Chapter Fifty-One

(everything is spoken in Elvish)

~ Aragorn~
I looked around with a frown. There was Eldarion, sparring fiercely with one of the Rohirrim; and there was Tinúviel and her mother, both preparing herbs and food with some of the other women that had come along; but where was Estel? Surely she had not remained in Meduseld. Éowyn hadn't, and I knew that Estel and Éowyn were very similar in attitude and personality. She wouldn't have missed this chance for all the world.

"Legolas?" I called.

He looked up from where he was sitting. His eyes had an almost distracted look in them – a look I had seen more and more since we had left Meduseld.

"Have you seen Estel? I don't see her."

Legolas's lips tightened when I said Estel's name, a reaction that surprised me.

Estel and Legolas have always gotten along well; what could possibly be wrong between the two of them? I wondered.

"She went with Éomer," he stated shortly.

I blinked. "With Éomer?" I repeated, astonished. "~Why?~"

He shrugged. "I'm not quite sure. She didn't explain about it. I tried, but . . . well . . . Estel is stubborn. We all know that. Once her mind is set on something, she won't let it go until she thinks she's ready to let it go."

I eyed him curiously. "She didn't tell you?"

He shook his head.

My curiosity increased. Out of all of us, perhaps only Eldarion or Lady Kiria would have been able to get more information out of Estel. I mean, I got along well with her and her with me, but . . . it wasn't the same. Legolas and Estel simply clicked. There was just something about him that she couldn't help being drawn to, and there was something about that he couldn't help sympathizing with.

"What happened?" I asked.

His fingers tightened momentarily in his lap before they relaxed. "We argued," he answered. "Something about what I said set her off and . . . that was the end of it."

"Hey." I put my hand on his shoulder. "Relax. She won't stay angry long, Legolas. You've been her friend for so long."

"Not really."

"Well, for a lot of adventures then," I amended. "But the point is that she trusts you. In time, she'll realize that her welfare was what was really behind your actions, nothing else. Besides, someone has to watch out for her, as she doesn't."

He didn't even attempt to smile. "Estel may be quick to trust, but I don't think she is also quick to forgive."

I raised an eyebrow. "She forgave Boromir," I pointed out, nodding to where the man in question was now giving tips to Eldarion about sword fighting. Boromir had felt awkward about rejoining what remained of the Fellowship, especially after what had happened, but in time he had gradually settled in. He and Eldarion, despite all beliefs, were actually getting closer now.

Legolas's roaming gaze settled for only seconds on Boromir. "Boromir and her are different from me and her," he said.

I turned to face him completely, intrigued by his words. Legolas had never seemed so down before over such a trivial issue like this. . . Perhaps there was more at stake than I had previously realized.

"Oh? How so?"

Legolas's eyes snapped back to me and he drew himself up. "I did not . . . never mind." He stood abruptly. "I'm going to find Gimli before he gets himself into more trouble."

I stared after him. Did the topic of Estel distress him so much? Did he really . . . Did he really care that much about her? I suppressed a chuckle. Legolas, my old friend . . . even you can't hide your feelings for long.

"Obvious, isn't it?"

I turned to see Eldarion seat himself heavily beside me, breathing hard and sweating. But his voice was steady and calm, a good sign of his endurance even after that long sparring bout. He had trained well, I noted, and I would have to speak to him about that later. Right now, I was more interested in what he had just said to me.

"You know?"

"Who doesn't?" he returned strangely.

I frowned at him. Is it really that clear that Legolas has feelings for Estel? And if so . . . why hasn't Eldarion confronted Legolas yet? "It is?"

"Obviously."

"So . . . you approve?" I asked slowly.

He gave me a strange look. "Doesn't everyone?"

Everyone? I don't think Éomer would approve, but . . . then again, Eldarion knows Éomer better than I do.

"Even Éomer? And you?" I pressed.

He gave me another strange look, as though I was being extremely dumb. "We all do, Aragorn. I thought you definitely would approve; you encouraged it, didn't you? From the very beginning, remember?"

I did? For a moment, I frantically went over every single one of my recollections of the early days of the Fellowship. No, I didn't! I didn't even know Estel in the beginning. I definitely didn't encourage Legolas to gain feelings for her!

"No, I did not!" I said without thinking.

Eldarion stared at me. "Uh, Aragorn. . . Are you feeling okay?

I blinked, surprised by the sudden change in subject. But I replied dutifully nonetheless. "Yes, of course. Why?"

He hesitated. "Well . . . what are you talking about?"

"You don't know?" Then how . . . what is going on? "What are you talking about?"

"Um . . . I don't think we are talking about the same thing," he said after a moment. "I was talking about how Legolas and Gimli are finally becoming friends; you encouraged them to do that and set aside their prejudices a long time ago, remember?"

I breathed a quiet sigh. "Ah. Yes, I do." So he doesn't know. Perhaps it's better to keep it that way until Estel or Legolas can tell him. . .

"So . . . what were you talking about?"

I froze. Uh oh. "Never mind. It was a trivial matter," I lied.

He raised an eyebrow.

I sighed. How do I go about this now? Eldarion knew very well that I was lying; now he would be on the lookout and pay even closer attention. Exactly what I didn't need to happen to me. But then again . . . Eldarion is bound to find out sooner or later. Estel is his sister. I frowned. But come to think of it, I don't even know if Estel knows that Legolas has feelings for her. . .

"So . . . you don't know?" I began.

He spread his hands. "If I did, would I be asking you?" he retorted.

I sighed. "Point, but I had to start somewhere, didn't I?" I hesitated, gathering my thoughts. Finally, I leaned forward and said, "I was talking about Legolas."

Eldarion frowned, concerned. "What about Legolas?"

"Eldarion, do you . . . have you noticed anything . . . well, what is your opinion about the relationship between Legolas and Estel?"

He blinked, surprise flitting across his face at my words. "What? Legolas and Estel? Well . . . I mean, I am glad they are friends. . . What are you getting at, Aragorn?"

"Eldarion . . . What would you do if, say, one day . . . one day they were more than friends?"

There was a long moment of silence as Eldarion thought about it. For a few minutes, I could see that he was confused by both my hesitancy in saying it and what I implied with it. He just didn't get it – but that wasn't really surprising, as he had not yet found someone he wished to become "more than friends" with. And then, suddenly and all at once, comprehension sunk in. Surprise – true, real, pure surprise – flashed across his face.

"What?" he spluttered. "But – How – You mean – "

"I mean what?" I prodded.

"You mean. . ." He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "You mean that . . . Legolas has . . . that he has feelings for Estel?"

~ Eldarion ~
And Aragorn had the audacity to laugh at me. "That would be why I thought it wasn't that obvious," he said by way of answer, still chuckling in between words. "But . . . yes, I really think he does."

"Why, though? He's a prince – the only heir to the throne," I said slowly. "Estel is just . . . a mortal."

Estel was my favorite sister, and she certainly was pretty – but then again, she was the youngest in the family. By all means, especially here, just a regular mortal girl . . . who was somewhat a tomboy and preferred practicing archery than dancing. But if anything, compared to the others that was a trivial obstacle. Legolas was a prince. And as such, his father would surely want a more lady-like and Elven wife for him – certainly not a normal, tomboyish mortal.

"So was Beren," he pointed out. "And so am I. Love can strike in the strangest of ways sometimes."

"Yes, but . . . Love didn't always go down that well either," I shot back. "Remember what happened to Beren?"

"I hope your mother will not insist on a death-defying way of Legolas proving his affections," he said gently, easily understanding my reference. "And, besides, this is all still a theory, Eldarion. You'd do well to remember that before you act impulsively."

"A theory?" I repeated incredulously. "Aragorn, there's almost no one alive who knows Legolas as well as you do!"

"Keep your voice down," he warned, putting his hand on my shoulder.

I sighed, irritated – but more so because I knew he was right. And inhaled. And exhaled. And inhaled again. And exhaled again. And, after a long series of repetitive movements, I felt it was safe to once again resume our conversation. Aragorn showed no sighs of leaving; he was just watching me in concern. Although, whether it was concern over my reaction or concern that someone might hear, I didn't know.

Finally, I blew out one last breath. "How long have you had this . . . theory?"

He frowned thoughtfully. "Not long," he replied. "And I doubt either Estel or Legolas truly knows what they feel either. Legolas may have some suspicions, but even so . . . I doubt he'll truly confront them for some time. Especially with Éomer around."

I raised an eyebrow at his tone. "You say his name so . . ."

"Perhaps I am slightly biased," he allowed. "But still . . . in accordance with what you and your family remember, didn't Éomer marry?"

I frowned, memories stirring at his words. "Actually . . . yes, he did, now that I come to think about it. And we are descended from that union too; the blood of the Kings of Rohan flows in my mother's veins as the blood of the Kings of Gondor flowed in my father's. Well, that is slightly problematic. . . What should we do?"

"So you think Legolas should pursue Estel?" he asked.

After a long moment, I nodded as images of the many times I had seen them laughing together, working alongside each other, and trading banter. Besides . . . Legolas, unlike Éomer, did not have any problems as far as I knew – our blood came from those of Doriath and Númenor, and had no major connection to those of Mirkwood. But the most important thing was the fact that there was just something . . . something right about their relationship that I couldn't deny, even when I had seen them simply as best friends.

"I trust him," I said finally. "We all do. And I think . . . I think they would happy together."

Aragorn suddenly held a finger to his lips and tilted his head the tiniest bit possible to the right.

I turned my head ever so slightly in that direction – and saw, out of the corner of my eye, a tall, graceful, golden-haired figure walking away.

I whipped my gaze back to Aragorn, stunned. "You knew he was eavesdropping?" I hissed.

He raised his hands innocently. "Not until the very end," he said, but he was grinning. "Besides . . . didn't you just say it would be okay?"

"Yes, but . . . oh, never mind," I grumbled. I stared into the flames of the fire as Aragorn chuckled at my words.

"I guess," I said slowly, "I'm just not used to the idea of Estel falling in love . . . . with anyone. She's always been so . . . tomboyish. She likes to compete with people, and she hates to be treated as a weak woman. She's strong and stubborn, in her own way."

Aragorn nodded. "But that strength is also what makes Legolas attracted to her," he pointed out. "He is used to looking down on mortals, save the few he knows are different – like you and me, for example. And now he finds Estel, a complete contradiction to that. She challenges not only the assumed conceptions of the actions of women in terms of her gender but also in terms of her race. Can you not see the irresistibility in that?"

"Um . . . No."

He chuckled again. "That's because you are used to it. Try to see it through a stranger's eyes." He rose and clasped my shoulder. "Good night, Eldarion."

I grabbed his wrist. "Are you ever planning to tell Legolas that we saw him?"

"No."

"Good idea."

~ Legolas ~
I leaned against a tree with a sigh and stared into the sky of stars.

Most of the Men were asleep by now, save the guards and some of the last Men dousing their doubts in beer. And, of course, some of those who were still talking – about the upcoming battle, about their families back home, about everything conceivable under the sky. I had already heard quite a few of the conversations before . . . long before, during battles older than most of the Men here.

One had stood out, though – the one I had mistakenly overheard between Eldarion and Aragorn.

I sighed again as I thought it over. So . . . Aragorn already guessed that I had feelings for Estel. I should have known he would by now . . . he knows me very well.

But for Aragorn to tell Eldarion . . . and Eldarion's reaction . . . and what they had discussed – that all was a completely different story.

I had already known, of course, that Éomer favored Estel and had feelings for her as well. Prior to this, I had intended to step aside. I was, and had always been, a conservative person. I had never wished to reveal my feelings for Estel in case she felt honor-bound to accept them. No. I had seen enough for love, perhaps too much of it, for that. If she was going to accept me, she would have to do so on her own terms and for her own reasons. In other words, not for me – for herself.

I knew Éomer's flaws now, but that didn't give me a reason to charge forward and announce it to Estel . . . did it?

I sighed again, closing my eyes briefly. So confusing. . . No wonder poor Estel is caught up so deeply in it. For no matter who or what she chose when eventually she did choose, she was going to hurt someone, and she was never going to forget it. I could easily disappear, though; Éomer . . . not so much.

But I couldn't make the decision now. Estel may have already chosen Éomer. If she had, it would be worst than pointless to bring up anything else.

So I wait.