Chapter 7

Legolas slowly grew stronger with each passing day until he was finally able to get out of bed. With Aragorn and the twins' help they took him out onto the balcony that connected to his room. The twins were laughing and joking with each other. The two were trying to come up with the time the other had been the most frightened or embarrassed. It was immensely entertaining for the other two, who quietly sat in chairs in the corner. They did not want to become involved in that argument.

"It must have been the time that you fell off your horse," Elladan laughed.

Elrohir's bright face darkened slightly, but it soon regained its glow. "When you found out what had happened."

Neither twin had put to words what had happened to Aragorn or Legolas. They called the switch "it" or "what happened." However, each delighted in reminding the other of the reaction they had had to the news. Neither Legolas nor Aragorn had decided whom had the worst reaction.



~~~~"Flashback"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Estel, I brought you lunch."

"Just put it on the dresser."

Elrohir placed the tray on the table. "So, Estel, are you ready to go fighting orcs today?" he gently teased, knowing that there was still a long recovery ahead of his brother.

"I'm ready, but don't you think it would be best to wait until Legolas can join us?" Aragorn said.

Elrohir's eyes were wide. Suddenly everything clicked together. He stared in disbelief at Aragorn and Legolas.

"Elrohir, are you all right?" Aragorn was worried for his brother. His cheeks were too pale and he looked like he was about to faint.

"You...," he looked at Aragorn, "and you...." His head snapped in Legolas' direction. "You're...you're...you're not yourselves. You are him, and he is you!" The poor elf looked as if he had seen a ghost. The two friends looked at each other.

"We knew they would find out sometime."

"Yes, but I had hoped it was after we were switched back." The two were so engrossed in their discussion that they didn't realize the effect it was having on Elrohir. He slipped quietly off the bed.

The two looked up with they heard Elrohir drop to the floor.

"I think he is out cold." Aragorn leaned over his brother, taking his pulse.

"No," moaned Elrohir, "I'm all right." He massaged his head, trying to rub away the bump that had formed. "Just for clarity's sake, is what I heard before true?" The two considered telling him no. They toyed with the idea for too long, for Elrohir already had his answer.

They also gave Elladan a chance to interrupt. He knocked on the door, and without waiting for a reply he entered.

"Elrohir, what is wrong?" Elladan was upset at seeing his little brother on the floor with a dazed expression on his face.

"They switched." He kept whispering the words softly over and over.

"Elrohir, you're not making any sense." He grabbed his twin's hand and pulled him up. "I'm going to take you to father." Elrohir was unable to resist anything his twin said.

The two made their way to their father's study. "Ada!"

"What is it, Elladan?" Creases of worry touched the elf lord's face. "What happened?"

"I don't know. I walked in on him in Estel's room, and he was unable to mutter anything except 'they've switched.'"

"And they were in your brother's room?"

"Yes."

Elrond sighed. He had hoped to have everything behind them before they told the twins, if they told them. He patiently explained the situation to the younger elf. When he was finished he sent a questioning look towards his eldest son. "Are you going to be all right?" When he received no answer he called the elf's name. "Elladan?"

"Yes." He sounded distracted.

"Are you going to be fine?"

He gave his father a strange look before he stood up. "Whatever do you mean, Father. I am perfectly fine now. Excuse me, I must go talk to Estel and Legolas." Elladan had a million thoughts buzzing about his mind, competing for his attention. There were so many he went into a complete oblivion to avoid thinking about them.

Elrond was unsure about letting Elladan go, but he still had to care for Elrohir. "Elrohir? Are you going to be all right?"

"I think so." Elrond was glad to see that Elrohir was coming out of his stupor. He started to say something else, but he heard a crash from out in the hallway. "What was that?" Elrohir started to rise but fell back as he felt his father's hand on his shoulder.

"I will go see what that was." Elrond was almost certain of what he would find. He was not disappointed. Picture frames were crooked as if someone had brushed against them as they walked past them. Statues and tables were lying on the floor, as if someone had run into them. At the end of the hallway was a grand staircase with a sore elf lying at the bottom. When Elrond got to the bottom and assessed his injuries the elf spoke to him.

"That wasn't a dream, was it Ada?"

"No, I'm afraid it was not." He smiled as the other elf smiled back at him.

"Please promise you won't tell them?"

"I promise." Elrond assumed them was Legolas, Elrohir, and Aragorn. He helped Elladan to his feet. Elladan laughed at his own clumsiness until his head started throbbing. He didn't notice the person standing over them, watching.

~~~~~~~~~"End Flashback"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You know, I did always wonder how the two of you found out about that." Elladan had been none too pleased to be relentlessly teased by the others.

"Oh, we have have our ways," Legolas whispered quietly. Shortly after Elrond had taken Elladan back to his study Gandalf had come bearing the news. The two weren't sure if he meant to embarrass Elladan or if he had been warning them that their secret was out. Then again, Gandalf rarely did things without considering all the consequences.

The four sat on the balcony until Legolas was tired. Their merry laughter had been the best medicine he had received. However, a little shadow of doubt hung over him. He thought that Gandalf should have found a way to reverse the spell by now, but Gandalf had been so busy he had barely had the time to talk to the younger being. Legolas wondered if he had had time to find a cure or if he was still searching. Or even worse, what if he had discovered that there was no solution and had not told them yet?

To Be Continued....

Author's Note: I'm not sure if this chapter is relevant, but I added it for everyone who was waiting for when Elrohir and Elladan found out.

Deana: You must have perfect timing! I had only posted the chapter ten minutes before I got your review. Thank you so much!

Stormsaiyan: Thank you. I had to write that chapter quickly because I felt bad for leaving everyone with that cliffhanger.

Shauna: I kept your threat in mind this time too. (Did you notice that I updated quicker?) I'm sorry this one was short too. I'll try to make the next one longer.

Butterflyer: Thank you for your review. In case you can't tell, Legolas and Aragorn are my favorite characters too.

Websterans: Thank you for always giving me things to work on in my writing. I really appreciate your advice. (Also thanks for liking my story enough to tear it apart.) : )

Kender Girl and Lix Tin Las: I started writing this story when I was sick. That was how I got most of my descriptions. I hope you are feeling better and thanks for your review.

Evenstar: Not to take some of the fun out of waiting, but I decided to answer your question. Consider yourself and other reviewers who asked the same thing the inspiration for this chapter. Thank you.

Marbienl: Sorry I can't answer any of your questions; I just can't give up my element of surprise yet. Your reviews always bring a smile to my face; thank you so much!

Elven Kitten: Thank you for your review.