The two twins looked dumbfounded at each other and at Arwen. By the time Elrond's

children had turned their staring in the direction their comrade had gone, his long

purposeful strides had taken Legolas all the way up to the steps of the last homely house.

After a moment, he merged with the stream of Elves entering and exiting and disappeared

behind walls of stone. There was, by that time, a large crowd of scholars and servants

about busily performing both their usual tasks, and acting upon added pressures of the

nightly banquets and festivities. Legolas hurried towards his rooms fighting against the

current of elves. He took the passage Arwen had showed him, not only because he knew

it better than the normal way, and also to escape the infinitely overcrowded halls and the

impersonal bumps and bruises that came with using them. The hallway, deserted in times

of normalcy, had been forgotten despite the extenuating circumstances, and Legolas

walked the rest of the way in silence, meeting no one. He glanced to the ground almost

involuntarily as he passed by the place of his encounter with Jamill, but he tuned away

with a greater conviction, borne of shame, immediately wishing he had just gone through

the crowded main corridor.

"Think he'll come back?" Elladan asked his brother. "Ha, I should say not. He is

probably off crying to daddy or something." Elrohir replied. They both laughed, not in a

cruel way, but more jubilantly, as though they had already out-shot the golden-haired

prince. Time passed slowly. They waited. For a while, the twins exchanged banter, each

topping the other with a better joke about Legolas losing, Legolas being a coward, or

Greenwood Elves in general. Occasionally Arwen would chime in with a retort or an

insult in their direction, but eventually, she became weary of breath and left them to their

fun. More time passed, and to Arwen's amazement, found even the twins silent. Daylight

turned to dusk, and duck to the inkiness of night. All about them, torches were lit and

from the great double doors began to pour grander elves, until the servants were the

minority of the throng. The feast had obviously ended, and the night's entertainment was

being pleasantly anticipated with the aid of an agreeable wind ensemble, accompanied by

a rich, full dessert wine, which flowed freely indeed as the great Bruinen.

It was about the time that a spider began to attach its thread to his nose that something

began to dawn on the elder of the twin stars. "That dirty, little goblin- spawn!" was all

Elladan said at first, and both of his siblings looked at him strangely. "Do not be so

dense! Isn't it obvious what has happened here? He knew we would we could outshoot

him, so he has conned us into standing out here all night." This brought about the

realization to the other two of just how long they had been standing there, and Elrohir

assumed the same look of betrayal as his brother. "How dare he? Has he no honor?" The

younger asked of the elder. "He won't after I'm through with him!" declared the elder,

who began to march towards the castle, eyes narrowed and fists clenched. His brother

came soon after, and they made for quite a sight, pushing against the jubilant drove of

elves in the most Elrond-like manner that they could muster. They assumed this particular

countenance only when there was serious business to be done, as now, where there was a

nagging fly assaulting their dignity to be dealt with.

Arwen on the other hand, continued to stand there. Through her mind ran the same

thought, how? How, she wondered, could Legolas have done such a cruel thing over a

silly archery contest? Her mind didn't seem to want to process the information, only

repeat it again and again. It may seem a silly thing to feel betrayed about, but to Arwen,

who had considered Legolas in the few days of their companionship, the truest of friends,

it was rendered speechless by what to her seemed so momentous a thing. Standing alone

now, she could scarce believe the same boy who had risked his neck just to bring her a

smile and some silly fruits had left them all out to dry. It was imponderable, simply an

enigma. In desperation, she sought out Legolas, and the answers only he could provide.

She moved quickly, desperate to reach Legolas with her questions before her brothers

could with their fists. Fortunately, she already knew the way to his quarters.

Unfortunately, it would not take them long to find a servant who could point them in the

right direction. She hurried through the hallways, which were difficult to navigate, due to

the armies of Elves coming in the opposite direction. By the time she finally reached the

desired guest wing, the celebrations were already underway, meaning most guests were at

least beyond the guest corridors by now. Coming to a halt at the door, and both relieved

and nervous to have not seen her brothers yet, Arwen knocked softly on the door. She had

been introduced to Legolas officially at dinner, so she could always feign an offer of her

company for the festivities if Thranduil or one of his advisers were present. Footsteps

approached from beyond the solid walnut door. It swung open slowly, and it was a shock

to her to see Elrohir standing in the frame. "Its only you is it?" He said, a bit relieved.

She pushed past her brother and quickly searched the room. He walked in behind her,

leaning on the luxuriously carved headboard of the fine bed. Legolas was nowhere in

sight. "Where's Elladan! What have you two done to Legolas?" Arwen cried at him,

"Where are they, tell me now!" Elrohir frowned at his sister's insubordination. "I was

going to ask you the same question. As you can see he obviously isn't here. As for

Elladan, he's looking elsewhere." This reply stopped her short, and Arwen looked at

them strangely. "One would suspect this Legolas could be hiding anywhere in the palace,

or even down at the festival. Unfortunately that explanation does not account for the lack

of personal articles in this room." He continued. She glanced around her again, more

studiously this time. Sure enough, the room looked empty. She walked into the bathroom

and found the countertop bare, as untouched as a fresh layer of snow. The room showed

no sign of being occupied, and she found none as she searched among its articles. Her

brother made no move to help, but watched her emotionlessly. She paused, as she came

again to the empty washbasin. She watched her own tear plunk onto the smooth vessel,

and meander down its sides. A hand rested on her shoulder. "Let's go Evenstar. Ada will

know." Elrohir said softly. He gently lifted her onto his shoulders and carried her from

the room. She held a strand of his fine, chestnut mane. It was slightly lighter than her

own, and softer than a fawn's down. She cradled it and leaned into its soft pillow.

As soon as the voices around them became louder and Arwen felt her brother finally

pause at some intersection of Elven traffic. She tapped his shoulder, stepping out of the

crowd, kneeled to let her off. "Thanks El." She whispered into his still lowered ear, and

she softly kissed him on the forehead. He smiled at her and immediately rose up again.

They walked together until they spied Elrond speaking to Elladan. "Ah, if it isn't my

good child." Elrond said, as they approached, taking Arwen into his arms. Elrohir rolled

his eyes and moved to stand beside his brother. "It's a beautiful night, isn't it Arwen?

Surely you must more enjoy the festivities with the stars as your roof." Arwen nodded to

her father. "Everyone's enjoying tonight." said Elrohir, "Well I mean almost everyone. I

must say I've seen none of Thranduil's people tonight." He added coolly. "Nor shall

you." His father replied. All three siblings gave their father their full attentions. "Just

after the dinner party earlier today, a messenger arrived clothed in the livery of

Greenwood. Shortly thereafter, Thranduil announced that he must decline any further

hospitality. Quick as they could, all his folk packed up their things and accompanied the

sun over the horizon. And I tried so hard to be amiable." Elrond shook his head as he

faded off. "All of them?" Elladan exclaimed, "Left for good?" Elrond nodded firmly, "I

shan't expect we shall see any of Thranduil's elves save the offhand messenger for some

time now." Arwen turned towards the wilderness and stared off as far as her eyes could

see. She thought back to her conversations with him on the balcony. The landscape had

been clear then, clear and distinct for miles around. Now, it was dark, and her vision was

subdued by the thickness of the night. Arwen could see nothing.

The Starlight Festival was over, and seemingly the entire population of Rivendell was

letting out a long withheld breath as things returned to normal. Most of the guests were

gone, save a few of Elrond's closest friends, and a few sprouts had appeared in the

trampled ground that had been tent city. Arwen made her way slowly to her lesson. This

day, Glorfindel had bid her come to one of the great portrait halls. "That we may have a

more visual experience," he had told her. She walked carelessly, not paying attention to

where she was going, for she knew the corridors well and had no use for caution or great

mental strain in navigating them. It was by chance that she glanced up just in time to see

that she had unconsciously taken a strange path. It took her but a minute to recognize it as

the one she had used so often with Legolas. She continued on, running her hand along its

dusty walls fondly, and turned the corner to the scene of the fight.

The unkempt floor was still marked by the blood of the Greenleaf. Pausing above the

stain, she frowned at it. It only reminded her how dearly she missed her good friend, and

that their friendship should come to so unexpected an end.'So vile is the only thing left

of him in Rivendell,' she thought sadly, looking away from the spot. Suddenly her eyes

caught something. The window was slightly agape. It was just the teeniest crack, but was

distinctive to her sharp Elven eyes. 'Strange that this window should be left open,' she

thought, 'considering that no one must come to close it at night.' She stepped closer, and

tried to peer out through the pane, but it was covered with a thick film of some unknown

airborne quantities, and to see out was impossible. She gently pushed the window open

all the way, and when its rusty hinges gave, glanced out. The window looked out over

one of the smaller inner gardens, which dotted her father's great complex. Straight in

front of her was a tree. It as tall as the window and Arwen guessed it was about her age. It

had few lower branches, but exploded into greenery further up. She examined the

handsome creature, when again; something out of the ordinary caught her eye. Sitting

precariously on a branch extending towards the window was a small bundle. She leaned

dangerously far out until she could reach the branch it was on, but her disturbance proved

disastrous for the object's balance, and it fell to the soft ground.

All lessons forgotten, she raced back down to reach the garden before someone else

thought to take a nice morning stroll through the gardens. She reached the garden in

record time, and to her great relief, spied the same bundle lying in the grass. It was green,

though of a dark forest-like shade which contrasted with the greenery around it. She

scooped it up gingerly, and cradled it for a moment. It was a square of fabric wrapped

around some unknown thing. Arwen sat down against the tree and reverently untied the

topknot. Off of her lap spilled several small, marble shaped fruits. They had held up

fantastically well considering their rather sudden drop, and not a flaw shone on their

shining, ebony skin. Arwen picked one up, and examined it amazed. Suddenly she saw a

design, which the Horple's absence had revealed on the fabric itself. Only a small corner

of the insignia was visible, but Arwen recognized it immediately. She smiled tenderly,

and a bittersweet tear fell down her childlike face, for on the very center of the cloth,

embroidered with fine stitches, the crest of Greenwood's royalty.

Hehe, THAT'S IT! There ain't no more.unless I decide to write the sequel I've been planning all this time.well we'll see if anyone's still reading this. Sorry about the formatting on that last chapter. I really did space it.Anyway, you may say "HEY JP! Why the heck was this chapter so damn rushed?" (At which point anyone within hearing distance of you will look up strangely and wonder when you named the computer JP) Well, I wanted to give you a sense of how Arwen feels. You'd think it was rushed if you were her too!

Niki: Here it is. I hope its interesting enough for you. Please tell me what you think!

Rylee Smith: Yeah well, you have to consider that this is the twins interacting with "the brat prince of mirkwood" and their sister. I hope you enjoyed the softer side of Elrohir in this chapter. Thanks for the review!

Luntetuurewen: Thanks! This really isn't anything as good as Romeo and Juliet but tahts sooo nice of you! ::hugs::

Karone Evertree: So sorry about the spacing! This chapter should be different. Anyway.thanks for the review. (Still like your name)

Kawaii Elf Girl: I know, you want to stab me because I didn't put in the archery. I know, sadness ( Anyway, maybe in the sequel.

Meg: MEG! GANDALF COULD KICK DUMBLE-no 'E' on the end-DOR's butt. Thanks for the beta as always. You rock.but you left your review to early, much like you are trying to make me go to UW too early!

Pishymishy: Yay! You are still reading! That gladdens me. Anyway, Legolas is cute isn't he? I didn't make him that way, it's just his nature. (:

Thanks you guys. You've been so supportive of me. I am really in your debt. Cheers to all and I hope to see you later!