A/N: Please see author's note in chapter one. There has been a slight
change to this story.
WARNINGS: none for this chapter.
TIMEFRAME: Elrohir is the equivalent of 15 in human years.
******** RAIN ********
Rain fell in thick sheets, flooding the valley with murky grey. The mists were so heavy that Elven ears could almost hear it approach. The wind brought it, pushing it ahead of its icy grip as it swept down the mountains to the river and settle there. Two figures sat huddled under a low tree, a cloak thrown over the lowest branch to serve as a weak shelter.
"How long will the rain last, Glorfindel?" the young Elf asked hopefully.
The ancient blond Elf sighed. "I know not, young one. I have neither eyes in the heavens nor ears in the ground."
"Oh." The young Elf shifted closer to Glorfindel, though the move seemed unconscious. "Will Father or Elladan come looking for us?"
Glorfindel smiled. "No. They know you are with me, and they will not brave this storm any more than we are. You are safe here, Elrohir. I will not let harm come to you."
"I know," Elrohir said. He rested his chin on his folded knees, hugging them closer to his body.
"Are you cold?" Glorfindel asked. Elves generally did not feel the cold, especially due to the elements, but Elrohir was so very young.
"No," Elrohir said, though he shivered slightly.
"Come here," Glorfindel said, drawing him close with one arm around his shoulders. Elrohir allowed himself to be pulled close, snuggling closer to Glorfindel's chest.
They sat in silence for a long time, listening to the rain and the crash of thunder. Elrohir stopped shivering and relaxed in Glorfindel's arms.
"This isn't so bad," he mused out lout.
"The rain?" Glorfindel asked absently. "The rain is a gift to this valley. It feeds the river and waters the grounds to ensure we have a good harvest during the year. It gives life to Imladris."
"I know," Elrohir said.
"Ah, I forget. You know everything," Glorfindel said with a wink.
"Ai! You did not let me finish. I know the rain is good for the valley, but that is not what I meant."
"What did you mean, wise one?" Glorfindel asked gently.
"It is not so bad being alone with you," Elrohir clarified.
Glorfindel laughed. "I am glad you think so, Elrohir. I will remember that."
Elrohir laughed too, more because Glorfindel's ringing voice was contagious than because he found humor in the situation. He watched the rain run in little rivulets down the Elven cloak to puddle at their feet. The grass was thick under them, so it was not very muddy. Still, Elrohir wished for his soft bed and a hot bath. He yawned, thinking of his room in the Great House, right next to his twin brother's, and the fireplace that burned brightly in the winter.
"You should sleep if you are tired," Glorfindel said.
"Aren't you tired, too?" Elrohir asked. "It has been a long day for both of us."
"I can rest my mind and still keep watch. Do not worry for me."
Elrohir nodded, though he did not fully understand the ancient Elf. Glorfindel was so different than everyone else at Imladris, except for perhaps his father.
"Will you sing for me?" Elrohir asked. "If you can sing whilst you sleep also."
Glorfindel's blue eyes sparkled. "Indeed I can. Lay down and I shall sing you to sleep. The rain will stop by the time you awake."
Elrohir lay with his head pillowed on Glorfindel's leg. "I thought you didn't know when the rain will stop," he teased.
Glorfindel ran his hand through Elrohir's thick raven hair, combing out the tangles. "The rain will stop," he said simply. "Rest now. Dream of swift horses and I will sing of the stars so you can ride under them."
The rain continued to pour, but it could not drown out the sound of an Elven voice; the wind blew, but it could not chill their hearts; black clouds shrouded the stars, but they did not sleep in darkness.
WARNINGS: none for this chapter.
TIMEFRAME: Elrohir is the equivalent of 15 in human years.
******** RAIN ********
Rain fell in thick sheets, flooding the valley with murky grey. The mists were so heavy that Elven ears could almost hear it approach. The wind brought it, pushing it ahead of its icy grip as it swept down the mountains to the river and settle there. Two figures sat huddled under a low tree, a cloak thrown over the lowest branch to serve as a weak shelter.
"How long will the rain last, Glorfindel?" the young Elf asked hopefully.
The ancient blond Elf sighed. "I know not, young one. I have neither eyes in the heavens nor ears in the ground."
"Oh." The young Elf shifted closer to Glorfindel, though the move seemed unconscious. "Will Father or Elladan come looking for us?"
Glorfindel smiled. "No. They know you are with me, and they will not brave this storm any more than we are. You are safe here, Elrohir. I will not let harm come to you."
"I know," Elrohir said. He rested his chin on his folded knees, hugging them closer to his body.
"Are you cold?" Glorfindel asked. Elves generally did not feel the cold, especially due to the elements, but Elrohir was so very young.
"No," Elrohir said, though he shivered slightly.
"Come here," Glorfindel said, drawing him close with one arm around his shoulders. Elrohir allowed himself to be pulled close, snuggling closer to Glorfindel's chest.
They sat in silence for a long time, listening to the rain and the crash of thunder. Elrohir stopped shivering and relaxed in Glorfindel's arms.
"This isn't so bad," he mused out lout.
"The rain?" Glorfindel asked absently. "The rain is a gift to this valley. It feeds the river and waters the grounds to ensure we have a good harvest during the year. It gives life to Imladris."
"I know," Elrohir said.
"Ah, I forget. You know everything," Glorfindel said with a wink.
"Ai! You did not let me finish. I know the rain is good for the valley, but that is not what I meant."
"What did you mean, wise one?" Glorfindel asked gently.
"It is not so bad being alone with you," Elrohir clarified.
Glorfindel laughed. "I am glad you think so, Elrohir. I will remember that."
Elrohir laughed too, more because Glorfindel's ringing voice was contagious than because he found humor in the situation. He watched the rain run in little rivulets down the Elven cloak to puddle at their feet. The grass was thick under them, so it was not very muddy. Still, Elrohir wished for his soft bed and a hot bath. He yawned, thinking of his room in the Great House, right next to his twin brother's, and the fireplace that burned brightly in the winter.
"You should sleep if you are tired," Glorfindel said.
"Aren't you tired, too?" Elrohir asked. "It has been a long day for both of us."
"I can rest my mind and still keep watch. Do not worry for me."
Elrohir nodded, though he did not fully understand the ancient Elf. Glorfindel was so different than everyone else at Imladris, except for perhaps his father.
"Will you sing for me?" Elrohir asked. "If you can sing whilst you sleep also."
Glorfindel's blue eyes sparkled. "Indeed I can. Lay down and I shall sing you to sleep. The rain will stop by the time you awake."
Elrohir lay with his head pillowed on Glorfindel's leg. "I thought you didn't know when the rain will stop," he teased.
Glorfindel ran his hand through Elrohir's thick raven hair, combing out the tangles. "The rain will stop," he said simply. "Rest now. Dream of swift horses and I will sing of the stars so you can ride under them."
The rain continued to pour, but it could not drown out the sound of an Elven voice; the wind blew, but it could not chill their hearts; black clouds shrouded the stars, but they did not sleep in darkness.