A/N: Hello everyone! This is the penultimate chapter of The Wild Ones, I really hope you enjoy it :))

Chapter 11: Deception

Elrohir did not show for lunch as he had been expected to, and conversation, although muted, had been heavy and solemn. Only Glorfindel seemed lighter, contending that what had happened in the garden would have positive effects on Elrond's wayward son.

Elladan had been skeptical, and Elrond had only half-accepted his general's reasoning. Arwen said nothing at all for she had been away for so long, unaware of her brother's destructive spiral into misery.

Erestor had simply huffed at the implication that the Silvan captain had managed to pull Elrohir back from the precipice, albeit he had conceded it had been a brave deed, one that had earned the captain a resonant slap across the face.

They had finally agreed that only time would tell if anything were to come of it, and so they had lingered a while, and then had walked away quietly, to their rooms or to the gardens, for none of them had had the inclination for anything else except to give free rein to their own thoughts and feelings. Celebrian had left much in her wake, the worst of which had been her youngest son's incapacity to accept her departure.

Elrond, however, was desperately clawing at an irritating nag at the back of his mind, for somewhere along the line, he remembered Erestor commenting quite casually, that Taú reminded him of Oropher. As he walked towards the famed library of Imladris, his mind delved for answers to a question only his subconscious had seemed to brush. Surprisingly, when he arrived, there was one other who already sat at a long table, before a selection of thick tomes – Erestor.

"You read my mind, it seems," said Elrond quietly.

"Yes," answered Erestor lightly – too lightly, thought Elrond as he sat before his friend.

"Well?" he asked.

Erestor's head rose to meet Elrond's expectant gaze, his shrewd grey eyes sparkling with nascent understanding.

"You may want to take a look at this, Elrond..."

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Elrohir shifted his leaden body upon the ground. He had been lying upon the forest floor for far too long and now, his limbs were stiff and his back ached. Stretching himself somewhat painfully, he glanced over at the elf who was similarly sprawled beside him.

A pained groan lifted the haze that had fallen over his eyes and he sought the Silvan's green eyes. The elf was clumsily trying to sit up, and Elrohir shuffled up beside him, trying and failing to help his new-found friend.

"Oh, Taú – I'm sss – sorry, m'friend. Look qwat I did...." He slurred as a hand came up to point at Taú's split lip.

"Snothing, rohi – elro – here, have 'nother bit of..." he babbled, fumbling for a bottle that was already empty. "oh – s'gone – all – gone..."

"Like.... None – none left?" he asked, his face screwed up in childish disappointment as he took the bottle and shook it experimentally.

"Sh'wee get – go get s'more?" tried Elrohir.

"Can't, can't stand now – you go!" said Taú, flopping back down on his back.

Elrohir decided that it was pointless trying to stand, it wouldn't work he knew, and so he too, lay back down and looked up at the slowly darkening sky.

"Sss'all grey... like – like her eyes – sparkly grey – lovely...wha – what colour we ye mother's eyes?" asked Elrohir wistfully.

"Green," sighed Taú. "Green and they twinkled golden, like toasted barley..." he trailed off.

"Wz'she beautiful, Taú?"

"Oh yes," he whispered, his own green eyes filling with tears as he remembered her. "Sh'wz a – mythkal – mythical – beauty, ehrohi – calm, kind, glowing, she wz... peace, sec – security – love," he whispered finally, for his slurred speech had broken and his tears finally escaped.

"Oh, Taú," said Elrohir who sat up once more to look down at the captain. "I'm so sorry – how old – how old we you when she, when..."

"Fff – fteen, couldn't fight you see," said the teary-eyed Silvan as he struggled and succeeded in sitting himself up. "Couldn't dfend her... I couldn't..."

Elrohir sobbed as his own tears began to fall, and both, inebriated elves fell into each other's arms, finally giving free rein to their sad memories. Yet for Elrohir, it was so much more than that. Tau had touched upon the essence of his misery these past years. All it had taken was for one elf to provide the answer to a question he had never asked himself consciously, but one which his mind had screamed at him for years. The manifestation of utter darkness in utter goodness, equaled 'evil'. It was a simple equation that had now been solved, allowing his mind to rest at last.

With one final squeeze, Elrohir sat back and smiled at the Silvan captain.

"W – would you be my fff – friend, Taú? I mean I'm – sssorry for everything – I jjust - ..."

"Even 'f I'm Silvan, or at least half f Silvan – a Wild and un – couth – Wood-elf?"

"Even then," smiled Elrohir and they hugged once more, swaying dangerously as they did so. Luckily for them they were already sitting upon the ground, for had they not been, they would surely have fallen.

It was not until later, that Elrohir would remember that last comment that Taú had uttered in his drunken stupor ... 'only half-Silvan' he had said. Half-Silvan...

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It had been Elladan, in the company of his father, who had quite by chance come across the two drunken elves, desperately trying to support themselves as they staggered into the house in the dead of night. They whispered and snickered and snorted, only to fall stony silent when Elladan and Elrond appeared before them.

It did not last long though, for the two of them promptly snorted loudly and erupted into peels of uncontrollable laughter.

Elladan looked blankly at this father, until Elrond's stony façade changed into something softer and he held out his arms to his son.

"Ffather, I'm ssorry – father, ssory for everything, I..."

"Shush," said Elrond not unkindly as he took his son. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern.

"Yes. But, but I, I hit Taú father and – and he's already – already hurt..."

Elrond looked at Taú long enough to scowl at him, before gesturing to Elladan that he should take his brother.

Elrond took the Silvan by the elbow and carefully steered him back to the healing wing, where Elrond had wrongly supposed he would be.

"You, are coming with me, to where you should never have left," he said sternly, yet his actions belied the frost in his words.

Whichever was the case, Taú was too drunk to notice, or to care, even when Elrond sat him down upon his bed and checked his wounds, or when he handed him a cup of steaming liquid to drink, nor when he finally left with one last lingering gaze that spoke of puzzlement and - respect.

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Breakfast, and Elrond sat with Erestor, Glorfindel, Elladan and Arwen, as plates of steaming fare were placed before them.

"And where, pray tell, is your brother, Elladan?" asked Elrond rhetorically.

Elladan's brows rose imperiously as he turned to his father. "In bed?" he said sarcastically.

"You have yet to learn the wiles of rhetoric Elladan. "I realise he would be in bed. The essence of the question is this: why is your brother not out of his bed and at this table?"

"He was as inebriated as I have ever seen him. I doubt he has even woken yet, and when he does..." he trailed off with a sickly scowl.

"Save us the details, Elladan, but heed me if you will. I will have all my children at the lunch table today. Ah, and please see that Captain Taú graces us with his presence."

Elladan's brows rose and his head turned towards Erestor, whose own head was turned down at his plate of food. He knew something. There was something afoot for his father would not normally invite a mere captain to his table. Mayhap he wished to thank him for saving Arwen, he mused. But no, the explanation did not satisfy him and so when breakfast had finally finished, Elladan ambled away towards his brother's room and enlightenment, or so he hoped.

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"You look like a wraith, Taú. You cannot present yourself at Elrond's table like that," scoffed Halú.

"If I look like a wraith it is because I feel like a wraith; leave me be!" he said in irritation as he batted the young warrior's hands away from his unbraided hair.

"Really, Taú. What would your father say," smirked Benár as he began to plait it.

"He would have my steaming guts on a platter; that is for sure!" he said.

"Oooh, yes!"

"Now, I am unsure as to why I have been invited to lunch with the Lord, and we should be ready for anything. 'Tis unlikely, I know but – should I be detained," he said meaningfully, looking into each of the three warriors' eyes, "you must leave and report to our Lord. Is this understood?"

"You mean after we have rescued you, yes."

"Nay, Benár. Heed my words well – you must leave without me, and report to my father."

Benár, Halú and Dorán looked at each other worriedly before turning back to their captain.

"I do not pretend to understand your motives, Taú. But comply we will, even though it is against our natures to do so."

Legolas smiled and nodded. He had expected no less, these warriors were loyal to a fault.

"Well then, wish me luck!"

They simply nodded back before walking part of the way towards the house in tense silence, finally coming to stop in the gardens immediately before the Lord's private suite. They would be close by, should anything untoward occur.

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"Captain Taú!" greeted Glorfindel in a most un-Noldorin way, at least to Legolas' mind. He was affable and effusive and what he felt he expressed - Legolas liked him.

"Lord Glorfindel," he nodded and smiled as he walked into the private dining room, only slightly limping. His – episode - with Elrohir the day before had aggravated the wound a little. The less pressure he put on it the better, he reckoned, as he took stock of his surroundings, his eyes glancing over each of Elrond's children and smirking when they landed on a scowling Elrohir.

The scowl was promptly replaced by a mischievous grin, however, one which Legolas returned with one of his own, his white teeth flashing for a moment.

"Please sit, Captain," motioned Elrond as he took his own seat at the head of the table.

"How are your wounds today, Taú?" asked the lord lightly as wine was served in fine goblets fit for lords and ladies.

"Improving, my Lord, thank you."

"Well, I would wager it is not your leg that gives you grief this day but a different part of your anatomy..." drawled Erestor with a smirk and Legolas resisted the urge to arch an eyebrow in silent censure.

There was a snort from Elladan then that was promptly smothered with a sip of wine and a burning scowl from his brother.

"So tell us, Taú. When must you leave?" began Glorfindel. "I would very much like to exchange military technique with you and your elves. Mayhap we will have time...?"

"I hope so, my Lord. It would be a great privilege to do so. However, our departure depends solely on Lord Elrond. Should you wish to send a reply to my Lord, I must return with it at once. Those are our orders."

"Indeed Erestor and I are working on that now. Tomorrow will bring with it a decision on the issue."

Legolas nodded as he smiled at the servant who placed a most appetising chunk of buttered trout upon his plate.

"Come now, father. Let us talk of other things. There will be time enough for work on the morrow," Arwen smiled as she met Taú's green eyes.

There it was again, mused Legolas. Did she fancy him, he wondered? Again, he willed his brow not to send his eyebrow aloft once more and simply smiled his own, winning grin and could have sworn her pale skin had turned rosy.

Glorfindel watched her from over the brim of his cup, hiding his own knowing smile, and Legolas was, again, struck by why he liked this legendary warrior so much.

Next came the meat and Legolas had to admit that the Noldor knew their stuff. The food was excellent and, for a while, he was immersed in it, in the strong, spiced flavours and the array of textures from soft and silky to crunchy and crisp. It was delicious and he closed his eyes in near ecstasy.

"You are enjoying our fare, Captain?" smiled Elrohir as he watched his new-found friend.

Legolas abruptly stopped chewing as his eyes snapped to Elrohir, realising that all eyes were upon him. He would have blushed had he not had so many years of practice at his father's knee.

"I am afraid it has been too long since I sat at a high table, my lords. Too many moons on patrol," he smiled quietly as he continued to eat, more slowly now.

"Do you have family, Taú?" asked Arwen conversationally, and Legolas damned his bad luck.

"Aye, my father awaits my return in the Greenwood, as do my aunt and uncle and a smattering of cousins," he said lightly.

"No siblings, then?" asked Arwen innocently.

"Nay, no siblings..." he smiled, hoping it would be enough to finish that particular line of conversation. He was wrong though.

"I remember you mentioning that you are only half-Silvan, Taú," said Elrohir. Are you half Noldo then?" he smiled wickedly.

Legolas looked dumbly back at him. He had erred, he knew, although he had not remembered that slip until Elrohir had mentioned it. He would need to tread with care now.

"Noldo? Nay, Sindarin."

"Oh?" said Erestor, in a tone Legolas decided he did not like, for it had sounded – sarcastic.

"Aye, Sindarin my Lord." Perhaps the tactic would work – the truth with no explanation. After all why would he need to explain? There were plenty of Sindarin elves around.

"That explains your colouring, certainly," said Elrond. "Perhaps we know your father?"

Legolas froze for only a moment, because something was beginning to dawn on him and his stomach lurched. Why had they invited him to this table in the first place?

Now was the time for cool calm and collected emotions. He would give nothing away, and so he sipped his wine and answered.

"I doubt that my Lord. My father is a warrior of the Greenwood. As far as I know you have not met him, my Lord," he said, his eyes turning challengingly to Erestor, who held the frosty gaze most unnervingly.

The silence grew until it became awkward and Taú thought perhaps that now would be a good time to take his leave. But protocol would not allow for that, for it would mean rising from the table before the host. He could not.

"You know, there are many Sindar left in Middle-earth, Erestor. Why on Earth would you presume to know Captain Taú's father?" said Elrond, too lightly, and Legolas decided it had sounded alarmingly – ironic.

Elrohir and Elladan's brows were furrowed in confusion and Arwen seemed simply oblivious, but Glorfindel was watching his Lord and the Chief Advisor closely.

"Now perhaps that was a rhetorical question," continued Elrond as he rose from his seat and moved to his desk. Picking up a thick, dusty tome, he flicked through the pages and then returned to his seat, but he did not sit. Instead, he dropped the book with a resounding thud, dust puffing to the sides and then settling around a book that had clearly not been opened for many years...

It was then that Legolas saw it, a portrait of Oropher, first king of the Greenwood.

"The resemblance is astounding – wouldn't you say? He said from his position above Legolas, his grey eyes glittering in challenge and repressed anger.