*********

Title: Hospitality pt. 6/?
Author: Deathangelgw
Author email: deathangelgw@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Sadly, if they were mine damned if I would share!! But they aren't
so POOP!
Warnings: AU, slash, sap, humor, angst, dark, hinted twincest.
Pairings: Elr/Ell implied, Ell/Elr/Leg, implied Elrond/OC
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Legolas is visiting Imladris for his father…what he finds there in
hospitality is quite unexpected!
Notes: Thanks to everyone who's been keeping up! Thanks also to MA for the beta.
Love ya! Enjoy and please review!!

'thoughts'

A husky wind blew around the cave-like halls that were home to the Sindar of
Mirkwood. Legolas shivered unconsciously, tugging his cloak around him in a
parody of protective warmth as he stared out his windows at the kingdom spread
before him. It had been three long years since that fateful meeting at Imladris.
Three years that had seemed to be a century to the young Elf prince, even for
one such as he.

The negations had started formally in Lothlorien, where Thranduil himself had
gone to work through the treaty with both Elrond and Celeborn. Long had been the
arguments, but they had been made longer for the fact that Legolas had been
stuck home. Thranduil had refused to allow his son to leave and had taken the
negations over himself.

'Not that it was any surprise after Ada's consequent tirade once he found out
about to whom I had lost my heart to,' Legolas thought bitterly as he replayed
the resultant uproar when he had been found out.

*~*flashback*~*

"But Ada! I was the one you had sent to the negations! Why are you insisting now
on being the one? Did I do something incorrect?" Legolas' voice was filled with
strained patience as he stood before his father in the King's study.

Thranduil glared at his middle son, green eyes flashing with his rage. "I will
not have my son going to the same place as his Peredhil lovers!" he snarled out,
rising to his feet like a voluminous storm cloud, radiating his fury.

Legolas gasped softly, paling swiftly as he stared at his father in shock.
"W-What?" he whispered, horrified. How did his father know?

Smirking coldly, Thranduil picked up a piece of parchment and waved it slowly.
"I found this in my missives from the two Lords. Clearly, it is a personal
letter to you. I searched in the pile and found another such letter. A *love*
letter." His sneer soured the normally sweet word and Legolas felt his stomach
churn at the disgust in his father's voice.

"But Ada…" Stopping, Legolas finally found his courage and straightened, his own
green eyes flaring with his anger. "And what gives you the right to snoop
through *my* things!" he demanded, fairly rigid with his anger.

"The right as a father and your King!" Thranduil roared as he slammed the
parchment to his desk, ripping it. Legolas nearly swayed in his sorrow as he
stared at his father. "I will not have any of *my* children or people
associating with those low-class Peredhil! And that is final!" His voice echoed
through the room in the stifling silence, crushing Legolas' heart.

*~*end flashback*~*

Bringing his hand up, Legolas pinched the bridge of his nose to stave off the
tears that threatened. 'Three years…and, save for those ill-gotten letters, I
have heard nothing from either of them. Perhaps they truly did not care, for I
cannot believe that they would not seek a way to contact me,' he thought in
despair, shivering again. He missed his lovers, no matter how brief the time had
been, and feared that his father had done something else to make sure his point
came across clearly.

'At least Calenglîr was spared. No one knows save for me that he is lovers with
Lord Elrond,' he thought in relief, smiling slightly at that. He knew for a fact
that his best friend and the Peredhel Lord had been keeping in contact
secretively, using the birds and couriers carefully to keep the communication
open. 'He is in love…so deeply in love. Of that I am glad,' he thought with a
warmer smile as he gazed out at the stormy countryside.

He tilted his head as he heard a soft knock on his door. "Enter." His voice was
not as cheerful as it had once been, but it still held a cordial tone that
warmed any who heard it.

Calenglîr's golden head peeked in and he smiled as he saw his prince. Coming in,
he went to the desk. "I have news for you, ernilen." (my prince)

"Oh? And what is this news?" Legolas tried to put some interest into his voice,
but it still did not ring with enthusiasm. He'd lost hope long ago…

"The emissaries from Imladris and Lothlorien have arrived, ernilen. Your father
wishes your presence to greet them," Calenglîr said with a bow of his head.

"Then I best go, else he will send out another party to *escort* me in," Legolas
replied softly, sighing. He went to his wardrobe and pulled on his thicker dress
robe, fluffing his hair after he pulled it on. He sighed and felt tears come to
his eyes as he looked in the mirror. "Tis unfair, meldiren. I cannot even have
what I long for," he whispered softly, nearly choking on a sob. (my dear friend)

Coming to his Prince's side, Calenglîr hugged Legolas tightly, guiding the
golden head to his shoulder lovingly. "You will find a way, meldir. You will
find a way as will they. I refuse to believe that this was only a half-hearted
meeting. I truly believe there was love blossoming," he replied gently as he
stroked soothing fingers through the golden silk.

"At least you have your love. I am glad my father has not found out. I do not
know what I would do if you were sent away," Legolas whispered as he hugged his
friend tightly back, sniffling through the errant tears that threatened. He
exhaled gustily and straightened himself, smiling faintly. "Come…before my
father decides to search for us on his own." He grinned as Calenglîr chuckled
and they headed from the chambers to the main throne room.

*~~**~~*

The meeting had passed in the normal diplomatic speed: slow and tedious. Legolas
was glad that, after the resultant dinner, he could excuse himself and escape,
not wishing to see the two emissaries in reminder of what he couldn't have. His
father's face had held disapproval when he had begged leave, but could not stop
his son lest he be seen as truly unreasonable. Therefore, with a relief born of
boredom, Legolas had swiftly retreated to his cold and lonely rooms.

Thus he stood, gazing out at the forest once more as his thoughts turned to the
melancholy that refused to reduce its grip on his heart. It had been a nice
change to see the Lord Councilor of Imladris and the March Warden of Lothlorien.
However, the two he longed to see where not in sight. Legolas curled a bit
inward, shivering. He missed the two Peredhil…

He glanced over as a knock resounded on the door and he frowned. Who could be
visiting? “Enter,” he called out, turning to greet the visitor. His eyes widened
in surprise as Erestor came in slowly, looking around cautiously before facing
the Prince with a smile. “Lord Councilor! To what do I deserve this unexpected
visit?” Legolas exclaimed in surprise, put off by the sudden appearance.

Bowing his head, Erestor came forward slowly. “I have something for you,
ernilen. It was given to me ere I left Imladris’ valley walls. I have been
charged to make sure that it…” He chuckled softly, grinning widely. “It is to
escape your father’s capture at all costs and find safe haven in
your…delicate…hands,” he finished teasingly, chuckling once again as Legolas’
eyes widened even further as he flushed at the innuendo.

“You…have something from them?” Legolas whispered in a small voice as he came
forward, clutching the cloak around his body with a shaking hand. He could not
believe his luck!

“Oh aye. And such a troublesome piece it is.” Erestor’s voice was laden with
amusement as his dark eyes twinkled mischievously. He pulled out from his pocket
a small ornate box and held it out for the stunned Prince. “Take it with their
fondest love,” he said as Legolas took it.

“Hannon le, Lord Councilor,” Legolas murmured softly, his voice husky with held
in tears as he looked up at the dark haired Elf. “How can I repay you?”

“Find hope within that simple box and consider my debt paid,” Erestor replied
before he turned to leave. He stopped, and then flashed a brilliant smile over
his shoulder at the stupefied blond. “Ah, but I am also expected to bring with
me certain…other signs. Shall I expect more from you?” He asked sweetly,
innocently.

“Aye! Aye, expect something from me most assuredly!” Legolas said in joy, eyes
sparkling with tears. He watched as the Councilor bowed his head and left the
room, closing the door tightly behind him as he left. The Prince’s eyes trailed
immediately back to the box in his hand and, with a trembling finger, he opened
the ornately carved lid.

He gasped softly as he saw the delicately wrought star that was melded within a
leaf, both made of the most shimmering of gold. He carefully picked up the
creation and saw that it was a clip for his hair and he instantly began thinking
of ways to wear it. He then looked further into the box and saw that the padding
for the fragile decoration was indeed two letters.

Pulling them out with a soft cry of joy, Legolas began reading them eagerly,
soaking in the words that he had hoped for and now had to bolster his love anew.
After reading both letters three times thoroughly, he went to his desk and
picked up his quill as well as a new parchment, then sat down. With a smile, he
put his quill to the page and began writing immediately, allowing his heart to
speak. ~My beloved twins. How I miss you so…~

*~~**~~*

The day was a blustery one that foretold winter as the emissaries of the other
two Elven Realms mounted up and prepared for their return journey. The treaty
had been signed with great ceremony and there had been much rejoicing in the
land of the once great Greenwood. Now, the two were to return to their lands so
that copies of the treaty could be stored and plans made.

“I wish you safe journeys Lord Councilor, March Warden. May the roads be
generous in the blessings.” Thranduil said as he stood before them, smiling
benignly. Inside though he was fuming. Where was Legolas?

“Thank you, King Thranduil. May your strength never fade and your wisdom
endures.” Haldir replied softly as both emissaries bowed from their saddles.
They both looked over as footsteps were heard running and a flushed Legolas ran
out.

“Pardon! I beg pardon! I was caught by an unforeseen accident!” Legolas cried as
he ran down to his father’s side, bowing to them all in apology.

“Pardon is given, ernilen. Do take care and remain bright.” Haldir said with a
soft smile as a beaming smile was bestowed upon them.

Erestor nodded in agreement, his eyes twinkling with secrecy as he subtly
touched his saddlebags with its precious contents. Legolas’ eyes sparkled in
thanks as he bowed to them once again.

“Until next time,” Thranduil said testily, shooting his sheepish son a look that
spoke much more than was said. Legolas had the grace to look embarrassed as he
bowed his head, but nothing could rid him of his joy. The two delegates left for
their homes and, for Legolas, they carried far more important to his heart. He
watched them go and knew that things would now begin to look up. He had his
answers from the two letters he had received. He need never worry again.

TBC