A/N - Thank you for the reviews, I truly appreciate them.

Enjoy!

~Chapter 4 ~ A Brother's Betrayal~

Turning the thin green leaf by its stem, Elrohir inspected the seven-pointed leaf. He explored the pattern of veins and determined they looked much like feeder streams flowing into a river. It was the same with nearly every leaf, except those pine needles.

The conclusion of his examination ended as it did every time; he tossed the leaf up into the air and watched its either ungraceful plummet or careful spiral to a soft landing below. This particular leaf gently glided down in a curving arc that brought it out by the water flowing nearby.

Elrohir turned on his side so he could see the waterfall and stream from the moss-covered tree limb. The leaf was carried out of his sight by the current.

From the houses and courtyards came soft sounds of the elves who resided there, quiet ringing alluded that lunch was to be served soon. Once the bell was silent, birds, woodland creatures, and, of course, the water fall covered most of the back ground noise.

Smirking to himself, the elf knew that the council would be breaking for lunch soon. It was the second day that he had skipped out on the Council. Doubtless that he was not missed by anyone save his brother and father. And perhaps maybe Mithrandir.

He was useless at such meetings. Elladan was the eldest anyway, all Elrohir wanted to do was follow his own pursuits and dreams. The smirk faded. His elder brother likely wished for the same but was in less of a position to do so.

Thinking of Elladan, he had noticed a strange behavior in his brother the past two days. He seemed to avoid talking to him, only answering when Elrohir spoke to him. Perhaps he had heard about his illicit kiss...

He sighed. He hadn't meant for that to happen, and it wouldn't continue. Elrohir knew where his line was drawn, and it met his brother's line. He loved his brother more than he would love any woman save his own mother and sister. He went back to pondering his future.

"What are my dreams," he murmured, "To become a poet maybe? Write histories of Middle Earth? Find adventure?"

Elrohir contemplated these subjects until he heard rustling sounds coming from Rivendell. He turned his head to look and saw a maiden running, one hand clutching her dress above her feet, the other cradling a book. The path was on the other side of the waterfall and stream. Elrohir sat upright on the tree limb. As she neared, he noticed the cover.

"Lays of Beleriand," he said as she saw him and stopped, "Is among my favorite books."

She began to shake but uttered no word. Finally, she spoke, "My Lord, you would do well not to lie when I cannot see your eyes."

Contempt dripped from her reply. Elrohir was shocked at first, which slowly gave way to curiosity. So many women had rebuked him in such a manor for true misdeeds that it scarcely bothered him anymore, but Silluina's grouse was unknown to him and that bothered him.

"I lie not," he said as he jumped to the ground, "And I will prove it."

She watched him suspiciously as he disappeared behind the water fall. He returned a moment later and approached her. He stopped at a proper distance.

"Am I close enough, My Lady," he gently asked.

Silluina was silent for a long moment as she closely regarded the youngest son of Elrond. She was suspicious at first, but soon recognized the light of his eyes was different from Elladan's.

'It is Elrohir, the one I...' her thought trailed off as her throat closed in emotion.

Elrohir watched in stunned silence as her eyes watered and two tears dropped down her cheeks.

She held out the book, "Please, would you read some to me?"

'She may be Elladan's lady, but whoever has upset her will regret it,' he thought to himself.

Anger welled up from an unknown source in the elf, but he held it in check. He took the book and gestured back to Rivendell, signaling a walk back.

She shook her head adamantly, "I cannot see him."

'Here we go, the perpetrator,' he thought.

"Who," he gently prodded.

"Your twin," she said after much inner debate.

Again a stunned silence ensued until Elrohir finally found his voice, "My brother? Elladan? Surely this is a misunderstanding."

Silluina sighed quickly; she knew she would have to relate the story to him now. She told him about the exchange two nights ago and how she avoided him during the past day and morning before the council had started.

'He must have found out about our kiss,' he thought with dread, 'I do not want to try and explain that to him.'

Indeed, he understood what could make a man say something awful about his kin, but he didn't think Elladan would. He always seemed above that kind of jealousy and wrath. It puzzled him. Why didn't he just come to Elrohir when he found out about their surreptitious kiss?

"I must find him," he said and turned back to the elven city.

"No," Silluina grabbed his arm, "Please, I don't want to be alone, I can't read Quenya."

The pleading in her eyes tore him in two.

'Elladan can wait, he's busy with the Council anyway' he thought, 'Silluina needs someone, he would want me to watch out for her. But I must keep it proper.'

"There is a bench just up the way, off of the road," Silluina said, "It is where I hid last night until the Star of Eärendil was high."

He knew what she referred to; it was the bench where Elrond and Celebrían had often met for quiet reunions and talks. Allowing her to place her hand in the crook of his elbow, in proper manners, Elrohir lead her down the path.

~*~*~

Elladan excused himself quickly, leaving several confused elf Lords behind. He left the dining hall in a rush, looking for the lady he had upset two nights ago. She was avoiding him; that much he could tell. They would have to meet though, at least one more time before the Council was over. Before he would lose her forever.

Once again, shame squeezed his heart and he sighed softly. In his attempt to win Silluina's heart through slanderous dissuasion of Elrohir, he had stooped to a new low. He had heard Elrohir speak of his affairs with ladies and they always seemed to end badly. Elladan couldn't believe a relationship with Silluina would end any different.

The elf sighed again, this time out of frustration. He had asked several elves, both familiar and strangers, if they had seen Silluina, but none admitted such. Perhaps she really was that upset. He saw another woman, a servant, and called her over.

"Excuse me," he said.

The woman adjusted her armful of dress fabric and bowed to the elf lord's son, "Yes, My Lord?"

"Have you seen a lady come by here? Her name is Silluina," he paused at the beginning of his usual description as he saw recognition in her eyes.

"Why yes, she passed through here not too long ago. I believe she was heading to the walking paths around the waterfalls."

'Finally!' He thought as he thanked the maid servant.

He headed swiftly down the cobblestone walkways until they gave way to plain dirt paths. The roaring of a waterfall grew louder as he searched the path ahead for signs of her footsteps. He noticed small smudges of footprints where leaves did not interrupt them.

'They must be hers, they are fresh,' he thought.

He watched the footprints slow and stop. They were soon joined by another set of prints; a set he recognized all too well: Elrohir's. He tried to force down the jealousy that rose with the thought of them being together.

Elladan's brows furrowed, much in the way his father's would when he was angry.

'If I see him touching her in any improper way,' he ended the thought grimly. He couldn't imagine what would happen if he saw them kissing.

Shaking in anger of that thought, he continued quicker. He saw the prints step off the regular path and head down into the woods along the bank of the river.

"Our parent's bench," he murmured, "What on earth are they doing there?"

He crept closer, taking care not to make a noise as he went down the bank. The trees were coniferous and concealed him, but also covered the illicit couple. The pines didn't stop sound, however, and he heard murmurings of Quenyan rhymes and song.

'So she asked him herself,' he thought, 'At least they're not doing anything improper.'

Elladan moved to peer under the large round bottoms of the tree branches. He lay flat on the ground and adjusted his head until he could see most of the clearing and bench. He bit his tongue at the sight.

They were sitting on the bench, back to back, with Silluina's head leaning back onto his shoulder. Elrohir had the book propped up on his knees and was reading the Lays aloud. She had a dreamy look on her face, but whether it was from the poems or from his voice, he could not tell.

'That should be me,' he thought dejectedly, 'I should be wooing her like this.'

His plan to be the comforter, no matter how wrong it seemed, might still be the best choice.

'But if I wait, I might lose her forever. Unless I travel to the Grey Havens, which isn't a bad idea either. Maybe even escort her to see Lothlórien...'

His thoughts trailed off as Silluina moved. Elrohir had turned his head to her, pausing his stanza. She promptly leaned up and kissed him. Elladan watched in stunned silence then as she reached her hand into his black hair and pulled him closer.

Elrohir closed the book, turned, and pulled her onto his lap, their kiss continuing and even going deeper. Deeper! Elladan was furious, so furious that he didn't know what to do. He didn't even know who to blame for this treachery. Silluina had run to his brother and initiated the kiss, but Elrohir was among the few who knew of this secluded spot, perfect for romantic rendevous and secret kisses.

He was shaking; Elladan had never been this upset in his life. It was a betrayal, among the worst kind. Both were to blame, perhaps, but Elrohir was the more experienced of the two. His wrath would fall heavily on his brother.

The elf had considered confronting the two lovers right then and there, but it would be a terrible blow to Silluina's dignity and honor, so he would face Elrohir later.

That night.

~*~*~

Elrohir had started off well. Silluina and he had arrived at the bench without consequence and had sat down side by side as he found his favorite Lay. Within a short amount of time, they had ended up back to back, with her resting her head on his shoulder.

'This isn't too improper, is it,' he thought to himself.

There was something about Silluina that had made him think twice about pulling her into his arms and kissing her until the next pretty maiden came by. She was, perhaps, the most noble lady he had ever wooed, though not the first to kiss before formal introduction.

For some reason, he also felt guilty about his past. It was the first time he had truly thought about it.

'Maybe I can prove that I'm not just a tease and a heartbreaker,' he thought before he realized that Silluina was Elladan's girl!

'I shouldn't even be here,' he sighed dejectedly, 'We should be reconciling with Elladan.'

Her flowery perfume rose into his nose as she shifted against his back. A stray lock of hair tickled his bare forearm. His mind was blank for a few moments, followed by random thoughts of forgoing all bonds of brotherhood and taking Silluina for his own.

Elrohir shook them away from his mind. He would do no such thing! Even if the lady liked him more, she would have Elladan or neither at all.

Again he felt her shift and she turned her head. Glancing back to see what was the matter, he was taken utterly by surprise when she kissed him. Their eyes remained open and he knew.

She wanted him and him only.

Silluina reached up into his hair and pressed his head closer to hers. His body took over as he closed and dropped the book. He pulled her onto his lap as he turned and trailed kisses over her chin and down her throat.

There at her neck he breathed her scent, an aroma that would be forever etched into his memory.

When Elrohir finally regained his senses and realized she was sitting on his lap stroking his hair, and he rubbing her smooth arm, he started.

'How did this happen?' He thought absently as he gazed into her eyes.

And then he did the hardest thing he had ever done. Elrohir turned her around and gently pushed her off his lap as he stood. She turned in surprise.

"Elrohir? What is the matter," she asked as her eyes watered, "Do you not feel our attraction?"

Sighing heavily, he did not deny this, "I do. But it cannot be. My brother loves you and I cannot take you from him. It isn't right."

"But I don't love him. He isn't my type; you are. Our relationship makes sense, I feel like you can understand me. I am comfortable around you. Please, Elrohir, don't deny this," she pleaded as she touched his shoulders.

Again, it took tremendous will power to avert his gaze from hers, "I've broken many hearts, My Lady, and I fear I must break one more."

He stepped back, eyes downcast. She stifled a sob with her hand and her tears streaked her stricken face.

It was a long moment before she spoke with a wavering voice, "I shan't love another the way I love you."

Her footsteps faded until only the rushing water and wind could be heard. Elrohir struggled to bite back his own tears as his gaze fell to the book. It had reopened on the ground after it's topple from his knees. A section from the Lay of Lúthien, describing their everlasting love, came to his eyes first.

Elrohir cried.