Author's Note: Here is the next chapter. Sorry it took me so long to get it posted, but it was not as easy to write as I had originally thought it was going to be. Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to The Lord of the Rings. I own my own original characters and ideas... but I am just playing with Tolkien's genius.

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Part Eleven

"He said what?" Mina gasped as she stared wide-eyed at Legolas.

Dinner had been an uneventful occasion with light friendly conversation, even if Mina was the only elleth at a table full of men. However, this was what she was used to and she felt a lot more comfortable than if she had been at a table full of other women. After dinner was completed, several minstrels set-up in a corner and were playing light music as people were mingles about talking to one another.

Legolas had excused himself immediately after the meal when Lord Elrond had expressed a desire to speak with him. He had only just returned and pulled Mina into a quiet corner for them to speak. Then without any pretext he told her exactly what he and Lord Elrond had spoken of.

"It is exactly as I said," Legolas replied calmly.

Mina shook her head dumbfounded. There was no way he was telling the truth.

"They told their father they wish to court me? Is that even possible? To be courted by two different ellon at the same time?" Mina asked, trying to get her scrambled thoughts in order.

"It is indeed possible, as long as they are of the same social class and they have knowledge of each other," Legolas explained.

"But why did Lord Elrond come to you?" Mina frowned.

Legolas chuckled. "Apparently the twins felt that since your father was not here, I was a reasonable substitute since I am your friend and prince."

"What did you say?"

"I said I would present the idea to you, since you have mind of your own and that the decision would be totally up to you. What should I tell him?"

Mina sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. This was the last thing she needed right now. She tried to keep her breathing calm and even, but soon it was coming in quick gasps. There was no way around it – she was going to panic.

"Excuse me," was all she managed to get out before turning on her heels and raced out of the room

Legolas followed quickly on her heels and grabbed her arm as soon as she was out in the hall.

"Mina. Talk to me," he urged her softly.

"Just let me go," she pleaded, pulling her arm away. "I need to think and I cannot do that around so many people."

She backed away slowly before turning and running down the hall. Legolas stared after her, shaking his head. He knew she needed the time alone and there was no pushing her when she got in a mood like this.

Mina ran out into the gardens, taking a deep breath of the cool night air, hoping it would help calm her nerves. She wondered the paths until she found a tall tree. Smiling sadly, she leaned against it, placing her hand on the trunk. Taking a deep breath, she quickly scaled it, until she was sitting up in one of the tall branches. She leaned heavily against the tree, letting the tears stream down her face.

She wiped her cheeks with the sleeve of her dress, trying to calm down. What in Middle-Earth was wrong with her? Never in her life had she ever been this unsure about her feelings or this emotional. She was being such a… she paused and laughed at the irony. She was being such a girl. She spent all her time around men and tried to ignore her gender, but now it was catching up to her.

She pulled her knees into her chest and hid her face when she heard feet beneath the tree. Whoever it was climbed the tree and settled down beside her. She tensed for a moment when she felt one pair of arms wrap around her waist and another around her shoulders, pressing her against two hard chests. She took a shuttering breath as she breathed in their woodsy scent.

"What are…" she stopped when Elladan gently pressed his fingers to her lips.

"We saw Legolas speaking to you. We never had any intention of upsetting you," Elrohir explained, nuzzling his nose into her hair.

"All we want is the opportunity to get to know you better, to be able for each of us to have some time alone with you. And maybe see if you could have something with me," Elladan said.

"Or me," Elrohir added with a chuckle.

"And you are alright with this? Having to share me with your brother?"

"Yes." The twins answered simultaneously and without hesitation.

"Then what happens?" she asked.

"That is entirely up to you," Elladan said.

Elrohir continued with, "If there becomes a time when you realized that your feelings are more for one rather than the other, all you have to do is tell us. The other will gracefully bow out."

"You have to understand that we are not merely brothers, we are twins. We share a special bond – an oneness of mind and spirit. Something that cannot be cast aside or broken. I would never do anything to bring hurt or pain to Elrohir or he to me. If I see that he makes you happier than I ever could, I would step aside and graciously give my blessing. Though I think it will be his blessing we seek," Elladan finished with a wink.

Elrohir made a low grumbling sound in the back of his throat. "My brother got it right the first time."

Mina chuckled, taking one of their hands in each of hers. "If this is alright between you, than I have little reason not to agree. I simply do not want to be someone who would bring strife to your relationship with each other. However, I do have one request."

"Anything," Elladan said, kissing her neck.

"I would like to keep this amongst us. The fact that I am being courted by the two lords of Imladris would not be well received. Besides, I came here to serve my realm."

Elladan and Elrohir both readily agreed, though they would have agreed to almost anything as long as they knew they could have her. It was a strange feeling, but one they were willing to risk a lot for.

"Thank you," Mina whispered softly, closing her eyes and savoring their closeness. This was something she could definitely get used to.

"Would you like to go back to the hall?" Elladan asked after a long paused.

Mina shook her head. "I would like to stay here a little while longer."

"Found a new favorite tree, have you?" Elrohir grinned, tightening his hold on her waist.

"I quite like this one." The leaves of the tree rustled though there was no breeze and Mina giggled. "It likes me too."

Elladan's brow furrowed. "You can hear it speak?"

Mina nodded emphatically. "Some wood-elf I would be if I could not hear the trees. Can you not hear it?"

"No," Elrohir replied. "We are half-elven and even with all the elvish blood we possess none of it is Silvan."

"Oh. Well, maybe I could teach you."

"It can be taught?" Elladan questioned.

"Oh yes. Legolas is a Sindar by ancestry and now he can hear the trees. He was always very jealous when I could hear them and he could not. Especially since he was the prince and felt that he should be able to do everything."

The twins laughed.

"Yes, I can imagine him being that way," Elrohir remarked.

"The one thing Legolas does still need to learn if he has any desire to be king after his father," Mina muttered mostly to herself.

"What is that?"

"Tact, so that he doesn't shock the wits out of some foreign diplomats."

"While this may be true, was his news all that shocking?" Elladan asked, tilting his head to one side.

"Yes and no," Mina replied with a sigh. "Part of me should have seen it coming, but it was still surprising to hear it and especially from him."

Elrohir grinned. "We were anxious to have an answer from you that we did not want to take the month it would take to send a message back and forth from Mirkwood."

"Yes. Though Ada will need to be informed at some point."

"I will have my father draft a letter to yours, if it would make you feel better," Elladan offered.

"Yes, please. Though I do not think he will have any protests since he has been praying for this day for decades already."

"I am most obliged to make your father's dreams come true," Elrohir said sarcastically.

"And mine," Mina murmured, kissing each hand she held.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a little while longer, each lost in their own thoughts. None truly believing that any of this was happening.

"We better head back to the hall before Ada realizes we are missing for too long," Elladan muttered, gently extracting himself from her embrace and kissing her cheek.

"Will you be coming?" Elrohir asked, mirroring his brother's actions.

"No. I will stay here. I don't think I can face anyone just yet. Will I see you tomorrow at the fields?" she asked, biting her lower lip.

"Yes. Personally, I would not miss it. Just remember that Glorfindel likes to appear fierce but he is a really quite nice," Elladan chuckled before dropping out of the tree effortless.

"Do not ever let him hear you say that, brother!" Elrohir called after him.

Elrohir inclined his head to Mina before disappearing as well.

Mina leaned back against the tree, placing her hand against the bark.

"What have I gotten myself into?" she asked the tree. When it didn't answer, she closed her eyes and pondered the question herself.

To Be Continued…