Rating/Warnings: K. None

Time frame: 135 of the Third Age. Elladan and Elrohir are five years old.

A/N: I haven't slept yet, therefore this is still Day 2 of the Challenge. Seren has spoken. Anyway, I apologize in advance for any and all errors herein, for it has gone unedited seeing as how it's approximately 4 in the morning, and I must be up in about 3 hours. Good job me.

A thousand thanks to TheHouseWitch for your review! I am terribly sorry I was unable to respond as of yet, but as you may guess, I am already very late in finishing this. It truly meant a lot to hear from you (and wtraveler304 as well!). To all of you who have alerted and/or favorited, you all are spectacularly awesome, and to all who read, thank you so much! I would love it if you'd take the time to drop a review and let me know what you thought - how can I improve if I don't know what's good and what can use work on? - but really, the most important thing to me is that you enjoy reading it!

Day 2 – Something about a character you are hopelessly in love with

Elrond

Ever since he was very young, Elrond had a tendency to disappear. He would not do so purposefully, insomuch that he did it to avoid someone, or slip away from his caretakers. Rather, it was because he liked the quiet and the solitude – the peace. He would find a tucked away corner – beneath a desk or a table, between the wall and the couch, the space between two cupboards, the fork between two tree branches, or even a small cleft in a rock – and would curl up. Most often he would have a book to keep him company, but some days he would simply listen and watch, silently observing the world around him. This habit drove Elwing frantic on more than one occasion, when she would find that her youngest child had inexplicably disappeared, and no one could find him. No one save Elros, that is.

As he grew older, Elrond disappeared less and less often. The first time he did so after being taken by Maedhros and Maglor, he received a firm cuff about the ears for having sent practically the entire camp into a frantic search for the wayward Peredhel. (It may be noted here that Elros was playing quite contentedly in the gardens not five paces away from the tree that Elrond had chosen to be his perch; and also that Elros did not tell Maglor where his brother was, as he was enjoying the general uproar far too much. He had later apologized to Elrond, and ever after that he helped to cover for his brother whenever Elrond would disappear again).

For a time, Elrond ceased his disappearing act. As Morgoth's might grew and he began to cover the land with darkness yet again, none had time for anything but that which would keep them alive for another day. Elrond and Elros trained then fought, and if Elrond did ever curl up in a tucked away corner, he was always back amongst people before they could realize he was gone.

It was only after the War of Wrath had been won and the Second Age well begun that Gil-galad began to notice that his young cousin would be absent for hours at a time. He wondered but he did not worry, or truly even care, for he knew that Elrond could care for and protect himself.

All through his days as Herald to the High King, Elrond was known to simply disappear for hours at a time. This proved to be quite the frustration for many, and it was truly only then that Elrond began to use this gift to his advantage. More than once he successfully avoided confrontation with an irate courtier or unnecessary luncheon.

After founding Imladris, Elrond rarely disappeared again. He knew his duties, and no longer could he shirk even meaningless and irritating tasks and responsibilities. What peace and quiet he had he found in his rooms or his private study, the two places that the inhabitants of the Valley knew not to disturb him unless it was important.

It seemed, however, that whatever talent or innate gift enabled Elrond to all but disappear, he passed along to his children.

(Rivendell, T.A. 135)

Elrond sat at his desk in his large study, an ancient, yellowed tome lying open before him. The pages were cracked with age, and the carefully inked Dwarven runes were so faded that they were nigh unreadable.

Elrond sighed and sat back in his chair, fighting the urge to massage his temples as a headache whispered behind his eyes. He had never enjoyed the tedious work of copying text, especially when having to translate it as well as transcribe, and the long hours spent carefully inspecting the weathered and cramped writing in the ledger were beginning to take their toll.

"I really should teach someone else how to read ancient Dwarvish," Elrond muttered as he flexed his hand, casting a baleful glance at the thick tome. He sighed then. He wouldn't, and he knew it, for a number of reasons, the least of which being that it was an extremely difficult language to master, and there was rarely any use for such knowledge.

Elrond capped his inkwell and cleaned his quill tip, then stood. The afternoon shadows were lengthening, and it was high time for him to take a break.

A knock sounded at the door just as Elrond was reaching for the latch. He opened the door, and was promptly forced to leap sideways to avoid being punched in the chest as the person at the door made to knock a second time.

A small squeak of surprise accompanied a small, petite elleth stepping back, a look of utter mortification staining her cheeks with a faint blush. "I am sorry my lord," she gasped, jerking her hand back and ducking her head to look at her feet.

Elrond stifled a sigh. Silver-white haired and exceptionally small, especially for an Elf, Adeldes was both shy and timid. Even after having lived in Imladris for well over a hundred years, she had never seemed to fully heal from the trauma of watching as her entire family was cut down by Orcs. Even small noises, if unexpected, frightened her, and she had yet to overcome her awe of Elrond, and the timid fear that he seemed to evoke – not the fear of a monster or some pending catastrophe, but the soft and subtle fear of a believer, one who knew, or at least subconsciously understood, the true greatness and power of the one she followed.

"No need to apologize, Adeldes," Elrond assured her, smiling kindly. "If anyone should apologize, it should be me."

"Oh no, my lord," she replied quickly.

Elrond stepped back, indicating that Adeldes should enter. "Am I correct in supposing that you came to speak with me?" he asked, motioning for her to take a seat in one of the large, comfortable chairs situated by the cold fireplace. "Elladan and Elrohir have not done something harmful – to themselves or to someone else – again, have they?" he asked, sounding suddenly wearied.

"No my lord, it is not that," Adeldes replied, perching on the edge of the cushion of one of the armchairs, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Elrond could not help but be reminded of a sparrow perched on the edge of a wall, watching for the cat that was prowling below. "It is, however, about your sons." What relief that had blossomed in Elrond's chest was quashed instantly.

"What have they done now?" he asked.

Adeldes hesitated, uncertainty causing her to bite her lip fretfully. Elrond watched her, his silver eyes compelling, although not unkindly, to tell him what had happened.

"I cannot seem to find Elrohir," Adeldes blurted out, and then blushed. "They have hidden from me before, but I have always been able to find them. It is just a game, you see…"

"You have no need to defend yourself to me, young one," Elrond said kindly. He could well remember him and Elros doing much the same to their caretaker when they were Elladan and Elrohir's age. "So you cannot find Elrohir?" Elrond asked. Adeldes nodded. Elrond frowned. "You found Elladan though?" It was unusual for Elladan and Elrohir to hide in separate places, leastways it had been every time that they had played such a game with their father.

Adeldes shook her head. "No, not quite," she admitted. "Elladan was not even hiding. He was playing in the nursery with his toy soldiers, just where I had left him. I asked him where Elrohir was, and he shrugged."

"I see," Elrond mused, brow furrowing. How peculiar.

"I searched everywhere for him," Adeldes hurriedly assured Elrond. "Elladan even helped me look, trailing after and opening cupboards and the like. I did not wish to bother you, but with the Lady Celebrían gone, and…"

"It is quite all right," Elrond reassured her, holding up a hand to silence her rush of words. "I was about to take a break in any case."

Elrond stood, and Adeldes followed suit. "I left Elladan in the nursery, and bade him not to leave until you or I came for him."

"Very good," Elrond said, nodding and then opening the door to his study. He motioned for Adeldes to precede him out into the hallway, and then closed the door firmly behind them. "Now, where all have you looked?"

By the sound of it, Adeldes had quite thoroughly scoured the Main House – grand suite of rooms that belonged to Elrond and his family, the Library, the Kitchens, the Hall of Fire, the Music Hall, and the many nooks and crannies that lined the walls between each. She had even gone so far as to ask those who were in their offices if they had seen her wayward charge, knowing full well that the twins could shimmy their way into their father's councilors and captains' studies to play or hide, if they were feeling bold enough – which they often were.

Elrond led the way down the hall toward the stairs. "I know that you have already checked in the Kitchens, but I think perhaps it is as good a place as any to begin," he suggested.

"Of course, my lord," Adeldes responded, bobbing her head. "I am sorry, I am sure I was simply not looking well enough."

Elrond shook his head, fighting back a small sigh. Ai, but overly timid and insecure people were tiring to deal with over long periods of time. "Adeldes," Elrond said calmly, but steadily, halting and turning to look at the young Elf-maiden, "if you searched the Kitchens, then you searched the Kitchens. I do not in any way doubt your abilities, or your thoroughness. If I did, in any measure no matter how small, I would never allow you to care for my children." Adeldes blushed, and lowered her eyes. Elrond gently grasped her chin and forced her eyes back up to meet his. "You need not apologize to me any more, young one," he told her.

"Yes my lord," Adeldes whispered, her eyes wide with…something. Elrond found that he could not quite place his finger on what it was that filled her pale blue, almost silver eyes. It was not fright, as he had thought he might see, and neither was it surprise, although it was a bit similar to both. Elrond smiled kindly and turned away, starting down the hallway once more, mind still puzzling through what Adeldes's expression had meant.

The Kitchens were abustle with preparations for the evening meal. Cooks and serving staff hurried to and fro, bearing platters and cutting boards and bowls, cutlery and stacks of plates and bowls and baskets filled with fresh fruit. The air was filled with the succulent smells of freshly baked bread, meat sizzling in sauce, and tarts freshly pulled from the oven.

"If I was a five year old elfling, I think I would chose here to hide," Elrond commented, turning to speak to Adeldes. She smiled, albeit only slightly visibly, and then followed Elrond as he began to search.

Twenty minutes later, Elrond and Adeldes emerged from the same door that they had entered, each with a hazelnut scone in hand, but without the wayward child. They continued their search, combing the hallways, opening cabinets and lifting drapes, watching closely for any child-sized lumps or shadows.

Elrond shook his head as they finished searching the entirety of the first floor of the Main House. Adeldes stood by his side quietly, watching him as he thought.

"Let us search the Library again then," he said at last. "I doubt he is hiding in any of the offices, as you have already asked. Come then," he bade, starting up the stairs.

"If you do not mind my asking," Elrond began as they ascended the grand, sweeping flight of stairs that connected the first floor to the second, "why is it that you so enjoy watching the twins? They can be quite a handful, I know."

He had been curious for quite some time, although he had never before thought it an appropriate time to ask. He did not mean to be judgmental, and indeed that was not his intent, yet he could not help but be confused at the fact that such a timid woman, who would start at the sound of a dish falling off of the table, would wish to care for two children so rambunctious and spirited as his sons were. Yet even though Celebrían had offered her a different position twice – once when the twins were two years of age, and again just after their fourth begetting day – she had turned the Lady down, declaring that she would rather stay with the boys.

Adeldes looked down, watching her feet as she climbed the stairs, and Elrond wondered if she was going to answer him. Just as he thought that she would not, however, she spoke, although her voice was soft. "They are a handful, yes," she said, "but… I love them. They are like the little brothers I never had."

Elrond could not keep the smile from his lips as he turned to look at Adeldes. She chanced a glance up at him, and she seemed surprised to see such an emotion on the lord's face. She smiled ever so hesitantly in reply, and the unidentifiable expression was back in her eyes.

"I am glad of that," Elrond told her. "Do not let on that I told you this, but they have said before that they wish you are their sister."

"Truly?" Adeldes asked before she could stop herself.

"Aye," Elrond affirmed, chuckling quietly. "You are very dear to them."

At last, as at last he saw her smile truly for the first time, Elrond thought that he understood what it was that he was seeing in her gaze. It was not an emotion he had expected to see, but his heart soared all the more for it, for he had, in the oddest of senses, come to see Adeldes as yet another surrogate member of his family. It was joy, and it was hope – hope of a future not clouded by fear and sorrow.

Elrond blinked and then turned to smile at Adeldes again. "Come, let us find our errant elfling then."

The second floor was more sparsely decorated than the first floor, as it housed primarily offices, meeting rooms, and archives, but it still took the two searchers nearly a quarter of an hour to arrive at the doors to the Great Library.

The vast room was dimly lit. The large, arched windows that filled the far wall allowed in little light as the sun sunk low onto the horizon. Softly glowing lamps sat on oak tables and in sconces on the walls and set into the ends of bookshelves. Small nooks, nestled between adjoining shelves, or squeezed comfortably into corners were pools of shadow, couches, armchairs, and low tables bathed only in soft echoes of light.

Elrond breathed in deeply, allowing himself to simply enjoy the scent of old books, fresh parchment, and ink, mixed with oil, candlelight, and dust – a smell entirely unique to libraries, and one that he had loved since he was a child.

As the two began to hunt for the wayward child yet again – lifting pillows and cushions, peering down long aisles bathed in dusty shadow, pulling chairs away from tables and searching underneath – Elrond felt himself relax, despite the situation. He had always felt most at home in libraries in archives, ever since he was a small child.

"I can recall slipping away into the library in my father's house," Elrond began, murmuring quietly so that only Adeldes could hear him. "I would find a book and curl up into a corner to read by lamplight." He smiled wistfully at the far-distant memory. "My mother would…" Elrond trailed off, straightening from where he had been examining the underside of a large table.

Adeldes looked over at Elrond, confusion and the faintest trace of worry showing in her pale eyes. She did not speak, however, even as Elrond turned to face her.

"I know where Elrohir is," he said at last. "Or at least I know how to find him."

Without another word, Elrond hurried from the Library, Adeldes trailing after him, surprise now accompanying the confusion that had yet to abate. She did not question her lord as he hurried down the hall, however, merely followed at a trot to keep up with his long stride.

They descended a side staircase that linked the second floor of the Main House to the single-floored West Wing, where the family's rooms were located. Elrond hurried to the door leading into his and Celebrían suite, and quickly opened the door. He stood back, allowing Adeldes to enter first, and then once more took the lead as he swept down the hall toward the children's play room.

"Ada!" Elladan jumped up and ran to his father as Elrond entered. Elrond knelt and scooped his eldest son up into his arms, spinning the child around before hugging him close. The child laughed as he was spun, and then returned the embrace. "Ada, come look at what El and I did today," he urged, wriggling to be put down.

Elrond knelt, and released his child. Elladan began to run over to the far side of the room, but Elrond halted him before he could go more than a few paces. "Just a moment, Elladan," he said. "Come back please, I'd like to speak with you." Elladan turned and retraced his steps, a frown creasing his brow in confusion.

"Am I in trouble Ada?" Elladan asked as he came to stand in front of his crouching father.

Elrond shook his head. "No, I simply wanted to ask you where Elrohir is."

Elladan shrugged. "I don't know Ada," he replied. "We had been painting, but then El said he wanted to do something else. I went to get my warrior figures, and when I came back, he was gone. I haven't seen him," he said earnestly.

"I know," Elrond nodded, "but I still think that you know where he is. Think, Elladan."

"Really Ada, I don't kno-"

Elrond held up a hand, silencing Elladan's protests. "Trust me, my son," he said softly. "Now, where is Elrohir?"

Elladan furrowed his brow, a mixture of emotion dancing across his face. Anger, indignation, resentment, then shock. "He's behind the shelf," he said, pointing to a large pine shelf that was pushed against the wall in the corner. "I think he fell asleep," he added.

Elrond looked up and nodded to Adeldes, who hurried toward the indicated shelf. She did not look it, but Elrond could sense that she was skeptical. As moved the shelf slightly to the right, however, Elrond heard a sharp intake of breath, and he smiled.

"Adel?" a sleep voice mumbled from behind the shelf.

"I guess I did know," Elladan said sheepishly, drawing Elrond's attention back to himself. "I just…didn't think about it. I didn't see him though, Ada, I promise. I wasn't lying."

Elrond smiled gently at his son, and then sat, crossing his legs. He opened his arms, and Elladan climbed onto his lap, nestling against his father's chest.

"I am glad to hear that," Elrond said, "and would have been very disappointed if I thought you had been lying. But I did not think you were."

"How did I know though, Ada?" Elladan asked. He sounded truly distressed.

"Being a twin is a very special thing, Elladan," Elrond replied, looking up as Adeldes held the hand of an owlishly blinking Elrohir, leading the younger twin over to his father and brother. Elrond extended his right arm, inviting Elrohir to climb onto his lap as well. He did so without a word, clambering up and snuggling close sleepily. "There will be things that you can sense and that you will know about one another that no one else will be able to sense or know. It seems that knowing where the other is, is one such thing."

"But how, Ada?" Elladan asked insistently.

"No one knows," Elrond answered, "and I doubt we ever shall. But it was the same with me and my brother." Elladan and Elrohir shared matching grins – just like their Ada.

"I think, however," Elrond cut in before either twin could ask any more questions, "that it is nearly time for supper. Let's get washed and then go down to dinner together. How does that sound? Adeldes and I espied what looked like tarts for desert."

With whoops the two boys jumped up from their father's lap and raced out of the play room, sprinting toward the washroom. Elrond stood, smiling once more as he listened to them go.

"Thank you for helping me search, my lord," Adeldes said quietly, turning.

"Of course," Elrond replied. He laughed. "And I thank you for watching them every day. I do not think I thank you enough, for I know how tiring of a job it must be."

Adeldes merely shook her head, hands behind her back. "My lord," she called as Elrond started for the door. Elrond paused, turning back to look at her. "If I may…" Elrond nodded. "How…how did you know?" she asked hesitantly.

Elrond grinned a grin Adeldes could not remember ever seeing on her lord's face before. "As I said," he told her, "my brother and I were much the same. I would disappear for hours on end, and the only one who could find me was Elros. He could always find me, no matter where I went, and I him." His grin faltered, and there was an odd look that flickered in his silver gaze, like the pain of an old wound not fully healed. He looked away.

"We shall see you at dinner?" Elrond asked, glancing over his shoulder once more as he came to the door.

"Yes my lord," Adeldes replied quietly, bowing her head.

Elrond smiled kindly at her, bowing his head in return, and then vanished out into the hall, heading toward the washroom to ensure that his children had not decided it was an opportune time to begin a water fight.