Never Realizing

Chapter 4: A Seed Planted

“Elfaer, could you possibly sink further into that wall?” Tathen giggled as she moved to stand by him. “Won’t you join in on all the fun?”

“Dancing is fun?” Elfaer replied with mock awe in his voice.

“Yes, it is,” Tathen said with a firm nod, ignoring her friend’s sarcasm. “Come and dance!” Tathen grabbed at Elfaer’s arm, but he resisted, rooted to his spot.

“I wouldn’t want to draw any attention from my sister,” he replied quickly. That was a good enough excuse. Tonight was the night Ana’s coming of age was made official. She was glowing and Elfaer was proud of his younger sister. She was handling herself with poise and elegance in flowing silks and glittering jewels, most of which had belonged to their paternal grandmother.

Elfaer’s gaze fell upon his father and mother and both of his grandfathers. Linque stood next to Thranduil and they were deep into a bottle of Dorwinion wine. ‘Some things will never change,’ Elfaer thought with a smirk.

Legolas was looking regal in his silvers and leaves. A circlet crowned his brow, though Elfaer knew that he did not enjoy wearing it. Elfaer, Celeblaer, and Ana also wore silver circlets, though he knew that it was more of a formality.

Elfaer watched his mother fawn over Ana. She straightened Ana’s silver circlet and kissed her daughter’s cheek. Ana smiled, said something to Fanya, who nodded, and Ana bounced off to her little clique of friends. Fanya was not left alone for long, for Legolas appeared behind her almost immediately, kissing her bared shoulder and sliding his arms around her waist to draw her close.

Elfaer wanted love like his parents loved. Like his brother loved his wife. Like the love he saw every day, everywhere.

Someone punched his arm, hard, drawing him right out of his wistful thoughts. He winced and glared at the offending elf, who he was not very surprised to see was Tathen.

“You looked wistful,” she explained. Elfaer rubbed his arm and threw another dirty look at Tathen, who remained unfazed. “Don’t look so pitiful and I won’t have to pity you... Now. Are you going to dance or not?”

Legolas was blissfully happy, because his family was blissfully happy. Nothing made him happier than to relax into the love and security that he and his family created and nothing made him more proud than to see his children grown and experiencing life, no matter how sentimental it made him feel.

“Look at that, love,” Fanya said quietly. He could hear a smile in her voice. He rested his chin on her head and splayed his hands all over her midsection. He squeezed her waist and then kissed her neck lovingly. “Stop that, you naughty elf,” she swatted at his hands. “Look at our son.”

“Celeblaer is with his wife.”

“Not that one, the other one,” Fanya said with little patience, pointing eagerly to the center of the dance floor.

“Elfaer is… Dancing?” It was not a statement, it was shock. Elfaer knew how to dance, but had never willingly exercised the knowledge. “With Tathen,” Legolas noted.

“With Tathen…” Fanya repeated with a knowing smile. Legolas stared at his wife and wondered what she saw through those beautiful blue eyes of hers.

“What?” Legolas asked.

“Nothing,” Fanya replied, turning and wrapping her arms around her husband’s neck. “Let’s… go for a walk in the gardens. I would greatly appreciate the… fresh air,” she said, her voice laden with hidden meaning that Legolas had no problem deciphering. He snaked his arm around her waist and they strolled outside into the moonlight.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Tathen asked with a smile. She already knew he was. She knew how to read her quiet friend.

Elfaer nodded. The dance was quite enjoyable; quick and lively and the kind of dance that provoked laughter that shined in a person’s eyes and soul. He was very glad he could share the experience with his best friend.

Tathen twirled and landed in his arms. She giggled and spun out again, darting away, out of the dance line, teasing him to follow her. She looked back once to make sure he was following, and then exited the building, making for the gardens. She slowed down once outside and looped an arm through his and silently they walked arm in arm through the starlit gardens in a silent and enjoyable camaraderie. They passed lovers in the bushes and generally tried to ignore them until…

“Legolas, stop that! People will – oh my…”

Tathen and Elfaer shared a look of amused awkwardness and managed to wait until they were on the other side of the gardens before they burst out laughing.

In that moment, Elfaer knew that he had met his match.