Elros and you finish putting the training weapons back up in the wall. "My shoulders are going to be so sore tomorrow." You grimace, running your right shoulder.

      Elros stretches and his back cracks. "Ouch." He winces.

     You laugh softly and shake your head. "King Thranduil will not be pleased if two of the best Elves in the guard can't perform their duties."

      "Let me him be angry. I think once I lay down, I will not be able to move for the next three days."

     You laugh again as you both exit the armory. You put your hand on your stomach as it cinches painfully. "Nîdh [Ouch], even laughing hurts." You giggle.

      Elros grins at you. "We are a mess, mellon [Friend]. A complete and utter mess."

     "Iston [I know]." You mutter.

     "Le suilon [Greetings], Elros and Y/N." Legolas says, walking out onto the training bay.

      You immediately straighten and smile brightly. "Le suilon, Legolas." You reply nervously, Elros echoing your greeting. You've been in love with Legolas for as long as you can remember. However, he has never shown anything to give you an idea that he feels the same way about you.

      "Man ceril [What are you doing]?" Legolas questions curiously.

      Elros puts his arm around your shoulder and pulls you close, smiling. "Y/N and I were training together." He announces, squeezing your shoulder. You suck in a deep breath from the pain. "Oh, Y/N, goheno nin [I'm sorry]!" Elros apologizes quickly, gently massaging your shoulder.

      "It's okay." You smile at him.

     Legolas looks between Elros and you, his eyes narrowing, his stands more rigid than normal. "Man agorel [What did you do]?" He asks Elros suspiciously.

     "Oh, Y/N and I are very sore from training. Her shoulders are especially hurting. I accidentally squeezed her shoulder without thinking." He explains.

     "Hmm." Legolas murmurs, his icy blue eyes watching Elros and your exchange. His demeanor has changed somehow within the last minute.

     "Is everything okay?" You ask worriedly.

     "Yes, yes, everything is perfectly fine." Legolas all but grits out. "If you'll excuse me." He mutters, brushing past you to head into the armory. Elros looks at Legolas's retreating back and then at you, before shrugging. You glance behind you and then continue walking with Elros.

     Legolas pokes his head out of the armory, watching Elros and you walk away. His eyes flash angrily and his jaw clenches tightly.

     That night you're sitting with the other Elves in the guard, eating dinner. "Y/N, Legolas would like to speak with you." An Elf says, coming into the room. Every eye turns and looks at you. They all know how you feel about Legolas.

     "Okay." You say shakily. You get up and walk out of the room. Legolas is leaning against the wall, examining a tree overhead. "Legolas?" You say softly.

      He looks at you. "Y/N." He smiles.

     "You wanted to see me?" You ask.

     "Yes, I wanted to inquire about your shoulders. Are they still sore? If they are, I can get you herbs from the healer."

      Your eyebrows raise in surprise. "Oh." You breathe. "They are still sore, but I will be okay, I assure you." You smile.

     "Are you sure?" Legolas asks.

     "Yes, but la fael [Thank you]." You reply. Legolas stands there, staring at you, his blue eyes penetrating your rapidly beating heart.

     "I-I, uh, well, I better go." You stammer.

     "Wait, not yet." Legolas says quickly.

     The Elf that came to fetch you a few minutes earlier walks into the room. "Y/N, Elros says there's a problem with one of the younger Elves in the guard about the new arachnid-dispose-able procedures." She announces. You look at Legolas and see a flash of something in his eyes. You can't place it; you've never seen it before.

      "I had better go and help Elros clear up this matter." You tell Legolas.

     "Of course." He responds shortly, before turning on his heel and stalking off. Your eyebrows furrow. He has been acting so strange lately—so moody. You shake your head and then go find Elros.

———

     Legolas paces the Throne Room as Thranduil looks on curiously, a smirk on his lips. "Prested [Is there trouble]?" Thranduil asks.

      "No." Legolas answers tightly.

     Thranduil raises his eyebrows. "Really?" He questions with amusement.

      Legolas stops pacing and looks at his father. "Ada [Father], I don't know what to do." He breathes.

    "What is wrong, ionneg [My son]?" Thranduil asks with concern.

    "You know Y/N?"

    "Of course I do. Sweet girl. You both have been friends for so long. Nothing is wrong with her, I trust?"

     "She is fine, ada [Father]." Legolas murmurs.

      Thranduil leans back in his throne and eyes Legolas. "Then tell me, Legolas, what seems to be the problem?"

     "Whenever I am around her..." Legolas starts. "Û-iston [I don't know]." He sighs. "My heart feels light. Like it's floating. I cannot stop smiling." He explains, starting to pace again. "And then when I see her with Elros the guard...ugh." He groans, shaking his head, his eyes flashing angrily.

     Thranduil's eyes narrow. "Go on." He prods.

      "I get so mad seeing them together. They train, eat, and do nearly everything together. I understand that they are both in the guard and they have become close, but still. It makes me so angry seeing them together." He grits out. He looks at Thranduil helplessly, stopping. "And I don't know why. I do not mean to be angry at them, but I am. What is happening to me?" He asks quietly.

     Thranduil smiles sympathetically and stands. He gracefully walks down the stairs to be on the same level as his son. He puts his hand on his son's shoulder. "Legolas, if I didn't know from my own experience with your mother, I would say you are in love with Y/N."

Legolas chuckles, making the smile drop from Thranduil's lips. "Good one, ada [Father]." He nearly snorts. Thranduil frowns. "I am not in love with Y/N. She is my friend. She always has been and she always will be. There is nothing more between us." Legolas explains.

     "Are you sure?" Thranduil asks, his blue eyes staring deeply into Legolas's.

     "I am sure. Y/N only sees me as a friend—an older brother."

     "Are you sure?" Thranduil asks again, lifting his eyebrows.

      Legolas falters. "I-I-I think so..."

      Thranduil squeezes his shoulder. "But you do no know." He says softly.

     "Well, it does not matter. I am not in love with Y/N and that is all there is to it." Legolas says briskly, pulling away from his father. He starts to walk out of the Throne Room.

     "That still does not explain your feelings, ionneg [My son]." Thranduil calls out after him. Legolas, as if he doesn't hear his father, keeps on walking.

———

"In love with Y/N? Ha!" Legolas chuckles to himself as he stands on the balcony overlooking the stables. He shakes his head. "Ridiculous." He breathes. He turns to head back inside when he hears you laughing. He stops and looks down to see you leading a horse out of the stables. He half expects Elros to be with you, but he's not.

     The horse nudges you in the shoulder, pushing you forward. "Hey!" You laugh as the horse neighs at you. Legolas smiles as you reach into your pocket and give the horse an apple. You hug the house around the neck and then rest your head against his.

      Legolas sighs happily. That warm feeling is taking hold of his heart again and he can't wipe the smile off of his lips. He pulls up straight and swallows hard. "Maybe I am in love with her." He whispers hoarsely. His heart starts pounding nervously. Can it be? After all these years of friendship, has something else bloomed between you both?

      Legolas catches your glance and you look up at the balcony. You smile shyly and wave at him. Legolas blushes, being caught staring at you, and waves a little before hurrying back inside. He closes the balcony doors and leans against them, breathing hard.

———

A few days later, you're sitting alone in the armory, sharpening arrows, your thoughts on Legolas. You haven't seen him a lot lately. If you didn't know better, you'd think he's ignoring you. You sigh. You miss him.

     "Y/N?" A soft voice breaks through your thoughts. You jump and gasp when the tip of the arrow cuts deeply into your finger. "Oh, Y/N! Goheno nin [Forgive me]!" Legolas exclaims as you drop the arrow on the ground and clutch your bleeding finger.

     "It is fine. It is my fault. I was not paying attention." You mutter.

     "Here." Legolas says, sitting on front of you, pulling a silk handkerchief out of his pocket.

     "Oh, no, do not! You will ruin it!" You protest, pulling your hand back.

     Legolas smiles at you. "Y/N, let me." He says softly, grabbing your hand. You swallow and nod. He starts wrapping your finger. "I should not have startled you like that. Goheno nin [Forgive me]."

     "It is not your fault, Legolas." You reply quietly. He wraps your hand in silence. Your heart pounds abnormally loud in the silence and it's making you blush.

      When Legolas is finished, he still holds your hand. "There." He whispers.

     "There." You echo. You slowly drag your eyes up to meet his. He's staring at you intently. He lifts his free hand and caresses your cheek. You close your eyes and lean into his touch.

     "Y/N." Legolas whispers. He must have moved closer to you because you can feel his breath on your face. He places his lips against yours and kisses you slowly. You sigh and kiss him back, cupping his face with your one hand, the other still clutching his hand.

A long moment goes by and he pulls back. You open your eyes to find him smiling at you. "So my ada [Father] was right." He murmurs.

     "Man [What]?" You laugh.

     "I am in love with you." He whispers, his thumb moving along your jaw. "And you're in love with me...?" He asks, his eyes filling with hope.

     You nod, beaming. "I am. I have been for a very long time." You admit.

     "So, just so there is no confusion, there is nothing going on between Elros and you?"

     "Elros?" You start laughing. "Of course not. The Elves in the guard know how I feel about you. Aside from the duties, they have been trying their hardest to bring us closer together."

     "Oh, Y/N. I have been a fool." He whispers, resting his head against yours. "I thought Elros and you liked it each other. I was so jealous."

     "That is why you have been so moody." You murmur. He smiles sheepishly. You smile back at him. "You are so silly, hir vuin [My lord]." You whisper.

      "Iston [I know]." He mutters.

     "But le melin [I love you]." You whisper, your eyes shining.

      "And le melin [I love you]." Legolas says softly. You kiss him deeply and he wraps his arms around you, kissing you back.
[THE END] I hope you liked it!