Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien created.

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Sold Into Ruin

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Chapter 26 ~ Rivendell

Elrohir hid behind the nearest well-concealed tree, listening intently to the woods around him. He heard the soft fall of footsteps and smiled in satisfaction from his hiding place. His prey was close now. He picked up the thick, heavy stick, which had previously dropped to the ground beside him, and positioned it carefully in his hand. The noise was getting closer, the steps light but easily recognisable to one who knew what to listen for. This was going to be a ridiculously easy victory.

The footsteps stopped for a moment, perhaps hearing something or perhaps just considering the next move to take. This didn't deter the young Elf. He gripped the stick tighter and waited patiently for his prey to move again. A smile graced his face when he heard the footsteps start up again, more confidently this time, and as soon as they were close enough he pounced…

Only to find it was nothing more than a wild rabbit. The creature immediately raced for cover at the disturbance and Elrohir sighed in frustration at his stupid mistake. He was so sure he had heard some his prey.

Before he could dwell on the matter any longer he was grabbed from behind by a pair of strong arms and dragged to the ground. Rolling quickly over and pushing his aggressor off him, he rolled again so his prey was now below him, grabbed the stick and held it to his throat.

"Surrender?" he asked in a low growl, the stick still held firmly in his hand.

The form beneath him dropped his own stick and held his hands up. "Surrender," he sighed dramatically.

The hunter, also known as Elrohir Peredhel smiled and looked down at a pair of identical brown eyes, identical brown hair and an identical smiling face. He got off his twin and stood up, holding out his hand to help his defeated brother up. Elladan brushed himself down over-dramatically, shooting his brother a playful glare.

"You know, that's the second time I've beaten you this week. You're getting a little rusty, brother," Elrohir laughed as his 'prey' picked up the wooden stick he had surrendered.

"Well, at least I wasn't afraid of a cute little bunny rabbit," the slightly elder twin teased playfully. Elrohir grabbed him by the arm and pushed him up against the nearest tree.

"You are never going to tell anyone about that," he warned, a smile playing across his face even as he growled the words.

"Well, I think I have a responsibility to inform Captain Glorfindel the next time we're in training. He always says we should discuss and conquer our fears and clearly you have one for cute, fluffy woodland animals. It really is nothing to be ashamed of, Elrohir. I used to be afraid of mice – until I reached the age of ten." His brother went for him again but Elladan slipped out of his grasp and ran off, his brother following closely behind. "Come on, Elrohir, keep up. It's nearly dinner time." He laughed and ran off faster towards the Last Homely House of Imladris. "I hear we're having stewed rabbit."

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Elrond placed another sheet of parchment aside. He was slowly working his way through the huge pile of papers that Erestor, his Major Domo and Chief Advisor, had dumped on his desk earlier that morning. He sighed as he looked at the remaining pieces of paper then out the window to take a second to admire his home. Although most of the things on his desk could wait, Elrond knew that if he put them off another day his advisor would be panicking and there was nothing worse in Imladris than a panicking Erestor.

Picking up another paper to sign, Elrond wondered what it would be like to have to deal with all this every day. He knew that Erestor and Glorfindel, his Seneschal, did their best to help with the running of Rivendell but there were some things that his loyal staff simply couldn't do; so Elrond had to write, read and sign endless pieces of information as well as trying his best to keep the Last Homely House running smoothly.

Just as Elrond was about to slam the pen down on the desk and run from the room, screaming and tearing his hair out his twin sons threw themselves into the room in a flurry of identical arms and legs. They were so alike that even Elrond sometimes found it difficult to tell them apart. Celebrian, the boys' late mother, had always known exactly which was which from the moment they were born. None of the healers could though so they were always dressed in different colours; one red and one brown.

"What are you doing?" Elrond asked sternly, standing from his seat, feigning anger.

"Ada," Elladan began, "we can explain. It was all Elrohir's fault."

"No, Ada, it was all Elladan's fault. He pounced on me."

"He started it!"

Elrond sighed and held up his hand to stop them before a full-blown argument broke out. He enjoyed his son's comic arguments and thanked the Valar that they only ever play-fought and weren't really at each other's throats all the time. Their connection had been so strong from the moment they were born. They cried at the same time, slept at the same time. It was as if they could feel each other's feelings. If one was hurt or in pain the other would be sad. They had a connection that no one else – not even Elrond or Celebrian – could explain.

"Alright, alright. Sorry I asked," Elrond mumbled, hoping to avoid another argument. Usually he didn't mind his son's constant play fighting but today something was different; he could feel it in the air that something was wrong. They were upset about something and, although he had been trying all day, he couldn't figure out what it was, although he had a sneaky suspicion that it had something to do with his adopted son and the Prince of Mirkwood.

"Ada, is something wrong?" Elrohir asked more soberly. Always the more observant of the two, Elrond mused.

"I honestly don't know, ion nin," Elrond sighed, looking up into concerned brown eyes. "Something is wrong but I cannot place what it is. The trees call to me but they refuse to disclose what troubles them."

Elladan frowned. He had not seen his father so perplexed in a long time and it worried him. He had always known Elrond to be strong, to have all the answers but now he looked lost and it saddened and confused Elladan to see that in his father.

"Maybe they will reveal it to you in time."

"Indeed. You are right, Elladan. All will be revealed eventually." Elrond smiled at his son's reassurances. They were right, of course, anything that needed to be known would be revealed in the end but he could still not shake that annoying feeling that something was dreadfully wrong. Despite his son's reassurances he knew he couldn't wait too long to find out what it was. If Legolas and Aragorn were in trouble he needed to act. Fast.

He decided to send word to King Thranduil in Mirkwood as soon as possible, just to assure their safe arrival. It was probably just a stupid worry that would dissipate in time; but better safe than sorry. He suddenly felt like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Taking positive action always made him feel like that. He just hoped his action was enough. If not he didn't know what he'd do.

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Translations

Ada – Dad

Ion nin – My son