Title: Attestation
Characters: Elladan & Elrohir, Legolas
Prompt: 064. Fall
Rating: PG
Summary: The turn of a season portends the beginning of a new phase in Legolas and Elrohir's friendship.

Yavië T.A. 167
Elrohir savagely batted away a leaf that had dared to waft down onto his face. His brother glanced at him with amusement.

"There is no need to vent your spleen on an innocent leaf," Elladan mildly reproved. "'Tis hardly its fault that you chose to come this way."

Elrohir glared at him then subsided with a sigh when Elladan only responded with an indulgent grin. "I hate autumn," he muttered.

The older twin smothered a snicker. "Since when?" he speciously wondered. "You have always enjoyed the onset of leaf-fall. Why this sudden dislike?"

Elrohir kicked at a mound of leaves just as a sharp breeze swept down the orchard lane, snatching up the scattering foliage into a flurry of rust, brown and gold. The Elf-knight forlornly stared at the swirling mass.

Elladan draped an arm around his shoulder. "You act as if this will be the last you will see of him," he said.

"It may be," Elrohir retorted.

"And it may not," Elladan countered. He shook Elrohir slightly. "I do not think Legolas intends it to be."

A hint of color stained his brother's cheeks. "He is his father's heir," Elrohir pointed out. "He cannot always do as he desires."

"Nor can we, yet we manage to have our way enough to suit us," Elladan reminded him. "And Legolas does not strike me as one who permits others to order his life for him."

"Nay, but his sense of duty is as strong as ours," Elrohir said. "There are certain obligations he is bound to uphold."

"Obligations he is ready to circumvent should the need arise. Or so you told me."

"He did say this."

"And he also said that he would consider your request." At Elrohir's nod, Elladan lightly punched his arm. "Then why so doleful? Do not such assurances please you?"

"I am pleased," Elrohir averred. "I never expected that he would treat me thusly. But there is no surety that he can indeed fulfill his intentions. Not always. And not when the well-being of the Greenwood folk is at stake. Between the needs of his people and the wishes of a single Elf from another land, what think you will he choose?"

Elladan snorted. "And what need could possibly persist without end? Really, Elrohir, you are creating obstacles where there are none as yet!" He chuckled, earning a frown from his brother. "You have truly fallen hard that 'tis I who must now hearten you when, in times past, 'twas you who oft cheered me up."

Before Elrohir could reply, Elladan grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him back down the lane toward the house.

"Do not waste your time fretting over what might or might not come to be when you still have a whole fortnight's worth of his company," he told his protesting twin. "Be glad for what you do have, Elrohir!"

Effectively silenced, Elrohir stared at him in amazement. "Thank you," he murmured sheepishly. "I have indeed been wallowing in baseless fancies. In this you have proved wiser than I, brother."

Elladan smirked. "Then perhaps Father should reconsider training you to be my chief counsellor," he suggested. He barely evaded an indignant swat.

Elrohir did as his brother counselled and indeed found much to enjoy in the remaining two weeks of the woodland prince's stay. Altogether he counted that summer one of the most memorable of his young life and he had ample reason to believe that Legolas deemed it so as well. Nonetheless, as the archer's visit drew to a close and Legolas prepared for his journey home, the young Elf-knight could not help the pangs of imminent loss that smote him each passing day.

oOoOoOo

The morning of his departure, Legolas found a slender package at the door to his bedchamber. Wrapped in a swath of dark blue cloth was a knife encased in a fine leather sheath. A long, white-hilted knife of a make foreign to the Wood-elf. Ah, wait, he had seen Glorfindel brandish a blade of similar design. He twirled it experimentally and was delighted at how right the hilt felt in his hand. Examining it further, he saw that his name had been inscribed on one side of the blade, his royal insignia on the other. His eyes gleamed with pleasure at such an apt and beauteous gift.

He immediately sought out Elrohir, drawing him aside to sit apart from the others in the dining hall. Smiling, he showed the knife at his belt to the youth and warmly thanked him. Elrohir lifted shining eyes to him.

"I am so glad it pleases you," he said.

"How did you come by it?" Legolas inquired.

"It is one of a pair that was gifted on me my last begetting day," Elrohir explained. "Elladan received a similar set. Father and his brother Elros received them from Gil-galad when they first came to his court in Lindon. Elros gave instructions ere he died that certain of his belongings be sent to Ada. His knives were among them." Elrohir's smile turned just a shade pensive. "'Twas to me that Ada gave those knives because he said he saw something of his brother in me."

"Will he not be displeased that you have parted with one?" Legolas said with concern.

Elrohir shook his head. "I told him I wanted to give you something dear to me," he replied. "As an expression of my gratitude at earning your friendship."

The archer's eyes softened. "Then I will treasure this gift all the more," he declared.

They were just about done with breakfast when Legolas's people approached and informed him that all was in readiness for their departure. Elrohir did his best to school his expression, pressing his lips together to keep them from trembling. But something of his sorrow showed through nonetheless.

"Will you see me off?" Legolas asked.

Elrohir nodded, not trusting himself to speak without betraying himself in some way. He walked with Legolas to the courtyard in silence. Elladan joined him when the archer turned to speak to their parents.

He remained subdued as he watched Legolas thank Elrond and Celebrían for their hospitality ere bidding them farewell. Elladan surreptitiously rubbed his back in sympathy and he glanced at his twin, casting him a rather crooked smile. He was quite startled therefore when Legolas took him by his elbow and, with a tilt of his head, indicated he desired a private moment with him.

They walked to Legolas's horse but the archer did not mount at once. Instead, he solemnly gazed at the younger of Elrond's sons who had more than simply befriended him.

"I will miss you," he said. He placed a hand on Elrohir's shoulder and felt the faint tremor that proved the youth less than composed. "Will you write me? Keep me informed of what you are about?"

Elrohir swallowed and nodded. "And will you do the same?" he asked.

That earned him a chuckle. "Of course. How else shall I let you know if I decide to grant your request?"

Elrohir flushed at the teasing reminder of his boldness. Of a sudden, he felt a surge of urgency and he reached up to touch the hand that gripped his shoulder. Looking earnestly at the prince, he said just a tad breathlessly: "Legolas, the rite itself means little to me. I may well follow Elladan's example and choose not to observe it. Indeed, I do not know if I will be ready come my majority to – to be intimate with anyone. That is, anyone other than you. Should that be the case… will my request still hold merit with you?"

He shivered under the Wood-elf's gaze. He felt Legolas's hand turn under his to clasp it then caught his breath when the archer drew their joined hands toward himself to press them to his breast. Over his heart, Elrohir realized with a thrill.

"It matters not how and when you finally decide to share yourself, pen neth"—young one—Legolas softly assured him. "To be asked to guide you in your first intimacy is in itself a great honor. I am deeply moved that you would entrust me with so precious a milestone in your life." He smiled at the Elf-knight with aching tenderness. "Until we meet again, Elrohir Elrondion."

Elrohir felt an answering smile curve his mouth. "Until we meet again," he responded, his voice now steady.

He was much lighter of heart as he watched the Greenwood Elves ride out of the courtyard. Especially when Legolas threw him a parting grin, his hand going to his belt to touch the knife that hung from it. With that, Elrohir broke into a smile so dazzling Elladan covered his eyes in spurious defense against its brilliance.

Glossary:
yavië – Quenya for autumn
Ada – Papa
Elrondion – son of Elrond

To be continued...