One Summer in Rivendell

Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. The theme is based on Much ado About Nothing which was written by Shakespeare not me!

Summery- Legolas and the King return from war with the intentions of having a peaceful summer, things do not go to plan. Chaos, romance, trickery and misunderstanding ensue.

Thanks to:

Kit Cloudkicker: Thank goodness for that! I wish my writers block demons would go away. I just seem to be writing rubbish lately! (Which is why it has taken me so long to update!) They just won't stop torturing me! Thanks for reviewing!

Cerridwen: I would say read everything! But after Much Ado, my fave is The taming of the Shrew! I am currently reading the Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman, they are incredible. (Almost as good as Lord of The Rings!)

Cold Crystal tears: The little 'beep' tell him to 'beep' off! That is my only advice to you! I live in fear of things getting hurt with you around! (No offence!) Please lay off the coffee and any other caffeine based stuff.

Gionareth: Yes! Finally we have a smile and a small sign that Arwen is not as cold hearted as she thinks he is.... but then who could resist Aragorn??

Chapter 5

Elladan balanced a book carefully on his knees, his deep green eyes perused the page, taking in the elegant print on the parchment before him. The words did not travel from his eyes to his mind however. There were too many other thoughts that dwelled there. There was little warmth to be found . He lifted his head to his meet his brother's equally icy gaze.

"The wedding is tomorrow and we are yet to find a way to prevent it." Elrohir stated with a furrowed brow.

"I am aware of this brother." Elladan informed him. "If you have any ideas I would be pleased to hear them."

"My mind remains empty." He replied. Elladan returned his gaze to the book.

"I can not believe father has let this happen!" Elrohir said standing in one furious motion. Elladan looked at him disapprovingly. "Such a temper!" He said. "You betray our race with such behaviour." Elrohir glared at his brother.

"I have reason." He declared. "Do not tell me you plan to let this go ahead?"

"No I do not, but how am I to think when all I hear in my mind is your incessant whining?" Elrohir reclaimed his seat and held his steady glare to his brother. His twin appeared to be fully engrossed in his book again. Did he have no sense of urgency?

It so happened that to the twin's benefit they had a serving elf who was particularly easy to manipulate, especially with the promise of a few extra coins in his pocket. He went by the name of Gwynn and Elladan and Elrohir were particularly fond of him. Or at least they let him believe that. He had proven himself to be very useful to them before now and would do so again in the future.

It also came to light that by coincidence Hero had a maid called Kendra, who not only resembled their fair sister but was, thankfully to their cause, extremely gullible, although she had a heart of gold and would not willingly hurt anybody. It would be the first quality mentioned that the Twins would prey upon this time.

"Brother, what if Prince Legolas were to see our sister with somebody else?" Elladan asked not looking up from his book.

"I suppose he would become ill with rage and call the wedding off." Elrohir replied listlessly. "But there is no way on Middle Earth that would happen. She is as deeply smitten with the beautiful Prince as he is with her. She would not indulge in anything that would risk his love."

"Indeed, but what if Legolas were to believe that she had?" Elladan asked.

"Elladan I do not follow." Elrohir commented.

Elladan stood his green eyes alive with some kind of mixture of mischief and evil and whispered his plan to his other half.

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"I can not believe that scarcely a month has passed since we left the burning wreck of Mordor and tomorrow I am to be married to the fairest and kindest elf ever to walk Middle Earth." Legolas stated. "It is as if I have strayed into some life I was not aware that I wanted." He paused for a moment, deep in thought. "My life starts tomorrow." He declared after a few moments. "For tomorrow Hero will be mine and I will be hers."

"Once again my dear elven friend sounds as if he has swallowed a book of love songs!" Aragorn teased. "What of us doomed to spend eternity alone?" Legolas stopped and took his friend by the shoulders. "You are so by choice." He informed him. "I know of a certain White Lady who would have been yours in a shot if only you had allowed it to be so."

Aragorn opened his mouth to protest but Legolas stalled him. "I will hear no arguments, King or no King. I know the truth." Legolas said. Concern edged his voice for although up until that point, his intentions of bringing the King and the Evenstar together had been somewhat light-hearted in nature, he now knew the King's heart. Aragorn stared back at him blankly. "You think that you cannot be read but I assure you that you can. You did not love the Shield maiden of Rohan no, you love another. But there are complications are there not? You concern yourself with matters of immortality and mortality and perhaps do not think yourself worthy of love from a lady such as the Evenstar but...."

"Wait!" Aragorn boomed. "Who said anything of the Evenstar?"

"You did." He said.

"When did I?" Aragorn said. "I do not recall doing so."

"Your face speaks volumes. Upon the first time you saw her upon returning from these wars it spoke of her. Again in your eyes every time there is a whisper of her name they brighten. Is it not so that you love her?"

"No more than most." Aragorn said, an air of offence in his voice.

"Well I never thought the saviour of men a liar!" Legolas declared light-heartedly. "But I will leave it for now if that is what you desire."

"It is." Aragorn confirmed. "I love her no more than I love ..... being ill!" He said struggling for a comparison.

The friends walked in silence for a little longer. Every now and then Legolas would take a peek at his lovesick companion and find himself stifling his laughter. Were all humans this stubborn? There happiness for him stood in front of him for the taking and all he had to do was grasp it , yet he did not. After a few times of noticing his friends amusement Aragorn found himself to be telling Legolas something that he had never planned to utter. "Very well I love her!" He blurted. "But if it were as simple as that do you not think I would have told her?"

Legolas smiled. "I know." He said. "But it is you that is making it difficult!" He reasoned.

Aragorn shook his head in a frustrated manner and said. "It is all very well for you to say that!" He paused and sighed. "When I met her, I knew it was her I would love forever. It was as if I had wondered into a dream. I was Beren and she was Lucien. She sang beautifully and I watched her from a distance for a while before she noticed me." He laughed. "She of course did not respond as well to me, but I believe it is not her way. It is almost as if she objects to being called beautiful." He shrugged his shoulders. "I know she does not hate me as she makes it appear." He added.

"She does not." Legolas agreed.

"I went to my mother and told her of this new love I had discovered and she quelled my happiness with one phrase. 'You are not for her.'.... she was right. There is only heartbreak to be found here. She will live forever. My life will pass in a blink of an eye. Elrond will hate me for taking his daughter away." He listed.

"There are many things against you that is true." Legolas began. "But you two are meant as Beren and Lucien were. I sense it Aragorn, as does Elrond."

Aragorn gasped in shock. "You have a lot to learn, Aragorn. Eternity is a long time to live without love. We elves would give that up in a second to experience the passion that is shared between you and Arwen. Elrond would tell you the same if you asked him." Legolas said wisely. Aragorn fell silent in thought for a few moments and was about to speak again when voices disturbed them.

"Gwynn, I warrant that we will be in trouble if we are caught here." Came a breathless voice from above.

"What have we here?" Aragorn said and glanced above him. "Lovers?"

Legolas looked up also a smile on his face. It was soon to fade.

"Hero." He heard a male voice say, He frowned and squinted trying to justify to himself what he had just heard. The couple kissed passionately "Gwynn." The Hero above repeated, this Gwynn that had stolen her love away by simple pleasures such as those they were now sharing. He looked at the silhouette of his love in a deep passionate embrace with a servant and slowly bitterness encased his heart. How soon after discovery happiness could be lost. He glanced at Aragorn who's expression offered him little comfort. The King stood open-mouthed, his face a mask of confusion. "It cannot be." He exhaled. "I won't believe it!"

"Hero." Gwynn repeated before kissing her passionately again.

A wave of rage overcame Legolas and he began to run back to his chambers away from the vision that would haunt him forever. How cruel love was. Give him war over this any day.

Aragorn remained bolted to the spot, unable to take in the sight before him, but there it was indeed. Hero stood in the embrace of another elf seemingly without remorse or feeling for Legolas. "I think I am falling in love with you." Were the last words he heard her sweet mouth say before he decided he too, could hear no more. He went in search of his friend, who would no doubt need him more than ever.

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Gwynn smirked. "Was that not a fun game?" He asked Kendra. "For a moment there all our poverty and servitude was forgotten. You were fair Hero and I was Gwynn, a wealthy elf."

Kendra giggled. "I will not argue with you Gwynn, but if we were caught then... Oh what if someone had seen us?"

Gwynn offered a genuine smile to Kendra. "I would shout our love to all the world." He told her. "I think I should like to play this game more often."

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Aragorn burst through the doors of Legolas's chambers to find the Prince with his back to the door. "Legolas there has been a mistake!" He cried. "Hero did not... Hero would not...."

Legolas turned, unable to hide the tears that flowed freely down his face. "But she did Aragorn. You saw it as well as I." He said coldly. He returned his gaze to the window.

"What are you going to do?" The King asked softly. Legolas shrugged.

"I hope you will not think me rude Aragorn but I think I need to be alone." He said coldly.

"Of course." Aragorn said. "Please find me if you need anything." He added, before hesitantly leaving the room.

It was then Legolas broke down. He the valiant Prince of Mirkwood was crying over an elf he had met two days previously. He would never believe that myth of love at first sight again.

He was most annoyed when the door opened again. "Have you seen Ara...." It was Boromir, who's question was suddenly halted by the Prince's appearance.

"Legolas, what has happened?" He asked.

"I know not how to speak of it. I fear my heart will break." Legolas said. "It appears that I have been deceived. Hero loves another."

"I do not understand, I thought that you were to be married tomorrow." Boromir said.

"So did I but I do not know now." He proceeded to tell Boromir the whole sorry tale. Boromir shook his head. "Do not tell me that you plan for the wedding to go ahead?" Legolas met his gaze. "For if you are Prince Legolas, that would be a huge mistake! If the Lady is unfaithful ere you have even spoken your wedding vows that does not bode well for your future. Cut off your bond to her. Teach her a lesson."

"How do you propose I do that?" Legolas asked.

"You will out her as the fraud she is at your wedding tomorrow." He stated.