7. Catch as Catch Can

"Elladan," so lovely to see you." Eirien said sweetly to the twin in the blue tunic. Elladan winced. How could this elleth tell them apart? Their own father confused them.

"Eirien, Mae Govannen." He smiled charmingly "Indelin, how are you?"

"Very well, thank you my Lord." she squeaked, involuntarily digging her nails into Eirien's hand.

"Orophin, do be a love and take Indelin for a turn." Eirien said with a smile. He looked for a moment as if he hadn't heard her and Rumil gave him a sharp jab to the ribs.

"What? Yes?" Orophin stammered, looking down at the elleths as if seeing them for the first time.

"Indelin, hasn't had a dance." Eirien said, her eyes narrowing slightly as Indelin stared at her in a near panic. Orophin looked at Rumil in confusion a moment, obviously distracted by something and Indelin shook her head vigorously, stopping quickly just as he turned back to them.

"I would be happy to escort her." Elladan said with a grin. Indelin looked up at him, her eyes wide as saucers and before either could object he whisked the younger girl onto the dance floor, leaving a seething Eirien behind.

She clenched her teeth angrily as Indelin turned on the floor in Elladan's arms, so completely distracted by her retreating prey that she didn't hear Elrohir approach.

"Might I have this dance, my lady?" he asked with a warm smile. Eirien turned to him, startled and sighed in resignation.

"Why of course Elrohir." she replied, forcing a smile.

While her friends danced with the wrong elves Meril made her way across the hall. She gracefully drew in beside Haldir, sizing up the march warden before clearing her throat. He didn't move, in truth he didn't even blink. His eyes were fixed on Arwen and he seemed to have no sense of anything beyond her beauty. Meril decided a more direct approach was needed.

"The Lady is exceptional this evening is she not?" she asked with a warm smile. Haldir did not so much as move and Meril was keenly aware of Elrond's advisor, Glorfindel chuckling into his wine goblet as he stood near by.

Apparently the time for subtlety had ended.

"Haldir." she barked, snapping her fingers in front of his face, the March Warden turned to her abruptly, completely startled and she leaned closer to him, lowering her voice.

"I had thought you to be an elf of action." she said, her eyes narrowing "Are you unable to do anything but stare?" He mouthed at her wordlessly a moment and she sighed. Clearly, this was going to be harder than she thought. Without another word she drew him onto the dance floor, melting into his arms with a calm grace. He was doubtless a fine dancer for he kept his steps with ease despite the fact that he was craning his neck to watch Arwen. Meril carefully steered him in their direction and before he even had the chance to notice, they were beside her target.

"Your Highness," Meril purred with her most sultry smile "It has been far too long!"

"Meril?" Legolas stammered, Arwen shrank back as if terrified of Haldir but Meril was too involved in the Mirkwood prince to take much notice.

"You don't mind Arwen dear, do you?" she asked sweetly and before anyone could object she abandoned Haldir, shoving him towards Arwen and slipping into Legolas's arms. In a few turns they had crossed the dance floor and Arwen found herself dancing stiffly with the March Warden.

Not far away, Elladan was feeling quite pleased with himself as he watched Elrohir dancing with Eirien out of the corner of his eye. The younger twin had been quite smitten with her for some time and it had begun to worry him just a little. Elladan couldn't understand the attraction, but then he and his brother had decidedly different taste in women. Poor Elrohir, they where identical, why did his brother always seem to be in his shadow?

"You look distressed, pen neth." Elladan smiled, looking down at the girl in his arms. Indelin was chewing her lip nervously and darting glances at the Lorien elves.

"No, my Lord, not at all." she replied, biting her lip harder. He leaned in closer to her, pulling her against his chest.

"You are a terrible liar, Indelin." he teased. She looked up at him startled, her mouth hanging open just a bit. It was all Elladan could do to keep from laughing.

"My Lord, we... I mean I..." she stammered.

"That is quite enough 'my lords' for one evening, pen neth." he smiled gently "Perhaps you should just tell me what you and your friends are up to."

"I am supposed to be pursuing Orophin." Indelin blushed crimson "But apparently I am miserable at games of love for I am dancing with the wrong elf." Elladan burst into laughter and she looked up at him in alarm.

"I did not realize I was such a disappointing catch." he grinned. The color drained from Indelin's face and she nearly stepped on his foot.

"I didn't mean.... my..."

"Elladan will do nicely." he said with his most disarming smile. She looked up into his face and he was surprised to see that she was nearly in tears. For a moment she reminded him of Arwen when she had been a child and he felt a sudden urge to protect her. Obviously the fair flower was in need of a little guidance.

"It does not hurt to show a little confidence, Indelin." he said seriously "If you wish the attention of an elf then you must do something to get it."

"So Meril and Eirien tell me." she sighed "but I have no idea what to say."

"You seem to be doing well enough at the moment." he smiled, she looked up at him in surprise and he gave her a conspiratorial grin. "What if I should help you get the attention of a certain Lorien elf?" Indelin's face lit up and she nodded vigorously as Elladan guided her across the floor.

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"What is that?" Orophin asked, breathlessly, standing on his toes to see over the crowd.

"What is what?" Rumil demanded.

"That vision of the Valar dancing with Legolas." Orophin replied, his mouth curling up in an idiotic grin. Rumil bounced up and down several times and then shot his brother a frown.

"Will you please try to think of Haldir just once!" he demanded angrily. Why was Orophin being so stupid over an elleth? The hall was crawling with them.

"Who do you suppose she is?" Orophin asked, peering at Meril between the columns.

"I care very little." Rumil replied "as long as she is dancing with Legolas he can not dance with Arwen." Rumil suddenly had a horrifying thought and he scrambled up on the base of the nearest column, scanning the crowd and letting out a desperate groan.

"Orophin, Haldir is dancing with Arwen!" he moaned, rubbing his forehead.

"Splendid!" Orophin grinned brightly "please excuse me." Rumil jumped down, grabbing his brother by the arm and pulling him back.

"We can not abandon him now!" Rumil insisted. "The state he is in, he is liable to do something completely stupid!"

"Such is life!" Orophin replied cheerfully.

"Orophin." he growled menacingly.

"Orophin!" Elladan said with a smile, "Dance with Indelin for me." He swept the girl into the other elf's arms, and Orophin glanced at her only a moment, an evil smile spreading across his face as he pulled her onto the dance floor.

"Ah, Elladan," Eirien grinned, appearing beside him with Elrohir "You have not danced with me." Before either elf could object she switched partners. Elrohir watched them go, a pang shooting through his chest.

"You do not look so good Elrohir." Rumil said uneasily, Elrohir glanced at the younger elf, his face creased in a deep frown.

"I might say the same about you." he replied. Both elves sighed, looking back out onto the dance floor in opposite directions.

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Arwen kept her eyes down as she danced with Haldir, she wished desperately that she could simply turn and leave. Haldir must have wished the same for he was as silent as the grave.

"Perhaps it would be best if you simply saw me to my seat." she whispered softly.

"M..my Lady, I" he stammered.

"You do not need to say anything Haldir." she sighed, refusing to meet his gaze. "If you wish to dance with someone else then kindly lead me from the floor."

He was stunned. Not wish to dance with her? Every elf in Middle-Earth wanted to dance with her. He sincerely doubted that there was a single male in the hall outside of her brothers that was not at least a little jealous of him at the moment. Some of the married ones probably were too, come to think of it. He had to change the subject.

"Why did you disappear earlier?" he blurted out.

Rhach, wrong subject.

"Haldir, I am sorry I imposed upon you." she said her voice breaking "It was childish of me. I understand if you never wish to speak to me again, only know how much I regret what I did. I hope we can be friends."

Friends?

He was in shock. It was the most endearing thing she had ever said to him. Friends with the Evenstar. It was more than he ever could have hoped for. He stopped dead in his tracks, staring down at the top of her head, hardly daring to breath.

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Indelin was stunned as Orophin swept her across the dance floor in his powerful arms. It was like dancing in a dream. For this dance he held her at his side, cradled in his arm with her hand over his heart and she could feel it's thrum through her fingertips as his calloused hand closed over her small one.

She felt a happy thrill, it was her first real dance and it was everything she had always dreamed it would be. Perhaps she could do this, it was not so bad, she was not making a fool of herself at least. He turned her through the steps effortlessly and she looked up into his eyes. His gaze did not meet hers, he was looking across the dance floor and the farther they moved into the crowd the wider his grin became.

"Legolas, you do not mind, do you?" he asked cheerfully and without another word he swept Meril into his arms, leaving a dazed and confused Indelin with the Mirkwood prince.

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Arwen froze. Haldir had stopped dancing, his hand still gripping tight to her waist though he did not say a word. Tears welled up in her eyes. She had pushed him too far and she could not blame him. How much abuse should one elf be expected to take? She had been cruel, she had used him and the shame of it cut her deeply. Her brothers were right, she was manipulative, it was no wonder she had no friends.

The music continued but still he made no sound or movement. It was if a hand had gripped her heart and stifling a sob she turned and fled from the hall, leaving Haldir as still as stone in the middle of the dance floor.

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pen neth - little one

rhach - curses (- this is my new favorite swear word, it's really fun to use in traffic)

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Converted - I am not being *too* hard on myself. How am I going to improve if I don't suck it up and take the tough criticism?

moonbeams - Threats are unneeded, (but very amusing) I've promised to update every weekend unless I die or get a signed note from God saying I was too busy. That means you have one more chapter before you have to hit the books again.

Kath - Thank you so much, I....wait a second, I have people reading my story in Australia?!

*Aragorn & Arwen meeting countdown - 1 chapter to go!