Disclaimer: As in other chapters, Tolkien owns everything you don't recognise from the books.

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The group from Lórien were the last to arrive at the council, for, although they were closer, Lysandil and Daromir had set out with their group a few days before them from Mirkwood. Elrohir had been steadily growing less and less unhappy, as he knew he was coming closer to his twin. Galwyn noticed he smiled a great deal more, and he was a lot more light-hearted, joking around with Haldir. When the group rode into the courtyard outside the palace in Imladris, Elladan was there waiting on the balcony. He and Elrohir saw each other immediately and cried out each other's names. Elrohir jumped off Nimsul, helped Galwyn down, and ran across to his brother, who was making his way down the steps at a run, his long robes billowing out behind him. When they met in the middle of the courtyard, they embraced as though they feared they would lose each other if they let go. When each twin looked into his brother's face, he could see the streams of joyful tears running down it.

"Oh, Elladan! I don't know how much longer I could have lasted without you!"

"And I, dear brother! Sometimes I felt my loss so strongly I could barely breath."

"But we are together again now." Elrohir whispered, looking deep into the eyes that were identical to his own.

"Thank Elbereth. But I fear you will be leaving me again soon, this time for longer."

"Yes, I have felt it too, and the thought chills my heart."

"We must just make the most of the time we have. Come, we must do our duties." They broke apart, and stood side-by-side regarding the group. Celeborn had dismounted, and was making his way over to embrace Elladan. Haldir and Galwyn, too, had dismounted and were standing together watching the reunion. When she looked at the twins, Galwyn fought to suppress a gasp of shock. She had known they would look alike, but seeing them together, flawless mirror images of each other, was still a surprise, for there was not one difference between them. Watching Elrohir reunited with his twin, and seeing how joyful he was had filled her eyes with sympathetic tears that she had hastily brushed away before Haldir could see them. She wished inwardly that she had a sibling that meant so much to her, but she knew that wishing such things was futile. Under the twins' and Celeborn's command, the escort dispersed to be fed and watered and rested before the council the next day. There was to be a feast to welcome all the participants that night. Soon, Galwyn and Haldir were the only ones of the escort left with in the courtyard. Elladan went over to embrace the blond elf, exchanging tender words of greeting, before turning to Galwyn, who blushed shyly under his gaze, so familiar, and yet so strange. Elrohir walked over to Galwyn and took her hand, leading her over to his brother, his eyes shining and a broad smile on his face.

"Galwyn, allow me to introduce my brother, Elladan." She looked down and curtseyed gracefully.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lord Elladan; Elrohir speaks so much of you."

"Only nice things I hope!" Elladan laughed, and smiled warmly at her; the smile an exact copy of Elrohir's. "And please, call me Elladan." He looked at her injured arm. "You are hurt?"

"A fall, that is all. Nothing very serious. Celeborn assures me I shall be right again in a few days. He told me I could probably take the sling off today."

"That is good news."

"Galwyn is the shape-shifter, and she is to accompany the group who will hopefully retrieve Vilya. She will be a valuable asset to us indeed." Elrohir explained, eliciting another flush from the young mortal. He gently squeezed her hand, which he had not yet dropped, in reassurance. Elladan nodded thoughtfully, looking from his brother, to her, and then back to Elrohir, looking him dead in the eyes. Something passed between them without being spoken, and after a few moments, Elladan turned to her again and smiled.

"You must be very tired. Please, come and take some rest so that you may be recovered for the feast tonight. You have your own quarters here, I know. But, please, allow us to escort you there." The four of them made their way into the palace, and Galwyn looked around the familiar surroundings with pleasure. Imladris was easily as beautiful as Lórien, but in a very different way, and it was a beauty she felt more at home in than amongst the mallorn trees in the Golden Wood. She walked with Haldir, while the twins walked ahead of them, heads bowed together, deep in animated conversation. When they reached the wing where Galwyn, and Arwen, when they were there, had their quarters, Elladan, Haldir and Elrohir excused themselves and made their way to their own quarters.

Galwyn went into her room, basking in the familiar surroundings, and sat down on her bed. Unconsciously, her thoughts turned to Elrohir. She smiled as she remembered how he had taken her hand to introduce her to Elladan, and how happy they had both been to be together again. She remembered the journey spent with Elrohir, and how she had got to know more about him than before; how his eyes shone when he laughed, how the muscles in his arms tensed round her when she fell asleep against him so she wouldn't fall, how he teased her when he and Haldir ganged up on her. She put her hands to her face, and realised that her eyes were wet with tears. She could come so close to him, and yet, he was always out of reach. Be his friend, and nothing more. For a few moments, she just let her sadness take over her, and the tears flowed freely. She cried silently, and thoroughly, letting all her emotions out; both dwelling in self-pity, and chastising herself for being so stupid. It was better to be his friend than nothing at all. When her tears had dried on her face, she stood up and walked over to her mirror to look at herself. She gasped in shock: her eyes were red and puffy and the trails of her tears had made streaks through the dust that had coated her face from all the riding. Her thick eyelashes were all stuck together in clumps and her hair was unkempt. Outside, the bell rang calling the guests to begin getting ready for the feast, and she looked at herself again in horror. She had to get ready, and fast! She rushed into her bathroom, where a bath had already been run for her in preparation, but that was somewhat cooler than was probably intended, as she had not got in it straight away. But it was better than nothing, and she sunk into it gratefully, soaping the travel grime off herself, and washing her hair. When she was done, she wrapped a soft blue towel around herself and went back into her bedroom, going to her wardrobe. What was she going to wear?

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Haldir had made his way to his chambers, leaving Elladan and Elrohir alone. As they walked down the corridors to their own rooms, Elladan looked quizzically at his brother.

"So tell me about the girl: Galwyn." As he had expected, his brother launched into a blow by blow account of their journey, their meeting, and even their argument. The elder twin smiled thoughtfully to himself, and a plan formed in his mind. His smiled deepened but he waited till his brother had finished.

"So what do you think of her?"

"Elladan! You sound just like Haldir!"

"Well?"

"She is very nice, and we are…friends. That's all."

"And you don't feel for her any more than that?"

"I…no."

"Well, that's lucky for me."

"What? Why?"

"Because I think she is lovely, and fully intend to get to know her better." He smiled in triumph as his twin rose to the bait.

"No! You can't!"

"Why not? You said you didn't feel for her more than as a friend."

"I…she's…she's not your type!"

"Well, I'll take a chance. You never know…"

"But, Elladan…"

"But nothing. She is your friend, so obviously we will get on. And it is not like you have feelings for her, so stop complaining. Do I have your blessing?"

"No! I mean…I think she is already in love with someone else, someone in Lórien."

"Oh yes?"

"Yes."

"She told you that?"

"Um…yes?"

"Alright. Enough. Stop lying!"

"I'm not!"

"Rubbish! Elrohir, you're my brother. I practically know you better than you know yourself. I saw through you a long time ago."

"I'm not hiding anything from you!"

"I can see through you like a window. I saw it in your eyes the moment I saw you look at her."

"You were just playing with me?"

"Of course. I knew you wouldn't tell me the truth, so I had to get it out of you another way."

"Elladan, that's cruel!" The older twin smirked sheepishly.

"It worked though, didn't it?" Elrohir punched him lightly on the arm.

"If only I could be angry at you!"

"But you can't! Such a shame." He sighed dramatically. Then his expression became more composed. "How serious are you?"

"I don't know. Serious enough to know I don't want you to have her!"

"Ouch! Does she know?"

"No."

"Does she reciprocate?"

"I don't know! Promise me you won't interfere?"

"Of course. Have I ever done in the past?" Elrohir raised an eyebrow and Elladan laughed, holding up his hands in defeat. "Alright, I promise!"

"Thank you."

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Galwyn looked critically at her reflection in the mirror. She sighed; that was as good as she was going to get. She had chosen an ivory coloured silk gown, very much like the one she had been given when she first arrived in Lórien, though she did not remember it. It fitted snugly over her top half down to her waist, and then hung in soft folds to the ground. It had long sleeves that flared out at the elbow and hung to the floor. The dress was trimmed at the neckline and hem with purple ribbon the same colour as her eyes, and there was ribbon of the same colour criss-crossed down to her elbows on the sleeves. There was also a purple girdle around her waist that hung down almost to the floor. She was wearing a pair of soft, purple shoes and had left her vigorously combed hair loose, hanging around her face and down her back. There were sparkling earrings in her ears, and a pearl necklace at her throat. Celeborn had come by to check over her arm and she had been allowed to take it out of the sling, though it was still tightly bandaged. He had told her not to transform while it was in a sling, as her new form would also be weak in the respective limb, but, knowing she had to keep her skill practised, he had given her permission to transform again. The bell rang to call the guests to the hall, and satisfied that she had finished, she walked quickly over to her door, and pulled it open, colliding with a dark haired figure with his hand raised to knock at the door. It was Elrohir, and his initial expression of surprise soon turned to one of shock as he looked at her. She waited a few moments, drinking in how fair he looked in the silver tunic and pale blue shirt and leggings he was wearing with soft black boots. She noticed he was wearing a silver circlet on his dark hair that was pulled behind his ears with thin braids. She lost herself for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat.

"Um…Elrohir?" His eyes refocused on hers, and suddenly his expression of surprise deepened.

"You knew it was me?"

"Of course. Who else would you be?"

"Only my identical twin! How did you know it was me?"

"Because it is you!"

"Obviously, but how? Virtually nobody can tell us apart."

"Well, I don't know. I just knew it was you."

"Wow." There was silence for a few moments, and then Galwyn spoke again.

"Is there some reason you are here?" The elf blushed and she giggled inwardly, this was not something she had seen before.

"I…um…came to escort you to the hall." She smiled gently, suppressing the urge to throw her arms around him and not let go.

"How kind."

"Shall we?" He smiled invitingly, and held his arm out to her. She took it and together they walked towards the hall. As he looked at the figure beside him, Elrohir could barely contain his happiness. Now that he was reunited with Elladan, his mind was able to think more clearly, and he had realised just how much he had enjoyed her company, and how she, and only she, had been able to take his mind off his pain. He hadn't been able to believe his eyes when she had opened the door. It was as though he was seeing her for the first time, and he had realised just how beautiful she was. He thought wryly that of course, Elladan, who was seeing her for the first time, would have been able to appreciate this, but he, had been seemingly blind to it for all this time, wrapped up in his own turmoil. Her hand was warm on his arm, and her smile, when it turned on him, warmed his heart. He reached up and ran a shaky hand through his hair.

"Elrohir? Are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh yes, I'm fine. More than fine, in fact." He smiled at her, and as she smiled back, and he chastised himself for taking so long to realise what was right in front of him. "You look beautiful, by the way." Immediately, Galwyn's face flushed a deep pink, and she looked at the floor.

"Thank you." She looked up and met his eyes, losing herself once more in his silvery gaze. Before they knew it, they had reached the hall.

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A/N: So do you like? If so, please review!