Disclaimer: Nothing in the Tolkien universe belongs to me. I am just borrowing some of the characters and will return them in reasonably well shape. And I am making no money from this fic. The only things that belong to me are my original characters such as Atavus, Veri and Van. Please do not borrow them unless you ask.

Story Summary: Things have become very quiet in Rivendell. But on a trip through the Misty Mountains ghosts from the past and real dangers in the present threaten to overwhelm the Twins and Atavus.

Author's Note: Hello this is the fifth installment to my Blood series, so if you have not read my other fics this one will make little sense. This fic starts soon after the end of A Brother's Hate. And a special note: This fic is dedicated to one of my readers who has been supplying me with virtual ice cream since I started writing this series. This one is for you Slayer3 (Founder of the official Elladan and Elrohir fan club.)

Sindarin Translations:

Mae govannen, Ada. : Well met, Father.

Life in Rivendell

"This is it." Atavus said placing Van on the ground in front of her staring at the Last Homely House before her. Rivendell was very quiet with the absence of the elves that had left for Valinor, but Atavus could still feel the immense peace and warmth that surrounded her home. She watched as three figures stepped from the doorway. Lord Elrond and his twin sons Elladan, and Elrohir. She was worried for a moment that they would be angry with her, as Legolas had been because of the way she had left her home.

But her anxiety slipped away as she saw the broad smile cross the faces of her adoptive family. She moved forward slowly pulling Van with her. She looked to her side seeing that Veri was staying close to her also. They had become just as much a part of her family as the men before her, and now it was time to combine her two families.

She stopped before Lord Elrond, and bowed slightly. "Mae govannen, Ada."

"Welcome home child." Elrond smiled greeting her informally. "It has been too long since you have graced our halls."

He turned then to Legolas who was standing a few paces behind Atavus with Gimli by his side. "Thank you Greenleaf for bringing her back to us, and you also Gimli elf-friend."

"I'm afraid the person you need to be thanking is Manveri. Without her, Atavus and possibly the rest of us would not be here today." Legolas said pushing Veri forward.

"Ada, this is Manveri." Atavus said introducing her new friend. "And this is Van." She said placing her hands on the boy's shoulders. "He is my nephew." She said smiling down at the boy.

"My Lady. Thank you." He greeted Manveri, and then turned his attention to the small boy. "And Van is it. You are both very welcome in my house." Van stared in awe at the tall elf Lord.

Then Elrond turned to the twins. "And these are my sons, Elladan and Elrohir." Atavus could see they were on their best behavior, which she knew must be driving them to distraction.

The twins came forward meaning to formally greet their company as Elrond had instructed them to do, but Atavus suddenly wrapped them both in a hug. "Don't you two even think of being formal with me. I won't believe it for a moment." She whispered to them.

They hugged her back and the stiffness melted from their shoulders. She broke away from them and turned to Veri and Van. "Don't let these two fool you. They are the biggest pranksters in all of Middle-Earth, and they are my brothers."

Veri didn't know what to think of the affection the elves were showing Atavus. She had told them that an elven family had adopted her, but she hadn't expected such a happy reunion between the family. She herself had never had a family, other than Van. But she would not let her shock make her seem rude. "Nice to meet you." She said nodding to the elves.

"Come let us go inside. We will have some refreshment, and you will be shown to your rooms." Elrond motioned them to the open door.

Later Atavus was helping Manveri and Van settle into a room that had been prepared for them. Van was old enough to have his own room, but he had never been away from Veri at night and Atavus had decided to put him in with Veri.

Van was happily staring outside the window at the beautiful gardens below. "Where are all the other Elves, Ata?" Atavus smiled at the nickname he had started using with her. She had gone by that name in Rohan, and had rather liked it.

"I'm sorry Van, but we will see few Elves while in Rivendell. Most have gone to the Grey Havens to make the voyage West to Valinor." She explained.

"Will we go to Valinor?" He asked innocently.

Atavus did not know how to answer his question. But Veri did. She had been expecting the question since they had set out for Rivendell. "It is not known whether our kind is allowed in Valinor, Van."

"But are we not like the Elves?" He asked.

"In a way yes, but then again no." Veri answered. "No one will know whether we are allowed in Valinor until one of our kind tries to sail there."

"Someday I will try to sail there." The boy piped up with an adventurous look in his eyes. And for a split second Atavus believed he would.

"You might just do that." Atavus smiled at him. "Now why don't you go down to Legolas' room and see if he will show you where the kitchen is. I know there are a few members of the kitchen staff that are still here, and I heard your stomach growling a few moments ago." She suggested. The boy had taken an immediate liking to both Legolas and Gimli, and she knew he would not be afraid to go with them to the kitchen.

After he left she sat heavily on the bed and looked questioningly to her friend who had been too quiet since reaching the Elven realm. "So what are you thinking?"

Veri stared at her for a moment. "It will take me time to get used to the Elves." She said sitting in a chair facing Atavus.

"You mean to get used to me being one of them." Atavus suggested.

"You know how I feel about other races. I don't trust them. It is hard to see one of our kind accept them freely." Veri suggested.

"They are my family Veri, just as much as you and Van are. Lord Elrond is the father I never had. The twins, Legolas, and Estel are my brothers." She said yet again wondering why it was so hard for Veri to understand.

"The Lords of Rivendell, The Prince of Mirkwood, and The King of Gondor. That is quite a family. Does every member of your family have to be royalty?" Was Veri's sarcastic reply.

"Those titles mean nothing among family Veri. To me they are Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, Legolas and Estel. Why can't you accept the fact that they are my family too?" Atavus said shaking her head.

Veri bowed her head silently slightly ashamed of her feelings. "It's not that I can't accept them as your family, but can they accept Van and I as your family also?" She whispered.

Atavus hadn't thought of it that way. Many years before she had wondered if the elves would accept her because of what she was, but now that she knew the elves in question so well she hadn't even imagined them not accepting Veri and Van. "I'm sorry Veri. I did not know you felt that way. There is nothing I can say that would convince you that your fears are unwarranted, but I can say that if you have an open mind time will show you something that you couldn't imagine possible."

"What is that?" Veri asked.

"Only that the House of Elrond is full of love, compassion, and acceptance." She whispered. "It is a magical place of healing, and wonders beyond what you could imagine."

At that moment she heard elvish laughter down the hall followed by dwarvish curses. "Did I forget laughter and mischief?" She asked as she stood to see what her brothers had done to Gimli. She opened the door to see a flour coated Dwarf chasing the twins down the hall. Van was following closely behind Gimli holding a pastry in his hand. He quickly pushed his way into the room followed by Legolas.

"What did they do?" Atavus asked Legolas.

"Flour sack over the kitchen door." He answered.

"And of course since Gimli thinks with his stomach first he was the first to enter the kitchen. I wonder if they planned that?" She asked quizzically.

"Probably." Legolas chuckled.

"Aren't you going to help them?" She asked.

"I've seen Gimli run. They can outrun him, eventually." Legolas had a devious grin on his face.

Atavus turned to Veri who was sitting in the corner chuckling to herself. Van was sitting on the bed devouring the pasty he had found in the kitchen after the flour had covered Gimli. "Your awful quiet Van."

"We never had food this good in Minas Morgul." The boy said stuffing the last bite in his mouth. After he swallowed he looked to Atavus and smiled. "Don't worry I'll help Gimli get them back later."

Atavus closed her eyes shaking her head as both Veri and Legolas laughed at the boy's words. She began to wonder what she had gotten herself into taking on the challenge of raising a small child, especially around troublemakers such as the twins.

Author's Note: Nice fluffy, funny start to my new fic. But don't worry in chapters to come things won't be so fluffy. I have to warn my readers though. This fic will concentrate mainly on the twins and Atavus along with Veri and Van. There won't be any Aragorn, and very little Legolas. I hope that doesn't disappoint some of you. I just really like the twins and wanted to develop their relationship with Atavus more. I didn't get to do that much in my first two fics. I promise Aragorn and Legolas will be back in future fics though.