Disclaimer: I, not being JRR Tolkien, do not own the Lord of the Rings. I rather wish I did though ;)
Valaina walked swiftly and quietly through the dark forest in search of her brother Turin. He had walked away from the castle an hour or so before when his sister had again beaten him in a fencing match.
Turin was sitting in the branches of a great tree several meters from the ground waiting patiently for Valaina to find him for this time he knew she would. He may have been rubbish at fencing compared to her but he was bloody good at hiding. She would find him only if he let her. Where Valaina was quick and agile he was patient and calculating. She was a brilliant fighter. She had a brave, golden, loving heart but with the passion inherent in such a soul came impatience and missteps. Turin was a planner. More of a chess-player than a sword-wielder. Not that the Avatari did much sword wielding mind you. Their battles were fought with water, earth, fire and air. That being said, Turin was no master of those either.
They were two opposite halves of the same original cell. Twins born to a fair, loving father and a passionate, devoted mother who loved her children so much that she had given her life to protect them so long ago. This early loss shaped them both as they learned to cope in their own ways helping each other along the way. Where such a loss may have torn a family apart the love between this brother and sister sustained and saved them.
After nearly half an hour of fruitless searching Valaina stopped short of a large tree root she was about to trip over. Despite her strangely adept skill in fighting she could really be quite clumsy. She really was a brilliant fighter. She could lead her warriors to battle and on to victory with a singularly impressive level of brilliance and finesse. But as soon as she stepped off the field and out of her warrior's mindset and let her guard down she lost focus easily without an obstacle to conquer. She needed Turin's level headedness to keep her steady just as he needed her true heart to inspire his to hope. Without Valaina's influence Turin would surely lose sight of all that was good. He would have turned to darkness and his brilliant mind would have turned to manipulation and wickedness.
Valaina stopped suddenly and remembered something. "Did he not hide above ground last time?" she thought turning her attention to the trees.
Valaina was fond of trees. She always had been; at least as far as she could remember. Trees could speak to her however slowly. They taught her to appreciate what little patience she had.
She walked up to a particularly tall one, placed a hand at the base of the tree and immediately an image of her brother sitting in a tree came to her. She giggled and shook her head. She knew exactly where he was. She looked up to see her brother looking down at her.
"Well Val it took you long enough!" he exclaimed with a mixture of humor and sarcasm.
She laughed, "I don't think it took me quite as long as the last time!" she said happy to see that he wasn't angry with her. "Now, we should go. Father wishes to speak with us."
He laughed but did not move except to stretch his arms. "Today, Turin!" she said. He then jumped rather gracefully, surprising himself, from his place and proceeded to walk back to the castle with her.
Viktor, king of the Avatari, was their father. Each avatar could control one of the four elements. The Royal family could control multiple. Viktor was the most powerful of them and could control all four. This ability would be passed to only one of his children. If his wife had lived she could've passed on her power as well but the swiftness of her death and the age of her children prevented her from doing so.
When twins arrived at the castle they were met by one of their father's advisors Lord Xavier.
"Your father is in the throne room. Hurry! You know how impatient he can be!" he said, already in a hurry himself and slightly annoyed with the two.
"Thank you Lord Xavier we shall hurry." Valaina said half over her shoulder as the two walked quickly towards the throne room.
They stopped in front of the door to collect themselves and then entered the room together. It was a very large room with extravagant décor and dark walls and flooring and elaborate murals of great battles and celebration. Viktor was seated in a large throne at the far end of the room. The twins walked straight towards him.
Viktor spotted the two and as they neared his throne the king looked around the room, "Leave us," he said with the strength and authority of a true leader. Immediately the lords and ladies vacated the room to comply with his request. When all had gone leaving Viktor with his children he shut the great stone doors of the throne room with a precise flourish of his hands.
"I am glad you finally decided to come, my children," he said with his steely demeanor still intact.
Valaina spoke first, "I am sorry we are late father. We were in the forest." She said not wanting to place blame for it was just as much her fault as it was Turin's.
"I see," he said smiling knowingly. He always knew. There was a weighted pause as the amusement in his face turned sober again. "I have summoned you to speak of two matters of great importance. I must speak to you both candidly. As years have passed since your mother's-" he paused again as if pained, his confident expression wavering and then slipping firmly into place-" since your mother's passing I have grown more and more conscious of the fact that one day I will follow her. I am called to do so and I have felt the call for a long time." The twins stood speechless waiting for their father to continue. "You have both grown into such extraordinary individuals. You have your mother's strength. I see it in both of you however differently it manifests in your own gifts." His eyes sparkled with admiration and pride as he looked at them.
"Because I have made this decision I must also make another. One must inherit my control of Avaria and one must inherit my control of the elements."
"And, you have decided." Turin said with anticipating everything that could fall.
"To be honest my decision took little thought. Turin, you have always had magnificent foresight. You are wise far beyond your years and you understand this kingdom. It would seem that you'd made it your life's work to understand but truly I believe it came naturally to you. You know your strengths and your weaknesses and that makes you stronger. You shall take my place on the throne. Your wisdom will guide our people well," Viktor replied. He turned to Valaina. "My decision was made doubly easy by the fact that I know you have never wanted the throne, daughter. I know you live to lead but not in the way that Turin does. Your strengths are different. The people know you can lead them in battle with the strength and bravery of a thousand men but I fear your impatience, like mine, would have lead you into great trouble had I given you the throne instead. Without your mother I don't think I will be able to continue much longer. My own inadequacies will destroy the kingdom if I allow myself to falter anymore. Valaina you will inherit my elemental power. It will make you stronger and will give you more control not only of the world but also of your self and your mind. Your gold heart will allow you to control the power better than I ever could."
What happened next surprised him greatly. His son was smiling from ear to ear and his daughter was speechless but she looked relieved.
"Congratulations Valaina!" Turin exclaimed. He was very kind hearted and he knew that his sister had defiantly worked much harder for this than he had. He would be king and Valaina would finally be able to relax and gain her new power just as he always knew she would. They would both finally be whole again. But this time they would be whole individually. They would be able to branch out. He couldn't have been happier.
"Thank you Turin." She was very surprised at Turin's reaction she had thought he would hate her if she received their father's abilities. But really, she decided, Turin is right to be so happy. This is what we have always wanted.
"Now that that's done," Viktor said smiling, "the second order of business is of even greater importance." His countenance shifted back to his previous seriousness. "I have received word from Elrond of Rivendell. He asks for my presence in a secret council of the free races. I however cannot leave Avaria for some time because I have a duty to the people and I must put my affairs in order. I will need you with me as I do so, Turin. Therefore I have decided that Valaina and three other members of the court shall go in my stead."
"I am greatly honored father." she said smiling growing more and more ecstatic always ready for an adventure and always grateful for something of great importance to focus all of her energies on. "Who will accompany me?"
"As I said three members of my court shall accompany you. Lord Xavier, Lord Erynion, and Lord Beridhren," he said. These were all great friends of hers even though they were hundreds of years her senior. Despite the fact that they were all hundreds of years her senior these lords were great and true friends of hers. She had fought along side them in the great wars. They were great men.
"Oh wonderful! Again I am greatly honored to be going father. When shall we leave for Rivendell?"
"The day after tomorrow." said the king. He was quite pleased that his daughter would so willingly go. "Now you must go prepare for the journey while I tell the others of this affair. You are dismissed children."
"Goodnight Father," they said simultaneously. They walked gracefully out of the throne room and into the hallway. They were both quite happy. They couldn't speak at first only exchanging brilliant and slightly tearful smiles. Turin finally spoke as they walked.
"Val I feel whole again. I'm so happy I feel my soul could sing. I will finally have the chance to prove myself in my own way, on my own terms, with my strengths."
"I know what you mean," she replied smiling, "that is how I feel when my focus is intact. Oh and by gods I am bloody thrilled to go to Imladris! I have always wished to go there. And I have a strange feeling that this adventure will be the most important task I set out on."
"You are lucky to be going there. It is a heavenly place. You will meet extraordinary people and you will represent us well. Father knows it."
There was a pause in their dialogue as they both thought.
"You will be king one day." She said with a quiet sort of reverence. She felt safe. Turin would rule well with his newfound hope. She was certain. They smiled at each other. Both knowing the other was happy.
"Now, we must go to sleep." He continued, "I am very tired from our "duel" and you, dear sister, have a bit of planning to do."