NOTE: in this chapter I revert to using italics for when someone is speaking in elvish as translations I could find vary and I do not want to butcher the beautiful language. I will use the elvish words when I can be confident of the accuracy*

"Sometimes we have to hide our feelings, because the people we have the feelings for, may never understand how much we care about them." ― Akussung Kenneth Prince

Chapter 4

As the weeks passed in Imladris, Legolas found himself frequently wandering in the hills hoping to find Amber there. He suspected that there were days in which she left a Valley entirely, though for what purpose, he did not know.

It was on one of the occasions that he found her, late in the year when they had resided nearly two months in the elven home; he asked her where she would go on days that they were not together.

"To hunt, of course" she told him, as if the fact were obvious. He frowned at this, confused.

"But do you not eat here in the hall?"

"Sometimes" she answered, "but this does not please my beast very much, eating such food every day. The meat served here is cooked and I do not think the elves would be pleased if I asked to devour a raw flank upon their table"

Legolas found his mouth opening, without knowing what he might reply. He closed it again, feeling embarrassed before he even ventured his next question. "I did not know if you had... a beast, as you say. When I have observed you, you seem almost elf like, though not quite. May I ask more?"

She smiled, her teeth glinting, reminding him how different she indeed was from his kin. "Are you sure that I will not scare you if you should ask too much?"

He pondered this, but his curiosity won. "I wish to know all that you will tell me. I promise to you that I shall not run in fear"

She laughed at this, amused at his promise. She looked to the sky, seeming to wonder what she should tell him of herself. He waited patiently for her to speak, watching as her upturned face caught the sunlight, filling his heart with warmth and gladness.

Finally she spoke. "When I was born my parents did not know after whom I would take. They could see that my ears were not an elf's and so my father believed I would turn into a beast like he and his sons; forgoing my mother's elven blood. My mother, however, sensed the light of the valar inside me and thought me to be more of an in between race; similar to her in many ways and yet unalike and others."

"And which of them thought the truth?" he asked, the anticipation of what he might learn fluttering in his stomach.

She turned to him, her Amber eyes boring deep into his blue ones. "What do you guess?" she asked him.

Without taking away his gaze he considered her words, what he had seen of her strange behaviours and unusual grace. He looked deep into her eyes which seemed to hold inside them the deep warmth of the sun. "I think, you are both... somehow" he guessed, "Your mother was right, I see the light of the valar in your eyes. But you are yet different, strange to me despite my many years walking Middle Earth and upon it meeting many strange beings. My senses warn me that you could be dangerous, though my heart tells me that you will never harm me"

His speech lingered in the air for a moment, hanging between them as she seemed to absorb his words. "You guess true" she finally acquiesced. "I would not harm you" she added, seeming to become shy at her own admittance.

Legolas smiled, his heart filling with tenderness for this sweet, strange woman with whom he had formed an unlikely friendship, if friendship it was.

"I am glad" he told her. He thought to say something else, something to share his own feeling of warmth and protectiveness for her; but his beginning was interrupted by the ringing of a clear bell; different from the one they were used to for meals.

Legolas frowned, looking for some reason behind this interruption in the large dwelling below them in the valley.

Amber stood, taking a step towards the house as if to hear for voices far below. She seemed to hear nothing and shook her head. "Let us see what they want" she said to him, and upon his rising, set off swiftly down the path to Elrond's home.

Upon arrival, a Rivendell elf gestured for them to follow him; leading them to a room where the walls were lined with books and scrolls; and a large table stood in the centre. Lord Elrond was standing at the other side of the table with the wizard Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir and Gimli. It seemed that the non-hobbit members of the party who were to accompany the ring's journey had been gathered.

Elrond, looking up at their arrival, gave a curious look at the pair arriving together; eyes flitting between them before her beckoned them join the group. The elf who had led them there bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

Legolas, conscious that their time in Imladris may be at an end, found his steps heavier than usual. The gravity of their quest settling on him again.

Amber walked confidently to Aragorn's side, who stood to the left of Gandalf, and smiled at him, seeming eager for their journey to begin. Aragorn returned her greeting and nodded to Legolas, his eyes seeming to look upon him knowing, or guessing much.

Legolas joined the circle, finding himself between Amber and the dwarf, Gimli, completing the circle that surrounded the table. He saw that they stood around a large map of Middle Earth, with smaller maps of closer paths littered atop it.

The circle now complete, Elrond cleared his throat before beginning with what he had clearly gathered them to say.

"Welcome, fellowship, for that you now become. You shall escort the hobbits on their quest and assist them where you may. I have entrusted each of you with this task. No bond is lay upon you to go further than you will. Do any of you here now wish to revoke your place on this journey?"

Silence fell, no one willing to speak. It was clear that they all were resigned to their task.

"Very well" said Elrond, seeming pleased at their resolve. "Let us discuss your journey and the paths you may take, for the reports have returned, and we must decide your intended path. I intend for you to set out in no more than seven days' time."

Legolas felt the resolve solidify in his heart with the announcement of their journey beginning so soon. He was ready.

Long they discussed the many routes which they could take to Mordor, as this was their destination. None were glad and yet all determined to find their way together through unknown difficulties. They learned that the hobbits' companions of their journey thus far had decided that they would join the quest and so it was that four hobbits would be their companions on this journey; only the aged hobbit Bilbo to be left behind. Elrond said that he had spoken with them directly, and they were resolved.

Although they seem to be no great warriors; it gladdened Legolas' heart that four of those remarkably brave creatures would be joining their quest. He hoped it proved a good omen for their success.

He knew indeed there was a great risk to his life on this journey and he may certainly risk to never return. Somehow this did not frighten him as he thought it should. He had for many years wished to leave his Homeland and explore the wider world and now was his chance, in a quest of such importance that he felt no guilt over accepting it.

His father, he knew, would not relish his choice but the choice was made. Legolas would take this journey with these companions around him and would either die in this quest or live forever changed, having seen the wider world with his own eyes.

It was late in the day when they finally finished their discussion, having laid out a rough plan for their journey. It was not clear yet which way they would pass, as past they planned to, to the woods of Lothlorien. This prospect filled Legolas' heart with gladness as long had he wished to meet his distant kin in the Golden wood and see the lady of the forest.

As they began to exit the meeting room in which they had made their plans, Legolas found his attention requested with a broad hand on his upper arm as he had turned to leave. Aragorn had waylaid him, seeming to wish to speak alone. He asked Legolas if he would join him in the gardens; for there they would be able to discuss matters in some privacy.

Legolas acquiesced, curious at what the ranger could wish to discuss with him that had not already been spoken of that day.

Upon entering the gardens, Aragon took to a path which lead through some carefully carved hedges, ornamental statues lining their alcoves. They walked towards the sound of running water, still not speaking.

After a corner was turned and they came to the ornate fountain in the heart of the garden, Aragorn turned and looked with curious interest at the elf.

"Mae govannen, melonin" Well met my friend he said, smiling as if they had only just met perchance rather than having come together after an afternoon of long discussion. "Tell me how you have spent your time these past weeks, I cannot help but be curious"

Legolas raised his eyebrows at the presumptuous question, but allowed it as he knew his friend to mean no harm. "What, may I ask, has you curious melonin? And have you asked the same of the dwarf, or your man from Gondor?"

Aragorn laughed at the elf's challenge. "A just question of course. Nay, I have not asked them for I am not curious about their goings on"

"Then what, pray, have I done to attract your curiosity?" Legolas asked him, wishing him to speak plainly, for he thought he could guess the reason for the man's questions.

"It seems you have befriended our fair Beorning, who is a close friend of mine and thus someone whom I wish to look out for"

Legolas felt a flitting feeling in his stomach. Had Amber mentioned him to Aragorn? Did she share the fact that they had spent many afternoons together in the hills around Imladris?

He nodded, reluctant to say much before he knew what Aragorn was aware of, feeling suddenly, that he wished his friendship to be private; as if it's announcement what call it into question and break what small, lovely theing they had between them.

Aragorn's brow furrowed slightly as Legolas' reluctance to speak. "I do not wish for you to keep away from her. Indeed, I told her myself to make friends if she could. I simply wished... I was curious..." he trailed off, looking at the falling water of the fountain, seeming not to know what he should say.

"I delight in her company" Legolas suddenly found himself announcing. He flushed slightly, not knowing what madness had caused him to speak so brazenly.

Aragorn looked to him in surprise, then nodded, as if confirming his suspicions. "I thought it may be so" he seemed to consider the elf, sizing him up, though they had long been acquaintances, if not yet knowing one another well enough for friends. Legolas stood tall under the ranger's scrutiny, knowing himself to be trustworthy and honourable.

Aragorn seemed to agree, nodding to himself as he considered whatever was playing on his mind. "I cannot say that I am not surprised" he said finally, "but my heart tells me to be glad. She is very dear to me as we became friends at a time where I was traveling much to escape my own troubles. Indeed, though strange friends we may seem, I care about her greatly and I wish to know that she is happy."

Legolas bowed his head, humbled at the apparent trust laid in him by the ranger, though he did not let his heart too long ponder the implications of his words. To make her happy, he would be more than joyous, though the extent to which he could manage such a task, he knew not.

Aragorn smiled. He knew that the elf would not wish to reveal too much; though he sensed the draw that his friend felt towards the elvish Prince. Never had he seen her so enamoured with another being; watching the elf when he spoke his thoughts of their journey, eyes not leaving his face even after he had finished speaking. He had observed the frequent glances from the both of them, though neither seemed aware of the other's interest as Aragorn was. He wondered if they knew what they felt, as he had upon meeting his lady Arwen; or if they had yet to learn where there feelings would take them. He wondered too, if the elf knew of her beast form, for he doubted the elf had seen it. Aragorn himself had felt fear grip him on first sight of her other self; though she had not harmed him. She seemed to have a control of her beast that went beyond that of her brothers' who Aragorn had also met once. Amber seemed to walk equally the paths of elf and beast; most unlike the half-elven, half-men who must make the choice of which world they would live, as had the Lord Elrond long ago. Curious indeed was the woman he had befriended, and deep was his affection for her.

He smiled again at the elf before him, seeming guarded and unsure, and decided to ease what worry he could. "I have never seen her smitten, as she seems now. It brings gladness to my heart" and with that, he squeezed the elf's shoulder and departed.

Legolas stood, unsure how to categorise the feelings attempting to burst open his chest. 'Smitten' the ranger had said. Did that mean that Amber cared for him as his deepest feelings had for weeks now, yearned for?

He stood a long while in the garden, until the darkness had descended deep in the valley and the starts lit the sky overhead. Finally, he left for his room; taking his fast-beating heart with him.