I must get my soul back from you
Sylvia Plath. .
.
Elrohir watched his brother as they broke their fast. They sat with Prince Imrahil and his large and boisterous family at a long stone table beneath an arbour draped in grapes. All around were the scents and sounds of Dol Amroth's fabled gardens and before them was laid a sumptuous spread: breads and pastries, half a dozen different types of exotic fruit, rich cheeses and the small smoked fish that the people of Belfalas seemed to eat with every meal.
Elladan had not touched a thing.
"Toren," He laid a hand on his brother's arm, ebony braids swinging as he leaned close, his lyrical voice carrying no further than his brother's ear.
The older ellon started, he had clearly been miles away, lost in his thoughts and not even noticing his twin. "You are too quiet. And have not eaten or drunk this morn? What ails?"
"Nothing." Elladan's response was automatic but Elrohir was not fooled. His brother had hardly eaten yesterday as well. Had not joined in the dancing at the party the eve before nor played cards nor spoken to many of the other guests. Elladan had simply sat in the private window seat, gazing north across the water lost in thought. It was so unlike his brother that at first Elrohir had let him be, wondering if some sort of sea longing had taken hold his heart. But now seeing it like go on for another day, hearing each denial anew he had to act.
It was time to pull his twin out of himself.
"Would you like me to join you on your ride today?" Elrhoir asked, putting more bright hopefulness in his smile than sat in his anxious chest. "We could head south. Erchirion says there is great fishing from the beach. You could catch something without getting wet."
"No…" Elladan's voice was hard and flat, so unlike himself that the sound of it sets a tendril of fear within his breast. Across the table Estel had looked up at the unaccustomed sound. He too had a worried frown upon his face, was lending only half an ear to Arwen's talk of silks and threads and all her new ideas for needlecraft.
Some thing was wrong and he will not let it rest until he knew.
"Toren."
Cautiously he probed the other's thoughts. Their bond was strong. Always they had been able to hear the other and sense when one was sad or joyous, in pain or hurt. He pushed against the swirl of dull surface thought to find an ominous dark blank that he could not breach.
It is not something he has known before.
"'Dan!" His panicked plea was louder than he planned and suddenly every face around the table is turned their way.
Perhaps the sound roused where touch had not. His brother's oddly blank eyes have caught something of light. Elladan shivered and looked around as if just noticing they were there.
Prince Imrahil, ever the diplomat, cleared his throat and bravely spoke into the embarrassed silence.
"Lord Elladan what do you think of Cobas Haven's sheltered shore? It is wide and with a steady breeze less hot than we get just east. It has always been one of my favourite places for a ride."
"It is very beautiful indeed," The dark grey eyes were smiling. Elrohir silently let out a breath and watched, heart in mouth, as his brother washed his hands anxiously in his lap. He seemed to be weighing the urge to speak, hesitating to raise a point but then finally carried on.
"I saw someone…"
"You did?" Imrahil smiled and leaned forward with interest, relieved as he that the words were so seemingly innocent. "Well it is uncommon but not unheard of. One of the families from the next village picnicing by the shore?"
"No, " Elladan replied, a rosy flush staining his previously pale cheek. "An elleth. I was surprised. I did not know any folk still lived in Edhelhond."
Imrahil's white eyebrows practically jumped up to his brow. "There have been no Eldar living there since before Numenor was drowned. Perhaps you were mistaken. The light was bad…."
Elladan shook his head. "No. She was singing. I heard her speak and saw her clearly. She was no child of the Edain."
"Perhaps he found a selkie…" Amrothos began teasingly and Erchiron chuckled and took up the thought. "You had best watch out Elladan. A siren might take your soul and whisk you away to die of want."
"Stuff and nonsense. " Imrahil glowered at his sons. "Excuse my ridiculous offspring my Lord, those are but sailors' tales, fits of ardor after days at sea. The only elf-maid to steal hearts in these parts was Mithrellas, my foremother. And none died in the exchange."
"Have some of your brethren chosen settle by the shore?" Faramir asked Legolas, who had watched the exchange with a look of puzzlement on his fair face.
"Not that I am aware. All those who came south with me are in Ithilien."
There was no consensus and soon finished their repast, the group broke up. Off to various errands and entertainment. The wedding was the next day and Lothiriel was to have final touches put to her dress. Eowyn and Arwen had planned to help and the Rohirrim were to bestow the bride price and morning gift. For the morning at least the other's were at liberty.
Elrohir followed his brother to the stable.
'Elladan.?"
The ellon looked up from where he was again saddling his mount. The deep lapis of his warrior beads glinted in the morning light as one hand twisted a lock restlessly.
"You will ride again? May I not come?"
"There is no need. I will not be long…" Elladan fidgeted with Gaeron's tack. Gaeron in turn shuffled nervously at his side.
It did not take their bond for him to tell his usually thoughtful, diplomatic, utterly exasperating brother was lying, though why he could not guess. Never before has he treated me this way. The thought was startling. It was as if some enchantment had taken the brother that he new and replaced him with another ellon, impulsive, secretivie.
It seemed impossible and yet…..
It took mere moments after Elladan had left for Elrohir to saddle his faithful grey. He rode quickly but quietly as he could, hanging back out of his brother's hearing, following easily Gaeron's track for the pair made no effort to be hid. He took no notice of the scenery or plants, spared no thought for birds or beast, intent only on divining where his brother went.
The sun was climbing over head when they rounded a rocky head. He felt the loss the morning's steady offshore breeze, saw the sea calm as they entered the little cove. All was quiet and serene. It was a placid place, pretty, but quite empty of all but the strip of sea wrack left by the tide.
Elrohir stayed mounted, hid behind the rocks as he watched his elder brother dismount and walk with ease through the jumbled rocks. Elladan headed purposely down the strand, long limbs quickly eating up the short distance to the sand, eyes fixed on something in the quiet space.
He craned his neck to see but to his eye there was nothing there. It made not sense. Elladan was walking forward as if he had a goal in sight but the cove was empty. There was just the sea and the kittiwakes circling lazily on the warm, still air and his brother, striding eagerly, the shining sun glittering in his hair.
And then, even that sparkle was lost to view.
From one footstep to the next, Elladan was gone.
