Maikalindë gave me no reason as to why he was upset. I had asked Lossenethir and he refused to tell me also. It is frustrating knowing that something is wrong and you are denied the power to do anything. But eventually anything that was wrong faded into nothingness and we were as normal again. Elrohir was still persisting and I found myself going out of my way to avoid him. I think he was going out of his way to find me, though. I was only just over 1800 years old and he was nearing 2300. No one else seemed to notice his intentions.
Elrond and the rest of Elrohir's family had arrived late in the afternoon due to the storm that had sprung suddenly upon us. I was so glad when it Lossenethir informed me that we were to go on a trip into Mirkwood, just the eight of us. Just my brothers and me! I was so pleased to get out of the palace.
* * *
I was packed and ready by dawn. I was sitting on my bed waiting for one of my brothers to come through the door. Oh, I was so bored. Just sitting there, waiting. I tried to sleep, but to no avail. At one point, I was on my head up against the wall to see how long it would take for me to pass out! Of course it never happened but I did get pretty light headed. I think I was sitting there for about an hour before Lossenethir opened my bedroom door.
"Can't sleep?" he asked.
"No. I've been up and ready since dawn," I answered.
"Well, we've still another hour before our brothers wake up. Are you hungry?" He asked leaning in the door and staring at the ceiling. I nodded, but he didn't see me so I answered.
"A little."
"Well come on then," he smiled and looked back to me. I slid off the end of my bed and followed him down the dimly lit corridor.
The sun's newborn light was pouring in through the windows. I could smell the mist and the damp earth. It was quite intoxicating. I loved the way the world woke up after it rained. We walked in silence; the only sound was the birds in the trees and the small stream in the garden. I wanted to ask Lossenethir something but I was not quite sure on how to phrase it. I did not want to offend him if I was wrong. So, I decided to say it bluntly.
"Lossenethir," I said and made sure I got his attention. "Is Elrohir… Is he? Well is he-."
"Homosexual?" He said just as bluntly as I intended to say it myself.
"No, well yes," I said hesitantly.
"He is," he answered.
"Why do you ask?"
"No reason," I say off-handed. He simply shrugged. I guessed he just let it drop because all revealed itself in due course.
Soon we had arrived at the kitchen, where we had a quiet breakfast. Talking over small things like what we are going to when we get out into the woods, if I had a sweetheart yet (no I didn't I was far to shy when I was that age) and if he did. Just things brothers talk about and tease each other about.
* * *
"Time to get up!" I said and I pounced onto Celebiathion. He grunted and woke. He gaze me the famous Celebiathion hey-I-was-sleeping glare and then the, you're-too-heavy-so-get-off-me look. I was what?, the elven equivalent of a thirteen-year-old human. I could not have weighed that much, but I guess it was anything to get me off him.
So I bounced happily out of the room and into the twin's room. They were lying together, in the same bed, so close it startled me. I turned away, instantaneously, walked back to the door and knocked.
"Wake up you two!" I said as steadily as my voice would permit. They both opened their eyes simultaneously and bolted apart. I nearly laughed. Then I leave them to themselves.
I walked into Windarion's room and I threw some pillows at his head before he shouted.
"I'm up!"
I left him and went to Nilfacion. Of course he was still asleep, the best way, I found, to wake him up without getting punched for it is to go open the curtains. The moment the bright sun touched his face he began to curse the morning in every swear word in the elvish language and even some in westron. I stared at him disbelieving and he merely glared at me. So I left him too and nearly ran into Guyaturion.
"Hey little one," he said quietly.
"I'm not little," I protested, just because I wanted to.
"Littler than me," he laughed.
"Shut up!" I said annoyed, which just made him laugh harder.
* * *
We were walking through the woods, just the eight of us. I was in heaven, no Elrohir. Nilfacion stopped abruptly and sat down.
"What's wrong?" Windarion asked.
"It's too early," Nilfacion pouted. He wasn't that much older than me.
"Oh come on!" Windarion said exasperated. Nilfacion could be a pain in the you-know-what sometimes. So, Windarion grabbed Nilfacion and pulled him to his feet. Nilfacion just stared.
"What are you going to do?" He asked annoyed.
"This!" Windarion turned around, crouched and in an instant he had Nilfacion on his back. "Happy?"
"No," Nilfacion answered.
"Too bad. If it's too early, I'll carry you until we get to where ever it is we are going."
We laughed at Nilfacion. He stuck out his tongue at us.
"You asked for it," I laughed.
"Shut up!" Nilfacion glared.
We walked for Elbereth only knows how long. Over hills and across the small streams that run all through Mirkwood. We were singing and talking some more, when Nilfacion asked a strange question.
"Have you guys been to Laketown?"
We all looked from one to another. Laketown was a village on the lake ironically enough. It was about a three hour run from the palace. None of us had actually made the journey, save to pass through it to get to Imladris.
"No?" He asked, confirming out blank stares. We nodded out agreement. Then he said, as if it was nothing: "I have."
Obviously, he was the type to go off alone and how many times has he done so? So, we continued walking and talking, while I tried to figure out why he brought that up out of nowhere and what he meant by it. We walked for about another hour before Windarion collapsed onto his knees, Nilfacion tumbled off his back.
"That's it! I'm not going any further! Especially with him on my back," he stated firmly as he dug in his pack for water.
* * *
We set up camp where Windarion refused to go any farther. It was quite convenient because he stopped in the middle of a clearing. There was a stream somewhere to the east of us, so we had water if we needed it. We had brought plenty of food. We planned to be out there a couple of days. We were all settled in when I went off by myself exploring, you will never guess what happened…
* * *
I walked slowly through the bracken and shrubbery and trees with my bow and quiver strapped across my back. The sun shone just barely through the canopy and it dappled me, the ground, and everything green in beautiful patches of warm sunlight. I was very alert; I could hear, see and smell everything. Then, I heard a twig snap. I was up in a tree in an instant as I gazed around for what had done it. A deer was up ahead. I assumed it was the deer I had heard, but the snap had come from behind and there was nothing there.
I jumped from the tree and landed on the ground in a crouching position. I looked around once more to make sure I was truly alone, save fore the deer and my brothers. Nothing or no one, but I could feel someone watching. So, again, I was up in the tree. I had my bow ready, with an arrow strung, ready to fly. I was sitting there for about five minutes before I saw who was making the noise.
A dark haired, obviously, half-elf stepped cautiously into the semi-path. He walked until he just about in front of my tree when I jumped down from my perch, bow aimed. He jumped back, I was certain he was male because of the way he carried himself.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
"I guess it depends on who is asking me," he said with self-righteous arrogance.
"I am asking you," I said curtly.
"Well, who are you to ask who I am?" He asked smugly. I was getting pissed.
"That is my business but if you wish to pass alive you shall tell me who you are!" I tersely.
"You won't shoot me," he pointed out complacently.
"Care to take that chance?" I pulled the string back on my bow. The arrow was balanced perfectly on my hand. He appeared startled that I had gotten that far.
"I am Aragorn of Imladris," he sighed in defeat.
"Foster child of Elrond?" I inquired.
"That's me," he smiled. I lowered my bow.
"Well, I'm Legolas," I stuck out my hand and he looked at me as if I had grown a second head. "What?"
"What are you doing with your hand? Is there something wrong with it?" He asked. I began to laugh uncontrollably.
"It's a handshake. See? Like this," I grabbed his hand and shook it.
"Oh, I see," he said quietly.
"What are you doing out here anyway?" I asked as I put my arrow in my quiver and put the bow on my back.
"I was restless in the palace so I had permission to leave so long as I was back before dark. And I…" He trailed off. He looked embarrassed.
"And you got lost," I finished for him. He nodded. "Don't worry about. It is very easy to get lost in here, I sometimes think that the trees switch themselves around every once in a while."
"I would believe it," he said and ran a finger through his short brown hair. He looked to me with steely grey eyes; he had to be no older than me. "What are you doing in here?"
"Camping with my brothers," I said simply.
"You have brothers?" He asked.
"Seven in fact," I replied off-handed.
"Oh," he said quietly, looking at his hands.
"Want to meet them?" I asked he brightened a little.
"Sure," he said quietly.
I led him back to our campsite. We didn't talk much, save for a few words here and there.
We arrived at the camp in a few moments. I introduced my brothers one by one. They were all happy to meet Aragorn and he was accepted into our group easily enough. As the sun began to set, he had to return to the palace so we walked him to the edge of the forest and sent him on his way.
* * *
We had a great time. Aragorn did not return for the rest of our three-day camp out. Which was good and still bad at the same time.
As the day's sun rose high to its zenith, we began to take down our camp. We laughed over how Windarion had fallen asleep and we drew pictures on his face with charcoal from our fire. Laughed over while Celebiathion was asleep we tied him to a tree about a kilometre from where our camp was. They laughed about how they put make up on me and fixed my hair in the latest fashion for Mirkwood she-elves, all while I was asleep of course.
* * *
We were only home for a few moments when we were summoned to the great hall by father. I groaned as the servant told me that I was to go to the great hall as quickly as possible. I am sure all of my brothers did the same thing.
So, quietly I walked down the corridor as each of my brothers joined me one by one. We walked to the great hall and opened the doors to find Elessar, Elrond, Elrohir, Elladan and Celebrian standing there with mother and father. They were all smiling, Elrohir more so than the rest. Inwardly, I cringed as my eyes fell upon the younger twin. But that was soon forgotten as my father welcomed us home.
"I trust you had fun boys!" He said happily.
"We did thanks," Lossenethir spoke for all of us.
"Wonderful!" He smiled at all of us. "Boys, I would like you to meet-."
"Aragorn," I said a bit inadvertently. They all looked at me and I blushed.
"Why, yes. How did you know who he was?" Father asked.
"We meet him in the forest."
Disclaimer: You should know by now who owns whom! Don't sue I swear it's not worth it.
A/N: I am so sorry this took me forever but I am slowly kicking writer's block ass!!! Wooo! Be happy for me! Well, how was that? Did ya likey leaky? Sorry, I keep saying that nowadays… You know what I'd like? To get one hundred reviews by time I get to chapter fifteen… But that all depends if you like this or not and whether or not you choose to review, I just hope people are reading and are liking it… Aragorn is, for arguments sake, half elven. I know it's not how it is in the books, but I'm changing it just like everything else! So he is the elven equivalent of 13 same with Legolas… Well, that's it for now… I'll have another chapter up, hopefully, next weekend or sooner!! Keep your fingers crossed!! Anyway, I'm tired and sick so I'll go now… Thank you for reading and reviewing…. Luv Gia