Told you I'd have the next chapter out to you soon. All I can say is… Rivendell! Arwen! Aragorn falls head over heels! Yay!

-A

The Last Homely House

            The great Elven Home had stood for thousands of years as a last haven and hidden refuge, protected against all evil things by the power of the Elves and the ring Vilya. Laying deep in a valley in the foothills of the Misty Mountains it was hidden in the great ravine.  Within sunny gardens, terraces and courtyards lay elegant Elven buildings, decorated by statues, ornate carvings, murals and tapestries.

            The twin Elves sat a bit taller as they looked down upon their great home, a look of joy in their grey eyes. Home. A place they longed for every night they spent far away from it. Aragorn sat silently by their side, the look of quiet awe on his face mirrored how they all felt. No matter how often they were here it was still a fine place to look upon.

            "Home is but at the bottom of the valley, brothers. Come.. let us return to Imladris." Elrohir smiled and urged his horse into a charge as they galloped down the steep slope of the valley. Sweet voices rose from the trees by the river to greet them.

The stars are far brighter

Than gems without measure,

The moon is far whiter

Than silver in treasure:

The fire is more shining

On hearth in the gloaming

Than gold won by mining,

So why go a-roaming?

            O! Tra-la-la-lally

Come back to the Valley.

O! Where are you going,

So late in returning?

The river is flowing,

The stars are all burning!

O! Wither so laden,

So tired and so dreary?

Here elf and elf-maiden

Now welcome the weary

            With Tra-la-la-lally

            Back  to the Valley!

Elladan's voice had risen to meet those in song under the evening sky and a broad grin rested on his face as an Elf stepped out of the trees to meet them. "Balëdal! Mae govannen! Cormamin lindua ele lle!" He jumped off the horse, sprinting to meet the other Elf in a brotherly embrace. Elrohir grinned and dismounted as well, doing much the same as soon as he was close enough.

            "Elladan! Elrohir! Creoso eska! Ar' Estel! Creoso, creoso!" Balëdal embraced the twin brothers and flashed a smile to the Man who remained on his horse. "Elrond has been expecting your return."

            "Of course he has! Let us not disappointed him." Elrohir climbed back onto his mount, though Elladan decided to lead his across the water as they approached Rivendell.

            The master of Imladris stood in a grand study, watching the evening stars rise from a terrace, the soft glow of candles lighting the Homely House from all places. Below him in the gardens was a great welcoming. Elrond smiled, seeing the young faces of his sons and Aragorn as they were led forward, into the house. It had been some months since he'd last seen his sons and longer still since he'd seen Aragorn.

            "Adar? Mani naa ta?" A young maiden stepped forward onto the terrace, her ebony hair identifying her as one of Elrond's offspring. A gentle look entered the Elven lord's grey eyes.

            "Your brothers have returned, undómielamin." Elrond's heart lifted with his daughter's smile. "Go and prepare for dinner, you know well that a feast is planned for their return."

            "Yes Adar." Arwen bowed her head before rushing off to her rooms to change for the evening meal. Elrond turned back to the scene before him for a moment longer before turning back into the study to don a robe. With light steps he left the open room to greet his sons.

            Elladan broke off his conversation with Morgoniel as his father strode slowly down the stairs that led from the house to the garden. His brother's face brightened, as did his.

"Adar!" He gave a cry before rushing to greet his father with a warm embrace. Elrohir soon crashed into them both. They had never worried about remaining composed in public, not on occasions such as this. Open affection had never been a problem in the family of Elrond.

            "Creoso eska, utinueamin." Elrond embraced the twins, glad to have them home in one piece.

            "It is good to be home." Elrohir added as he allowed himself to relax in his father's strong arms.

            Elrond disentangled himself from his sons so that he could greet Aragorn, who had stood by quietly as the reunion went on. "And welcome to you, Aragorn. It has been some time since we have seen you in Imladris."

            Aragorn bowed his head to the Elven lord and his foster father. Elrond seemed a stark difference from his sons – they were wearing the travelling grey of wandering Elves while he wore a deep plum robe over a lighter one of lavender. Above all else, the circlet identified him as the master of Imladris. But the Ranger knew that by the end of the evening, the twins would be dressed in similar outfits, circlets as well. But the formal dress did not stop either the Elf or the Man from embracing warmly. "It is good to be here again."

            They parted, Elrond offering a full, rare smile to both the twins and his foster son. "Take rest, for tonight will be a long evening of feasting in honour of your return."

            Later that evening found Aragorn in one of the vast rooms that served as his during his stays in Rivendell. The occasion and mere opportunity gave him reason to change from his travelling clothes, which he'd done gladly, finding a long sleeved tunic of birch silver, breeches and light boots to go along with it. A clear bell rang, signalling that dinner was about to begin.

             The Dúnadan made his way down into the great hall where Elves sat, talking merrily with wine already flowing in glasses. Aragorn smiled when he saw the twins.

            Both were wearing sylvan grey over robes and another robe underneath that that seemed to have a slightly silvery sheen to it. Silver circlets rested around their heads, marking them as the heirs of Imladris and the sons of Elrond. Though the extravagant clothes did little to prevent the brothers from embracing their one-time playmate and now friend.

            "Estel, it seems that all you needed was some rest and a bath."

            "The same for you, Elladan… - " Aragorn let his sentence fall off as his gaze was drawn across the room. A maiden had just entered and a more perfect beauty he had never seen. Ebony hair fell in long waves down her back, a lilac gown fell gracefully around her form. Pale skin was flawless in it's beauty and sapphire eyes were hypnotizing.

            Elrohir smirked, seeing Aragorn's mouth fall open as their sister entered the hall. Elladan noticed the same and shook his head, neither had been sure what to expect when Aragorn first laid eyes on Arwen and neither could have guessed that it would be infatuation at first sight. 

            "Estel, are you all right?"

            "Yes.. I'm fine. Elrohir, who is that?" Aragorn finally managed to speak, though his eyes never left the fair creature as she made her way to a chair under a small canopy of light cloths.

            Elrohir quietly debated with himself for a moment, then spoke. "I do not know. She is not often seen in Imladris this time of year." And it was true, his sister had spent most of her life in Lórien with their grandparents; Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Even now she was there most of the year, coming to visit their father during the summer months. But now it was early in spring, though Elrohir was glad to have her here.

            Aragorn turned to face the young Elf, not entirely believing him for a reason he could not name. Perhaps it was the slight glimmer in Elrohir's storm cloud eyes, but he knew he would not get an answer from him no matter what. The Ranger sighed and left to take his place at the long table, sitting near the Elf Lord Glorfindel, who was on the right side of Elrond. Elladan and Elrohir took seats on either side of their father at the head of the table and the meal began.

            All throughout the feast, Aragorn could scarcely look away from the beautiful, dark haired maiden. The meal was drawing to an end and some of the inhabitants of Rivendell were already retreating to the Hall of Fire for a night of songs and tales and poetry. Aragorn rose when the twins did, leaving the table and moving into the corridor. He caught Elladan by his arm and pulled him aside to speak quietly.

            "Elladan, please, surely you know of this maiden." Aragorn pointed out the one he spoke of and the Elf's face broke into a fond smile.

            "Yes, she is Arwen Undómiel. Our sister." Elladan grinned at the shocked look on Aragorn's face. "Ah, I remember you have never met her. She has spent most of her life in Lórien with our grandparents, but she spends her summers here."

            "I have never seen her here, not even during the summer months I have spent in Rivendell." Shock was putting his emotions in a mild perspective. Aragorn's heart felt as if it were beating a mile a minute. The maiden was a sister to Elladan and Elrohir? She was Lord Elrond's daughter?

            "She keeps to the second House on the far side of the bridge, but it matters little. You will meet her tonight, I suspect, in the Hall of Fire or perhaps afterwards." Elladan smiled, giving Aragorn a pat on the shoulder before wandering down the corridor, towards the hall he'd spoken of.

            Arwen Evenstar sat in one of the corners of the Hall of Fire. It was a large, open room, void of tables, but a bright fire burned in a hearth between two pillars. The fire was the only source of light, chairs and benches and even simple cushions were scattered about for people to sit on. The maiden rose when her brother's entered, their dark hair immediately identifying them as close kin.

"Torrorea! Cormamin lindua ele lle! Nae saian luume'." She embraced both with a bright smile, it had been over a year since she had last seen her older brothers.

"It is good to see you as well, seler'. We've missed your bright smiles and fair words."

"And I have missed your jests and energy." Arwen smiled and brushed a little kiss to Elrohir's cheek, then Elladan's. Someone across the room caught her eye and she drew away from her brothers to get a better look. Twin grins formed on their faces, their sister had found Aragorn.

Arwen's lips parted just slightly as she beheld the male across the room. She knew immediately what he was, a mortal Man, but that did not stop the desire she suddenly felt to know him. His hair was dark, like a raven's wing, and his skin slightly tanned from time spent out in the sun, grey eyes that would match the stones of her home. The Elf-maiden could not tear her eyes from the Man, not even when her oldest brother spoke to her, she did not respond except for the question that plagued her.

"Who is he?"

Elladan shook his head, smiling. "That is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. He was raised here under the name Estel."

A look of vague recognition crossed Arwen's face, she had heard the name mentioned before, when she was a few decades younger, by her father during one of his visits to Lórien. But she had never seen the boy he spoke of. Hardly a boy now, she thought to herself. The lady could not stop the blush that rose in her cheeks.

"Come, dear sister. It is long past due that you are introduced to our friend." Elrohir smiled and took Arwen's arm, gently leading her to where Aragorn stood. Little did either brother know that this would be the beginning of something greater than they imagined.

Another chapter done, finally. I hope to get more up soon. ^.^ Please read and review!

Translations:

Mae govannen! Cormamin lindua ele lle! – Well met! My heart sings to see thee!

Creoso eska! Ar' Estel! Creoso, creoso! - Welcome home! And Estel! Welcome, welcome!

Adar? Mani naa ta? - Father? What is it?

Undómielamin - my evenstar

Creoso eska, utinueamin. - welcome home, my sons

Torrorea! Cormamin lindua ele lle! Nae saian luume'. - Brothers! My heart sings to see you! It's been too long.

seler' – sister