-Half Blood-
-ElvenHope-
Chapter VII
"Elrohir?"
"Yes Ada?" the younger elf replied finally turning to face his father. He hoped that Elrond would yell this time; he hated seeing his father looking so disappointed in him.
"It seems that you are in need of a punishment," Elrond replied trying to sound stern. There was a mixture of emotions inside him and he really wasn't sure how to act. "Glorfindel says there is some work you could do in the stables."
Elrohir stayed silent wanting his father to simply tell him his punishment and leave. He didn't want to think right now.
"Would you like that?"
Elrohir wondered why his father cared if he would like his punishment or not. After all liking your punishment seemed to undermine the whole idea, but Elrohir nodded anyway.
Elrond half smiled, he was worried and angry with the younger twin for what he had done, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't yet know the full story. Satisfied with his son's answer he left the room telling Elrohir to stay put until dinner time.
Those two words caught Elladan's attention immediately and his brow creased in confusion.
"It doesn't make sense," Arwen continued. "I mean he's got the same blood as me… I don't understand Elladan, what did he mean?" Large grey eyes turned on Elladan and he didn't quite know how to answer. Should he tell Arwen the truth? Not the whole truth, he wasn't about to endanger her like that; but maybe enough truth for her to realize that Elrohir had not been himself.
"Arwen," Elladan sighed wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her in close. "I know that it seems like Elrohir did something absolutely terrible today, but I am beginning to doubt that it really was his fault."
"What are you talking about?" Arwen snapped assuming that Elladan was placing the blame on her for some reason or another. "He hit me 'Dan I have bruises. I didn't provoke him, I didn't do anything!"
"I'm not saying that it was your fault either Arwen," Elladan replied softly seeing the anger and hurt flash across his sister's fair face. "I can't explain everything right now, it's too confusing. I don't understand myself, I just have a hunch."
"So you're saying that… Elrohir was possessed?" Arwen asked narrowing her eyes. "That's the only way it could be someone else's fault! There was nobody there apart from us." She paused then continued her voice quieter. "But you're right you know? There was this look in his eyes; I've never seen it before. It frightened me 'Dan I don't know why he was so cross with me. Or why he called me that. I know that Ada is a peredhel, but we all are – save Nana of course – so…"
She trailed off completely confused and Elladan squeezed her shoulder tightly. "Maybe we should just forget it. He's being punished; Ada's talking to him now. If we just forget it I don't think that it will ever happen again."
That was all Elladan wanted to do, just forget. Forget everything which had happened that day and hope that Rael didn't give them any more trouble. He had a suspicion that Elrohir had been channelling his own thoughts and what he saw, but that was impossible and completely improbable. There bond had never been that strong before. Then again Elladan had felt very alone that night maybe something had happened.
The elder twin didn't like all the maybes and ifs and buts which ran through his thoughts as he tried to make sense of everything. He could confirm nothing for certain and that meant that there was no way Elrohir was about to be let off lightly.
"I suppose," Arwen said leaning against her brother. "I'm just angry with him that's all."
"I expect that you are," Elladan whispered. "But I know that 'Ro didn't mean it – don't ask me how, I don't know. Just try to be nice to him alright? Well not nice, I can't expect you to be nice, but he really is sorry."
Arwen looked him in the eye and Elladan hoped that she believed him. He really just wanted to put everything behind him and forget it all, but he couldn't if she wasn't going to cooperate.
"Alright," she said softly. "But for you not for him."
Elladan smiled. "I suppose that'll have to do for now." He looked around them trying to change the subject and think of something which might cheer Arwen up. "So, do you want to go for a walk in the gardens?"
Elladan spent the rest of the day trying to avoid his father, though he knew that seeing him at the evening meal was inevitable. He had gone to drastic measures including hiding in the library – where his father would never look for him – and shoving Arwen and himself into one of the rose bushes when he spotted the Elven Lord walking through the gardens.
When the evening meal did come everything was normal enough. Both his mother and Glorfindel asked if he was alright, Elrond remarked that he had not been able to find Elladan to give him a check-up and asked if he could do so after the meal. Elladan agreed trying to think of an excuse to slip away early and conversation settled easily into the normal routine.
The only thing which was ever so slightly different was Arwen's frosty air towards Elrohir and both children's unusual silence.
Everyone could feel the slight tension, but did their best to ignore it and soon the meal was nearly over. Elladan still hadn't thought of an excuse to disappear and that worried him. If his father found out… his stomach sank into his toes.
At the end of the meal Elladan was almost certain that he had escaped. He left as soon as the meal ended and tried to put as much distance between himself and his father as possible.
Once he had left the large dinning room he hid around the corner and let out a sigh of relief. Only a few more days. If he could evade his father and anyone else for a few more days then everything would be fine. Then this could all be forgotten…
He turned to wander away in the other direction and take the long route to his room. He yelped when he walked straight into someone and looking up his eyes filled with dread.
Elrond raised a confused eyebrow seeing his son's worried expression. "Is everything alright ion-nin?"
"Yes Ada, I'm fine," Elladan replied and turned to walk back in the other direction immediately. He hoped that his father wouldn't say anything as he tried to slip away again but Elrond caught his arm.
"I need to check you over Elladan just in case you've done yourself some damage," Elrond informed the boy thinking that he'd forgotten. He waited for the stream of protests which he was certain would follow and sure enough they did.
"Ada I'm fine, honestly," Elladan said twisting round to look his father in the eye hoping that he seemed truthful. "If there was something wrong I would know and I would tell you."
Unfortunately for Elladan his father was not convinced. "It will only take a few minutes Elladan and it is just to be certain."
Elladan looked about him distressed as he tried to find a way to escape. It was hopeless though and he knew it. His father was going to find out, he was going to make him say something about Rael and then it would never stop.
"Come on Elladan," Elrond said, there was a tone in his voice which told the boy not to argue and Elladan found himself being led down the hallway to the healing wing.
The peredhel felt sick. He wasn't entirely sure why, but somewhere deep down he knew that if his father found out about what had happened everything would just get a while log worse. He had once thought that his father could fix anything, but now he was no longer sure.
"Sit on the bed please Elladan," Elrond directed pushing his son lightly in the direction of the bed.
The younger elf blinked. He hadn't been paying attention; he hadn't even noticed that they were in the healing wing. He sat down gingerly on the bed and waited wondering whether or not running away was a good idea.
Jus three more days, three more days. Why his father couldn't have just left him alone for three days?
"Now," Elrond said kneeling down in front of his son so that he had to look up into Elladan's face – which effectively meant the boy had no way of hiding his expression. "Did you hit your head at all?" He asked brushing some of the hair away from his son's forehead to check for bruises. He couldn't see any, but that didn't mean that he hadn't hit it. In fact if he had and there was no lump or bruising then it could be even more dangerous.
"No," Elladan said trying to keep all tenseness from his voice. His father seemed too concerned with his physical well-being than how he was feeling and he was glad of that.
"Are you sure?" Elrond asked pinning him with a very serious look.
"Yes I'm certain," Elladan replied his mind going a mile a minute. Elrond moved a hand down over Elladan's chest lifting his shirt up slightly so that he could check the boy's ribs. There was a bruise on one side, but it didn't look too bad. Elladan had probably just fallen, and thankfully nothing was broken – though he was certain that he would have noticed by now.
"Well everything seems to be alright," Elrond announced straightening up and once again brushing some of Elladan's hair from his face. Normally Elladan would have been annoyed by this continuous fixation with keeping his hair out of his eyes – which both of his parents seemed to have – but right now he didn't care at all.
"So can I go?" Elladan asked slipping off the bed and already making to leave.
"Wait a minute," Elrond said quickly grabbing Elladan's wrist.
The young peredhel just managed to bite his tongue, though he couldn't stop himself from tensing as pain shot up his arm. Making sure that his face was calm and didn't give anything away he turned, though apparently Elrond had noticed.
"Elladan what's wrong?" Elrond asked his brow creasing.
"Nothing I'm fine," Elladan said tightly. His father hadn't let go of his wrist and it hurt more than he's like to admit. He winced inwardly though he tried to keep his face impassive.
Elrond raised an eyebrow not believing his son for a moment. "Are you certain?"
"Yes Ada I'm fine," Elladan said pulling his hand away even though the sharp movement hurt more than it had done before. He had to get away now and he'd worry about what his Ada's concern's later. He backed away a little when his father tried to take hold of his hand again.
"Elladan what on Arda has gotten into you?" Elrond asked surprised by the boy's behaviour. "I think that we should talk about whatever happened last night, you've changed Elladan. It's not like you to run away like that."
"I am fine Ada," Elladan said firmly. "I do not need to talk."
"I want to help you get through whatever problems you are having now," Elrond said his eyes showing his concern. "You're shutting me out and that hurts more than you'd think."
"I'm not," Elladan replied trying to keep his voice even though his frustration was coming through. "I'm fine," he shook his head and backed off again before turning.
"Come back here Elladan," Elrond snapped frustration making his temper short. "I need to talk to you."
Elladan didn't respond and left keeping to a brisk walk until he reached the corridor where he broke into a run his father's voice echoing behind him.
A/N: Gah guys I'm so sorry for not updating quickly... I don't know what happens, there was a time when I used to update three pages a day and now, I don't know everything's a little hectic. And with GCSEs looming it's not going to get any better so I can't promise anything, but I'll do my very best.
-ElvenHope
