The night was clear and the moon full as a cool breeze blew around the hall. Inside the party had lulled as the hours grew early into the morning. Some people continued to bask in their drunken revelry but many had long since passed out or made their way to their homes. Legolas sAT on the top of the stone steps to the hall, gazing out at the lands of Rohan beyond and the glitter of stars above. The breeze tugged at his cloak and whispered through his hair. At his side, Namir was half curled on the stairs, head pillowed in the blond's lap. One of the elf's hands was stroking gently through the now unbound dark locks that spilled around them across the cool stone. The black hair glossy and clean, wavy from braids. 

Namir had been slumbering. Soft breaths leaving his lips and cheeks still slightly flushed from drunkenness. The blonde had draped a spare cloak over him and it covered his curled up form. One hand visible where it clutched the edge, fingers gripping the fabric tightly. Legolas studied him under the moonlight. Hair and the hood of the cloak covered half his face but the flutter of lashes on his cheeks and the relaxed muscles of his brow were enough. It was good to see him relaxed and it brought a soft smile to the elf's face. Nightmares had plagued the skin-changer the past nights since he left Isengard. He was quiet in them but the elf could tell that they had occurred by the look in Namir's eyes the next morning.  

In that moment Namir stirred, brow furrowing then relaxing as he rolled over slightly. The stone must not be comfortable but Legolas had found the cat in weirder positions before and merely lifted his hand from the other's hair as brown cat eyes blinked open. The pupils large in the lack of light. "Legolas", the name was spoken with the rumble of a purr. "What is wrong?" 

"Nothing", he answered honestly. "I am merely glad that you are here". 

A smile bloomed on Namir's face and he reached one hand up to cup the elf's cheek. Legolas leaned into it and closed his eyes to bask at the touch. "I am sorry". The smile faded and Legolas opened his eyes to see the other man gazing sadly up at him. 

"What for? You owe me no apologies". His hand raised to press to the back of the one cupping his cheek. Namir's skin was warm like the sun and the stars sparkled reflections in his eyes. Legolas half wondered if this was all just a dream. 

"I left you alone. It may have been through no fault of my own, but I still chose to wander that night. You and my father were alone for twenty years. My imprisonment left you alone. I am sorry. You must have been through a lot to find me". Namir let go of the cloak and sat up, long dark hair tumbling round his shoulders and brushing his waist as he leant forwards. "My mate. I failed you". His voice broke and he cupped the elf's face in both his hands as he rose on his knees to press their foreheads together. "I should be protecting you, providing for you. I failed to be a good mate. I am so sorry". 

"No", Legolas breathed as he hurriedly grasped the fabric of the other's tunic. "Namir. You do not need to be sorry. I should be the one apologising for not finding you earlier. Twenty years and you were alone and in pain". A sob broke his words and tears spilled from his eyes. Namir let out a sad noise and wiped them away with his thumb. 

"Legolas. Darling", the endearment was new yet it spilled easily from his lips and hung in the night air. "My mate. You found me. I am here". Legolas buried his head into the junction of the other's neck and arms cradled him there. Warm, alive, safe as dampness dotted the fabric. 

"What is troubling you darling?" Namir asked again, voice soft. 

Legolas took a deep breath and wrapped his arms round the skin-changer's waist as he clung to him. "I feared that you were dead. That I would relive the horror of my father and arrive too late to nothing but a corpse. I saw what it did to him and I was scared that it would curse me too. You were in pain". He brushed his nose against the bubbly skin of burn marks around the cat's neck and pressed closer to press his lips to the skin. Namir tilted his head to allow the movement as one hand stroked over blonde hair. A mimicry of the touch that was reversed a minute before. 

"You will not be your father", Namir stated firmly. "Even if I was dead. I know you. You are never your father. My mate. Do not torture yourself over the past. Neither of us are to blame for what Saruman did. You found me". He gently moved back and Legolas lifted his head to look in those cat eyes. Namir smiled and it was warm. "I'm right here. With you. You found me". 

"Radag". It was a sigh. "Miog. Im iest na on- cin nin emel if onlui na cheb- cin nev na nin". Namir's elvish had improved since they had first met and the words brought a smile to his lips. Legolas gazed at him for a moment before gathering his courage to say the next words. "I want you to bite me". 

Namir froze and his eyes widened. "But, I thought that we agreed on elvish courting. Beorn said that a Skin-changer's mating bite scars forever. You would bare it for the rest of your life and it would hurt. We skin-changers have high pain tolerances and heal faster than other races. It would hurt you. I may have suggested it when I was younger but I don't want to see you hurt. A mating bit ties you to me. I do not know how the magic of our races would mix and your teeth are too blunt to bite me back". 

"If you do not wish to, then I shall not press", Legolas murmured. "But I want to have something of you". 

"This is a marriage custom", Namir groaned. "I wanted to give you a wedding with your customs". 

"I don't want a big formal wedding. If it is just us then it's perfect". Legolas gazed up at him with big blue eyes. "Do you not wish to bite me?"  Namir sighed heavily. The beast in his mind had been wanting to sink his teeth into the blonde since their first kiss. Sometimes his jaw ached with the need. It was primal, animal and permanent. It was unknown wether Legolas could even reciprocate the bond if he did it. Mates were aware of the other like a shadow limb. They could feel the other's presence and follow each other's scents. It was something special to only skin-changers, old magic that was now nearly all lost. 

"Yes. I want to", the admission came through gritted teeth. "It is a testament to my control that I haven't yet. I am a beast". 

Legolas laughed, a sharp sound of amusement and joy. "Radag, I have not forgotten. I have seen how you rip creatures apart and tear out throats with your teeth and I have not run away. I know what I am asking for". 

Namir's eyes were uncertain. "But I don't want to hurt you, and it will hurt". 

"I know", Legolas replied. 

"I will think about it and talk to Gandalf about our magic", the brunette sighed in defeat. Legolas hugged him tighter in victory. He felt Namir chuckle in fond, loving, forgiveness. Then the chuckle cut off and he felt the other stiffen as his head turned and those cat's eyes picked out something in the gloom. A warning snarl ripped from his throat as footsteps sounded on the stone. 

Legolas let go of Namir and they both rose to their feet as Aragorn stepped into the moonlight, both hands palms up in peace. Namir stopped snarling and settled slightly but remained slightly coiled. He did not know Aragorn well yet but accepted that he was a friend. "Aragorn", Legolas greeted. The man nodded and drew closer to them. 

"Good night?" he remarked as he pulled a pipe from his pocket and began pressing in some pipe weed. Namir's hair flowed as he tossed it over his shoulder and leaned into Legolas' side. The elf picked up the discarded cloak from the steps and draped it over the skin-changer's shoulders. 

"The stars are veiled", he murmured as he turned his eyes back to the night sky. He had been watching it as Namir slept and the stars did not bode well. "Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice". 

"I don't like those", Namir muttered. "I can't tear them apart". There was almost a whine to his words and Aragorn chuckled. Then alarm flickered across Legolas' face as something changed in the air. They all glanced at each other. A sudden darkness that wasn't there before was now weighing on their minds. Namir sniffed and let out a deep rumbling growl that would make anyone's hair stand on end, lips curling back to reveal bared teeth. "I smell dark magic". 

"He is here!" 

unedited 

Did I change skin-changer cultures to fit my head canons? yes. The bite is like a werewolf mating bite but without all there weird psychic stuff. All it does is mark the other, like a tattoo really, and allow them to sense each other's presences. No sharing of emotions or talking in each other's minds. It's more of being hyper aware of someone and knowing when they're close or far. hope that makes sense. 

Im iest na on- cin nin emel if onlui na cheb- cin nev na nin - I wish to give you my heart if only to keep you near to me

Radag - beastie

Miog- Kitty