They went to his room. He could think of nowhere else he could assure they would be away from prying eyes or ears, and his sister was quiet and subdued when they got there.

He was awkward. He did not know how to start this conversation they must have.

"I have chosen to be with Legolas," he said in the end for he owed her the truth and had withheld it from her before. "There it is, Arwen. I love him. I tried, I tried to protect myself from this so a choice would not be forced on me. . . But in the end it has."

"Oh, Brother," she took his hands between hers and leaned herself up against him, head resting on his chest. "I never wanted you to stay away from love for my sake."

"You wanted us to chose to stay." She had said that. Whatever she may say now did not change that and it did not change how she really felt. He knew that.

"I should not have said that," she sighed as she leant against him. "It slipped out when I was unguarded. Now Estel feels I regret my choice and Elladan feels I pressurise you unfairly . . . He is furious with me."

So Elladan had got to her before him. He imagined that had not been pleasant. His brother was the quiet, gentle one. Softer than he was; the Healer. But if he was crossed he had a temper which took others by surprise and he would fight tooth and nail to protect Elrohir.

"Do you?" He said, not wanting to dwell on whatever angry words Elladan might have had to say, "Do you regret your choice? Knowing I have chosen differently and Elladan... he will probably do likewise."

"He will certainly do likewise." She smiled at him then, "He will never allow himself to be separated from you."

She hesitated, briefly, momentarily, almost imperceptibly before she answered.

"No." In the end her answer was definite. "My fate lies with Estel. I knew that from the first. It has always been him." She reached up and touched his face, slender fingers brushing against his cheek with love, "I do not regret choosing to follow him but I do regret losing you. So I have hidden from that. I have allowed myself to pretend it might not be. The reality that it will does not change my choice...it makes it harder but it does not change it."

She had always been more certain than him. Her mind, her path had always been clear to her where his was muddied and lost beneath a cloud of doubt. He envied her her surety.

"It has not been an easy choice for me." He said. He wanted her to know he had not turned his back on her easily. "I did not want to choose at all. I do not know what happened...suddenly Legolas was there and I could not leave him."

"Love happened! Love happened, Elrohir and I am so pleased. I have love, why would I resent you having it also? Legolas is right. You must not feelguilty for loving him. Never feel guilty for that. I would not have you walk away from one who makes you happy for my sake. I would not have you follow me if it means spending the time forever in grief and loss."

"And now I will spend eternity grieving the loss of you." He tried to hide the bitterness in his voice at that, and failed. "I cannot win."

"No, you will not!" She clasped his hands between her own. "I command it, Elrohir." He had to smile watching her then for she reminded him so much of the child she used to be. The small, strong-willed girl who stuck out her bottom lip and stamped her feet demanding he taken notice of her. "You will be happy, and you will know, wherever I am that I am happy also with the one I love."

"I will try," It was all he could give her but still, when he thought of a lifetime of Legolas it was hard to resist the gladness that swept through his heart so perhaps...perhaps he could do that? Perhaps it was not an empty promise.

She shook her head fondly as she gazed upon him then.

"How did you end up entangled with a wild Silvan? I thought you the least likely to fall victim to his many charms."

How had he ended up with Legolas? Now he thought back he did not know. He could not put a finger on where...or when it happened. All he knew was he burned for him, he longed for the next minute he spent with him. The world was darker when they were apart. Somehow it had gone from a light distraction, an exciting diversion, to a love that consumed his entire soul.

"He cast a spell on me." It was not true of course but that was indeed how it felt. "He captured my heart when I was not looking. He fascinates me...I just...cannot be without him."

"Then you understand, Elrohir! You understand why I have chosen as I have. You know." Her face glowed with an excitement he did not expect and he realised it was true. He did know as he had never done before, why she chose Estel. Why she would leave them. There was no other choice for her.

As there was no other choice for him.

oooooooooooooooooooo

The gold glinted in Legolas' hair as the sun lit it from above. It spilled across Elrohir's lap like river of light, so beautiful.

His eyes drank in the sight of Legolas, sprawled on the ground, head in his lap, as he stroked his fingers through those golden strands. He would never tire of watching him. With the sun warm upon his back, Legolas beside him, the skies clear above, he felt truly—in this moment—life was perfect.

But in one quick, smooth, graceful movement Legolas was on his feet, holding a hand down to encourage him to follow. It was not quite as smooth though, not quite as graceful, as it could have been. He saw the smallest catch, the slowness caused by the still healing wound in his lover's side.

"Come, spar with me," Legolas grinned down at him, brightly and he almost said yes simply because he knew it would make him happy.

"No!" Aragorn's voice rang out sharply from across the garden where he sat near Arwen, Gimli beside him as they indulged in their pipeweed. "No you will not. There will be no sparing between the two of you in Minas Tirith. That is an order!"

It was a struggle to hide the laughter that threatened to spill from his lips at the sight of the frown now creasing Legolas' forehead.

"You are a spoilsport, Aragorn."

"You are a fool, Legolas."

"I second that," the dwarf joined in now. "How can you even suggest that, Legolas?"

"Elladan then?" Legolas looked hopefully across towards Elladan where he leaned, eyes closed, against a tree, basking in the sun.

"No." The refusal was just as firm and Elladan did not even bother to open his eyes.

"Be like that then." Legolas threw himself back to his position on the ground, head in Elrohir's lap but now a scowl marred his beautiful face despite Elrohir's calming touch.

And so he bent down towards him, letting his hair fall forward, a dark curtain of black shielding them from watchful eyes. They were in their own private world behind it.

"You are bored," he whispered with a smile.

"I am bored," Legolas agreed, "and Aragorn is boring!" He raised his voice for the last, so his friend could not help but hear him.

"So be it, Legolas," Elrohir could hear the laughter in Estel's voice as he replied. "I am boring...it changes nothing."

There followed a heavy woodelven sigh.

"Stay," Elrohir murmered as he stroked the tension away. "It is a beautiful day and those we love are here. Stay and enjoy them, for our moments together tick away and today will be a memory like a jewel to ease us in the future."

The eyes of green that watched him grew serious then, shadows floating to the surface.

"And I take you from them. How you must hate me."

"No," He placed a hand over those lips. "Never say that. I love you. There is grief ahead of us both...it is no-ones fault. It just is, and we will find our way through it together."

"You have no regrets then?" He could see the hint of anxiety behind those eyes as the question hung in the air between them and he did not hesitate because he did not need to.

He was more certain of the answer than he had ever been, of anything. No doubt, no worry, no uncertainty.

"I have no regrets...no regrets at all."