Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Elrond woke early to find his twin no where in site. Sitting up, he looked around their room even more confused because his last memories of the night before were in the tent with Elros. Standing up, he went to the bathroom and looked over himself realizing he was also clean. Even more confused, he brushed his hair before going and grabbing clean robes, these in a more natural brown shade, and putting them on. As soon as the last button was buttoned, he went and grabbed his book to find a note.

Elrond,

Headed to town. See you around lunch time.

Elros

Elrond smiled placing the note back on the side table and headed down to the library. The few guards he passed greeted him and he nodded back staying silent. The last guard was the one who opened the library door and this time Elrond told him thanks before entering and hearing the door close behind him as he made his way to a table and opened his book. Looking at the page in front of him, his mind drifted off as his thoughts kept going back to Thranduil last night. He kept thinking of how Thranduil felt and how soft his skin was when the sound of a tray being placed on the table distracted him.

"Good morning, Elrond," Andreth said softly pouring a cup of tea for the younger male.

"Good morning, Andreth. Thank you for the tea," he said looking up to see a second cup being poured. "Are you joining me for tea this morning?"

"No, but someone will be joining you," he smiled. "I will have a try of fruits and vegetables brought in shortly."

Elrond looked at him trying to understand before coming to the conclusion that his brother would be joining him earlier than expected as Andreth stood up and left the library. The door shut and Elrond grabbed his tea as the door opened again. This time Elrond looked up as his breath caught at the sight of Thranduil walking into the room. He was dressed in the same copper robes he wore last night which complimented him.

"It's good to see you, Elrond," he said with just the slightest blush crossing his cheeks.

"I am very pleased to see you as well," Elrond responded. "How did you sleep last night?"

"You don't want to know," he admitted sitting next to the Noldor elf as he was handed the extra cup of tea, sitting down next to the twin.

"Did... did my twin and I bother you last night?" he asked placing his cup of tea down in front of him.

"A bit... but not in the way you fear. You just filled my dreams," Thranduil said not giving any more explanation.

"Oh..." Elrond said turning away to prevent blushing at the thought.

"So I tricked my father into letting me befriend you," Thranduil admitted.

"How?"

"Well, he doesn't believe that a... a half elf should be the next High King of the Noldor. So he was trying to find a way to prevent this. I feared he would try to kill you, so I asked if I could befriend you in hopes of talking you out of accepting the title."

"I don't want the title and my brother is going to choose mortality, but this does give you a way to hang out with me... That is, if you want to," he said looking at Thranduil.

"Of course I want to. That's one of the reasons I convinced m father to let me befriend you."

"You still feel that way after yesterday?"

"Of course I do. If I didn't, do you really think I would have come?" Thranduil said gently reaching out and touching the dark hair of the twin beside him.

Elrond turned and looked him in the eyes before leaning forward and kissing him quickly, being careful in case anyone entered the room. Thranduil blushed again, lifting his tea and taking a sip of it. Smiling as he realized he enjoyed it, he took another sip.

"This is much better than the horrible wine my father drinks. I swear he only gets sold the worse wines there are."

"I have to be in the mood for wine. Most times I prefer tea and Andreth makes the best tea by far."

"Who is Andreth?" Thranduil asked as the door opened and Andreth came in with a variety of fruits and vegetables.

"Thranduil, this is Andreth. He is a servant of High King Gil-Galad as well as my teacher," Elrond said proudly as Andreth crossed the room.

"It is great to meet you, Thranduil son of Oropher. I pray to the Valar that today is on better terms than yesterday was," Andreth said placing the tray in front of them.

"It is good to meet you too, and yes, it is on better terms," he responded.

"Then as long as it's on good terms, we welcome you," Andreth said bowing before leaving the library without saying another word.

Elrond stayed silent picking up a strawberry and taking a bite out of it as he watched the door shut behind Andreth. Only then did he lift the strawberry up for another bite.

"He seems to know an awful lot for a servant."

"He does. From what I understand, he has been here for many years. I believe he said he crossed to Arda by the Helcaraxë."

"If he crossed the Helcaraxë, he may be one of the oldest elves alive," Thranduil said in shock.

"That's what I am saying," Elrond replied taking another bite of his strawberry.

Before he could put his hand down, Thranduil leaned forward and took the last bite of Elrond's strawberry out of his fingers with his teeth. Elrond paused as he watched this feeling his heart beat throughout his body. Thranduil licked his lips as he chewed the strawberry, watching Elrond carefully.

"Are you just going to watch me?" Elrond asked before licking his fingers and grabbing a slice of apple this time.

"Maybe," Thranduil grinned. "Can I not?"

"After last night, I was not expecting this. I expected you to be more shy like you were the first time, but still slightly flirtatious."

"Can I be honest with you?" Thranduil asked.

"Of course."

"I stopped last night out of fear of being tossed aside for someone else. I did not know how serious you were and I only want to be with one person."

"I understand," Elrond said softly thinking that maybe Thranduil did not want him because he had already slept with his twin.

"But if you give me time, maybe I will know for sure it's you that I want," Thranduil said softly.

"You sure you don't want someone pure like yourself?"

"Elrond, as long as you are committed to me, that will not matter. Now I do not mind if you want to consider us dating," Thranduil smiled leaning closer to the Noldor in front of him.

"I would like that very much. Is it alright if I kiss you?"

"As long as my father does not see us kiss," Thranduil responded before Elrond leaned in kissing him again.

"Same with the people here. Only us and Elros shall know."

"Deal," Thranduil said picking up an orange slice and enjoying it. "I do want to spend this time getting to know you."

"I do not mind that," Elrond responded. "What do you want to know?"

"What's your favorite fruit?"

"Grapes, and you?"

"Strawberries," Thranduil grinned.

"That makes sense," Elrond laughed, closing the book and paying attention to Thranduil solely.

When it reached mid-day, Elros came into the library to find Elrond and Thranduil laughing and enjoying theirselves. Neither seemed to realize that the other twin had joined them till he sat down in front of them.

"Have a good day in town?" Elrond asked.

"I did, and it seems everyone here has had a good day."

"I have," Elrond smiled looking at Thranduil and taking his hand into his own. "We decided to slow things down a bit and date before we try to repeat last night."

"I can see that. I am very happy for you," Elros smiled. "Would you be interested in joining us for lunch, Thranduil?"

"I would like that if you think the people here will not mind."

"No one will mind. I am sure that Gil-Galad and Andreth would enjoy the extra company. Plus it will be good for you to be away from Oropher a bit longer," he responded truthfully.

"Thank you," he said.

Elros stood up and lead the way down to the dining hall with Thranduil and Elrond close behind him. Both of them seemed happy and like they were having a normal life. Entering the dining hall, Elros greeted Gil-Galad before moving to one chair. Elrond did the same causing Thranduil to bow and greet him, trying to be polite.

"Thranduil, son of Oropher, you are most welcome at my table, but please, if it is just us, do not feel as if you have to bow to me," Gil-Galad said motioning for Thranduil to rise.

"As you wish, your highness," Thranduil said politely standing back up and watching Elrond move to his seat.

Elrond motioned for him to sit beside him and Thranduil moved swiftly to sit down. Soon Andreth entered and sat down with everyone. At this point, servants from the kitchen started to bring in a variety of foods, placing them on the table. Some of the food included deer, roasted vegetables, a soup, and raw vegetables and fruit. Thranduil looked over it all as Gil-Galad told everyone to enjoy and started to serve himself. Elros took a serving of deer as Gil-Galad served himself soup.

"Get whatever you want," Elrond told Thranduil as he moved to get some roasted vegetables.

"I have never seen such a large variety of foods," he said as he got a bit of deer.

Elrond smiled as he served himself everything but deer and watched Thranduil serve himself a bit of everything. Andreth was the last to serve himself and got all but deer as well. Thranduil looked over to see Elrond's plate.

"Do you not eat deer?" he asked curious.

"I don't prefer meats. I don't mind that others eat it and on occasion, I will eat a little. It's just not my favorite," he explained.

Thranduil nodded taking a mental note of that just in case this relationship went anywhere.

The rest of lunch passed uneventful as Gil-Galad went over a few things with Andreth and told the younger elves that they were free to leave when they were done. Elros finished first and left the table. As soon as Elrond and Thranduil finished, they stood to leave as Thranduil thanked Gil-Galad for the food. Gil-Galad smiled as they left and headed back towards the library, but stopped when they ran into Elros by the twin's room. He motioned silently for them to join him as a group of guards walked by. Elrond took a second before joining him, Thranduil close behind him.

"The guards won't let me out of their sight lately," he said softly. "Tonight after dinner, I am sneaking out to the tent again. Gil-Galad knows, but I wanted you to know as well. The men are leaving mid-day tomorrow and I plan to join them."

Elrond squeezed his eyes shut trying not to cry in front of Thranduil as he moved to hug his twin.

"Thranduil, please be there for him. He is going to need someone more than ever," Elros added looking at the blonde elf.

"Of course," he responded knowing this was going to be hard for Elrond.

"If you two want to come tonight, I don't mind," he said softly still holding Elrond in his arms.

"Elrond, you better go. I know my father will not allow it, but you need to go," Thranduil said softly.

Elrond nodded against Elros' shoulder, refusing to release his brother as he stood still.

"Andreth does have a lesson for us," Elros said softly.

"When?"

"As soon as he is done eating."

"Okay," Elrond said releasing his other half. "Thranduil, please come by whenever."

"I will," he responded hugging Elrond gently. "You enjoy tonight and I will be by tomorrow."

"Thanks," Elrond said as Thranduil released him and headed out. "Library?"

"As usual," Elros smiled, walking to the door. "Ready?"

Elrond simply nodded and headed out to the library with his brother close behind. Upon reaching it, they found Andreth sitting at a table with tons of books and charts in front of him.

"It's about time I reveal your full ancestry," Andreth said looking at the boys as they both looked shocked.