Summary: This story is based on my original characters. It is about friendship, some romance and adventures. Lord Elrond's and king Tranduil's families are also present as are elves of Lorien. This summery is awful. Just read and see for yourself.

Disclaimer: I think it's rather unnecessary statement, but Arda with all it's characters belongs to Professor Tolkien. I own only those, created by me.

Twin's story

1. The great tragedy

Little girl was humming softly while dancing ever so lightly picking flowers from the field beneath. Warm wind was playing with her long hair and blue dress. She run to the beautiful maiden who was sitting not far away, gazing thoughtfully to nothing in particular. The woman was dressed in light clothes of deep green colour. Her pale fare face was calm but slightly sad. Deep ageless eyes and gently pointed ears left no doubt of who she was. Alphlaer Swansong was the she-elf and also a queen of this lands.

The child cut her humming sensing uneasiness in her mother's frame. She sat near examine the fare face with worried eyes.

- Nana, why are you so sad? - she finally asked feeling sad too.

Alphlaer looked at her little daughter and smiled lovingly. Unlike Alphlaer whose hair was of raven colour, her daughter had had her father's dark-brown one. It was spilled over her back like a small river, shining at the sun. Although it was obviously that she wasn't an elfling, Eluihen bore fare features of her mother's race. She was a half-elf like two other children of king Ranbel and queen Alphlaer, the rulers of northern lands.

The girl was only eight years old but she was becoming more smart and wise each day. It seemed that she was able not only to sense, but to understand the feelings of others and the mood around her. Many times the queen found herself sharing deepest thoughts with the child. And what was more, it helped to ease whatever troubled her.

- I don't know, iell nin, don't know, my daughter, - Alphlaer ran a hand through her daughter's hair. - Something disturbs me. i feel unsafe here.

She indeed felt a strange fear rising in her chest. It was odd since she always have loved to spend time outside the palace walls, closer to the nature. And lands near the palace weren't filled with enemies. But now she knew something bad was going to happen. Although she could not sense what it was.

- Do you wish to return to the palace? - Eluihen asked with light concern, her gray-blue eyes staring at the she-elf expectedly.

The child could tell something was wrong. Her mother was sad and disturbed while the trees around were silent. This silence made her feeling uncomfortable for she always enjoyed sounds of nature. The girl looked at her mother once more.

- I think we have to, honey, - Alphlaer finally said standing up and hugging her child. - I know not what it is, but I feel we must leave now.

Eluihen nodded standing as well. The queen waved to the guards signaling them about their decision. She took her daughter's small hand and they moved forward to meet with their escort.

At that exact moment an arrow pierced one man's chest. Eluihen stared in shock as the warrior fell to the ground, red blood blossoming his shirt. She felt tears running down her cheeks, but had no time to fully understand what had just happened. Using the shock as their advantage, more then a dozen of orcs rushed from the forest into the clearing swiftly killing human warriors.

Eluihen covered her mouth by her hand. She had never before saw an orc, nor experienced the death. It was a shocking and terrifying scene. Yet, all was happening far too quickly for her to feel really scared.

The girl felt her mother tensed, dragging a dagger out from her boot. Eluihen wasn't trained to fight although her twin brother Noruihen have been for a year already. So she knew nothing of how to defend herself. She could only watched in horror as all the guards were killed trying to shield their ladies.

But it was fruitless. Orcs were too many, coming from all directions and circling remained humans. When they finished the warriors they turned to the two female victims, staring at them with blood-thirst in their cruel eyes.

- What do we have here? A lovely elf... and a lovely human cub, - huge orc with an ugly scar through his face laughed in low cracking voice.

The sound made Eluihen flinched. As well as the sight of yellow rotted teeth at the rough ugly face. Her reaction only made orcs laugh.

- Do not dare to touch her! - Alphlaer shouted pushing her child behind her back, desperately trying to find a way out of this nightmare.

But she could do nothing. Terrified Eluihen watched as her mother was punched and sent to the ground. Her dagger was sent few feet aside and left forgotten. Orcs cheered loudly for their leader who raised his blooded scimitar above the she-elf. Alphlaer tried to get up, but found a foot pressed hard at her chest pinning her to the ground. She was suffocating both from the lack of oxygen and foul stench of the orcs around her.

Suddenly a fierce scream cut the air and for a moment the clearing was silent as a little girl ran past two shocked orc and jumped into the third one, the one holding raised blade. She succeeded in pushing the stunned creature away from her mother not even noticing that the blade was cutting her arm deeply.

The orc captain was greatly surprised at the child's action. Usually young one's were completely terrified and did nothing but cry. His mood quickly changed into the anger. He backhanded the girl, sending her at the ground not far from her mother.

Eluihen felt hot tears streaming down her stinging face. They were not only of fear but also of helplessness. She could do nothing but watched in shock and pain as a scimitar raced down pinning her mother to the ground.

Alphlaer screamed in pain, her eyes closed and both hands holding the blade near the wound. She was gasping for breath, pain shooting through her body with each beat of her heart. Foul laughter of the orcs felt like poison to both mother and daughter.

Orc captain leaned over and took a medallion from his still breathing victim's neck - a shiny jewel crafted by elves. He hold no interest in beauty. It was a simple booty that meant one more life taken by his merciless arm.

Suddenly his head jerked aside as he heard distant noises. Screams of soldiers and first arrows made orcs run away. The leader stopped near the little girl looking as if he was going to kill her too. But then he smirked cruelly and jumped back to the woods. The pain of the loss would be better torment for the child.

Eluihen didn't noticed her father's warriors approaching and was unaware of the orc's flight. All she could see at that time was her mother's body still pinned to the ground.

- Nana? - the girl sobbed kneeling beside the she-elf, unconsciously cradling her injured arm to her chest.

- Navaer, little one… - Alphlaer choked blood coming from her mouth.

She knew it was an end. the damage done by the blow was too serious for any healer to tent to. She was going to die here, in front of her terrified child.

- No, mother, please don't go!

- Stay in peace little Starchild..., - queen's voice was just above the whisper, each word coming with greater effort than previous accompanied by the mouthful of blood. - And take good care of your sister… I'm sad that I can't say farewell to Noruihen and my husband… Do me a favor, my child…

- I will do anything you want, mother, - Eluihen whispered brokenly.

- Let Elrond know…

She groaned softly feeling her gaze blackening. A hot tears dropped to her face as two small hands hugged her. Than with the last "Namarie" she was gone.

XX

Soldiers stood in shock and horror gathered around their queen's body and crying princess. They were too late. They failed to protect their queen who was greatly loved by the people of their lands. But... There still was a child to take care of.

One of the warriors kneeled beside the little girl, gently hugging her.

- Let go, little lady. Please. We need to go to the palace.

He noticed with concern the blood slowly dripping from the wound at princess shoulder. She didn't say a word but let go of her mother's body. The warrior took the silent unresponsive girl into his arms and placed her at the horse's back in front of one of the soldiers.

- Take her to the palace. Be swift. We'll take the bodies.

The soldier nodded grimly, holding his little princess gently but firmly and raced toward the palace at full speed.

XX

King Ranbel was at his study looking through some papers when he felt like his heart was pierced with a hot blade. This feeling was so sudden and strong that he literally fell to the floor, clutching at his chest. Yet he knew that the pain wasn't physical. Something have happened. His thoughts raced to his wife and elder doughtier. No, it can't be then... they are safe, aren't they?

It was then that he heard the commotion in the yard. The king hurried outside, fear squeezing his heart. As soon as he got out he stopped in shock staring at the warrior who galloped in the yard with Eluihen cradled in his arms.

The girl seemed to be in shock. Her eyes were painfully empty staring in nothing. She was pale and still yet crystal tears were rolling down her cheeks without stopping.

- What happened? - Ranbel took his daughter into his own protective arms only now noticing a blood that covered her dress and was still dropping freely from the wound.

- Orcs, my Lord. We were too late. They managed to escape..., - the soldier began knowing not how to tell his king the worst news.

- Father? - suddenly a small figure rushed toward them and a pare of frightened eyes stared at the Ranbel and the girl in his arms.

- Noruihen, find a healer. Quickly, - the king said to his pale son.

The boy turned and run toward the healing wing as fast as he could. While the king turned to the soldier, his heart bleeding from the sight of his child and freezing from the fear of what he still haven't heard.

- My Lord, I had to tell you horrible news… The queen… She's gone.

Ranbel felt close to fainting. The entire world seemed to crash in one moment. His wife, his love, his soul had gone… He closed his eyes and swayed. He would have fall down if not for the thin form in his arms.

- Ada… - soft voice called to him making him to return to the world of living.

- Yes, my child, - he whispered, hugging Eluihen.

- Nana asked to let Elrond know. Will you do it?

- Yes I will, sweetheart.

He handled his daughter to the palace's head healer letting him do his job. He had a task to attend to himself. The king kneeled before his son and whispered:

- Noruihen, stay with your sister, please. she need you right now.

The boy nodded. He didn't know what was going on but he knew it was bad. And he knew that his sister indeed was in dire need of his presence. So the boy cast one last look at his father and ran to the healing wing once more.

The king swallowed his tears and stood up making his way toward the gates to meet the sad procession and gave the necessary orders. He thought back to his wife's last wish. Elrond was Alphlaer's step brother and the elven lord of Imladris. Ranbel felt guilty to take his wife from her family but at that time it was no other option. Now he regretted his own fight with Elrond and his stubborn pride that made relations between their realms mostly non-existent.

In his heart he knew it was right to let his wife be buried by the customs of elves. Even if he understood his mistakes too late, the least thing he could do was to inform lord Elrond and try to soften the tenseness between their families.

TBC…

Note:

Eluihen – Child of the stars

Noruihen – Child of the sun

Iellgaer – Daughter of the sea

Alphlaer – Swan's song