Chapter 3: The Cure To What Elrond Cannot Heal

"I see, well then...welcome to Imladris!" smiled Elrond shaking Legolas' hand as he overcame himself from the surprise and the shock. "I am sorry you had to be welcomed in such a dramatic manner."

Legolas smiled and bowed down a little, although Elrond could see the smile itself wasn't completely genuine. "It is nothing, in Mirkwood we have encountered much worse. However, I am gladden by your welcome...I do not doubt you are an indeed kind host. I am honored to be here, Lord Elrond."

'Much worse?' thought Elrond worried in the inside but he smiled. "The honor is entirely mine, Legolas. Come, I will show you your rooms and tend some of your wounded. If you want, after you settle down, you can join me and my family for lunch."

"Well, that's very kind of you Lord Elrond, hannon-le," said Legolas. "I would be very much pleased to join you and your family. However, I would like for you to tend my elves first, if you may."

Before Elrond could respond, an elf limped towards Legolas, putting his hand on his shoulder. "Legolas, seriously...a bluejay? Why did you not tell us that would have been your signal?"

Legolas shrugged, grinning amiably. "Well, I wasn't certain of my signal at the moment and besides, why argue with me, Ranwe? Bluejays are pretty."

Ranwe laughed and Legolas asked him, "So how is everybody Ranwe? Is everybody whole? Is everybody alive? Are their injuries severe?"

"Everybody's whole," said Ranwe bowing. "Most of us just got some scratches. Although Vaadan is unconscious...he got knocked out. I suppose it is minor. And Weimor has a Mordor sword in his shoulder. They are getting the poison out. But everybody else is fine as new!"

Suddenly, Ranwe looked at Lord Elrond bowing down awkwardly due to his limping. "Oh dear, where are my manners? You two were talking! My apologies for interrupting, I didn't mean to, Lord Elrond."

"It is nothing," said Elrond grinning. "It was all right...you did have to report to Legolas anyways. But elf friend, you are injured. And do not try to deny it, wood-elves are stubborn, I know. I am not blind, you have a gash in your right leg and that is why you're limping."

"Honestly Lord Elrond," smiled Ranwe, although he looked in pain. "You have an eye for detail but it is a small cut only, I'm fi-"

"It is unwise to not follow Lord Elrond's council Ranwe," said Legolas slowly. "The healers can help you. Do not deny me Ranwe, go and let them and patch you up. It is an order."

Ranwe looked surprised but did mutter a few words after he was patched up by the healers. He was taken to the healing wing along with Vaadan and Weimor. Although quite reluctantly, to the servants' and healers' annoyance. Elrond showed Legolas and the rest of his company their rooms, as they passed through the beautiful white halls of Imladris. It seemed like heaven on Middle-Earth and all the Mirkwood elves had to gape at least once while they walked. Including Legolas, who was struck in a quiet fascination...something which brought Elrond a lot of pride for his kingdom.

Everybody bowed down to Lord Elrond with their 'hannon-le's' and Elrond showed Legolas his room, which was slightly closer to the twins', so that Legolas could have them help him if he needed anything. Legolas was most grateful for that, although he was uncomfortable to be one floor away from his elves. He already felt like he stood out, albeit he was still not sure whether he stood out the good way, or the bad way. Before leaving, Lord Elrond said:

"I will have a servant escort you down to the Dining Hall when you're ready, is that all right Legolas?"

Legolas bowed, "Indeed it is. I know I've said this quite a few times now but I must say it again. Hannon-le, Lord Elrond, for your kindness touches me."

"But what if he doesn't get our jokes and he's staring at us as if we were a bunch of fools!" stated Elrohir to his family as they waited for their father and for Legolas, who they knew would be joining them for lunch as well.

"You are a bunch of fools," stated Arwen in a as a matter of factly as she rolled her eyes. "And he's probably going to get them anyways, he's not stupid you know...maybe he's just not used to it."

"Although I do not appreciate Arwen's use of vocabulary," said Celebrian sternly. "She is right, the three of you will get along with Legolas just fine. The most possible thing that happens is that you become as good friends with Legolas as your father has done with Thranduil."

"How can you be so certain, Nana?" asked Elladan when suddenly, Elrond came in and an excited Arwen started asking her father questions.

"Ada, did you see him? How does he look like? Is he nice? Is he really such a good archer? Does he look mean? Is he gentle? Does he look peaceful? Does he look dangerous? Does he-"

"For Valar's sake Arwen," smiled Lord Elrond sitting down in his usual seat. "I thought your curiosity habit ended when you were a little elfling, at the age of seven!"

Arwen blushed. "Well...I was just a bit curious."

"Your opinion of Legolas," said Elrond slowly after everybody had calmed down from their laughter. "Will be defined after you meet him. Everybody's opinion is different and that is why you will have to see by yourself."

"Oh c'mon, Ada!" exclaimed Elladan. "Can't you just describe how he looks to us? Please? Can't you at least tell us one teensy bit of him?"

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door of the Dining Hall and as Elrond let the person enter, knowing who it was. And as the door creaked open, Legolas slowly entered inside and for a while sort of stood there awkwardly, thinking about what to say. The game was at stake and he had to think well...fortunately, this opportunity got the family of Elrond a good chance to truly let their surroundings sink.

Arwen was most surprised. Legolas was handsome, and in a very startling way. He wore a white elven suit with a thin silver breastplate on top of it. His slippers were also as white as was his silver suit and he looked like he was an angel. His golden hair was flowing in his usual hairstyle yet impeccable as nothing Arwen had seen! His eyes were a blue that had such a strong effect on everybody, as if it were hypnotizing them. And his face...oh! It was like one of those statues in Imladris' galleries!

"Well," said Legolas, "um...I thank you for allowing for me to sit with you in your table. It is an honor to be your guest here in Imladris."

"Do not worry Legolas," smiled Celebrian after an uncomfortable silence. "You are always welcome at this table, whenever you come. We consider each others as family."

Legolas was shown his seat by Elrond himself, which was the seat across from Elrond. He had Elrohir to his right and Arwen to his left. As he sat down, he whispered, "Family..." He trailed off and looked at his plate as if it were the most interesting thing in the world before snapping back to life.

"Oh, my apologies! I must have drifted off! It has become quite an unfortunate habit of mine. Well...I thank you for considering me as worthy to be called your family!" said Legolas, smiling sheepishly.

Elrond introduced his family to him, and for every person, Legolas would bow down and greet his proper salutes with the formalities of 'Lord' or 'Lady.' Elladan and Elrohir, who were mostly called Dan and Ro, felt a bit uncomfortable being called Lord Elladan and Lord Elrohir but tried to follow the current as well as they could. For the sake of their father's politics. Ugh, politics.

The meal was unusually mellow and quiet for Elrond. For a few minutes, there was no sound, only the quiet clinking of silverware. The twins looked at each other, urging themselves to say a joke or say something-anything! But they did not find the energy to do so. Also, Arwen was not blabbering about the day's pleasantries, and so the room was entirely...still. That was until Celebrian finally broke the silence.

"So, how is Greenwood doing these days, Legolas?"

Legolas coughed, swallowing before responding. "Relatively well I suppose. Although it does depend on what area you mean, my lady."

'Relatively? What is that supposed to mean?' thought Elrond but grateful for Celebrian's lead, continued on. "Well...I heard that you've been leading patrols, yes? I also heard that you have brought no dead to every patrol you've lead."

Legolas nodded, slowly. "Yes Lord Elrond. Every patrol that I've lead has brought no deaths...although we were close sometimes. Even though I do not intend to stop my lucky streak, anything could happen I suppose."

"Talking about patrols, Legolas," said Celebrian curiously. "When did you lead your first patrol?"

"My first patrol, Lady Celebrian?" asked Legolas. He bit his lip...it had been not quite so long ago, or at least it seemed like that. "I think it was four years ago, when I was eleven. My father had sent me to do an easy task, to burn a spider nest down."

"COOL!" burst out Elladan, not being able to contain himself anymore. "Is it true that in Mirkwood, you can hunt spiders down, you know...slightly as sport?"

Legolas could feel a slight tinge of frustration rise inside him. He turned to Elladan cooly. "Lord Elladan, in Mirkwood we do not 'hunt' spiders as if for a game. We kill them to survive. They are vicious creatures, their poison becoming more powerful, their games more clever."

For a while, Elladan and Elrohir simply stared at Legolas in surprise. He did not state it but they knew they had gotten into one of Legolas' sensitive spots. And using their logic, Dan and Ro didn't think that they had made him very happy. No siree.

"See mother?" said Elrohir trying to cover Elladan. "He was eleven when he lead his patrol! Why can't Dan and I lead one? We're already nineteen! It's perfectly safe for us, if it isn't for an eleven year old!"

"Well," replied Celebrian, "we only feared for your safety, you two. You are very careless and who knows what can happen if you lead elves into patrol? We wanted to make sure you were well-trained enough. But Legolas...eleven is very young to be leading patrols."

"Indeed it is," said Legolas calming down. Luckily for the twins, Legolas had a preserved temper and couldn't stay angry at someone too long. "But King Thranduil trained Thalos very young and so it was customary I was put in training as hard as his."

Elrond noticed he didn't called Thranduil, 'Ada' or even father. He had said 'King Thranduil.' This did not go unwatched by him and Celebrian didn't miss it either, shooting him a look full of worry but he smiled and urged her along, "Well that's certainly interesting, isn't it?"

"Indeed it is," said Celebrian smiling, talking along, understanding Elrond's message. "Talking about Thalos, Legolas...tell me about him."

"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Arwen for the first time excitedly. "Does he look like you? Is he friendly? Is he older or younger than you? By how much?"

"Arwen, you'll be suffocating Legolas with all those-" Celebrian was starting before she heard the noise.

Legolas was laughing lightly, it wasn't completely laughing but it was still laughter. He had a grin plastered in his face that showed signs of amusement. "No harm has been done, Lady Celebrian. Lady Arwen simply reminds me of myself when I was a younger elfling."

"Really? I remind you about yourself?" asked Arwen feeling strangely proud.

"Quite a bit, really," smiled Legolas kindly. "Thalos used to say I was the most annoying little brat he knew. When I was young, everytime he came back from a patrol or from battle, I'd run towards him and I would crawl around his leg and not let go of him until he answered my questions."

Some smiles spread across the room and Elladan and Elrohir looked at Legolas with sympathy. "I suppose he wasn't the only one. It took several of our guard to separate Arwen from us."

Legolas smiled sadly. "Well...elflings would tend to do that, don't they? Ah, but that is the past. Anyways Lady Arwen, to answer your question, Thalos is my older brother by two thousand years. And we do have a slight resemblance, I suppose."

"TWO THOUSAND years?" gaped Arwen. "And I thought the eight years between Dan, Ro and I was a lot of distance! Two thousand years?"

"Well, I suppose he looks less than a thousand," said Legolas smiling. "Although he isn't the youngest elf I know-and not the most good-looking either."

"Why of course, Prince Legolas!" exclaimed Elladan. "He obviously isn't the most good-looking."

"Haven't you fallen into our lovely charms?" asked Elrohir. "Or our ruggedly good looks?"

Legolas allowed himself to roll his eyes while smirking at the twins. "Indeed, young Lords. Your charm is most powerful," he said sarcastically, making them both laugh.

Elrond couldn't help compare their laughs. Whilst Legolas' laugh was quiet, reserved yet merry and gentle, his sons' laugh was loud, booming around the room and showing happiness at it's very top. It was deep and genuine, as well as contagious.

"So Legolas, how has your father been faring? It has been long since we talked," stated Elrond and all the noise quieted down and all eyes looked at Legolas.

Legolas was quiet, deep in thought when he raised his head. "He is faring well, Lord Elrond. If he were here, he would have thanked you for your concern."

'That was a very restrained answer,' thought Elrond but nodded.

The remaining parts of lunch were of the elfling asking Legolas questions about his home and what he did. Legolas answered each of them with one of his half-genuine, half-suspicious smiles and answered them carefully, as if he had been taught exactly what to say. Elrond didn't doubt Thranduil had warned Legolas about manners but had he pressured Legolas on them that much?

When lunch was over and the servants retreated everything, Elrond insisted the boys bonded. So Elladan had insisted they show Legolas around Imladris for his first ever actual tour. Since Legolas really didn't have much to do, he couldn't say 'no' and agreed to go with Elladan and Elrohir.

Elrond watched them leave, Elladan and Elrohir in both sides of Legolas, who looked a bit uncomfortable surrounded by the merry, chatting sons of Elrond. Yet his composure stood tall, confident and honorable...a trait that reminded him of Thranduil.

After Arwen left as well to play with her female elf friends, and the Dining Hall was empty except for Elrond and Celebrian, she looked at him.

"He is lonely."

"I can tell," said Elrond quietly. "I'm afraid his loneliness edges deep inside him and I fear he has not told us everything-at least not truly. It is something that I cannot heal."

"Well, shouldn't you at least try to help him?" asked Celebrian concerned. "Did you not hear how he whispered the word 'family?' You must know a way to help the poor elfling!"

"I'm afraid that I do not," said Elrond and looked at the distance, watching the three figures walk through the courtyard. "We can only hope that this Spring Festival gets the better out of Legolas and that our children may find the cure to what I cannot."

AN: Small, neat little chappie! Hope you guys sort of enjoyed it! :) It's not as action packed but it ought to be interesting enough, right? Anyways, yay! Legolas is in Imladris/Rivendell now! Don't hesitate to drop off some reviews or advice for me! Anyways, some answers to my awesome reviews by my awesome readers:

Luin: Hahaha, I'm glad this made your mood change (hopefully for the better) and that it made you laugh! This story is intended to do that. Anyways, thanks for calling me cool. :D Besides, your english is good enough!

Guest: Thanks a lot!

Lady Kitsune Havoc: Thanks! The plot is going to get much more interesting in the future, I assure you, and there are sure going to be other multiple POVs! And hm...I'm glad you like Thalos! He's a brother I'd like to have (along with Dean Winchester, he's from Supernatural) and wow! I did not know that was the name of a river! How interesting...I might use that in the future, may I though? And no, I just wanted a slightly shortened version of Thranduil's name but I still wanted the crown prince of Mirkwood to have a majestic name. And yes, I'll try to update as much as I can!

THiaLieN: Yay! Legolas is indeed here...and this Spring Festival is sure going to be different. Anyways, haha...no, the twins are actually a few years older than Legolas but heck, there are the Trickster Twins for a reason! They're like two really silly, big cuties! Besides, compare where they have both been raised. Obviously, growing up in such a dark kingdom, Legolas grew up to be a bit more mature and serious than the twins.

Guest: Thanks! :)

Guest: Thanks! And here is the next chapter! I hope you like it.

Luin: Haha! I update so quickly because I already have like, 20 chapters already in store. I'm stuck in one of them because I'm having a bit of writer's block but hopefully that changes. Anyways, I'm glad you think my story is funny! :) Anyways, YES! DEFINITELY more angst for Leggy and Thrandy...I mean, their father-son relationship isn't very stable either. But angst for Elrond's family? Hm, I didn't plan that, but those could be very interesting changes...

Lana: Muchas gracias por tus afirmaciones! Estoy aliviada de que creas que Legolas no esta demasiado perfecto. :) Me parece que a muchísimas personas les gustó la conversación que tuvo con los árboles. Lo que quería hacer en ese momento fue establecer una conexión especial entre Legolas y los árboles. En el futuro, ya veras porque...

Nope, I don't mind if you speak spanish! I think it's cool that you're proud of your mother language! And thanks for sticking with this fanfiction!