"What, in the name of the Valar, is that?!" exclaimed Elladan.
Haldir looked at the scroll in his hand. "It's supposed to be a quiz. You take it to find out how, uh… likeable you are."
Elladan stared at him blankly, and then repeated slowly, "Likeable…you…are?" He scratched his head. "But…why?"
Haldir narrowed his eyes, "That's none of your business! Will you help me take this or not?!"
Elladan was still very much confused, but he obliged. Opening the scroll, he read the first question. He looked up at Haldir, back at the question, then back at Haldir again. "Are you sure about this?"
Haldir stamped a foot, "Yes!! Just read that damned question already!"
"All right, all right…" Elladan cleared his throat, trying to sound professional. "What do you consider yourself? 1, a nice person." Refraining from laughing out loud, he continued, "2, a formidable person. Or 3, a caring person."
Haldir scoffed, "2. That's too easy."
Elladan made a mark on the scroll, then continued.
"If someone were to accidentally bump into you in a hallway, causing their books to fly across the floor, what would you do? 1, Apologize, then leave. 2, Drop to your knees, apologizing profusely, and help them pick up the books."
Elladan stopped, and looked at Haldir funnily, as if trying to picture such a thing.
Haldir looked disgusted at the very idea.
Elladan shrugged, then continued, "Or 3, Glare at them, and then stomp away."
Haldir said firmly, "3. Naturally. I'm not a pansy."
Elladan grinned, "I'm sure no one would accuse you of such."
A pause.
"Well, hurry up!"
"All right, all right. Question number 3: What traits do you usually seek in the opposite sex? Number 1, clean and fresh."
"As opposed to what? Dirty and stinky?" Haldir interrupted, fed up.
Elladan was equally exasperated, "Chill! I'm just reading what it says!" He hurried on, "2, dresses the way she likes. Or 3, dresses the way you would like her to?"
"What the hell? Who came up with these stupid questions?"
…
About twenty minutes later:
"Well? What are the results?"
Elladan scratched his head again. "Are you sure you want to know?"
Haldir rolled his eyes, "No, I don't, Elladan. Not at all. Why else would I have just wasted half an hour answering those silly questions?!"
Elladan shrugged, "Your choice." He cleared his throat again, and then winced.
" 'You must be a complete bastard.' "
"WHAT?!"
Elladan hurried on, "There's tips, you know. Here: 'You are possibly the most arrogant person you know,' " He paused, and gave Haldir a nod, letting him know that he agreed. "However, there are several things that may help.
"1, Refrain from using phrases such as 'I want', 'I need', or 'I don't care'.
"2, Smile more.
"3, Try wearing more 'friendly' colored clothing; abandon your austere colors for something gentle, like pink."
Now it was Haldir's turn to scratch his head. "Huh?"
- - - -
At that very same moment, Andiél and Taúr were being chased down the hall by a swarm of students. And not just any students, but positively insane ones toting huge bags of trash.
Yes, you read right: trash.
Isn't it a sadistic world?
Anyways, they were speeding down an empty hallway. Suddenly, it was quiet. No one coming. Finally able to take a breath, Andiél leaned against the wall, exhausted.
Taúr actually grinned, "Isn't this so much fun? Things were never this exciting at Rivendell!"
Andiél looked at him incredulously. For some reason, I'm under the impression that that's a good thing. Her eye caught sight of a piece of parchment stuck on the wall. "Hey, look." She pointed. "There's gonna be a school trip at the end of the trimester… to the White City!"
Taúr looked awed, "I always wanted to go there! Let me see that!"
As she continued to read, Andiél's face fell. "Oh. It's expensive."
Taúr gave her a pat on the back, and said happily, "It's okay, Andiél. I'll – "
A loud screech interrupted him. "Here! I found them!!"
"Ai!" yelped Taúr joyfully, "It's time to take off again!" He started skipping down the hall, pulling Andiél along.
- - - -
It was Elrohir's turn to choke on his wine. "Haldir, what are you wearing?!?!"
Haldir looked down at his own attire innocently, "Well, a robe, the last time I checked." He smiled.
Elrohir buried his head in his hands for a moment, and then took a deep breath, looking back up. "I am aware of that. But what color is that robe?!?!"
Haldir's smile lost some of its certainty, "Does pink not suit me?"
Elrohir, Elladan, and Legolas all turned to looked at him at the same time. Elladan was trying very hard not to laugh. Legolas looked vaguely amused. Elrohir suddenly started pacing. He muttered, "Pink! The leader of the H4 is wearing pink. PINK!!!"
Haldir scratched his chin, "Uh…Elrohir? Are you all right?" Looking at the other two, he stated, "I think he's gone mad."
Elrohir froze, then slowly turned to look at him. He growled, "Mad?! Me? Here you are, cross-dressing, and you're calling me mad?!"
"Well, not exactly." Pause. "Well, yes. I am. You're mad."
Elrohir let out a howl that sounded suspiciously feminine. Haldir smiled again, just for good measure.
A waitress came with more drinks. She bent over slowly, allowing them a good, healthy view of her chest, which was practically falling out of her low-cut robes. She gave a seductive smile, then walked away, swaying her hips.
All cross-dressing thoughts forgotten, Elrohir let out a low, appreciative whistle. Elladan arched an eyebrow, "Don't you have a girlfriend already?"
Elrohir gave an expression of mock horror, "Do you not keep track, my dear brother? She definitely passed her due date already."
Haldir frowned, "Ellith aren't library books; how the hell do they have due dates?"
Elrohir said firmly, "Every elleth is worth exactly one week after the first night."
Elladan and Haldir looked at him incredulously. Haldir stated, "You're helpless."
Elladan added, "That is disgusting."
Elrohir gave a self-satisfied shrug, "What can I say? After all, I am the most experienced, the most charming, and the most - "
"Revolting?" Haldir suggested.
Elrohir glared, "Not as revolting as pink."
Not having said or done much throughout this conversation, Legolas suddenly stood up, "She's here." Without another word, he quickly bound for the exit.
Looking bewildered, the three stared blankly at each other for a moment, then all stood up simultaneously. They exclaimed, "She's here!" Then quickly ran up to catch Legolas.
…
"There she is," breathed Legolas to himself. He suddenly felt shy, not knowing how to approach her.
Arwen had just dismounted. She led her horse to one of the stable boys, and was brushing off her clothing delicately.
Every step was fluid.
Every gesture was golden.
Every movement was perfect.
His thoughts were interrupted by the other three, who had just caught up. Elladan panted, "Well? What are you doing? Let's go!" Legolas could not bring himself to move, merely watching his friends go on.
Arwen smiled when she saw who approached. "Haldir! Brothers!" She embraced them. "It has been so long!" Looking pointedly at Haldir, "You seem to have changed much."
Haldir blushed, remembering what he was wearing. He suddenly decided that maybe pink wasn't his color after all.
Arwen looked around, and saw the fourth figure, standing a little ways away. "Legolas," she greeted with a smile, "How have you been?"
He looked up at her shyly. He smiled, "Hello, Arwen."
Arwen stepped forward, giving him a warm embrace. She whispered into his hair, "It's good to see you again, my prince."
Once they separated, Elladan spoke up, "Let's go get something to drink; catch up on the times, huh?"
The others agreed, but Elrohir said firmly, "Haldir is changing first."
- - - -
Needless to say, Andiél was quite tired by the time she was walking to the bakery. She just hoped that Taúr could fend off the 'mob' alone while she was at work.
"Wow. Is that Arwen Undomiél?"
"What is she doing here? I thought she graduated already?"
"Have you seen such a beauty?"
"That, my friend, is the definition of an angel."
Hearing the gossipers, Andiél halted. She's here already? She curiously turned to look at the elleth that they were admiring. Despite living in Rivendell for most of her life, she didn't remember ever catching more than a glimpse of the Evenstar.
The moment she saw her, she knew she hadn't.
Arwen was gorgeous, stunning, elegant, poised. Yet only one word could completely describe her: perfect. Such a sight was not something that was easily forgotten.
- - - -
The next day, the H4 and Arwen were seated in the Institute's dining hall. Elrohir, Arwen, and Legolas were sipping on drinks, while Haldir was playing with a newly made "You'll be dead" mark, wrapping it around his finger.
Elladan leaned back on his chair, placing his hands behind his head leisurely. He grinned from ear-to-ear, "This is fantastic! Just like old times!"
Arwen smiled, "But at the same time, it is very different. You have all changed much."
Elladan scoffed, "Nah. I haven't changed a bit. It's Elrohir that's changed. Used to be infatuated with dolls. Now he's infatuated with… ellith." After pondering this for a moment, he concluded, "So I guess he hasn't changed much either."
Elrohir frowned, "I was not infatuated with dolls!!"
Arwen and Elladan each arched an identical eyebrow, "Yeah, you were."
Haldir chuckled, "I always knew there was something feminine about you."
Elrohir glared at him, "I'm not the one prancing about in pink!"
Arwen placed a placating hand on her brother's shoulder, and changed the subject, "What about you, Legolas? Have you become infatuated by ellith as well?"
Legolas raised his head, looking her in the eye. He said nothing; just holding his gaze. A chill suddenly swept through the room; everyone shivered.
Elladan cleared his throat, searching for another topic, "Um…you know…"
He was interrupted, however, by a blonde Elf approaching the table. "Arwen, is that you?" he exclaimed.
Arwen smiled brightly, standing up to give the Elf a hug, "Teldur! How are you?"
He grinned, "Perfect, now." He winked flirtatiously.
Elladan cleared his throat. Elrohir glared.
The Elf glanced around the table, saying somewhat snidely, "I guess only the likes of the H4 have the right to hang with you, huh?" Haldir unwrapped the mark that he was playing with, and spread it out clearly on the table. "Well," he said, finally getting the point, "I guess I'll be seeing you around, then." He left in a hurry.
Arwen sat back down. "Old friend," she explained, shrugging gracefully. Legolas suddenly stood up, and walked away angrily. Arwen stared after him, "Wha-"
Elladan asked, "Why were you asking him about other ellith, Arwen, when you know he cares for only you?"
Arwen looked guilty, "I thought he had moved on…"
The four quickly got up to follow their friend. They had never seen Legolas so upset before.
- - - -
Taúr's second day of school resembled his first remarkably. Again, he and Andiél were racing down a school hallway. Only difference was that instead of trash, thank the Valar, the mob had moved on to bags of dry leaves, twigs, and soil.
Don't ask.
The mind of a mob is a strange one.
Unfortunately, Taúr was quite sore today, and he was much slower and much more clumsy. At the foot of a small flight of stone steps, the awkward Elf tripped, and fell to the ground.
Naturally, Andiél stopped, as well, to help him.
The mob quickly caught on, and began ruthlessly emptying the leaves, etc., on to their heads. Two of them grabbed Taúr, while another one punched him squarely in the face. He spat at Taúr's feet, "Don't you get the message, you oaf?" At the same time, another pair seized Andiél.
She shrieked, "What are you doing?! Let go of me!"
Her captor snarled, "When the H4 wants you to leave, you wench, you listen to them, or else…"
It was right at this moment, when Prince Legolas came rushing down the stairs, his face ashen, his eyes cast to the ground. Upon hearing Andiél's scream, however, he glanced up, and viewed the scene with anger.
The rest of the H4 and Arwen arrived at the scene just in time to see Legolas walk up to Andiél's captors and yanked them off her. "Leave her alone!" he growled. The two immediately did so, and scampered off. Legolas grabbed Andiél wrist, "Come with me."
"Stop!" Haldir stepped forward, "Legolas, what are you doing? Those students were acting on behalf of the mark. Go on, and you will be betraying the H4."
Legolas glared at him, and said coldly, "I don't give a damn."
Haldir's eyes flashed, and he grabbed Andiél's other wrist roughly, causing her to gasp. He snarled, "Let go of her, Legolas. She isn't worth it."
Legolas met his glare evenly. "No."
The two held on to their respective wrist tighter, each glaring at each other with equal menace. Andiél squirmed, but they refused to loosen their grip. Realization dawned upon Haldir, "Don't tell me… that you've fallen for her?"
Legolas said nothing, but released the wrist. Without a backward glace, he spun around and walked off. Haldir practically threw the other wrist away from him, and stormed off in the other direction.
The Peredhils stayed frozen for a moment, before Arwen quickly came forward. She took Andiél's hand gently, "Look at you; you're filthy. Come, let me help you clean up."
- - - -
In her dorm, Arwen seated Andiél at her vanity, and began to patiently wipe off the soil on Andiél face. Andiél was slightly embarrassed, "I can do it myself, you know." She added hastily, "Even though it's nice of you to help."
Arwen smiled at her, "You have beautiful skin, Andiél."
Andiél blushed, "Thank you." She watched Arwen's smile in wonder. Could there really be such a perfect being?
Finished, Arwen moved on to Andiél hair. She unbraided it, slowly removing the twigs and leaves. "Legolas has talked of you. A lot. It seems you have left quite an impression on him."
Andiél felt a heat rising in her cheeks, "Really?"
Arwen gave a nod, "I believe he fancies you, my dear."
Andiél blurted, "But he loves you, Arwen!"
Arwen smiled ruefully, "Then why do I have a feeling that I will lose him one day?" Her eyes became misty, but she quickly blinked them away.
After a pause, Andiél asked shyly, "Is it true that you were studying with the Golden Lady herself?"
Arwen smiled again, "Yes."
"Does she really know how to do powerful magic?"
This caused Arwen to laugh lightly. "All beings are the masters of powerful magic, Andiél."
Andiél was confused, "I'm not."
"Of course you are, my dear." Arwen combed through her hair. "The Lady once told me that the most powerful magic in all the world is love. To be capable of love, Andiél, is the sign of a true magician."
- - - -
A/N: Sorry about the corniness… and… so quizzes in Middle-earth are just a tad far-fetched. But hey, it's all for the good of the story, no? =) Don't forget to review, my friend!