And I'm still alive. Argh, it's been a week of testing for AP classes and I get to do it next week too. Yay… But here's another chapter to keep you breathing 'til then.

-A

Sullen Devotion

            Elrohir cast a glance at Elladan, grey eyes worried under the dark lashes. His brother had been quiet and brooding for miles… days. Don't pretend you haven't been keeping count. You know it's been exactly five days and two hundred miles out of home. They had crossed the Misty Mountains just a day ago and had been making their way out of them all day, over rough highlands, following the Celebrant. They were approaching the land of their grandparents – Lothlórien – and Elrohir knew of no safer place save their own home of Imladris. It would be their last real stop before continuing southward to the Morgul Vale. The mere thought of the place made the Elf shudder. Elrohir looked back at Elladan again, hoping to break the long silence. But it was to no avail, Elladan remained silent and distant. The younger brother hoped his twin would cheer up some in Lórien.

            The golden leaves were a welcomed sight to the two travellers and they hurried on wards, crossing the Nimrodel and into the wood without trouble. They suspected that the boarder guards were expecting them, they were never bothered until they reached the rushing Celebrant. The waters were cold, deep, and swift this time of year. At this point they had to part with the horses that had carried them thus far, the animals would not be able to cross. Elladan gave his steady grey mount a pat, knowing that the two would bear them back to Rivendell upon their return to Lórien. He turned his head when Elrohir yelled over to the opposite bank, a few blond Silvan Elves stood on the shore. Elladan recognised them immediately; Haldir, a known guardian of Lórien, and his brothers Orophin and Rumil. Orophin carried a silver-grey rope and was carefully tying one end of it to a tree on their bank. It was Haldir's clear voice that reached them over the rushing mater. "Elladan! Gada ir ha tola athanen!"

            And with that command, Orophin threw the rope across, the dark haired Elf easily caught it and secured it. Elladan nodded to the rope. "You first Elrohir." Elrohir only nodded and stepped onto the tight line, walking it as easily as if it were a road. Elladan followed shortly afterwards, the rope remaining taut and straight until they both hopped off.

            "Mae govannen and welcome back to Lórien, young lords." Haldir offered a small bow, as did Orophin. Rumil was kneeling on the bank, recoiling the rope. Elrohir had never been overly sure as to how that worked, but he trusted it. The rope made in Lórien simply came when you needed it to.

            "It's good to be back. Galadriel is expecting us?" Elrohir spoke up, seeing that Elladan had gone back into his quiet mood. Rumil nodded as he stood, tucking the rope away.

            "Of course the Lady is."

            "Let us not keep her waiting, then." Elladan's voice was quiet and he said nothing more as he set off with Haldir. Elrohir said quick good byes to Rumil and Orophin before dashing off to catch up with his brother.

            They travelled to the centre of the great wood slowly, but at the same time their pace was not entirely leisurely. Haldir had asked of their reason for coming so far south and expecting to go farther yet, but neither brother said anything of it. Elrond had given them specific orders not to say a word to anyone about it until they returned and reported to him. After a day and a half of walking the paths of Lórien the company of three reached Caras Galadhon. Haldir left the twins once they were beyond the gates that guarded the city. Very few people could be seen, but the voices were heard easily above them and around them. Far off they could hear singing from higher in the trees and it fell to them like rain upon leaves. It had been years since either had been in the home of their mother.

            They went along paths and stairs, climbing higher until they were before a great garden, in the centre of which a great mallorn stood, the mightiest of all. It's smooth bark looked like grey silk and it's first branches were high above the ground. Three Elves clad in grey mail and white cloaks sat at it's base, where a winding stair well began. Without any regard for the wardens, the two rushed up like children. Long had it been since they were in Lórien but longer still since they'd actually seen their grandparents. They remembered themselves and slowed before they reached the top. They weren't children anymore, though by the standards of most they were still young at only two thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine. Elladan was the first to reach the top of the stairs, which opened up onto a broad talan upon which a great house was built. The chamber was oval in shape and in the middle of it grew the trunk of the great mallorn which was nearing its crown and yet it still served as a pillar. The hall seemed filled with soft light, it's walls were the same silvery grey as the tree trunk, it's roof soft gold and a match to the mallorn's leaves. More often than not, there would have been many Elves seated around the room, but now there were none. Instead, seated on two chairs near the trunk and under a bough that served as a canopy, Galadriel and Celeborn sat alone. They stood as one to greet their young guests, both tall, the Lady no less than her Lord. Both were dressed entirely in white; Galadriel's hair was of deep gold and Lord Celeborn's silver. There was no sign of aging upon either of them save for the depths of their eyes. Elladan was reminded of his mother for a moment and he felt a pang deep in his heart. He saw his own emotion reflected in his brother's eyes. Both agreed that their mother had inherited the best from her parents.

            Elrohir fidgeted by his brother's side and finally offered a bow. Elladan did the same. But never could the four remain entirely formal and soon warm and welcoming embraces were exchanged.

            "Long has it been since my daughter's sons have dwelled in these woods. Welcome home, young Lords of Imladris."

            "It does our hearts good to be here, naneth-o-nana-nîn." Elrohir smiled and released Galadriel, the only emotion deep in her eyes and the slight smile that graced her face. But it fell shortly thereafter as she touched their cheeks. "But your minds are heavily troubled with the task ahead of you." She spoke not a question, but a fact. Neither could deny it and so they nodded.

            "Yes. I fear my life in the dark lands we are to pass through." Elladan gave a sigh as he finally spoke his worry. He'd heard of the land where his father had fought so many years ago, at Dagorlad, the Battle Plain, and it filled him with dread. Great Elves and Men had fallen there. But even with that knowledge, Elladan would have been able to pass there… but the Morgul Vale was a land of dead growth, toxic air, and ruined water. Nothing lived there but the Nine, the Riders of Sauron. Elrohir was in mild shock to hear his brother openly admitting fear. He'd never heard him do it before. Well, not since they had been children. But even then Elladan had always been the braver one, in Elrohir's opinion at least.

            Galadriel's cobalt eyes shifted from one dark haired Elf to the other. Though they both resembled Elrond, she could see much of her daughter in their actions and hearts. She could feel their worry and their fear. "This task would not have been given to you if your father did not think you capable. And if it was appointed to you, then you are the only ones that can see it done. I can do little to help you once you have left this wood, but I give you my blessing and my hope. You will return to us safely, and then return to your father. Now take rest here for the night and we will send you off in the morning with all that you will need on your journey south."

            The twins bowed again and left the talan, seeking out the rooms that were theirs to use whenever they were in the city. Galadriel sank back into her chair, brooding until her husband touched her shoulder.

            "They are young, but in them is the vitality of our Celebrían. Elrond would not have given them so dangerous a mission if he could have sent anyone else. They are his sons, melethnîn, and he would not put them in open danger."

            "Yes. Yes, I know. But still, I cannot see as far as the Morgul Vale. I cannot watch them or offer them protection from here. I have already lost a daughter to this shadow, I fear losing my grandsons to it as well."

            "Elrohir… Elrohir, echui am. Aur tola." Elladan shook his brother again, and was tempted to find some water when Elrohir pushed his hand away again. "Elrohir, if you do not awaken now, I shall break your bow…" A hand shot out and grabbed Elladan's collar and he came face to face with his livid twin brother.

            "That is not funny." Elrohir grumbled, pushing Elladan half-heartedly as he crawled out of the comfortable bed – the last one he'd be sleeping in for a while. Elladan laughed softly to himself and went to change for the day. Elrohir was glad to see that his brother was in a lighter mood, they'd need to be in one if they were to come back at all.

            Once they had both dressed, they found their grandmother awaiting them at the bottom of the tree they'd spent the night in. "Maer aur, ionnath-o-sell. The day will be fair and I bid you good travel. Take your packs and may all that we have given sustain you until your journey back to us is finished." Galadriel presented the refilled packs to the twins, then kissed each on the forehead. "Go with my grace and return to us swiftly." A last embrace was shared with each before they left the garden. Galadriel looked after her grandsons sadly and hoped they would be successful.

            Once out of Caras Galadhon, Elladan found the horses Haldir had promised them. Two steeds of snow white and black muzzles, he did not need to doubt their will. He only hoped they would stand firm against the blacks of the Nazgûl. He mounted up easily, neither horse bore a saddle or bridle and Elladan knew of no Elf that ever used one. He watched as his brother climbed onto his own horse. 'We should cross over the Anduin before its shores become impassable. As soon as we leave the wood we must find a ford to the eastern shore. From there we should travel southeast. I would like to bypass the Dead Marshes and Dagorlad if we can."

            "If you mean to bypass the marshes then we must pass through some of Dagorlad or we cross into Emyn Muil and the horses could not get through those rocks. We travel through the Battle Plains and take the road south through North Ithilien. There we will find fields and flowers before we reach Minas Morgul. All willing we will reach there in a week." Elrohir countered his brother's plan, remembering the maps he'd looked at back in Imladris. They were trying to plot a course that would take the shortest amount of time. But he could think about all of that later. Elrohir relaxed some, deciding to enjoy the short time they had left in Lórien. In fact, he drifted off to sleep, eyes half closed and his mind far away.

            Elladan glanced over at Elrohir and smiled. His brother had always been one to take advantage of time to sleep. He didn't need to worry about the horse straying, nor did he need to think that Elrohir might fall off. The golden boughs of the mallryn were high above them, allowing only dappled light through. It was still nice to feel it on his face, warm and comforting. He felt better than he had when they entered the forest, having had a long talk with Galadriel and Celeborn. His grandparents had eased his distress and gave him courage. At least now Elrohir would not have to worry about him. Miles passed with the blissful awareness of the living wood of Lothlórien, though it grieved him a little that it would be some time before they could return back.

            Miles passed and the woods were slowly thinning. Elrohir had woken up a short time ago and was now fishing through his pack for the travel wafers Galadriel had given them. Made by Elves, they were called lembas and just a few mouthfuls would sustain anyone. Much like the draught their father made, the lembas chased the tired out of limbs and the weary out of hearts. Elrohir broke off a mouthful, delighting in the sweet taste as he put the rest back. Having experienced a quite ride so far, he was a bit surprised to hear his brother's soft humming and then singing;

A Elbereth Githoniel,

silivren penna míriel

o menel aglar elenath!

Na-chaered paln-díriel

o galadhremmin ennorath,

fanuilos, le linnathon

nef aear, si nef aearon!

Elrohir smiled, Elladan had always had a knack for remembering songs. And this was one they both knew, their mother had sung it often. He waited a moment, then joined the verses, twin voices twining the sweet melodies together;

Snow-white! Snow-white! O Lady clear!

O Queen beyond the Western Seas!

O Light to us that wander here

Amid the world of woven trees!

Gilthoniel! O Elbereth!

Clear are thy eyes and bright thy breath!

Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee

In a far land beyond the Sea.

O stars that in the Sunless Year

With shining hand by her were sown,

In windy fields now bright and clear

We see your silver blossom blown!

O Elbereth! Githoniel!

We still remember, we who dwell

In this far land beneath the trees,

They starlight on the Western Seas.

            They looked at each other and grinned as they finished the song. The last verse did not truly apply to them, only to their parents and grandparents. They had been born in Middle-earth, not across the sea. But they had learned this song, as well as most others they knew, from their parents, whom had never refrained from singing around their children. A little sigh left Elrohir, he still missed their mother, though she had left to go West long long ago. Celebrían had been full of laughter and joy, but after that fateful day she had been distressed and had longed for the healing she would find in the West. She had told her children that she loved them and would wait for the day they'd meet again.. but that had been five hundred and nine years ago, just half a millennia. They had been adults by then, but still it had hurt to see their mother leave. Both had been tempted to accompany her to the Sea.. but Elrond had feared that they would leave with her rather than stay. Elrohir shook his head, chasing sad thoughts away. Again he heard Elladan singing, but it was a song he knew wasn't Elven. It was one written by an old hobbit that had been living in Rivendell. Dear old Bilbo Baggins.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

            "Do you fancy we'll find a larger meaning in all our wanderings?" Elrohir posed the question when the song finished.

            Elladan shrugged. "I know not. Simply that I like that song, I think it applies to us. We've always been wanderers."

            Elrohir smiled and nodded. "Much to our father's distress. And we're not always as eager as Bilbo thought. At least when it came to running errands like this."

            "May I remind you that this is one of the first ones we've been sent on when we had any doubt. All other times we brought ourselves right into risk without second thought. Our first war, when he fought at Fornost and before Estel had even been born. We weren't even adults yet then."

            "Yes, well. Fine. Father only let us go because Glorfindel would be with us. And we would have been adults in another three centuries. We would have found a way to go north and defend Arnor." Elrohir remembered the day clearly. They had nearly begged their father to let them go. Finally Elrond had conceded, so long as a company went with them.

            "What do you think will happen?"

            "I think we'll find what we're looking for, whether we want to or not."

Well that's the end of that. Found another online source for elvish (www.geocities.com/almacq.geo/sindar/index.html) and I'll be using that. (I may even go back to change some of my earlier stuff. But not until class is out). Please read and review!!

Oh.. and I won't shamelessly plug another short story I wrote (entitled "Forgotten Thoughts of Yesterday") but if you should happen to stumble upon it (click on my highlighted penname at the top of the page to find it easier than a search).. I'd appreciate if you'd read and review it.

Translations:

Gada ir ha tola athanen!" (catch it when it crosses the water)

naneth-o-nana-nîn (grandmother – literally 'mother of my mother')

melethnîn (my love)

echui am. (wake up)

Aur tola. (morning has come)

Maer aur, ionnath-o-sell (good morning, grandsons – literally 'sons of my daughter')