I hope this wasn't too long a wait. Thank you to all who are reading!

Legolas smiled as he watched a bee going from flower to flower, the sweet scent of the garden filling his nose, and the sun shining warmly down onto him. He had to admit that it was an amazing change from the darkness of Mirkwood, although he missed his own home sorely. The scenery in Imladris was simply breathtaking though, and he had never known anyone could have as extensive a library as Lord Elrond did.

He absently pushed a few strands of hair behind his ear and glanced down at the book in his hands. It was a collection of old lays that Erestor had kindly allowed him to borrow from the library, with a stern command to 'treat it delicately'. He did read some of it, but he was becoming rather lost in the nature around him.

He held out his hand to a nearby squirrel, who came all too gladly, settling itself in his palm and gazing up at him. He chuckled and stroked it softly, wondering how they could be so cute here, when in Mirkwood they were black and rather disconcerting to look at for long.

He turned around when he heard the soft sound of footsteps on the green lawn behind him. A tall, dark haired man was walking with long strides through the gardens, clearly on a mission (which later turned out to be dinner). Legolas gazed at him for a moment. He most certainly didn't look like any elf he had ever seen.

The man stopped when he caught sight of Legolas staring at him, who quickly averted his gaze back to the book in his hands.

'I do not believe I have seen you here before.' He said finally, after a moment of awkward silence.

Legolas looked up from his book, taking note of the scruff on his chin. Then he realized. 'You're- a human!'

He felt rather stupid, and blushed suddenly at his choice of words, moving his eyes to rest somewhere other than the person in front of him.

The man chuckled. 'I am, as a matter of fact. And you are an elf.'

Legolas looked back up at him. The man was smiling brilliantly.

'I- I am sorry! I have just never- seen one before.' He stuttered, twirling some hair around his finger nervously.

'Oh, well, I suppose that explains it. I am Estel, and you are?'

Legolas stopped twirling his hair. 'Oh! I am Legolas, I came from Mirkwood.'

He was still feeling a little more than shocked at meeting a human.

'Do you indeed? I believe my father and brothers have been there before. It is- er- not very safe now I hear.'

'Well, that is why I am here. My father sent me for protection.'

'Ah, and who is your father?'

Legolas twitched uncomfortably, tired of getting attention when he told people who his father was.

'Thranduil Oropherion.' He said simply.

'Oh, then that makes you prince!' Estel laughed and plopped down on the ground beside him. 'My father was there when you were born.'

'Who is your father?'

'Lord Elrond. My foster father really, though I consider him more than that.'

'Oh- I- did not know. You must be the brother the twins were speaking of!'

'So you have had the pleasure of meeting them?' Estel laughed. 'I am he. Estel is not my birth name though, if you want to know. It is Aragorn. But I prefer Estel.'

Legolas smiled and went back to twiddling his hair. Estel was very nice and outgoing. I like him. He decided.

'Well, I think I shall raid the kitchen right now, I haven't had a proper meal for weeks.' He said with a roll of his eyes. 'I do hope to talk to you more though!'

Estel jumped up and continued on the way he had been going before.

Legolas sat nervously between the twins in the dining hall later that night, gazing around at all the elves that were still gathering. He never liked eating in the hall, being slightly intimidated by crowds, and had only attended because Elrond had asked him, in honor of Estel's return. Elladan and Elrohir were not helping to alleviate his discomfort by whispering over his head. They overtopped him by several inches as it was.

Leaning his elbows on the table, he plopped his chin into his hands with a sigh. He would rather eat alone in the garden, or with only a few people. He looked left down the long table and saw Estel talking with Elrond. He looked over at Legolas for a moment and winked.

The dinner proceeded uneventfully, and without much conversation between him and the twins. They asked him a few questions, but for the most part continued to jabber to each other, leaving Legolas to pick through the meat that had been put on his plate (much to his dislike).

Erestor and Glorfindel were there, but several seats away, and Lindir was not present. He felt forlorn, and excused himself as soon as possible, making his way back to the garden where he felt more at home. He swung himself easily into an old oak, and sat there dangling his legs and wondering if Thranduil would ever visit him.

He stayed there for a while, listening to the sounds of nightingales singing around him, and feeling the gentle breeze rustle his hair.

'You left quickly.' Came a voice from somewhere below. Legolas jumped slightly, peering down through the branches.

'Estel!' He said, wondering if he should drop down out of politeness. He didn't need to. A moment later Estel had swung himself up and situated himself on a branch right below the elf.

'I did not hear you coming.' Legolas said.

'I was raised by elves, you know.' Estel replied with a twinkle in his eye.

'Yes. I suppose so.'

'Do you dislike crowds much?'

'Very much.'

'Ah,' he cleared his throat, 'you seemed lonely. My brothers do not mean to ignore you, they just prefer each other's company to any other. And I was occupied with Lord Elrond.'

'Yes, I noticed. It does not bother me though, I merely wished to leave.'

'What color do you favor above all others?' Estel suddenly asked.

'What?'

'Oh, don't be silly, you heard me!'

'Well,' Legolas paused, 'green I suppose, though, I also love blue. The colors of nature.'

Estel nodded. 'We must ask each other these types of questions if we are to know each other better.'

'Oh, I see. And what is yours then?'

'Silver,' he said softly, 'for starlight.' His eyes strayed towards the stars, as did Legolas'.

'You do not eat meat.' Estel said suddenly, breaking both their gazes away.

Legolas chuckled. 'Is it that amusing? It has been commented on more times than I care to count since I have arrived. But no, I do not.'

'No, I do not find it amusing. Just- different.'

'I think I have a bond with animals,' Legolas said shyly, 'they have always come if I called them, and I could not break that trust.'

'I see,' Estel said with a nod, 'can you talk to each other?'

'Well, no, I do not think so. But I think when I talk to them, they understand.'

'And what animal do you love the most?'

Legolas contemplated. 'Rabbits. I rescued one when I was an elfling, and she had a broken leg. I begged Ada and Naneth to let me keep her. They could never resist me.'

'What was her name?'

'Oropher.' Legolas said with a small laugh. 'Ada told me never to get too attached, but I did anyway. Oropher was my grandfather's name. The bunny died a year later.'

'And how did you feel?' Estel questioned, feeling wonderful at having gotten Legolas to be so open already.

Legolas shifted a bit. 'Devastated. I must have cried into Ada's shoulder for at least a month when I learned I would never see her again.'

He was getting more somber as they broached the subject of death, so Estel turned the their conversation away.

'The twins have told me that your begetting day is next month.'

'It is.' Legolas said blandly.

Estel raised an eyebrow. 'You will be?'

'Twenty-two. I doubt if I will feel up to celebrating though.'

'You miss your father.' Estel stated.

Legolas looked at his boots. 'And Naneth.' he whispered.

Estel nodded. Elladan and Elrohir had already warned him about bringing her up, and had informed him of her death.

'Well, if you ever feel lonely, you may always talk to me. When I am here that is. A lot of the time I am away north with the rangers, who I will take you to meet some day.'

Legolas smiled. 'Have you ever seen a hobbit?' he asked all of a sudden.

Estel laughed. 'A few times, when I was up in Bree. And I have vague memories of one passing through here with a company of dwarves, and Gandalf- whom you have no doubt met- on their way to reclaim Erebor when I was just a boy. Why do you ask?'

'Elladan and Elrohir told me about one coming here. It sounded- funny.'

'Ah, well you must meet them too! They are rather merry and kind, I am sure no one could dislike them.'

Just then, Estel heard the twins calling him. 'Well, I suppose I must go now. Goodnight!' He dropped to the ground.

'Goodnight Estel!' Legolas called after him.

He felt lighter after talking to him. Maybe this was the start of a real friendship.

A/N Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed. Legolas finally got to meet Estel!

I really would love to see a twenty four year old Aragorn, that would be so fun lol. Please review.

TBC...