Chapter 1
Excerpt from the letter of Elessar, High King of Gondor, to Elladan and Elrohir, Lords of Rivendell
Today Legolas visited us for the first time after returning from his travels with Gimli, son of Gloin. He brought the Dwarf with him. Imagine my surprise when they declared their love for each other. Of course, their growing affection was hard to miss even before they left but nobody suspected the form it will take. Well, when I say nobody, I mean nobody but my wife, your sister, with whom Legolas confided, as she tells me now. I want to be happy for both of my friends but I can foresee the obstacles they will face. Their path won't be easy.
'This is madness, Elladan, complete, stark, raving madness. I can understand many things, but falling for a dwarf? Even a single thought of them together is more than a little disturbing. And declaring him in public as his mate!'
Elladan raised his eyes from the letter at Elrohir, who was pacing the room, never breaking his tirade.
'Legolas never did anything by halves. And it was hardly in public.'
'Doesn't matter,' said Elrohir. 'Don't tell me this is normal. In my opinion, he has simply lost his mind. Most probably as a result of denied sea-longing, if you ask me.'
'I doubt it. I have never heard of sea-longing afflicting elves in this way. Mind you, I don't understand his actions myself but this is hardly a reason to declare him mad.'
'Oh, isn't it? Well, I must say I'm surprised at your calmness. Taking into account your and Legolas's history-'
'Oh, yes?'
'Of course, Legolas has always been, let's say, eccentric.'
'Has he been indeed?'
'Even you must admit it', continued Elrohir, undaunted by his brother's increasingly frosty tone. 'All this effort he put into convincing Thranduil that he was not fit to be a heir to the Mirkwood's throne! Most people would devote their life to the opposite purpose, but no, not Legolas. At first I thought him a complete fool, than a raving lunatic. Eccentric is a charitable expression. Not his fault, perhaps, a youth spent in Mirkwood would taint everyone one way or another. And having Thranduil for a father-'
'Elrohir, please stop. I remind you we are talking about my friend. I might have never imagined that his relations with the dwarf will go so far-' said Elladan.
'Who would? I must say you had a lucky escape in your time, brother. Imagine Legolas leaving you now for a dwarf.'
Elladan looked embarassed around the room, hoping against hope for some interruption from a third party. Unfortunately, Rivendell was all but abandoned now, and those few elves who remained there had rarely any need to consult their nominal rulers.
'Could we please change the subject?' he finally said. 'You know perfectly well that we parted long ago and without any regrets on either side.'
'Good for you, then. Although I can't imagine what have you have seen in Legolas.' Changing a subject Elrohir was determined to pursue had never been an easy matter. 'Pleasant enough to look at, true, but with a very unnerving personality. I could never understand him. Overexcitable and always fixated on something, too. Of couse, it must have been quite interesting to be the focus of all this attention, at least for a little while.'
Elladan decided that any contribution to the talk on his part was superfluous. Allowing Elrohir to have his say had always been the best policy.
'And now he choses Arwen as his confidant,' continued Elrohir. 'I wonder why? I suppose he might see some similarities between his situation and hers, if one wishes to stretch the matters to absurdity. Still, I gather from Estel's letter that all this foolishness started when we still were in Gondor. I should suspect you would be his first choice. Or did he approach you?'
'We planned to visit Minas Tirith anyway, didn't we?' said Elladan.
Elrohir raised his brow at this non sequitur and looked out of the corner of his eye at him.
'So we did. And?'
'Perhaps we should hurry it up.'
'It won't be too difficult to arrange,' said Elrohir. 'We both know that we are not exactly neccessary here nowadays. You want to talk some sense into Legolas, don't you?'
Elladan opened his mouth, and closed it again. At any rate, Elrohir was in full flow now and didn't expect an answer.
'Actually I doubt anyone can reason with him, once he set his mind to something. In his own way Legolas is as pigheaded as his father, which is saying a lot. By the way, what I really wish to have seen is Thranduil's reaction when he learnt whom his son has chosen for a mate. Preferably from afar, of course.'
'He must be in need of some support now.'
'Thranduil?! Well, he may well be but I don't see how-'
'Legolas,' said Elladan patiently. 'You are right, I don't imagine Thranduil taking it calmly. Gimli must have met with some opposition from his family as well...'
xxxx
Excerpt from the letter of Dwalin, Lord of Erebor, to Gimli son of Gloin.
I am saddened by your father's reaction, although I can understand the reasons for it. Let us hope you will reconcile soon. To show my support for you, I am sending to Minas Tirith my youngest children, Nidi and Nordri, with the party of other artisans. I will be glad if they complete their apprenticeship in masonry in rebuilding the capital of Gondor. There is no object more worthy of their craft. They are young, as you know, but already skilled, even if it is my fatherly indulgence saying so.
Gimli stopped reading.
'Nidi and Nordri, well, time flies. They haven't been even fully grown when I saw them last.'
Legolas was sitting on the foor in what always had seem to Gimli an incredibly uncomfortable position, with his knees under his chin. He was listening in silence, but with increasingly shining eyes. Gimli smiled to him, and Legolas smiled back.
'You are lucky in your family, Gimli,' said Legolas. 'Those are the kindest words any of us heard lately from our kin.'
They were, but Gimli was afraid that Legolas might be reading too much from them.
'I am not sure Dwalin understands fully the bond we have. He may think it resulted from... an accident and is resigned to make the best of it.'
Legolas's face fell and Gimli hastened to reassure him. After all, it didn't need to be necessarily that way. Dwalin was a very special person.
'But you are right, I knew that if anyone would show some tolerance towards us, it would be him.'
'And why is that so?'
'He met with some prejudice himself in his time. He married into the clan of Firebeards and many looked askance at this. Of course marriages outside Durin's clan are not unheard of, nor even unusual, but relatively rare nowadays, especially for someone in his position. And he had always been very accepting and compassionate. I wish my father was half so understanding.'
'Don't despair, friend. He may never accept me but he will forgive you in time. You share a very strong bond, and it won't easily be broken.'
'Legolas, I know you don't like to mention this but... what about your father?'
'No news. My letters are returned unanswered. I am sorry, Gimli, I should have never put you through all this. He liked you well enough when he met you, so I thought-'
'Don't fret about this. It's only natural that he was enraged. You were the first elf ever to bring home a dwarf as a mate, or at least the first we know about. I only hoped there would be some elves who would at least try to understand you.'
'They were some' answered Legolas quickly. Does Dwalin say when his sons are going to arrive?'
'Not sooner than in three months.'
Excerpt from the letter of Arwen, Queen of Gondor, to Legolas of Mirkwood.
Gimli's cousins, Nordri and Nidi, paid me a visit today. They intend to join you soon. Unfortunatelly, Ellesar is away to the border with Rohan, as you know, otherwise he would be glad of greeting them himself.
They are twin brothers, very much alike in the countenance, but it is nevertheless easy to distinguish them: one should wait only for one of the brothers to speak. They remind me in this respect of Elladan and Elrohir. Strangers often confuse them, although each has a distinct pattern of speech.
On the subject of my brothers, they intend to pay us a visit soon. I am sure they would welcome an opportunity of meeting you.-
Legolas paused. 'The rest does not bring any more news.'
'Why on earth she feels compelled to write to you at all when she saw you only yesterday is beyond my comprehension. Nordri and Nidi arrived before the letter,' said Gimli. 'And distinct pattern of speech, indeed. I suppose that's Elvish for: only one talks but more than enough for two.'
Legolas untypically didn't raise to the bait.
'Legolas, are you listening?'
'I am sorry, what did you say?'
'Doesn't matter,' said Gimli. 'Is anything troubling you?'
'I was just thinking.'
'Ah yes, you are thinking, so you cannot speak. I forgot that you elves can do only one thing at a time. So please stop thinking and let's join my cousins. Mahal knows what they imagine we are doing in here.'
Further excerpt from the letter of Arwen, Queen of Gondor, to Legolas of Mirkwood.
I know not what occured between you and Elladan but please try to reconcile you differences. It would be a great misfortune if after years of so close friendship you grew apart.
xxxx
Excerpt from the letter of Nordri, son of Dwalin, to his father.
We are settling well. Minas Tirith is a wondrous place, although once can still see the traces of war. The damage is extensive, particularly to the outer walls, but the renewal works are progressing fast. Nidi promises to write more fully about our works in his letter.
'If he sits down and writes one,' thought Nordri. 'All his letters have to be practically dictated.'
I am sure you would like to hear about the Elf. He seems a sensible person and is very kind to Gimli. I still feel uneasy in his presence but as you know I don't take easily to strangers. Nidi finds the society of Legolas quite pleasant.
Nordri stopped writing for a moment and looked surreptitiously at Gimli, who was sharing a belated supper with Nidi and Legolas. No, if he was any judge Gimli seemed happy enough. Laughing now and trying to sit as close to Legolas as possible without actual touching. And the Elf, once seated and not so disconcertingly tall, didn't seem that bizzare at all. He had a restful air about him and never tried to force conversation, a quality which Nordri, the youngest child in a large and boisterous family, praised very highly. As a matter of fact there might even be some truth in Gimli's claims of the Elf's beauty, although the pale and beardless face still seemed strange to Nordri. What else to write? Ah, there was something...
We are going to have more elven company before long. Gimli tells me that Lords of Rivendell, the brothers of Queen Arwen, are going to visit Minas Tirith soon. Nidi is eager to meet them since we heard of them as of warriors of great skill and courage. I will be glad to make their aquaintance, too.
The talk by the table turned now to the Battle of Cormallen and, as often happened with the twins, Nidi's thoughts were apparently running in a similar direction.
'So Elrohir and Elladan of Rivendell are your distant kin? What kinship is this?' asked Nidi.
For some reason, his question met with burst of laugh from Gimli, joined soon by Legolas.
'What did I say? Shouldn't I ask?'
'Nidi,' answered Gimli. 'There is only one race, apart from the elves, who can follow and comprehend the answer to your question and I assure you they aren't the dwarves. In fact I can remember Peregrin Took asking a similar question once. I went to sleep after five minutes and when I woke up half an hour later Legolas was still explaining. And the hobbit kept asking for clarifications and details. Legolas tired out much sooner than he did.'
'After that time in Lothlorien I carefully avoided mentioning family in the presence of hobbits. They thirst for knowledge in this respect is insatiable.'
'So, Nidi, if you really wish to know, please contain your curiosity at least till I leave,' said Gimli. 'Then, you have my permission to pester Legolas about his genealogical tree as much as you like.'
'Thank you kindly, friend,' answered Legolas.
