The War of the Ring had stretched long in your heart. Fourteen months were not even a heartbeat in the longev life of an elf, still, each moon ached in your bones.

All for him; Legolas, prince of the Woodland Realm. The first friend you had ever known. Back when you were but two elvlings who ran through the forest with no care in the world. Back when he would try to impress you with his bow, back when you acted amazed every single time.

Time since had passed. The playful boy grew into a well-manered prince, skilled in battle and courageous in his own right. You, too, grew: up but never apart. A childish friendship that soon bloomed into a courtship that extended slowly through the decades.

The air felt different without him around, Rivendell felt the quiet absence of its prince, and you lived in your tiny little world. You lingered in the corners were you saw him most.

Trust him was, if anything, the thing you did the most. Legolas' skills with his bow were unmatched, and his senses were always attune with his surroundings. Yet you could not help but fear. This threat, this War—it was all different from everything you had faced before.

The evil that crept from Mordor had slowly started to poison the rivers and the forests, the air and the people. You had seen it in the eyes of everyone you respected, even Elrond had displayed unease at the situation—much more given what Arwen had gone through.

Now the War was over. Thanks to the great bravery of the two Hobbits, the Ring had been destroyed. Mordor had fallen. Aragorn had been crowned⎯the time of the Men had begun.

You walked the entrance to Rivendell seamlessly. Your hands brushed everything they managed to reach. Legolas was due to return today, that was what the letters said. You could hardly remain in the comfort of your chambers knowing he could walk in in any given moment.

Your feet slowly dragged you to the forest. The rustle of the wind on the green leaves spoke to you, putting your troubles at ease. They whispered his name, urging him home.

You closed your eyes, and heard a voice. You turned around in the blink of an eye. Legolas. His hair was braided the way it had almost always been⎯with the two delicate braids on each side, over his ears. His blond hair fell over his shoulders as he looked at you. He wore a brown cloak, clipped together by a leaf-shapped pin⎯how very suiting.

Legolas walked closer, hands clasped together over his lap. You opened your mouth to speak, and he chuckled. "I simply knew you were here. I felt it."