The evening soon drew near, and darkness sent everyone but the twins to their chambers to prepare for the feast. They sat in the gardens, quietly, silently, one draped across the King's wicker chair like some sort of Venus, and the other crouched below him on the grass, humming to himself and polishing his ring.
"I wonder if we'll ever experience a day as this," Elrohir mentioned, after staring at the stars a while.
"Indeed, it was splendid weather," his brother replied absently.
Elrohir rolled over in his chair, and placed a single hand on his brother's crown. "Foolish boy, I mean the celebrations. I wonder if we could ever be bound."
Elladan turned to his brother, face still and serious. "Let us not get carried away in romantic fantasy. That would require acceptance from our adar. You know we can't ask him to bind his only heirs."
"Think of how we'd rule together," Elrohir smiled evilly, laughing a little.
"Aye, think of the elves we'd have in our debt! Especially that Haldir. He'd be my number one commander," grinned Elladan.
"Ah, be still my poor heart," laughed Elrohir. "But such talk must remain here. Remember what Legolas said. And our brother. We must not disappoint."
"I never disappoint," Elladan smirked, climbing into the chair with his brother.
"Sons of Elrond! So late the day is, and you are not prepared!"
The twins jumped a little, and turned to see the arrival of Legolas. The elf had his thick blonde hair loose and permed, and it was cascading down his shoulders in a tumble of waves. His almond shaped eyes were surrounded in a thick line of kohl, and his body was scantily clad in a mish-mash of green woven silk, tucked into tightened, tanned leather pants. Elrohir rose to bow. "Pen-bain, you take my breath away," he smiled, taking Legolas' hand and kissing it ever so gently. The touch of this raven beauty's mouth sent a hard chill down Legolas' spine, and a soft growling sound escaped his lips.
"I think he likes that," purred Elladan, rising from his seat.
Elrohir opened his mouth very slowly, and flicked his tongue across the blonde's palm, in a circular path.
"Hauta, [stop] hauta -" the Elf Prince whispered. "I have to go. We... I... have to... oh, Valar... I must go." He broke away and ran indoors, slamming the hard wooden gate behind him.
"That was rude," pouted Elrohir.
Elladan laughed. "He is right, tôrbain. We should prepare for the feast." He took his brother's hand in his own, and led him across the path, stopping to push the door open chivalrously.
"Thankyou, my love."
There was a horrid crushing sound as the heavy door swung backwards, and a loud cry of "By the Valar!"
The elves hurried through the arches quickly only to collide head on with Elrond.
"All things sacred! Watch yourselves!" he cried.
"I'm sorry adar. I didn't see you," Elrohir muttered, helping his father up from the floor.
"Your problem indeed, Elladan. You never see me."
"I'm Elrohir," he said, rather hurt.
"Forgive me, my head spins."
Elladan stepped forward and examined his father's forehead. The abrasion was bleeding a little, and his hair was mashed into it from the weight of the door. "This looks nasty, adar. Shall we get you cleaned up?"
"Aye, little ones. Lead the way," he said, taking his two sons by the arm.
Their room was candlelit when they arrived. Elladan closed the door softly behind the three, as to not cause any more accidents, and helped Elrohir get his father settled onto the bed comfortably.
"Why didn't you tell me that they'd only given you one bed, my foolish boys? I would have cleared that up."
Elladan smiled. "Don't worry about that now, adar. Let us fix that bump," Elrohir said, fetching a bowl of water from the dresser. "Here," he cooed as he placed a damp cloth on his father. "Is that good?"
"Thankyou, leafling. That feels better already."
The boys climbed onto the bed, one perched on each side of Elrond. He laughed a little. "This reminds me of when you were both knee-height. You pair, little Estel [Aragorn] and Arwen would all sit around me in a circle, and beg me to tell you all about orcs. "Tell us, adar, tell us.' You were such curious creatures, you two." Elrond mocked, laughing. The twins laughed with him. "And now, my other two little ones are to be bound. How things change," he smiled fondly.
"Speaking of binding, adar -" began Elladan. "By the Valar, don't you dare," said Elrohir, cupping his brother's mouth, fully aware of his intentions. Elrond sat up a little. "Hey, hey! Come now, Ro," he said softly, stroking Elrohir's face, and prying his hands away from Elladan. "It is not like you to be so malicious. Your mother raised you better than this." "Forgive me, adar. Forgive me, my tôrbain," Elrohir whispered, his head down.
"Tôrbain? By the Valar, what indiscretions go on here?" Elrond demanded, now sitting perfectly upright. Elladan climbed off the bed in a hurry. Elrohir did the same. The two joined each other side by side, quaking a little in the presence of their father.
"A... a harmless pet name, adar. I didn't... I meant nothing by -"
"Silence," he boomed. He was now standing, no longer clutching the towel to his forehead. "Losing my daughter to one as dear as my child is bad enough. I will not have controversy on the behalf of my sons. Twins! By the Valar, what evil is here? Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
A single tear fell down the cheek of Elladan. Elrohir wished his father would leave. He so wanted to embrace his twin, to kiss his tears away.
"Elrohir! Are you even listening to me?"
"Yes, adar. I'm sorry."
"Well? Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
He shuffled his feet a little, and then sat down on the edge of the bed, his back to his father. "I... just wished this hadn't come to pass like... this."
Elrond laughed angrily. "What, that I should be pleased of such news? My sons, my only heirs in each other's arms?"
Elladan couldn't take much more. Elrohir could see he was at breaking point. This annoyed him. Anyone hurting his twin, emotionally or physically always angered him. He stood, and embraced his brother in a hug, stroking his hair. "It's alright, you're alright. I'm here," he cooed as he comforted his brother. He stared directly into his father's eyes as he did this act of defiance. "I'll always be here, pen-bain."
Elrond said nothing. He knew he could not stop this. His sons had always been together, who knows how many years they had been lovers?
"So be it. I knew the day would come where I lost my sons. I just...I... never thought the day would come where I would give one to the other."
Elladan turned to his father, breaking free of his twin's arms. His face was suddenly full of hope. "You mean..."
Elrond's eyes turned to the floor. He put a hand up in protest. "Talk to me not. I shall discuss this further when I regain the courage to look you in the eye."
He walked slowly, defeated, to the door, and let himself out.
The twins arrived late at the banquet, dressed in lavish robes of midnight blue, their necks thickly laden with silver Sindarin scripted chokers. They positively glowed as they entered, their pouting mouths shimmering, their eyes made up dark and mysterious. Nobody noticed their entrance much, but all the same, the twins politely did the circuit of the table, shaking hands, kissing cheeks. When they reached Haldir, Elladan kissed him softly on the cheek and reminded him that their doors were open if he needed anything. Legolas was pleased to see them, but was a little drawn back at what they would do to greet him. They simply shook his hand, and told him he looked well. He nodded politely and returned the gesture.
"At last! By the Valar, You took so long I feared something had gone awry. I'm glad you're here, my brothers," smiled Aragorn from across the table.
"My Lord, you know Elrohir is the evil twin. That is the suspicious factor in our delay," Elladan mocked. "But truthfully, we would not have missed it for the world." Aragorn gave a grin that showed all his teeth. He had a charming gappy smile that showed he was not just a pretty puppet, but a soldier and a working man. The elves guessed he would reign well because of that fact. "Come, sit beside me. My Lady is not due for a while yet."
Elrohir and Elladan scanned the table. Indeed, the party was all men. It was a lavish sort of a bachelor celebration. "Bring on the maids, then," laughed Elrohir, taking a seat. "Where is our father?"
"He is strangely absent. I sent Legolas to check on him, he said he would come down later, when my Lady Arwen arrives. I was not one to enquire further."
Elladan sat down next to his brother, and looked distressed. "Think we went too far?" he asked his twin. "We said nothing that could be prevented. Best to say it now, then when he has one of us on our death bed, letting our last secret pass."
Aragorn sat silently as he watched this conversation. Elladan got more and more worked up, until he had to leave the table.
"I've never seen Elladan and yourself apart before, 'tis a strange experience. Like seeing one naked," Aragorn laughed.
"Brother, do not laugh," whispered Elrohir, trying to remain serious. "Elladan is visibly upset, you can see."
"Did he not know that your father would find out? He is a wise man," he said, taking a sip of wine.
"He asked adar to bind us."
Aragorn's face straightened a little. "Valar. You know I've always thought... ah, never mind. He approaches."
Elladan's face was a little tear streaked when he sat down. He wiped at his face absently, and made a gurgling laugh when he took a sip of wine. Aragorn reached over and massaged his Elladan's neck with base of his hand. "Alright, brother? Have some more lilac wine, it makes everything seem rosy," he laughed quietly. "Haldir!" he suddenly called loudly across the table. "Where is this promised music your people are so famed for? One would think the elves in Lothlôrien were deaf!" Haldir nodded, smiling, and rose to organise his men.
Elrohir put his arm around Elladan, and nuzzled into his hair a little. "Okay?" he whispered. "Mhmm. Let's not talk about it now. Just enjoy the food." Elrohir seemed a little cut at this distance he was experiencing from his other half. There was nothing they didn't endure together. Perhaps their different stance on the matter was hurting Elladan more than he saw. Binding, along with many old, elven customs had always been a very big event to his twin.
There was a sudden trumpeting, and a loud burst of folkmusic started. Aragorn raised a glass and smiled heartily. Elladan smiled a little, and slapped the King's back. "To the fair Lady Arwen!" he cried out, raising his goblet along with the others. "Let the celebrations begin!"