Disclaimer: All characters and places are property of the Tolkien estate. I am not making any money from this story.
Note: This is a re-post of a story I put up some time ago and ran out of time for. This time it will be finished and I apologise to anyone who was left hanging.
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Metal clashed on metal. The two elves circled each other warily, neither able to gain the advantage. They wore identical expressions of concentration and from the sheen of sweat on their skin, it was clear they had been locked in combat for some time.
The fighter on the left suddenly lunged at his opponent's weaker side, only to be expertly parried. A brief period of action followed, though neither elf gained by it. They fell back, still trapped in a stalemate.
Save for the sounds of the duel, there had been little noise in the small field. Yet now there came footsteps, swift and sure, coming ever closer.
The elf nearest to the intruder turned, distracted. It was the mistake his rival had been waiting for. A quick attack to the back and the unwary one lay on the floor, weapon wrenched from his grip. The fight was won.
Elladan scowled, trying to twist around to see his brother. "Elrohir, would you kindly remove your foot from my back?"
The younger twin complied, grinning widely. "My victory, I feel. I trust you are feeling rich, Elladan?"
Elladan did not reply, rising grumpily to his feet. Lord Elrond's eldest son was a fine elf and a credit to his father, but if he had one fault, it was that he was a particularly bad loser. He turned to the spectators.
"And you two can stop smirking."
"Us?" Estel spread his hands innocently. "As if Glorfindel or I would ever smirk. Remind me, Elladan, was it ten or twenty guineas riding on the outcome of this fight?"
"Twenty, was it not?" asked Glorfindel, a wicked glint in his eye. Elladan cast him a furious look and opened his mouth to respond. But before he could do so, a soft feminine voice broke in.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"Nana!" Estel was clearly surprised to see his mother down in the training area. Usually she preferred the gardens and airy rooms of Elrond's house. "What are you doing here?"
Gilraen smiled up at her son, marvelling again at how he had grown over the summer – he was over a head's height taller than his mother now. "Actually, I came to fetch you and the twins. Lord Elrond wants you."
"And just as well," laughed Elrohir, "or Dan and I would have been fighting until the end of days. As it is, I won spectacularly – did I not, Elladan?"
The older twin turned reproachfully to Gilraen, finally beginning to recover his good humour. "You see the disservice you have done me, Naneth? I will hear about this for months."
Gilraen chuckled. She loved it when the twins called her 'mother', despite the fact that they were many centuries older than her. Celebrían, Elladan and Elrohir's mother, had left Middle-Earth these five hundred years past and Gilraen knew that the two greatly missed the comfort and love of the maternal bond.
"My lady Gilraen, why does Elrond require his sons' presence?" asked Glorfindel, puzzled. "I understood that they were to spend the day here, practising their fencing skills. The Valar know they need improving," he added, looking pointedly at his charges.
"Should we care why Ada sends for us?" murmured Elrohir to Estel. "As long as it gets us away from Glorfindel's nagging . . ."
"I heard that," retorted Glorfindel. "Rest assured, young Peredhil, you have yet to hear the end of my nagging tongue."
Elrohir pulled a face behind the older elf's back, much to Estel's amusement.
"Elrohir . . ." said Gilraen warningly.
The younger twin grinned at her. "Yes?"
Gilraen shook her head. She knew full well that her son and the twins respected and admired Glorfindel, however much they might pretend otherwise. "Come on. Your father wanted you immediately."
"All right." The twins collected their epees and cloaks and all five began the short walk back to Elrond's halls. "What does he want us for?"
It was Glorfindel who answered. "Your father has most likely received further information as to the dates of the arrival of Mirkwood's delegation. If so, you need to start looking over the previous agreements and so on."
"I had forgotten about that," admitted Elladan. "Glorfindel, is it really necessary for Mirkwood elves to come here? I cannot see that we need any help from them, when they accept none from us."
"Elladan, you know how Elrond feels about it," replied Glorfindel. "Granted, there has been little friendship between us and Thranduil's realm. But it is high time that was changed. We need strong allies and Mirkwood is well experienced in arms."
Elrohir snorted, of the same opinion as his twin. Gilraen and Estel listened to the exchange interestedly. They knew that there was little love lost between Elrond and King Thranduil, but they had never really ascertained why.
The small group arrived in the main hall. Gilraen excused herself. "Lord Elrond is in his study. I'll see you all later."
Elladan knocked on his father's door and entered, followed by his three companions. Elrond was sat at his desk poring over some correspondence while Erestor, the chief councillor, stood to one side.
The elf lord looked up. "Ah, you are here. Glorfindel too, excellent." He waved a hand. "Find yourself a place to sit, I won't be a moment."
Estel sat himself down in an overstuffed armchair, looking idly around the study. This room was one of his favourites, with its air of order and control. It gave off a feeling of certitude, that nothing could ever go wrong here. The strong reds and purples favoured by Rivendell elves gave the room warmth even on the coldest days, while a large bay window increased its size.
"Estel?"
"Hmm?" With a start, Estel realised he had been daydreaming. He flushed and dragged his attention back to Elrond. "Sorry."
Elrond smiled. "As I was just saying to your brothers, all three of you are aware that for the past few months I have been in contact with Mirkwood, looking to establish a new alliance. To this end I extended them an invitation to visit and discuss the possibility of mutually beneficial trade agreements. Today I received their answer."
"They are coming?" asked Glorfindel, leaning forward curiously.
"Most assuredly so," replied Elrond, "though only one."
"One?" interrupted Elladan, frowning. "To speak for all Mirkwood?"
"Not just any one," explained Erestor. "Thranduil sends us his own son, Prince Legolas."
"The prince?" asked Estel, his own interest stirred. "Isn't he meant to be fantastic at archery?" The young man was still clumsy with a bow, much preferring the clean strokes of the sword.
Glorfindel nodded. "I have not met him, but his skill is said to be great indeed."
"I have met him," put in Erestor. "When last he came to Rivendell, with a delegation for the council that was held many years back, when the shadow of Dol Guldur first began to grow. He is a talented diplomat as well."
"An all-round perfectionist, in fact," drawled Elrohir, a trace of sarcasm evident in his voice. His father looked at him warningly.
"Elrohir, stop that. You do not know the prince and I hope that he will be made welcome here. He is some years older than you two, but he is still of your generation rather than ours. He will arrive in a few days and before that time Erestor will take you through the main points of our history with Mirkwood. I am expecting you both to take an active part in the discussions."
Estel saw Elladan stifle a groan. There was nothing that bored the twins quite so much as the minutiae of politics.
"I will come to find you after lunch," said Erestor. "We should be able to cover a fair amount this afternoon."
The twins agreed gloomily and headed to the kitchens in search of lunch. Estel rose to follow them, but was stopped by his father.
"Hold on a minute, Estel. I would like to speak with you."
Puzzled, Estel waited while Erestor and Glorfindel left the room. He sat down opposite Elrond's desk, eyebrows raised questioningly.
Elrond sighed. "Estel, you are an adult now, in the reckoning of men. It is time you began to learn a little more of politics and the art of ruling."
Estel swelled a little at being termed an adult – in the long-lived community of elves, he was used to being treated as a child – but he did not fully understand Elrond's words. "Why, Ada? It's not as if I will ever need to know such things."
"Maybe not. Nevertheless, it is something you should learn," said Elrond firmly. "You will attend Erestor's lessons with the twins and then watch the discussions. It will be good experience."
Estel knew his foster father well enough to know that he would not be swayed. Besides, he was quite proud to think that the elf-lord deemed him mature enough to sit in on the talks. He got up and bowed his head deferentially. "Of course I will, Ada, if you wish it."
Elrond rose as well, smiling at his youngest. "Thank you, Estel. Go on then, get your lunch. Oh, and Estel?"
Estel turned from the doorway. "Yes?"
"Do not listen to anything your brothers have to say on the topic of Mirkwood elves. I fear they have been influenced by my admittedly low opinion of Thranduil, but I want a friendship between our realms, not an enmity. Please make the prince feel welcome."
"All right, Ada." Estel hurried down to the kitchen, wondering just what the twins would have to say about Mirkwood.
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"Arrogant, prideful . . ."
"Convinced that they need no help from anybody . . ."
"Deadly set against anyone other than their own kin . . ."
"Certain of their own abilities and unable to admit defeat . . ."
"Just generally unpleasant, really."
Estel could not help laughing as the twins summed up the main characteristics of the elves of Mirkwood. "And they are all like that?"
"All," emphasised Elrohir.
"Especially the royals," added Elladan.
"Now, now, Elladan. You have never even met King Thranduil or his son," interjected Glorfindel. The composed older elf was leaning against the kitchen counter, eating an apple. Had Estel done the same, he would have been shooed out of the way by the temperamental cook, but the Balrog Slayer met with no such reprimand.
"How is it that you haven't met him?" asked Estel. "Surely you were at the council that Erestor mentioned, weren't you?"
"They should have been," said Glorfindel wryly, eyeing the twins. "In the event, they were somewhat indisposed at the time."
"Indisposed?"
"Trapped in a cave, not too far from the eastern borders," explained Elrohir, embarrassed. "We were exploring when the ceiling gave way and blocked the exit. By the time anyone found us, the council had ended."
"Anyone?" inquired Glorfindel. "You forget your rescuer that easily? Two weeks I was crawling around on that mountainside while your father was pulling his hair out with worry. How he managed to participate in the debates I'll never know."
"Anyway, that's beside the point," said Elladan, ignoring Estel's laughter. "Tulien's met the prince and she said he was miserable as sin – cold and unsociable, like every Mirkwood elf I have ever met. I do not see why Ada wants him here."
Glorfindel rolled his eyes. "By all the Valar, Elladan, you are acting like a small elfling! How many times do you need to be told? Your father has invited Prince Legolas here to discuss new trading agreements. Trade with Mirkwood could benefit us greatly and you two are not to do anything to jeopardise it, understand?"
The older elf had been the twins' tutor since their earliest days and neither could stand up to his piercing gaze. Both dropped their heads and grudgingly agreed.
Glorfindel nodded, satisfied. Throwing away the apple core, he straightened up. "Right, I will leave you all to it. Do enjoy your afternoon, won't you?"
Elrohir scowled as Glorfindel left the room. "Enjoy our afternoon . . . hah! He knows full well we would much rather continue with our arms practice."
"I hate looking at old agreements and all the political relationships," agreed Elladan, "especially on a beautiful day like today. But it is important to Ada and the experience should at least teach us a little about organising such meetings."
"I know, I know," sighed Elrohir. "I will behave myself, don't worry." He cast a jealous look at Estel. "Think of us, won't you, stuck in that stuffy room while you are free to wander as you will."
Estel shook his head regretfully. "I am afraid I will not escape that easily. Ada wants me to go to Erestor's lessons and then sit in on the discussions. He says it will be good experience, although for the life of me I cannot fathom what for."
The twins exchanged brief glances. Estel noticed it, but knew better than to inquire. The two seemed to communicate almost telepathically at times and no one but themselves could decipher the code. Still, the human wondered exactly what his brothers were thinking . . .
His train of thought was interrupted by a nudge from Elladan. "Come on, daydreamer, help us clear up. Erestor will be down in a minute."
"And the oh-so-worthy prince in a few days," added Elrohir. "Let us hope he does not intend a long stay."
A twinkle appeared in Elladan's eyes as he collected the plates. "You know, we could use this time to cut him down to size a bit . . ."
"Elladan!" said Estel. "You know what Ada and Glorfindel said – we're not to do anything that may adversely affect the trade agreements."
"Oh, we would not do anything like that, Estel," said Elladan virtuously.
"Just a few tests, if you will. To see how capable this prince is," added Elrohir. "You do trust us, don't you?"
Estel could certainly recall more than a few occasions when trusting the twins had been a foolish move. On the other hand, if this Legolas was as bad as Estel's brothers seemed to think, it would probably do the prince good to be the victim of a couple of harmless jokes. Bring him down a peg or two, maybe.
The young man grinned. "I'm in."
"Excellent." Elladan winked at his younger brothers. "There isn't time now, but after our lessons we will work out a trick or two to play on our prince. He will soon learn not to underestimate Rivendell's citizens."
Oh well, thought Estel. If nothing else, it will make life more interesting.
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