Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OC's and the plot, everything else belongs to Tolkien and those who currently own the rights to his work.

Chapter 27- Conversations of the heart

Third Age 2720

Arwen's anger at her brother's long absence did not last. It never did where the twins were concerned. The pair offered their excuses and apologies and Arwen forgave them. It was only after their sister smiled once more upon them that the twins returned their attention to Eruanna.

"I think it is time that we had a little chat with Rumil," Elladan gave Eruanna a pointed look.

"Elladan, don't," Eruanna cried desperately. She could only imagine what trouble the twins would cause Rumil.

"What is going on?" It was clear to Arwen that she had missed something important.

Eruanna's gaze shifted nervously from the twins to her guardian. The Lady's concern shone clear in her crystal blue eyes. Eruanna prayed that Arwen would help reign in her brothers. "Rumil kissed me." She said offhandedly, as if the event was nothing of consequence.

"Did he?" Arwen could not keep herself from smiling. She turned then to her brothers. It appeared they were well aware of this development and were determined to play Eruanna's watchdogs. As if on cue, the elder twin spoke.

"Care to join me?" Elladan asked his brother, knowing full well the younger ellon would not pass up such a rare opportunity. It had been a long time since an ellon dared attempt to court Arwen. It was more than a millennium ago that a young Lord of Mithlond attempted to capture their sister's heart. He was less than successful and the twins liked to joke that they'd had something to do with his lack of success.

"Any time," laughter infused Elrohir's bright eyes. He turned to the Ladies and with a flourish and a wink followed his elder in search of Rumil.

"Arwen!" Eruanna made one final plea to the Lady.

Arwen laid a comforting hand on the younger elleth's arm and called out to her brothers before they disappeared from sight. "Behave yourselves!"

The brothers heard Arwen's warning, but offered no response.

The Lady stood and with a gentle smile offered Eruanna her hand. "Shall we find Marilla?"

"He kissed you?" Marilla clasped her hands together, a broad grin lighting her face. "About time!"

Eruanna could only shake her head at her friend's none too surprising remark. "I don't see why you are so excited."

"Are you kidding?" the elleth gasped, plopping herself down on Arwen's bed. "I've been waiting years for this!"

Arwen and Eruanna found themselves rolling their eyes in unison at Marilla's decree. Before Eruanna could even take a seat Marilla was upon her, pressing her for greater detail.

"Was it like in the great tales, full of romance and passion?" Marilla closed her eyes, imagining what such a kiss would feel like.

Eruanna lifted a hand to her lips. Passion? "No, I would not describe it that way."

Marilla's joy abandoned her in an instant and her face fell. That was not the answer she was expecting. "Then how would you describe it?"

Eruanna thought long before answering. "It was like… being kissed by a breeze."

Marilla made a face that did all but voice her disappointment. "A breeze…I guess that's not too bad."

Eruanna folded her arms across her chest. There were times when Marilla tried her patience, and this was one of them. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Marilla easily recognized the anger in her friend's voice. She'd not meant to demean her special moment; it was only that Marilla had expected something…more. "I've been waiting for him to sweep you off your feet and kiss you till you swoon for lack of breath!"

"Don't be ridiculous." There were times when Marilla's imagination was almost too much to bear.

Marilla took a deep breath and in a surprisingly sober voice attempted to clarify her position. "It is in his eyes, whenever he looks upon you. I just expected something more… spectacular."

"He is cautious, Marilla." Arwen broke into the conversation, voicing her own thoughts for the first time. The two younger ellith turned rapt attention on the Lady. It was rare that the Lady joined in such talk. "He seeks permission."

Arwen rose from her place by the window and took a seat at Eruanna's side. The two spoke many times of Eruanna's friendship with Rumil. It was clear to Arwen from the beginning that bright as Eruanna was, she did not entirely comprehend the young warden's intentions. It worried her for a time, until Arwen had the chance to see Eruanna and Rumil together. Rumil was careful of Eruanna's innocence and he perceived just as well, the pain she hid deep within. "You told him… about Feredir?" Arwen asked without thought for Marilla's presence or what the handmaiden might know of those events.

Eruanna understood the many unspoken worries and concerns contained within that one question. In the years since they first met at Lothlórien's border, Eruanna shared many secrets with Rumil, and he with her. "Yes, I told him," she whispered.

The tension growing in Arwen's form eased some with those words. She rested her forehead against her little sister's. With a smile, she did her best to reassure Eruanna that despite Marilla's disappointment, there was nothing wrong with her and Rumil's first kiss. "Rumil is a patient ellon. He takes small steps to be sure you will not push him away."

"Or break his nose again." Marilla muttered under her breath.

Ignored or unheard, Eruanna said naught to Marilla but instead kept her full attention on Arwen and her near prophetic words, "How do you know this? Has the gift of foresight been granted to you as well?" she asked in earnest.

Arwen shook her head. She had neither her grandmother's gift nor her father's, but in this, she had little need of them. "I am merely observant." A gentle smile lit her face, "He loves you, Eruanna."

Eruanna's eyes grew wide with shock. She knew Rumil cared for her; she had no doubt of that- they were great friends.

But love?

She knew Arwen loved her, and Elrond and Erestor and Glorfindel, too. But it was not the love of a parent or a teacher of which Arwen spoke. In all her years of study, she'd learned naught to prepare her for this. Eruanna trusted Arwen's wisdom and wished to hear her confirmation. "You think so?"

"I am certain of it," Arwen replied without hesitation.

There was no doubt in Arwen's mind. There was a time when Arwen sought ever for an ellon's love and found it not. After more than two and a half millennia, Arwen soul mate had eluded capture. There were times, in her loneliness, that she considered leaving Middle Earth to join her mother in Valinor. Perhaps the Valar fated that love would find her on those distant shores.

Yet Arwen felt no bitterness toward Eruanna. On the contrary…little did she envy the great burden laid upon her. Eruanna had much to consider, much more than any other elleth in Middle Earth, save Arwen. For upon her decision lay more than just an ellon's heart. Eruanna was peredhel and to her the choice of mortality was given. "The choice that lies before you now is one that only you can answer. Will you walk with him, Eruanna? For in that decision rests the fate of your fëa…and his."

"Here you are!" Elrohir's voice broke into Rumil's silent reverie.

"We've been looking all over for you." Elladan added, taking a seat beside his old friend on the floor of the terrace and throwing his legs over the edge.

"Why am I not surprised?" Rumil could not find it within himself to offer his friends a smile.

Elladan noted the warden's sullen expression and endeavored to pry a smile from him. "Is Haldir at home?" Elladan asked suddenly, eyeing the darkened talan.

Rumil shook his head. "No, he and Orophin are at the Northern fences."

"Too bad," Elrohir chimed, seizing the opportunity to lighten Rumil's mood. "I know how much Haldir loves to have us around."

"We'll just have to surprise him when he returns home." Elladan threw his brother a wink that spoke of trouble to come. Unfortunately, their normal light hearted banter did little to perk up their friend.

Rumil's eyes swept from one mischievous ellon to the other. He knew they were attempting to lighten his mood but it was not working. "Just stay out of his room or he'll blame me for conspiring with you."

Elladan cast his brother a look that told him play time was over and threw an arm around Rumil. After all, they'd not sought Rumil out to plan pranks on the Marchwarden. "I think we all could use a drink. What do you say?" he gave the warden's shoulder a friendly squeeze.

"There is wine inside," Rumil answered. He might need a glass of wine tonight.

"I'll get it." Elrohir answered. He moved about in the darkened talan as one who'd had much experience navigating it under the cover of night. He emerged moments later with a bottle of wine and three glasses, poured a drink for each of the attending company and with a flourish, took a seat on the other side of Rumil opposite his brother.

They sat silently for a long time sipping at their drinks. It was Elrohir who spoke first. "Do you love her?"

Rumil studied his drink. He knew his answer might upset the ellyn sitting with him but there was no other response to give. "I'm afraid I might."

Elrohir's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked over at his brother. "Not exactly the answer I was expecting, you?"

"Not the proper answer at all," Elladan concluded, "especially to give an elleth's brothers."

If Rumil did not know Elladan and Elrohir as he did, he might have been worried at this point. He could see the confusion in their eyes. "You don't understand," he said at last.

"Enlighten us," Elrohir elbowed the warden in the ribs, urging him on.

Rumil looked to his hands. He was as close a friend to the sons of Elrond as any who dwelled in these woods, but there were many things of which the three had not spoken. It was those, unspoken things, he needed to discuss now. "Have you made your choice?" he asked them, his voice quiet and unsure.

Elladan was confused by his friend's somewhat cryptic question. He looked to his twin, who only shrugged in response. "What choice?" he asked Rumil, uncertain of his meaning.

Rumil turned to face the elder twin, "To remain in Middle Earth or sail to Valinor with the elves."

Elladan's eyes grew wide. Few had ever asked this question of him, some because they thought it impolite to ask, others, because they feared the answer. But this ellon needed an answer; he needed it desperately by the look in his eyes. "There is time yet, ere we are forced to choose," he answered for both he and his brother.

Rumil nodded. He knew there was still time for the peredhel to decide. He knew it well. That was why he'd not allowed his heart to decide. "She has not chosen," he told them.

Elrohir's eyes softened visibly. He understood now his friend's uncertainty. "You have spoken with Eruanna of this?"

A weary sigh escaped Rumil's lips. "Only in passing, not as it pertains to our relationship."

Elrohir remembered well his conversation with Eruanna in the garden. He knew better than most that a mere twenty years was not long enough to heal the elleth's wounded heart. "She worries about her mother," Elrohir whispered.

"Yes," Rumil raised his face to study Elrohir; he saw understanding in the younger twin's eyes.

Rumil offered up to the sky a silent plea for guidance. He did not know how much the sons of Elrond would understand his fears but of all the ellyn in Middle Earth they came closest to knowing how he might feel. They faced the same choice - though from the other side. He prayed they would understand this confusion that threatened to swamp his soul. "It is said that an elf can give his heart only once." He looked to Elrohir, willing him to understand. "If I let myself love her and she chooses to stay…we will be parted forever. She will die and I…I will fade. After that…I know not what will become of my fëa."

Elrohir turned his gaze away, unable to bear the sadness in his friend's eyes. "Then why did you kiss her?"

Rumil closed his eyes. He'd asked himself that same question a thousand times this day. There was only one answer. "I wish to know what she feels for me, before I say words we may both regret," he paused then before voicing his deepest fear. "Does that make me a coward?" He studied the expression of each brother in turn. Both seemed lost in thought, eyes distant and unfocused. It was Elladan who answered him.

"No, my friend, you are no coward." Elladan squeezed Rumil's shoulder once more. "I would not give my heart to another when my fate is not yet decided."

Rumil could see in Elladan's eyes and hear in his confession the burden of many years. When he turned to Elrohir, the same expression greeted him. They never looked so much alike as they did in that moment. Rumil addressed Elrohir, the brother he knew best and asked the son of Elrond a question that none before had dared to ask. "If you found love in a mortal, would you follow her?"

Elrohir laughed lightly, though sadness still lingered in his eyes. "Would I have a choice?"

Elladan looked to his brother and then shifting his gaze to Rumil, fixed the warden with a sure gaze, "If it is love, Rumil, she will follow you."

Hope filled Rumil's heart at his friends' words, but doubt still gnawed at its edges. "How am I to know?"

Elladan smiled then, for the first time since their conversation began. "It is the question of ages, Rumil. I doubt even our grandmother could give you the answer."

"Then what should I do?" Rumil flung his arms in the air in defeat.

"You ask our advice?" amusement filled Elladan's voice once more.

"I think that is a first," Elrohir announced, gladdened by the humor that returned to his brother's eyes.

"He might regret it," Elladan shook his head, sharing a wicked grin with his twin.

"Very well," Elrohir threw an arm around his friend and taking a sip of his wine, graced the anxious warden with a heartfelt grin, "Our advice is simple - kiss her again."