Exception

Elladan trotted to keep up with the figure ahead of him. Father had never been slow on his feet, but he was now feeling the challenge of trying to catch him. Elladan ducked behind a tree when his father paused, cursing himself silently. The slight turn of Elrond's head told him that he was well aware of pursuit. Elladan smiled and stepped out from his hiding place, walking towards him.

"My son, your skills are slipping. I was aware of you before we left the house."

"Why then, did you not stop me before now?" Elladan puffed. He did not normally care for subterfuge.

"You wished to know where I was going. And I felt inclined towards some company."

Elladan felt his face relax into a smile. He realized how much he had missed his father in the years they had been apart. He noticed Elrond incline his head towards him.

"Come," he invited. "I wish to introduce you."

They proceeded along the narrow but well worn path weaving through tall pines. Elladan spotted an elf-lord standing by the path ahead. Uneasiness tugged at him. This one was very tall, fair, but stern looking. A cascade of reddish hair fell about his shoulders. Elladan waited for his father to hail this elf-lord, but instead he approached him brashly and gave the fellow an uncharacteristic smirk. The elf-lord did not move or even make any sign that he had seen them. His eyes remained fixed on some distant point. Elladan felt relieved that he was ignoring his father's insolence.

"Elladan," Elrond announced. "Please make the acquaintance of the likeness of Lord Maedhros, son of Feanor."

The elf lord still did not move or indicate that he had heard or seen them. Elladan took a cautious step forward. Surely this was some kind of trap… The elf-lord was surely waiting for them both to be close enough before drawing a sword…

Elrond glanced at his son and laughed. "Do not fear. He is little inclined towards violence of any kind."

Elladan approached, ready to make a quick duck if necessary. Then he sighed explosively and straightened. This elf-lord's eyes remained still as glass, his chest frozen. Even his hair did not move in the breeze.

"They are unnervingly lifelike, are they not?" Elrond said as Elladan stepped up to the figure. "I remember him a little differently, of course. Older. Grimmer. And with only the one hand. He used to frighten us sometimes, but he was not unkind to us deliberately. "He sighed."It is strange to see him here like this. I presume this is some of Nerdanel's work."

Elladan huffed. He was not sure if he cared for the elven-lady's taste in humor.

"But this is not the one I have come to see so often. This way." Elrond led him further down the path where another elf – this one dark haired – was seated on a rock in a patch of sunlight, with a harp. They seemed to have come upon him while he was lost in some deep melody. His eyes were nearly closed and a gentle smile warmed his face. He was less beautiful in features than the first figure, but more dazzling in the joy he expressed. Elladan found himself drawn to this figure. He could almost hear an echo of music. The peaceful expression on the harper's face did make it hard to imagine him with a bloody sword in his hand.

"I wish I could have known him when he was like this," Elrond sighed. "So young and joyful. So unmarred. But then, he may not have been inclined to notice me." He reached forward and cupped a hand to the joyful cheek. "I almost wish to see him again, even full of grief and pain as he was. I tried to convince him to ask the Valar for mercy, but he let himself be persuaded otherwise. I find it difficult to recognise him as the perilous rebel others encountered. I miss the gentle, loving elf-lord I knew, who would gather me onto his lap entertain me with nursery songs. I miss his music and his laughter. It is easy to imagine him laughing and singing when you look at this image. That is why I like to visit it so often. I like to remember him this way."

"As do I," a resonant female voice interrupted. Both father and son turned.

A woman as tall as Galadriel had approached them hesitantly from behind, having taken the same trail as they had. Long reddish hair brushed her shoulders as she stared at them intently with wide eyes. Elladan drew back a step, noticing the tension in the woman's shoulders and the trembling hands at her sides. She responded by stepping towards them, turning almost sideways.

"Who might you be?" she quavered.

They bowed politely. Elladan looked around for possible escape routes. He made a silent prayer for some kind of intersession from having to engage with this woman. Strangers made him uncomfortable at the best of times, but this woman made him feel like he had fallen into a freezing water trough. He was grateful that his father spoke:

"Lady Nerdanel, we meant not disrespect to your work. On the contrary, we were enjoying them. I knew your first and second sons well. And I loved them. I wish I could have known them when they were younger, before all the…events."

She seemed to think that through. Slowly. Her eyes darted over their clothing and hair. "You are Elrond," she said, then turned to Elladan. "And you, by your looks are one of his twin sons." She smiled faintly. "I had twin sons. Perhaps you would like to see their likenesses."

Elladan bowed. "I would be delighted, Lady, if you would permit it." He hoped that was polite enough. He watched as she began to wring her hands. He thought that she might crush at least one of them.

"They are at my house. I had them moved there. You must come and visit," she indicated back the way they had come.

Elladan looked at his father. At her house? Tea and cakes with the wife of Feanor?

Elladan hoped his father had a good excuse prepared. If not, perhaps one of the great trees would oblige by opening up and swallowing them. Elrond cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Lady, Nerdanel," a crystal voice glided towards them. "How kind of you to have located just the two I was seeking."

The lady turned like a startled deer, but said nothing.

A tall elf-lord was approaching, but this one had pale hair. Elladan remembered the elf from the dock. He took an involuntary step backwards. This was the great Prince and King of Beleriand, Finrod Felagund. He bowed, but the newcomer waved a hand impatiently.

"Elrond and Elladan, I was seeking you both with good news. Elrohir is ready for home and family. He is waiting at your house."

Elladan's heart nearly leapt through the top of his chest. He glanced at his father.

Nerdanel made a little noise. "We must have a visit another time," she said, looking away from them. "After you have visited with your brother. Twin brothers should not have to be apart for too long." She smiled thinly and continued along the path without waiting for them to bow.

They watched her go.

"It is sad," Finrod said after a while. "Nerdanel is innocent of the events that took her family from her, yet she suffers as an outcast, as do the others who were left behind. She is a shade of the woman she once was."

"Others?" Elrond frowned.

"Yes," the golden haired elf nodded in the direction of the singing statue, "The one you call Maglor left his young daughter behind with her mother, since she was but a child and Maglor expected to return before long. They live in the family house in the street that all the Feanorions used. You did not know?"

"No," Elrond said staring where Nerdanel had disappeared around a bend in the track. "He never told me that."

Elladan frowned for a moment, watching his father, but his mind was unreadable. So instead he stored this strange new information in the back of his mind, where it could be examined properly later. He had other more important considerations. Elrohir was home!


"Elrohir, I have recovered the rest of you kin! Come and make welcome!" Finrod boomed from the front door.

Elladan longed to push past him, but dared not offend this strange, tall one who insisted he was their kinsman. He had been anxious for his brother for weeks. For some reason, he had needed extra attention from the healers. Even Finrod himself. He mentally prepared himself for his brother's explanation, clearing other, less important information from his mind.

Elrohir did not immediately respond, so it was surmised that he had retired to the garden.

The house was certainly a well appreciated gift from Earendil. Any fears for how well they would be provided for had quickly been allayed. A small house in Valinor to accommodate their visits and a larger one (and much more comfortable one, in his opinion) on Eressea. He looked forward to returning to the other house, but this one was quite adequate, with several private rooms, a common room and a rooftop observatory. Unlike many of the other houses, it also had a small walled garden. He was correct in his guess. Elrohir was resting on one of the wooden seats and his mother was beside him, her pale hair starkly contrasting his jet black mane that she was determinedly combing. His eyes were closed, but he opened them and they both stood as they approached.

Elladan enveloped him in an embrace almost tight enough to crack some ribs. Their father and mother joined them with a laugh. Elladan wanted the moment to never end, but they were interrupted by their forgotten guest.

"The children of Luthien are easily seen," he interjected with a smile. "All have the same dark hair with telerin features. You are indeed, the heirs of Thingol and Melian."

There was a silent moment. Elladan was surprised to see the big fair-haired elf still there. He couldn't wait for that private talk with his brother…

"My apologies, Lord Finrod," Celebrian gasped finally. "We have neglected our guest. How rustic you must think us."

Finrod did not seem offended. In fact, Elladan detected a hint of amusement in the slight twitch of his lips.

The elf-lord became serious. "It is good to see both Elladan and Elrohir back in full health. But now the time comes when I must tell you of another two who have been in my charge, another mother and father who, even as they returned to life here, have pined for their lost children, their bliss incomplete. They long to see what became of their twin sons who were so cruelly taken from them. The powers informed them that their sons, having been deprived of life so young, had been re-born to another family where they could enjoy their childhood fully. Rare exceptions, for most who pass to Mandos are rehoused here in their adult form. But it would have been too cruel to deprive them of the experience of childhood."

Elladan shifted uneasily and glanced at his brother. Elrohir swallowed and grimaced.

"Elladan-Elured and Elrohir-Elurin, it is time you met your first parents."


Re-Revision folks. Turns out that Dior and Nimloth had been in Aman for some time after all. Although, Dior is still much changed from his time in Mandos. He would have needed it!