Strong Bonds to Strong Wills

~ I'm back! And this is the second to last chapter, peoples!!

After the ball, Elrohir and Estel visited Mirkwood every weekend. Elladan once in a while went with them. But he did not frequently visit Mirkwood because his objective was different than his brothers. Elrohir and Estel went to Mirkwood solely for the purpose of seeing Legolas. Elladan sighed when he heard this from Estel.

“I want to see Legolas every day if I could!” Estel said enthusiastically.

Elladan shook his head. “Don’t rush things too fast, Estel,” he warned. “Women do not work that way.”

Every week, Estel brought a little something for Legolas, and Legolas was surprised and amused. Every week, he would bring her flowers picked from the gardens of Rivendell, he would bring her jewels handcrafted himself, and he would bring her confections made from the kitchens of Rivendell.

Whenever Elrohir and Legolas wanted some time alone together, Estel would always pop up. He never seemed to stop following them. Although Legolas did not mind, Elrohir was getting tired of his brother’s advances towards Legolas. Estel did not understand that he could not win Legolas’s affections with earthly materials.

Elrohir confronted Estel one night in his room to talk to him about his actions toward Legolas.

“Estel, this has got to stop,” he said. “At least do not do this every weekend!”

“Why?” Estel challenged. “Is it because you want her for yourself?”

Elrohir’s eyes widened. “That is not the point,” he said.

“It is the point!” Estel cried. “I know you want her. I know how you look at her and how you always want to spend time with her. I want her, too. My feelings are too strong for me to ignore. When she is older, I want to marry her.”

Elrohir’s anger boiled. “Do not come between us,” he growled. “We have a close friendship, and I will not let you interfere.”

Estel just stared at him with narrowed eyes. Elrohir mentally sighed and left the room.


^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^


“I hope you don’t mind me accompanying you in the gardens,” Estel said, looking over at Legolas wag beg beside him.

“Not at all,” she said. “It is good to have some company.”

They walked a little while longer before Estel gently grasped her arm, stopping her.

“Estel?” she questioned. “Is something wrong?”

Estel shook his head. “I just want to talk,” he said.

“About what?” Legolas asked.

“About you,” he said. “After the night at the ball, wh saw saw you again, I felt joy and happiness. I never felt that way towards a lady before, and... well, you by far surpass the looks of all the ladies in Rivendell and Mirkwood combined. I am falling in love with you, Legolas.”

There was a long silence. Legolas just stared at Estel. No expression was evident on her face, but her eyes showed all the emotions: confusion, then realization, then awe, then shock.

Estel just watched her. When she did not make any reply, he moved toward her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Leaning in, he bent forward to kiss her. He was just centimeters away from her lips when she gasped and gently pushed him away.

“E-Estel,” she stuttered. “I... I’m glad you feel that way. But... I’m sorry Estel. I wish I could feel the same towards you.”

Estel felt as if someone grabbed his heart, squeezed it, and then tore it apart. He had never felt so down-hearted before, and her rejection killed him.

“Please try to understand,” Legolas pleaded, placing her hand on his cheek. “I truly care about you, but... please understand.”

Estel nodded. “I understand,” he said. “But that will not change the fact that I am deeply fond of you.”

Legolas smiled. “We can be good friends,” she said. “Our friendship will never be broken. Don’t be mistaken, I love you as a friend. You are like a brother to me.”

Estel looked up ar anr and smiled.

Smiling back, Legolas said, “Shall we go back into the castle?”

As they walked back, a million of thoughts spun around Legolas’s mind. It was true that she did not love Estel, but her heart did feel love for someone. It was not Estel for sure. When she reached her bedroom, she finally realized who she loved.


^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^


Estel distanced himself from Legolas a little more, and but Legolas still som some activities with him. She did not want to make him feel miserable from her rejection.

Elrohir noticed as well. “Did something happen to Estel?” he asked her.

Legolas shook his head. “I think he is just giving me some breathing space,” she said. “After last night, I do not blame him.”

“What happened last night?” Elrohir asked, suspicious. If Estel touched her in any way, he was going to…

Legolas sighed. “Estel told me he loved me,” she said.

Elrohir fumed. “Then what?” he said.

“I told him I did not feel the same way towards him, but I do care for him as a friend,” Legolas replied.

Elrohir nodded. He did not want to tell her that this was a good thing, because he loved her as well. But he felt relieved that Legolas did have any feelings toward his younger brother.

“But I did not tell him that my heart belonged to another,” she said.

Elrohir frowned. “I did not know you loved someone,” he said.

“The person I love does not even know,” Legolas said. “I-I didn’t tell him yet. I do not know if he even loves me back. “Ho “How could he not love you?” Elrohir said. “Look how many people are lining up for you, waiting all day to ask your father for your hand in marriage. Tell me, who is this lucky person? I am sure he will love you back. Who is he?”

Legolas hesitated, then mumbled something that Elrohir could not hear at first.

“What did you say?” Elrohir asked, leaning o heo hear her better.

A little louder, Legolas uttered one word. “You.”

~ Yay! One more chapter done! I got mixed reviews on who Legolas should be paired up with. So at the end I chose Elrohir. Besides, from reading the other fanfics on ff.net, I like him better than Elladan.
Review pleeeeeeze!!!