Chapter One

Elrohir sighed as he walked down the hall towards his chambers. Stopping to lean against the wall, he rubbed the back of his neck and closed his eyes. His father and brother appeared to be arguing yet again – it made the third time that week. Their words were clearly audible to any in the region of Elrond's study.

'Do not suppose that I do not know the seriousness of the matter at hand, Elladan Peredhil,' the twins' father's angry tenor rang out.

'I suggested no such thing, my lord,' Elladan retorted hotly. 'I merely ask why it is that, if you do indeed see the seriousness of this, you do absolutely nothing about it?'

Elrohir stayed to hear no more. Pushing himself away from the wall, he again continued walking swiftly down the passage, hoping to block out the sound of his father and brother's voices by humming to himself. Once in the safety of his room, the younger twin sank down on the edge of the table by the door. Word had come from Saruman that evil was again rising at Dol Guldor. Elladan was eager to cast it out once and for all, but Elrond was reluctant to give him permission.

'Mayhap something will be done, but first the Council shall have to meet and discuss it,' he insisted whenver the topic was broached. 'Saruman has put forth such a notion, it is necessary that we hear his reasons for believing such a thing before we take any measures to put an end to it.'

'Then why wait?' Elladan would ask. 'Why do you not travel to Isengard and seek answers?'

'Neither your grandparents, Mithrandir, nor I have sensed a presence. Do you forget that Dol Guldor can be reached within two days from Lorien?' Elrond hissed. 'If something were wrong, Galadriel would have felt it. Mark my words, Elladan!'

''Mark your words,'' Elladan scoffed. 'You told us to mark your words when Naneth-'

'Do not speak of your naneth when you are in this mood, Elladan,' Elrond ordered. 'I insist you leave her out of this!'

'I insist we do not!' Elladan openly defied. 'You were wrong about Naneth, how can we be sure you are not wrong about this also?'

'Not one more word, Elladan,' Elrond warned, his eyes glinting dangerously.

'My question deserves to be answered, Adar, it is perfectly reasonable!' Elladan planted his feet on the study floor as Elrond slowly began walking towards him. 'How do you know?'

Elrond ground out his order from between clenched teeth. 'Not...one...more...word, Elladan! Harken to me now, or leave this room!'

Elladan's jaw clenched convulsively as he considered his father's words. He was loathe to give in, but both of them were too angry to continue this discussion and hope for it to bear fruit at the same time. Turning on his heel, he strode from the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

The sparks in his eyes cowed any who happened to be in his path, so he made it to his rooms without being spoken to by any. He stood rigidly in front of his window for a few moments before he turned at the sound of a soft knock. 'What?' he asked rudely.

The handle turned slowly as the door opened to admit Elrohir.

'What do you want?' he snarled.

'Is there any change?' his brother asked softly.

'What should you care?' Elladan asked, turning back to the window. 'You are more than half on Adar's side in this whole matter.'

Elrohir shook his head, coming to stand beside his twin. 'That is not so. I cannot decide where I stand. You are both right in some way: we should investigate this possible threat, but, as Adar has said, we should hear what Saruman has to say about it first.'

'It seems to me that you agree wholeheartedly with Adar, then!' Elladan bit. 'I suppose you also agree that since Daernaneth, Mithrandir, and Adar have felt nothing, Saruman is likely lying and his story is not to be worried about.'

'I said nothing of the sort!' Elrohir protested, trying to keep his temper in rein. 'All I said is that you both have points that deserve careful thought. It would be easier for the two of you – and much more pleasant for me – if we could go about this peaceably, instead of having a fight break out in the middle of the discussion every time.'

Elladan shook his head, letting out a low growl. 'If you are going to have one foot on each side, Elrohir, do not bother your pretty head about it at all. You are no more use than a blundering sheep.'

'If you are implying that my head is woolly, then you would do well to remember that we are identical in looks, though thankfully not in temperament,' Elrohir threw back, hoping the comment would cut.

Elladan tackled his brother to the floor, and the next moment they were rolling over each other, both trying to get the better of his brother. Elrohir finally managed to pin Elladan's arms to his sides while sitting firmly on his chest.

'Ifyou are going to act like this, it would be better for you to stay out of this, not me, muindor,' he said, tightening his grip on Elladan's wrists when the older twin tried to jerk out of his grasp. 'You and Adar get nowhere when you argue like this.'

With a furious cry, Elladan managed to free his arms and tip Elrohir off of him. 'Don't you dare speak to me like that, pet!' he snarled, grabbing Elrohir's arms when he tried to stand up, and sticking his knee forcefully into his brother's stomach, effectively bringing him to his knees.

Elrohir doubled over, pain filling his senses as he fought to catch his breath. 'Elladan-'

'And don't 'Elladan' me, either!' the Elf yelled. 'I am sick of it! Adar does it enough, there is no need for you to start as well!'

Elrohir rose to his feet, clutching his abdomen. 'You deserve it! If I am a pet, then what are you? An obnoxious, selfish ox who cannot respect his betters to save his life!'

Again Elladan made a flying leap towards his brother. Elrohir, still catching his breath, could do little do defend himself. Together they crashed to the floor, Elladan landing heavily on top of Elrohir. An ominous crack! filled the air as Elladan's body came down on Elrohir's lower ribs, several of them snapping, unable to hold the sudden weight. A moment later Elrohir's head struck the floor violently. His cry of pain trailed off as he lost consciousness.

Before Elladan could move, the door flew open with a crash. The twin quickly rolled off his brother, mindful of the undoubtedly broken ribs, and turned to see-

His father.

'Elladan?' His father's voice was eerily calm as he made his way further into the room. 'What have you done?'

Elladan's anger came back with a rush. 'He drove me to it,' he insisted hotly. 'He said things he had no right to say, and if he is injured, he has only himself to blame!'

'What did you do to him?' Elrond thundered, seeing blood oozing out from a cut on the back of Elrohir's head.

Elladan shook his head. 'He provoked me, my lord, I had nothing to do with it.'

'Of course, and I am a naugrim,' his father retorted, crouching down beside the motionless Elf.

'That you are,' Elladan muttered under his breath, not caring if his father overheard.

However, Elrond's hearing was as sharp as it had been when he was young. 'What did you say?'

'You know what I said!' Elladan yelled. 'You have coerced Elrohir into taking your side over mine, simply because you know that you could not hold out against the two of us! You are a skulking coward, incompetent in your endeavours to lead this realm, and I am ashamed to be called your son!'

Elrond rose to his feet in one fluent motion, grabbed Elladan and pulled him from the room, shutting the door behind him. He coldly ignored all looks from passing Elves, as well as Elladan's protests. Walking swiftly through the courtyard, dragging Elladan behind him, he pushed him into the stable that housed the Peredhil family's horses and snarled, 'Since you no longer wish to be acknowledged as part of my family, you may leave this valley, never to return. I have no wish to see you again after this shameful act against your brother! Get your horse and begone!'

Elladan, not expecting such a reaction from his usually so collected father, blanched. 'Banished?' he breathed.

'Indeed!' Elrond snapped. 'I am glad you are able to understand that much, at least!'

Elladan swallowed, trying desperately not to let his shock show in his eyes. 'I...' Just say you are sorry, you fool! he told himself fiercely. You have no other place to go! 'Very well!' he finally said, hoping he sounded emotionless and aloof. 'I do not care.'

Elrond did not wait to see him leave. He turned and made his way back to Elladan's room to see to Elrohir.

The younger Peredhil was coming slowly to consciousness by this time, and he moaned softly as he became aware of the pain in his chest.

'Elrohir, be still,' Elrond ordered as he came through the doorway. 'You are badly injured.'

'Elladan!' Elrohir exclaimed weakly.

'Elladan is not here,' his father said shortly. 'Your ribs are injured, and you have a cut on your head.'

Elrohir grimaced, the pain coursing through his body as good a testimony to that fact as his father's words. 'What happened?'

'Do you not remember?' Elrond asked, looking down in concern.

Elrohir closed his eyes, breathing deeply to keep the pain under control. 'We fought... I fell and hit my head.'

Elrond nodded, running his hands lightly over the obviously-damaged ribs. 'You have only one broken rib, three more are fractured,' he announced after a few minutes, then glanced up. 'The broken one is in place, so the only thing that would really effect it is a drug to reduce the pain.'

Elrohir shook his head. 'I will be fine. Where is Elladan?'

His father frowned. 'He is not here. I will tell you everything later, but now you must rest.' He slid his arms underneath Elrohir's knees and shoulders and carried him to Elladan's bed. 'Your brother will not mind if you use this for a while. I do not want to see you up until I say you may. Understood?'

Elrohir nodded, again grimacing as his throbbing headache announced its presence. 'What happened to my head?'

Elrond pulled Elrohir's hair out the way, revealing a small bump with a cut that was sluggishly oozing blood. 'You must have hit it rather badly when you fell. Though you were unconscious, your pupils are not dilated, and you seem to remember what happened well enough. Is there any dizziness or nausea?'

Elrohir shook his head, wincing as the headache increased at the movement. 'Just a headache.' He glanced uncomfortably at Elrond. 'Where is Elladan, Adar? I was unkind to him, and I wish to apologize.'

Elrond turned away and closed his eyes. He turned back when Elrohir repeated his question.

'He is not here,' he finally said, inwardly preparing himself for the verbal attack which was undoubtedly about to fall on him

'Where is he, then?' Elrohir asked, eyes narrowing suspiciously. 'Is he all right?'

Elrond shook his head. 'I do not know. I banished him.'

A/N: Yay, chapter one is finished! I find it difficult to decide which I like less in this chapter, Elrond or Elladan. They're both pretty rotten. About the broken ribs: I did do my research and found a little information. I don't know if this will interest anyone, but just in case:

Ribs are difficult to break, but very painful when injured. In the past, doctors bound them tightly to help support them as they healed, but recently it was discovered that such an action can impede breathing and cause chest infections, such as pneumonia. Now doctors simply advise the patient to take it easy, give them pain medication, and let them go. In the case of a break or more severe fracture, doctors will give the patient breathing exercises to ensure that deep breaths are taken, not shallow ones, as the latter can also cause pneumonia.