Disclaimers: Read the Author's Notes. I'm not going to reveal an answer to the question about Meron. As for disliking him… you should. Takes place about one hour after the last chapter.

Part 4. Preparing

Everyone was busy getting ready for the ball. Everyone, that is, except for Legolas. The Elven Prince was still sound asleep in his room, while everyone else searched for him. It would not do to have the beautiful Crown Prince of Mirkwood here in Rivendell and not have him at the ball, in Elrond's opinion. He hoped that it would give Aragorn and Legolas some time to get to know one another.

The Elven lord was already dressed for the ball, in his stately robes. He finally found Elrohir, Elladan, and Aragorn, just as they finished getting dressed.

'Have any of you seen Legolas?' Elrond asked, a little hesitantly. He didn't know how Aragorn currently felt about him, though the older half Elf still considered him a son.

Aragorn froze for a few minutes, and then said, 'The last time I saw him, he was asleep.' The younger half Elf finished buttoning the tiny buttons on his light green shirt, which showed off his firm muscles. His black leggings were already on and fastened, with his sword around his waist, as always. The dark green tunic overlapping his shirt contrasted nicely with it.

Elladan nodded in agreement. 'He said he wanted to rest before tonight.' He wore a red tunic over a light green shirt and leggings.

'Legolas looked very tired,' Elrohir ventured. He wore a brown tunic, a tan shirt, and dark blue leggings.

Elrond sighed. 'Would one of you mind going to fetch him? If he sleeps much longer, he will not be able to get ready for the ball tonight.'

'I will,' Aragorn said.

Elladan frowned and was about to protest, when Elrohir intervened.

'Come, brother. I know for a fact that Legolas brought naught but his weapons and the clothes on his back,' he told his twin. 'Let us go and see what is to be had.' A sly look was in his eyes, and Elladan nodded. The two went to go find some clothes befitting the Elven Prince.

Aragorn looked at Elrond silently, before he began walking away. The Elven lord caught him by the arm for a few moments.

'I'm sorry,' Elrond told Aragorn quietly. 'I should have told you sooner.'

Aragorn murmured, 'I understand why you didn't…Father.' He then continued walking, knowing that Elrond would grasp his unspoken words.

A relieved look was on Elrond's face, as he watched Aragorn leave. The Elven lord was glad that the young one still considered him a father, after the secrets that had been kept. He then left as well, to finish the preparations.

Aragorn opened the door to the room he had been in earlier, and saw that Legolas was still asleep. He went over to the bed and gently spoke the Elf's name.

Legolas stirred and his eyes returned to their normal, azure state. 'A-Aragorn?' he questioned, yawning slightly. 'What is it?'

'Time for you to get ready for the ball,' Aragorn answered. 'Father sent me to wake you.'

'All right,' Legolas murmured. He sat up slowly and removed the covers from him. After grabbing his shirt from the floor, Legolas put it back on, pretending not to notice how Aragorn was staring. He grabbed his sword and re-buckled it around his waist. The Elven Prince then gracefully stood and glanced back at Aragorn. 'I have naught to wear to a ball, however.'

'Elladan and Elrohir are taking care of that,' Aragorn answered casually.

Legolas nodded and licked his lips slightly. 'I shall go and find them, then, and bathe.' He left the room silently, leaving Aragorn staring after him.

The half Elf scolded himself for the direction that his thoughts had gone in, and went to go see if there was anything he could do to help out. The ball was going to be held in four hours, or so, when the sun set.

Legolas took the clothes that Elladan and Elrohir gave him, hoping that they would fit. He then went to a private bathing room and took an hour cleaning himself, removing the dirt and grime from the journey. The scratch on his cheek had already faded over, so it was as flawless as ever.

As he stepped out of the water, Legolas began drying himself off slowly, before he pulled on his new clothes and slipped his feet into the shoes that the twins had thoughtfully provided.

'Legolas,' Elladan called. Elrohir was doing the same.

'Coming,' Legolas answered, loud enough to be heard. He walked over to his friends, who whistled in appreciation.

'Wow…' Elrohir gasped.

Legolas tapped a foot on the ground, feigning impatience, which made the twins laugh.

'We are supposed to fix your hair,' Elladan informed Legolas, a grin on his face.

'Not if you do what you did last time,' Legolas argued.

Elrohir grinned as well. 'We won't.'

Legolas frowned and said, 'I am serious, both of you.'

The three friends went to a dressing room, where Elladan ordered Legolas to sit, while he began brushing his friend's hair.

Legolas sighed, causing Elrohir to look at him.

'What's wrong?' he questioned, looking concerned.

Aragorn happened to be walking back, when he heard Legolas' voice, as long with Elladan and Elrohir's voices. He stopped to listen for a few moments.

Legolas looked at his friend, who was like a brother to him. 'Aragorn does not want to marry me; I am certain of it. You know what will happen if I do not.'

Elladan continued brushing Legolas' hair. 'Are you so certain?' he asked, a strange look on his face.

'My father has already told me so,' Legolas murmured. 'I can do nothing about it.'

'So if you don't wed Aragorn, you will have to…' Elrohir broke off his question at the scowl sent to him from his older twin.

'What I mean, Legolas, was if you were so certain that Aragorn does not want to marry you,' Elladan informed him.

Legolas nodded. 'Why would he want to? The only reason anyone would marry me is because of my looks, and not for who I am.' Sincerity shone in his azure eyes.

Aragorn hid his reaction to those words, as he continued listening in on the conversation.

Elladan gently squeezed one of Legolas' shoulders. 'Maybe you should just tell him what will happen if you do not marry him, my friend,' he said.

'I will not have him wed me because he pities me,' Legolas countered. 'It is my problem to deal with, not his. Until he gives me an answer, I can do nothing.'

The three friends sat there in silence for a long time, not noticing how the time was slipping by, until Elladan glanced out the window.

'Oh, no,' he groaned. He quickly finished his friend's hair, before yanking him to his feet by grabbing his slender wrist and pulling hard.

Aragorn saw them getting ready to leave and quickly raced off silently, so they wouldn't know that he had been listening to them.

Legolas was vaguely surprised when he was pulled out of the room and into a room where Elrond waited.

'Where have you been?' Elrond asked sternly, as he quickly smoothed his sons' clothes with his hands. He then turned to Legolas and made a few adjustments, slipping a circlet onto his forehead.

Legolas silently groaned but said nothing. Must he always be labeled as a Prince? He briefly wondered where Aragorn was, as Elrond began leading them to the staircase where they would enter the ball, as befit their stations.

It was being held both inside and outside, wherever the guests chose to be.

Elrond went first, followed closely by Elladan and Elrohir. He spoke for a few minutes, before requesting silence.

'Tonight Rivendell has been graced with the presence of the Crown Prince of Mirkwood,' Elrond told them, and he looked towards where Legolas stood waiting, his expression closed.

Two pairs of eyes watched intently as the Elven Prince took a deep breath, and began walking down the staircase slowly, with a dignified grace.

Aragorn saw many of the Elves stop whatever they were doing to stare at the single Elf, which made him angry. He also saw that the person who had upset Legolas earlier was staring directly at the Elf hungrily.

Legolas did not seem to realize how he was stared at. His shirt was pure white, soft and silky, with a silver-colored tunic over it, and pale blue leggings. His clothes made Legolas look even more slender than he was, and had the additional effect of showing off his pale skin, making the golden-haired Prince seem to be bathed in the moon's cool radiance. The silver circlet on his forehead gleamed as he turned his head, looking for Aragorn, searching him out among the numerous Elves.

Aragorn saw Legolas searching for someone, until those beautiful, azure eyes finally saw him. They stared at each other for a few long moments, one on the stairs, and the other on the floor, gazing silently.

To be continued