DISCLAIMER:   we all know that it's not mine, why try to hide it?

*~*~*

Arryn opened his eyes in the middle of the night, completely calm. He had been fast asleep, and suddenly, in the process of opening his eyes, he was entirely awake. Breathing deeply, he turned his head to the right, and saw a dark figure in the chair across from his bed. The figure was leaning its head on its hand, and with the redhead's movement, shifted hands. Arryn could only stare, curious, but not afraid.

The figure spoke. "You are a very curious creature, Arryn."

He sat up slowly. "Why?" He made no move to light a candle or to try to see his visitor.

"You are Elven-kind, yet you carry yourself like a Man. You should not feel the cold, yet you shiver. You sleep with the awareness of an elf, yet you sleep with your eyes closed."

Arryn raised his eyebrows in amusement. "Sleep with my eyes closed? Does not everyone?"

"No. Elves sleep with their eyes open. I find it very curious indeed that you do not. It is unsettling, and it makes me doubt you." The figure stood and came close; Arryn could make out dark features and not much else. "Do not make me doubt you, boy." He stalked from the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Arryn curled up, shaking from nerves. He had thought that he would be safe in Imladris— despite the chilly welcome its lord offered him. He lay back down, and dragged the covers up to his chin, closing his eyes resolutely. He summoned up an image of his family: Mother, Father, Sister. They were all dark-haired; he was the only fair one in at least three generations, from either side of the family. He smiled a bit, trying to get his sister to move, trying to remember how she had walked, how she would turn her head, how she would smile. The image was superimposed with one of Elrohir, and that lazy smile from earlier that night in the garden.  He did not sleep more, but looked at all the pictures inside his mind, over and over again.

*~*~*

Elladan entered the room at Elrohir's welcome and sprawled himself on the bed.

"Make yourself at home, brother," Elrohir said dryly.

"I always do, brother," came the lazy reply.

Elrohir snorted and returned to his perusal of the courtyard outside his balcony.

"Close your mouth, Elrohir, lest your tongue loll out," Elladan teased gently. "HE is sure to notice if you keep staring as you do."

Elrohir whipped around guiltily. "Do you think he has noticed?"

"He would have to be blind not to." Elladan came up behind him and hugged his twin. "But, apparently, he is indeed blind. Father is not however, and he may disapprove. You know he is still suspicious of Arryn," he cautioned.

"What about yourself?"

"I like him. I feel sorry for him because Ada has decided he is untrustworthy. I do not understand why he cannot speak to Father. That is why Ada distrusts him."

"I know, and it distresses me. Ada scares him, and I do not know how to help him through this fear. It makes me wonder what might have happened in his past to cause this fear. Or maybe it is just that Ada is trying to intimidate him; Arryn is so closed-mouth about his past, he will not even tell me about it." Elrohir sighed, dejected. Silently, they watched Arryn and Glorfindel step out of the House to head towards the garden paths.

"And what of your heart, Elrohir? What does that say about the little redhead?" Elladan was careful not to look at his brother.

"He is very beautiful," Elrohir whispered, and then suddenly stared at him. "Do you fancy him?"

Elladan laughed. "No, I prefer the fairer sex. You are welcome to court Arryn. In fact, you have my blessings—perhaps you will stop moping about him now. Ada, however, will be another matter entirely."

"I believe that Father will come around." Elrohir caught his breath when Arryn looked up from the garden, meeting his eyes. Glorfindel shaded his gaze and followed the redhead's look, and waved at the twins. Elrohir managed a smile and a small wave back.

Elladan poked his twin's side. "Go to him already."

With great dignity, Elrohir swatted the offending hands away, glaring at him, and left the room, ignoring his brother's laughter.

Elladan stood at the balcony wall, watching until Elrohir stepped up to the redhead. Glorfindel tactfully took his leave, retreating into the house, no doubt about to inform his Lord of the new complications with the mysterious redhead and the young lord. Elrohir did not so much as wave a farewell, before taking Arryn's hand and vanishing with his into the garden.

Elladan smiled, and left the room to find his father and break the news before Glorfindel did.

*~*~*

Arryn followed Elrohir unquestioningly, winding their way through twisting garden paths. A great bush—tree, really, it was so large— covered with large globes of bright red flowers was nestled in the middle of the path. Arryn stopped short and stared at it in wonder. "It is beautiful," he murmured. "What kind of plant is it?"

"I do not know. But it is beautiful. I used to play here when I was little." Elrohir smiled at Arryn's open-mouthed wonderment, and took his hand, pulling him close to the tree. "Come on." The twin lifted up a branch gently and pushed Arryn into the cavern of leaves.

They entered the hollow of the tree, standing close to the trunk. Laughing, the redhead stretched his arms above his head and spun around. "I cannot even touch the top! This is amazing, Elrohir."

"I am glad you like it. I always came here when I was scared—I always felt safe here among these low boughs." The elf settled against the big trunk.

Arryn looked at him, slowly dropping his arms to his sides. "Are you scared now?"

Elrohir smiled. "No. I just wanted to show you. I knew you would appreciate it. Elladan is hopeless for things like this."

The redhead smiled, an odd light in his eyes. He came closer, never looking away from the other. Elrohir felt unaccountably nervous looking into his dark eyes. Leaning back against the trunk, he held his breath. Is he going to kiss me? he wondered wildly.

"Will you tell me if you are scared again, Elrohir?" Arryn was almost touching him now.

"Yes..." he whispered.

"Good," Arryn was impossibly close, and then their lips touched.

Elrohir smiled. "Very good."

"Elrohir!"

*~*~*

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