DISCLAIMER: They are not mine, you know it. 

Author Notes: Thanks a lot to my Beta reader Katana, not only for beta reading, but for encouraging reviews. You are wonderful mellon nin!

Feanen: Thanks!

"…": Better give me en elf :grins:

Ryoko: the Welsh elf: :Blushes: Thanks a lot.

Amy: No I haven't abandoned them!I will finish each and every story I have started, it's just I decided to finish one first and so on because I don't have much time.

Ember: Thanks to you for your wonderful reviews! Leting you know my updates is the least I can do.

SayAye: Yes! I started very subtle, but those two are a couple and in next chapters their relation will be more obvious.

Ebony Falcon: Here it is!

Alida Fruit: (who has NOT updated Fading Hope) I really imagine the twins relation like that, so close, funny and special that only with actions I can describe it.

Mel: Wish granted

Static X Fan: Well, here it is the next chapter!

Philomena: (Still breathing?) Hope you like this chapter!

PLEASE REVIEW I will really appreciate it. If you are a fanfic writer you know what a review means. So please do it. And if you are not, do it anyway and make a girl happy (very happy)

Chapter VIII

The next days were quite strange since nobody saw either the prince of Mirkwood or the young lords of Imladris. Even then, nobody took it like the calm before the storm.  Legolas was known for his strategic mind, *an ability that most of the time he used to plot pranks out of the ordinary. When he needed one of those he could up come with it quite easily. The prank to avenge the honor of the House of Oropher was simple: it consisted in a deep hole in the ground covered by leafs. The mastery of the prank was how to make the victims fall in it.

            Elladan and Elrohir had been wandering these shores in these past days trying to calm themselves after the harsh words of the Sindarin prince, but instead of thinking calming thoughts they could just think about how it was possible that everything with Legolas ended so badly. Unfortunately for them, they had that deep connection that needed no words and so the prince spying on them among the high branches of the Mallorn wasn't able to know that the entire spider thing was a misunderstanding. 

And so he planned the prank. Completely recovered by then, Legolas arrived at the usual path the twins took at the river earlier than them and hide himself on the branches with his bow ready. He felt a little uneasy, because he really liked the twins, but then it was clearly that they didn't like him, was it not?

          *"Alone, always alone" he thought "How can someone care for me? Why would they?" the prince had the strong conviction that he was meant to be alone all his life because *through all of it he hadn't found any friend^s. What he didn't know was at what point the void in his heart became a part of himself. And then the gray eyes of the twins appeared in his mind. Those deep steel pools that begged for understanding seemed to talk to his very soul claming to share essence with him.

            Legolas changed position on the branch. Maybe he must speak with them... maybe he had overreacted due of the animosity his father had had to the Noldor since the young prince had memory... perhaps....

            If the twins had become late a couple of minutes Legolas would had came to the conclusion that a conversation was in order, but Destiny not wanted it so and the hell broke loose.

Shaking his head, Legolas took aim and fired. Before one minute could pass he had surrounded the Noldor brothers forcing them to the hole in the ground. He saw how Elrohir fall on his trap while Elladan manage to stay save. He saw how Elrohir had pushed his brother so he didn't fell as well preferring to take the injuries himself. And he cursed himself when Elladan paled visibly after searching to his brother inside the hole. Climbing down he quickly headed to where the brothers were.

*****

           Elladan and Elrohir were walking as *always (usual) *on (in) the shores of the Celebrant River after having breakfast alone. It was midday and the Sun was shining powerfully *in (on) the sky, so they decided to go swimming in the cool waters.

When they had chose the spot, they headed to it but suddenly an arrow cut their way. The arrow was followed by many others and so fast was everything that they didn't have time to recognize the colors of the arrows and so make whom was attacking them.

Walking *backward (s) alert to the trees, Elladan was the first to notice the hole in the ground.

"Ro stop*," he shouted as he felt the path disappeared under his feet, but Elrohir having notice the trap seconds later grabbed his brother's sleeve and pushed *towards the edge (it) changing places. Elladan cursed and look at his brother, paling at what he saw. It was then when he felt that someone was approaching.

            *****

"Is he alright?" asked Legolas.

"I do not know. It seems that he is not moving," Elladan said worriedly. His mind didn't register that the prince was holding his bow, everything forgotten but his other half.

"Elrohir!" Legolas shouted, but the younger twin didn't stir. Before he could do anything else, Elladan jumped inside the hole and knelt in front of his twin.

"Ro please," but Elrohir remained unconscious, it was then when Elladan notice a thick root trespassing his brother's arm. Legolas joined him and saw the injury as well.

"I..." what have he had done?! He didn't mean to hurt them, just make them feel as humiliated as he had felt at the silly plush spider.

"Listen Legolas, I know that we are not in the better of terms, but I ask your help. I can not help him alone without hurting him more."

"I know, and I will help you of course."

"Thank you," a true smile appeared in Elladan's face. Legolas nodded, but looking at the way the root was positioned he frowned. It would be ill for who was the one to pull it.

"I will pull the root" the prince said immediately.

"Maybe we can speak to the tree," Elladan suggested.

"It would be of no use. Look," Legolas pointed to the far end of the root, "it is a dry root."

"Then I will hold him," Elladan agree without noticing the danger of the dead member. As they prepared to free Elrohir, both of them felt a peace that the three had been lacking since their misunderstanding. It felt good to work together and the synchronization was exceptional as well.

As Legolas pulled the root he again felt the guilt eat him. How could he have been so stupid?  "No wonder why I do not have friends, I just cause pain to all those around me," he said to himself. But his line of thoughts were abruptly cut off when without the resistance of Elrohir's body the root impacted him on his abdomen making a deep and large gash that started bleeding profusely. Gasping at the sudden pain he pushed the root and closed his cloak tight around him. He knelt next to the twins.

*"How is he?"

"He will be fine," Elladan said while he dressed his brother's wound with a piece of his cloak. Legolas nodded feeling too guilty to notice the pain or the blood.

"Come, we must take him out of here," Elladan said lifting the still unconscious Elrohir. Going before them Legolas reached the top and help the elder brother. Once all of them were out of the hole, the blond prince began to feel dizzy. He knew that he was loosing blood, but didn't want Elladan to notice, so after making sure Elrohir was going to be *all right (alright) he went to his chambers.

Elladan watched him go, puzzled. He was grateful for his help and to tell the truth he didn't knew why the prince had left in such a hurry.

"What is it?" Elrohir asked looking in the direction his twin's eyes were focused.

"You are awake! Are you alright?"

"To tell the truth my arm hurts a little and my head more than that, but otherwise I am well."

"Then you must know that you have a severe injure in said arm. And your head, although there is no concussion, since it hit the ground, will trouble you for a few hours."

 "What happened?"

"You fell."

"I know, after that." When Elladan didn't answer Elrohir sighed. "Dan, do not look at me like that."

"The Valar know that I will be grateful every time you save me, but NOT when it is you who take the injury!"

"Would you have done it different?"

"No, but..." but Elladan didn't had a coherent argument against that and Elrohir knew it, for it was the question that always silenced one twin or the other at similar circumstances.

"Legolas helped us," Elladan said at last.

"I know, I felt it. Cold yet tender hands holding me. Why do you suppose he did it?"

"Maybe he feels as bad as us with all this misunderstanding." Elladan stood up and went to see the arrows.

"Do you recognize them?" Elrohir asked

"No. They are from Mirkwood that is for sure, since neither Imladris nor Lorién use green feathers."

"We should ask,"

"Haldir certainly will know," Elladan agree with his twin as he helped him to stand up. "Can you walk?"

"Dan, I do not walk with my arms."

"I meant it because of your head Ro!"

"I can," Elrohir assured his twin smiling mischievously.

"What would happen if I drown you in the river?" Elladan mussed as he started walking 

"It is call murder," Elrohir said laughing.

            *****

Legolas gasped when he took off his cloak in the safety of his chambers. His tunic was all scarlet and wet due of the blood he had lost.

"No wonder why I feel so dizzy."

            With much effort and pain he manage to dress the wound and change his cloths, hiding the bloodied ones under the bed. He still felt guilty for what he had done.

"But it seems that I paid for it. And I deserve it." He knew Elrohir was going to be all right, he knew it.

            Walking to the window he sat in it and saw the view that always managed to calm him. He was going to admit to the twins that he was guilty of course and he hoped, really hoped that they would forgive him.

            His abdomen was hurting badly and he decided to ignore the wetness he was feeling he was bleeding again without doubt, but he took it as a punishment.

            *****

"So, what have you been doing?" asked Rumil

"We had not heard shouts of terror and despair," added Orophin. The twins rolled their eyes.

"We were looking for Haldir, but certainly you two can be useful," Elladan said impishly.

"Thank you very much," Rumil bowed dramatically. "But hurry, in this times dinner is being served in the chambers and after it young elflings must go to bed."

"If we see the prince of Mirkwood we will tell him," Elrohir said seriously, since Legolas was the younger elf in Lorién at the time.

"Do you know to whom this arrow belongs?" Elladan said showing Legolas' arrow.

"Of course! It is Mirkwood's prince's," Orophin said. The twins felt that the world froze and cracked into small pieces.

"That explains why he helped us," Elrohir said and Elladan agree.

"Is everything all right?" Orophin said concerned

"Is he alright?" Rumil said knowing the prince's tendency of getting hurt physically or emotionally.

"Yes, yes,"

"Then were did you find it?"

"Oh, it is a game," Elladan said coldly.

"Between Legolas and us" Elrohir added.

"See you later," both said disappearing as fast as the wind.

"What?" Orophin said puzzled

"Better follow them," Rumil said.

"No,"

"Haldir!"

"It is as the Lady and Lord said," the elder of the brothers said appearing out of nowhere. "The Wheel of Destiny is running already. Everything that happens now between them and their fathers is not only meant to be, but also the beginning of the encounter of kindred souls." The three guardian brothers looked for a long time the path the twins had taken.

            *****

The first thing Legolas felt when the rays of Sun hit his eyes was pain, but when he wanted to touch the source of the agonizing feeling he noticed that his arm was too heavy to move. He vaguely remembered the servant that last night had brought him dinner. Too weary to eat he left the food intact and lay on the bed falling asleep immediately. It appeared that he slept all the night and that the Sun was high in the sky by now.

            Gathering enough strength he got up the bed and frowned at his bloody tunic, the wound had bleed again. Sighing he dressed it again and changed hiding the dirty cloths behind the dresser. He needed to get out and breathe some fresh air, for he was finding hard to breathe. 

            Just leaving his rooms and walking a few miles away had drained him, but he needed to find a private spot to sit and recover. He finally reached his favorite place, far away any talan and close to the river. Sitting below a great mallorn he rested his head on the trunk.

            That was were the twins found him. Their eyes shining like cold steel they approached to him.

"So here he is," Elladan said harshly, startling Legolas.

"Elladan..."

"We think prince," Elrohir spat the title, "That this belongs to you," he ended throwing Legolas' arrows at his foot. Legolas didn't like to be siting while the two of them were standing, but when he wanted to stand he just couldn't.

"Are you going to admit your crime?"

"Or are you so coward that you will deny everything?"

"I am not coward and I was going to go you and tell you about it," Legolas said angry.

"When? In Valinor?"

"Yesterday after the incident, but I was delayed."

"Of course, delayed by your cowardice.."

"It is not like that. I admit that it was foolish and stupid and I am willing to apologize."

"My brother could have been severely injured!"

"I know and I am sorry."

"The sooner you returned to Mirkwood the better, hopefully an spider will take you and we will not have to see you again." The twins were walking away. Legolas felt a great pain in his heart, the cold of his soul returned with double intensity for he had known the warm of friends' care.

Dragging force of his desperation he stood up and ran to the twins holding each sleeve. Why was he doing it? Because he knew that if they parted then in that terms they will hate him forever and he will had lost them forever.

"Do not touch us!"

"Ever!" And that was it. Legolas felt his limbs heavy, he didn't have the stamina to fight, to try to explain, to try to talk. The wetness of his tears on his cheeks reminded him the wetness of the blood on his abdomen, but he didn't care.

"I am sorry," he said at last. Turning around the twins didn't notice when he falls to the ground.

"He was crying," Elladan said when they had walked a few steps more.

"Maybe he is serious," turning around they saw the prince on his knees.

"Legolas," both said, but the prince didn't react. They saw his lithe form trembling his hands inside his cloak.

"Legolas why are you crying?" Elrohir asked his voice without emotion. Legolas looked at them instantly. He didn't want them to see him crying, he had thought they had already left. Lifting his hands to brush away his tears he didn't notice that they were covered with blood from his injury.

"Legolas!" Both twins shout with concern. Who were they deceiving? They care for the prince. They didn't know when it started. Maybe when they first discovered that he could tell them apart, or at his easy acceptance of the twins codependent relation. Maybe when they could speak in the same line or when they teased each other with naturally; or maybe when they saw his lonely crystal blue eyes or when they discovered his sense of humor or maybe when they become to know Legolas in general.

"Legolas what is it?" Elladan asked as both knelt next to him.

"I am sorry. I truly am," Legolas said not thinking clearly due of the blood loss.

"It is alright," Elladan said grabbing his hands tenderly/ "Just..." but Legolas collapsed before he could finish speaking.

"What is ailing him?" Elrohir asked opening his cloak. He gasped at the bloody tunic. Elladan opened it as well as the silk shirt and saw the injury.

"What? This is bleeding badly," with their special communication they agreed to take him to his chambers. Lifting him carefully they headed to the talan. Mysteriously they met no elf in their way.

            *****

Working in perfect synchronization and with the training they had received from their father, they soon manage to stop the bleeding. And so while Legolas lay unconscious on the big bed, both twins were checking on him on either side.

"It was the root," Elrohir said. "He injured himself when he helped us."

"Agree, the wound has the same shape that yours, but it was made in a more dangerous place."

"He was delayed," both repeated.

"What are we going to do?"

"Offer him our friendship?"

"Even if he was not the son of the Sindarin king that fathers hates so much, will we take him as a friend?"

"Always it has been you and me."

"Are we ready to add him in our special connection?"

"Will he like it? No everybody sees our friendship with good eyes."

"He has prove it differently."

"We will."

"He will."

"And then we will be three."  A long silence followed the powerful admission. They were kindred spirits and they had recognized each other.

"Mmmm? What is this?" Elrohir asked after the long moments of silence. Kneeling on the floor he take out a tunic, leggings and a silk shirt. "I can not believe it! He IS a little elfling, for he hide his cloths under the bed."

"The tunic and shirt are covered in blood," Elladan pointed worriedly. Handing the bloodied cloths to his twin, Elrohir went to put the leggings on the dresser. He then noticed the other set of cloths.

"Dan, here are another cloths also bloodied."

"Under the dresser?" Elladan was both concerned and amused. When Elrohir opened the dresser to put the leggings away he found himself under a mountain of cloths and other things.

"I am alive. Do not worry," he said standing up.

"It seems, Ro that he is more a mess than you."

"I am not a mess!"

"Say, who was the person who left a stray mortal boot in the middle of the way between the bathroom and the bed that almost send me flying through the window?"

"Umm, the fairy of mess?"

"You scares me," Elladan said throwing a mocking frightening glance at his brother. It was then that Legolas stirred.

"I am worry Dan, he has lost a lot of blood."

"He is too pale," agreed the older twin and came closer to the prince when Legolas started moving and whispering. Elrohir too went closer.

"Alone. Always alone," Legolas was saying weakly like a mantra while a tear ran through his cheek. Both twins looked at each other and shared the prince's tears. They had made a good choice, for that lonely soul was indeed in pain, pain that they could feel as well.

         *****

            Legolas felt pain. He wanted to wake up, but what for? To find that he was alone? "Alone. Always alone," he said to himself. It would be so nice to have someone that called his name, that called him because he wanted his company. So great was his desire that he could even hear his name spoken by two voices so similar that they were different. Was that possible? What was happening? The twins had left him, so it couldn't be them.  Always curious Legolas opened his eyes.

"He is awaking."

"Excellent, keep calling him." Suddenly the twins were facing two crystal blue eyes, wide open and confused.

"It is alright," both twins said in unison. Legolas didn't understand what was happening, the twins were supposed to be far away from him, but then they were in front of him. A stray lock of silver blond hair across his eyes didn't help clear things. When he was going to pull it aside he notice the hands that were holding his.

"Do not touch us!"

"Ever!" the harsh words of the twins rang in his ears and he quickly tried to free his hands.

"Sorry," he said weakly when they were free. "I did not mean to touch you."

"Oh Legolas."

"We are the ones who are sorry."

"We spoke harshly."

"As foolish and stupid as you earlier."

"If we forgive you, can you forgive us?"

"I do not understand," Legolas said really worried now that he had became crazy. "Maybe I lost more blood than I thought and with it my mind went too." he mussed to himself.

"Legolas!" Both twins said with some amusement. Really, the things this young prince thinks.

"We just realize..."

"We do not understand..."

"Be our friend," they said at last. So innocent, so childish, so important that Legolas smiled.

"Only if you are mine," was all that the shocked prince could said, but that few words held the meaning of his life, and then both twins became so close that their three foreheads were touching.

"Always. That we promise," again Legolas smiled. And this time a warm luminescence shone in the deep of his eyes casting out the loneliness. The twins also seemed more peaceful, as if they had found something that was missing.

"What happened?" Legolas said at last, when the magical moment had passed.

"You did lost a lot of blood," Elladan said.

"You fainted."

"I did not!"

"You did!" the twins said smiling.

"Sure?"

"Well, that or you fall asleep."

"Elladan!" Legolas rolled his eyes.

"No, we are friends now, call me Dan."

"Same here. Call me Ro," Legolas smiled and nodded.

"Are you cold? You are shivering."

"A little."

"It is the blood loss. You have to lie peacefully until that wound close. Meanwhile you will recover your strength."

"We assume that you feel weak."

"Yes, he feels weak."

"But you gave me no time for answering!" Legolas protested when Elladan answered for him.

"I know," Legolas rolled his eyes, but couldn't help smiling.

"But do not worry, you have two friends here willingly to give you company."

"So now rest, when you awake, you will eat."

"El, thank you," Legolas said and the twins knew he was addressing both.

"By the way dear prince," Elrohir said before Legolas was completely asleep.

"You better recover soon, for when our fathers find out about this we will have to face them, the three of us."

"I willingly face the dark lord himself if that is what I need to protect this friendship," Legolas said before weariness took the best of him.

"Well, if we compared the rage of Sauron and the rage of our father and king Thranduil when they find out..."

"I think there is not much difference."

"Maybe we can talk with Glorfy about the Hall of Mandos."

"Yes! He can give us some advice, for it seems that we are going to visit them soon."

"But I am happy."

"As am I."

"And we will fight for this friendship," both twins said echoing Legolas' previous words.

To be Continue…

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May the Fantasy guide your voice, Artemisa