Pan ned annan (all in time)

The council of Elrond

To Elrohir's surprise, he too had been summoned to attend this meeting. He had been puzzled but had dressed himself in his formal robe anyway. It would be his first official meeting since Elladan had...had...died. The word in itself was still hard to say. Elrohir sighed and left his chambers.

He walked through the corridors and stopped in front of Elrond's private chambers, knocking softly before entering. He watched as his father stood looking out the window. "Elrohir, I was beginning to think you wouldn't hear my summoning," Elrond said softly and turned around, watching his son.

"I did, Ada," Elrohir mumbled and moved to sit in a chair. Elrond did not often summon someone, and when he did it was seldom with good news.

Elrond kept standing and absentmindedly began to massage his temples. "Elrohir, my son. It is important you hear me, and do my bidding," he said and looked at the young Elf.

"Ada?" Elrohir whispered, growing increasingly nervous.

"As you might have heard through rumours, the One Ring of Power has emerged once more. And this time it is of utmost importance to destroy it, before it and its master destroy all of us." Elrond sighed and rested his hand on the corner of his desk. "What I am trying to say is…if the ring is here, one of the Halflings carry it. Now it is up to us to see it off once more; it must be destroyed where it was made. Today we will send a party off on this journey. I have summoned all races of Middle-earth: Elves, Men, and Dwarfs." Elrond stopped and looked upon his son to make sure he understood.

"What does all of this have to do with me? You know I am a valiant warrior. I will see the Ring destroyed, Ada," Elrohir said, feisty, and was about to rise fros chs chair.

Elrond gently pushed him down in the chair once more. "That was what I was afraid of, my son. You, of all Elves, are *not* going with this party. I want you to understand this, and not volunteer for this mission."

"But Ada, I can do this," Elrohir stated childishly.

"I care not, Elrohir. I will not lose another loved one to the dark creatures of Sauron." Elrond spoke this sternly.

Elrohir paled. "But Legolas said that…"

"Yes, I know Thranduil has sent Legolas to attend this meeting, well aware of what it could lead to," the Lord said more softly.

"But what if?" Elrohir started, but was cut of by his father's voice.

"Then it is something we will all have to live with. He would have lost his life for the safety of all."

"How can be tbe this cold, Ada?" Elrohir exploded.

"That is not my intention, my son; I would never deliberately harm any other living creature, you know this of me. So how can you say such harsh words, Elrohir?" Elrond looked sad and sat down. "But every war has its casualties," he whispered.

"Forgive me, Ada," Elrohir said and began to finger the buttons on his robe. "But you cannot ask me to see Legolas off to his death."

At this Elrond snapped up his head and frowned. "You will not disobey me, child!" he hissed.

Elrohir bit his lip seeing his father's rage and nodded. "No Ada, I will not. I promise to do your bidding no matter how much I think it would be against my own wishes and the greater good of Middle-earth." He looked directly at Elrond and saw just anged sad sadness there.

"You are dismissed," Elrond said with a tired voice. "Be at the entrance to the east gardens shortly."

Elrohir stood up and swept out of the room, walking with large and angry steps towards the east gardens. He saw a commotion of dient peoppeople and Elves-and Dwarfs. He wrinkled his nose in disgust; he had never thought it would come to this, that these vile beings would tread in Rivendell.

Then he saw Estel talking to Legolas and some of the advisors that Thranduil had sent with his son. Elrohir walked over to them and wrapped his arms around Legolas's waist. This was the first time in his life he had shown affection in public, and it still felt a little strange to him. But if his lover was to go on this suicide mission-his father apparently thought it was such-then he would not spend their last day not showing the affection he felt.

Legolas smiled and laid his head back on Elrohir's shoulder. "Prince Elrohir," he whispered.

Elrohir squeezed his lover and whispered, "Prince Legolas."

Then Estel cleared his throat. "Excuse me," he said, disrupting them.

Elrohir and Legolas both blushed, but Elrohir smiled at his foster brother. "Good day to you too, Estel."

"I see you found the Prince after all," Estel chuckled.

"I did," Elrohir said and giggled before planting a kiss on Legolas's neck.

Then Elrond arrived and Legolas made a move to get free of Elrohir's embrace, but Elrohir just squeezed tighter. He kissed the column of his blond lover's neck, watching Elrond with an angry glare. Elrond looked away from his son and sat down in his chair in front of the stone altar. "Let us begin," he said, and spread out his arms in a gesture for all to sit.

Elrohir reluctantly let go of Legolas, who turned around and placed a chaste kiss on Elrohir's lips. "I love you," he whispered before he went to sit between the Mirkwood advisors. Elrohir sat down in his chair next to his father, risking a look in Legolas's direction. Instead he met Glorfindel's eyes; the golden lord smiled reassuringly at the young Elf and smiled a mysterious smile. Elrohir smiled back and then got himself comfortable to listen to his father's speech.

Elrond kept speaking of shadows and threats-Elrohir did not want to listen, for if he did he would disobey his father's wish and volunteer for the quest. He looked over at the empty chair next to his father; this was Elladan's chair. No one had dared to remove it nor sit in it. So it just stood there, empty as a reminder of the space Elladan had left in Arda. He then looked over towards Legolas and smiled. The Prince of Mirkwood smiled back, but quickly returned his attention to Elrond's words.

When the Ring was placed on the altar, Elrohir could not take his eyes from it.

/Eärendil-Elrond-Elrohir/ A voice whispered in his mind… /Elrohir-Elladan/

With this he could bring back Elladan…he could…Elrohir s his his head. This was folly. The Ring was evil; nothing good would ever come from it. He knew it in his heart, but still he could hear it whisper softly to him. He was so wrapped up in his own mind that he did not even notice the commotion that occurred.

And then the Halfling stood up and walked over to the altar, claiming he would take the Ring to Mordor, to see it destroyed in the very heart of Mount Doom. Gandalf spoke as well, but Estel stole his attention.

He watched Estel rise from his seat saying, "If by life or death I can protect you, I will…you have my sword." Elrohir's jaw dropped. Elrond had let Estel go, but not him?!-Did his father see him as less skilled than his foster brother? Elrohir turned around to voice an objection, but his eye was caught by Legolas, who stood up and said, "And you have my bow."

Elrohir felt like his heart would burst. /No! -Don't do this!/

Legolas looked over at Elrohir, but Elrohir just looked away, ashamed that he could not go with his heart. To join the quest and protect his foster brother and his lover. To his surp Elr Elrond laid a hand on his shoulder, giving him his silent support. Elrohir was so consumed by his own despair that he did not even notice that more joined the quest.

He woke when he heard his father's voice say, "Nine companions, so be it; you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."

Elrohir turned his head again and looked at the nine companions. Ai, this was a suicide mission indeed. Halflings and a Dwarf. He sighed and looked at his hands in his lap.

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Later when the meeting was over, Elrohir hurried to Legolas's guest chambers, opening the door slowly and watching his lover pack his saddlebag. "Legolas?"

The Prince of Mirkwood spun around and looked at the half-Elf. "What is wrong, Elrohir?"

Elrohir closed the door and grabbed Legolas's arm. "Don't go, please don't go," he whispered in a pained tone.

"I have to, you know that," Legolas said and kissed Elrohir's lips tenderly. "Remember I promised to return."

"I know you promised, but I wonder if you can keep that promise," Elrohir whined and wrapped his arms around his lover, purring as Legolas claimed his lips in a deep kiss.

They were brutally disrupted as Estel knocked on the doorframe, clearing his throat once more. "Legolas, I am afraid we have to leave now."

Elrohir let go of his lover and wiped an escaped tear away before turning to look at Estel. "Ada let you go?"

Estel nodded. "In fact, he urged me to."

Elrohir was dumbstruck "What?!"

"Ada urged me to join this Fellowship. Why did you not come, brother? I have never known you to back out of a dangerous journey," Estel said, and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Estel has a point, Elrohir-why did you not just come with us, if you are so concerned for our safety?" Legolas said behind him.

Elrohir hung his head in defeat; he would have to tell them the truth. "Ada forbid me to go," he whispered.

Estel's features flashed with compassion, and he walked over and gathered his sad brother in a embrace. "I understand, Elrohir; you cannot go against your sire's wishes, no matter how wrong you might find them." Legolas wrapped his arms around both of them. "I am sorry, but I promise we will return unharmed to you."

Elrohir began to sob; this was just too much. He would never forgive his father for having him endure this humiliation.

"But dearest Elrohir, have you thought that perhaps Ada just wishes for a valiant soldier to stay here, and guard the borders of Imladris?" Estel offered.

"He has Lord Glorfindel," Elrohir whined.

"Whatever reason he had, I am sure it is more than plausible," Legolas whispered and kissed Elrohir's neck softly.

"I hope so," Elrohir whispered.

"It pains my heart to see your despair, Elrohir, but Legolas and I must really hurry to meet up with the Ringbearer now," Estel said softly, and placed a kiss on Elrohir's forehead.

"I understand," Elrohir said and moved out of the embrace, bracing himself before walking down to the courtyard with them.

Before Legolas could go to the Fellowship, Elrohir grabbed his arm once more. "I love you, please return to me," he whispered.

"I love you more, and I promise by my life that I will return to you," Legolas vowed, and kissed his lover before moving along to the Fellowship.

Elrond showed up, apparently to see the Fellowship off, and while he spoke Elrohir felt an arm snake around his waist. He turned his head and saw Arwen, her eyes just as filled with fear as his. She rested her head on his shoulder. "They will return," she whispered.

- TBC -

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I am aware that this fic changed style in the middle, I stopped writing it, cuz I had to be in a certain mood to write this, and when I picked it up again, my writing style had changed. So the start of this fic is alot different from the end. I just wanted to let you know- thanks to Milly for not letting me give up this fic :
- This is Betaed by Miriel, thank you woman for jumping to my rescue.
I want to stress out that this is NOT canon, I did not intend it to follow canon, just don't flame me
-Az