Elrohir opened his eyes when he felt the first drop of water hit him. The skies were grey above him. He could see the clouds through the branches of the tree he was sitting in. He was on a branch and leaning against the trunk. If he looked straightforward then the Bruinen was right in front of him. Circles were breaking the still water as the rain plummeted into the mirror.
The storm had come.
Elrohir sighed; Elladan and Ada hadn't figured it out before the storm. It was a good thing that he didn't mind the rain. Being an elf the cold never really bothered him, only at extreme temperatures. He was in no danger of getting ill by staying out in the rain. As the rain only strengthened he slowly felt it soak through his clothes. So pure… It ran down the side of his face. He closed his eyes and felt, as the drops landed on his cheeks, almost like tears.
The tree he was sitting in provided some shelter from the rain, but not much.
O
Elladan was sitting in his room on the bed. He hadn't gone to dinner because he didn't want to face his father. What was there to say to him? He didn't know what to say… Guilt for hitting Elrohir had hit him like a blow after Elrohir had disappeared into the forest. He had seen the hurt in his brother's eyes when he had stroked him. Elrohir had jumped in front of him and taken the blow when Ada had lashed out. He should have been the one to take the blow, not his little brother, not Elrohir.
Elrohir had been hit twice in one day, his brother and his father had hit him, and now he was alone in the forest.
Elladan looked out the window. An hour ago it had started raining. It was pouring down from the now almost black sky. Just then a lightning stroke brightened up the room, thunder followed close after. Hopefully Elrohir would be on his way back now…
Another lightning flashed.
O
"What do you think you're doing?" Glorfindel asked angrily as he barged into Elrond's office.
Elrond was standing by the window and looking out into the storm. He turned around when Glorfindel came into the room.
"Your son is out there right now." Glorfindel said as he walked towards Elrond. "He is out there alone in this storm and you're just standing there? You haven't even tried to talk it over with Elladan yet? Have you even talked to him once since Elrohir left?"
"I want nothing more than to go out there and find Elrohir, but he forbid it before I had solved the issue with Elladan and I'm just not ready to do that yet." Elrond said.
"Why not? Elladan is young; it will be centuries before he becomes lord of Rivendell. He missed a meeting today, but it was only one meeting. Was it enough to make such a big deal about?" Glorfindel asked angrily.
Elrond seemed to grow in size and he stared coldly at Glorfindel, "Remember your place Glorfindel. I am your lord and you would do well to remember it."
Glorfindel gaze also hardened, he answered coolly, "I am giving you this advice as your friend and I think you would do well to remember as well what you really want me to be. Your sons are hurting and only you have the power to stop it. So what do you want?" With that Glorfindel turned around and walked out of the room again.
Elrond turned back to looking out of the window angry from Glorfindel's words.
O
The rain was cascading out of the sky constantly all around him. He could hardly see for it. Lightning came roaring down from the heavens constantly, the storm was getting more violent. He felt the branch that he was sitting on sway in the wind.
Elrohir looked around worriedly. The storm was only going to get worse from here on out. The Bruinen was already swollen beneath him. Even though he hated it he knew that he needed to get home, quickly…
Elrohir slowly stood up on the branch he waited until the branch at its steadiest before jumping down on the one beneath it. He almost slid off it but managed to regain his bearings. He let go of a deep breath, but it seemed to be too soon as the branch suddenly groaned under his weight. That was the only warning he got before a crack sounded and suddenly he was falling through the air.
A cry of surprise was ripped from his throat just before he plummeted into the dark water of the Bruinen. He already had no air in his lungs and the shook immediately made him swallow a mouthful of water. He hit something as he was forced down into the water and pain immediately sprang forward from his arm.
Which way was up? He looked around in panic before deciding and then swimming with swift kicks in that direction.
As soon as his head came out of the water he gasped in air, but it wasn't long before another wave came and pushed him under water again. He was pulled with the stream sometimes able to kick off from the bottom and reach the surface, but it was only to be pulled under again. In his panic he swallowed more water and he was brought father and farther down stream. He got slammed into rocks, trying to grab hold of them was fruitless.
His lungs needed air! He broke through the surface again and gasped painfully. He was able to stay over water a bit longer this time and he noticed and a tree root was going into the water. He immediately swam with all his power towards it. Going against the stream while occasionally being pulled under. Finally he reached out and grabbed tightly hold of the root. He pulled himself closer to it and slowly closer to shore while fighting against the stream.
Finally he crawled onto the riverbed. He was on his back gasping and coughing for air. His body was shaking from shock and exhaustion. More rain landed on his face as he laid there breathing heavily.
A dull pain slowly spread from his ankle, ribs and arm. Elrohir looked at his arm only to be shocked when he saw a piece of wood protruding from it. He gently moved his other hand over to take hold of the piece. Clenching his teeth he began slowly pulling the wood out of his arm. He groaned painfully as it came out. Checking it for splinters before throwing the piece of wood as far away as possible. Blood poured out of the wound so he quickly ripped a piece of his tunic off and tied it tightly against the wound.
Then he felt along his ribs. Two of them were broken from colliding with the rocks, but it seemed to be a clean break. His ankle wasn't broken, but it was sprained.
Elrohir got up slowly, he winced as his ribs and ankle started assaulting him with pain. Gritting his teeth he stood up and limped heavily towards the last homely house. The storm was still roaring around him.
O
Glorfindel walked through the halls worried. The storm had become more violent through the night. Elrohir wasn't back yet even though he had promised him to come back if it got too rough.
Just then he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw Elrond walking up to him; there was a new expression on his face than a few hours ago. He looked more worried, but free of anger.
"I'm sorry Glorfindel." Elrond said as he came close to him. "I should have listened to you. Instead I carried on the dangerous course I was laying for myself. I know now that I need to talk with Elladan, I'm headed over there right now. Elrohir isn't back, is he?"
Glorfindel shook his head, "He isn't back. I told him to come back if it got to rough out there, but…"
Sadness flashed through Elrond's eyes and he looked out the window. Into the storm hoping to get a glimpse of Elrohir coming home. Glorfindel placed his hand on Elrond's shoulder, making Elrond look into his eyes.
"He'll come back Elrond." Glorfindel said convincingly.
"He could have been home long ago if I hadn't been so stupid as to not realize what was happening."
Glorfindel smiled at Elrond, "Then don't waste any more time. Go to Elladan."
Elrond nodded and moved down the hall to Elladan's room. Glorfindel watched his back until he rounded the corner. Then he sighed and moved along without really knowing where he was headed. He had reassured Elrond that Elrohir would come back home, but he wasn't even sure himself. Tons of things could have happened out there and currently Elrohir could be lying wounded somewhere and they were in here doing nothing. That said, he didn't have any way of finding Elrohir in that weather. It was too strong.
His feet slowly took him to the front door. He finally looked up and saw where he was, praying that Elrohir would come in through that door right there. Sitting down on the bench beside the door he waited, but finally came to the conclusion that it would do him no good. He stood up and walked away from the door even though he had hesitated turning his back to it.
No sooner than turning the corner and walking halfway up the next corridor he heard a sound, the door opening and closing. He didn't even think about what he was going to do he just ran back swiftly. Hoping that it was Elrohir.
As he rounded the corner he almost ran into him. Taking a step back he looked at Elrohir. He was drenched; his hair was laying flat against his head the water making it look completely black. There was still a distinctive bruise on his cheek, but the rest of his face was so pale and his lips tingled with blue. Blood was flowing down his arm; mingling with the water and making it look like there was more than there actually was. He looked utterly exhausted.
"Elrohir?" Glorfindel asked, "What happened out there?"
Elrohir coughed suddenly but then answered, "I fell out of a tree." His voice was hoarse. "And into the Bruinen. I managed to haul myself out of there after swallowing a lot of water. Where are Elladan and Ada?"
"You what…?" Glorfindel asked horrified, but then he shook his head to clear it. "They are talking right now. Only just got to it."
Elrohir nodded and started limping down the hall, "Tell them I'm home after they stop talking."
"Elrohir, you need help." Glorfindel argued.
"I'm fine Glorfindel. It's not that bad, I can take care of the injuries by myself. I don't want to interrupt them when they are finally going to fix things…" Elrohir sighed and kept limping in the direction of his room.
Glorfindel shook his head and followed him muttering under his breath, "They are going to kill me when I tell them…"
