"What exactly is going on here?" asked Lord Elrond.

He was only mildly surprised to find his sons on the floor of the east wing hallway causing a ruckus. Elrohir had Elladan pinned down and was beating him with a hairbrush. Elrond had come looking for Elladan, who had not shown up for their scheduled riding appointment.

On the way to Elladan's room he had encountered Lord Glorfindel, who was practicing feints and lunges in a small alcove and who nearly sliced a tapestry in half when Elrond surprised him. Elrond had suggested that Glorfindel might prefer to practice outside where he was not likely to harm anyone or anything and Glorfindel had muttered something under his breath which Elrond decided was best not to ask him to repeat.

He had turned the corner to find Arwen and Haldir also holding swords -- Arwen had quickly handed hers to Haldir (did she think Elrond would not recognize Hadhafang, her grandmother's sword?) Elrond had inquired rather sarcastically whether Rivendell was under attack and while the two of them were stuttering to find a reply Glorfindel came round the corner and told Haldir he was late for his sword fighting lesson.

Haldir proceeded to inform Glorfindel rather loudly and long-windedly that it was not a lesson but a practice, since being the Marchwarden of Lothlórien he certainly did not need lessons. Glorfindel said that he did not know what the difference was and while Haldir explained it to him, Elrond had become aware of an odd smacking sound. Before he could determine what the sound was, it was followed by a loud crash which was almost certainly an expensive crystal vase smashing on the marble floor of the east wing.

The four of them had rounded the corner like one creature and Elrond felt the eyes of all three of the other elves turning towards him after they took in the sight of the twins on the floor. Before either of them could answer his question, Elrond seized Elrohir by the ear and pulled him off of his brother.

"Elrohir--" he raged as his son dropped the brush onto the floor to mix with the shards of crystal.

"That's Elladan, Father," said the real Elrohir cheerfully from the floor. He stood up and brushed off his grey tunic.

"I thought your grey tunic was torn fighting orcs in the mountains," Elrond said, letting go of Elladan's ear.

Elladan was blushing and staring in horror at the other occupants of the hallway. Haldir looked mildly amused, raising one of his finely arched brows, while both Arwen and Glorfindel were shaking with laughter. Elrond gave Glorfindel a look meant to silence him. The venerable war councilor should know better than to act like an elfling. Honestly, he was worse than Elrohir sometimes.

"It was," said Elrohir. "This one is Elladan's. I think grey suits me better than him."

Elrond did not bother to point out the glaringly obvious fact that the pair of them looked exactly alike. He had other things to contend with. Then again, the assembled company did not need to concern themselves with this incident.

"Elladan, I thought we were going riding," he said in an irritated tone.

"Forgive me, Father. I overslept. Elrohir only just came in to wake me up and since he was so late I had to beat him with the brush," Elladan said.

"What cheek!" said Elrohir in an admiring tone. "I suppose next you are going to tell him I broke that vase."

"You did break that vase," said Elladan.

Elrond sighed. "Elrohir, clean up the broken crystal before someone steps in it. Glorfindel, Haldir take those swords outside. Elladan will join you later. You may practice in the lower gardens just beyond the fountain. Arwen--"

"I mean to go watch them practice!" Arwen said hurriedly.

"Very well," said Elrond. "Elladan, come with me. We can still get in an hour's ride before Thranduil gets here." The King of Mirkwood would be even more irritating than usual if Elrond was not there to greet him.

"Thranduil is coming? And Legolas?" asked Elladan.

"Yes, and Legolas."

"Wonderful," said Elrohir in a petulant tone. Clearly he did not like Thranduil any more than Elrond did, but Elrond was surprised he was not as excited as his twin about the visit from Legolas. Everyone else seemed to be excited about it.

"I will be glad to see Legolas," said Elladan.

"He is boring," said Elrohir.

"You will treat him with courtesy nonetheless," said Elrond. He swept out of the hall and headed towards the stables and Elladan followed him. "Why does your brother dislike Legolas?" he asked as they exited the palace.

"Because Legolas would not-- ah, because as he said, Elrohir finds Legolas boring. Personally, I think he is quite charming," Elladan said.

Elrond chuckled inwardly, not letting Elladan know that he knew what he was trying to cover for his twin. Legolas chose not to be Elrohir's bed partner. It was just as well someone said no to him. Legolas was one elf who had as few partners as Elladan seemed to. Elrond would have liked the Prince of Mirkwood to warm his own bed, but it was not worth all the grief he would certainly have to endure from Thranduil about it. Maybe Legolas would take up with Elladan. They would make a good pair, and could certainly offer each other devotion.

Then again, there was the attraction between Haldir and Elladan. Had anything come of it last night? Haldir had been up far earlier than Elladan, so it was impossible to say. He wondered if he could ask Elladan or if it would only make his son withdraw further. At least Elladan seemed to be in a better mood today, for he had seemed rather cheerful as he was beating Elrohir with the hairbrush.

"Has your sadness passed?" he asked Elladan as they reached the stables. Elladan whistled to his horse and it trotted eagerly forward, nosing him in the shoulder. Elladan patted the beast's nose and whispered softly to it. He would ride without a saddle or other trappings in the way of most elves, but Elrond preferred a saddle. He removed his outer robe, which had covered his riding ensemble, and hung it on a peg. The stable hand had already prepared his steed for him.

"I know I have been moody lately, Father," Elladan said. "Forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive," said Elrond, turning and laying a hand on Elladan's shoulder. "I simply want you to know that I would do anything in my power to insure your happiness."

"Thank you," said Elladan. He turned away to hide his expression and moved to mount his horse.

Elrond swung himself up onto his own steed and led the way out of the stable. He chose a path around the border of Rivendell which led along the water but was wide enough to ride side by side.

"I wish you would speak to me of your troubles," Elrond said at last after nearly ten more minutes of silence.

"I would if I knew what they were," Elladan admitted at last. "A shadow has fallen over my mind lately. I do not understand this…sadness, as you call it. If I did, I would work towards lifting it, though I do appreciate your concern."

"Perhaps the arrival of the Marchwarden has helped some?" Elrond probed gently. He glanced over at Elladan, who suddenly fixed his gaze on a point somewhere far ahead and did not look back at his father.

"What do you mean?" he asked in a voice which Elrond knew was calculated to sound casual.

"You need a companion beside Elrohir, I think. Haldir seems to like you--"

"Haldir will be leaving in two weeks."

"But meanwhile…"

"Meanwhile I will enjoy his company as much as he will allow me to," Elladan said. He looked at Elrond. "You are right. He does lift my spirits."

"I approve of that," Elrond said, hoping Elladan would understand that he was giving the union his blessing. "Now come, race me back to the garden. Think you that you can beat your father?"