Breaking the Barriers

That night, everyone had gathered for the evening meal to wish the two warriors great success. Elrond was getting worried that they would not show up. Elrond had begun to worry that they would not show. He picked up his wine and was ready to take a sip when he looked over the top of his goblet.

In walked the man who was to become king and the elf that would make sure that it would happen. They were holding hands. Elrond could see the glow was not as bright as it should be.

Glorfindel and Haldir noticed the glow also. With the two of them held up in their room all week, the glow should have been brighter. Glorfindel looked at Elrond. His eyes told him that they would have to talk to them after the meal. Glorfindel nodded and looked back at couple.

The pair walked to the front of the head table and bowed at toLord Elrond and their two teachers. Estel noticed Halbarad sitting next to Haldir and he bowed to him also. Halbarad nodded back.

The pair walked to the head table and bowed to those present before taking their places. Elrond leaned in to whisper to Estel, “The five of us will have a talk after supper. I know something is wrong.” Elrond looked at the sad face before him. He knew it was nothing to worry about but it would make him rest easily knowing that they would be safe on this journey.

Estel nodded to his Adar and placed his hand on Legolas’ knee. He felt Legolas tense up and looked at him.

//Adar wants to see us after the evening meal.// He used his mind bond with him, checking to see if it was working. It had been sometime since they used it. //He knows something is wrong. Glorfindel, Halbarad and Haldir will be there.//

That evening everyone had a good time except Legolas. He just couldn't shake this feeling that something was going to go wrong.

Estel saw Arwen out of the corner of his eye. She looked straight at him. He felt a hand on his, lightly squeezing his fingers then felt a kiss brush over them. Estel looked to his left and seen saw the elf. His eyes were reassuring their love. He knew that Legolas was getting jealous again. The gesture was made to bring Estel back to reality when it came to Arwen. He brought the elf’s hand to his lips and kissed it. He heard a g asp from across the room.

Estel looked in the direction of the noise and saw the rangers table. Some of them were leaning to each other whispering. He knew what they were saying. ‘It is unheard of to see a man and an elf being affectionate with each other.’ But Halbarad had reassured Haldir and Glorfindel that he had a talk with his rangers and they understood that the man and elf were lovers, nothing else. To make them jealous, he took the elf by the chin, leaned over and placed a kiss on the his lips.

Legolas was shocked that Estel was kissing him at the head table and in public. He looked into his eyes and felt other eyes on them. When Estel released him, he looked around and noticed the rangers staring at them. Then he understood. He kissed Estel back and heard a throat being cleared. That was when both of them heard someone clear their throat. They both turned and seen Lord Elrond looking at him. He straightened himself up and went back to eating his meal.

Estel stared at his Adar. “Sorry Adar, I did not mean to disturb your supper. Legolas and I will see you in your study later.” His nod was more of an apology, and a smile crept into his eyes. He turned his head and grinned at his love. His love smiled back.

They enjoyed the rest of the evening. Estel was nervous and never could understand why this was happening. He knew in his heart that Elrond was his Adar, being brought up in his house. But there was something that would never settle in him about being a full part of this family. He was raised as an elf, learned what every elf had to be taught about fighting in the wild. Estel passed all the tests, became a man and was ready to fight, learned from his brothers, Elrohir and Elladan the skills of weapons. He was ready to fight. Or was he? Yes! He would protect his love from anything that came their way. Legolas was beside him all night. They held hands so they were never alone with so many people in the room especially the rangers.

He saw his Adar from across the room and Elrond gestured to him about the meeting. Estel whispered to Legolas that it was time they went to see Adar. His love pulled him in the direction of Elrond’s office.

They all made their way to Elrond's office.

“What is wrong with the two of you? Glorfindel, Haldir and I noticed that the light that enimates from the two of you is not has as bright.”

“We were discussing the trip when Legolas told me that something will go wrong and that he won't see me for some time. I reassured him that I will do everything in my power to not let that happen. Both of us have doubts about this trip but we will see it through.” Estel looked into his Adar's eyes.

“We will make sure that does not happen,” Halbarad said. “My people will keep you both alive. I swear it on my kin.”

“There, you heard that,” Elrond stated. He took a breath and released it. “I might not see you for some time so be careful out there. I want you to be safe. I have always thought of you as a son. I raised you to become the person you are and that means a lot to me. I love you, my son.” A tear slid down his face.

Estel looked into his Adar’s eyes. He wiped the tear that fell with his thumb. He had never touched his face before nor had he seen his Adar cry. The gesture of love went between them.

“I will be careful, Adar." He hugged the elf who had become his father and kissed his cheek. Something told him that he would be back.

Elrond let go, got up and nodded to the others. They all stood and bowed to Elrond and left the room.

Closing the door behind them, Glorfindel said to the two. “I will see both of you in the morning. Get some rest and be ready.” He left Estel and Legolas standing in the hall.

“Let's go to our room. I want to be with you on our last night.” Estel took his lover’s hand and they went to their room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The morning brought out the sun which caressed Estel's face. He opened his eyes and stared at his love thinking about the patrol they were going to partake. He would make sure that Legolas would be safe out in the wild. Lightly kissing the lips before him, he watched the eyes open.

"How are you my love? Are you ready for the patrol?" Estel asked(,) running his finger along the bottom lip of the elf.

"I feel well. I am ready to take on this patrol." Legolas cuddled up to his love.

They were both feeling exuberant. Knowing they couldn't make love out in the open, they took advantage of their time in bed this morning and made passionate love. It was the kind of love that would carry them to Eärendil and back, seeing all the stars and feeling the love of Arda as their souls intertwined again. After coming down from their sexual high, Estel noticed Legolas' skin had changed again.

"My love, your skin has changed again. It is now a slightly darker color than before. I don't like this."

Legolas gazed down at his chest and noticed what Estel was talking about. He pinched it and knew that the texture was harder but the skin still felt soft.

"It doesn't feel any different other than it being darker. Maybe it will save my life one day, I don't know, but I will keep an eye on it for now." Legolas somehow knew that it would save his life but didn't want anyone to know.

Without realizing it, they both fell asleep.

Estel awoke sometime later to someone knocking at the door. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he got out of bed, grabbed his robe and went to the door. He opened it to find Haldir was standing there.

“What is this? We were supposed to be on the road an hour ago! Why are you not dressed?” Haldir was fuming.

“Haldir, we didn’t realize we fell asleep. We will be there as quick as possible.” He raced to the bedroom and shook Legolas. “Haldir is here to take us to our horses. We’re late!”

They sprinted around the rooms dressing at the same time while gathering up their weapons and bolting to the door, passing Haldir as they went. They stopped dead in their tracks and saw Glorfindel standing in front of them.

Glorfindel had a smile on his face and started to laugh.

That was when they realized something. Estel’s shirt felt tight, his sword was too light and he had no boots on. Legolas felt something was not right either. His shirt was too loose, his sword was a little heavy, and his boots were on the wrong feet.

They started to laugh when they realized that while getting dressed they had each other’s clothes on. Glorfindel watched as Haldir disappeared inside the lovers rooms and brought out Estel's boots and Legolas' bow and scabbard.

“I guess we know what they were doing before they dressed each other,” Glorfindel said shaking his head. He found it funny that in all this darkness of the world that someone could find laughter in the smallest of things. Haldir came up to them and handed over their articles.

The two lovers sat down on the grass and redressed themselves not caring that they were naked at some point. They were looking at each other with smiles on their faces. When they finished, they leaned over and kissed. //Next time, we will be careful on how we dress.// Estel thought. His love nodded and they both rose from the ground.

Haldir noticed something different in the color of Legolas' skin when he redressed himself. Only his torso was changing color but not the rest of him.

“We apologize for our tardiness. We did not mean to fall asleep. Please forgive us.” Estel put his hand upon his breast and bowed his head.

“Don’t be formal with us, Estel. Both of us know what transpired in your rooms and we understand," Glorfindel stated.

Haldir looked again at the color of Legolas’ skin. “What is it with your skin, Legolas?” He approached the younger elf and brushed his hand against his exposed skin on his neck. “It is darker but only on your body and not your limbs.”

“We had another bonding of our feäs.” Legolas whispered. “This is the second time it has happened. I notice it the first time on our bonding night but didn‘t think anything of it.”

Haldir nodded. “What do you think about this Glorfindel?” He opened Legolas’ tunic at the neck, exposing the skin.

Glorfindel gazed at the skin and touched it with his fingers. “I don’t know either. I was never told about this.” He thought long and hard.

“We will keep an eye on this and watch what happens. Estel, you will tell me when those changes occur. I’m fascinated with this transformation.” Glorfindel kept touching the skin with his thumb. “Come, we will ride until sunset and make camp. It is a four day ride and the hills are treacherous so we need to be careful.” Glorfindel straddled his horse.

Estel mounted his horse and looked towards his father’s house. For a moment he thought he’d seen his Adar at his study window but could have been mistaken. ‘I love you Adar. I will return.’ He turned his horse and headed out with the others.

Then a shadow appeared before the window. ‘I love you, too, my son. Be safe.’ Elrond turned from the window and brushed the lonely tear away from his cheek.

*****

tbc