( this is the point at which gwenaëlle rises, sweeping her hair back over her shoulder and taking thranduil's crystal from him—it happens swiftly enough, her voice becoming increasingly audible as she mutters, incredulously, )

—it remains a mystery to me why Thedas got the stupid twin.

( most of the time, she doesn't spare elros a second thought. occasionally, when reminded he exists, she remembers how decidedly unimpressive she finds him. clearer, now, and leaning against thranduil who remains the single most exasperating thing in her life, )

Scoutmaster Ashara, this is Lady Gwenaëlle Vauquelin. What my husband is trying to say, in roundabout fashion, is that he is my husband and it's important to him to share that with you. ( for reasons which escape her, but: ) If rearranging his idiot cousin's features is the only way you can imagine reconciling yourself to this news, I implore you to follow your heart.

( she looks up at thranduil, eyebrow raised. are you happy now. )