[Published: 30.07.2020]

(Y/N) stepped from the shadows of the woods, her hood raised, watching as the travellers passed. They could not see her- it was too dark to distinguish matter from shadows. She was silent and cunning, and was undetected by those passing. On impulse, she followed, intrigue getting the better of her.

Legolas set down his bow and quiver on the ground, and looked onwards to the sky. He was to take first watch. As the fellowship drifted into slumber, he found himself mulling over tedious memories that, for whatever reason, began playing in his mind.

His eyes darted to Frodo, the ring popping out from under his cloak. He smiled at the Hobbit, as he snored softly, stirring in his sleep. His blanket was halfway down his torso. Stepping forward, the blonde elf reached down, and pulled at the material, so it encased Frodo up to his neck.

A soft breeze passed through the lands, flowing at Legolas' hair. The brush and trees hushed as the wind passed, they directing to the north.

For a moment, he thought he saw something in the depths of the forest. His theory was confirmed by the rustling. Grabbing his bow, and readying an arrow, he aimed to where he thought the imposter to be.

"Who goes there?!" he bellowed, approaching gingerly.

Out from the shadows, emerged a figure. In one stroke, she removed her hood, and Legolas found himself speechless. It was his old friend, (Y/N). "(Y/N)!" he cried, throwing his bow and arrow away, approaching her, and engulfing her in an embrace.

"Steady on, Legolas," she muffled, hands warping round his neck, "You know what I had to do to get here?"

He instantly pulled away, and looked her deep in the eyes.

"Do you think Lord Elrond would...?"

"My father will send out the guard, but he won't catch me- I'll make sure of it,"

"(Y/N), your safety is at stake; I cannot let you be reckless," she looked at him with a longing look, before it melting into disappointment.

"You sound just like my father," she muttered, shaking her head, "I can look after myself,"

"You know that's not what I mean," he replied with a hushed voice- his fingers reached up, and raised her chin slightly, "And I know that's not the only reason why you came," the girl sighed at this, and averted her eyes elsewhere; how did the elf always know?

"I am capable, Legolas. But you're right," she smiled weakly, stepping back, her eyes looking back up to him, "That's not the only reason,"

Legolas' eyes glimmered, as he felt his heart thump against his chest. Hope swelled through him, and he thought perhaps, for a moment, it would be possible for her to reciprocate.

"Legolas, I..." she stuttered, "I...my father wishes me to..." he stepped forward, faces inches apart. Her (E/C) eyes locked with his, and he felt an urge to hold her.

"Yes?"

"My father wants me to be married," she breathed, looking away, "But I will not have it. To any elf, I could not spend the rest of my life with. I could not. Though he said I may choose who I shall be wed to, I could not let myself be owned by another. It would be belittling. And besides, they'd all marry me because I'm the Lady of Imladris," she sighed softly, looking away.

"You'd refuse to marry for its expectations? You think too much into it. If you are to love someone, (Y/N), your marriage will be blissful," the elf weakly said, hiding his disappointment. "But that is the thing, Legolas. I do not love like that. I have tried, and failed to have my affections ensnared by people who would be worthy allies, but my heart will not have it!"

"Perhaps you are looking in the wrong people," he chuckled.

"I'll choose to love who I please," (Y/N) pouted, and innocent playfulness emerging.

"You cannot expect to be in control for who you are to hold affections towards, (Y/N)?" Legolas questioned, "Love is something we cannot control. If you have fallen for someone, you have fallen from them. There is the obvious evaluation of their character, their past, and their meaning to you. There is also the thought of if it were ever to be possible that they would return your affections. If all is well, and the bond is strong, a match is made. That is the beauty of love, (Y/N),"

The girl smiled, and tucked a curl behind her ear.

"You know an awful lot about love, mellon," she smiled, titling her head to the side.

"That, I do," he chuckled- the girl hugged her shoulders, and sighed.

"I've missed you, Legolas. I would've come sooner, if my father wasn't opposed against the idea of me galavanting across Middle- Earth,"

"He has every reason to think sending you unwise," the elf muttered, "To think that you might not come back?"

"I'd rather fight today, to know that I've done everything so that hope can survive, instead watching onwards as our world descends into darkness,"

"You're risking your life if you join us, (Y/N),"

"And you think I haven't realised that?" she glared at him, dumbfounded to his her friend could think her to be stupid.

Legolas looked at her in surprise, taking a step back. He held his hands up in surrender, and gently shook his head. "Of course I knew," he mumbled, "But you aren't truly considering this, are you? Going to help us deliver the ring to the fires of Mordor?"

"Yes," she replied, "I am; and you are not going going to stop me," to the girl's suprise, Legolas smiled.

"Alright then,"

"What; you're not going to protest?"

"And risk being at the end of your abominable stubbornness? Do you think me that stupid?!"

"Yes, I do believe you are,"

The two chuckled at the remark. Legolas couldn't help but grin at the sight of her laugh; he always found himself entranced by it. The girl squinted at him in amusement, before snapping her fingers inches before his nose. He flinched, and took a step back.

"Now is not the time to daydream, my friend," she retorted, crossing her arms, a smile settled onto her lips, "Would you do me the pleasure of introducing me to your sleeping companions?"

"What, wake them?"

"No, I wouldn't take them from their dreams- I'm not that cruel. Please, tell me their names,"

"That's Aragorn," the elf pointed to the ranger, sleeping peacefully on his side, sword clutched to his chest, black hair draped over his cheek, "Isulduir's heir. And that," he turned around, and looked at the snoring dwarf before his feet, "Is Gimli, son of Gloin," (Y/N) looked at the dwarf in disgust.

"My father let a dwarf into the fellowship?"

"He is not as bad as he seems," he replied, a small smile settling onto his lips, before he turned once more; "And that is Borimir, son of the Stuart of Gondor," he pointed to the sleeping soldier, him facing upwards, his shield placed by his side.

"Handsome," the girl mused, before giggling at her friend's horrified expression.

"Do not scare me like that ever again," he said dramatically, clutching his chest, causing (Y/N) to laugh even harder.

"Ssshh! You'll wake them," Legolas hissed, trying to hide a giddy grin. The girl controlled her laughter, before falling silent, a finger to her lips.

"Alright; then who are the halflings?" she whispered.

"Pippin, Merry, Sam and Frodo," the elf smiled at the sight of the sleeping hobbits, the mere sight of them calming. "They seem quite the company," she smiled, approaching her friend gingerly, "I'll be glad to have their acquaintance,"

"Indeed," he replied, taking a sudden step back, alarmed by her approaching him at such a speed. (Y/N) looked at him in confusion.

"Legolas?"

"(Y/N), I..." his words trailed off, and he found his eyes staring at the mundane floor, fiddling with his fingers, "You understand that I..." he winced at the contemplation of just blurting out his thoughts, and reconsidered a more constructive way of formulating his feelings.

"My dear (Y/N)," he mumbled, finally looking up to face the girl, "I have wanted to say something to you for some time, and I just...I have not had the confidence to say it,"

"Whatever it is, you can trust me," she replied, reaching over to hold his hand. He instantly recoiled, and shook his head, chuckling sadly.

"It is not so much trust; more of if you would reciprocate..." his eyes locked with his, and in an instant, she realised what he meant.

"Legolas," she sighed, "I...you? For...why...how long?"

"For more years than I can count,"

"And always? Acting in the hopes of winning me over?"

"I was privileged enough to even know you, let alone be a friend,"

"Oh, Legolas," (Y/N) breathed, "You render me speachless,"

The blonde grinned at the girl's remark. She stepped closer, before rapping her arms around his neck, and burying herself into his chest, a small smile lighting her lips. His arm curled around her waist, and his hand held her head fondly. He let out a sigh, and held her tightly. He had never brought himself to tell anyone about how he felt about this woman- he wondered if he had ever even admitted it to himself.

"I love you," he finally whispered.

"I love you too," her reply eased him, and he closed his eyes, and let himself enjoy the moment.