I think angst is balanced out by a little innocent cuteness, don't you
agree? I imagine Aragorn was probably very fond of the outdoors as a boy,
and as charming as any Elf-child. I don't think he would have been a brat.
I take issue with people who visualize Elladan and Elrohir as troublesome
mischiefs, in the book (yes, they do appear and Elladan has a line in RotK
if you look carefully) they sound too mature for that. I think like all
Elves they had great capacities for fun and laughter, but were also very
serious when they needed to be. Since a fanfic author has free license with
characterizing those two, I have chosen to depict Elladan being the more
enthusiastic and light-hearted Elf and Elrohir as being quieter and more
considerate than his twin, though I'm sure they both loved Aragorn like a
brother.
"Adar" means "Father". "Naneth" means "Mother".
Chapter 3: Falling Snowflakes, Melting Ice
Snow in the valley of Imladris, known to Men as Rivendell, was not a common occurrence. The most the inhabitants could hope for in most years was a light dusting of powder that melted in less than a day. Every few decades or so, though, there would be a heavy snowfall. One of these rare snowstorms happened in the winter of the year 2937, in the Third Age. Most of the Elves were delighted with the snow, especially the younger ones, but the most excited being in Imladris was not an Elf. One of the only two mortals in the valley, little six-year-old Estel, was beside himself with ecstasy. Gilraen had barely managed to get him to put on a winter cloak and swallow a bite of food before he burst out into the snow-covered woods. He gasped at the whiteness that covered the valley like a glittering blanket, and stared for several minutes, transfixed partly by fascination and partly because the snow was up to his waist, and still falling.
"Mae govannen, Estel," came a voice from the trees behind him, "it is lovely, is it not?" With some struggling Estel managed to turn around. It was Elrohir-or was it Elladan? Estel could never tell which one was which. A perfect double of the tall, dark-haired Elf stepped into view. The only difference was that the first wore a blue cloak, the second was wrapped in a green cloak.
"I must agree, Elrohir," said the one in green, which turned out to be Elladan, "not every winter have we the opportunity to see Imladris transformed. The last time we had such snow was twenty-three years ago." Elladan outstretched his hands to catch some of the falling snowflakes, gazing at their crystalline shapes before they melted. "Never will I tire of these," he murmured.
Elrohir noticed Estel's efforts to push through the snow. "Need help, little one?" he asked Estel.
"I can do it-augh!" Estel had hoisted himself out of the trench he had created, and promptly fell backwards. Elladan laughed, but stopped when Estel glared at him. "It's not funny!" Estel scolded.
Elrohir shook his head and scooped up the indignant boy. "I think that you might have a better time up here," he explained, setting Estel on his shoulders with as much ease as if the boy was only a leaf.
Estel looked at the ground and then back up again, unaccustomed to the new height. "You're so *tall*," he said.
Elladan smiled. "You'll grow until you reach our stature one day, Estel. You have already grown much more than we had at your age." This was true, as the twins had been infants barely able to crawl at the age of six.
"Really?"
"Completely truthful," confirmed Elrohir. "You weigh a great deal more, as well."
The hint was lost on both Elladan and Estel. "Can-can we walk all around the valley? It's so pretty, and I want to see it all," said Estel.
"Of course," replied Elrohir. "Left or right?"
"Left!" ordered the child.
Elladan followed the pair. They walked past Elrond's house, and turned back into the forest, going nowhere in particular. Elrohir was compelled to stop many times, for his charge often wanted to have a closer look at the snow- covered trees. Both Elves were walking lightly on top of the snow. Estel soon noticed. "How do you do that?" he inquired.
"Do what?" said Elladan.
"Walk on the snow without falling through. I can't do that. Can you teach me? That would make walking around easy, and Elrohir wouldn't have to carry me. Are you becoming tired, Elrohir?"
Elrohir shook his head. "We can't teach you how," he said carefully. They were now approaching the waterfall, which was frozen in a way that made you expect it to come crashing free any moment. He set Estel on the ground, and Estel sank down in the snow.
"But why?" said Estel.
The twins sat down next to Estel. "Would Adar object to us telling him?" Elladan asked his brother, in Quenya. Estel wasn't old enough to study the High Tongue yet, and therefore couldn't understand the words.
"Telling him what?" said Elrohir, in the same language. "If you mean his true name and ancestry, Father certainly would object. If you mean teaching him about his mortality, I think Estel is as ready now as he will ever be. I would fare ill with such a task, though, and you have more talent with words than I. "
Elladan though for a moment, and said, " I am willing to do so, as long as you assist me when my invention fails. How will I ever explain?"
"El and El!" said Estel, using the name he often called the pair, especially when he wasn't sure which one he was speaking to, "I found a bird in the snow! It won't move." He hadn't been listening to the twin's conversation, being too busy digging around in the drift.
Both Elves looked at Estel's find. The three formed a circle around the bird, which, as would be expected in midwinter, was dead. Elrohir sat closest to the waterfall of ice. Half buried in the snow was a tiny little sparrow, thin and cold.
"It must have been caught by the weather, and either starved or froze," said Elladan.
Estel looked puzzled, saying, "What do you mean?"
It is never a pleasant task to bring about a lessening of innocence, no matter how necessary. Mainly for this reason did Elladan sigh before answering Estel. "It is dead." Three words the child had never heard.
"What is dead?"
"Something that is dead no longer breathes, moves, or eats. It is like being asleep, but without waking up again." I am not one to describe such things, thought Elladan. Neither my brother nor I will likely die, yet we know more of it than this mortal, that surely will someday.
Elrohir was contemplating similar ideas. With a sudden burst of sorrow he realized that this boy, whom he loved like another brother, would someday be separated from him forever. Gilraen, who had almost become the twins' foster mother, while their memories of Celebrian grew dimmer, would also die. Never had this thought crossed Elrohir's mind before, or the full realization of how much these two humans meant to him. He pulled Estel out of the trench and held him close. The Elf was near tears at the thought that someday, somewhere, he would hear that Estel was dead. When trying to understand the world I know no more than the child does, and perhaps less, he thought.
"Why are you looking so sad?" Estel asked the brothers. Receiving no answer, he asked Elladan a new question. "When you die, do you dream?"
"We don't know," Elladan was forced to answer, "because those who die cannot tell us what it is like. Most people believe, though, that the most important part of you stays alive."
"What part?"
"The part of you that cannot be seen. The part that thinks, remembers, and feels. The part of you that makes you good or bad, kind or cruel. Some people say it is your heart, others call it your soul. When you die it leaves your body, which is the part that can be seen, heard, touched, and smelt."
"And some people have bodies that are the same, but different souls" added Elrohir quietly.
"Like you!" said Estel.
"Yes," laughed Elladan, "and with others it is the opposite. But most people are different. Some are even more different than others are." His tone sobered again. "Some people, and all animals, die when they become old, or sick, or hurt. They are called mortals. Some can only die if they are hurt, or become too sad to live any more. No matter how long they live, they never seem older than we do. Many never die. They are the immortals, and the Eldar are immortal. There are people called Men who look much like the Eldar, but are mortal, have less sensitive sight and hearing, and are not as close to nature as the Eldar, or Elves, as they call us."
"And they cannot walk on snow, and they close their eyes when they sleep," Elrohir reminded him.
"Wait, I can't walk on snow, and I close my eyes when I sleep." Estel gasped. "Am I a Man?"
"Yes," said both Elves at once.
"But you two are Eldar."
"Yes."
"Can-"
Elrohir knew what Estel was about to ask. "No. The children of Eldar are always immortal and the children of Men are always mortal. We are not truly brothers, Estel. Your true adar was not the one you have now, and your naneth is not our real naneth."
Estel continued to look confused, so Elladan explained further. "Your naneth is not married to our adar. Your adar died when you were two years old, and your naneth came to live here with us."
The boy's eyes were round. "What happened to your naneth? Did she die?"
"No," sighed Elrohir, "but she was hurt, and went to-you explain, Elladan."
"Because we mostly do not die, the Eldar sail over the Sea to the Havens when they tire of Arda, or if they suffer in some way that only the Havens can heal. Our naneth went there long ago, and is waiting for us. Some day we will follow her." Elladan had not sounded this grave for quite a long time.
"What if any Eldar do die?" asked Estel.
"Then their souls go there," said Elrohir, "and their bodies stay in Arda."
Estel's voice was quivering. "Will you leave me?" He turned and hugged Elrohir tightly.
There was a long silence as the snowflakes fell softly. Elladan caught a few more crystals. "See these, Estel?" he asked, holding them out in his gloved hands.
"Yes," said Estel. "They are beautiful."
"There are many of them, correct?" continued Elladan.
"Yes."
"There are thousands, yet each is very different and precious. A snowflake is also fragile, and will melt with the slightest touch." The snow in Elladan's hands had already melted.
Elrohir wasn't sure what his brother was trying to say, but was confident it would come clear soon enough.
"Look at the waterfall," Elladan told Estel, "do you see all the icicles that have formed?"
"Yes."
Elladan asked Elrohir, "Would you please break off one of the icicles?" Elladan held up the small piece of glittering ice. "There are less of these than the snowflakes, but they do not melt so quickly. It is more difficult to destroy them. Ice and snow are both lovely, but in different forms. They came from the same source, the water, but their fates are unlike."
Understanding of Elladan's meaning struck Elrohir. "I see what you are saying," Elrohir said, "the snowflakes are like mortals, the icicles are like the Eldar. Do you understand, Estel?"
Estel nodded.
"Our fates are different," Elladan said, "we must follow them. But that does not mean we cannot be brothers in all but blood. We will stay with you as long as you need us, Estel. Won't we, Elrohir?"
"Yes. Adar feels the same way. And do not worry, we are glad to share him with you."
Looking thoughtful, Estel said, " If your adar treats me like he is my adar, Naneth can be your naneth too, until you see your real one again. Tell her about me."
"We will," said Elrohir. "Do you wish to return to the House? We could come out later, when it has ceased snowing."
"I'll carry you back," Elladan added, "and when we come out again I'll show you how to make snowballs." His voice sunk to a conspiratorial whisper. "And then you and I will attack Elrohir with them."
"I heard that!" Elrohir said.
Estel laughed, and for the moment sad and serious thoughts were forgotten. When he had been safely returned to Gilraen and directed towards an afternoon meal, though, the twins lingered in the hall.
"I have been contemplating your metaphor, Elladan," Elrohir said, looking out upon the falling, but lessening, snow. "It was an excellent explanation, yet you forgot something."
"What?"
"When the ice and snow have melted, they will return to the water from whence they came, and become part of the same river."
Elladan smiled. "That is very true. And you think the same might be true for the Children of Illuvatar?"
"There is always estel," answered his brother. There is always hope.
Chapter 3: Falling Snowflakes, Melting Ice
Snow in the valley of Imladris, known to Men as Rivendell, was not a common occurrence. The most the inhabitants could hope for in most years was a light dusting of powder that melted in less than a day. Every few decades or so, though, there would be a heavy snowfall. One of these rare snowstorms happened in the winter of the year 2937, in the Third Age. Most of the Elves were delighted with the snow, especially the younger ones, but the most excited being in Imladris was not an Elf. One of the only two mortals in the valley, little six-year-old Estel, was beside himself with ecstasy. Gilraen had barely managed to get him to put on a winter cloak and swallow a bite of food before he burst out into the snow-covered woods. He gasped at the whiteness that covered the valley like a glittering blanket, and stared for several minutes, transfixed partly by fascination and partly because the snow was up to his waist, and still falling.
"Mae govannen, Estel," came a voice from the trees behind him, "it is lovely, is it not?" With some struggling Estel managed to turn around. It was Elrohir-or was it Elladan? Estel could never tell which one was which. A perfect double of the tall, dark-haired Elf stepped into view. The only difference was that the first wore a blue cloak, the second was wrapped in a green cloak.
"I must agree, Elrohir," said the one in green, which turned out to be Elladan, "not every winter have we the opportunity to see Imladris transformed. The last time we had such snow was twenty-three years ago." Elladan outstretched his hands to catch some of the falling snowflakes, gazing at their crystalline shapes before they melted. "Never will I tire of these," he murmured.
Elrohir noticed Estel's efforts to push through the snow. "Need help, little one?" he asked Estel.
"I can do it-augh!" Estel had hoisted himself out of the trench he had created, and promptly fell backwards. Elladan laughed, but stopped when Estel glared at him. "It's not funny!" Estel scolded.
Elrohir shook his head and scooped up the indignant boy. "I think that you might have a better time up here," he explained, setting Estel on his shoulders with as much ease as if the boy was only a leaf.
Estel looked at the ground and then back up again, unaccustomed to the new height. "You're so *tall*," he said.
Elladan smiled. "You'll grow until you reach our stature one day, Estel. You have already grown much more than we had at your age." This was true, as the twins had been infants barely able to crawl at the age of six.
"Really?"
"Completely truthful," confirmed Elrohir. "You weigh a great deal more, as well."
The hint was lost on both Elladan and Estel. "Can-can we walk all around the valley? It's so pretty, and I want to see it all," said Estel.
"Of course," replied Elrohir. "Left or right?"
"Left!" ordered the child.
Elladan followed the pair. They walked past Elrond's house, and turned back into the forest, going nowhere in particular. Elrohir was compelled to stop many times, for his charge often wanted to have a closer look at the snow- covered trees. Both Elves were walking lightly on top of the snow. Estel soon noticed. "How do you do that?" he inquired.
"Do what?" said Elladan.
"Walk on the snow without falling through. I can't do that. Can you teach me? That would make walking around easy, and Elrohir wouldn't have to carry me. Are you becoming tired, Elrohir?"
Elrohir shook his head. "We can't teach you how," he said carefully. They were now approaching the waterfall, which was frozen in a way that made you expect it to come crashing free any moment. He set Estel on the ground, and Estel sank down in the snow.
"But why?" said Estel.
The twins sat down next to Estel. "Would Adar object to us telling him?" Elladan asked his brother, in Quenya. Estel wasn't old enough to study the High Tongue yet, and therefore couldn't understand the words.
"Telling him what?" said Elrohir, in the same language. "If you mean his true name and ancestry, Father certainly would object. If you mean teaching him about his mortality, I think Estel is as ready now as he will ever be. I would fare ill with such a task, though, and you have more talent with words than I. "
Elladan though for a moment, and said, " I am willing to do so, as long as you assist me when my invention fails. How will I ever explain?"
"El and El!" said Estel, using the name he often called the pair, especially when he wasn't sure which one he was speaking to, "I found a bird in the snow! It won't move." He hadn't been listening to the twin's conversation, being too busy digging around in the drift.
Both Elves looked at Estel's find. The three formed a circle around the bird, which, as would be expected in midwinter, was dead. Elrohir sat closest to the waterfall of ice. Half buried in the snow was a tiny little sparrow, thin and cold.
"It must have been caught by the weather, and either starved or froze," said Elladan.
Estel looked puzzled, saying, "What do you mean?"
It is never a pleasant task to bring about a lessening of innocence, no matter how necessary. Mainly for this reason did Elladan sigh before answering Estel. "It is dead." Three words the child had never heard.
"What is dead?"
"Something that is dead no longer breathes, moves, or eats. It is like being asleep, but without waking up again." I am not one to describe such things, thought Elladan. Neither my brother nor I will likely die, yet we know more of it than this mortal, that surely will someday.
Elrohir was contemplating similar ideas. With a sudden burst of sorrow he realized that this boy, whom he loved like another brother, would someday be separated from him forever. Gilraen, who had almost become the twins' foster mother, while their memories of Celebrian grew dimmer, would also die. Never had this thought crossed Elrohir's mind before, or the full realization of how much these two humans meant to him. He pulled Estel out of the trench and held him close. The Elf was near tears at the thought that someday, somewhere, he would hear that Estel was dead. When trying to understand the world I know no more than the child does, and perhaps less, he thought.
"Why are you looking so sad?" Estel asked the brothers. Receiving no answer, he asked Elladan a new question. "When you die, do you dream?"
"We don't know," Elladan was forced to answer, "because those who die cannot tell us what it is like. Most people believe, though, that the most important part of you stays alive."
"What part?"
"The part of you that cannot be seen. The part that thinks, remembers, and feels. The part of you that makes you good or bad, kind or cruel. Some people say it is your heart, others call it your soul. When you die it leaves your body, which is the part that can be seen, heard, touched, and smelt."
"And some people have bodies that are the same, but different souls" added Elrohir quietly.
"Like you!" said Estel.
"Yes," laughed Elladan, "and with others it is the opposite. But most people are different. Some are even more different than others are." His tone sobered again. "Some people, and all animals, die when they become old, or sick, or hurt. They are called mortals. Some can only die if they are hurt, or become too sad to live any more. No matter how long they live, they never seem older than we do. Many never die. They are the immortals, and the Eldar are immortal. There are people called Men who look much like the Eldar, but are mortal, have less sensitive sight and hearing, and are not as close to nature as the Eldar, or Elves, as they call us."
"And they cannot walk on snow, and they close their eyes when they sleep," Elrohir reminded him.
"Wait, I can't walk on snow, and I close my eyes when I sleep." Estel gasped. "Am I a Man?"
"Yes," said both Elves at once.
"But you two are Eldar."
"Yes."
"Can-"
Elrohir knew what Estel was about to ask. "No. The children of Eldar are always immortal and the children of Men are always mortal. We are not truly brothers, Estel. Your true adar was not the one you have now, and your naneth is not our real naneth."
Estel continued to look confused, so Elladan explained further. "Your naneth is not married to our adar. Your adar died when you were two years old, and your naneth came to live here with us."
The boy's eyes were round. "What happened to your naneth? Did she die?"
"No," sighed Elrohir, "but she was hurt, and went to-you explain, Elladan."
"Because we mostly do not die, the Eldar sail over the Sea to the Havens when they tire of Arda, or if they suffer in some way that only the Havens can heal. Our naneth went there long ago, and is waiting for us. Some day we will follow her." Elladan had not sounded this grave for quite a long time.
"What if any Eldar do die?" asked Estel.
"Then their souls go there," said Elrohir, "and their bodies stay in Arda."
Estel's voice was quivering. "Will you leave me?" He turned and hugged Elrohir tightly.
There was a long silence as the snowflakes fell softly. Elladan caught a few more crystals. "See these, Estel?" he asked, holding them out in his gloved hands.
"Yes," said Estel. "They are beautiful."
"There are many of them, correct?" continued Elladan.
"Yes."
"There are thousands, yet each is very different and precious. A snowflake is also fragile, and will melt with the slightest touch." The snow in Elladan's hands had already melted.
Elrohir wasn't sure what his brother was trying to say, but was confident it would come clear soon enough.
"Look at the waterfall," Elladan told Estel, "do you see all the icicles that have formed?"
"Yes."
Elladan asked Elrohir, "Would you please break off one of the icicles?" Elladan held up the small piece of glittering ice. "There are less of these than the snowflakes, but they do not melt so quickly. It is more difficult to destroy them. Ice and snow are both lovely, but in different forms. They came from the same source, the water, but their fates are unlike."
Understanding of Elladan's meaning struck Elrohir. "I see what you are saying," Elrohir said, "the snowflakes are like mortals, the icicles are like the Eldar. Do you understand, Estel?"
Estel nodded.
"Our fates are different," Elladan said, "we must follow them. But that does not mean we cannot be brothers in all but blood. We will stay with you as long as you need us, Estel. Won't we, Elrohir?"
"Yes. Adar feels the same way. And do not worry, we are glad to share him with you."
Looking thoughtful, Estel said, " If your adar treats me like he is my adar, Naneth can be your naneth too, until you see your real one again. Tell her about me."
"We will," said Elrohir. "Do you wish to return to the House? We could come out later, when it has ceased snowing."
"I'll carry you back," Elladan added, "and when we come out again I'll show you how to make snowballs." His voice sunk to a conspiratorial whisper. "And then you and I will attack Elrohir with them."
"I heard that!" Elrohir said.
Estel laughed, and for the moment sad and serious thoughts were forgotten. When he had been safely returned to Gilraen and directed towards an afternoon meal, though, the twins lingered in the hall.
"I have been contemplating your metaphor, Elladan," Elrohir said, looking out upon the falling, but lessening, snow. "It was an excellent explanation, yet you forgot something."
"What?"
"When the ice and snow have melted, they will return to the water from whence they came, and become part of the same river."
Elladan smiled. "That is very true. And you think the same might be true for the Children of Illuvatar?"
"There is always estel," answered his brother. There is always hope.