I got a little teary eyed a couple times while writing this chapter. Sniffs. I hope you enjoy anyway.
Elladan and Elrohir stared down in awe at the little bundle laying in the crib. They were getting to see their new baby sister for the first time since her birth a few hours before and they couldn't believe how tiny and beautiful she was.
"What have you named her, Ada", Elladan asked.
"Her name is Arwen, ion nin", Elrond said, smiling down at the little girl with all the love and pride a new father was capable of.
"Arwen", Elladan murmured, gently running the back of hand of the baby's smooth cheek.
He smiled down at her with eyes full of love for his new sister as did Elrohir beside him.
"Ada, will it be alright if I held her", Elladan asked.
"Of course, it would", Elrond said. "You are her brother. She needs to get to know you too."
Elladan very tenderly picked up the tiny, sleeping baby, handling her as if she was a thing so fragile that she would break if even a bit too much wind blew on her. Suddenly Arwen's eyes opened and she stared curiously up at the new person holding her.
"Mae govannen tithen muinthel", Elladan cooed, a smile lighting his face. "How beautiful you are!"
Arwen smiled a huge, toothless grin and giggled, reaching up to pull Elladan's hair.
"OW", he yelped. "You are going to be a very strong elleth, my sister!"
Arwen giggled again and then her eyes travelled over to Elrohir who hovered beside him.
"That is your brother, Elrohir", Elladan said. "Come 'Ro, hold her as well."
Elrohir hesitantly relieved the bundle from his brother's arms and rocked his new sister gently.
"Hello, muinthel nin", Elrohir murmured. "Your life lights up my heart with unspeakable joy."
Arwen grinned up at the younger twin, gurgling and reaching up to yank his hair as well. Elrohir winced but made no move to remove her hand, instead leaning down to gently kiss her little cheek and nose. Suddenly, her face screwed up and she began to wail loudly. Elrohir looked up his father, horrified he'd done something to hurt her. Elrond chuckled. "I believe it is time she was returned to her mother. She is telling us that she is hungry."
Elrohir nodded and placed her into the waiting arms of Celebrian. The twins each kissed their mother and then left the room, leaving Elrond and Celebrian alone with their new daughter once more.
"She is wonderful, is she not", Elladan sighed. He leaned on the railing of a balcony and stared out over the valley, a huge smile on his face.
"Aye, I have seen elflings before, but none as perfect as she is", Elrohir agreed, copying his brother's pose. "I hope I can learn to be as good a big brother to her as you have been to me."
"It is not something you learn", Elladan said. "It is just something you do. You already know how to be a good brother to her, Elrohir. I saw how you held her. How tender and loving you were. You have nothing to worry about, muindor nin. You will be a great big brother."
"Good job, Arwen! Come on, tithen muinthel! You can do it! Come to Elrohir!"
Arwen took several more shaky steps before wobbling on her unsteady legs and plopping down on her bottom. Her eyes immediately filled with tears and she wailed loudly. Instantly, she was swept up in Elrohir's embrace and cuddled close.
"There, there, it is alright! You did wonderfully", Elrohir soothed.
Arwen buried her tiny face into her brother's tunic and hugged him tightly, her cries slowly subsiding.
"Very good, my brave little princess", Elrohir cooed, tickling her gently. "Now, how about we try again."
He set the little elfling on her feet again, making sure she was steady before moving a few paces away. "Come on, Arwen! You can do it. Come to your big brother!"
Arwen whimpered but started forward again, wobbling every few steps but catching herself quickly. She stumbled her way into arms reach of Elrohir and the elder twin scooped her up just as she was beginning to fall again. He laughed and twirled her around in circle.
"You did it, tithen muinthel! You did it", Elrohir laughed.
Arwen shrieked in delight and squirmed in her brother's grip. Elrohir suddenly heard claps behind them and he turned to see his family standing in the doorway with huge smiles on their faces. They all embraced their youngest son and daughter, celebrating the new milestone she had achieved.
"Good job big brother", Elladan whispered in Elrohir's ear.
The younger twin grinned at him and snuggled his little sister close.
Elladan and Elrohir let out simultaneous groans as they trudged up the stairs to their adjoined rooms.
"I thought Glorfindel was our friend", Elladan moaned, wincing as he rubbed his aching shoulders. "I am convinced he wants to kill us with this ridiculous training regimen."
"I think my arms will simply fall from my body like dead limbs from a tree if I am forced to shoot one more arrow", Elrohir agreed. "I cannot wait to get into a warm bath and then sleep till dinner."
Suddenly a small body slammed into the brother's legs, sending ribbons of pain up them from their protesting muscles.
"El'dan! El'hir look", Arwen said, holding up a newly sewed doll. "Nana made her for me! I named her Annallee!"
"She is lovely, Muinthel", Elladan said.
"Come play with me", Arwen begged, jumping up and down excitedly. "Annallee and I want to have a tea party!"
The brothers stifled a groan as they looked past their little sister and toward their rooms where hot baths and soft beds awaited them.
"We would love to play with you, Arwen, but 'Ro and I are very tired from our training with Glorfindel", Elladan said. "We can play another time."
"Oh…ok, Muindor", Arwen mumbled, her shoulders drooping in sadness. She trudged back down the hall, a quiet sniff reaching the twin's ears.
"I know we are both tired, 'Dan but would it kill us to play one short game with her", Elrohir whispered. "We have not given her any attention all day and she is lonely."
Elladan sighed and looked to where Arewn was just entering her room and shutting the door behind her. "No, I suppose not. She is lucky to have you, you know. No matter what, you always make sure we spend time with her. I fear I would let days like this slip past without paying her much attention."
Elrohir grinned and the brothers knocked quietly on Arwen's door.
"Come in", a sad voice on the other side said.
"We have changed our minds, tithen muinthel", Elrohir said, stepping into the room. "Can we still play a short game with you?"
Arwen squealed in delight and nodded enthusiastically. Before they quite knew what was happening, both brothers were seated at a too small table, in too small chairs, wearing beads around their necks and flowers in their hair. They played the game with Arwen for almost two hours, by the end of which, they felt ready to drop in their tracks, but were happy to see the smile on their sister's face.
"Thank you for the tea party Arwen, but 'Dan and I must go have a bath now before dinner or Ada will not be pleased with us", Elrohir said.
"Ok", Arwen said. Suddenly she threw her arms around both her brothers and held them close. "Thank you for coming back!"
"You are welcome, little sister", they said together, returning the hug.
Elrohir walked slowly to the secret corner in the palace where Arwen had been known to hide when she was sad upset. Sure enough, his adolescent sister was huddled in her hiding place, sobbing into her knees that were pulled up to her chest. Elrohir smiled sadly and moved to sit quietly beside her.
He didn't say a word at first, merely sat with her and allowed her to be sad. Finally, she sniffed and lowered her legs, opting instead to lean against her big brother and hug him tightly.
"I feel like a fool", Arwen said. "Why did I even think he could possibly like me?"
"Because you are young and beautiful and kind and there should not be an ellon in all of Arda who does not like you", Elrohir said, pulling his little sister to his chest. "These things happen, muinthel. It was not your fault. He simply was not the right ellon for you."
"Then why does it still hurt", Arwen sniffed.
"Because you cared for him. But the pain will not last forever, Arwen. I promise."
The young girl looked up at him and gave a watery smile.
"That is better, little sister", Elrohir said, leaning forward to kiss her face. "Now, how about you go get washed up and I will bring a snack up to your room for us share?"
Arwen nodded and they both stood and started to leave when an irate Elladan stormed past and into his own room.
"I…might be a few minutes longer", Elrohir said, kissing Arwen and sending her to wash her face.
The younger twin knocked on his brother's door, not at all surprised when an angry 'go away' was shouted from inside. Knowing that actually meant Elladan wanted to talk, Elrohir opened the door and stepped inside the room. Elladan was seated on the bed and trying unsuccessfully to wrap a bandage around his scraped and bruised knuckles, muttering curses the whole while.
"You did not kill him did you", Elrohir asked, sitting down and taking over the task.
"No, but it took all my self-control not to", Elladan growled. "How dare that orc spawn hurt our baby sister?!"
"These things happen, Elladan", Elrohir sighed. "I remember quite a few elleths growing up that lead you on, only to move on a week later."
"But it still should not have happened to Arwen."
It happens to everyone. I was going to go fix a snack and eat it with her in her room. You should come too. It will mean more to her to have you spend some time with her than to be beating the life out of her former suitor."
Elladan sighed but reluctantly agreed. Suddenly a loud knock was heard on the door and Elrond stepped into the room. Elrohir quickly hid his brother's injured hand in the folds of his tunic.
"Elladan, what do you know about a certain ellon's nose being broken", the elf lord asked, arms crossed and eyebrow raised.
"Nothing, Ada", Elladan said quickly, silently pleading that Elrond would not ask to see his hands.
Elrond glared hard at where Elrohir hid his brother's hand, but finally sighed and shook his head as he left the room.
"Try to use your words and not fists next time, Elladan", Elrond called back over his shoulder.
The brothers watched their father leave and then breathed a sigh of relief.
"Come on", Elrohir said, pulling Elladan to his feet. "Let us go get Arwen that snack."
"Arwen, you cannot do this", Elladan shouted. "You know that we all love Estel. He is a member of our family! But you do not, cannot love him this way. You are making a mistake!"
Arwen smiled sadly and Elladan and reached to grab his hands. "I know my heart, my dear brother. I do love Estel and it is far more than the love a sister holds for a brother."
"And what about us, Arwen, your real brothers", Elladan growled as tears filled his eyes. "Is your love for this Edan so great that you will throw your family to wind to have it?"
The elder twin pulled his hands out of Arwen's and stormed from the room. Arwen buried her face in her hands as Elladan's words cut her heart, already growing weak and tender as the Eldar died within her. Her breath hitched as gentler arms suddenly encircled her and held her close.
"It is alright dear sister", Elrohir's voice, also thick with tears, murmured. "You know how he is. He will think about his words and he will be sorry for them. He is not really angry with you."
"I did not mean to hurt anyone, Elrohir", Arwen cried.
"Of course not, Muinthel, you are incapable of trying to hurt anything on purpose. You have bravely listened to your heart and forged your own path, and for that I am so proud of you. You have to know that we will miss you desperately when our time comes to part because of what your heart has chosen, but we do support you. You will always be our sister and we will always love you until the end of all time, no matter how many leagues separate us."
Elrohir gently kissed Arwen's hair and held her closer still, trying to memorize forever the feel of her in his arms. They now knew that these moments were limited and Elrohir intended to savor every single opportunity. Suddenly another pair of arms encircled them both.
"I am sorry, Arwen", Elladan sobbed. "I am so sorry."
"Shhh", she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I love you too, my passionate and impetuous big brother."
Elladan gave a choked laugh and kissed her back as she looked to Elrohir.
"And I love you too, my quiet and gentle big brother."
Elrohir hugged her close and stroked her hair.
"And we love you, our gorgeous and perfect little sister", they said together.
Arwen stepped out of the dressing room and into the hall, he long, flowing wedding dress rippling in the breeze like an endless cascade of perfect snow. Her face was veiled as she stepped toward her brothers who were, with Elrond, to give her away to Aragorn in a few short moments.
"Arwen", Elrohir breathed, coming and embracing her. "You are the most beautiful thing to ever walk Arda, my sister."
He gently kissed her cheek as Elladan did the same on her other side.
"We are so proud of you Arwen", Elladan murmured. "You are the bravest, smartest, most beautiful elf ever. Aragorn had better realize just how lucky he is to have you."
Arwen laughed. "We are both lucky, my brothers. My heart is so joyful to finally be joined to the one I have loved for years."
At that moment, Elrond stepped from his room and stopped cold at the sight of his daughter, all grown up and ready to be wed. It was almost enough to send the elven lord to his knees in tears. He swallowed hard and stepped up to embrace her closely.
"Oh, my daughter", Elrond murmured, cheeks stained with tears. "Look at you, my beautiful child! You are a waking dream. How I wish your mother could see you today."
"I wish she could be here too, Ada", Arwen murmured. "But having you three here means everything to me."
"There is no where else we would rather be, dear sister", Elrohir murmured. "No where in all of Arda."
Two white horses galloped into the courtyard of Minas Tirith. The two identical elves leapt from the animal's backs and ran up to another elf who had just stepped out of the castle.
"Legolas where is she", Elladan demanded.
The wood elf, looking far too old and worn than any firstborn ever should, turned and sadly led them into the castle without a word. He took them to the room that used to belong to Aragorn and Arwen when they were married, but that had been sealed shut by the queen when Aragorn died over a hundred years earlier. The twins didn't even knock, but pushed the door open and raced inside to where their sister lay on the large bed inside.
"Arwen", Elladan gasped, falling down at the bedside. "Sister, we are here."
The dying elleth's eyes cracked open and she gave a feeble smile to the two ellons.
"I knew you would be here", she whispered. "My time has come, dear brothers. I shall soon be with my beloved Estel once again."
Elrohir's eyes flooded with tears that he didn't even try to hold back and picked up her hand. "Arwen, we love you, little sister. We love you with everything we are and so much more."
"I know that", Arwen murmured, voice feeble with age. "You have both made your choices to live as elves. You could have sailed with Ada centuries ago and spared yourselves this heartache. But you stayed. You stayed for Estel, Legolas, and for me. I am forever grateful to you for that sacrifice, my brothers. It has meant the world to me to have you stay by my side."
Arwen took a shuddering breath and peace flooded her eyes. "And now I must go, my beautiful family. I will tell Estel and Eldarion you both send your love."
The brothers both nodded, too choked up with tears to speak. Arwen smiled faintly and then her eyes drifted shut as her spirit fled her body and sailed away to her beloved husband and son who went before her. Elladan buried his face in the sheets and sobbed, clutching Arwen's cold hand in his own. Elrohir too wept as he beheld the lifeless shell that had once been his little baby sister whom he loved more than life itself. He stared at her wrinkled face, still the most beautiful thing in all of Arda in his opinion, and he leaned down to kiss her cheek, one more time.
"I will miss you forever, Arwen", Elrohir murmured. "But, my sister, I will love you even longer."
Elvish Terms:
Ada – Dad
Elleth – A female elf
Ellon – A male elf
Ion nin – My Son
Mae govannen – Well met
Muindor nin – My Brother (by blood)
Tithen muinthel – Little Sister (by blood)
Please review!
