Daylight arose, and sent bright, unsettling beams through the window that faced the elves' room. Elrohir was the first to rise. Realising what the day's processions were, he cloaked himself hurriedly, and left his hair loose and wild. His wolf-grey eyes looked almost peaceful when framed by the stunning ivory black hair that he was so known for. His brother took his time robing himself, threading each loophole patiently, and braiding his raven locks slowly and thoroughly. It was obvious what was happening. The twins were in competition.

Elrohir and Elladan stood in the hallway, awaiting entrance to the armoury.

Legolas approached, looking pristine and renewed from slumber. "A fine morning for practise," he declared, gazing through the high arched window. "Although it looks as though you never saw the night, Elrohir. Were you unexpectedly mauled by a goblin, perhaps?"

The mocking tone in the elf's voice was infuriating. He said nothing of his appearance, but when Legolas' back was turned, he hurriedly combed at his hair, and adjusted his cloak accordingly.

"This is ridiculous," muttered Elrohir. "I can fight. I can wield an axe like no other elf before me. My skills are more than sufficient."

"Aye, tôrbain. That they are." Elladan gave a wink, and stroked his brother's hair.

Legolas noticed all this, and slapped Elladan's hand forcefully. "Come now. We are not here to make a warrior out of you. We're here to get you out of your father's way while he prepares Lady Arwen for her wedding. Valar knows, he doesn't want you two spoiling celebrations."

"Fear not, Legolas. We shall be on our best behaviour."

The blonde gazed from one elf to another. They were reflections of each other's mood. They were being serious for once.

"Good. Wait here while I make the preparations. We shall have a long day ahead of us."

The blonde disappeared into the armoury, and shut the door behind him.

Elladan watched his brother's panicked grooming and laughed. "Oh, panic not, Elrohir. He doesn't notice us either way."

"Care to make a wager on that, dear brother? I saw the way he watched us in the grass last night."

Elladan looked confused. "Nothing came of last night."

"But Legolas' mind was at work. I could see it. Especially when I called him beautiful. He blushed as red as the star Borgil."

"As did you brother, as did you," laughed Elladan.

Elrohir coughed and reddened a little. "Whatever you wish to make of it. There it was. So, a wager, melindi?"

"And the terms?"

Elrohir laughed. "State your demands."

Elladan grinned and licked the corner of his lips. "You know what I want."

"Then you shall have it."

Legolas emerged from the armoury with his arms full of weaponry. He dropped the pile at the feet of the elves, and looked up, rather pleased with his own strength. The twins were preoccupied giggling.

"Enough horseplay! This is exactly what ails his Lordship. You two are nothing but a drain on all of Middle-Earth!"

"Legolas, be kind," purred Elrohir. "We are but children."

"Children have more sense than the both of you put together. You're two halves of a quarter of an orc brain."

Elladan laughed loudly. "Such harsh words from such a brazen beauty." He stepped forward and took Legolas' face in his hands. "Where does all this anger come from, my pen-bain?"

Legolas shrugged him off and took to sorting the arrows. "Stop. My heart is dead to you. I do not have time for your teasing ways."

Elrohir bent down to meet him. "Teasing ways? Come now. My brother and I never promise what we cannot deliver."

Legolas smiled and looked the raven haired elf in the eyes. The cold, harsh wind seemed to pour from them. He flinched and turned back to the arrows. "I don't feel for another of my own. Forgive me."

Elladan crouched down next to his brother. "Ah, he is not one of the elf persuasion. His heart longs for that of.."

"A man!" cried Elrohir, giggling madly.

His brother joined in. "Ooh! We are blind. No wonder you're so full of hatred, muindôr. You are but Aragorn's servant, when you really wish to serve his..."

"Enough!" cried Legolas. "I am not your brother, never imply so. Let us not say foolish words that will get us all into trouble with the gods. Besides, the rumours of this kingdom do not concern myself and the King. They are centric to you and your mirrored friend."

Elladan smirked. "Rumours? Don't play foolish with us. You know there are no rumours about us." And with this comment, he gave a long, sensuous lick across the side of his brother's face. Elrohir smiled devilishly.

Legolas shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sure these actions are not appreciated by your father."

The twins seemed unphased. "I'm sure our father was up to the same thing as we when he was young. He went on long, hard battles. He slew many an orc. And when he returned, he had brotherly love, let me assure you."

Elladan and Elrohir stared into Legolas, as if commanding a response from him. His eyes shied away. Elrohir wouldn't have it. "Come now. You may seem but a gwilwileth [butterfly] with a bow to the council, but we know you're not just a pretty face. Tell us of your thoughts. We pray you."

"My thoughts are my own. Now leave me be, I pray you. We must start the sparring," Legolas coldly replied.

Elrohir rose as gracefully as he had dropped. "Very well. Spar we shall, but I warn you, Elladan will have you begging for mercy before the day is out."

"Easy," snapped Legolas. "These remarks of a.. brotherly nature will remain in your chambers. Understood?"

Elrohir smirked. "I meant his sword power. My brother is quite a menace with the right weapon in his hand."

Legolas grunted, and signalled for a guard to help carry the weaponry. Without a word, he took off down the hall, with the scrawny elven guard in hot pursuit.

"My sword power, eh? By the Valar, you surprise me everyday," Elladan grinned, nuzzling his brother affectionately. "He shall be begging, no doubt, but we shall see who will be the victor of this triumph. I doubt not your powers of persuasion, my tôrbain." Elrohir smiled at this, and wrapped an arm tightly around his twin's muscular form. "Aye, and I not yours. This shall be interesting."

Legolas had been standing in the field, patiently for some time now. He twitched uncomfortably as he waited, fiddling with his braids and the like, and felt an unpleasant surge in his loins when he saw the two raven haired beauties finally approaching, talking excitedly, arms intertwined around each other. He glanced around the field, and saw a group of young elven girls, in awe of the sight of identical men touching each other in such a way of abandonment. Elven men were not forbidden to be with one another by any means, but two brothers was a different matter, especially ones so strikingly beautiful and similar. They were bound to get a controversial reaction. Elrohir hissed and lurched at the girls as they passed them, in what his lover regarded a cat-like manner, and they scampered off, whispering and giggling all the while. Elrohir returned to his twin's side, and was welcomed by a gentle laugh and a stroke of cheek. Legolas watched this all, and the unpleasant surge turned into a gut full of butterflies.

"So, Master Greenleaf, what is your will?" asked Elladan as they finally met him. The sunshine and tender touch of his twin was positively beaming off the elf. Legolas could feel it. He smiled and flopped into the grass, carelessly and gracefully, as if he were a feather landing softly after a journey upon the wind.

Elladan and Elrohir looked somewhat confused, but grinned and followed the action. All three slumped on the field must have looked an interesting sight to the farmers nearby, but they cared nothing of it.

"Let us rest for a while. Besides, it is only the bidding of the King that I remove you from his way." The elves nodded. "While we sit, tell me one thing," Legolas pleaded, rolling through the yellowing grass towards the twins.

"But one thing? What an easy elf to please! If only Elrohir had such refrain," laughed Elladan. "Please, ask anything you wish. We have no secrets."

"That was my question, actually," said Legolas, his face turning somewhat serious. "What of Lady Arwen? And her suitor? Are they aware of your forbidden desires?"

Elladan's mouth coiled into a delicious smile. His face exploded with laughter. "I love your lack of formalities, my golden haired one. 'Her suitor,'" he giggled, elbowing his twin in the ribs. "Yes, Arwen is aware. She is our sister, she is more in tune than you think. And I wouldn't doubt the King's knowledge. She shares everything but her air with him, and I'm sure it won't be long before that is in his possession too."

Legolas lay back, thinking as he absently fondled his flowing locks. "And her stance?"

Elrohir smiled. "She is a kind loving creature. Wherever she walks, peace and harmony follows. Not an inch of discrimination resides in her entire being. She simply told us she was thankful to have such trusting and loving elves as her brothers."

Legolas returned the smile. That did indeed sound like the word of Lady Arwen.

"And of the King's feelings, we are not certain. He sees us as scoundrels. I am somewhat glad that his opinion has not changed just because of Lady Arwen's news," Elladan laughed. He playfully punched his brother in the stomach, and was leaped upon in an instant, Elrohir pinning him to the ground forcefully, and straddling his hips to render his brother defenceless. "A challenge!" Elrohir cried out demandingly. "I could never refuse you, pen-bain," his brother replied, a seductive smile pasted all over his face. Legolas felt a little uncomfortable witnessing this, and Elrohir could tell, but this didn't stop him.

"Beautiful nothing!" he shouted. "Tis a fight to the bloody death, my brother, and I shall see to it that you regret ever having seduced such an unattainable menace as me."

Elladan forced his brother off himself, and rose to his feet, laughing. "I'd take you seriously, if I didn't know you so well, brother."

Elrohir clambered upwards, pushing his body forcefully against his twin. "What makes you think you're always right?"

Legolas sat up a little, unsure how to analyse this situation. Were the twins on the brink of a fight? Was this role play? Or were they just messing with his head?

"The sheer fact that I am," Elladan said, rather matter-of-factly, and pushed back violently.

"Hey, hey," warned Legolas, rising up and holding an arm between the brothers. Both had lowered brows now, and their once peaceful faces were the ones of warriors. Legolas didn't see brotherly affection mirrored in one another's eyes. He saw what could only be described as similar to the baying for orc blood, and rivers of it at that.

"Peace, Elladan, peace," he cooed as he brushed a hand across the elf's cheek. His eyes didn't waver. His glance was fixed upon his living reflection.

Elladan took a step forward, forcing Legolas out of the space between them. The two elves now stood eye to eye staring into each other so deeply, noted Legolas, they almost gazed through one another's soul.

Elrohir raised a splayed hand toward his brother, and cupped it viciously around the back of his skull, pulling him forward. He angrily met his brother with an open mouth, and forcefully pushed his tongue past the barrier of his pouting lips.

Elladan met the challenge slowly but hungrily, and opened his mouth softly at first, then widening it as his passion grew. Legolas was taken back by the whole situation. He backed off a little, and every time he saw Elrohir becoming too forceful, considered stepping in. Then he realised, this wasn't a fight. There was no danger. The brothers were so deeply in love that to hurt one another would be to abort life itself. He sat down in the grass and felt a little pang of jealousy at the tenderness and burning passion he saw before him.

There was a sudden trumpet sounding in the far distance, and Legolas rose to his feet, instinctively as a servant would. On the horizon, he could see a vast procession of cloaked figures on horseback. From this distance it could not be told if it were men or elves, but the size of the group seemed to favour the latter.

Elrohir drew back from his twin to survey the group. "A threat?" he quizzed Legolas.

"I doubt it. The trumpet was not an unfamiliar call to me, and the colours of the cloaks are familiar. Most likely guests for the wedding," he guessed. "And before you do anything, just be warned. I am responsible for the both of you. If you wreak havoc on this day, it shall be my head. I am trusting you to behave with the guests." The blonde looked sternly into Elrohir's wolf eyes.

"Fear not, and chide not. You are like our father too much. Such a commander. He tries to command each moment. As does Elrohir. I like to let things flow," said Elladan. "And to let things flow, you need a man in charge," snorted Elrohir mockingly.

Legolas laughed. "The day I become a commander, is the day the two of you.."

"Yes?" asked Elladan with an eyebrow raised, his eyes lighting up somewhat.

"Well, let me not say it. I do not wish the Valar to work such things upon you. But know this, I am just a humble elf. I "command" you only because it is bid of me."

"Ah, then you know my predicament," Elrohir smiled, and nuzzled his brother affectionately.

Legolas' face straightened again. "And behaving means discretion. The whole of Middle-Earth doesn't take as kindly to your situation as the fair Lady Arwen."

"Yes sir," Elladan giggled, reaching out and patting Legolas on the shoulder in a friendly way. "We'll be good."