Correspondence

Disclaimer: These characters belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. I'm evil.

Warning: Slash, AU, random silliness and marriages. Pairs: Gandalf/Elrond, Aragorn/Legolas, Pippin/Elrond, Arwen/Pippin (extra pairing! I hadn't thought about it till now!)

Note: I'm insane. All right, I'll tell you the truth – I'm hurrying to finish this, because I don't really want people to wait and get mad at me… also, I've been pinched to write other stuff. Sorry!

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Act Three – The One In Which Everyone Gets Married

"You're marrying too?"

The half-elf couldn't believe his luck! His three sons were getting married on the same week! He gazed at the pair for a moment before jumping up and screaming like a madman.

"Oh yes I knew you wouldn't let me down this is the greatest thing that's ever happened since I won a soccer game against some weird freaks and they were forced to bathe naked in the mud as a bet and that made Gil-Galad guffaw and choke over his drink till it spilt out of his nose and that was like eww disgusting and all but oh hell it was funny and we laughed like a bunch of idiots till your mum pulled me home by the ear and oh man you're getting married and I think that rocks!" he said in one breath, and then he darted towards the door. "Hey, you guys get married in two days time that is after today since your brother's getting married and oh go try out the clothes in the seamstress' shop they're great and they just imported new cloth and I've got to go see you!"

With that, Elrond disappeared, leaving Sam and Elrohir staring at the whitewashed wall.

"Did you get what he said?"

"No."

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"So, we've finally hit it," Merry sat by the tree, munching on a piece of cake. He was relating his last date with Glorfindel, his new… elf-friend. (That's equivalent to boyfriend, silly!) Pippin looked at him sadly.

"I wish I'd get an elf-friend too…" he sighed. He was hopeful. Sam had gotten Elrohir, and now Glorfindel was taken. Suddenly he sat up. "I got it! I haven't lost out yet!"

"Huh?"

"I'm going to write Elrond a love letter! It'll be trilling! He'll eat out of my hand, I tell you!" Pippin jumped up and grinned at his companion. "You'll help, won't you?"

"Don't you think Bilbo is better at that?"

"Oh, yeah, I suppose," Pippin sat back down, and scratched his head. "But… he won't help if he knew that I was after Elrond, right? Suppose he thinks that I'm only driving for his money or his prettiness – you know, stab him with my pecker –"

Merry choked and turned red.

"But then, that's not it. I mean, Elrond's jolly nice, he's got a really sweet smile and he's jolly nice… did I already mention that he's got a really sweet smile?"

"You sound like you've got no reason to court Elrond other than that he's jolly nice and has a sweet smile, you big dummy," Merry commented lazily. "Of course Bilbo won't help."

"Bilbo won't help you what?"

They sat up in unison, staring at the old hobbit. "BILBO!"

"The one and only," he said, laughing. "Now, what would you like me to help you with?"

"I wanna marry Lord Elrond!"

"You do?" Bilbo asked. Merry turned red and rolled his eyes. Trust Pippin to be so straightforward at times! But Bilbo did not seem to mind the notion of Pippin courting Elrond. His jovial eyes gleamed wickedly. "Well, then, my lad, I can help you. I could help you write a letter to Lord Elrond… and sweep him off his feet.

"Heh, heh."

Merry did not like the tone of the old hobbit's voice.

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"Thank you for accompanying me today."

"It was my pleasure."

Aragorn was walking with Legolas out of the cake shop. With Elladan and Elrohir getting married before him, the cake baking services were a bit slow. And Aragorn was worried. He had not found a suitable marriage partner yet. It seemed that he had failed his foster father.

"You look troubled, Aragorn," the flaxen haired elf said, looking at the Man full in the face. He was one of the very few elves who used his real name. It seemed that Legolas had already seen the Ranger as a King, even if he had refused the position, choosing to remain in Imladris instead. Aragorn sighed.

"I have not met my beloved yet," he said. "And yet it need not be, for I'm thinking more of a marriage of convenience. Though, a loved one would fare better. I am at a loss."

"…What about Arwen?" Legolas said, a sweet smile flashing briefly. "She likes you well enough."

"She does," Aragorn nodded agreeably. "But I have no women in mind. I wish for… an equal, Legolas." He turned and stared at the elf. His eyes were so blue.

"Aragorn…"

"… I'm sorry…" Aragorn turned to look away. He respected the elf too much to ever think of such –

"I have no wish for you to be at loss." Legolas leaned forward to place a chaste kiss on the man's lips, lightly. It felt like electricity upon his skin, and it felt tingly to Aragorn.

Finally, he could no longer take it. Aragorn knelt down in front of Legolas, and took his hand.

"Will you marry me?"

His smile grew wider, turning into a grin.

"You bet!"

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"AH! Finally!" Merry stretched happily. "It's done!"

"Yes, finally," Bilbo managed a grin. His eyes twinkled. "Here you go, Pippin, my boy. Take this to Elrond's drawing room. He's sure to find it. Oh, and the location is in the 'West Rose Garden'. In honor of our dear Frodo!"

"Great," Pippin laughed, and he held the lavender note to the air. "I'll get an elf-friend! At last!"

"Sure beats listening to 'Radical Dreamers' a hundred times," Merry commented, bored. "Can I go now? I've got a date to keep…"

"Very well, my boy. Pippin can manage alone, can't he?"

"Yeah, sure." Pippin wasn't even listening. He thought of the half-elf's sweet smile and a huge wedding cake set on the table, just for him. Really, it made his mouth water at once!

Pippin and Bilbo and Merry went out of the room. As the hobbit passed Elrond's study, he slipped the note into a drawer. He'd be at the rose garden at sunset.

As if on queue, Elrond stepped into his study, a little tired. There was to be a banquet tonight to celebrate the wedding of Elladan and Frodo. The half-elf fumbled his hands on the drawer, trying to find the rings he had kept for the sole purpose of handing down to each of his sons' and daughter's spouses. His brows knitted as he spotted a lavender-colored note in it. He read the contents, and flushed cherry.

Pink a rose, on a summer's day,

Fresh new petals, on the green grass lay,

As sweet its scent is my love

Meet me by the West Rose Garden, high above.

"Oh, I be blessed!" he exclaimed. He looked out of the window. The sun was setting. Elrond scrambled out of the room and headed west. He had obviously forgotten all about the rings.

Gandalf stalked around in the garden. Elladan had told him about it, and he wanted to see for himself the place where the half-elf had found true love. It was magnificent, and a thousand words weren't enough to describe its golden beauty, under the sun.

Pippin groaned. He had seen Gandalf in the gardens since late that afternoon, and it seemed like the old wizard was not going to leave anytime soon. How was Pippin going to convey his love to Elrond, when the old wizard was there to watch the whole embarrassing scene?

"…Mithrandir!"

Gandalf spun around to face the clear voice that called his name from behind. There stood the Lord of the Last Homely House, East of the Sea. His hair was the color of twilight, and his eyes were a clear, gray spring morning in hue, speckled with bits of Hydrangea blue. His skin was china, soft, smooth and… Gandalf swallowed a lump in his throat. What was he thinking?

The half-elf stepped up, breathy from exercise. He had evidently come here in a hurry. His cheeks were flushed, and it was more than the exertion that had caused that pretty shade to appear.

"… Is it really you?"

"Yes, it's me," the ancient wizard chuckled nervously, not truly understanding Elrond's question. "This is a truly beautiful spot. I do believe that here is where out newlyweds got lucky."

"Indeed," the half-elf mumbled shyly. It seemed that Mithrandir wanted to 'get lucky' too!

Gandalf caught the coy look, but he misinterpreted it as a look of sadness. After all, when your children got married, they often left you to start a new family on their own. It would not be any different for Elladan and Elrohir. Deciding to cheer his old friend up, the wizard picked a fresh rose from its vine, soft and pink. He handed it to the surprised half-elf, a twinkle in his eye.

"Sometimes things happen in a way we'd never expect, but it's best to find delight even in the least happiest of occasions," Gandalf said, his hands still outstretched with the rose. Smiling slightly, Elrond took the blossom gratefully.

"Yes, that's true," he said, bringing the flower to his face and running it against his skin. Its fragrance was sweet, and its petals fresh. "And I do believe that I have found the best in things, this moment."

Gandalf finally understood the point. He smiled through his beard. "The feeling is mutual."

Their hands touched lightly, then tightened into a clasp. Beneath them, the others were banqueting in the halls, and above them, the moon had risen, and once again its light shone brightly to illuminate the two lovers.

Pippin looked grumpy, but he was kind of happy that Gandalf and Elrond had found each other, at last. After all, their feelings had been harbored for so long in their hearts. He could see it in the old wizard, when he spoke and revered the half-elf and his works to them.

However, Pippin was disappointed too. He badly wanted an elf-friend.

At that moment, Arwen stepped in, huffily slamming the room door behind her. She was shocked to see Pippin in the chamber. "What brings you here?"

"Heartbreak."

She sighed. "Me too."

"What happened, Miss Arwen?" Pippin was curious to know. She was fair. How could anyone dump her for another girl?

"Aragorn dumped me for some blond elf called Legolas," she admitted quietly. "I know. They told everyone in the hall when we were eating. And then everybody cheered. Now I'll never get a boyfriend. I'd be an old maid for life!"

She sounded so alone that Pippin felt sorry for her, all a sudden. He took her hands in his and looked into her starlit eyes. They were so beautiful, deep… immortal.

"Miss Arwen? You know you're pretty, right?"

"Thank you," she smiled. There was a spark of romantic feelings in their hearts that moment. And they knew that it could never go out.

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The End

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Note: FINISHED! MEOW HOO HOO HAA HA HA! Actually, this story's weird. But I hope it's okay, all the same. I've been too caught up with listening to the song 'Radical Dreamers'. That girl's got a beautiful voice! I can't believe I only got hooked now… should've done that years ago. Bah! But that was an inspiration! XD