"Look! There it is!"

Elrohir pointed, his shout meant for the small figure seated before him on his horse. Rivendell was stretched out below them, arching halls and vaulting roofs. They were arriving in early afternoon and so the golden sunlight was washing over the whole of Imladris, dancing in the spray of many falls, catching in emerald-green leaves, and outlining the halls in warmth and splendor.

Legolas was silent as they thundered down the steep road that led into the vale, and Elrohir smiled. He was not offended but rather assumed, rightly he was certain, that the young elf had been stunned into silence by the sheer magnificence of Rivendell.

Elladan was riding behind them, for the road into Imladris was not wide enough for two to ride abreast. The twins had continued their pattern of taking turns bearing Legolas before them while they pressed onward as swiftly as they could. There had been no more conversations around the campfire, and although they had done their best to shelter the young elf from the worst of their travels, he had grown quiet and watchful, taking everything in with wide eyes.

He was not fearful. He still smiled brightly and responded favorably when Elrohir called him by his pet name, and answered willingly when Elladan asked him a question, but he had seemed to realize how dangerous their journey was, and had been unwilling to do anything to distract the twins and thus jeopardize them all.

Elladan came up alongside Elrohir as they passed through the gate and entered the main courtyard of Rivendell. Elrohir passed Legolas down to his brother before he dismounted himself and servants came forward to lead their weary horses away to the stables.

"So, what do you think, little dove?" Elladan asked Legolas. "This is our home. Rivendell."

Elrohir looked down in some startlement as the small Wood-elf butted up against him, pressing close. He dropped a hand to rest upon the golden child's skull, then grasped a slim shoulder and squeezed it comfortingly.

"It's beautiful," Legolas said, his voice soft and shy. His sapphire eyes were round, thick, dark lashes fluttering. Both Elladan and Elrohir thought that the child from Mirkwood was far more beautiful than Imladris. The sunlight caressed his porcelain skin, bringing faint color to his cheeks. His pale-gold hair shone in rich glory, crowning his fine head and spilling over slim shoulders.

The Wood-elves of Mirkwood seldom saw the light of the sun and both Elrohir and Elladan considered this to be a great shame, seeing how sweetly the warm beams kissed Legolas' gold and ivory beauty.

"What now?" Elladan asked, tipping his head quizzically at his brother.

"Obviously, we have to go and speak with father," Elrohir said firmly.

Elladan pulled a faint grimace. "He's going to skin us alive when he finds out about our... guest."

Elrohir rolled his eyes, having heard this and similar laments all the way along their journey from Mirkwood to Rivendell. Then he glanced down at Legolas as he felt a little hand creep over his own where it still rested on the child's shoulder in a partial embrace. He hated to think of the young elf-child witnessing the fullness of their father's likely wrath.

"Maybe we should leave Legolas with... Glorfindel or someone while we go and meet with father?" Elrohir suggested with faint hope. The elven lord had covered up for some of the twins' disasters in the past, but he had a feeling that this was much, much different.

"No, please!" Legolas' fingers clenched almost painfully, his eyes huge and his face washed of all color in his sudden panic.

"That would just make father more angry," Elladan said. "Because it would seem like we were trying to keep it from him, and this is something we can't hide. It's best to just tell him right away." He smoothed a hand through Legolas' golden hair. "Don't worry, little dove. We won't leave you behind."

"Still, we had best hurry," Elrohir said earnestly. "We have to get father the information he sent us for as quickly as possible."

"How about now?" Elladan asked, his grey eyes wide and fixed over Elrohir's right shoulder. He looked nearly as panicked as Legolas had a moment before.

Elrohir turned, steeling himself. "Ada," he said, bowing his head as Lord Elrond descended the stairs from the patio to the courtyard, his rich robes billowing after him. They had been lingering, and surely their father was wondering why. Legolas was a tiny huddle at Elrohir's side, edging behind his hip and thigh but still clutching at his hand. Elladan stepped forward, half-heartedly attempting to shield Legolas from their father's view. This was a vain effort, for it was beyond doubt that Elrond had already seen and taken note of Legolas' presence.

"Welcome home, Elrohir, Elladan," their father spoke, his expression stern and yet his eyes shining with bright pleasure at seeing his sons. "It is good that you have returned safely and with great swiftness."

Elladan and Elrohir exchanged a guilty glance. Elrond's gaze moved to fix upon the shrinking Wood-elf child between and behind them, and there was a query clear to read in his sharp eyes.

"Ada!" Elladan sought to distract his father, reaching into his jacket and tugging free a small scroll. "We have brought you the information you needed."

"Thank you." Elrond took the scroll and broke the seal. He scanned the closely scripted lines, one of his arched brows rising higher and higher and his mouth growing wider and tighter.

Elladan and Elrohir twitched, sneaking another shared look, then almost as one they glanced down at Legolas. The child was standing against Elrohir's leg, his hand clenched about the older elf's, his round eyes fixed upon the master of Rivendell.

"Glorfindel!" Closing the scroll, Elrond looked toward the patio, where the tall, golden-haired elven lord stood waiting.

"Yes?" Glorfindel descended the stairs swiftly.

"Take this and act upon it at once," Elrond instructed, passing the scroll into Glorfindel's hands. "I shall join you shortly."

Glorfindel bobbed his head and moved to do as he had been bid. But before he vanished into the main hall of Imladris, he spared the twins a small smile and a quick wink.

"Now." Elladan and Elrohir started as their father turned to them, his face settled into a grim expression, his hands on his hips. "Which one of you is going to tell me what you are doing with King Thranduil's youngest son?"

[More to come!]