CB: Wow, thank you everyone! *Stares happily at all her reviews* I'm still in shock because of all of them!

Seth: *Clears throat* Right, we have an announcement to make.

CB: Uh huh, since you've all been really wonderful to me, I want to thank you all, so I've decided the first person to be the 100th reviewer (and that includes e-mail!) will get a picture! *Looks embarrassed* Well it was all I could come up with on short notice…

Osirus: *Rolls his eyes* Yeah…

Elaría padded down the long corridor, rubbing her eyes as she did so. It had been a long night, not least of all because she's been entertaining so many people at once, whilst keeping an eye on the princess and making sure Elrohir and Elladan didn't offend anyone.

Turning a corner she sighed, wearily rubbing a hand across her eyes and brushing several strands of blond hair out of violet eyes. She was younger than all of the Elven siblings, and yet Lord Elrond himself had put her in charge of them…an honour, which few would have dreamed of. Ironically, the few who did dream of it had only a very little idea of how much work had to be put in to keeping an eye on all three of them, and that wasn't including Aragorn.

Muted voices caused her to stop outside the twins' room and press her ear to the door, trying to ascertain whether it was indeed they that were inside. On recognising the voices, she smiled slightly and turned the handle, walking into the room to wish them goodnight.

As she glanced around, she realised that they weren't in the main area, indeed, they seemed to be in one of the rooms leading off…a common enough occurrence since one or other could usually be found in the other's bed in the morning. It was something, she decided, that was ingrained in close siblings. They felt a need to be together and were not apart for longer than was necessary. (1)

Pattering across the cool flagstones she peered in around the door to Elrohir's bedroom and came across the familiar sight of both twins sprawled out on the bed, limbs entangled and splendid tunics no more than crumpled messes on bodies. Elrohir had his head in Elladan's lap, face turned away from the door, as the quieter twin – who was propped up against the headboard – ran his fingers through the ebony locks that spilt across the deep green of his tunic. Both were on top of the covers, but looked perfectly comfortable, indeed Elladan looked half asleep as his fingers continued to weave through dark strands.

As Elaría watched, feeling suddenly and inexplicably like an intruder, Elrohir stretched slightly, making a contented sound and twisted his head to look up at his twin.

"Headache slightly better?" Elladan enquired softly, still moving his fingers gently as he watched his twin's face.

"Mmm." Elrohir yawned and let his head fall back down, his green eyes drifting closed as his fingers clutched at the soft material of Elladan's clothing. "I wonder what happened to Arwen," He mumbled sleepily, "She never did return to the ball."

Elladan made a noise of agreement, his eyes drifting shut as well, although his hand never ceased its movement.

Elaría was on the point of retreating, unwilling to become noticed and invade on the twins' personal moment, when Elrohir spoke again. "How are we going to sort out this mess between her, Aragorn and Legolas…there's just no solution."

Elladan's eyes opened again and he blinked down at his twin, who was beginning to purr softly because of the receding headache, making the sound that only an elf could. "I don't know." He said softly, his fingers still idly combing through his twin's hair. "We are going to have to be so careful, anyone could end up getting hurt…particularly Arwen."

"Thank Elberath I've never fallen in love," Elrohir muttered, "It sounds far too complicated and confusing."

"Mm." Elladan nodded in agreement before leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to his twin's forehead. "Get some sleep now." He urged gently, "Your headache will be gone by morning, and this mess will not appear as bad as it does now." He smiled as his brother muttered in agreement and burrowed his face into the front of the quieter twin's tunic, curling his long legs up under himself until he looked very much like a newborn babe with his mother, his head resting on the gently moving chest as Elladan allowed his head to drop back, so it was resting on the wood of the headboard.

"We will find a solution, won't we?" Even Elrohir's voice sounded slightly childish, lost and small, as he remained still, his eyes shut and his lips barely moving as he spoke.

"Of course we will 'rohir, of course we will."

Elaría stepped quietly back out of the room, now completely unwilling to disturb the peaceful scene and fighting the gnawing sense that she had seen something that ordinary people were not meant to. As twins they were close, and she was one of the select few that knew of their mind link…but this conversation about Aragorn, Arwen and the Mirkwood prince… it worried her more than she would have liked to admit. Slipping back out of the door and into the corridor, she crept away towards her own set of rooms, half smiling at the remembered sight of the twins looking so childish despite their age. However, the other part of her was worrying about this thorny problem.

Life, she decided, was just about to become more difficult.

********

Gimli was a dwarf that few people argued with.

His russet beard and thick eyebrows gave him an overpowering sense of presence and importance, something which few of his kin ever overlooked. He was amongst the highest in authority from his homelands, and was at the councils in Rivendell to represent his people along with two of his acquaintances. He was highly intelligent, a superior fighter and a force to be reckoned with…if ever anyone got on the wrong side of him then they should be wary of his wrath.

So why, he wondered, was he being herded down a corridor early in the morning by an upstart elf maiden to something he had had no idea he'd even agreed to do and where it was more than likely he would make a fool of himself?

"Are you sure I agreed to this?" He grumbled for the seventh time, glowering up at the impassive blue eyes that looked down at him, completely unheeding to the warning growl in his voice.

"Absolutely." She said firmly, still shepherding him quickly down corridor after corridor. "You were personally requested this morning by the Princess Arwen to participate in the entertainment for the next ball." She smiled, looking slightly mischievous, "I believe it is a dance of some sort, perhaps telling a story."

That did it. Gimli dug in his heels and stared up at the calm woman in a mixture of outrage and horror. "You jest, surely?" He asked, sounding slightly panicked. "I am no dancer."

"Perhaps." She replied mildly, and before he could stop her, she had scooped him up into her arms, carried him the last few steps and thrust him into the room, slamming the door behind her.

Gimli spluttered for a moment, eyes wide behind his beard as he choked on a sense of moral outrage and disbelief. To be picked up like a piece of carrion by a vulture and deposited in much the same manner! It was an outrage, if any of his men had seen the incident, he would have been mocked until the coming of the king of Gondor…and now that he thought of it…beyond!

Unheeding of his surroundings, he stumped back to the door and took hold of the handle, fully intending to open it and retreat immediately before his absence was missed, but he was stopped by a sweet voice.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Turning on the spot, he encountered blue eyes and a warm smile as Legolas stood up and walked towards him. "It appears we are all locked in here until Arwen's task has been announced." Smiling the elf held out a hand to the wary dwarf, who reluctantly took it, shook it quickly, and dropped it as though he had been burned. "I am Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland realm." The elf announced proudly. "This Estel of Rivendell and Boromir of Gondor, both of the race of men." The elf shot a quick look at the dark haired man that did not go unmissed by Gimli's sharp eyes, and he felt one of his eyebrows raise slightly in surprise before he turned to regard the other man called Boromir.

"Delighted to meet all of you." He said gruffly, walking further into the room, completely undaunted by the fact that they were all taller than he. "But pray, does either elf or man or steward" here he inclined a questioning look at Boromir, "know why we are imprisoned here?"

"I have an inkling." The dark haired man called Estel said, raising grey eyes to meet the hard stare of the dwarf, "I believe Arwen Evenstar wishes us to provide entertainment at the next ball, by telling the story of Beren and Lúthien." He smiled slightly as their shocked looks, "'Tis a bet." He added, his gaze flickering to each face, "She claimed that men could not dance and we are here to prove her wrong." He glanced at Boromir, who looked more than a little shocked by this announcement.

"Dance?" The Steward of Gondor remarked in horror, his voice panic stricken, "We will make a mockery of ourselves."

"Not so." Legolas's voice flashed through the room like the crack of a whip, and all turned to look at him. "It is easy to learn to dance, you must be willing."

"Easy for an elf to say." Gimli replied, halfway between sulky and furious, "You are all born with an innate grace and sense of movement. For the races of dwarf and man, it is not so easy."

"I must agree with our bearded friend." Boromir agreed, inclining his head in Gimli's direction, "Elves are known for their fine sense of balance and keenness with light steps." He turned to Estel, "What say you, son of Rivendell?"

Again, Gimli noticed that fleeting glance between elf and man as Estel hesitated in answering Boromir, but this time, the gaze seemed to go on for much longer, even though he appeared to be the only one to notice it. Grey eyes burned into blue ones and the elf's lips parted hungrily, allowing his tongue to flick out and wet them slightly, as though his mouth had gone dry with a simple stare. Gimli noted with interest that the dark haired Estel seemed no better off, his eyes seemed locked on those of the elf and the intensity of his look seemed to burn with fire.

Clearing his throat, the dwarf suddenly felt remarkably uncomfortable to be present in what seemed, strangely enough, an act of intimacy. "Incredibly hot in here, isn't it?" He said as pleasantly as he could to Boromir, shifting the man's attention away from the odd couple, "I wonder if the sun is as warm in the council room."

Boromir blinked, also looking away from the man and elf, who had still not moved. "Yes," He said, obviously grateful for a distraction, even if it was only from a dwarf, "I feel almost lucky to be out of Lord Elrond's presence for the day." He laughed slightly, "I swear that lord sees everything, not least straight into a man's heart."

Gimli nodded sagely, and moved across the room to sit down next to the man, just as the door opened to admit Elaría, closely followed by the twins. The dwarf noticed that immediately, the Steward of Gondor's eyes strayed to the lithe form of the elf woman, who was today clad in a pure white tunic that came down to mid thigh, allowing freedom of movement, and her hair was bound back in a tight ponytail.

The twins were resplendent in deep blue tunics, and completely indistinguishable from one another, right down to their hair, which was caught by two small braids, much like Legolas's, but circled around their heads like crowns.

Immediately, Estel broke his gaze with the blond elf to look at the twins. "Elrohir, Elladan!" He cried in delight, rushing over to both of them with the eagerness of a child, despite his years. "It is good to see you again."

Elrohir chuckled slightly, embracing the taller man with an enthusiasm shared by his twin. "It is good to see you as well…but we were at the ball last night." He smiled mischievously, before remarking with a great show if innocence, "Perhaps you were distracted? I did not see you towards the end." His expression showed nothing but open curiosity, but his gaze flickered slyly to the side, and Gimli noted that it landed on Legolas, who was now looking out of one window.

"Elrohir, enough." Elaría said sharply, her expression firm, and to the dwarf's astonishment, the son of the king of Rivendell had the grace to look slightly embarrassed.

"Yes Elaría." He said meekly, but a small spark in his eyes warned the dwarf that his teasing towards Estel was far from over.

Elaría looked at him suspiciously for a moment before turning to regard the rest of the strange group that was assembled in the large, airy room. "You have all been summoned here at Princess Arwen of Rivendell's request." She began, "You must all participate in a performance of dance at the next ball, which will be held in three weeks. I am to teach you the movements and the separate dances before teaching you to dance with one another." Here, Gimli swallowed hard, looking up at the men who were twice his size. "The tale you will be telling is that of Beren and Lúthien, and the Lady Arwen had told me to give you your parts directly." Elaría smiled at the worried expressions on everyone's faces before she turned to Estel. "You will play Beren, Legolas, you will be Lúthien." Behind her, one of the twins stifled a small snicker. "Gimli son of Glóin, you will be King Belanon and Boromir Steward of Gondor you will be Amenon, Beren's brother."(2) She smiled, lifting her chin slightly. "The twins will be helping me instruct you, and I will be playing Queen Helá…any questions?"

A stunned silence met her, and before anyone could protest, she clapped her hands together. "Excellent, now, we will begin with simple steps. Elrohir, come here."

Obediently one of the twins stepped forward and took his place at her right hand side. "Are we demonstrating the dance steps, dear one?" he asked quietly as she held out her hand to him.

"No." Elaría smiled in motherly affection at him, "You and Elladan will have to do that later, for I cannot make sure they are observing and copying the steps correctly and demonstrate. We are going to show them a few simple steps…follow my lead." Carefully she laid her hand on top of his, swinging them around in a brief circle before releasing his hand stepping on the tips of her toes in the opposite direction before leaning back in a graceful arch until she could actually see Elrohir looking at her from upside down. Lightly she straightened before flicking her arms around to make her turn half circle as Elrohir moved with a dancer's surety back towards her, clasping both her hands this time and lifting her with only the support of their joined hands. They held the position, her head held high, back arched like a swan's and Elrohir looking up at her for a brief moment before she dropped back to land on her feet with a small thump and looked at the group.

"Thank you Elrohir." She smiled at the elf who smiled back at her before stepping back to join his twin, who had watched. "Do you see immediately how the smallest movement can imply more than many words? That is why dance is so unique; everything you do will convey a world of meaning to the observer. That is what you must master, beginning with basic steps."

All four, two men, an elf and a dwarf, nodded eagerly and with more interest than they were willing to admit, lined up to stand in front of Elaría to begin to copy her movements.

********

Legolas stretched tiredly, wincing as his aching muscles pulled, screaming in protest. "There is more to dancing than I had imagined." He commented to Elladan, who was standing nearby, "It is exhausting work!"

The green-eyed elf nodded in agreement, his face thoughtful. "Not many people appreciate how much of an exercise it is to dance." He commented, "Often dancers are much stronger than warriors." He smiled and patted the blond archer on a shoulder, "My best advice is to go and bathe, preferably in extremely hot water, it will ease you muscles." He glanced up as Elrohir padded over, also wincing and complaining of exhaustion. "Hold your tongue brother." He cautioned as Elrohir found a particularly sore point in the small of his back and uttered a few choice oaths that carried across the room. "If Elaría hears you saying things like that…"

"Pray, tell me Elladan, why do you treat Elaría with so much respect. She is just a maid, and younger than you at that…why pander to her every whim?" Legolas turned curious blue eyes on both twins, who glanced at one another, lips tightening. "Does she simply have your father's favour?"

Elrohir burst out laughing before Elladan could stop him, "Nay, 'tis not that!" He said, between gasps of mirth, "Far from it, in fact. Arwen brought Elaría back home with her from Lórien; we have been unable to manage without her since. She keeps all our secrets and is our utmost confidant, but she is strict. Father respects her, and appointed her to guard us, but she seems to have taken it more upon herself to be our nursemaid than anything else." He smiled, laughter subsiding, "She is like a maid, sister and warrior all rolled into one."

"Warrior?" Legolas frowned, looking questioningly at the elf, "But surely she does not fight?"

"She does indeed." Elladan interrupted, glancing over to where Elaría was going over several steps with Boromir, her pale skin showing white against his darker tunic. "Do not be deceived by her appearance…but surely Aragorn has told you of her before now?"

"Aragorn? I have not met him yet." The Mirkwood prince looked puzzled as he glanced from one twin to the other. "I have not even seen him at the council."

"Ah," Elrohir interrupted smoothly, "We must be mistaken, we thought you would surely have met Isildur's heir by now." He shot a warning look at Elladan before turning back to Legolas, "Surely you have heard our sister speak of him so much, you feel you already know him?" He laughed and his twin and their guest joined in.

"Aye, I do indeed." He agreed, but his gaze flickered across the room to where Estel was conversing with Gimli. "Excuse me, won't you?" So saying, he stepped gracefully around the twins and moved swiftly across the room to talk to the dark haired man.

"Idiot!" Elrohir hissed at Elladan, "I swear, sometimes you have the sense of my horse. You know Legolas is not aware of who Estel is." He frowned in a rare moment of annoyance with his kin. "You nearly caused a disaster!"

"I am sorry." Elladan did indeed look contrite, his green eyes were worried and he was biting his lip, frowning as he did so. "I forgot that Legolas is not aware…"

"Yes, you forgot, and it nearly cost all of us! Honestly El, sometimes I don't think you have the brains you were born with!" This harsh sentence was softened by the childhood nickname, and Elladan sank gracefully to the floor in a sitting position, pulling his irate twin with him. Both leant back against the wall, and watched the couple and the dwarf in the far corner.

"What are we going to do? We still have no real solution."

"We'll think of something," Elrohir promised, resting his head on his twin's shoulder, "We have to."

********

Elrond was alone in his room, quietly enjoying a goblet of wine after another day at the council, when a voice echoed in his head, making him start slightly and put the cup down, leaning forward intently.

"Dear son in law, that time we spoke of has arrived."

"Dear mother in law," The king replied, his voice courteous, "Are you sure?"

"I have looked in the mirror," Galadriel's voice sounded slightly sad, "And I have seen it. I looked into their futures and saw death. It will happen dearest one and there is nothing any of us can do to prevent it."

"Arwen's death?" Elrond leapt to his feet, knocking the table over in his worry, composure gone. "Is my daughter to die by the hand of a man and his lover?"

"No, it is not Arwen who will die, so do not fear on her account. However, she is now an instrument of fate…the spirit is restless, is has begun to take control of her to aid its work." There was the soft rustle of cloth, as though Galadriel was now sitting down. "It is determined not to repeat the events that happened before."

"The spirit, are you sure?" Elrond's voice trembled slightly.

"Quite sure, dear one. These events mirror ones that happened many millennia ago…in ages far gone from the minds of men and indeed, most elves." Galadriel sighed, and quite suddenly, she sounded much older. "Watch out for all of them, Elrond, for it will not take much to harm any of them…particularly the blond archer from Mirkwood."

"Legolas?" Elrond asked sharply, "It is Legolas who is involved in this?"

"Yes, and you must watch him closely for it will not take much to push him out of the light…indeed, he is already beginning to fade from the pure mindedness of which we all hold. Soon, so very soon, he will be made an offer he will not refuse if you are not careful." There was a sigh, "He is willing to be tainted, son in law, one might even call him eager for it, for only when he is tainted can he and Aragorn be truly one. But it is a path they alone must choose. In the meantime, watch your sons, they are also important."

"You ask a lot, lady of the woods."

"That is because I expect a lot from you, Lord of Rivendell."

********

Legolas glanced around; he and Estel were the only ones left in the large, light room. The man was standing in much the same place that he had earlier, looking out of the window and over the grass to the small copse of trees that stood, their branches bowing gracefully to one another, much like dancers themselves in the wind.

Quietly the blond archer moved across the room, until he was standing no more than a hair's breadth behind the commanding figure that was silhouetted by winter sunlight. "Estel…what are you thinking?" One pale hand came up to lightly touch the back of the taller man's head, fingers gently stroking the dark hair.

Estel sighed and turned around, catching the questing hand and clasping it to his chest. "I was thinking," He began slowly, grey eyes serious, "How less than two days ago I was a poor man with no hope…and now," He smiled, and it seemed to the besotted elf that the entire room lit up, "…and now, I am the richest man to ever grace this earth, and the most lucky." Gently, his other hand came up to touch golden wheat coloured hair, "Hewath alí kereth." (I am blessed indeed) he murmured softly as the elf gave a small sigh, lips parting slightly.

"Look at us," the prince of Mirkwood managed after a brief moment of stillness, "We are acting like children in love for the first time." He smiled and stepped back slightly. "Scarcely two days, as you said, have we known each other, Estel, and yet within those two days, there has been much change in both of us." He smiled, "But perhaps that is not necessarily a bad thing."

Estel laughed and closed the gap between them again, grabbing the startled elf's hands and swinging him around in a small circle before dipping him backwards. "Indeed it is not, youngest prince of Mirkwood." Before the other could reply, he began planting little kisses along the straight eyebrows, down the straight nose and finally on the full yet determined lips.

Legolas laughed breathlessly, riding on a strange wave of euphoria, giddiness and joy. "Estel…stop…" He begged between peals of laughter, "Or we will never return to the hall in time for the evening meal." His love appeared to take no notice, pausing only to kiss him more firmly on the lips before returning to planting soft kisses on his face. "I mean it…surely you are not so brave that you will miss nourishment after this exhausting day?" As if in answer, there was a soft rumble from one of their stomachs…although neither could be sure which it was. "You see?" Legolas demanded breathlessly, holding a hand up to Estel's face, pushing him back slightly and standing upright once more. "We will faint from lack of food."

The man pulled a face, but it was with humour in his grey eyes that he nodded. "Very well, I would not wish to be held accountable for the most handsome elf of all realms to fall faint on me." A mischievous quirk of the mouth warned Legolas that the man was about to tease him. "But surely you are not so weak that you would faint from a little starvation, that is womanly!"

Legolas let out a gasp of indignation and raised his fists in mock fury. "How dare you even suggest such a thing!" He forced a look of fury onto his face and turned to look at the insolent man. "I am a warrior, not a damsel." To prove his point, he reached for one of the curved daggers than always remained strapped around his waist, and with a flick of his wrist, it was brought to rest at the base of the dark haired man's throat. "Now do you believe I am strong?" He teased, all pretence of anger gone.

"Perhaps." Estel said cryptically, and with a flick of his own wrist, the blade was removed, and Legolas was halfway to falling to the floor. Before he reached the hard ground, however, his cat like reflexes kicked in, allowing him to twist his body, using the momentum to his advantage and he landed with a soft thump, his legs stretched on the ground in a perfect split. Before Estel could react, the elf had leapt back to his feet, and the blade was heading towards his throat once more. But as the man moved to dodge its arch, one slender leg swept around the backs of his knees and made him fall ungracefully to the ground. Immediately the elf was crouching over him, on leg on either side of his body, breath coming slightly faster than usual as the gleaming point of the dagger scant centimetres from bare skin.

Estel's eyes were wide as he looked up into the cool blue ones of the elf. "You are truly a warrior Legolas." He managed, nodding his head slightly in acknowledgement.

The elf laughed and stood up, offering one hand to the man, who took it and stood up easily. "I thank you…but come, we will have time for these pleasantries later…right now there is a meal that has my name inscribed on it."

They both laughed and were stepping out of the door when light footfalls caught their attention. It was Arwen, who seemed to have been running as she was breathless, her hair not in its usual state of neatness. "Legolas!" She cried on seeing him, and not noticing the man just behind him, "There you are. How was your first lesson?" Not pausing to hear the answer, she rushed on. "Have you see Lord Aragorn, my father wishes to speak to him?"

"Nay, not I." Legolas replied promptly, "Perhaps he is out walking…" But the rest of his sentence was never finished as Arwen peered past him, her chest still rising and falling rapidly from running and caught sight of Aragorn.

"There you are Aragorn, my father wishes to speak to you!" She extended one hand past Legolas, unheeding that the blond elf had just frozen on the spot.

"What did you call Estel?" He asked sharply, gripping Arwen's outstretched arm.

"Aragorn." She replied, seemingly puzzled, "But I suppose he is named Estel as well…for that is his adopted elvish name." She smiled, "It means hope." She added.

The ground buckled beneath Legolas' feet.

To Be Continued… 

(1) This is actually true, particularly in twins, they have this ingrained sense of togetherness that often means they prefer to sleep in each other's company…something about being in the womb together I think. *Shrugs* I'm no doctor.

(2) No, these characters don't exist, since I can't remember if Beren's father was ever even mentioned I made them up.

CB: Ok I admit it, I'm evil…leaving it like that. But I can promise, THERE WILL BE A HAPPY ENDING! (But not for many more chapters, ok?) I will start thanking people in the next chapter, because you're all so wonderful!