"Are we truly going back to the library?" Orophin asked Legolas as he followed the Prince of Mirkwood down the hallway of the Last Homely House.

Legolas was walking with a determined stride as he led them away from the bedroom which Rúmil and Orophin had been assigned to share during their stay. Legolas stopped abruptly at the question and Orophin nearly bumped into him. The prince turned and smiled at him and the wickedness of his expression sent a chill up Oro's spine. He was reminded sharply that Thranduil was the father of this elf.

"Do you wish to return to the library?" Legolas asked.

"If... you wish to return to the library," Orophin replied, his heart beating in his chest.

"That is a coward's answer," Legolas said coolly, making Oro feel ashamed of himself.

"I meant only that wherever you should like to go, I am all too willing to follow," Orophin said, lifting his chin.

Legolas took a step towards him, still smiling in that wicked way, and Orophin unwittingly took a step backwards. He found himself too quickly up against a wall. Legolas reached out with long, pale fingers and stroked Oro's silvery blond hair. His blue eyes fell to half-mast and contained unmistakable desire. Orophin felt his whole body reacting, but he also felt a confusion that came hand in hand with terror. Legolas Greenleaf was no wanton. He was well known to be among the most chaste and prudent of elves. Why was he acting like... like Elrohir?

Legolas' smile softened somewhat as he let his fingers trail over Oro's shoulder. "Orophin, you flatter me."

"I think you flatter me, my prince."

"Legolas... just call me Legolas... Let not the difference in our station be mentioned. It has never meant anything before, so it should not now."

Legolas leaned in close, his lips only inches from Orophin's. Oro let his eyes meet those of the Mirkwood elf. Deep azure skies glinted at him. Legolas was a summer day. A vision of heat and light. A temptation, a dream. Orophin wanted to kiss him but he did not dare. He could not possibly be reading this wrong, could he?

"Legolas..."

"What is holding you back?"

"Holding me back?"

"You feel desire. I see it in you. And you know what I am offering. Yet you restrain it. Others would have had me pinned to the floor with half of my clothing removed, by now."

Orophin felt his ears heat up. They were no doubt turning red. "Why? Why are you doing this?"

"Think you that I cannot feel desire?"

"You are not known to be so bold."

"I am bold when I choose to be, and I choose to be now. If you do not wish me to return what I see so evidently in your eyes, then you have only to say so and no longer will I look upon you with desire."

"You have a measure of self-control which few possess, including myself," Orophin admitted.

Legolas smiled. "Perhaps. I like you, Orophin. I always have. The very fact that at this moment you are refusing to take advantage makes me like you more."

"Do not think I do not want to..."

"I know you want to, as everyone else does. But the difference is that I am giving you permission. Go ahead. Kiss me."

It was enough. Orophin bent forward just enough to press his mouth to Legolas'. Legolas wound his arms around the elf of the Galadhrim and kissed him back with determination. Oro melted in his embrace, not used to this subordinate role but very much enjoying it. Oh, Rúmil would be so jealous... everyone would be so jealous. But it was not just that. Orophin had long admired Legolas for reasons aside from his beauty. The kiss broke and Orophin could see that Legolas was breathing as deeply as he was.

"We have a few hours until dinner, and very few visit the library aside from Elladan," Orophin suggested.

"Or we could go back to my chamber," said Legolas.

Orophin's eyes widened. "Well, yes, I suppose we could..."

Legolas took Orophin's hand in his own and led him silently down the hallway. Orophin could not believe this was happening. He had a thousand questions he wanted to ask the prince. Why him? Why now? Was it more than just lust on Legolas' part? What about himself? Did it matter? When he had come to Imladris he had been hoping for little more than indulging his lust with Elrohir as he did from time to time. To say this was unexpected was an understatement...

Legolas opened the door to a large chamber and pushed Orophin inside so roughly that he tripped and went flying into the room. He fell down onto a plush bed which dominated most of the chamber and rolled over onto his back, looking up at the Prince of Mirkwood who was moving towards him slowly. The door closed silently behind him and Legolas slowly peeled off his tunic, revealing a trim, muscular chest. Orophin was having trouble catching his breath. Legolas fell down on the bed next to him and looked at him quietly.

"There are few elves like you, Oro."

"There are no elves like you, Legolas."

Legolas laughed softly. "And you wonder why I choose you."

"I must ask you what you desire of me," Orophin said, hearing a tremor in his own voice.

"I am not asking you to bind yourself to me," Legolas said softly. "Let us just take what pleasure we can in one another's company. If more blooms from it, so be it. If not, we will still have our friendship, I promise you."

Orophin nodded and Legolas kissed him again. It was getting harder and harder for Oro to think. Legolas' hands slid underneath Oro's tunic and stroked his heated flesh. Orophin groaned against Legolas' mouth and before he could form another thought his tunic was on the floor with the prince's. Their arms and legs twined together, their leggings a thin barrier that stimulated rather than prohibited their lust. Legolas' hand slid to the ties of Orophin's leggings. Oro was sure he was in a dream and bound to awaken any moment.

He did not waken.

The dinner hour came too quickly. Oro lay exhausted beneath Legolas, who had enfolded him gently in his embrace. The Prince of Mirkwood put all others Orophin had ever lain with to shame, few that they were. He was enthusiastic, but tender. He was forceful, but considerate. It would be far too easy to fall in love with him, Orophin thought, but he still did not know if Legolas sought love at all. After all, they were not of the same lands. Parting was inevitable.

He wondered if his question of "why" would ever be answered.

It did matter, he thought. At least with Legolas. Oro needed answers... but Legolas only smiled at him quietly and his face betrayed nothing.