Hiding by Cally don't believe I will ever understand the race of men. They are a confusing lot, strong yet weak, brave yet fearful. They are full of contradictions. Such thoughts were the most prominent in Legolas' mind as he studied the humans in the company. Both sat with shoulders hunched, their faces turned to the ground. Firelight danced upon their faces, making an eerie play of light and shadow. The waves of sadness coming from the bent shoulders were enough to cause the elf a tinge of pain that was grew daily, turning almost to physical illness. They carry so much love, yet they do not rejoice in the knowledge. They hide from love's warm embrace, hoping to escape her notice. Legolas chuckled mentally at the thought; no one could escape love. He sighed in confusion at the thought that anybody would want to. "Aragorn." Legolas waited patiently for the man to lift his head in acknowledgment of the softly spoken name. "I would talk to you in private if you do not mind." "Of course Legolas." Fallowing the elf a little ways from the camp, out of hearing distance but not out of sight. "What is it that you wish to speak with me about?" "Boromir." Watching the man flinch at the name he laid a hand on his friend's arm, squeezing lightly in reassurance before he dropped it and continued. "I know that there is something on your mind and I would like you to share the burden with me, for if you do not it will only drag you down farther. And that would be trouble not only for you but for the rest of the company, and I will not have that." Although he spoke softly there was a layer of steel in his voice and Aragorn knew better than to refuse the elf's request. "I am not sure of what troubles me exactly." Sighing he ran a hand through his hair before continuing, "There are strange feelings claiming my heart, yet I do not know what they are or how to stop them." "Describe your feelings. Maybe speaking them aloud will help quite the turmoil I sense in your soul." "I feel... I feel as though someone has stolen my very breath from my body. It is though the light in his eyes rivals that of the sun. I know I love him but I do not know yet how I love him, these feeling are unknown to me, it is not the way a brother loves his sister or that of a son loving his father. I am confused; I think I am trying to deny that I love him as a true lover because I know that he could never feel the same way about me. I am the man who will eventually take his father's place as ruler of Gondor. I will be the one he must bow to. He will no longer be able to make decisions for the kingdom he holds so dear without my consent." "You do not make the rules of love for there are none. Do not presume to know if Boromir can love you or not, for if you do you may miss out on a love to rival that of Celeborn and Galadriel." Saying no more than that Legolas walked back to the campsite. Ignoring the curious looks he was getting he unrolled his blanket and prepared for rest. Smiling, he heard the heir of Isildur speak Boromir's name, beckoning him into the woods. kbramley@oberon.ark.com