Children of Nen

Disclaimer: I own nothing of J.R.R. Tolkien's. And all Characters that you do not recognize are mine. I warn all people who use my characters; I will personally find you and sue you.  Thanks a lot!!!

AN/ Hi everyone! I hope all of you enjoy this story!

Name meanings: Cellin: Water Flowing Musically & Nendil: Lover of Water

Name pronunciations: Cellin is said Kehl-leen and Nendil is said, Nehn-deel

Chapter one: Secret Place

Prologue

Under a blossoming apple tree in Rivendell sat two young elves. They were identical twins and they sat with their backs to the tree in deep thought. They were one thousand years old, which would be the equivalent of Seventeen in our age but they looked so much younger. They were both thinking of the future. Earlier that evening their parents had talked about sending Nendil away to Mirkwood so he could live with his father's best friend. His father's friend was the expert on archery and all the other things they wanted Nendil to learn. They thought that Cellin would be better off learning from her Aunt in Rivendell.

The two were horrified at the idea of being separated and so they begged their parents not to send Nendil away. Their parents were shocked at the reaction and decided to wait for when Nendil was older. Now they were worried that they could be separated forever.

Cellin let a stray sob leave her lips and Nendil got up and sat down next to her. "Don't worry sister. I Promise you that we will never be apart." She locked onto his eyes with her own and said tearfully; "Really?" he nodded and smiled. "Yes. I give you my word I will never leave you." She nodded in return. "And I will never leave you."

He took out his knife and made a small cut in his palm. Then he took her hand gently and made a small cut in hers. He linked his hand with hers and he held them up to the sun. "With this blood combined, the promise has been signed. In blood all is true I shall never leave you." She smiled and repeated, "With this blood combined, the promise has been signed. In blood all is true I shall never leave you."

8830 years later...

Deep inside the borders of Rivendell, under a crystal cascading waterfall stood an elven girl of about 9830years old. Her appearance was that of a 17 year old but her ways were much more refined. She carried the grace of the elves and her every move was precise and full of expression. Elves aged slowly and she would start to look older a few thousand years from now.

Her hazel eyes searched the rocks behind the waterfall and her hands felt eagerly for an opening. She brushed her dark blond hair, which was soaking wet and hung in ringlets around her face, away from her eyes, and wiped the water droplets away from her eyelids with the back of her hand. She was exhausted and her legs would barely hold her anymore. "It's not here Nendil!" she cried in desperation. She waded away from the falling water and flung herself on top of a large rock. Her light green long dress was soaking wet up to her chest. She bent her knees and rested her head on top of them, letting a few tears of frustration run from her eyes.

Suddenly a figure immerged from the trees on the right side of the River bank. He was wearing a dark blue pair of loose fitting pants with a small tie at his waist. His chest was bare. His features were soft but strong and everything from his skin tone to his eyes matched the young Elleth sitting on the rock. The Elven boy wadded into the water and climbed up next to his twin sister. He leaned over and gave her an encouraging hug saying, "We will. Don't worry." Both hazel eyes met and seeing the frustration in his nearly always patient sister he said softly, "Stay here. I will look for the opening. Keep watch for anyone else ok?" She nodded and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Be careful." He smiled brilliantly and laughed. "Don't worry Cellin! After all you are the one who always gets in trouble."

Cellin smiled and pushed her brother back into the water. After a few seconds he resurfaced with a shocked look on his face. "Cellin!" She giggled and said, "Hurry up Nendil! We don't have long before Adar will come looking for us." He shook his head and without another word he headed over to the waterfall. Ducking under the torrent of water, Nendil dove under the surface.

Cellin thought back to why they were here. Her brother and her had heard a story when they were little about a under water cave that held the sword of a mighty elven warrior. "It's only a fairy tale Cellin, Nendil. Don't be fooled by stories." That was what their mother had said but now they had proof. She did not believe the sword was there but she HAD found the cave.

Cellin had gone swimming at night when she found a red gem under the water. She had stepped on it and cut her foot. Her feet were now bare and she realized that due to her elven healing the cut was already gone. On her way to the surface she had seen a small outcropping under the water. She got out of the pool and placed the gem on land. When she went back under the water she couldn't see very well. The moon was out and the water was dark. She gave up after a while and told her brother about the gem and the cave. They had decided to come back today and search.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Nendil broke the top of the water. Beads of water glistened as they ran down his bare chest. He smiled at her and waved saying, "I found it!" She slid back into the water and swam over to him. "Where?" He motioned for her to come closer and when she reached him he grabbed her hand and they both dove under the water.

As they went under the water Cellin felt the familiar sense of panic fill her. When she was very little she had almost drowned in a lake. Her father had pulled her out of the murky depths just in time. Since then she had become the best swimmer Rivendell had ever seen. She loved the water but she normally had to wait a few minutes before the fear faded.

After they swam for about 20 seconds she felt her brother's hand tighten and pull her under a large cleft of under water rock. Her lounges were screaming for air and she was about to panic when her head broke the surface. "Are you all right?" She heard her brother's concern in his voice and so she gave no delay in saying, "I'm ok Nendil." He smiled and she saw relief wash over his face. He pulled her along in the water till they reached a flat rock bottom.

The cave was dark but light came in through small wholes in the ceiling. The water lapped against the rock beach that was no longer then 7 feet. After you got out of the water the cave widened and led into a tunnel. On the rock laid numerous gems. "These must be worth a fortune!" Her brother exclaimed. She was looking around the cave and somehow her eyes caught onto a ledge on the left wall. "Look at that! There's something up there!" her brother turned around and was about to tell her to be careful when he noticed she was already climbing up the wall and onto the ledge. "Cellin!"

Cellin ignored him, something else held her attention. There on the ledge slept an elf. His body was beaten and his blond hair was matted. His eyes were closed in a tell-tale sign he was suffering and needed urgent care.

She looked down his body and noticed his tunic was torn. Then she saw it, on his side was a large gapping wound that looked to be from a sword. She was never afraid of blood before but this wound was no ordinary wound. He should have been dead but his faint breathing could still be heard.

A small yelp left her lips and she stepped back. Unfortunately that was the end of the ledge. She waved her arms wildly to try to regain her balance but it was too late, she was falling.

"Cellin! No!" Her brother's voice was drowned out by water. Soon she felt the panic build up inside her. The water flooded over her head and her breath was taken away. Her head hit a rock on the bottom of the water and she felt a searing pain travel around her head as the rock's edge slid around her temple. Soon everything went dark.

Then she felt pressure at her knees and her back. Cellin felt a soft gel like feeling pass over her. The pressure tightened and she frowned. This didn't feel right. Suddenly she felt something cold rush over her and air filled her lounges, forcing a cough. She heard a voice call to her but she was cold now and only wanted to go back to that dark warm place she had found only minutes ago.

"CELLIN LISEN TO ME! Please come back! You can't do this to me!" The voice filled her soul and she struggled to regain light. Soon her vision cleared and she could see a very foggy picture of her brother. No, wait that wasn't a picture that was Nendil! He needed her. She cried out and felt pain in her head. Her vision had cleared and the cave had materialized right in front of her eyes. "Nendil?" she choked. He smiled as tears ran down his face and he pulled her into his chest, rocking her like a baby. "Oh Cellin you scared me so much." She gripped his shoulders and whispered, for that was all she could do at the moment, "Up on the ledge...There is an elf on the ledge...He's wounded."

Nendil sat his sister up against the wall and checked on her one last time. "Are you sure you will be ok?" She nodded painfully and felt the back of her head. "It's just a small cut. It burns like hell fire but it's only a cut." He nodded and left her for the ledge. She saw him climb up to the top and lift the wounded elf onto his shoulders. She shook her head and tried to clear her vision, which was quickly blurring.

"Will he live?" She called out to him. He shook his head. "I don't know Cellin. We should take him back to Lord Elrond but I don't think he would survive the journey to the top of the water." She looked at the ground before an idea hit her. "Then we will just have to breathe for him!" He looked at her oddly as he set the elf down next to her. "What do you mean?" "I will breathe for him. You'll pull us to the top." He looked at her as if she was crazy. "And what will you do for air little one?" She stood and looked at him angrily. "Don't call me that! I think you forget you are my twin and you are just as little as I am. I can stand the swim without air. We both know I'm the better swimmer anyways."

He looked her doubtfully before shrugging his shoulders. "All right, we will try. But if anything goes wrong I'm leaving you here with him and getting help." She huffed and walked over to the suffering elf. "Naneth..." the elf moaned. "He said something!" Cellin exclaimed. Nendil shook his head and said urgently, "He is hallucinating. We have to hurry and get him out of here." She nodded and with the help of her brother they lifted him up between them.

They wadded into the water and her brother said in a tone her father might have used, "Now I want you to be careful. If feel you can't make it just tap my shoulder and we will come right back. Do you understand me Cellin?" She nodded and mocked him saying, "Yes adar (Father). I promise not to wander too far into the woods and I won't tease my poor brother." She flashed him a beautiful smiled, which her mother always claimed came from her side of the family, and started to swim out into the water.

She treaded water for a few minutes and said, "Ok I'm ready Nendil." He nodded and swam out to her with his arm around the other elf's waist.

Cellin took a deep breath and dove under. She felt her brother brush alongside her right arm and they headed down below the rock. Once they reach the end of the rock Cellin swam closer to the nameless elf and pressed her lips to his mouth. She breathed air into his lounges and then swam alone for the surface. Coming around the rock, she kicked her legs and propelled herself up.

She broke the water and gulped down the air. The waterfall was right above her and it was splashing over her head. A few seconds later Nendil immerged from the water and she helped him carry the Elf to the shore. Once they reached the shore Cellin and her brother flopped down on it, breathing heavily. The woods around them were as quiet as before. The trees alone stood witness to the journey begun by the two twins in saving this elf's life.

After a few minutes of well deserved air breathing, the two twins sat up and lifted the elf in-between them. Nendil held most of the weight as they walked and his elven strength made it easier for him. Cellin grunted and striated her back. Her vision was somehow sharper yet also she felt lightheaded.

"Are you doing all right sister?"

Cellin nodded and shifted the weight. "I think so."

They struggled as they went but soon they were on the streets of Rivendell and someone rushed up to them saying, "What happened?" Nendil shifted the weight so that more was on him then on his sister and said heavily, "We found him somewhere near the falls. He needs urgent care your majesty."

The Ellon they were talking to was Elrohir. He was son of the mighty Lord Elrond. He was also a twin and they had become fast friends with the royal pair. Nendil always called them "Your majesty" because it got on their nerves.

He had long dark hair and dark brown eyes. His features were soft and he was the more serious of the two. His brother was named Elladan and he was funniest. Elrohir was funny too but was more immersed in books and learning then his carefree brother.

He looked over the elf and then with a small nod he took over the side that Cellin was carrying and said, "Can you help him Cellin?" She looked down at the wound as they walked and said, "Why? Isn't Lord Elrond Here?" The worry in her voice was obvious and she cringed at the thought of doing the operation alone. "No, our father left this morning. He had to go to Lothlorien and help with a sick patient." Cellin stopped walking besides them and watched her brother and Elrohir carry the wounded elf up the winding stairs. She gulped down the queasiness in her throat.

Then with a big sigh she hurried to catch up to them. When she got to the top of the stairs she ran into Elladan. With one look at her face he grabbed her shoulders and said worriedly, "What is it Cellin? What's wrong?" She grabbed his hands and pulled him off into the direction that her brother and Elrohir were going. When they caught up he jerked away from her and went to examine the wound. They brought the ellon into a spare healing room and placed him on the bed.

Elladan looked him over and sighed. He stripped the ragged shirt off him and said urgently, "Brother, hurry and get me some hot water, bandages, and father's ointment. I will also need the necessary things for stitches." He then looked up into Cellin eyes and said, "I will need your help." She nodded and put aside her fear. This elf's life depended on HER and she wasn't going to let him die because she was afraid of a little blood...

She came around the bed and before she knelt down she said to her brother with a smile, "You better get a shirt on or all the Elleth will be crowding in here any minute and I won't have room to work." He smiled and said, "I could say the same about your soaking wet dress milady."

Cellin rolled her eyes and said softly, "At least I don't go looking for attention."

He huffed, turned on his heal and left the room. She paid him no heed and knelt down besides Elladan. "What do we need to do?"...

Three hours later

Cellin was exhausted. The operation was a success and everyone else had left the room. They had stitched up the wound and cleaned out the many scraps and cuts over his body. Her limbs felt like stone and she could barely move. Her knees were week from kneeling by the bedside and her head hurt like nothing she had felt before.

She was sitting on the floor with her back leaning against the patient's bed and her head in her hands when Elrohir came into the room quietly. "Cellin, are you ok?" She brought her head up slowly, keep one hand on the injured side of her head and nodded saying, "I should be ok, just tired is all."

He looked at her for a moment but she could tell he wasn't buying it. Suddenly she felt something hot and sticky run down her arm. She looked down and saw a stream of blood run off her elbow and on to her now dried green dress. Her head was bleeding!

Elrohir saw the blood and rushed over to her. "Let me see." He placed his cool hands on her face and tilted her head to one side. He looked at the "scratch" and said shocked, "Cellin this is very bad!" She pulled away from him and stood up saying, "its fine. It's only a scratch." Then it happened. With full force her head swam and she found herself falling to the floor. Elrohir caught her just in time and then swung her into his strong arms.

Elrohir was almost certain she was unconscious. He rushed out of the room and brought her up to one of the higher level bedrooms.

He swung open the door to his room and laid her down on his bed. He grabbed the washbasin on the nightstand and filled it with cool water. Placing the towel and dipping it into the water, he rung it out and cleared the blood away from the side of her head.

Cellin moaned and whimpered as he touched the wound. Nendil couldn't have seen it because her hair was in the way but the cut ran from her temple all the way behind her head where it deepened.

Elrohir shook his head and said softly, "Hush now Cellin. Don't move your head or you'll make it worse." She opened her eyes slowly and he was greeted with the hazel green that haunted him every night, his heart beet a hundred times faster as he looked into her eyes and she starred back into his unmoving.

Then her eyes fluttered closed. Suddenly some one cleared their throat and Elrohir turned around to find his brother Elladan staring in at him with concern for Cellin and laughter for him in his eyes. "What happened to her Ro?" he used the nick name that they had called each other for years. "She has a wound on her head but she hasn't told me how it got there yet Dan."

Then Nendil walked into the room with a smile on his face. His smile faded at seeing his sister on the bed and the blood stained cloth next to her.

Nendil raced over and said urgently, "Is it her head?" Elrohir looked at him surprised and said, "You knew about it?" Nendil turned to look at Elrohir saying, "It looked like a scrape from when I saw it. I didn't see that it went this deep."

Elrohir nodded and said scolding, "And how, pray tell, did she get this wound?" Nendil looked back and him and scowled saying, "She fell of a ledge and fell into the water. Her head hit a rock at the bottom." Elrohir stood up and looking down at Cellin in her helpless form. He said, turning back to Nendil, "And you didn't think twice about checking to see if it could be worse? Well how intelligent of you! I'll have you know that she could have died from a head wound like that! At least I have the sense not to let Arwen go walking around with a head wound and pretend it's fine! It's a good thing I found her when I did."

Nendil was fuming mad now. "She said she was fine and was much more concerned about the elf we found at the time. Since SHE said there was NOTHING wrong and it was ONLY scratch I thought she was fine! She is my sister and I know far more about her then you do! I am the one who watches over her and I know how to take care of my own sister. I've done just fine without you so far!"

A moan escaped Cellin's mouth and opening her eyes she said angrily, "You two are the most arrogant selfish and stupidest elves I have ever met." She sat up and slowly stood from the bed.

Elrohir went to lay her back down but she glared at him saying, "First of All I was going to be fine and I didn't need YOUR help." She then looked at her brother and said viscously, "Second of all, I know how to take care of myself. I'm the one who watches over what I do. How dare both of you try to fight over me like I was your own property! I can take care of myself and I plan on walking home by myself as well."

Elrohir and Nendil stood there, shocked and ashamed. Both of them were speechless at her outburst and couldn't quite even manage an apology.

Elladan stood forward and said sweetly, "Well if it isn't too much trouble I would be glad to walk you home and help you with bandaging your head. It is hard to bandage something you can not see." He chuckled and Cellin smiled. With one more glare to the other two in the room she said, "I would be happy if you came with me Elladan." She took his outstretched arm and he led her out of the room with a small wink at his brother.

Back in the room Elrohir sighed and mumbled to Nendil, "I'm sorry mellon." (Friend) Nendil nodded and said solemnly, "Indeed I feel the same Mellon."

They turned toward the door and Nendil looked into Elrohir's eyes. He saw something he hadn't noticed before and knowledge flooded through him. "You are in Love with my sister aren't you?" Elrohir looked at him and he knew denial would do no good. "Yes..."

He looked down at the floor and then said, "I fear she hates me now though." Nendil shook his head and put his hand on Elrohir's shoulder. "No she doesn't but you must tell her."

Elrohir shook his head. "I can't. I mean I tried to tell her but I just can't. She would do better off without me anyway." Nendil shook his head. "That isn't true. We both acted like orcs but I know my sister and there is no doubt that by morning she will be back here and apologizing even though we are the ones who need to apologize.

"She has a kind heart and she must be feeling horrible. I have only seen her do that when she is scared, hurt or exhausted. Right now I think she is just tired and a bit scared. She gets scared when she gets mad at me." He flashed a big smile and said, "That's because she gets upset that she can't feel so protected by my amazing strength."

Elrohir laughed and gave Nendil a playful punch in the shoulder. "Come on, let's get something to eat. I don't think it's safe to walk home until you know she's not on the road. Kind heart or not, right now I think your sister might kill you if she sees you next to her." Nendil gulped and followed Elrohir out of the room, hoping he was wrong.

Cellin followed Elladan out of the bedroom and down the hall. He led her into a white room with very little of anything. There was one large platform and he sat her on top of it. "Just stay there a minute All right?" She nodded and looked around the room. Everything was white. The floor was a marble white with specks of grey. The table and or platform she was sitting on was some kind of metal and the ceiling was a soft white. Elladan reemerged in the room and walked up to her. He pulled out a long strip of cloth and began to pull her hair back and rap it around her head wound. "What is this place?"

He wouldn't look at her as he wrapped her head but he answered her. "This is where my father brought my mother when we found her. This was once a beautiful place. Now he uses it for fixing minor cuts and bruises, which by the way he never takes care of. He leaves that stuff up to Arwen. He can't stand to come here."

Elladan finished wrapping her head and he said with a wink, "Well now you're good as new! That should be healed in a few days."

She nodded and grabbed his wrist as he was about to leave the room and put back the extra bandages. He turned around and looked at her. "Where is your Mother Elladan?" He smiled sadly and said, "She sailed into the west a long time ago."

He looked at the ceiling a minute when she let go of his wrist and then said with some difficulty, "We found her actually, me and Elrohir. She didn't even look like our mother anymore. She was so...scared and hurt...it just wasn't the same."

Cellin nodded and then shook her head, "I'm so sorry I didn't mean to..." He cut her off and then said with another sad smile, "It's ok Cellin. My father doesn't talk about it and sometimes I wish he would. I can't remember much before she was taken."

He looked back into her eyes and then finished by saying, "Someday I will see her again but for now I have a full time job... Taking care of elleths like you who forget they cannot fly." She smiled and gave him a playful slap on the arm.

Elladan smiled and Cellin laughed. "I feel horrid." She said all at once. He looked at her oddly and asked, "For what?" She frowned and looked over at the door. "I really shouldn't have yelled at Elrohir and Nendil they were only trying to..."

"Rip each other's throats out and capture you as a slave." He interrupted. She grinned and then said, "No Elladan they were only trying to help." He nodded. "Yes but they were wrong and they owe you an apology."

She put her head to one side and then said, "I think I better go talk to them." She got up and then wished she didn't because suddenly her vision shifted and she felt woozy. Elladan came around to her and put his arm around her waist. "Are you ok?" he asked, fully concerned. She nodded "I'm not sure..." She tried to keep her eyes open but the dizziness took over her. She slumped against him, unconscious.

"ELROHIR! NENDIL!" Elladan called out. He lifted her up and laid her down on the table. After a few minutes the two sullen elves rushed into the room. "What happened now?" asked Elrohir. "She was fine and then when she stood up she just collapsed."

Elrohir nodded and said to Nendil, "Go and tell your parents that Cellin will be staying here for the night. She is much too exhausted and sick to move. She has a head injury and It could become worse if we move her too much. It's too far for her to go like this."

Nendil nodded and then looked back to his sister. "I will return and stay here with her. This won't take long, please keep her safe." Elrohir put his hand on Nendil's shoulder. "Don't worry Nendil. Cellin will be fine." Nendil nodded and left the room, sprinting down the hallway and running for home.

Elrohir went over to the table and said, "We need to move her to a better place where father can check on her."

Elladan walked over to his brother and asked, "He's coming back already?" Elrohir nodded as he began to gently lift her off the table. "He will be here in the morning." Elladan nodded and then helped his brother by carrying Cellin's legs as they walked out of the room.

Elladan sighed and said, "Ok, I think there is a spare room down by the elf we just operated on." Elrohir wouldn't look at his brother as he said, "No, We can put her in my room and I will sleep down here." Elladan looked at his brother oddly before shrugging his shoulders and saying, "Well she would have a better place to sleep..."

Elrohir nodded and said, "You go and check on the elf. I will take her up." He swung one of his arms, catching Cellin under her knees and then looked at his brother, "He will need constant supervision if he is to heal." He took her up the stairs carrying her bridle style to the top where he disappeared out of sight.

Elladan was worried about his brother and he shook his head as he went to check on the elf. His brother was desperately in love with Cellin although he would not admit it to Elladan. Elladan knew though. He also knew that Elrohir would do anything for Cellin if she asked him to. He would never tell her unless he thought she might love him too. He sighed and headed into the room.

Elrohir laid Cellin down on his bed and covered her with a blanket. She moaned and rolled on her side. He pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat down next to her. He moved a few stray strands of hair away from her eyes that were closed in unconsciousness. He was worried about her but he knew she would be fine.

He was cherishing every moment alone with her because he knew Nendil would not be back for a while and Elladan was checking on the wounded elf. The moon had risen and sunset had passed long ago. He looked out on the stars and sighed. Some day he would tell her how he felt. Someday... Cellin rolled over to face him suddenly and he saw her eyes slowly open.

Elrohir smiled at her and whispered, "Hello sleeping star." She smiled tiredly and blinked two times. "Where are Nendil and Elladan?"

His smiled faded and he sighed. "Elladan is checking on the elf you rescued and your brother went to tell your parents you would be staying here." She looked at him oddly and then made a face. "I don't need to stay here, I can walk home. I do it all the time." She pressed her elbows on the bed and started to get up. Elrohir got out of his chair and sat down next to her on the bed. He gently pushed her shoulders back down and said, "Oh no Cellin, you have a serious head wound and if you move around it will get worse. You MUST stay the night." She nodded and looked around her. "This...this is your...room?"

Elrohir nodded and then said, "If you don't want to sleep here that's all right you know?"

She looked around and then back at him. She studied his eyes for a few minutes and then sighed saying, "No that's ok Elrohir I'm fine." He smiled and then said softly, "lie down and sleep, you won't miss anything." She nodded and then rolled over on her other side. She sighed and the last thing she felt was a soft hand on her shoulder and a whisper, "Goodnight...Mellon."