• 1-Winter's Heart
• 2-Two

Legolas and a girl of his house
come to Rivendehen hen the winter is too harsh after their passage from the
Grey Havens.
“We have no choice,” he said, continuing a conversation from earlier. “We cannot continue.”

Silanna stopped, inhaled the garish air and
breathed, “What then shall we do? The
only path home lies within the Gap of Rohan.”

Legolas surveyed that path and just as moments
before, drew no sign of hope. They
would be lucky to make it to the realm of the Horselords without falling
beneath the weight of winter. “We must
return to Bree and hope they allow us sanctuary.”

Elladan gave his brother an annoyed look, but was
all too quick to take up the story again.
“Unfortunately I tripped.” A
maiden gasped softly, another shifted in her seat. The Prince of Mirkwood crossed his arms and watched him orate
with a humored expression written upon his face. “For a brief moment I thought that was the end, honestly. One of the goblins was bearing down on me
and though I shot it, it was relentless, driven from death by its madness.”

“How did you get out of there alive?” asked a
dark-headed maiden with deep blue eyes that were only for Elladan.

The son of Elrond looked at her softly, with
haunted eyes. “I cannot even begin to
tell you. The fight was brutal, leaving
one little time for committing such distressing acts to memory.”

Legolas smirked.
Elladan caught it and frowned.
“If you have something to say then out with it, stable boy.”

Though the hands of Silanna tugged at his shirt, the
Prince of Mirkwood kept his expression amused.
He fingered his goblet and said, “And why should I comment on such a
fantastic tale?”

Elladan pointed at him threateningly. “We tolerate you at this table, you who are
not so gentle as the company you are with.
But I will not endure your mocking.”

Legolas spread his hands. “Did I mock?”

“Be at peace,” warned the younger twin, laying a
hand on his brother’s arm to quell his wrath.
He pursed his lips and sighed.
“You are too easily goaded.” He
smiled cordially at the other youths.
“Our father blames my brother’s te on on our Uncle Elros. I think it his fondness of wine.”

This did not assuage his twin’s tension, merely
enhanced it. Elladan was not prepared
to let the subject drop. “Nay, I say if
he would comment he should do it freely.
Come, Greenleaf, tell me what you thought so funny. Would you laugh at another’s peril?”

“Nay,” Legolas said genuinely. “It was not that, merely your great boasting
that caused me amusement. Forgive me,”
he grinned, “I thought you had made a jest.”

Elladan stood up from his place and balled his hand
into a fist, but Elrohir’s firm grip on his tunic stopped his advance. “Adar watches, brother. It would be interesting to make it through a
night without incurring his anger.”

The Prince of Mirkwood glanced to where Elrond sat,
his eyes upon the minor fray. Elladan
sighed, following his eyes. He sat
down, but not without expressing his vexation one last time, hissing, “You will
learn your place in Rivendell, stable boy.
You just wait!”

The Noldor returned to their affairs as Elrohir
offered up a song in distraction.
Silanna elbowed Legolas, embarrassed by his actions. “Why must you persist?”

He took a sip of wine. “I thought he was joking.
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