Luin landed smoothly in the marble courtyard outside Elrond's main chambers. Arwen had gotten there before him and rushed Frodo off to her father. Luin had seen them disappear into the medial rooms as he descended. He looked up as his feet rocked the stone, sword sheathing itself. There was a grey figure waiting for him. "Gandalf!" Luin sighed in relief as he strode forwards to greet his mentor. Gandalf chuckled as they hugged. "Where have you been? Are you okay?" Luin questioned as they pulled away.

"It's good to see you Luin", Gandalf smiled. His smiled quickly dropped as his tone changed. "I bring grave news. What we had suspected is true". Luin pulled back with a gasp.

"What does this mean?" He bit his lip. Gandalf huffed deeply.

"That's not end. I'm afraid that Saruman has been corrupted. I went to him and found that he had been turned to darkness. He held me captive, which was why I could not meet you". Gandalf patted Luin comfortingly on the shoulders as the dark haired man absorbed the information. Luin had never really gotten along with saruman before but the thought of one of their own, a wizard, turning to Sauron was sickening.

"What is going to happen now?" He asked quietly. Exhaustion was creeping up on him and he yawned. Gandalf began gently leading him through the streets towards the building where his chambers resided.

"I have told Elrond the circumstances", Gandalf said as they walked slowly. The bright sun of early evening golden over the city. "He has already sent notice to the other leaders. The dwarves, the men of Gondor, and the other elf kingdoms, all their representatives shall arrive in a few days".

Luin smiled and yawned again. "You have done well", Gandalf smiled. "Rest up and recover yourself. Young Frodo will be fine".

"We need to send riders out to retrieve Aragorn and the other hobbits", he muttered.

"I shall attend to that. Go rest Luin", Gandalf reassured. Luin nodded and inclined his head in parting before walking towards his rooms. As soon as he was through the door he was stripping off the outer layers of his robes and crawling into the sheets. He drew the curtains on his four poster bed to block out the light. He nuzzled into the pillow and was asleep in moments. 

——

Luin slept for over a day. He awoke the second day after his return, fully rested. Long hours of meditation and careful self care rejuvenated his levels of spiritual energy until he was refreshed and brimming with power again. Frodo awoke on the fourth day, much to everyone's relief. The wound had healed but the hobbit would bear the scar and the phantom darkness of it for the rest of his life. It was something that would never go away, despite all of Elrond's healing abilities.

It was almost a week and a half after Luin had returned that the visitors arrived. First it was a lone rider from Gondor. A man with Sandy brown hair half tied up and grey armour. Luin watched from a balcony as he introduced himself to Elrond as the sound of the Steward of Gondor. He carried a slight swagger often seen in men, a cockiness that was visible in how he walked and stood, although he was very polite when talking to Elrond. Luin wasn't quite sure what to make of him yet. Then it was the dwarves. A small party of them led by a red bearded dwarf who looked familiar. Each wore layers of armour, with long braided hair and beards that the dwarves were famed for. The red haired dwarf wore a familiar breastplate but he just couldn't place it. Luin made a mental note to talk to them later. He liked dwarves and sometimes missed their company.

It was early evening when the final group arrived. Luin jumped from his desk as a familiar energy entered his senses. He hastily pulled on his outer robe, grateful that he had only taken off one layer, as he hurried out of the door. The robe tied with the skill of long practise as he skipped through the streets. He arrived in at the main gate in a flurry of unbound black hair and pale blue cloth. Mostly presentable but still slightly too messy for formalities sake, not the he really cared at that point. Arwen and Elrond were already standing to meet their guests as he stopped at their side, panting slightly from running. Arwen shot him a small knowing smile that he did not see. His gaze firmly fixed the blond headed elf before him.

Legolas looked just as fair as the last time Luin had seen him. He was followed by a group of Silvia elves from his father's kingdom where he had been staying. They had parted on the road, one heading to Mirkwood, the other to Rivendale. It was over a year since they had seen each other now. Both busy dealing with the affairs that came with their titles. Letters just not enough. They didn't convey everything yet Luin had treasured every one he had gotten.

The prince was in a pale green riding clothes. A casual style built for long travel, with barely any sign of his rank. Something Luin knew Legolas preferred. His bow and quiver on his back and a pale blue velvet half cloak covering his shoulders. Two strands of his silver blonde hair was plaited back out of his face in his usual hairstyle. He dismounted easily and handed the reins to a stable boy before turning to face them. Luin watched with bubbling joy as the elf's face broke into a soft smile upon seeing him. "Lord Elrond", he greeted with a bow, reluctantly turning to his hosts. "Lady Arwen. It's a pleasure to be here once again".

"No need to be formal young Legolas", Elrond chuckled. "You are always welcome here".

Legolas' smile widened into a grin. A glimmer of warmth and mischief in is gaze. Luin immediately couldn't wait any longer. He ran forwards and threw his arms around his lover's shoulders, colliding with him so hard that the elf had to take a step back. Legolas' arms came up to wrap around his waist as they pulled each other close with an aching fierceness. Luin inhaled deeply, the scent of fresh spring leaves and spicy bark making him relax. He felt Legolas bury his face into his shoulder as the prince gripped him tightly. "I missed you Melethril", Legolas breathed, so soft that only he could hear. Luin felt his chest warm at the endearment.

"I'm so happy to see you Nin ithil", Luin breathed back as they relaxed their hold. He pressed a hand to Legolas' cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin and seeing the blue of his eyes. He felt the other smile as well as saw it.

A cough interrupted them and the both turned to see Arwen smiling widely at them. "If we may show you to your chambers", she held out a hand. Legolas looked over at the elves who had accompanied him and nodded. The group followed after a few servants as the horses were led away. A few of the elves shooting Luin curious looks which he ignored. He stepped back and took his lover's hand. Their fingers evenly slotting together.

"Come on", he smiled. "You must be tired from travel. I have a lot to catch you up on". Legolas followed him with a fond look deeper into the city. Arwen waved as they passed and Luin waved back. Judging from her expression she wanted to gossip later. She had always enjoyed a good talk about Luin's adventures, and his love life. She had met Legolas before but it had been over ten years ago. Luin rolled his eyes fondly and her grinned widened. Legolas chuckled behind him as Luin pulled him away.

Luin took a long scenic route back to to his rooms. Legolas' arm linked with his as they strolled lightly through Rivendale. The sun was golden, on the verge of setting. It gave a golden shine to their hair and faces. Each of them enjoying just walking with each other. "I confess", Legolas spoke as they crossed under a archway. "I had never found a years passing so tedious before. They were mere blinks of an eye until now".

"You're making me blush", Luin complained halfheartedly, his cheeks hurting from his wide smile. Legolas laughed and squeezed Luin's hand in his. "But I agree. A year felt longer than it should have been". Luin admitted as he bumped their shoulders against each other. Luin led him back to his chambers, pausing at the door.

"These are my rooms. You can stay with me, or if you want I can show you to a guest room?" He offered feeling suddenly silly. They had shared tents, and rooms in inns, and bedrolls out in the wild many times before. But for some reason his rooms where he had stayed ever since arriving at middle earth, feel a lot more personal. Luin fixed his gaze nervously on the stitched patterns on Legolas' tunic.

Elvish courting could take up to two or three hundred years sometimes before the couple got married. Traditionally the couple would be chaperoned and meetings would be arranged. The couple courting for at least fifty years before daring to wear courting braids. Luin supposed that he and Legolas did things very differently. His being as a wizard and not of middle earth basically meaning that they threw all the traditional courting procedure out of the window. (There was also the whole battle and Luin getting gravely injured, Legolas saving him. Not to mention the kiss during the middle of Qi deprivation. It was rather chaotic). Also there was the fact that the two of them went straight into journeying with each other. No chaperones and sixty years of courting. It was definitely not normal.

So Luin was feeling a self conscious now that they were both back in elvish society. He hadn't seen Legolas in a year and the feelings were catching up with him.

Legolas smiled lightly at him, fond and slightly curious. "I would love to share a room with you", he said. Luin nodded, fiddling with the door handle.

"It a bit of a mess, I apologise", he muttered as he swung the door open. "I don't like servants coming in here while I'm staying here". He strode in, the door shouting with a click behind him. Luin immediately crossed over to sit at his vanity table where he had been writing. He placed the lid on the ink pot and began neatly stacking the parchments as Legolas took in the room. Luin turned and watched as the blonde elf walked around. He was admiring the small things. Like the jade token hanging from the top of the four poster bed, the partially open wardrobe door where blue materials were visible, the jewellery and small objects littering the edges of the desk.

Legolas ran his fingers down the arm of the armchair in silence as he surveyed the books. He picked up something small from a bookshelf at chest height and held it up questioningly. It was a tiny rabbit carved from bone, no bigger than a thumb. "That was my mother's", Luin said softly. "My dad carved it for her out of a whale bone. It was one of the few things washed up". Legolas gently placed it down and came over to where Luin was sitting. He knelt down before him and took his hands.

"Thank you for showing me this and allowing my into your space", he spoke gently. "It is beautiful".

Luin smiled and leant down to gently press their lips together. They kissed softly, slowly. The kiss a silent familiar exchange. I'm here, it said. Hello, welcome back, it said. When they parted Luin pressed their foreheads together. His hair falling down around their faces like a curtain. He heard the exhale of breath as Legolas smiled.

"Nin ithil. Nin aglareb ithil. Im mel cin", he breathed.

"Im mel cin. Nin Melethril", Legolas replied equally as soft.

Unedited

Melethril = is lover in elvish.
Nin Ithil = my moon.
Nin aglareb ithil = my glorious moon.
Im mel cin = I love you.