Author's Note: Thank you everyone for all the wonderful comments! Sorry I took so long with this one, I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with it, but I hope it turned out alright. 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 Fourteen

Elrohir paced erratically underneath the tree, occasionally running a hand through his hair. He paused for a moment, letting out a heavy sigh and leaning against the tree trunk. Closing his eyes, he tried to calm his pounding heart. Part of him wanted to take his teasing his brother the previous night for being so nervous. Well, almost.

If he could maintain a certain level of calmness in front of his brother, he might through him off his game. Elrohir convinced himself that he was going to win the girl.

He was so lost in his own thoughts that he visibly jumped when he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. Whirling around, he found Mina with her hand over her mouth, giggling.

"What is this? A warrior of the realm caught off his guard? Dare I wonder what your Captain would say about this?" she mused, a playful glinted in her eyes.

Elrohir tried to scowl but he could keep the smile from his lips. Reaching out he took her hand and pressed a kiss to the top of it. He lingered there for a moment as he gazed at her. She was stunning in his eyes – the way her golden hair gleamed in the moon light and the way her navy dress accentuated the curves of her body.

"I dare not even think what Lord Glorfindel would say. However, that is not relevant for I know you will not tell him."

Mina hummed low in her throat. "And how do you know that?"

Elrohir stepped closer, gently cupping her face in his hands and leaning down, pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

"Because, my dear, I know you do not wish him to know about us just yet," he paused, kissing her again. "Though I am quite sure he already knows."

Mina's eyes grew wide and she caught her lower lip with her teeth.

"How could he possibly know?" she whispered, trying to keep the panic from her voice.

Elrohir smiled softly, carefully freeing her lip from her teeth. "Lord Glorfindel makes it his business to know about everyone and everything that goes on in Imladris as it is his duty as the leader of the protection of our realm. If anything he probably heard it from Lord Erestor."

Mina frowned as she contemplated this. "What reason would Lord Erestor have to tell him?"

"There is no need to worry over this. Lord Erestor is the ideal of discretion and would not divulge any information to anyone unless he thought it imperative to do so. Why do you think it is not yet common knowledge that Lords Erestor and Glorfindel have been lovers for several centuries? Not even Ada knows."

Mina didn't realize her mouth was literally hanging open until Elrohir tapped on her chin. She snapped her mouth shut.

"Then how do you know?"

Elrohir grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose, as if to resist an unpleasant memory. "Let me just say that Elladan and I had the misfortune for stumbling upon them late one night in the library when we could not sleep and wished for something to read."

"Oh my!" Mina gasped. "But our secret is safe with them?"

"As is their secret with us. Now that we have settled your fears, will you walk with me?" He gallantly offered her his arm.

She grinned, looping her arm through his. "Lead on, my lord."

They wandered through the gardens, Elrohir pointing out and commenting on the various native plant-life. Mina couldn't help the smile spreading across her face. It felt so good to be out in the night air, under the stars, where everything was so light and open. It was so different from home.

They paused before a stone bench, surrounded by rose bushes in full bloom. Elrohir urged her to sit for a moment. Mina closed her eyes as she breathed in the sweet smell of the roses.

Elrohir took the knife from his belt and cut one of the roses off the bush. After stripping away the thorns, he presented her with it.

Mina grinned taking it from him, marveling at how the soft pink color shimmered like a pearl.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, gazing up at him as he took a seat beside her.

An almost sad smile graced his handsome face for the briefest of moments, but Mina caught it.

"They were Naneth's favorites. She brought them from Lorien when she married Ada. She always said they reminded her of home," he said.

Mina leaned in and softly kissed his cheek.

"You miss her greatly," she whispered and it was quiet clear it was not a question.

"Yes. It is hard not to. Do you not miss your mother?" he asked, turning slightly in his seat to face her.

Mina bit her lower lips and twisted her fingers together in her lip.

"I…" she paused, not sure how to proceed. "I never knew her."

Elrohir took hold of her hand and gave it a squeeze. "I am sorry."

Mina shook her head. "It is alright. My birth was hard on her and she sailed two months afterward. I was raised by my Ada, though King Thranduil also played a major role in my upbringing."

"How did that come to pass?" Elrohir asked curiously, having never heard her full story.

Mina twirled the stem of the rose between her fingers.

"As you know, Ada is Lord Commander of Thranduil's armies. So, we had chambers within the palace. After Naneth sailed, Ada did not really know what to do with me since I was such a small elfling. Ada went to Thranduil and asked for his help, knowing he had a son who was barely a year older than I. Neither of us had a sibling, so it was natural to put us together. From that point forward, Legolas and I shared a nanny. It was because of this arrangement that I grew to be quite close to Thranduil and his wife, Anira. Besides my own Ada, who I love dearly, they were like a second family to me when Ada was away on campaigns that kept him far from home."

"It sounds like quite an unconventional childhood," Elrohir remarked.

Mina smiled at the fond memories and chuckled softly. "Indeed it was, but I would not change it for anything. It has made me who I am and I am proud of that."

"It does help explain your dedication to your realm and your king."

"Upon reaching my majority, I vowed to do anything Thranduil thought fit to ask me. My father was not too keen on allowing me to pursue my dreams of protecting King and country, but when he saw that I was not to be deterred he finally gave in."

Elrohir thought on her words for a long moment and it made him wonder. There was no denying that he cared for her and wished for her to remain by his side, but at what cost? It was the first time the thought had ever occurred to him. Since he now knew that her loyalties ran deeper than that of her father and best friend.

"Do you think you would ever forsake Mirkwood for another path?"

Mina scrunched her brows together. She did think it strange the way he phrased the question.

"Mirkwood is my home. It is in my blood. I do not think I could ever forsake the forests of my birth." She paused for a moment, looking into his liquid silver eyes. When she saw the flash of sadness, she knew what he had meant to ask. "However, if my heart leads me down another path away from my home, I would feel compelled to follow it."

Elrohir let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. It was not exactly the answer he was looking for, but it did give him reason to hope.

"And what does your heart tell you?" he asked quietly.

"It tells me that it is too beautiful a night to sit and dwell on the past or an uncertain future." She stood suddenly and held her hand out to him. "Will you dance with me, my lord?"

Elrohir rose, taking her hand. "But we have no music."

Mina giggled. "The garden produces the music. Do you not hear it? Its song is intoxicating."

He cocked his head to one side trying to hear what it was she heard, but could not.

"I am afraid I do not hear it."

"Then I will have to teach you," she replied.

Mina drew closer, encouraging him to wrap an arm around her waist as she took his other hand in hers.

"Now, close your eyes," she started and waited as he obeyed. "All you have to do is open your ears and your heart. Do not move your feet until you hear it."

Elrohir concentrated on the sounds around him – the chirping crickets, the rustling leaves, and the distant rush of waterfalls. It was beautiful, but to him it was not musical.

Mina watched his face, clearly seeing the strain. She shook her head. He was trying too hard. She remembered when she had tried to teach Legolas to hear the music. Then she had left him sitting alone all night, until he stopped thinking with his head and started feeling. Since she did not want to leave Elrohir all alone, she needed a different plan.

"Do not think about what you are hearing, just feel it with your heart and soul," she whispered, her voice very soft to not be disruptive. "Do not stop listening."

Mina took the hand she was holding and wrapped it too around her waist as she looped her arms around his shoulders. Ever so slowly, she rose up on her toes. With a touch as light as a feather, she brushed her lips against his. She slowly deepened their kiss, trying to draw him out of his thoughts.

Elrohir gave in to the soft press of her lips, trying to clear his mind as best he could. Slowly he gave in and in an instant it was like something snapped inside of him. The sounds which now filled his ears were like he had never heard before. It was almost unreal.

He pulled back suddenly and stared down into her bright eyes.

"Do you hear it?" she whispered.

"Yes," he replied, seizing her by the waist and spinning them around.

Mina giggled as she clutched tightly to his shoulder as he carefully set her back down on her feet.

"Is it not wondrous?"

"It is beautiful. As is the elleth who opened my ears to it," he said before kissing her fully on the mouth.

Mina kissed him back with equal vigor as he took her face between his hands. He ran his thumbs over her cheekbones and then trailed his fingers down the curve of her neck.

She clung to his shoulder when he pulled back. He quickly reached down and retrieved her forgotten rose on the bench and handed it to her.

"I do not want this night to end, but we both know we need to be up early tomorrow."

Mina smelled the rose. "Lord Glorfindel did say he wanted us on the fields by dawn."

"I know I will have trouble getting up that early," Elrohir remarked, taking hold of her hands.

"As will I. Though it would be easier if I had someone sleeping beside me to wake me up." Mina peered up at him from beneath her lashes. She wasn't even sure what had gotten into her to even make such a suggestion. At least it was relatively dark and he couldn't not see her fierce blush.

"Is that so?" he asked, arching a brow.

"Yes."

Elrohir kissed her hands. "Then, it would be my pleasure, my lady."

They remained in the garden a little while longer, before they finally headed back into the house. At least then, it was relatively quiet with few elves milling about. Elrohir somehow was able to manage to slip into Mina's room with her without being seen. And there they slept peacefully, wrapped in each other's arms.

To Be Continued…