A/N: Yes, I know I changed something about a character. But I figured, since he wasn't mentioned in Lord of the Rings, I would just tweak it a bit to suit my purposes. I am sorry if this seems a bit cliche but I couldn't help but want to write it down. Enjoy, and please let me know what you think.
Arwen tried to pacify my nerves. "Nobody out there is going to judge you. You will be fine." She seemed to hold back from saying something, though I did not know what. "It is time."
I stepped up to Elrond and bowed. He smiled before starting his speech. "Some of you may know that I had a brother. His name was Elros. It was rumored that he chose to be counted among Men in the second age, but it is not the case. My brother chose to be counted among Elves, but to wander, and see the land. It was in his wandering that he had done something strange. Some time in the third Era, he had gotten very drunk, and had married a Dwarf by mistake. He wrote me in a letter tat she had rejected him, and refused to speak to him. To honor her wishes of staying apart, he stayed close to the village in the Blue Mountains in which she resided to protect her people. It was not long after I caught word that he had been felled in battle with a very small host of Orcs. But in his letter, he told me of his suspicions that his wife was pregnant, and begged me that if ever he or she were to visit, and he were no longer alive, that I take them in. He had even given his child a name that was to be used, should these things come to pass. As a brother, I can only hold to his wish of me now. It is with joy that I welcome my new daughter, Naerwen." My eyes widened. "Naerwen, do you accept my family as yours?"
"Y-yes. I accept my new family with joy." I answered, still a bit confused at every last word I had just heard. I distantly heard cheers from the crowd, as I looked about me, lost. Elrond enveloped me in an embrace, and I hesitantly returned the affectionate gesture. In the crowd, I saw the Fellowship scattered here and there.
"I accept all that I have witnessed here today, and give my blessing to the new member of the house of Elrond." Thranduil spoke in his haughty, yet bland voice. I could see him eyeing me strangely from the side. I tried to avoid his direction as best I could while the celebration continued.
We were having a feast to celebrate my coming into the family, and all I could do was stare blankly ahead, completely zoned out. Arwen noticed my distraction, and tugged affectionately on a lock of my hair. I blinked rapidly and looked over to her dumbly. "You did very well, Naerwen." She giggled at me.
"I am not sure as to what I am more confused by; my new name, or the fact that we were family before we were family, or that I now know who my father was, or that the four of you knew before I did." I finally found my voice, and could only muster a tone of exasperation. Elrond, overhearing, chuckled.
"I figured it would be best to explain the true reason behind my wish to adopt you in this fashion, rather than explaining everything twice." I nodded at his explanation.
"Are you not happy? You look pale, sister." Elladen inquired. Through his joking tone, I could detect a hint of concern.
"She does seem pale..." Elrohir murmured, scrutinizing my face.
"I am just absorbing all of today's events. Do not concern yourself too much." I smiled. "And as for being pale, I'll have you know, I have always been this complexion. Perhaps you are just unobservant. If this is the most skill you have in observation, I am surprised you two haven't been eaten by a troll." I adopted a haughty tone, in jest causing my new brothers to burst into laughter. Arwen and father also chuckled humorously. I looked at them bemusedly. "It wasn't that funny."
"It seems I have not yet been introduced to the new member of the house of Elrond." A smooth, masculine voice caught my attention, and I turned in my seat to stare up at a handsome blond Elf. He wore a very decorated circlet that befitted his status. I looked around me as the laughter and conversation died down around us. Arwen stayed seated, so I took that as encouragement to stay seated as well. I raised my eyes back up to meet his, and saw the similarities between his and another blond in my acquaintance.
"King Thranduil, meet my daughter, Naerwen." I noticed that my new father had stood, and he nodded in a gesture for me to stand. King Thranduil kept his eyes on me, as I stood to greet him with as much grace as I could muster.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, your highness." I curtsied slightly. It was obvious to anyone that I did not enjoy being put on the spot.
"Hmmm. You are an interesting little Elfling." He murmured. I could feel my siblings eyes on me. It wasn't hard to guess that I had a small complex about my size. I kept a smile, though it was rather wooden.
"I shall take that as a compliment, then." I tried to pump as much cheer into that statement as was possible.
"You have met my son." He stated. I wasn't sure where this was going, but at the mention of the other blond, my eyes sought him out, to discover he was making his way to us. Perhaps to do some damage control if it was needed. I quickly refocused on the haughty blond in front of me, and nodded.
"Your son, Legolas, is very polite. Quite the friendly character." I answered. Thranduil stared down at me with his cold blue eyes.
"I believe I have some things to discuss with your father. Excuse me." He gave a minuscule bow, and looked to my father, who excused himself from the table with a frown. As they left, Legolas managed to reach me. I sat down heavily, with a whoosh from my lungs.
"Your father has a very commanding presence." I finally offered to him.
"He did not insult you, did he?"
"No, he-"
"He called her an 'interesting little Elfling'." Elrohir cut in. Legolas could not help but to cover his face with his hand.
"I apologize. He can be a bit much at times, I honestly do not think he was trying to insult you." He murmured, abashed.
"It is fine. I did not take it as an insult." I smiled weakly.
"What do you think our fathers needed to speak about?" Elladen asked.
"Only one way to find out."Elrohir responded with a grin. Legolas and I exchanged looks of disbelief.
"Can you believe these two?" I sighed in exasperation.
"They're your brothers." He countered. Before, I could respond, Elrohir had snagged me from my chair while Elladen tugged Legolas by the sleeve.
It was this fashion that they dragged us until we were close enough that they had to make us walk silently to avoid detection.
"...They should be the ones to decide such things, Thranduil." Fathers voice drifted to my ears. We stopped walking.
"Their temperaments would match well. It would be a fortuitous match." Thranduil tried to reason.
Legolas and I glanced at each other uncomfortably. I resisted the urge to shift away from him.
"They are to leave on a quest soon. They should not have to be distracted by this while their lives are in danger." Father sounded frustrated.
"I do not wish to force this upon my son, merely encourage him to make a match. From my estimation, he could do far worse." Thranduil explained.
"So you are suggesting that we suggest that they think upon this while they are traveling together in hopes that some form of attachment stems from it all?" Father sounded strained.
"Yes. Would you not like to have little feet wandering your halls? Do you not wish to finally be called 'Aduadar'?" I could hear a mischievous edge in Thranduil's voice, and Legolas stiffened.
I looked up at Elrohir, who mouthed 'grandfather' to me. My cheeks flared with heat as I noticed that father did not answer right away.
"If I were to agree to this, it would have to be both of their decisions." I gaped silently. Please tell me I didn't just hear that!
I began backing away quietly. The others looked at me, as soon as I was sure I would not easily be heard, I took off in a dead sprint. The others followed, perhaps in hopes of calming me, but with my small stature, I was able to out maneuver them, and head into the woods that surrounded Rivendell. I quickly hopped into a tree, climbing half way up, keeping myself hidden by the foliage.
"Naerwen." I heard Legolas call. "Naerwen, please." I kept still as I tried to envision myself sinking into the bark.
"Naerwen, we must act like nothing has happened." He tried again.
"Easy for you to say. I have just gotten used to regular interaction." I mumble, giving away my location. He looked up into my tree and sighed. He made quick work of climbing up beside me.
"At least they will not force us." He murmur. I looked up at him with a frown. "They are leaving it up to us. My father agreed to to Lord Elrond's terms." They will give verbal encouragement and nothing else."
"Would it be so bad to die in battle?" I asked aloud to myself. My eyes lowered to my knees that I was hugging to myself.
"Surely, the thought of marrying me cannot be so bad?" He frowned.
I raised my eyes to meet his. "No. No it is not. But it is not all together a pleasant thought either. I barely know you."
"Come. You have yet to eat, and our fathers will be looking for us." He nudged me. I winced and nodded. I let myself drop from the tree, and quietly made my way back to the dining hall. I quickly sat back in my seat, and was a bit startled when I saw that Legolas was seated across from myself. My brothers looked between us in apprehension, waiting for one of us to speak.
It was this atmosphere, that our fathers walked in on. They glanced at one another before sitting down to enjoy the feast. I noticed that Arwen was absent from the table, as well as Aragorn. I scowled at my plate.
"Naerwen, I am not sure what your greens ever did to you, but if you keep that up, they'll turn to ash, I am sure of it." Elrohir commented dryly.
"My greens will be fine." I cut a glare at him. "I am only giving them the most loving of gazes." My snarky reply had the twins in stitches, and across from me, Legolas coughed to disguise a chuckle. I fought a grin, but ultimately failed. "It wasn't that funny."
Our fathers shared a glance, and I repressed a groan. I just knew I had a long journey ahead of me. I looked back at Legolas to see a barely repressed grin. Then again, maybe it won't be so bad.
