***Please look for disclaimer on the first page***

There was a moment of silence, as Thranduil waited for his daughter to continue, but she was not forthcoming. 'A gift;' did she really expect him to understand. Apparently she had because she stood there anticipating his reaction, when she received none her eyes grew wide with fear.
"You are angry with me? We were worried that you might be angry. Well not just you, but I told him, I really didn't think you would be, but."
"Sildulin! Please that is enough!" Thranduil interrupted, utterly lost. He thought he had heard the term "we," could that be possible? A gift; she thought, no, they thought he'd be angry. Wait a minute, she did look very nice tonight, quite dressed up for the arrival, the twins. No, it couldn't be, she had more sense than that didn't she?
Sildulin watched as the answer dawned upon her father. He looked neither angry nor amused, he actually looked a little sick to his stomach, "Ada, are you alright? Do you need to sit down?"
"I'm fine. Absolutely fine." He tried to regain his composure. He knew the time would come when his daughter would become interested in, well, the opposite sex, but so soon? And one of the twins? What if it were both of the twins? He would have to have a talk with her, that type of behavior was just not proper!
"Don't tell Kai! Please Elladan and I want to keep this a secret. I'm not sure if Lord Elrond even know!" she begged. Some of the tension in Thranduil's face released. It was only one, thank Valar, it was only one. He would have to keep a close eye on that twin, make sure he was the better of the two. For if his daughter was to be involved with one of them, it would certainly be the more deserving of the two. Certainly if Elladan proved to be inferior, she could change to Elrohir, the two did look alike, it mustn't be that hard to fall in love with one or the other.
"You have my word, I won't utter a breath about this matter." Sildulin flung her arms around her father's neck.
"Thank you Ada! Thank you so much. Come now," she took his hand, "let us see to Legolas and Verya, make sure all is well with them."

"Ver?" Legolas spoke, looking puzzled.
"Yes?" Verya couldn't wait for the twin's arrival, which was a thought that rarely graced his mind, but in the wake of their arrival, Legolas decided to occupy himself by interrogating him with any and every question that popped into his little head.
"Were the tress this big when you were little like me?"
"I suppose so, Legolas."
There was a slight pause, "Ver?"
"Yes?"
"What do you mean, suppose?" It was never-ending with him, and he took a nap, which meant if Lord Elrond never arrived, if Kaimelar somehow managed to lead them astray again, this question and answer session could go on all night.
"What I mean is that I don't remember, it was many, many years since I was little like you."
"Oh," Legolas let this information soak in, he took a clump of the elf warrior's hair and inspected it carefully before letting it go. "Ver?"
"Yes?"
"Why are your hair, and Sil's hair, and Kai's hair and ada's hair dark, and my hair light?" This was Legolas most consistent question. Whenever he started asking question, this one was always to be found somewhere in the mix. And as often as they all tried to explain the answer to him, Legolas' young mind could not quite comprehend.
"You have light hair cause your Naneth had light hair."
"Oh," Legolas pursed his lips as he normally did when he was confused," Did you Naneth have dark hair."
"Yes."
"Did ada's Naneth have dark hair?"
"I do believe she might have." Legolas put a strand of hair in his mouth and began to chew on it, one of his poorer habits when he was agitated, Verya reached his hand to Legolas' cheek and pulled the hair from the little elf's mouth; Legolas seemed not to notice, for he was deep in thought.
"What about Sil's and Kai's Naneth? Did she have dark hair?"
"No Legolas; you and Sil and Kai had the same Naneth."
"Oh," the hair went back into his mouth as he pondered this, "But they have dark hair, and mine is not. So how can we have the same Naneth?"
Verya once again extracted the blonde hair from the child's mouth, "Well, because your brother and sister have hair like you ada's."
"I have my ada's eyes," Legolas stated, it sounded more like a correction of what Verya had said, than a statement of fact. Before the questions could get more uncomfortable, Thranduil and Sildulin interrupted them, much to Verya's delight.
"Ah, Captain Verya, I see you have had a victory," Thranduil declared, his eyebrow's furrowed as he noticed Legolas' did not seem happy to see him, rather he looked perplexed with a strand of hair secure in his mouth. "Legolas, what is the matter?"
Legolas looked to his father, as if considering whether or not he could trust him with some privileged information. Deciding he could, he raised his arms, indicating he wanted to be held. Thranduil lifted him from Verya's lap, feeling Legolas' warm breath against his face as his son leaned into his ear.
"Ada," he whispered, "I forgot who Naneth is, but I have her hair."
"It's okay Legolas," was the King's only response, he never knew what to say at moments like this, his wife would have, bit for the all his diplomatic skills, he knew not how to comfort his little son. Legolas pressed his pudgy little hand to his father's face, and studied him once more, kissing his on the forehead, as his father did every night.
"It's okay, ada." He whispered again into his father's ear.
"I didn't think it was possible, but it looks as if Kai was actually able to get us here in a direct manner!" a voice teased from outside.
"You are to be much commended." Another voice could be heard. Thranduil was quite certain he could hear Kaimelar's face redden.
"Let him alone you two, or perhaps I should share with everyone the incident with the horses yesterday." That was the distinct voice of Lord Elrond.
"Ada, it's them! They are here!" his son cheered. The outburst of Legolas, rendered Thranduil incapable of hearing the twin's response, but it little mattered because he could see their response written upon their faces as the door opened and they all entered: three young red faced elves, and the proud form of Lord Elrond with eyes smiling.
"Ah, it is good to see you Elrond." The two elf kings embraced.
"As well to see you Thranduil." He looked down to the golden haired elfling pulling on his robes, "Can it be? It this Prince Legolas?"
"Lord 'Lron'!" Legolas exclaimed, "You come to see me!"
Elrond chuckled, "Yes, I have come to see you little prince."
"And El'dan and El'hir! They come too! Do you see ada? They here now, we can play now! Come Sil and Kai and El'dan and El'hir and." interrupted Legolas' never ending list of names, Elladan scooped the young elf into his arms.
"So you missed us you little acorn?" Elladan asked, flipping Legolas upside down, much to the child's delight.
"I miss you! I miss," he yelled between fits of laughter.
"Hand him here 'Dan, let me see this nutty squirrel you have." Elladan threw Legolas in the air to his brother who caught him easily. He looked at Legolas' upside down face.
"Hm, you say this is Legolas? I don't know, as I remembered him, Legolas' mouth was below his eyes, and his feet below his head. No, I'm sorry King Thranduil, this elf is an imposter." Legolas' eyes grew wide.
"Legles upside down. Ada, I Legles!" The child cried, with a mixture of desperation and delight. Elrohir flipped him right side up.
"Oh! Now I see. Do you see, 'Dan?" Elrohir asked. When his brother did not respond, Elrohir turned only to find he and Sildulin standing off in a corner whispering to one another, figuring they were merely plotting some type of prank on he and Kai, he turned back to the child.
"El'hir play?" Legolas asked as sweetly as he could.
"Before we get to playing , perhaps we should eat dinner." Thranduil offered more as a command than a suggestion. Elrohir placed Legolas on the ground, who in turn quickly grabbed Elrohir's hand and dragged him off to the dining chambers, excitedly rambling about his adventures in the trees, Kaimelar right behind them. He turned to Elladan and Sildulin, who were still absorbed in conversation.
"Are you two coming?" Sildulin caught her brother's eye and shot him a look.
"We'll be right there." Both Elrond and Thranduil looked to each other and understood that the other was already aware of their child's secret.
"Come Kaimelar, why don't you tell Lord Elrond about the great hunt you had." The idea of this, easily allowed for Kaimelar to forget about Elladan and his sister, who appreciated their fathers' generous gift of privacy.
"I have something for you," Sildulin said as soon as everyone left, she pulled the book from behind her back.
"Well, I have something for you as well," he replied holding out a small bird carved of white marble, with eyes made of a beautiful blue stones, whose majesty rivaled that of Legolas' treasured blue stone.
"It is beautiful 'Dan." She said, taking the figurine in her hands.
"But this Sil, it's amazing. These pictures are immaculate," he said, flipping through the pages of the book. "It's really."
"No more than." the two stopped talking.
"Thank you," they said simultaneously, then smiled shyly. After a few awkward moments, Elladan took her hand.
"We should get to dinner before anyone gets suspicious."
"I suppose we should. Legolas will notice our absence and surely alert the rest of the table. But first I think we should store these away, that might also look suspicious." Elladan nodded, and the two rushed off to get to dinner.

"And the Kai jumped over the tree stump on his horse!" Legolas finished, nearly knocking over his water with one of his wildly swinging arms, but Thranduil's reflexes were much to sharp and he caught the glass before anything could spill, Elrond smiled at the spectacle, being reminded of his twin's in their younger days.
"Kaimelar told me you've begun to ride horses as well," Elrohir said. Legolas nodded his head frantically, trying to swallow the huge swig of water he had just taken.
"Legles ride horse, all by myself!" Elrond nodded impressed, surprised that Thranduil would allow his son at such a young age to go riding all by himself.
'Do you?" he asked, interested. Legolas found it hard to remain sitting he was so excited, but he was trying hard to show his guests what a good prince he could be.
"Kai and ada teach me. We go in trees and then Kai and ada race, but Ada wins. Legles no race because I too little and could get hurt," he didn't seem upset as some young one's would be being excluded from racing, rather it was as though Legolas assumed Lord Elrond could not understand the logic of his not participating in the game.
"Sounds like fun." Elrond replied.
"You and Ada race!" was Legolas' response, quite proud of himself for thinking of such a clever idea.
"Yes, that sounds like a splendid idea! A race!" Elrohir cheered. Paying no heed to look his father gave him, Kaimelar had no luck though, for Thranduil was prepared for Legolas to say such a thing and had already given the death glare. It would do no good to excite Legolas anymore than he was, so Kaimelar merely shrugged at the whole situation. By then though, Elrohir had already swept Legolas up in a chant of "race!"
"No race, Legolas," the King said firmly, and his son stopped chanting, looking glumly at his silverware, Elrohir sheepishly smiled at his father who was still staring at his with his eyebrows raised above what Elrohir thought physically possible. Quick to change the subject, Elrond decided to peak Legolas' interest in something a little safer.
"Legolas, your father and I were speaking and we thought you would like to some to Rivendell next summer, Arwen will be home. Do you remember Arwen?"
Legolas looked to the ceiling as though the answer would be written there, then shook his head when he found none.

"She is my daughter, she's about your age. You met her when you two were babies, I suppose you wouldn't remember her, you were so young then."
"Sil is a daughter." Was Legolas' response, he looked around finally noticing his beloved sister was missing, "Ada!" he cried alarmed, "Sil gone!"
Kaimelar and Elrohir also took in the present members of the dinner table, Elladan and Sildulin not being among them; what were they up to?
"We must get them before they get us," Kaimelar whispered to his cohort.
"I'm already formulating a plan," Elrohir assured pointing to his head, Kaimelar rolled his eyes.
"Well then we are most certainly doomed, if we are reliant upon that vacant vessel resting upon your shoulders."
"I wouldn't go insulting your only partner in crime, or you'll find yourself on you own." Kaimelar shrugged, his attention being drawn to his brother, whom was beginning to go into hysterics.
"Where Sil?" he cried. Thranduil shocked by his youngest's reaction to his missing sister quickly picked him up, trying to calm him.
"She's coming, don't worry. She's on her way here." He rocked him back and forth.
"Ada, what's wrong? Did Legolas hurt himself?" Sildulin exclaimed upon seeing her father holding her sobbing brother.
"Sil!" he held out his arms to her, and when she took him, he clung to her as if his life depended upon it. And slowly his crying ceased, as she pacified him. Elladan entered indiscreetly and sat at the table, greeted by the suspicious stares of his brother and Kaimelar.
"Legles thought you were gone. I thought you were gone," Legolas kept muttering as he snuggled his head into her shoulder.
"I'm right here little one," she reassured him, taking her seat with Legolas on her lap still clinging tightly, afraid to let go. Thranduil allowed, thought normally he preferred Legolas to sit at his own seat when at the dinner table.
They all sat there uncomfortably, not quite sure how to continue after that scene. As Legolas calmed, he took interest again in Sildulin's necklace and began to play with it.
Thranduil cleared his throat, he had enough silence for one dinner, "I think the food will be served shortly, we wanted to wait for everyone to be seated and now that everyone is, I'm most certain the cooks and servers will be more than hasty in its deliverance."
"Ada?" Legolas turned his head to look at his father. The table as a whole seemed quite shocked, for judging by his behavior now, no one would have guessed he was crying just moments ago.
"Yes, Legolas?" The child jumped from his sister's lap and walked to his seat, unaware of the looks on everyone's faces.
"Can we ride horses with Lord 'Lron' tomorrow?"
"If Lord Elrond would like to, then I see no reason why not." Legolas looked to Elrond, giving him the pouty look that worked so well on his siblings. Even if Elrond had wanted to say no, one look at that face would have changed his mind. Unlike Thranduil, Elrond hadn't grown immune to such a sweet honest look. Perhaps it was the years of constant mischief in the twin's eyes, but such a look from any elf child could melt his heart.
"Of course I would love to ride horses with you," Elrond answered, putting a huge smile on Legolas' face. "I'd be very interested to see such a young one on a horse."
"Wait till you see him, he's just begun and already we can tell he is a natural. He's not scared and he can control the horse, well, you just have to see it," Kaimelar gushed, unable to hide his pride for his brother, Legolas grinned at his brother's praise. The word's Kaimelar spoke were completely true, not mere exaggerations of a familial pride; Legolas seemed to have an innate gift with animals, from horses to birds to fish, Legolas seemed to communicate with them in a way that was beyond what most elves could, which was saying a great deal. His father would say that he spent enough times in the trees that most of the creatures there assumed he was one of them.
"It seems like I have something great to look forward to tomorrow then."
"But no race," Legolas warned as if Elrond was a naughty little elfling who needed to be kept in line, Elrond threw up his arms in surrender.
"No racing," he repeated showing he got Legolas' message. The child nodded, already thinking of the most amazing places they could ride to in the forest.