From previous chapter of TPL:
Across the hall Elrond's bedroom door closed without a sound.
Chapter 10 A Welcome Visitor
Estel was sitting on a bench in his father's garden, eyes closed and head leaning against the tree behind him. He sensed a presence more than heard it. That was routine for a human who lived with elves. You only heard them when they wished to be heard. Not desiring conversation, he remained as he was in the hope they would think him asleep and leave.
A voice whispered his name and he jumped from the bench, forgetting his injuries. "Legolas!"
The tall, slender elf before him laughed, obviously pleased by his welcome. "How are you, mellon nin?"
"Oh, Legolas, I am so glad you are here! Where are your things? Have you eaten? How long can you stay?" As he spoke the human approached his friend and embraced him awkwardly with his uninjured arm, patting him soundly on the back.
"Well, I see why you are avoiding my question. What have you done to your self now, human?" Legolas crossed his arms and appraised the human before him, mentally cataloguing his visible injuries and wondering how many others were hidden.
"I am not avoiding anything, elf! I am just trying to be a good host. Good manners may not be appreciated in Mirkwood, but in Rivendell we try to make our guests feel appreciated." Estel's voice broke on the last word. He gave up his cheerful charade and returned to his bench, dropping down on it with a total lack of grace. Legolas would have noticed soon anyway. The Wood-elf was more reserved than the twins and seemed to observe others more intently. Of course, when Elrohir, Elladan, Estel and Legolas were alone together, his reticence gradually disappeared. Estel had often thought that Elrond and Thranduil would prefer Legolas influence the twins rather than the twins leading Legolas astray, but the human had yet to see that happen and the elves had been
friends long before the human came to Rivendell. Now though, Estel was just glad the Prince of Mirkwood was here.
The blond elf crossed his legs and slowly sank to the ground in front of his friend. From this position he had a better view of the human's face. He knew from experience that Estel used his hair as a shield when he was upset. "Mellon nin? Is everyone well?" There was no way Estel would be this upset by his own injuries.
Estel was spared answering by the appearance of his elven father. "Legolas, one of my assistants said you were here. Welcome, young one, it has been too long since you have visited."
Legolas rose at Elrond's approach to deliver the traditional elven greeting, taking a step toward the elder elf as he did so. "It is good to be back in Rivendell, Lord Elrond." Legolas gave a slight tip of his head toward Estel and raised an eyebrow, silently showing his concern. He hoped Elrond might give some indication of what he could do to help and from this position; he thought the unspoken query would go unnoticed by the human. Elrond simply smiled at the younger elf and suggested he go upstairs to clean up. "I would like to check Estel's bandages before we eat, but we will join you and the twins at the table shortly." Legolas nodded again and headed inside. As he passed the elf lord, Elrond touched his arm to stop him. "It is well you are here, Legolas. Recent days have been difficult. I believe you will find all my sons in need of your friendship."
"Anything I can do I will be glad to do, Lord Elrond. You and your sons have only to ask."
"I know, Legolas, and I thank you. Now go. Estel and I will not be long."
Legolas held the elf lord's gaze for another moment and glanced quickly back at Estel before retreating into the house.
Suppressing a sigh, Elrond went to join his son on the bench. "I hope you do not mind my interrupting. I did not think you would have time to update Legolas on recent events before we ate. It is not the sort of story one stops in mid-tale." The elf lord's smile was weary. "I can check your bandages later if you prefer."
The young man leaned his head to his father's shoulder. When he spoke his voice with tight with emotion. "I love you, Ada."
"And I love you, iôn nîn." Elrond put an arm carefully around his youngest and placed a kiss on the top of his head. "This is not your fault, Estel, nor your problem to solve. Please try not to distress yourself unduly. I would not have your recovery hindered."
Estel's voice was soft. "I know, but what of your recovery? What if we cannot find the solution?" The human's body tensed under Elrond's embrace as he struggled to control his emotions. His voice was so low the elf could barely hear the words. "Will you sail?"
The elf lord gave a breath of laughter. "Oh, my Estel. There is much to do here before I sail, whether or not we resolve this issue. Human healers do not have the ability to sense a spirit by touch and yet they heal patients every day. I have not forgotten the ways of medicinal herbs or how to set a broken bone. There are many things this old elf can still do to be useful and I would have you know I know it."
Estel completely missed his father's attempt at humor. "I am glad. Perhaps it is selfish of me, but I am glad. I know you will all be together without me someday; I do not wish to lose you at all, but I especially do not wish to lose you over this. I am not sure that Elladan and Elrohir could ever really forgive me. And that would be too much to endure." The human's voice caught on a sob and he held his breath in an attempt to restrain himself.
"They love you as I do. They know as I do that this was not your fault and if I were to sail, they would hold you blameless. I know you dread the day we will leave Middle Earth, iôn nîn, but have you ever thought that we dread your loss as much as you dread ours? My heart would break to leave you so soon, little one."
Estel turned fully into his father's embrace and settled his face into the elf lord's hair. His father's touch calmed him and he gave the Valar a heart felt thanks that this was not lost to him as he had feared it would be. Nowhere was as safe as his father's arms.
A/N This is the first time I've written Legolas. I'm subscribing to the theory that Legolas was friends first with the twins and later with Aragorn. It just seems to work better in this story.