Yay! More reviews! -squee-

A/N: if there's any confusion regarding the creature called a "centii", I made them up, just to let you know. And they're kind of like an oliphaunt, except smaller and gentler. Just to let you know. And Legolas is meant to have them as pets. Alright, if there's any more confusion, tell me, and I will answer them...most of the time. As long as I'm not confused myself...

---------------------

Tinnuial: Thank you for your review! Well, here's another chapter. I might be updating frequently. Ya see, I have no life...but let's not get into that. I hope you like this chapter!

pris: I'm glad you like it! And this is where they start talking to each other. Yay! Thanx for the review!

sielge: I will most definitely finish it! I can't leave everyone hanging, can I? Thank you for your review! I'm glad you find it interesting!

hanci: I'm glad you like this! You'll find out how Legolas feels about humans in this chapter. And yes, children are rather impulsive at times and tend to do things others will not...(my five year old brother gave my mom the scare of her life when he went up to a total stranger to ask for a quarter). I know I would never do that. lol I hope you continue reading!

----------------------

Disclaimer: Will the lawyers leave me in peace! I don't own anything that Tolkien created! I promise! -puts hand over heart and the other over copy of The Bible-

------------------------

ch. 4

Legolas sighed and rubbed his temples as he entered the room reserved for him. It had been a tiring night, talking of politics and other things. Legolas found this part of royalty one of the more tedious tasks, yet it was necessary all the same. Mostly it was Calen making the decisions, not he himself, so he did not know why he had to be present. It was dull sitting there, speaking of the costs of certain trades. Legolas had hardly listened, his mind instead in the forests of his own home. He had felt trapped and suffocated in Lord Elrond's room. His heart lay in the open air, under the wide expanse of the night sky, not in a marble room with dwarven furnishings (Legolas had no idea who in their right mind would favor such a style except for the dwarves themselves). He was relieved when Elrond finally dismissed them. Legolas was not sure what time it was, but the moon was high in the sky now.

The prince stepped out onto the balcony, breathing in the cool air deeply. This is where he wanted to be. He looked up at the stars surrounded by the dark blue, small glowing ships in the gigantic sea. He knew his mother's star had been gone from the sea many years ago. Elves' souls were connected to the stars, and when one died, a star would blink out entirely, the presence of both the star and elf gone forever. That thought did Legolas' already wounded heart no good.

He was still nursing the injuries of his mother's death, even after the thousands of years that had passed. They had never completely healed, though their pain had faded somewhat. Thranduil had helped dress them in the beginning, but soon the elven king and the prince grew distant, and the job was never finished. Legolas loved his father. He just wished he could see if Thranduil thought the same about his son.

Legolas suddenly remembered that small boy today, Estel. Elrond had said something about adoption, that Estel had lost his parents. The elven prince remembered the strange openness of the child's gaze boring into his own. Legolas had been breached in those few moments when their gazes had clashed. That small boy had been able to see things that no one else had ever seen in thousands of years. Legolas could tell. He had felt the light brush of a consciousness against his, saw the pity in Estel's eyes. He knew that Estel had seen his pain, the very thing he held beneath layers of reserve for no one to view. The layers were ripped off and the boy had seen Legolas' bare heart and soul in the light. The thought that someone Legolas had never even met before could somehow have the power to simply burrow through his carefully built barriers in only moments when others had not been able to in the course of years sent a shiver down the prince's spine.

And the fact that he was human and had been able to see his soul was unnerving, to say the least. Legolas had traveled much, but he had never really come in contact with other humans very often. He chose to stay away from those of another race, wary of the differences between them. He'd almost visibly flinched when he clapped eyes on the small human boy, surprise at the little one's presence mingling with confusion, until the elven lord had explained why Estel was there. He was not scared of the young being, only cautious, never having dealt with a human before, even if this one was still only a child.

Forgetting formality and rules, Legolas jumped gracefully onto the balcony railing in one smooth movement. He crossed his legs and stared up at the night sky, listening to the night creatures sing and the trees converse with the wind. He had always favored such places to sit, whether it be on a railing or windowsill, as long as the sky and outside was in view. Lost in his own thoughts, he did not hear the door slowly creak open or see the tiny form step into the room behind him.

Estel crept silently into the room, his eyes scanning the furniture and surroundings before he placed the basin of new washing water on the table. The water sloshed softly within the confines of the bowl. He set it in the center of the table, where it belonged, and looked towards the bed, only to find it empty. He wondered where the prince was at this hour.

Then he saw the lithe form sitting cross-legged on the balcony railing, the fair face tilted toward the star studded sky. Legolas sat silently and still, his hands placed lightly upon his knees, the golden tresses of his hair falling down his back and brushing his shoulders. His body was swathed in a gentle bluish glow in the darkness, wearing the light of all that were of his race surrounded by. The light blue of his eyes were darkened and reflected the glow of the stars. Estel crept cautiously forward, not wishing to startle the elf. He said in a voice low and soft, one that would not be heard by any other man:

"You like sitting on the railing too?"

Legolas gave a sudden start and his head whipped around to face the intrusion. He swung around in his seat and leaped from the railing, his booted feet landing silently on the stone of the balcony. He did not speak, only stared at the small boy in what obviously meant: what are you doing here?

Estel smiled, choosing to ignore the glare aimed his way. He came out onto the balcony (Legolas resisting the urge to back away) and jumped up onto the stone railing, meeting the prince's eyes.

"It's alright. I won't tell. I like to sit here too, though my ada tells me not to."

Legolas didn't respond. He wasn't sure how to. He stared into the silver eyes that watched him carefully, already prodding at the layers of his reserve. He evaded the probe by returning his gaze to the sky. Estel, knowing a snub when it was given, followed the elf's lead. He looked up at the stars.

"How far is Mirkwood?" he asked, wanting to get the elven prince to speak.

"A five day ride," Legolas responded, talking at last. Estel found that he liked the voice of the elf. It was musical and light, not like the deep sound that Elrond made when he spoke. Estel wondered how beautiful it would sound if the prince were to sing. He tried to imagine the lilting voice of the other in song.

"Did you enjoy the ride over here?" Estel asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"It was pleasant, though uneventful."

Legolas was choosing the shortest answers possible. Estel cocked his head.

"Do you like riding horses?"

"Yes."

The small boy fell silent. The silence grew until it became uncomfortable. Estel finally spoke again.

"Are you sad?"

Legolas turned surprised eyes back to the inquisitive face peering at him. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Why do you ask?" he questioned. Estel shrugged carelessly.

"You seem sad," he answered, as if he were answering to a babe's question of 'why is the sky blue?'

"I'm not sad, no," Legolas said.

"You seem sad to me," Estel whispered. Legolas lowered his gaze to the ground. He did not speak for a long time. When he did, his voice was low.

"Does Lord Elrond know you are still awake?"

Estel knew the prince was silently asking for him to leave, but he did not take it personally. He instead shook his head and jumped from the railing.

"Goodnight."

He walked away as Legolas uttered his own farewell. He shut the door behind him and padded quietly down to his own room. Before he got there, a door to his right opened and Elrohir's head appeared.

"What are you still doing up?" the elf asked him.

"I was refilling Prince Legolas' water basin," Estel answered with a shrug. Ro's eyes widened.

"You went into the prince's room?" he asked, astonished. "Did Ada not tell you not to?"

"It's alright," Estel said, inching his way past his older elven sibling and making his way back down the hall in the direction he had been going. He entered his own room before Elrohir could call him back. As he shut the door and crawled under the sheets of his bed, he thought of his short conversation with the prince. Legolas seemed empty of emotion, though Estel knew the elf did have them. All beings had emotion, especially elves, who felt more strongly than humans.

Pain should never be kept secret. He remembered Elrond telling him such a thing long ago. Estel had hidden in the woods to cry, still at a shock from his parents' death. Elrond had found him sitting on the bank of the creek and comforted him. He said that pain like his was natural and should never be hidden from anyone. Pain, in fact, should be shown, for that was how it died. If it were kept enclosed, it would only grow.

Estel knew Legolas did not want to show his pain, but the boy would somehow have to coax it out into the open. He wasn't sure how he would exactly do such a thing, but for a five year old, anything was possible.

-----------------------

Yup, there's the "I can do anything" feeling we all experienced at one time. I know I felt it. Anyone else?

Oh, and all my reviewers get doughnuts for being so nice! Just tell me what kind you want! lol. Reviews plz! I'll be looking for some! And you get a doughnut if you do! -Copperfang