Kawaii Blue Bear: That was just the prologue. It will not have anything to
do with anything for a while, but when that bit does come into play, the
rest of will be explained.
Supernovacide: Thanks! Join the club--I also wonder where this story will go.
Reviewer who left the little name box blank: I meant to say not slash yet. Anyway, nothing slashy happens for a while.
Pink Martini: Really? I thought it was cliché. Since Celebrian is pregnant with Arwen, Elrohir and Elladan are one hundred and eleven years old. Heh heh, eleventy-one. It's all in Tolkien's writings, the years everyone was born and all that. It's partial slash, and I listed the story as romance for later chapters, but it will not be focusing on the slash, at least not for a while. I don't know where it's going, either!
Smeagol: Right, to each his own. OR her own, for that matter. Or to Jacob Jacob's own. I really do need to shut up about that. Anyway, as for what happened to Celebrian I will be writing about that later. Yes, Arwen is going to be born--I don't think Elves have C-sections.
*****
"Elladan. Elladan." Elrohir gently shook his brother's shoulder. He knelt, poised, over the sleeping form of Elladan. When Elladan remained sleeping but to moan and draw the covers over his head, Elrohir sighed and climbed down off the bed. He slid out of the room, gently closing the door behind him, and padded down the corridor. He had awoken to a strange feeling, almost some sort of warning. Now he wondered wherefore and where from this feeling had come to him.
Elrohir was heading towards his parents' room when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Elrohir? How come you woke me up?" It was Elladan. His hair stood up in random places and his hands hung limply at his sides. Clutched in his hand was a small bear-like doll, which he had had since early childhood and, though he was a bit old for it, still clutched it to his chest in sleep. His bleary eyes blinked. It was easy enough to see that he had just woken up from a deep slumber. "Are you all right? Are Ada and Naneth all right?"
"That's the problem. I do not know. I awoke to a feeling, a sort of premonition, perhaps. I just do not know why, exactly." His brother nodded to this sloppy explanation. It was clear from his eyes that he wanted to go back to sleep. "It's all right, I can investigate on my own. It was probably just a bad dream."
"No, 'Rohi, I do not think so. I shall stay with you until we find the answers to your riddle," answered Elladan. He shook the sleep from his face, then slipped his hand into his brother's. Elrohir clasped his fingers around Elladan's hand, not voicing how touched he was that his brother would stay by his side through such childish worry.
Together, the two sought their parents. Naturally, the first place to look was their bedroom. Elladan knocked lightly on the door. When no one answered, he raised his hand to knock again. "Wait," Elrohir said. "Listen." Elladan did. Neither could make out what they were hearing, until a baby's cry pierced all. The boys looked at each other in expressions of shocked delight and wonder.
"The new baby," Elladan said. "Do you think it's a girl or a boy?"
"It's a girl," Elrohir stated, smiling. "I know it's a girl. I've known all along, haven't I?"
"We don't know yet," Elladan protested indignantly. "Even Naneth didn't know, though she probably does now. By the Valar, will that child not stop crying?" He raised his hands to cover his ears, as if emphasizing his point. The shrill cries soon stopped, and the twins heard their parents speaking in hushed voices.
"We should go, and give them privacy," Elrohir said.
"Listen, 'Rohi. She's cooing. I think you were right. It is a girl. She sounds so sweet." Elladan pressed his ear the to keyhole of the door. Elrohir listened carefully, and he, too heard the soft coos of the baby. "Do you suppose, if we knocked, we could meet her?"
"We should wait," Elrohir decided, "and give them some time alone." Elladan consented, though some-what against his will, and the two slipped back down the corridor to their rooms.
*****
"What's her name, Ada?" Elrond had hardly sat down when Elladan asked the question in a voice so enthusiastic it was hard to imagine he had lost any sleep the night before. The two had not yet been told that they had a new sibling, in fact the three were sitting down to eat breakfast when Elladan's patience wore out.
"Elladan!" Elrohir exclaimed. They had not told their parents yet of their 'expedition' the night before.
"Sorry, Elrohir," Elladan said, realizing his mistake. "But. . .what's her name?"
"Seeing as you two already seem to know the news of your younger sister, her name is Arwen," Elrond said, close to laughing at the two.
"That's a good name," Elrohir said, nodding softly. "But where's Naneth? Is she all right?"
"Your mother is just fine, Elrohir. She is resting now."
"When do we get to meet Arwen?" Elladan inquired.
"Arwen is very little, Elladan, and it may not be safe for the two of you to meet her just yet. Do not worry, you will eventually." Many such questions, slightly changed but overall redundant, were asked and answered before Elrond insisted that the boys simply wait, for everything would be explain in its own time.
*****
Elladan and Elrohir, after even more continual questioning, had finally been shooed out of doors for the afternoon. For a while the two managed to amuse themselves, running about, climbing trees and the like as young Elves will. They tried not to talk about Arwen, though both could think of little else, so they spoke very little.
"One hundred and eleven years is not long enough to be patient enough to wait like this!" Elladan exclaimed, gliding gently to the ground from his perch on a tree limb. Elrohir leapt to the spot his brother had abandoned, then swung to the ground himself. "I want to see her. Don't you?"
"Yes. Maybe we could," Elrohir said thoughtfully. It was usually Elladan who got into trouble, always looking for a bit of fun. On days when he had nothing else to do Elladan thought up elaborate tricks that would drive their Ada to madness. The gleam so often seen in his eye was now mirrored in that of his brother. "Sometime, when Ada and Naneth are not watching over her like night hawks, perhaps we could just sneak a look at her. Just to say hello."
"What if we got caught, 'Rohi?" Elladan asked. "This is not like the trouble I cause, this is our little sister. If something went wrong--"
"Nothing could possibly go wrong. We would just sneak in, just look at her, so we would know her. I don't like not seeing her, it makes me worry. What if something's wrong with her, Elladan? What if she was born deformed and we are not allowed to see her because she is going to die?" Elrohir swallowed worries.
"All right then," Elladan consented, "I will stand sentry for you, but you had better be quick."
"I will," Elrohir promised, then he threw his arms around his brother's neck.
"Yuck," Elladan said, removing Elrohir's arms, "don't get all mushy, brother."
*****
"Now?"
"Now. Go!" Elrohir walked sideways through the door. He did not touch the wood, lest the door creak in opening. He held his breath as he turned quickly. Nothing seemed out of place, he knew well what his parents' room looked like, save the wooden crib in the corner of the room. On tip-toe, Elrohir crossed the room and peered into the crib. His breath caught in his throat.
She wasn't deformed. She didn't look sick. In fact, she was nothing short of perfection. Elrohir had never seen so small of a being, never having seen a baby before. All of her was in proportion, yet she seemed so odd! Her tiny thumb rested in her mouth, framed by delicate lips. Her head seemed larger than usual, but not to any spectacular degree. Her skin was creamy and white, save the rosy patches on her cheeks. Her eyes were closed lightly. What little hair she had was black as a raven's feathers. "You're beautiful," he whispered in Sindarin, lightly stroking her cheek.
Arwen's eyelids opened. Her young grey eyes fixed on Elrohir's. She seemed afraid for a moment, then she smiled and stretched one tiny baby hand up to Elrohir. "Wow."
He reached out to her. Miniscule fingers wrapped around his thumb. Elrohir was surprised at Arwen's strong grip. She would not let him have his thumb back. Elrohir was beginning to worry. What if he had to get out and she would not let him have his thumb back? Arwen seemed to sense no apprehension, and she bubbled with laughter. "Okay, Arwen. Give me my finger back," Elrohir requested. Arwen did not comply.
"Arwen!" Elrohir admonished. He tugged on his thumb. She tugged back, gurgling. "Stop that!" She only pulled his thumb closer to her. Elrohir didn't know what to do. At least he was all right for time.
As if he had jinxed himself, Elladan called softly, "'Rohi, 'Rohi!" Elrohir had to get out now. He wasn't used to trouble as his brother was. The idea of it sent shivers down his spine. He pulled his finger back. Arwen refused to give over, making a noise that may well have been her way of saying 'Mine!' Out of options, Elrohir did what he would have done to get something from Elladan: he tickled her.
For a moment Arwen stared at Elrohir. Her grey eyes were huge. Finally her grip on his finger loosened. She rolled over, laughing in her gurgly baby way. Elrohir ducked out, running into Elladan, who was so nervous he was almost dancing from foot to foot. "Come on, 'Rohi," Elladan whispered, grabbing Elrohir's hand and pulling him along. The two didn't stop running until they exploded into Elladan's room, shutting the door behind them.
Elladan sprawled on the bed while Elrohir sat leaning against the wall. The two laughed at the near-catch for some time. "What was she like?" Elladan asked. He, too, wished for the chance to see his sister, but he did not so long for it as Elrohir did. Elladan could live without her image for another few days until has parents introduced him to her formally.
"Tiny," Elrohir said, unsure of how to put it into words. "Her fingers were so small, she could only hold onto one of my fingers at a time. But she has strength. Her skin is pale, and her head is big." Elladan envisioned his sister with each detail Elrohir added, and at the part about her head he burst out laughing. "I think babies are supposed to look like that."
"How do you know? You have never seen any."
"Neither have you," Elrohir pointed out.
"We can just ask Naneth. She might know."
"Of course she will know, you silly Elf! She had us, didn't she?" The two continued like this for some time, while their parents wondered what in all Middle Earth could make a baby laugh so hard.
*****
"Elladan, this is your sister, Arwen," Celebrian said, holding the baby so the boy could see. Indeed, she had a large head.
"Naneth, is her head supposed to be so huge?" Elladan asked. Celebrian laughed.
"Yes, dear. Babies have large heads." Elladan was about to ask another question when a shout from Arwen interrupted him.
"'Rohi!" Arwen cried. She had awoken, and spotted Elladan. She reached out to him with both of her baby hands, grasping empty air. "'Rohi, 'Rohi!" Elladan worried. What would Celebrian make of that?
"She seems to want you to hold her. Would you like to?"
"Yes," Elladan said. Celebrian showed him how to hold the baby properly, elevating her head. Finally she handed Elladan the girl. "She's sweet," he comment to his mother, not seeing Arwen reach up and grab a lock of his hair in her stone grip. "Hey! Now you give that back!" Arwen did not.
"Arwen, dear, give Elladan his hair back," Celebrian said, gently prying her child's fingers open.
"No! Mine!" Arwen said, grabbing the hair with her other hand, and Elladan laughed. He saw why his brother loved Arwen so much.
Author's Note: Sorry to any of you who dislike Arwen, but the concept of baby siblings to children sort of fascinates me. She probably won't have much of a role as she grows older, though I assure you Estel will. . .heh, heh, heh. . .Or, who wants Arwen to have a bigger role? Who says to just get her out of there?
Supernovacide: Thanks! Join the club--I also wonder where this story will go.
Reviewer who left the little name box blank: I meant to say not slash yet. Anyway, nothing slashy happens for a while.
Pink Martini: Really? I thought it was cliché. Since Celebrian is pregnant with Arwen, Elrohir and Elladan are one hundred and eleven years old. Heh heh, eleventy-one. It's all in Tolkien's writings, the years everyone was born and all that. It's partial slash, and I listed the story as romance for later chapters, but it will not be focusing on the slash, at least not for a while. I don't know where it's going, either!
Smeagol: Right, to each his own. OR her own, for that matter. Or to Jacob Jacob's own. I really do need to shut up about that. Anyway, as for what happened to Celebrian I will be writing about that later. Yes, Arwen is going to be born--I don't think Elves have C-sections.
*****
"Elladan. Elladan." Elrohir gently shook his brother's shoulder. He knelt, poised, over the sleeping form of Elladan. When Elladan remained sleeping but to moan and draw the covers over his head, Elrohir sighed and climbed down off the bed. He slid out of the room, gently closing the door behind him, and padded down the corridor. He had awoken to a strange feeling, almost some sort of warning. Now he wondered wherefore and where from this feeling had come to him.
Elrohir was heading towards his parents' room when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Elrohir? How come you woke me up?" It was Elladan. His hair stood up in random places and his hands hung limply at his sides. Clutched in his hand was a small bear-like doll, which he had had since early childhood and, though he was a bit old for it, still clutched it to his chest in sleep. His bleary eyes blinked. It was easy enough to see that he had just woken up from a deep slumber. "Are you all right? Are Ada and Naneth all right?"
"That's the problem. I do not know. I awoke to a feeling, a sort of premonition, perhaps. I just do not know why, exactly." His brother nodded to this sloppy explanation. It was clear from his eyes that he wanted to go back to sleep. "It's all right, I can investigate on my own. It was probably just a bad dream."
"No, 'Rohi, I do not think so. I shall stay with you until we find the answers to your riddle," answered Elladan. He shook the sleep from his face, then slipped his hand into his brother's. Elrohir clasped his fingers around Elladan's hand, not voicing how touched he was that his brother would stay by his side through such childish worry.
Together, the two sought their parents. Naturally, the first place to look was their bedroom. Elladan knocked lightly on the door. When no one answered, he raised his hand to knock again. "Wait," Elrohir said. "Listen." Elladan did. Neither could make out what they were hearing, until a baby's cry pierced all. The boys looked at each other in expressions of shocked delight and wonder.
"The new baby," Elladan said. "Do you think it's a girl or a boy?"
"It's a girl," Elrohir stated, smiling. "I know it's a girl. I've known all along, haven't I?"
"We don't know yet," Elladan protested indignantly. "Even Naneth didn't know, though she probably does now. By the Valar, will that child not stop crying?" He raised his hands to cover his ears, as if emphasizing his point. The shrill cries soon stopped, and the twins heard their parents speaking in hushed voices.
"We should go, and give them privacy," Elrohir said.
"Listen, 'Rohi. She's cooing. I think you were right. It is a girl. She sounds so sweet." Elladan pressed his ear the to keyhole of the door. Elrohir listened carefully, and he, too heard the soft coos of the baby. "Do you suppose, if we knocked, we could meet her?"
"We should wait," Elrohir decided, "and give them some time alone." Elladan consented, though some-what against his will, and the two slipped back down the corridor to their rooms.
*****
"What's her name, Ada?" Elrond had hardly sat down when Elladan asked the question in a voice so enthusiastic it was hard to imagine he had lost any sleep the night before. The two had not yet been told that they had a new sibling, in fact the three were sitting down to eat breakfast when Elladan's patience wore out.
"Elladan!" Elrohir exclaimed. They had not told their parents yet of their 'expedition' the night before.
"Sorry, Elrohir," Elladan said, realizing his mistake. "But. . .what's her name?"
"Seeing as you two already seem to know the news of your younger sister, her name is Arwen," Elrond said, close to laughing at the two.
"That's a good name," Elrohir said, nodding softly. "But where's Naneth? Is she all right?"
"Your mother is just fine, Elrohir. She is resting now."
"When do we get to meet Arwen?" Elladan inquired.
"Arwen is very little, Elladan, and it may not be safe for the two of you to meet her just yet. Do not worry, you will eventually." Many such questions, slightly changed but overall redundant, were asked and answered before Elrond insisted that the boys simply wait, for everything would be explain in its own time.
*****
Elladan and Elrohir, after even more continual questioning, had finally been shooed out of doors for the afternoon. For a while the two managed to amuse themselves, running about, climbing trees and the like as young Elves will. They tried not to talk about Arwen, though both could think of little else, so they spoke very little.
"One hundred and eleven years is not long enough to be patient enough to wait like this!" Elladan exclaimed, gliding gently to the ground from his perch on a tree limb. Elrohir leapt to the spot his brother had abandoned, then swung to the ground himself. "I want to see her. Don't you?"
"Yes. Maybe we could," Elrohir said thoughtfully. It was usually Elladan who got into trouble, always looking for a bit of fun. On days when he had nothing else to do Elladan thought up elaborate tricks that would drive their Ada to madness. The gleam so often seen in his eye was now mirrored in that of his brother. "Sometime, when Ada and Naneth are not watching over her like night hawks, perhaps we could just sneak a look at her. Just to say hello."
"What if we got caught, 'Rohi?" Elladan asked. "This is not like the trouble I cause, this is our little sister. If something went wrong--"
"Nothing could possibly go wrong. We would just sneak in, just look at her, so we would know her. I don't like not seeing her, it makes me worry. What if something's wrong with her, Elladan? What if she was born deformed and we are not allowed to see her because she is going to die?" Elrohir swallowed worries.
"All right then," Elladan consented, "I will stand sentry for you, but you had better be quick."
"I will," Elrohir promised, then he threw his arms around his brother's neck.
"Yuck," Elladan said, removing Elrohir's arms, "don't get all mushy, brother."
*****
"Now?"
"Now. Go!" Elrohir walked sideways through the door. He did not touch the wood, lest the door creak in opening. He held his breath as he turned quickly. Nothing seemed out of place, he knew well what his parents' room looked like, save the wooden crib in the corner of the room. On tip-toe, Elrohir crossed the room and peered into the crib. His breath caught in his throat.
She wasn't deformed. She didn't look sick. In fact, she was nothing short of perfection. Elrohir had never seen so small of a being, never having seen a baby before. All of her was in proportion, yet she seemed so odd! Her tiny thumb rested in her mouth, framed by delicate lips. Her head seemed larger than usual, but not to any spectacular degree. Her skin was creamy and white, save the rosy patches on her cheeks. Her eyes were closed lightly. What little hair she had was black as a raven's feathers. "You're beautiful," he whispered in Sindarin, lightly stroking her cheek.
Arwen's eyelids opened. Her young grey eyes fixed on Elrohir's. She seemed afraid for a moment, then she smiled and stretched one tiny baby hand up to Elrohir. "Wow."
He reached out to her. Miniscule fingers wrapped around his thumb. Elrohir was surprised at Arwen's strong grip. She would not let him have his thumb back. Elrohir was beginning to worry. What if he had to get out and she would not let him have his thumb back? Arwen seemed to sense no apprehension, and she bubbled with laughter. "Okay, Arwen. Give me my finger back," Elrohir requested. Arwen did not comply.
"Arwen!" Elrohir admonished. He tugged on his thumb. She tugged back, gurgling. "Stop that!" She only pulled his thumb closer to her. Elrohir didn't know what to do. At least he was all right for time.
As if he had jinxed himself, Elladan called softly, "'Rohi, 'Rohi!" Elrohir had to get out now. He wasn't used to trouble as his brother was. The idea of it sent shivers down his spine. He pulled his finger back. Arwen refused to give over, making a noise that may well have been her way of saying 'Mine!' Out of options, Elrohir did what he would have done to get something from Elladan: he tickled her.
For a moment Arwen stared at Elrohir. Her grey eyes were huge. Finally her grip on his finger loosened. She rolled over, laughing in her gurgly baby way. Elrohir ducked out, running into Elladan, who was so nervous he was almost dancing from foot to foot. "Come on, 'Rohi," Elladan whispered, grabbing Elrohir's hand and pulling him along. The two didn't stop running until they exploded into Elladan's room, shutting the door behind them.
Elladan sprawled on the bed while Elrohir sat leaning against the wall. The two laughed at the near-catch for some time. "What was she like?" Elladan asked. He, too, wished for the chance to see his sister, but he did not so long for it as Elrohir did. Elladan could live without her image for another few days until has parents introduced him to her formally.
"Tiny," Elrohir said, unsure of how to put it into words. "Her fingers were so small, she could only hold onto one of my fingers at a time. But she has strength. Her skin is pale, and her head is big." Elladan envisioned his sister with each detail Elrohir added, and at the part about her head he burst out laughing. "I think babies are supposed to look like that."
"How do you know? You have never seen any."
"Neither have you," Elrohir pointed out.
"We can just ask Naneth. She might know."
"Of course she will know, you silly Elf! She had us, didn't she?" The two continued like this for some time, while their parents wondered what in all Middle Earth could make a baby laugh so hard.
*****
"Elladan, this is your sister, Arwen," Celebrian said, holding the baby so the boy could see. Indeed, she had a large head.
"Naneth, is her head supposed to be so huge?" Elladan asked. Celebrian laughed.
"Yes, dear. Babies have large heads." Elladan was about to ask another question when a shout from Arwen interrupted him.
"'Rohi!" Arwen cried. She had awoken, and spotted Elladan. She reached out to him with both of her baby hands, grasping empty air. "'Rohi, 'Rohi!" Elladan worried. What would Celebrian make of that?
"She seems to want you to hold her. Would you like to?"
"Yes," Elladan said. Celebrian showed him how to hold the baby properly, elevating her head. Finally she handed Elladan the girl. "She's sweet," he comment to his mother, not seeing Arwen reach up and grab a lock of his hair in her stone grip. "Hey! Now you give that back!" Arwen did not.
"Arwen, dear, give Elladan his hair back," Celebrian said, gently prying her child's fingers open.
"No! Mine!" Arwen said, grabbing the hair with her other hand, and Elladan laughed. He saw why his brother loved Arwen so much.
Author's Note: Sorry to any of you who dislike Arwen, but the concept of baby siblings to children sort of fascinates me. She probably won't have much of a role as she grows older, though I assure you Estel will. . .heh, heh, heh. . .Or, who wants Arwen to have a bigger role? Who says to just get her out of there?