When they woke up they quickly got up and dressed. Knowing that Thranduil was up early they did not want to get caught snoozing.

Legolas approached his father at breakfast, bowing and asking for forgiveness.

Thranduil gave a small smile and nodded, accepting the apology. Though, his eyes immediately grew stern again, and he spoke. In a second the kind, caring father was gone and the King of Mirkwood stood before him again.

"I got a letter for Estel." He said coldly and handed it over. Legolas carefully took the letter and silently nodded his thank you. He walked over to give it to Aragorn who took it with a awkward smile, before he walked back to his father.

"Aragorn is banished." He said, not caring that the human stood a few feet away, reading the letter.

"Ada." Legolas tried, for what he did not know.

"No Legolas. He must leave now. Say your goodbye, I want him gone by nightfall."

Legolas eyes met Thranduil's, not afraid to let his father read what was to be read there. Disappointment, anger. Sorrow. Eventually he just gave up and nodded. He just left the halls, leaving a confused Aragorn behind.

He walked out to the waterfall he had showed to Aragorn before he stopped in front of it. The tears already slipped down his cheeks as he filled his hands with water from the fall, washing his face. He tried not to sob, wanting to keep his pride, and succeeded pretty well. He wrapped his arms around himself and sat down on his knees, crying. It felt good, releasing all the build up tension. But on the other side he embarrassed both himself and his father in front of many people in the dining hall.

Suddenly he felt a firm hand on his shoulder, but did not look up. If it was his father he could already hear the lecture. He felt a hand grab his chin and raise his head, and was surprised to find Aragorn's face in front of his own.

He parted his lips, but found no words to explain his humiliation. No was necessary as Aragorn sat down beside him, gently guiding him towards him.

Legolas leaned against him, his head on his shoulder. Aragorn's hand rose to gently comb through his hair, and Legolas sighed softly.

"What shall we do?" Legolas whispered softly, the tears in his throat.
"I can't go against my father."

Aragorn looked down at him, and sighed deeply.
"I don't know."

"What was it in the letter?" Legolas asked softly as he looked up at the man.

"It was from Elrond." Aragorn said with a sad smile.
"He apologised."

"Good." Legolas whispered and closed his eyes.

Aragorn leaned down to kiss his forehead gently when Legolas sighed and gently pushed him away. Meeting the man's gaze he saw surprise, and that action hurt Legolas beyond words.

"Estel...I can't lose my father." His voice was shaking, and came out almost raw.

Aragorn felt his heart miss a beat, and he felt the ace in his heart return.
"I know." He whispered again and moved to comb through Legolas hair. The elf sighed and took the man's hand to lower it.

"We can't."

Aragorn met his eyes, but quickly lowered them. Seeing Legolas hurt made his worse.

He felt Legolas hands slowly loosen around his, but did not release them. Maybe he was afraid to.

"Can we still be friends?" He asked, not believing his own words.

"Aragorn...I don't think I can look at you without wanting to kiss you." Legolas said with a humourless grin.

"Then no one needs to know." Aragorn said and took Legolas hands in his, squeezing them.
"Not Arwén. Not our fathers. We can be friends in public but in the privacy of our chambers we're lovers."

"That won't work Aragorn, both you and I know it." Legolas said and looked into his grey eyes, seeing into them like windows.
"There's guards and servants everywhere. And it would be cruel to Arwén."

Aragorn sighed, but nodded. There was no denying it. It wouldn't work.

"Thank you for saving my life." Legolas said with a playful smile, trying to hide the hurt deep inside.

"You're welcome." Aragorn said heavily, like his throat suddenly became clogged.

When Aragorn went to unpack his bag back in Minas Tirith he suddenly got a flashback and his gaze got struck on the wall. It was the conversation with his father he had on his way from Mirkwood to Gondor. He was happy he knew where he had his father, but he knew Legolas still couldn't lose his. It wouldn't work, even if Legolas could handle the grief. He still had his and Legolas goodbye in his mind, and would never forget.

Legolas and Thranduil stood to wave him off, wishing him good luck on his journey. Mostly Legolas, Thranduil not so much. At least he got supplies to survive the one month ride home, and a letter from Legolas.

"Open it back home, not before." He said and lay the letter in the bag.

"Alright." Aragorn said and met his eyes. He wanted to kiss him and touch his skin again so badly, but knew he couldn't. Not anymore, it was over.

He lowered his head, but Legolas gently lay a finger under his chin to lift it up again. He looked into his eyes, and the blue eyes held so much bottled up pain.

"Good luck on your journey. Stay safe."
(Please don't leave me.)

Aragorn sighed softly, but forged a smile to his face.
"Thank you."
(I wish I didn't need to.)

Their eyes said everything, no words were really necessary. Then Legolas did something Aragorn would never think he would do in front of his father.

He kissed him. As he embraced him he spun them around, making Aragorn face away from his father. He did not want the man to see his disappointed gaze when they broke apart. Legolas could clearly see Thranduil's eyes flash over his shoulder, but he stayed silent. Closing his eyes the elf focused on the last time he would feel Aragorn's warmth against him. He broke the kiss to embrace the man tightly, burying his nose in his neck, feeling the soft hair beneath his fingertips.

It felt unreal. As their wishes finally came true they would not only lose that, but also their friendship.

Eventually they leaned back, slowly, as if not to break it.

They held eye contact before Aragorn nodded slowly and turned around to mount his horse.

Legolas took in a deep shuddering breath, feeling the tears in his eyes. He swallowed them, not wanting to cry in front of his father. Why did it hurt so much?

Aragorn shook his head, and then he remembered the letter Legolas gave him. He immediately bowed to search through his bag and found the thin, elven paper. He opened it slowly, not wanting to break it. When the elven letters met his eyes he focused on reading them through his tears.

(I will not write in elvish cus it's really hard and just unnecessary XD)

"Aragorn

I guess you are home when you read this, or you are just too curious. In each case I just wanted to tell you what I could not as my father probably will be there to see that I don't sneak off with you.

I just wanted to say that I will come visit you, with my father's acceptance or not. I already miss you, and you haven't even left yet. I write this letter when you are asleep next to me, therefore the messy handwriting.

Tell Arwén I said hi, and tell her I miss her. We were friends long before the journey, I think you already knew that. She means a lot to me as well.

I'm sorry it ended like it did, but he is my father Aragorn. No matter how much it hurts, family always comes first, and you got your father back. We could wish nothing more.

Hope you are well, and I hope they journey went well.

Legolas (With that special twirl Legolas always does on the s in his name)

Aragorn sighed and closed the letter. He felt tears run down his face, and blinked a few times. Suddenly he felt arms around his waist from behind, and unconsciously leaned back into the embrace. It was comforting in some way.

"What are you reading?" Arwén asked and looked over his shoulder at the now closed letter.

"Legolas goodbye letter." The words were surprisingly hard to say, and Arwén frowned.

"Why would he need to say goodbye? He's your oldest, most loyal friend. He would never leave you."

Aragorn took a deep, shuddering breath at the reminder and replied.

"Because his father thinks it is inappropriate for him to be so close to a human. He thought the grief would destroy him, as if it would hurt less if he left now. Wouldn't spending the time we have instead of wasting it be a better option?"

Arwén sighed softly and kissed his cheek, feeling pity for her elven friend.
"He is probably right Aragorn. I remember how I felt when my father asked me to leave you and follow my people."

Aragorn turned around to place a hand on his wife's cheek, cupping it gently. Their eyes met, and they both smiled. Aragorn's smile was fake, but he played it off good. He leaned in to kiss her, and the moment their lips connected it felt wrong. He tried to imagine it was Legolas he kissed, but he couldn't. She did not smell like Legolas, or taste like him.

When he leaned back the tears were streaming down his cheeks and he furiously wiped them away.

"What is wrong?" Arwén asked as she raised a hand to wipe a tear away he missed.

"I already miss him." He whispered honestly and held her hand against his cheek.

She smiled sadly and embraced him.

"I'm sure he misses you as well."

Aragorn's gaze stuck on the wall, his arms loosely wrapped around his wife.

Did Legolas miss him as much as he did?