The feast was as expected. Some were tipsy, others were curious about the new resident of Imladris. Legolas went to his rooms to change his travel garments and when he returned in silver robes and a mithril upon his head many were speechless. He looked like someone who tasted sour vinegar as he walked beside Elrond everywhere the older Elf went. Glorfindel was not far behind. In time they all sat at the dinner table. Legolas was clearly unhappy and everytime Elrond would lean and whisper something in his ears he would slightly lean the other way as if escaping. That started to disturb Elladan and he observed his soon to be in-law more closely. What was going on here?

That night, after hours of music, poem, dance and merriment, Elladan visited his father's quarters, anxious for some answers. Even though he found his brother more disrespectful and aggressive than usual, he still peaked at his father's bed to see if he had company but it was still made. He didn't know what he was expecting. Obviously, customs would be respected until the wedding night but it made him feel a little sick at the thought.

'You brought the best.' Elrond studied the wine bottle in Elladan's hand with delight. 'Please sit, son.'

'I apologize for Elrohir. I think he feels nanneth is being substituted.'

'It's not only that. He can't stand that my next bethrothed will be a male.'

'Well, we never knew you... that one day...' Elladan tried.

'I don't like them. But Legolas is different. I saw him, a long time ago and his beauty is just...'

Elladan swallowed and couldn't say he disagreed. 'So you are attracted to him?'

'It's everything. Love, attraction, possession... To tell you the truth I never truly forgot him. But as life is so routine in these last years I couldn't help but think of him more and more.'

'Isn't him Thranduil's only heir? How could he agree with it? You and Glorfindel are master negotiators, but I'm sure you're not that good.'

Elrond chuckled. 'No one would be that good. When I went there the first time I gave him something that would make him more...malleable. Centuries later I retrieved it. I said he could keep it as long as he gave me his son. He gave me without a second thought, not even realizing that I took my gift back.'

A chill ran down Elladan's spine. That didn't seem right. 'And what was this thing?'

'Nothing to worry about it son. You know me and my heart, I did Legolas a favor. He was always mistreated there. In a way, I wanted to rescue him.'

Elladan nodded. It's been a long time now but in the past, his father was indeed a great healer and cared even for strangers. The Last Homely House used to be a refugee where everyone was welcomed, be them Elf, Man or Dwarf. No matter their social means or even if they could thank his father in kind. He didn't seem interested in it for centuries, but now it seemed to make sense if he was so bored with life. Maybe he would get his father back, the old one he resonated with a long time ago.

All of the sudden the door flew open. Father and son's hands went to their hips to touch their swords.

It was Glorfindel, breathless. 'Elrond...' He looked at Elladan and then back at the Lord again. 'A word?'

'Tell me what it is.' Elrond barked. Surprising the older twin.

Glorfindel looked at Elladan one more time before returning to his lord. 'Legolas...ran away.'

'Stay here!' Yelled Elrond while he and Glorfindel ran out of the room.

Elladan got out of his shock seconds later and ran after them. He wouldn't stay there and not do anything. It was winter and Legolas didn't know this place.

Elladan arrived at where Glorfindel stood pointing at the window and saying something to Elrond. Then Elrond ran to the direction of the stable while Glorfindel ran the other way, barking orders to guards who were coming from everywhere.

Elladan approached and stood where Glorfindel was pointing and realized that a guest room was offered to Legolas. There was an ancient thick tree in front of the window but so far that it was hard to believe that the Prince could have made the jump. He slowly walked around the tree, doubting someone could accomplish such a feat but then he spotted something. The lamps illuminated shiny red on the bark: blood.

Wide-eyed he started climbing and found more spots. Why would Legolas risk his life and how in Mordor did he got injured? His father's story started to sound strange now and he ran to the stables as well.

By now his father and Glorfindel wouldn't be there and he wanted to to find out what was really happening. His father wasn't himself for centuries, but Glorfindel was the most loyal, honest and fair of mentors. Certainly, he wouldn't do anything unethical. But even the fair-haired seneschal was acting a little weird - now that he thought about - for many years now, maybe even for decades or a century.

Very few horses remained at the stables and he jumped over his stallion but stopped when he reached the foggy, winter night. He let his senses guide him and his heart told him to take the right path. But he decided to go back to the tree from which Legolas made his escape first. Elladan looked for clues. He and his brother were one of the best trackers, he was sure he could find the prince before the others, and he hoped he did. He saw faint marks that the light Prince tried to erase and followed that direction.

The Mirkwood Prince was smart! Elladan thought that Glorfindel had trained he and his twin to surpass himself as trackers and in the art of erasing their passing, but by far Legolas was way better than them. He surely didn't physically looked like a warrior but Elladan could be underestimating him. He had found which direction the blonde had first run to but that was because the Prince was trying to get away from the light as fast as possible. As soon as he reached the dark he erased his tracks completely.

At one point Elladan wasn't sure anymore that he should follow the same path as there was no sign that the prince traveled that way. He would have to use his head, not his instincts. 'Think.' He told himself. Where would a wood-elf that was trained with giant spiders, that were savages, dangerous and less wise would go? And how did he expect to survive alone on such a cold night?

His gray eyes started to travel up. He saw the trees and smirked. Of course... How clever.

He turned his gigantic black stallion around, staring at the trees. An elf could probably stand the cold for one night if he stole a blanket with him when he jumped to the tree. Then when day came he wouldcontinue. When the prince could see, Legolas would then jump from tree to tree, knowing the Noldor were great on foot and on horseback but were not great climbers. Imladris was safe, there was no need for them to be hopping from tree to tree, neither there were spiders. Elladan's people surely wouldn't look up into the trees. Legolas was cunning.

Even though he was almost sure he discovered Legolas' getaway, he still couldn't see him anywhere. His eyesight wouldn't be as good as the Sindar, as Legolas was surely a pure blooded Elf giving his fairness, how tall and thin he was.

Elladan was caught by surprise when someone landed on his horse behind him and elbowed him in the ribs. He was thrown from his horse who stood by his two back foot and the raven-haired elf stared in amazement as the wood-elf caressed the horse with softly spoken sindarin, calming the horse instantly. Half of Legolas' face was covered by the shadow of his hood but Elladan saw he was being observed.

The prince seemed to have a look of regret but then turned his face and the horse followed like they were one being. Never before Elladan saw such grace.

Out of nowhere hooves were heard, too late for the wood-elf and they were surrounded. Elladan stood raising his hands when he saw some of his warriors had arrows pointed at the Mirkwood elf. 'Whooa! What are you doing, put these down!'