Orophin had no idea what time it was when he finally opened his eyes. His body told him it was far later than he was accustomed to rising, but it also informed him that this was because he had abused it greatly last night. Rúmil was still fast asleep under the blanket, but Elrohir was nowhere to be seen. Somehow this did not surprise Oro. Elrohir was not exactly the sort to cuddle you in the morning.

How much wine had they had? When the three of them had left the banquet hall Elrohir had produced another bottle, stronger and better quality than what had been served at the table. Orophin had tried to say he had had enough but the two of them had only pinned him down and poured it into his throat, forcing him to swallow it or spit it all over himself. Pinning each other down always seemed to be part of the play between the three of them -- they always seemed to be ganging up on one another. Somehow, Orophin noted, Elrohir never managed to be the one being forced into one act or another. He really was a terrible influence on both him and Rúmil, and Oro never could seem to resist him.

Orophin sat up and looked around the room. When he saw the pitcher of water that had been left for them, he decided that Elrohir was not such a bad sort after all. Oro stood on unsteady feet and walked slowly to the stand. He poured some water for himself, drank it, and immediately felt better. No, it was not water -- it was miruvar, the Elven restorative. Elrohir went up even more in his estimation. It took all of Orophin's will-power not to drink the entire pitcher and not leave any for Rúmil.

Oro's eyes wandered to the large mirror that encompassed most of one wall. His hair looked better than he had expected, but he picked up his brush and fixed it anyway as he examined the bruises on his body. Yes, Elrohir was wild, and nigh insatiable. Oro was glad that he only saw Elrohir infrequently. He would never be able to indulge him on a nightly basis. Orophin put down his brush, dressed in clean clothing, and began to tidy up the room, picking up the empty wine bottle and the scattered clothing which lay on the floor. By the time he had finished Rúmil was still not awake, so Orophin decided to leave him in peace.

He slipped out into the hallway and headed towards the dining hall even though he was not terribly hungry. The hall was deserted but for two or three elves who were cleaning and setting the tables for dinner, so Oro knew it was after lunch-time. They asked him if he wanted any food, but Oro shook his head and turned around. He wondered where everyone was. For a while he wandered around the hallways, passing the occasional elf but not daring ask where those he knew might be spending their afternoon.

When he saw the party of Dwarves ahead of him in the corridor, Orophin shuddered. He had never spoken to a Dwarf before and they made him uncomfortable, especially as he was unarmed. Haldir insisted that it was rude to walk around Imladris carrying stacks of weapons so his bow, arrows, sword, and knives were in his pack in his room. It was just as well. Orophin could only imagine what trouble he would be in if he attacked some of Elrond's guests. Haldir was also, however, the one who had drummed into his head since he was an elfling that Dwarves were their enemies. Not sure what to do, Oro opened the nearest door and ducked inside, closing it quickly in front of him.

"Hello, Orophin."

"Legolas!"

Orophin saw that he had entered Lord Elrond's vast library, which was filled with many shelves of books and comfortable places to sit. There was a fireplace, but it was not lit since they were still in the summer season. Large windows looked out over the upper gardens. If he had thought much about it, it would not have surprised him to find himself there, for he actually knew the layout of the House of Elrond fairly well. Very little, however, could have prepared him for finding the Prince of Mirkwood there, standing between two shelves and holding a large tome which he had apparently been reading.

Legolas came seldom to Lórien and Orophin even more seldom went to Mirkwood, so it had been some time since they had met. Legolas looked a bit taller and even more fair if that were possible. His hair was a rampant gold color just a shade lighter than his father's and a shade darker than most of the Lórien elves' hair and hung to his waist. He had large blue eyes that always seemed both frank and sincere and a bow-shaped mouth that it was difficult to look at and not want to kiss.

Orophin was no different from anyone else. He wanted to kiss Legolas as much as anyone he knew, but his sense of propriety and his fear of being rejected by the beautiful elf had always held him back. Today, as he often was, Legolas was dressed in green and brown, though his tunic was slightly more ornate than usual, bordered in a gold design of leaves and branches. It made him look all the more regal and reminded Orophin that this elf, no matter how friendly he might be, was far about his station. Gathering his scattered wits, Orophin made the proper bow.

Legolas laughed. He closed the book he was holding and set it back on the shelf, stirring up a cloud of dust. "Oh, Oro, there is no one else here -- you need not stand on ceremony."

"It is difficult for me to avoid it. We have so much call for ceremony in Lórien," Orophin said, but he felt at ease. "When did you arrive?"

"Perhaps an hour past, and already my father has dragged Elrond off to closet themselves up together and discuss politics until they are ready to kill each other. We will not see them again until the dinner hour," Legolas said lightly. "Where are your brothers? Are they here with you? Will you stay long in Rivendell? I will be here for at least a fortnight and would be pleased to know I might have your company for that time."

"Rúmil, Haldir and I arrived yesterday, escorting Lady Arwen back from visiting her grand-mother. We will stay as long as Haldir deems prudent, I suppose. He did promise at least two weeks to Elladan last night."

Legolas inclined his head slightly. "Really? To Elladan?"

Orophin wondered if he should tell Legolas about finding Elladan in Haldir's bed yesterday afternoon and what the Prince would think of it. "They seem to have… made a connection," he said at last.

Legolas nodded. "Not a bad match," he said. "Elladan seems to have been very lonely over the past few centuries."

"An astute observation," Orophin said with admiration. Once Legolas had spoken the words, it seemed glaringly obvious to Oro though he had never noticed it before. "I admit that I myself have spent little time with Elladan lately."

"I hope he will mend his rift with Rúmil soon," Legolas said, sounding concerned.

"Know you of that? Did Elladan speak of it?"

"He guards that secret like the tomb, but his emotions when your brother is mentioned show plainly on his face. I have asked him about it, but it pains him. Still, I cannot imagine Rúmil ever being purposely cruel…"

Orophin sighed and decided to tell Legolas the story, or at least enough of it to assuage his curiosity. "He was not, of course. It was an accident. They look exactly alike, you know, and Rúmil thought he was lying with Elrohir… Elladan was gravely hurt. I think he may even have loved Rúmil."

Compassion flooded the expression of the Prince of Mirkwood. "Elladan has always been one to hold a grudge, and knowing Elrohir, he used this event to his advantage."

"Meaning what?"

"He and Rúmil are lovers, are they not?"

Orophin felt his ears turn pink and hot. "Not just Rúmil," he muttered.

Legolas laughed again. He stepped forward and laid a hand on Orophin's arm. "Do not think this will color my good opinion of you. Elrohir has an army of lovers. He is difficult to resist."

"It is well known that you have resisted him yourself," said Orophin. Now his cheeks were hot, too, at Legolas' touch and it nearly pained him to realize that he was almost uncontrollably attracted to Legolas -- something that almost certainly could and would never be fulfilled.

"He is not my type," Legolas said, "Although I do enjoy his company for riding and shooting -- and there is no one I would rather have at my back for fighting orcs, except perhaps my father. Yet for conversation and more tender pursuits I greatly prefer someone like Elladan."

Orophin frowned. Legolas moved his thumb in a circle and made it hard for Oro to think. "Have you and Elladan--"

"Shared conversation? Yes. But little else. You know, Oro, you remind me of Elladan."

Was Legolas flirting with him? Orophin was not sure. It could not be… could it? "I do?" he said.

"In many ways," said Legolas. The Prince leaned forward slightly and Orophin's heart pounded like a drum as he realized that Legolas was about to kiss him.

And then abruptly the moment was over as the door to the library banged open and Legolas let go of Orophin's arm and stepped discreetly away.