Amystika

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Legolas laughed as he pushed Elrohir back into the river. Elrohir sputtered and reached out to pull the younger Elf into the water. Elladan moved behind Legolas to help push the blonde into the river, fully intending to follow soon after. The play ended with a rather large splash.

The three had decided to spend the morning at the shallow river. In part to bathe, and in part to play.

Elladan, growing tired of the game, and wanting to speak with his father, pulled himself from the river and dressed. "I must go," he announced; "as I have to speak with father and grandfather."

Elrohir came up to the bank, "About what?"

The elder twin smiled coyly, "Matters."

Legolas huffed, "Matters that you cannot tell us?"

"Yes."

Elrohir gave his brother a strange look but nodded. "Tell father that we will be in for lunch? It won't be thirty minutes."

Elladan nodded and headed towards the houses. With his brother gone, Elrohir turned to speak with Legolas, only to find that the younger Elf had vanished. "Legolas?"

He heard a soft laugh and turned to the sound. Legolas was perched on a boulder on the river's edge. "You are not much of a hunter."

"Oh?" the younger of the twins said, moving to pull himself up on the boulder as well. "And does that make you the prey?"

Legolas shrugged, "Do I seem to be prey?"

Elrohir looked the blonde over, "Well, you do seem too fragile to be a warrior."

Legolas pushed Elrohir off the boulder, "I am not fragile."

"Indeed not," Elrohir laughed, wringing out his hair and pulling himself up. "But if I am a hunter, than what is my prey?"

Legolas shrugged and retrieved his clothes. Elrohir dressed quickly and the two made their way back to the housesforefore reaching the main yard, Elrohir laid a hand on Legolas' arm to stop their movement.

"I wish to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"You have no bond-mate in your world... Do you?"

Legolas gave Elrohir an odd look, "No. But what interest would you have?"

"S-Should you be unable to return," Elrohir stammered; "would you consider... bonding... w-with me?"

Legolas was startled, "Elrohir..."

"If you do not wish to, I understand. But, it's just that, since you came here, since we've met, I have only felt the love I felt for the Legolas I knew before... I know you are not ~him~, but... you seem like it. I mean, you feel the same as he did. Ai! I cannot fully explain it. But please, just know that I feel love for you? I can understand if you do not... But I thought that if you were unable to return to your world..."

Legolas shook his head and lifted a hand to silence the younger twin. "Elrohir, you are rambling."

The blonde lifted a hand and cupped Elrohir's cheek. Examining Elrohir's eyes, Legolas tried to sort out his own emotions. "I... I do feel an attraction to you, Elrohir. But I do not know if it wise to pursue this..."

"Then you do not want me."

Legolas shook his head as something in his mind clicked. "I did not say that..."

Getting an idea, Legolas took the leaf brooch he had recieved in Lorien durin the Quest and took Elrohir's hand. "See this as my promise," the blonde said, placing the brooch in his friend's hand. "If I cannot return to my own world, or you cannot come with me," the last part was added with a smile; "then I will bond with you. I do not fully understand what I am feeling, for it is both a great friendship, as well as a desire I have not felt. But keep my promise, for I do mean what I say."

Elrohir grinned and replaced his own brooch with the one Legolas had just given. "I have nothing for you... But this." Elrohir gave Legolas a quick, chaste kiss. "That is my promise."

Legolas smiled and looked to the house where he saw Haldir going in with a few of the warriors. "Come, we will be late for lunch."

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"Are you certain that he must do this?"

Elrond sighed and looked is eis eldest son. "He may refuse."

Elladan shook his head, "You know he will not."

"It is his choice to make," Celeborn said.

"You send him to his death."

"What would you have us do?" Elrond asked, frustrated.

Elladan hesitated, "Tell him! Legolas has a right to know what we intend to put him through. He has a right to ~understand~ the dangers."

Celeborn sighed, "We will not allow him to go unprepared."

"Elrohir loves him," Elladan blurted. "And Elrohir will be the one to follow Legolas through the Trials. Surely you will not risk him."

Elrond grew angry, "I will not risk anyone. Legolas will not go unprepared, and he will be fully aware of what he will agree to. Now, go find your brother and take part in the meal. I will be speaking with Legolas after lunch."

Elladan huffed and left, leaving his father and grandfather to whatever it was that they were planning. He stopped in the Hall of Fire and looked around, spotting his brother standing with Legolas and Haldir a little ways away from the rest of the gathered Elves. He made his way over and immediately noticed that his brother was wearing the leaf-shaped brooch Legolas had always worn.

Turning his attention to the younger blonde, Elladan decided to warn of his father's mood. "Father has become ill-tempered. And he will wish to speak with you after lunch, Legolas."

"You would not be the cause of his ill mood, would you Elladan?" Elrohir asked, smirking.

"And why would he wish to speak with me?" asked Legolas.

Elladan glared at his brother before turning attention to Legolas. "He wishes to discuss something of importance. It is iculicult to explain."

Legolas' attention was suddenly taken by one of the warriors that Legolas had befriended and he excused himself. As soon as Legolas had wandered off, Elrohir turned to his brother.

"Father wants him to take the Trials, doesn't he?"

Elladan nodded, "He will not relent, but he will explain all he can to Legolas. It will most likely be left to us to explain the importance of them."

"Or the da..."..." Haldir muttered.

The twins frowned and Elrohir spoke, "We will not lose him, Haldir."

"You will be his guide, this time," Haldir pointed out. He flicked the brooch lightly, "Legolas has chosen you."

"Haldir..."

"It was not your fault that our Legolas fell," Elladan stated. "None of us expected the attack."

"We should have," Haldir said bitterly. "The Shadow had slipped past our guard, and we payed with freedom because we were unaware."

Haldir turned to Elrohir, "Do not lose him, Elrohir."

"I do not intend to."

The three turned as Legolas returned. "Elrohir, Lord Elrond asked for you to come as well."

Elrohir nodded, "I will speak with you later, Elladan, Haldir."

The two nodded and Elrohir left with Legolas.

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Next chapter, the explanation of the AU Legolas' death, and the Trials.