The Chilly Comfort

A/N: My great thanks for your reviews!!!


Chapter two - Unexpected Help


"Time to get up," a soft voice brought Legolas back from the dreamland. Before he had a chance to focus his sight he closed his eyes. He felt a morning sunshine which felt pleasantly warm on his body. He stretched luxuriously on the soft pillows. He had not felt so rested for a while. It was nearly unbeliavable.

A shadow fell on him. Suddenly he realized where he was and opened his eyes. He stood above him. The dark advisor of Lord Elrond watched him with an arched eyebrow looking amused. Legolas felt himself blushing and quickly pulled up the blanket which had slipped down to his waist.

"Good morning," Erestor said quietly. "I hope your dreams were pleasant."

Legolas could only nod.

"It's time, the breakfast will be served soon..."

The prince blushed even deeper. "Y-yes... but ... I can't go just like that..."

Erestor's eyes fell to his fair naked shoulders. "Well, it probably would not be appropriate," although his face stayed serious the black eyes sparkled with amusement. "I'll borrow you one of my robes," he put a pile of gray silk and velvet on the bed. "The bathroom is over there," he waved to a half-closed door in the corner of the chamber.

Gratefully Legolas looked up to the dark elf who gazed into his eyes for a while until he turned and left the bedroom. The prince listened to his footsteps, he heard the chair to move and the papers rustling. A few moments later his ears caught the sound of a tip of a quill scribing on the pergamen. He quickly left the soft blankets and took the pile of the fair clothes. He ran into the bathroom where he looked around. It was a large room with two big mirrors, one hanging opposite the other. The sun shone inside and glistened on the water in basin. Legolas smiled slightly when noticed a towel and a comb prepared for him next to the basin.

He had to thank Erestor, it occured to him when watching the his reflection in the mirror. The braided golden hair fell down on the gray robe which suited him nearly perfectly, he would only have to keep an eye on it while walking beacause the robe was a little longer. He stroked the velvet fabric. How long was it since he had worn a robe instead of only a tunic and leggins...

There was no time to think about sad things, he had to hurry. He passed to Erestor's study but the dark-haired elf wasn't there. So he ran to the corridor. For a while he was startled by the dusk but the other moment steps of his bare feet sounded under the dome. He didn't know exactly where to go, but soon he came to the familiar corridor.

In the moment he ran into the dining hall everybody looked up at him. He slowed down and smoothed the gray robe. He tried to smile while greeting Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrían. Then he took his place, opposite the twins. He put a slice of white bread and few pieces of cheese and vegetables on his plate.

"Tea?" asked Elladan.

With doubts prince looked up into the gray eyes. He nodded slowly and looked back to his plate.

"Legolas, what a beautiful robe," the other twin said. "I didn't know you fetched any. Is that an embroidery of wooden elves?"

'He knows it! He knows the robe is borrowed!' his throat felt dry and he looked at the silver embroidery on the long sleeve. His heart skipped a beat in surprise. He looked up at Elrohir and smiled slightly. "Y-yes."

"It's really beautiful," Elladan continued. "But we wanted to go for a ride to the woods near Bruinen. Have you forgotten?"

A piece of tomatoe stuck in the prince's throat. His sight kept skipping from one twin to another until it stopped on their weapons near the door. "Yes, I'm sorry..."

"I regret having thwarted your plans but I asked Legolas to help me in the library," a cold vioce sounded and all heads turned to the dark elf. It didn't happen often that Erestor spoke to anyone during the breakfast. "I suppose he came here not only for fun but also to learn something. And itldn\ldn't do any harm to you too."

The blue eyes met the black ones which immediately skipped to Elrond's sons. Prince's fears faded slowly thanks to that little lie Erestor just conceived without turning a hair.

"Why it's a beautiful day," Elladan objected. "We can study in the winter."

"The winter is beautiful too," corrected Elrohir unless some of the older elves could take that as reson to lock them up in the library during the winter.

"Well, we will ride without you," shrugged Elladan without taking his eyes of the wood prince who fell his gaze.



He hurried after the dark figure who left the hall. But his arms were suddenly tightly grasped and Elrond's sons appeared at his sides. He watchfully looked from one to another.

"So the library..." Elrohir whispered.

"You hid admirably from us yesterday," Elladan continued barely audible. "Where did you hide yourself?" Slender fingers caressed the prince's neck. He jerked and the twins laughed softly.
"Next time you will not escape us," Elrohir promised.

"Let me go!" Legolas tried to free himself when they passed through the door. But four hands drew him into a dark corner. Elladan pressed his lips to the prince's while Elrohir's hands stroked the curve of his hips. They slipped down to his lap and a mouth caught the tip of Legolas' ear.

"Oh no. It would be a pity to let such beauty escape. Your body is too desirable to lay alone in the dark night. Leave your door unlocked, Legolas, and you will not regret it,"a hot breath whispered into his hair. "Don't refuse your body what it wants."

Prince' face flushed when realized that he had responded to the stroking hand. He couldn't do anything against it. He tried to break free from the double embrace. But he only succeeded to in breaking Elladan's kiss.

"No," he hissed in annoyance. "I won't let you do that!"

The dark-haired elf in front of him smiled gently. The tip of his tongue wetted his lower lip suggestively. "Oh yes... in the end, you will see. You won't be able to resist us, you won't be able to resist your desire. We will wait until that time comes." Elladan captured his lips in a short fierce kiss once again.

And then they released him. Without looking back they dissapeared into the shadows of the corridor. Legolas wiped his lips and watched their departure in disgust. How could they? Why did they do this to him? He smoothed the robe and ran down to the library. He knew that Erestor's study was situated nearby Elrond's. How grateful was he for that little lie.

Slowly Legolas opened the door to the library and let them clack behind him. The echo sounded in the quiet chamber. He had been many times there and all those times he was charmed by the glorious athmosphere that could be felt among thousands of the books. But now the silence was interrupted by quiet steps approaching. The next moment a dark figure with the numerous scrolls in his arms came to his view.

"Hm," Erestor stopped when he saw the wood prince. The piercing eyes looked at his dishevelled hair, a blush on his face and few rumpled signs on the gray robe. Legolas fell down his eyes. "So you've come."

"Yeah," prince nodded.

Erestor approached him. "Here you are," he gave him the scrolls he carried.

Legolas blinked few times in surprise. "What am I to do with them?"

The dark-haired elf arched his eyebrow. "This is Lindir's poetry. Find yourself a suitable desk and a chair and you can start transcribing." nsernserted a book to his arms. "Have a nice day."

Speechless Legolas watched him leaving in flow of the black robes. Erestor evidently didn't waste his time nor the others'. He quickly transformed his lie into the truth when he found this work for him. Trancribing poetry? He smiled in relief. He would do anything not to stay alone with the twins "E "Erestor," he stopped in his steps when the dark elf opened the door. Erestor turned to him and the black eyes pierced his own so intensely that if it had it been yesterday he would run away in that moment. "Thank you," he smiled gratefully.

Prince watched as the dark gaze softened and Erestor smiled a little. That unexpected change transformed his all face. It was as if a protective mask fell down and allowed him to see the real Erestor. Only at that moment he realised his features, which had often gone unnoticed because of the piercing gaze . He was beautiful!

The black eyes fell to the scrolls Legolas held. "Don't hurry," he said quietly before closing the door.

The dark-haired elf left but the wondrous vision stayed. Legolas couldn't believe he had seen Erestor smile. The vision of the cool beauty returned to him many times. And the good mood lasted until evening when he met his grey-eyed nightmares. The desire he read in them made him keep his eyes to his plate.

He tried to disappear when they spoke with Elrond. He sighed in relief when he closed the door of his chamber behind himself and rested his body against them. But in the next moment he stepped back in panic because the key he wanted to use to lock them was gone. The feeling of safety dissapeared and his heart started to beat madly in alarm.

He couldnt stay there! he realized immediately. But where would he go? Frightened he slipped into the shadows of the corridor. Then the black eyes flashed in his mind. Erestor! Yes, he could help him. Who else?! He ran through the corridors which he thought led to that dark part of the house where Erestor's chambers weituaituated.

But finding them turned out to be more difficult he ever thought. He looked into many dark unused rooms which were ready for the guests who came to Rivendell. But the one right room he could not find. He rested against the cold wall unhappily and tried to calm his breathing down. Suddenly his heartbeat quickened again. His sensitive ears caught the echo of light footsteps. So he quickly opened the nearest door and slipped behind them.

The steps wereroacroaching. They were nearly passing the closed door he was hiding behind. He gasped startled when one wing of the door opened and the tall figure stood in front of him.

"What are you doing here?" a familiar voice asked.

Legolas bit his lower lip though the relieved breath escaped him. And in a heartbeat he ran into Erestor's arms and hid his face in the dark tresses. The relief he felt when he recognized Erestor was nearly to hard to bear. Surprised the dark-haired elf watched the trembling prince. He felt his heart throbbing under the gray robe. Carefully he embraced him.

The comforting touch of the hands stroking his back calmed him.

"What are you doing here?" Erestor whispered again.

"I was... I'm sorry... I wanted... I couldn't find you. I didn't know what to do," Legolas muttered into the black hair.

"And what is it you need from me? Help?"

For a second Legolas doubted it had been a good idea to seek Erestor. A bitting shade in his quiet voice discouraged him. But where should he go? He looked up into the black eyes w wer were watching him carefully. The pale face was cool and expressionless. He waited for an answer.

"They took my key."

Erestor arched his eyebrow in question.

"Please, may I stay with you?" urgently he looked up into the dark eyes. "Don't send me away, I can't go back. I don't know where else to go."

Forlonglong while the dark-haired lef watched the bright pools of prince's eyes until he said: "We should speak." He released Legolas and waited for him to step back, embarassed. He closed the door behind them and led him to his chambers.