******************************** Chapter 16 ****************************************

kathy stgqvk : Hmm... no one's gonna die...yet... hehehe... but I don't guarantee anything...

Mayrana : Since you have such confidence in me, well, I couldn't let you down now, could I? ^.^

Luindae : I'll be kinder in this chappie, no cliffie!!!! =)

angelbird12241 : Here's another chappie...

Haldir's Heart and Soul : You can guess... maybe you can get it right...If not, well, who's gonna find out anyway...

louise_oblique : Here's an update!!!!!! ^.^

Starlit Hope : *cries* BUT I WANT TO SEE THE TWINS!!!!! What's another two pretty boys??? P.J has soooo much money!!!! *cries*

Nina : *still crying* I KNOW!!!! I WANT TO SEE THEM TOO!!!!!!

leggylover : Well, I've decided to keep him,at least till near the end of this fic, if not till the end... if you catch what I mean... hehehehe

BrightIdeasCo : The ex girl is till somewhere in the fic *searches for her* Well, can't find her now but she's definitely at somewhere.... she'll appear soon...

FarFlung : Yes, they might not make it to the wedding, but it made sense coz P.J never mentioned that Arwen had brothers anyway... did he mentioned that Aragorn was Elrond's foster son? I don't really remember but I didn't think so... that was what was wrong with book adaptation, they leave too many loose ends... And I would never had known if I never read the book... BUT I WANT THE TWINS!!!!

Vanyaelen : And I planned to watch it on the 18th!!!!!! if I can get the tickets that is... ROTK HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!

Kai's LiL Angel : Well, he had his reasons... don't blame him...=)

The Long Name Ending In Cookie : And I pray that you would not fall from your seat.... heheheh...

rath : Hahahaha... gotcha didn't I???? here's an update....

Well, I know a lot of you have been asking about Legolas's condition... so here it is... hope you'll like it...

Arrrghhhh!!! If the twins won't be in ROTK, then who's gonna deliver Elrond's message to Aragorn... OH GOD! PLEASE DO NOT LET IT BE ARWEN!!!! Somehow I have a feeling it WILL be Arwen!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If it is, then Urrrghhh...... First she stole Glorfindel's part, now she's gonna steal the twin's as well???? If it is so, then I'm gonna hate P.J...

OH! another scene that I'd love to see was 'The Pyre of Denethor'... I hope he didn't cut that one out.... *wondering*

Well, enough of my rambling... Read on now.... ^.^

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Chapter 16

"WHAT? NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! YOU CANNOT BE WITH ELLADAN! I FORBID YOU TO DO SO!"

Legolas had break it to the Lord of Imladris about his relationship with his son, Elladan.

The Lord obviously did not take the news very well.

Legolas sighed. He knew this would not be easy. Elrond was as protective of him as his family would.

"You must break it off with him immediately," Elrond said, rather sternly.

Legolas looked at him with wide eyes,"What? No! I can't do that! I love him."

This time is was Elrond's time to sigh. "I hope that you are still aware of the promise that you held to your family?"

"Yes, yes. I know. I've never forgotten. But it was a promise that I must break," Legolas said softly.

Seeing the look on Elrond's face, he continued quickly," I've tried. Really, I have. But I've failed. I can't stop myself from falling in love with Elladan."

Elrond heart went out to the prince when he saw the frantic look on Legolas's face. He knew Legolas was not one to break a promise easily. It must've been so hard for him.

How could it not be hard for someone to promise that they would never fall in love? A torture indeed. But all the princes of Mirkwood had taken that vow to protect the life of their youngest brother.

But now the cause of the vow had come to break its own promise. Elrond sighed again.

"Please, Elrond. You know we can't go through with this without your blessing," Legolas said, unfallen tears in his eyes.

"What if..." Elrond said but was cut off by Legolas.

"Do you not trust your son?" Legolas asked simply.

Elrond shooked his head, "It is not that I do not trust him. What if... what if one day he decided to leave you? Or that he did not loved you?"

"Nay, he promised me that he would not," Legolas replied with a smile, "and I believe him."

Elrond looked at Legolas with sadness. He realized that the prince had not played the game of love before and he was naive. Reday to believe anything his loved one told him.

He knew of the risks that Legolas was taking but to deny him of a chance to love, he just could not do that to Legolas.

He would've felt very happy to hear about their relationship, if only it was under different circumstances.

Elrond looked at the elfling in front of him," You know we were only trying to protect you."

Legolas nodded slowly.

"What of your family?"

Legolas shooked his head. Truthfully, he had not thought about how to break it to his family. For certain, they would object to his relationship with Elladan.

"They have a right to know," Elrond reminded him. Legolas did not say anything, he only stood there staring at the floor, feeling like an elfling being scolded for doing something bad.

"What about Elladan? Do you intend to let him know about the promise that you broke?" Elrond asked.

"No, he is not to know about it," Legolas replied.

"Is that wise?" Elrond asked again.

"I don't want him to know. I don't want him to love me out of pity. Out of responsibility. Please, Elrond. Do not tell him," Legolas pleaded.

Elrond knew it was not in his place to disclose the secret so he agreed.

"So, do you approve?" Legolas asked cautiously.

Elrond looked as if he ws thinking for a moment. He knew he could not object to his request. It would be too harsh on the prince if he disapprove of their relationship.

'Maybe Elladan can undo the curse. But what if...' he shuddered at the very thought of them not meant to be with each other.

He just hoped that nothing bad would come to the prince that he loved as a son. He prayed so.

Then he nodded at Legolas.

Too happy, Legolas gave a shrieked of joy and throw his arms around Elrond's neck, still jumping with joy.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

"You do know that your father and not to mention your brothers are going to kill me once they find out right?" Elrond asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Come on... You and my family worry too much. Besides, nothing bad is going to happen because I know Elladan loves me," Legolas said with a big smile on his face.

Elrond sighed in defeat as he said," Go on then, I'm sure my son is waiting for your good news."

Legolas laughed and gave the Lord a small hug before the ran out of the room in search for Elladan.

Elrond was happy for Legolas but he feared for him too.

'Why him? Damn you Larsius! Damn you for putting a curse on him!' he thought angrily.

--------------------- Flashback -----------------------------------------------------

The wizard was chained up in a cell in the dungeons of Mirkwood's palace.

He was arrested by Thranduil's sons for causing havoc and death to the elves of Mirkwood.

An enemy of Thranduil's father, Orophin, he had extracted his revenge by poisoning the stream that was the source of drinking water to the elves.

A poison so strong that it had killed a lot of elves and harmed others, including the Queen.

The wizard named Larsius laughed as he was whipped by the prison guard, as Thranduil, his sons and Elrond looked on.

"Even if you're not dead, Thranduil, but at least I got your Queen," he said with a satisfied but sick smile on his face.

The Crown Prince had unsheathed his sword, ready to kill Larsius had not his brothers restrained him.

"You shall not prevail, Larsius. My queen will not die in your hands," Thranduil said with an angry look on his face.

"Really? Hmmm... but I heard she is with a child? My guess is that she will not have the strength to counter the effect of the poison. For I believe she will give all her strength for the unborn one. Is that not so?" Larsius laughed again.

The royal family gritted their teeths. It took a lot of strength to control their anger that was fuming inside their body.

All wished they could just killed the wizard and be done with it. How they regretted that they had not done so when they had the chance.

Suddenly, a baby's cry could be heard all over the palace.

The wizard laughed again," Ahh... I see that the queen had safely deliver a baby. But mark my words. She will not survive."

Thranduil and his sons were making their way out of the dungeons, to see how the queen fare after the labor, when the heard the wizard laughed again.

"I hereby put a curse on your family, or rather your youngest born. Shall he or any of the royal family should fall in love with any being, the youngest shall die. By grief if he should fall in love or by any other form of death, if any of you shall fall in love," Larsus said, smiling evilly.

"Yes, a son, Thranduil. I had forseen it. As I had forseen the death of your queen," Larsius continued.

The king rushed to the cell furiously," You son of a..."

The wizard laughed and cut off the king's sentence,"Now, now thranduil. There's no need for harsh words now do we?"

"I do not believe you. You lie!" Thranduil roared at the prisoner.

"Heed my words. You and your sons shall never learn of love ever again. Unless of course, you do not love the youngest and would forfeit his life for the mere feeling of love."

Thranduil and his sons looked at the wizard with disgust. But all were lost for words.

Suddenly Elrond spoke," Undo the curse, Larsius. And you shall have freedom again."

The wizard laughed," And what power do you possessed to set me free, Peredhel?"

"The king shall give the command," Elrond replied, looking at the Thranduil.

Theking nodded reluctantly," Undo the curse!"

Suddenly, the wizard jecrked violently, as if he was in a fit. Then the jerking stopped. Larsius was panting, out of breath by now. Then he said slowly," A little too late for that."

Realizing what he had meant, Elrond rushed to the prison cell, yelling," Open this gate. He has poison himself. Quickly, open it!"

As the gate was open by the guards, Elrond rushed into the cell, followed by the royal family. He bent down near the wizard to check on him.

Thranduil had lost himself as he too bent down, but he pulled the wizard by his clothes and begin shaking him," Undo the curse, you filthy being! Undo it!"

But Larsius only weakly, and replied," I don't think so. You shall suffer Thranduil. Mark my words. And so shall your family. Only true love can save your son, but will you risk it? Will you? I curse thy son! I curse thee!"

Then the wizard went limp, and as he died, his body turned to ashes.

The royal family looked at each other and Elrond, all not knowing what to do.

All of them rushed up to the royal chambers to checked on the queen.

True to his words, the queen had died after giving birth to her infant son. Her weak body could not counter the poison and she gave her life to ensure the life of her son. Such is the love of a mother.

--------------------- End of Flashback -----------------------------------------------

The royal family had grieved for the loss of their queen.

And they grieved for their inability to love.

At the first sight of the youngest prince, each one of the royal family had fallen in love with the baby elf.

And they know that the curse of a wizard cannot be taken lightly. They had no choice to heed Larsius's words.

Each brother took a vow to not fall in love. To stay away from others, so that they would not falter from their vow. They do not want a reason to break their vow.

This was done out of love for their youngest brother. For Legolas.

And when he was old enough, Legolas was made to make the similar vow too.

They held no love for anyone else but each other.

And it made their brotherly bond strong, much more stronger than anything.

Elrond sighed yet again. He was afraid of the outcome of his approval of Legolas's and Elladan's relationship.

How do you measure true love? How do you know which love was the true love for Legolas?

What if Elladan's love was not meant for Legolas?

TBC..........

Actually, I had a longer explanation, but somehow it got stuck in the middle of somewhere in my brain? *searches in vain*

Well, review please....

ROTK! ROTK! ROTK! ROTK! Only 8 days more!!!!!!!!! ARRRGGGGHHHH! *faints again*