Both the twins moved to kneel in front of Mir. "Who were your mother and father? Do you know their names?"
Mir nodded and replied, "Mama was named Beri something, her name was too long, and Papa was Durion." Why are they looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong?
Elladan took her gently by the hand and said, "How old are you?"
She counted on her fingers. Ten and five makes… "I'm five ten. I mean ten five." They both glaced at each other, an unspoken communication seemed to pass through them. She twiddled and twisted her fingers nervously. They both seemed so rigid at that moment, and frightening. "Did I do something wrong?" she asked nervously. Elrohir took her other hand.
"No, no, little one, you did nothing wrong. We are just curious to see an elf so far outside our borders."
"Who's an elf? Mama used to read me stories of elves, but I didn't think they were real," she said curiously.
Both Elladan and Elrohir turned to her and showed their ears. Long and pointed. "Little one, we are elves, and so are you. Look at your ears," Elrohir replied.
"Mama said my ears were born like that and it just makes me a little different," Mir defended, feeling confused. Elrohir picked her up, seeing the confusion evident on her face.
"We will get to the bottom of this, Mir, don't worry," Elladan said from behind Mir, packing up their camp. He passed by Mir and Elrohir, attaching their belongings to the back of his horse. Elrohir walked up to Morn grazing on the edge of their camp and Morn raised his head, nickering and blowing warm air in Mir's face, making her giggle. He set Mir on the horse, and vaulted up quickly behind her, securing her in the same position as yesterday.
Mir looked behind her to see Elladan mounted and pulling up next to them. He gave a nod to his brother and smiled at Mir before both set a fast pace. She looked around as they passed their surroundings. Pine trees, ferns, oak trees, and others Mir had never seen before. Birds twittered overhead, and she could see squirrels and chipmunks keeping a safe distance away from the flashing hooves, the thudding a fine indicator to make animals stay out of the way. She smiled, feeling the wind blow through her hair.
As time passed she started to feel sleepy and laid her head back on Elrohir, feeling one silky black strand of hair tickle her check. She fell asleep with her hand wrapped around his hair.
She groggily woke up as she was shifted from one pair of hands to another, and was quickly patted back to sleep.
A throb in her ankle encouraged her to drift back into consciousness. She willed her eyes to open, to the view of cascading waterfalls and a long bridge leading up to gorgeous open houses, seemingly rutting out of the side of a mountain, almost like they were an extension of the mountains and landscape. Sunlight glinted off the white pillars of grand houses, and shadows cast into the depths of the house, preventing her from seeing inward. Mir could hear the sound of water burbling and water falling, and the distant splashes of water fowl. She gaped at the scene, her mouth wide open, amazed. Elladan, riding next to them on the narrow path chuckled at the expression on her face. The horses walked at a sedate pace, tired and ready to rest. They trotted after a few minutes, ever so eager to be home. Mir watched silently, both fascinated and afraid.
As they came closer people, or rather, elves, came into view. Some turned to see who was coming, others started at Mir, encased in Elrohir's arms on either side holding the horse's reins. She shrunk into Elrohir's arms, trying to make herself invisible, as they stopped in the middle of a courtyard, while several elves came to take the horses to the stables. One reached up for her, but stopped when Mir flinched. She started to grab her and pull to lift her when Mir turned and latched both her legs and arms onto Elrohir.
"Mir, won't you go with Leina? She will help change you and we will meet you afterwards, Elrohir suggested. Mir shook her head vigorously.
"No, I won't! When I left Papa he died, so I won't leave anymore!" Elrohir looked shocked, his mouth slightly open. Elladan turned at the outburst, stepping to lay a hand on Mir's head.
"How about this, little one. We walk together to get cleaned, and go see our father." Elladan then turned to an elf with long, dark hair and a stern face. "Good morning, Erestor, could you tell Ada we will be there in a few minutes?"
The stern elf nodded, took a glance at Mir, eyebrows furrowed, and turned to stalk off.
"He's scary," Mir whispered. Leina laughed and Mir looked at her, startled.
"We hear that a lot, child; he indeed looks very scary, but he has a good heart, and a special spot for children like you."
Mir scowled at being called a child. Child? I like little one better. Only Hir and Dan can call me that. Their names are too long for me to try to say, I'll just call them that. Leina held a small smile on her face and turned, leading them into the house, and through hallways with sets of doors on either side. Mir turned and twisted her head left and right trying to take it all in. The twins smirked at each other, enjoying her reaction. After a few minutes of walking they turned to a different wing, the decorations and inscriptions similar but more elaborate than before.
"This is the family wing, young one, both Elrohir and Elladan's rooms are here. Their sister and father was well."
Mir turned her head to look at Elrohir. "You have a sister?" she asked.
Elrohir smiled at her, and replied, "Yes. She is with our grandparents right now, but she is due back in a few months."
Mir nodded, filing the information in the back of her brain for later. They stopped at a dark brown door with intricate, and beautiful carvings on it. Elladan gave a nod to them, and stepped behind this door. Elrohir walked with Mir to the door next to his brother's. "This is my room, little one. Would you be okay with sitting with Leina until I come out?"
Would I be okay? I'm strong right? I don't want them to think I'm a baby! She tentatively nodded, but added, "Don't be too long!"
Elrohir transferred her to Leina and said, "Be aware of her ankle, and Mir I'll be back in just a minute." He then went into his room and closed the door. An awkward silence ensued but as they waited Mir realized that Leina was more comfortable to be held by than the twins. Leina sat on a wooden bench set a few feet away in the hallway, Mir cradled in her arms. Mir noticed Leina's hair, a gorgeous dark blond. Mir shyly touched her hair, much like the color of her mother's. Leina smiled affectionately at this shy, small child's touch, Mir seemingly unaware she was stroking Leina's hair.
Elladan strode out of his room, wearing a change of clothes and looking more relaxed than before. Elrohir followed suit a few minutes later. Both watched as Mir seemed to be in a trance, and quiet. Mir, sensing someone was there, looked up, relieved as she noticed the twins. Leina stood with her, bringing her to a room a few doors down, with the twins in tow. "Mir, we should have some extra clothes, that would fit you in here," Elrohir said as he opened the door. He went to a trunk in the corner of a spacious room and opened it, shifting through clothes. Leina stepped in the room, and Mir took the opportunity to look around. It was decorated seemingly as a child's room with a wooden rocking horse, colorful books, and a small table in one corner and a small bed in another, with wood floors covered by a plush fabric.
Elrohir pulled a small light blue dress out that looked as if it would fit Mir. He handed it to Leina and stepped in the hallway with Elladan, their voices muted as they closed the door. Leina sat Mir on the bed and helped her undress. Leina quickly tidied Mir up, as she sat there waiting. Mir's hair was split into pigtails and braided. Leina noticed her pointed ears and brushed her hair to better cover them. "The Lords Elladan and Elrohir will bring you to the healing halls so they can better tend to your injuries. You will meet their father there, for he is the best healer on all Middle Earth."
Mir looked amazed, her eyes widening.
"Do not be frightened, sweet one, for he is very kind. He may look stern, but he is very welcoming and warm." She lifted Mir up in the dress and then opened the door. Both Elrohir and Elladan stood waiting outside the door. Both broke into smiles, seeing Mir dressed up.
"Mir, how beautiful you are!" Elladan exclaimed.
Mir gave a shy smile, as she was given to Elladan to hold. I want to walk by myself. I don't mind people holding me but I'm a big girl. Leina stroked Mir's hair and gave a bow to them before turning and heading off the opposite way. They walked through hallways, some open to the sweet autumn air, other lead to doors left ajar similar to the room she was in before. They stopped in front of large double dark wood doors, Elrohir opening one and going in, Elladan following behind with Mir trembling slightly in his arms. They entered a hall with several individual doors. Going to the slightly ajar door to the far left, Elrohir gave three raps on the door with his knuckle.
A deep voice said, "Enter."