Disclaimer: Same as last chapter.

A/N: I'm sorry I did not get this up sooner. I have been very busy with school starting and all. Plus to add to that I have not felt like writing much. It is very difficult for me to write a romance when my own fairy tale just fell apart. So please be patient with me. I appreciate it. Thank you for all the reviews. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Next chapter is the one everyone has been waiting for. ;-)

Chapter 7

Barred Doors

Elrohir paced back and forth in his bedroom. Light was pouring into his room and had been for hours, but the elf hardly noticed. It had been a long night, but the morning was not brining any relief. He hadn't been able to sleep and had spent most the night pacing. Finally he sat down on his bed and let his face fall into his hands. Suddenly he heard a knock at the door.

"Elrohir, are you all right?"

It was Linriel's voice calling from outside the door. It was all ready almost noon. She must be worried. "I'm fine." Came his muffled reply.

The door cracked open and Linriel peeked inside. She saw Elrohir sitting on the bed. He looked a mess. His hair was disheveled and his face was worn.

"What is wrong?" Linriel asked as she ran to the bed and knelt by him

Elrohir looked up. "Estel left."

"Left?" Linriel questioned.

"Yes, left. He and Ada got in an argument and they both became angry. Estel has rejected his adoption from Elrond and has banned himself from the family." Elrohir said with a mixture of anger and pain in his voice.

"That's terrible. Maybe he just needs some time to think, to be alone." Linriel suggested.

"I don't think so. I've seen Estel angry before, but never like this. He has rejected everything he has ever loved. He no longer claims to be part of our family and…" Elrohir paused, choking back tears before continuing. Linriel sat on the bed and began gently massaging Elrohir's shoulders as she waited for him to continue. "He said he never wished to see Elladan and I again and never again wished for us to be part of his life."

Linriel's face dropped and she kissed Elrohir lightly on the cheek. "I'm so sorry, my love."

Elrohir made no response. He couldn't believe this was happening. It was like a nightmare that was coming true before his eyes. And the worst part was that his wedding was tomorrow. How could he possibly be happy at his wedding now? He cursed Estel for ruining his wedding and spoiling the joy he was suppose to feel.

"You should go to him. Go find him." Linriel spoke with a soft voice.

Elrohir looked up at her.

"He needs you now more than ever. You can't give up on him. You can't let him go like this." Linriel said.

"He did not want us to follow him. I wanted to last night, but Elladan said we had to let him go."

"Maybe Legolas can talk to him. They have become close friends and maybe that's what Estel needs. He doesn't want a brother because that just brings pain; he needs a friend."

Elrohir thought about it for a minute. Perhaps she was right. But there was one major problem. Tomorrow was the wedding. "But what about our wedding? We've been waiting forever."

Linriel placed a finger on his lips to silence him. She looked deep into his pain filled eyes, before speaking. "I know you can't be happy when your heart has been torn in two like this. I understand, Elrohir." She placed her hand on his and squeezed gently. "Do what you have to do."

Elrohir smiled at her understanding and caring spirit. He kissed her passionately, happy to have her as his fiancé. "I love you, so much."

"I love you."

He stood from the bed and quickly began getting things ready for his journey. In only a few minutes he was ready. He kissed Linriel again, promising that he would make this up to her. Linriel smiled, a sad, lonely smile and watched him head out the door.

Elrohir ran towards Legolas' bedroom and pounded hard. "Legolas!"

"El, what is it?" Legolas asked as he opened the door.

"It's Estel. He's left."

"Left? What do you mean left?"

"I mean left." The twin said frustrated. He wondered how Legolas had not yet heard, but he imagined his father was keeping it low key at the moment. "I mean he got angry and decided to leave the elves forever. He doesn't want to come back."

Legolas stared confused. "He can't just leave. What happened?"

"Ada and him got in a fight. I think Ada accused him of hiding behind his life with the elves and not accepting who he was. So he rejected his family and said he never wanted to see any of us again." Elrohir's voice nearly broke as he spoke.

Legolas bit his lip. "He can't possibly mean that."

"I don't know, but if anyone can reach him maybe you can. El and I tried, but he wouldn't listen. You have to try, Legolas. You have to get our little brother back."

Legolas nodded. He went back in his room a minute. In haste, he threw clothes into his bag and grabbed his weapons. Then he rushed back to Elrohir who was waiting impatiently in the hall. "Let's go."

He and Elrohir rushed down the halls. Elrohir thought of stopping at Elladan's room to get him, but Elladan was angry at the moment and Elrohir didn't want to spend time convincing him. The elf also decided it was best not to talk to his father about it just yet. Perhaps Thranduil would talk some sense into him. Right now, Elrohir knew he had to do something to reach Estel. He couldn't delay longer. He quickly ran to the stables and began preparing his horse.

"What about your wedding?" Legolas asked as he saddled his horse.

"Linriel told me to go find my brother." Elrohir replied.

"No one is going anywhere."

Legolas and Elrohir both turned to see Elrond and Thranduil behind them. Elrond continued speaking.

"The wedding will be held tomorrow like normal. If Strider wishes to return before then, that is his choice. I will not have the wedding of my son ruined because of the foolish actions of a human."

"Ada, he is part of our family." Elrohir cried. "We have to bring him back."

"He is old enough to make his own decisions. And he has made this one. Nothing we can say to him now will change that. It is only up to him."

Legolas looked at his father. "Ada, please convince Elrond to at least let us search for him today."

Thranduil shook his head. "I agree with Elrond. There is nothing more we can do. I'm sorry."

"You said you won't have the human ruining my wedding." Elrohir spoke up, suddenly unable to contain his anger. "Well, it's not him that has ruined it. It is you. He left because of you." Elrohir pointed a finger at his father. Anger and bitterness showed clearly on his face. "It's your fault."

With that Elrohir stormed off.

---

Elladan watched from a distance as his twin stormed off from the stables. He knew Elrohir would have tried to go after Estel. He himself wanted to go out and search for his little brother, but he knew now was not the time. The human needed to be alone right now. Perhaps he would return for the wedding and things could be resolved then. Elladan hoped so. He knew Elrohir's heart would be broken if the human did not show. He doubted his twin would ever forgive Aragorn if that happened.

He'd seen Elrohir angry before; he'd seen him hurt. But never like this. His usual calm, passive manner was gone. He didn't even hold his tongue with Elrond and that was a rare occurrence. Only once before had the younger twin actually yelled at his father. All other times he stayed silent, venting later in his room where only Elladan could hear him.

Elladan clenched his fist tightly while a tight grimace formed on his face. With a frustrated sigh, he went to find his brother. He wasn't quite sure what he would say to him. He was angry, too. Angry and hurt. He didn't even feel like talking to his twin right now or anyone for that matter.

Still, he walked towards where Elrohir had run off. He saw the elf sitting against a tree staring off into the woods. But he wasn't alone. Legolas sat beside him. Elladan sighed and turned to walk away. He was happy that Legolas had taken his place of talking to Elrohir. He didn't feel like providing comfort or console to anyone right now. He didn't have the answers himself. Yet at the same time, he wished there was something he could do for Elrohir. He wished that he could go out into the woods and find Estel and bring him back. He wished for some way to guide the human and help him come to his senses.

Suddenly a horn sounded not far off, breaking into Elladan's thoughts. It was the horn of one of the scouts. Someone was arriving in Mirkwood. Elladan guessed it was the humans from Lake-town and he sighed. Just what he did not want to deal with right now. More humans.

"What is it that troubles you?"

Elladan turned, startled. Gandalf was walking up behind him. He sighed and began to voice his thoughts to the wizard.

"It's Estel, the human that my father adopted. He ran away, abandoning everything he once loved. I want to go to him, give him guidance, but I know now is not the time. There is nothing we can do for him right now. Ada says Estel can make his own choices. But I know Elrohir doesn't understand. Elrohir just wants his little brother back and will do whatever it takes to get him back. He is so angry and hurt and he doesn't know what to do."

Gandalf nodded. "You are right. Estel does need guidance, but do not be so vain to think that you or your friends are the only ones that can bring it to him."

Elladan just looked at him, trying to determine what the riddle-talking wizard meant. Gandalf, however was not even looking at him anymore. He was looking ahead where Legolas and Elrohir were now walking and talking together.

"And Estel is not the only one who needs guidance. Your twin is lost and confused. He's going to need help to decide what means most to him in this life and what he is willing to give up."

"That doesn't seem like a fair choice." Elladan said as he watched his twin.

Gandalf shook his head, but a wry smile was on his face. "Life is full of unfairness, penneth." (young one)

Elladan sighed, but remained quiet. He looked off into the trees where he saw his father and King Thranduil welcoming a group of humans. He turned around to question Gandalf again, but found there was no one behind him. He whirled around, but there was no sign of the wizard.

---

Kalen looked up at the sky, watching through the canopy of leave above him as clouds floated by. He shifted his position in the tree he was sitting in and sighed audibly. He hadn't expected the argument between the human and Elrond to turn out as bad as it had. He had been watching the forest from the same position he was in now. He had seen the human flee the palace gates and saw the twins rush to follow him. From the look on the human's face, even from his distance, Kalen doubted the man would ever return. He had not intended for that to happen. He had only wanted to anger the human, take a little revenge. He had definitely angered and hurt the human, but unknowingly he had also hurt the twins and Legolas.

With a deep breath, Kalen quickly pushed the guilt from his mind. It was not his fault. A long dormant argument had risen back up between the human and Elrond. He was not responsible. He couldn't blame himself. Maybe things were better this way anyway. Better to get things out in the open than hold them all inside. At least that what Kalen kept telling himself.

Movement suddenly caught his attention and made him forget for a moment. He saw a few horses in the distance and he smiled. He picked up his horn and blew loudly. The elves from Lothlorien had arrived.

He waited until the elves drew closer before lightly jumping down to the ground. He bent his knees as he landed soundlessly on the ground. He then straightened himself so he could bow to the visitors.

"Welcome, Lady Galadriel and Lady Arwen, to Mirkwood."

Galadriel bowed her head slightly. "Thank you."

Kalen walked the rest of the way with them towards the gate to the palace.

"Where is my father or my brothers?" Arwen asked suddenly. "Usually they are here to greet me."

Kalen winced slightly, but quickly covered it up. "Lord Elrond is welcoming the visitors from Lake-town and the twins are.." He paused. "The twins probably just didn't even realize you had come."

Arwen nodded and dismounted.

"Come, dear, we will go find your father." Galadriel said as she too dismounted.

Arwen began following her grandmother, when suddenly she heard her name.

"Arwen!"

She spun around to find Linriel running towards her. She smiled and embraced her friend with a squeal of delight.

"I'm so happy for you."

Linriel smiled. "I'm so excited." Then her face dropped and a frown formed on her lips. "But things have not been all smooth around here. We may have to cancel the wedding."

"Cancel it, why?" Arwen asked surprised and horrified.

"For no reason at all. There will be no more canceling of our wedding." Elrohir suddenly replied as he stepped around the corner.

"I thought you were leaving." Linriel said.

Elrohir shook his head. "We have been waiting too long for this wedding. We will have it tomorrow like we planned. You've done too much work for this day and it would be unfair for me to abandon you now."

Arwen looked at her brother, than back to Linriel. "Will someone please explain to me what is going on?"

"It's not a big deal." Elrohir replied before Linriel could speak. "I thought I would have to go search for Estel, but if he wishes to return tomorrow for the wedding than he will return. If not…" Elrohir shrugged as if it was no big deal. "It is his choice."

Arwen continued to stare. "I see." She said. She could tell there was much more to this than Elrohir was letting on, but she chose not to say anything about it now. Galadriel, however, spoke up.

"He found out, didn't he?"

Elrohir nodded. "But it doesn't matter. It will change nothing."

Galadriel hugged him, then whispered silent comfort straight into his heart. Elrohir swallowed hard, but made no other visible reaction to her words.

"Well, I have a lot to finish before tomorrow." Linriel said. "I will you see you tonight, Arwen."

Arwen nodded her head, though still a bit confused. "I will be there to help with whatever you need as soon as I see my father."

Linriel nodded and walked off.

"Come, I know where is Ada is. He will be very happy to see you." Elrohir said as he placed an arm around his sister.

Arwen smiled at him. "I still can't believe my brother is getting married."

Elrohir laughed. "Believe it."

It took only a few minutes to find Elrond. He was still speaking with King Bard and Thranduil. He excused himself politely as he saw them approach.

"Arwen, Naneth." He said as he rushed towards them.

He gave Galadriel a hug first then his daughter. "I am glad you arrived safely. How was the journey?"

"It was fine. There were no incidences along the way." Galadriel said.

"Good."

Galadriel looked at Elrond and he lowered his eyes as she spoke into his mind. "It seems there was an incident here though, and it was not handled in the way you would have hoped."

"Elrohir, show Arwen to her room and help the guards get settled. Your grandmother and I have some things to discuss." Elrond said quickly to his son.

Elrohir nodded. "Ada?" The young elf waited until his father turned around before continuing. "I'm sorry about earlier. I did not mean to…"

"Sidh, ion nin. Hanomquer. We will discuss it later." (Peace, my son. It is okay.)

Elrohir bowed his head with a small smile before turning to escort Arwen to her quarters.

---

Thranduil sighed as he sat down on an oversized chair in his study. It had been a long day. He had met with King Bard and other officials of Lake-town, given King Bard a tour of the palace, and talked about the plan for the wedding. To add to that, he had also had a long talk with Elrond about Estel. They had both agreed that the wedding would continue as planned and they would just make adjustments where needed.

As he thought of the wedding, Thranduil realized it was almost time for the rehearsal. He smiled and pushed away the worries of day. Tomorrow would be the best day of his daughter's life. He couldn't be a prouder father.