LOTR || ⤜𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙩 → [Legolas x OC]

⤜ 23 → the twins

There was a silent agreement between the four of us to act civil as we all greeted Haldir with inconspicuous smiles. His presence may have dissolved the beginning of an argument, but he really didn't need to know that.

"Good morning." Haldir entered the room with a glide in his step. "I hope breakfast went well?"

"Wonderful, thank you," Aragorn replied swiftly. A subtle look was cast in Legolas's direction. In any other situation, I would have snickered at the casual expression Aragorn had forced into his features, but I was slowly trying to regain my own composure.

"I am pleased to hear that," Haldir continued. "The Lady Galadriel requests for your preparation. I have come to inform you that it is time."

"Already?" Gimli grieved.

"I am afraid so," Haldir responded. "We will surely miss your company, but know that the City anticipates your return with welcome arms."

That is, if you ever return... I couldn't help but feel the words left unspoken in his statement.

"Gather what you need for the journey ahead," Haldir ordered before his gaze fell on me. "Rosa, Ylva is here to aid you." The maid beside him bowed at the introduction. "Go with her. She will ready you for the road. Then we will all regroup by the river in an hour."

I nodded and stood up to leave. Ylva met me half way before gingerly taking my arm to walk me out of the pavilion. A tiny shiver crawled down the back of my neck, and a glance over my shoulder confirmed what I expected. Legolas watched me as I left. Though his smile seemed cordial and comradely, his eyes gleamed in a way that suggested otherwise.

I said nothing as I slipped through the gap serving as the entrance.

My steps caught up to Ylva's as she led us up the spiralling stairs of a Mallorn to a familiar level.  "This is Bellethiel's Talan?" I asked, a bubble of excitement rising in my chest at the thought of seeing her again.

"It is," Ylva smiled as her hand fell upon the door in a delicate knock. "She waits for you." At these words, the arched wooden doors swung inwards and we stepped inside.

The room looked the same as last time, the only difference being one of the beds were occupied by a young man— no. Elf, I corrected myself.

A pained groan slipped from him. He must've been truly injured, though I hadn't yet spotted any wounds because my view was obstructed by Bellethiel leaning over him, scrutinising his injuries. I didn't even notice when Ylva left me at the door to join Bellethiel's side.

"How do you fare, brother?" Ylva questioned the elf with a sigh.

Bellethiel started at Ylva's voice, now noticing our presence in the room, but her words of exclamation were drowned out by another groan from the injured elf.

"Dramatic, still. I see," Ylva translated his response.

"Ylva," Bellethiel greeted brightly. "Rosa! Come, take a seat!" She pointed to the vacant bed next to her. "Please accept my apologies, I did not hear the two of you come in."

"We did knock," Ylva responded, prodding at a bandage on the elf's arm. He hissed. "But I do not blame you for your lack of attention when my brother here is screaming like a Nazgûl."

"Lovely to see you too, sister," he gritted out.

"You're siblings?" I questioned, talking a seat as Bellethiel hustled about room.

"Twins," Ylva replied. To which her brother muttered a quiet "unfortunately."

I let out a small laugh, their interaction the embodiment of nominal sibling rivalry. Resting my elbows on my knees, I leaned forward and wished aloud, "I'd absolutely love to have a twin. I did not grow up with any siblings, and often times I would watch others play together. Tell me, do you both think alike?"

Ymir looked like he was about to reply, but it was Bellethiel answered, her voice smoothly sliding into the conversation. "The opposite, actually," Bellethiel tutted. "Ylva here is as calm and composed as a dove. Ymir is quite—"

"As charming as cherub," Ymir swiftly cut in, turning to me with a subtle wink, eyes crinkling at the corners as he tried to hide an impish grin.

Bellethiel only looked on with concern. "You really should not wink with a black eye," she chided.

Ymir tried to hide a wince. "I know."

Bellethiel tutted again, and Ylva sniggered quietly before pushing Ymir's head back down onto the pillow. "Lie back down," she ordered her brother.

His responding glare was slightly sullen around the edges. "I was laying down," he gave a sour scowl. "You simply wanted to push me."

Ylva stepped back with a half smile. "You know, you had about as much charm as a chicken when you tried winking with that black eye."

My curiosity was soon voiced into a question as I asked him, "how did you end up with such a bruised eye?"

Ymir had turned his neck at the question to face me, a careful consideration in his eyes. "Ah," he cleared his throat. "I lost my footing and plummeted from a tree. But enough about me. What I heard about you was far more interesting. You are the concussed lady who tripped and fell into a bush, are you not?"

"Ymir!" Ylva gasped and slapped her brother's shoulder at the statement. He bit back a howl of pain. "That was not very courteous or polite to say! And you did not fall from a tree, you lost to a spar." Ylva then turned to me, her expression slightly less mortified as apologies tumbled from her lips. But my reaction was not one anticipated by the siblings.

Unbidden, I had started to laugh, and Ymir's own embarrassed apologies were cut off by my laughter until I'd managed to subside it enough to speak. "I actually fell from the sky straight into a bush, hence my healing injuries." I clarified with a smile and brushed my fingers over a few faint bruises and cuts on my arms.

Ylva gasped, and somewhere behind me I felt Bellethiel hold back a chide. But Ymir looked on as curious as ever.

"Perhaps you could have slowed down the fall with your wings?" He asked. "I mean, they look rather mighty and potent."

Suddenly tense, I fought to keep the smile on my face. "If I'd known I had... wings," I awkwardly coughed out the word, still not used to them. In all honesty, I didn't think I'd ever be."I certainly would have tried for a softer landing. But I hadn't then. They were uncovered only the following night."

"Now that is a far more interesting story than mine," Ymir commented.

Whether I still looked uncomfortable or simply wished for a change of topic just then, Bellethiel decided to end the conversation and came back with an armful of items. She placed them down next to me and turned her attention towards the brother and sister. "Ylva, please watch over Ymir while I prepare our warrior for the road. Ensure he stays as still as a statue, else he will not heal as fast as he should."

While Ylva nodded at the order and turned to face her brother, a pleased glint in her eyes, Bellethiel had turned to look at me only to find my eyes on hers and my mouth slightly agape.

"What is the matter, dear?" She asked, gently taking my arm and to guide me across the room towards the dressing screen. I let her.

"I... a warrior?" I finally managed out as she transferred the pile of clothes into my arms. I chuckled disbelievingly. "I am no warrior. I can hardly shoot my arrows straight."

"Perhaps," a motherly smile had graced Bellethiel's face as she gently pushed me behind the screen. "But you have been chosen by the company of warriors to be among the company of warriors. And our traditions mean that we treat you as an equal," she explained liltingly. "We may not know what the threads of future shall weave on your tapestry, but I believe you have been chosen for this role, to protect our lands and our people from falling into the hands of evil. So I wish you well on your quest, warrior." Her hands brushed back my hair before resting on either sides of my face. She smiled. Then said, her voice no louder than a whisper, "Raise your chin and march forth, my dear."

I felt my heart leap.

"But first, you must get dressed."

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AN: it's 4:43am... you're welcome 😭🤚
- R 🧡