For those who asked: After this chapter there will be much more Legolas/Aragorn interaction.
Thank you all! Please let me know how you like future chapters.
(By the way, English is not my first language, so please point out any grammar mistakes etc.)
Chapter 3 - To Make A Choice
Later that day, Elrond sought out his twin sons. He finally caught up with them on the training ground, practising sword fighting. He watched them for a while. Evenly matched, it was only the difference in personality that led to differences in fighting style. Elrohir, spontaneous and impulsive, was using all his considerable strength to press his brother. Elladan, however, evaded with quick, skilled steps and used only defensive moves until he saw an opening in his brother's defence and struck with lightening speed.
"Got you!" Elladan touched Elrohir's side with the tip of his sword.
"Again", Elrohir grumbled, less than impressed with his own performance, and slightly annoyed with his brother.
Elrond stepped forward and smiled at his sons. "Elrohir, you do not think enough about what you are doing, if you planned better, your fighting would improve." Elrohir simply nodded, he knew this. He was a competent swordsman but was sometimes let down by his impulsiveness.
"Father, what brought you here?" Elladan asked. Their father did not come out to the training ground often.
"I need to speak to you about Estel."
"What has happened? What is wrong with him?" Elrohir looked concerned.
"Nothing is wrong with him. It concerns Legolas."
Elrohir was frowning. "That princeling!" We should have kept him away from Estel years ago!"
Ellladan asked: "What is it, father?"
"I had a long talk with Legolas earlier. To my shame I have to admit that it is the first time in all the years he has coming here that I have done this. I am now deeply ashamed of having shunned him so much, I feel he should be given a chance to show us who he really is. Estel cares deeply for him, and I think Legolas' feelings for Estel are genuine as well."
"After all, we have not made him feel welcome here, and yet, for Estel's sake he has come back every year. Perhaps we should give him a chance."
Elrohir was stunned to hear this from his father. He said rather forcefully: "I do not believe there is much that is genuine about this wood-elf. Just watch the way he looks and dresses, and he never smiles. Estel could drop dead and he would not show any emotion! I really do not know why Estel puts up with him."
Elladan listened quietly to his brother's outburst. His own feelings towards Legolas were ambivalent. He somewhat agreed with Elrohir's sentiment but also knew that some of Legolas' outward coldness was due to defensiveness.
Elrond looked at his sons. "Legolas has no more influence over his looks than either of us have. And he dresses in the way that he is accustomed to. I have noticed that, unless pushed, he will not wear formal clothing, or trade on his rank. He could have asked for many privileges on his visits here, and they would have been his by right. But to my knowledge he has not done this once."
"Growing up as a prince is not much fun. I believe that Legolas learned early to hide any emotions very well, and it makes him appear cold and uncaring. But I have seen him smile at Estel, when they both believed themselves to be unobserved."
"He has got a sweet smile. Well, at least for Estel." Elladan said with a smile of his own. Elrond and Elrohir looked at him in surprise. "I have sometimes watched the two of them because I did not want Estel to get hurt. I am uncertain what I think of Legolas but I do not doubt that he truly loves our brother."
He continued: "I guess we have not given him much reason to be friendly, have we? If I had been in his position, I do not know whether I would have come back year after year. He must care much for Estel to have put up with all of us for all this time."
Elrohir looked at his brother in surprise. He had not expected his twin to defend Legolas. They had often talked about Legolas, and not in friendly terms. But the remark made him stop and think. Yes, Elladan was quite right. If he had been Legolas ... Elrohir shuddered at the thought of being as persistently ignored as the young Mirkwood warrior had been on his many visits.
Elrond saw the change in Elrohir's face. Both smiled. "Perhaps we should all try a little harder." Elrond was relieved. He had known that breaching this topic would not be easy with the twins, and was surprised that it had not been more difficult.
"Come. Let's go back to the house and find Estel and Legolas." Elrond put one arm each around the shoulders of his sons, and they walked back to the house, all three still thinking about the conversation they just had.
When they neared the courtyard, Elrond said: "There is one thing I am quite curious about, and neither Estel nor Legolas have ever told me this. How did they actually get together? Has Estel told either of you?"
Both twins grinned. It was very rare for their father to gossip, but then, this concerned their younger brother, so perhaps this was different. Elrohir just shook his head, he knew that his attitude had always been too negative for Estel to come and talk to him.
Somewhat to his surprise, Elladan said: "Well, I do not know much about the details but I know that they fell in love when we all went to Lasgalen together, in that summer when Estel was only fifteen years old. But Estel told me that they only made love the first time at his coming of age. Apparently, they both had had much more wine than they were accustomed to, and somehow or other ended up in Estel's room together. One thing led to another... Estel told me that they had both waited to be sure."
Elrond was shocked and released his sons' shoulders. He turned to face Elladan. "I knew that Estel fell for Legolas early but I am surprised that they were committed enough to each other to wait ... Estel was far too young to get into a serious relationship at that age! I knew it had been a while but I thought it was all physical, this does come as a surprise...I wonder whether Thandruil knows when Legolas got into this relationship. Legolas is still very young as well, it is not even thirty years since his maturity. He should not be in a serious relationship at all at his age, let alone in one that started years ago."
Elrond looked at his sons, sighing. "That is all a bit too late now anyway. I should have noticed earlier and perhaps put a stop to it. Although, I have talked to Estel many times and it has not done much good. So, let us try and help these two youngsters to be more at ease with themselves, and us, so that they smile a bit more often." Both twins nodded. It was worth a try.
TBC