Note: I am sorry if this is really choppy and chapters are all of different lengths. FFNET will only let me post in short bursts so I am doing my best. I keep almost giving up on ffnet and then it just lets me do little.

Chapter 15 continued

It was some hours later when Tindómion pulled away from where they lay entangled and sated and quietly stood up, went to the washbasin and cleaned himself again. He sat quietly on the edge of the bed and carded his fingers through his long hair thoughtfully and twisted it into its customary braid. He heard Legolas murmur incoherently behind him, still asleep he thought until he felt the bed shift and turned his head. He saw the long green eyes open sleepily and still filled with dreams.

Tindómion smiled. 'I was hoping not to wake you, but I should have known better for a warrior of the Woodland Realm.'

Legolas stretched languorously and reached out to touch the marks of passion left on his skin. 'I was rough with you,' he said smiling and Tindómion laughed softly and tapped his finger on similar marks on Legolas's shoulder and belly and thigh.

'Then was I too much for you?'

'Never.' Legolas replied.

'Will you still come to bid us farewell when we leave?' he asked Legolas. 'For the Havens,' he reminded the Woodelf gently.

'How could I not?' Legolas put his other hand behind his head so he was propped up now. 'Will it not scandalise Imladris that one of its glorious captains has been spending the night with me?' he asked mischievously.

Tindómion threw him a look. 'There will be no gossip or scandal,' he said seriously. 'I am discrete for Elrond's sake and because I care about Imladris.' He looked at Legolas, held him and added, 'And you must be too. But it is not the scandal it used to be in Gil's court.'

He leaned down to scoop up his shirt to hide the hurt; if he had lived, would Gil be lying here with him? He tugged his shirt over his head and reprimanded himself; here he was with one man and thinking of another. That was neither honourable nor fair.

He heard Legolas shift slightly and glanced up to see the long green eyes watching him. There was compassion, curiosity, not sympathy he hoped; he could not bear that.

'You were…close.' It was not quite a question.

Tindómion paused, said nothing, but looked down focusing instead on the button of his loose linen shirt. He felt even more ashamed for Legolas' kindness, his understanding. 'We were,' he said at last. He looked down at Legolas and smiled for he looked so young, and curious. 'I wish I had time to tell you of him,' he said regretfully.

'Perhaps when I come back?' Legolas said with a bright smile, but at that, Tindómion felt overwhelmed with sorrow for he was going to his certain death. If he was fortunate he would be killed before taken; and he found he could not bear the thought of this beautiful body, this sweet young man being tormented, hurt, pierced, killed. He looked at him and suddenly knelt on the bed and kissed Legolas again.

If he had not loved Gil, he could fall in love here and right now.

'Why don't you stay a little longer?' Legolas said. 'The night is barely passed. We have time, surely?'

At that Tindómion laughed. 'You are incorrigible!' he declared and stood up.

'What will I do until we leave? It seems interminable!' Legolas said and crossed his arms over his chest.

'I have much to do before I leave. I have to pack, ready my horse and more while you lie here in the warm.' He stroked a hand down Legolas' arm, his flank. 'We must make sure we draw the enemy's spies towards us and away from you.' He paused. 'I wish I had all day with you... I will think of you often.'

'Then when I return I will hold you to that. And you can spend all day with me helping me to remember why I wanted all night with you.' He flashed a dazzling smile at Tindómion. 'It will be a desert for me until I return here, I am sure, with only Men and Hobbits, a grumpy Wizard and a Dwarf.'

Tindómion laughed loudly and shook his head. 'I am sure you will not starve,' he said wryly. 'You never know, the Dwarf might like Elf-flesh.'

Legolas looked horrified and then his expression changed to curiosity, as if he had realised something that intrigued him. 'You think me a man of poor morals indeed if you think I would even consider that. I would have to be very, very hungry,' he added cheekily. 'But perhaps I will find a Man or two as a tasty snack until I return.'

Tindómion had already pulled his breeches onto his long legs and buttoned his shirt while looking down at Legolas. 'You must also practise the fiddle, my friend, for your playing is the worst I have ever heard in my life. And that is long indeed.'

He heard Legolas laughing as he turned and opened the door of Legolas' room. He looked back once over his shoulder and then left and went out to prepare for his own journey.

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Next chapter: Glorfindel makes for Amon Sul.