Aragorn gently knocked on the door.

"Legolas?"- he called out.

There was no answer.

He waited patiently few minutes and then sighed. With a firm grip, he pushed the door. The man went in in slow steps and leaned against the wooden frame and gazed at the Elf's back.

Legolas was sitting on a small couch, few inches away from the large glass. He looked like a statue. Morning sunlight was reflecting on the glass, breaking and then falling all around the room. It warmed his pale hair that was lying over his back. He didn't turn around when the man went it.

Aragorn closed the door behind him and walked towards his desk. He placed linen he was carring with himself on it and continued towards the still Elf.

He was silent at first while he was gazing through the arcs.

"May I sit?"- he asked.

Legolas took a heavy sigh.

"Aragorn, this is your house, if that's the right word for it. You don't need my permission."- he spoke in annoyed tone and kept on staring in front of himself.

The man raised his eyebrows a bit but said nothing on this. Instead, he stood above Legolas.

The Elf massaged his eyelids with hand and sighed, once again.

" I am sorry. Of course, you can sit."- he mumbled and moved aside, giving Aragorn some free space.

The man silently sit next to him, leaned over his knees and gazed at the stone floor.

"I know how you feel."- he started.

Legolas chuckled shortly but it more sounded like a ragged breath.

He shook his head.

"You…"

"Only because I am surrounded by people it doesn't have to mean that I am not alone."- Aragorn spoke in stern tone, giving the Elf no chance to argue about this matter.

Legolas curiosly throw one look at the man's profile, not used to Aragorn speaking to him in this manner. The man was ever calmed, quiet. He was rarely rising his tone, especially on Legolas.

"Tell me, Legolas, where is my family? Does any family member live here, with me?"- he lifted his gaze and met cerulean eyes looking at him.

Legolas lowered his head a bit.

"No."- he whispered.

Aragorn felt guilty when he saw how silvery strands of hair fell down and hid Legolas face in shame.

"Forgive me, I know it's not the same. But please, don't think that I am the happiest man on this earth. I barely can breathe here. Sometimes, I swear.. Sometimes I only wish to take one horse and ride away, over the hills and far away and never come back. Years have passed, so many years and every age brings the same problems. Something you have to fix over and over again. Meaningles rebellions, conspiracy in the palace, small and big frauds.. And all of that makes me wonder if man will ever change."- Aragorn put head in his hands.

"But although this has never been my real choice I am still given everything I may be deserving. Sorry, Legolas, these are my problems. I am used to them, I have had enough time to be."

He lifted his eyes and took the elven hand in his palm.

"But please, don't you ever think I cannot understand and feel your grief. Don't run away from me, thinking that you are left all by yourself to drown in that meaningless pool of black water."

His lips trembled as he smiled.

"I have brought you here and I will do anything that is in my power to adjust this damned place that is everything but your true home. Same like you, I have no one here. They are all too scared of me for no reason."- he desperately whispered.

Legolas was sitting calmly, trying to suppress sudden blame in his stomach. He closed his eyes tightly and pulled the man's arm towards him.

"I am sorry, my love."- he whispered and pulled Aragorn in his hug, pressed his head on his chest and caressed dark hair.

"There is nothing you should be sorry for."- Aragorn whispered but his voice was muffled by the Elf's robe.

"I shouldn't have acted like that."- Legolas sighed and rested his chin on the man's hair.

One hand was wrapped around his waist and two fingers were shyly caressing his spine through the clothing.

"I know well how hard you try but sometimes.. it is just not enough."- Legolas whispered sadly, knowing that he cannot lie now. Fingers suddenly stopped but after few moment they started again to move up and down his vertebrae, even gentler.

"Yes, there are wounds which I cannot heal."- Aragorn spoke rationally and he didn't allowe himself to show a crumb of his sorrow. Instead, he hugged svelte waist and buried his nose in silvery hair. Sweet scent calmed his nerves and he started to pull long locks with his other hand like a child who has just found a very interesting toy.

Legolas moved his head and rested his chin on Aragorn's shoulder and absently looked through the spider web.

"How did you know I am here?"- he asked, half curious.

Aragorn chuckled and pulled another lock between his fingers.

"Well, as you said, this is my home. And besides, this is the first place you go to when you want solitude."- the man said and kissed white neck.

Legolas seemed surprised.

"Really?"- he didn't pay much attention to his mood when he would walk through the palace. He felt Aragorn nodding against his chest.

"Yes, you even forget I sit few meters away from you when you are into your thoughts."

"Oh."- was all Legolas uttered and he kept on wondering about his habits.

"And that brings us to the beginning."- Aragorn spoke and lifted his body up.

Legolas was forced to sit and he frowned slightly.

"Why are you here today?"- the man asked seriously.

Legolas thought about Devon's words. No one knows anything about him. And what worried Legolas the most was the fact he didn't know anything either.

Aragorn was patiently waiting. He leaned against the couch and took another strand of soft hair and continued to curl it around his finger.

Legolas looked at the man with pure plea in his eyes.

Aragorn throw one uninterested look at him and devoted his full attention on the hair he was holding.

"No, you won't fool me this time, Legolas."- he spoke and waited.

Legolas gave up with a disappointed yelp and leaned back. He throw his head over the frame of the couch and started at ceiling.

Sunlight was falling over his face while he was hearing some strayed bird singing or calling for help in high voice. Plain features took a sorrowful grimace and he closed his tired eyes.

He was listening the bird that started to panic. It was obvious in its voice. Maybe a lost nestling? Green leaves were rustling and dancing with the wind. The nestling started to sing louder. Legolas could hear its thin and weak claws desperately scratching over the glass. Wind blew harder and naked body fell down on the small, hard stone that sticked out few inches from the glass, from the outer side. The nestling was persistent- it rose to its feet once again and started to kick the fat glass with its dead wings. But the arcs were unbreakable. Sudden wave of cold wind blew once again and the nestling was defeated. It fell off the wall. Legolas could hear it desperate screams as it was falling down and down. At last, it hit the hard stone deep below. One barely audible creak of a thin bone was heard and nothing more. The Elf opened his eyes.

"Did you hear it?"- he asked.

Aragorn lifted his confused gaze.

"Heard what?"

Legolas smiled weakly.

"Nothing."

Legolas didn't want to talk neither about Borghild nor Devon. It had nothing to do with them. He looked at Aragorn with no smile or frown on his face.

Aragorn hesitating smiled and caressed smooth face with his finger.

"For how long I have been here?"- he asked gently.

Aragorn's pupils went wide for a second, unsure where this was leading.

"For eight years."- he spoke in confused but sure tone.

"And five months."- Legolas added.

Aragorn nodded his head.

Again silence. The man started to feel uneasy.

"I think I have been safe for long enough."- Legolas said and looked up.

Aragorn let the lock to fell down his hand.

"I think I don't understand."

"You do."- The Elf whispered and laid his head aside so his deep blue eyes could pierce Aragorn's mind throughout.

Aragorn seemed crippled for few minutes. He was drowning into blue waters and his mouth were slightly opened.

Legolas started to fear Aragorn's reaction.

Aragorn remembered the day when he gave his promise, the last day of summer.

Weird smile started to deform his face. Legolas straightened himself up.

"Aragorn?"- he called out.

"You wish to search for your family?"- the man whispered with sparks in his eye.

"Yes, my love, I do."- Legolas said in low voice but he was carefully looking at Aragorn.

"I cannot take this anymore, I have to know who I am and where I came from. You gave me your word but if.."- he wasn't able to finish because of the mouth that were tightly pressed on his. Surprised breath left his body but never made out of his lips. He grabbed Aragorn's chin and moaned in confusion.

"Aragorn.. I.. can't.. breathe."- he panted when his mouth were finally freed but between short kisses on his lips.

The man pulled himself together and moved back a bit but not yet removing his hands from the confused and scared Elf.

He laughed.

"Oh, forgive me, but I cannot tell how glad I am to hear it! Besides, a huge stone fell off my heart."- he breathed out in relief.

He sighed in pure happiness.

"I thought something very wrong was happening with you."- he explained.

Legolas smiled but his eyes were still wider than usual.

"Of course, I will fulfill my vow."- he turned his eyes on Legolas.

The Elf saw love and excitement in them although he couldn't understand why was so. He caressed the man's short beard.

Aragorn laughed once again and jumped on his feet. He grabbed the Elf in his arms and carried him over the chamber.

"Aragorn, put me down. Don't carry me around like I am a child!"- Legolas hissed.

His hissed plea was heard and his feet touched the stone floor.

"I have something for you."- Aragorn spoke in serious tone now, completely ignoring the Elf's previous words.

He took the linen from the table.

Legolas blinked on the sudden change of Aragorn's mood but he lowered his gaze on the object in the man's hands.

With few pulls, short strip around the thin object was removed and Aragorn took a sword out.

Legolas curiously watched and sighed in surprise when he finally caught the looking of it.

Aragorn nodded knowingly.

"Yes, it's an elven sword."- he said and out handed it to Legolas.

With careful fingers, Legolas took the sword in his hands and gently caressed the smooth but sharp blade. Willowy and shiny steel was glowing in his pale grip. He pressed the blade a bit harder and one single blood drop fell down. Legolas ran his fingers down the small etching of elven words written vertically on the steel.

"Don't pull me out without a cause. "- he read the letters and turned the sword around.

"Don't pull me in without honor."- he read barely visible letters on the other side.

In silence, he lowered it down and looked up.

Aragorn was smiling and steel in his eyes was melted.

"Thank you."- was everything Legolas whispered.

Aragorn smile went wider.

"I thought you will need one. I know you are better with the bow but that sword can be of use to you. Although I wouldn't want you to have a cause to pull it out. Ever."- he spoke the last part in serious tone but his eyes didn't change.

Legolas caressed the blade.

"When are we leaving?"- Aragorn asked happily.

Legolas blinked.

"Why are you so.. excited about this?"

"Well I was barely moving from Gondor in past eight years. This journey is going to make me young again."- he joked.

"But I really want you to find the answer on your questions."- he spoke quietly and laid his hand on the elven cheek.

Legolas clear eyes were sorrowful but Aragorn's mood was contagious- he couldn't help but smile.

"You really think we will find something?"- he asked, full of suspicion.

Aragorn nodded his head.

"If we don't find your family, we will surely find someone that knows something about them."- Aragorn said in strong voice.

"Now, I am going to call my council. I have to give them some commands before we leave."- Aragorn declared.

Legolas jerked.

"And when do we exactly leave?"- he asked and his heart started to swell.

"In two days."- Aragorn said peacefully and took the sword in his hands. He sheated it in its casing that was laid on the desk.

Legolas was staring at him.

"What?"

"Just like that?"- he blurted.

Aragorn smiled.

"Just like that. Come."- he said and pulled the Elf by his arm.

As they were walking, Legolas was carefully studing the man's profile. Small smile was dacing on his lips.

"Aragorn, now seriously. Why are you so excited?"- he couldn't keep silent.

Aragorn looked down at the Elf's questioning eyes and said: "Our jorney has to start somewhere. We cannot roam around Middle earth and hope that somewhere we will meet someone who knows. We have to go to one place where is highly possible that we will get right directions."

Legolas nodded.

"Yes, that is right. And what is that place?"

Aragorn's eyes sparkled.

"You are going to meet my family. "