Chapter 5 – Finding Smiles
The Elvenking's dinning hall was a large room of spacious grandeur. It was a gathering place where off duty patrol units could feast, relax and partake in merrymaking during the late hours of the evening. It was an informal setting with various different tables scattered around a large dance floor of white marble. Pillars were carved in the likeness of trees and tapestries of the former Greenwood the Great hung about the walls. The light of forest was brought indoors where warriors could relax in safety, not having to worry about the threats that lay outside, a small reprieve from the ongoing battle of darkness that constantly lay over the forest.
The largest and most honored of tables was the Elvenking's table. By the King's bidding with the turn of the moon, elves of different patrol units and their families where honored with an invitation to dine with their King. Thranduil was a kindly King who often sought out and enjoyed the company of his Silvan subjects. He cared for each and every one of his people, dedicating his life to protecting the forest they all cherished. His people in return loved and respected their Sindar King, who was looked upon for his great wisdom and light during these times of great darkness.
The Elvenking sat upon his place at the head of the table, adorning a crown of mithril, wound in white branches of red winterberries in celebration of the coming winter season. His hair smooth like spun silk glowed as if it were the very sun.
His beloved son, a spitting image of himself sat to his right. On the elfling's other side, sat Thranduil's beloved nephew, Noron, one of his fiercest and strongest warriors. The rest of the table was filled with various high ranking officials and their families. Only two seats remained empty, awaiting their guest's.
Thranduil looked over at his elfling, smiling inwardly. Legolas was a picture of apprehension and pure excitement, a ball of barely contained energy. The elfling could not sit still, waiting impatiently for the arrival of their two guests.
Thranduil would have invited the son's of Elrond to his realm long ago, had he known the effect they would have had on his young son. It was only their second day here and Legolas had taken quite a liking to them. The Elvenking sat there watching his son, who now took to restlessly twirling the tassels of the tablecloth between his tiny fingers in eager anticipation.
"Legolas ion nin, have patience. Our guests will arrive shortly," said Thranduil, amused by the elfling's excited behavior.
As if on cue Elladan and Elrohir entered the dinning hall. All the elves at the table were instantly silenced, their conversations coming to an abrupt halt. All eyes were upon the son's of Elrond as they gracefully made their way across the giant hall towards the Elvenking. An air of fierce nobility followed their steps. Legolas' breath caught in his chest. They were a magnificent sight to behold. Their dark hair had been thoroughly cleaned and intricately braided. They both wore similar robes of dark blues and deep violets. Elladan and Elrohir were identical in everyway. Their skin was fair, white like the snow, a stark contrast to their dark eyes and hair.
"Welcome Lords Elladan and Elrohir, please have a seat in the place of honor," Thranduil said, gesturing towards the two empty chairs at this left.
Their movements mirrored each other as they took their seats. Legolas found himself speechless. Elrohir and Elladan looked exactly the same. He thought maybe if they were together he could find differences in their appearance. Legolas knew they were two completely different elves, having spent a substantial amount of time with each of them individually, but together, he could not pick out differences in their appearance. How was this possible? How could two completely different elves look exactly the same?
The sweet melody of a harp fed their ears, as the evening meal was served. Thranduil and Noron partook in small talk with the twins while Legolas just sat there quietly and unintentionally staring at Elladan and Elrohir. The elfling was unsuccessfully trying to find differences in their appearance that lay other than in their attire.
The atmosphere of the dinning hall was joyous. Though their sorrows lay heavily upon them, their spirits felt somehow lighter. Elrohir ate his meal with great zealous, while Elladan took to picking at the food on his plate. The twins both found dinning with King Thranduil to be refreshing, having spent the past couple years having to hunt for their meals in the wild. To both their pleasure and relief no one had mentioned their mother. In fact, after they took their seats most of the elves at the table paid little if any attention to them at all.
Legolas was so distracted by their presence that he had not touched his food. His mind was filled with endless questions that he was all but too shy to ask. He repeatedly kept asking himself, why do they look the same? Then it hit him, a thought. He had come up with the only plausible explanation as to why Elladan and Elrohir looked the exact same, but were completely different. It must be because-
"Ion non, your food will grow cold if you do not start eating," Thranduil said, interrupting Legolas' thoughts. Thranduil had noticed Legolas' odd behavior and wondered what could have brought on the change. The elfling had gone from excited to reserved within seconds, almost as if he were deep in thought.
Legolas decided he needed his thoughts confirmed. Unintentionally ignoring his Father, looking towards both Elladan and Elrohir, his eyes inquisitive and serious, Legolas asked, perhaps a little bit to loudly, "Are you both magic?"
The question caught everyone at the table off guard, as conversation was once again brought to a halt. Noron almost choked on his food as he attempted to smother a laugh, receiving a glare from his uncle. Thranduil knew better then to laugh openly at his son, his face betrayed no hint of his amusement. Small smiles crept onto Elladan and Elrohir's faces but they too were able to contain their mirth. The rest of the table openly giggled at the elfling's endearing question.
Legolas saw the smiles on everyone's face and heard their laughter. He cast his eyes down in embarrassment. He suddenly felt very foolish. He should have just kept quiet. Legolas felt humiliated, everyone was laughing at him. Maybe it was the wrong thing to ask? His bottom lip started to tremble. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to hide in his father's arms.
The Elvenking, annoyed by everyone's insensitivity towards his son signaled for them all to continue on with their individual conversations and pay the elfling no more attention. Thranduil saw the expression on Legolas' face. He knew that look. Legolas was a very sensitive elfling. Thranduil knew that if he did not do something soon, there would be tears and lots of them. He placed a comforting hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"Ion nin, I thought that was a very interesting question," Thranduil said softly, saving the day.
"Really?" Legolas asked, looking at his father. His eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Yes, I myself was wondering the same thing. Though I would not have phrased it as so," Thranduil replied as he, with one graceful movement swept Legolas out of his chair and placed the child onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around Legolas' trembling body in an attempt to further calm him.
Elladan caught on to Thranduil's attempts at consoling the elfling. "Yes, Legolas. That was a very good question and one we have never been asked before," he confirmed. Thranduil caught his eye, silently thanking him for his help.
"Tithen Las, what has lead you to believe that Elladan and Elrohir posses magic?" Thranduil inquired. He was genuinely curious as to how this question arose in Legolas' mind. Was this what his elfling was thinking of the whole time?
Regaining back some his lost confidence from all the encouragement, Legolas replied, " Because Elrohir and Elladan look exactly the same but are they different, Elladan's injuries healed really fast, and the first time I saw them Elrohir felt Elladan's pain. I know he did, I saw it. It has to be magic Ada."
Elrohir raised an eyebrow to this, looking very much like Elrond at the moment. He was not aware Legolas had been in Thranduil's receiving chamber. He did not recall seeing an elfling in there. Though he was quite distracted at the time.
"You are very perceptive," Elladan complimented. At those words Legolas' teary eyes dried and a small smile formed on his lips.
"We look the same because we were born from the same mother at the exact same time," Elrohir explained. Legolas was astounded by this news. It was rare for two elflings to be born in the same birth year, and unheard of by the same mother at the same time. It was something he never before considered possible.
"So you're not magical then?" Legolas asked, slightly disappointed. "You cannot make fire dance in the sky like Mithrandir can?" he added. Legolas loved Mithrandir's fireworks and had really hoped to see some of them again.
"I fear Mithrandir has a knack for teasing Legolas. Not one I much approve of," Thranduil said.
"That is where your question is interesting, Legolas," Elladan said. " Do you know the story of Thingol and Melian?"
"Ada tells me of it all the time! It is one of my favorites. The Teleri who fell in love with a Maia," Legolas exclaimed excitedly. Legolas loved that story, and Thranduil loved telling it to his son. Though Thingol had long ago past to the Halls of Mandos, in the hearts of all Sindar Elves he was still their King.
"We are related to Melian through a line of ancestors. I guess you could say she is our great-great-great-grandmother on our Father's side," Elladan said, as he saw Legolas' eyes widen.
"And because we are related to Melian, we have been gifted with some abilities, though I would not call them magical," Elrohir continued. *
Legolas was in a state of awe at hearing this news. So they do have magical powers, he thought to himself, and curiously asked, "What kinds of abilities do you have?"
"Well we both have the ability to heal others and the gift of foresight. My ability to heal others is stronger than Elrohir's, but Elrohir's gift of foresight is greater than mine. Our father is great than us in both," Elladan responded. Legolas' eyes sparkled in amazement.
Elladan and Elrohir were even more amazing than he first thought. Satisfied with their answer, Legolas started picking at and eating food from his father's plate, an action to which Thranduil did not protest. At least his son was eating.
Once the evening meal was finished, their wine goblets were refilled and desert was served. Minstrels broke out in song as elves rushed towards the dance floor. Many at Thranduil's table chose to stay seated, happy with their company. Noron and a couple other patrol captains swarmed around Elladan and Elrohir, eagerly conversing with the twins. It was not often elves, let alone warriors from other realms came to visit. They busy were making arraignments for a sparing competition in the morning.
Legolas listened to his cousin's conversation. He put his hands to his mouth to stifle a laugh when he heard Noron address Elrohir as Elladan. Noron had not only done so once, but had mixed them up throughout the entire evening. In fact Legolas noticed that every elf that had talked with Elladan and Elrohir had gotten their names confused, even his Father! Legolas tried his best to be polite but could not hold back his laughter anymore. The elfling's small body shook with laughter as the musical noise filled the air, causing the conversation to halt as everyone's eyes rested upon him.
Thranduil who had been following the conversation was confused by his son's outburst. He did not hear anything that an elfling would find particularly amusing. In fact, arrangements for casual sparing matches among his warriors was of little interest to Thranduil, and a topic of conversation he knew his son knew nothing about.
"Ion nin, though I love to hear your laughter, I do not understand what is so amusing."
Everyone's eyes were on Legolas, staring at him, waiting for an explanation.
Noron looking at Elrohir asked, "Elladan, what do you think could be the cause of Legolas' laughter?" This only caused Legolas to laugh harder.
The twins shared a look before two small smiles crept onto their faces.
"Incredible," Elrohir spoke.
"I am sorry, but could someone please tell me what is going on?" Noron asked. He loved jokes just like the next elf, but not ones he wasn't privy to.
"You have been addressing me as Elladan all evening, I am Elrohir," Elrohir said. "It seems our young prince here, was the only one to notice."
"Why did you not correct me?" Noron asked, flustered.
"We are quite used to it," Elrohir answered.
"More importantly, Legolas, you are able to tell us apart?" Elladan asked the elfling.
"Yes," Legolas confirmed, surprising everyone at the table.
"That truly in incredible. Legolas, you are special indeed. Very, very few elves are able to tell us apart," said Elrohir. Legolas beamed at the praise.
"How are you able to do so?" asked Elladan. How could an elfling do what elves, thousands of years in age, could not?
"Yes, I would like to know that too," added Noron. "They are exactly the same."
"No, they are not exactly the same Noron," Legolas countered, sounding offended.
Noron's statement confused Legolas. How could he think Elrohir and Elladan were exactly the same? Yes they looked the same, but the two elves were very different. Legolas mused, if they were colors Elrohir would be red and Elladan would be blue. When Legolas thought of red he thought of warmth, strength, and courage. All things he had seen in Elrohir. The color blue reminded Legolas of intelligence, loyalty, calmness, and sadly enough, sorrow, all things he had seen in Elladan. Elladan and Elrohir looked the same, but on a deeper more personal level they were really quite different.
All eyes were on Legolas, still awaiting his explanation. Legolas thought for a second then shrugged, "They just feel different."
"They feel different?" Noron repeated, skeptical.
"Yes," Legolas said. "They are like trees. From a distance all the trees look the same, but when you go up close, and sit in their branches, you learn that their voices are different, you can tell them apart. That's like with Elladan and Elrohir, they are like trees."
Thranduil smiled proudly at Legolas. For one so young Legolas had moments of brilliant wisdom well beyond his years. Legolas would grow up to be a fine elf he mused.
Elladan and Elrohir weren't sure how they felt about being compared to trees, Legolas' logic made sense, so they took it as a complement, smiling. Legolas loved to see their smiles. They had such a deep sad look in their eyes, burdening their hearts, haunting their shadows. Legolas wished to see them smile more. He vowed to do what ever he could to make them smile. He wanted to find their smiles. Everyone deserves happiness, especially those who have endured great pain.
TBC
A/N: *I try to keep things as canon as possible while writing. I don't think Tolkien ever mentioned that Elladan and Elrohir had any abilities (healing and foresight). I gave them these 'powers' and am using their ancestry of Melian to justify my actions.
I'm going to write a couple more chapters of everyone bonding and stuff, I think its important I set a strong foundation for Legolas' friendships with Elrohir and Elladan, before the real action occurs and sad things happen.
Thank you everyone for your reviews, favorites, and follows! You are all beautiful people!
The next chapter: Chapter 6 - Worse than a Nightmare