Author notes: Sorry for the LONG delay. All I can say is that I'm happy to remain alive after the awful time I been through. It has been really hard for me, and I want to thank to all those wonderful reviewers that have keep asking me to continue. For them I'm posting not only this chapter, but a short story that may be post by this Wednesday. Since life is now more or less in order, I can say that a chapter will be post once a week. I will do my best so it can be.

IMPORTANT:

This might be seen at some parts like slash. You take it as you want, I would not specify nothing for respect to both, those who do not like it and those who like it. For me, elves are naturally erotic and do not see physical contact strange. So if they touch and kiss among each other that do not mean that they are lovers or homosexual, all right? Understood?

My mother tongue is Sindarin and Quenya (Elvish) not English, sorry for the mistakes.

The Truth in those sad eyes

By Fantasia of the Moon

Chapter VIII

Erestor looked through the window of his chamber delighting in the sight of the pale Moon and the sparkling stars. His rooms were dark, for he had blown off all the candles so he could appreciate the view more, but he constantly found himself getting distracted by the memory of two crystal blue eyes.

"It is not worth to worry for me" a musical voice was constantly repeating in his head. What had that meant? It had being obvious a desperate plea, but why? The young prince was terrified to keep talking with him about himself and Erestor couldn't understand.

"Were your mind is?" he heard a soft, well known voice whisper behind him and he startled.

"I did not hear you come" the dark haired elf said as he rested his head on the shoulder of the taller elf.

"That is obvious" Glorfindel laughed as he put his arms around Erestor's waist. "Is there trouble?"

"I do not know"

"Of what you speak?" the golden captain asked and frowning in confusion he let go of the other elf so he could look at him right into those honey eyes.

"The princes of Mirkwood. They are not what they seem, or what rumors tell and I am afraid that the problems against them are going to affect also Imladris"

"I am sorry my friend, but I do not understand you" Glorfindel said getting more confused with each minute.

"Surely you have notice the animosity between the two" the counselor began to explain as he made it to the nearby velvet chairs. Both elves sat, the light of the full Moon making no necessity to turn on a candle

"Indeed I have. In fact I doubt anyone in Imladris has missed it, but I am not sure if animosity is the right word. Hate would be more likely"

"I agree with you. But then, that hate is in Vinyaron's eyes, Legolas' are… indifferent. I can not believe that those beautiful eyes that shine with so passion and merriness when he is around the twins, Lindir, Elrond or both of us can turn that empty. It grieves my heart as well as chills my soul"

"Do you think there is something wrong there then? More than a brother rivalry?" when Erestor nodded Glorfindel sighed "I would not deny that I have thought that same thing, but I just not felt like voicing my worries"

"As well as I, but this has gone too far. To tell you the truth I was sad for Legolas, but Sindarin business must remain among sindar and I did not want to interfere. Now is different. Now I can sense that this dispute would harm Imladris and its relationship with our northerner kin"

"I see" Glorfindel said. He had long ago learned to take Erestor's advices and intuitions by heart, for he usually was right, especially when the counselor dare to extern his thoughts. He was not Elrond's counselor for nothing.

"Legolas is the ambassador, the crown prince, but is clearly to all that Vinyaron is Thranduil's favorite. It seems that to be in good terms with one means to be on bad terms with the other. Especially on Vinyaron's part. Legolas is still a mystery, he does not mind when someone is with his younger brother, but all his demeanor changes."

"And I, for my part, favor Legolas. I will rather risk Vinyaron's anger than turn my back to Legolas"

"As well as I, as well as our young head minstrel, as well as the twins. And as well as Elrond, even if he would not admit it."

"And so we get involved in a sindar matter"

"What I always want to avoid." Erestor nodded.

"For Lindir you and me it is indeed something we had better stay apart, but for Elrond and his sons… they have sindar blood and the royal family of Mirkwood are their kin, if distant, by blood" (1)

"I know, but then, I doubt Thranduil will see with loving eyes the intromission. He even does not like when Celeborn counsels him in some matter"

"Well, my dear friend, I think it is inevitable" Glorfindel sighed and both elves got lost in their own thoughts. After a long moment, Erestor notice that his blond companion was looking at him intently.

"Is something wrong?" he asked amused

"I was wondering. This matter could have stood another couple of weeks, even a month without having to make a choice. Without favoring any of the princes, which is the most diplomatic way of behaving." He then made a paused and smiled impishly at his companion

"Indeed, but the princes will be staying for all the Winter if not longer, depending on the negotiations. Sooner or later we would have had to face the problem" said Erestor, who was trying to figure out where the blond noldo wanted to go

"Nevertheless, why the most skilful and experience diplomat hurried things? Why you decide to stand by Legolas?"

"I…" Erestor paused lost of words.

"You are fond of him." Glorfindel said smiling brightly

"I am not!"

"Erestor admit it! He managed to reach that eccentric heart of yours!"

"No!"

"Erestor…"

"Fine, I am fond of him. I see him as I see the twins or Lindir. Are you happy now?"

"Very happy, especially because it is not always that you care for someone"

"That is not true! I care for you, for the impossible Elrond, his crazy sons and the weird head of minstrels."

"You were not so friendly at me when we met. Same thing for Elrond."

"I need to know the people before I start giving my friendship. You need to as well"

"Yes, but I am not the one with the reputation of a grumpy" Erestor rolled his eyes "besides, it took centuries before you decide I was worth for your friendship, or Elrond for that matter, and you barely know Legolas"

"It took one minute to fall for the twins or Lindir. Prince Legolas is very similar to those crazy young ones." Glorfindel smiled knowingly. It did Erestor good to have him feel loved, Legolas' fondness of him was evident, and to him to care for the prince. He had a reputation of a cold heart that, even if he didn't admit it, hurt him. Yes, Legolas was going to be good for him: another child to look after. Grinning happily the blond noldo stood up and stretched a hand to the dark haired counselor.

"There is dancing outside the House as well as singing. Lindir is playing, come with me" and making a true example of elven changes of mood, both elves went to sooth their hearts. Neither knew that Legolas' grieving eyes remained untold, for neither elf knew what was happening to that eccentric if cute young elf. Neither knew how to cope with it and so not dare said anything for fear of making a terrible mistake.

After all, diplomatic and warfare issues they could manage, but situations of the heart they just were not very keen on it.

Morning found a very unamused Elrond waiting along his two best friends in the counsel room. It was time for discussing again diplomatic business with Legolas, but so far neither he nor the twins had appeared.

"It will be best for the young prince if he is resting, but Elladan and Elrohir have no excuses" the lord of Imladris sighed angrily

"Calm down Elrond, it is not as if they ran away" Glorfindel said, but at a look of shock of Erestor he shut up. After all, the twins very likely could have done something like that. They were capable of everything if that meant to skip a counsel session.

Elrond just sighed again and walked to the balcony murmuring something that the other elves caught as "Why me? Why Iluvatar thought I needed more tortures in Arda?" Then the half elf saw a familiar dark hair walking in the gardens, harp in hand.

"LINDIR!"

At the shout Glorfindel and Erestor grimaced, while Lindir almost let his harp fall. Finding the place of the shout, he saw his lord in the balcony and bowing deeply, he ran inside the house and upstairs to the counsel room. After a knock, he entered.

"What can I do for you, my lord?"

"Do you know where my sons are?" asked Elrond

"Ummm… no, actually I have not seen them since yesterday night."

"I am going to kill them, slowly, painfully… maybe by making them attend to all the councils held in a year. No, better, a yen."

"Shall I look for them?" Lindir offered

"No!" both Glorfindel and Erestor said so quickly that Elrond raised an eyebrow.

"We will go" said Erestor smiling. He and Glorfindel knew how… touchy Elrond could be when angered by a twin incident. "You stay and sooth Elrond with a melody"

"Sooth me!" Elrond said indignantly and rolled his eyes at his two friends. "As you are on the way, go search the prince of Mirkwood too. I am still worry for him, he had not recover entirely and he must be still weak"

"As you wish, my lord" said Glorfindel while Erestor bowed deeply and both elves left the room, which was filled with a sweet and cherry melody.

Glorfindel and Erestor thought it would be easier to find Legolas first and so they made their way to the guest chambers. Glorfindel was about to enter when his friend stopped him and knocked first. The blond warrior rolled his eyes, but frowned when two identical, well known voices answered a muffled protest.

Avoiding the always formal advisor, Glorfindel entered the chamber to find a blond prince asleep on one side of the bed, while in the other the twins were curled, as always, together.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Erestor shout and as one the three princes fell from the bed. Glorfindel fought very hard to remain serious.

Legolas was the first one to react. Since it had been so much time since he had slept so peacefully, not awaking with nightmares (something he wonder why later), he hadn't heard the knock or the twins, but at the shout he woke up believing he was in Mirkwood and that Thranduil was angry for something with him again. But when he stood up and saw the face of the twins across the bed he relaxed so much that it was too much for his still weak body and fell on the bed.

"Are you alright?" Erestor asked quickly, concerned for the pallor of the usually pale face.

"Yes, I just… was not very awake yet" Legolas answered with the first thought that crossed his mind. He then cursed himself for his silly answer.

"Please accept my apologies Legolas, my behavior was out of order" Erestor said ashamed. The twins grinned amused; after all it was a sight they couldn't see every day.

"There is nothing to forgive"

"Excellent!" said Glorfindel impishly "Then we would like to wish you a good morning, but ai! It is almost afternoon"

"It can be" the twins said horrified.

"No, it is not" Erestor assured them glaring at Glorfindel "but you are indeed late for the meeting, your father is expecting you and not very happy I might add"

"We felt asleep" Elladan said sheepishly.

"Really? Here we were thinking that you were making an essay of the stronger points of diplomacy between the four elven realms, how mistaken we were"

"Glorfindel, sarcasm does not match with your charming personality" Elrohir said showing his tongue.

"On the contrary young one, it is part of it" said the blond elf smiling.

"Right" said Erestor watching with a mixture of exasperation and amusement "Anyway, why are you here? I am sorry if these two imposed themselves" he said turning first to the twins and then to Legolas, but for his surprise the young prince was shaking a bit and his eyes were wide with unbelieving.

"Legolas you are not right." Said Glorfindel frowning. The mention of his name took him out of his thoughts. Thoughts of failure and foolishness for his behavior. How could he have remained asleep when he had a meeting with the lord of Imladris.

"I… I am terrible sorry I did not arrive in time, I do not know what I can do to apologize…"

"You are still recovering, remember that Elrond is not only a leader, but a healer too. He understands." Erestor said softly resting an elegant hand on the prince cold shoulder.

"But I…"

"Do not worry Legolas" Elrohir said cheerfully

"Father is going to kill only us, you are safe" Elladan continued his brother's sentence

"You have diplomatic immunity" both finished.

Before Legolas could help it he was smiling.

"Go change you two and then met you father in the counsel room. As for you" Glorfindel turned his attention to Legolas once the twins were off. "if you are not feeling well we can postpone the meeting"

"No, the sooner I apologize to Lord Elrond the better. And I am well" Legolas added pointedly.

"Very well"

When Legolas remained alone in the room he began breathing faster and faster, as if he had run for a long time without stop. So much was happening, so confusing was everything that he wasn't certain of anything. Why had he had slept so peacefully? Especially when the day before he had a very hurting time.

Immediately two names came to his mind: Elladn and Elrohir. The twins had arrived at his rooms in the night and had share more than pastries, they had remained after the talking and none of the three had noticed that they fell asleep.

He couldn't be that tired, and checking his injured abdomen he noticed that the gash was slowly healing. In a few weeks he would not have even the scar. The blood loss was something that concerned him, but as far as now he wasn't having big troubles. He had deal with these situations in the past, when he had arrived from patrol injured, but no one had cared to see it.

So the twins had to be the only explanation for his peaceful slumber and he was glad, for he needed the rest.

Changing for a formal deep green robe he made his way to meet Elrond, ignoring the slightly trembles of his body. If he had cared to see all the symptoms he would have recognized that too much relaxation when he was with the six elves he had come to appreciate, the pain in his heart that Vinyaron and his new friends were inflicting to him and his almost but no totally healed injures were causing his body to enter in shock.

To be continue...

(1) EVERYONE in Middle Earth seems to be blood related, so why not?

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