A/N: Wow, this took a long time to update, huh? Yeah, real life is getting in the way, as I had to take a second job. 2 jobs + school full time = not much time for fanfic. ( But don't worry, I'm NOT going to give up on this fic. It will just take me a little more time to update than usual! Thank you to everyone for the encouraging reviews and keep it up!

Chapter 17

Elladan was swept away in a sea of color and smiling faces as soon as he descended the stairs to the lawns of the Great House. The sheer amount of people was overwhelming, and he was grateful for his father's hand on his arm and Legolas's hand planted firmly on his back. Elrond led them over to a low couch set next to his own high-backed chair, making sure Elladan was comfortable before he allowed Erestor to steal him away to greet the guests.

Elrohir came running through the crowd, sliding to a nimble stop in front of Elladan and Legolas. He was grinning and there was a wisp of straw sticking out from behind one pointed ear.

"Good, you are awake!" Elrohir said. "I came to see you before my race."

"I see you have brought the stable with you," Elladan said, plucking the straw out of his brother's hair.

"A gift from Mornel," Elrohir laughed, running his fingers through his loose hair. "Wish me luck?"

"You don't need it," Elladan said with an easy smile. "But try not to overly embarrass the guests."

Elrohir laughed again, but it was drowned out by the sound of trumpets in the background. "That is the call for the race. I will return!" Elrohir called as he sped off again.

Elladan leaned back to enjoy the sun shining down on his soft robes and the music of Elven voices surrounding him. There were others than elves present, though, and at times he could hear the gruff voices of Men as they passed by. He watched Glorfindel inspect the targets for the archery contest, assuring himself that they were fairly placed. He noticed Legolas watching with a keen interest, the sky-colored eyes as sharp as a knife blade.

"Glorfindel!" Elladan called across the grass.

The blonde turned and his face lit up to see Elladan and Legolas. He abandoned the targets, catching a young dark haired elf to give him quick instructions. The youth nodded and turned his attention to the task, leaving Glorfindel free.

"You look splendid," Glorfindel said, bowing formally to the young Elf Lord and his companion the Prince.

"As does everyone here," Elladan said brightly. Glorfindel collapsed on the grass at his feet.

"This will be a fine contest," Glorfindel said proudly. "Some of the finest archers in Middle Earth are in attendance today, though the competition would be stiffer if you were competing, Elladan."

"Next year," Elladan said. "Though I would suggest that Legolas take my place."

"Oh no!" Legolas said, waving off the suggestion. "I am but a mere archer of Mirkwood. I am not used to shooting against such fine lords. I would snap my bow in my nervousness!"

Glorfindel and Elladan laughed. "You are more than welcome to compete, if you change your mind young Prince," Glorfindel said. He looked at the sun and stood up. "I must be off for now, but I daresay you will see me again today."

Legolas looked around and saw a tent with long tables adorned with food and drink. He bounded off the couch, earning no more than a curious glance from Elladan. The grey eyed Elf smiled though when Legolas returned balancing a tray of food and a pitcher of ale. They ate in silence for a while, listening to the conversations around them. They saw Elrond pass by several times, led this way and that by different dignitaries and emissaries from distant lands. They heard the trumpets sound again, signaling the end of the races taking place past the river.

"I wonder if Elrohir won," Elladan mused.

"I am sure he did. Your brother rides like the winds of a storm!" Legolas said, shaking his head.

People were milling about, waiting for those from the races to return before the start of the archery competition. Legolas amused himself by feeding Elladan bits of sticky fruit, ignoring the glances they received when Elladan licked the sweet juice from his hand.

"Elladan, will you not share with your twin?" a familiar voice brought them out of their nectar-induced haze.

Legolas threw a grape at Elrohir, who neatly dodged the fruit. Elrohir was even more disheveled, though he now wore a crown of white flowers in his loosely flowing hair.

"Did you win?"

"Yes!" Elrohir beamed. "Though a rider from Rohan nearly bested me. It was a good race; I did not overtake him until the end."

Elrohir sprawled on the grass in front of the couch, leaning against his brother's knees. Glorfindel also returned and joined Elrohir, plucking playfully at the floral coronet. Elrohir waved his hands away, guarding his prize with a mocking glare at the Eldar. Elrond appeared from the middle of a small crowd, ushered by Erestor to his seat. He collapsed into his chair with a slight huff as Erestor flew away again. He smiled at the four pairs of eyes staring at him, lingering the most on Elladan. His son was leaning against the arm of the couch, smiling softly as he watched the archers. They were assembling at the line drawn on the ground that indicated the starting position as Erestor scrambled to take note of all the participants.

The gathered crowd hushed as a string of beautifully dressed ladies entered the courtyard. They were headed by Lady Arwen, who took her seat in the high backed carved chair set under a canopy on the opposite side of the lawn. The other ladies and their escorts arranged themselves accordingly around the lady of the house on the couches and seats provided for them. At Arwen's feet lay the crown of golden flowers that was the prize for the archery contest. She nodded to her father and brothers, receiving a wave from Elrohir and bowed heads from the others in return.

The flourish of trumpets sounded as the preparations were finished. Erestor stood in the middle of the field and announced the participants and the realms they hailed from. It was an odd assortment: Men from Dale and Rohan, Rangers who roamed the wilds around Imladris and the Misty Mountains, and Elves from all corners of Arda sought to prove their worth in archery. Silver-haired Aerandir from Mithlond, sharp-eyed Rumil from Lothlorien who had accompanied Arwen to Imladris, and Silpion, also from Lothlorien, were considered the top competitors.

"Hark!" cried one man from the crowd when Erestor was finished with the introductions. "Is there no one to shoot from Imladris or Mirkwood?"

Erestor saw the man. He was a young man, hardly more than a boy, from Dale. He had been entranced with the Elves all during his stay in Imladris, and had commented several times on how he anticipated the archery contest to see Elves from all the kingdoms of Middle Earth compete.

"What say you, brother?" Elrohir whispered to Elladan. "Should I bind back my hair and say that I am you?"

Elladan shoved him from behind. "Nay! Every being here would know you were an imposter, and you would shame my name with your archery skills, had you any at all!"

Elrond smirked at the twins' conspiracy, though his smile widened when Elrohir cast his circlet of flowers into Glorfindel's lap and stood.

"I, Elrohir, son of Lord Elrond, will shoot for Imladris," he announced. A cheer of encouragement went up in the crowd.

"And for Mirkwood?" Elrond asked, looking to Legolas.

Legolas stood, though the tips of his ears were flushed. "I will shoot for Mirkwood, to defend the honor of my father's realm."

"Legolas Thranduilion for Mirkwood," Erestor repeated.

Pages were sent to fetch the weapons of Elrohir and Legolas, who had not thought they would need them. Soon they, too, had bows in hand. Legolas had his dark-wooded hunting bow of Mirkwood, which was shorter than Elrohir's grey longbow of the Galadhrim. They each drew three arrows from their quivers, as they would all have three shots at the targets set. The targets were simple reeds, no wider than the width of a finger. Each reed had a red mark on it, and the competitor was meant to sever the reed on the mark.

One by one, bow strings sang as the competitors took their shots. Elrohir was soon left behind in the field, though the crowd still cheered their encouragement when he bowed out after his final shot. Legolas held his own, and was tied for the lead with Rumil and Aerandir by the end of the second round. Rumil took his final shot, hitting the farthest target squarely, though slightly above the mark. Aerandir also took his shot, severing he reed considerably below the mark. All eyes fell on Legolas, who was the youngest of the Elves in the competition, and last to shoot.

Legolas stood at the line for his shot, setting his eyes on the farthest target. The crowd hushed as was the custom, lending an odd quiet to the normally noisy courtyard. Legolas loosed his arrow, sending it speeding to the target. He held his breath as the green-fletched arrow whistled through the air. It split the reed so neatly that half of the red mark could be seen on either half of the reed. Erestor brought the broken target to Lord Elrond for his inspection. He raised his eyebrows and looked at Legolas, who was leaning on his bow awaiting the verdict.

"I declare Legolas of Mirkwood the winner of this year's archery contest!" he said.

The crowd cheered as Legolas stepped over to Lady Arwen. He knelt at her feet, allowing her to place the golden flowers in his hair. She bent and kissed his cheek, making him flush a bright pink as he considered how similar her kiss was to her brother's, no matter how chaste either was meant to be.

Legolas turned and looked at Elladan. He was beaming from his place on the couch, pride and love evident on his face. Legolas's smile faltered for a second as he felt his emotions warring inside of him.