Disclaimer: I own no recognizable places or people.
Kawaii Blue Bear: Good idea! Originally I was not going to use it but then I decided to, after all. So credit for that bit goes to Kawaii.
Darragh Tieraneux: Thanks. . .thanks. . .seriously, thanks! At least it doesn't come off too clumsy, it sure feels it. Maybe a bit better in this chapter.
Hrefna: No one is perfection, sweetness, and light. That would be boring. ;]
Pink Martini: Thanks. And to condemn based on pairing is just dumb, I hate when people do that, because what if the story is really good? As for Celebrian, she wa supposed to be the character who is the biggest support in the lives of at least the twins, so when she leaves it's quite a shock for them.
"Elladan, why did Elrohir leave but not you?" Arwen inquired. Celebrian glanced at Elrond, who was wondering what his son would say to that.
"Because, Arwen, Elrohir has been sent away while I have been confined," Elladan answered angrily, shooting a look of pure anger and hatred at Elrond. "But do not worry, Arwen. Elrohir has left, but he has not left our hearts." When Elladan said "our", it was clear to his parents that this "our" did not include them. It was cold and forbidding, exclusive.
"Well. . .what did you do wrong?" Arwen asked. Her innocence only protected her from Elladan's rage.
"I did nothing wrong, but I guess /some/one is unhappy with the way I was born," Elladan replied. Silence settled over the four. "What happy meal- time conversation this is," Elladan said sarcastically. In a false voice, clearly an imitation of Elrond, he continued, "Elrohir and Elladan are forbidden to see each other, Arwen, because I'm afraid they might--"
"Would you like to leave the table, Elladan?" Elrond asked. "That has been quite enough mimickery for tonight." Elladan tipped his head to the side, looking at his father with a look open, not in a friendly manner but more lacking in emotion.
"I too would be ashamed of it," he said quietly.
"Elladan, you are excused."
"Good. Because I can tell you are afraid I might contaminate Arwen with something. Clearly she is the only good child you have left." Elladan stalked from the room. His loud footsteps continued slowly, then reaching the stairs speeded up, and then there was a slammed door. Arwen stared straight ahead, quivering, wondering what she had done wrong. She was crying now, numb to her mother's arms around her. What did she do wrong?
"I'm going to go talk to him," Elrond said, standing.
"It will do no good," Celebrian said. "You may as well just sit back down. Your son, in truth, hates you. You have done nothing to reverse this. Now if he lashes out, he does not realize that he will hurt others. He only wishes to hurt you. If you have any words for your son, make them wise words, for they may well be the last he ever hears from you." With those final words she turned her attention back to the sobbing Arwen.
*****
"Why are you so glum, Elrohir?" Glorfindel asked. Elrond had not told him why, only asked that he take Elrohir hunting with him, out of Imladris. "I thought you always wanted to leave Rivendell."
"That's Elladan. I would not have minded, but I miss my mother and my brother, and my sister."
For a moment Glorfindel pondered this. "And Lord Elrond? You do not miss your Ada?"
"No," Elrohir admitted, "I do not. It's only. . .if one person says one thing, and another person says another thing that's the opposite of that, which person is right?" When he had been a child Elrohir had asked Elrond this question. That answer had only confused him more. He hardly expected anything different from Glorfindel.
"You have to decide then for yourself," Glorfindel replied. "You can't spend your life believing something just because other people tell you to believe it. That would be plain foolish."
"Then I am a fool," Elrohir whispered into the air. "And a lost one."
*****
Four weeks passed by. Elladan would not speak to or acknowledge his father, though he had apologized to Arwen. Often in passing the time he shut himself in his room, and none were quite certain what he did in those long hours. Rumors were whispered about Imladris that the son of Elrond had taken to madness, and while this infuriated Elrond it did not bother Elladan, for he deeply hated his father in wished his unhappiness in any manner.
Alternately Elladan's silences angered and upset Elrond. He, too, began to worry for his son's sanity, and it did upset him that his own child would shut him out like that. That Elladan had taken to believe he had any right to do these things angered Elrond, who repeated shouted through a door at Elladan, "This is above your place!" Any punishments went over Elladan, for while they were the only times he would mind Elrond he never seemed to care.
Elrohir was not much better off, at first. He was confused as to how he should feel, and how he should feel about the way he felt. For sure he loved Elladan, beyond the love of two brothers. At times this fact seemed right, and he reveled in it, for it was immovable. Other times he felt dirty, and hated himself for it, and hated its immovability.
But despite all this Elrohir enjoyed himself. He had always been handy with the bow, and now had a chance to put that skill to use. Guilt often shot through him that Elladan would love an adventure like this, but it passed quickly with the belief that Elladan would enjoy himself no matter what.
On the day of Elrohir's return to Imladris, it seemed as if all of the world was happy. The sun shone down and the wind was cool. Elrohir embraced his mother and sister, teasing Arwen just a bit in asking if she had not been /too/ much trouble. Unsure of what else to do, Elrohir shook hands with Elrond, only a bit set-off by the formality there. "Where is my brother?" Elrohir asked. "May I speak with him?"
"Elladan is not here right now, he carries a letter to the Lady Galadriel," Elrond said. Elrohir's expression changed only slightly, but he knew this for a lie. Galadriel had her mirror, and this in most cases destroyed the need for letters, though often she would write to Celebrian. Out of the corner of his eye Elrohir noticed a figure standing at a window. His gaze flicked quickly to the right, but the figure was gone. It mattered not, he knew that window.
*****
Two years passed. The twins saw each other only briefly and in incredible formality. Elrohir was almost always sent out hunting, or with some sort of letter to deliver. He often wished to stay in Imladris, as he hardly got a night's sleep before he was told where he was next off to.
Elladan began to feel near to heartbreak. He still loved Elrohir, as he knew Elrohir loved him. Imladris became a prison to Elladan, and more and more often he would take to his room so as not to see the invisible walls of his confines.
"Speak to your father," Celebrian beseeched Elladan. "Tell him something, anything, any lie to calm his anger and get you from this prison of yours." For she saw her son's illness, the nearness to heartbreak and thus death. "Or, if you must, live for your sister. But do not die."
Elladan finally did as his mother asked, speaking lies to Elrond and being granted permission to leave Rivendell. "One night," Elrond said, "on a hunting trip alone." Elladan was glad of this, for he knew something his father did not: while he was to ride in the direction opposite Elrohir, the other twin was less than a day's ride away.
Riding due north Elladan left Imladris, then turning he circled widely around it. By nightfall he had found Elrohir and Glorfindel, who often rode together now. When he was sure that Glorfindel was asleep Elladan crept over to Elrohir. "'Rohi, wake up," Elladan said softly, shaking his brother. Elrohir groggily looked up at him.
"Elladan? How in all Middle-Earth--"
"Shh. Come with me into the trees where we can talk safely." Elladan led Elrohir away, not too far. They spoke. "Adar has allowed me to go on a hunting trip, I have only one night. I wanted to see you alone."
"He will know, Elladan."
"Only if you tell."
"What of your arrows, none spent?" Elrohir inquired.
"I shall shoot some into the brush and some at trees, losing or denting them. As well I will shoot at whatever crosses my path. Please do not tell, Elrohir. I only came of my love for you."
"Elladan. . . " now could he phrase this?
"The morality still gets to you, doesn't it? Decide in one moment and be sure, Elrohir. It will make life so much easier."
"Yes, Elladan, but which moment?" Elrohir asked. "There are so many--" Elladan kissed him. No words would come through that kiss, but old fires were rekindled. Their love was stronger than ever before, stronger with the time spent apart. Elrohir began to speak, but Elladan faded into the darkness.
*****
Elrond never said anything but he must have known, for he hardly allowed the twins to see each other for many more years. Elladan was again confined to Imladris, Elrohir sent out. Both became older, more mature Elves, as well as becoming expert huntsmen. When either wielded a bow or sword it was not wise to anger them, even when armed.
Elrohir had left Rivendell only three hours before when he heard galloping hooves coming towards him. He paused, allowing the hooves to catch up. A horse approached, its rider being his brother, out of breath. The horse panted as crazily as Elladan. "Elrohir, you must come with me," Elladan said.
"What is it, Elladan? Does Ada know you are here, if--" Elrohir began, but Elladan cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"Naneth. You remember that trip she took? When she refused to be accompanied?"
"Yes," Elrohir said quickly. He was worried now.
"We received word perhaps an hour ago that she has been taken by orcs. We are to find her and return her to Imladris. Come now, we must hurry," and Elladan nudged his horse onwards. Elrohir followed. The twins rode through the night and most of the next day, arriving near noon at the entrance to a cave. "This must be it," Elladan said. The two dismounted and approached the cave quietly, watching.
"No activity," Elrohir noted. "Let us go now and get her, they will not follow us in the sunlight." (author's note: these are not Uruks, they cannot stand the sunlight)
"Right. We shall both go into the caves. I'll go first." Elladan led the way into the damp, dusky cave. As they went deeper voices calling out in ugly languages grew louder. "Let us sneak in, for now, and should they find us we will shoot them all."
"All right."
When they found their mother the twins were immediately outraged. She had been hurt, badly. Though neither was a healer they knew that this type of grievous injury could kill an Elf. Elladan drew an arrow from his quiver, about to storm the orcs and kill every last one of them. He felt a hand on his shoulder. "Will that help her?" Elrohir asked. "We will stick to our stealth, Elladan. Let them not know that we are here. You go first, and I will follow."
Elrohir carried Celebrian in his arms. The path was difficult, uphill and rocky, but Elrohir managed it. Not a single orc noticed them, it seemed, for they were all deep in the cavernous dwelling. Once out in the sunlight, the twins ran to their mounts. "Elrohir, take Naneth. You and your horse are not as exhausted as me and mine." Elladan helped his brother mount and Elrohir rode off, followed closely by Elladan.
By rights the two should have been exhausted beyond the point of wakefulness, but adrenaline kept them going. By nightfall they had reached Imladris. They carried Celebrian inside and set her on her bed, then left the room and collapsed in the corridor outside.
*****
Both boys awoke stiff the next morning. They stretched out their muscles and opened the door to their mother's room, not sure what they were going to do to help her. "There is nothing left to do but wait," Elrond told them.
"Wait? What are we waiting for?"
"Until she is well again."
"You lie," Elladan said, "we know it."
Elrond sighed. "Your mother has been poisoned from this wound, here. I have treated the wound, but orc poisons are not well known to any. Chances are she will be all right but there is a chance. . .there is a chance."
For moments the twins stood in silence, looking at their mother's face. She looked peacefully, but did she know that she might be dying? "Come, Elladan. There is nothing we can do here." Elrohir put his arm around Elladan and led him away. The two found Arwen eating breakfast and sat across from her.
"Will you tell me?" she asked them quietly. "I know something has happened, but everyone insists I go about as if it were a normal day. My brothers, will you not tell me?"
"Mother is not well, Arwen," Elrohir admitted. Arwen froze, staring at him. She knew what that meant. "And she may not get better."
"How. . .how? Has she a broken heart? What have we done wrong?" Arwen asked as soon as she could move again.
"It was poison. We have only to wait now, long and terrible, until she is either well or. . .not well."
*****
"I don't understand. Why are you leaving us?" Arwen asked. She was crying as she bid her mother farewell.
"I am not leaving you, Arwen. We will meet again, in Valinor. Until that time, you must be strong for your Ada and for your brothers." Celebrian knew it was her time to leave. That was why, so many years ago, she was unsure of where she would fit in in her family's life. Because she would not be there.
"Yes, Naneth," Arwen said, brushing away tears. She embraced her mother, then turned away. She would not watch her mother leave Middle Earth for ever.
*****
Elladan had no idea what was in his hands. He only knew that he wanted to break it, smash it into a thousand pieces, and that was what he did. More and more things he hurled to the ground, smashing, breaking them. The noise and feeling of power was god, just getting out his rage was even better.
Down the hall, Elrohir cried softly to himself. He opened his drawer, the bottom drawer in his desk, searching for something of hers. He found the snow globe, which had been smashed so many years before. The pieces of glass, so dangerous, shone with beauty and the love of his mother. Two broken fragments next to each other had his name written in soft red letters. "Elrohir. . ."
No torches were lit in Imladris that night, or the next.
*****
Nearly four hundred years had passed since their mother had gone to Valinor. Elrond no longer seemed to care if the twins were lovers or not, and for this a shadow of guilt kept them from such feelings. Only Arwen had retained her normalcy and grown in strength. It was on one day, not so very special in any way at all, that the twins were called to their father's study.
"Men of Gondor requested some assistance on a hunt. I have volunteered you," Elrond informed them.
"No," Elladan said flatly.
"They are hunting orcs."
*****
Elladan's face was set in a frown. The orcs had ambushed them, and killed many of the Men. Now the twins rode back to Imladris. "Elrohir, will you shut that thing up!" Elladan demanded.
"Elladan, he's upset. Wouldn't you be? He's just lost his father," Elrohir said in excuse. The child in his arms just kept screaming. "Shh," Elrohir said softly, "it's all right, little one. There's no more danger now."
"Give him over, I'll make him shut up," Elladan growled. Elrohir responded by holding the child tighter.
"I promised Gilraen this young one would be safe with us in Rivendell. You throttling him hardly constitutes safety!"
"All right, all right," Elladan grumbled. "Whines a lot, doesn't he? We were not that bad, when Naneth left."
"He is only a child, Elladan! Let him be."
Elladan did, taking the rest of the trip in silence. When they reached Rivendell, Elladan dismounted quickly. "I'll take the horses to the stables, you take that--" he nodded towards the now-sleeping baby in Elrohir's arms "--to Adar."
"All right," Elrohir said. He dismounted and handed the reins to his brother. Heading inside he hoped Elrond would react well. This trip was not supposed to end in a young child coming home, and without Celebrian. . .
"Elrohir? How was the hunting trip?" Elrond asked as Elrohir entered his study.
"It. . .it did not go too well, Ada. This child. . ." Elrond looked up and noticed the small bundle in Elrohir's arms. He looked at his son with a question in his eyes. "I promised his mother that he would be safe being raised here in Imladris."
"Here," Elrond said, taking the child from Elrohir. "It. . .it's not an Elf," he stated, bewildered.
"No, Ada, he is not."
"Has he a name?"
"He is Aragorn. His mother, Gilraen, asked that he be kept safe here. . .Arathorn was killed. We cannot call him Aragorn, of course. I've been calling him Estel--Hope." Elrohir did not add that he had been calling him that because he hoped Elrond would allow the child to stay. "You would not have to care for him at all, if you wanted, just please allow him to stay."
"No, Elrohir. I will raise him, you are too young." Though Elrond did not say it, Elrohir saw in his Ada's eyes that this child had brought something back, something that had long been gone or dead. "You, little Hope, are quite an explanation."
"Ada?" Something was wrong. Elrohir could feel it. "Where is Arwen?"
"Lady Galadriel has taken Arwen to Lothlorien. Her explanation seemed not to make sense. . .but now I understand."
"When is she coming back?"
"I cannot say--"
"She is my sister! Could I not have at least said goodbye?"
"I am sorry, Elrohir."
*****
"Elladan. Arwen's gone to Lothlorien."
"What? Why?"
"I do not know, but Ada acts as though it has something to do with Estel. Oh, Estel is Aragorn, we're to call him Estel now."
Something gleamed in Elladan's eyes. "That child is the reason my sister left Rivendell." He would say no more on the matter, but Elrohir felt uneasy again.
So, how was that? It took me almost 5 hours to write. . .was it too rushed?
Kawaii Blue Bear: Good idea! Originally I was not going to use it but then I decided to, after all. So credit for that bit goes to Kawaii.
Darragh Tieraneux: Thanks. . .thanks. . .seriously, thanks! At least it doesn't come off too clumsy, it sure feels it. Maybe a bit better in this chapter.
Hrefna: No one is perfection, sweetness, and light. That would be boring. ;]
Pink Martini: Thanks. And to condemn based on pairing is just dumb, I hate when people do that, because what if the story is really good? As for Celebrian, she wa supposed to be the character who is the biggest support in the lives of at least the twins, so when she leaves it's quite a shock for them.
"Elladan, why did Elrohir leave but not you?" Arwen inquired. Celebrian glanced at Elrond, who was wondering what his son would say to that.
"Because, Arwen, Elrohir has been sent away while I have been confined," Elladan answered angrily, shooting a look of pure anger and hatred at Elrond. "But do not worry, Arwen. Elrohir has left, but he has not left our hearts." When Elladan said "our", it was clear to his parents that this "our" did not include them. It was cold and forbidding, exclusive.
"Well. . .what did you do wrong?" Arwen asked. Her innocence only protected her from Elladan's rage.
"I did nothing wrong, but I guess /some/one is unhappy with the way I was born," Elladan replied. Silence settled over the four. "What happy meal- time conversation this is," Elladan said sarcastically. In a false voice, clearly an imitation of Elrond, he continued, "Elrohir and Elladan are forbidden to see each other, Arwen, because I'm afraid they might--"
"Would you like to leave the table, Elladan?" Elrond asked. "That has been quite enough mimickery for tonight." Elladan tipped his head to the side, looking at his father with a look open, not in a friendly manner but more lacking in emotion.
"I too would be ashamed of it," he said quietly.
"Elladan, you are excused."
"Good. Because I can tell you are afraid I might contaminate Arwen with something. Clearly she is the only good child you have left." Elladan stalked from the room. His loud footsteps continued slowly, then reaching the stairs speeded up, and then there was a slammed door. Arwen stared straight ahead, quivering, wondering what she had done wrong. She was crying now, numb to her mother's arms around her. What did she do wrong?
"I'm going to go talk to him," Elrond said, standing.
"It will do no good," Celebrian said. "You may as well just sit back down. Your son, in truth, hates you. You have done nothing to reverse this. Now if he lashes out, he does not realize that he will hurt others. He only wishes to hurt you. If you have any words for your son, make them wise words, for they may well be the last he ever hears from you." With those final words she turned her attention back to the sobbing Arwen.
*****
"Why are you so glum, Elrohir?" Glorfindel asked. Elrond had not told him why, only asked that he take Elrohir hunting with him, out of Imladris. "I thought you always wanted to leave Rivendell."
"That's Elladan. I would not have minded, but I miss my mother and my brother, and my sister."
For a moment Glorfindel pondered this. "And Lord Elrond? You do not miss your Ada?"
"No," Elrohir admitted, "I do not. It's only. . .if one person says one thing, and another person says another thing that's the opposite of that, which person is right?" When he had been a child Elrohir had asked Elrond this question. That answer had only confused him more. He hardly expected anything different from Glorfindel.
"You have to decide then for yourself," Glorfindel replied. "You can't spend your life believing something just because other people tell you to believe it. That would be plain foolish."
"Then I am a fool," Elrohir whispered into the air. "And a lost one."
*****
Four weeks passed by. Elladan would not speak to or acknowledge his father, though he had apologized to Arwen. Often in passing the time he shut himself in his room, and none were quite certain what he did in those long hours. Rumors were whispered about Imladris that the son of Elrond had taken to madness, and while this infuriated Elrond it did not bother Elladan, for he deeply hated his father in wished his unhappiness in any manner.
Alternately Elladan's silences angered and upset Elrond. He, too, began to worry for his son's sanity, and it did upset him that his own child would shut him out like that. That Elladan had taken to believe he had any right to do these things angered Elrond, who repeated shouted through a door at Elladan, "This is above your place!" Any punishments went over Elladan, for while they were the only times he would mind Elrond he never seemed to care.
Elrohir was not much better off, at first. He was confused as to how he should feel, and how he should feel about the way he felt. For sure he loved Elladan, beyond the love of two brothers. At times this fact seemed right, and he reveled in it, for it was immovable. Other times he felt dirty, and hated himself for it, and hated its immovability.
But despite all this Elrohir enjoyed himself. He had always been handy with the bow, and now had a chance to put that skill to use. Guilt often shot through him that Elladan would love an adventure like this, but it passed quickly with the belief that Elladan would enjoy himself no matter what.
On the day of Elrohir's return to Imladris, it seemed as if all of the world was happy. The sun shone down and the wind was cool. Elrohir embraced his mother and sister, teasing Arwen just a bit in asking if she had not been /too/ much trouble. Unsure of what else to do, Elrohir shook hands with Elrond, only a bit set-off by the formality there. "Where is my brother?" Elrohir asked. "May I speak with him?"
"Elladan is not here right now, he carries a letter to the Lady Galadriel," Elrond said. Elrohir's expression changed only slightly, but he knew this for a lie. Galadriel had her mirror, and this in most cases destroyed the need for letters, though often she would write to Celebrian. Out of the corner of his eye Elrohir noticed a figure standing at a window. His gaze flicked quickly to the right, but the figure was gone. It mattered not, he knew that window.
*****
Two years passed. The twins saw each other only briefly and in incredible formality. Elrohir was almost always sent out hunting, or with some sort of letter to deliver. He often wished to stay in Imladris, as he hardly got a night's sleep before he was told where he was next off to.
Elladan began to feel near to heartbreak. He still loved Elrohir, as he knew Elrohir loved him. Imladris became a prison to Elladan, and more and more often he would take to his room so as not to see the invisible walls of his confines.
"Speak to your father," Celebrian beseeched Elladan. "Tell him something, anything, any lie to calm his anger and get you from this prison of yours." For she saw her son's illness, the nearness to heartbreak and thus death. "Or, if you must, live for your sister. But do not die."
Elladan finally did as his mother asked, speaking lies to Elrond and being granted permission to leave Rivendell. "One night," Elrond said, "on a hunting trip alone." Elladan was glad of this, for he knew something his father did not: while he was to ride in the direction opposite Elrohir, the other twin was less than a day's ride away.
Riding due north Elladan left Imladris, then turning he circled widely around it. By nightfall he had found Elrohir and Glorfindel, who often rode together now. When he was sure that Glorfindel was asleep Elladan crept over to Elrohir. "'Rohi, wake up," Elladan said softly, shaking his brother. Elrohir groggily looked up at him.
"Elladan? How in all Middle-Earth--"
"Shh. Come with me into the trees where we can talk safely." Elladan led Elrohir away, not too far. They spoke. "Adar has allowed me to go on a hunting trip, I have only one night. I wanted to see you alone."
"He will know, Elladan."
"Only if you tell."
"What of your arrows, none spent?" Elrohir inquired.
"I shall shoot some into the brush and some at trees, losing or denting them. As well I will shoot at whatever crosses my path. Please do not tell, Elrohir. I only came of my love for you."
"Elladan. . . " now could he phrase this?
"The morality still gets to you, doesn't it? Decide in one moment and be sure, Elrohir. It will make life so much easier."
"Yes, Elladan, but which moment?" Elrohir asked. "There are so many--" Elladan kissed him. No words would come through that kiss, but old fires were rekindled. Their love was stronger than ever before, stronger with the time spent apart. Elrohir began to speak, but Elladan faded into the darkness.
*****
Elrond never said anything but he must have known, for he hardly allowed the twins to see each other for many more years. Elladan was again confined to Imladris, Elrohir sent out. Both became older, more mature Elves, as well as becoming expert huntsmen. When either wielded a bow or sword it was not wise to anger them, even when armed.
Elrohir had left Rivendell only three hours before when he heard galloping hooves coming towards him. He paused, allowing the hooves to catch up. A horse approached, its rider being his brother, out of breath. The horse panted as crazily as Elladan. "Elrohir, you must come with me," Elladan said.
"What is it, Elladan? Does Ada know you are here, if--" Elrohir began, but Elladan cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"Naneth. You remember that trip she took? When she refused to be accompanied?"
"Yes," Elrohir said quickly. He was worried now.
"We received word perhaps an hour ago that she has been taken by orcs. We are to find her and return her to Imladris. Come now, we must hurry," and Elladan nudged his horse onwards. Elrohir followed. The twins rode through the night and most of the next day, arriving near noon at the entrance to a cave. "This must be it," Elladan said. The two dismounted and approached the cave quietly, watching.
"No activity," Elrohir noted. "Let us go now and get her, they will not follow us in the sunlight." (author's note: these are not Uruks, they cannot stand the sunlight)
"Right. We shall both go into the caves. I'll go first." Elladan led the way into the damp, dusky cave. As they went deeper voices calling out in ugly languages grew louder. "Let us sneak in, for now, and should they find us we will shoot them all."
"All right."
When they found their mother the twins were immediately outraged. She had been hurt, badly. Though neither was a healer they knew that this type of grievous injury could kill an Elf. Elladan drew an arrow from his quiver, about to storm the orcs and kill every last one of them. He felt a hand on his shoulder. "Will that help her?" Elrohir asked. "We will stick to our stealth, Elladan. Let them not know that we are here. You go first, and I will follow."
Elrohir carried Celebrian in his arms. The path was difficult, uphill and rocky, but Elrohir managed it. Not a single orc noticed them, it seemed, for they were all deep in the cavernous dwelling. Once out in the sunlight, the twins ran to their mounts. "Elrohir, take Naneth. You and your horse are not as exhausted as me and mine." Elladan helped his brother mount and Elrohir rode off, followed closely by Elladan.
By rights the two should have been exhausted beyond the point of wakefulness, but adrenaline kept them going. By nightfall they had reached Imladris. They carried Celebrian inside and set her on her bed, then left the room and collapsed in the corridor outside.
*****
Both boys awoke stiff the next morning. They stretched out their muscles and opened the door to their mother's room, not sure what they were going to do to help her. "There is nothing left to do but wait," Elrond told them.
"Wait? What are we waiting for?"
"Until she is well again."
"You lie," Elladan said, "we know it."
Elrond sighed. "Your mother has been poisoned from this wound, here. I have treated the wound, but orc poisons are not well known to any. Chances are she will be all right but there is a chance. . .there is a chance."
For moments the twins stood in silence, looking at their mother's face. She looked peacefully, but did she know that she might be dying? "Come, Elladan. There is nothing we can do here." Elrohir put his arm around Elladan and led him away. The two found Arwen eating breakfast and sat across from her.
"Will you tell me?" she asked them quietly. "I know something has happened, but everyone insists I go about as if it were a normal day. My brothers, will you not tell me?"
"Mother is not well, Arwen," Elrohir admitted. Arwen froze, staring at him. She knew what that meant. "And she may not get better."
"How. . .how? Has she a broken heart? What have we done wrong?" Arwen asked as soon as she could move again.
"It was poison. We have only to wait now, long and terrible, until she is either well or. . .not well."
*****
"I don't understand. Why are you leaving us?" Arwen asked. She was crying as she bid her mother farewell.
"I am not leaving you, Arwen. We will meet again, in Valinor. Until that time, you must be strong for your Ada and for your brothers." Celebrian knew it was her time to leave. That was why, so many years ago, she was unsure of where she would fit in in her family's life. Because she would not be there.
"Yes, Naneth," Arwen said, brushing away tears. She embraced her mother, then turned away. She would not watch her mother leave Middle Earth for ever.
*****
Elladan had no idea what was in his hands. He only knew that he wanted to break it, smash it into a thousand pieces, and that was what he did. More and more things he hurled to the ground, smashing, breaking them. The noise and feeling of power was god, just getting out his rage was even better.
Down the hall, Elrohir cried softly to himself. He opened his drawer, the bottom drawer in his desk, searching for something of hers. He found the snow globe, which had been smashed so many years before. The pieces of glass, so dangerous, shone with beauty and the love of his mother. Two broken fragments next to each other had his name written in soft red letters. "Elrohir. . ."
No torches were lit in Imladris that night, or the next.
*****
Nearly four hundred years had passed since their mother had gone to Valinor. Elrond no longer seemed to care if the twins were lovers or not, and for this a shadow of guilt kept them from such feelings. Only Arwen had retained her normalcy and grown in strength. It was on one day, not so very special in any way at all, that the twins were called to their father's study.
"Men of Gondor requested some assistance on a hunt. I have volunteered you," Elrond informed them.
"No," Elladan said flatly.
"They are hunting orcs."
*****
Elladan's face was set in a frown. The orcs had ambushed them, and killed many of the Men. Now the twins rode back to Imladris. "Elrohir, will you shut that thing up!" Elladan demanded.
"Elladan, he's upset. Wouldn't you be? He's just lost his father," Elrohir said in excuse. The child in his arms just kept screaming. "Shh," Elrohir said softly, "it's all right, little one. There's no more danger now."
"Give him over, I'll make him shut up," Elladan growled. Elrohir responded by holding the child tighter.
"I promised Gilraen this young one would be safe with us in Rivendell. You throttling him hardly constitutes safety!"
"All right, all right," Elladan grumbled. "Whines a lot, doesn't he? We were not that bad, when Naneth left."
"He is only a child, Elladan! Let him be."
Elladan did, taking the rest of the trip in silence. When they reached Rivendell, Elladan dismounted quickly. "I'll take the horses to the stables, you take that--" he nodded towards the now-sleeping baby in Elrohir's arms "--to Adar."
"All right," Elrohir said. He dismounted and handed the reins to his brother. Heading inside he hoped Elrond would react well. This trip was not supposed to end in a young child coming home, and without Celebrian. . .
"Elrohir? How was the hunting trip?" Elrond asked as Elrohir entered his study.
"It. . .it did not go too well, Ada. This child. . ." Elrond looked up and noticed the small bundle in Elrohir's arms. He looked at his son with a question in his eyes. "I promised his mother that he would be safe being raised here in Imladris."
"Here," Elrond said, taking the child from Elrohir. "It. . .it's not an Elf," he stated, bewildered.
"No, Ada, he is not."
"Has he a name?"
"He is Aragorn. His mother, Gilraen, asked that he be kept safe here. . .Arathorn was killed. We cannot call him Aragorn, of course. I've been calling him Estel--Hope." Elrohir did not add that he had been calling him that because he hoped Elrond would allow the child to stay. "You would not have to care for him at all, if you wanted, just please allow him to stay."
"No, Elrohir. I will raise him, you are too young." Though Elrond did not say it, Elrohir saw in his Ada's eyes that this child had brought something back, something that had long been gone or dead. "You, little Hope, are quite an explanation."
"Ada?" Something was wrong. Elrohir could feel it. "Where is Arwen?"
"Lady Galadriel has taken Arwen to Lothlorien. Her explanation seemed not to make sense. . .but now I understand."
"When is she coming back?"
"I cannot say--"
"She is my sister! Could I not have at least said goodbye?"
"I am sorry, Elrohir."
*****
"Elladan. Arwen's gone to Lothlorien."
"What? Why?"
"I do not know, but Ada acts as though it has something to do with Estel. Oh, Estel is Aragorn, we're to call him Estel now."
Something gleamed in Elladan's eyes. "That child is the reason my sister left Rivendell." He would say no more on the matter, but Elrohir felt uneasy again.
So, how was that? It took me almost 5 hours to write. . .was it too rushed?