Cornucopia 2.

Once he had left the brothel, he chanced upon Lord Elrond, he was bleary eyed and he could tell he had perhaps had too much to drink at that time, so he held him to him to steady his rocking body.

"My Lord, i fear you have imbibed too much alcohol..would you like me to help you home?"

Elrond nodded, still a little worse for wear, but held onto him, taking him home, the passage clear of anyone else, so at least he would not be embarassed if anyone saw him.

Legolas felt he was doing him a favour really as it would be great news to spread around about the Lord if you were into shaming a highly thought of person in Rivendell.

He strolled with him, his hand guiding him along, it was not an easy task to be sure but he was fond of the Lord..enough to aid him when he seemed troubled.

"You do know who was in there drinking, don't you?"

His words bit into him like the fangs and talons of a beast that had ravaged his soul, and hurt him like sand in the eyes.

"No whom?"

Elrond stared into his dark eyes for a moment, confused or at least he was pretending to be so.

"Your former lover Elessar, his antics this night have left me slighted, my dear Edhel."

Legolas knew what he meant, his heart sank when he thought of him with Lady Arwen, especially when he knew they were in their bedchamber most of the time, trying for a new heir to the Gondor throne.

"I know of what you mean, he slights me to.....but what can i do? I am next to nothing to him..."

Legolas took him so far to his door, watched him take out his key from his purse and turn it to open it, then pushed it until it creaked open.

"Do you want to have a nightcap with me?"

Legolas at first declined then thought about it strongly. What had he to lose?

What had he to go back to?

His home was with Aragorn but how could he go back now when it felt like betrayal?

"Yes, i will...."

Elrond closed the door behind him and locked it, turning to the unhappy prince of Mirkwood.

"You do not have to put up with him, melon - nin....start a new life for yourself....it is the only way you will get that foolish her to realise what cruelty he has done you..."

Eladan and Elrohir were not at home, they were in the woods, making love in their own way...they were happy, he thought..he could not say the same for the one who was with him..one of the most beautiful males in the whole of Rivendell, not forgetting Glorfindel himself.

"I do understand what you mean, my dear Lord....but the grief for me is just too much to bear, how can i live without my Elessar?"

Now Legolas broke into tears, they trickled down his face like rivers of the forgotten.

Elrond pulled him into his arms, holding him in a fatherly way for some time, until he bade him sit down near the fire as it raged in the grating.

"I'm sorry...i am being stupid now, aren't i?"

He wiped a stray tear from his cheek just as another followed its same path down after it.

"I have to be able to live again.....i do not want to end up at Mandos's door for my foolishness..."

Lord Elrond held his hand momentarily.

"No you do not..but niether do you want to forget your friends..they will support you in all of this...."

Lord Elrond watched as the young prince came to kneel at his feet, and hug him while he sat in the chair, tears falling from his saddened eyes.

to be continued....