A/N: What do ppl think of Estel in this story? Letters, songs, empty threats, and farewells. Enjoy~

Part 2：Of Blue and Light

Chapter 28: Friends or Foes

"Where have you been?" The tent flap, which Legolas was occupying, yanked open even before he walked into the camp. Estel sat cross-legged on a blanket, glaring at him.

"I went for a walk," Legolas lied.

"For eleven hours?" Estel asked incredulously. It had been that long? Why had Legolas felt as if he had only been away for a mere minute?

"I had a chat with an old friend," Legolas explained, trying to sound more convincing.

Estel shrugged. Unlike his adoptive father, he was much easier to let go of matters: "Well, I didn't wait here to lecture you on meal times. I looked into the mirror, mellon nin."

"A man nedh wein?" ("And what did you see?") Legolas asked, taking a seat beside his friend.

"The end," Estel paused. "We failed."

Legolas said nothing, waiting for his friend to continue.

"Rivendell burned, as did Mirkwood, Lothlórien, Rohan, and Gondor. We were captured, the hobbits being tortured. There were fires everywhere; I thought the flame was bursting from the Mirror itself." His voice dropped into a faint whisper, as if recollecting the pain.

"And what of Arwen?" Legolas asked.

"I saw her board the ship and leave the shores." Tears began to stream down Estel's face.

"That is not true," Legolas hissed. "Even if Arda burns, the Evenstar burns with it."

"I made sure that will never happen because I told her to leave!" Estel yelled, slamming a fist down on the ground.

"Coward. You are a coward, Estel. If Mirkwood burns, then I shall burn with it!" Legolas snarled.

His friend bowed his head and said softly: "You're right, mellon nin. If Arda burns, we burn with it. But I shall never see my Arwen fade."

"She will fade one way or another," Legolas reminded him.

More tears formed in Estel's eyes as he whispered: "I am a man, yet she is an elf, my soulmate."

They sat there is silence, lost in thought.

Legolas opened his mouth to sing, a lament of Beren and Lúthien:

Láka línte, lúma lútu,

Féra-húla úlama elentă,

Amma el-gladí, sáe seë lûra,

Númen-húla ímbil-imírë.

Tinúviel nan-nántama,

Ámë sannion, eä-inúnen,

Nûmen-húla ímbil-imírë ar i,

Nûmen-húla ímbil-imírë äh i.

By the time he finished, Estel was already fast asleep, a peaceful look upon his face that made Legolas remember the time his friend was only a carefree little boy who would sneak into his chamber for one last bedtime story and curl into a small ball of fear when he told his favorite genre: horror stories.

"Maer daw," he muttered, getting up to zip the tent flaps and fetch a few bottles of wine to get through all the letters.

The first letter would be an easy one, for Arwen had been his childhood friend since they were mere elflings.

Lady Arwen,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I write to share news of our journey.

Estel is well; his courage unwavering as we face the trials ahead. We are currently in the fair woods of Lothlórien, where your esteemed grandmother, Lady Galadriel, has graciously received us. Her wisdom is a guiding light, though I must admit, the wine here lacks the refinement of Rivendell's.

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you of the loss of Gandalf. He fell in Moria, and his absence is deeply felt by all. We shall be leaving Lothlórien soon to continue our quest.

Estel sends his love to you and his father. Please convey this news to Lord Elrond, for he should be aware of our circumstances.

With respect, Legolas

He chuckled lightly. If not bragging, he had been drinking since he was an elfling, sneaking wine from the high tables and, of course, the wine cellar of his father. Imagining his tiny silver-blonde head bobbing up and down as he ran, it was not hard to realize why none of the guards stopped their little prince when he was caught red-handed.

The second letter was much more tense:

Father,

I acknowledge your concerns. Joining the Fellowship was a calculated decision to fulfill my duties as heir and to represent our people. The journey has shown me the potential for alliance with the dwarves.

Gandalf has fallen in Moria. We leave Lothlórien shortly.

Legolas

He sighed, spinning the beads on the bracelet again, a nervous habit that had developed these days, and drowning himself in liquor.

A pity Lothlórien wine wasn't strong enough to wash down everything.

Legolas was rudely awakened the next day as someone crashed into his tent.

"Just a few more minutes, Estel," he slurred, covering his face with another pillow.

Something nudged his shoulder, and he tried to push it away. "You go ahead and eat. I'm not hungry, Estel."

That something squeaked. Wait, humans don't squeak.

He jumped up from his bedroll, focusing on the head of a lizard staring back at him.

"What's the matter? And what's that sound?" Legolas asked, patting it lightly.

The stomach of Ikran, which he had learned from Rae, growled loudly, shaking the entire tent.

"Alright, I'll get you grapes. Would you mind waiting for me by the riverside?" Legolas chuckled but immediately regretted it as his vision spun.

Poking its head out of the tent, Legolas struggled to stand up and almost tripped over one of the countless wine bottles. By the time he finally scrambled to the riverside, the Ikran's head was already buried in another bowl.

Oh, someone's here already, he thought, spinning the bracelet on his wrist.

"What are you doing?" Rae suddenly dropped down from the tree and landed in front of him.

Legolas stumbled back, the large bowl dropped to the muddy ground with a "thud."

"What were you doing just then?" She repeated, taking a step closer to him.

"Urgh, holding?" he mumbled.

"Holding what? Pee?"

His cheeks reddened to the tips of his ears, and he spluttered: "No! I mean, holding, urgh, this?" Gesturing awkwardly toward the ground.

Valar, why did he always have to make a fool of himself, especially in front of her?

"And what's that on your wrist?" She pointed.

Legolas held his breath and reluctantly took off the bracelet, wordlessly handing it to her. He watched as her eyes narrowed, yet she inspected his work, their work, and said: "It's beautiful."

"Urgh, thank you?"

"I believe that belongs to me," she said coldly.

"Oh yes, I was just, urgh, spinning," he waved.

Judging by the expression on Rae's face, she probably thought him a lunatic. What was it about that elleth that made him get angry so easily or lose his ability to talk like the prince he was raised to be?

"You're not getting that back, elf scum thief." Rae bared her teeth.

Legolas looked with a start at the form, which still had fangs like her bluish figure before.

"I'm not—how dare you accuse me of theft! Nothing in Rivendell belongs to you in the first place!" Legolas sneered, not believing what he had just heard.

"As if that Valley belongs to you." She snorted, grabbing one of the branches. She shrieked at the top of her lungs in a horrible mimic of anyone's voice: "Oh, that freak stole a rope and a stone from Rivendell! I'm going to arrest her and throw her into the freaking dungeon!" Swinging herself up the tree, her figure disappeared in the shadows.

He growled in rage, snapping his knuckles.

And was thrown toward the tree like a cannonball. Crashing headfirst into the leaves, his hair was suddenly grabbed roughly.

Legolas glared up at the person who had his hair, again Rae: "Let go of me, I'm a Woodland elf!"

She hummed in agreement and rolled her eyes: "Of course, next you'll be growing wings."

Cautiously pulling himself up to the branch next to her, Legolas flipped down.

"Why did you follow me, princeling?" She asked after a moment of silence.

"I didn't, something launched me up." He replied.

Rae whipped her head toward the grass beneath them: "I'm getting you broccoli for dinner, Lizard!" Followed by the Ikran's shout of protest.

"The hobbits missed you these days," Legolas said quietly.

"I'm sure they do," she answered simply.

"The Fellowship is leaving soon," Legolas said suddenly.

She said nothing.

"And I wish to leave on good terms," he continued nervously.

Still, she said nothing.

"I wish to resume our exchange with the trees," he said, almost desperately.

"And what makes you think I want to continue anything with you?" She gave an unamused laugh.

Legolas stared at his knee and whispered: "I can hear your thoughts."

"We're to leave at 10," Estel informed him, dropping a pack of Lembas in his tent. They had been packing since yesterday night, everyone renewing their supplies.

Legolas inwardly groaned. How could he have become so careless to forget paying a visit to the market for a pouch of parsley leaves? Now how in Middle-Earth was he going to cover up the smell of liquor?

"Legolas? Are you ready? They said there are gifts!" Estel yelled happily.

He chuckled; sometimes the ranger still sounded like a six-year-old boy. "Coming, don't get too excited!"

"You know my favorite holiday is my birthday!" Estel called. That's when the 87-year-old human still bounced up and down like a small boy when everyone in Elrond's house spoiled him with gifts. Even when he was still in the wild, everyone was expected to preserve the presents until their little boy came back.

Half of Lothlórien stood among the riverbank, watching the Fellowship with interest as they loaded their belongings into the three boats prepared for them.

Lady Galadriel, her presence the center of attention, approached each member of the Fellowship with a serene smile and a gift.

Estel was given a sheath for his sword, Frodo the Light of Eärendil, and Gimli three hairs of her fair head. Then the lady turned to Legolas: "To you, I give the bow of the Galadhrim, worthy of the skill of our woodland kin." In his mind, the lady's voice sounded, "I suppose you know what to do with your old bow?"

Legolas swallowed, looking to the family of Haldir, who stood closest to the Fellowship.

"Haldir, Oropher, Rúmil," he began, flickering his gaze toward Rae. "Thank you for your companionship and for standing with us during this time."

Is she wearing Haldir's formal tunic?

Haldir gave a curt nod. "It was our pleasure."

"And our dismay." Oropher and Rúmil said together, grinning.

Legolas cleared his throat nervously. "I wonder if I might have a moment to speak with Rae?"

"Woah, is it Rae now? On a first-name basis already?" Oropher mocked.

"Don't even think about asking for her hand!" Rúmil teased.

Rolling his eyes, the Marchwarden gave each of them a smack on the back of the head and dragged them away. "And no kissing allowed!" Oropher called.

He cleared his throat, turning to Rae, who looked at him with a bored expression. "I would like to present you with the bow of Mirkwood. May it serve you well through your patrols." Unfastening the bow strapped to his back, Legolas handed it to her.

"Thanks, princeling." Her eyes roamed over the details of the bow, barely containing the awe. "Getting a new toy and abandoning the old one immediately."

Legolas' cheeks flushed red, half from anger. "If that displeases you so-"

She gave him a look, perfect lips almost curling into a teasing smile. "It is wonderful."

Perfect?

He let out a breath he didn't notice was holding. "Milady, I have a request. I hope it would not be too much to grant me a wish."

"Which is? Speak fast or I'll considering having your elf ears as a gift instead."

"I wish to remain connected through the trees during my journey, if that is allowed." He swallowed, ignoring her threat.

To his utter surprise, emotions twirled in her golden eyes, then landed on his icy blue ones. "Yes, that would be fine."

"Thank you, milady. A star shines upon our meeting." He bowed, starting to turn back.

It may be the last time, he realized. The last time that he would ever see her fair, yet other-worldly face. The Fellowship may never come back safely from Mordor, and by then, she would probably sail to the Undying Lands with her brothers.

"Wait." Legolas froze at the sound of her voice and slowly turned back to her.

Holding up something in her hand, she dropped a pouch into his: "Farewell present, now get goingbefore my knives reach your ears."

The boat swayed slightly as Legolas finally boarded with a sad smile, the dwarf behind him.

Lady Galadriel was the first to sing:

Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen,

yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!

Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier

mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva Andúnë pella,

Vardo tellumar nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni

ómaryo airetári-lírinen.

Then the rest began to join in. To his surprise, so did Rae along with her brothers:

Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva?

An sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo

ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë,

ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbulë;

ar sindanóriello caita mornië

i falmalinnar imbë met,

ar hísië untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë.

Sí vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!

Soft tides of the river rippled and wrinkled along with the song of Lothlórien, shimmering and scintillating among the golden leaves of the forest. As the boat began to round a corner, Legolas took one last look at the luminous sea of gold, and among them, the radiant face of Rae, singing softly to himself:

Namárië! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.

Nai elyë hiruva. Namárië!