Chapter One
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Tolkien's characters I just borrowed them. The only character that belongs to me is my OC Brina. This story is set a few months after the ending of Meetings.
T.A. April 2905
Brina's POV
Not much had happened in the past six months since the departure of the elves from Imladris the days settled into a strangely quiet winter. No orc packs troubled our village for which we were extremely grateful. The only thing that happened of importance was after weeks of pleading and begging my brother finally relented telling how the hunting party had become treed by wolves. Requiring a rescue party I felt a smirk cross my face. "It isn't every day you have blackmail material on Glorfindel and the twins? I am never going to let them live this one down." I thought to myself. My brother's voice drew me out of my thoughts.
"Tithen gwathel I see Elladan and Elrohir." he spoke like an excited child on his birthday.
Not that I had much room to talk I was just as excited to have them back with us. My brother and I were perched in a tree along the path Elladan and Elrohir would take. We had been waiting for a couple hours and now evening was settling in.
"I hope it is them this time because you have been saying you see them for the last hour," I told him half teasing half annoyed.
My brother glared at my comment. "Those bushes looked like them," he replied defensively.
I snorted with laughter. "Keep telling yourself that gwador nin." I patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry I still love you even if you can't tell bushes from our friends." Before darting away as my brother moved to swat me.
"I can really feel the love tithen gwathel." my brother muttered sarcastically. A laugh from the bottom of the tree startled us both.
"Who knew a tree could carry on both sides of a conversation muindor nin?" Elrohir said to Elladan with a merry grin.
"I know Elrohir it truly is interesting," Elladan responded. My brother and I were still shocked by their sudden arrival but quickly shook off our surprise. We made our way to the ground with haste.
"How long have you been here?" I asked.
"Long enough" Elrohir responded.
"It is good to see you Elladan and Elrohir," I spoke for us both.
"We are happy to be back with you," Elladan said with a smile.
"See I told you I saw them," Arathorn said to me.
I let out a long suffering sigh. "How was I to know you actually saw them this time and not bushes. Let's head home ada will be wondering what is keeping us."
As we started walking the twins shared an amused look before Elrohir spoke. "Bushes? We have missed you both."
I laughed as my brother struggled with the explanation. "Well you see there were these bushes and from a distance, they looked like people." He abruptly stopped as he heard the merry laughter coming from the sons of Elrond. "At least I am good for a laugh," he muttered,
"That you are mellon nin." Elladan clapped him on the shoulder. "What are you both doing out here?"
"I was waiting to greet you." my brother spoke with certainty
"I am out here to make sure my brother doesn't get treed by any wolves while he waits for you two," I responded with a smirk.
The twins shared a disbelieving look before turning to look at Arathorn. "You told her mellon nin. How could you? We will never live this down." Elrohir spoke desperately.
I watched my brother look everywhere but the twins faces. "I couldn't help it she was very persistent and finally I gave in and told her," he whispered to them.
The twins swiveled to look at me. "Is there any way you can just forget this Brina?" Elladan asked me nervously.
"No way it is not every day I have blackmail material on you and Glorfindel."
The twins just groaned in dismay before falling silent. I turned to look at them I could tell they were already plotting their revenge. "Those two will get me back for this." I thought to myself as we made our way out of the woods and into the village. Around us, dusk had settled in as we passed the lights of the houses twinkled out the windows. Ahead of us, I could see our home and on the steps, our ada waited for us.
"You're late." ada spoke trying to sound stern but failing miserably.
"The twins or us ada?" I asked innocently.
"Both of you." ada responded matter factly. "Adilya has kept some supper for all of you. Welcome back Elladan and Elrohir."
"It is good to be back Arador and sorry for being later than we had planned," Elrohir spoke.
Our father lets out a booming laugh. "I was just giving you all a hard time. No harm was done now come and have some supper."
We quickly made our way to the great room and filled our plates with the delicious stew Adilya had made. The next few hours passed in merriment and fun before we all headed to our rooms for the night.
"Ready for tomorrow tithen gwathel." my brother asked before we parted for the night.
"Yes, gwador nin I am really excited to be joining you and the twins on your hunt. Good night" I told him before entering my room.
"Good night tithen gwathel." he replied before I shut the door.
As I lay in my bed that night I thought ahead to tomorrow and the hunt. This was no ordinary hunt. We were going orc hunting for the next few months with the twins. Many thoughts passed through my head before I drifted off to sleep.
Next Morning...
Brina's POV
I awoke with excitement and dressed with haste before hurrying out my door to the great hall for breakfast. As I entered the room the delicious smells hit me making my mouth water. At the table sat my father, brother, and friends. My father noticed me first as my brother and friends were engrossed in a conversation.
"Good morning iel nin!" my father greeted me with a welcoming smile.
"Good morning ada!" I greeted him with a kiss on the cheek before taking my seat by now my brother and friends have noticed my arrival.
"Good morning!" they chorused.
"Good morning to you all." I returned the greeting before we all filled our plates with breakfast. Silence reigned as we made quick work of our food. After finishing our food we sat back and took a moment to relax before getting ready to leave on our journey. We were all lost in our own thoughts when Ada's voice broke through.
"Where do you intend to go on your journey?" he asked with concern.
After a moment of staring at each other trying to decide who would answer my brother finally spoke. "We will journey to Bree then skirt around the Shire before making our way through the Misty Mountains and heading home.
Ada nodded his head. "I will see you all outside before you leave," he spoke as he rose.
We all rose to leave the room and gather everything for our trip I noticed my brother and father speaking quietly. My brother met my curious gaze. "Go ahead Brina I will catch up with you." I nodded my head before continuing on my way.
"I wonder what they are talking about." I wondered to myself as I walked to my room. Elladan and Elrohir were already out of sight. I shook my head as I couldn't find an answer to my question. I decided to give up and finished gathering my gear before taking a glance around the room. Reality started to descend on me as I realized I wouldn't be back for a few months. I realized how much thisplace had come to mean to me and how I truly viewed this place as my home. Torn between excitement and sadness I made my way out the door shutting it softly behind me before making my way outside.
Elladan and Elrohir were already waiting for us but my brother and father still hadn't arrived yet. As I waited I noticed Elrohir holding something that was wrapped carefully. My curiosity was peeked. "Elrohir what are you holding?"
I watched the twins share a secretive look before Elrohir answered cryptically. "You will have to wait and see."
Now my curiosity hit a new high. "What could it be?" I wondered with a touch of impatience.
The twins just smiled at each other.
Meanwhile...
Arathorn's POV
As I made my way hurriedly outside to join my sister and friends I thought about the conversation I had just had with my father. I was preparing to leave with the others when my father motioned me over. Just as my father was about to speak I turned to see Brina waiting for me in the doorway. I told her to go on ahead. I could see the question in her eyes as she left before turning to face my father.
"Ion nin, I just wanted to speak with you by yourself before you all leave."
"Of course adar what did you want to speak to me about."
"I want you to look after your sister." he stated firmly.
"I always do adar," I replied with confusion.
"Well, ion nin I want you to take extra care on this trip. Your sister has never been on an orc hunt like this one especially one with the sons of Elrond," he responded.
Suddenly the realization hit me of why my father was speaking to me. Elladan and Elrohir's hatred of orcs were legendary. My father knew as did I that sometimes they took some great risks on these hunts and he didn't want Brina to be injured because of their hatred.
"I will protect gwathel nin with my life adar," I responded with understanding in my voice.
"I know you will ion nin and be careful yourself. It is a father's duty to worry about his children. Well, you had better hurry before the others get impatient." he told me before making his way outside.
I was brought out of my silent thoughts as I walked out the door to see my friends smiling at my sister as she seemed to be impatient about something. Then I noticed she was looking at the package Elrohir was holding in his hands.
Past...
I smiled thinking back to last night when they had shown me the sword. Right after I had bid good night to my sister I noticed Elladan and Elrohir stick their heads around the corner.
"What are you two doing?" I questioned.
"Sshhhhh." Elrohir hissed. "She will hear you."
"She who?" I whispered as I made my way over to them filled with confusion.
"Brina." Elladan answered with a roll of the eyes and a sigh of exasperation.
"Why don't you want Brina to hear us?" I asked them trying to understand what was going on.
"Because we don't want her to find out about the surprise we brought from Imladris for her," Elrohir answered as he pulled out a small sword. "It is just temporary until she comes to Imladris then we can make one specifically for her."
I held the sword in my hand it would fit her much better than any sword in the village. "She will greatly appreciate it mellon nin."
"We didn't want her going orc hunting with just a dagger and a bow," Elladan said to me as I handed the sword back to Elrohir.
"When are you going to give it to her?"
"Tomorrow just before we leave." Elrohir stated.
"Thanks for showing it to me and good night," I told them both before heading into my room.
"Good night mellon nin." they whispered to me before I shut the door.
Present...
After the sobering conversation with my father, I felt a smile cross my face as I watched the events unfold.
Brina's POV
I was too busy trying to figure out what the twins were hiding to notice the arrival of my brother and father. Finally, though I noticed them especially my brother who was grinning at me.
"What?" I asked him with confusion.
"Brina, we have brought something for you from Imladris," Elladan said to me before nodding at Elrohir to hand me what he was holding.
I took the package carefully still a little confused about what was going on. I unwrapped the package to find a small sword. I found as I held it that it fit me quite well much better than any sword here in the village. "Thank you, both!" I whispered to them with a smile. I handed the sword to my brother who had moved to my side before hugging the both of them tightly.
"This sword is just temporary until you can come to Imladris but we didn't want you orc hunting without your own sword," Elrohir told me as I stepped back taking my sword back.
The voice of my father interrupted my thoughts.
"You should all probably get started on your journey. Be careful," he spoke.
I moved to hug my father. I held onto him tightly before kissing his cheek. "I love you ada and I will see you in a few months."
"I love you too iel nin. I will miss you deeply while you are gone," he stated with emotion before turning to bid farewell to my brother and friends.
We turned to leave when my father's voice called. "Arathorn remember what we talked about."
My brother looked at my enquiring face before turning back to our father. "I will adar I promise."
Then we started out on our journey I wanted to ask what they were talking about but decided against it. I turned back to wave at my father before we entered the forest. He still stood on the steps watching us and he returned my wave before turning to go into the house. I lingered emotion choking me until I felt my brother's hand on my shoulder. "Come on tithen gwathel."
I turned to face him before I started walking up ahead of us Elladan and Elrohir had stopped to wait for us. If my brother noticed the emotion in my eyes he wisely chose not to say anything. By the time we joined Elladan and Elrohir I had my emotions under control.
As we walked I observed the woods that were so familiar to me now. The trees had put on their spring colors fresh vibrant green leaves. Flowers bloomed around us. Birds had returned chirping in the trees as they built their nests above us. Squirrels scampered in the trees and on the ground. The wind danced through the trees and tossed our hair around. The sunshine shone down in patches through the leaves.
The month long trip to Bree was surprisingly uneventful like the winter we had had. No orcs disturbed us not even any wild animals caused us any trouble. As we neared Bree I thought to myself. "In other words, this trip has been totally boring" I would later regret these thoughts and wish for the boredom of the trip to Bree.
"I am surprised this trip has been uneventful so far," I said as we neared the town.
"I know tithen gwathel it surprises me as well." my brother stated. "I have a feeling though that it won't last"
The twins nodded their heads in agreement.
If only I had known how prophetic my brother's words would be.