20. Spiders and Flies

"Legolas, whatever is the matter?" Arwen asked, perplexed as he led her through the gardens and farther from the house. He paused, looking over his shoulder with an uneasy expression, as if he expected orcs to come charging from the wood at any moment. She frowned when he didn't answer. She wasn't accustomed to seeing him so tense and she found it a bit annoying.

"Legolas!" she snapped.

"Undomiel, I have to talk to you." he said desperately.

"Mellon, we have been talking all afternoon." She chuckled as he tugged on her arm. He ducked behind some trees, pulling her close as he peered through the hedge. She shook her head with a grin, gently but firmly pushing out of his grasp as he hunched behind the tree.

"No Arwen." He said seriously, turing his attention to her with a distressed expression on his face. "You have to tell me what has been going on with you because I have something important to tell you."

"Legolas, whatever are you talking about?" she sighed, rubbing his arm soothingly "You are not making any sense."

"Undomiel, where were you all morning, where were you last night?" he asked urgently. Arwen looked up at him her brow creasing.

"Mellon, I already told you." she replied, biting her lip.

"Yes, but you would not tell me who you were with." he said with a frustrated sigh rubbing his forehead. "Undomiel, last night I spoke with your father and..." his voice trailed off at the sound of a slight rustling of leaves on the garden path.

"Where is that dratty elf!" Meril's voice only barely drifted to them and Arwen pressed her fingers to her lips to stifle a giggle at the horrified look on her friend's face.

"Sweet Eru!" he swore angrily, his face twitching in agitation as he clenched his fists. He darted a desperate look at Arwen before backing away from her a pace, his eyes locking on the path as he searched for signs of movement. "You didn't see me. You don't know where I am."

"Legolas?" she asked with her most innocent face, trying not to giggle. "Is he still in Rivendell?"

"Perfect!" he assured before disappearing into the trees at a dead run.

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"I was certain that she would have been at least annoyed at hearing Legolas was unfaithful." Rumil said angrily as he and Orophin crossed the courtyard.

"You overdid it." Orophin snapped, "She thought you were joking."

"Well we must think of something soon." Rumil said. "Haldir looked as if he might come apart on us at any moment!"

"We will simply have to be more convincing." Orophin shrugged. Rumil paused, a crooked smile on his face as he pulled his brother closer.

"I have a plan," he said with glinting eyes, "One that will assure that Undomiel will cast him off."

"You are wrinkling my tunic." Orophin said with a frown as he wrested his brother's hands away and smoothed out the fabric.

"Find Legolas." Rumil said, ignoring him. "Whatever you do, you must find some way to get him in the stables."

"That will not be easy if he is trysting with the Evenstar." Orophin frowned.

"I do not care if you must knock him out and drag him there." Rumil replied hotly, "just see that he gets there."

"What will you be doing?" Orophin asked skeptically.

"Arranging... companionship." Rumil replied with an evil grin.

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"Elladan, are you sure you are feeling well?" Eirien asked uneasily as they left the great hall. The older twin's frown deepened, he wasn't sure exactly how he would disentangle himself and Elrohir was casting him desperate, and somewhat violent looks that were making him rather tense.

"Ah, Elladan," Elrond said with an uncharacteristically jovial smile. "I'd like a word with you and your brother if you don't mind." He graced Eirien with a warm, indulgent look that Elladan found just a bit strange.

"I'll only be a moment." Elladan said to her, trying to look convincing as his father led him toward his study, motioning for Elrohir to join them. Both twins exchanged uneasy glances as Elrond closed the door securely behind them. Their father was humming lightly to himself as he took his seat behind his desk and they were beginning to wonder if there was not something wrong with him.

"Well, I am certain you have not failed to notice that your sister has... developed a taste for certain company, shall we say." he said with a happy smile. The twins exchanged panicked looks before turing back to face their father with what they both hoped were serene expressions.

"We had noticed, Ada." Elladan said, feeling a bit queasy.

"I had an occasion to speak to him last night and it would seem they intend to wed." Elrond said happily. Elladan felt his jaw fall open, his throat went dry and he choked several times, trying to force his voice to work.

"And you approve of this?" Elrohir whispered, his eyes growing wider.

"I couldn't be happier!" Elrond replied with a sentimental sigh "He is heir to a throne, after all. He is practically family already, it is an excellent match." Elrond glanced out the window with a dreamy grin and the twins stared at each other in horror. Whatever reaction they had expected from their father, this was not it.

"Ada, are you certain this is not just the slightest bit... premature?" Elladan asked, trying to force the frustration from his voice.

"I do not think that is for us to decide." Elrond replied seriously "In any case, they will not wed any time soon and that is why I wished to speak to you." He turned back to the window again, his grin growing wider.

"Ada, I would think..." Elrohir began but he was silenced by a wave of his father's hand.

"It is not a subject open for debate," Elrond insisted "It is your sister's choice and you will respect it. I realize how protective you both are of Arwen but in this matter I must insist that you be supportive. Legolas is a fine elf and I expect you to treat him as part of this family."

"Lego..." Elrohir's bewildered question was silenced by Elladan clamping a hand over his mouth. The older twin shook his head furiously before cringing at the back of his father's chair.

"Has Legolas said something of their plans?" he asked uneasily.

"Only that their plans are on hold so long as the war continues." Elrond replied with a frown "The darkness has only just begun to grow once more and they may have long to wait. In the mean time you will treat Legolas as if he were already the husband of your sister. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

"Yes, Ada." Elladan said seriously,

"Of course." Elrohir added.

"Good, that is settled then." Elrond said, his smile deepening as he began to hum again. Elladan excused himself, dragging his twin behind him and they slipped into the corridor.

"I think he has gone mad." Elrohir said uneasily. "Where ever do you think he got such a foolish notion?"

"I haven't the slightest idea." Elladan shook his head in bewilderment. "I do know one thing."

"What is that?"

"I am through being me for today." He said with a manic grin, pushing the younger twin toward the main passage "You go be a gentleman, I have had quite enough of that elleth for one evening." An idiotic smile crossed Elrohir's face and he headed back toward the great hall. He had not gone far when he paused, leaning back around the corner.

"Thank you brother." he said with an apologetic smile. Elladan only shook his head, shooing him away.

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Aragorn breathed a contented sigh as he wandered the gardens. It was truly a gloriously beautiful night and he allowed himself a smile that was not entirely innocent. It had been a very productive evening he felt, despite the fact that he had been forced to miss dinner. Normally this alone would have been enough to sour his mood but a little bread and cheese pilfered from the kitchen had done a good deal to improve his disposition.

And then there was Arwen.

He wasn't certain how likely he was to find her in the garden tonight but one could always hope. He supposed he was being rather foolish but he had come to feel that she enjoyed their new friendship as much as he did.

It won't last. he reminded himself sternly. It never seemed to with elves. He could not blame any of them if they failed to feel the swiftly passing years the way he did. He had noticed it first with Legolas, when he was just a boy. Legolas had left for Mirkwood promising to return to visit soon. It was three years before he came to Rivendell again. Aragorn had asked at the time what had kept him and Legolas had looked as if it were the strangest question he had ever heard. To elves, time had no meaning. A year or a hundred, it was all the same. He would enjoy Arwen's company while he could then, doubtless, she would return to Lorien. When she came again to Imladris he would likely be old and bald. He chuckled at the thought but for a moment he felt a painful twinge. Perhaps she would not return at all in his life time.

He caught sight of a wisp of raven hair and a pale blue gown on the path ahead and he quickened his pace, rounding the hedge.

"Oh, Estel." Indelin said with a sigh. "I thought you were someone else."

"How disappointing for you." he said with a teasing grin that made her giggle.

"I was looking for Orophin," she said, her cheeks coloring slightly, "You haven't seen him have you?" Aragorn allowed himself a chuckle as he shook his head.

"Now there's a phrase I seem to remember hearing a time or two before." He smiled.

"Well, one must start somewhere." she sighed.

"Forgive me for saying so but he doesn't seem to be your sort of elf." Aragorn pointed out, trying to sound diplomatic.

"I am not certain elves come in my sort." she replied with a frown that made it difficult for him to keep from laughing.

"I thought you might be more taken with a scholar. I'm surprised you're not pursuing Legolas or one of my brothers." he teased, "Or Haldir, perhaps, he's quite brilliant."

"Meril has her heart set on Legolas, and if you haven't heard Eirien and Elladan are quite an item now." she replied then shuddered. "and Haldir is just..."

"Intimidating, fearsome, brooding?"

"Terrifying!" Indelin replied, wide eyed.

"Aye, well, he has that effect on a lot of people." Aragorn smiled.

"Well, I have an elf to snare." she sighed moving past him and heading further into the gardens.

"If I come across him I'll tie him to a tree for you." Aragorn promised as he watched her disappear down the path with a determined stride. He shook his head, trying to hold in his laughter as he wondered if humans were as confused and unsuspecting about love as elves seemed to be.

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Meril was shaking with anger as she roamed the gardens, her fists balled tightly at her sides. Tears of frustration threatened to fall and she shook her head furiously, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat.

He must think her an idiot to be persuaded by such shallow flattery. She came to a bench under one of the willow trees and she sat down heavily, burying her face in her hands.

It was bad enough that he wanted her for his toy, he certainly wasn't the first. She had known very early that she was exceptionally beautiful, even for one of the Eldar but rather than a blessing it had been more of a curse and she had come to hate that beauty. Why could she not attract an elf who treated her with a little respect instead of assuming she was too stupid to know she was being seduced?

"Ah, there you are." Meril jumped at the sound of the elf's voice and she looked up with wide eyes to find Rumil standing at the edge of the glade.

"If you've come to persuade me on your brother's behalf I am not interested." she replied, rubbing her forehead.

"I could not care less about Orophin at the moment." Rumil replied, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"I am not interested in you either." she replied flatly. If she intended to scare him away it didn't seem to be working for he grinned, easing closer to her.

"But I do know who you are interested in." he said teasingly, "A certain devastatingly handsome prince, if I'm not very much mistaken."

"And what is it to you if I am?" she snapped.

"Well you see," Rumil replied, putting on his most diplomatic expression "I've noticed recently that said prince of Mirkwood has been keeping a great deal more company than usual with a certain princess of the Noldor."

"Congratulations, you're smarter than I thought." she replied drily. "Why should you care who he spends time with?"

"Let us just say that it is not so much who the prince spends time with as whom he does not spend his time with." Rumil said with an frown as he took the seat on the bench beside her.

"So you plan to pursue Undomiel." Meril smirked "I take it back, you must be completely mad."

"I am not quite that mad." he replied seriously "I do know someone who does wish to pursue her but that can't happen with Legolas in the way now can it?"

"And why would you need me?"

"In, oh, twenty minutes or so Legolas is going to go to the sables to check on an emergency with his horse."

"An emergency you created, I suppose?" Meril asked.

"More or less." Rumil grinned "Now, if Legolas happened into the stables while a lovely elleth chanced to be there at the same time and if Undomiel found him in the hay in the arms of another woman it might be just enough to divest the prince of his Evenstar." Meril gave him a piercing glare.

"You want me to wait for Legolas in the stables lock him in and seduce him until Arwen happens to come along and find him?"

"No, I want you to wait for him and seduce him." Rumil replied with twinkling eyes "I'll lock him in and send for Undomiel."

"Have you a good reason why I should agree to this?"

"Well you can let him wed Arwen if you like." Rumil shrugged, "More to the point, you would get what you want. Arwen would be out of your way, Legolas would be out of mine and, left to your tender mercies, I don't doubt you would have the dear princeling tamed in no time at all."

"What about Orophin?" Meril asked with a skeptical frown.

"Mordor take Orophin." Rumil snapped as he stood to his feet "I haven't any more patience for him. Do we have an agreement?" Meril studied him a moment before nodding and a wide grin broke over his face.

"Do not be late my dear." he said with a smile before disappearing down the path. Meril let a wicked grin play across her face. She had one little matter to see to first.

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Author's Note - Thanks to all of you for the great feedback on the last chapter *sighs* I feel better now that I have that one behind me. Hang in there, the end is in sight, my working draft now stands at 27 chapters and the outline looks as if 35 or 36 will be the last chapter. I will keep you posted on the progress for all of you who keep asking how things are going to turn out.

- What evil plot stirs in the heart of Meril? Will Legolas escape her clutches? Will poor, innocent Aragorn ever get a clue? Tune in next week for another exciting episode...-

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dragonfly - I'm afraid you'll have to wait to find out what Aragorn's been up to, I need to work in some tension between him and the future Queen of Gondor.

Kath - Aragorn has a good excuse, so does Haldir come to think of it.

Whyte Ivy - Thank you, thank you, thank you! I knew there was a place where things just fell apart on me but I've read the bloody chapter so many times I just couldn't see it (I fixed it. Oh, I feel so much better)

jesla - I'm afraid there's a very good reason for Haldir's behavior and I am now forced to reveal that it will get worse before it gets better. Just hang in there, it will get better.

grumpy - No, C&G are just tormenting each other. They've been happily married so long that the thought of being unfaithful is not only farfetched, it's down right hilarious.

b-witched - Don't panic, Legolas isn't Arwen's boy and he knows that. They've been best friends so long that Legolas would be as likely to kiss Arwen as he would Elrond. The ranger comment was meant as a tease from Arwen. Kind of like telling your 5 year old "Astronauts eat their broccoli" any other ranger comments are typos, please let me know if you see any.

Converted - in my defense, smashing is used in parts of the US (well my part any way) 'Wonderful' didn't sound right and I wasn't going to use 'terrific', which *is* slang. I did settle on 'Splendid' and revised it just for you :-)

Tiian - It does jump too much but I didn't have a choice since everyone was in the same room talking at the same time.

dancetdplc - Indelin was weak, but sitting between Erestor and Glorfindel I didn't see how she could possibly assert herself.