Disclaimer: None of the characters, places, ect. belong to me. They are the
property of the Tolkiens. I am not making any money and am writing just for
the pure fun.
Author's Note: Wow, I was really surprised to get so many nice reviews. Yes, to all of you, I am planning on writing more and I appreciate the reviews so very much. I will try to update as often as possible, but I fear that it may only be every week or so. Thanks again and I hope you enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter Two:
***
They had been trudging through the forest for close to an hour. It was pitch dark and the temperature continued to drop rapidly. The rain was coming down so hard that even the elves were having trouble seeing, but that was not the worst part. It was the wind. Its strength was amazing as it did its best to wrap the three brothers in its icy fingers and slam them to the ground. Estel was trying his hardest to keep up with his elven brothers, but the wind and rain were beginning to get the best of him. Elrohir stopped and glanced back at his hunched form, raising his voice in competition with the wind's howling.
"Estel, are you alright?" He was getting worried because his little brother had been shivering continuously for a while now and was beginning to fall behind. He watched as Estel struggled to gain ground against the relentless wind.
Elladan turned around and began to fight his way back to where his brothers now stood, apparently locked in the early stages of an argument.
"No, Elrohir. I refuse to be carried like a baby! Besides, the wind is far too strong for you to have to worry about dead weight in your arms." Estel screamed over the storm. 'This is the last thing I need' Estel thought. 'I am old enough to take care of myself.'
"Please, Estel" Elrohir pleaded, "You can barely stand up straight and you have not ceased shivering for a least a quarter hour. You are a burden I will gladly bear." Estel saw that there was sincere concern in his eyes and he did admit that he was awfully cold and tired.
"I agree with Elrohir, Estel." Elladan said, "We shall take turns and will be able to move with much more speed if you will allow us to help you." Estel looked up at his two brothers, eyes filled with hurt pride but still laced with a fire of defiance. He reached up and tried to push back the hair that had become plastered to his forehead. Just as Elladan opened his mouth to continue the argument, Estel did something he rarely did. He gave in.
"Fine" he said in a quiet voice that even the eleven ears had a hard time picking up. He laughed as two sets of identical eyes widened in surprise. The twins quickly hid their surprise and Elrohir bent down and gathered Estel's shaking form into his arms.
***
Back at Imladris, Elrond sat in his study and drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair.
'What were they thinking being out in a storm like this, not to mention after dark. They were going to have some explaining to do when they got back, if they got back. That was a silly thought! Of course they would be back, it was only a little rain and wind. True, it was the worst storm Rivendell had seen in many years, but that should not be enough to stop his sons.'
Elrond sighed as he stood up and walked over to a window. It would not be wise or logical to go out into the storm and search for them. Just then he heard a knock on his door.
"Enter." He said and turned around to welcome his guests. Legolas and Glorfindel grimly smiled in greeting as they sized up the mood of the eleven lord.
"They will return." Legolas said, trying to sound positive and sure of the words he spoke. He had been in Rivendell for a week and had chosen to stay behind and practice with Glorfindel while the twins took Estel out for training. Now he was beginning to regret his choice. Elrond arched an eyebrow at the young prince and returned to starring out the window.
"You might consider practicing your lying skills, Legolas." he responded with a smirk, "I hardly think you could be convincing to even Estel." Legolas chuckled and sat down on one of Elrond's couches next to Glorfindel.
"Elrond, there is nothing we can do but wait." Glorfindel said.
"I know," Elrond almost whispered as he again returned to his chair, "but I have always found waiting to be one of the hardest things to do."
***
"I'm cold" Estel whimpered as he tucked his head closer to his brother's tunic. He had tried to be quite and brave, but he could not remember the last time he felt so miserable. Elladan looked down at the bundle in his arms. They had been moving as fast as they could, but he feared that it was not fast enough for Estel's little body. His face was becoming flushed and warm with the beginnings of a fever.
"Hush, little one. I know you are cold, but we are almost there." Elladan comforted. In fact he could see the towers just ahead, poking their tall heads above the treetops. The wind had finally lessoned slightly and the elves took the opportunity to run.
***
Legolas sighed in exasperation as Elrond began yet another round of pacing. He took the same course every time. Once, twice, three times around the room, pause at a window, stare, back and forth in front of the blazing fire, repeat. However, this time when Elrond reached the window he froze. As he gazed out into the dark, wet night he thought he saw two figures emerge from the trees. Without saying a word, Elrond ran, threw open the door, and sprinted down the stairs. The emotions in his eyes told Legolas and Glorfindel all they needed to know. Both leapt up and stole a quick glance out the window before they too fled for the stairs.
A single, overwhelming thought consumed three minds at once: Why only two?
***
Author's Note: Wow, I was really surprised to get so many nice reviews. Yes, to all of you, I am planning on writing more and I appreciate the reviews so very much. I will try to update as often as possible, but I fear that it may only be every week or so. Thanks again and I hope you enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter Two:
***
They had been trudging through the forest for close to an hour. It was pitch dark and the temperature continued to drop rapidly. The rain was coming down so hard that even the elves were having trouble seeing, but that was not the worst part. It was the wind. Its strength was amazing as it did its best to wrap the three brothers in its icy fingers and slam them to the ground. Estel was trying his hardest to keep up with his elven brothers, but the wind and rain were beginning to get the best of him. Elrohir stopped and glanced back at his hunched form, raising his voice in competition with the wind's howling.
"Estel, are you alright?" He was getting worried because his little brother had been shivering continuously for a while now and was beginning to fall behind. He watched as Estel struggled to gain ground against the relentless wind.
Elladan turned around and began to fight his way back to where his brothers now stood, apparently locked in the early stages of an argument.
"No, Elrohir. I refuse to be carried like a baby! Besides, the wind is far too strong for you to have to worry about dead weight in your arms." Estel screamed over the storm. 'This is the last thing I need' Estel thought. 'I am old enough to take care of myself.'
"Please, Estel" Elrohir pleaded, "You can barely stand up straight and you have not ceased shivering for a least a quarter hour. You are a burden I will gladly bear." Estel saw that there was sincere concern in his eyes and he did admit that he was awfully cold and tired.
"I agree with Elrohir, Estel." Elladan said, "We shall take turns and will be able to move with much more speed if you will allow us to help you." Estel looked up at his two brothers, eyes filled with hurt pride but still laced with a fire of defiance. He reached up and tried to push back the hair that had become plastered to his forehead. Just as Elladan opened his mouth to continue the argument, Estel did something he rarely did. He gave in.
"Fine" he said in a quiet voice that even the eleven ears had a hard time picking up. He laughed as two sets of identical eyes widened in surprise. The twins quickly hid their surprise and Elrohir bent down and gathered Estel's shaking form into his arms.
***
Back at Imladris, Elrond sat in his study and drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair.
'What were they thinking being out in a storm like this, not to mention after dark. They were going to have some explaining to do when they got back, if they got back. That was a silly thought! Of course they would be back, it was only a little rain and wind. True, it was the worst storm Rivendell had seen in many years, but that should not be enough to stop his sons.'
Elrond sighed as he stood up and walked over to a window. It would not be wise or logical to go out into the storm and search for them. Just then he heard a knock on his door.
"Enter." He said and turned around to welcome his guests. Legolas and Glorfindel grimly smiled in greeting as they sized up the mood of the eleven lord.
"They will return." Legolas said, trying to sound positive and sure of the words he spoke. He had been in Rivendell for a week and had chosen to stay behind and practice with Glorfindel while the twins took Estel out for training. Now he was beginning to regret his choice. Elrond arched an eyebrow at the young prince and returned to starring out the window.
"You might consider practicing your lying skills, Legolas." he responded with a smirk, "I hardly think you could be convincing to even Estel." Legolas chuckled and sat down on one of Elrond's couches next to Glorfindel.
"Elrond, there is nothing we can do but wait." Glorfindel said.
"I know," Elrond almost whispered as he again returned to his chair, "but I have always found waiting to be one of the hardest things to do."
***
"I'm cold" Estel whimpered as he tucked his head closer to his brother's tunic. He had tried to be quite and brave, but he could not remember the last time he felt so miserable. Elladan looked down at the bundle in his arms. They had been moving as fast as they could, but he feared that it was not fast enough for Estel's little body. His face was becoming flushed and warm with the beginnings of a fever.
"Hush, little one. I know you are cold, but we are almost there." Elladan comforted. In fact he could see the towers just ahead, poking their tall heads above the treetops. The wind had finally lessoned slightly and the elves took the opportunity to run.
***
Legolas sighed in exasperation as Elrond began yet another round of pacing. He took the same course every time. Once, twice, three times around the room, pause at a window, stare, back and forth in front of the blazing fire, repeat. However, this time when Elrond reached the window he froze. As he gazed out into the dark, wet night he thought he saw two figures emerge from the trees. Without saying a word, Elrond ran, threw open the door, and sprinted down the stairs. The emotions in his eyes told Legolas and Glorfindel all they needed to know. Both leapt up and stole a quick glance out the window before they too fled for the stairs.
A single, overwhelming thought consumed three minds at once: Why only two?
***