NOTES: Legolas's POV

A Secret Shared - Chapter 3

Thankfully, my recovery was quick, due to the knowledge of Lord Elrond and the healers of Rivendell. Whilst I was confined to bed, Aragorn visited me frequently, and we talked of a million things. He seemed happier than he had been for a long while, and our conversations were light-hearted. Then one day, the last day I was to stay in my bed, we talked about more serious matters.

"What are we to tell them?"

"I do not know, and this troubles me."

Aragorn stared at the floor for a moment, as if trying to pick the right words. "Arwen knows. She keeps secrets well, but I am unsure that others will not realise...I feel we must be careful that nobody sees us together."

I nodded, understanding what he was trying to say, but at the same time feeling a little hurt that I still had to hide my true feelings for most of the time. "So, how did Arwen find out?"

Aragorn sighed. "It was due to her that I ever told you about how I feel. One night whilst we were walking, she stopped and she told me she knew. She sent me to find you, and tell you. I am glad she did, for if she had not, you might be dead by now; it was that day you were attacked by the orcs. My only sorrow is that she has made a sacrifice for me, yet I can never repay her for what she has done."

"Our life together would have been meaningless if you were not happy, Estel," a soft feminine voice in the room made us turn to see Arwen standing at the door. She closed the door behind her and sat on the edge of the bed. "I will always love you, but that is what helped me make the decision. I would not have been true to you or myself if I had not made you go to Legolas." She turned to me and said, "Take care of him my friend, for he is a gem in the race of man." Smiling, she took his hand and placed it in mine.

"How did you know, Arwen?" I had to ask.

"I could see it in his eyes. When he looked at you, I saw the longing in them, yet when he looked at me, I saw guilt and remorse."

"I still love you, Arwen...yet I regret that it is only as a friend."

She turned back to him "I know. But you should not regret. All that happens in life happens for a reason. We were meant for each other only for a short time, until we found our true place. You have found where you are meant to be, and I feel that I too, will find my true place in due time."

Aragorn bowed his head, and she stood up, placing a kiss on his forehead. Leaning over me, she kissed my forehead as well, then straightened up, a brave smile on her lips. "May the sun and stars shine upon your love," she said. I could see crystal tears forming in her eyes. She turned to leave.

"May they shine also upon you, and may you be blessed for your selflessness," I replied, wanting to stand up and embrace her for the great act of kindness she had done for me. She smiled back at me again, then left the room as silently as she had entered.

The next day was the day I had been waiting for - Lord Elrond was finally letting me get out of bed; although I was given strict instructions not to do anything 'over-strenuous' and to rest if I felt the smallest bit tired. So I spent the day walking around Rivendell, and though I should have felt joyous that I could taste the fresh, clean air once more; my mind was overshadowed with the worry that someone might see Aragorn and I and somehow work out our secret. As a result we did not see each other much that day, besides at mealtimes; this I detested so: I wished that I could just shout it out loud from the rooftops, that Aragorn was mine, and mine only, and we loved each other. But it was not the time. We had made the decision not to see each other more often, for people may begin to suspect something. And this was hurting almost as much as seeing him, and not having him as my own.

Evening came, and with it more guests in the house of Elrond. I was yet to meet them, yet heard talk of them as I made my way back to the house for supper. The newcomer was introduced at supper; he was known as Boromir, and he was the son of the steward of Gondor. It was good to be amongst the cheerful chatter at the supper table again, yet I felt a little unnerved about the way the newcomer kept looking at me - it was as if his eyes penetrated my skin and looked right into my soul, and even when I looked back at him he did not stop looking, but he merely smiled crookedly, knowingly. I shuddered, and tried to ignore the feeling of him watching me, also trying not to stare too hard at Aragorn; when we talked, I concentrated on my meal, only glancing up at his handsome face every so often in a desperate attempt to make it look as if everything was normal, though still feeling the electric tingle running through my body whenever our eyes met. I believe that it worked, as I did not notice any strange looks from anyone besides the odd, penetrating stare of Boromir.