Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, places, ideas or anything else from Lord of the Rings. I do however lay claim on Elrond's twin daughters as Tolkien never wrote about any twin elven girls anywhere in his books. Everything else though, as much as I wish it, is not mine and belongs to the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien (a wonderful, wonderful man). Except for a 2-year-old toddler by the name of Estel (forever called tithen min by his siblings) who needs looking after.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
"Rómë, would you please put the book down and come and dress. Ada warned us not to be late for the feast tonight, and you know that he will be angry if we are. For once could you at least attempt to act similar to a normal elf?"
The youngest daughter of Elrond looked up lazily at her sister from her perch upon the window seat. "Normal?" she asked dryly. "As opposed to what…abnormal?" And without waiting for an answer she went back to her book.
Dúnë took a step forward and tilted her head to the left to read the spine of the book. Rare Herbs..." and their Properties!?!" Her sister exclaimed incredulously as she read. "You're going to miss the banquet because you're doing lesson work?! How are we even related?" She stared at her mirror image in shock.
Arómenë didn't favour her with an answer.
"Rómë?" the sound of her mother's voice drew her away from her study as her sister's had not. "Yes Naneth?"
"Why are you not ready, iell nin? Dinner will begin soon and your father wishes both of you to attend him in the main hall before the meal."
"Yes Ammë; I will be ready right away." And she promptly disappeared into the next room, leaving the book abandoned on the bench.
"Wait for your sister, iell, and help her with her hair. I expect both of you to present yourselves before the dinner bell." And she disappeared out the door in a swish of pale green silk gown and silver tresses.
When Rómë entered the room a few moments later, gowned in her father's colours of silver and blue, similar to what her sister wore, she looked strangely at her twin. Dúnë still stood in the centre of the room, staring in awe at the closed door through which her mother had left. "Seler, are you quite all right?" she asked, concerned.
Her twin glared angrily at her and departed through the door with a quick "do your hair yourself."
She huffed in a very un-lady-like way and set about doing just that. Simple, but elegant she decided was the best. She braided the top half into two herringbones and set her mithril tiara on top. Her sisters and brothers had identical circlets that, unlike their father, they only wore on special occasions. Such as a Solstice banquet that listed Prince Legolas and Círdan of the Havens among the guests.
There, she thought, straightening the band upon her forehead; perfect. She left to the room to find her sister before they really were late for dinner.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
"I hate formal banquets," Elladan groused quietly; eyeing his father's progress towards them.
His youngest sister smiled sweetly at him, but there was a hint of empathy in the look as well. "Why he feels we must be shown off like this is something I have yet to comprehend. At least Dúnë is enjoying herself," she muttered.
Her sister was in fact over by the railing the looked out over Imladris, head bent as close as she dared to Prince Legolas' and giggling at whatever he was saying. Elladan shook his head in mock horror.
"How can she possibly enjoy this?"
Rómë smirked, "My guess is it has everything to do with the Prince's attention and nothing to do with the banquet.
"I have seen you the same way, toro," Elrohir reminded his twin. Elladan glared at him but refrained from commenting as Elrond came within hearing distance.
"Arómenë, how nice of you to finally join us." She leveled a charming smile at him in response, appearing to show she was thoroughly enjoying herself and terribly sorry she was late at the same time.
"Forgive me, Adar, it is only I found this week's reading so enjoyable I all but lost track of the hour." Another sweet smile and Elladan snorted softly in disbelief.
The expression of disappointment on Elrond's face immediately turned to one of glowing pride. "I am glad to see you enjoying the work, iell nin. Truly you will be a wonderful healer when you are older." This statement, in conjunction with a look of disapproval towards his sons, clearly showed the Lord's disenchantment that the rest of his children weren't as adept at the same skill. Rómë smiled sweetly again and Elladan nearly kicked her under his father's eye.
It amazed him at how adept the twin elflings had become at wrapping their father around their little fingers. It was a skill Elladan and his brother had never quite mastered completely, mostly because it was always quite obvious that something was their fault. Arwen had never needed the skill, really, for she had never been one to do wrong, but her innocent smile would get her anything she wanted from those around her; Glorfindel included. But these two, from the very beginning had had a knack at weaseling their way out of almost any trouble they got into. Which, because there were two of them, and because they were related to Elrond's twin sons and had learned a great deal from them, was quite often indeed. They had picked up quite early on that if they were going to get into trouble for something, they should always have a reason or way to blame it on their brothers. Or Glorfindel, or Erestor, or any other number of inhabitants of the valley that were all but enamored with the girls and would most likely die for them at the least opportunity.
This annoyed Elladan and his brother to no end, and most likely was a never ending source of dread for their father as well. There was just no way for anyone to say no to these two.
Just then the bell for dinner rang; a clear, sweet tune that originated from the dinning hall, but echoed all around the valley.
"Andúnë?" Elrond called to her and, with a last longing look at Legolas she joined the family. Arwen was still in (Lórien), no doubt celebrating with a glorious feast there, but she was often away in the Golden Wood and the family was used to her absence on such special days.
Elrond took his wife's arm to lead the procession into the hall, and his children, in something resembling order, followed behind. The rest of the valley's population and the few honored guests made their way in as well; Legolas keeping close behind Dúnë, and Círdan deeply engrossed in a conversation with Glorfindel.
Elrond sat with Celebrían at the head off the centre table, Glorfindel at his right hand and Círdan at his left. The twins sat to the opposite sides of the two elf-lords, mostly so they could stare at each in boredom across the table and hope their father was too engrossed in his conversation with his two old friends to notice.
The girls took up a place half way down the table, under a blue and silver canopy that matched their gowns perhaps a little too well. The rest of the guests were free to sit wherever they so choose to allow easy conversation. Legolas, invoking his right as a Royal guest sat down beside Dúnë and looked daggers at any male elf that seemed put-out by this. Erestor, being the typical considerate person he never was, sat down beside Rómë to prevent any eligible elves from getting her attention.
She smiled gratefully at him and ignored him the rest of the meal. He might have saved her from making pointless flirting with one of the visiting elves of Círdan's party, but he was not interesting to talk to at anytime, unless you were Elrond and the topic was accounts. Which, Rómë had on good authority, was tedious even to her father.
As if to affirm her thoughts, a young elf whom she didn't recognize, which confirmed him as a visiting guests, smiled at her from across the table and she groaned towards her mother. Celebrían smiled encouragingly and turned back to the conversation her husband was involved in. Rómë knew she was however, only pretending to be interested for Elrond's sake.
Ai, why are we forced to sit through this year after year? Rómë thought as she turned to the food put in front of her. She would eat the meal, make polite talk with those across the table and then escape as soon as possible. A good book, and that private balcony that looked out from the Hall of Fire, and at least she could swear to her father she was there: and studying no less. She smiled secretly at herself for another wonderful display of Ada's tithen iell.
Her twin laughed lightly at the Prince, and Rómë frowning, focused on her soup.