Rating: PG-13 to R (Angst... proceed with caution)

Summary: When Legolas is forced to make a decision that could very
well determine the fate of all Middle Earth, what will he do? And
what consequences will his choice have?

// = elvish translations
# = flashbacks
* = thought

Disclaimer and Acknowledgements: As in Chapter 1

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Chapter 15 - Family Apart

The House of Elrond was a bustle of noise and motion. Councilors and servants alike were scurrying in and out of room after room. It seemed that the whole of Rivendell was in an uproar. Although that was to be expected. It didn't take long for information to leak, rumors to start, and word to spread thoughout the realm like wildfire. At the moment, there was one word that was on the tongues of every citizen in Imladris. One word that echoed through the valley and hung in the air, like a fog, clouding over all else. Delund. Few people knew the actual circumstances for the resurfacing of the name, but even fewer cared. Many had been alive at the time of Delund's exile, and had been witness to his treachery. All the elves of Rivendell loved and deeply respected their Lord, and simply hearing the name spoken again sent a spike of fear and anger through their hearts. The elves swore they would do whatever was necessary to protect Elrond and his family.

Inside the palace, however, everyone had a very different agenda. The elf lord was in his private study, sifting through parchment after parchment, looking for anything that would give him more information about the poison Legolas had been introduced to. The twins were in the palace library, and Glorfindel and Erestor were looking through some long forgotten books and papers that had been moved to the storerooms.

As he finished reading the scroll in his hand, Elrond dropped it to the table disgustedly and pinched the bridge of his nose. They had been searching for hours now to no avail. The thought of what he would do if they were unable to find any information on the poison nagged at his mind. He could not allow Legolas to die. He was a prince. One of the few members of elven royalty left in Middle Earth.

Relations between Rivendell and Mirkwood had been strained ever since the defeat of Sauron and the death of Oropher, and though Elrond had always sensed a quality about Legolas that set him apart from his father, he had never given it much thought. Then by some twist of fate, Legolas and Aragorn met and, almost instantly, became the closest of friends. It did a great deal to alleviate the tension between to two elven realms. But more than any of that, Legolas had become like another son to him. Losing him would be the same as losing Aragorn or one of the twins. It was unthinkable. In a way, he had already lost one loved one to Delund's treachery. Elros. He would be damned if he was going to lose another.

As the elf Lord let his thoughts consume him, he could not shake the feeling that everything happening was his fault. He smiled ruefully as he realized this must be how Elladan and Aragorn feel when he chastises them for always blaming themselves. His mind wandered, and his memories tore at his heart.

# "No, brother. I have made my decision! I will not change my mind no matter how much you haunt me."

Elros looked at his brother's face and immediately regretted his harsh tone. "Elrond, listen to me," he said as he clasped the other elf's arm gently, "I'm sorry. I did not mean for my words to sound so cold. This is a choice placed before us both. You know this. You knew this day would come. Or at least you feared that it might. I know for I have felt the same since we were old enough to understand it. I know in my heart that this is the right decision. I am of no use to the elves, brother. They'll have you to lead them. The world of men needs me..."

"Elros..."

Tears formed in Elrond's eyes and he fought to keep them from falling. Deep down he somehow knew that while what his brother said was true, he was hiding something else. The elf couldn't decide which hurt more: that Elros had decided to join the race of men and live out the last of his days with them, or that his twin brother with whom he had never kept a secret in all their long years was trying to keep one from him.

Elrond looked away from his brother and gazed out the window at the horizon. His brother was an excellent leader. And strong. Elros had always been stronger than him. The difference between the two twins often amused all of Lindon. Elros the impulsive, fiery and aggressive fighter and Elrond, always the more calm and relaxed of the two; equally as fiery when necessary, but much more cautious than his brother. Many thought that when it came to it, if they were to choose separate fates, it would be Elros who would choose the life of men. The twins themselves often joked about it, Elrond teasing his twin for being so like a human, as he called it. Indeed, Elros would make a fine king. He would bring grace and honor to the world of men.

Still, that was not the only reason for his brother's decision, and Elrond had a feeling he knew what the other was.

"It's Delund, isn't it? You are doing this because of him. Elros, do not let him affect such a tremendous and important decision. This is it, Elros. Whatever choice you make will determine the course of your entire life. This is forever."

"I know that, Elrond. Do you think that I don't?" Elros sighed deeply. "And I am not letting him persuade my choice. Yes, he is part of the reason that Imladris no longer holds my love as strongly as it once did. But I assure you the fact that I will be far away from that wretched, vile creature is nothing more than a delightful benefit. This is the path I must take, brother. I know it in my heart just as surely as you know that you are destined to become a great lord of the elves of Middle Earth. This is how Iluvatar has planned it."

Elrond glanced back at his brother and his heart filled with pride. Standing there was the same Elros he had always known, but there was something different. He stood just a bit taller, his stance and words emitting the confidence in his choice that his tone belied. Elrond knew in that moment it was the stance and the words that were honest, not the shake he could hear in his twin's voice.

Elrond smiled, to which Elros responded in kind, and the two brothers embraced each other tightly. Arm in arm, they made their way down the hall to inform Earendil and Elwing of their decisions.

"How sweet," Delund thought to himself as he watched the twins disappear around the corner. "Well, my brothers," he said aloud, "one down." A malicious smirk spread across his face and he turned into the doorway of his bedroom. "One to go." #

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To Be Continued...