Title: Reacquaintance
Characters: Elrohir and Elladan, Legolas
Prompt: 025. Strangers
Rating: PG
Summary: Elrohir and Legolas renew their acquaintance after eleven years.
The brethren did their best to ignore the glances cast their way. None too friendly glances, or so they deemed, judging from the way the Wood-elves constantly regarded them askance.
"Have we grown horns and snouts that they look at us as if we belong in a menagerie?" Elrohir indignantly demanded.
Elladan shook his head and clapped a soothing hand on his twin's shoulder. In an effort to curtail the annoying scrutiny to which they had been subjected since they set foot in the Woodland Realm three days past, the twins had taken to using the less traversed hallways. But there was no place that was absolutely devoid of Elves in the delved palace their royal hosts called home. And so, as they continued on their way to the dining hall, they could only stoically pretend not to notice the furtive regard of the passers-by they encountered.
"We are strangers here," Elladan reminded him. "I wager they have not had much to do with outsiders since the War of the Last Alliance. And even then, only those who marched to Mordor would have come into contact with the other tribes. I dare say we simply look a little different to them."
Elrohir snorted. "Understating the obvious, brother? We are different, Elladan, or have you not noticed that their scrutiny is limited to Father and us?"
"I noticed," Elladan conceded. His twin was right, of course. There was no mistaking the differences between them and the Silvan folk. These Wood-elves possessed a wild beauty and nigh ethereal lissomness that the tall and stately Eldar did not. The Peredhil's earthier features and more compact frames set them even further apart. Consequently, the woodland folk observed them on the sly but did not approach them more closely than what common courtesy required.
Elrohir stopped short of the door through which they would exit the corridor. Beyond was the main passage to the public chambers of the palace. There would be no evading the ill-concealed curiosity that would be directed at them. But for the moment, the Elf-knight was in no mood to be inspected as if he were some kickshaw with nothing more to him than his decidedly exotic appearance.
"What think you do they see when they look at us?" he scowled. "Brutish adanedhil most likely with none of their elven grace and all of the ungainliness of mannish striplings!"
"I am sorry that you have been made to feel so unlovely, pin nith."—young ones.
Elrohir would have jumped had a similarly startled Elladan not been gripping his shoulder. The twins sheepishly turned around to face Legolas. Elrohir in particular thought he would sooner have gladly cut off his tongue than be caught making such bilious utterances and by Legolas of all people.
"I did not mean… that is…" Floundering, Elrohir turned pleading eyes to his twin.
But Elladan had seen what his smitten brother could not. He faintly smiled and said, "Elrohir did not intend to demean your folk."
"I know he did not," Legolas replied. He looked from Elladan to the still abashed Elf-knight. "Your parents wondered why you were taking so long."
"Oh! Let us hurry then, Elrohir."
Elrohir took a step forward but Legolas unexpectedly barred his way.
"A favor, Elladan," Legolas said, ignoring Elrohir's questioning expression. "Would you mind going ahead? I would like a word with your brother."
Elladan lifted his eyebrows in near mimicry of their venerable father. But then he grinned and, nodding in acquiescence, turned on his heel and left them. Elrohir stared after him in surprise.
"You think they deem you wanting in comeliness."
The young Elf jerked about to face the archer, startled by the lack of preamble. He hesitated, then shrugged and said: "What else can I assume when they regard us thusly, then compound it with their aloofness?" When Legolas did not demur, he plunged on. "I swear I have not exchanged anything further than the most cursory of greetings with anyone here save you and your sire. I do not expect much more than civility from the members of your father's court, Legolas, but, Valar, is it too much to ask that the others be a mite more companionable?"
Legolas looked at him thoughtfully. He said, "The Greenwood folk sing your praises without stint, Elf-knight. But this Wood-elf has suffered none to do more than admire you from afar. Thus have you failed to mark their appreciation of your beauty." When Elrohir stared at him in astonishment, the prince added: "Why so surprised? You are without compare in this kingdom. And I am no different from your tutor who zealously guards your brother though he is so circumspect even Elladan does not realize it."
"Then how do you know?" Elrohir stammered.
"Like circumstances, like minds," Legolas pointed out.
Elrohir gaped at him then made to turn around, instinct impelling him to inform his twin immediately of the revelation. But Legolas caught his arm and spun him about. The movement caused him to lightly collide with the archer and land in his embrace, his face nigh pressed against his throat.
"Have a care, rochen neth"—my young stallion—Legolas chuckled. "And why the haste? There is time enough to tell Elladan later if you believe it absolutely necessary."
Elrohir swallowed hard, acutely aware of the woodsy scent of his companion. Elbereth, he could get as drunk on it as he had on that treacherous Dorwinion fifteen years back! He tried to stifle a whimper.
Fingers slipped under his chin and lifted it. Elrohir stared into searching eyes of deepest blue, praying he did not drown in them. He would never live it down should he faint from a mere gaze. An instant later, he was too shocked to think anything when soft lips pressed against his forehead.
"Does your request still stand, Elf-knight?" Legolas murmured against the smooth flesh.
Elrohir shuddered at the delicious contact. He could virtually hear the frantic tantivy-tantivy of his heart. He closed his eyes and drew what he hoped would be a calming breath.
"It does," he shakily replied.
He was torn between relief and regret when Legolas drew away from him, releasing him from heady enthrallment. He opened his eyes to see the archer looking at him with an expression he could not identify.
A small smile curved the archer's lips. He placed a hand on Elrohir's shoulder and gestured toward the door.
"Let us proceed ere your sire suspects me of abducting you for some nefarious purpose," he suggested, eyes alight with mirth.
Elrohir nodded, regaining his composure with the return of Legolas's familiar humor. "You would not be far off the mark," he told the archer as they walked. "He recently said he would not set Elladan and me loose amongst mortal women until we reached our majority, for fear of a premature introduction to the ways of their kind." He looked curiously at Legolas. "The ways of their kind… What do you think he meant by that? He refused to tell us though we badgered him about it."
Legolas softly laughed. "No doubt he rued bringing the subject up in the first place," he remarked. "I have heard that a good many amongst the mannish races do not always trouble to await the age of majority ere indulging themselves in the pleasures of the flesh. Unfortunately, most are ignorant of the traditions of other kindreds and would see little harm in seducing their youngsters if they could. You and your brother would be – wildly irresistible to their womenfolk even with your tender years."
Elrohir's eyes had widened with the telling. When Legolas finished, all he could muster was a hushed: "I see." At length, he shook his head and said, "There is so much I do not understand; so little that is clear to me." He gazed at the prince. "You will teach me what I need to know, Legolas?" he asked.
Such sweet trust shone in the young Elf's grey eyes that Legolas counted himself privileged indeed to have won it so utterly.
"I will teach you," Legolas assured him.
And, Eru willing, much more besides.
Glossary:
kickshaw – a pretty but insubstantial trinket (archaic)
adanedhil – man-Elves
To be continued...