A\N: To the Guest: Thank you! Well, I don't want to spoil a thing. I can only say that Arwen won't appear in this story of mine. Legolas will discover many things when he comes home. :D I've let my imagination to spread its wings so.. Wait and see.
My thanks goes my readers and reviewers! You are truly great! Sorry if you have waited long for this update, I am having some problems with my computer. I really hope I'll be able to finish this story before the first september because if I don't, I am afraid that you'll have to wait much longer for the future updates.
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Legolas was quietly sitting next to the bed. He was dressed in the clothing he was given by the elves of the Golden woods. It was pale and it was way more different than the clothing he used to wear in Gondor. Legolas was slightly aware that he was among his folk at last. It was so natural, completely fitting that he didn't feel like he was miles away from his and Aragorn's home.
He sighed once and crossed his arms on lap as he gazed at the man's sleeping face. Two days have passed.
On the other side of the bed, there was Elladan. He was silent too, watching his brother but then he lifted his gaze and eyed the elf.
Elladan briefly looked at the silver, unbraided hair and thought how it was more fitting for the silvan folk from Lothlórien than for an elf from Eryn Lasgalen. He recalled Thranduil's face in his mind and concluded that it was darker, not this bright. Probably he inherited it from his mother.
Legolas raised his gaze and watched Elladan when he noticed his eyes on him. He hasn't spoken a lot with the twins in past two days, but Elladan was constantly in the room with Aragorn and him. He came and woke Legolas up, gave him clothing and guided him to the bath. After it, they were only sitting.
"What is it?"- Legolas hesitating smiled at the young elf's bemused face.
Elladan shook his head slightly.
"Nothing.. I just wondered.. Where did Aragorn meet you?"- he asked, quite interested for this part of story neither he nor his brother knew.
Legolas shifted in his seat and lowered his gaze down. This wasn't something he was eager to discuss about. Ever. But Elladan was staring at him with expectation in his clear eyes.
The elf opened his mouth, searching for proper words.
In that moment, Aragorn shifted a bit and both elves looked at him. The man blinked and suddenly opened his eyes.
Elladan rapidly stood up.
"Estel?"- he called out. His eyes were filled with excitement.
"I must go and tell Adar!"- he said and almost ran out.
Aragorn coughed and instinctively sat up on the bed. Legolas was looking at him in silence and his hands were weakly pressed on his sides.
The man rubbed his eyelids, feeling tightening across his chest and a bit of pain. He blinked when he saw the bandage but after few seconds he remembered everything. He looked up.
Legolas was sitting and there was no expression on his face or body. He looked numb, indifferent. Everything on him was out of the time and happening except of his eyes. They were melting and they looked like a frozen river that was, after many seasons, finally shining under the sun. Waters were warm, kind and they threatened to leak down his eyes. One shaky smile moved his lips.
"Come here.."- Aragorn whispered and stretched his arm towards Legolas. The elf's smile widened and he grabbed the hand eagerly. He was smiling and blinking as he carefully sat down on the bed, beside the man so their bodies were slightly touching.
Aragorn buried his nose in the elf's throat, in his hair, and inhaled deeply. Familiar, clean scent calmed him and he pulled the hair gently. Legolas only wrapped his arms around the man's neck and soothed him although he was the one who needed it more.
"Thank you."- Aragorn said quietly when he lifted his head up and pressed his lips against the neat elven lobe but the caught tress of silver hair remained to stay in his fist.
The elf shook his head and shuddered. He rested his chin on the man's shoulder and absently caressed his bare back.
He sighed in slight discomfort when the man wrapped his arms around his back and pulled him in almost strangling hug.
"I am not going anywhere."- he laughed gaspingly.
"It suits you."- the man said suddenly and moved his hands down so he can rest them on Legolas' hips.
Legolas blinked in confusion but when he was about to ask, Aragorn explained.
"This clothing. It suits you really well."- he spoke thoughtfully and run his fingers through the pale locks.
Legolas raised his eyebrows at the tone of Aragorn's voice.
When he was about to ask, he heard fast footsteps in the hall.
"Estel."- Elrond spoke and smiled when he entered the room. Legolas coughed and removed Aragorn's hand from his body and stood up too. Aragorn wanted to follow their example but then he noticed that he was naked like a newborn baby. He slightly bowed his head and remained to sit in his bed.
"Father."- he said and grinned when he captured his brothers.
"You are already awake."- Elrond said approvingly and moved towards the bed.
"It seems so. I feel only slight numbness."- he complained and gazed at Legolas once again, unaccustomed to seeing him in such clothing.
"Good. You have been sleeping for two days."- Elrond nodded his head and frowned a bit when he caught Aragorn's expression as he was staring at the elf.
"Adar, what are you doing here? How did you know that we were coming?"- Aragorn uttered when he finally removed his eyes from Legolas.
Elrond's frown deepened when he understood that Estel wanted the answer and had no intention to let this go.
The highborn lord forced a smile.
"Let's not talk about it now. You must be exhausted, hungry. We shall meet in dining hall at the table. Then we shall discuss. Legolas, you too."- he added and gave the elf a warm smile.
Aragorn raised his eyebrows but spoke nothing in return.
"Now, take a bath, dress. We shall leave you in peace."- the lord said and turned around. Elrohir followed his father with no complaint but Elladan nearly hissed, throwing worried looks at the man who only smiled at him.
The door was quietly closed and Aragorn and Legolas were sitting silently.
"What is going on?"- the man wondered and confidently stood up.
Legolas was staring at him as he moved across the room, in search for his promised clothing.
"I think that the lord of Rivendell feels certain sympathy for you."- he chuckled but wondered briefly how everything went smooth with Legolas and his family.
"I wish I could say the same for Elladan."- Legolas sighed and Aragorn nodded knowingly as he wrapped long robe around his waist.
"Yes, he has always been a wilder type, irritable. He needs a lot of patience."- the man said and turned around.
Tristful smile curled his lips as he gazed through the window.
"So many seasons.. Almost 70 years have passed since I was here last time."- he said, more to himself. Birds were cheerfully singing and thin straws of the sun were shyly peeking through the thick leaves. He slowly turned around and looked at the elf that was silently standing behind him.
Sunlight was poured over his plain features and his eyes were brighter than usual but his face looked creased, gray. He gulped once and sighed. Aragorn couldn't stand that look anymore.
In one large step, he was in front of the elf. He grabbed him by the waist with one hand while the other one was already tangled in the elf's blond hair. Almost violently he yanked it down and forced Legolas' chin to lift up and slightly part his lips.
The elf moaned when their lips touched and he rested his palm on each side of the man's neck. They were kissing quietly, forgetting about the time or place. Their eyes were closed and everything they wanted to say was poured in one simple touch of the soft, sensitive flesh. Legolas pulled back first and pressed his forhead against the man's so their noses were touching. He breathed out and run his fingers through Aragorn's messy hair.
Numb hands slid down his easy tunic and they stopped on his hips. The man was gently rocking him forward and back while he was landind small, butterfly kisses on the long neck.
"I'll never forget what you did for me, Greenleaf."- he spoke quietly and squeezed the elf tighter.
Legolas only shook his head and hugged the man.
"Maybe we should return to Gondor. I am starting to think that this whole journey was a mistake."- he wondered aloud but he bit his tongue when he was about to say that he has actually sent a bird to Borghild while Aragorn was sleeping. He had a feeling that the man wouldn't be pleased with that, but he gave Borghild a promise that he shall write if there are any problems.
Aragorn frowned and lifted his head up so he can see Legolas' eyes.
"I don't understand, Legolas. Things like this one are part of my life. I have been wounded many times, but that's not to reason to give up the whole thing. Lord Elrond is here so we don't have to continue to Rivendell. Lady Galadriel.. We are in her home. My love, two of the most powerful elves, rulers of two elven kingdoms are here. If anyone can tell us something about your family, then we are in the right place. We cannot take a step back, not now."- he spoke seriously and Legolas lowered his gaze.
"I only have a bad feeling about this.. I think we could discover things that can change us."- he spoke and bit his lip.
Aragorn smiled and cupped his face.
"Changes don't have to be bad. Remember yourself.. Do you know how much you've changed? How different, braver you are? And that is a change, but it is not a bad one."- but Legolas only weakly nodded.
"I am afraid of losing you."- Legolas bitterly spoke when he remembered the past week.
"I am not going anywhere. If that ever happens, then you will be the one who will leave."- Aragorn said in joking tone and laughed when Legolas lanced him with his stern gaze.
"Don't talk nonsense. Where could I possibly go?"- he frowned.
"I don't know, maybe you will meet some elf or elleth and decide that you are fed up with the loud city and old.."- Aragorn started to mock and Legolas' lips formed a thin line.
"I am only joking. Like I would allowe that."- the man smiled and kissed closed lips once more, forcing them to open for him with his teeth. He enjoyed the feeling of his tongue being inside of Legolas' warm mouth and his hands over the elf's body.
Legolas shuddered when the man started to caress his spine and he moaned weakly in the kiss, pulling him nearer, hearing only ragged pants when the man would pull back and small promises he was able to utter when he would remove his mouth to his ears.
Like so many times before, the man gently gathered his hair in palms and started carefully to twist it or pull it. Legolas laughed at this childish performance and felt as if he was home already.
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Everyone was sitting at the table in the large garden. After the meal that Bjarte found not suitable for his human appetite, he drifted with his guide Haldir away.
Lord Elrond was waiting for Estel to begin.
"You didn't answer my question, Adar."- he spoke seriously and leaned against his seat. Both of his brothers were silent, same like Legolas. The white lady was looking at the prince of Mirkwood with unhidden interested and a hint of sorrow.
Elrond sighed.
"Lady Galadriel knew that you were coming. She saw it in her mirror and required my presence in Lothlórien. That was a month ago. Your brothers"- he eyed Elladan- "decided to go with me and since then we have been her guests."- he spoke and regretted it the moment he saw Estel's face expression. He was suspiciously looking at his father but Elrond knew that Estel would never show lack of respect by accusing his father that he's not telling the truth, especially not in front of the other people. But Estel was right in his wondering- this wasn't the full truth and Elrond had no intention or right to speak about Legolas' origin.
"Oh.. We came with some questions as well."- Estel gave up this topic, knowing that if there was something that his adar was keeping as a secret, he was doing it with a reason.
Galadriel nodded.
"Yes, we know but we must disappoint you- what your hearts yearn for does not lie neither here nor in your father's realm, Estel."- she spoke quietly and Legolas immediately felt as if someone lanced his heart with a spare and left it to bleed. Their whole journey was meaningless- he had no one to search for. He lowered his gaze down and sighed in defeat.
Estel was staring blankly at the eternal beauty that was weakly smiling.
"But that is not the end. Lift your head up, Legolas Greenleaf, and hear me out for there is more to be told."- and the elf could do nothing but obey. He lifted his hard gaze and met shining eyes of the one that was fairest in the Middle Earth.
Aragorn was tensed and he slightly leaned over the table. Elrond had no heart to endure this so he let his head to fall down and stare at the wodden table.
"There is one more place left. The last one you can visit."- when he heard this, Legolas directed one confused look at Aragorn but the man only shrugged.
"Eryn Lasgalen."- lady Galadriel said carefully but Legolas only crooked his head on side. As for the man, he frowned.
"I have never been there, although I've heard many stories about spiders and Orcs. King Thranduil rules that realm, if I am not mistaken?"- he searched for his adar's eyes but he avoided to return that gaze. Elladan nodded instead of his father.
"Yes, king Thranduil lives there."- he approved.
Aragorn raised his eyebrows.
"I thought that Legolas was actually from here. His hair color looks like the hair of the most silvan folk from Lothlórien."- he continued to speak and Elrond sighed but uttered no word about Legolas' noble roots.
Lady Galadriel eyed the elf's confused face.
"In Eryn Lasgalen is the end."- she spoke and Legolas' heart shuddered at this conclusion. The end of what?
Estel was quiet for a long time. At last, he nodded slowly.
"No one is wiser than you, my lady, and there is no other way that the one you have told us about. We shall listen to your advice."- Aragorn bowed his head.
"But we must leave soon. Winter is coming and Mirkwood is not near. I think it's the best to leave tomorrow."- Aragorn wanted to end this roaming as soon as possible and so wanted the elf. Everyone wanted that except of Elrond and his sons.
"My son, are you certain that you don't want to stay here for some time and recover?"- he desperately tried to hold his son.
Aragorn suddenly laughed.
"Adar, I will be back. When we find Legolas' family, I shall send you a bird and come back to the Golden Woods. I cannot wait for a whole season to pass. Faramir is burdened enough, the whole Gondor is in his hands."- he explained and his eyes were joyful, bright. Elrond was silent.
"You are a grown man and the decision is up to you."- he agreed.
"I owe you my life, father."- the man was serious again but Elrond only shook his head.
"You owe your life to Legolas."- he spoke heavily and Legolas swallowed. Something was wrong and he could feel it in the air.
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Two days turned into two weeks. Legolas would spend almost all of his time with the elves while Aragorn was talking constantly with his father who, it seemed, couldn't sate his yearning for his son.
Bjarte was almost invisible, lost in the woods with Haldir. The boy almost completely fitted within the elves, although he couldn't get used to the food that was too weak for his growing body.
Elladan, after his previous and obvious hostility, melted in Legolas' kind presence and became as fond of the elf almost as the man was. Legolas was more than happy to finally break that cold wall with Aragorn's brother who was, for some strange reason, quite interested in Legolas' nature and behaviour that was too serious for the elf of his age. He was a child in their world, not even a century old, and yet he has grown up with the humans so he developed faster than it was really needed. He understood that the elf had no intention to speak about his past so he left that subject aside. He only noticed one ring on his finger, made of conjoined silver leaves.
"Oh, Aragorn gave it to me long ago."- the elf explained absently and he didn't notice a worried look Elladan gave his adar. Elrond lowered his head and sighed.
But that day has finally come and no one, not even lord Elrond, could dalay it anymore.
They were quietly looking at four companions that were preparing their horses. On Galadriel's demand, Haldir became a part of their small fellowship. Bjarte was quite happy about that and his questions were flowing like a river.
"Father, my lady."- Aragorn bowed when he stood in front of them. Elrond was grim but Galadriel showed no emotion. Just a small smile on her lips that was always there.
"Travel well, Estel."- she wished. Elladan and Elrohir gave their brother a hard hug and Elladan barely endured not to complain about Galadriel's decision to send Haldir with them and not him.
To Aragorn's surprise, instead of wise words, all he got from his father was a warm, protective hug. The last time Elrond did such thing was when Aragorn was a little child, when he came with his mother to Elrond's realm.
Slightly confused, the man jumped on his horse and grabbed the reins. The rest of his fellowship was already on horses.
"Farewell, Estel. May your journey end soon."- Galadriel whispered when their horses slowly started to walk. Haldir carefully nodded his head.
"Farewell, Legolas of the Woodland Realm. May you finally return home."- she thought and smiled.
Four elves didn't not move as they were staring at the fading figures on the horses.
"Have I sent my son straight to death?"- the wise lord asked aloud but no answer came in return. Galadriel rested her delicate palm on his shoulder.
"Future changes, my old lord. What is today may not be tomorrow. The decision to send Thranduil's son back home cannot be wrong."- she said slowly.
"And Estel? Will he be able to hold him by his side?"- Elrond shook his head desperately.
"Love cannot be held by force. If it is meant to be, then neither Gondor nor Eryn Lasgalen can dissever their souls. Only the Sea can and I am afraid that in the water lies the doom of both the elf and the man. Not in Mirkwood, but in the Sea."
"I wish that Estel has never met him."- Elrond bitterly spoke and Galadriel sighed.
"I am worried about both of them. More for the elf. Estel is just a man and although his lifetime is thrice longer than a mere human's, it has its end. I am not sure how the elf will survive that."
"Maybe it's just a passing fancy."- Elrohir offered in order to calm his father.
"I wish, my son, I wish. But there are things that are troubling me more than that day that won't come soon. Your mirrior's predictions are black."
The lady was silent at first.
"Future changes. We can only wait and hope."- it was a mere whisper.
"One of them shall not return. Ever."- the lord said with sorrow in his voice.
And so they were standing, with no voice or expression on their old faces for they new that they had no right or power to change the will of Valars.
The small fellowship moved on without any pressure in their hearts for what they didn't know couldn't hurt them. Only Haldir knew everything for the Lady told him, in order to prevent possible troubles that might show up. But it was not the elf who could stop this snowslip that was about to begin. No one could do it, not anymore. One life needed to be lost for the sake of the other one and Haldir, same like Galadriel and Elrond, knew it. It was Legolas' doom that was, same like his luck, following him since he was a little child. And now, that lost child was going to claim a part of his stolen life. For better or worse- it was unknown.
But one thing was certain- when the prince comes back home, no one and nothing could take him away. Once they enter Eryn Lasgalen, his heart shall never belong elsewhere. Unless someone breaks it.