent on the little breeze hit him. He hurriedly stood, not even noticing his chair crashing to the ground or the spilled drinks when he collided with the table. He hurried out of the hall and to his rooms.
He needed to think long and hard.
Legolas locked the door behind him, seized up a tunic and some pants, his knives, and took off again out the window this time to the stables. He ignored the startled looks he received from the grooms and the stablekeeper. Saddling Aduial, his horse, he leaped into the saddle and galloped away.
Imladris was famed for its natural hot springs, and Prince Legolas planned to make good use of them.
Meanwhile, in the banquet hall…
Estel cast his glance around the hall. He saw Legolas staring into space and frowning, apparently concentrating upon something. Estel could tell he had almost had it when…Elladan waved a hand a broke the train of thought.
Estel bit back a grin at the thought of the fury inside the Elf.
They spoke for a while, until Elladan gestured to Estel. Legolas looked at him, and he turned away to speak with his foster-father eagerly about the Orc raids. He suddenly heard the clatter as a chair fell to the floor.
The hall fell silent as he looked around and saw Legolas accidentally jolt the table as he rushed – but GRACEFULLY rushed, mind you – out of the hall.
So…had he got the message? That was what Estel wondered.
"Shall I go see him, Ada?" he asked Elrond. The lord nodded.
"He has not been the same all day, Estel. I think that he needs you around."
Actually, that might be exactly the opposite of what he needs right now, but I need answers. These were Estel's thoughts as he stood up and rushed out of the hall. He got lost and ended up outside – just in time to see Legolas leap from his window into a tree and down to the ground. He ran to the stables, Estel following like a second shadow.
Legolas was in the stable for but a few moments when he came galloping out the doors on his huge stallion towards the hot springs. Estel entered as soon as the Elf was almost out of sight and seized his own horse. He swung onto it and galloped off, grinning at the somewhat stunned looks of the stablehands and master.
With Legolas…
He finally reached the hot springs. Stripping, he gently tested the water with one hand. Smiling for the first time since that morning, he slid gently and nearly silently into the steamy spring. He leaned against an underwater rock and tilted his head gently back. He sighed contentedly as he neck cracked.
He pushed off the rock with his feet and propelled himself to the middle of the hot spring. He took a deep breath and dived, just to see, out of curiosity, the depth. Such simple tasks kept his mind busy.
So busy, in fact, that he did not notice the small frission of water as Estel slid in. The man pressed himself against the rock and waited. What the Elf did nest, he hand not anticipated, and he, frankly, had no idea how to react.
Legolas drifted back to the rock, the same rock where Estel stood silently, and leaned back against…Estel. The man's eyes widened as the Elf, tired enough to not sense the texture difference, satisfied, closed his eyes and pressed himself gently against the man.
Legolas showed no signs of leaving, and this was a very awkward position to be found in. So Estel settled himself in for a long, testy night…
A/N REVIEWS!
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