A/N: This chapter deals more with Aragorn's family than with Aragorn himself. *hugs Aragorn who is giving her a sad puppy dog face*. It will fit in with the rest of the story; so don't worry if it sounds a little off topic!
Chapter Two: Chaos Without Aragorn
Arwen blew out an exasperated breath. It had been three days since Aragorn had gone out on a hunt with his friend Legolas, and those days were taking its toll on her.
Her eighteen-year-old adopted daughter, Jinjer, was being incredibly difficult. She was a tall, pretty brunette with brown eyes. Currently, she was sitting in the middle of the floor, her cheeks puffed out in indignation.
"Mo-o-o-ther!" she wailed. "I'm bored!"
Arwen sighed. "I'll take you horseback riding," she suggested.
"No!" Jinjer shrieked. "I hate horses!"
This was going to be a long afternoon. The only thing that saved Arwen's sanity was the surprise appearance of two familiar elves.
"Elladan! Elrohir!" Arwen cried, running up to her brothers and embracing them. "I am so glad to see you!"
"You sound stressed," Elladan said.
"You scared her," Elrohir told his twin. "She saw your face, but she is still a very polite, very good sister."
"Say that again," Elladan warned. "By the way, where's Estel?"
"Estel? Oh, he went on a hunt with Legolas. Why are you here?" she asked pointedly.
"We did not want out sister to suffer a severe case of- boredom!" Elladan gasped with shock.
"We came by to visit and see Estel," Elrohir said. "When will he be returning?"
"He is not expected back until next week," Arwen said in surprise. "Do you have an important message for him?"
"No, it is nothing," Elladan said quickly.
"Absolutely nothing," Elrohir added.
Arwen looked at the brothers with a knowing glance and led them inside. "Will you be staying until Aragorn returns?"
"Yes, unless you think we are invading, or something," Elladan muttered, smiling.
"You are always welcome, brothers!" Arwen started laughing.
"Elrohir, just let me do all the talking, you always mess things up," Elladan said to his twin.
Elrohir huffed out a breath as the brothers headed upstairs to their rooms.
"What if Estel does not return in time?" Elladan asked worriedly. "The information we have in critical!"
"Patience, dear brother," Elrohir muttered.
The elves stopped at the royal nursery and peered in. It was Aragorn's only son Eldarion, and the baby was playing with a fourteen-year-old child, who immediately looked up at the intruders.
"Elladan! Elrohir!" she cried joyfully. Eldarion bounced up and down gleefully, obviously delighted to see the visitors.
"Quick! Elrohir! What was her name again?" Elladan hissed.
"Either Serenity or Trinity; pick one!" Elrohir hissed back, but too late.
"What was your name again-" Elladan was cut off by Elrohir, viciously jabbing his finger into Elladan's ribs. "What the-? What are you doing?"
"Stupid elf!"
"Brainless brother!"
"Serenity! It was Serenity!" a voice whispered.
"Thank you," Elladan said politely. Serenity was standing still, looking at the brothers with the utmost curiosity. "Hey, Serenity, how are you doing?"
The girl squealed and flung herself into Elladan's outstretched arms, Elrohir himself hugging the baby Eldarion.
"How sweet," the voice said disdainfully. The troublesome Jinjer sat in a chair, her gray robes blending into the wall enough for Elladan and Elrohir to miss her.
"Uh, yes," Elladan allowed Serenity to slide to the floor where she ran to embrace Elrohir. "Are you-"
"Aragorn's adopted daughter?" she snorted. "That would be me."
"Not very friendly," Elrohir mouthed. Elladan grinned. No, not really…
"That stupid, lying…" Jinjer started mouthing off, obviously not pleased about something Aragorn had done- or left undone. "-jerk," she finished.
"You sound-" Elrohir said.
"-Quite angry," Elladan finished.
"Angry?" she yelled in a light, feathery voice. "He just killed-" She stopped talking and clamped her mouth shut.
"Uh, yes," Elladan said again. "Something, er, died." Elrohir slugged him.
Elladan began nudging towards the door.
"I think I need to take my leave," he said, trying not to get angry himself.
Jinjer waved him off, continuing to rant. Elrohir put Serenity down, promising to play with her later, and followed his twin.
"Where are you going?" Elrohir snagged the back of Elladan's tunic. "We cannot let her get away with smashing Estel like that!"
"She is his daughter!"
"Foster-daughter!" Elrohir shot back. "And I am his brother!"
"Good point," Elladan mused. "But she is still his daughter, and we cannot go and punish her. Besides, why did she say Estel killed something? How would she know about him if he's not even here?"
Elrohir glanced at him. "Good question. I bet- she's an alien!" Elladan slugged his twin.
"You never take anything seriously!"
Arwen bit her lip in frustration. Jinjer pouted. Controlling this girl was not an easy task with Aragorn gone.
"My friends are going to the frozen river to skate!" she whined. "All my friends! It is the last chance before the ice breaks!"
"Jinjer," Arwen said patiently. "It is dark already, unsafe for you and your friends. If the ice breaks while you are atop it, you will be pulled under the ice by the current."
"The river is still frozen solid," Jinjer protested.
"Nay, daughter," Arwen smiled ruefully. "If you had gotten outside more, you would know that the ice has already begun to melt."
Elladan burst into laughter as Serenity threw one of Eldarion's stuffed toys at Elrohir. Elrohir glared at Elladan and sent a cushion flying. Elladan ducked.
"Ha! You are still too slow, brother!" he laughed. Unfortunately, a second cushion hit him square in the face. Elrohir hooted with laughter and lunged at Elladan, getting creamed with another pillow.
Arwen sighed. It would be a long night.
Arwen had managed to put Serenity and Eldarion to bed and pushed Jinjer into her room. The girl would most possibly sneak out, but it was her choice. Arwen would not be able to stop her.
Elladan had had too much beer, and was staggering around, making Elrohir laugh even harder and Arwen to roll her eyes.
"Whoa! Happy little dark mages!" Elladan yelled, voice slightly slurred. "We must stop-" He fell to the ground with a loud thump and started snoring.
"Come, dear brother, it is time for bed!" Elrohir grabbed his drunken brother by the arms and dragged him down the hall, dumping him on the floor.
Voices carried down the hallway as Elladan suddenly woke up. "The leprechaun tells me to burn things!"
A/N: Aww, I don't like Jinjer- that's why I gave her a weird name. Oh, great, she's up to something… *wink*. Elladan and Elrohir are really fun to write about, they remind me of my friend Christina and I- except we don't get drunk. Comic relief, dude!